Why Am I Here?

I’m not getting far in all my grand plans and schemes for greatness on the web. I wanted to have an amazing site for writers, a huge gallery of ASCII art (my own and all those I have enmassed over the years) and I wanted to make a really cute web presence for myself, with lots of red, white and slightly girlish graphics which I would have made myself. I do have some of the graphics. They are sitting on my hard drive or in my desk drawer, as yet unscanned. What keeps you from doing all the things you most want to do?

I don’t think it’s fear of failure. I have a tendency to jump in and not look back. If I was afraid of failing I’d have to be someone who looks back and second guesses a lot. It’s not laziness or a lack of ambition. I have a lot of ambition and so many ideas which keep cramming themselves into my head. I’m not sure what is the problem. Is it possible I just don’t want to start, afraid of my own greatness or where it will all end? I know that sounds pompous or slightly mad. But, a life of verbal abuse does strange things to your perception. I grew up that way and I know I’m not over it. I don’t even know how to get over it. Talk about forgiving is fine. He’s dead, what does it matter how I feel now? There’s no going back from dead. Dead is done.

I do wonder why I’m here, what was the point of it all? I’m not likely to have kids now, so what will it matter that I was ever here at all. Who will know in 30 years that I ever thought anything or what I cared about.

I Resigned from Dmoz Today

I’m no longer sure when I originally wrote this. It may have been around 2010. I did leave for years and then came back in 2016, I think. But, the whole thing was dumped by AOL (Verizon/AOL) and became Curlie. You can visit the directory, still being updated by volunteers, at the new site. Curlie.org

It stopped being fun or interesting. Tired of getting email from sploggers who think I should list their great site full of ads. Tired of attitude from editors who don’t seem to care about the sites they edit just being right or better than anyone else. I salute the old Dmoz and the people I knew then. It’s not here any more and now neither am I.

I joined the Open Directory Project in November of 1998 so November of 2007 seems like a good time to leave. Sort of rounding out the date. I really enjoyed the first few years. The years after that were kind of like dealing with a bitchy old relative you just seem stuck with for some reason. I couldn’t quite give up being an editor. I loved finding new sites, new ideas and new things to try and learn about on my own. But, the pettiness and back biting was always there. I felt I was always being judged and nit picked at. I had not felt appreciated or welcome even for a long time.

So now I’m gone. Maybe I will amass my own mini directory for the rural exploration sites. Not sure I want to take on another project though. I don’t need to. I have the Flickr group and that is enough. It’s really all I wanted, a local bunch to share photos and locations and maybe get together for coffee. So, it’s all good.

A good time to leave when the categories I cared about most have pretty much fallen into dust or splog. Writers Resources is mainly splog, not much of real quality there any more. ASCII Art is covered in dust bunnies. It gets me sadder each time I have to delete an old listing gone by the wayside. Urban exploration is growing but I was told by another editor that I don’t know what I’m doing there. She deleted a bunch of subcategories and listings I had done. That rankled me.

Anyway, the end of the Dmoz era has cometh upon me. I won’t miss it. I won’t look back. I sure won’t miss the old shedragon moniker either! I outlived that several years ago. 🙂

Links in Canadian Cuisine

 

 

A history of cooks and cooking, foods and foodways in Canada.

 

Dotty’s Recipes

 

Collection of tried and true recipes, reflecting Canada’s ethnic diversity. Dorothy Rheaume.

 

J.J.’s Complete Guide to Canada: Canadian Foods

 

An explanation of Canadian meals. Unique food and drinks.

 

 

The Ontario Maple Syrup Producers Association provides numerous recipes that use maple syrup.

 

 

Lovella Schellenberg enjoys farm and family life western coast of British Columbia. Traditions of food and faith.

 

 

Information about the show and the cook, with recipes and kitchen tips.

 

Voyageur Storytelling: Country Supper Recipes

 

Small collection of recipes from the French Canadian trappers of yesteryear.

 

 

The list includes: figgy duff, Saskatoon berry pie, butter tarts, and split pea soup. (August 03, 2012)

 

 

 

Valerie Lugonja showcases the evolution of Canadian Prairie cuisine. Based in Edmonton, Alberta.

 

 

 

DNA Gardens: Prairie Berry Recipes

 

Dessert dishes made from such familiar prairie berries as saskatoon, chokecherries and black currants.

 

 

Recipes for dishes using Manitoba grown ingredients.

