More stupidity from me:
Discovering contradictory text in my then-processing YouTube TS2021 episode, I deleted it and uploaded a corrected version. This is well known. What I have not yet divulged is that, late yesterday evening, I noticed two text mistakes in the 'corrected' upload. Typical mistakes for me. The sort I normally let pass once a video is uploaded.
Not this time. First thing this morning, I corrected my local copy and rendered a new upload file. Right after breakfast, before heading out for today's exercise-walk, I deleted the still-processing second upload, began uploading render three, and filled out all YouTube data I normally input. Returning from my exercise-walk, before cleaning CPAP equipment, I did the two things I couldn't do until upload completed; add an "End-Screen" and add the video to my Train Simulator Playlist.
Me being me, I'm sure I'll eventually notice yet more text mistakes as I continue to watch my local copy. My hope is that, from this point forward, I'll do as I normally do and regretfully ignore them, other than correct the local copy. I can't afford to be a perfectionist. I'd get nothing done whatsoever!
Full Version: Your projects
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There was a time when I could replace washers to fix a leaky faucet. It seems that those days are long gone.
1. Hot water pedestal basin single tap was leaking with a very fast drip. After I tried to replace washer well it no longer drips. There’s no water flow at all.
2. Bathtub 3-spindle tap and shower with same problem. I could get the handle off to be able pull out the spindle. After a half hour of fussing with it now leaks faster than it did before.
Should have called a plumber to begin with.
1. Hot water pedestal basin single tap was leaking with a very fast drip. After I tried to replace washer well it no longer drips. There’s no water flow at all.
2. Bathtub 3-spindle tap and shower with same problem. I could get the handle off to be able pull out the spindle. After a half hour of fussing with it now leaks faster than it did before.
Should have called a plumber to begin with.
QUOTE(macole @ Aug 30 2021, 05:55 PM) 
There was a time when I could replace washers to fix a leaky faucet. It seems that those days are long gone.
1. Hot water pedestal basin single tap was leaking with a very fast drip. After I tried to replace washer well it no longer drips. There’s no water flow at all.
2. Bathtub 3-spindle tap and shower with same problem. I could get the handle off to be able pull out the spindle. After a half hour of fussing with it now leaks faster than it did before.
Should have called a plumber to begin with.
I empathize. More and more stuff I used to handle on my own is now beyond me. Leaky faucets included, except the very simplest repairs. (My bathroom sink faucet, for instance, is super easy. The kitchen sink faucet, on the other hand, is more than I can handle.)
PROJECT: balance/reconcile Aug computerized checking account ledger with bank statement
STATUS: done, but not a pretty sight
As with last month, this month proved a time-consuming pain in the rump. Only one incorrectly typed ledger entry this time, quickly noticed and corrected, I'm pleased to say. ($5.28 instead of the correct $2.58) That out of the way, I was still off just over $30. Double-checked all ledger entries. Amounts A-OK. Searching (via computer) for a transaction in the amount I was off found nothing. In the end, my mistake was akin to last month's, only less obvious. Once noticed, it was an easy fix. It just took way too long to notice.
Round two: Bathtub hot water faucet will not shut off. I was talked into giving it one more try. Put on some calming music and it went better. Four hours later; the new spindel may be a bit too long and chrome spindel sleeve my not fit perfectly but the hot water shuts off and no longer drips.
Only cost me $49 in parts and special wrenches, and three trips to the hardware store. Unfortunately I couldn’t get the badly corroded internal valve seat out. Which means I may be replacing a washer fairly soon and often.
We’re looking into to redoing the bath fixtures in the near future. I just hope this patch job last until then. And I’m not doing the rehab!
Only cost me $49 in parts and special wrenches, and three trips to the hardware store. Unfortunately I couldn’t get the badly corroded internal valve seat out. Which means I may be replacing a washer fairly soon and often.
We’re looking into to redoing the bath fixtures in the near future. I just hope this patch job last until then. And I’m not doing the rehab!
I had a week off and we spent some time planting the garden. We've only moved into this house a couple of years ago, and both the front and the back garden needed an overhaul. With the hard landscaping finished, it was now our turn to work (as opposed to the builders): planting. Hard work, that. Not mixing well with arthritis, either. So, we only do a little at a time. But I combined it with some other building work - rebuilding Kvatch. None of the mods that I found did what I wanted, as usual, so roll up your sleeves and get building. A bit in the garden, a bit in the computer. Goes together well. 
Not-so-secret rewrite project:
Book 1- No change. Haven't looked at the draft, because work is being done on other things. ™ 91800 words
Book 2- No change. Still waiting on the final few thousand words in one scene, at which point I will be able to begin revising and moving pieces around to "interweave" the narrators. 98200 words- 96% complete.
Book 3- Main focus of my efforts of late. Adding (and modifying) existing work to fit the new concept. Also just added 3500 words of completely new material. All of which brings the total to 44000.
Long-term projection (subject to changing- or losing- my mind)- 6 to 7 books, with attendant anthology(s) of shorter pieces for background or because they don't fit anywhere else.
Book 1- No change. Haven't looked at the draft, because work is being done on other things. ™ 91800 words
Book 2- No change. Still waiting on the final few thousand words in one scene, at which point I will be able to begin revising and moving pieces around to "interweave" the narrators. 98200 words- 96% complete.
Book 3- Main focus of my efforts of late. Adding (and modifying) existing work to fit the new concept. Also just added 3500 words of completely new material. All of which brings the total to 44000.
Long-term projection (subject to changing- or losing- my mind)- 6 to 7 books, with attendant anthology(s) of shorter pieces for background or because they don't fit anywhere else.
Project: Create, upload and publish new TS2021 video episode
Status: after major setbacks, HD is finally processing.
