I recently started reading Adrian Greaves' book "Lawrence of Arabia". The second sentence nearly put me off reading the rest of the book... which would have been a shame. It is excellent. (More on that in a moment!) But first... here are the opening words of the preface. Can you spot what I objected to …
Author: notanotherid
Database about books in a library- just an example
The following describes a hypothetical database. Many, many similar tasks could be taken care of with nearly identical databases. If you aren't interested in books in libraries, you could still find the following interesting or useful! It is presented here for two reasons... It may interest database novices as an exercise in what is called …
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Queen’s passing- a footnote
I've written a more important page about some of my experiences of our great loss, in September 2022. This page is about a small footnote to the bigger story. Before my bags were unpacked from about a week away from home enjoying one visitor from abroad, either overseas friends arrived, passing through London. It was …
Queen’s passing-Overview
On my first day in England, long ago, it was the Trooping of the Colour. We went down to the Mall, to see Her Majesty ride to Buckingham Palace from Horseguards. She passed by, very close to young me. I have spent much of a lifetime inspired by her extraordinary example of sacrifice and service. …
Nice, don’t you think? Mutual back-scratching
I wonder what the story is behind the following? But first, a little background for you. Books, for a long time now, usually start with a "Title Page". Duh. Usually on the right hand page, as you view it. This much you knew. Until fairly recently, it was usual to have something "pretty" on the …
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Hate mathematics? It could be worse!
Be thankful. Be very thankful. (Disclaimer: Sorry... I confess. I like mathematics. But I do sympathize with those who don't. Hence this post!) Here's how some trigonometry things were explained in 1753... From Potter's System of Practical Mathematics Rule 1 is simple (really) and useful (really)! (Though I can't tell you why the text says …
A Lazarus app to receive HTTP POSTs
This is very rough... but ready, up to a point. Not good enough for you? You can stop reading at any time! (^_^) Okay. I'm not very proficient in a LOT of what's involved here. Maybe you aren't, either? If some of what I have to say is "obvious" to you, I am very happy …
Boreman’s Three Hundred Animals
About 1730, a London bookseller, first published his "Three Hundred Animals". Or to be faithful to his creation, the book that by 1753 was "titled"... A Description of Three Hundred Animals, Viz. Beasts, Birds, Fishes, Serpents, And Insects With A particular Account of the Manner of their Catching of Whales in Greenland ! This wasn't …
Thunderbird- Export, back up just your contacts
There's a tool for exporting "everything". Of course you should use that need occasionally, or other techniques, to back up your Thunderbird assets generally... it includes your messages. But what if you want to take a copy of just your contacts. Take a copy that you can use in any general app? Easy! Use Tools/ …
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Skype Contacts- back up, use elsewhere
I like Skype. I liked it better before Microsoft took it over, but I guess I'm glad that the developers got their cash. Anyway... like all these things, it has sucked me in. My ink-on-paper copy of phone numbers I use is out of date. In any case, I might lose my smartphone, or it …
Odds and ends 