Here SW of Atlanta we are once again getting the weather “training” across us. Since 0400 we have received over 2" of rain again. At last count we are over 14" above average on rain for the year. My grass is out of control since I’ve been unable to mow. May have to get it bush hogged…
Anyone know if CSX and NS are having bridge problems ? Our A&WP subdivision has several older wooden bridges that may get scoured but so far no problems.
Thinking about installing waterwings on the truck… Wet all over this past week, headed back towards the house for the fourth, hopefully can keep rolling all weekend. See everyone later…
We are in our sixth or seventh day in a row with 100 degree+ temperatures. The record is ten days, and we do not expect to break it this time. If some of you folks back east could send us your excess water, we can use it; we had hardly any rain in June, and do not really expect much this month.
I was a little tired of my old computer, and traded it in yesterday. This one has Windows 8, and I wonder why such great changes were made between the old system and the new; it is miserable and abominable.
Aside from the above, life is great here. As I may have mentioned, when she has time to prepare supper, Katie asks me up to eat with her and Jackie (if Jackie is home). Last night, we went out to a sushi restaurant–they both enjoy sushi, and I order some other Japanese dish. I do not feel compelled to do yard work, for Katie enjoys doing such; I do police the yard once a week, picking up after Holly (Dalbrador or Labmatian–we are not sure which she is), and little bit here and there.
Sometimes I think they monitor our use of their programs, and if they find a feature that gets used a lot, they remove it, or at least make it hard to use. That seems to be the case for me (it often applies to things I like to buy, too…)
There is actually a precedent for that, albeit probably not for the same reason.
When typewriters were being developed, there came a need to slow down typists, as the mechanicals in early typewriters couldn’t keep up with the speed of the typists. Thus the E key, which should be the most used (at least in English) involves a reach instead of being one of the “home row” keys. Anyone who has ever typed with an old-fashioned manual typewriter knows from whence I speak.
The Dvorak keyboard makes more sense, but the now-traditional QWERTY keyboard is so ubiquitous that replacing it today would be virtually impossible.
Dvorak’s keyboard:
Years ago, I was tested at 85 wpm on a manual (piano lessons helped) I looked at this keyboard and immediately broke a “knuckle” (see forum) and 3 fingernails. Would be a one finger typist on this. Would be like taking the main 2 octaves on a piano and rearranging them. Wow…
And there lies the rub. Supposedly, if you became proficient on the Dvorak layout, you’d be able to type even faster, since it is laid out with the most frequently used keys in the easiest locations. Note that “E” is under the middle finger of the left hand, rather than one row above the home row. No reaching.
I took typing in 10th grade (and really didn’t do very well), but anything above 40 WPM would be virgin territory for me. It was still one of the most useful classes I ever took…
But I don’t think I’m going to bother learning a new keyboard. Not at this stage of the game.
Progress is always change, but change is not always progress.
Microsoft just released an “upgraded, new and improved” version of Win 8; it’s called 8.1 (clever, eh?). See a preview here: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/enterprise/products-and-technologies/windows-8-1/default.aspx
I’m hoping my computer with Win7 lasts until a hopefully improved Win9 comes out. If only the programs I like were released in a Mac version…
Looking at that keyboard gave me a headache. Like Larry, I’ll stick with good ol’ qwerty; at least I can type with four fingers on it.
Good afternoon.
It is much cooler today but we still have a bit of a humidity problem. It is currently 73° feeling like 77°. Last night was a bad one to try and sleep. My system just isn’t used to the kind of heat we had yesterday. Humidex over 100°. We didn’t set any temperature records, but our power consumption did. There were rolling blackouts in some parts of the province.
To work in the CPR Commercial Telegraph department you had to be able to type 50 w.p.m. Dad could do it, but he only used the pointer and index fingers of each hand, with his thumbs for spacing. It was fun to watch him type, as he had an up-and-down motion with his forearms that looked like old time film clips of rag-time piano players.