Worked on creating video and description all yesterday afternoon and much of the evening. (Its thumbnail had been created the day before.) Uploaded it a bit prior to bedtime. Then, disaster hit. The video's outro music received a Copyright Claim notice. As with my previous Claim, this one is provably bogus. However, I didn't feel up to doing the research to create a convincing challenge, that I likely won't win despite being in the right. Instead, I simply deleted the video.
After this morning's exercise-walk, I removed the offending music and substituted a piece I know will not be Claimed, as I used it in an earlier TS2021 episode. I'm not happy with the substitution. My original pick fit the ending much better than its replacement. It is what it is. My local copy is uncorrected. That's what I'll watch. (I will, however, watching the YouTube HD version once prior to publication to insure nothing is amiss.)
SNAFU 2: YouTube, for some reason, couldn't save the video's description. The same description it had no issues with the night before. Took a good bit of time to figure out what was amiss. Turns out it was four of my 'quotation marks'. I retyped those, exactly where they were. Voila, description savable. Go figure.
The video is scheduled to publish Saturday. If 1440p processes soon enough, I might move it forward to Friday.
Status: after major setbacks, HD is finally processing.
Worked on creating video and description all yesterday afternoon and much of the evening. (Its thumbnail had been created the day before.) Uploaded it a bit prior to bedtime. Then, disaster hit. The video's outro music received a Copyright Claim notice. As with my previous Claim, this one is provably bogus. However, I didn't feel up to doing the research to create a convincing challenge, that I likely won't win despite being in the right. Instead, I simply deleted the video.
After this morning's exercise-walk, I removed the offending music and substituted a piece I know will not be Claimed, as I used it in an earlier TS2021 episode. I'm not happy with the substitution. My original pick fit the ending much better than its replacement. It is what it is. My local copy is uncorrected. That's what I'll watch. (I will, however, watching the YouTube HD version once prior to publication to insure nothing is amiss.)
SNAFU 2: YouTube, for some reason, couldn't save the video's description. The same description it had no issues with the night before. Took a good bit of time to figure out what was amiss. Turns out it was four of my 'quotation marks'. I retyped those, exactly where they were. Voila, description savable. Go figure.
The video is scheduled to publish Saturday. If 1440p processes soon enough, I might move it forward to Friday.
Project: Create TS2021 YouTube episode
Status: At a standstill
This should have been a walk in the park, being a continuation of the drive begun the previous episode. Video creation was indeed quick and easy. I simply renamed the prior episode, deleted the drive itself, but kept all intro and outro material in place. I then inserted the drive's raw footage again and edited out the portion of it seen last episode. A few needed changes to title and intro scrolling text and voilà, done. Having time on my hands, I even replaced the prior episode's outro music with something a tad more suitable.
Here's where I hit a brick wall. . . text narrative. I said pretty much all that needs saying during part one. There's nothing to add except redundancy. Yet I need to say something. Push come to shove, I'll recap the locomotive's history, more or less word for word. That at least serves a legitimate purpose.
Status: At a standstill
This should have been a walk in the park, being a continuation of the drive begun the previous episode. Video creation was indeed quick and easy. I simply renamed the prior episode, deleted the drive itself, but kept all intro and outro material in place. I then inserted the drive's raw footage again and edited out the portion of it seen last episode. A few needed changes to title and intro scrolling text and voilà, done. Having time on my hands, I even replaced the prior episode's outro music with something a tad more suitable.
Here's where I hit a brick wall. . . text narrative. I said pretty much all that needs saying during part one. There's nothing to add except redundancy. Yet I need to say something. Push come to shove, I'll recap the locomotive's history, more or less word for word. That at least serves a legitimate purpose.
Writing Project
Book 1- Final draft, sulking in a corner until I am ready to publish
Book 2- 95% complete; 98k words. Printed for proofreading and moving pieces around, all in hopes that will aid in producing the final needed writing.
Book 3- 47k words. Progressing nicely, which is of course why I hit "Pause" in order to fiddle with Book 2.
Book 1- Final draft, sulking in a corner until I am ready to publish
Book 2- 95% complete; 98k words. Printed for proofreading and moving pieces around, all in hopes that will aid in producing the final needed writing.
Book 3- 47k words. Progressing nicely, which is of course why I hit "Pause" in order to fiddle with Book 2.
Project: Create/Publish new TS2021 video
Status: Ahead of schedule
I cranked this one out in record time. Began creating a presentable video from existing raw footage yesterday. Had nearly completed a first draft, minus only its closing two or three minutes, in draft form, by the time I shut down the PC and hit the sack. Spent this morning, discounting breakfast and an exercise-walk, finishing it. Well, as finished as my videos ever are, meaning it lacks polish and likely contains typos and text brain-farts. Whipped out a YT description after lunch, easily done since I can reuse much of the text from my previous episode. Almost for forgot to mention that I'd created a thumbnail for it three or four days ago.
It's uploading as I type. It won't go 'live' until next Saturday, a week from today, at the soonest. I've found it better, viewer-count wise, to publish no more frequently than once every other week, so might hold out and publish 9 Oct. Then again, if I'm wrong about being exempt from YT's coming 1 Nov Studio 2-step verification requirement, posting next week will give me time for more uploads before my YT non-career screeches to a halt.
ADDENDUM:
I should have known. My processing video's opening music, obtained from an online site that specializes in free-to-use, royalty & copyright free music/recordings, with few if any use restrictions, depending on individual selection, got hit with a copyright claim. This time I feel like disputing it, but know it's 'very' dangerous to do so. All it takes is disputing a claim with a scam claimer. Since YouTube allows the claimer to be judge & jury, I'd likely be hosed, hit with a Copying Strike. Not a good thing. Not at all. I just sent an email to OpenMus.org, where the music comes from, asking their advice. If I don't hear back from them. I've a few days to file the dispute, so have time to mull it over.
