BS: what to do when MC is down?

Subject: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 05 Dec 08 - 12:02 PM

Any ideas to help me maintain my sanity in case the Mudcat goes down this weekend?

Given the last couple of weekends I thought I would collect some ideas before IT happens.

I am basically sofa bound due to respiratory virus, so PLEASE no outside activities and no indoor activities unsuitable for lungs that are in a weakened state.

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: s&r
Date: 05 Dec 08 - 12:16 PM

Our chemist has run out of little blue indicator thingies

Stu

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 05 Dec 08 - 12:17 PM

Learn a new song or two

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 05 Dec 08 - 12:23 PM

there is always The Annexe - http://www.jonbanjo.com/forum/forum.php

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 05 Dec 08 - 12:29 PM

Acquire a dachshund. His attempts to steal food, assert hegemony, destroy furniture, and soil the rug will keep you busy and fully entertained during those long hours.

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 05 Dec 08 - 12:33 PM

Our chemist has run out of little blue indicator thingies


Huh?

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 05 Dec 08 - 12:40 PM

I cannot sing in this state so learning new song is not probable. Guess I could lip synch, but that's another thread.

Thank god for Annexe.

I am more of a cat person. But curiosity prompts me to ask exactly how would I acquire said canine terror in the fading hours of Friday?

I was kind of hoping for silly, fun, serious, informational, edifying things to look up on internet.

Maybe I should try to learn to knit again.

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: Bill D
Date: 05 Dec 08 - 12:46 PM

Download and play weird music that you wouldn't hear otherwise...

or...just play GOOD music on your computer.

I could play various music for weeks without repeating any, using any of several wonderful music programs....

Not only that, but you can listen to all sorts of things with something like Screamer Radio ...free Internet radio.

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: Rapparee
Date: 05 Dec 08 - 12:52 PM

Have you considered...books???

They're pretty cutting edge and indeed you have to be careful not to get cut by the "pages" (it's called a "paper cut") inside. Unlike stuff on the Internet, their contents remain the same and that let's you read them over and over and enjoy the same "contents" each time. You can even discover nuances you missed before!

Because the people that make these new things know we are now a visual society, lots of times they even include pictures which you can even modify with a "pen" or a marker if the "book" belongs to you.

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 05 Dec 08 - 02:05 PM

Blue indicator thingies, are [I think] the little sticks that ladies pee on to ascertain whether or not they are in an 'interesting condition'
That means the handle s&r obviously stands for sex and recreation!
This equates Mudcat outages with New York City power cuts.

XG

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: Little Robyn
Date: 05 Dec 08 - 02:13 PM

Like Leadfingers said, this is where we went:
The Annex
Put it in your Favourites and join us when the cat goes down.
(But the cat came back.......)
Robyn

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 05 Dec 08 - 02:14 PM

Will be listening to lots of music this weekend. New music, as I have had a number of CDs come in letter box yesterday and today.

I do read, quite a lot, usually several books in tandem. I can only do it in short bits of time. Arthritis in hands and neck. Besides, it is really difficult moving the cling film every time I turn the page. Coughing endlessly.

But you have given me an idea... to pull out the children's stories I was working on yonks ago and do some revisions and more illustrations.


I am too sick for sex!!! That didn't sound right.

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 05 Dec 08 - 02:24 PM

ps books on my night table at the moment

Sense and Sensibility because I am looking for nuances missed the last 3 times I read it.

Sword of Shanara purely for nostalgic reasons - 1st read when I was 19 nearly 30 years ago. God it sure is rubbish, but it puts me to sleep which is good.

Wee Free Men - because I have exhausted all my partner's Pratchett library.

The Ode Less Travelled - In the hopes I will be inspired to start writing again.

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: gnu
Date: 05 Dec 08 - 02:25 PM

Depends on the kind of sex. Take it easy, eh?

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: Amos
Date: 05 Dec 08 - 02:40 PM

Call up a series of friends and whisper to them.

Plan a book of your own and write the first 1,000 words.

Learn banjo or Travis picking (not at the same time).

Plan a dinner party down to the last detail.

ANalyze historical trends and evolve three improvements to national fiscal policy. Write a white paper on same and submit to your Congree or Parliament.

You don't need more "unreal" things to do.



