Living and working on the web, with a British point of view.The personal website of David Mead. A British guy living in the USA.2024-03-28T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/David Meaddavidmead@hey.comIt's all about sharing your content...2008-08-22T04:33:00Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2008-08-22-its-all-about-sharing-content/<p>With the rumor mill humming with "<a href="http://blog.wired.com/music/2008/08/details-rumored.html" title="article on Wired.com">all-you-can-hear iTunes for $130</a>" I think <abbr title="National Public Radio">NPR's</abbr> announcement slipped under my radar.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.npr.org/api/index">NPR has implemented an API</a> which will give you access to audio, text and images from their archive, dating back to 1995. Now a fair bit is still off-limits (Fresh Air, Radio Labs) probably due to it being owned by sources other than NPR, this is still a great for the web-troika crowd, where aggregation is the big thing.</p>
<ul>
<li>Companies could search and re-publish stories that mention them</li>
<li>Organizations and causes have access to a wealth of relevant content that can be served up through widgets</li>
<li>Individuals could create their own RSS feeds</li>
</ul>
<p>They seem to have some documentation covering their own NPRML, but they can also return RSS, JSON, etc. I'm looking forward to some of this great content resurfacing in the most unlikely of places.</p>
<p>Technorati tags: api, npr, webtroika</p>
<p>Blogged with Flock</p>
Ma.gnolia goes open source...2008-08-22T18:09:00Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2008-08-22-magnolia-goes-open-source/<p>Great news from <a href="http://larryhalff.com/" title="" rel="met colleague">Larry</a> and the gang over at Ma.gnolia.</p>
<p>Today at Gnomedex they <a href="http://ma.gnolia.com/blog/2008/08/22/the-open-road-ahead" title="">announced M2</a>, a project to completely re-write ma.gnolia from the ground up and making it an open source project which means it "can be downloaded to remix and run as your own".</p>
<p>Ma.gnolia has been the keeper of <a href="http://ma.gnolia.com/people/DaveMead/bookmarks" rel="me" title="">my social bookmarks</a> for sometime now, and I had the opportunity to meet <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidmead/2332650611/" title="photo on Flickr">Larry and Todd at SXSW</a> last year.</p>
<p>I'm excited about this because they have always had an eye to what's happening on the web (OpenID etc.) and being one of the first responders.</p>
I remember what the future was like...2008-08-24T04:57:00Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2008-08-24-i-remember-what-the-future-was-like/<p>Is was the 90's and I was just hearing about this whole Internet thingy. I worked on an industrial estate at the end of the Fenchurch Street (train) line in Essex. We still had a computer that took 5¼" floppy disks and the new Windows machine was solely for the Director.</p>
<p>My knowledge of "the net" came from <a href="http://www.williamgibsonbooks.com/" title="">William Gibson</a>, <a href="http://www.netmag.co.uk/" title="">.NET Magazine</a> and a book called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Virtual-Reality-Revolutionary-Technology-Computer-Generated/dp/0671778978/ref=pd_bbs_sr_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1219544922&sr=8-4">Virtual Reality by Howard Rheingold</a>. Mr. Rheingold's book become something I read, and shared with friends. This was what <em>was</em> going to happen! It was filled with descriptions of old arcade games that emulated motorcycle rides through to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teledildonics">teledildonics</a>.</p>
<p>After getting a PC and connecting to "the net" (which really was more frustration than excitement at the start) things didn't quite pan out the way I foresaw them.</p>
<p>I looked for that book recently, just to re-visit some of the ideas, but found it was one I left behind when we moved to the US. But as chance would have it I ended up connecting with Mr. Rheingold (virtually) the very next day. As I fired up <a href="http://www.getmiro.com/" title="">Miro</a>, there he was A featured channel - <a href="http://vlog.rheingold.com/" title="">vlogging about the social media classroom</a>.</p>
<p>I recommend subscribing through Miro or the RSS feed to see why he's starting this classroom and the tools he's included in it.</p>
<!-- tags begin -->
<p>Technorati tags: howard rheingold, social media, web2.0, vlog</p>
<!-- tags end -->
<p>Blogged with the Flock Browser</p>
Gary's 15 minutes of truth...2008-09-26T03:58:00Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2008-09-25-gary-v-15-mintues-truth/<p><a href="http://garyvaynerchuk.com/" title="" rel="met">Gary Vaynerchuk</a>'s keynote at Web 2.0 Expo is bang on. Very akin to <a href="http://37signals.com/" title="">Jason Fried</a>'s (who was also at the Expo) talk at SXSW this year.</p>
<p>Look and learn son, look and learn.</p>
<div class="yt-container">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EhqZ0RU95d4" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
<p>Technorati tags: keynote, gary, veynerchuk, talk, inspiring, web2.0expo</p>
<p>Blogged with the Flock Browser</p>
Dangers for celebrities on Twitter2008-12-16T06:29:00Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2008-12-16-dangers-for-celebrities-on-twitter/<p>As we've seen technology such as blogging, social networks, and micro-blogging become a real option for marketers to "spread the word", the celebrity has started appearing online.</p>
<p>This instantaneous delivery can work wonders to promote a product or person but more and more I'm starting to hear rumblings of discontent from the "early adopters". This doesn't seem to stem from the fact that advertising is creeping into Twitter streams (we all knew it was just a matter of time) as most people who've been online for some time can sniff out the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fake_blog" title="Wikipedia entry">fake blogs</a> or <a href="http://www.switched.com/2008/10/20/britney-spears-and-other-celebs-get-on-twitter-bandwagon/">hyped tweets</a>.</p>
<p>What's happening is some of the real celebrities <em>are</em> writing and putting <em>their own</em> thoughts out into the electronic ether - and "fans" are finding them dull or overbearing.</p>
<p>One celeb on Twitter I follow is <a href="http://twitter.com/stephenfry">Stephen Fry</a>. To me <strong>he get's it</strong>, sending <a href="http://twitpic.com/photos/stephenfry" rel="muse">photos from his iPhone</a> and following everyone who follows him. He fits in.</p>
<p>But my <a href="http://www.twitter.com/jules23" rel="met spouse sweetheart">wife</a> has recently stopped following someone she really liked (acting wise) because they turned out to be very "full-of-themselves" online. I too tried to follow someone I liked on-screen but found it was just too much. They just weren't interesting at all.</p>
<p>Now I'm not saying that every celeb is dull as dishwater, far from it. Just that they (and their marketing folks) should think twice about stepping out from behind the curtain. Dropping followers, or worse being blocked, could go to losing points both online and in "the real world".</p>
<p>Technorati tags: celebrities, twitter, damage, marketing, social networks</p>
Backyard Mint and Dark Chocolate2011-05-28T23:30:57Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2011-05-28-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/595294.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Backyard Mint and Dark Chocolate</h1>
<p class="summary">Jeni's ice creams</p>
<p>Ate this from Jeni's ice creams on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2011-05-28T23:30:57.000Z">May 28, 2011</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Tastes were great, but the texture of the ice-cream was nothing to write home about.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Hummos Chicken Plate2011-06-07T21:30:00Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2011-06-07-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/617972.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Hummos Chicken Plate</h1>
<p class="summary">Aladdin's Eatery</p>
<p>Ate this at Aladdin's Eatery on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2011-06-07T21:30:00.000Z">June 7, 2011</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Awesome lunch - Hummos topped with Chicken Mishwi, diced tomato, and parsley. Pita on the side. Make sure to order the hot sauce too.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Italian Sausage Sub2015-08-28T21:41:23Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2015-08-28-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5551719.jpg" alt="Italian Sausage Sub" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Italian Sausage Sub</h1>
<p class="summary">Gentiles Bakery & Deli, Parma</p>
<p>Ate this at Gentiles Bakery Deli on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2015-08-28T21:41:23.000Z">August 28, 2015</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>
Turkey burger2015-09-02T22:17:36Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2015-09-02-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5558676.jpg" alt="Turkey burger" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Turkey burger</h1>
<p class="summary">The Oak Barrel, Valley View</p>
<p>Ate this at The Oak Barrel on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2015-09-02T22:17:36.000Z">September 2, 2015</time>, and noted <q class="">Well seasoned. Filling.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>
Drunken Chicken2015-09-04T21:08:22Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2015-09-04-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5560805.jpg" alt="Chicken gumbo on a bowl of rice" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Drunken Chicken</h1>
<p class="summary">J Gumbos, Independence</p>
<p>Ate this at J Gumbos on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2015-09-04T21:08:22.000Z">September 4, 2015</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>
Corned Beef Sliders2015-09-09T04:10:54Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2015-09-08-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5566892.jpg" alt="Corned Beef Sliders" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Corned Beef Sliders</h1>
<p class="summary">Beals Pickles & Pints, Willoughby</p>
<p>Ate this at Beal's Pickles & Pints on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2015-09-09T04:10:54.000Z">September 9, 2015</time>, and noted <q class="">Had it with the tater tots. Nice size.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>
The Bazzard2015-09-09T05:51:28Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2015-09-09-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5567026.jpg" alt="Stuffed sandwich" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">The Bazzard</h1>
<p class="summary">Gentiles Bakery & Deli, Parma</p>
<p>Ate this at Gentiles Bakery & Deli on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2015-09-09T05:51:28.000Z">September 9, 2015</time>, and noted <q class="">Awesome sandwich, served hot.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>
Corned Beef Hash2015-09-13T02:12:50Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2015-09-12-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5571516.jpg" alt="null" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Corned Beef Hash</h1>
<p class="summary">5th Avenue Deli, Cleveland</p>
<p>Ate this at 5th Avenue Deli on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2015-09-13T02:12:50.000Z">September 12, 2015</time>, and noted <q class="">Love this. Especially with poached eggs.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>
Chicken Tacos2015-09-15T22:21:26Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2015-09-15-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5575631.jpg" alt="Chicken Tacos" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Chicken Tacos</h1>
<p class="summary">Outback Steakhouse, Independence</p>
<p>Ate this at Outback Steakhouse on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2015-09-15T22:21:26.000Z">September 15, 2015</time>, and noted <q class="">Had it with the Aussie fries. This is the lunch portion.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>
Lunch Buffet2015-09-17T21:44:23Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2015-09-17-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5578035.jpg" alt="Tempura, Sweet & Sour chicken, rice" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Lunch Buffet</h1>
<p class="summary">Kumo Japanese Seafood Buffet, Parma</p>
<p>Ate this at Kumo Japanese Seafood Buffet on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2015-09-17T21:44:23.000Z">September 17, 2015</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Sashimi And More2015-09-17T21:45:03Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2015-09-17-foodspotting-2/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5578036.jpg" alt="Sashimi And More" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Sashimi And More</h1>
<p class="summary">Kumo Japanese Seafood Buffet, Parma</p>
<p>Ate this at Kumo Japanese Seafood Buffet on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2015-09-17T21:45:03.000Z">September 17, 2015</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>
All You Can Eat Sushi2015-09-23T05:44:25Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2015-09-23-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5585021.jpg" alt="Various Sushi" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">All You Can Eat Sushi</h1>
<p class="summary">Sushi Sai, Chicago</p>
<p>Ate this at Sushi Sai on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2015-09-23T05:44:25.000Z">September 23, 2015</time>, and noted <q class="">Great value for $20. Freshly prepared, really tasty.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Bacon, Dates & Goat Cheese Empanada2015-09-23T22:30:44Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2015-09-23-foodspotting-2/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5585652.jpg" alt="Bacon, Dates & Goat Cheese Empanada" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Bacon, Dates & Goat Cheese Empanada</h1>
<p class="summary">Empanadas 5411, Chicago</p>
<p>Ate this at Empanadas 5411 on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2015-09-23T22:30:44.000Z">September 23, 2015</time>, and noted <q class="">Awesome!</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>
Bibimbab2015-09-24T22:51:43Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2015-09-24-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5586766.jpg" alt="Bibimbab" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Bibimbab</h1>
<p class="summary">Lai Lai Express, Chicago</p>
<p>Ate this at Lai Lai Express on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2015-09-24T22:51:43.000Z">September 24, 2015</time>, and noted <q class="">Really tasty.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>
Beer Braised Brisket Sandwich2015-10-16T23:16:03Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2015-10-16-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5612484.jpg" alt="Beer Braised Brisket Sandwich" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Beer Braised Brisket Sandwich</h1>
<p class="summary">Winking Lizard Tavern, Independence</p>
<p>Ate this at Winking Lizard Tavern on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2015-10-16T23:16:03.000Z">October 16, 2015</time>, and noted <q class="">Really tasty. Guinness sauce and Havarti cheese with mushrooms.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Dr Pepper Braised Pork Shank2015-10-26T22:49:36Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2015-10-26-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5624788.jpg" alt="Dr Pepper Braised Pork Shank" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Dr Pepper Braised Pork Shank</h1>
<p class="summary">The Oak Barrel, Valley View</p>
<p>Ate this at The Oak Barrel on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2015-10-26T22:49:36.000Z">October 26, 2015</time>, and noted <q class="">OMG! So tasty. Served with roasted garlic whipped potatoes and soy chile jam.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>
Bento2015-12-10T09:00:22Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2015-12-10-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5672649.jpg" alt="Deep fried pork, dumplings, and sushi" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Bento</h1>
<p class="summary">Mizu Sushi</p>
<p>Ate this at Mizu Sushi on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2015-12-10T09:00:22.000Z">December 10, 2015</time>, and noted <q class="">Deep fried pork, dumplings, and sushi. Tasted really nice.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>1/4 Chicken2015-12-10T23:53:45Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2015-12-10-foodspotting-2/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5673115.jpg" alt="1/4 Chicken, green beans, and stuffing" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">1/4 Chicken</h1>
<p class="summary">Boston Market</p>
<p>Ate this at Boston Market on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2015-12-10T23:53:45.000Z">December 10, 2015</time>, and noted <q class="">Really tasty.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Beef Brisket2015-12-18T08:36:10Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2015-12-18-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5680714.jpg" alt="Beef Brisket, fries, and hush puppies" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Beef Brisket</h1>
<p class="summary">Old Angle Tavern</p>
<p>Ate this at Old Angle Tavern on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2015-12-18T08:36:10.000Z">December 18, 2015</time>, and noted <q class="">This was delicious. Huge portions. Hush puppies too.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Chicken Vindaloo Curry2015-12-31T07:29:07Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2015-12-31-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5695903.jpg" alt="Beef Brisket, fries, and hush puppies" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Chicken Vindaloo Curry</h1>
<p class="summary">Hot Or Mild</p>
<p>Ate this at Hot Or Mild on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2015-12-31T07:29:07.000Z">December 31, 2015</time>, and noted <q class="">Got it to go. Very tasty.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Cheese, Jalapeño, Potato Pierogi2015-12-31T07:40:52Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2015-12-31-foodspotting-2/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5695910.jpg" alt="Cheese, Jalapeño, Potato Pierogi" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Cheese, Jalapeño, Potato Pierogi</h1>
<p class="summary">The BottleHouse Brewing Company</p>
<p>Ate this at The BottleHouse Brewing Company on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2015-12-31T07:40:52.000Z">December 31, 2015</time>, and noted <q class="">Delicious.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Spicy Cheddar Smokies2015-12-31T07:48:19Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2015-12-31-foodspotting-3/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5695930.jpg" alt="Spicy Cheddar Smokies" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Spicy Cheddar Smokies</h1>
<p class="summary">The BottleHouse Brewing Company</p>
<p>Ate this at The BottleHouse Brewing Company on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2015-12-31T07:48:19.000Z">December 31, 2015</time>, and noted <q class="">Really good. Made by Saucisson Cleveland.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Asiago Steak Sandwich2015-12-31T22:40:26Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2015-12-31-foodspotting-4/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5696515.jpg" alt="Asiago Steak Sandwich" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Asiago Steak Sandwich</h1>
<p class="summary">Panera Bread</p>
<p>Ate this at Panera Bread on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2015-12-31T22:40:26.000Z">December 31, 2015</time>, and noted <q class="">Pretty tasty.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Broccoli And Cheddar Soup2015-12-31T22:46:55Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2015-12-31-foodspotting-5/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5696521.jpg" alt="Broccoli And Cheddar Soup" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Broccoli And Cheddar Soup</h1>
<p class="summary">Panera Bread</p>
<p>Ate this at Panera Bread on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2015-12-31T22:46:55.000Z">December 31, 2015</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Cherry Cake Donut2016-01-02T22:03:34Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-01-02-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5699075.jpg" alt="Cherry Cake Donut and coffee on a counter" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Cherry Cake Donut</h1>
<p class="summary">Biagio's Donut Shop & Pizzeria</p>
<p>Ate this at Biagio's Donut Shop & Pizzeria on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-01-02T22:03:34.000Z">January 2, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="">They make the best donuts. This is my favorite.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Yardbird Taco2016-01-03T03:47:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-01-02-foodspotting-2/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5699485.jpg" alt="Yardbird Taco" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Yardbird Taco</h1>
<p class="summary">Qdoba Mexican Grill</p>
<p>Ate this at Qdoba Mexican Grill on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-01-03T03:47:01.000Z">January 2, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="">Really tasty.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Two Timer Taco2016-01-03T03:47:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-01-02-foodspotting-3/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5699516.jpg" alt="Two Timer Taco" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Two Timer Taco</h1>
<p class="summary">Qdoba Mexican Grill</p>
<p>Ate this at Qdoba Mexican Grill on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-01-03T03:47:01.000Z">January 2, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="">Good, but a bit wet.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Is the OpenWeb/IndieWeb still for “anoraks”?2016-01-24T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-01-24-openweb-indieweb-still-for-anoraks/<p><a href="http://davewiner.com/" class="h-card" rel="colleague" title="">Dave Winer</a> posted an <a href="http://scripting.com/liveblog/users/davewiner/2016/01/20/0900.html" title="">interesting piece</a> not too long ago. About encouraging a friend to take their Facebook comment and repurpose it as a blog post.
They ended up putting it on Medium, which was Dave feared would happen.</p>
<p>As Dave points out, Medium’s become <em>the</em> place to post think-pieces and hot-takes alike. But, it could all go away. Worse still, your posts could downplayed by them and not seen by as wide an audience.</p>
<p>Medium posted a, I think, <a href="https://medium.com/@yourfriends/anywhere-and-medium-8041b827de2c#.uuzyazuvk" title="">well positioned reply</a>. But the fact remains that the masses still see posting anything outside of a silo too “techie”.
Twitter, Facebook, Medium, and many others rely on users content to make them money. I’m completely fine with that. What I’m not fine with is my content being completely lost if they closed.</p>
<p>It’s never been easier to get started posting your own content online:</p>
<ul>
<li>Buy your own domain name (they are so cheap nowadays)</li>
<li>Use a free blogging tool like <a href="http://wordpress.com/" title="">Wordpress</a> or <a href="https://withknown.com/" title="">Known</a></li>
<li>Write</li>
<li>Syndicate (send it from there to other platforms)</li>
</ul>
<p>The missing bullet point is the one that is the highest barrier for most people. Replying. Its the one that needs to find a solution before OpenWeb/IndieWeb gets mass appeal.</p>
<p>Silo’s have made it so easy to respond immediately. Within their own system speed is of essence. The thought of crafting a reply somewhere else seems slow and “<a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=anorak" title="Urban Dictionary entry">anoraky</a>”.</p>
<p>If we can find a way to get that working external platforms as easily as the Silo’s do, then we would see a true open and independent web <strong>everyone</strong> used.</p>
Spotify is not for me2016-02-15T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-02-15-spotify-not-for-me/<p>I was interested to hear some music shared on Twitter, but the link was to Spotify. I don’t have an account, but the @Spotify username I wanted freed up. So I installed, tried, got instantly annoyed, then uninstalled.</p>
<p>Guess I’m just stuck in my way of listening, but having “similar” tracks inserted into album that I can only listen to on shuffle, is ridiculous. Also I only get to skip a few tracks then “discover” a premium feature to unlock is a ridiculous gamification ploy.</p>
<p>I know a whole of people like this way of consuming and discovering music, but it’s just not for me.</p>
<p>Same reasons why I don’t use the radio stations in Google Play.</p>
<p>Back to the blogs, podcasts, and personal recommendations for me.</p>
My 4 essential UX project tools2016-03-02T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-03-02-my-4-essential-ux-tools/<p>For me there are four essential things I need in my day-to-day tasks as a professional “UX-er”.</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Notebook</strong>—These, of course, come in all shapes and sizes. My current large notebook of choice is <a href="https://www.baronfig.com/tools/confidant" title="">The Confident</a> from Baron Fig. It has a certain heft to it. Lays flat, comes in a dot grid, and the bleed from pens is acceptable.
<img class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/0*qOAnuRULvEskEb6t.jpg" alt="Space pen resting on a my Baron Fig notebook" />
<p>I always carry at least one back up and that has been something from <a href="https://www.muji.us/collections/notebook" title="US stationary page">Muji</a> for many years now. They are affordable, take ink well and survive being stuffed into bags or pockets. My currents are the Cahier and the Grid.</p>
<p>Taking my laptop to meetings (unless I’m presenting) is so distracting. There’s always another think vying for my attention on the screen. I always try and take only a notebook in with me.</p></li><p></p>
<li><strong>Spreadsheet programs</strong>—Whether it’s Google Sheets, Excel, or Numbers I find myself spending a quarter of my time in one of these, regardless of the project.
<p>Regardless of how much I’m told (or I think) a page/function is used I don’t know unless I have the raw data. You’re off to a good start thinking nothing is ever used unless a column of numbers sits in front of you. Decisions based on data can always stand up in a meeting.</p></li><p></p>
<li><strong>Sketch</strong>—Since switching to a Mac I’ve fallen in love with <a href="https://www.sketch.com/" title="Mac only design program">Sketch</a>. The spiritual successor to Fireworks which, for me, was <em>the</em> graphics program for the web.
<p>Sketch is light, easy to pick up, and great for figuring out the modular, CSS driven, design that makes sense in today’s web. Pair it with <a href="http://www.invisionapp.com/" title="">InVision</a> and I’m good to go, workflow wise.</p></li><p></p>
<li><strong>Evernote</strong>—My “<a href="http://archive.oreilly.com/pub/a/javascript/2002/01/01/cory.html" title="Cory Doctorow article">outboard brain</a>”, <a href="http://www.43folders.com/2007/10/11/downside-outboard-brain" title="Merlin Mann article">for better or worse</a>. Everything goes in there. <a href="https://evernote.com/" title="">Evernote</a>. ‘Nuff said.</li>
<p>Honorable mention to <a href="http://inkwell.io/" title="">Inkwell.io</a> for the great <a href="http://inkwell.io/products/inkwell" title="">sketching kit</a> they put together. I don’t take it everywhere, but parts of it are always with me.</p>
<p>So there’s mine. What are yours?</p>
</ol>Instagram’s timeline and iOS users…2016-03-28T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-03-28-instagram-timeline-ios-users/<p>To show their displeasure at this, some people are posting images with arrows indicating where to change settings. This will #KeepInstagramChronological.</p>
<p>Here’s the problem. They all seem to be iOS users. How do I know? Because none of the ways I use Instagram have anything where the arrow is pointing.</p>
<img class="img-border" alt="Instagram on Android" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/0*-CidxaeJjiVKh9Z_.png" />
<p>Just another reminder that everyone’s experience is different.</p>
Chicken Tacos2016-08-19T23:01:07Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-08-19-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5909284.jpg" alt="Chicken Tacos" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Chicken Tacos</h1>
<p class="summary">Barrio</p>
<p>Ate this at Barrio on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-08-19T23:01:07.000Z">August 19, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="">Love thier coleslaw. Great tasting ingredients all around. This was build your own for the Rustbelt Refresh conference.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Kimchee Dolsot Bibimbab2016-09-08T01:05:22Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-09-07-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5923458.jpg" alt="Kimchee Dolsot Bibimbab" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Kimchee Dolsot Bibimbab</h1>
<p class="summary">Korean House</p>
<p>Ate this at Korean House on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-09-08T01:05:22.000Z">September 7, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="">Great taste. Big portion.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>BBQ Pork Rice Bowl2016-09-09T21:18:21Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-09-09-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5924518.jpg" alt="BBQ Pork Rice Bowl" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">BBQ Pork Rice Bowl</h1>
<p class="summary">Koko Bakery</p>
<p>Ate this at Koko Bakery on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-09-09T21:18:21.000Z">September 9, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="">Great for lunch. About $6 and packed with steamed veg and rice.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Lemon Loaf2016-09-15T01:24:17Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-09-14-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5928287.jpg" alt="Lemon Loaf" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Lemon Loaf</h1>
<p class="summary">Starbucks</p>
<p>Ate this at Starbucks on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-09-15T01:24:17.000Z">September 14, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="">My favourite at any Starbucks.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Pad Thai Country Style2016-09-16T22:18:49Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-09-16-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5929288.jpg" alt="Pad Thai Country Style" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Pad Thai Country Style</h1>
<p class="summary">Map of Thailand</p>
<p>Ate this at Map of Thailand on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-09-16T22:18:49.000Z">September 16, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="">Delicious. Filling, but not that spicy to me.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Sausage & Egg Biscuit2016-09-18T19:41:02Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-09-18-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5930972.jpg" alt="Sausage & Egg Biscuit" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Sausage & Egg Biscuit</h1>
<p class="summary">Burger King</p>
<p>Ate this at Burger King on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-09-18T19:41:02.000Z">September 18, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="">Meh</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Bi Cuon (Shredded Pork Rolls)2016-09-19T21:55:55Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-09-19-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5931952.jpg" alt="Bi Cuon (Shredded Pork Rolls)" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Bi Cuon (Shredded Pork Rolls)</h1>
<p class="summary">Number One Pho</p>
<p>Ate this at Number One Pho on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-09-19T21:55:55.000Z">September 19, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="">Tasted good. Nice about of pork.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Beef Pho2016-09-19T21:57:43Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-09-19-foodspotting-2/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5931953.jpg" alt="Beef Pho" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Beef Pho</h1>
<p class="summary">Number One Pho</p>
<p>Ate this at Number One Pho on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-09-19T21:57:43.000Z">September 19, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="">This was the P2 (rare beef & brisket). Big portion and tasty. But broth is a little plain on its own.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Assorted Italian2016-09-30T22:02:41Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-09-30-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5938424.jpg" alt="Beef Pho" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Assorted Italian</h1>
<p class="summary">DiBella's Old Fashioned Submarines</p>
<p>Ate this at DiBella's Old Fashioned Submarines on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-09-30T22:02:41.000Z">September 30, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="">Really tasty.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Wasabi Turkey Club Sandwich2016-10-03T21:06:49Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-10-03-foodspotting-2/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5940776.jpg" alt="Wasabi Turkey Club Sandwich" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Wasabi Turkey Club Sandwich</h1>
<p class="summary">Koko Bakery</p>
<p>Ate this at Koko Bakery on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-10-03T21:06:49.000Z">October 3, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="">Sweet taste roll (honey?) with turkey, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, mayonnaise, and a thin spread of wasabi. Very tasty, and you get two in a serving.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Egg custard2016-10-03T21:06:49Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-10-03-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5940771.jpg" alt="Egg custard" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Egg custard</h1>
<p class="summary">Koko Bakery</p>
<p>Ate this at Koko Bakery on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-10-03T21:06:49.000Z">October 3, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="">Wonderful. Only place I've found that makes these.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Infused Cucumber Lime Water2016-10-04T21:37:59Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-10-04-foodspotting-2/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5941280.jpg" alt="Infused Cucumber Lime Water" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Infused Cucumber Lime Water</h1>
<p class="summary">Cafe 55</p>
<p>Ate this at Cafe 55 on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-10-04T21:37:59.000Z">October 4, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="">Refreshing.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Coastline, With Chicken And Brown Rice2016-10-04T21:37:59Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-10-04-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5941278.jpg" alt="Coastline bowl, With Chicken And Brown Rice" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Coastline, With Chicken And Brown Rice</h1>
<p class="summary">Cafe 55</p>
<p>Ate this at Cafe 55 on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-10-04T21:37:59.000Z">October 4, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="">Extremely tasty. Great ingredients.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Everything Bagel With Black Pepper & Horseradish Schmear2016-10-05T16:59:21Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-10-05-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5941652.jpg" alt="Everything Bagel With Black Pepper & Horseradish Schmear" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Everything Bagel With Black Pepper & Horseradish Schmear</h1>
<p class="summary">Six Shooter Coffee</p>
<p>Ate this at Six Shooter Coffee on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-10-05T16:59:21.000Z">October 5, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="">Great. CLE Bagel Co are the best.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Sausage Burrito2016-10-06T17:35:29Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-10-06-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5942348.jpg" alt="tortilla with goopy cheese egg mix" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Sausage Burrito</h1>
<p class="summary">McDonald's</p>
<p>Ate this at McDonald's on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-10-06T17:35:29.000Z">October 6, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="">Ugh. Why do I do this? Stodgy tortilla with goopy cheese egg mix. Barely any sausage.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Saigon Bowl2016-10-07T21:03:11Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-10-07-foodspotting-2/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5942970.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Saigon Bowl</h1>
<p class="summary">Cafe 55</p>
<p>Ate this at Cafe 55 on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-10-07T21:03:11.000Z">October 7, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Saigon Bacon, spicy slaw, toasted coriander, cilantro. Added brown rice and tofu. The slaw is excellent, but tofu and rice tasted a little underwhelming.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Pork Teriyaki Rice Bowl2016-10-07T21:07:15Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-10-07-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5942972.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Pork Teriyaki Rice Bowl</h1>
<p class="summary">Koko Bakery</p>
<p>Ate this at Koko Bakery on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-10-07T21:07:15.000Z">October 7, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Very tasty.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Going into @twitter post-only mode for a while.2016-10-08T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-10-08-twitter-post-only-mode/<p>Maybe it's the election, growing social tension, or just the echo chamber it's become but I need to take a breather. Unlike Facebook, I'm not closing down my account, just going into 'post-only' mode. Thanks to the <a href="http://indieweb.org/" title="">Indieweb</a> I can syndicate content from here to Twitter, have any replies fed back into my blog and reply accordingly.</p>
<p>Part of my dissatisfaction comes from the lack of user progress I've seen too.</p>
<h2>Features</h2>
<p>Since <a href="http://thenextweb.com/twitter/2012/08/17/twitter-4/#gref" title="article on The next Web">Twitter capped it's API</a>, killing 3rd-party app growth, the innovation slowed to a snails pace. It seems, from my POV, that features and tools were to be ways to service their business model - Shame they've never really had one.
In the near decade I've been using Twitter I still cannot filter out posts including a word or phrase in the official Android app. Something 3rd-party apps had been doing for ages. Nor can I choose not to see re-tweets.</p>
<h2>Show me less</h2>
<p>Every time I dismiss the "While you were away" thing Twitter puts up, I get the "Show me less like this" message. Every time I click it. Every time I still see it. This would be better as a feature I could turn on/off in settings.</p>
<h2>Ads</h2>
<p>I get it. You need money, so you're selling ads. But what's with the inconsistency? Some weeks I'll see barely any. Other weeks it's every fourth post. Now I mark every one as 'offensive' because I'm such a "rebel".</p>
<img class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/0*Jvj48biYpQvepwSn.png" alt="Uninstalling the Twitter app" />
<h2>Going forward</h2>
<p>I started this post on September 25th, procrastinating for a couple of weeks, but this mornings dip into my stream put the nail in the coffin. I've removed the app from my tablet and phone. I'll give it a month or so, then I'll try going back in.</p>
Macchiato2016-10-12T17:12:12Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-10-12-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5946331.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Macchiato</h1>
<p class="summary">Six Shooter Coffee</p>
<p>Drank this at Six Shooter Coffee on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-10-12T17:12:12.000Z">October 12, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Delicious.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Curry Chicken Rice Bowl2016-10-14T21:12:52Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-10-14-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5947482.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Curry Chicken Rice Bowl</h1>
<p class="summary">Heinen's</p>
<p>Ate this at Heinen's on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-10-14T21:12:52.000Z">October 14, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Really good, big portion for the price.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Future living2016-10-16T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-10-16-future-living/<p>The digital circle on my wall tells me it's 75℉ outside. It's half way through October.</p>
<p>I don't need that to tell me though, as I look through the open windows I can see the trees are still green. Barely any Autumnal changes yet. I mowed the grass yesterday in shorts.</p>
<p>I have to go and buy a new microwave as this morning it shut itself off and flashed the code H98 to me. A quick search on <strong>my phone</strong> tells me that <a href="http://www.justanswer.com/appliance/7cs1n-panasonic-microwave-shows-code-h98-not-working.html" title="appliance codes answered">indicates a primary failure in the magnetron or inverter circuitry</a>. Cheaper to buy a new one.</p>
<p>I live in a foreign country, working to make web-based tools better & easier for people to use. In the middle of a political landscape pulled from the pages of my favorite comic as a kid.</p>
<p>From 1970's Essex to 2010's Ohio.</p>
<p>The future isn't what it used to be Mr. Angel.</p>
Curry Chicken Rice Bowl2016-10-17T21:39:13Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-10-17-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5949874.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Curry Chicken Rice Bowl</h1>
<p class="summary">Koko Bakery</p>
<p>Ate this at Koko Bakery on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-10-17T21:39:13.000Z">October 17, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Very tasty. These always fill me up.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Cherry Strudel2016-10-21T17:08:44Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-10-21-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5951788.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Cherry Strudel</h1>
<p class="summary">Lucy's Sweet Surrender</p>
<p>Ate this at Lucy's Sweet Surrender on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-10-21T17:08:44.000Z">October 21, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Very good.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Crab Rangoon2016-10-23T05:05:46Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-10-23-foodspotting-3/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5953151.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Crab Rangoon</h1>
<p class="summary">China Mountain II</p>
<p>Ate this from China Mountain II on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-10-23T05:05:46.000Z">October 23, 2016</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>General Tso's Chicken2016-10-23T05:07:59Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-10-23-foodspotting-2/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5953153.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">General Tso's Chicken</h1>
<p class="summary">China Mountain II</p>
<p>Ate this from China Mountain II on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-10-23T05:07:59.000Z">October 23, 2016</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Petie's Chopped Steak2016-10-24T03:04:42Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-10-23-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5953978.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Petie's Chopped Steak</h1>
<p class="summary">Petie's Family Restaurant</p>
<p>Ate this at Petie's Family Restaurant on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-10-24T03:04:42.000Z">October 23, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Topped with bacon, mushrooms, and cheese. Couldn't finish the whole thing. Tasty.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Mexico City Bowl2016-10-26T04:58:40Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-10-25-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5955001.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Mexico City Bowl</h1>
<p class="summary">Cafe 55</p>
<p>Ate this at Cafe 55 on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-10-26T04:58:40.000Z">October 26, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Very good. Chicken and brown rice, with avacado, cilantro adding a lot of taste.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>No.8 Phở Tái Nạm Gầu2016-10-27T21:51:50Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-10-27-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5955858.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">No.8 Phở Tái Nạm Gầu</h1>
<p class="summary">Superior Pho</p>
<p>Ate this at Superior Pho on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-10-27T21:51:50.000Z">October 27, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="caption">My new fave. Eye-round steak, fat brisket, and flank.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Mussells2016-10-31T22:10:42Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-10-31-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5958622.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Mussells</h1>
<p class="summary">South Side</p>
<p>Ate this at null on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-10-31T22:10:42.000Z">October 31, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="caption">With shrimp, in a Belgian Ale and curry sauce. Tasted great.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Chicken Paprikash2016-11-01T22:03:22Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-11-01-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5959111.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Chicken Paprikash</h1>
<p class="summary">Souper Market</p>
<p>Ate this from Souper Market on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-11-01T22:03:22.000Z">November 1, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Very tasty. Not too spicy. Nice big slice of bread.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Coconut And Cranberry Bun2016-11-03T21:25:12Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-11-03-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5960092.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Coconut And Cranberry Bun</h1>
<p class="summary">Koko Bakery</p>
<p>Ate this at Koko Bakery on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-11-03T21:25:12.000Z">November 3, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="caption">So delicious. One of my faves from here.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Lunch Buffett2016-11-04T21:30:18Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-11-04-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5960572.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Lunch Buffett</h1>
<p class="summary">Tadka Restaurant</p>
<p>Ate this at null on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-11-04T21:30:18.000Z">November 4, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Great choice of food. Really tasty.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Americas, With Chicken And Brown Rice2016-11-09T01:28:03Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-11-08-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5963141.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Americas, With Chicken And Brown Rice</h1>
<p class="summary">Cafe 55</p>
<p>Ate this at Cafe 55 on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-11-09T01:28:03.000Z">November 8, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="caption">The chimichurri and roast onions make this. Really good.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>BLT2016-11-16T02:42:57Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-11-15-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5967143.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">BLT</h1>
<p class="summary">Grand Lux Cafe, Chicago</p>
<p>Ate this at Grand Lux Cafe on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-11-16T02:42:57.000Z">November 15, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Lunch special with Moroccan Chicken soup.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Backyard BBQ Bowl2016-11-16T06:35:00Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-11-16-foodspotting-2/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5967245.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Backyard BBQ Bowl</h1>
<p class="summary">Protein Bar, Chicago</p>
<p>Ate this at Protein Bar on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-11-16T06:35:00.000Z">November 16, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Good, but a lot of quinoa.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Breakfast Buffet2016-11-16T18:15:37Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-11-16-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5967544.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Breakfast Buffet</h1>
<p class="summary">Warwick Allerton, Chicago</p>
<p>Ate this at Warwick Allerton on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-11-16T18:15:37.000Z">November 16, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Pretty decent. Bacon was good and the salsa had a nice kick.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Lunchtime Buffet2016-11-17T23:29:12Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-11-17-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5968084.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Lunchtime Buffet</h1>
<p class="summary">Bombay Chaat</p>
<p>Ate this at Bombay Chaat on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-11-17T23:29:12.000Z">November 17, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Great selection of dishes. Aloo dish was really tasty. Naan bread runs out quickly.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Chicken Dum Biryani2016-11-25T22:18:47Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-11-25-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5972104.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Chicken Dum Biryani</h1>
<p class="summary">Bombay Chaat</p>
<p>Ate this at Bombay Chaat on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-11-25T22:18:47.000Z">November 25, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Big portion, pretty spicy.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Boneless Chicken2016-11-29T03:19:32Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-11-28-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5974307.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Boneless Chicken</h1>
<p class="summary">Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen</p>
<p>Ate this from Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-11-29T03:19:32.000Z">November 28, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="caption">For $5 it's not bad. Chicken was moist and tasty.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Spicy Grilled Cheese2016-11-29T22:44:31Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-11-29-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5974672.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Spicy Grilled Cheese</h1>
<p class="summary">La Bodega</p>
<p>Ate this at La Bodega on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-11-29T22:44:31.000Z">November 29, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Huge sandwich, great taste.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Bibimbab Galbi2016-11-30T23:00:28Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-11-30-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5975186.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Bibimbab Galbi</h1>
<p class="summary">Miega Korean Barbeque</p>
<p>Ate this at Miega Korean Barbeque on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-11-30T23:00:28.000Z">November 30, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Really good</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Corned Beef Hash With Eggs And Grits2016-12-02T22:18:44Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-12-02-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5976038.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Corned Beef Hash With Eggs And Grits</h1>
<p class="summary">Fifth Wheel</p>
<p>Ate this at Fifth Wheel on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-12-02T22:18:44.000Z">December 2, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Big portion and great taste. All for under $7. Cash only.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Tom Yum Kung2016-12-07T00:14:09Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-12-06-foodspotting-2/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5978427.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Tom Yum Kung</h1>
<p class="summary">Map of Thailand</p>
<p>Ate this at Map of Thailand on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-12-07T00:14:09.000Z">December 6, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Very tasty. Two big plump shrimps sitting at the bottom.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Larb2016-12-07T00:15:42Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-12-06-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5978429.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Larb</h1>
<p class="summary">Map of Thailand</p>
<p>Ate this at Map of Thailand on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-12-07T00:15:42.000Z">December 6, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Sauteed ground chicken salad. Nice kick with the chilies & lime.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Chipotle Double Burger2016-12-11T00:28:07Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-12-10-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5980375.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Chipotle Double Burger</h1>
<p class="summary">Steak & Shake</p>
<p>Ate this at Steak & Shake on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-12-11T00:28:07.000Z">December 10, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Can't beat it for $4. Little kick, not that spicy.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Dirty Tots Pulled Pork2016-12-13T07:41:58Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-12-13-foodspotting-2/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5981697.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Dirty Tots Pulled Pork</h1>
<p class="summary">Moe's Grill & Bar, Dulles Airport</p>
<p>Ate this at Moe's Grill & Bar on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-12-13T07:41:58.000Z">December 13, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Potato, cheese sauce, and BBQ pork. Not bad for an airport.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Hotcakes, Bacon, Egg2016-12-13T22:43:54Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-12-13-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5981997.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Hotcakes, Bacon, Egg</h1>
<p class="summary">Fifth Wheel</p>
<p>Ate this at Fifth Wheel on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-12-13T22:43:54.000Z">December 13, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Tasty, and under $5.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Small Meatball Sub2016-12-17T04:35:33Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-12-16-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5983438.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Small Meatball Sub</h1>
<p class="summary">Cala's Pizzeria</p>
<p>Ate this from Cala's Pizzeria on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-12-17T04:35:33.000Z">December 16, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Very filling, for a small.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Sausage Pizza Slice2016-12-21T22:32:18Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-12-21-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5986104.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Sausage Pizza Slice</h1>
<p class="summary">Crust</p>
<p>Ate this at Crust on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-12-21T22:32:18.000Z">December 21, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Huge portion (iPhone for comparison). Really tasty.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Duck noodle soup2016-12-23T22:59:57Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-12-23-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5987141.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Duck noodle soup</h1>
<p class="summary">Map of Thailand</p>
<p>Ate this at Map of Thailand on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2016-12-23T22:59:57.000Z">December 23, 2016</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Very tasty.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Fried Chicken Sandwhich2017-01-05T23:11:38Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-01-05-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5994497.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Fried Chicken Sandwhich</h1>
<p class="summary">Market Garden Brewery</p>
<p>Ate this at Market Garden Brewery on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-01-05T23:11:38.000Z">January 5, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Really tasty. The slaw was nice.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Lunchtime Buffet2017-01-13T22:35:00Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-01-13-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/5998334.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Lunchtime Buffet</h1>
<p class="summary">Bombay Chaat</p>
<p>Ate this at Bombay Chaat on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-01-13T22:35:00.000Z">January 13, 2017</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Cheesesteak Sandwich2017-01-18T22:50:13Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-01-18-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6000990.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Cheesesteak Sandwich</h1>
<p class="summary">Subway</p>
<p>Ate this at Subway on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-01-18T22:50:13.000Z">January 18, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Pretty good for $6.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Lunchtime Buffet2017-01-20T23:22:22Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-01-20-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6002097.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Lunchtime Buffet</h1>
<p class="summary">Bombay Chaat</p>
<p>Ate this at Bombay Chaat on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-01-20T23:22:22.000Z">January 20, 2017</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Cubano Sandwhich2017-02-02T22:58:53Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-02-02-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6008738.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Cubano Sandwhich</h1>
<p class="summary">Market Garden Brewery</p>
<p>Ate this at Market Garden Brewery on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-02-02T22:58:53.000Z">February 2, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Really tasty.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>The Alaskan2017-02-06T22:47:19Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-02-06-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6011151.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">The Alaskan</h1>
<p class="summary">Byte Cafe</p>
<p>Ate this at Byte Cafe on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-02-06T22:47:19.000Z">February 6, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Tasted great</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Coastal Bowl2017-02-08T23:23:45Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-02-08-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6012081.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Coastal Bowl</h1>
<p class="summary">Cafe 55 Cleveland</p>
<p>Ate this at Cafe 55 Cleveland on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-02-08T23:23:45.000Z">February 8, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Delicious.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Chocolate Milkshake2017-02-25T04:28:07Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-02-24-foodspotting-2/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6019950.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Chocolate Milkshake</h1>
<p class="summary">Steak & Shake</p>
<p>Drank this at Steak & Shake on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-02-25T04:28:07.000Z">February 24, 2017</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Frisco Melt2017-02-25T04:29:21Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-02-24-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6019951.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Frisco Melt</h1>
<p class="summary">Steak & Shake</p>
<p>Ate this at Steak & Shake on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-02-25T04:29:21.000Z">February 24, 2017</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Happy 40th 2000AD2017-02-26T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-02-26-happy-40th-2000ad/<p>Growing up in England during the 70's it always seemed there were a ton of comics to read. The homegrown <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whizzer_and_Chips" title="Wikipedia entry">Whizzer & Chips</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dandy" title="Wikipedia entry">Dandy</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beano" title="Wikipedia entry">The Beano</a>, etc. Also a slew of US ones from Marvel and DC. But in 1977, when I was 8, something new dropped into my local newsagents - <strong><a href="http://www.2000adonline.com/" title="Official site">2000AD</a></strong>.</p>
<p>This had the feel of something different. The art was more "realistic". Stories weren't the usual fare, no super heroes for one. Looking back it seemed almost subversive. It was a comic, but reading it gave me the same feeling as staying up watching TV past the <a href="http://ask.ofcom.org.uk/help/television/watershed" title="OFCOM site">watershed</a>.</p>
<p>I was always excited opening the pages to see what crazy new story was being introduced or which of my favorite artists were illustrating Dredd; <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Dillon" title="Wikipedia entry">Dillon</a>(RIP), <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Smith_(comics)" title="Wikipedia entry">Smith</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Bolland" title="Wikipedia entry">Bolland</a>. It was them who kept me drawing (I even got one published).</p>
<p>One of my 2000AD drawings</p>
<p>Every Xmas brought the guaranteed gift of the 2000AD Annual - Hardback and chock full of thrills. Every February bought the re-upping of my subscription.