 

 

Original recipes provided by this northern Alberta resident.

 

A Culinary Tour of New Brunswick

 

 

Provides information on various New Brunswick restaurants and also includes unique recipes.

 

New Brunswick Recipes

 

Mainly seafood recipes. Soups, roasts and desserts.

 

 

Archive of Acadian recipes, including some Cajun and French-Canadian cooking.

 

 

Provides an archive and weekly features for recipes ranging from pickled zucchini to barbequed caribou ribs. St. John’s, Newfoundland.
Original source ODP, now Curlie.

 

ODP .sig Code

E+F+D+++++XDN+++G++Q+++++L?A+++HW-O++BC-T++IS-Krg

Saved for posterity. Most of the links don’t go very far.

ODP .sig Code

This little code originated in a forum thread back in late 2002. We have both an encoder (provided by jtaylorj) and a decoder (provided by ciaran)!

The following explanatory blurb is ripped off from the geek code. Make the appropriate modifications in your head, please.

Geeks, of all people, can seldom be strictly quantified. To facilitate the fact that within any one category you may not be able to determine a specific rating, variables have been designed to allow this range to be included.
@ – for this variable, said trait is not very rigid, may change with time or with individual interaction. For example, Geeks who happen to very much enjoy Star Trek: The Next Generation, but dislike the old 60’s series might list themselves as t++@.
() – for indicating “cross-overs” or ranges. Geeks who go from C+ to C— depending on the situation (i.e. mostly “C+”) could use C+(—). @ is different from () in that () has finite limits within the category, while @ ranges all over.
< – for ‘wannabe’ ratings. Indicating that while the geek is currently at one rating, they are striving to reach another. For example, C++>$ indicating a geek that is currently computer savvy, but wants to someday make money at it.
$ – Indicates that this particular category is done for a living. For example, UL+++$ indicates that the person utilizes Unix and gets paid for it. Quite a lucky geek, for sure. ODP Code note: this only applies to staff!
? – Unless stated otherwise within the specific category, the ? is placed after the category identifier and indicates that the geek has no knowledge about that specific category. For example, a person that has never even heard of Babylon 5, would list their Babylon 5 category as 5?
! – Placed before the category. Unless stated otherwise, indicates that the person refuses to participate in this category. This is unlike the ? variable as the ? indicates lack of knowledge, while the ! indicates stubborn refusal to participate. For example, !E would be a person that just plain refuses to have anything to do with Emacs, while E? would be a person that doesn’t even know what Emacs is.

Let the ODP Code begin!

Position

  • E = Editor
  • E+ = Editall
  • E++ = Editall+Catmv
  • E+++ = Meta
  • E+- = Cateditall
  • E++- = Catmod
  • E! = Staff

Forums

  • F++++ = I’m totalxsive.
  • F+++ = Seriously addicted to the forums. I’ve learned several languages by reading each and every World forum thread.
  • F++ = Active on a daily basis. A forum is the first thing that comes to my mind when hearing “Café”, “Penguin”, or a combination of both.
  • F+ = Reading relevant threads quite regularly. I’m even contributing to fun forum threads once in a while.
  • F = I’ve been to the Penguin Café once, and I remember participating in a reorg discussion about… well… whatever.
  • F- = I introduced myself in the New Editor Forum several months ago. Oh, and I read some threads about current reorganisations. Well – at least item0.
  • F– = ODP forums? Boooooring!! I prefer to post to external forums, mocking fellow editors.
  • F!: I’ve just discovered/remembered that UBB code (and similar) doesn’t work here. (now obsolete)

Duration of Editorship

  • D = just joined (less than a year)
  • D+ = 12 – 23 months
  • D++ = 24 – 35 months
  • D+++ = 36 – 47 months
  • D++++ = 48 months – 59 months
  • D+++++ = five years or more
  • D* = I am skrenta.
  • D- = I would like to join.
  • D+++x = I am on a break from the ODP (+++ = total “active” time before the break)
  • D!- = I resigned by my own free will (no abuse etc.)
  • D! = I have been removed from the ODP.
  • D!! = I have an ODP hate site.

