tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37008696674315843012009-11-26T15:45:13.732-08:00My Squidoo lenses, my website Have Pun Will Travel, havepun-willtravel.com, Celtic music, Renaissance Faires, photographs, other interesting things that might happen in my lifeMobyDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520408830413051997noreply@blogger.comBlogger238125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700869667431584301.post-49420712661598904672009-11-26T15:45:00.000-08:002009-11-26T15:45:13.741-08:00

OK, that title seems to be stating the obvious, but a lot of people seem to expect Linux to be so much like Windows as to make no difference. But of course, Linux is quite different. For one thing, it's free open source software, so you don't have to pay for it. For another, it was not developed by a for-profit corporation that provides paid technical support. Recently someone in the Go Firefox!

MobyDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520408830413051997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700869667431584301.post-5219630801005690492009-11-24T17:54:00.000-08:002009-11-24T17:54:26.792-08:00

Yesterday's entry here was about a site that shows the Solar System to scale, with one pixel equaling a thousand kilometers. Today while checking my Bloglines feeds, I saw that Phil Plait, the astronomer who does the Bad Astronomy blog on Discover Magazine's website, featured it. Of course, Plait has something I don't: thousands of readers every day. It's a pretty interesting blog if you have

MobyDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520408830413051997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700869667431584301.post-23792639028502513982009-11-23T12:43:00.000-08:002009-11-23T12:43:29.386-08:00

I think I've found what just might be the widest graphic on the Internet. It's the Solar System with the Sun and all the planets shown in a scale of 1 pixel = 1,000 km. It's not just the Sun and the planets out to Pluto (I think this was made before Pluto was demoted to dwarf planet status). It includes all the space between as well. To get some idea of how big this is, I started on the left

MobyDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520408830413051997noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700869667431584301.post-84075571124608810592009-11-22T10:46:00.000-08:002009-11-22T10:46:02.540-08:00

While using StumbleUpon, I came across a little page showing a brief online chat conversation between an AT&T customer and a customer service representative. I spent a little less than a year on the phones as a Cingular/AT&T CSR, a time that went wrong pretty early on. I have a blog over on Delphi Forums that I started about three years ago. I pretty much stopped using it last May since for some

MobyDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520408830413051997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700869667431584301.post-34566807899642084382009-11-21T08:01:00.000-08:002009-11-21T08:01:52.509-08:00

Apostrophes are handy little marks that are usually used with possessive nouns and contractions. The rules seem deceptively simple at first. Then you run into the exceptions. Once you realize there are exceptions, it's easy to get confused. For instance, I just used "it's" as a contraction for "it is." That's simple and follows the rules for contractions: if you leave out some letters, replace

MobyDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520408830413051997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700869667431584301.post-50026646230527204612009-11-20T07:00:00.000-08:002009-11-20T07:00:06.896-08:00

We didn’t see Pixie until the next full moon, when she showed up on the mirror shelf just after we’d gotten back from our evening’s playing in the tavern. Pixie was very happy as she fluttered off the shelf and kissed us all and assured us she loved each of us and was assured in turn we each loved her. Then she fluttered back to the windowsill, landed, and called out something in fairy talk. A

MobyDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520408830413051997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700869667431584301.post-25010158245130918062009-11-19T09:56:00.000-08:002009-11-19T09:56:09.268-08:00

It was a couple of tirns later when Sileas alerted me that Pixie wasn’t alone by her mirror. Without moving, I opened my eyes and saw the other black-haired fairy was hovering just outside the window. I could hear them chattering to each other in high tones that would barely be within the range of a Dahroonan’s hearing. My hearing extends higher, so I could tell they had a language. But nobody on

MobyDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520408830413051997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700869667431584301.post-79471102551300012192009-11-18T09:49:00.000-08:002009-11-18T09:49:52.467-08:00

A few days later, with Brin near full, Moondancer did the first of her performances, with Harper and I providing the music. Pixie danced on air just as she did with me, and she collected coins afterward. Then a few nights after that, Harper woke me. “Sunny, where’s Pixie?” she asked me. “ Good question,” I asked, instantly wide awake. “Sileas?” My star cruiser told me Pixie was out exploring

MobyDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520408830413051997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700869667431584301.post-58492525775990341892009-11-17T14:10:00.000-08:002009-11-17T14:10:10.185-08:00

We three dahrys and Pixie had a short breakfast after the dance then went up to our room and pretty much fell into bed. I fell asleep with Harper snuggled up on one side, Moondancer snuggled up on the other, and Pixie cuddled on my chest under the light blanket with her head sticking out. It was after highsun before I woke up. Pixie wasn’t there. “Sileas, where’s Pixie?” I asked silently. “ She

MobyDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520408830413051997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700869667431584301.post-19048808753931685202009-11-16T14:38:00.000-08:002009-11-16T14:38:38.062-08:00

One of the first things I realized this morning was that I'd managed to not post to this blog yesterday, which means I'm out of this month's NaBloPoMo competition. Blah! I was doing so well, too, posting a new bit of "Sundancer's Fairy Tale" every day and occasionally something else. Guess I'm too easily distracted by stuff on the computer sometimes. OK, maybe a lot of the time. So I was reading

MobyDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520408830413051997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700869667431584301.post-73743617809393119092009-11-16T09:21:00.000-08:002009-11-16T09:21:47.762-08:00

I then introduced her to Brewer and Weaver. She fluttered off my shoulder and gave them each a kiss. Then people started asking questions about Pixie and everything else that had happened with me since I’d left. Meanwhile Pixie fluttered around getting a look at all the people of Sunrise Harbor and giving them a chance to get a closer look at her. It wasn’t long before she spotted some very

MobyDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520408830413051997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700869667431584301.post-75936694457677314722009-11-14T12:19:00.000-08:002009-11-14T12:19:42.690-08:00

“So how was the trip back, Sunny?” Brewer asked. “ It went very well,” I said, “but before I start talking about that, I need to duck back aboard Wind Dancer for a few mirns. I’ve got a little surprise.” As I got back aboard, I had the thought that the little surprise herself was probably going to be pretty surprised. I got into the cabin, and asked Sileas to bring Pixie back. Pixie appeared,

MobyDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520408830413051997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700869667431584301.post-11722181070210186592009-11-13T11:46:00.000-08:002009-11-13T11:46:20.327-08:00

When she saw me start preparations for setting sail, though, Pixie didn’t look at all happy. I stepped onto the dock and cast off the lines, a safe thing to do on such a calm and clear morning. When I started the small engine that would get us out of the harbor and into the breeze, however. Pixie rebelled. “No!” she said. “Pixie stay, Sunny stay! Home!” She fluttered over to a nearby piling and

MobyDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520408830413051997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700869667431584301.post-17358734676280615892009-11-13T08:25:00.000-08:002009-11-13T08:27:48.957-08:00

Help me, Obi Wan Cannoli, you're my only hope.

MobyDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520408830413051997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700869667431584301.post-54295805970932667512009-11-12T11:00:00.000-08:002009-11-12T11:13:34.306-08:00

I needn’t have worried about Pixie. She was sound asleep and didn’t even stir as I slid into the bunk opposite hers. I hoped a good long sleep would do her good and she’d be a little more outgoing for the rest of the Gathering.The next morning, entirely too early, Pixie roused me out of sleep with several repetitions of “Pixie eat!” from a distance of inches from my nose. I thought she’d

MobyDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520408830413051997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700869667431584301.post-52448560163349330672009-11-11T11:16:00.000-08:002009-11-11T11:26:21.896-08:00

Back at Brewer’s I’d only played with one or at the most two other fiddlers at a time, and then only occasionally. Playing with a whole group of fiddlers, all of them very talented, was a real treat. We played several tunes and I was really enjoying myself a lot. But Pixie, very uncharacteristically, stayed hidden. She was huddled up close to my neck and kept my hair over her. After a while, she

MobyDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520408830413051997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700869667431584301.post-48416339882144560452009-11-10T11:55:00.000-08:002009-11-10T12:07:34.325-08:00

I was just about to leave when I heard a tiny splash in the water, and then a small high voice yelped, “Ow!” I blinked to clear my vision, and saw that the fairies were throwing things at Pixie. She stopped her approach and turned around to head back to me, just as the fairies darted toward her with anything but friendly intentions.“Sunny!” she screamed. “Mamma Sunny!”Pixie got hit by a small

MobyDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520408830413051997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700869667431584301.post-46877090089021951422009-11-09T14:50:00.000-08:002009-11-12T11:50:40.616-08:00

We met Coral out in the tavern for a full breakfast of eggs, cereal, fruit, juice, and wakener. Pixie was delighted with the spread and determined to stuff herself.“Wow,” I remarked to Coral as we watched Pixie feeding her face, “I hope she doesn’t stuff herself until she can’t fly!”“Sundancer,” Coral said, “I’ve been wondering about you and Pixie. Well, mostly about Pixie. She’s a fairy, and

MobyDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520408830413051997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700869667431584301.post-14356067509220462982009-11-08T12:34:00.000-08:002009-11-08T12:38:45.080-08:00

Pixie had gotten shy and had hidden behind my hair when we went into the tavern, but once I started playing she was back out dancing in the air and fluttering off to get coins between tunes. Once again I combined fiddle playing with my sunset dance, and Pixie danced about and collected coins afterward.Once Pixie had finished collecting coins she settled on my shoulder. Along with Coral, we headed

MobyDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520408830413051997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700869667431584301.post-67938878084928498492009-11-07T11:18:00.000-08:002009-11-07T11:24:50.895-08:00

There was still some time before sunset, so I decided to do some fiddle playing out in front of the tavern to get up some interest both for my sundance and my playing in the tavern after the dance. Pixie stayed hidden behind my hair at first, but couldn’t resist the music for long. She launched herself off my shoulder and danced in the air. When people began tossing coins into my fiddle case, she

MobyDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520408830413051997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700869667431584301.post-59052780209022938122009-11-06T16:52:00.000-08:002009-11-06T16:57:44.520-08:00

The next sound I heard from her wasn’t a giggle. It was a gurgle, and it was clear to me that it came from a very tiny and very empty stomach. It suddenly dawned on me that since we’d met, the only thing Pixie had consumed was the little blossom cup of nectar, and she hadn’t drunk the whole thing. Suddenly I was wondering what to feed a fairy. I just hoped at least some of the food on board would

MobyDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520408830413051997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700869667431584301.post-22759002949832046732009-11-05T21:44:00.000-08:002009-11-05T22:14:54.055-08:00

Just for fun and because I've heard Linux can work on older machines, I tried installing Linux Mint 7 on my ancient ThinkPad 1400 from 1999. It has a noisy fan, but it does run, although I need to use AC for power. Mint didn't work. After chugging away for a long time, it finally told me the kernel needs "cmov" and my CPU doesn't have it. I don't really know what it is. All I know is it's needed

MobyDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520408830413051997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700869667431584301.post-67111053793926228432009-11-05T16:34:00.000-08:002009-11-05T17:29:23.118-08:00

About a week and a half ago I rearranged my bedroom, and it created more space at the foot of the bed, which is now in one corner of the room. I have a rolling computer desk about four feet wide and a 19" CRT monitor. I hadn't been using either and the desk was cluttered up with all sorts of junk.I went to Frys on Monday hoping to pick up some super cheap stuff to resurrect one of the older

MobyDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520408830413051997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700869667431584301.post-67649098639865701462009-11-05T16:26:00.000-08:002009-11-05T16:31:40.945-08:00

She moved a little, and her head came out from under my hair. Her hand stroked my cheek a few times, then she kissed me. She had her arms as far around my neck as she could get them, and she laid her cheek against mine. I reached in very slowly and carefully and picked her up. Again I held her in my hand. She just sat there, then she took hold of my thumb and kissed it.“Mama,” she said.“Umm, I

MobyDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520408830413051997noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3700869667431584301.post-67411687597733537782009-11-04T11:38:00.000-08:002009-11-04T11:43:51.793-08:00

Soon after Sileas set Wind Dancer down off the Quastrana coast, she assured me that not only was I doing fine, but also I seemed to have a genuine knack for both fiddling and sailing. That made it easier for both of us, she said. I brought Dancer into Sunrise Harbor right through the channel at the small lighthouse on the end of the breakwater, and right up to the town dock at just the right

MobyDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00520408830413051997noreply@blogger.com0