I collected 2000AD for a long time, and getting to know the writers & artists made it easy to drop back into comics years later when they published things such as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_for_Vendetta" title="Wikipedia entry">V for Vendetta</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preacher_(comics)" title="Wikipedia entry">Preacher</a>, amongst others.</p>
<p>Being exposed to it from the beginning has spoiled me in a way. When I realize how vast an influence it's had on the people, stories and media that's came after. I find myself thinking, "Wasn't that a Future-Shock?", or "Bet they read Dredd as a kid too". I'm looking forward to watching the documentary <a href="https://youtu.be/4wLSHDagOcc" title="YouTube">Future Shock!</a> that came out last year.</p>
<p>It's great to see it still going, thriving, and reaching a new audience.</p>
<p>Here's to another 40 years.</p>
<h2>Links</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/0-9/2000AD/" title=" ">Victoria and Albert Museum article</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/2000ADonline" title=" ">2000AD YouTube channel</a></li>
</ul>
Chicken Chili Verde2017-02-28T22:22:35Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-02-28-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6022198.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Chicken Chili Verde</h1>
<p class="summary">Souper Market</p>
<p>Ate this at Souper Market on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-02-28T22:22:35.000Z">February 28, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Nice spicy heat</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Lamb Gyro2017-03-02T23:24:49Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-03-02-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6023076.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Lamb Gyro</h1>
<p class="summary">Rumi's Market</p>
<p>Ate this from Rumi's Market on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-03-02T23:24:49.000Z">March 2, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Delicious.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Lunchtime Buffet2017-03-03T22:48:57Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-03-03-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6023462.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Lunchtime Buffet</h1>
<p class="summary">Bombay Chaat</p>
<p>Ate this at Bombay Chaat on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-03-03T22:48:57.000Z">March 3, 2017</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Miso Noodle Broth Bowl2017-03-09T23:22:10Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-03-09-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6026606.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Miso Noodle Broth Bowl</h1>
<p class="summary">Dig Inn, New York</p>
<p>Ate this at Dig Inn on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-03-09T23:22:10.000Z">March 9, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Really tasty. Yam noodles with winter veg. Added chicken.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Porter Beef Pie2017-03-10T06:12:07Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-03-10-foodspotting-2/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6026697.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Porter Beef Pie</h1>
<p class="summary">Fraunces Tavern, New York</p>
<p>Ate this at Fraunces Tavern on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-03-10T06:12:07.000Z">March 10, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Puff pastry, would've been better with a thicker crust</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Breakfast Platter with Sausage2017-03-10T17:34:06Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-03-10-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6026892.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Breakfast Platter with Sausage</h1>
<p class="summary">Open Kitchen, New York</p>
<p>Ate this at Open Kitchen on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-03-10T17:34:06.000Z">March 10, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Lot for $5. Potatoes a little dry, but the peppers and onions make up for that.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Sausage & Egg Sandwich2017-03-12T00:46:41Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-03-11-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6027643.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Sausage & Egg Sandwich</h1>
<p class="summary">Starbucks</p>
<p>Ate this from Starbucks on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-03-12T00:46:41.000Z">March 11, 2017</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Chicken Paprikash2017-03-15T22:42:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-03-15-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6029756.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Chicken Paprikash</h1>
<p class="summary">Souper Market</p>
<p>Ate this fomr Souper Market on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-03-15T22:42:01.000Z">March 15, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Great for a cold day like today</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Prime Rib sandwich2017-03-20T20:45:23Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-03-20-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6032755.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Prime Rib sandwich</h1>
<p class="summary">Murray Hill Market</p>
<p>Ate this at null on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-03-20T20:45:23.000Z">March 20, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Delicious</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Double Teen Burger2017-03-23T20:57:52Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-03-23-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6033933.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Double Teen Burger</h1>
<p class="summary">A&W, Vancouver</p>
<p>Ate this at A&W on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-03-23T20:57:52.000Z">March 23, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Had fries & gravy, along with root beer. One of the only times a "fast food" burger looks like it's picture. Very tasty.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Breakfast Platter Meal2017-03-24T20:01:59Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-03-24-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6034336.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Breakfast Platter Meal</h1>
<p class="summary">Phat, Vancouver</p>
<p>Ate this at Phat on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-03-24T20:01:59.000Z">March 24, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Very nice. Smoked meat made a change from sausage/bacon.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Chicken Dhansak2017-03-26T08:37:14Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-03-26-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6035439.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Chicken Dhansak</h1>
<p class="summary">Salam Bombay, Vancouver</p>
<p>Ate this at Salam Bombay on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-03-26T08:37:14.000Z">March 26, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Delicious. Had it with basmati rice and a Paratha. Little pricey, but worth it.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Pork Sweet And Sour2017-03-27T06:58:37Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-03-27-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6036075.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Pork Sweet And Sour</h1>
<p class="summary">Rice Tales</p>
<p>Ate this at Rice Tales on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-03-27T06:58:37.000Z">March 27, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Not great. Barely any flavor. But airport food.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Patty Melt2017-03-31T21:30:44Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-03-31-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6038293.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Patty Melt</h1>
<p class="summary">Diner On 55th</p>
<p>Ate this at Diner On 55th on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-03-31T21:30:44.000Z">March 31, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Very tasty</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Pancakes and bacon2017-04-01T20:31:31Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-04-01-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6038898.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Pancakes and bacon</h1>
<p class="summary">IHOP</p>
<p>Ate this at IHOP on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-04-01T20:31:31.000Z">April 1, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Good.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Small Meatball Sub2017-04-08T02:53:25Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-04-07-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6041944.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Small Meatball Sub</h1>
<p class="summary">Cala's Pizzeria</p>
<p>Ate this at Cala's Pizzeria on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-04-08T02:53:25.000Z">April 7, 2017</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Corned Beef Hash2017-04-08T18:32:12Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-04-08-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6042303.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Corned Beef Hash</h1>
<p class="summary">Petie's Family Restaurant</p>
<p>Ate this at Petie's Family Restaurant on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-04-08T18:32:12.000Z">April 8, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Poached eggs and grits make this a great breakfast</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Bangkok Bazaar2017-04-10T23:28:27Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-04-10-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6043630.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Bangkok Bazaar</h1>
<p class="summary">Townhall</p>
<p>Ate this at Townhall on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-04-10T23:28:27.000Z">April 10, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">OMG this was tasty. Roasted chicken, rock shrimp, rice noodles, egg and Asian fish sauce. Spicy and full of flavor.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Ohio City Pasta Of The Day2017-04-24T22:19:18Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-04-24-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6050729.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Ohio City Pasta Of The Day</h1>
<p class="summary">Elements Bistro</p>
<p>Ate this at Elements Bistro on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-04-24T22:19:18.000Z">April 24, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Delicious. Mushrooms, chicken, and peppers in a masala sauce.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Lunchtime Buffet2017-04-28T21:05:24Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-04-28-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6052462.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Lunchtime Buffet</h1>
<p class="summary">Bombay Chaat</p>
<p>Ate this at Bombay Chaat on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-04-28T21:05:24.000Z">April 28, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Tasty as always.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Italian Trio Tasta And Corn Salad2017-05-01T21:14:56Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-05-01-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6054181.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Italian Trio Tasta And Corn Salad</h1>
<p class="summary">Piada Italian Street Food</p>
<p>Ate this at Piada Italian Street Food on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-05-01T21:14:56.000Z">May 1, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Very tasty</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Western BBQ 'n' Bacon Steakburger and fries2017-05-02T05:18:41Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-05-02-foodspotting-3/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6054352.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Western BBQ 'n' Bacon Steakburger and fries</h1>
<p class="summary">Steak 'n Shake</p>
<p>Ate this at Steak 'n Shake on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-05-02T05:18:41.000Z">May 2, 2017</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Mushroom & Spinach Scramble2017-05-02T16:39:07Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-05-02-foodspotting-2/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6054573.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Mushroom & Spinach Scramble</h1>
<p class="summary">Perkins Restaurant & Bakery</p>
<p>Ate this at Perkins Restaurant & Bakery on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-05-02T16:39:07.000Z">May 2, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Tasty with turkey sausage.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>New York Hot Dog2017-05-02T22:28:11Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-05-02-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6054715.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">New York Hot Dog</h1>
<p class="summary">Sonic Drive-In</p>
<p>Ate this at Sonic Drive-In on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-05-02T22:28:11.000Z">May 2, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">S'okay.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Chorizo Seared Brussel Sprouts2017-05-12T03:26:59Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-05-11-foodspotting-2/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6059437.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Chorizo Seared Brussel Sprouts</h1>
<p class="summary">Townhall</p>
<p>Ate this at Townhall on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-05-12T03:26:59.000Z">May 11, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Really good. No grease from the chorizo, but plenty of flavour.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Thai Peanut Bowl2017-05-12T03:29:23Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-05-11-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6059438.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Thai Peanut Bowl</h1>
<p class="summary">Townhall</p>
<p>Ate this at Townhall on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-05-12T03:29:23.000Z">May 11, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Delicious! Not an overwhelming peanut taste, and great turmeric & ginger rice.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>California Skillet2017-05-20T17:32:32Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-05-20-foodspotting-2/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6063629.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">California Skillet</h1>
<p class="summary">Steak & Shake</p>
<p>Ate this at Steak & Shake on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-05-20T17:32:32.000Z">May 20, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Filling and tasty.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Grasshopper Concrete2017-05-21T03:28:52Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-05-20-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6064025.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Grasshopper Concrete</h1>
<p class="summary">East Coast Custard</p>
<p>Ate this at East Coast Custard on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-05-21T03:28:52.000Z">May 20, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Delicious</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Toffee Apple Donut2017-05-25T01:38:00Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-05-24-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6066166.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Toffee Apple Donut</h1>
<p class="summary">Bloom Bakery</p>
<p>Ate this at Bloom Bakery on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-05-25T01:38:00.000Z">May 24, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Donut of the week. Toffee apple ganache donut. Made with fresh eggs and butter, matured for 2 days and gently fried. Delicious.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Sausage Calzone2017-05-25T22:06:06Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-05-25-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6066571.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Sausage Calzone</h1>
<p class="summary">Galucci's</p>
<p>Ate this at Galucci's on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-05-25T22:06:06.000Z">May 25, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Decent.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Pot Stickers2017-05-28T03:03:44Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-05-27-foodspotting-3/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6067813.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Pot Stickers</h1>
<p class="summary">China Mountain II</p>
<p>Ate this from China Mountain II on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-05-28T03:03:44.000Z">May 27, 2017</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Sweet And Sour Chicken2017-05-28T03:11:31Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-05-27-foodspotting-2/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6067815.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Sweet And Sour Chicken</h1>
<p class="summary">China Mountain II</p>
<p>Ate this from China Mountain II on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-05-28T03:11:31.000Z">May 27, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Tasty. Always white meat with nice crisp batter.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>General Tso's Chicken2017-05-28T03:14:12Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-05-27-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6067830.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">General Tso's Chicken</h1>
<p class="summary">China Mountain II</p>
<p>Ate this from China Mountain II on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-05-28T03:14:12.000Z">May 27, 2017</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Sangweech2017-05-31T21:09:25Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-05-31-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6069666.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Sangweech</h1>
<p class="summary">Galucci's</p>
<p>Ate this at Galucci's on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-05-31T21:09:25.000Z">May 31, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Delicious. Onion, marinara, thinly sliced steak, and cheese. Served warm.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Corned Beef Hash2017-06-03T19:12:19Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-06-03-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6071121.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Corned Beef Hash</h1>
<p class="summary">Petie's Family Restaurant</p>
<p>Ate this at Petie's Family Restaurant on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-06-03T19:12:19.000Z">June 3, 2017</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Red Curry with Chicken2017-06-07T22:57:52Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-06-07-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6073309.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Red Curry with Chicken</h1>
<p class="summary">Map of Thailand</p>
<p>Ate this at Map of Thailand on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-06-07T22:57:52.000Z">June 7, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Very tasty, not too spicy.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Moroccan Chickpea Soup2017-06-12T21:45:03Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-06-12-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6075757.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Moroccan Chickpea Soup</h1>
<p class="summary">Souper Market</p>
<p>Ate this at Souper Market on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-06-12T21:45:03.000Z">June 12, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Nice touch of spice.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Turkey Panini2017-06-15T20:53:31Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-06-15-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6076856.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Turkey Panini</h1>
<p class="summary">Galucci's</p>
<p>Ate this at Galucci's on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-06-15T20:53:31.000Z">June 15, 2017</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Coronation Chicken Sandwich2017-06-16T21:36:45Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-06-16-foodspotting-2/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6077236.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Coronation Chicken Sandwich</h1>
<p class="summary">Bloom Bakery</p>
<p>Ate this at Bloom Bakery on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-06-16T21:36:45.000Z">June 16, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Delicious on a soft panini.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Beet Salad2017-06-16T21:39:19Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-06-16-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6077237.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Beet Salad</h1>
<p class="summary">Bloom Bakery</p>
<p>Ate this at Bloom Bakery on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-06-16T21:39:19.000Z">June 16, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Surprisingly good. Beetroots, onions, and balsamic.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Little Italy Pizza2017-06-21T02:53:50Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-06-20-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6079649.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Little Italy Pizza</h1>
<p class="summary">Citizen Pie</p>
<p>Ate this at Citizen Pie on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-06-21T02:53:50.000Z">June 20, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Fantastic neopolitan pizza</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>The Black and Bleu Burger2017-06-29T22:53:50Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-06-29-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6084006.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">The Black and Bleu Burger</h1>
<p class="summary">Urban Kitchen & Deli</p>
<p>Ate this at Urban Kitchen & Deli on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-06-29T22:53:50.000Z">June 29, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Big patty. Tasty. Fries are really good. We ordered an egg separate for a topper.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Lunchtime Indian Buffet2017-07-13T22:15:33Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-07-13-foddspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6091104.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Lunchtime Indian Buffet</h1>
<p class="summary">Bombay Chaat</p>
<p>Ate this at Bombay Chaat on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-07-13T22:15:33.000Z">July 13, 2017</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Spicy Chicken Primetime Nachos2017-07-16T02:55:26Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-07-15-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6092156.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Spicy Chicken Primetime Nachos</h1>
<p class="summary">Qdoba Mexican Grill</p>
<p>Ate this at Qdoba Mexican Grill on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-07-16T02:55:26.000Z">July 15, 2017</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Bacon Wrapped Dates2017-07-21T22:32:09Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-07-21-foodspotting-2/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6094776.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Bacon Wrapped Dates</h1>
<p class="summary">Townhall</p>
<p>Ate this at Townhall on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-07-21T22:32:09.000Z">July 21, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Very good</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Wild Tuna Poke2017-07-21T22:38:31Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-07-21-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6094788.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Wild Tuna Poke</h1>
<p class="summary">Townhall</p>
<p>Ate this at Townhall on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-07-21T22:38:31.000Z">July 21, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Delicious! Rice, Yum Yum Sauce, Wild Yellowfin Tuna, Wild Salmon, Seaweed Salad, Avocado, Kimchi, Sesame Seeds, Organic Beets, Pickled Ginger, Scallion</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Chorizo, Corn, And Queso Empanadas2017-07-26T17:02:46Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-07-26-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6097258.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Chorizo, Corn, And Queso Empanadas</h1>
<p class="summary">Six Shooter Coffee</p>
<p>Ate this at Six Shooter Coffee on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-07-26T17:02:46.000Z">July 26, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Nice spicy kick. Like a small pastie</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Corned Beef Hash2017-07-30T19:49:04Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-07-30-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6099558.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Corned Beef Hash</h1>
<p class="summary">Petie's Family Restaurant</p>
<p>Ate this at Petie's Family Restaurant on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-07-30T19:49:04.000Z">July 30, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Grits and poached eggs make this corned beef hash a killer breakfast.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Polish Girl Combo2017-08-02T21:29:41Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-08-02-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6101019.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Polish Girl Combo</h1>
<p class="summary">Hot Sauce Williams Barbecue</p>
<p>Ate this at Hot Sauce Williams Barbecue on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-08-02T21:29:41.000Z">August 2, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Hotdog with ribmeat, sauce, coleslaw, and fries. Delicious!</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Pepporoni Pizza2017-08-06T02:39:42Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-08-05-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6102569.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Pepporoni Pizza</h1>
<p class="summary">Citizen Pie</p>
<p>Ate this at Citizen Pie on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-08-06T02:39:42.000Z">August 5, 2017</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Bangkok Bazaar2017-08-07T22:22:37Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-08-07-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6103542.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Bangkok Bazaar</h1>
<p class="summary">Townhall</p>
<p>Ate this at Townhall on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-08-07T22:22:37.000Z">August 7, 2017</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Summer Crab Roll2017-08-14T21:48:56Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-08-14-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6107016.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Summer Crab Roll</h1>
<p class="summary">Market Garden Brewery</p>
<p>Ate this at Market Garden Brewery on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-08-14T21:48:56.000Z">August 14, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Slightly spicy. Nice crunch with the radish and corn. Fries were good too.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Chicken Tenders2017-08-16T21:53:23Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-08-16-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6107823.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Chicken Tenders</h1>
<p class="summary">Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen</p>
<p>Ate this at Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-08-16T21:53:23.000Z">August 16, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">With red beans & rice, and a biscuit. Not bad for $5.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Brisket Burger2017-08-25T23:26:12Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-08-25-foodspotting-2/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6111843.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Brisket Burger</h1>
<p class="summary">Market Garden Brewery</p>
<p>Ate this at Market Garden Brewery on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-08-25T23:26:12.000Z">August 25, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Delicious. Smoked Brisket, BBQ aioli, and fried pickles onions made it.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Lemon Black Raspberry Frozen Yogurt2017-08-25T23:31:00Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-08-25-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6111845.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Lemon Black Raspberry Frozen Yogurt</h1>
<p class="summary">Mitchell's Homemade Ice Cream</p>
<p>Ate this at Mitchell's Homemade Ice Cream on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-08-25T23:31:00.000Z">August 25, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Refreshing</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Black And Blue Dawg2017-08-26T23:26:27Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-08-26-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6112333.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Black And Blue Dawg</h1>
<p class="summary">Scooters Dawg House</p>
<p>Ate this at Scooters Dawg House on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-08-26T23:26:27.000Z">August 26, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Great. This was the "long". Blue cheese and Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Lunchtime Indian Buffet2017-09-22T21:29:13Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-09-22-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6123867.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Lunchtime Indian Buffet</h1>
<p class="summary">Bombay Chaat</p>
<p>Ate this at Bombay Chaat on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-09-22T21:29:13.000Z">September 22, 2017</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Duck noodle soup2017-09-29T21:42:15Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-09-29-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6126593.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Duck noodle soup</h1>
<p class="summary">Map of Thailand</p>
<p>Ate this at Map of Thailand on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-09-29T21:42:15.000Z">September 29, 2017</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Pepporoni Pizza2017-10-12T05:19:49Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-10-12-foodspotting-3/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6129930.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Pepporoni Pizza</h1>
<p class="summary">Masthead Brewing Co.</p>
<p>Ate this at Masthead Brewing Co. on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-10-12T05:19:49.000Z">October 12, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Love the wood fired pizza</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Pretzal2017-10-12T05:21:56Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-10-12-foodspotting-2/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6129931.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Pretzal</h1>
<p class="summary">Masthead Brewing Co.</p>
<p>Ate this at Masthead Brewing Co. on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-10-12T05:21:56.000Z">October 12, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Big enough to share between 4 of us. Ballpark mustard and a pimento cheese dip</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Bacon, Blue Cheese, And Fennel Empanada2017-10-12T17:34:14Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-10-12-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6130011.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Bacon, Blue Cheese, And Fennel Empanada</h1>
<p class="summary">Six Shooter Coffee</p>
<p>Ate this at Six Shooter Coffee on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-10-12T17:34:14.000Z">October 12, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Delicious</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Lunchtime Buffet2017-10-13T21:29:36Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-10-13-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6130209.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Lunchtime Buffet</h1>
<p class="summary">Bombay Chaat</p>
<p>Ate this at Bombay Chaat on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-10-13T21:29:36.000Z">October 13, 2017</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Bi Bim Bap2017-10-19T02:56:37Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-10-18-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6131630.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Bi Bim Bap</h1>
<p class="summary">Miega Korean Barbeque</p>
<p>Ate this at Miega Korean Barbeque on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-10-19T02:56:37.000Z">October 18, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Big portion. Delicious.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Corned Beef Hash2017-10-28T20:17:12Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-10-28-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6133875.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Corned Beef Hash</h1>
<p class="summary">Petie's Family Restaurant</p>
<p>Ate this at Petie's Family Restaurant on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-10-28T20:17:12.000Z">October 28, 2017</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Cheddar Beer Burger2017-11-16T23:18:32Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-11-16-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6137904.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Cheddar Beer Burger</h1>
<p class="summary">Goldhorn Brewery</p>
<p>Ate this at Goldhorn Brewery on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-11-16T23:18:32.000Z">November 16, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Tasty with the beer cheese.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Farmhouse Skillet2017-12-02T20:22:27Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-12-02-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6141503.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Farmhouse Skillet</h1>
<p class="summary">Steak & Shake</p>
<p>Ate this at Steak & Shake on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2017-12-02T20:22:27.000Z">December 2, 2017</time>, and noted <q class="caption">S'okay. Nothing special. If I get it again it'd be without cheese. They add so much.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Soup Dumplings2018-01-19T22:54:26Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2018-01-19-foodspotting-3/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6150338.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Soup Dumplings</h1>
<p class="summary">LJ Shanghai</p>
<p>Ate this at LJ Shanghai on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2018-01-19T22:54:26.000Z">January 19, 2018</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Great taste. 6 for $5!</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Braised Duck2018-01-19T22:55:23Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2018-01-19-foodspotting-2/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6150339.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Braised Duck</h1>
<p class="summary">LJ Shanghai</p>
<p>Ate this at LJ Shanghai on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2018-01-19T22:55:23.000Z">January 19, 2018</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Nice taste. Minimal sauce.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Spicy Beef Noodle Soup2018-01-19T23:11:04Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2018-01-19-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6150340.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Spicy Beef Noodle Soup</h1>
<p class="summary">LJ Shanghai</p>
<p>Ate this at LJ Shanghai on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2018-01-19T23:11:04.000Z">January 19, 2018</time>, and noted <q class="caption">OMG! This was so good. Large pieces of beef, so tender.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Western Breakfast Bagel2018-01-20T18:15:35Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2018-01-20-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6150486.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Western Breakfast Bagel</h1>
<p class="summary">Bruegger's Bagels</p>
<p>Ate this at Bruegger's Bagels on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2018-01-20T18:15:35.000Z">January 20, 2018</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Chicken Bowl2018-01-22T22:41:08Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2018-01-22-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6150871.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Chicken Bowl</h1>
<p class="summary">Chipotle Mexican Grill</p>
<p>Ate this at Chipotle Mexican Grill on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2018-01-22T22:41:08.000Z">January 22, 2018</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Tasty, but an extra $2 for guacamole is a bit much.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Tuna Melt2018-01-28T00:21:56Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2018-01-27-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6151606.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Tuna Melt</h1>
<p class="summary">Lakeshore Eatery</p>
<p>Ate this at Lakeshore Eatery on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2018-01-28T00:21:56.000Z">January 27, 2018</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Good</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Shrimp Poboy2018-02-01T22:54:41Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2018-02-01-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6152505.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Shrimp Poboy</h1>
<p class="summary">Winking Lizard Tavern</p>
<p>Ate this at Winking Lizard Tavern on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2018-02-01T22:54:41.000Z">February 1, 2018</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Not bad. Coleslaw was tasty.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Sushi2018-02-02T23:40:39Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2018-02-02-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6152620.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Sushi</h1>
<p class="summary">Kumo Japanese Seafood Buffet</p>
<p>Ate this at Kumo Japanese Seafood Buffet on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2018-02-02T23:40:39.000Z">February 2, 2018</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Lunchtime Buffet2018-02-10T22:14:05Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2018-02-10-foodspotting-2/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6154056.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Lunchtime Buffet</h1>
<p class="summary">Bombay Chaat</p>
<p>Ate this at Bombay Chaat on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2018-02-10T22:14:05.000Z">February 10, 2018</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Frisco Melt And Fries2018-02-10T22:33:00Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2018-02-10-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6154061.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Frisco Melt And Fries</h1>
<p class="summary">Steak 'n Shake</p>
<p>Ate this at Steak 'n Shake on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2018-02-10T22:33:00.000Z">February 10, 2018</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Patty Melt2018-02-13T23:20:14Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2018-02-13-foodspotting-2/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6154602.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Patty Melt</h1>
<p class="summary">Superior Restaurant</p>
<p>Ate this at Superior Restaurant on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2018-02-13T23:20:14.000Z">February 13, 2018</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Pretty good. Does not come with fries.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Onion Rings2018-02-13T23:21:00Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2018-02-13-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6154604.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Onion Rings</h1>
<p class="summary">Superior Restaurant</p>
<p>Ate this at Superior Restaurant on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2018-02-13T23:21:00.000Z">February 13, 2018</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Nice and crisp.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Spicy Grilled Cheese2018-02-22T00:02:04Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2018-02-21-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6155941.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Spicy Grilled Cheese</h1>
<p class="summary">La Bodega</p>
<p>Ate this at La Bodega on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2018-02-22T00:02:04.000Z">February 21, 2018</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Egg And Bacon Breakfast Sandwich2018-02-22T18:48:09Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2018-02-22-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6156053.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Egg And Bacon Breakfast Sandwich</h1>
<p class="summary">Bigmouth Donut Company</p>
<p>Ate this at Bigmouth Donut Company on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2018-02-22T18:48:09.000Z">February 22, 2018</time>, and noted <q class="caption">This is delicious. Got it without cheese. All on an unglazed yeast donut.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Raspberry And Lemon Doughnut2018-03-02T08:48:59Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2018-03-02-foodspotting-2/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6157189.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Raspberry And Lemon Doughnut</h1>
<p class="summary">Bigmouth Donut Company</p>
<p>Ate this at Bigmouth Donut Company on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2018-03-02T08:48:59.000Z">March 2, 2018</time>, and noted <q class="caption">The most refreshing doughnut I've ever had.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Lunchtime Buffet2018-03-02T08:49:51Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2018-03-02-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6157190.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Lunchtime Buffet</h1>
<p class="summary">Bombay Chaat</p>
<p>Ate this at Bombay Chaat on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2018-03-02T08:49:51.000Z">March 2, 2018</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Lemon Chicken2018-03-03T05:52:04Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2018-03-03-foodspotting-2/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6157279.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Lemon Chicken</h1>
<p class="summary">Li Wah</p>
<p>Ate this at Li Wah on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2018-03-03T05:52:04.000Z">March 3, 2018</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Tasty.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Shrimp Dumpling2018-03-03T05:55:05Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2018-03-03-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6157281.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Shrimp Dumpling</h1>
<p class="summary">Li Wah</p>
<p>Ate this at Li Wah on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2018-03-03T05:55:05.000Z">March 3, 2018</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Smoky Mushroom Burger2018-03-05T04:53:59Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2018-03-04-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6157601.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Smoky Mushroom Burger</h1>
<p class="summary">Wendy's</p>
<p>Ate this at Wendy's on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2018-03-05T04:53:59.000Z">March 4, 2018</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Meh.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Jambalaya2018-03-13T21:36:26Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2018-03-13-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6158858.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Jambalaya</h1>
<p class="summary">Souper Market</p>
<p>Ate this at Souper Market on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2018-03-13T21:36:26.000Z">March 13, 2018</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Very tasty. Nice spicy heat with a good amount of sausage and shrimp.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Collinwood Pizza2018-03-15T04:37:49Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2018-03-14-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6158999.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Collinwood Pizza</h1>
<p class="summary">Citizen Pie</p>
<p>Ate this at Citizen Pie on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2018-03-15T04:37:49.000Z">March 15, 2018</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Delicious. Meaty and spicy.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Turnip Cake2018-03-17T01:38:09Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2018-03-16-foodspotting-2/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6159211.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Turnip Cake</h1>
<p class="summary">Emperor's Palace</p>
<p>Ate this at Emperor's Palace on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2018-03-17T01:38:09.000Z">March 16, 2018</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Delicious with some soy sauce and hot oil.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Shrimp Rice Crepes2018-03-17T01:38:47Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2018-03-16-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6159212.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Shrimp Rice Crepes</h1>
<p class="summary">Emperor's Palace</p>
<p>Ate this at Emperor's Palace on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2018-03-17T01:38:47.000Z">March 16, 2018</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Tasty.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>The Malnati Chicago Classic2018-03-24T09:42:29Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2018-03-24-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6160341.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">The Malnati Chicago Classic</h1>
<p class="summary">Lou Malnati's Pizzeria, Chicago</p>
<p>Ate this at Lou Malnati's Pizzeria on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2018-03-24T09:42:29.000Z">March 24, 2018</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Very tasty.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Chicago Dog2018-03-25T05:29:45Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2018-03-25-foodspotting-3/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6160470.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Chicago Dog</h1>
<p class="summary">Devil Dawgs, Chicago</p>
<p>Ate this at Devil Dawgs on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2018-03-25T05:29:45.000Z">March 25, 2018</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Had everything on it to make it authentic. Tasty.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Seoul Dog2018-03-25T05:31:02Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2018-03-25-foodspotting-2/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6160471.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Seoul Dog</h1>
<p class="summary">Devil Dawgs, Chicago</p>
<p>Ate this at Devil Dawgs on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2018-03-25T05:31:02.000Z">March 25, 2018</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Meh. Kimchi wasn't that great. Dog was good though.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Fries2018-03-25T05:31:34Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2018-03-25-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6160472.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Fries</h1>
<p class="summary">Devil Dawgs, Chicago</p>
<p>Ate this at Devil Dawgs on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2018-03-25T05:31:34.000Z">March 25, 2018</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Pretty good</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Beef Curry Soup With Vermicelli Noodles2018-03-28T05:06:47Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2018-03-28-foodspotting/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/foodspotting/6160892.jpg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Beef Curry Soup With Vermicelli Noodles</h1>
<p class="summary">LJ Shanghai</p>
<p>Ate this at LJ Shanghai on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2018-03-28T05:06:47.000Z">March 28, 2018</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Delicious. Great for a cold wet day.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>
Hello World2019-12-03T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2019-12-03-hello-world/<p>Call it a very hard reset, but I wanted to build something new. From the ground up.</p>
<p>All previous content has now been deleted from this server. I really don't know if I'll add it back.</p>
<h2>What's under the hood?</h2>
<p>I wanted to get out of my technology comfort zone. Use something I'm not familiar with. That's why I ended up using an SSG, or Static Site Generator in longhand. It builds everything locally, using Javascript (shudder), and you just FTP the flat files up to the server.</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote>
<p>Sometimes, the old ways are the best.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— Moneypenny, <cite>Skyfall</cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Thanks to <a href="https://ctmiller.net/" title="Chris Miller's website">Chris</a> for hearing me out when I wondered how hard is it <em>really</em> to build a CMS from scratch. And huge thanks to <a href="https://www.bridgestew.com/" title="Bridget's blog">Bridget</a> for guiding me through some potholes as she'd built her site using <a href="https://www.11ty.io/" title="official site">Eleventy</a> too.</p>
<p>I'm sure there's a lot that may <strong>not</strong> work initially. I'm also sure there's a lot better ways of doing some of the workflow and code. But it's in a state where I feel "confident" putting it up. Let's see what breaks.</p>
<h2>Social Media</h2>
<p>12 years using Twitter, around 7 on Instagram, and I think I'm pretty much done with it at the moment. I haven't logged in or posted to either in 4 months, so I could leave them inactive, but closing them is starting to feel like the right thing to do.</p>
<p>I've already disconnected the apps & services to them. Also requested exports of my data.</p>
<p>I may just just use <a href="https://twitter.com/davidmead" title="main twitter account">@davidmead</a> and/or <a href="https://twitter.com/davidjohnmead" title="alternate twitter account">@davidjohnmead</a> on Twitter as an alternative RSS feed - Just post links to the latest posts here.</p>
<h2>Indieweb</h2>
<p>I'm still a fan, and proponent, of the <a href="https://indieweb.org/" title="own your content">Indieweb</a>. Just not sure how much of it I'll be adding/using here. See my previous statement about social media. I've added some of the basic <a href="http://microformats.org/">microformats</a> to my HTML templates, but that may be as far as it goes.</p>
<h2>Going Forward</h2>
<p>I'll do a write up of getting started with Eleventy soon. Maybe try for a post a day.</p>
<p>OK. I'm pushing this live. Hopefully the RSS feed is working.</p>
<p>Until next time.</p>
Handling broken links2019-12-04T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2019-12-04-handling-broken-links/<p>Deleting all of my existing content, and there was a lot, means I've left a lot of broken links in my wake. With something like Wordpress or Known this is handled for you as a 404 error, the <a href="https://www.w3.org/Protocols/rfc2616/rfc2616-sec10.html" title="W3C information page">server error code for missing files</a>, will bring up a pre-built 404 page. Not so when rolling your own.</p>
<p>I found <a href="https://www.11ty.io/docs/quicktips/not-found/" title="404 page for Eleventy">an article</a> with steps to create one on the Eleventy site. Not too hard to implement, just means a little editing of my .htaccess file, and creating a new page to upload.</p>
<p>This should now be working.</p>
<p>I included an explanation of why the content someone was looking for may not be there, along with a link to the Wayback Machine which has snapshots of billions of web pages.</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote>
<p>On December 2nd 2019 I deleted all my content, and started fresh. If you're following a link from elsewhere you can try the Wayback Machine which may have a copy.</p>
<p>You can also visit the home page to read anything new I've posted.</p>
</blockquote>
</figure>
<p>Hopefully that should be helpful.</p>
Green across the board2019-12-05T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2019-12-05-lighthouse-scores/<p>This was one of the things I had my fingers crossed for when deciding to use a Static Site Generator for my site. As I'm writing my own HTML and CSS from scratch I try and weave in all the best practices I've learned over the years.</p>
<p>Navigating to the homepage in the Chrome browser (incognito mode to make sure no extensions are effecting the results) I opened the Developer tools and clicked audit.</p>
<p><img src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/lighthouse-results-homepage.png" alt="Lighthouse audit results all green for new homepage" title="Audit results all green" /></p>
<p>Homepage returned the following results:</p>
<ul>
<li>98% Performance</li>
<li>100% Accessibility</li>
<li>100% Best Practices</li>
<li>100% SEO (Search Engine Optimization)</li>
</ul>
<p>Not too shabby for a first run.</p>
<p>My 'post' pages faired pretty well too. Only difference was a 97% score for performance.</p>
<p><img src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/lighthouse-results-post.png" alt="Lighthouse audit results all green for post pages" title="Audit results all green" /></p>
<p>And yes, I know that you can get <a href="https://www.matuzo.at/blog/building-the-most-inaccessible-site-possible-with-a-perfect-lighthouse-score/" title="Manuel Matuzovic's post pointing out the dangers of automated testing">Lighthouse to give a 100% for accessibility on a completely inaccessible site</a>, but 100% is a great starting point to make changes from.</p>
<p>The ding on performance, on both mobile and desktop tests, is from using Google Fonts. You'll get that regardless, and I personally think just using two is fairly restrained.</p>
<p>Just to be sure I had ran the templates through an HTML validator, and the only thing that it reported was <code>rel="microsub"</code> in the <code><head></code>. I'm sure as <a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/micropub/#endpoint-discovery" title="End point discovery in the spec">microsub is a W3C spec</a> this will be corrected soon.</p>
<p>I will be keeping an eye on all of this, but not slavishly.</p>
Ambient music from an American painter2019-12-06T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2019-12-06-listen-empty-city/<p>I can't remember when I first heard <a href="http://torlundvall.com/" title="official site">Tor Lundvall</a>'s work, but I've now got 3 of his albums I tend to play back-to-back. Out of the 3, <a href="https://torlundvall.bandcamp.com/album/empty-city" title="Buy it on Bandcamp">Empty City</a> is my favourite.</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://torlundvall.bandcamp.com/album/empty-city">
<p>During the night trips, I'd stare out the window at abandoned factories, empty warehouses and other structures bathed in the dull orange or greenish glow of streetlights. I wanted to crawl into that hidden world.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— Tor Lundvall, <cite>Bandcamp</cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>It's the kind of ambient music that mixes big spaces with intimate voices to create a definite mood. And it's equally great played in any season. It changes slightly if listening in Winter or Summer, but fits both.</p>
<p>Some of his later albums have a mix of instrumental and lyrical tracks.</p>
<p>Definitely worth checking out.</p>
Tis The Season2019-12-06T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2019-12-06-tis-the-season/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2019-12-06-xmas-decoration.jpg" alt="Lit Xmas decoration throwing light pattern on wall" width="500" height="500" /></p>All trimmed up2019-12-07T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2019-12-07-all-trimmed-up/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2019-12-07-xmas-tree.jpg" alt="Xmas tree, decorated and lit." width="500" height="500" /></p>
We get a live tree every year. Normally we all pick it out, but this year I dropped the ball. Ended going by myself.Code cleanup and the emergency room2019-12-08T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2019-12-08-code-and-er/<p>I had an idea of the look and layout I wanted for this blog, but I didn't do a mock in Sketch or anything. I wanted to "find" it while I was marking up the templates. It came together pretty quick. I changed the fonts a couple of times but that was about it.</p>
<p>But after I launched it I saw there was quite a bit I could clean up. Yeah it validated and was semantic, but there was a few things I could do better with CSS Grid..</p>
<p>Looking back through my notes from <a href="https://rachelandrew.co.uk/" title="official site">Rachel Andrews</a>'s workshop at <a href="https://rustbeltrefresh.com/" title="Web conference in Cleveland">Rustbelt Refresh</a>, as well as a couple of videos from <a href="https://youtu.be/FEnRpy9Xfes" title="Layout Land video on YouTube">Jen Simmons</a> and <a href="https://youtu.be/KOvGeFUHAC0" title="Mozilla Dev video on YouTube">Miriam Suzanne</a>, I quickly dumped a lot of classes and employed grid in 3 of the Eleventy templates.</p>
<h2>Base template</h2>
<p>My main HTML template now uses grid for its structure. The <code><header></code>, <code><main></code>, and <code><footer></code> are set as rows. With the footer always being at the bottom of the page with just four lines of CSS.</p>
<pre><code>display:grid;
grid-gap: 1em;
grid-template-rows: auto 1fr auto;
min-height: 100vh;
</code></pre>
<h2>Content templates</h2>
<p>I have a couple of different templates at the moment, for different types of content. One for mini album reviews, one for photos, etc.</p>
<p>With these few lines of CSS I can get 2 columns laid out for the 'listen' type, within the grid that wraps the whole page.</p>
<pre><code>display: grid;
grid-template-columns: 240px 1fr;
grid-gap: 1.5em;
grid-auto-rows: minmax(auto, auto);
</code></pre>
<h2>Emergency room</h2>
<p><img src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2019-12-08-jjm-er.jpg" alt="Josh in a triage room" title="Josh in a triage room" /></p>
<p>Halfway through writing this Josh came home with Julie. He had been complaining about a pain in his back in the morning. It hadn't got better with an Advil. Seeing as the local Urgent Care isn't open on Sunday, it was a trip to the ER as he was in pain walking around.</p>
<p>Pain pills, muscle relaxant injection, and an icy-hot patch later, he feels a little better and has a note to excuse hime from gym this week.</p>
<p>Hopefully that's all the excitement for the week out the way.</p>
Art or Decoration?2019-12-10T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2019-12-10-art-or-decoration/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2019-12-10-xmas-art.jpg" alt="Hanging pieces make up shape of xmas tree" width="500" height="500" /></p>
We have a 'Main Street' at my work. The centre place on our ground floor. This year it contains this great piece.
