Colour (by alaric)

Not a lot of people know this, but...

...computers these days handle colour really badly.

Now, most people are happy with computers representing a colour as 'levels of red, green, and blue light'. But this, as we shall see, is dreadfully imprecise... Read more »

Structure of the Software Industry (by alaric)

Much vehement ranting has been written about Microsoft's anti-competitive activities.

And many have ranted back that the capitalist system is based around companies competing as hard as they can; survival of the fittest then ensuring that the most efficient competitor wins.

Read more »

Cute pictures (by alaric)

Jean seems to be having a cute day today.

Babywearing (by alaric)

I've been quite intrigued by the idea of Babywearing, both for me (so I can carry Jean while I work) and for Sarah (so she can carry Jean further with her back problems).

So today I found a big enough sheet, and decided to give it a try:

It's working pretty well - I'm still a bit nervous about bashing her on things, but she seems to be quite happy when worn (either looking around with interest, or falling asleep), and I like looking after her while I'm working!

Future Foundry (by alaric)

My father Lionel and stepmother Lynn were here to stay for a day again, so while Lynn took Sarah shopping, Lionel sorted out the little garage I am planning to make into my metalwork shop.

He did such a great job:

...that there's more space than I had hoped for, so I will instead make it into my full metal workshop. I was planning on just doing the forging and casting in here, and shouldering the metal machining into my grandfather's old workshop - but that can now stay as a wood workshop.

I just need to wait for the rest of my tools and the foundry stuff to arrive - hopefully not before I finish my backlog of work, because it would be frustrating to have it all there waiting to be set up when I don't have the time...

Lionel also found time to enjoy feeding Jean:

Whereas I, in an honest effort to (in one stroke) keep her warm, absorb any more partially-digested milk that should come out, and keep her sitting upright (which she likes, and cmplains if laid down when she's feeling inquisitive), managed to make her look like a Boohbah: