Modern Vespa

I use a Logitech Track Ball and after replacing 3 of them over the years due to the Left Click button failing, I discovered that you can buy the micro switches online and replace them at home.
Took about 1/2 an hour.

I considered it but needed a mouse, and never circled back to fix the old one.

Maybe someday.

Qu'est-ce que c'est ?

I've used the MX Master 3 for years. Still love it. I had to DIY clean and lube the left click button once, but for the price it was worth the headache of popping it open.

I love that mic boom. I really need one. We use a Blue Snowball on its little tripod, but I've always wanted for something better.

tl;dr Nice desk.

I have a USB-C plug somewhere but I'm damned if I can find it... This will do for now lol 😆😆😆
Nearly 8 years since I got my first Apple Watch... also a Nike edition... same strap lol 😁

Going to buy a new Hyundai Kona limited 1.6 Turbo today.( If everything goes right). Very nice SUV. Lots of tech. !!!.

My office is in turmoil as I am trying to close out the projects so I can retire next month.

Not a great excuse as it has looked like this for a long while.

Bill

Congrats on retiring! Keep this picture on your phone so you can take a look at it if you ever get tempted to do another project.

That's a programmable macro keypad. I've been trying to learn to day trade (mostly in premarket) and I found that my reaction times with on-screen buttons or even keyboard hotkeys was lacking. I added this USB-C macro pad (and programmed it for the various hotkeys I needed) and it has made a world of difference. I can punch in and punch out of a trade without delay.

I'm often holding a stock position for as little as a few seconds, so milliseconds of reaction time matter.

I got it on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1884700140/togkey-pad-plus-6-key-programmable

Here's a closeup of it, complete with hand-lettered keycaps.

The gray button is to cancel all outstanding orders. The two red buttons are to sell, either at market price or at the current bid. The yellow F-IT button is "Fuck it", also known as "Exit my position and cancel all outstanding orders" (I use that a lot). And of course the two green buttons are to buy, either at market or at ask.

I use buy ask and sell bid a lot in premarket, as market orders are not allowed in premarket trading. During regular market hours I generally use buy market and F-IT to exit. I don't think I've ever used the sell market button.

The mic boom has been great. I use it primarily for playing minecraft with my brother and his family -- the directional mic doesn't pick up the audio from my speakers, so I can avoid wearing headphones. Thanks!

Congrats on your retirement in advance!

Every time I tidy my desk up, I find a pile of mail I haven't checked...

I use a MX Master at work. I bought it in 2021 to replace the Performance MX that I'd had since 2010/2011. I like the additional buttons that can be programmed with custom commands.

I received the message below from my neighbor two doors down today.

A twelve pack of Stella about to go to waste and they thought I would like to take it off of their hands.

Of course I was happy to oblige.

It was very kind of them.

Bill

"Several bottles." I like the way they count! I'd be imagining a few loose bottles. You're a man of refined taste and all, but Stella isn't stooping too much.
congrats on the windfall!

While I'm here, just checking up on local news. Announcing a drug bust. I glanced at it at first, usual bags of drugs, money spread out....until I counted the bills. That's enough to buy, I don't know, a few 12 packs of Stella?

First trip out on my bike since my icy spill last weekend... clear roads & no rain!

I stopped & took this photo on the way back from Exeter... Fisherman's Cot in Bickleigh

They had put them in their refrigerator and threw the box away so I took over a box so I could easily get them home.

First bottle getting consumed in the backyard with Henry.

Bill

Love those 'auld brigs' through out the UK.

What a good boy!

Henry or Bill?

Yes.

Was greeted this morning while entering Deadwood by the local Bighorn Sheep clan who were executing a random traffic stop...

Beautiful 82" degrees in the Coachella Valley today.

Lots of tourists out and about

It's nice to see that you are giving that beer a nice home. Temporarily, of course.

I picked up a Vespa ET4 50cc so one had to go.
And that's the Peugeot Vox gone now to son Owen. He did a few months chefing in The Legend of Saucy Mary Restaurant on the isle of Skye and just been asked to go back from the beginning of March as head chef for 7 months duration, contract signed etc and wanted something to ride about while up there so I gave him the Vox and will be going on a 1108 miles road trip with scooter on the back of the car.

Something I like to do is go to Radiogarden.com, pick an obscure place somewhere in the world, tune into their radio and then find them on Google Earth. I'll do a street view and wander around their town thinking there's someone there that doesn't know any more about me than I know about them, but right now we are listening to the same thing on the radio.

I dunno. Makes me feel like the world is less big and scary.

Right now I'm listening to Shanson FM from Bugulma, Russia.

Radio Garden Link

Google Earth Link

I hope you know if the classic from 2024 when Google's Street view captured a man stuffing a dead body into the back of a car
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-19/google-street-view-helps-catch-alleged-killers/104745264

Went for my transplant blood tests for my quarterly check up & saw this beauty in the car park!

Nice! Looks like the owner wants to keep it, if that is indeed a lock on the front disc.

Yes it is, I have the same disc lock with a bright yellow reminder cable for the throttle.

Somedays you just stick a bowtie on your chicken hat and get on with life the best you can.

-and that red flower could be "this side is the front-brake" marking

I believe it's a poppy for Remembrance Day.

Last Saturday

Transplant blood test results are in… kidney function is 82%, happy days!!!

I had a kidney transplant 5 & a half years ago & get quarterly check-ups & blood tests.

Spending unexpected $$ rarely cheers me up, but last year I had a pair of riding overpants start tearing out at the hip seams. I'd tried some black nylon fabric patches, but as expected, didn't turn out so well. I expect they were out of warranty, and regardless I could have bitched to the retailer, but didn't. I decided as they were pretty much like new, I'd see if a local shop could zig zag the hell out of them and improve the look.

I found a shop on main street that does alterations. They said they could do it. I naïvely told them there was no rush...and they didn't. About 4 months later I got the call, they were done. $48 and a bit of a wait and they look like new! It feels worth it. One less pile of nylon saved from the landfill (for now), local economy boosted and I get my pants back!

Just in time....going to be -20F tomorrow night.

Normal winter. Here in southern Finland these are not granted, many wintes are more like endless fall; rain, sleet. But here we are, normal winter with snow and proper minuses, now seems to be -8C. Yes!

61°F right now. The entire next week will be similar, mid 60s to low 70s, chance of rain. I don't know if I can take it much longer.

That seems like weather in Rome Italy now.

New day brightening, still short days, but getting longer. Could use more snow, but still nice.

So where's all your pics of snowmen? ⛄

Too good temps, you need wet snow to make those.