Status: Ahead of schedule
I cranked this one out in record time. Began creating a presentable video from existing raw footage yesterday. Had nearly completed a first draft, minus only its closing two or three minutes, in draft form, by the time I shut down the PC and hit the sack. Spent this morning, discounting breakfast and an exercise-walk, finishing it. Well, as finished as my videos ever are, meaning it lacks polish and likely contains typos and text brain-farts. Whipped out a YT description after lunch, easily done since I can reuse much of the text from my previous episode. Almost for forgot to mention that I'd created a thumbnail for it three or four days ago.
It's uploading as I type. It won't go 'live' until next Saturday, a week from today, at the soonest. I've found it better, viewer-count wise, to publish no more frequently than once every other week, so might hold out and publish 9 Oct. Then again, if I'm wrong about being exempt from YT's coming 1 Nov Studio 2-step verification requirement, posting next week will give me time for more uploads before my YT non-career screeches to a halt.
ADDENDUM:
I should have known. My processing video's opening music, obtained from an online site that specializes in free-to-use, royalty & copyright free music/recordings, with few if any use restrictions, depending on individual selection, got hit with a copyright claim. This time I feel like disputing it, but know it's 'very' dangerous to do so. All it takes is disputing a claim with a scam claimer. Since YouTube allows the claimer to be judge & jury, I'd likely be hosed, hit with a Copying Strike. Not a good thing. Not at all. I just sent an email to OpenMus.org, where the music comes from, asking their advice. If I don't hear back from them. I've a few days to file the dispute, so have time to mull it over.
Not-So-Secret Writing Project
Book 1- Holding as is- i.e. final draft sitting residing on the computer.
Book 2- 98500 words. First proofread/edit completed. Found two spots
where transition or explanation is needed, plus invented a whole new scene
to "balance" the overall narrative. Still waiting for the "missing" bit.
96%
Book 3- 59000 words. So since it was going so well, I dropped it to go
back and edit Book 2, as that makes perfect sense. 50%?
Book 1- Holding as is- i.e. final draft sitting residing on the computer.
Book 2- 98500 words. First proofread/edit completed. Found two spots
where transition or explanation is needed, plus invented a whole new scene
to "balance" the overall narrative. Still waiting for the "missing" bit.
96%
Book 3- 59000 words. So since it was going so well, I dropped it to go
back and edit Book 2, as that makes perfect sense. 50%?
I'm building Skyrim. 
No, it hasn't been built yet - not for Oblivion and not to my satisfaction, that is. 
In all fairness, TWMP Skyrim Improved is pretty good, but now that we have Skyrim The Game out, some of the areas need updating. Well, may be lots of areas. I am doing Skyrim South first - The Rift and Falkreath Hold.
Have spent the weekend planting trees. In Skyrim, that is. Or rather swapping trees around - it's not The Rift if it's filled with snow-covered white pines, it's got to have birches and aspens in autumnal colours. So I did that. Added grid paths to the land too, so that the roads are now recognised by the AI as well as by the player. Then I extended Riverwood and populated it with familiar characters - just pop in to The Sleeping Giant Inn.
Next on the list is Riften. There isn't a city there, and there needs to be one - because I say so.
I've got a plan, now the fun of building can begin.
No, it hasn't been built yet - not for Oblivion and not to my satisfaction, that is. In all fairness, TWMP Skyrim Improved is pretty good, but now that we have Skyrim The Game out, some of the areas need updating. Well, may be lots of areas. I am doing Skyrim South first - The Rift and Falkreath Hold.Have spent the weekend planting trees. In Skyrim, that is. Or rather swapping trees around - it's not The Rift if it's filled with snow-covered white pines, it's got to have birches and aspens in autumnal colours. So I did that. Added grid paths to the land too, so that the roads are now recognised by the AI as well as by the player. Then I extended Riverwood and populated it with familiar characters - just pop in to The Sleeping Giant Inn.
Next on the list is Riften. There isn't a city there, and there needs to be one - because I say so.
I've got a plan, now the fun of building can begin.
Project: clean myself
Status: done, after a fashion
I'd not showered since preparing for my drive to Urgent Care not this past Wednesday morning, but the Wednesday before that. Now, I've long been tolerant of my own body odor to a point, and living alone need not normally worry about offending others. But even I have my limits. That limit was reached and exceeded yesterday, possibly the day before.
Yet I feared washing. Why, you likely don't care to ask? Because I need to remove my hand brace to do so. Only after my return from Urgent Care did I realize that the nurse who attached the brace never told me how it's done. It looks to be a complicated procedure, especially considering it must be done one-handed. Yet remove it I must. (I was told that it 'can' be returned as needed, just not how.)
I finally drummed up the courage to do so this afternoon. To increase my odds for proper brace reassembly, I dabbed a bit of White-Out around the edges where each velcro strap attaches. I then removed the straps, only afterward realizing I should have removed my clothes first. What's done is done, so there was nothing for it but to shower. I managed it well enough, I suppose, though there are areas I simply can't reach effectively without using my right hand, which I'm not going to do at this stage.
To the plus, I remembered to don my bracer before dressing. I'm not sure it's a good fit. It certainly doesn't fit quite as it did. I just hope it still serves its purpose.
My followup appointment is the eighteenth. By then I hope to have a better feel for how well by hand is healing, if at all.
Status: done, after a fashion
I'd not showered since preparing for my drive to Urgent Care not this past Wednesday morning, but the Wednesday before that. Now, I've long been tolerant of my own body odor to a point, and living alone need not normally worry about offending others. But even I have my limits. That limit was reached and exceeded yesterday, possibly the day before.
Yet I feared washing. Why, you likely don't care to ask? Because I need to remove my hand brace to do so. Only after my return from Urgent Care did I realize that the nurse who attached the brace never told me how it's done. It looks to be a complicated procedure, especially considering it must be done one-handed. Yet remove it I must. (I was told that it 'can' be returned as needed, just not how.)
I finally drummed up the courage to do so this afternoon. To increase my odds for proper brace reassembly, I dabbed a bit of White-Out around the edges where each velcro strap attaches. I then removed the straps, only afterward realizing I should have removed my clothes first. What's done is done, so there was nothing for it but to shower. I managed it well enough, I suppose, though there are areas I simply can't reach effectively without using my right hand, which I'm not going to do at this stage.
To the plus, I remembered to don my bracer before dressing. I'm not sure it's a good fit. It certainly doesn't fit quite as it did. I just hope it still serves its purpose.
My followup appointment is the eighteenth. By then I hope to have a better feel for how well by hand is healing, if at all.
I may have started a larger project than I intended. With all my mods removed from the Nexus, I need to host them myself, which means re-writing all the descriptions, and building a new set of web pages for them. I'm trying to do it without using Javascript, just CSS tricks. At some point I'll need feedback, but I'm reluctant to put a link anywhere before it's all in place, or else the google-bot will make it public.
If anyone has the time to look it over, PM me, and I'll provide a link that way.
If anyone has the time to look it over, PM me, and I'll provide a link that way.
Project: Create new Trainz 2019 video episode
Status: Coming along nicely, all things considered
Began what will become episode 03, my fourth Trainz episode, yesterday after supper. Between then and now I've created a thumbnail, an extensive scrolling next intro, and a rough draft of the entire episode with all narrative text and music in place. I'm sure there' tons of editing work yet to be done, and even then many errors will slip by me to make it into the upload. Such is life amongst the decrepit. I've not yet begun its YouTube episode description or create tags (which seem to serve no purpose).
This episode is an intro to the newly released VR Healesville 1913-1920 route, combined with a steam loco driving practice session. I'm horribly rusty at driving steam in Trainz, having driven nothing but Train Simulator for the past year and a half. To the plus, my many screw-ups made it easy to fill thirty-five minutes with text.
Alas, the episode's still images (seen during intro and outro) are subpar, in that I can't remember how to disable the HUD.
The route's a real eye-pleaser, as of now my favorite Trainz / Train Sim route from a scenic / landscape perspective.
BTW, while my prior three Trainz episodes were driven in EASY mode, this one is driven in ADVANCED mode.
If all goes well, I hope to have the episode published NLT this coming weekend.
Status: Coming along nicely, all things considered
Began what will become episode 03, my fourth Trainz episode, yesterday after supper. Between then and now I've created a thumbnail, an extensive scrolling next intro, and a rough draft of the entire episode with all narrative text and music in place. I'm sure there' tons of editing work yet to be done, and even then many errors will slip by me to make it into the upload. Such is life amongst the decrepit. I've not yet begun its YouTube episode description or create tags (which seem to serve no purpose).
This episode is an intro to the newly released VR Healesville 1913-1920 route, combined with a steam loco driving practice session. I'm horribly rusty at driving steam in Trainz, having driven nothing but Train Simulator for the past year and a half. To the plus, my many screw-ups made it easy to fill thirty-five minutes with text.
Alas, the episode's still images (seen during intro and outro) are subpar, in that I can't remember how to disable the HUD.
The route's a real eye-pleaser, as of now my favorite Trainz / Train Sim route from a scenic / landscape perspective.
BTW, while my prior three Trainz episodes were driven in EASY mode, this one is driven in ADVANCED mode.
If all goes well, I hope to have the episode published NLT this coming weekend.
Project: Create and Publish new Trainz 2019 video episode
Status: Uploaded, now processing
It's currently set to publish this Friday morning, but I might publish sooner once it finishes processing 1440p (which normally takes days). I'm mixed feeling about the uploaded product, but it is what it is.
Status: Uploaded, now processing
It's currently set to publish this Friday morning, but I might publish sooner once it finishes processing 1440p (which normally takes days). I'm mixed feeling about the uploaded product, but it is what it is.
Not-So-Secret Writing Project
Book 1- Holding as is- i.e. final draft sitting residing on the computer.
Book 2- Approximately 110000 words. First draft finished and in the hands of my "first reader." Huge sigh of relief/accomplishment.
Book 3- 59000 words.
Book 1- Holding as is- i.e. final draft sitting residing on the computer.
Book 2- Approximately 110000 words. First draft finished and in the hands of my "first reader." Huge sigh of relief/accomplishment.
Book 3- 59000 words.
treydog, I lift my coffee cup in celebration, and again to cheer you onward!!!
Writing Project
Book 1- While searching for information (i.e., what I had called things all the way back at the beginning), found a couple of infelicitous phrasing and fixed those. Otherwise, as before- holding until at least 3 volumes are completed and/or my retirement from "real work."
Book 2- First Reader is about 110 pages (of 180) in. Review has been positive so far, with a couple of typos found and flattened.
Book 3- Work continues. Apparently my earlier estimate of word count was faulty; with quite a productive week behind me, the word count is now approaching 58000. Based on the "outline" (a tool I do not use, as it brings back elementary school trauma- and no, I do not wish to talk about it), I think Book 3 is therefore slightly past the halfway point.
Meta
Continuing to update the Glossary (or, as I call the file, "Notes & Stuff") as I invent new character names, locations, fauna, and flora. It also helps me remember what word I used for something 6 or 8 months previous.
Beginning to dip a doggie paw into the waters of "Okay- so you have written a book- now what?" Given that I will be self-publishing ebooks, mostly learning about formatting, promotion, and etc. And of course, almost everything will have changed in the next 2 years (my optimistic timeline for release).
Projected total books in the series is still hovering at... (Magic 8 Ball says)... 5 to 7?
Book 1- While searching for information (i.e., what I had called things all the way back at the beginning), found a couple of infelicitous phrasing and fixed those. Otherwise, as before- holding until at least 3 volumes are completed and/or my retirement from "real work."
