Kerry56's recent activity
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Comment on Catfishing - the Wikipedia guessing game in ~games
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Comment on America's dumbest crop: grass in ~enviro
Kerry56 LinkI live in a semi-desert section of Texas and this year I replaced my front lawn with a desert landscape... crushed red granite for the most part. Don't know what I'll do with the back yard. I...I live in a semi-desert section of Texas and this year I replaced my front lawn with a desert landscape... crushed red granite for the most part. Don't know what I'll do with the back yard. I don't water it, and yet I have lots of weeds every year. In the spring, I plan on planting a lot of palo verde trees in the front and back, but the back yard itself is still a problem. Right now I'm looking into some of the native grasses found in my area, and desert wildflowers might be part of the solution as well.
In any case, I'm not part of the lawn watering crowd and never intend to start.
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Comment on What writing 'tics' stand out to you? Repeated phrases, strange words, or otherwise weird stuff that jumps out at you. in ~books
Kerry56 Link ParentI think said is better than trying to come up with a hundred different substitutes. He whispered, he shouted, he grumbled, he exclaimed... this sort of thing annoys me far more. Said becomes...I think said is better than trying to come up with a hundred different substitutes. He whispered, he shouted, he grumbled, he exclaimed... this sort of thing annoys me far more. Said becomes virtually invisible to most readers.
In my writing, I find I use but and though too often. I set up a scene, an action or a thought and then use but or though to qualify it.
Hmm, looking through some of my latest chapters, I seem to have knocked that habit out of my writing, at least for now. I wasn't aware of that bit of progress, so yay.
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Comment on What words do you recommend? in ~talk
Kerry56 LinkI try not to overuse words and phrases in my writing, as I have a bad habit of unconsciously repeating words too close together. When I go back to edit my work, it annoys me no end to I see that...I try not to overuse words and phrases in my writing, as I have a bad habit of unconsciously repeating words too close together. When I go back to edit my work, it annoys me no end to I see that I've used the same descriptor three times in three paragraphs.
Since I'm writing a fantasy story now, the words manifest and affinity keep popping up, and I have to be aware of my use of them.
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Comment on Robert Redford, golden boy of Hollywood, dies at 89 in ~movies
Kerry56 LinkRedford was my brother's favorite actor. For years, after we'd screwed something up, he'd say "Use enough dynamite there Butch?" One of my favorite movies with Redford is not mentioned much these...Redford was my brother's favorite actor. For years, after we'd screwed something up, he'd say "Use enough dynamite there Butch?"
One of my favorite movies with Redford is not mentioned much these days. It is Three Days of the Condor. He and Max von Sydow really make that movie work.
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Comment on Commentary: prepare to say a frond farewell to Los Angeles’ palm trees in ~enviro
Kerry56 LinkEver since switching to a desert landscape in my front yard, I've been researching desert trees. I've found a few that will survive in my climate zone, only one of which is mentioned in the...Ever since switching to a desert landscape in my front yard, I've been researching desert trees. I've found a few that will survive in my climate zone, only one of which is mentioned in the article. It is the desert willow, which is pretty when blooming, but very messy when it drops its leaves and seed pods. Not much shade from it either, and it likes to grow as a bush as much as a tree, so it requires a fair amount of trimming. Not so sure it's a great choice for city landscapes.
The jacaranda trees shown in the article are beautiful when blooming. I hadn't come across those before.
I'm going to plant Desert Museum palo verde trees in the front yard come spring. At the moment, I've got a few seedlings growing in pots, and I'm hoping they survive my black thumb over the winter, inside my shop with a good, sunny spot near a window.
The other desert tree I'm interested in is from Australia, called the mulga acacia tree. Anyone familiar with those?
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Comment on The family computer in ~tech
Kerry56 LinkI much prefer desktops to phones, but it is mostly because I have poor eyesight. Too much of a strain to read a tiny screen, though of course, there are times I have to do so. I just don't enjoy...I much prefer desktops to phones, but it is mostly because I have poor eyesight. Too much of a strain to read a tiny screen, though of course, there are times I have to do so. I just don't enjoy it much.
I still have four family desktops, only one of which is a modern one. The others are getting to be antiques, though still useful in their own ways, with one set up as an HTPC, another that I converted to Windows 11 via Rufus so that I could use the two or three Windows based programs I might still need, and the other is mostly a storage device. The Linux machines still feel reasonably peppy, running Mint.
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Comment on What did you do this week (and weekend)? in ~talk
Kerry56 LinkI live in a semi-desert section of Texas, and this week I've been continuing my project to convert my front yard to a desert landscape. After digging out tons of dirt, weeds and grass roots, I had...I live in a semi-desert section of Texas, and this week I've been continuing my project to convert my front yard to a desert landscape. After digging out tons of dirt, weeds and grass roots, I had to take a break and attend to other matters, but this week, my crushed granite arrived and I've been hauling it into place. I'd already finished the west side of the yard, and this week I've been working on the south section. I'm using 1" crushed red granite, 8 1/2 cubic yards of it, and that comes to almost 15 tons. The west side is smaller, and only took 6 1/2 cubic yards.
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Comment on What's your current PC wallpaper? in ~tech
Kerry56 LinkI just use the landscape photos that come with Linux Mint. Right now, it's a desert scene of White Sands, with a rising sun. For years, I'd use Hubble shots for wallpaper, but haven't done that...I just use the landscape photos that come with Linux Mint. Right now, it's a desert scene of White Sands, with a rising sun.
For years, I'd use Hubble shots for wallpaper, but haven't done that since I migrated to Linux some seven or eight years ago. Guess I wanted a clean break from my Windows era.