<p>We have art all around the HQ (not surprising with one of <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/arts/2019/12/dealer-tire-ceo-scott-mueller-leads-by-example-as-new-chairman-of-cleveland-museum-of-art.html" title="newspaper article">our owners</a> is Chairman of Cleveland Museum of Art) and having something like this beats the normal corporate Xmas trees you see at a lot of places.</p>
Problem with Eleventy, RSS, and images2019-12-11T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2019-12-11-problem-with-rss-and-images/<p>I've noticed that in the RSS feed of this site, images within posts only show up some of the time.</p>
<p>Looking at the generated source code, they are all within the main block of the content being displayed in the item.</p>
<p>A quick duck-duck-go-ing and I came across a couple of general RSS issues along the same lines. Some was where the <code><img></code> was being ignored as it wasn't in a containing element. Easy fix I thought. I made sure all the images were in a <code><p></code>, as the ones showing up in the feed were part of the written post (in the middle of content) as opposed to a specific "photo post" which was just the <code><img></code> element on its own.</p>
<p>Didn't make any difference.</p>
<h2>Here comes CDATA</h2>
<p>Then I noticed a <a href="https://chat.indieweb.org/dev/2019-12-11/1576080408129100">conversation on the indieweb chat</a> about images and RSS. Wrapping things between <code><![CDATA[</code> and <code>]]></code> was a recommendation. I checked at <a href="https://granary.io/" title="The social web translator">Granary.io</a>. After plugging a URL of one of my posts in that, the output did have those CDATA tags around it. So I added those into my <code>feed.njk</code> file. No luck. In fact it made the HTML be written out.</p>
<p>I then re-read through the <a href="https://www.11ty.dev/docs/plugins/rss/">Eleventy post about adding RSS</a> a couple of times. Everything in my code matched, but something nagged at me about the <code>htmlToAbsoluteUrls</code> part. What if the URL for the image wasn't there when the page is being built?</p>
<h2>Photo post template</h2>
<p>I created a specific template for photo posts. I use this in the front matter...</p>
<pre><code>layout: layouts/layout-photo
imgSRC: /img/
imgALT:
</code></pre>
<p>...to pull in the photo so I can style it. So if it's not in the actual content until the flat HTML is "built" the feed file won't pull it in.</p>
<p>I guess this is an issue with all static site generators.</p>
NOM - Spicy Chao Shou2019-12-11T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2019-12-11-spicy-chao-shou/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2019-12-11-spicy-chao-shou.jpg" alt="Pork stuffed wontons in spicy chili oil" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>Not only did I have the normal serving of soup dumplings, but today's sharp cold weather called for something a little hotter. Love those spicy chao shou from <a href="https://www.yelp.com/biz/lj-shanghai-cleveland" title="official Yelp page">LJ Shanghai</a>.</p>
Hypertext in my Markdown2019-12-12T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2019-12-12-hypertext-in-my-markdown/<p>In my <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2019-12-11-problem-with-rss-and-images/" title="Problem with Eleventy, RSS, and images">previous post about this</a> I thought I'd solved it, but no.</p>
<p>Well now I really think I have, but it meant a slight template change as well as adding some HTML into my Markdown files.</p>
<p>In my <code>layout-photo.njk</code> file I had the following block</p>
<pre><code><div class="e-content">
<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="'{'{ imgSRC }'}'" alt="'{'{ imgALT }'}'" width="500" height="500"></p>
'{'{ content | safe }'}'
</div>
</code></pre>
<p>This would then pull the <code>imgSRC</code> and <code>imgALT</code> that I had in the <code>post.md</code> frontmatter when built. I <em>think</em> this is what was causing the images not to show.</p>
<p>Commenting out the <code><img></code> element in the template and moving that into the post actually seemed to cause the images to show up in my feed.</p>
<p>I'm not sure if pasting the HTML wholesale into the Markdown file is "right", but it seems to work.</p>
Crow Tree2019-12-14T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2019-12-14-crow-tree/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2019-12-14-crow-tree.jpg" alt="Black and white photo of crows in the Winter trees" width="500" height="500" /></p>
Lunch with Josh2019-12-14T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2019-12-14-lunch-with-josh/<p>After getting Josh's haircut, a new style of his choosing, we headed to <a href="https://sugarbowlwilloughby.com/" title="Pho and bakery">Sugar Bowl</a>.</p>
<p>We both had a bowl Pho Tai. A big serving of Vietnamese noodle soup with rare steak topped with cilantro, scallion and onions. Delicious on a cold rainy day like today. Also shared an appetizer of 'Country Wings' (crispy fried with a sweet chili sauce to dip).</p>
<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2019-12-14-pho.jpg" alt="Close up of bowl containing Pho" width="500" height="500" /></p>People are starting to want to own content again?2019-12-14T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2019-12-14-people-want-own-the-content/<p>There seems to be a fair amount of chatter recently about hosting your own content again. This is a good thing.</p>
<p>Nathan Curtis tweeted out about how Medium is now changing their policy, and how it effects him...</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">So, <a href="https://twitter.com/Medium?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@medium</a> has done it? Only one free article per user even for authors that don't want a paywall? Glad <a href="https://twitter.com/eightshapes?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@eightshapes</a> has setup and partially migrated to our .com too. I know what I'm getting done by 1/1/2020. 😠 Too sad.</p>— Nathan Curtis (@nathanacurtis) <a href="https://twitter.com/nathanacurtis/status/1204889629276676096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>Laura Kalbag wrote <a href="https://24ways.org/2019/its-time-to-get-personal/" title="article on 24 ways">It’s Time to Get Personal</a> where she looks at the wasteland of personal websites, that could start to become a lush community garden of shared thoughts.</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://24ways.org/2019/its-time-to-get-personal/">
<p>Essentially it means when we are not paying for mainstream tech with money, we are paying for it with our privacy.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— Laura Kalbag, <cite>It’s Time to Get Personal</cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Even Jack Dorsey tweeted out that they are funding a team to develop something "new"...</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Twitter is funding a small independent team of up to five open source architects, engineers, and designers to develop an open and decentralized standard for social media. The goal is for Twitter to ultimately be a client of this standard. 🧵</p>— jack 🌍🌏🌎 (@jack) <a href="https://twitter.com/jack/status/1204766078468911106?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 11, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>...which of course led to a load of replies pointing out the already abundant ideas already in place on the web including Indieweb, ActivityPub, etc. Naturally blockchain got thrown around a lot too.</p>
<p>A great read was Anil Dash's <a href="https://anildash.com/2019/12/10/link-in-bio-is-how-they-tried-to-kill-the-web/" title="post on his website">“Link In Bio” is a slow knife</a> where he lays out how Instagram (and other silo's) keep people in the walled garden by limiting the access to external content.</p>
<p>Maybe 2020 will see the rise of something federated and syndicated, yet personal.</p>
Declaring podcast bankruptcy2019-12-16T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2019-12-16-podcast-bankruptcy/<p>As with e-mail I've hit the tipping point where I can't possible listen to all the podcasts I subscribe to.</p>
<p>I can only listen to "conversational" podcasts when I'm either driving or doing nothing. That doesn't amount to a lot of time.</p>
<h2>Daily time</h2>
<p>During the day I'm either in meetings, or trying to get back into that '<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(psychology)">flow state</a>'. Neither of which let me drop in-and-out of narrative or conversation audio.</p>
<p>I do have some music podcasts which I'll keep for that time. <a href="https://www.sheeldz.co.uk/radio/blog/">Monday Graveyard</a>, <a href="http://www.ultimathule.info/">Ultima Thule</a>, <a href="https://www.theblackdogma.com/">The Black Dog</a>, and <a href="https://echoes.org/">Echoes</a> are a few. These range from ambient to electronic dance with a little conversation between mixes.</p>
<p>Ones I'm having to let go are the long form conversations. Now that, I guess, podcasts are "a thing" the length and advertising have increased. They aren't bad, and I'll miss them, but that's the problem right now-I'm missing them.</p>
<h2>An ungodly amount</h2>
<p>I currently have 58 episodes sitting in my queue. Most around 40-60 minutes in length. <a href="https://pca.st/h5ovwmhi">John Gruber's 2hr 45m episode</a> will go unheard.</p>
<p>And they keeping piling in. Some have even ended and I haven't got around to hearing them all. So I'm saying goodbye to:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2019-12-16-podcast-bankruptcy/daringfireball.net/thetalkshow">The Talk Show With John Gruber</a></li>
<li><a href="http://offcamera.com/">Off Camera with Sam Jones</a></li>
<li><a href="https://evergreenpodcasts.com/design-everywhere">Design Everywhere</a></li>
<li><a href="https://tanispodcast.com/">Tanis</a> (great, but I don't know when it'll be back)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.publicradioalliance.com/the-last-movie">The Last movie</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.rabbitspodcast.com/">Rabbits</a></li>
<li><a href="https://trailersfromhell.com/podcast">The Movies That Made Me</a></li>
<li><a href="http://longnow.org/">Long Now: Seminars About Long-term Thinking</a></li>
<li><a href="http://eureka.baronfig.com/">Eureka by Baron Fig</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.npr.org/programs/invisibilia">Invisibilia</a></li>
<li><a href="https://audioboom.com/channel/soundtrackingwithedithbowman">Soundtracking with Edith Bowman</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ctrlclickcast.com/">CTRL+Click Cast</a></li>
</ul>
<p>I list them here in the hope I can pick them back up again. Who knows.</p>
<p>Now my list is down, and with the Xmas holidays coming up, I may actually catch up.</p>
Departmental cooking2019-12-19T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2019-12-19-departmental-cooking/<p>As with most companies, I imagine, we'd went for our departmental Xmas lunch. But this was a bit different for me.</p>
<p>Out in Chesterland is the <a href="https://www.lpscinc.com/" title="Ohio's premier professional and recreational culinary institute for all levels">The Loretta Paganini School of Cooking</a>. Today we were to cook a 3-course meal of Caprese Salad with Balsamic Drizzle, Homemade Pasta with vegetables topped with Chicken Scallopine in Lemon Caper Sauce, and ending with a Peach Cobbler & ice-cream.</p>
<img src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2019-12-19-cooking-teams.jpg" alt="teams cooking in professional kitchen" class="img-border" />
<p>After being introduced to our instructors we split into groups. Each handling a certain part of the meal. I was in 'Team Chicken'. 3 of us trimmed, cut, and smashed chicken into thin pieces. Then dredged them in seasoned flour.</p>
<p>The other 3 prepped vegetables and roasted them for our vegetarians. We all took turns cooking the chicken in oil & butter, making the lemon and caper sauce, and finally adding the chicken back in the sauce.</p>
<img class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2019-12-19-lunch.jpg" alt="The final dish - Chicken Scallopine in Lemon Caper Sauce on a bed of pasta and vegetables" />
<p>It's always interesting seeing what, and how, other people work. I picked up a few tips from our great instructors, as well as getting to have some fun with my co-workers and eat a very delicious meal.</p>
WFH Breakfast2019-12-19T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2019-12-19-wfh-breakfast/<p>On the odd occasion I do work from home, it's always a treat to cook breakfast. Bacon, egg, and a fried slice is my go-to.</p>
<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2019-12-19-breakfast.jpg" alt="Bacon, egg, and fried bread with a black coffee" width="500" height="500" /></p>
Thank you breakfast2019-12-20T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2019-12-20-breakfast/<p>As a thank you our bosses cooked us breakfast this morning. Various tamales from Texas including pork, beef, spinach, and black bean. Eggs, blueberry french toast, oats, and (of course) bacon.</p>
<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2019-12-20-breakfast.jpg" alt="Various tamales, bacon, eggs, and queso" width="500" height="500" /></p>
BACON2019-12-22T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2019-12-22-bacon/<p>Not much beats bacon on a warm baguette for breakfast.</p>
<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2019-12-22-breakfast.jpg" alt="close up of cooked bacon on a baguette" width="500" height="500" /></p>
A warm Christmas2019-12-23T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2019-12-23-a-warm-christmas/<p>Only two days from Xmas and it's an odd one. In the 50's and the days don't seem to be as short as they normally are.</p>
<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2019-12-23-sunset.jpg" alt="Sunset with dark trees in front" width="500" height="500" /></p>
Problems with Eleventy pagination2019-12-25T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2019-12-25-pagination-problems/<p>Everytime I ran a build I started to notice extra folders being written in the <code>_site</code> folder. These were named 1, 2, 3, etc. Inside was a copy of the <code>index.html</code> file - Weird.</p>
<p>I am up to 6. I normally just delete them but they'd always came back. I did some searching of the usual places for answers but nothing turned up.</p>
<p>Logging back into Twitter I <a href="https://twitter.com/davidmead/status/1209137921393152006" title="tweet">posted a cry for help</a> and, lo & behold, <a href="https://twitter.com/zachleat/status/1209138266148085761" title="Zach Leatherman's reply">an answer</a> from "the creator" himself.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Sounds like a pagination template to me!</p>
</blockquote>
<h2>Pagination</h2>
<p>A lot of me getting this Eleventy blog off the ground was cribbing from other peoples posts and tutorials. I wasn't aware of using any particular pagination templates for generating pages <em>but</em> I did have something in the frontmatter of the home page that showed the last 3 posts.</p>
<pre><code>pagination:
data: collections.post
size: 3
reverse: true
alias: posts
</code></pre>
<p>Stopping the server, removing this, deleting the extra folders from <code>_site</code>, and restarting solved the problem. No more extra folders.</p>
<p>Also meant not showing the last three posts on the home page either.</p>
<p>I then tried using a different way to show these with this code.</p>
<pre><code><div class="wrapper-tiles">
{\%- for post in collections.post | reverse -%\}
<div class="tile">
<div class="tile-head txt-center">
<time datetime="2024-03-29T01:45:04.880Z">March 28, 2024</time>
</div>
<div class="tile-body">
<p><a href="." title=""></a></p>
<p class="snippet hide-sml"></p>
</div>
</div>
{\%- endfor -%\}
</div>
</code></pre>
<p>But that lists every post, and I haven't figured out a way to limit it to only the last 3.</p>
<p>So, I've added back the pagination to the frontmatter and added this to my clean-up list for 2020.</p>
Considered blogging2019-12-26T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2019-12-26-considered-blogging/<p>Part of my decision to blow my previous blog/site away and start afresh was technology based. <a href="https://wordpress.com/">Wordpress</a> was becoming too convoluted. <a href="https://withknown.com/">Known</a> (while a lot better) still has too much developer tinkering to get it where I wanted.</p>
<p>Enter <a href="https://www.11ty.dev/">Eleventy</a> and the Static Site Generator choice. It still has its learning curve and frustrations, but they stay on my laptop. Everything I publish to the web is a flat HTML file, which is nice.</p>
<h2>But what else?</h2>
<p>The other part of my decision was borne from the current state of world online. The megalithic silos of Facebook, Twitter, and Google <em>are</em> the web for a large part of those online in The West. And you can see why people stay in those silos to get news and opinions.</p>
<p>Paywall reminders, newsletter subscription popups, embedded advertising, and (shudder) “content recommendation” advertising. This seems to be the make up of most sites outside the silos.</p>
<p>Both options are also riddled with tracking cookies. Harvesting interactions & attention to sell, or leak, to the highest bidder.</p>
<p>So was it a "tin foil hat" decision? No. I've made my peace with the trade-off of privacy and access long ago.</p>
<p>It's more about putting consideration over impulse.</p>
<h2>Impulse</h2>
<p>I'm sure there are studies on how the increase in information retrieval speed, has effected us.</p>
<p>A month long pilgrimage to the "local" monastery vs. millisecond glances at the always on pocket computer <strong>must</strong> have some impact.</p>
<p>Pair that with the ability for almost anyone to contribute and <em>change</em> that information, rather than the monks-Huge!</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote>
<p>im·pulse /ˈimˌpəls/ a sudden strong and unreflective urge or desire to act.</p>
</blockquote>
</figure>
<p>But with that access and speed has come the proliferation of the "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_take" title="Wikipedia entry">hot take</a>", the "well actually", "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtue_signalling" title="Wikipedia entry">virtue signalling</a>", and the business models that feed off of (and in to) this. The dopamine + financial reward of "likes" for impulsiveness is rampant.</p>
<p>This is very recent, even in the silo's history. Early Twitter had stars that, for me at least, doubled as a way to bookmark shared links/tweets. That went out as the potential business models became clear.</p>
<h2>Consideration</h2>
<p>This year I logged out of Twitter and Instagram (deleting my Facebook account some time ago) and didn't miss them.</p>
<p>Unsubscribed from certain RSS feeds, YouTube channels, and podcasts. Reduced the amount of stuff I consume.</p>
<p>I also didn't post anything to my site. But I wanted to.</p>
<p>A few words kept floating around me; mindful, thoughtful, measured. But one stuck more than most.</p>
<p>Considered. I wanted consideration to play a part of what I put out.</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote>
<p>con·sid·er·a·tion /kənˌsidərˈāSH(ə)n/ careful thought, typically over a period of time.</p>
</blockquote>
</figure>
<p>This is what made the choice of a static site generator the right one.</p>
<p>Removing the easy instant access to post anything forces me to consider what I'm putting out.</p>
<p>I still jot down notes, take photos, bookmark links. But the act of waiting until I get home to generate the file and FTP it to the web is...refreshing.</p>
<p>Don't get me wrong. This doesn't make what I post any better per se, but it does make me think more before I do.</p>
<h2>Sharing</h2>
<p>This site is for me. My, considered, thoughts. I put them on the web for any crawler, RSS reader, or browser to look at. For anyone to consume and share.</p>
<p>I'm currently not interested in who/what comes and looks, how many times it happens, or if it happens at all. I have implemented zero analytics on this site.</p>
<p>At this point-in-time I am also not concerned with sharing them into the silos. Or what others think of them.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/amyhoy/status/1210253110599241728" title="tweet">Amy Hoy</a> summed up how I feel...</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://twitter.com/amyhoy/status/1210253110599241728">
<p>i extremely do not care about who faved 2 of my tweets! that’s the equivalent of a notification popping up that “this random person in the convenience store glanced at your sneakers</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— Amy Hoy, <cite>Twitter</cite></figcaption>
</figure>Capturing something2020-01-19T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-01-19-capturing-something/<p>I've never been a diarist, but I keep coming back to the idea of capturing a feel of moment/day/week.</p>
<p>With that in mind I am going to try something. A 'retrospect' of sorts. Jot down observations at the end of the day, but not daily.</p>
<p>I hope this will help me get back in the habit of posting, without having drafts on specific things pile up. Which is what is happening now.</p>
Fridge sandwich2020-01-19T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-01-19-lunch/<p>Fancied a simple lunch, with whatever we had in the fridge - Sliced turkey on sourdough bread, with fried egg.</p>
<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2020-01-19-lunch.jpg" alt="Egg and turkey on sourdough sandwich" width="500" height="500" /></p>
2020-01-20 retro2020-01-20T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-01-20-retro/<p>The unearthly reverberation of a snow plow working above you in a multi-story garage reminds me of going to music shops in the 80’s and playing with synths.</p>
<p>Being ruthless with unsubscribing and getting my Gmail Inbox under 2000</p>
<p>I’ve been using Evernote since the beta in 2008</p>
<p>More and more parts of Google Play Music don’t work/are available</p>
<p>You can donate used LEGO and they'll even pay for shipping. <a href="https://givebackbox.com/lego/" title="donate LEGO page">https://givebackbox.com/lego/</a></p>
<p>Rectify the fact I no longer owned any music by The Stranglers</p>
2020-01-22 retro2020-01-22T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-01-22-retro/<p>I'm always interested in what old art really looked like. So much of our view is informed by previous generations tinkering, not the original creators vision - <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51205614" title="BBC article on painting restoration">https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51205614</a></p>
<p>Terry Jones died today</p>
<p>This, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/18/technology/clearview-privacy-facial-recognition.html" title="NY Times article on privacy company scanning faces">https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/18/technology/clearview-privacy-facial-recognition.html</a>, is how we'll end up with the "scramble suits" from 'A Scanner Darkly'. Sometimes I hate how much Sci-Fi I read is now coming to fruition.</p>
2020-01-26 retro2020-01-26T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-01-26-retro/<p>Steamed Chinese pork bun and a strong cuppa for breakfast.</p>
<p>A day of catching up on old things.</p>
<p>After cleaning the house I decided to start clearing out my 'Watch later' on YouTube:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qv73ByzrcdA">Our Norwegian Tiny Home</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKsSM-8iRlE" title="Pathe news archive film">Oldest Inn(1958)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PHLgrYJLTk" title="Londonist short">The Gates of the City of London</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJj7QaTtb2s" title="Londonist Short">Londons Lost Railways-Mill Hill East</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjuD288JlCs" title="film by Jay Foreman">The Unfinished Northern Line</a></li>
</ul>
<p>Listened & watched <a href="https://youtu.be/G1m0aX9Lpts">Sam Aaron live coding an ambient electro set w/ Sonic Pi</a> followed by an hour of <a href="https://youtu.be/Riz6AKeBpa0">brian eno - thursday afternoon (14 video paintings 1981-1984)</a>.</p>
<p>Finished <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Normal-Novel-Warren-Ellis-ebook/dp/B00W1FQYHK/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=warren+ellis+normal&qid=1580093772&sr=8-1" title="non-affiliate amazon link">Normal: A Novel</a> by <a href="http://www.warrenellis.com/">Warren Ellis</a>, and started <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Burglars-Guide-City-Geoff-Manaugh-ebook/dp/B00V35U0TM/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1580093958&sr=8-1" title="non-affiliate amazon link">A Burglar's Guide to the City</a> by <a href="https://geoffmanaugh.com/">Geoff Manaugh</a>.</p>
Birthday Pie2020-02-04T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-02-04-birthday-pie/<p>51 years old today.</p>
<p>Shared my, now traditional, Chinese dinner of potstickers, sweet & sour chicken, and Special Fried Rice with Josh. Rounded off the evening with a lovely slice of my favourite-Lemon Meringue Pie.</p>
<p>Big thanks to everyone who sent my brthday wishes.</p>
<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2020-02-04-pie.jpg" alt="A slice of lemon meringue pie" width="500" height="500" /></p>
A new Middle Ages?2020-02-18T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-02-18-a-new-middles-ages/<p>Walking the dog I had one of those trains of thought that builds on itself. When did hoods become a thing?</p>
<p>It used to be only something I saw in history books, mainly The Middle Ages. Then used in film/TV to indicate someone "out-of-time" or with something to hide. Maybe it's the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Hood" title="Wikipedia article">Robin Hood</a> connection, but now it seems to have been adopted as a indicator of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/aug/09/power-of-the-hoodie" title="article from The Guardian about the power of the hoodie">groups of unrest and those who want to avoid indentification</a>?</p>
<p>Then I started thinking about the rise of isolationsim. Nations starting to retreat inwards, <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-couch/201603/how-can-we-understand-our-fear-the-other" title="Psychology today article">distrusting "the other"</a>. How large swathes of populations now huddle around the digital fiefdoms of Facebook, Twitter, etc. Trusting "information" from only those sources, much like the Abbots and Barons of old.</p>
<p>Our media seems full of stories concerning survivalism, social breakdown, the "end times". It all smacks of that Medieval outlook we attribute to the Dark Ages.</p>
<p>Are we heading towards a 21st Century Middle Ages? Not one of us scrabbling in the mud, but adopting a closed mindset where science and learning are distrusted. Giving way to a more faith-based view, but not Christian or Muslim per se, that of "someone" is looking out for them.</p>
<p>Turns out there's quite a few papers and articles on this very thought:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057%2F9781137283481_5">A 21st-century medievalism?</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232026312_Tanaka_Akihiko_The_New_Middle_Ages_The_World_System_in_the_21st_Century_translated_by_Jean_Connell_Hoff_Tokyo_International_House_of_Japan_2002_264_pp_first_published_as_Atarashii_'chusei'_21seiki_no_">Tanaka Akihiko, The New Middle Ages: The World System in the 21st Century</a></li>
<li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Neo-medievalism">Talk:Neo-medievalism</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/04/weekinreview/04ouroussoff.html">Medieval Modern: Design Strikes a Defensive Posture</a></li>
</ul>
Living in a Pandemic2020-03-18T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-03-18-living-in-a-pandemic/<p>Since <a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019" title="official WHO page">Coronavirus (COVID-19)</a> was officially declared a pandemic by World Health Organization things have been getting serious, and weird, quick.</p>
<p>About a week ago our local Aldi had run out of white bread, bottled water, dried pasta, toilet paper, and chicken within 2 hours of them opening. Other large chain stores closed for restocking where they'd normally be open 24 hours.</p>
<p>Schools shut for Spring Break early, opting for a form of remote learning for the remainder. Work from home is being trialed, or mandated, for most office workers.</p>
<p>Only today:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51949243" title="BBC article">The border between Canada and the U.S. is closed to non-essential travel</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2020/03/18/ford-gm-fca-plant-closures-coronavirus/2866944001/" title="USA Today article">Ford, General Motors, Fiat Chrysler agree to close all US plants due to coronavirus</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51952712" title="BBC article">Italy coronavirus deaths rise by record 475 in a day</a></li>
<li>So far 8,657 people have died worldwide from reported cases</li>
</ul>
<p>The phrases <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-51506729" title="title attribute">'social distancing' and 'self-isolation'</a> are common place.</p>
<p>We've stocked up on some things. Limit our exposure to others. Follow the guidlines of handwashing, etc. Check in our our family and friends through phone & video chat.</p>
<p>Now we wait as cases appear close to us.</p>
Work From Home2020-03-22T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-03-22-work-from-home/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2020-03-22-wfh-setup.jpg" alt="Black and white photo of desk and computer in basement" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>With the <a href="https://ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/site/media-center/news-and-events/ohio-issues-stay-at-home-order-and-new-restrictions-placed-on-day-cares-for-children" title="State website article">Ohio Governor's order of "stay at home"</a>, I went Sunday and got my monitor, mouse, and keyboard from the office.</p>
<p>I had to re-attach the desktop to the legs as it shifted when I cleared it off. Now this is where I spend most of my work day.</p>
NOM - Leftovers for breakfast2020-03-23T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-03-23-breakfast/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2020-03-23-breakfast.jpg" alt="fried egg with tomatoes and chilis on top of refried beans and tostados" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>As my commute is now walking downstairs to the basement I decided to cook breakfast, using the leftovers from last night. We had tostados, so the broken ones (held together by refried beans) made the base. Topped with an egg which I cooked along with the tomatoes & chili's. Delicious with a big mug of black coffee.</p>
...everyone is in this thing together and this too shall pass2020-03-26T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-03-26-listen-ghosts-v-and-ghosts-vi/<p>As a lot of us are sitting around, self-isolating, Trent Reznor releases two new instrumental works in his 'Ghosts' series.</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://www.nin.com/nine-inch-nails-ghosts-v-vi-available-now/">
<p>As the news seems to turn ever more grim by the hour, we’ve found ourselves vacillating wildly between feeling like there may be hope at times to utter despair – often changing minute to minute. Although each of us define ourselves as antisocial-types who prefer being on our own, this situation has really made us appreciate the power and need for CONNECTION.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— Trent Reznor, <cite>Album release notes</cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Both come with a colon title - Ghosts V:Together and Ghosts VI:Locusts...</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote>
<p>Ghosts V: Together is for when things seem like it might all be okay, and Ghosts VI: Locusts… well, you’ll figure it out.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— Trent Reznor</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I've now found the starter to my Pandemic iPod playlist. Both albums can be downloaded for free.</p>
Laid-off today2020-04-02T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-04-02-laid-off/<p>I was laid-off today. Looking for UX/UI opportunities. Reach out at <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmead/" title="profile">LinkedIn</a> if you're hiring.</p>
Coffee prep2020-04-15T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-04-15-coffee-prep/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2020-04-15-coffee-prep.jpg" alt="Pour over coffee set up" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>Trying for a little "normal" whilst unemployed during a pandemic.</p>
2020-04-16 retro2020-04-16T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-04-16-retro/<p>A day without interviews.</p>
<p>Found out my last paycheck <strong>won't</strong> include the severance money. Instead will only be for 3 days worked and any accrued vacation days. Severance not coming until May 1st.</p>
<p>Having no health insurance kinda sucks</p>
<ul>
<li>Paid $400+ for medicine to prevent blood clots</li>
<li>Paid $600+ as a <abbr title="Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act">COBRA</abbr> payment to <a href="https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/what-is-cobra-insurance" title="article on what COBRA is">reinstate coverage for a month</a> (next month it's $2000+) so we can claim some of that back.</li>
<li>When I get another job it'll be another 30 odd days before I'm covered by that company plan.</li>
</ul>
<p>I miss <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/" title="National Health Service website">the NHS</a>.</p>
<p>With neither of us employed, and no unemployment payments being processed, I applied on <a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/">Healthcare.gov</a> to see if we can get coverage there.</p>
<p>Also had to buy a new fridge/freezer as our decided to break down this week.</p>
<p>By the way. Did I mention there's a pandemic going on too?</p>
Mood2020-04-26T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-04-26-mood/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2020-04-26-mood.jpg" alt="dog laying on a leather chair, looking out window" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>Mood</p>
New beginnings2020-04-29T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-04-29-new-job/<p>I'm excited. Today I join the team at <a href="http://vitamix.com/" title="High performance blenders">Vitamix</a> as their Lead Designer UI/UX.</p>
<p>Looking forward to diving in, learning, and helping. I'll be working with a friend of mine again, as well a lot of new faces.</p>
New tools2020-04-29T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-04-29-new-tools/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2020-04-28-new-tools.jpg" alt="Assorted Apple products on a table" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>Took delivery yesterday of some tools for my new job. All set up and ready to go today.</p>
2020-05-09 retro2020-05-09T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-05-09-retro/<p>Grief, time is dragging into itself.</p>
<p>This week our <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-040-16-retro/" title="a previous post">new fridge</a> decided to stop working. Had to throw out 2 weeks worth of food. Managed to get through to Frigidaire, after calling multiple times, who sent out an engineer the next day. Found the connector to the compressor hadn't been pushed in all the way when it was built (I assume). Had been cutting in & out this whole time.</p>
<p>Still waiting for:</p>
<ul>
<li>$600 from Cigna to come through as a refund for having to buy a prescription while waiting for COBRA to kick in</li>
<li>$50 food loss compensation card from Frigidaire</li>
<li><strong>any</strong> money to be paid by <abbr title="Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services">ODJFS</abbr> for being unemployed the previous 4 weeks</li>
</ul>
<p>Mentally preparing for the "second wave" of this pandemic to hit, thanks to the selfish who insist on protesting en masse rather than follow guidelines. Because being asked to wear a mask and not gather in groups is (in their words) "tyrannical". People are the worst sometimes.</p>
<p>On the plus side, diving into the new job has been great. Meeting (virtually) a lot of the teams and getting to understand the company and goals.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.bandcamp.com/">Bandcamp</a> waived its commission on all sales, so 100% went to the artist. I dipped in and grabbed a couple of items from my wishlist:</p>
<ul>
<li>Adrift by loscil</li>
<li>Faults, Coasts, Lines by loscil</li>
<li>Abolition of The Royal Familia by The Orb</li>
<li>Stasis Sounds For Long-Distanceby 36 & zakè</li>
<li>Field Tangents by Off Land</li>
<li>Toll by Kemper Norton</li>
<li>Slow Walking by Moss Covered Technology</li>
</ul>
<p>All of these have been added to my iPod.</p>
<p>Bring on the next week.</p>
NOM - Left over hash2020-05-12T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-05-12-corned-beef-hash/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2020-05-12-nom-corned-beef-hash.jpg" alt="close up of homemade corned beef hash" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>Corned beef hash is my "go-to" when visiting a diner for breakfast. Growing up in 70's England I ate my fair share of the tinned variety.</p>
<p>So now I have a simple recipe to make my own with tinned corned beef (foodie snobs be damned).</p>
<section class="h-recipe">
<h2>Corned Beef Hash Recipe</h2>
<h3>Ingredients</h3>
What I generally use is:
<ul>
<li class="p-ingredient">medium size potatoes </li>
<li class="p-ingredient">half of a onion </li>
<li class="p-ingredient">can of corned beef </li>
<li class="p-ingredient">tablespoon butter </li>
<li class="p-ingredient">cooking oil </li>
<li class="p-ingredient">salt and pepper to taste</li>
</ul>
<p>Takes <time class="dt-duration" datetime="30M">30 minutes</time>, serves <data class="p-yield" value="4">four people</data>.</p>
<div class="e-instructions">
<h3>Directions</h3>
Here's I how make it (mostly)
<ol>
<li>Fill a medium saucepan with water, add salt </li>
<li>Peel and quarter the potatoes, then add to the saucepan </li>
<li>Simmer for about 15 minutes so they're just undercooked </li>
<li>Finely dice the onion </li>
<li>Cube the corned beef </li>
<li>While the potatoes are simmering, warm up cast iron skillet or pan over medium/low heat</li>
<li>Drain the potatoes and cube </li>
<li>Add potatoes and corned beef to the pan </li>
<li>Add a little oil and the butter to the skillet to melt </li>
<li>Add onions, potatoes, and corned beef </li>
<li>Pat down to an even layer and cook until crispy </li>
<li>Slowly flip and cook until the other side is crispy </li>
</ol>
</div>
<p>Now you can just serve with some eggs, or on it's own. Keeps well in the fridge for the next day. Josh & I normally have it for dinner and there's enough for breakfast.</p>
</section>
The new old me2020-05-16T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-05-16-new-old-me/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2020-05-16-new-old-me.jpg" alt="Black and white photo of myself" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>The new old me. In response to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/pfresty/" title="Paul Fresty's Instagram">@pfresty</a> 😁</p>
I could hear her...2020-05-25T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-05-25-dog/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2020-05-25-dog.jpg" alt="Dog looking down from top stair" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>I could hear the tell-tale thump of the tail, but couldn't see her anywhere. Then I looked up.</p>
Goodbye Gaelic Imports2020-05-25T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-05-25-gaelic-imports-closes/<p>Julie told me that <a href="https://gaelicimport.org/" title="official site">Gaelic Imports</a> has <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GaelicImports/posts/10157364247730852?__tn__=-R" title="Facebook post">closed down</a>.</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/GaelicImports/posts/10157364247730852?__tn__=-R">
<p>We have weighed out all the options and there just isn’t a way that we can make it work. Along with recent events and a steady decline in business there was just no way for us to stay afloat and this decision was not made in haste.</p>
</blockquote>
</figure>
<p>This is sad. It is never good when small niche businesses go, but I do have selfish reasons too.</p>
<p>Even after passing on to new owners 4 years ago, they made some of <strong>the best</strong> sausage rolls and pies I've had. Here, or back in the UK. They were also about the only place to obtain certain imported goods from home.</p>
UX failure during the COVID-19 pandemic2020-05-25T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-05-25-ux-failure-during-pandemic/<p>Since my lay-off in April I experienced some companies UX completely fall apart. Or I now see how bad it was to start with.</p>
<p>These are my experiences. Yours may have been different.</p>
<h2>ODJFS - Unemployment</h2>
<p>With the surge of people losing their jobs, almost all at once, it is little wonder this service had problems.</p>
<p>The website is old to say the least. No responsive design. To read a notification you have to choose a radio button, click a button, and either it downloads a PDF or takes you to another page.</p>
<p>For the first couple of weeks this returned an error, and nothing more. Online chat disabled. Telephone numbers were either engaged or had a message to go online then hung up.</p>
<p>I got 3 weeks worth of unemployment money over a month after my initial claim.</p>
<h2>CIGNA - Claiming prescription costs back</h2>
<p>As I live and work in America my health insurance is tied to my employer. When my employment ended, so did my coverage. Meaning at midnight I now had to pay full price for medications, doctors visits, etc.</p>
<p>Exactly what you want during a pandemic, right?</p>
<p>There is a thing called COBRA. This lets you pay what your employer was paying to continue the same coverage. I did this and had to then claim back the extra we paid for a prescription, through my provider-CIGNA.</p>
<p>After logging in I couldn't find it on the website. Online chat disabled. After calling a couple of times I get through. I then have to convince the operator I can actually claim this and give him the details of the COBRA coverage. The PDF he directs me to download has instructions to fill in the form online, which has been removed.</p>
<p>Again, all the "time saving" online measures were either broken, disabled, or obfuscated. Ended up mailing scans of receipts in with a printed version of the PDF.</p>
<h2>Frigidaire - Broken fridge</h2>
<p>Ah yes. Our fridge/freezer broke after we both lost our jobs. It was over a decade old, so not great timing but it served us well. I bought same make/model, but new.</p>
<p>Not a week after delivery it stops working. Where do I head? The manufacture's website of course.</p>
<p>Online chat removed. Email form has no selection options for "I've lost 2 weeks of food because the new fridge died!".</p>
<p>Call the number and I get a message "due to overwhelming call volume go to the website" then hangs up.</p>
<p>I persist and finally get through to a human. A week later I get a reply to the email form.</p>
<h2>But its unprecedented</h2>
<p>The pandemic? Yes. The break down of the experience? No.</p>
<p>Companies tend to fall back on the same things:</p>
<ul>
<li>Online chat, and now AI chatbots</li>
<li>Phone trees</li>
<li>Contact forms</li>
<li>Unsearchable PDFs</li>
</ul>
<p>In every instance I tried the online approach first. Every instance it failed. And most people I speak to recently have the same shared experience.</p>
<p>Very few had a place to put messages about the problems they were facing. Or a way to change their content to reflect closures, adjusted hours, etc.</p>
<p>It still came down to trying to speak to someone.</p>
<h2>Going forward</h2>
<p>Eric Meyer & Sara Wachter-Boettcher wrote the excellent <a href="https://abookapart.com/products/design-for-real-life" title="Buy from A Book Apart">'Design For Life'</a> which talks about when online fails us in times of stress. It came out 4 years ago, and is not the only book to address this, but little of what they spoke about seems to have been adopted.</p>
<p>When we design from now on let's push for ways to respond quickly.</p>
<ul>
<li>Notification and messaging systems should not be a 'fast follow'</li>
<li>Clarity of language is a must</li>
<li>Include user stories of people under stress</li>
<li>Don't rely on your Facebook/Twitter/Tik Tok marketing account to relay information</li>
</ul>
<p>Learn from this. I know I have.</p>
NOM - Eggplant Curry Rice2020-06-23T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-06-23-eggplant-curry-rice/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2020-06-23-eggplant-curry-rice.jpg" alt="close up of homemade eggplant curry and rice" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>I very rarely make anything from YouTube videos but this looked great, and I had most of the ingredients, so why not?</p>
<p>It was so good, both Josh and I had it two days in a row. You can watch (and follow) <a href="https://youtu.be/Bc3olP5d4Uc" title="YouTube">RunnyRunny999's video</a> on YouTube.</p>
<p>As with most curry its flavour only improved overnight in the fridge.</p>
<section class="h-recipe">
<h2>Eggplant Curry Rice</h2>
<h3>Ingredients</h3>
<ul>
<li class="p-ingredient">350g eggplant (aubergine)</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">2tbs oil </li>
<li class="p-ingredient">350g, or 1 large, onion </li>
<li class="p-ingredient">120g ground beef </li>
<li class="p-ingredient">1 cup tomato juice </li>
<li class="p-ingredient">1 cup water </li>
<li class="p-ingredient">5g bullion stock cube </li>
<li class="p-ingredient">50g curry roux (3 blocks)</li>
</ul>
<p>Takes <time class="dt-duration" datetime="30M">30 minutes</time>, serves <data class="p-yield" value="4">four people</data>.</p>
<div class="e-instructions">
<h3>Directions</h3>
<ol>
<li>Cube eggplant and soak in water for 5 minutes to remove bitterness</li>
<li>Slice onion </li>
<li>Heat oil and add onion. Stir-fry until soft </li>
<li>Add beef and heat until almost cooked through </li>
<li>Add eggplant and fry for 3-4 minutes </li>
<li>Add tomato juice, water, and simmer for 10 minutes </li>
<li>Skim foam to remove bitterness while simmering </li>
<li>Add stock cube. Once dissolved, add curry roux </li>
<li>Wait 5 minutes, stir, then serve with rice </li>
</ol>
</div>
</section>
Google finally kills Play Music2020-07-12T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-07-12-google-kills-play-music/<p>So I got the dreaded email. Google is officially shutting down Play Music.</p>
<p>Opening line is “Starting today, you can finally enjoy your music on YouTube Music”. Finally? I wasn’t aware that I, or anyone really, was waiting for this.</p>
<p>The death knell comes in the opening paragraph, where they talk about <a href="https://support.google.com/youtubemusic/answer/9698084?p=gpm_transfer&visit_id=637301787710178298-334405885&rd=1" title="Google support article">transferring your library</a>.</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote>
<p>YouTube Music will eventually replace Google Play Music later this year</p>
</blockquote>
</figure>
<p>So without much choice I started the process. And while they acknowledge it “looks a bit different’ we now know why Play Music hasn’t seen any updates or improvements.</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote>
<p>YouTube Music “was built by the same team with the same passion</p>
</blockquote>
</figure>
<p>This seems a 100% algorithm-based streaming service. Something I am not remotely interested in.</p>
<p>Good job I dug out my iPod.</p>
Off to recycling...2020-07-23T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-07-23-old-computers/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2020-07-23-old-computers.jpg" alt="various old computers stacked up" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>2 desktop towers, 2 laptops, 1 mini-laptop, 1 Chromebook, 1 (beloved) Nexus 7 tablet. Not shown the box of cables, leads, and peripherals.</p>
<p>All off to Cleveland Computer Recycling. The traditional beige tower was the first we bought when moving over to the USA. That was in 2002!</p>
Google is losing me, day by day2020-08-05T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-08-05-google-losing-me/<p>I've been an ardent fan of Google products from the get-go. I've always preferred their mobile OS over Apples, owning both Nexus and Pixel phones throughout the years.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.asus.com/us/Tablets/Nexus_7/">Nexus 7 tablet</a> was, hands-down, the device I enjoyed using most out of everything I've used.</p>
<p>Gmail and its suite of software just works. YouTube and Google Play Music were fun.</p>
<p>Launching games on Xbox, watching video (Chromecast), or playing my music library through the Google Home Mini, by talking - Fantastic!</p>
<p>I wanted a <a href="https://store.google.com/product/google_home_max_speaker">Google Home Max</a>, and was getting very excited to see the <a href="https://www.cnet.com/news/google-confirmed-a-new-nest-smart-speaker-is-coming-heres-what-we-know/">new version</a> launching soon, but no more.</p>
<h2>Disappointments</h2>
<p>When my Nexus 7 died, they was no new line to replace it. Google left the tablet market.</p>
<p>The Pixel 2 phone lost the wireless charging I loved in the Nexus line.</p>
<p>Task app doesn't do half of what most other apps (Wunderlist, Remember the milk) did, making it worthless.</p>
<p>Gmail hasn't seen any love in ages. YouTube is now an advertising platform, and Google Play Music had a stake driven through its heart in the form of YouTube Music.</p>
<p>With that, I recently transferred my music collection over to YTM only to find I can't play it through my Google Home Mini unless I buy a subscription!</p>
<p><img src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2020-07-25-ss-YouTube-premium.png" alt="screenshot of YouTube Premium option" title="screenshot of YouTube Premium option" /></p>
<p>What incentive do I have to purchase a $300+ max speaker from them now?</p>
<h2>You're old and cheap</h2>
<p>Won't argue there. Yes, I am older. Yes, I don't like paying for things I don't have to. But here's the thing - I happily pay for quite a lot of things that replace "FREE" services from Google, because they are <em>better</em>.</p>
<p><a href="https://hey.com/">Hey</a> is the new email service from Basecamp. I pay for it.</p>
<p>1password, Pocket Cast, Flickr, and Instapaper are services/apps bought rather than using the free alternative.</p>
<p>99% of my music is purchased either digitally, or ripped from CDs I bought ages ago. I don't use streaming services, so paying to bury my music collection in one with a load of ads doesn't make sense.</p>
<p>The thought of the verbal gymnastics I'd have to use to get anything played from 'my library' in YouTube Music is a non-starter.</p>
<p>Also paying an extra monthly fee for the ability to stream music I own, to a device I own, via a WiFi connection I own is ludicrous.</p>
Autumn2020-09-20T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-09-20-autumn/<p>The get-back-under-covers-quick cold had seeped into the house last night. Prompting the inaugural smell of Summer dust burning off as I fumbled with the nest app.</p>
<p>Autumn is finally here, with all that entails.</p>
<p>Halloween decorations are out of the tote bin, joined by some new additions.</p>
<p>Political advertising here in the USA ramps up invasiveness and divisiveness.</p>
<p>Requests for "your Xmas list" have started. Partly due to COVID-19's impact on availability of both goods & funds.</p>
<p>I generally like this time of year. Reminds me of picking conkers on the way to school. Years later, dozing off in the yellow lit commuter trains. Looking forward to beer festivals with a wide array of Porters and Barleywines.</p>
<p>The countdown to 2021 continues.</p>
Hear, hear2020-10-06T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-10-06/<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://catandgirl.com/oh-nothing-much/">
<p>It has been hard not to think of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. It’s been hard not to think we’re at best in the chorus. That we are slogging through history as everyone has always slogged through history. Taking a long walk outside, while that’s still an option. Picking up a meal, while we can afford to. Talking to friends and family, while they’re still around. Somewhere the tragic protagonist is finally brought low. The audience roars. The curtain falls. In the background we labor on. Trying to make a life in the debris.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— Dorothy, <cite>Oh nothing much</cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Hear, hear.</p>
YouTube errors2020-10-23T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-10-23-youtube-errors/<p><img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2020-10-20-ss-YouTube-error.png" alt="Screenshot showing error on YouTube" /></p>
<p>It used to be just the odd clip from a news outlet I had unpause my adblocker to watch. Now virtually all of my subscriptions (even from the UK) are returning an error on YouTube when the adblocker is running.</p>
<p>I tried, for a week, YouTube unblocked and what a nightmare. And not because of the looming election (though Trumps ads were the only I got) but diets, metal roofs, food delivery and soaps. Anything longer than 5 minutes had ads inserted. Pre and post roll ads too. Not forgetting the overlaid banners.</p>
<p>Now I'm back using the blocker, and missing out on a lot of the content I've subscribed to.</p>
Meet Milo2020-10-31T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-10-31-meet-milo/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2020-10-31-meet-milo.jpg" alt="sheepadoodle puppy looking at camera" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>Meet Milo. He's our new dog.</p>
2020-11-25 retro2020-11-25T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-11-25-retro/<p>Weather and mood getting grayer by the day as we head into the clutches of Winter.</p>
<p>This <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/scientists-discover-mysterious-metal-monolith-wilderness?mc_eid=32992e9027&mc_cid=0c5ed0380b" title="article from The Futurist">report of a mysterious metal monolith</a> spotted by scientist in a helicopter, brightened my day. An art piece maybe? Practical joke or left-overs of a photo shoot?</p>
<p>The Braille Institute has released (for free) <a href="https://www.brailleinstitute.org/freefont">Atkinson Hyperlegible font</a> aimed at "Improve legibility and readability for low vision readers". I may try it out on this blog for a while.</p>
<p>Chatting at work we lamented the rise of the overtly boxy design thats crept in as defacto for websites currently. I have fond memories of waiting for sites like <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/19970212183913/http://gertrude.art.uiuc.edu/ludgate/the/place/urban_diary/index.html" title="captured at the Web Archive">The Urban Diary</a> to slowly load via my modem. Never knowing what I'd find had a certain appeal.</p>
<p>Thoroughly enjoyed watching '23 Frames: A visual journey through the work of Edgar Wright' (via Vimeo) as part of the <a href="https://belfastfilmfestival.org/">2020 Belfast Film Festival</a>. I could listen to these two talk about film for hours.</p>
<p><img src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2020-11-24-edgar-wright-mark-cousins.jpg" alt="Edgar Wright and Mark Cousins laughing" /></p>
<p>I was supposed to be playing <a href="https://www.cyberpunk.net/" title="official website">Cyberpunk 2077</a>, but it got delayed yet again.</p>
Using iBroadcast for playing my music collection online2020-11-28T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-11-28-iBroadcast/<p>Since Google Play Music shuttered I've been looking for an alternative to play <em>my music collection</em> online. Be it on the web or streaming to Chromecast.</p>
<p>I've decided to give <a href="https://www.ibroadcast.com/home/">iBroadcast</a> a go. They don't offer any streaming so it's <strong>only</strong> your music. It's free, with a subscription model on the horizon, and they have apps for iOS and Android.</p>
<p>It took about 24 hours to get my entire library onto iBroadcast and so far it's been working pretty well.</p>
Wiring up to Twitter2020-11-28T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-11-28-wiring/<p>Dusting off the <a href="http://ifttt.com/">IFTTT</a> account to try and push this blogs RSS feed to Twitter. Let's see if it works.</p>
Toasting the trimmed tree2020-11-29T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-11-29-egg-nog-xmas-tree/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2020-11-29-egg-nog-xmas-tree.jpg" alt="Egg nog in front of the Xmas tree" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>Egg nog after ornamenting the tree today.</p>
Leaving Twitter and Instagram2020-12-03T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-12-03-leaving-twitter-instagram/<p>I've decided to delete my accounts on Twitter and Instagram.</p>
<p>These two services has become less important <em>for me</em> over the years. Features I don't find useful or engaging, increased advertising , willful avoidance on topics like bullying or hate-speech. These have all pushed me further away.</p>
<p>But why close them completely? Simple. I don't see what I liked ever coming back.</p>
<p>This a knock-on of being an "early adopter" I guess. Witnessing the changes of how you are no longer the target audience. Add to that the self-realization that it is okay to leave things behind.</p>
It's finally here2020-12-09T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-12-09-cyberpunk-2077/<p>Today is December 9th. Tomorrow the new game by <a href="https://en.cdprojektred.com/">CD Project Red</a>, <a href="https://www.cyberpunk.net/us/en/">Cyberpunk 2077</a>, will be released.</p>
<p>I am super excited about this.</p>
<p>I used to run campaigns for the paper-and-pen <abbr title="role-playing game">RPG</abbr>, <a href="https://talsorianstore.com/products/cyberpunk-2020">Cyberpunk 2020</a>, back in the 90's .</p>
<p>Remember when 2020 was the future? Like Bladerunner's title card setting it in 2019! Sheesh.</p>
<p>But back to the game. I devoured the lore around Night City. How it weaved elements from by Neal Stephenson and William Gibson's work, the aforementioned Bladerunner, Manga, as well as the "noir" settings from other films & literature.</p>
<p>I would use early <abbr title="desktop publishing software">DTP</abbr> software to create a "newspaper". Hiding clues in there for the players to read whilst playing. All to the backdrop of music from NIN, Brian Eno, AKIRA and Ghost In The Shell soundtracks.</p>
<p>Fast forward about 30 years and I'll be diving back into Night City once again.</p>
<div class="yt-container">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/UnA7tepsc7s" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
</div>
<p>Though the ads make it look like a non-stop looter-shooter, the bulk of actual gameplay I've seen is very much in the decision tree dialogue camp. Being presented with multiple options every interaction, with combat playing a small part of that. I am completely onboard with this.</p>
<p>I did pre-order this on Amazon. Took advantage of a deal to get the case, stickers, map, and soundtrack. But because of the <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/27/21536662/cyberpunk-2077-cd-projekt-red-delay-december">delays in it's release</a> I wouldn't end up getting that until Xmas Day and I couldn't change it to a digital only code because of the bundle price. So I cancelled and went with the straight digital download from Xbox.</p>
<p>I took tomorrow and Friday off work. I may be gone for some time Chombatta.</p>
First day playing Cyberpunk 20772020-12-11T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-12-11-first-day-impressions/<p>After a full day of playing I can honestly say <strong>I'm really enjoying this game</strong>. There's a lot here, but it's not all <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-12-11-first-day-impressions/#good">good</a>. There's a lot of <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-12-11-first-day-impressions/#bad">bad</a> too.</p>
<h2 id="good">The good</h2>
The story has pulled me in. Reminding me a lot of the original role-plying game. There's a lot of name drops I remember from the lore books too. They have captured the look and feel wonderfully well. A mix of that synth-wave retro future of "jacking in to the net".