Book 2- First Reader is about 110 pages (of 180) in. Review has been positive so far, with a couple of typos found and flattened.
Book 3- Work continues. Apparently my earlier estimate of word count was faulty; with quite a productive week behind me, the word count is now approaching 58000. Based on the "outline" (a tool I do not use, as it brings back elementary school trauma- and no, I do not wish to talk about it), I think Book 3 is therefore slightly past the halfway point.
Meta
Continuing to update the Glossary (or, as I call the file, "Notes & Stuff") as I invent new character names, locations, fauna, and flora. It also helps me remember what word I used for something 6 or 8 months previous.
Beginning to dip a doggie paw into the waters of "Okay- so you have written a book- now what?" Given that I will be self-publishing ebooks, mostly learning about formatting, promotion, and etc. And of course, almost everything will have changed in the next 2 years (my optimistic timeline for release).
Projected total books in the series is still hovering at... (Magic 8 Ball says)... 5 to 7?
Just prepared a gas bill for posting. Gas costs ain't pretty these days! I pad my various monthly utility budgets fairly substantially, so I don't get hit with anything unforeseen I can't handle. Yet these past few months I've not only maxed my gas budget and had to dig into my slush fund to cover the difference. That's what it's for, or course. But I hate having to use it nonetheless.
On a darker note, I spent the bulk of Monday through Thursday working on a new TS2022 video to publish on YouTube. My first publishable video of 2022. I uploaded it yesterday evening. It could stand more polishing, but enough's enough. Its HD component is still processing. Long as it is, over an hour, I suspect HD won't be ready until late tonight at the earliest.
On a darker note, I spent the bulk of Monday through Thursday working on a new TS2022 video to publish on YouTube. My first publishable video of 2022. I uploaded it yesterday evening. It could stand more polishing, but enough's enough. Its HD component is still processing. Long as it is, over an hour, I suspect HD won't be ready until late tonight at the earliest.
Project: e-file Fed and State tax returns
Status: done
I normally prepare and file tax returns late Jan or early Feb. Indeed, both returns were ready to file late Jan. This year, I procrastinated filing due to the small amount of my refund. It quite surprises me. For years I've consistently gotten over a thousand back from the Feds, a few hundred from the state. This year? $291 back from the Feds, with the State refund unchanged. Now, I know why some of my refund was erased. I've two rinky-dink mutual funds that did VERY well last year, increasing total yearly income by some K. Even us, I hoped for a Fed refund drop to circa $800 at worst.
(My 'useable' income doesn't benefit from Mutual Fund interest and dividends, as those are automatically used to buy more shares.)
I double-checked much of my initial TurboTax Fed return multiple times, and even restarted it from scratch once. Same results. An oddity, to me, is that Turbo Tax always shows my refund as being well over a thousand until entering Social Security income, then BAM, $291. This still has me baffled, but I find no flaws in what I entered. That's why I let it sit on my PC so long. But enough is enough. File we must. File I did. If screw-up it be, if found I'll fix it and file an amended return.
Status: done
I normally prepare and file tax returns late Jan or early Feb. Indeed, both returns were ready to file late Jan. This year, I procrastinated filing due to the small amount of my refund. It quite surprises me. For years I've consistently gotten over a thousand back from the Feds, a few hundred from the state. This year? $291 back from the Feds, with the State refund unchanged. Now, I know why some of my refund was erased. I've two rinky-dink mutual funds that did VERY well last year, increasing total yearly income by some K. Even us, I hoped for a Fed refund drop to circa $800 at worst.
(My 'useable' income doesn't benefit from Mutual Fund interest and dividends, as those are automatically used to buy more shares.)
I double-checked much of my initial TurboTax Fed return multiple times, and even restarted it from scratch once. Same results. An oddity, to me, is that Turbo Tax always shows my refund as being well over a thousand until entering Social Security income, then BAM, $291. This still has me baffled, but I find no flaws in what I entered. That's why I let it sit on my PC so long. But enough is enough. File we must. File I did. If screw-up it be, if found I'll fix it and file an amended return.
Project: Prepare and e-file brother's 2021 tax returns
Status: Done, but oh the humanity
This year's Intuit Turbtax is, for me, far less 'intuitive' than in years past. I still harbor doubts about my own 2021 returns being correct, despite having gone over them time and time again. M brother's returns, on the other hand, are normally simplicity itself. I had hopes of a quick and easy preparation. To be on the safe side, I warned him to be prepared for confusions and occasional flared tempers. I was right, on both counts. We were at it for hours. Like with my return, I'm not 100% convinced we got it right. Still, done is done. It's e-filed, me paying the e-file $25 charge Intuit demands for State (but not Federal) e-filing. That $25 is considered a birthday present, his b-day being in April.
Status: Done, but oh the humanity
This year's Intuit Turbtax is, for me, far less 'intuitive' than in years past. I still harbor doubts about my own 2021 returns being correct, despite having gone over them time and time again. M brother's returns, on the other hand, are normally simplicity itself. I had hopes of a quick and easy preparation. To be on the safe side, I warned him to be prepared for confusions and occasional flared tempers. I was right, on both counts. We were at it for hours. Like with my return, I'm not 100% convinced we got it right. Still, done is done. It's e-filed, me paying the e-file $25 charge Intuit demands for State (but not Federal) e-filing. That $25 is considered a birthday present, his b-day being in April.
I'm teaching myself Python!
I bought a book on the subject, and am almost through it. The most interesting project was the code to make a Space Invaders-style game, which I managed to get working. My goal was to expand on the code given and create a more interesting game, but this a bit tricky. See, what I'd envisioned was more of a Galaga-style game, where ships actually move around. My skill level is not yet at the point where I can figure out how to program that sort of thing on my own.
I did figure out how to change the appearance of the main ship though, so that's fun.
