“I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it.
― Maya Angelou
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Posts Tagged ‘#365Ways2022’
Stand Here
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2022, inspiration, news, Thoughts on June 24, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Summer Time
Posted in Holidays, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2022, Thoughts, Writers on June 23, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Note: I wrote this post two days ago but for whatever reason it did not go out for the Solstice on the 21st. Apologies to all the Druids out there!
Happy Summer Solstice!
“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.”
― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
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Good Afternoon
Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2022, inspiration, Thoughts, Writers on June 23, 2022| Leave a Comment »
“Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.”
― Henry James
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Mysteries Solved
Posted in Likes, Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2022, Apple, flowers, Google, learning@lunch, plants, technology, Thoughts on June 22, 2022| Leave a Comment »
I attended the sort of progressive high school that allowed students to create their own classes. I decided to study the practical applications of plants, specifically their uses in food, textiles and medicine.
Basically, I cooked, dyed wool and made diluted poisons. Typical high school stuff.
I learned a lot about my local plants during that semester. What I’m not always great at is identifying new plants. That’s why I downloaded a plant identifier app. I won’t suggest the one I use because it’s just ok, full of tech walls designed to shunt you away from free options and toward a purchase, but I’ve charted a path around those barriers and can get the information I want.
That said, I’ve learned that iOS 15 users* already have a free alternative.
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The feature is called Visual Look Up and once you know it’s there, it’s easy to use. It works for plants but also other subjects like landmarks, art and animals.
Today I learned you can identify plants and flowers using just your iPhone camera
Just open up a photo or screenshot in the Photos app and look for the blue “i” icon underneath. If it has a little sparkly ring around it, then iOS has found something in the photo it can identify using machine learning. Tap the icon, then click “Look Up” and it’ll try and dredge up some useful information.
Is it perfect? Not in my (admittedly limited) experience, but it is surprisingly good. My father-in-law sent me a picture of a mystery flower that had appeared (quite mysteriously!) next to his pond. Despite living in the area for decades he had never seen the plant before. Did I know what it was?
I did, in fact, have a pretty good guess. It looked an awful lot like a native plant Mr Man and I bought when we first moved into the house, the Blue Flag Iris. I ran the image through my app to be sure, and it helpfully appended “Northern” to the name. Points for me, but confirmation is always nice.
After discovering Visual Look Up I tested it on the same photo. It got me to “Iris” but without additional specifics. (To be fair, when I took a quick snapshot of the clearer image below and ran Look Up, it identified the plant as a Blue Flag Iris. Points for it.)
So next time you discover something mysterious that you don’t mind sharing with the tech giant in your pocket, try out this feature.
For a free option covering multiple life and other forms?** Recommended.
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* Those in the US, Australia, Canada, UK, Singapore, Indonesia, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Mexico, for now. Not an iPhone user? I haven’t tried it, but Google Lens has similar functionality and works for both iOS and Android.
** But does it work on aliens?
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Just Press Play
Posted in Entertainment, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2022, family, history, inspiration, music on June 20, 2022| Leave a Comment »
As a bonus Father’s Day gift, today I’m featuring a podcast I know he’ll like.
A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
In it, Andrew Hickey discusses the history and culture of rock & roll as seen through 500 songs. He’s up to episode 150.
If you prefer to consume your media via the written word, each episode includes a transcript. I also found myself somewhat at a loss as to which, what and where, so (being me) I made an episode list with links. (If an index already exists, I didn’t see it.)
Note: I built the list by translating episode titles into URLs in Excel and haven’t tested every link, but hopefully they’ll get you to where you’re going.
Enjoy!
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What We Become
Posted in Holidays, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2022, family, inspiration, Thoughts on June 19, 2022| Leave a Comment »
“I believe that what we become depends on what our fathers teach us at odd moments, when they aren’t trying to teach us. We are formed by little scraps of wisdom.”
― Umberto Eco, Foucault’s Pendulum
Or in my father’s case, not so little. For passing on wisdom, an open heart, sharp editorial eye, love of cooking, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars and so much more, thanks, Dad. Happy Father’s Day!
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I Authored Today
Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2022, genre fiction, Writers, writing, yay on June 18, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Today in authorial fun: I signed a short story contract with Parsec Ink. It’s for a story I love and I’m very happy to have found it a home. The acceptance came through a few months ago but the contract was officially signed today. The anthology is scheduled for publication later this year.
Hooray!
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Mostly Cake
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2022, creativity, inspiration, Thoughts, Writers, writing on June 17, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Do the things you care about to the best of your ability.
— Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Today that’s work. And cake. Cake and work. Mostly cake.
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No Really, I Have A Good Excuse
Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2022, #ottweather, because reasons, home on June 16, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Me, this morning:
“I am going to get so much done today! My list is long but I’ve got this!”
Me, at noon:
“Hang on, how is it lunchtime already? That’s fine, I’ve still got lots of time.”
Me, as Mr. Man returns from early work because, oh hey, tornado warning:
“Seriously?”
Now I’m off to clear out the garage so we can get the car under cover, charge up all devices, and generally hope that this is a false alarm.
Fingers crossed!
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Whisky War No More
Posted in Likes, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2022, Canada, inspiration, Thoughts on June 15, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Some days you just need a feel-good story. Let’s hear it for Canada and Denmark, whose “war” over a tiny Arctic island consisted largely of good-natured snark and the swapping of favorite beverages. (As a bonus, Canada will now share a border with the EU. How cool is that?)
Denmark-Canada deal on Hans Island ends 49-year-old feud over Arctic isle
A territorial dispute between Denmark and Canada over a barren and uninhabited rock in the Arctic that has led to decades of friendly friction has come to an end, with the two countries agreeing on Tuesday to divide the tiny island between them.
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“It sends a clear signal that it is possible to resolve border disputes … in a pragmatic and peaceful way, where the all parties become winners,” said Danish Foreign Minister Jeppe Kofod. He said it was “an important signal now that there is much war and unrest in the world.”
The war in Ukraine is very different, obviously, but generally speaking?
Cheers to that.
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