Other Directories

Number of Edits

  • N? = 0
  • N— = 1 – 50
  • N– = 51-100
  • N- = 101-500
  • N = 501-1000
  • N+ = 1001-5000
  • N++ = 5001-10000
  • N+++ = 10001-50000
  • N! = rpfuller

Graphics

  • G = I’ve suggested smilies and/or Mozzies in the appropriate threads, but have never made any.
  • G+ = I’ve submitted a couple of smilies or at least one Mozzie.
  • G++ = I’ve submitted at least 2 smilies and 2 Mozzies or I have bea-u-tified my Editor profile page.
  • G+++ = I’ve helped with making Editor Awards, and I’ve submitted both smilies and Mozzies.
  • G++++ = I’ve submitted smileys and Mozzies faster than Business gets spammed.
  • G+++++ = I edit Bookmarks/M/mozzie and/or host Editor Awards on my own server(s).
  • G* = I’m enarra.
  • G- = I wish I knew how to design or make graphics.
  • G! = Graphics, who needs ’em? I view the web in text only.
  • G? = Why can’t we have animated smilies and Mozzies?
  • G?!?! = I don’t understand why there isn’t an all Flash version of the ODP.

Edit Quality

  • Q = average quality edits
  • Q+ = good quality edits
  • Q++ = great edits!
  • Q+++++ = they asked me to become an editall after 100 edits
  • Q- = working on it
  • Q– = oops!
  • Q—: Whaht iz zpellinghk? Geidleighns?

Loser/Luzer

  • Lu = B-ing @ luser’z kewl!
  • Lo = I’m a loser. So what? Peons are a necessary part of any group.
  • Lu(o) = Sometimes my ego doesn’t overshadow my loserness.
  • Lo(u) = I’ll proudly admit to being a loser in the proper context, of course.
  • Lu>o = I’m maturing and one day won’t be so proud of my status, but I’ll still be a loser.
  • Lo>u = I’m trying to be a “kewl” loser.
  • L> = I’m attempting to achieve non-loser status, but I’m not there yet.
  • L? = I don’t get it.
  • !L? = I refuse to designate something I don’t understand.
  • !L = I refuse to participate in (or admit to) having loser status.
  • L@ = I range across the entire loser scale.

Editing Activity

  • A+++++ = I’m a human robot.
  • A++++ = If I don’t do at least 100 edits a day I get withdrawal symptoms. I sleep in the ODP IRC room.
  • A+++ = I’m not going out as much as I used to. My marriage is showing signs of weakness caused by too much late night editing.
  • A++ = I’ve started applying for new cats because I’ve run out of greens.
  • A+ = I log on regularly to edit. I’ve even started adding non-submitted sites.
  • A = I doing just enough editing to keep ‘my’ cats maintained, but that’s all you’ll see of me.
  • A- = I’m still around, just not logging in as much as I used to be.
  • A– = I’m still looking after my pet cats; sometimes.
  • A— = I hardly recognise any of the editor names anymore.
  • A—- = I’ve forgotten how to work the edit buttons. If they don’t ban me for bad editing, I’ll accidently timeout soon.
  • A! = I’ve temporarily stopped all editing for reasons too complex to explain, but I will be back.
  • A!! = I’ve timed out having previously set A!: I thought I’d be back, but evidently not.

Humor

  • H– = Neither uses nor recognizes humor. Probably isn’t reading this.
  • H- = Just the facts, ma’am/man.
  • H = A little laughter helps break the tension.
  • H+ = A lot of laughter really helps break the tension.
  • H++ = Don’t read my posts while drinking cocoa, that crt’s hard to clean.
  • H! = magne

Where Editing Happens

  • W = At work, of course
  • W+ = At work and at home
  • W++ = At work and at home and with a laptop…everywhere
  • W- = At home
  • W– = At home on weekends
  • W! = DMOZ wouldn’t run without me…I own a small computer company so I can edit anywhere
  • W!! = What are you talking about? This is my work, my social life, the reason for my existence.
  • W? = I never edit. I just read the forums on the library’s computer when I get there.

Opinion of ODP

  • O+++ = It’s perfect. I can’t think of anything that could be made better.
  • O++ = It’s very good, but it has a few flaws.
  • O+ = Mostly, it works. Sometimes, it doesn’t – but I can live with that.
  • O = It’s just another directory.
  • O- = It’s a good idea in theory, but it’s obviously not in practice.
  • O– = It’s not even a good idea in theory. It was obvious volunteer-run directories would lead to chaos from the start.
  • O— = It sucks. ODP should be taken out and shot.

Bumping

  • B+ = I’m a good editor and never bump any threads that I’m not supposed to.
  • B = I’ve probably bumped the odd thread now and again that I shouldn’t.
  • B- = I’ve bumped 07:10PM, No, Miriamisms, Lycos is using a false editor name and Welcome to the Forum.
  • B– = I’ve bumped all of the above and more.
  • B! = I’ve received a staff warning for my bumping.