Currently, I'm working on a data generation project but I'm weirdly stymied since the command prompt refuses to acknowledge the module I downloaded. The module shows up when I look for what's installed, and someone else was able to run the code, so I know that's not the problem. My guess is that it has something to do with where the module is installed (though how it ended up in the wrong place, I have no idea).
I bought a book on the subject, and am almost through it. The most interesting project was the code to make a Space Invaders-style game, which I managed to get working. My goal was to expand on the code given and create a more interesting game, but this a bit tricky. See, what I'd envisioned was more of a Galaga-style game, where ships actually move around. My skill level is not yet at the point where I can figure out how to program that sort of thing on my own.
I did figure out how to change the appearance of the main ship though, so that's fun.
Currently, I'm working on a data generation project but I'm weirdly stymied since the command prompt refuses to acknowledge the module I downloaded. The module shows up when I look for what's installed, and someone else was able to run the code, so I know that's not the problem. My guess is that it has something to do with where the module is installed (though how it ended up in the wrong place, I have no idea).
Tested the riding mower, topped off oil and sharpened the knives; ready to go!
Well.... When the grass starts growing anyway
Well.... When the grass starts growing anyway
I'm teaching myself Python.
So far, I've been working from a book (Python Crash Course) and creating the programs in the exercises. Typically, I try to modify the programs slightly to make sure I understand what it was I just created. The book comes with a Space Invaders type game, which I was able to make and run.
My original goal was to modify the Space Invaders game to make it more interesting. Unfortunately, I'm not yet at the point where I can create brand new code to do things like have the alien ships move around in patterns beyond side-to-side and down. I did find a source code for a Python-based Galaga, which I may use as a basis to build on, since that would have some of the more complex work already done.
Previously, I did make a very silly CYOA game on my own.
So far, I've been working from a book (Python Crash Course) and creating the programs in the exercises. Typically, I try to modify the programs slightly to make sure I understand what it was I just created. The book comes with a Space Invaders type game, which I was able to make and run.
My original goal was to modify the Space Invaders game to make it more interesting. Unfortunately, I'm not yet at the point where I can create brand new code to do things like have the alien ships move around in patterns beyond side-to-side and down. I did find a source code for a Python-based Galaga, which I may use as a basis to build on, since that would have some of the more complex work already done.
Previously, I did make a very silly CYOA game on my own.
Project: Resume daily exercise-walks
Status: One down, ???? to go
This was my first exercise-walk since the first of several health misfortunes that beset me beginning late Oct last year (2021). I went the full 25-30mins at more-or-less my normal exercise-walk speed, though I didn't quite manage a strong quasi power-walk at the finish. I felt fine during and immediately after the walk, but am wilting a bit now.
Heart reading taking within a few minutes of my return: BL 105/62, pulse 86. Oxygen level 98.81%.
Status: One down, ???? to go
This was my first exercise-walk since the first of several health misfortunes that beset me beginning late Oct last year (2021). I went the full 25-30mins at more-or-less my normal exercise-walk speed, though I didn't quite manage a strong quasi power-walk at the finish. I felt fine during and immediately after the walk, but am wilting a bit now.
Heart reading taking within a few minutes of my return: BL 105/62, pulse 86. Oxygen level 98.81%.
Project: YouTube Copyright Claims Dispute 
Status: Initiated
I might have just shot myself through the foot, if not the heart. In the process of publishing a new Train Simulator YouTube episode this morning, I noticed that two previous episodes have been recently hit with copyright claims. I can of course just leave them in place, which has no negative impact on my channel. That's what I did last claim. This time, I decided to dispute both claims, knowing that, despite provably being in the right, the deck is stacked against me, as it is for all YouTubers is this situation.
Spent a good bit of time double-checking the two MusOpen.ORG music selections in question, then writing a rebuttal in LibreOffice, including appropriate links. Summited the dispute minutes ago.
Will it work? In a just world it would, but reality is a chap-shot. If declined, the claimer can choose to simply let the claim stand as is, which is liveable, or issue a Channel Strike, which is scary, especially as there will be two Strikes back-to-back.
Is there hope? Yeah. If there weren't, I'd not bother to dispute. We shall see. <crosses fingers>
Status: Initiated
I might have just shot myself through the foot, if not the heart. In the process of publishing a new Train Simulator YouTube episode this morning, I noticed that two previous episodes have been recently hit with copyright claims. I can of course just leave them in place, which has no negative impact on my channel. That's what I did last claim. This time, I decided to dispute both claims, knowing that, despite provably being in the right, the deck is stacked against me, as it is for all YouTubers is this situation.
Spent a good bit of time double-checking the two MusOpen.ORG music selections in question, then writing a rebuttal in LibreOffice, including appropriate links. Summited the dispute minutes ago.
Will it work? In a just world it would, but reality is a chap-shot. If declined, the claimer can choose to simply let the claim stand as is, which is liveable, or issue a Channel Strike, which is scary, especially as there will be two Strikes back-to-back.
Is there hope? Yeah. If there weren't, I'd not bother to dispute. We shall see. <crosses fingers>
Many youtubers face the same "project" as you, Decrepit. Often for no reason at all.
As I don't see an end to this, might I suggest finding another video platform as your next project?
As I don't see an end to this, might I suggest finding another video platform as your next project?
Project: YouTube Copyright Claim Disputes
Status: One down, one to go
"Hi Decrepit Productions,
Good news! After reviewing your dispute, [snipped name of agency claiming video] has decided to release their copyright claim on your YouTube video.
Video title: "Train Simulator ep17: Great North of Scotland Railway, Milk Delivery in Snow – CR 812 class 0-6-0"
- The YouTube Team"
Status: One down, one to go
"Hi Decrepit Productions,
Good news! After reviewing your dispute, [snipped name of agency claiming video] has decided to release their copyright claim on your YouTube video.