<p>The world feels huge. Just looking around as an NPC drives you from a-to-b lets you drink it all in. The freedom of movement to go, and do, pretty much anything is fantastic.</p>
<p>Messages, phones calls, and emails continually come in regardless of what you're engaged in. The city feels populated and lived in.</p>
<p>Trying to hack an air conditioner, so you can disable cameras, in the middle of a firefight is nerve-wracking.</p>
<p>I collect everything but have yet to truly grasp what to hold onto, sell, or deconstruct.</p>
<p>The skill tree is massive and really brings back memories of second-guessing if your spending XP in the right place to improve your character.</p>
<h2 id="bad">The bad</h2>
<p>The graphics! Oh my. They are <em>not</em> good.</p>
<p><img src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2020-12-11-screenshot-cyberpunk2077-diner.png" alt="screenshot showing Johnny Silverhand in a diner" /></p>
<p>This game has been in development for about 8 years. It was targeted at the current generation of consoles. It was announced at E3 2018 (primarily an Xbox event). And yet the graphics look blurry and "muddy". Textures fail to render. Details are completely lost when you walk up close to signs and interfaces.</p>
<p>Some of the visual settings you can turn off, like film grain, makes this a little better but not much.</p>
<p>Destiny 2 and The Division 2 have been out a couple of years now and have a lot better graphics than this. Cyberpunk looks like an upscaled port from an older system sometimes.</p>
<p>I have also experienced three full crashes taking me back to the Xbox dashboard. Thankfully the saves points have been where I didn't have to replay too much.</p>
<p>Objects seem to get left in your way. I couldn't exit a room to proceed because a suitcase we carried in, appeared in the middle of the door blocking me.</p>
<p><img src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2020-12-11-screenshot-cyberpunk2077-suitcase.png" alt="screenshot showing suitcase blocking door" /></p>
<p>I really hope there are some upcoming patches that improve these issues.</p>
<h2>Am I happy I bought it?</h2>
Yes. 100%.
<p>Should you get it? Well, if you haven't already I would wait. Especially on a console.</p>
NOM - I made sausage rolls!2020-12-13T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-12-13-sausage-rolls/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2020-12-13-sausage-rolls.jpg" alt="Homemade sausage rolls" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>A staple British food, the sausage roll can be found almost everywhere. Bakers, supermarkets, petrol (gas) stations. Delicious hot or cold.</p>
<p>With everything going on this year I haven't had any. The nearest British specialty shop, Gaelic Imports, <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-05-25-gaelic-imports-closes/" title="my post about it">closed down</a> so I decided to have a go myself.</p>
<p>A big hurdle is the sausage. British sausage isn't like the ones over here so I fabricated my own. Adding fresh sage and some cooked diced onions to the minced pork, along with a spoonful of breadcrumbs. Not brave enough to attempt the pastry I grabbed some Pepperidge Farms pre-made puff pastry.</p>
<p>Assembled and cooked at 400° for about 30 mins and they turned out <strong>awesome!</strong></p>
<p>It made enough for two large ones and several small ones. Josh & I split the big ones for the last two nights dinner. I froze the smaller ones to have at Xmas.</p>
<p>I used a couple of videos as guides - <a href="https://youtu.be/rXIrnyitnqM">Food Busker</a> and <a href="https://youtu.be/oKWNqzG0kko">River Cottage</a>. The latter I'll use to try making my own pastry next time.</p>
Where have all the websites gone?2020-12-17T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-12-17-where-have-the-websites-gone/<p>I'm going through the accounts I follow on Twitter and Instagram, looking for URLs.</p>
<p>There aren't many. Hardly any list a website in the bio, even companies. When there is one, it's very rarely a blog.</p>
<p>A trend (for companies) is to use other third-party sites, like <a href="https://linktr.ee/">Linktree</a>. Nothing more than a page with links to your other social presences, sales, etc.</p>
<p>You could do this on your own site, but I guess $6 a month to funnel your traffic through someone else's product solves a problem for some people.</p>
<p>Companies aside, when there is a site in people's bio some don't have RSS feeds. Some are years out-of-date. Some domains have expired.</p>
<p>It's a shame that everything is poured into these silos. That there's still a perceived barrier of complexity to having your own site.</p>
<p>When exporting my data from Twitter they start with the line...</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote>
<p>You can request a ZIP file with an archive of the data <strong>we think</strong> is most important to you.</p>
</blockquote>
</figure>
<p>(emphasis mine)</p>
<p>So I'm not going to get everything anymore. Another reason I'm searching for those links.</p>
Pie & Mash2020-12-19T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-12-19-pie-and-mash/<p>Pie & Mash is a very British food. A very London thing.</p>
<p>It's been hardly changed since Victorian times. A meat pie, scoop of mashed potatoes, covered in a greenish gravy called "Liquor".</p>
<p><img src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/pie-mash-2020-12-13-film-003.png" alt="a plate of pie and mash" /></p>
<p>It is, in a word, <strong>delicious</strong>.</p>
<p>Now I've never lived in London, but I did work there as well as a regular visitor. It was only a 40 minute train ride away after all.</p>
<p>Where I did live (Southend-on-Sea) was at the end of two major train lines coming out of London. East Enders used to come down for weekends and the Pie & Mash shops came to cater for them.</p>
<p><img src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/pie-mash-2020-12-13-film-002.png" alt="serving up pie and mash" /></p>
<p>Skip forward to the 70's-80's and most had disappeared along with the holiday makers, but a few remained. I have fond memories of sitting in those establishments. Steamed-up windows a barrier from the wet and cold outside, tucking into a hot meal amid the noise bouncing off the tiled walls.</p>
<p><a href="https://jake.green/" title="official site">Jake Green</a> is a photographer who captured the history in his <a href="https://jake.green/?project=pie-mash">'Pie & Mash London'</a> project.</p>
<p>He created a short film, book, and held a <a href="https://youtu.be/isQ6vQ8QoeU" title="watch recording">live event on YouTube</a> this past Sunday. The pictures in this post come from that event.</p>
<p><img src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/pie-mash-2020-12-13-matt-johnson.png" alt="Matt Johnson video call" /></p>
<p>Guests included Matt Johnson (<a href="https://www.thethe.com/" title="official site">The The</a>) and John Rogers (<a href="http://thelostbyway.com/" title="John's videos and walks around London">The Lost Byway</a>). Talking about the memories, and love, of this food and the shops that served it.</p>
<p><img src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/pie-mash-2020-12-13-john-rogers.png" alt="John Rogers interview" /></p>
<p>It was great to sit and listen to a reading of <a href="https://spitalfieldslife.com/2018/12/23/jake-greens-pie-mash-shops/">'For the love of Pie & Mash'</a> by The Gentle Author. Watch the accompanying film to Jake's photos. Hear from the owners of shops still running. Live Q&A afterwards.</p>
<p>A very enjoyable event that made me nostalgic, and hungry.</p>
<p><img src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/pie-mash-2020-12-13-film-001.png" alt="in the kitchen making mash" /></p>
Website updates2020-12-19T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-12-19-website-updates/<p>Decided to do a little cleaning to this site.</p>
<h2>Fonts</h2>
<p>I kept <a href="https://fonts.google.com/specimen/Calistoga" title="Google fonts">Calistoga</a> as the heading and "title" font. I still like the rounded and heavy-ish look of it. The body font is now <a href="https://brailleinstitute.org/freefont" title="free download from Braille Institute">Atkinson Hyperlegible Font</a>. A new font that...</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://brailleinstitute.org/freefont">
<p>focuses on letterform distinction to increase character recognition, ultimately improving readability.</p>
</blockquote>
</figure>
<p>It has a clean look that I think pairs well with Calistoga. I host it on this site, so one less external call. And I think the '0' looks cool.</p>
<h2>Colours</h2>
<p>I tweaked the gray I was using for the headings. Now <code>#5f525d</code> is a little darker and meets WCAG 2 - Level AAA for contrast. Main font colour is <code>#2e2e2e</code> which also meets that level.</p>
<p>Added a white background to the blockquotes, along with a coloured left-border.</p>
<p>Added a yellow background to the <strong>strong</strong> element.</p>
<h2>Layout</h2>
<p>Not much here. Added more space between the meta section entries. This may change agains as I look at the vertical height used across the site.</p>
<h2>Code</h2>
<p>Reverted back to adding a date in the front matter of each file. While this means posted date being a day off, due to the UTC and Eleventy, I'd rather that than every post created date being changed to the same date.</p>
<p>Raymond Camden <a href="https://www.raymondcamden.com/2020/02/06/adding-a-last-edited-field-to-eleventy">posted about this and more</a> on his blog which touches on this and other issues.</p>
NOM - Lil Smokies2020-12-24T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-12-24-lil-smokies/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2020-12-24-lil-smokies.jpg" alt="bowl of cocktail sausages in sauce" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>I love a bowl of these sticky, sweet, and slightly spicy sausages. Time to play Xbox while nibbling.</p>
<section class="h-recipe">
<h2>Lil' Smokies</h2>
<h3>Ingredients</h3>
<ul>
<li class="p-ingredient">(12 ounce) bottle chili sauce</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">1 cup grape jelly</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">1-3lb Little Smokies sausage (cocktail sausages)</li>
</ul>
<p>Takes <time class="dt-duration" datetime="30M">30 minutes</time>, serves <data class="p-yield" value="4">four people</data>.</p>
<div class="e-instructions">
<h3>Directions</h3>
<ol>
<li>Mix all ingredients</li>
<li>Cook in crockpot for one hour or on stove top for 30 minutes</li>
</ol>
</div>
<p>I cook slowly for a longer time until sauce thickens and is clinging to the sausages.</p>
</section>
Another Xmas done2020-12-27T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-12-27-another-xmas-done/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2020-12-25-dogs-at-xmas.jpg" alt="dogs looking out of window, xmas tree in foreground" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>This year Christmas felt like an odd affair. The pandemic forcing decisions on gifts. Cash flow has been, <em>unpredictable</em> to say the least. I was laid off in April, with a new gig (luckily) the next month. Julie's job has come & gone multiple times as schools close in Ohio seemingly every other month. This also effected Josh's part-time job.</p>
<p>I lost count the times that things came in and out of stock on Amazon. Long delivery times as well as my reticence of actually going in shops didn't help.</p>
<p>Josh's big gift was a gaming desk from IKEA. What if there's something missing? How do we return if it doesn't work out? Can we get it delivered in time? We ended up getting and assembling in his room early. He's now 16, no longer chomping at the bit to open presents at 5am, so that suited him fine.</p>
<p>We Skyped my Mum and Sister in the UK, popping around Julie's parents to exchange gifts later. Drive through a blizzard, sit apart with masks on indoors, drive back again. It was great spending even a little time together, but still...odd.</p>
<p>The weather played a part in the oddness too. 50° one day, snow and 30° the next.</p>
<p>I've been working from home since March so there's no separation from the interior. Decorations went up, as did the tree, and it felt like they'd always been up.</p>
<p>Today they all came down. Packed away until 2021.</p>
<p>Here's hoping we can sit closer than 6 feet, not talk through cloth, and that everyone is still here and healthy.</p>
Music finds of 20202020-12-31T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-12-31-music-of-2020/<p>This is not a top 10, list of faves, or anything like that. Just a list of the albums I've bought while getting through this year. Some of these came out decades ago. Some I'd owned on vinyl and never replaced when I moved to the States.</p>
<p>I may more on some of these, but for now (in no particular order) here goes:</p>
<ul>
<li>Inner Song, by Kelly Lee Owens</li>
<li>Coronation Albums , by Georg Friedrich Händel</li>
<li>Blue Hills, by Jonnine</li>
<li>Sign, by Autechre</li>
<li>Cyberpunk 2077 OST, by Various Artists</li>
<li>Welkin Paths, by Off Land</li>
<li>A Clear Horizon, by Motionfield</li>
<li>Compendium, by In Gowan Ring</li>
<li>Nagual 5, by Various Artists</li>
<li>Essential Squeeze, by Squeeze</li>
<li>Miss Anthropocene, by Grimes</li>
<li>Sleep, by Max Richter</li>
<li>Queen II, by Queen</li>
<li>The Spiritual Kitchen of Pop, by 4T Thieves</li>
<li>Night Hawk, by Coleman Hawkins</li>
<li>At Ease With Coleman Hawkins, by Coleman Hawkins</li>
<li>Wa-Do-Dem, by Eek-A-Mouse</li>
<li>Lessening, by Ralph Kinsella</li>
<li>Runaljod - Yggdrasil, by Wardruna</li>
<li>Designer, by Aldous Harding</li>
<li>You Only Live Twice OST, by John Barry</li>
<li>Dead Magic, by Anna Von Hausswolff</li>
<li>New Trick (EP), by Skating Polly</li>
<li>The Make It All Show, by Skating Polly</li>
<li>Inland, by Tetsu Inoue</li>
<li>Slow and Low, by Tetsu Inoue</li>
<li>Repurpose, by Woob</li>
<li>Blue Sun Daydream, by Elijah Knutsen</li>
<li>A Secret Wish, by Propaganda</li>
<li>ilcsepop, by Saul Stokes</li>
<li>Bags & Trane, by Milt Jackson & John Coltrane</li>
<li>The Lark Ascending, by Vaughan Williams</li>
<li>Möbius Strip, by Ken Ishii</li>
<li>The Collection 1977-1982, by The Stranglers</li>
<li>Stator, by Biosphere</li>
<li>Bloodmoon Rising, by Steve Roach</li>
<li>Toll, by Kemper Norton</li>
<li>Slow Walking, by Moss Covered Technology</li>
<li>Stasis Sounds For Long-Distance Space Travel, by 36 & zakè</li>
<li>Abolition of The Royal Familia, by The orb</li>
<li>Ghosts V and VI, by Nine Inch Nails</li>
<li>Aporia, by Sufjan Stevens, Lowell Brams</li>
</ul>
<p>Boy that's a lot. A surprise for me was how much was vocal. The past few years I've been more and more just instrumental albums, but this year some (literal) new voices have crept in.</p>
New Years Day2021-01-01T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-01-01-new-years-day/<p>The ground was hard and covered with frost this morning. Virtually all the Xmas snow had dissapeared yesterday.</p>
<p>Then, around midday it started raining. And it kept raining. The dogs seemed in a perpetual state of damp. A small pond forming behind our garden. The bottom of the steps looking more like The Somme every passing hour.</p>
<p>One could see that as a world washing this last year off itself.</p>
<p><img src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2021-01-01-054556701.jpg" alt="rainy street at night, taken inside a car" title="rainy streets at night" /></p>
<p>I went out to collect Chinese food for dinner. Josh & I had sweet & sour pork, as you're <a href="https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/new-years-superstitions/" title="2003 article on Snopes.com about superstitions">not supposed to eat chicken on the first day</a>.</p>
<p>I played a little Destiny 2, read a little, closed down my Twitter and Instagram accounts, and listened to some of my <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-12-31-music-of-2020/" title="yesterday's post, Music of 2020">recent music purchases</a>. Did a little housekeeping in 1Password. Deleted vaults from previous companies I worked at. Removed sites that no longer exist, and cleaned up a few of those weak and repeated passwords.</p>
<p>A little laundry. A little tidying. A day of "pottering". A glimpse in the coming months activities maybe.</p>
Lessons from a coal fire2021-01-03T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-01-03-lessons-from-a-coal-fire/<p>In the 90's I bought my first house. A 1900's terraced house with, as it's sole source of heat, one gas fire in the kitchen. During the Summer, not a problem. But as the colder weather set-in the single-pane windows frosted up, on the inside.</p>
<p>The other thing it had was an open fireplace in the Living Room. I decided to use it. Roaring "real" fires here I come.</p>
<h2>Preparing the way</h2>
<p>My Dad (a one-time British Gas fitter) checked to make sure that it didn't have the remains of gas fire conversion. With no old flue pipes or fittings hanging around I had to find someone to clean it.</p>
<p>Before the internet there was the Yellow Pages. A big book full of the phone numbers of local business. Dropped off to every house, wether you wanted it or not. So a couple of phone calls later a chimney sweep turned up. I had to schedule him between wedding appearances. Large cloths, rods & brushes, and an industrial vacuum cleaner made sure it was good to go. But I still needed hardware.</p>
<h2>Bits & Bobs</h2>
<p>You can't pile up combustable material and light it. Luckily my elderly next-door neighbor had seen the sweep, asked if I could make use of her old 'fret', guard, and tools. Snapping these up I asked if she knew where I could get "the thing the coals went on".</p>
<p>She pointed to the hardware shop at the top of the road. This was one of those old places you could find one of almost anything. New kettle lead, spare pulley parts for sash windows, etc. Also carried <a href="http://www.soliftec.com/openfires.htm" title="Parts of a British Standard fireplace">Stoolgrates</a> (I learned the name later) to fit our fireplace.</p>
<p>Now I had assembled the hardware I needed coal. Back to the big book of numbers. There was a local coal merchant who had to talk me through how much coal I'd need. I found out coal is very dirty. They had to walk it through the house to the garden and dump it out.</p>
<p>Twice.</p>
<p>Next thing I needed was newspaper. Quite a bit of newspaper.</p>
<h2>Learned knowledge</h2>
<p>One of my Nan's showed me how to make these <a href="https://www.cottagefirewood.co.uk/light-a-fire-the-easy-way" title="step-by-step of something similar">braided fire starters from newspaper</a>. Like an origami stick, these would burn longer than using just crumpled up paper. Helping the to coal catch is a trick. I also need a large piece, preferably from a broad sheet, to cover the fireplace and help "the draw". Partially covering the opening of the fireplace causes the chimney to suck (draw) more air from the room through a smaller space at the bottom, under the coals. This makes it burn hotter and speeds up the coals ignition.</p>
<h2>Practice makes...</h2>
<p>I was ready.</p>
<p>I'd spent the previous night folding newspaper sticks. Brought in a bucket of coal from the garden, and made sure everything assembled.</p>
<p>Placing coals around the edges. Adding my paper in the middle, couple of coals on top of that and...remembered I didn't have any matches. Lighting a paper stick with the stove, I brought it in like the Olympic Torch and placed in on top.</p>
<p>I had <strong>FIRE!</strong> A small one , but fire even so. Kneeling, I placed the large sheet over the front. Holding it with a hand on each side I met with a load roaring sound. The paper wasn't tight enough. It moved into the flames, caught fire and went speeding up the chimney like an inverse comet. A blast of heat then made me sit back with a start.</p>
<p>Giving it another go I made the paper was as taught as I could make it and slid it from the top down. This worked a lot better. Soon the coals had a glow and flames of their own. The room got nice an toasty, so I turned on the TV and settled in. But it kept getting warmer. And warmer. Soon I was sitting in the hall, watching TV through the doorway.</p>
<p>Come 11pm and the fire had no intentions of dying out.
I had started later than I should, with way too much coal. I removed everything that could combust away from the fireplace already, so decided to go to bed.</p>
<p>The bedroom was above. It was warm. I felt the boarded up fireplace there. It was warm. I could also feel the hot air rushing up the chimney. That felt the longest night ever.</p>
<h2>Going forward</h2>
<p>Checking in the morning nothing had burnt, but the coals were still warm. I did enjoy having the fire over the Winter. Sipping Port in front of it on those long darks was, comforting. I sold the house a little while later and have never had a coal fire since.</p>
<p>It'd be glib of me to cite this as "the one event" that lead to my career today. But looking back it made a mark. Researching, listening, and experimenting. All to experience something new.</p>
Things I want from The Division 32021-01-05T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-01-05-wishlist-part-1-for-the-division/<p>It seems we may be entering the last throws of <a href="https://www.ubisoft.com/en-us/game/the-division/the-division-2" title="Ubisoft site for the game">The Division 2</a>. A franchise I've enjoyed playing for years now. Last year we saw fewer familiar faces on the <a href="https://youtu.be/1iqVx69gEtg" title="December edition on YouTube">'Sate of the game'</a> streams. Red Storm's Terry Spier <a href="https://twitter.com/The_Spier/status/1250061470827765764" title="post on Twitter">tweeted</a> he no longer worked on it, and we just got an Optimization Station - Something came into the first game at it's end.</p>
<p><img class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2021-01-04-division2-character.png" alt="screenshot of my character in The Division 2" /></p>
<p>Wether or not there's an actual Division 3, or they go the route Bungie took for Destiny 2, here's part 1 of things I'd like to see. These are all based on existing game items/mechanics/storylines.</p>
<h2>Collectibles</h2>
<p>Personally I love apparel, gear dyes, weapon skins, and vanity mods. Anything that makes the grind a little more fruitful.</p>
<p>After 2 years we still don't have vanity mods for the hive, pulse, or chem launcher. We only have one for each of the remaining original skills and...the ones we do have for the shield and drone are, shall we say, lacking.</p>
<p>Have some new ones available for a short-period in game (see Fetch Quests section) and then lock for purchase in the store. These can be tied to seasons, events, or factions.</p>
<p>I have over 400 apparel cache keys I can't do anything with. I keep getting them awarded to me in-game, but haven't had anything to use them on in over a year. Same with the 4 Legacy Apparel Cache keys sitting there doing nothing. How about letting me trade them (for an exchange rate) to weapon or event caches? Same goes for the 25k+ Textiles that I've accrued, but provided very little to buy with them.</p>
<p>Commendation badges could also be something expanded past what we have.</p>
<h2>Health/Hazard Protection</h2>
<p>Currently Health means very little in the game. There are gear sets and mods that give you extra health, but the only time that could possibly help is if the opposing player runs out of ammo and you can get behind cover while they swap weapons. This rarely happens.</p>
<p>I would like to see certain status effects (bleed, fire, shock) bypass armor and work solely against your health pool. Having 1M+ armor shouldn't stop me bleeding out. It would encourage the use of these gear sets & mods and make health something you need to worry about.</p>
<p>This would work the same against players and AI characters.</p>
<h2>Fetch Quests</h2>
<p>In the story we have to help 2 settlements get back up and running. After that they are nothing more than vendor stops every Tuesday.</p>
<p>I would love to see more weekly side missions to help gather resources. Find missing people. Have each settlement give you daily/weekly bounties. Lock named item caches, gear dyes, vanity mods behind them.</p>
This could have been worse2021-01-06T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-01-06-trump-mob-storms-capitol/<p>Today the US Congress met to confirm the next President, Joe Biden. We knew that some Republicans that hitched their wagon to Trump would object, causing multiple 2 hour debates. Prolonging, but not changing, the outcome.</p>
<p>President Trump called for a rally of his loyal supporters. Told them to <q>use their strength</q> and get to the hill. They did march and didn't stop. Forcing themselves into the Capitol while this meeting was going on.</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-55568131">
<p>Protesters in support of US President Donald Trump swarmed the Capitol building, forcing officials to order lawmakers to shelter in place and halting debate in both the House and Senate. Congress was meeting to confirm President-elect Joe Biden's electoral college victory.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— BBC World News</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-55568131" title="BBC News photos">Shocking photos</a> capture what we watched live happen.</p>
<p>What's normally a ceremonial pitstop most Americans never watch, became an international news story. A woman was shot and killed in this action.</p>
<p>Trump released a video (on Twitter) wrapping a weak request for his supporters to go home, with the continued lie that he won. <a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/7559126/trump-twitter-suspension-calls-violence-us-capitol-protest/" title="Globalnews story">Twitter has suspended his account</a> for 12 hours.</p>
<p>Congress started proceedings after <strong>The National Guard</strong> and Federal police cleared the building and pronounce it safe.</p>
<p>It's now 10pm and they are still going.</p>
2021-01-10 retro2021-01-10T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-01-10-retro/<p>Conspiracy theorists' image of <a href="https://boingboing.net/2021/01/04/conspiracy-theorists-image-of-5g-covid-implant-chip-turns-out-to-be-guitar-pedal-schematic.html" title="BoingBoing article">5G Covid implant chip</a> turns out to be guitar pedal schematic.</p>
<p>First day back at work and <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/4/22213105/slack-outage-down-2021-server-error" title="The Verge article">Slack falls over</a>.</p>
<p>Is <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/japanese-startup-wooden-satellites" title="article from The Futurist">Japan building wooden satellites</a> the pre-cursor of <a href="http://vincentwardfilms.com/project/concepts/alien-3/unrequited-visio/" title="Vincent Ward website">Alien 3's original wooden planet</a> setting?</p>
<p><a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/brick-collecting" title="Atlas Obscura article">Brick collecting</a>, of course.</p>
<p>Test your knowledge with this <a href="https://www.nngroup.com/articles/ux-quiz/">UX Quiz</a> from The NNGroup.</p>
<p>Secret artists creating <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/av/entertainment-arts-55575666" title="BBC video and article">shops for mice</a> across Europe.</p>
<p>A good piece by Kieran Healy around <a href="https://kieranhealy.org/blog/archives/2021/01/08/what-happened/" title="opinion">what happened at The Capitol</a> on the 6th.</p>
My bank is closing2021-01-11T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-01-11-my-bank-is-closing/<p>I remember attending the SXSWi 2011 panel <a href="https://austin2011.sched.com/event/2Y3q/banks-innovate-or-die" title="Panel overview on SCHED.com">Banks! Innovate or die</a> and being impressed by the lively discussion. Especially Joshua Reich, the CEO of Simple at that point.</p>
<p><a href="https://simple.com/">Simple</a> had been going for a couple of years at that point, but seeing Joshua made me want to have them as my bank. Two things stand out from <a href="https://davidmead-sxswi11.tumblr.com/post/3808589222/session-2" title="post on Tumblr">my notes</a> on that panel.</p>
<ol>
<li>Josh's <q>Bankers are poor at dealing with people</q> statement was, and is, so true</li>
<li>Like it or not, banks are now too big and can/will absorb these other types. Not to the say they can't learn something</li>
</ol>
<p>Now, a decade later, <a href="https://www.simple.com/blog/simple-is-closing">Simple is closing</a>. It was sold to BBVA USA, they in turn are being bought by PNC Bank. The Verge has a <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2021/1/7/22219271/simple-bank-online-shutting-down-pnc-bbva" title="The Verge article">good round-up</a> on the history and announcement.</p>
<p>My experience with Simple has been nothing but <strong>excellent</strong>. The rare times I had to call I always spoke to someone directly who helped. Never had to call multiple times. The website and app were great and have influenced a lot of the changes traditional banks have made with their offerings.</p>
<p>I will miss the clarity in their email, messaging, and UI. I'll miss seeing exactly what is 'Safe-to-Spend' and having 'Goals' to squirrel away small amounts to pay for a specific thing later on. In a <a href="https://twitter.com/i2pi/status/1347266937932316673">tweet</a> Joshua said</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://twitter.com/i2pi/status/1347266937932316673">
<p>Our first mission statement was to help people worry less about money. It morphed to ‘help people feel confidence’. Either way, we wanted to help people.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— Joshua Reich</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I feel they achieved this in my eyes.</p>
<p>Reddit users have now started a <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Etr8dGtviSRpdAjREgBErc47SlqMVjwZDJjHKxX7eOk/edit#gid=0">Google Sheet to compare features</a> from Simple to other banks, helping people to choose an alternative. It's clear there are very few that can compare.</p>
T-shirts2021-01-14T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-01-14-tshirts/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2021-01-14-tshirts.jpg" alt="2 t-shirts on a table" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>I've been a fan of <a href="https://simplebits.com/pages/about" title="About page">Dan Cederholm</a> since the early 2000's. His blog was among those I visited everyday.</p>
<p>I have bought his books in the past, and now he's <a href="https://simplebits.com/collections/tees" title="$10 t-shirts">having a sale</a> so I grabbed a couple of t-shirts he designed.</p>
<p>These are super comfy and I really love the designs.</p>
<p>I'm looking forward to seeing the new ones coming soon.</p>
Things I want from The Division 3, part 22021-01-18T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-01-18-wishlist-part-2-for-the-division/<p>Here's the second part of my wishlist for <a href="https://www.ubisoft.com/en-us/game/the-division/the-division-2" title="Ubisoft site for the game">The Division 2</a>. You can read <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-01-05-wishlist-part-1-for-the-division">part 1</a> to see the other changes.</p>
<p><img class="img-border" alt="screen shot of my character in The Division 2" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2021-01-04-division2-character.png" /></p>
<h2>Dark Zone</h2>
<p>I am not a big PvP fan but, I don't want the Dark Zones to be solely tailored to a PvE audience. One thing I really enjoyed about The Division 1 was entering the Dark Zone (solo or in a group) and having ways to hide, or avoid, Rogue Agents/Manhunts if I didn't want to PvP.</p>
<p>The cat and mouse aspect, part of the appeal and danger, has been completely stripped away. The three zones are smaller, only allowing for a reduced number of players in at a time.
