Hi all: Don't forget to check last few comments of last week's chat and a lovely photo from OG - of Loch Garten I assume. Alan: Wonderful close up of EJ on the last Daily Update. Thanks to everyone else for all the news from far and wide.
Just in from Earth Day event, which had a lot more transportation (electric/natural gas, etc) options on display this year, including bikes of all shapes and sizes (SB is a big bike town with lots of bike paths, even throughout downtown). Spoke to a friend of a friend there who is setting up a raptor rescue center at the Natural History Museum; also the California Condor group who are trying to figure out how to set up a live cam at the condor feeding station in the back country. They're thinking maybe solar power, but then there's the problem of relaying the signal,etc. If that's successful, they may try one at the nesting sites, but the problem is that condors don't nest in trees - they like caves, so a logistical hurdle for further down the road. Not to mention the "permit" hurdles, which are major given that the condors are still highly endangered. In addition to the usual solar, green, organic farms, foods and other community display booths there was the usual band and "green" gifts area. Didn't buy anything but did visit my friend with his spiffy electric car and bumped into another friend - a "Master Gardener" at another booth where we sat and chatted for an hour.
All quiet on the LG and LOTL nests right now; doesn't look windy or wet.
Sun morn, expecting 27 C. So much wonderful chatter to catch up. Thanks to all.
Lindybird - I sympathise with your next-door developer. We had the same in our street. Days and days of trucks, workmen and noise.
OG - I use free software called GIMP, downloaded by Dau for me to "shrink" my pictures which are huge as they come from camera. Using something called Scale Image I change them to 800x600 (or 600x800). This reduces them from the 3500KB to 300 or thereabouts.
Re the Earthqauake - no damage. Amazing how everyone is talking about it here. BTW Australia does have biggies but since much is sparsely populated, no one notices. I recall Meckering WA 6.9 in 1968 and Newcastle NSW 5.6 in 1989.
Sorry to hear Margobird you have a cold. Here are some autumn-flowering gladioli to cheer you. They are descendants of a single bulb I bought in late 1950s. Each year back then I would buy 3 or 4 for my garden patch. This one is different in that it flowers long after the normal ones.
Gorgeous pix AQ! I'd heard that "old" gladioli eventually lose their color and go sort of white-ish, but maybe that's the original bulb.
Hi, all. I'm so sorry to read that you might be experiencing shortages of some foods, especially fresh produce (because of shipping problems caused by the volcanic ash). I hope it doesn't become more than a temporary inconvenience. AQ: I really like the color of that gladioli. Nice photo! OG: Am so enjoying your photos, too. That chaffinch was professional quality!
TerryM: This video is for you :-) http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749625/19190404
DibnLib: You said: "DIANE IN INDIANA logged onto the www. pogo.com but couldn't find Scrabble. Can you talk me through further with an idiots guide please."
I'll do my best. Here goes:
(1) Log onto www.pogo.com.
(2) Click on "Word Games", at the top of your screen in green print. This will bring up a list of all available word games.
(3) Click on "Scrabble" from the list.
Hmmm. After clicking on Scrabble, I get a screen asking me to select my country. The two options are "United States and Canada" or "Other Regions." I clicked on 'Other Regions", and it said that Pogo is only licensed to offer Scrabble in the US/Canada. I'll be darned!!! But Lindybird said that she saw Scrabble on the list on her screen. So if you can see the word "Scrabble", click on it and then...
(4) Click on "United States and Canada". Don't select "Other Regions." If you don't mind pretending you're from the U.S., that may bring you to the next screen. If so...
(5) Click on "Play as a Guest." And that will load the Scrabble game. It takes 30 seconds or so to load, and the game will immediately start. From there, you play just like board Scrabble, and you and the computer will take turns making your words. Just drag your tiles to the spaces with your mouse. You will have a time limit of 2 minutes to make your word, but just ignore that, because it will keep extending you more time as long as you need it.
I highly recommend that you register with the site (it's free), instead of playing as a guest. You just have to pick a name and a password. That will let you choose your level of play (from Beginner to Expert, etc.). There are 6 levels of difficulty. Good luck!!!
Works well outsied USA and Canada if you don't tell it you live elsewere ;-)
Smiles, Jan.
LOL Thanks, Wattle. I figured it might.
DibnLib: Let me know if you have any trouble.
Have been doing my jigsaw with various eyes in various places. All quiet on the nests, but it's been raining. Odin is late this morning, though he's done some fly-bys. Nobody visited Marge yet. :-( I'm back to the Daily Update to see who shows up and when, then off to bed. Out most of the day Sunday. Take care all.
Health notice about the ash, it is only advisory, for those with existing problems. Although my eyes feel a bit itchy.
http://www.nhs.uk/news/2010/04April/Pages/Volcano-health.aspx
ChloeB & Tiger's Osprey Data Site
Sat track schedule Spring 2014
LG 7 days; RW & SWT nil; LDOP varies
Morning all, hazy here this morning, but less breezy than yesterday afternoon. Thanks for the cat vid Diane, what an adventurous travelling cat, I wonder if he's got sore feet. Nice avatar jsb, anyone we know?
Terry in Cumbria
Morning All. Started with a heavy mist here today, clearing up now that the sun is out. Thanks to AQ for gorgeous gladioli pic, how colourful your flowers are.
My eyes have been itchy since yesterday: wonder if its the dust ? I had put it down to early hayfever, although I don't usually suffer until much later in the year.
OH is still in bed, we shared some mugs of tea and have been watching the Formula 1 Race in China - rain there, on and off! Shall go back to bed shortly to watch the end of the race - how decadent that feels, still, it is Sunday.
Like the avatar, jsb!