Video title: "Train Simulator ep17: Great North of Scotland Railway, Milk Delivery in Snow – CR 812 class 0-6-0"
- The YouTube Team"
Awesome! 
Project: YouTube Copyright Claim dispute No.2
Status: The fat lady has sung
Checked email first thing this morning. Was greeted by the following message:
"Hi Decrepit Productions,
Good news! After reviewing your dispute, Dance all Day has decided to release their copyright claim on your YouTube video.
Video title: "Train Simulator ep16: Lenton-on-Sea, Smallbrook Coal Delivery - GWR/BR 4200 class 2-8-0T loco"
- The YouTube Team"
Two down, none to go.
Status: The fat lady has sung
Checked email first thing this morning. Was greeted by the following message:
"Hi Decrepit Productions,
Good news! After reviewing your dispute, Dance all Day has decided to release their copyright claim on your YouTube video.
Video title: "Train Simulator ep16: Lenton-on-Sea, Smallbrook Coal Delivery - GWR/BR 4200 class 2-8-0T loco"
- The YouTube Team"
Two down, none to go.
Congrats, Decrepit!
QUOTE(Decrepit @ May 11 2022, 04:44 AM)
Project: YouTube Copyright Claim dispute No.2
Status: The fat lady has sung
Two down, none to go.
And for the second time, that's a winner!
Great news D!
Project: Daily Exercise-walks
Status: ongoing
Did today's walk during a days-long heat advisory. Temp was only in the mid 70s, but humidity was mid 90s. No wind at all. I began immediately after breakfast, around 0550, under a heavily overcast sky. The walk went well enough. I survived it, with no more than minor lightheadedness at the end.
I don't exercise tomorrow, thanks to a medical appointment and errands. I need to finish those as quick as possible, as the advisory continues for some days, and my car A/C no longer cools sufficiently during super hot temps.
Status: ongoing
Did today's walk during a days-long heat advisory. Temp was only in the mid 70s, but humidity was mid 90s. No wind at all. I began immediately after breakfast, around 0550, under a heavily overcast sky. The walk went well enough. I survived it, with no more than minor lightheadedness at the end.
I don't exercise tomorrow, thanks to a medical appointment and errands. I need to finish those as quick as possible, as the advisory continues for some days, and my car A/C no longer cools sufficiently during super hot temps.
Writing Project
Actual Progress!
Book 1- 91000 words. Waiting until I am closer to publication for finishing formatting touches and table of contents and etc.
Book 2- 122000 words (Gulp!). Same notes as Book 1.
Book 3- 92000 words, with more in manuscript (literally in a spiral notebook) awaiting conversion to text file. May well pass the 100000 word mark by the time it is drafted- I think I have an idea of everything else that needs to be written- just have to write it.
And when Book 3 is at final draft, that was my target to consider publication of Book 1. I had planned (ha! As if I EVER "plan") to wait until retirement in approximately 2 years, but that may change.
Crystal ball gazing- there will definitely be at least 2 more books; the way things are going, there will probably be even more than that.
Actual Progress!
Book 1- 91000 words. Waiting until I am closer to publication for finishing formatting touches and table of contents and etc.
Book 2- 122000 words (Gulp!). Same notes as Book 1.
Book 3- 92000 words, with more in manuscript (literally in a spiral notebook) awaiting conversion to text file. May well pass the 100000 word mark by the time it is drafted- I think I have an idea of everything else that needs to be written- just have to write it.
And when Book 3 is at final draft, that was my target to consider publication of Book 1. I had planned (ha! As if I EVER "plan") to wait until retirement in approximately 2 years, but that may change.
Crystal ball gazing- there will definitely be at least 2 more books; the way things are going, there will probably be even more than that.
Project: daily exercise-walks
Status: ongoing
Though I've not been reporting them here, rest unassured that I've been pounding the pavement when able (which is not always the case).
One item of non-interest: my canine nemesis is no more, or so it seems. Not too many days after my last unfortunate confrontation with the beast, not reported here, while checking the mailbox mid-afternoon, I chanced to glance toward the far end of the street. There, with light flashing, was a vehicle the size of a small moving van, ambulance, or paddy-wagon. It was too hot to hang out at the curb and see what was up, if anything. Whatever the vehicle was there for, the canine has been neither seen nor heard since.
Two days ago I extended my walk by around 1/3rd, its first increase in the three decades I've lived here. The extra distance is no issue for me, physically. However, the new path isn't ideal, exposing me to a bit more car traffic than I'm comfortable with. There are viable alternative solutions, but they have me walking with sun in my eyes right after it clears the treeline. Fried retinas is something I hope to avoid.
Heart Reading taken within two minutes of my return from today's (extended) walk: Blood Pressure 103/62, Pulse 83.
Status: ongoing
Though I've not been reporting them here, rest unassured that I've been pounding the pavement when able (which is not always the case).
One item of non-interest: my canine nemesis is no more, or so it seems. Not too many days after my last unfortunate confrontation with the beast, not reported here, while checking the mailbox mid-afternoon, I chanced to glance toward the far end of the street. There, with light flashing, was a vehicle the size of a small moving van, ambulance, or paddy-wagon. It was too hot to hang out at the curb and see what was up, if anything. Whatever the vehicle was there for, the canine has been neither seen nor heard since.
Two days ago I extended my walk by around 1/3rd, its first increase in the three decades I've lived here. The extra distance is no issue for me, physically. However, the new path isn't ideal, exposing me to a bit more car traffic than I'm comfortable with. There are viable alternative solutions, but they have me walking with sun in my eyes right after it clears the treeline. Fried retinas is something I hope to avoid.
Heart Reading taken within two minutes of my return from today's (extended) walk: Blood Pressure 103/62, Pulse 83.
Awesome numbers for right after a walk, Decrepit!
New roof done!
Nice to get that roof done before winter really sets in.