This Code (not presently recognized by the decoder)

  • C- = This is cute, but we should have spent the time editing.
  • C = Finally, a system to quantify myself in relation to other editors so that I know where I can increase my involvement in the project.
  • C+ = I submitted suggestions for the code.
  • C* = I’m either etoile or ciaran.

Editor Tools

  • T! = The last time I used a power tool I broke something and autumn had to fix it.
  • T– = I’m afraid to use power tools.
  • T- = Tools? What tools?
  • T = I use tools occasionally.
  • T+ = I have at least one tool bookmarked.
  • T++ = I’ve suggested a new tool or feature that was implemented.
  • T+++ = I’ve created at least one tool.
  • T++++ = I recreated at least one of nurey’s tools.
  • T* = I’m rpfuller or dlugan.
  • T+++!!: I’m autumn.

Interaction Online

  • I— = Instant Messaging is stupid. What’s wrong with feedback?
  • I– = Never used IM for ODP matters, but may consider it
  • I- = I have at least 1 IM system, but never talked to any other editors with it.
  • I = I occasionally talk to other editors online
  • I+ = I regularly talk to other editors and pop into #ODP now and again
  • I++ = I got broadband just so that could IM all day, and spend a lot of time in #ODP
  • I+++ = I live in #ODP, and would suffer withdrawal symptons if it ever went away
  • I! = I host the ODP:IRC server

Social Interaction (not presently recognized by the decoder)

  • S! = I won’t meet people from the internet – don’t you watch the news?!
  • S– = I’ve never met or spoken to another editor offline.
  • S- = I’ve talked to a few on the phone… what a buncha geeks!
  • S = I’ve met one or two editors in person or talk to several regularly by phone.
  • S+ = I socialize with several regularly in person or have newwave on speed-dial.
  • S++ = I’ve attended an editor gathering or meetup.
  • S+++ = I’ve slept in robjones‘s barn multiple times or slept with raggedyrugs at least once.
  • S++++ I’ve organized or hosted an editor gathering or meetup.
  • S* = I met my spouse through ODP (e.g., kfander).

Kategories (yeah, yeah, C was already taken – this is for your main focus)

What does your code say about you? Though instead of decoding with a bar code scanner, these codes have to be looked at to understand them. While a symbol scanner equipped with a touch screen monitor may help in business, decoding ODP code is half the fun!

 

Fes Up Challenge from Facebook

This was posted by Bev. Here are my answers.

‘Fess up challenge!
-bath or shower? Shower
-straight or curly hair? Curly
-favorite movie? Not really.
-favorite holiday? St. Patrick’s Day
-Android or iPhone? Landline only.

  • texting or calling? Email.
    -Facebook or Twitter? Twitter
  • favorite type of food? Mexican but not spicy and no cilantro.
  • dream job? Evil villain or horror writer.
    -favorite pizza? homemade with mozzarella cheese
  • favorite cake? homemade cheesecake
  • night or day? Very early morning.
    -summer or winter? Winter
    -wine or whiskey? Pass the coffee.
  • favorite egg style? fried in butter on a toasted plain bagel.
    -favorite TV show? Not really
    -hair up or down? Got a shorter cut now I mostly just let it do what it wants.Or I tame it with a bandana when it goes too far.
    -jeans or leggings? Sort of track yoga pants. I don’t want something clinging to my curves or showing my ass.
    -favorite rock band? None.
    -favorite color? Dark red, sometimes orange or blue.
    -pullover or button-up shirt? Sack, with sleeves.
    -flip flops or sneakers? Bare feet or clogs. Boots if there is snow.
    -big pursue or small? Massive. I’m prepared for impulse travel.Plus, I always bring a book, a camera… other stuff.
    -how many tattoos? None
  • how many piercings? Five in my ear lobes have never healed over from a piercing accident in my youth.
    -diamonds or pearls? I prefer Rhinestones with a lot of flashy colours.
  • favorite animal? Cats, barn cats, feral or big cats.
  • Rap or country music? Turn that down!
    -Hiking or fishing? Exploring without harming worms or spiders.
  • favorite place to shop? Second hand stores.
  • best feature? My face. I’m 50+ and no one believes me. (They aren’t just being nice to the crazy, old lady).