A

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: Rapparee
Date: 05 Dec 08 - 03:07 PM

If I send you the data, would you analyze and correlate the circulation of this Library, the county unemployment rate, and the number of people employed from January 1978 to October 2008? I'm looking for trends that indicate a) if the library circulation is a good indicator of economic trends, b) if this area lags behind the nation in economic downturns and if so, by what time period, and c) anything else of interest.

I want to use deviation from the median and the mean as well and high-low averaging, among other things.

Would you do it?

Please.......................please.............please............

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 05 Dec 08 - 03:15 PM

Rapaire

Tempting - NOT! Sorry man. You have my sympathies.

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: bobad
Date: 05 Dec 08 - 03:29 PM

If you like BillD's idea of listening to weird music that you wouldn't hear otherwise try this site: http://www.aprilwinchell.com/audio/

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: s&r
Date: 05 Dec 08 - 03:55 PM

Sex & Recreation. Like the idea John: the R part of S&R has to agree. The blue thingies was true - I was in a queue at the local chemist, and the assistant told the lady in front that they'd none left.

May not have been down to Mudcat.

But then again..

Stu

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: gnomad
Date: 05 Dec 08 - 06:09 PM

Lacemaking is one possibility. If you are at the 'cover things with clingfilm' stage a coarser version might be in order, in which case Macrame.

Next years birthday cards won't write themselves, will they?

I am taking it as read that this year's Xmas cards are already sorted, OK, next year's?

Oh, you're not planning to live that long? Hmmm.

Have you reviewed your will recently?

You're feeling better?




Good.

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: Bill D
Date: 05 Dec 08 - 06:29 PM

bobad!!!! Oh my, oh my, oh my....... that is CRUEL....I want them ALL.

I want O.J. to get the minimum sentence...9 years....with those songs played continously in his cell.

(You haven't LIVED until you've heard "Love Potion #9" done as Chinese R&R)

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: bobad
Date: 05 Dec 08 - 06:49 PM

Hey, if you think those are good try "Pammies On A Bummer" by Sonny Bono and "Nature Boy" by Tony Randall.

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: Bill D
Date: 05 Dec 08 - 07:01 PM

I'll *shudder* get to those...need my antacid first.

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: bobad
Date: 05 Dec 08 - 07:29 PM

You'll need an extra dose for this one: "When A Man Loves A Chicken"

Sorry for hijacking the thread but these are too good (in a bad way) not to share. I'll go now.

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: Bobert
Date: 05 Dec 08 - 07:43 PM

Smoke pot!!!

(But ya' do that when MC is up, Boberdz???)

Exactly what is the purpose of this thread???

B~

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 05 Dec 08 - 07:48 PM

Alcohol?

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 05 Dec 08 - 07:50 PM

Invite people you dislike over for a visit. Then infect them with your nasty respiratory virus.

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 05 Dec 08 - 07:52 PM

Oh, how could I forget (if someone will catch them for you)





SHEEP




(or ferrets)




Terry's chocolate orange.



Internet porn?



Backup computer system, format C and clean registry?

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: Bobert
Date: 05 Dec 08 - 07:58 PM

That's too close to home, Richie, seein' as we have goats right down the hill from here...

Ahhhhhh, for the record, I did not have sex with that goa...........

B~

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: Don Firth
Date: 05 Dec 08 - 09:46 PM

Following up on Rapaire's suggestion that you might try to pass the time with books, those who are most familiar with the computer may need a little assistance in how to make use of this ancient technology. Actually, many centuries ago, books replaced scrolls. A scroll was a long sheet of paper or parchment with text on it that was rolled up for storage. It wasn't something you did with your mouse or the scroll bar at the side of your screen, because they didn't have screens as such yet. When scrolls were up-graded to books, it took a bit of time for people to get used to how to use them. The following film may be of aid.

Help Desk

Glad to be of assistance. Get well soon.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 05 Dec 08 - 11:22 PM

If you're looking for Internet-oriented stuff to do, try these:

Go to Distributed Proofreaders and sign on as a proofreader of digitized books for Project Gutenberg. There is a wide range of projects you can work on, and you only need to proofread one page at a time.

Go to one of the following web sites and listen to (or download) old music, free:
The Cylinder Preservation and Digitization Project
The Honking Duck (old country music)
The Red Hot Jazz Archive
The Virtual Gramophone (Canadian music)

Go to Wikipedia and read about any topic that interests you.