Think different</p>
<p>A contributing factor is the size of the three zones. But not in area. Volume is the key. There is no real verticality to either of these zones. No sewers, no rooftop access. It's very flat. And yes there's an underground train yard in one, an elevated freeway section in another. But those don't really have any choke points or multiple exits like the underground system in the first one.</p>
<h3>Skills</h3>
<p>I grow really tired of hearing about using skills is lazy or has "killed" PvP. Newsflash! Your shield is a skill. Deflector/Repair drones are a skill. Pretty much the whole tiring meta at the moment is face tanking opposite shield builds with 1.7M+ armor and max crit chance/crit damage.</p>
<p>In the story there are EMP pulses that disable skills. Make the Occupied Dark Zones 'no skill' with these. You want pure DPS matches? Fine. No shield, no healing, no seeker mines. Just you, armor, and weapons.</p>
<h3>Perks</h3>
<p>Another discarded part of the gameplay was the DZ Perks. After unlocking the 3 zones as part of the story we had access to a tree with different perks. These would help/hinder depending if you went "Rogue". This tree was meager to start with, but gutted when the DZ's were overhauled. As you can see there's very little options to choose from. Another mechanic I would like to see expanded and maybe have change depending on seasons, etc.</p>
<p><img class="img-border" alt="screen shot Dark Zone perk tree in The Division 2" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2021-01-18-division2-dz-perks.png" /></p>
<h2>Specialization Weapons</h2>
<p>Each specialization comes with its own weapon. You only get ammo for it by doing things specific for that specialization. Problem is the weapons aren't that special. For example, a .50 cal sniper rifle that ends up doing less damage than most handguns against enemies, especially 'named' bosses.</p>
<p>I would love to see these completely overpowered, but reduce the ammo you have. Make the post-collapse scarcity a thing. Hoard your ammo and save it for that one big encounter. Make it a something to grind for, only if, it can 1 or 2-shot a boss in solo play. Scaling with group play.</p>
<h2>Outside the game</h2>
<p>Loot, and its management has always been a sticking point for this franchise. I would really like to see an official app, and 3rd-party access for website to manage loot. Destiny and Call Of Duty have both had success with this.</p>
Photo | Afterward | 0012021-01-24T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-01-24-afterward-001/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2021-01-24-after-pancakes-blueberries.jpg" alt="empty plate stained from syrup and blueberries" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>The last of the 'Easy Morning Pancake' mix from <a href="https://fowlermill.com/" title="Cleveland based mill">Fowler's Mill</a> mixed with blueberries (coz I'm healthy now), and a tad of syrup.</p>
No longer an orchestra2021-01-31T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-01-31-listen-handfuls-of-night/<p>I first encountered the sounds of Penguin Cafe Orchestra on <a href="https://youtu.be/ZV43lkJ7xNs" title="video on YouTube">The South Bank Show</a> in 1987. It was a mix of "new age", classical, avant-garde, and just plain fun.</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://www.penguincafe.com/more">
<p>There are long tables and everyone sits together, and it’s very cheerfully chaotic. In the back there is always a band playing music that you are sure you’ve heard somewhere but you have no idea where – and that is the Penguin Cafe Orchestra – they play this music.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— Arthur Jeffes, <cite>Official website</cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I remember hunting down the 'Music from the Penguin Cafe' record and feeling equal parts joy & confusion as I listened. The same for the other albums I bought by them over the years.</p>
<p>Simon Jeffes, the founder, died in 1997 and the cafe lost its orchestra. But his son, Arthur, later took up the baton and puts out albums under The Penguin Cafe.</p>
<p>'Handfuls of Night' is the latest album, and first of the new ones I've bought. It's very atmospheric, based on Arthurs journey to the Antarctic. You get a sense of the openness and stark landscapes, mixed with the beauty of the place. The swirling winds, utter cold, and different animals which call this place home.</p>
<p>You can hear the connection to the previous orchestra. The strings and some arrangements have that familiar feel. Some little flourishes, like the dial tone on 'Pythagoras On The Line Again', harken back his fathers sound. But there is no confusion here. No real musical surprises, which left me feel wanting a little.</p>
<p>I enjoyed this to seek out the other albums, but it also made me appreciate what's special about those early Orchestra albums.</p>
I found a kindred voice, too late2021-01-31T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-01-31-read-mark-fisher/<p>Until the beginning of 2021 I had no recollection of knowing about Mark Fisher, or his writing. Being name-dropped in a few unrelated recent videos and podcasts, and having a connection to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hauntology" title="wikipedia entry">hauntology</a> tickled something in my brain.</p>
<p>I watched his talk, <a href="https://youtu.be/aCgkLICTskQ" title="video on YouTube">The Slow Cancellation of the Future</a>, and it struck such a nerve with me I grabbed his book '<a href="https://www.johnhuntpublishing.com/zer0-books/our-books/ghosts-my-life">Ghosts of My Life: Writings on Depression, Hauntology and Lost Futures</a>'.</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote>
<p>not only has the future not arrived, it no longer seems possible.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— Mark Fisher, <cite>Ghosts of My Life</cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>This is a collection of Mark's writing (articles, reviews, etc.) on his blog or other publications. Out-of-the-gate he starts with Sapphire and Steel episodes, mentioned in his talk. How this odd series (even back then) resonates even more the further we move away from it.</p>
<p>This is the first book I've read on the Kindle where I highlighted passages and made notes. So much in Mark's writing touched on ideas/feelings I had when consuming the same media.</p>
<p>Ever been in pub or bar (remember them?) and a friend-of-a-friend would sit at your table and you suddenly found a kindred spirit? They liked the same things you did, but had a slightly different take on them. Reading this book was like Mark had sat down at my table in the <a href="http://www.closedpubs.co.uk/essex/southend_corkcheese.html" title="local pub, now closed">Cork & Cheese</a> and Friday night just whizzed by.</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote>
<p>those who can’t remember the past are condemned to have it resold to them forever.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— Mark Fisher, <cite>Ghosts of My Life</cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Though this book came out in 2014, and <a href="https://www2.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/sight-sound-magazine/comment/obituaries/mark-fisher-obituary-thrillingly-creative-critic" title="obituary on BFI">Mark died in 2017</a>, I found myself comparing a lot of what he wrote to events from 2020. The pandemic, lockdowns, the virulent spread of disinformation via social media.</p>
<p>This quote nagged at me...</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote>
<p>The postcolonial melancholic doesn’t (just) refuse to accept change; at some level, he refuses to accept that change has happened at all.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— Mark Fisher, <cite>Ghosts of My Life</cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>...that maybe this is what Trump followers were feeling. MAGA cope of the big lie?</p>
<p>I hadn't seen or heard some of the things in the reviews but have jotted them down for later. I may go and revisit some of the albums from Burial, John Foxx, and Tricky that he writes about. See if I agree with his take on these. I don't know if I will, but that's ok.</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote>
<p>The album is like the faded ten year-old tag of a kid whose Rave dreams have been crushed by a series of dead end jobs.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— Mark Fisher, <cite>Ghosts of My Life</cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I've a list of other books of his work waiting for me to consume this year, and thoughts of the futures now lost without his coverage.</p>
fifty two2021-02-04T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-02-04-52nd-birthday/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2021-02-09-52-self-portrait.jpg" alt="black and white self photo" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>52 times around the sun.</p>
<p>A quiet day, with wishes online and in person.</p>
She's one year older2021-02-26T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-02-26-julie-50-birthday/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2021-02-26-julies-50th-cake.jpg" alt="Julie's birthday cake" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>For her 50<sup>th</sup> Julie wanted a specific cake, so I obliged. Over an hour drive to get this luxurious red velvet cake from <a href="https://kelseyelizabethcakes.com/" title="amazing cakes and sweets">Kelsey Elizabeth</a>. It was so heavy and decadent.</p>
NOM - Jerk Chicken2021-03-05T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-03-05-jerk-chicken/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2021-03-05-nom-jerk-chicken.jpg" alt="Jerk chicken and rice in takeout container" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>I decided to treat myself to something different for lunch. Jamaican food from <a href="https://elas-caribbean-grill-restaurant.business.site/">Ela's Caribbean Grill</a>. This was the Jerk Chicken with red beans & rice, and cabbage. It was the "mild" version, so it had a nice kick but not too spicy. Chased it with some strong Ginger beer.</p>
<p>The chicken was nice and succulent. Large amount of rice. All-in-all a great lunch. I'll certainly be back to try some of the other dishes.</p>
TikTok2021-03-05T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-03-05-tiktok/<p>I had an account for Musical.ly just to secure my "namespace". I think I used it once.</p>
<p>Fast Forward a few years and it becomes the behemoth that is TikTok. My profile didn't get moved over and I have no interest in social networks at the moment. But my wife and son use it.</p>
<p>I know this by the repetition of certain music clips I hear drifting around the house. They send me, via text, links to the latest "gotta see this".</p>
<p>But there's nothing new here for me.</p>
<p>It's candy-coloured UI smacks of a MySpace/Snapchat love-child. The content makes 12second.tv, and later Vine, seem luxuriously long.</p>
<p>Martin Belam seems to have <a href="https://martinbelam.com/2021/the-day-that-i-finally-understood-tiktok/" title="Blog entry">nailed what TikTok is</a></p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://martinbelam.com/2021/the-day-that-i-finally-understood-tiktok/">
<p>Anyway while scrolling in horror through TikTok I suddenly had the blinding flash of recognition of what it would have been like for me in 1988. It would almost certainly have been full of slightly older cute goth girls in their best going out outfits doing make-up tutorials, interspersed with the odd spotty spike-haired dude showing you how to play the riff from a Joy Division song, and it would have been absolutely compelling. That’s what TikTok is, I reckon.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— Martin Belam, <cite>Blog post</cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>But this is my sons 1988, not mine. I'll leave it to him.</p>
1st Jab2021-03-24T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-03-24-1st-jab/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2021-03-24-1st-jab.jpg" alt="Close-up of my shoulder injection site" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>Got my first, of the two, Covid-19 vaccination jabs today. Feels a little sore, but no effects.</p>
<p>Doing my part to protect myself, and others.</p>
Code updates2021-03-28T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-03-28-code-updates/<p>Circumstances dictated I did some work on the infrastructure of this blog. So I spent most of today searching GitHub, Stack Overflow and the <a href="https://www.11ty.dev/">Eleventy website</a> for answers.</p>
<h2>Pagination problem fixed</h2>
<p>I blogged about the <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2019-12-25-pagination-problems/" title="pagination problems">issue I was having with showing the three most recents posts on the homepage</a>. I finally figured out how to solve it.</p>
<p>I removed the pagination from the front matter completely, replacing it with a <a href="https://www.11ty.dev/docs/collections/" title="official documentation">collection call</a> in the page. I also added a Nunjucks "special variable" inside a loop (thanks to <a href="https://github.com/11ty/eleventy/issues/1368#issuecomment-683320630" title="GitHub comment">huphtur's comment</a> on the "Limit the output of a Collection" issue on GitHub) to this.</p>
<pre><code><div class="wrapper-tiles">
{\%- for post in collections.post | reverse -%\}
{\%- if loop.index0 < 3 -%\}
<div class="tile">
<div class="tile-head txt-center">
<time datetime="2024-03-29T01:45:04.906Z">March 28, 2024</time>
</div>
<div class="tile-body">
<p><a href="." title=""></a></p>
</div>
<div>
{\%- endif -%\}
{\%- endfor-%\}
</div>
</code></pre>
<p>This now shows the last 'n' posts on the front page without creating lots of extra folders in the <code>_site</code> folder.</p>
<p>Building on this I also added a new section on the homepage where the latest two posts from some chosen tags are shown.</p>
<h2>Styling</h2>
<p>You may have noticed some fancy styling on the code block above. I added some cue's from Chris Coyier's post <a href="https://css-tricks.com/styling-code-in-and-out-of-blocks/">Styling Code In and Out of Blocks</a> over at CSS Tricks.</p>
<p>I also added some CSS for the new topics section on the homepage.</p>
<pre><code>.tile-head * {
color: #ffffff !important;
margin: 0.25em;
padding: 0.25em;
}
</code></pre>
<p>This makes sure whatever I put in to the head section of my tile is coloured white and has some spacing around it.</p>
<p>I also added a little something for the lists now in the body of the tiles.</p>
<pre><code>.list-breathe {
margin: 0;
}
.list-breathe li {
padding: 0.9167em 0;
}
</code></pre>
<p>This gives me some spacing around each <code>li</code> without playing around with the <code>line-height</code>.</p>
<h2>Eleventy updated</h2>
<p>When <a href="https://www.bridgestew.com/">Bridget</a> fist helped me put this together Eleventy was on version 9. It's now on version 12 so I took the plunge and updated - But that's a whole blog post of its own.</p>
Upgrade2021-03-28T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-03-28-upgrade/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2021-03-28-upgrade.jpg" alt="Unopened M1 MacBook Air box" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>It was getting hot. The charge only lasted 40 minutes. And there was less and less that I could run on it. It was time to saw goodbye to me 2013 MacBook Pro. It had served me well.</p>
<p>Say hello to the new M1 MacBook Air. This thing is <strong>fast</strong> and quiet. Here's to getting nearly a decade out of this one.</p>
Adam Curtis has a new film2021-03-29T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-03-29-adam-curtis/<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Curtis" title="Wikipedia entry">Adam Curtis</a> has developed a very particular style for his films. Stock footage, bold sans-serif font overlays, and a certain cadence to his measured speech. It's easy to imitate and <a href="https://www.tomscott.com/infinite-adam-curtis/" title="Tom Scott's infinite Adam Curtis documentary">pastiche</a>. Quite a few people I know don't like his films, but I find them interesting, engrossing.</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://adactio.com/notes/17818">
<p>Adam Curtis is QAnon for Guardian readers.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— Jeremy Keith, <cite><a href="https://adactio.com/notes/17818" title="">Blog post</a></cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>His latest for the BBC, titled "<a href="https://youtu.be/MHFrhIAj0ME" title="Watch part one on YouTube">Can't Get You Out Of My Head</a>", is available on his YouTube channel as 6 (one hour) installments. Adam describes it as...</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://youtu.be/MHFrhIAj0ME">
<p>We are living through strange days. Across Britain, Europe and America societies have become split and polarised. There is anger at the inequality and the ever growing corruption - and a widespread distrust of the elites. Into this has come the pandemic that has brutally dramatised those divisions. But despite the chaos, there is a paralysis - a sense that no one knows how to escape from this.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— Adam Curtis</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>He's pulling seemingly separate historical strands together. Showing how the effects of action by disparate forces impact and shape others. Mao's wife. The British Empire creating Iran. The rise of suburbs in America, to name a few.</p>
<p>All this gives rise to conspiracy theories, amplified by the rise of the internet and (he posits) our inability to accept any other way.</p>
<p>His use of archive footage and music choices do not reflect the actual historic events. Rather they give a sense of mood and place. For me this aids his narrative. Underscoring the threads he presents.</p>
<p>I don't see his work as a traditional documentarian. I'm more inline with <a href="https://www.stewartlee.co.uk/" title="official site">Stewart Lee</a> who said</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://youtu.be/-ohGJMDf6Fk?t=3874">
<p>...it's a sort of bloke going look at this. What about this? Oh that's weird init. It's like a sort of ramble around someone's brain whose been stuck in a cellar with too much archive footage. It's not meant to be Panorama.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— Stewart Lee, <cite>Alexie Sayle's podcast</cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Again, I'm a fan. I don't agree with everything he puts forward, but find the topics appealing. Take a watch and see for yourself.</p>
<div class="yt-container">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MHFrhIAj0ME" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>Diving into The Long Dark2021-04-04T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-04-04-the-long-dark/<p><a href="https://www.thelongdark.com/" title="official website">The Long Dark</a> is a survival game set during Winter on Great Bear Island, somewhere in the Canadian wilderness.</p>
<p>Quite a few of my friends had already played this and, with it being on Xbox Game Pass, I thought I'd give it a go. I did not expect it to draw me in this much.</p>
<h2>Look & feel</h2>
<p>There is a sense of walking through a painting with this game. And it's not always the typical soft Kincaid-esque view of Winter.</p>
<p><img class="img-border" alt="screen shot of frozen lake" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/screenshot-thelongdark-001.png" /></p>
<p>Deep greys and blues abound. The subtle orange light from my meager fires, dispel the barest of shadows in dark buildings I seek shelter. Sometimes it's bright and I can see far away. But an instant whiteout can appear and I can't tell direction or see a foot in front of me.</p>
<p>The sound design is immersive. Tin roofs rattle in the wind, wood creaks, wolves howl and the slow trudge of your feet in the snow seems hypnotic. There's also a great score of plaintive piano and strings that ebb in and out.</p>
<h2>Story mode</h2>
<p>I decide to play through the story, rather than dive in with the survival mode straight off.</p>
<p>You play a charter plane pilot with one passenger. During a storm there are green lights in the sky and you lose all electrics. The plane goes down and you, not only have to survive, but reunite with your separated passenger.</p>
<p>They give you enough backstory to make you care about the characters, and a dash of mystery about what has happened to cause this "quiet apocalypse".</p>
<p><img class="img-border" alt="screen shot of aurora in the sky" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/screenshot-thelongdark-002.png" /></p>
<h2>Everything hurts</h2>
<p>Stand too close to a fire, I burn myself. Walk up/down a steep incline, sprain my ankle/wrist. Stay out too long, hypothermia. Eat something kinda dodgy, food poisoning.</p>
<p>Add in wolves, bears, thin ice, you get the picture. As there's no fast travel. You have to <strong>walk everywhere</strong>, so standing still to get your bearings, or carrying too much making you slower, can be a death sentence.</p>
<p>Even with all this, the foraging and keeping a cabin is therapeutic. Until the dread sets in when you run out of wood.</p>
He's 172021-04-07T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-04-07-josh-17-birthday/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2021-04-07-josh-birthday-balloons.jpg" alt="Birthday balloons" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>Our baby is now 17 years old. Where does the time go to?</p>
<p>Also, he had his first COVID-19 vaccination today. Happy Birthday!</p>
Style updates2021-04-10T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-04-10-style-updates/<p>So while waiting for the internet to come back on I decided to update the styling on this site. Playing around on localhost I updated as I went.</p>
<h2>Colours</h2>
<p>Though I only had a few colors on here I decided to knock it down even more, and move from HEX values to RGBA. This gave me the option of playing with the Alpha channel to make things lighter/darker.</p>
<p>At the top of my CSS file I dropped in my values.</p>
<pre><code>/* =COLORS
white = rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)
drk blue = rgba(8, 47, 55, 1)
drk grey = rgba(45, 45, 46, 1)
med grey = rgba(95, 82, 93, 1)
lt grey = rgba(252, 252, 250, 1)
gold = rgba(253, 188, 46, 1)
green = rgba(2, 249, 0, 1)
polaroid = rgba(239, 239, 239, 1)
*/
</code></pre>
<p>Some of these are direct conversions from HEX. Others, like the dark blue and gold are new.</p>
<p>I use the excellent <a href="https://superhighfives.com/pika" title="open source MacOS app">PIKA</a> color picker. This gives the ability to grab colors and see how the contrast ratio complies to WCAG. It also let me choose HEX, RGB, etc when copy & pasting the values.</p>
<p>Dark blue is used for the main headings, the background for code blocks and blockquotes, and some borders. Gold is used for the text and left-border of blockquotes, as well as background of the <code><strong></code> element (but a different opacity). Green is used for the text in code blocks as well as the background of inline code (but a different opacity).</p>
<h2>Attributes for Listen and Read posts</h2>
<p>At the top of my posts relating to things I've read and listened to I had the attributes of the album or book. I wasn't happy with the way these bumped into the content using the grid, so I changed it.</p>
<p>I exposed the URLs so you you can see where you'll be going if clicking on the official website/buy link. I also added the title and <abbr title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</abbr> for books. These are in the Eleventy front matter of each post and pulled through with a variable in the Eleventy layout file.</p>
<pre><code>artistURL: http://k-punk.org
artistNAME: Mark Fisher
bookTITLE: Ghosts of My Life - Writings on Depression, Hauntology and Lost Futures
bookISBN: 978-1-78279-624-4
purchaseURL: https://www.johnhuntpublishing.com/zer0-books/our-books/ghosts-my-life
</code></pre>
<p>Now these have a double border (using the dark blue) to separate them from "my thoughts".</p>
<p><img class="img-border" alt="screen shot of listen attributes styling" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/screenshot-listen-attributes.png" /></p>
<h2>Small screen</h2>
<p>I did a few tweaks to layout for small screens; increased some font sizes, stacked tiles on the homepage, and adjusted various <code>margin</code> and <code>padding</code> on some elements.</p>
Convocations2021-04-14T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-04-14-new-sufjan-stevens-album/<p>Sufjan Stevens has a new instrumental album releasing soon. <a href="https://sufjanstevens.bandcamp.com/album/convocations" title="Bandcamp page">Convocations</a> is a massive 2½ hours, broken into 49 tracks spanning 5 distinct "sonic cycles".</p>
<p>Described as a <q>requiem mass for our present times of difficulty</q>, it rises and falls with vocals, electronic swells, and strings. From what I've heard none of it seems recycled from his other works, but definitely evokes previous albums such as Carrie & Lowell.</p>
<p>You can listen live, on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMi8tQF_L7rd6YcmSt7MXrQ">his YouTube channel</a>, to the different cycles on separate days. Each is accompanied by generative visuals. Today is "Meditations" (embedded below).</p>
<div class="yt-container">
<iframe width="100%" height="380" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ivpq4VDFC1I" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
</div>
<p>Like most of his work it has a highly personal reason for existing...</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-04-14-new-sufjan-stevens-album/%E2%80%9Chttps://sufjanstevens.bandcamp.com/album/convocations%E2%80%9D">
<p>In fact, Stevens made Convocations in response to (and as an homage to) the life and death of his biological father, who died in September last year, two days following the release of The Ascension. It is, then, ultimately an album about loss, and an album that reflects a year in which we have all lost so much.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>Grayson Haver Currin, <cite>Bandcamp liner notes</cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>At $30 it's a big purchase, but I did just add it to my wishlist.</p>
An Event Apart, Spring Summit - Day one2021-04-19T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-04-19-aea-notes-day-one/<p>After all these years I managed to finally attend <a href="https://aneventapart.com/event/spring-summit-2021" title="conference page">An Event Apart</a>.</p>
<p>The ongoing pandemic means it's virtual, so I'm still in my basement, but they've got a format that's working well — Watch the pre-recorded talk, followed by a live Q&A with the presenter.</p>
<p>This means I don't miss anything if I have to let the dogs out, make a cuppa, or answer a work SOS.</p>
<p>Today is day one, and it's been a barnstormer.</p>
<h2>Presenters</h2>
<p>Jeremy Keith opens by looking forward to what the web could be by considering it's history. The progress we've made thus far. How Flash and polyfills can be seen as R&D for the evolution of W3C standards.</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote>
<p>If I have the choice of making something the user's problem, or making it my problem, I’ll make it my problem every time. That’s my job.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>Jeremy Keith</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I had to miss Scott Jehl's presentation, but I'm going to watch the recording soon.</p>
<p>Next was Rachel Andrews on "How to understand CSS". Filled with "live" code and clear examples of how CSS has evolved over the years and what its actually doing. Thinking about "aligning in the block and inline dimensions". Now I want to completely restructure this blogs pages.</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote>
<p>Do not be afraid of the specifications! Interesting information lives there.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>Rachel Andrews</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Miriam Suzanne delivered a great look at variables in CSS. Again, like Rachels talk, there's so much to dive into here. From defining a name of a repeated color to creating and animating bar charts. Unlike Sass and the like these aren't static and complied. But dynamic and responsive.</p>
<p>Dave Ruperts presentation on Web Components was the other I missed and have to catch up on the recording.</p>
<p>Ending the day was Cyd Harrel's talk on "Getting Senior with UX". A great look at how being senior does not equal a management track. Some very interesting points about growing your "design eye", realizing your areas of strength, and bringing along others.</p>
<h2>Tomorrow</h2>
<p>With talk titles such as "Better User Experience is Better SEO", Inclusive Design Systems, and High-Impact User Research it seems a little less code-centric.</p>
<p>I cannot wait to experience the ideas from day two.</p>
2nd Jab2021-04-21T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-04-21-2nd-jab/<p>We got the second <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/Moderna.html" title="CDC information page">Moderna</a> jab today. Same arm <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-03-24-1st-jab/" title="blog post">as the first</a>.</p>
<p>Followed some received wisdom from previous second jabbers and drank Powerade before, took Tylenol after. Hopefully this will reduce the side-effects that seem to be running about 50/50 from people we've spoken to.</p>
<p>Onwards & upwards.</p>
Roadtrip back to normal2021-04-24T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-04-24-roadtrip-back-to-nrmal/<p>This morning I hopped in the car and drove, about 40 minutes, to <a href="https://www.hudson.oh.us/" title="official city website">Hudson</a>. I had a gift certificate for <a href="https://www.learnedowl.com/">The Learned Owl bookshop</a> and decide to combine spending that with grabbing a coffee with an <a href="https://ctmiller.net/pages/about.html" title="Chris's about page">old friend</a>.</p>
<p>For an over hour we sat in the <a href="https://opendoorcoffeecompany.com/">Open Door Coffee Co.</a>. Less than 6 feet apart, maskless and in opposite leather chairs, sipping coffee and talking. People came and went. The sun shone. And for a while it felt it could've been any Saturday in 2019.</p>
<p>Then it was time to re-enter 2021.</p>
<p>Masks on, we said our goodbyes and I went and picked up my book. Past the make-shift barriers that enclose virtually all cash registers, having to repeat the odd word every now and again.</p>
<p>We're slowly getting back.</p>
Documenting food2021-04-28T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-04-28-documenting-food/<p>There used to be a few places where you could post photos, and rate, the food you ate. <a href="https://usefyi.com/evernote-food/" title="Article on FYI">Evernote Food</a>, <a href="https://mashable.com/2011/07/14/nosh-me/" title="2011 article on Mashable.com">Nosh.me</a>, and <a href="https://readwrite.com/2011/08/10/foodspotting_spikes_to_1_million_users_in_18_month/" title="2011 article on ReadWrite.com">Foodspotting</a> were the one's I used.</p>
<p>None are around today.</p>
<p>I kinda miss them. In the 2010-2015 period we were spoiled for niches apps vying for users. In the end Pinterest, Yelp, and Instagram pretty much came out ahead for recipes, restaurants, and "food porn" respectively.</p>
<p>I, like most, used Instagram to catalog my gastronomic excursions later on. Most of these did get syndicated back to my old blog so at some point they'll end back here again.</p>
<p>Nosh.me never offered an export when it closed, and Evernote Food entries are now just stored as regular notes in my Evernote. But I did manage to get an export of <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/tags/foodspotting/">my old Foodspotting posts</a>. So I've decided to add them here, under the original post dates. Just 3 at the moment, but more to come.</p>
Big changes at Basecamp2021-05-01T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-05-01-basecamp-changes/<p>This week has seen some big changes from <a href="https://basecamp.com/">Basecamp</a>. The Verge <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/30/22412714/basecamp-employees-memo-policy-hansson-fried-controversy" title="article on The Verge">has a good piece</a> outlining what happened.</p>
<p>Stemming from (in part) an internal list of "funny" customer names, and the unwillingness to deal with it head-on, lead to the owners implementing some <a href="https://world.hey.com/jason/changes-at-basecamp-7f32afc5" title="Jason Fried's announcement">radical changes</a>. One <a href="https://world.hey.com/dhh/basecamp-s-new-etiquette-regarding-societal-politics-at-work-b44bef69" title="David's societal politics etiquette post">particular change</a> seem to be the reason that reportedly <a href="https://twitter.com/CaseyNewton/status/1388212468510380034" title="Casey Newton tweet">a third of Basecamp's staff is leaving</a>.</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-05-01-basecamp-changes/%E2%80%9Chttps://world.hey.com/dhh/basecamp-s-new-etiquette-regarding-societal-politics-at-work-b44bef69%E2%80%9D">
<p>Therefore, we’re asking everyone, including Jason and me, to refrain from using our company Basecamp or HEY to discuss societal politics at work effective immediately.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— David Heinemeier Hansson</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>There's a lot of "pearl-clutching" going on around this, but I'll wager every call center throughout the world has it's own version of that list. I am <strong>not</strong> defending it, just recognizing that when humans get together, tribalism follows.</p>
<p>In larger, less public, companies, HR would add policies followed by a company-wide email. The offenders/complainers would be fired or leave due to a series of managerial micro-agressions. Everyone else would forget about it and keep on with their day, in part thanks to the vagueness of the email and policy wording.</p>
<p>With Basecamp we have the owners making decisions in public. Setting out their stall in plain English, and being very open if you don't like how they are handling it.</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-05-01-basecamp-changes/%E2%80%9Chttps://world.hey.com/jason/changes-at-basecamp-7f32afc5%E2%80%9D">
<p>Who's responsible for these changes? David and I are. Who made the changes? David and I did. These are our calls, and the outcomes and impacts land at our doorstep.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— Jason Fried</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>We also have an employee's <a href="https://janeyang.org/2021/04/27/an-open-letter-to-jason-and-david/" title="Response from Jane Yang">open letter</a>, an announcement that the podcast is <a href="https://pca.st/csxs6o81" title="Rework episode 132">going dark</a> by obviously shaken presenters (one of whom has now left), and a slew of <a href="https://twitter.com/_breeeeen_/status/1388198266651688963" title="Twitter thread">tweets</a> of people looking for new jobs.</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-05-01-basecamp-changes/%E2%80%9Chttps://janeyang.org/2021/04/27/an-open-letter-to-jason-and-david/%E2%80%9D">
<p>Whether I will remain on medical leave after publishing this letter is entirely up to you: either up to your benevolence as the dictators of Basecamp, or to your strategic savvy.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— Jane Yang</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Jason & David have <em>always</em> marched to their own drum. I don't agree with some of what they have done, but I can see the rationale behind other parts. Let's see if anyone follows this new beat.</p>
Lamb Balti2021-05-01T05:51:28Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-05-01-nom-lamb-balti/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/lamb-balti.jpg" alt="Indian lamb dish in thick sauce" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Lamb Balti</h1>
<p class="summary">The Indian Kitchen</p>
<p>Ate this at The Indian Kitchen on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2021-05-01T05:51:28.000Z">May 1, 2021</time>, and noted <q class="">Delicious boneless marinated lamb in a thick spiced sauce. Really good.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Fried ramen bowl2021-05-04T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-05-02-ramen-hack/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2021-05-04-everything-bagel-ramen.jpeg" alt="ramne noodles with broccoli" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Fried ramen bowl</h1>
<p class="summary">TikTok YouTube ramen hack</p>
<p>Ate this at Home on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2021-05-04T05:00:01.000Z">May 4, 2021</time>, and noted <q class="">Very tasty and pretty quick to assemble</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I followed <a href="https://youtu.be/qxfq4dkzLls?t=42" title="YouTube">Beryl Shereshewsky's video</a> for the "Everything but the bagel" ramen. She based it on the <a href="https://iamafoodblog.com/tiktok-ramen/" title="recipe page">TikTok Ramen recipe</a> from <a href="https://iamafoodblog.com/">https://iamafoodblog.com/</a>.</p>
<p>Easy and pretty quick lunch as I had everything in the cupboard.</p>
<section class="h-recipe">
<h2>"TikTok" Ramen</h2>
<h3>Ingredients</h3>
<ul>
<li class="p-ingredient">Butter</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">3 gloves garlic, minced/pressed</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">Brown sugar</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">Soy sauce</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">Pepper flakes</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">1 egg</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">Everything bagel seasoning</li>
</ul>
<p>Takes <time class="dt-duration" datetime="10M">15 minutes</time>, serves <data class="p-yield" value="2">one/two people</data>.</p>
<div class="e-instructions">
<h3>Directions</h3>
<ol>
<li>Boil water and cook noodles for about a minute less than packet instructions - <strong>Do not add the flavor packet</strong></li>
<li>Melt butter on low heat</li>
<li>Add garlic and cook until soft</li>
<li>Add pepper flakes, soy sauce, and brown sugar</li>
<li>Drain noodles and toss in the sauce</li>
<li>Move noodles aside and scramble egg in the pan</li>
<li>Serve and top with the bagel seasoning</li>
</ol>
</div>
<p>I added the broccoli when heating the noodles in the sauce.</p>
</section>
Changing to <figure>2021-05-08T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-05-08-markdown-blockquotes-arent-enough/<p>One of the nice things I've settled into with Eleventy powering this blog is I can mix <a href="https://daringfireball.net/projects/markdown/" title="Jon Gruber's 2004 post">markdown</a> with HTML in the same area when creating a post/page. I know that it'll all get processed and rendered as HTML in the browser.</p>
<p>Take blockquotes for instance. Markdown just requires I start the line with a <kbd>></kbd> and when rendered it'll wrap that in the HTML <code><blockquote></code> element.</p>
<pre>
<code>
> This is a blockquote
<blockquote>This is a blockquote</blockquote>
</code>
</pre>
<p>This is nice and quick. But I like to include attribution to quotes I put in. Who said it, where it was said, and a link to it if it was online. There's no way to include that in Markdown.</p>
<p>It either becomes part of quote and I have to do some CSS hoop-jumping to get it out of the quotation marks, or it sits outside of the element and looks detached, leading to more CSS.</p>
<p>After much searching I liked the <a href="https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/blockquote" title="Mozilla Developer page">MDN example</a> of wrapping it the <code><figure></code> element.</p>
<p>It passes the smell test for the intent of a figure (<q cite="https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTML/Element/figure">represents self-contained content, potentially with an optional caption</q>) and gives me some legitimate hooks to use CSS without extra <code><div></code> and <code><span></code> elements.</p>
<p>I created the following clip in <a href="https://www.panic.com/coda/" title="discontinued Mac coding software">Coda</a> so I can just drag-and-drop it in.</p>
<pre>
<code>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite=“link to original”>
<p>Quoted text</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— Person, <cite>Where it’s from</cite></figcaption>
</figure>
</code>
</pre>
<p>And here it is styled</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-05-08-markdown-blockquotes-arent-enough/%E2%80%9C/posts/2021-05-08-markdown-blockquotes-arent-enough/%E2%80%9D">
<p>This is nice and quick. But I like to include attribution to quotes I put in. Who said it, where it was said, and a link to it if it was online.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— David Mead, <cite>This blog</cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>And yes, I know, I use a class name to describe the thing it is.</p>
<p>So now I'm off to go through and replace all my markdown blockquotes with this HTML version. Another downside of using Markdown is I can't find & replace. Search for <kbd>></kbd> and see how many matches you get in your site.</p>
BBVA mess up Simple transfer2021-05-09T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-05-09-BBVA-mess-up-simple-transfer/<p>On January 11<sup>th</sup> I posted about <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-01-11-my-bank-is-closing/" title="blog post">my bank closing</a>. Well, May 8<sup>th</sup> was the day the <a href="https://www.bbvausa.com/">BBVA</a> was to migrate all Simple Bank users over and have them create their new account logins. What a shitshow!</p>
<p>I'd been getting emails from Simple letting us know the day would be coming. That the day was May 8<sup>th</sup>. What to do on that day, but <strong>don't do anything yet</strong>.</p>
<h2>Saturday</h2>
<p>So on the day I get a welcome email I decided to wait untli the afternoon to try. I have errands to run and thought any teething issues would be fixed by them. Click the link, follow the on-screen instructions and get...</p>
<p><img class="img-border" alt="screenshot of error" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/BBVA-ScreenShot2021-05-08-3.05.12.png" /></p>
<p>An error. <q>Verify your sign info and try again</q>. Okay. I do, and get...</p>
<p><img class="img-border" alt="screenshot of error" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/BBVA-ScreenShot2021-05-08-3.06.24.png" /></p>
<p>A different error. I click the big button labelled 'OK' and try resetting my password through the forgot flow, and get...</p>
<p><img class="img-border" alt="screenshot of error" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/BBVA-ScreenShot2021-05-08-3.04.03.png" /></p>
<p>Another error. This time stating my account (which I am still not sure has actually been created) is not only locked now but <q>previously been activated for another account you own</q>. What? Well at least there's a number to call. I was on hold for 30 minutes until it disconnects.</p>
<p>Going back to the welcome email I call the number provided there. That routes through a message from Simple, states there's an error, connects to a BBVA message and I'm on hold again.</p>
<p>While waiting I thought I'd check the online help, which is a chatbot that is no help. I then check the BBVA account on Twitter and, oh boy, people are <strong>not happy</strong>.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">2/3: Due to the high volume of customers attempting to enroll in mobile and online banking, BBVA USA is experiencing technical issues with enrollment in those services.</p>— BBVA in the USA (@BBVA_USA) <a href="https://twitter.com/BBVA_USA/status/1391047431933112320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>After about another 40 minutes on hold I get to talk to someone. They walk me through some security questions and I can tell in her voice I am not the first today. After a password reset, adding some more security questions and hoop-jumping I can log in to the website and, yes, my money is there.</p>
<p>I thank her and she's off to the next in line. I still can't log into the app.</p>
<p>As I start clicking around the site feels clunky, dated. It's not responsive at all. When I click to view Bill Pay options I'm denied as Safari is blocking cookies. What!</p>
<p><img class="img-border" alt="screenshot of needing cookies enabled" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/BBVA-ScreenShot2021-05-08-4.08.29.png" /></p>
<h2>Sunday</h2>
<p>Even though I could now get into my account I wanted to see if BBVA had released a statement on social media, as I hadn't got an email about any of this.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">1/4: To Simple customers converting to BBVA: This has not been a good conversion experience for many of you. We know this, and we sincerely apologize. BBVA teams are working around the clock to understand the situation and make it right.</p>— BBVA in the USA (@BBVA_USA) <a href="https://twitter.com/BBVA_USA/status/1391464025456844802?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 9, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<p>That tweet was posted at 2.44PM the next day, after the "Happy Mother's day" tweets had racked up angry Simple customer replies. <a href="https://twitter.com/BBVA_USA/status/1391464025456844802" title="Twitter thread">The thread</a> goes on to say that the call center went down later on. Once again <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2021/5/9/22427811/simple-bbva-transition-errors-bank-shutdown" title="article">The Verge wrapup</a> has a good overview, including this from BBVA...</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://www.theverge.com/2021/5/9/22427811/simple-bbva-transition-errors-bank-shutdown">
<p>Due to the volume of customers attempting to enroll in mobile and online banking simultaneously, there were technical difficulties with the enrollment process, leading to high call volume in our call centers, which overwhelmed the system, and created longer than normal wait times,</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— BBVA Spokesperson, <cite>Verge article</cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Moving forward</h2>
<p>BBVA has owned Simple for years now, and they knew exactly how many people <em>could</em> hit the system that Saturday. This also doesn't bode well for the future as BBVA is being sold to PNC.</p>
<p>I will not be sticking around to find out how badly that goes.</p>
<p>On the bright side this was not my main bank account, unlike some who where part of this fiasco. You only get one chance to make a first impression, and BBVA certainly made a horrible one.</p>
Lazy Sunday2021-05-09T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-05-09-lazy-sunday/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2021-05-09-dogs.jpeg" alt="Dogs laying together on a couch" width="500" height="500" /></p>Post Pandemic Concerts?2021-05-16T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-05-16-post-pandemic-concerts/<p>Now I'm fully vaccinated, along with (currently) <a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations" title="CDC Covid-19 data tracker">over 40% of the adult USA population</a>, it seemed like a good to spend money on going to see a couple of concerts.</p>
<p>Now I'm hedging my bets here.</p>
<p>We've had the CDC <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html">update it's mask guidance for the fully vaccinated</a> to <q cite="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html">resume activities without wearing masks or physically distancing...</q>, and there's another 4 months until the first one, so we should be good.</p>
<p>Also, if the last year has beaten anything into us, time is short.</p>
<h2>October</h2>
<p>First concert is <a href="https://www.deadcandance.com/" title="official site">Dead Can Dance</a>, in Akron. That's about an hour drive, so not that far.</p>
<p>I've been a fan since the 90's. I had a PenPal and we exchanged tapes of our favourite tracks. She'd included some DCD and I was hooked.</p>
<div class="yt-container">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7em5haBGxz4" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
</div>
<p>I missed out on seeing them in the UK over the years, so what better time than now.</p>
<h2>November</h2>
<p>The second concert is <a href="https://www.genesis-music.com/" title="official site">Genesis</a> who will be playing Cleveland.</p>
<p>I last saw them live back in 1987, at Wembley Stadium, on the Invisible Touch tour. It was Summer, I was 18, and it was fantastic!</p>
<div class="yt-container">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/s2QiFLQnVVY" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
</div>
<p>Now I'm taking my 17 year old son to clap, stomp, and sing-along.</p>
Red Lentil Curry2021-05-20T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-05-19-nom-red-lentil-curry/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2021-05-19-nom-red-lentil-curry.jpeg" alt="Close up of red lentil curry on white basmati rice" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Red Lentil Curry</h1>
<p class="summary">Easy and delicious vegan curry</p>
<p>Ate this at Home on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2021-05-20T05:00:01.000Z">May 20, 2021</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I found <a href="https://www.rainbowplantlife.com/blog/vegan-red-lentil-curry" title="Vegan food blog">this recipe</a> a while ago, and it turned out great. I make a big batch, then freeze in single serving containers. I can drop a frozen puck in a saucepan and it's warmed through by the time the rice cooker clicks off. Great for lunch or dinner.</p>
<section class="h-recipe">
<h2>Red Lentil Curry</h2>
<h3>Ingredients</h3>
<ul>
<li class="p-ingredient">4 cloves garlic</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">1 chili pepper</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">2 inch piece ginger</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">1 tsp ground turmeric</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">1 tsp cumin</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">1/2 tsp coriander</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">2 tsp curry powder</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">1 tsp garam masala</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">1 tsp chilli powder</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">1 cup red lentils</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">2 cups vegetable broth</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">14 oz crushed tomatoes</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">13 oz coconut milk</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">3 tbsp almond butter (or 1 tbsp of tahini)</li>
</ul>
<p>Takes <time class="dt-duration" datetime="45M">45 minutes</time>, serves <data class="p-yield" value="4">four people</data>.</p>
<div class="e-instructions">
<h3>Directions</h3>
<ol>
<li>finely dice up garlic, chili pepper and ginger (use 1 tbsp ground ginger)</li>
<li>put dry spices together</li>
<li>rinse red lentils until water runs clear</li>
<li>First, sauté the ginger, garlic, and chili peppers for 2 minutes</li>
<li>Add dry spices cook for 30-60 seconds</li>
<li>Deglaze with vegetable broth and add tomatoes and lentils</li>
<li>Cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes until lentils are soft</li>
<li>stir, add coconut milk and almond butter cook uncovered 5-10 minutes</li>
</ol>
</div>
<p>I always use the Tahini and it turns our great.</p>
</section>
Walking dogs in the sun2021-05-20T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-05-20-walking-dogs/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2021-05-20-walking-dogs.jpeg" alt="Walking dogs" width="500" height="500" /></p>Pandemic Distribution2021-05-21T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-05-21-pandemic-distribution/<p>Much like William Gibson's quote about the future, this COVID-19 Pandemic still feels unevenly distributed.</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-05-21-pandemic-distribution/link%20to%20original">
<p>The future is here. It's just not widely distributed yet.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— William Gibson</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>After a year or so of initial panic, wiping everything down, masks, self-isolation, lies & conspiracy theories, and finally vaccines it seems <em>we</em> could be past the worst of it.</p>
<p>Sitting in my garden, the sun feeling good on my arms, it doesn't feel like I'm in a pandemic. But I guess that's the difference between reality and the stories we tell.</p>
<h2>Misconceptions</h2>
<p>Pandemics, whether real (viral) or make-believe (zombie), are depicted pretty much in the same way for the last decade or so. Empty cities, burnt-out cars, abandoned medical equipment, and everything in muted colors.</p>