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Comment on Graham Lynch - The Pale Dancer for Saxophone Quartet (2006) in ~music
Kerry56 LinkDid anyone else misread that as The Pole Dancer for Saxophone Quartet? No? OK, I'll just let myself out. P.S. Did like his comment on How do you work... slowly. I can sympathize.Did anyone else misread that as The Pole Dancer for Saxophone Quartet?
No? OK, I'll just let myself out.
P.S. Did like his comment on How do you work... slowly.
I can sympathize. -
Comment on What's a question you could ask to determine if someone is an expert in your line of work? in ~talk
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Comment on What's a question you could ask to determine if someone is an expert in your line of work? in ~talk
Kerry56 (edited )LinkWhat properties of white oak allow you to make boats or barrels from it, but not from red oak? Lifetime woodworker here. Answers here: Many woodworkers will simply say that the red oak will leak...What properties of white oak allow you to make boats or barrels from it, but not from red oak?
Lifetime woodworker here.
Answers here: Many woodworkers will simply say that the red oak will leak water through it, and that is a good enough answer actually. They understand that different types of wood have properties that make them uniquely appropriate for certain uses. Some will give a more detailed answer and say that both types of oak are coarse grained, with large pores, but white oak has an internal structure called tyloses, which fill the pores and make it water-tight.
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Comment on McDonald’s is cutting prices of its combo meals to convince customers it’s affordable again in ~food
Kerry56 LinkI can't remember the last time I had lunch or dinner at McDonald's. About three years ago, I went to the McDonald's that had just opened in my little rinky dink town and had an egg McMuffin and a...I can't remember the last time I had lunch or dinner at McDonald's. About three years ago, I went to the McDonald's that had just opened in my little rinky dink town and had an egg McMuffin and a glass of orange juice. As I recalled, that used to be one of the better choices as far as quality of the food. The price was so shocking, I haven't been back.
Why anyone would pay the high prices they are asking for the crappy food that McDonald's makes is beyond my understanding. Doing it once? Sure, learn from your mistake. Just don't repeat it.
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Comment on TV Tuesdays Free Talk in ~tv
Kerry56 (edited )LinkI watched the first two episodes of Alien: Earth, and I thought going in that I'd like them. Alien, the first movie in the franchise, is one of my all time favorites. They've gone to a lot of...I watched the first two episodes of Alien: Earth, and I thought going in that I'd like them. Alien, the first movie in the franchise, is one of my all time favorites.
They've gone to a lot of trouble to recreate the look of the original movie in this series, and since it is set two years before the time of the movie, there's good reason for that.
But so far... I'm still on the fence. Neither of the first two episodes pulled me in. I'll continue watching, but I'm not sure the plot lines and quality of the writing are going to improve.
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Comment on My favorite mouse costs less than USD 10 in ~tech
Kerry56 Link ParentThis is the guy I like to get advice from regarding appliances. https://www.youtube.com/@bensappliancesandjunkThis is the guy I like to get advice from regarding appliances. https://www.youtube.com/@bensappliancesandjunk
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Comment on My favorite mouse costs less than USD 10 in ~tech
Kerry56 Link ParentYes, it was less than $10. https://www.amazon.com/s?i=merchant-items&me=A31QXAPHLWD7DF&page=2&marketplaceID=ATVPDKIKX0DER&refresh=3&xpid=AcIhPTcdJr_aY&ref=sr_pg_2 -
Comment on My favorite mouse costs less than USD 10 in ~tech
Kerry56 Link ParentI use a Nulea M513 vertical mouse. It was dirt cheap on Amazon, but doesn't seem to be available there anymore, just their more expensive M510, which looks identical. I've gone through lots of...I use a Nulea M513 vertical mouse. It was dirt cheap on Amazon, but doesn't seem to be available there anymore, just their more expensive M510, which looks identical. I've gone through lots of inexpensive vertical mice (? mouses ?), and this one has been a champ. I'll be sad to see it go.
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Comment on With 'Golden' topping 'Ordinary,' a K-pop girl group hits No. 1 for the first time in ~music
Kerry56 LinkI wasn't interested in the movie, and didn't think I'd like the songs until I heard my favorite singer, Solar, from Mamamoo, do a short cover of Golden. It is a pretty good song, and very hard to...I wasn't interested in the movie, and didn't think I'd like the songs until I heard my favorite singer, Solar, from Mamamoo, do a short cover of Golden. It is a pretty good song, and very hard to sing live.
So, I watched the movie and thought it was mediocre at best. None of the other songs really hit with me either.
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Comment on Which other sites do you visit? in ~tech
Kerry56 Link ParentI check AP most days, but I also use NPR and the BBC for news. I seem to spend a lot of time on Youtube. I do this without logging into my Google account, unless I want to upvote a video or...I check AP most days, but I also use NPR and the BBC for news.
I seem to spend a lot of time on Youtube. I do this without logging into my Google account, unless I want to upvote a video or subscribe. Then I immediately log out. And I often use a second browser, one set to never remember history, to watch some favorite channels, like Y Pictures, The Try Channel and Movies with Mary. Waterfox works for this, since U Block Origin works with it as well as it does in Firefox.
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Comment on Forums are still alive, active, and a treasure trove of information in ~tech
Kerry56 LinkI was a member at a fair number of these sites in the past, but haven't been active on many of them for several years. Videohelp.com was always a great place for encoding questions. Head-fi......I was a member at a fair number of these sites in the past, but haven't been active on many of them for several years. Videohelp.com was always a great place for encoding questions. Head-fi... well, take advice in there with a large dose of skepticism. They tend to indulge in flavor-of-the-month hype for headphones that may not be worthy of consideration.
I didn't see it mentioned, perhaps I just missed it, but Absolute Write Water Cooler was helpful to me in the past. It is a forum for writers, both veterans and fledglings.
I got three in a row, then crashed and burned.