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: Gurney
Date: 06 Dec 08 - 12:19 AM

Doze. Read. Watch TV. Feel sorry for yourself. Pull out all your music and put all the numbers in a spreadsheet, or rip them to MediaMonkey, so that you can find them easily (assuming you have enough memory). Badger your partner to buy you more memory. Put on your earphones, much more introspective than 'speakers. Pull the side off you conputer and blow the cat-hairs from the heatsink. Try to learn that instrument you bought at the folk festival, and have never tried. (Ocarina? Swanee whistle?)) YouTube, if your connection is fast, until it isn't. Facebook. CD Baby. 'Make 'em Laugh.' EBay. Look for folk sites in countries where you may go one day. Spider Solitaire. ASS lv. That's right, it's in Latvia, but it has English 'Joki.' Google 'dictionaries.' Google yourself and your friends and relations.
I'll admit when I'm ill I only ever do the first four, but I THINK about the others.

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 06 Dec 08 - 04:29 AM

Do NOT blow inside computer by mouth. The tiniest bit of moisture can fry your motherboard. I once made that mistake and fried motherboard, PSU, two optical drives, a floppy, and one IDE drive (with a lot of data on that I had backed up from the C partition to the F partition - ever since I have used a separate IDE drive AND written CDs).

Use a can of compressed air, or at the very worst a "puttah" (sort of flat rubber orange with a nose on the side, and sophisticated ones have a one-way valve in the body - or on a more industrial scale the footpump you use to inflate your airbed.

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 06 Dec 08 - 05:11 AM

Wow some good suggestions here (excepting sheep and internet porn). I will save this page offline in the event of unthinkable (MC failure).

Used to do macrame. A decade ago I made 3 snowy white net dresses to wear over velvet concert gowns for me and my daughters. God that was some work.

Oddly enough I pulled out my 4 hole English ocarina on Thursday and started playing it again. The tone feels funny in my ears.

I am feeling much better this morning so ironing will be done and a little housework. If I start ailing again Christmas cards and work on children's stories. More practice on RB's Mandolin and on my Dulcimer.

Thank you all for playing.

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: quokka
Date: 06 Dec 08 - 07:01 AM

I second Facebook, there's quite a few Mudcatters you can get to know a little better, we are in the Mudcat Cafe group. Last count there was 135 or so of us. I've put a couple of the videos from Youtube via Mudcat on there.Very handy for when Mudcat is down.

Cheers,
Quokka

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 06 Dec 08 - 07:22 AM

go paedophile spotting down the library....

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 06 Dec 08 - 07:23 AM

if all else fails I have a lively internal discussion about the true nature of folk music.

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 06 Dec 08 - 03:00 PM

Extreme body modification using only kitchen implements.

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: GUEST,number 6
Date: 07 Dec 08 - 11:28 AM

Richard Bridge .... jeeezuz, what the hell we're you drinking ???

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 Dec 08 - 11:36 AM

I'm spending my odd moments assembling a mosaic of 1960's aerial photographs of where I taught school in Ethiopia during that time. I'm planning a re-visit in late February.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 07 Dec 08 - 01:42 PM

Well I did get all of the ironing done and some house work. Listened to several new CDs and an old one. Practiced dulcimer but no singing.   No voice yet.

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 07 Dec 08 - 04:17 PM

Join Facebook

Become my friend

Join the 'Mudcat cafe' group

Go to my profile (boxes) page and install Knighthood - swear fealty to me!

:-)

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: Rowan
Date: 07 Dec 08 - 08:10 PM

I'm spending my odd moments assembling a mosaic of 1960's aerial photographs of where I taught school in Ethiopia during that time.

Have fun transferring Principal Points, Charley.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 01:16 PM

I set up a small site a couple of years ago, when the Mudcat was going through a bad bout of hiccups.
It's HERE
It's no Annexe, however it's there to be used if needed, due to the odd visiting eedjits, it's members only.

XG

Subject: RE: BS: what to do when MC is down?
From: Rasener
Date: 09 Dec 08 - 03:13 PM

If you like your folk music, then go to my site and you have a whole load of folksingers on there and you can listen to 5 or 6 songs from each performer. Scroll down until you see all the freinds on my website. Just click on each picture, then come back and click on the next one. There is enough there to keep you happy for the weekend.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=310835943