Project: Established new exercise-walk schedule
Status: Narrowing it down
With the return of autumn, it's become too cold to walk soon after (0500) breakfast. (A younger me might brave it, but that fellow left the building for parts unknown.) Three days ago I tried walking at 1100, at 70ish degrees Fahrenheit. Total failure. I started feeling poorly before the halfway point. I forced myself to stick it out until the end, by which point I felt miserable, and remained so until about an hour after supper.
Next day, I bundled myself in thermal undies, t-shirt, sweat shirt/pants, heavy socks, shoes (duh!), heavy neck-wrap, military field jack, heavy gloves, light toboggan and over that a heavy toboggan, and walked at my accustomed time. This was an improvement, far from ideal.
Today, I wore thermal undies, sweat shirt/pants, light jacket, shoes/socks, baseball cap over which I sported a medium toboggan (to block the sun from hurting my eyes, I major issue during that first walk), and left the house circa 0800. This proved an acceptable compromise. I felt a tad chilled at the start, a tad too warm at the end. While it wasn't one of my best walks, I felt no okay at the end.
As the weather progressively cools, I'll of course need to adjust walk times accordingly. At some point I'll have to cease them altogether until spring. If all goes well, I'll be able to hang in there another couple of months, barring health issues like the "senior fall" that ended my walks late Oct last year.
Status: Narrowing it down
With the return of autumn, it's become too cold to walk soon after (0500) breakfast. (A younger me might brave it, but that fellow left the building for parts unknown.) Three days ago I tried walking at 1100, at 70ish degrees Fahrenheit. Total failure. I started feeling poorly before the halfway point. I forced myself to stick it out until the end, by which point I felt miserable, and remained so until about an hour after supper.
Next day, I bundled myself in thermal undies, t-shirt, sweat shirt/pants, heavy socks, shoes (duh!), heavy neck-wrap, military field jack, heavy gloves, light toboggan and over that a heavy toboggan, and walked at my accustomed time. This was an improvement, far from ideal.
Today, I wore thermal undies, sweat shirt/pants, light jacket, shoes/socks, baseball cap over which I sported a medium toboggan (to block the sun from hurting my eyes, I major issue during that first walk), and left the house circa 0800. This proved an acceptable compromise. I felt a tad chilled at the start, a tad too warm at the end. While it wasn't one of my best walks, I felt no okay at the end.
As the weather progressively cools, I'll of course need to adjust walk times accordingly. At some point I'll have to cease them altogether until spring. If all goes well, I'll be able to hang in there another couple of months, barring health issues like the "senior fall" that ended my walks late Oct last year.
Good on ya for keeping up with the walks. The winter enemy here for me is wind. Cold and calm in the morning or less cold but windy later. I much prefer bundling up for the cold and avoiding the wind. The 20's is as cold as it ever gets here and that's rare. Usually dead of winter lows are in the low/mid 30's.
I'm currently in the progress of putting up boards to cover up the space between the wall/ground.
Edit: link doesn't work.
Nicely done! That should help keep your tail feathers warm.
Well, it was a fun little project and quite perfect for me
(Btw, did you see me standing in front of the door? )
(Btw, did you see me standing in front of the door?
)
QUOTE(mirocu @ Oct 17 2022, 10:17 AM)
... (Btw, did you see me standing in front of the door? )
) I did now that you mention it! Right near the open crowdoor under the regular door.
Project: Buy and install TurboTax 2022 Deluxe Fed & State
Status: Done, but . . .
December's budget kicked in today. I could at last buy TurboTax. (If not for two Mutual Funds, which did lousy this year, I could easily fill out free paper forms on my own. Admittedly, it's good to have TurboTax do the math, and keep me abreast of any changes that might be to my benefit or detriment.) It was easy enough to purchase. Install was as simple as usual. It was what came between that threw me for a loop.
I could not for the life of me find a download button, even after following Amazon's instructions to the letter, multiple times. I finally admitted defeat and attempted to navigate Amazon's automated customer service "feature". That got me nowhere. However, the automaton finally offered an option to speak with a live representative via conventional phone. This is what I opted for.
I was called back within seconds. The rep did a good job of guiding me where I needed to be, despite one dead-end start and me making some wrong assumptions about what she said I should do. Finally, after much bungling, I clicked a link that sent me to a page with desired download button! A page I hadn't been able to find on my own. For what it's worth, the rep said that the DL process had become more complex than it once was. That's as it may be, and I certainly never had difficulty DL'ing TurboTax at Amazon before, but I can't help but suspect that increased senility played a part.
Status: Done, but . . .
December's budget kicked in today. I could at last buy TurboTax. (If not for two Mutual Funds, which did lousy this year, I could easily fill out free paper forms on my own. Admittedly, it's good to have TurboTax do the math, and keep me abreast of any changes that might be to my benefit or detriment.) It was easy enough to purchase. Install was as simple as usual. It was what came between that threw me for a loop.
I could not for the life of me find a download button, even after following Amazon's instructions to the letter, multiple times. I finally admitted defeat and attempted to navigate Amazon's automated customer service "feature". That got me nowhere. However, the automaton finally offered an option to speak with a live representative via conventional phone. This is what I opted for.
I was called back within seconds. The rep did a good job of guiding me where I needed to be, despite one dead-end start and me making some wrong assumptions about what she said I should do. Finally, after much bungling, I clicked a link that sent me to a page with desired download button! A page I hadn't been able to find on my own. For what it's worth, the rep said that the DL process had become more complex than it once was. That's as it may be, and I certainly never had difficulty DL'ing TurboTax at Amazon before, but I can't help but suspect that increased senility played a part.
QUOTE(Decrepit @ Dec 1 2022, 07:46 PM)
the automaton finally offered an option to speak with a live representative via conventional phone. This is what I opted for.
This in itself is a project these days. Luckily for me, when I had to call a company yesterday I only needed to choose one option and then it was straight to an operator.
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