Spooks and Scares

 Outside, the temps are in the low 40s (F).  I was expecting them to be colder, evidently that's going to happen tonight and tomorrow night when they're predicted to hit the low 30s (F).  If we get that low, frost will definitely been in the air... or on the grass, I should say.  Accuweather's strong comment was that those temps will kill the growing season.  I want to deadhead some of my flowers, so I have seeds for next year.

Work was odd yesterday.  Slow, for most of the afternoon, busy in the morning, and strange because this software update from Legacy to something new is wrecking pure havoc.  Some things are ready to go, others are not.  We now have a lot of complicated steps to walk through when selling a carpet or vinyl installation.  Before, the entire order was on the screen and you could click on individual lines to make changes, with this new software you scroll, and scroll, and scroll.  At no time do you get a complete picture of the order.  The product being  purchased is on a different screen then the installation, which means clicking back and forth.  Measure documents for blinds are on another screen, and need to be downloaded before you can view them.  Why this tumultuous change?  Adobe, who managed the old Legacy system, refused to to work with the outdated system, and so we're having to learn how to navigate through a product that is quite cumbersome.

And here's my bit for Halloween.

Right now, even though this is the time for trick or treaters, for dressing up in Halloween costumes, both amusing and scary, probably there is nothing more frightening that the Republican party.  What makes them so frightening is that their base doesn't even know what they stand for because they've coddled to so many specialty groups there no clear platform on which they stand.  The 2nd amendment people rarely look at anything else, and when their elected officials say "tax break," they believe it's for them... it isn't.  Vast numbers of social conservatives haven't a clue as to what Christian Nationalism is, or how it's one step closer to taking America down the road to fascism.   Fiscal Conservatives only thing about Wall Street.  For them, lower tax brackets are just another source of revenue they can bleed until it's depleted.  Really, all the GOP wants to do is say "shut up!  We're in charge!" without even knowing what that means, or how they're going to govern.  They don't really want a fair America.  They just want to be in charge.

Cover This

 The weekend has arrived, well, almost, and only for some people.  I don't really worry about the weekends, especially since the big orange retailer I work for tends to be scheduling me off most of the work week.  Not that I mind.  I'm getting so much done in the yard and around the house.

Weatherwise, they're calling for on and off showers for the next three days, so the showers are starting in April and will continue up into the start of May.  Forecasters are calling for the occasional shower next week and temperatures to remain in the mid 50s (F).  The following week we're supposed to pop back up into more seasonally warm temperatures.

Issues with Kindle Direct Publishing have been resolved, at least that's what the email says.  Beginning tomorrow I should be able to order author's copies of The Body Under Ice.  For some of you, this means you can start to feel excited.

Yesterday I signed up for Adobe, the regular version, not that Pro because I don't need that.  The idea is that I'm going to figure out how to convert a JPEG to a PDF cover I can size in order to publish paperbacks through Barnes & Noble.  So far the royalties I've been getting from them have been better than the ones I've been getting from Kindle.

And yesterday, the cover of The Body Under Ice took its place with the rest of my book covers on the wall.  The latest frame is a little more decorative than the others, but I think it looks just fine.

And, of course, Mikey Pence testified for the DOJ's January 6 investigation for at least 7 hours yesterday.  Supposedly a religious man, I'm sure Mikey has realized that in spite of all of his protestations his testimony was approved by God.  At least, one would think so.  This is always a problem for the publicly devout, the conflict between their ego and desire, and what the Lord wants them to do.  For the longest time Pence was refusing to go before the Grand Jury, was that because he wanted to protect Trump, or was his main goal safeguarding his own ego, and desire, and craving for power?  I'm sure he doesn't understand this at all, but Pence is one of the main reasons our forefathers wanted a separation of church and state.

Stupid as Elon

 Well, we didn't quite get as toasty as they were predicting yesterday.  Our temps decided to hang out at around 73 (F).  Don't get me wrong, that's still a very nice temperature and the day was simply lovely.  I wore shorts outside, of course, since I've been wearing shorts on and off for most of the winter that's not too special.

I spent some time chatting with a tech from Adobe yesterday learning how to size a PDf to satisfy Barnes & Noble's requirements for cover art.  The changes need to be done in what's called the Preflight tool.  I was so happy when I submitted the cover and it was accepted... until I got an error.  They were having a problem converting the PDF/x-1a.  Well, son of a bitch!  I've sent them an email for an explanation.  So far there's been no response.  My patience is running out.  I'm almost to the point where I'll only sell the ebook through them.

Last yesterday afternoon I received an email from Amazon.  My Cosori air fryer was being recalled.  There's a problem with some of the wiring; it might catch fire.  I saw that 2 million are being recalled.  That's a lot of faulty wiring.  They'll replace it for free, so I started the process, cut the cord and sent the pictures.  

Today's the one year anniversary of Russia's invasion of the Ukraine.  Things are not going well for Trump's Blo Bro Vlad.  Will wannabe authoritarian dictators learn their lesson?  Absolutely not.  They may temper their ambition for a short time, but that will pass.  One of the reasons they will never change is billionaires.  Money talks.  While Russian oligarchs have been financially injured by the war, those injuries are minor, scratches and nicks that will heal.  They may actually replace Vlad because he screwed things up so badly.  Unfortunately, they will most likely put another incompetent in power.  Money talks, but it doesn't make you smart.  Look at Elon Musk, if you want a good example.  That man is stupid.

We are in the Multiverse

 Hello Thursday morning.  We're supposed to have record breaking temps today.  As always, I have a wait and see attitude.  The sky is overcast and there is a whopper of a winter storm crossing the state just above us.  Originally we were supposed to climb into the upper 70s (F), that no longer seems to be the case, so revisions are being made to the forecast as I type.

There was a slight hiccup in getting paperback version of The Body on the Lawn set up in Barnes & Noble.  I was sounding a lot like Bobby Tussel yesterday when I found out they only accept pdf photos for cover art.  I have no problem converting a jpeg to a pdf, however there are limitations when it comes to sizing.  Windows will create fairly standard page sizes, however the template requires a photo 5.895 inches, a size that is not on the menu.  To blunt my frustration, I went downstairs and killed a number of robots in Atomic Heart.  After that, I quietly subscribed to Adobe which will permit me to convert any jpeg to a pdf  in any size my little heart desires.

I went to see Ant Man and The Wasp last evening.  It's entertaining, for the most part.  Except for a few scenes at the beginning and end, you're in a CGI Universe.  I watched a Scottish reviewer call it shite.  Well, it isn't, not really.  The Marvel Studios has the formula for turning comic books into hit movies down pat.  They will only change it if forced to.  That being said, I didn't think Paul Rudd was nearly as funny as he's been in the past.  Part of the success for the Ant Man series depends upon his comedic talents.  Because they weren't there, I noticed other things, like the fact that his head is so much bigger than his body.  Cory Stoll has a supporting role and he has the same problem: big head, little body.  If you have Disney, you might want to wait until this one streams.

The Republicans, it seems are also in their own little universe, though without Ant Man to protect mankind.  They are the party the wants to say "shut up, we're in charge," and they believe that everybody will listen to them and do as they say.  They don't understand they're a minority group, or that a majority of the people do not want them in charge.  They have also proven time and time again that they do not learn lessons.  They are stuck in repeat mode because they are desperate to run the country their way, and only their way.  Democracy is useless to them.  They simply don't understand that if they keep pushing their agenda, there will be civil disobedience.  Maybe that's what it will take for them to learn.