I also took typing in High School, but I could never get much above 30 w.p.m. Today, I sort of alternate between touch typing and hunt and peck.
Bruce
Maybe someone on here could help me. When I was working, our receptionist had a “new” keyboard that was almost split in half and angled. I wouldn’t go near it since it looked like a headache to me. But she seemed to like it. When she got used to it, she liked it just fine. But I don’t remember what or how.
I’ve seen those, and have seen two-part keyboards - completely split in half. Those that use them seem to like them. I almost think I had one for a while when I was working.
Since I’m usually looking at price when I buy a replacement keyboard, I generally go with a conventional version.
That does remind me of a story I saw about a guy who was riding a bike around the country. Actually, it was a trike, but it was pedal powered.
He had a computer onboard. Instead of a standard keyboard, he had several buttons/keys on the handlebars. By using different combinations of keypresses, he could type just about anything.
I don’t remember what he used for a display while riding.
I Generally use the “Radar Method” of typing; “Seek Out, Home In & Destroy”!!
I also took typing in High School, probably never did better than 25 wpm, now I typically use only one hand when typing, probably do about 35 wpm.
SJ, was the keyboard kind of V-shaped overall? I guess it put the separate halves of the keyboard perpendicular to the respective arms for ergonomically-correct typing. I think I’ve seen them, but they would require getting used to.
I wish my typing lessons had taken hold. I use two fingers and a thumb on each hand, with no way to split a keyboard in half. I used to be a lot more accurate than I am now, judging from the number of times I have to remove a letter next to the one I intended to type. And I also think that my ring and pinky fingers are becoming arthritic from lack of use. (People who watch me type can’t believe I do what I do as well as I do it.)
BC - that’s what it was! Ergonomically correct and looking like something that would take me all day to do what I can do in a matter of minutes. My ergo never hurt, and for about 8 hours a day - I typed. Our receptionist did what they are hired to do - answer phone lines. She did very little typing. Never did figure that out.
I am always amazed when watching mostly men type, that they do very well with just 2-3 digits. Newspaper reporters on manuals. Remember? Manuals strenghtened your fingers and piano just helped.
Ah, the “bent” keyboard…
Looks like I won a trip to Orlando for the weekend, the catch being I have to haul 47,000lbs of beer with me. Oh well, I need the money…
Will be 2,000 miles in four days, and a 3,000 mile week, for once. Not sure what is going on at the main office, but it has not been good. The new Hours of Service rules that started the first of this month won’t help much, either…
Yep, I’m a true truck driver, I complain, would not be fun otherwise…
See everyone later…
I resembled that remark! My last job before joining CNW was as a mild-mannered reporter for a metropolitan daily newspaper…typing my copy out on an ancient manual typewriter, always triple-spaced on sheets of newsprint.
Good Morning
We are back in stick and mug territory again…couple of nice big ol’ t’underbumpers came through here and left us with a great big barrel full of humidity…77F felling like 95F out right now…going up to 84F feeling like unto 100F later on…sigh
Couple of committee meetings to go to later on then off for the weekend…
I have one of those ‘split-key’ keyboards here…use it a lot when wrists are complaining. My favorite exercise is with my 8 string bass guitar…
Have a good one!!
Driver bought a Ukelele - of which I know nothing - but it is larger than Tiny Tim’s, looks like a small guitar and sounds very mellow. After harmonicas, wanting a trumpet - NO - this is nice. Quiet. Love to listen to it.
Warm, a little humid, sunny and very noisy today. Oh joy and rapture!
Yeah Randy, the new “rules” are going to be a problem for a while until one gets the hang of it all. Now I am running casual for a friend who has run out of hours and miles. Abq . is where the run ends . It starts at Phx. Some times it is hard to get past Little America at Flg. toward the end of the week without stopping. Keep the shiny side up and the rubber side down . See ya later
Cannonball
Never seen you type, so don’t know if you use 2-3 or 9. But the old movies always show a reporter typing about 60 wpm with 2-3 fingers. Maybe it was the ever present cigarette…