<img class="img-border img-med img-left left" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2020-04-05%2011.06.32%201.jpg" alt="3M face masks" />
<p>And while the first months showed eerily similar scenes in hospitals across the world (freezer trucks as morgues) as medical staff battled against the unbelievable toll of COVID-19, a lot of things kept going as normal.</p>
<p>I think that's the thing that makes it more unsettling. We get lulled back in the sense of safety as life plods on. We're no longer looking at empty shelves in stores. Day's turn into weeks. Seasons move on regardless. That's the problem for some. If it doesn't match the expectations they can't (or won't) accept it's real.</p>
<h2>World War memories</h2>
<p>I remember hearing stories from my Grandparents about World War II. How it was incredibly hard being under the constant threat of bombing in London. Of not knowing what food (if any) rationing would give you next week.</p>
<p>But then they'd come out with memories of spending Summer days in the garden watching the trails of planes above like it was the most normal thing. Of how life, and the World, kept going regardless. I would see photos of people smiling and having fun, while knowing family & friends were fighting and dying less than 200 miles away.</p>
<h2>Going Forward</h2>
<p>I spent the bulk of the day sitting in a Panera Bread today, without a mask for the most part. Video chatted to people in South Africa and London. Slack'd and emailed on projects and deadlines. It all seems so very 'normal'.</p>
<p>But as we're pulling out, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-56939011" title="BBC News article">India seems to be sinking deeper back in</a>. Members of our development teams have been off either with COVID, nursing family members, or both. One of the team died.</p>
<p>I worry that as countries pull further apart with handling this, the more we'll forget we were all in this together.</p>
<iframe width="100%" height="60" src="https://www.mixcloud.com/widget/iframe/?hide_cover=1&mini=1&feed=%2Fbassmanf%2Fcmso-learning-by-listening-vol-1-preview%2F" frameborder="0"></iframe>
Shoyu Ramen2021-05-22T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-05-22-shoyu-ramen/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2021-05-22-shoyu-ramen.jpeg" alt="Close of a bowl of ramen with pork" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Shoyu Ramen</h1>
<p class="summary">Issho Ni Ramen</p>
<p>Ate this at Issho Ni Ramen on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2021-05-22T05:00:01.000Z">May 22, 2021</time>, and noted <q class="">Delicious bowl of ramen. Egg was creamy and the broth rich.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Organizational Dream2021-05-29T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-05-29-organizational-dream/<p>Lately I've noticed I've been having the same thoughts as I drift off to sleep. It goes like this.</p>
<p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/proni/6211439850/in/photolist-asTfEw-2jVZfvg-2jMpXCm-NhWwut-Eo9v5z-72cYRn-XnPhX2-nWW4o5-nJ61Sv-nWVMRJ-pcqNk7-2jFDAtf-nYfN6D-2k3TZxM-nVNQVG-2aVZTKA-Yr14se-NEnpFa-5qjn28-5Fz24S-2hRQX7T-26Kw2dR-2gRSrzb-oUf88C-2jn6aoS-ZYKZk9-2ki3MBv-2iqbtPE-oE1zPs-oDLWUH-2k9SFPi-27mjGMA-89vrXf-2jZy7z5-2kAFoWu-2iQxGKP-DLS2Ky-xsSYNp-2jaKVdJ-2jUv7hD-brJfDb-2jawsY9-2kHWVBE-RyKf1f-2hyJbiu-Enn4ZV-Ytwbgx-bvkQxf-oDf4ps-B3pr6X" title="Rural Cottage"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/6167/6211439850_a6d3a2d43b_c.jpg" width="800" height="623" alt="Rural Cottage" /></a><script async="" src="https://embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
I'm sitting at a wooden table in a rudimentary stone cottage. Apart from the table, chair, a wood-burning stove, and a ladder leading to a sleeping loft it's empty.</p>
<p>I'm a participant in a study to spend a year alone here. Apart from food & firewood, I have one hour to list out everything I need.</p>
<p>So I start making a list.</p>
<p>I never get very far. I guess it's my variant of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counting_sheep" title="Wikipedia article">counting sheep</a>.</p>
Egg and avocado on English Muffin2021-06-01T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-06-01-egg-avocado/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2021-06-01-egg-avocado.jpeg" alt="Fried eggs and avocado on English Muffin" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Egg and avocado on English Muffin</h1>
<p class="summary">Throwing lunch together</p>
<p>Ate this at Home on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2021-06-01T05:00:01.000Z">June 1, 2021</time>, and noted <q class="">Quick lunch. Sprinkled everything bagel topping all over. Delicious.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>On the reaction to casting Death2021-06-05T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-06-05-casting-death/<p>In the 90's there were 3 big comic series I waited with baited breath on every issue; <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sandman_(comic_book)" title="Wikipedia page">The Sandman</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellblazer" title="Wikipedia">Hellblazer</a>, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebus_the_Aardvark" title="Wikipedia">Cerebus</a>.</p>
<p>I am a big fan of <a href="http://neilgaiman.com/" title="official site">Neil Gaiman</a>, and his work. So when <a href="https://about.netflix.com/en/news/the-sandman-latest-castings-and-the-stories-behind-them">Netflix announced</a> its casting for the 'live action' version of The Sandman I was interested. And what a "dream" cast (pun intended) it is. But apparently not everyone thought so.</p>
<p>There's backlash about the announcement using <a href="https://lgbtlifecenter.org/pronouns/" title="explainer from LGBT Life Center">gender pronouns</a> under the actors names. But the bigger backlash seems to be about casting <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4624730/" title="IMDB page">Kirby Howell-Baptiste</a> as 'Death'.</p>
<p>I find this <strong>astounding</strong> to say the least. My first encounters with non-stereotyped POC, gay, or gender-fluid, characters <em>in literature</em> was in those Sandman comics.</p>
<p>He's had the opportunity to shape his stories for TV and audio - Changing them to suit the times and medium before. To have the creator now have a voice in shaping how <em>his</em> Sandman stories are told & performed, in a new medium, should be a cause for celebration.</p>
<p>Apparently not. So much so that Neil Gaiman felt he had to <a href="https://twitter.com/neilhimself/status/1398500390912413698">respond on Twitter</a>.</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://twitter.com/neilhimself/status/1398500390912413698">
<p>I give all the fucks about the work. I spent 30 years successfully battling bad movies of Sandman.</p>
<p>I give zero fucks about people who don't understand/ haven't read Sandman whining about a non-binary Desire or that Death isn't white enough. Watch the show, make up your minds.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— Neil Gaiman, <cite>Twitter</cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>And the verbal knots some tie themselves up in to prove this isn't being racist, is unbelievable.</p>
<p>I will probably not watch the Netflix show. For the same reason I didn't watch 'American Gods' or 'Good Omens'. I've already read & enjoyed those books, and I'm more interested in the new stories that Neil has to tell.</p>
<p>But I am excited for others to discover the world of The Sandman on Netflix, and maybe find their way to other stories from Neil.</p>
Instant ramen with raw egg2021-06-08T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-06-08-ramen/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2021-06-08-ramen.jpeg" alt="null" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Instant ramen with raw egg</h1>
<p class="summary">Trying new things</p>
<p>Ate this at Home on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2021-06-08T05:00:01.000Z">June 8, 2021</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Taking the idea from a video (below) by <a href="https://wayoframen.com/" title="official site">Way of Ramen</a> and mixed a raw egg into the miso paste before I poured the boiling water into the bowl. Turned out tasty and did have a different "mouth-feel" than usual.</p>
<div class="yt-container"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FC9dfmp0vks" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>I used to be a cinephile2021-06-12T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-06-12-cinephile/<p>I <em>loved</em> watching movies. Any movie. Especially sitting in that darkened shared space taking it all in. But for the last decade that interest has wained. This year I want to re-kindle that love.</p>
<h2>My earliest cinema visits</h2>
<p>I have a vivid memory of my Mum taking me and a friend (Paul Tozer?) out of Primary School to go watch Disney's Robin Hood. We couldn't have been more than 5 or 6 at the time.</p>
<p>The second, again with my Mum, is watching The Gumball Rally. I'm not sure if this was a film she wanted to see, or something she thought I may like. I remember enjoying the car chases. Later viewings revealed it earned it's 'A' rating with certain typical 70's, "non-child friendly", scenes.</p>
<h2>...and then there was Star Wars</h2>
<p>It was pretty much in every newspaper and was the only thing we spoke about in the playground. The whole family went into the packed Odeon Southend to watch this phenomenon play out in front of us.</p>
<p><strong>I was floored</strong>. I queued up, rain or shine, to see it 10 times in total that year.</p>
<p>I pasted movie ads from the local newspaper into a scrapbook. Most I didn't get to see in the cinema, but on rented video tapes. Reading magazines & books about film and the people who made them.</p>
<p>Sunday afternoons I got lost watching black & white films on BBC2. Ealing comedies and Hollywood classics.</p>
<h2>My own money</h2>
<p>Leaving school, straight into a job meant I had means to go to the cinema whenever I wanted. Weekends spent at the Odeon or ABC in Southend. The Classic in Westcliff. Also London was only a short train ride away, and that meant film festivals.</p>
<p>'Wings of Desire', 'Naked', 'Do The Right Thing', 'Breaking The Waves, and 'Trainspotting' were transformative on the big screen.</p>
<p>I started collecting VHS releases from Tartan Video, Criterion, etc.</p>
<p>On TV we had the curated seasons from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moviedrome" title="Wikipedia entry">Moviedrome</a> (BBC2) and Film on Four & "<a href="https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/52402255.pdf" title="PDF of case study">Red Triangle</a>" experiment (Channel 4). These introduced me to the work of Derek Jarman, Charles Laughton, and Peter Greenaway.</p>
<h2>Age takes it's toll/Start fresh</h2>
<p>In the last decade I've find myself less interested in what's been produced. I still go to the cinema, but less so. Infrequent late night Sunday showings. Yearly at the smaller art-house venues.</p>
<p>I've find myself out-of-step with current tastes. Zero interest in Harry Potter or The Hobbit. Even though I was/am a comics fan I could care less about CG slugfests of recent Marvel/DC films.</p>
<p>The last film I went to a cinema to see was 1917, and was blown away. Apart from re-watching some of my faves with Josh during the Pandemic that was it.</p>
<p>So it's time for a reset. I joined <a href="https://letterboxd.com/">Letterboxd</a> as a way to have a running <a href="https://letterboxd.com/davidmead/watchlist/">watchlist</a>. This way if I hear about something interesting I can add it and search it out, either in cinemas or online.</p>
<p>I miss cinema. Hopefully it'll have me back.</p>
A public service announcement from EightShapes2021-06-12T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-06-12-public-service-video/<div class="yt-container">
<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/561780532" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
</div>
<p><a href="https://vimeo.com/561780532">A public service announcement from EightShapes</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user278768">Dan Brown</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p>
Cauliflower Cheese2021-06-16T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-06-16-cauliflower-cheese/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2021-06-16-cauliflower-cheese.jpeg" alt="Closeup of cauliflower cheese straight out of the oven" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Cauliflower Cheese</h1>
<p class="summary">An old home favourite</p>
<p>Ate this at Home on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2021-06-16T05:00:01.000Z">June 16, 2021</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Josh has a new camera2021-06-16T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-06-16-josh-camera/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2021-06-16-josh-camera.jpeg" alt="Polaroid pictures of our dog Milo" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>He returned from dropping off clothes at the Goodwill with a "new" camera. A <a href="https://us.polaroid.com/products/square-600-polaroid-camera" title=" ">Polaroid 600</a> with one cartridge of film. Proclaiming the film (at $20) cost more than the camera, we went online to find a manual.</p>
<p>With just 8 shots in each cartridge he's now looking at subjects a little more carefully, but still having a lot of fun.</p>
Celebrating 100 years2021-06-17T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-06-17-vitamix-100-crowd/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2021-06-17-vitamix-100-crowd.jpeg" alt="Back of crowd filing out of building" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>This year Vitamix celebrates its <a href="https://www.vitamix.com/us/en_us/Corporate-Information/About-Us/Company-History" title="official timeline">centennial</a>. 100 years is a long time to be in business, especially as a family-owned one.</p>
<p>Part of the celebration was a big "thank you" get together at one of the manufacturing facilities. We had the give-aways, speeches, and awards. But being around that many people was both exciting, and unnerving.</p>
<p>I'm sure that'll pass the more we slip back into our post-Pandemic ways.</p>
Yakiniku Don2021-06-19T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-06-19-yakiniku-don/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2021-06-19-yakiniku-don.jpeg" alt="Close up of Yakiniku Don" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Yakiniku Don</h1>
<p class="summary">Kiko's Kitchen</p>
<p>Ate this at Kiko's Kitchen on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2021-06-19T05:00:01.000Z">June 19, 2021</time>, and noted <q class="">Really tasty. Sliced Ribeye & onions on a rice bowl.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>The book, of the website, of the cabins2021-06-26T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-06-26-read-cabinporn/<p>Way back, pre Instagram, there was a Tumblr site that posted photos of cabins from around the World. That was <a href="https://cabinporn.com/" title=" ">Cabin Porn</a>. Every so often a small dwelling would pop up in my RSS feed. Could be in a dark forest, or on a weather-blasted moor. They were always captivating to me.</p>
<p>When Zach Klein, who ran the site, announced he was going to gather the photos & stories into a book I added it to my Amazon list. And there it sat for 6 years.</p>
<p>I purchased it this year from <a href="https://www.learnedowl.com/" title="Book shop in Hudson, OH">Learned Owl</a> and finished this week. It was delightful.</p>
<h2>Not a manual</h2>
<p>This is a "coffee-table" book. A collection of photos, on thick paper, with a heavy textured cover. Chapters collect a type of cabin; Treehouse, Modern, Salvaged, etc. Each one starts highlighting the story behind one example.</p>
<p>But there are no plans, instructions, or how-to's in this. Instead it gives a glimpse into the builder and their desire to build. Why they chose the plot, how long it took, as well as the highs & lows of building. All of these were long enough to be interesting and short enough to not feel laboured.</p>
<p>Very few of the photos focus on the interiors either. This is very much a surroundings book.</p>
<h2>Coming back</h2>
<p>I really enjoyed reading this. I can definitely see myself pulling it back off the shelf to spend time thumbing through it, whiskey in hand, when I want to imagine my own quiet place.</p>
Last pizza2021-07-02T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-07-02-primozz-pizza/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2021-07-02-primozz-pizza.jpeg" alt="closeup of pepperoni pizza" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>When I first visited Ohio I really enjoyed the pizza from <a href="https://www.primozzpizzeria.com/" title=" ">Primozz Pizza</a> in Mentor. So much so that I wrote them a letter (this was late 90's, so no social media) when I got back to the UK.</p>
<p>They, surprisingly wrote back with a few FREE pizza coupons for my next visit.</p>
<p>After moving here I would order that over any other chain/local pizza. When they moved to a place with seating we enjoyed family dinners and birthdays there. Calzones, garlic bread, and their GG Ronis (a baked pasta dish with sausage in Vodka sauce), were delicious.</p>
<p>This week Julie noticed on Facebook that the owner was retiring after 30 years, and decided to close the business. So I drove to Mentor and picked up our last pizza, as well as some pepperoni & cheese rolls for the freezer. It was as good as I remember the first one being.</p>
<p>Here's to a happy retirement.</p>
Intermittent frustration2021-07-05T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-06-05-intermittent-frustration/<p>Since Google Music was killed about the only thing I use a voice command for (on my Google Home Mini) is playing <a href="https://somafm.com/" title="listener supported online radio">SomaFM</a>. But even that is now becoming a pain.</p>
<h2>When I say...</h2>
<p><q>Hey Google, play SomaFM Groove Salad</q> is something I say quite often. Drone Zone or SF-1033 are two of the other main stations I listen to.</p>
<p>I know Google Assistant understands what I'm saying because it repeats it back to me. I can also see it in the <a href="https://history.google.com/history/audio" title=" ">Voice & Audio Activity page</a> (see screenshot).</p>
<p>What I get is <q>Sure, check out this SomaFM - groove salad station on YouTube Music.</q> <strong>No</strong>. That's not what I want.</p>
<img class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/ss-2021-07-05-voice-command.png" alt="screen shot of unsuccessful voice command" />
<p>And this isn't every time. Just occasionally.</p>
<img class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/ss-2021-07-05-voice-command-2.png" alt="screen shot of successful voice command" />
<h2>Back to button pushing</h2>
<p>I've written before how <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-08-05-google-losing-me/" title="post from 2020">Google is losing me</a> and now, it seems, one of the last things is starting to fail.</p>
<p>I can't tell if this is a result of <a href="https://piunikaweb.com/2021/06/15/tunein-not-working-on-google-home/" title="article on Piunikaweb">Google not working with TuneIn properly</a> (it doesn't go straight to SomaFM for some reason) or a more a deliberate ploy to accept using YouTube music as a source. My old cynical brain goes with the latter.</p>
<p>I think it's time to break with voice commands and get an "old-fashioned" bluetooth speaker. Just browse to the website and cast the stream to it direct.</p>
Game Night2021-07-06T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-07-06-game-night-vendetta/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2021-07-06-game-night-vendetta.jpeg" alt="Close up of my game card on table" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>Tonight was the first Game Night for over a year. It was great to be able to catch-up with each other, share stories, and have fun playing <a href="https://www.horribleguild.com/vampire-the-masquerade-vendetta/" title="official site">Vampire: The Masquerade – Vendetta</a>.</p>
Caveman Wishes2021-07-31T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-07-31-caveman-wishes/<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://maggieappleton.com/paleolithic-nostalgia">
<p>This vision of life before We Ruined Everything is an alluring fever dream. In a moment where we are tightly tangled in the wicked problems of climate change – a series of widespread human failures that will end in our ecosystem cooking, drowning, starving, and suffocating the most vulnerable of us – nothing sounds quite as appealing as rewinding the clock. Ctrl + Z please.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— Maggie Appleton, <cite>https://maggieappleton.com/paleolithic-nostalgia</cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Stumbled upon <a href="https://maggieappleton.com/paleolithic-nostalgia" title="blog post">Paleolithic Nostalgia</a> by Maggie Appleton, via Jeremy Keith. Great little insight into what we think those "better days" consisted off, but were really <q>a time when the average life span was 22 and everyone was wracked by tuberculosis?</q></p>
A separate Wales2021-08-05T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-08-05-a-seperate-wales/<p>Andy Clarke had <a href="https://stuffandnonsense.co.uk/blog/thoughts-on-yescymru" title="thoughts on yescymru">an interesting post</a> on his blog about YesCymru's messaging.</p>
<p>Now. I am not Welsh, and haven't lived in the UK for over 20 years, so I have no dog in this race. But I'm positive becoming an independent country isn't a flip-of-the-switch thing.</p>
<p>Andy brings up some great points about "pushing the positives" and moving it more to having the "ability to grow".</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://stuffandnonsense.co.uk/blog/thoughts-on-yescymru">
<p>...and no one in Wales has paid prescription charges on medicines since 2007. During the recent pandemic, Wales succeeded in having the lowest rates of COVID infections in the UK.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— Andy Clarke, <cite>Thoughts on YesCymru</cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I'm sure people involved will consider how breaking away from the NHS <em>could</em> have an impact on those stats.</p>
<p>Wales has seen it's <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Wales" title="Wikipedia entry">share of ups-and-downs</a>, and I think eyeing the future through the lens of growth is great. They could even re-join Europe!</p>
<p>Maybe it is time to break up the UK. See how Wales, Scotland, N.Ireland, and England fare.</p>
Abandoning the IndieWeb2021-08-12T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-08-12-abandoning-the-indieweb/<p>While I still advocate for the principles behind <a href="https://indieweb.org/">the IndieWeb</a> I feel more & more remote from most of the tools built out of it.</p>
<p>One of the last things I was using was <a href="https://aperture.p3k.io/">Aperture</a> (a microsub server) and <a href="https://alltogethernow.io/">Together</a> (a microsub reader).</p>
<p>This has been working well as a feed reader, but it's had hiccups. Some sites RSS feeds don't work, but appear fine in other apps. Some feed's entries appear multiple times.</p>
<p>Then I tried to export all the feeds I have been adding. But I can't. Not from Together. Not from Aperture.</p>
<p>There's an <a href="https://github.com/aaronpk/Aperture/issues/54" title="GitHub entry">export issue filed</a> for Aperture where the solutions are either setting up a different Microsub client that has command line export, or write code on your own site to export the OPML there.</p>
<p>And that's the thing. For me, this feels like there's more barriers than before. I'm doing more work to get the basics done. So I'm throwing in the towel.</p>
<p>I've downloaded <a href="https://netnewswire.com/" title="open source feed reader for Mac">NetNewsWire</a> and started manually adding each feed from Aperture.</p>
<p>Best of luck IndieWeb. Maybe I'll pop back in a few years.</p>
NOM - Homemade guacamole2021-09-04T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-09-03-guacamole/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2021-09-03-guacamole.jpeg" alt="close-up of homemade guacamole" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">NOM - Homemade guacamole</h1>
<p class="summary">It looks messy, but tasted fantastic</p>
<p>Ate this at Home on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2021-09-04T05:00:01.000Z">September 4, 2021</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I finally decided to have a go at making this, and it was a lot easier that I thought.</p>
<p>I followed Rick Bayliss's advice and waited 5 days for my store bought avocados to ripen. Then I spooned them out. Added chopped tomato, onion, cilantro, and jalapeno pepper. A dash of lime juice and a bit of salt, then mix.</p>
<p>Josh & I (mainly me) finished this off in one sitting.</p>
NOM - Chilaquiles2021-09-05T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-09-05-chilaquiles/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2021-09-05-chilaquiles.jpeg" alt="chilaquiles topped with queso fresco, fried eggs, and avocado" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">NOM - Chilaquiles</h1>
<p class="summary">3rd favourite cooked breakfast</p>
<p>Ate this at Home on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2021-09-05T05:00:01.000Z">September 5, 2021</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Cooked breakfasts are a treat for me. They've always been a weekend, or holiday/work trip, treat. Number One, and <strong>the king</strong>, is the <a href="https://flic.kr/p/hw6dG9" title="photo on Flickr">Full English</a>. Coming in second is my US go-to, <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2015-09-12-foodspotting/">Corned Beef with poached eggs</a>. Chilaquiles is now my third favourite.</p>
<p>For the sauce I followed <a href="https://www.ethanchlebowski.com/cooking-techniques-recipes/chilaquiles-the-mexican-breakfast-everyone-should-know-how-to-make" title="Blog post">Ethan Chlebowski's recipe</a>. It's easy to make and keeps well in the fridge. Perfect for the weekend, or a <abbr title="work from home">WFH</abbr> morning if I don't oversleep.</p>
Amazon removes public wishlists from public view2021-09-06T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-09-06-amazon-hides-public-wishlists/<p>I personally don't use Amazon that much. Julie has a Prime account, so if I want something I email a link to her and she orders it.</p>
<p>It has been handy buying presents for family back in the UK, so I do use the .co.uk site sometimes. For Mum's birthday my sister added some puzzles she wants to her public wishlist. Problem is, we couldn't find it. Several text threads later we figure out why.</p>
<p>Turns out Amazon made a change where public wishlists are <strong>no longer public</strong>. The old way of <a href="https://www.cnet.com/how-to/find-someones-amazon-wish-list-by-his-or-her-e-mail-address/" title="2012 CNET article">searching by email address</a> has been replaced. You now have to request, by email, they share the public list with you.</p>
<p>I guess this changed a few years back, but if you don't use it regularly having it disappear is frustrating to say the least.</p>
This too will disappear when I die2021-09-11T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-09-11-this-website-when-i-die/<p>We think it'll be a 'digital legacy' but that's just a warm fallacy that's staves off the fear of being forgotten.</p>
<h2>Current setup</h2>
<p>This current website uses <a href="https://www.11ty.dev/" title="static site generator">Eleventy</a>. That means markdown (text) files are turned into web pages and uploaded manually. When I die no one will open my laptop and write a markdown file, then FTP it to my server space. No new posts.</p>
<h2>Web barriers</h2>
<p>After 6 months, or less, the SSL Certificate will expire. That means most modern web browsers won't display the site, unless you intentionally click past the warning.</p>
<p>After 12 months, give or take, the domain name will expire. Unless you know the IP address (which even I don't) no one will be able to get to the files that make up this site.</p>
<p>Past that we get into speculation of how long my hosting provider will stick around etc., but you get the point.</p>
<p>So at best I can rely on about 3 months of this site being here after I pop my clogs.</p>
R.I.P. Sir Clive Sinclair2021-09-16T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-09-16-sir-clive-sinclair/<p>We had a 'computer lab' at my Secondary School, but the first computer we had at home was a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZX_Spectrum" title="Wikipedia entry">ZX Spectrum</a>.</p>
<p>I remember sitting with my Dad, re-typing programs on the rubber keys from newsprint magazines, and watching the fruits of our work on the TV.</p>
<pre>
<code>
10 PRINT "Hello World"
20 GOTO 10
</code>
</pre>
<p>By the end I had a huge library of games on cassette tape; The Hobbit, Manic Miner, anything from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultimate_Play_the_Game" title="Wikipedia entry about games maker">Ultimate</a>.</p>
<p>The BBC has a nice <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-58587521">2013 video clip with Sir Clive</a> where he states he doesn't use a computer as its <q>too distracting</q>.</p>
<p>Having this affordable computer changed my life. Thanks Sir Clive.</p>
Cancelled concert2021-09-22T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-09-22-concert-cancelled/<p>Just got the email from Ticketmaster that November's concert by Dead Can Dance has been cancelled.</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=406375494182648&set=a.257354915751374">
<p>Having monitored the current COVID-19 situation carefully like everyone has, it has been decided that we cannot put the health and safety of the musicians, crew, promoters, venue staff, and most importantly the fans at potential risk by touring in October.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— Dead Can Dance, <cite>Statement on Facebook<sup>*</sup></cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I was so looking forward to this.</p>
<p>My hope is that December's Genesis concert will still be a go.</p>
<p><small><sup>*</sup>Wasn't on the offical website, but as an image posted to Facebook (Grrr)</small></p>
Some lists2021-10-02T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-10-02-some-lists/<h2>Towns/Cities I've lived in, in order</h2>
<ol>
<li>Benfleet, Essex (UK) </li>
<li>Southchurch, Essex (UK) </li>
<li>Shoeburyness, Essex (UK) </li>
<li>Southend-on-Sea, Essex (UK)</li>
<li>Leigh-on-Sea, Essex (UK) </li>
<li>Mentor, Ohio (USA) </li>
<li>Willowick, Ohio (USA) </li>
</ol>
<h2>Countries I've visited</h2>
<p>Either on vacation or for work.</p>
<ul>
<li>England </li>
<li>Ireland </li>
<li>Wales </li>
<li>France </li>
<li>Belgium </li>
<li>Greece (Corfu) </li>
<li>Holland </li>
<li>The Czech Republic </li>
<li>United States of America</li>
<li>Canada </li>
<li>Iceland </li>
</ul>
<h2>Animals I've kept as a pet</h2>
<ul>
<li>Goldfish</li>
<li>Cat </li>
<li>Dog </li>
</ul>
<h2>Favourite dishes</h2>
<p>A grab-bag of international and homemade cuisine.</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://flic.kr/p/hw6dG9" title="photo on Flickr">Full English Breakfast </a></li>
<li>Methi Gosht </li>
<li>Governors Chicken </li>
<li><a href="https://flic.kr/p/2gxNvE6" title="photo on Flickr">Corned Beef Hash, Eggs, and Grits</a></li>
<li><a href="https://flic.kr/p/3aiczV" title="photo on Flickr">Phở </a></li>
<li><a href="https://flic.kr/p/7ZRRus" title="photo on Flickr">Blind Rabbit </a></li>
<li><a href="https://flic.kr/p/hw4yn7" title="photo on Flickr">Full Sunday Roast</a></li>
</ul>
<h2>Favourite Beers</h2>
<p>In no particular order. Most of these probably don't get brewed anymore.</p>
<ul>
<li>Greene King IPA </li>
<li>Burton Ale </li>
<li>Old Speckled Hen </li>
<li>Dog Bolter </li>
<li>Old Navigation </li>
<li>Guinness </li>
<li>Newcastle Brown Ale </li>
<li>Bishops Finger </li>
<li>London Pride </li>
<li>Taddy Porter </li>
<li>Bluebird Ale </li>
<li>Maiden Cleveland E.S.B</li>
</ul>
Supernatural slogfest2021-10-03T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-10-03-supernatural-slogfest/<p>Even though I had heard Arthur Machen's name quoted a lot, in connection to London and fiction, I'd never read any of his stories.</p>
<p>This was free on Kindle as it's gone into to the Public Domain, so why not.</p>
<p>'House of Souls' is a collection of 4 novellas: A Fragment of Life, The White People, The Great God Pan, and The Inmost Light. Pan was written in 1890's and the rest published in the 1920's, so the prose is a little flowery.</p>
<p>There's a lot of great ideas here, and he captures the feeling of a London before the suburbs exploded. You could easily find yourself walking in the hustle of a large metropolis then, all of a sudden, you're in misty fields. The creeping folk horror of the ancient countryside is always nestled amongst the modern lights of the city.</p>
<p>But here's thing...I found this was a real hard slog. Maybe it was the style of the day, but everytime the story started going somewhere it ended. Just straight, let's never talk about this again, type of thing. Paired with the writing style I found myself struggling to finish this.</p>
<p>It's undeniable that he influenced H.P.Lovecroft, and is well regarded (rightly so) amongst modern horror writers, but I think it'll be some time until I revisit his work.</p>
<p>If you like Poe, M.R.James, or Lovecroft I'd recommend giving this a read.</p>
Rough2021-10-05T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-10-05-rough/<p>Been feeling rough all last week. Stomach issues, bad sleep, anxious. Now I feel I'm coming down with Josh's cold.</p>
<p>Today was better. Not by much, but a little.</p>
Unconscious IA2021-10-07T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-10-07-unconcious-ia/<p>I was in a meeting today, about keywords.</p>
<p>One attendee had an Excel sheet where they listed certain words, grouped under a headings. We all chimed in about where, and when, they could & should be used. What would need updating. What's missing. The potential impact these would have.</p>
<p>Maybe they didn't realize it, but we were talking about ontologies, taxonomies, and systems. This was "IA Thinking" bubbling up.</p>
<p>I'd seen one of the <a href="https://youtu.be/drn-h-2pPuI" title="Youtube">latest 'A Lens A Day' videos</a> where Andrew Hinton summed up IA Thinking...</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://youtu.be/drn-h-2pPuI">
<p>It's about what things are? How they relate to one another? And what kind of place you are making when you do that?</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— Andrew Hinton, <cite>in discussion with Dan Brown.</cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>...which was exactly what we were doing in that meeting.</p>
SlideShare shenanigans2021-10-10T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-10-10-slideshare-shenanigans/<p>Thanks to a <a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2021/10/slideshare-is-selling-your-old-slides-heres-how-to-stop-it/">post by Terence Eden</a> I'm once again reminded that companies are taking advantage of our eagerness to share content, via the web, in the early 2000's.</p>
<p>SlideShare, where I have 6 old presentations apparently, has started to monetize when people download them. But we don't get a share of that obviously.</p>
<p>Followed Terence's lead and marked that 'users can download without a subscription'.</p>
<p>I also took the opportunity to update my password.</p>
Freeways2021-10-13T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-10-13-freeways/<p><a href="http://joshuajohnmead.com/">Josh</a> is now looking at universities. This means doing visits, which once again brings home how big Ohio (let alone the USA) is.</p>
<h2>Universities</h2>
<p>Monday was <a href="https://www.gannon.edu/">Gannon University</a> in Erie <abbr title="Pennsylvania">PA</abbr>. This was a three-and-half hours roundtrip. Tuesday was <a href="https://www.wright.edu/">Wright State University</a>, near Dayton, a near <strong>8 hour</strong> roundtrip.</p>
<p>Both of the tours were good. About 2 hours packed with information, a walking tour of the campus & housing, all with Covid precautions in place. Both seems very walkable and each had pros & cons.</p>
<p>I think Josh made a decision.</p>
<h2>Podcasts</h2>
<p>On the trips we listened to some podcasts. A couple we both like are <a href="http://www.lorepodcast.com/about">Lore</a> and <a href="https://darknetdiaries.com/">Darknet Diaries</a>. A little music from the <a href="https://hypnagoguepodcast.com/">Hypnagogue podcast</a> and some film talk by <a href="https://www.markkermode.co.uk/">Mark Kermode</a>.</p>
<p>A new one I found was <a href="https://anchor.fm/the-album-years">The Album Years</a>. This is Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree, No-man) and Tim Bowness (No-man) discussing favourite albums from a different year. I found this a real trip down memory lane, and some of the albums they discussed Josh has been discovering, on his own, through Spotify.</p>
<h2>Driving</h2>
<p>After a while, on these two endless stretches or tarmac & concrete, you realise that nothing looks different. The town names on the green signs change, but the array of petrol stations and fast food chains are all the same at each intersection. The sporadic new builds, that pop-up along the freeways, all seem to be the model house with the same neutral siding.</p>
<p>Occasionally we drop out of cruise control for the obligatory road works, and then it's right back to moving between the 18-wheelers.</p>
<p>I've never been a fan of driving. This just re-enforced it for me. I would rather sit in an airport, or take a train, than drive along these freeways to get somewhere. The places in-between are all the same.</p>
Video games2021-10-19T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-10-19-video-games/<p>I've been diving into some different games recently. Splitting my time between some new titles, and old favourites.</p>
<h2>Sable</h2>
<p>I've been waiting on this for some time, and it doesn't disappoint. <a href="https://www.shed-works.co.uk/sable" title="official site">Sable</a> lets you guide the titular character through a rites of passage that takes place in a world, very much like the drawings of <a href="https://www.moebius.fr/" title="French artist">Moebius</a>.</p>
<p>So far it's a gentle ride. No combat, or death from falling. A lovely soundtrack, and immersive world that promotes exploration. I haven't finished it, just taking my time.</p>
<img class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2021-10-14-screenshot-sable.jpeg" alt="Character looking out across desert from roof" />
<h2>Destiny 2</h2>
<p>We bought the original Destiny for the Xbox 360, but Destiny 2 didn't grab us. That being said, as the game has progressed I've been enjoying it more & more now it's on Game Pass. So much so that I bought the latest Season Pass and have been really enjoying it.</p>
<p>A ton of lore, multiple storylines, and an all round good "looter shooter". I think I'll be buying the <a href="https://www.bungie.net/7/en/Destiny/WitchQueen">Witch Queen expansion</a> when it comes out next year.</p>
<img class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2021-10-14-screenshot-destiny2.jpeg" alt="Warlock sitting in chair" />
<h2>The Division 2</h2>
<p>Oh dear. We've had our issues haven't we.</p>
<p>After I posted <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-01-05-wishlist-part-1-for-the-division/">what I wanted in Division 3</a> Ubisoft <a href="https://www.ubisoft.com/en-us/game/the-division/the-division-2/news-updates/" title="Ubisoft blog post">announced</a> that the game was supposed to end with the current season (SPOILERS-<strong>No players</strong> guessed that at all), but there would be new content coming due to the continued community support (and being asked point blank during an earnings call).</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://www.ubisoft.com/en-us/game/the-division/the-division-2/news-updates/1qmTzVbCuTqFA4aGuzK88j/a-message-from-the-division-2-team">
<p>Some of you had noticed that Title Update 12 was originally meant to be the last major Title Update for The Division 2...</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— The Division 2 Development Team, <cite>Blog post</cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>What's followed, since February, has been pretty much radio silence. They've re-run last years content. We had a whole series of bugs, our main characters disappear from the loading screen (see screenshot) after a patch, and virtually all the existing development team either leave or transfer to new projects.</p>
<p>Here's hoping they pull it together because I really enjoy this game, but it's getting harder to find a reason to play.</p>
<img class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2021-10-14-screenshot-thedivision2.jpeg" alt="Main screen with character missing" />
<h2>Spiritfarer</h2>
<p>This got an update with a new character. Still delightful. Still hitting me in the feels.</p>
<h2>The Long Dark</h2>
<p>And Part 4 of the story mode, <a href="https://www.thelongdark.com/news/episode-four-launch/" title="official site">Fury, then Silence</a>, has now been released. I've held ff from playing Part 3 until this was out. So now I have a big chunk of content to play through, which I'm looking forward to.</p>
Winter is coming2021-10-23T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-10-23-winter-is-coming/<p>Today is the start of 'The Descending Frost' according to The Small Seasons Guide. And it feels like it.</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-10-23-winter-is-coming/href=" https:="" smallseasons.guide"="">
<p>霜降・Sōkō・Frost Descends <br />The first frosts. Rains disappear as the maple leaves and ivy turn yellow.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— <cite><a href="https://smallseasons.guide/" title="">smallseasons.guide</a></cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Though is wasn't particularly cold, it's been raining on and off all this week, more so today. The air has taken a dip and the sky is less bright.</p>
<p>Josh took off for a long hike. Julie worked. I did some errands, dog to the groomers etc., and started packing away my Summer clothes. This makes it sound like I have a large wardrobe, but I don't. More like putting away the 6 short-sleeved cotton shirts and bring out the plaid, thick, long-sleeved ones.</p>
<p>I plan on starting up the snow blower tomorrow, or at least trying. If we need it serviced I'd rather do that now.</p>
<p>The days are shorter and I'm getting that "hunkering down" feeling.</p>
<p>The heating just kicked in. Time to start reaching for the blankets.</p>
Dune2021-10-25T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-10-25-dune/<p>As the coming soon trailers ended, lights dimmed and the screen went black. Out of nowhere came a booming guttural voice with the subtitles "<a href="https://youtu.be/e00ZkbslyOE" title="clip on YouTube">Dreams are messages from the deep</a>" flashing at the bottom of the screen. Then came the studio titles, and we were off.</p>
<p>This new version of Dune takes its time, but certainly didn't feel long. In fact Josh & I were a little surprised when it ended.</p>
<p>It is a vast spectacle. Denis Villeneuve conveys the enormous scale of the ships, deserts, and cities wonderfully. The storytelling is less performative than the Lynch version. I found myself listening to the conversations, over watching them play out.</p>
<p>Hans Zimmer's score propelled the film along. And while it was definitely new territory for him, I personally didn't find it that "out there". Hints of Lustmord, God Speed You Black Emperor, Peter Gabriel, and even Brain Eno seemed apparent to me.</p>
<p>I really enjoyed it in the cinema, and glad to hear that he's been given the <a href="https://variety.com/2021/film/news/dune-part-2-sequel-1235094974/" title="article on Variety.com">go-ahead for making part 2</a>.</p>
Bait and switch from Insight Editions2021-10-25T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-10-25-insight-editions-bait-and-switch/<p>With the release of the new film <a href="http://www.dunemovie.com/" title="official website">DUNE</a> there was a lot of excitement about the films composer, Hans Zimmer, writing music to the accompanying book "The Art and Soul of DUNE". Insight Editions, the publisher, had a sign-up for a 'free download' of this.</p>
<p>The email was delivered with the subject line of "Download Hans Zimmer's exclusive soundtrack to THE ART AND SOUL OF DUNE now!" and a big button that reads 'Get my free download'</p>
<img src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/ss-2021-10-25-email-button.jpeg" alt="screenshot of free download button in email" />
<p>Click/touch that takes you to a page listing Amazon and iTunes as places you can download, but each of those want $10.49 to <strong>buy</strong> the soundtrack.</p>
<p>Clicking on Insight Editions social links in the email <a href="https://twitter.com/XRayLexx/status/1452567455159791617" title="post on Twitter">revealed others confused</a> as to where the free download was.</p>
<p>Their reply, on Facebook, to people running into the same issue as me was...</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/InsightEditions/photos/a.180854993875/10159026563613876/?type=3&comment_id=10159028276688876&reply_comment_id=10159030273023876">
<p>We apologize for the confusion. It's free to stream the book soundtrack on YouTube. For a download, you'll need to be subscribed to one of the services offered on the landing page or purchase the soundtrack on iTunes or Amazon.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— Insight Editions, <cite>Facebook</cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>To me this smells like a straight forward bait-and-switch. No where did it mention the download was free, <em>only if</em> you were subscribed to a streaming service (that carried the album) that allowed downloads.</p>
Facebook/Meta announcement2021-10-29T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-10-29-facebook-meta/<p>I watched some of the <a href="https://about.facebook.com/meta">Facebook/Meta announcement</a> and, it was pretty lackluster and disappointing.</p>
<p>As “an old” I remember <em>better</em> versions of what they think the "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metaverse" title="Wikipedia entry">Metaverse</a>" is from bad sci-fi in the 70's & 80's. The best Zuckerberg can offer is still poking at translucent panels hovering above a desk? Really?</p>
<p>The avatars look like ones Nintendo didn’t end up using on the Wii, but without legs.</p>
<p>Even the future vision stuff was lacking. Mainly aimed at business hybrid working solutions and selling access to services & art.</p>
<h2>Back to the future</h2>
<p>I remember visiting <a href="https://olympia.london/" title="Exhibition Center">Olympia London</a> in the 90's and trying a VR headset. I could walk around and battle a dragon. It was fantastic. <a href="https://youtu.be/T2CYLlSn1gA" title="video on YouTube">Tomorrow's World covered it in 1990</a> and <a href="http://rheingold.com/" title="official site">Howard Rheingold</a> wrote a <a href="https://openlibrary.org/books/OL1533251M/Virtual_reality" title="Virtual reality book at Open Library">great book</a> on the subject. That was <strong>30 years ago</strong> and there's been no real advances apart better graphics and a smaller headset.</p>
<p>I don't see any of this coming to fruition in the next decade, at least.</p>
<h2>Name change</h2>
<p>The other thing in this announcement was Facebook (the company) re-branding to Meta.</p>
<p>I get the need to distance the company name from the platform (and all its <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/10/25/1049015366/the-facebook-papers-what-you-need-to-know" title="NPR article about the Facebook Papers">current troubles</a>), but I think this misses the mark. Zuckerberg is putting all of his eggs (and his Millions) into this basket, but this smells more of folly than a sure-thing.</p>
A quiet Halloween2021-10-31T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-10-31-a-quiet-halloween/<p>Got dinner early, walked the dogs, set up the chairs, and waited.</p>
<p>Julie did the passing out, with me in reserve in case she needed a break. We had more people that last year (understandable), but still nothing like it used to be.</p>
<p>I think Julie was right. As the population ages, activity shifts. Around us all the people that would be trick-or-treating are now Josh's age (17) and older. Other parts of our town are having a load more costumed kids knocking on doors.</p>
<p>But the rain held off and it wasn't too cold. And we have a few leftovers in the bottom of the cauldron.</p>
This week2021-11-07T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-11-07-this-week/<p>Apart from the normal slew of virtual meetings this week I have:</p>
<ul>
<li>In-person meeting at the office</li>
<li>Dentist appointment</li>
<li>2.30am code deploy</li>
<li>Doctors appointment</li>
<li>Dog to the vets</li>
</ul>
<p>Come this time next week I sense I'll need a rest ;-)</p>
Thanksgiving 20212021-11-25T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-11-25-thanksgiving/<p>With on/off rain and a chill in the air, this year's Thanksgiving was a quiet affair.</p>
<p>Still aware of COVID-19, and relatives recovering from chemotherapy, means we are on our own today.</p>
<p>Had a lie in and played a little Destiny 2 in the morning, with an eye on the work Slack channel in case anything stopped working.</p>
<h2>Eating</h2>
<p>Coffee and a light Breakfast, skipped Lunch, and had a huge cooked Dinner:</p>
<ul>
<li>Roast chicken breasts</li>
<li>Sweet potato casserole</li>
<li>Roast potatoes (came out great)</li>
<li>Roast carrots</li>
<li>Yorkshire puddings (not great, need more practice)</li>
<li>Stuffing</li>
<li>Gravy</li>
<li>Cranberry jelly</li>
<li>Crescent rolls</li>
</ul>
<p>Overall I was very happy with how it turned out. And the three of us eating together.</p>
<h2>Relaxing</h2>
<p>Spent the early evening catching up on RSS feeds, listening to the <a href="https://hypnagoguepodcast.com/" title="official site">Hypnogogue podcast</a>, and eating some cheesecake.</p>
<p>I also spent a little time going through <a href="https://evernote.com/" title="note taking app">Evernote</a>, looking for draft posts. Found quite a few. Going to try and finish a couple before the years out.</p>
First real snowy day2021-11-27T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-11-27-first-snowy-day/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2021-11-27-watchful-hounds.jpeg" alt="2 dogs looking out of snowy window" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>Just before Thanksgiving saw the start of Little Snow, according to The Small Seasons Guide.</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-11-27-first-snowy-day/href=" https:="" smallseasons.guide"="">
<p>小雪・Shōsetsu・Little Snow <br />Light snowfall appears. Northern winds have blown the last leaves from the trees.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— <cite><a href="https://smallseasons.guide/" title="">smallseasons.guide</a></cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Though a couple of days late, you can see that from the photo. Rosie & Milo sat watching the snow fall on the bare trees, from the warmth of the couch.</p>
<h2>The pandemic is still here</h2>
<p>At work there's talk of returning to the office, but not until January. Driving in the snow is something I'd like to avoid as much as possible. But even that timeline could be optimistic with the discovery of the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-59445124" title="BBC News article">Omicron varient of COVID-19</a> in the UK and the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/from-other-countries.html" title="CDC article">USA banning travel</a> from certain countries.</p>
<p>I still carry a mask everywhere I go, and tend to throw it on more & more when I'm in stores.</p>
Fading away2021-11-28T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-07-20-fading-away/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2021-07-20-fading-away.jpeg" alt="Empty pint glass" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>You wouldn't think it, but this is a commemorative glass from a <a href="https://www.see.camra.org.uk/" title="Campaign for Real Ale website">beer festival</a>. It has had a black printed badge on the side. If you hold it in the light, you can make it out.</p>
<p>1971 to 1992</p>
<p>29 years ago I stood in the <a href="http://www.fusion-lifestyle.com/centres/the-freight-house/">Freight House</a>, sipping a pint of Old Navigation from it, with Tony & Karl. Milling around the cold converted railway building, in November. The event couldn't take money for the beer, so you'd buy tokens (and the glass) as a workaround.</p>
