Posted to Ontario Barn Preservation – Tree Stump Fences

This is the post I wrote about tree stump fences for the Ontario Barn Preservation newsletter, June 2022.

Thinking About Tree Stumps Today

I seldom see those old tree stump fences now. They used to be all over rural Ontario. Do you know the fences I mean? They were tree stumps pulled up (after the tree was cut down, of course) and lined up in rows as a border at the edge of the land or field.… Read the rest

My Idea – Fast Food Happy Meals for Pets

Fast food restaurants should begin serving happy meals for pets.

People seem to be having less human children and more pets. Some call themselves their pet’s parent. (I have never called myself the parent of an animal). People seem to need to keep their pets with them and bring them in the car. So, why don’t fast food restaurants have a happy meal for cats, another for dogs, one for assorted other pets like snakes, gerbils, rats, etc.… Read the rest

My Idea – Build A Lot More Gamification into Online Shopping

Why don’t stores, with online shopping, use more gamification?

Games online use it, but they don’t have the merchandise to take it farther. I think an online shopping retail outlet, like Amazon, Walmart, Shopify, Etsy, etc should combine with an existing game site. Or go on their own with a game developer of their choosing. But, it would be simpler, cost effective, to work with an existing game and merge together.… Read the rest

So Far I am Not Dying of Covid

People who test positive for Covid are sent home. No one calls an ambulance to take them to the emergency department or the isolation room in the hospital. No, they are left to their own devices, sent home in whatever mode of travel they used to get to the Covid test. No one even makes sure they got home ok, or are self isolating.… Read the rest

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.… Read the rest

Considering a Change from WordPress

Not for any special reason but, I am seriously considering changing my sites from WordPress. There are several reasons not to do this: transferring content, themes and plugins I have bought will no longer work, learning (and installing/ setting up) new software. But… I feel WordPress has lost individuals like myself. I’m not a web developer or designer.… Read the rest

Lexophile is a Good Word

My Mother forwarded this in email today:

“Lexophile” is a word used to describe those who love using words in rather unique ways, such as “you can tune a piano, but you can’t tuna fish”, or “to write with a broken pencil is pointless.” A competition to see who can come up with the best one is held every year.

Read the rest

Merry Creepy Christmas 2012

This was originally published on HubPages, for Christmas 2012.

Not everyone celebrates Christmas. But, some people find the Christmas season frightening, creepy and spooky too. Some people don’t like Christmas because it’s scary.

Christmas can be overwhelming. Endlessly repeating Christmas carols, shopping mall Santas, hungry reindeers, cold-hearted snowmen, stunted looking elves and any other ghastly or terribly ugly Christmas related horrors.… Read the rest