<p>We'd each take the days off to attend. I would eat a 'Full English' from the cafe (long gone now) in Victoria Circus, before catching the bus from Southend. From 11am till 2pm we'd reminisce about working together, try new beers, and get tipsy in the middle of the day.</p>
<p>One year the surrounding pubs held a "real pie festival" at the same time. This was the first time I tried rabbit.</p>
<p>It felt we did this forever. It was probably only 3 or 4 times.</p>
<p>Much like the badge, these memories fade. Writing it down is like carrying the glass to States with me. Something to jog those memories when the time arises.</p>
Genesis Live2021-12-01T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-11-30-genesis-live/<p>Last night Josh & I experienced for the first, and last, time together <a href="https://www.genesis-music.com/" title="official band site">Genesis</a> play live.</p>
<p>The only other time seeing them play live was at Wembley Stadium in 1980's, which was fantastic. I was around the same age that Josh is now. Though, with an edge of melancholy, this show was as good as that experience.</p>
<img class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2021-11-30-genesis-live.jpeg" alt="Mike Rutherford, Phil Collins, and Tony Banks playing on stage." />
<h2>Light & sound</h2>
<p>Genesis always had great lighting, and this was no exception. Extending into the audience, making us in the nosebleeds feel part of it, the whole arena transformed. With 'Mama', Phil Collins face projected behind them in a sea of churning red, looking like a manic hobgoblin. 'House by the Sea' was all spooky, off-kilter, greens and yellows.</p>
<p>The sound was loud yet clear. Banks, Rutherford, and Stuermer were still playing at stadium levels. Showing off their chops with various solos through the set.</p>
<p>Nick Collins (Phil's son) was good, but I felt, a little plain. And I get he's between a rock and a hard place. Everyone wants Genesis to sound like his dad. This didn't give him much room to make it his own. I would've loved to see Chester Thompson return for a drum duet with him, but I guess <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/drummer-chester-thompson-interview-genesis-phil-collins-frank-zappa-weather-report-1122064/" title="Rolling Stone interview">he and Phil never reconciled</a>.</p>
<img class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2021-11-30-genesis-live-lights.jpeg" alt="Blue lights fill the arena" />
<h2>The last tour</h2>
<p>It was obvious this was the last time these guys would play live. Phil sat the whole set. And though his voice is still good, the backing singers were there to fill out the "larger" parts of songs he couldn't reach. Between songs he'd have the same cheeky banter, and the audience participation was fun.</p>
<h2>Set list</h2>
<p>A great mix of old faves, bangers, and more recent songs.</p>
<p>'Behind the lines', 'Turn it on', 'Mama', and 'Land of Confusion' kicked it off.</p>
<p>Songs like 'Fading Light' and 'After Glow' hit me hard, emotionally, in this setting. I wasn't alone it that.</p>
<p>Singing along to 'I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)', 'I Can't Dance, and 'The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway' with everyone was brilliant.</p>
<p>We both had an amazing time and I'm glad I got to share it with Josh.</p>
NOM - Sausage Gravy2021-12-01T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-12-01-sausage-gravy/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2021-12-01-sausage-gravy.jpeg" alt="Sausage gravy, sausage, fried bread" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">NOM - Sausage Gravy</h1>
<p class="summary">My go at a diner staple</p>
<p>Ate this at Home on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2021-12-01T05:00:01.000Z">December 1, 2021</time>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>This was the first time I've tried making sausage gravy, though I've eaten it many times in diners.</p>
<p>I followed the directions from <a href="https://youtu.be/pFoUmXnkKw8" title="YouTube video">Hillbilly Kitchen</a>'s video. Like most "simple" dishes you can ruin it pretty easy. - Too thin, burnt, no taste.</p>
<p>But this turned out pretty good. I had it with a fried slice and some of the sausage. Next time I'll cook up some <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-09-16-homemade-biscuits-and-gravy/" title="simple biscuit recipe">American biscuits</a> to have with it.</p>
<section class="h-recipe">
<h2>Sausage gravy</h2>
<h3>Ingredients</h3>
<ul>
<li class="p-ingredient">2 to 4 ounces of uncooked sausage</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">¼ Cup flour</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">2 Cup milk</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">Salt & Pepper to taste</li>
</ul>
<div class="e-instructions">
<h3>Directions</h3>
<ol>
<li>Smash/crumble sausage in skillet (preferably one you just cooked sausage or bacon in) and cook over a medium heat</li>
<li>When browned <del>sprinkle</del> sieve over flour and mix, adding salt & pepper to taste</li>
<li>Pour in all the milk and keep stirring until thickened</li>
</ol>
</div>
</section>
I forgot about Medium2021-12-05T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-12-05-medium/<p>I had totally forgotten again, that I had syndicated blog posts to <a href="https://medium.com/@davidmead" title="My account page">Medium</a>. This was from my old Wordpress site.</p>
<p>I've already moved <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-02-26-happy-40th-2000ad/" title="Happy 40th 2000AD">one of those posts</a> back on to this site. I only have 8 posts there, so it makes sense I move the rest.</p>
<p>Medium claims I have 291 followers there. Haven't looked but almost all must be from when I linked it up with Twitter. Back when everyone jumped on the latest "bright & shiny".</p>
<p>Look for some new posts, dating back to 2015, to appear here shortly.</p>
Website updates2021-12-05T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-12-05-website-updates/<p>Today I spent some time doing a little tidying up and adding a few features I've been waiting on.</p>
<h2>Home page</h2>
<p>I re-wrote the heading. Got rid of my name and focused on what this site is. Removed the last two posts under each topic, just leaving the topics themselves. I think I'll add some had-drawn illustrations for each of those. I added something else too.</p>
<h3>Blogroll</h3>
<p>That's right. Added back a blogroll—Just a small portion of other blogs I'm reading. At the moment it's only on the home page. If it grows it may need its own page.</p>
<p>At the moment I'm using a simple <code><ul></code> and adding a <code>class="h-card"</code> to each link. I'm also adding back in the <a href="http://www.gmpg.org/xfn/" title="XHTML Friends Network">XFN</a> markup, such as <code>rel="friend met"</code> to each entry that warrants it.</p>
<p>I even went and found the original Fugue icons from <a href="https://p.yusukekamiyamane.com/" title="Designers website">Yusuke Kamiyamane</a> to give it that old familiar feel. These are added by CSS when the attributes match.</p>
<h2>Styles</h2>
<p>I updated the recipes to now included a background graphic, as well as adding a background color and drop shadow.</p>
<p>I also removed the kerning from the headings.</p>
<h2>sitemap.xml</h2>
<p>I used Mark Thomas Miller's post on <a href="https://mtm.dev/eleventy-sitemap">adding an Eleventy sitemap</a> as a guide. It was easy to follow and implement. Only took a few minutes to get it running and added to the Google Search Console.</p>
<p>Now I zero trackers & analytics on this site, but I do want to check on the health of it occasionally. This <em>should</em> help as the console now includes <a href="https://moz.com/learn/seo/performance-metrics" title="article on MOZ.com">Core Web Vitals</a>.</p>
<h2>Double backslashes in URL</h2>
<p>After playing around in the search console I noticed that my canonical URLs were showing to have double backslashes in them. Weird, right.</p>
<p>So, for this page, it would read <code><link rel="canonical" href="https://davidjohnmead.com//posts/2021-12-05-website-updates/"></code></p>
<p>Turns out I had the URL value in the metadata.json ending with a backslash. When I removed that it fixed all the canonical links. That's been in place since I built the site and I've never noticed it.</p>
<p>It will take some time to have that drop (if it was picked up) by the search engines, but I'm not that bothered.</p>
Babies, wineries, and a power cut2021-12-12T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-12-11-babies-wineries-power-cuts/<h2>Babies</h2>
<p>Josh arrived home from <a href="https://www.weschools.org/northhighschool_home.aspx" title="North High School">school</a> with a "baby" this weekend. As part of his Child Development class he has to feed, burp, rock, change, and generally care for a <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/01/14/magazine/my-teenager-brought-an-infant-simulator-home-school-i-think-im-grandma-now/" title="Article from Boston Globe about infant simulators">doll that cries at pre-programmed times</a>.</p>
<p>He couldn't fob it on us, or just leave it in his room, as it's linked to a wristband he wears for the weekend. And it's just not him that it wakes. One of dogs started barking when the infant cries started emanating from his room early in the morning.</p>
<p>He's done a really good job waking and caring for it. Fingers crossed for a good grade as this is one class I don't want him to re-take.</p>
<h2>Wineries</h2>
<p>I've never been to a winery before. But having the chance to hang out with some workmates from my first job over here (Optiem, now <a href="https://www.theadcomgroup.com/">The Adcom Group</a>), was a good excuse to try them out.</p>
<p>Braving the High Wind Warning, I drove the 40 minutes to Madison. Along Route 307 there's seems to be a winery every 100 yards or so. Small lodge-style buildings surrounded by rows & rows of cultivated vines.</p>
<p>I met up with Linda, Adam, and Tom at <a href="https://www.cask307.com/">Cask 307</a>. We enjoyed a bottle of Pinot Noir & a charcuterie board there, then moved on to <a href="https://www.baciwinery.com/">Baci Winery</a> (formerly St. Josephs) which is just down the road.</p>
<img class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2021-12-11-winery.jpeg" alt="me, Linda, Adam, and Tom smiling at Baci Winery" />
<p>Another bottle of delicious Pinot, and an hour of memories later, it was time for me to head home. It was fantastic catching up with some the "the coolest co-workers" again.</p>
<p>I stopped in to <a href="http://theindiankitchenmentor.com/" title="Indian restaurant">The Indian Kitchen</a> on the way. It was about 6pm by the time Josh & I enjoyed out Chicken Tikka Masala and Balti style Lamb. At 8pm the lights went out.</p>
<h2>Power cut</h2>
<p>Come 9pm it was getting quite cold in the house, even with all the candles we had lit. As with most of these types of power cuts, I could still see some lights on in the street behind us, but pretty much <a href="https://patch.com/ohio/mentor/power-outages-more-2-500-lake-county-residents-dark" title="Article about power outage on Patch.com">everyone else was dark</a>.</p>
<p>With no update from the power company I turned my phone off, to conserve the battery, threw on some extra blankets and went to bed early.</p>
<p>Waking up multiple times—The crying baby, dogs scratching to go out, and the dropping temperature, made for a long night.</p>
<p>When I did turn on my phone as it was getting light outside. The power company still estimating 11pm Sunday when service would be resolved. I texted my Mum to say I wouldn't be Skyping her. We still had hot water which meant a nice shower to warm up with, and a fast dash to get dressed.</p>
<p>Julie drove to Starbucks and returned with coffee and a warm breakfast sandwich. She was still in the car, charging her phone and keeping warm, when everything sprang back-to-life around 11am.</p>
<p>We'd <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/food-safety-during-a-power-outage.html" title="CDC recommendations about food and power loss">lost everything in the fridge</a>, but the frozen food was still solid.</p>
<p>I did wonder if getting a gas oven would've helped. Turns out our technical and safety advances means they don't come with pilot lights anymore, but with a "glow plug" which needs a certain voltage running through before it will light the oven. We could still use the hobs though.</p>
<p>I also looked at gas heaters. Some of those need some kind of power to ignite. And even if they are labelled for "home" use, you still have to watch out as it means tent or covered porch.</p>
Doesn't have to be money driven2021-12-13T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-12-13-alt-metaverse/<p>In his <a href="https://werd.io/2021/alternatives-to-the-metaverse" title="Alternatives to the metaverse">latest post</a> Ben lays outs a couple of interesting alternative approaches to the 'metaverse', but his last paragraph brought it home.</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://werd.io/2021/alternatives-to-the-metaverse">
<p>The metaverse is a top-down, highly-financed commercial vision, which has partially gained popularity because its ill-defined nature allows everyone to pin their own imagination on it. We would all benefit from an alternative, bottom-up, collaborative vision that trades commerce for community.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— Ben Werdmüller, <cite>Alternatives to the metaverse</cite></figcaption>
</figure>Validators, checkers, and a favicon2021-12-19T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-12-19-validators-checkers-and-favicons/<p>I decided to run the my site through some the old tools I used way-back-when. It's easy to get blasé and miss the simplest of things. Also created, and added, a favicon for the site.</p>
<h2>Validators</h2>
<p><a href="https://validator.w3.org/" title="Check the markup (HTML, XHTML, …) of Web documents">HTML</a>, <a href="https://jigsaw.w3.org/css-validator/" title="Check Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and (X)HTML documents with style sheets">CSS</a>, and <a href="https://validator.w3.org/feed/" title="Check the syntax of Atom or RSS feeds">RSS</a> all have free validators you can access via the <a href="https://www.w3.org/" title="">W3C website</a>.</p>
<p>Running pages through these help catch those annoying little bugs and mistakes. With this site running on <a href="https://www.11ty.dev/" title="staic site generator">Eleventy</a> meant I could make fixes in certain template files, update all the pages at once (which was nice).</p>
<p>The CSS validated, apart from 47 warnings which are due to the dynamic nature of CSS variables, according to the tool.</p>
<h3>Fixed</h3>
<ul>
<li>Moved the XFN profile link out of the <code><head></code> to it's own <code><link rel="profile" href="http://gmpg.org/xfn/11"></code></li>
<li>Found I had pixels stated in some <code>width</code> & <code>height</code> attributes for images, and removed them</li>
</ul>
<p>After fixing those I got a clean bill of markup.</p>
<h3>To do</h3>
<ul>
<li>4 recommendations on the feed to look into</li>
</ul>
<h2>Checkers</h2>
<p>I always try my best to conform to WCAG as much as I can. Using the really helpful <a href="https://brucelawson.github.io/tota11y/" title="Visual Accessibility Checking Solution">Tota11y</a> bookmarklet, recently updated by <a href="https://brucelawson.co.uk/" title="" rel="met colleague">Bruce Lawson</a>, let's me catch a few things I missed. It also helped me find an issue with my page templates too.</p>
<h3>Fixed</h3>
<ul>
<li>Couple of pages had incorrectly nested headings</li>
<li>Alt attributes were missing on some images. This was due to my template variable being <code>imgAlt</code> in the front matter, and <code>imgALT</code> in the body</li>
<li>Couple of links still had "title attribute" as the title attribute</li>
</ul>
<h3>To do</h3>
<ul>
<li>Contrast issue with the post date on the homepage</li>
</ul>
<h2>Favicon</h2>
<p>After seeing Andrey Sitnik's <a href="https://evilmartians.com/chronicles/how-to-favicon-in-2021-six-files-that-fit-most-needs" title="">'How to Favicon in 2021: Six files that fit most needs'</a> post, I decided to add my own.</p>
<p>I created an SVG version of my profile photo, using Sketch, and followed his suggestion of using GIMP to export it as a <code>.ico</code> file. Then I added the following to the <code><head></code> of my base layout file.</p>
<pre><code><link rel="icon" href="/favicon.ico" sizes="any"><!-- 32×32 -->
<link rel="icon" href="/icon.svg" type="image/svg+xml">
</code></pre>
<p>I didn't add the Apple touch icons, nor the web manifest. I really don't think anyone is dragging this to their device home screens.</p>
Adding bookmarks2021-12-20T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-12-20-adding-bookmarks/<p>Ever since I had access to the web I've been bookmarking pages I found interesting.</p>
<p>At first it was in a text file where I could copy & paste the URLs. Then I started using the built-in option my browser. When we started getting multiple browsers, using online "social" bookmarking services, like <a href="https://del.icio.us/">del.icio.us</a> or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnolia" title="Wikipedia article">Ma.gnolia</a>, was essential.</p>
<p>Now both of those services are closed. I have the exported files from both, along with multiple saved copies of my browsers "favorites", sitting in Dropbox gathering "bitrot".</p>
<h2>What now?</h2>
<p>I've decided to start adding them here. I wanted them in a separate section to my posts, so I floundered around for an hour or so until I figured it out.</p>
<p>Created a <code>bookmarks.njk</code> file at the root of my Eleventy site. That created a bookmarks folder with a <code>index.html</code> file in it when built. I then created a bookmarks folder at the root, and added the individual <code>bookmark0000.md</code> files to that.</p>
<p>You can find them slowly amassing on <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/bookmarks/" title="">my bookmarks page</a>.</p>
<p>The markup of each uses the <a href="https://indieweb.org/bookmark" title="Indieweb Wiki entry for bookmarks">bookmark microformat</a>, coz why not?</p>
<h2>Hand-coded curation</h2>
<p>As I'm a simple bear I'm hand-coding each one. So, yes it's going to take me a month-of-Sundays to get them all done. But this does afford me the chance of curating them.</p>
<p>Case in point.</p>
<p>One of my first Ma.gnolia entries is from 2006. It's a podcast of ambient music from Jim Butler. That URL is <code>http://web.mac.com/jimbutlermusic/iWeb/Site/Podcast/Podcast.html</code> and can no longer be found. But he's still making music, and putting out a podcast, at <a href="https://jimbutlermusic.com/" title="Jim Butler music">https://jimbutlermusic.com/</a>.</p>
<h2>Still to do</h2>
<ul>
<li><s>Add microformats to entries listed on my bookmarks page</s></li>
<li>Look at creating an RSS feed for the bookmarks</li>
<li><s>Add recent bookmarks on homepage</s></li>
</ul>
On drinking a cuppa2021-12-24T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-12-24-drinking-a-cuppa/<p>Yes. I do drink tea.</p>
<p>My bag of choice is PG Tips, if I can get it. Splash of milk, tea bag, boiling (filtered) water, in that order. Let steep for about 4 mins or so, stir, and remove the bag.</p>
<p>Any cup will do, though my favourite is a large white cup. I've had it over 30 years now, bequeathed to me by an old co-worker. It used to have a blue & gold floral design on it—That has since been washed away.</p>
No Xmas Tree this year2021-12-24T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-12-24-no-xmas-tree/<p>The night of Christmas Eve. Sitting here with a bottle of <a href="https://www.samuelsmithsbrewery.co.uk/shop/bottles/ale/winter-welcome-ale/" title="Samuel Smith's British beer">Winter Welcome Ale</a>, dog by my feet. Julie & Josh are out looking at the decorations—But it feels different from years past.</p>
<p>For one thing, it's 54℉. Not a speck of snow anywhere. I lost count who may/may not have the <a href="https://news.yahoo.com/omicron-cases-explode-ohio-see-154701828.html" title="Omicron Cases Explode In Ohio - Yahoo news">Omicron variant of COVID</a> days ago. Us included. Though we are all fully vaccinated, Josh is suffering from some strain of cold virus. I also didn't buy a tree this year.</p>
<p>Time's flown by. Before I knew it we only had a few days left and it didn't seem that important. Don't get me wrong. We have some decorations out. I'll be cooking a Xmas dinner for us, and we'll be opening presents. But no tree.</p>
<p>Last year, amidst the Pandemic, the tree <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-11-29-egg-nog-xmas-tree/" title="Toasting the tree with egg nog">was up in November</a>. Last year felt more, important, to do that.</p>
<p>Maybe 2022 will be different.</p>
<p>But hey, at least <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-59738541" title="story from the BBC">the wolves are back in Switzerland</a> and there's now <a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/screen-flavors-lick" title="article on Futrism.com">a TV you can taste</a>. Merry Christmas.</p>
webmention test2021-12-24T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-12-24-webmention-test/<p>Testing sending a webmention on Eleventy SSG site</p>
Ramen, plus leftovers2021-12-29T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-12-29-ham-curry-ramen/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2021-12-29-ham-curry-ramen.jpeg" alt="Looking down into bowl of curry noodles, with ham and onions." width="500" height="500" /></p>New phone2021-12-30T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-12-30-my-first-iphone/<p>Since "smart phones" came out I've been solely in Camp Android. But, as I wrote back in 2020, <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-08-05-google-losing-me/" title="my post from August 2020">Google has been slowly losing me</a>.</p>
<p>Google stopped sending software updates in October '20 to my aging Pixel 2. If it wasn't for it restarting randomly when I try to take a photo, listen to a podcast, or browse the web, I'd still be using it.</p>
<p>So I've opted to jump in and get an <a href="https://www.apple.com/iphone-13/" title="Apple product page">iPhone 13 mini</a>.</p>
<p>So far it's been great. I've only added back the bare minimum of apps;</p>
<ul>
<li>1 Password</li>
<li>Google Authenticator</li>
<li>Hey (email)</li>
<li>Pocket Casts (podcasts)</li>
<li>NewsNetWire (RSS feeds)</li>
<li>iBroadcast (music)</li>
<li>Evernote (notes)</li>
<li>Dropbox (files)</li>
<li>Slack (messaging)</li>
</ul>
<p>Making use of the native Reminders, Calendar, Facetime, and Messages with my Macbook Air has been really nice.</p>
<p><strong>Not</strong> having YouTube, and other Google apps, pre-installed helps be more distraction free and bombarded less with advertising.</p>
<p>Hopefully it lasts as long as my Pixel 2 did.</p>
Ghost sign hunting2021-12-31T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-12-31-ghostsign-hunting/<p>What better day than than the last of the year, for Josh & I to drive around looking for "ghost signs". I'd already <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidmead/albums/72157685163757315" title="Album on Flickr">photographed over 40</a> since moving here, so I had a good idea where to start.</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_sign">
<p>A ghost sign is an old hand-painted advertising sign that has been preserved on a building for an extended period of time. The sign may be kept for its nostalgic appeal, or simply indifference by the owner.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— <cite>Wikipedia</cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Hopping off the freeway at East 55th, I used that as our main path. We had the windows down, being about 50℉, keeping our eyes peeled as we criss-crossed the large empty streets; St, Clair, Superior, and Euclid.</p>
<p><img src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/GS046.jpeg" alt="ghost sign for tuxedo rental" class="img-border img-med img-left left" /> Stopping at each one. Snapping pictures with our phones and my <a href="https://shop.lomography.com/en/cameras/lomo-lc-a-family/lomo-lc-a" title="Lomography store">original Lomo LCA</a>, discovering quite a few new ones, meandering through the side-streets.</p>
<p>Businesses and service long gone; Tuxedo rental, ink ribbon & carbon paper, furniture stores, and shipping firms to name but few.</p>
<p><img src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/GS054.jpeg" alt="ghost sign for heating company" class="img-border img-med img-right right" /> All of these painted on the side of buildings, some partially obscured by new development, most in disrepair or condemned. It is sad to see these neighborhoods suffering as we pass through.</p>
<p>Following E55th all the way to <a href="https://www.slavicvillage.org/" title="Community website">Slavic Village</a>, then along the banks of the Cuyahoga River to The Flats and Downtown.</p>
<p>In total I captured over 30. I like to add some filters to these. I've found black & white, with some sharpness added, brings out the sign from the brickwork. Slapping on a vignette and tilt-shift adds to that long-forgotten mood.</p>
Car accident2022-01-02T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-01-02-car-accident/<p>On Monday 27<sup>th</sup> I get one of those calls a parent <strong>never</strong> wants. Josh's emotional voice telling me he'd been in an accident.</p>
<p>Driving in the dark his tires hit slush/ice and sent his car into a guard rail, then a ditch—Thankfully he was ok, albeit shaken up.</p>
<p>The car? Not so much.</p>
<img src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2021-12-27-damaged-car.jpeg" alt="Side view of Josh's damaged car" class="img-border" />
<p>I went to pick him up from a church parking lot, then returned with Julie to retrieve the car.</p>
<p>After filling it up with gas (a separate conversation we had with him) I drove it to the auto body shop.</p>
<p>We just heard from the insurance that it's being written off. So now we have to start looking for a "new" second-hand car.</p>
My blog in 20082022-01-05T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-01-05-my-blog-in-2008/<p>So far the earliest capture, I can find, of my blog in <a href="https://web.archive.org/" title="an Internet archive">The Wayback Machine</a> is from <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20081013155751/http://www.davidjohnmead.com/2008_08_01_archive.html" title="capture of my homepage">2008</a>.</p>
<img class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/ss-2022-01-05-my-bog-2008.png" alt="screenshot of my 2008 blog homepage" />
<p>It's a nice snapshot of what I used 14 years ago.</p>
<p>Though a lot of the sites/companies mentioned there are long gone; ClaimID, Technorati, Flock, Miro, etc. The general design-pattern of blog post, and its underlying "tech", is still in use today—RSS, microformats, tagging, Twitter.</p>
<p>The great thing about the Internet Archive capture is seeing the actual markup I used. That way, if I can't find the back-up, I can copy & paste it here (which I'll probably do).</p>
Bye-bye wisdom tooth2022-01-07T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-01-07-last-wisdom-tooth/<p>I've never been great with dentists (insert British teeth meme here). Add to that I seem to need much more anesthetic than most patients, my general low pain threshold, and a queasiness around the sight of blood—Tooth extraction fills me with dread.</p>
<p>This was the last of them to be extracted. Only now because it cracked and lost a bit. Luckily I wasn't in any pain over Xmas, while I waited for the appointment.</p>
<p>To add to the stress I drove through <a href="https://www.weather.gov/safety/winter-lake-effect-snow" title="NOAA article">Lake Effect Snow</a> in a rental car to get there.</p>
<p>I had checked-in online yesterday so I sat and waited. A quick round of x-rays and I was in the chair.</p>
<p>After <em>at least</em> 6 injections and two pauses it was out. I think even the oral surgeon was surprised I could still him poking around after the first 4 shots.</p>
<p>And no, I didn't want to see the tooth on the tray, thank you very much.</p>
<p>With a mouthful of blood & gauze I drove back. Picked up antibiotics, medicated mouthwash, and some very strong pain pills (just in case) in time to settle down for the weekend.</p>
Reply—Email to RSS2022-01-07T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-01-07-reply-email-to-rss/<p>Feedly launched an <a href="https://blog.feedly.com/get-newsletters-in-feedly/" title="Feedly blog article">Email newsletter to RSS feature</a> in 2020, but it was only for the paid plan back then.</p>
Curry past2022-01-13T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-01-13-curry-past/<p>Indian restaurants were akin to my local pub for a while. A place frequented often enough that servers knew my name, or at least on nodding terms. That wasn't always the case.</p>
<p>Growing up in the 70's I was familiar with Chinese curry my dad got from the takeaway. But Indian was either a Vesta boil-in-the-bag meal, or some homemade variant with raisins & curry powder.</p>
<p>It wasn't until the next decade or so I ventured into my first Indian Restaurant.</p>
<h2>The Polash</h2>
<p>Invited for a "Friday Indian" by Rob & Tony, two of my co-workers, we went to <a href="https://thepolash.com/" title="">The Polash</a>. It's in Shoeburyness, off the Industrial Estate were we worked.</p>
<p>Surprised at so many different dishes on offer, I can't remember what main dish I ended up with. Small burners got placed on the table, then along came the array of metal bowls & platters—Completely unexpected.</p>
<p>Tasting Bhindi Bhaji (Okra) and Brinjal Bhaji (Aubergine) for the first time has stuck with me. Mango chutney, lime pickle, and poppadoms, become staples of my orders going forward.</p>
<p>This was a fantastic introduction that pretty much every later restaurant had to live up to.</p>
<p>After The Polish I wanted to try one closer to home.</p>
<h2>The Surma Valley</h2>
<p>While living in Benfleet this was my regular. Located along from the Wimpy, in a parade of shops on my way back from the train station (and pubs).</p>
<p>Here I found my staple starters - Prawn on Puree and Chicken Chaat. They had a delicious Chicken Tikka Massala, so creamy and rich. This was also where I had some of the best Stuffed Paratha and Keema Naan, ever.</p>
<p>I went there so often I would stop in to say hi and have a drink with the staff.</p>
<h2>Sunu's Tandoori</h2>
<p>When I moved to Southchurch, Sunu's was already established as having great food. At this point I was very familiar with the standard dishes, but they did offer some new ones—Methi Gosht was one of those and it's a go-to for me now. I also have a vivid memory of gulping at exactly how many chili's were on the Chicken Chili Massala.</p>
<p>Sunu's was the first unlimited Sunday Buffet I tried. We all ended up sleeping away the rest of the afternoon after a visit there.</p>
<h2>A staple</h2>
<p>By the time I lived in the center of Southend I was familiar with <em>a lot</em> of the Indian restaurants & take-aways in the area.</p>
<p>The location of the last pub usually determined where we'd eat that Friday or Saturday night.</p>
<p>Sessions in the Last Post usually meant Keralam or <a href="https://aminatandoorisouthend.co.uk/">Amina</a>. Sun Rooms or The Fish & Ferkin would see us in the one on York Road (Southend Tandoori, maybe?). An evening in role-playing usually meant delivery from <a href="https://jonakitandoori.com/">Jonaki</a>. Doing the pub quiz in The Half Crown, Benfleet, meant the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MumtazBenfleet/">Mumtaz Mahal</a> or <a href="https://benfleettandoori.com/">Benfleet Tandoori</a>.</p>
<p>All different. All delicious.</p>
<p>Without those first three opening my tastebuds, I doubt I'd be willing to try the different cuisines I now enjoy. I do miss the abundance of Indian food back in the UK. Here (in Ohio) you have to search it out and it can be a little expensive. But still delicious.</p>
Dogs in snow2022-01-17T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-01-17-dogs-in-snow/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2022-01-17-dogs-in-snow.jpeg" alt="2 dogs covered in deep snow" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>Last night the snow came. Boy did it come. About 20" of the white stuff got dumped on us. Dogs didn't know what to do when I let them out, so they just came straight back in.</p>
<p>These are the times I don't miss driving to an office.</p>
<p>Later in the day Josh, after clearing our drive (and a neighbours), walked our snowblower a block away to dig out an elderly couple. I did the same to for people we know across the main road.</p>
<p>I ache.</p>
<p>Writing this, drifting to some Laurie Anderson in my ears, getting the call—School is cancelled tomorrow.</p>
<p>More snow is expected.</p>
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 42px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=4007820686/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/track=2537669798/transparent=true/" seamless=""><a href="https://laurieanderson.bandcamp.com/album/big-science">Big Science by Laurie Anderson</a></iframe>53rd Birthday2022-02-04T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-02-04-53rd-birthday/<p>Had some nice birthday messages, including one from an old school pal I haven't heard from in years.</p>
<p>Started the day shoveling snow. Still working remotely, but had some internet connection issues. Helped Josh finish clearing an old couples driveway. Grabbed my, now traditional, Chinese takeout for dinner followed by a slice (or two) of Lemon Meringue pie.</p>
<p>Julie outdid herself with presents. Though I've been enjoying the X-Box Series X for a while now, she also got me a new pair of <a href="https://huckberry.com/store/astorflex/category/p/69205-softflex" title="Huckberry shop page">Astorflex leather sneakers</a> and two t-shirts by <a href="https://huckberry.com/forty-five" title="Products page">Forty Five</a>. All from one of my favourite online stores, <a href="https://huckberry.com/" title="">Huckberry</a>.</p>
<p>53 years alive. Not bad for a human.</p>
Pastrami Reuben sandwich2022-02-05T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-02-05-pastrami-reuben/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2022-02-05-pastrami-reuben.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="300" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Pastrami Reuben sandwich</h1>
<p class="summary">Manhattan Deli Bar & Grille</p>
<p>Ate this at Manhattan Deli Bar & Grille on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2022-02-05T05:00:01.000Z">February 5, 2022</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Ages since I had one of these. Delicious. Thousand Island dressing really makes it.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Slogging through PvP2022-02-05T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-02-05-slogging-through-pvp/<p>Before the <a href="https://www.bungie.net/7/en/Destiny/WitchQueen?ciid=50638" title="">Witch Queen expansion</a> for Destiny 2 comes out, I'm trying to finish up some of the Seasonal Challenges.</p>
<p>One of these was 'Win 20 matches of Trails of Osiris'.</p>
<p>This game mode is billed as Player-versus-Player where two teams (3 players each) try to capture a Zone. Teammates have to revive you, instead of you getting back up yourself, if you're shot.</p>
<p>I've never played this PvP mode in Destiny before, but how long could that take?</p>
<p><strong>Over an hour!</strong> That's how long.</p>
<p>I am not a big fan of PvP in any game, but this was grueling. I do not see how people enjoy this.</p>
<h2>The Meta</h2>
<p>Every video game has a '<a href="https://ggn00b.com/for-noobs/what-does-meta-mean-in-competitive-gaming/" title="explanation on ggnoob website">meta</a>'. A build that most players adopt. With this is was all Hand Cannons and Shotguns. It felt like half the time the game was over before the zone was available to be captured.</p>
<h2>Twitch Stream</h2>
<p>I decided to livestream this on <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/davidmead" title="">my Twitch channel<a>. You share my pain by watching the video below.</a></a></p>
<div>
<p><video controls="" width="100%" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/video/2022-02-05-twitch-destiny2.mp4">
<p>Sorry if your browser doesn't support embedded videos,
but don't worry, you can <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/video/2022-02-05-twitch-destiny2.mp4">download it</a>
and watch it with your favorite video player!
</p></video></p>
</div>
<p>It's safe to say I will not be playing this again, even if there's a badge/challenge. Completionism be damned.</p>
Boosted2022-02-07T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-02-07-boosted/<p><a href="http://joshuajohnmead.com/" title="" rel="child met">Josh</a> and I got our booster shots today.</p>
<p>That 3 jabs of Moderna for me, and 3 of the Pfizer for him.</p>
Well that was a shit week2022-02-12T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-02-12-shit-week/<h2>Mum</h2>
<p>By the end of the call with my sister, we were both sniffling back tears—Mum isn't doing well.</p>
<p>Though she's survived a heart attack, and lives with <a href="https://www.autoimmuneregistry.org/crest-syndrome" title="">CREST Syndrome</a>, we're finding out the pills that have been helping her liver condition are not doing the job any longer.</p>
<p>On our Skype calls she looks smaller. Older. It isn't news either of us wanted.</p>
<p>Josh & I are planning to fly to the UK very soon.</p>
<h2>Josh</h2>
<p>While playing with his group of kids at work, he ran into wall during a Kickball game. An hour later I'm sitting in Urgent Care with him, looking at the X-ray of his broken big toe.</p>
<p>Add to this, his car 'check engine' light is on. We just had this "fixed" a couple of weeks ago.</p>
<h2>Julie</h2>
<p>I get a call. She slipped and fell coming out of work. Luckily it was onto snow/grass/mud and not the concrete.</p>
<p>Since breaking her ankle last year (ER, pins, quarantine, ramps, it's a whole other post) I've been worried this would happen. Her <a href="https://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS" title="">Multiple Sclerosis</a> causes her foot to drag at the best of times. Luckily it was just some bruises and embarrassment.</p>
<h2>Me</h2>
<p>I got off light. Aches & chills the day after my <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-02-07-boosted/" title="">booster jab</a>, and a work project that sometimes feels it's more un-finshed the nearer to launch we get.</p>
<p>But as my Dad used to say...<q>It's part of growing up, and being British</q>.</p>
I am an emotional wreck2022-02-26T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-02-26-emotional-wreck/<p>It sounds so dramatic when I write it down, but there it is. I'm preparing to visit my dying mother.</p>
<p>Looking back, her health has been in a slow decline for a while now. Our weekly Skype calls would see her becoming...smaller.</p>
<p>She's been living with my sister on-and-off during the pandemic. With her being at-risk it was just easier than everyone trying to navigate the sporadic isolation rules over in the UK. She's there full-time now.</p>
<p>My sister called on Friday. She sat with a Palliative Care Nurse and had to discuss a <abbr title="Do Not Resuscitate">DNR</abbr> notice for Mum. In case she comes down one morning and she's not responsive.</p>
<p>I vividly remember getting a call 20 years ago, on Boxing Day. My Dad was failing fast. We booked a flight and left that night. I got the second call while in the car picking us up at Gatwick. Too late. He'd died while we were flying.</p>
<p>Next week I board a plane, with Josh, to visit the UK.</p>
That travel muscle memory2022-02-27T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-02-27-travel-muscle-memory/<p>We fly out Thursday. It's been years since I boarded a plane. Looking back it seemed I was doing it at least once a year.</p>
<p>Some old reflexive muscle memory has been kicking in this weekend:</p>
<ul>
<li>Music downloaded to the phone</li>
<li>Podcasts downloaded to the phone too</li>
<li>Books downloaded to Kindle</li>
<li>Making sure I have at least 2 charging cords (new ones since swapping to an iPhone)</li>
<li>Slip-on shoes to wear at the airport, with boots packed in the checked luggage</li>
<li>Dopp kit re-supplied</li>
<li>Medication portioned out</li>
</ul>
<p>But now with the pandemic we have to navigate new documentation, masks, and COVID-19 tests.</p>
<p>I am <strong>dreading</strong> this trip.</p>
London Road2022-03-05T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-03-05-london-road/<p>I've traveled down London Road more times that I could remember. The main way to get from Benfleet to Southend.</p>
<p>Bus, taxi, car, even by foot.</p>
<p>In the back of my sister's car I look out at the passing buildings. Surprisingly some business are still here, in the same buildings as when I looked out of bus windows during my daily commute 30 years ago.</p>
<p>Other buildings are are completely new. 3-storey's of glass & metal sprout fully-formed. My memory fails me as to to what was there originally.</p>
<p>Some empty, hoping for another chance after the pandemic.</p>
<p>I'm gobsmacked how many cars are just inches away. Parked either side as we make our way. I've been conditioned to the wide US roads. Built to accommodate vehicles.</p>
<p>This tarmac ribbon keeps tugging at my memories.</p>
<p>And then we're off down a side road. Only a few minutes to my Mum and I'm wrenched back to the reason why I'm here.</p>
Sitting2022-03-06T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-03-06-sitting/<p>I'm on the couch next to her. Holding hands.</p>
<p>We're sitting. Remembering. Crying.</p>
<p>She's stick thin. Clothes hanging. Eyes closed.</p>
<p>Sharon darts around, making Mum comfortable. She does an outstanding job. I don't know how to help.</p>
<p>We swap seats.</p>
<p>I sit in cars going back & forth to my Sisters house.</p>
<p>Have I told Mum that I'll miss her enough? That I love her enough? That she did a fantastic job as a Daughter, Wife, Mother, Grandmother enough?</p>
<p>I'm sitting here. Crying.</p>
Homemade ramen2022-03-08T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-03-08-homemade-ramen/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2022-03-08-homemade-ramen.jpeg" alt="Noodles, egg, baby corn, and steak with a broth in a white bowl" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>My nephew, Sammy, made his homemade ramen for us tonight. It was great. He cooked the steak, added the broccoli and corn, as well as sprinkling over the sesame seeds.</p>
<p>It was delicious.</p>
Timing Tests2022-03-08T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-03-08-timing-tests/<p>We have to have a specific Covid-19 test performed before Josh and I can return to the USA.</p>
<p>It can’t be performed more than a day before we travel. Nowhere can perform it near us, so we either spend a whole day traveling to get it done or get it delivered and do it with a Telehealth video call. But the delivery could be 48 hours. And we schedule the video call separately.</p>
<p>This feels completely performative.</p>
<p>We’re trying the delivery/Telehealth option. All fingers are crossed.</p>
A doner to remember2022-03-09T02:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-03-08-doner-to-remember/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2022-03-08-doner-kebab.jpeg" alt="Close-up of a Lamb doner kebab" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>I'm sure this picture doesn't make it look <em>that</em> appealing to some, but to me this was <strong>delicious</strong>.</p>
<p>The taste hadn't changed—A sense memory fast-pass back to Southend in the 90's.</p>
<p>Lamb doner meat, salad (shredded cabbage, lettuce, onions), and chilli sauce. All wrapped in warm pita bread.</p>
<p>Though you can get a version of this in the US, called Gyros, they pale in comparison.</p>
<p>Grabbed it from <a href="https://hothutbenfleet.co.uk/" title="">Hot Hut</a> in Benfleet.</p>
Fish & Chips2022-03-09T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-03-09-fish-and-chips/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2022-03-09-fish-and-chips.jpeg" alt="Close-up of battered cod and chips in paper" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>There's very few things that can beat a battered piece of cod accompanied with thick chips, soaked with malt vinegar & salt.</p>
<p>Especially eaten out of the paper they're wrapped in.</p>
<p>We sat in a circle with Mum, enjoying our feast in silence. Exchanging satisfied nods and smiles.</p>
Trends2022-03-10T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-03-10-trends/<p>As I’ve been away for a while I’m noticing a lot of changes that must’ve be trends.</p>
<p>A light naval grey seems to be the house color to have. Pair that with dark front doors with vertical steel poles for a handle. Solar panels dot the rooflines.</p>
<p>Barely a row of shops goes by without at least one Turkish Barber.</p>
<p>Chicken shops have sprung up, and the taste for PERi-PERi chicken (<a href="https://www.nandos.com/" title="">Nando's</a>) seems rampant. We even got it as our outbound flight meal. The "traditional" British Indian Restaurant has also started carrying it, as well as new-to-me dishes like Naga Curry (hotter than a Vindaloo apparently)</p>
<p>I am 20 years behind on the latest slang. I feel as bemused as Josh when watching some TV shows. Ads for <a href="https://www.sunlife.co.uk/funeral-plans/what-is-a-direct-cremation/" title="">direct cremations</a> and reminders to stop using online Bingo & gambling sites (by those very companies) abound.</p>
<p>I feel adrift. Peaking between the newness to find familiar waters again.</p>
Show is on a break or finished2022-03-12T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-03-12-dissapearing-podcasts/<p>'Show is on a break or finished' is a message I'm seeing more & more in my <a href="https://www.pocketcasts.com/" title="Pocket Casts">podcast player</a>.</p>
<p>Long-standing favourites seem to disappear after moving to a <a href="https://indieweb.org/silo" title="Indieweb wiki entry">silo</a>. YouTube, Mixcloud, Spotify, etc.</p>
<p>I guess Dave Winer summed it up best...</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="http://scripting.com/2022/02/03.html#a231956">
<p>If, at the end of your show you say "Available where you get podcasts," then my friend, you have a podcast. If you have to say "Only available on Spotify" (or some other exclusive service), good for you, but it's not a podcast.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— Dave Winer, <cite><a href="http://scripting.com/2022/02/03.html#a231956" title="">Scripting.com</a></cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Here's some I miss.</p>
<h2>The Monday Graveyard</h2>
<p>A <a href="https://twitter.com/mondaygraveyard/status/1466533030651174922" title="">tweet</a> from <a href="https://twitter.com/mondaygraveyard" title="Twitter profile">@mondaygraveyard</a> stated <q>the final episode is out now</q> on Dec 2, 2021</p>
<p>I had to search for it as the website no longer loads, and Mark had moved his podcast to MixCloud in 2020. It's a shame, but understandable.</p>
<p>On the last episode he says he doesn't have copies of the old shows himself as his cloud storage was full. I have to assume as he didn't do sponsors the time & money to self-host was too much.</p>
<p>I couldn't run the last episode back to get his exact quote because scrubbing/replaying is reserved for 'Mixcloud Select' subscribers apparently.</p>
<p>You can <a href="https://www.mixcloud.com/sheeldz/monday-graveyard-show-215-02122021/" title="Mixcloud page for episode 215 of The Monday Graveyard">listen to the last episode</a> on Mixcloud.</p>
<h2>Kahvi Collective Podcast</h2>
<p>The net label <a href="http://www.kahvi.org/" title="">Kahvi</a> has been around for ages and release a ton of great material. They too have a Mixcloud account, but it's for listening to the releases. I haven't seen a podcast episode since May 2019.</p>
<h2>Ultima Thule Ambient Music</h2>
<p>These are recordings of the <a href="http://www.ultimathule.info/" title="homepage">weekly radio program</a>, another long-standing favorite. They too moved over to Mixcloud, but did retroactively update their podcast feed. The last one I saw in Pocket Casts was from July 2021. Same for Mixcloud.</p>
<p>I'm wondering if the radio program no longer airs.</p>
Cracking spy thriller2022-03-20T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-03-19-slow-horses/<p>I first heard about this book in 2019, <a href="https://warrenellis.ltd/books/slow-horses/" title="post by Warren Ellis">via Warren's blog<a>, and added it to my overlooked Kindle list. It was only when I saw the <a href="https://youtu.be/O9ZJChzPn0U" title="video on YouTube">trailer for the TV adaptation</a> that I remembered and bought it.</a></a></p>
<p>I devoured it one day.</p>
<p>Herron has a straight-forward style and drops you in the action on the first page. I didn't find a slow part in the whole thing. It has some of the same feel as the Le Carre novels I'd read, but turned up to 11.</p>
<p>There are still people in rooms deciding the fates of others. Spies searching through rubbish, standing in the rain, but this has the added urgency of something horrible happening in "real time" via the web. The twists & turns slowly reveal themselves, as do allegiances and true motivations.</p>
<p>I thoroughly enjoyed the characters (MI5 spies who've fucked up, but can't be fired) and settings (London's back streets, canals, and run-down offices).</p>
<p>Though I won't watch the show, I will certainly by buying the rest of the <a href="https://www.mickherron.com/landing-page/mick-herron-slough-house/" title="">Slough House series</a>.</p>
Back in the USA2022-03-20T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-03-20-back-in-the-usa/<p>It's been a week now since we got back from the UK.</p>
<p>Conversations with Mum over Skype have become, shorter. Both her and Sharon tested positive for COVID. They're recovering but Dominic now has it.</p>
<p>Seven people in a house will do that I guess.</p>
<p>I've fell right back into email, video meetings, and remembering to get outside to see the sky when I'm making a cuppa.</p>
Reply—How can I improve the typography on my site?2022-03-20T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-03-20-reply-improve-typography/<h2>The basics</h2>
<p>As a starting point I would check out the presentation Richard Rutter & Mark Bolton did at SXSW 2007, <a href="http://webtypography.net/talks/sxsw2007/" title="">Web Typography Sucks</a>. I was lucky enough to be in the, very packed, room when they gave the talk. The <strong>big</strong> idea I took from it was Vertical Rhythm.</p>
<h2>Vertical Rhythm</h2>
<p>A lot of articles were written about that. One I found useful was <a href="https://www.sitepoint.com/typography-baseline-rhythm-deciphered/" title="article at SitePoint">Baseline Rhythm Deciphered</a> by Matthew Magain. A handy resource to help calculate Vertical Rhythm is <a href="https://vertical-rhythm.crasman.fi/" title="">https://vertical-rhythm.crasman.fi</a>.</p>
<p>A newer take on this can be found at <a href="https://zellwk.com/blog/why-vertical-rhythms/" title="">https://zellwk.com/blog/why-vertical-rhythms/</a> where Zell does a great job introducing the concept of varying repetitions so to group related content together.</p>
<h2>Fonts</h2>
<p>For my blog I like a distinction between heading and body fonts.</p>
<p>I chose Calistoga this for headings. Originally it was being called from Google Fonts. Now it's available to download from GitHub. Using a <a href="https://www.creativefabrica.com/webfont-generator/" title="web font generator">web font generator</a> to turn the <code>.TTF</code> to a web font package and self host.</p>
<p>The body font is <a href="https://brailleinstitute.org/freefont" title="">Atkinson Hyperlegible Font</a>, a free download from Braille Institute. This too is self-hosted.</p>
<p>Both of these have a web-safe fallback in the CSS.</p>
<h2>Color</h2>
<p>I've made some color choices to things like code blocks, pull quotes, etc. All trying to adhere to WCAG contrast levels. That's another way to enhance the typography.</p>
<h2>For your site</h2>
<p>I don't think you'd have to change much on your site. Don't feel the need to get a custom font if the web-safe one you have works for you.</p>
<p>I would suggest looking at getting rid of the border that surrounds your main copy. I find it disconnects from the main title. Also use sub-headings to break up the content, where applicable.</p>
<p>Hope you find this of use.</p>
Anniversaries2022-03-27T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-03-27-anniversaries/<h2>Helvetica</h2>
Released 15 years ago. A film about the ubiquitous font Helvetica. Head to <a href="https://www.ohyouprettythings.cout the ubiom/helvetica" title="">ohyouprettythings.com/helvetica</a> where you can watch the documentary, for <strong>free</strong>, until March 30<sup>th</sup>.
<h2>2000AD</h2>
An anthology British comic that started 45 years ago. A mainstay for me growing up. All this weekend they have been streaming <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLQZ5Ykw_9yZDaxnj0Nfc0Tho-SM1vp-t" title="YouTube playlist">21 panels on YouTube</a>. Great discussions from writers & artists, both old and new.
<p>You can read more at <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-03-27-anniversaries/www.2000AD.com/45years" title="">2000AD.com/45years</a>.</p>
Passport renewal2022-03-28T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-03-28-passport-renewal/<p>One of the (many) reasons I made the trip back to the UK, when I did, was my passport was going to expire.</p>
<p>Today I headed over to <a href="https://www.gov.uk/" title="British Government website">https://www.gov.uk</a>, searched for 'passport' and chose 'renew'.</p>
<p>I answered some simple questions, uploaded a photo Julie took of me with my iPhone, and paid the fee. Tomorrow I mail off my old passport. Within 11 weeks I <em>should</em> get a brand new one back.</p>
<p>This beats the experience a decade ago of getting multiple photos taken in the USA (to UK passport standards), having them signed (thanks <a href="https://twitter.com/jkrohrs" title="Twitter profile" rel="met friend">Jeff</a>), filling in forms and mailing the whole packet off with a cheque.</p>
Another adult in the house2022-04-07T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-04-07-another-adult/<p>Here it is. His eighteenth year. Hard to believe.</p>
<p>It really does feel like last week I was building LEGO with him on the floor of his room. Carrying him up the stairs, splashing around at <a href="https://www.greatwolf.com/sandusky" title="">Great Wolf Lodge</a>, or taking him <a href="https://flic.kr/p/cxmHdu" title="photo on Flickr">camping for the first time</a>.</p>
<p>Now he's driving around, paying taxes, and looking to college.</p>
<p>We are both incredibly proud of the compassionate and smart human he's become.</p>
<p>Love you buddy.</p>
<p>Happy Birthday <a href="http://joshuajohnmead.com/" title="his own website" rel="child met">Josh</a>.</p>
My Mum died2022-06-05T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-06-05-my-mum-died/<p>Back in March I wrote about traveling back to the UK as <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-03-06-sitting/" title="sitting">Mum was ill</a>.</p>
<p>On May 11th Sharon called with the news she'd died. It was quiet, restful. She was at Sharon's house, surrounded by family.</p>
<p>Josh and I are getting ready to travel back the UK this week. Her ashes are to be interred with my Dad's at Southed Crematorium.</p>
<p>We're having a remembrance with a few of her closest friends.</p>
<p>I haven't felt like posting. I hadn't known what to post. It hit me hard, but I'm sure when I get to see my sister the floodgates will really open.</p>
<p>I miss her.</p>
Returned2022-06-25T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-06-25-returned/<p>It's Saturday and I'm back in my own living room.</p>
<p>I'm looking over photo's, notes, and drafts from the last two weeks. I'll get around to posting them at some point, but for now some highlights.</p>
<figure class="img-border">
<img src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/mum-dad-young.jpeg" alt="Black and white photo of my Mum & Dad when they were young" width="706" height="397" />
<figcaption>Old photo we found of Mum & Dad in their youth</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Saying goodbye</h2>
<p>We had a celebration of Mum at the bungalow on Saturday. Sharon had organized a wonderful spread from <a href="https://peggyscafe.co.uk/" title="Cafe and catering in Benfleet, Essex UK">Peggy's Cafe</a>. We had a lovely time reminiscing with some of Mum's closest friends and neighbours.</p>
<p>On Monday we attended the internment of Mum's ashes. We also had them inter her parents ashes at the same time. All are at the tree in Southend Crematorium with my Dad.</p>
<h2>Cleaning</h2>
<p>We then spent the next weeks cleaning out the bungalow. The greenhouse, Summer house, and tool shed took the first week. Multiple journeys to the tip, filling two skips (dumpsters), and having various "scrappers" stop by to pick over things.</p>
<p>The loft spaces never seemed to end. Cupboards, cabinets, and drawers stuffed with memories.</p>
<p>Just when we thought we were doing okay, a small object would surface that would set us off.</p>
<figure class="img-border">
<img src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2022-06-19-skip.jpeg" alt="First 8-yard skip filled" width="706" height="397" />
<figcaption>One of the skips (dumpster) we filled</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Catching up</h2>
<p>We had a wonderful night with Ian & Jo, and Martin over <a href="http://maharaja.yakandyetibenfleet.co.uk/" title="Maharaja indian restaurant">dinner</a>. Caught up with Glyn (sadly his Sister had just died unexpectedly). And thanks to fat-fingering an imported contact in (recently installed) WhatsApp, re-connected with an old acquaintance.</p>
<p>Josh & I spent a lot of time with Sharon and her family, as well as each other. It was really nice.</p>
<h2>Onwards</h2>
<p>And now it's back to work. Back to living. But I can't help thinking about what one of Mum's friends said as she left. <q>We'll always have the memories of Marion, and the times we spent together.</q></p>
<p>And isn’t that all we are in the end. Other peoples memories, just waiting to happen.</p>
Dad's cassette tapes2022-07-02T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-07-02-dads-cassette-tapes/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/dads-cassette-tapes.jpeg" alt="A stack of cassette tapes, labels brightly coloured by felt-tip pen" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>While going through multiple boxes in the loft I found a box of Dad's old cassette tapes. He used to decorate a lot of them with felt-tip. A big childhood memory for me.</p>
<p>Marc posted that his father had recently died. He's also been going through <a href="https://disquiet.com/2022/06/24/perfect-sound-forever/" title="">his late father's collection</a>.</p>
<p>Funny how my parents (and both their parents) left behind 78's, 45's, vinyl albums, tapes, and CDs. None of which I <em>had</em> to play to invoke a memory.</p>
<p>All Josh will have is 10 CDs and some external drives full of MP3s. I doubt they will illicit the same in him.</p>
Project finished2022-07-02T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-07-02-project-finished/<p>This week marks the official end of a (huge) project at work.</p>
<p>We're out of hypercare. The service implementor has rolled off, and our (fantastic) Project Manager has retired.</p>
<p>It also marks <strong>20 months</strong> of me doing very little of what I was hired to do.</p>
<p>During this project I've worn the hats of 'Interim Team Manager', 'QA Tester', and 'Front-end Developer' to name a few. I've tracked down & entered invoices, been on numerous 2AM deploys, lead meetings, and had to make lots of non-UX related decisions. All of this working remotely thanks to the COVID-19 Pandemic.</p>
<p>I am the only remaining member of the original team (Hi <a href="https://ctmiller.net/" title="" rel="met friend">Chris<a>, Shannon, and Brad 👋) who got the quotes at the start.</a></a></p>
<p>It's been stressful, frustrating, and disheartening at times. But, as "they" say, <q>the only way out is through</q>. We've had some laughs too, the new team rallying together under pressure.</p>
<p>But even though we have a litany of problems still to fix (and finding new ones daily), it does seem I can start getting back to the user experience and all that entails.</p>
I used to be connected2022-07-02T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-07-02-used-to-be-connected/<h2>Nicole</h2>
<img class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/22518600052_95470dcda4_o.jpeg" alt="Nicole Dominguez smiling. Photo from #WOCinTechChat" width="1000" height="562" />
<p>I see <a href="https://nicoledominguez.com/" title="Nicole Dominguez's website">Nicole</a> about once every couple of months.</p>
<p>We met in 2013 at <a href="http://www.blendconf.com/" title="UX, design, and development conference in Charlotte, NC">Blendconf</a> (still one of the best conferences I've attended), followed each other on "the socials" and went our separate ways—We've never met in person since.</p>
<p>Over the years we had conversations, shared tips & tricks, and "liked" each others photos. All of this happened on social networks. Since I closed down my accounts that stopped.</p>
<p>Yet, I see Nicole about once every couple of months.</p>
<p>That photo of Nicole is taken from the <a href="https://www.wocintechchat.com/blog/wocintechphotos"><abbr title="Women of Color">WOC</abbr> in Tech Chat</a> photo shoot, which took place in 2015.</p>
<aside class="right">
<p>It says something that 7 years later this resource is still being used to illustrate diversity.</p>
</aside>
<p>Inevitably a newsletter or presentation I get will use her photo from that free collection of stock photography.</p>
<p>She's currently on <a href="https://www.invisionapp.com/" title="">InVision's homepage</a> too.</p>
<h2>Lost</h2>
<p>Each time I see that photo from 2015 I'm reminded of all the great and interesting voices I've lost contact with.</p>
<p>Very few post, or even maintain, their own sites now. The likelihood of my attending in-person conferences in the coming years is, slim. Local meet-ups are few & far between, and most Slack channels are quiet.</p>
<p>And this is solely on my shoulders. I'm terrible at keeping in-touch. I can get insular, focussed, and procrastinate.</p>
<p>Maybe the latter half of 2022 I can make an effort. Try to re-connect.</p>
Reply-My Text Editors2022-07-03T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-07-03-reply-text-editors/<p>I used to enjoy <a href="https://hemingwayapp.com/" title="Text editor">Hemingway</a> for drafting posts etc., but it's not been updated for years now and is flaky.</p>
<p><a href="https://nova.app/" title="code editor from Panic">Nova</a> is what I use for coding and posting to my site. <a href="https://evernote.com/" title="">Evernote</a> is still my outboard brain for saving notes, some rough drafts.</p>
<p>Apple Notes (in concert with Reminders) is my go-to for quick notes for between devices.</p>
Morning2022-07-05T05:06:40Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-07-05-morning/<p>It's just after 6.30am. There's a storm rolling over us.</p>
<p>The sliding door is open and the sound of rain, thunder, and birds is mixing with <a href="https://somafm.com/dronezone/" title="online radio"> SomaFM Drone Zone</a> (playing Celestial by Starterra) perfectly. Like one of those relaxation mixes on YouTube.</p>
<p>Dogs are laying quietly. I'm sipping black coffee with honey.</p>
<p>What a lovely start to the day.</p>
Ribs2022-07-07T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-07-07-ribs/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2022-07-07-ribs.jpeg" alt="close up of smoked ribs" width="500" height="500" /></p>
Not only did Michael cook the ribs. He also made the dry rub and sauce too.
Destiny 2 catch-up2022-07-10T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-07-10-destiny2-catch-up/<p>There's two main games I play on the Xbox. The Division 2, and Destiny 2. <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/tags/thedivision2/" title="more of my posts about The Division">The Division 2</a> has been going through some issues recently and updates are coming, albeit slowly.</p>
<p>Destiny on the other hand is storming along. Season after season, with 2 more years of content already planned.</p>
<p>The current season's storyline has had some great writing. Maybe it hit me due to personal events, but handling grief, regret, and working through the baggage you carry around was very effective.</p>
<h2>Solar 3.0</h2>
<p>One of the biggest changes Destiny made was to overhaul how a lot of powers work. This season it was Solar's turn.</p>
<p>I put together a build that is a lot of fun to play. It's <a href="https://dim.gg/nbyueui/Solar-3.0-Sunspot" title="Build on Destiny Inventory Manager">Warlock with Sunbracer gauntlets and the Sunshot exotic hand cannon</a>.</p>
<img class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/ss-2022-07-10-sunshot-build.jpeg" title="screenshot of build" width="1000" height="auto" />
<p>Basically when you kill NPCs they blow, causing everything around them to blow up too. This drops "wells" which, when you pick them up, give you more weapon damage. And the cycle continues.</p>
<p>And this seasons armor and shaders were very cool. See this screenshot of my current Warlock.
<img class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2022-07-10-d2-warlock-season-of-haunted.jpeg" title="screenshot of my Warlock wearing season armour" width="1000" height="auto" /></p>
<h2>Older secrets</h2>
<p>And with this being a huge game there a lot of secret challenges you can do. I never seem to get around to all of these during a season, but thanks to YouTube I've managed to find the <a href="https://youtu.be/pH2n6_7G9yw" title="Video guide from Time Sausage on YouTube">9 dead exo's on Europa</a>, the <a href="https://youtu.be/c8gMlEe6UVk" title="Video guide from Esoterickk on YouTube">9 hidden Penguin toys</a>, as well as recovering the <a href="https://youtu.be/CYTIU8gioBM" title="Time Sausage's video guide">lost dead ghosts</a> <em>and</em> all <a href="https://youtu.be/POgn_lB6jt4" title="YouTube video guide from Time Sausage">the hidden rabbits</a> on the Moon.</p>
<h2>Next Season</h2>
<p>Season of the Haunted is ending soon. I'm looking forward to see where they take the storyline next. Also if we're getting an overhaul of the Arc power too.</p>
The Comfort Lounge2022-07-10T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-07-10-the-comfort-lounge/<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://atlasminor.com/the-comfort-lounge/">
<p>It was the kind of place where you might have sealed a business deal in a different decade, but now it was where you came when you had no more business to conduct.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— Unknown, <cite>The Comfort Lounge</cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I'm really enjoying this series of <a href="https://atlasminor.com/notes/interstate-scenes/" title="">Interstate Scenes</a> from James A. Reeves.</p>
<p>He describes them as <q>A fictional collection of homeless paragraphs, remixed and upcycled bits from the past, and bloopers from the stories I’m writing.</q></p>
<p>His blog, <a href="https://atlasminor.com/" title="website of James A. Reeves">Atlas Minor</a>, is well worth a follow. More please.</p>
2022-07-24 retro2022-07-24T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-07-24-retro/<p>One of my favourite comic writers, <a href="https://2000ad.com/news/alan-grant-1949-2022/" title="POst on 2000AD website">Alan Grant, died</a>.</p>
<p>Judging from this quote, another of my favourite <a href="https://buttondown.email/orbitaloperations/archive/orbital-operations-24-july-2022-2209/" title="Warren Ellis newsletter">comic writers is turning into Percy Thrower</a>.</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://buttondown.email/orbitaloperations/archive/orbital-operations-24-july-2022-2209/">
<p>I needed the stakes to pin back some over-energetic bedding plants. Once the season is over, I can cut back the plants and remove the stakes, which I can then saw into smaller pieces for firewood.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— Warren Ellis, <cite>Orbital Operations newsletter</cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Catching up with, and enjoying, episodes of the <a href="http://www.ultimathule.info/" title="official website">Ultima Thule podcast</a>.</p>
<p>Last week I could hardly walk on my right leg. The pain from driving made me feel sick. Resting, icing, and stretching is making feel better. But my ankle is still puffy. Thought it was Plantar fasciitis, but looks more like Achilles tendinitis.</p>
<p>I managed to finish the latest Destiny 2 triumph for <a href="https://www.bungie.net/7/en/Seasons/SeasonOfTheHaunted#Solstice" title="official Bungie website">Solstice</a> <em>and</em> get the title.</p>
Om Malik nails it, again2022-07-31T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-07-31-om-malik-nails-it-again/<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://om.co/2022/07/18/instagram-is-dead/">
<p>Instagram’s transformation into QVC is now complete and absolute. Instagram is dead — or at least the Instagram I knew and loved is dead. It is no longer part of my photographic journey.
</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— Om Malik, <cite>Instagram is dead</cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Great <a href="https://om.co/2022/07/18/instagram-is-dead/" title="Instagram is dead">post by Om</a> about the shift Instagram took away from photography towards commerce.</p>
<p>Captures, in part, why I drifted far away from using it.</p>
Sharing RSS feeds2022-08-01T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-08-01-sharing-rss-feeds/<p>Blogs are great. And RSS feeds are how a lot of people consume those blogs.</p>
<p>It's how I find out about new blogs too. Someone posts a link to something they follow.</p>
<p>I recently added a 'blogroll' on my home page. And to that I've just added a link to <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/Subscriptions-DJMFeeds.opml" title="OPML file"><em>all</em> the feeds I'm following</a> at the moment.</p>
<p>I use <a href="https://netnewswire.com/" title="RSS feed reader for Mac">NetNewsWire</a> as my feed reader. It's nice & simple. Works on Mac, and iOS. And it's free.</p>
<p>Doing a simple export from there gives me an <abbr title="Outline Processor Markup Language">OPML</abbr> file. That's the file I've uploaded and linked to.</p>
<p>Feel free to import into your feed reader of choice.</p>
<p>You may find something interesting.</p>
Reply-Short musings on taking an extended break from the computer2022-08-02T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-08-02-reply-short-musings/<p>Great to read this. I have definitely found I need to reclaim my handwriting, and sketching, abilities again.</p>
<p>2 years of solo remote work took me out of the slower flow I enjoyed with pen & and paper.</p>
<p>Also getting back to meeting with friends (face-to-face) instead of over video or Slack has put a little bounce in my step.</p>
Reply-The Webmentioning2022-08-03T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-08-03-reply-the-webmentioning/<p>This is great news. Now I just have to work out:</p>
<ol>
<li>How to update my version of Eleventy</li>
<li>How to install the plugin</li>
</ol>Reset the web, again2022-08-03T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-08-03-reset-the-web-again/<p>Over lunch last week one topic <a href="https://www.bridgestew.com/" class="h-card" rel="friend met" title="">Bridget</a>, <a href="https://ctmiller.net/" class="h-card" rel="friend met">Chris</a>, and I touched on was being lured down the complexity rabbit-hole of blogging tools and the huge array of options we can tweak.</p>
<p>And no, you can't decide on which SSG to use until you've run through <strong>all</strong> the font libraries Chris! Sheesh.</p>
<p>Chris also mentioned how he's trying <a href="https://micro.blog/" title="cool microblogging tool">Micro.blog</a>, a very cool microblogging tool (I syndicate this blog there). One thing he liked is that he can write and post photo's from his phone to it.</p>
<p>None of the (intentional) palaver I go through posting here.</p>
<p>And then I saw this from <a href="https://warrenellis.ltd/" class="h-card" rel="met acquaintance" title="">Warren</a></p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://warrenellis.ltd/jot/waiting-for-the-easy-work/">
<p>It’s ridiculous how much harder it’s got to use the basic tools to speak in complete sentences digitally.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— Warren Ellis, <cite><a href="https://warrenellis.ltd/jot/waiting-for-the-easy-work/" title="blog post">Waiting for the easy work</a></cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Social media giants now overtly make it known that their users are revenue. Though most don't really seem to mind, there is still growing desire to publish & consume content from others on the web.</p>
<p>It all reminds me of going around co-workers houses in the 90's and showing how to use a browser to "see the rest of the web" outside AOL, CompuServe, etc.</p>
<p>I'm not the first to point out the comparisons between <strike>Facebook</strike> Meta and the CD-Rom distributing walled gardens of yore.</p>
<p>And just to be clear. <a href="https://web3isgoinggreat.com/" title="blog highlighting how it is not going great">Web3</a>, <abbr title="Non Fungible Tokens">NFT</abbr>'s, blockchain, and "Crypto" is <strong>not</strong> the big shift.</p>
<p>I'm talking about the new LiveJournals, person maintained directories, and other "retro" tech that is slowly creeping in around the edges.</p>
A nice night out2022-08-16T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-08-16-a-nice-night-out/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2022-08-16-johnnys-bar-sign.jpeg" alt="The neon sign at night, outside Johnny's Bar" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>Tonight I enjoyed a night out with my co-workers. Guests of our new (again) technical partner, we dined at <a href="http://www.johnnysonfulton.com/" title="">Johnny's Bar</a> on Fulton Road.</p>
<p>It's been around since the 1920's. A real "old school" vibe. We sat on the patio courtyard, enjoyed some drinks, had some great food.</p>
<p>One '<a href="https://www.themanual.com/food-and-drink/how-to-make-an-old-fashioned/" title="recipe for this whiskey cocktail">old fashioned</a>' lasted me the whole evening. Sautéed Stuffed Calamari, salad, followed by <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-08-16-filet-beef-au-poivre/" title="">Filet of Beef au Poivre with Green Peppercorn, Sherry, Cognac & Demi Glacé</a> filled me up—Delicious.</p>
<p>A nice moment to relax. A pause between the last 20 months of a stressful website re-platform, and the next 4 months headlong race to 2023.</p>
Filet of Beef au Poivre with Green Peppercorn, Sherry, Cognac & Demi Glacé2022-08-16T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-08-16-filet-beef-au-poivre/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2022-08-16-nom-steak-poivre.jpeg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Filet of Beef au Poivre with Green Peppercorn, Sherry, Cognac & Demi Glacé</h1>
<p class="summary">Johnnys Bar</p>
<p>Ate this at Johnny's Bar on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2022-08-16T05:00:01.000Z">August 16, 2022</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Dinner out with co-workers. Tasted delicious. Filet was melt-in-the-mouth.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>You Gotta Hear This!2022-08-21T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-08-21-you-gotta-hear-this/<p>This weekend I got the chance to catch up with episodes of <a href="https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLT0fv21DRJaU4PzC5EvE-rBHDgq_vS4U0" title="playlist on YouTube">You Gotta Hear This!</a> A series of conversations between <a href="https://www.austinwintory.com/" title="Official website">Austin Wintory</a> (Composer) and <a href="https://twitter.com/TroyBakerVA" title="Twitter account">Troy Baker</a> (Actor).</p>
<p>Austin describes it as...</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://youtu.be/Bfcsugqh6mg">
<p>A new podcast series with Troy Baker called "You Gotta Hear this!" I have listened to thousands of works in my life that it seems criminal for not everyone to have heard, so I'm mending that one piece at a time and getting Troy's reaction. Tangents, as per norm, to be expected!</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— Austin Wintory, <cite>Episode 1 summary</cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Now. I can't find this anywhere but on Austin's YouTube channel, so I wouldn't call it a podcast.</p>
<p>Austin is so enthusiastic about sharing the music & stories, and Troy is so eager to expand his knowledge in this area, it makes for a great time listening to them.</p>
<p>There are 16 videos, all around an hour or so long. Thoroughly recommend trying these if you have even a passing interest in music.</p>
<div class="yt-container">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Bfcsugqh6mg" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
</div>
Reply-Treading Water2022-08-27T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-08-27-reply-treading-water/<p>Thanks for articulating this Gregor.</p>
<p>I'm not alone all the time with my wife, son, and two dogs in the house. But over the past 2 years, sitting at my desk in the basement, it can certainly feel like that.</p>
<p>My work requires two days in the office. The team I'm on is small—All vaccinated. For those days the building is pretty empty. But where I live in Ohio it has a yo-yoing COVID rate. I still wear a mask in large crowds, but like you I now tend to avoid them. I agree the response and guidance is lacking, as is the acceptance and understanding.</p>
<p>Cinema, meet-ups, happy-hours all gone by the wayside now.</p>
<p>I am lucky to have enjoy the occasional game night with friends (who share the same concerns) which refills that social battery for a while.</p>
<p>You're not alone. And it can, and will, get better.</p>
Reply-Thanks David2022-08-28T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-08-28-reply-thanks-david/<p>Yeah. I missed the reminder that my SSL expired yesterday. Should be all good now.</p>
<p>I also have to get Webmentions working on the site too ;-)</p>
Goodbye UXPA Cleveland2022-08-30T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-08-30-goodbye-uxpa-cleveland/<p>I have some great memories of attending, and volunteering at, the <a href="https://uxpacleveland.org/" title="">Experience Professionals Association</a> (UXPA) over the years.</p>
<p>I attended a couple of NEOUPA (Northeast Ohio chapter of the International Usability Professionals' Association.) meetings before it became the UXPA.</p>
<p>Then, when I joined Progressive Insurance, I volunteered in setting up and running them as it was the de-facto venue for a number of years. Even after leaving Progressive I was an on/off paid member.</p>
<p>So I was saddened to see this statement about it closing.</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://uxpacleveland.org/">
<p>It is with a heavy heart that we announce that after 19 years, UXPA Cleveland is shutting down. We've experienced a decline in membership numbers and engagement (predating COVID, but worsened by it); difficulty finding volunteers to serve on the board; and increasing competition from the many other online events that exist today.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— <cite>UXPA Cleveland</cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>They have made all their presentations and recordings available at <a href="https://uxpacleveland.org/presentations" title="">https://uxpacleveland.org/presentations</a>.</p>
<p>I've made a lot of friends and connections over the years from UXPA meetings & events. It was also the reason I helmed IxDA Cleveland for a while.</p>
<p>It's a testament to all the committee members, speakers, and volunteers that gave us 19 years of community. I learnt so many things, and expanded my scope because of them.</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone involved over the years.</p>
The Queen is dead2022-09-10T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-09-10-the-queen-is-dead/<p>On September 8<sup>th</sup> <a href="https://www.royal.uk/announcement-death-queen" title="Official announcement">Queen Elizabeth II died</a>.</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://www.royal.uk/announcement-death-queen">
<p>The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.</p>
<p>The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— <cite>Royal.uk</cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>This hit me harder than I thought. Maybe because it's close to my own mums death this year. I dunno.</p>
<p>Elizabeth is the only Queen I knew. She was 96, ruled for over 70 years. When we cleared the house in the UK, we found commemorative books of the Coronation, Jubilee's, etc. And while I wouldn't consider myself the most ardent of royalists, I'm in no way an abolitionist.</p>
<p>Knowing The Queen was there always gave me a sense of calm, strength, and order. Governments came & went, but the hierarchy remained. Maybe that's akin to what religious people feel. That subconscious fall back of someone "at the wheel".</p>
<p>Today Prince Charles was proclaimed King Charles III.</p>
Joy of RSS connections2022-10-02T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-10-02-joy-of-rss-connections/<p>Doing my usual Sunday catch-up of RSS feeds.</p>
<p>I've read <a href="https://om.co/" title="">Om Malik</a> for years, so when <a href="https://om.co/2022/10/02/october-2022-a-personal-update-some-good-reads/" title="Om's blog post">he referenced</a> a <a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2022/09/have-i-reached-the-douglas-adams-inflection-point-or-is-modern-tech-just-a-bit-rubbish/" title="">Terence Eden post</a> I had one of those "Oh, huh" moments.</p>
<p>You see I'd just read Terence's post and it resonated with me. It also seems to have done the same with Om (he also left a comment).</p>
<p>For some reason it took me by surprise that Om would read the same blogs I do. I can't say why, it just did.</p>
<p>I also love that, through blogs, there's still a sense of a wider connection and community.</p>
<p>The part that hit us both? <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_Salmon_of_Doubt/xU3m_s5O7yMC?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover&bsq=normal%20and%20ordinary" title="">Douglas Adams thought on technology</a>...</p>
<ul>
<li>Anything that is in the world when you’re born is normal and ordinary and is just a natural part of the way the world works.</li>
<li>Anything that’s invented between when you’re fifteen and thirty-five is new and exciting and revolutionary and you can probably get a career in it.</li>
<li>Anything invented after you’re thirty-five is against the natural order of things.</li>
</ul>
<p>I think I've reached the same inflection point. It's the hype surrounding the tech that kills a lot of it for me too.</p>
Surrounded by Urban Homesteads2022-10-08T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-10-08-urban-homesteading/<p>It started with chickens across the street from us. Then a vegetable patch, what looks like a wood-burning stove in the garage, finally a large fence.</p>
<p>Behind us a wood & chicken-wire structure for vegetables appeared. One over from that, more chickens.</p>
<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_homesteading" title="Wikipedia">Urban Homesteading</a> seems to be taking root in the outer suburbs of Cleveland.</p>
<p>It reminds me of the "self sufficient" trend of the 70's in th UK, epitomized by the sitcom "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Good_Life_(1975_TV_series)" title="Wikipedia">The Good Life</a>"—I loved that as a kid.</p>
<p>With rising prices and a still shaky global supply chain, why not look back to what worked during a time when roaming blackouts and long lines at petrol pumps made the news.</p>
Sunday brain dump2022-10-16T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-10-16-sunday-brain-dump/<p>Last but one load of laundry is spinning, rooms are dusted & vacuumed, and I'm catching up. Some articles mentioned in <a href="https://orbitaloperations.beehiiv.com/p/lights-territory" title="">Warren's latest newsletter</a> have been added to Instapaper, I'm on my second coffee, and the windows are letting in that crisp Autumnal air.</p>
<p>Sundays.</p>
<h2>R.I.P. Robbie Coltrane</h2>
<p>I know most people know him now from the Harry Potter films, but for me he was always the larger-than-life characters from 'The Comic Strip Presents', 'Blackadder', and especially 'Cracker'.</p>
<p>I ran into him once, literally. It was starting to rain and I was running from the Forbidden Planet comic shop back to Air Street in Soho. I slammed into someone, looked up, and there was Robbie Coltrane. "Watch where the fuck ya going" he growled.</p>
<p>Later found out the film units we'd seen packing up every morning, was shooting <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091538/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk" title="listing on IMDB">Mona Lisa</a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/av/entertainment-arts-63263000" title="">BBC News on his death</a>.</p>
<h2>Destiny 2</h2>
<p>This seasons storyline is nearly over. It's all about "<a href="https://www.bungie.net/7/en/Seasons/SeasonOfPlunder" title="Season of Plunder">space pirates</a>" which has been fun, but now I have to grind through PvP activities if I want to complete the seasonal challenges. <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-02-05-slogging-through-pvp/" title="Previous post about PvP">At least I don't have to do any Trials of Osiris</a>.</p>
<h2>The Division 2</h2>
<p>Ooh, this has been rough. Though I have been enjoying the new content, there's been a whole lot of issues and bugs. Hopefully as the new (smaller) team finds its footing these will be ironed out. Fingers crossed for a new storyline next year.</p>
<h2>The UK is in a mess</h2>
<p>13 days after being announced as the new Chancellor of the Exchequer, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwasi_Kwarteng" title="Wikipedia">Kwasi Kwarteng</a> has now exited after the disastrous "mini-budget" announcement. How Liz Truss is still Prime Minister is anyone's guess.</p>
<p>Doctors are taking a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/jul/15/nhs-doctors-strike-is-inevitable-says-new-bma-chair" title="Article in The Guardian">ballot to strike</a> for the first time in about a century.</p>
<p>My sister is looking into installing a wood-burning stove as fuel prices continue to rise and the Pound plummets.</p>
First snow2022-11-12T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-11-12-first-snow/<h2>Getting ready</h2>
<p>After having multiple occasions of not having power and/or heat over the years, I decided to shell out for these:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.anker.com/products/a1760?variant=42025975873686" title="direct link, not affliate">Anker 555 Portable power station</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.mrheater.com/portable-buddy-heater.html" title="irect link, not affliate">Mr. Heater Portable Buddy® Propane Heater</a></li>
</ul>
And while I’m no hardy backwoods prepper, I can attest it’s just as cold at night on New Years Eve without a furnace in my suburban home, as in a log cabin.
<p>Here's hoping I won't need them.</p>
<h2>Meeting friends</h2>
<p>With the first week of November being in the high 70's, I made the most of it and met up with some friends. Also a good excuse to try some new beers too.</p>
<p>Last week was with my gaming buddy Jim at <a href="https://goldhornbrewery.com/" title="">Goldhorn Brewery</a>, where I <a href="https://untappd.com/user/davidmead/checkin/1217894506" title="my Untappd entry">enjoyed a pint of Pole Licker</a>. A nice crisp IPA. Not too hoppy, and went down well with the loaded fries & schloppy sauce.</p>
<p>Couple of days ago I finally got to sit down again with Ken & Bob. Two colleagues from my time at Progressive. Settling in at <a href="https://bossdogbrewing.com/" title="">Boss Dog Brewing</a> I had a couple <a href="https://untappd.com/user/davidmead/checkin/1219513720" title="my Untappd entry">pints of Uncle Knuckles Christmas Ale</a>. A robust dark ale, great for catching up after 2 years.</p>
<h2>Temperature drops</h2>
<p><img class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2022-11-11-gloomy-day.jpeg" alt="Gloomy day with wet streets" /></p>
<p>From rolled-up sleeves and widows open, to being in the 30's today and the first snow settling on car roofs.</p>
<p>I did pick-up a new snow shovel, as well as 3 bags of pet-friendly ice melt this week, so we won't be caught short if it starts to come down heavy.</p>
<p>Winter is here.</p>
Experiments with Chili2022-11-22T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-11-22-experiments-with-chili/<p>Over this Winter I've decided to play around and find "my" recipe for chili.</p>
<p>I've always liked Chili. With rice, on a jacket potato, or just on its own. So I am trying to hone my own recipe. Something easy to remember, and that I can cook what I have to hand.</p>
<p><strong>Experiment 001 turned out a little <em>too spicy</em>.</strong></p>
<p>The fire roasted tomatoes gave it a nice taste. I ended up taking out the chipotle peppers halfway through cooking. In the end it was good, but more chili pepper than chili.</p>
<img class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2022-11-22-chili-cooking.jpeg" title="chili cooking in pot" width="706" height="706" />
<p>This gave me 6 servings (3 lunches, 3 for the freezer) and a good base to start swapping out ingredients.</p>
<section class="h-recipe">
<h2>Chili Experiment 001</h2>
<h3>Ingredients</h3>
<img src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2022-11-22-chili-ingredients.jpeg" title="chili ingredients assembled" width="500" height="500" />
<ul>
<li class="p-ingredient">2 <abbr title="tablespoons">tbs</abbr> oil</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">3 Jalapeño peppers</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">1 medium onion</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">2 <abbr title="teaspoon">tsp</abbr> chopped garlic</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">A squeeze of tomato paste</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">28oz diced tomatoes</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">1 cup water</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">14oz black beans</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">14oz kidney beans</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">14oz great northern beans</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">7oz chipotle peppers in adobo sauce</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">1 <abbr title="teaspoon">tsp</abbr> ground cumin</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">1 <abbr title="teaspoon">tsp</abbr> chili powder</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">1 <abbr title="teaspoon">tsp</abbr> paprika</li>
</ul>
<p>Takes <time class="dt-duration" datetime="90M">90 minutes</time>, serves <data class="p-yield" value="4">six people</data>.</p>
<div class="e-instructions">
<h3>Directions</h3>
<ol>
<li>Finely chop onion</li>
<li>Remove seeds and veins from Jalapeños, then finely chop</li>
<li>Heat oil, then add onion, garlic, and Jalapeños. Stir-fry until soft</li>
<li>Add tomato paste, and stir for 5 minutes</li>
<li>Add tomatoes, water, beans, chipotle peppers, and spices</li>
<li>Stir</li>
<li>Bring to a boil, then simmer for about an hour</li>
</ol>
</div>
</section>361 days to go2023-01-04T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-01-04-361-days-to-go/<p>Out went the tree, and down came the decorations, today. 2 days early I know, but local rubbish pick-up doesn't coincide with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Days_of_Christmas" title="Wikipedia entry for 12 Days of Christmas">Twelvetide</a>.</p>
<p>Though New Years Day is behind us, and Xmas is a <a href="https://weather.com/storms/winter/news/2022-12-23-winter-storm-elliott-bomb-cyclone-midwest-northeast-winds-snow" title="article on Weather.com">wintery bomb cyclone</a> memory, we'll be exchanging gifts this weekend due to Julie's Dad being in hospital—He's recovering.</p>
<p>No retrospective for last year (it was a mixed bag), and no resolutions for this year (don't believe in making them). Just aiming to read more, eat less, and keep my head above water.</p>
<p>4 down, 361 to go.</p>
Unable to find a post about a CSS reset2023-01-09T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-01-09-unable-to-find-css-reset-post/<p>I have searched my browsers (both home & work) bookmarks and history—Nothing.</p>
<p>Evernote. My blog. My email. My code repo. Still nothing.</p>
<p>I read a post concerning a new CSS reset/baseline. I liked it's approach and cribbed some of it for this blog.</p>
<p>It contained adding the default system fonts to the <code>body</code> tag.</p>
<pre>
<code>
font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Segoe UI, Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, Apple Color Emoji, Segoe UI Emoji;
/* Only supported on Chromium-based browsers and Safari */
font-family: system-ui;"
</code>
</pre>
<p>Also had adding <code>word-wrap</code>, etc., to the <code>p</code> element...</p>
<pre>
<code>
word-wrap: break-word;
overflow-wrap: break-word;
hyphens: auto;
max-width: 80ch;
</code>
</pre>
<p>...as well as adding <code>color-scheme</code> to the root</p>
<pre>
<code>
:root {
color-scheme: light dark;
}
</code>
</pre>
<p>By the end of Saturday I had so many tabs open, but none of them were it.</p>
<p>It is <strong>not</strong> <a href="https://zellwk.com/blog/css-reset/" title="">Zell Liew's CSS reset</a>, <a href="https://piccalil.li/blog/a-modern-css-reset/" title="">Andy Bell's modern CSS reset</a>, or <a href="https://www.joshwcomeau.com/css/custom-css-reset/" title="">Josh Comeau's custom CSS reset</a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.ellyloel.com/projects/modern-css-reset/" title="">Elly Loel's modern CSS reset</a> came close, but no cigar.</p>
<p>All the above have elements of it, and due to the collaborative nature of the web, build on each other, so I don't know if I'm mis-remembering and making a composite in my brain or what.</p>
<p>I do know the post was about creating something "mobile-first", light, and user-centric.</p>
<p>Until I find it (if ever) these are all good resources that I have now bookmarked, and posted here.</p>
I should do something2023-01-22T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-01-22-i-should-do-something/<p><img class="u-photo" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-01-22-snow-on-trees.jpeg" alt="Pine trees covered in heavy snow" width="706" height="706" /></p>
<p>I woke from a restless night. My left foot hurts. I can barely walk on.</p>
<p>It started snowing.</p>
<p>I hobble to-and-fro letting out the dogs, taking a shower, making breakfast.</p>
<p>It's been snowing pretty much all day.</p>
<p>I have half-written blog posts about <a href="https://roonlabs.com/" title="music software">Roon</a>, gaming, and updating this blog. Two other projects; Collection of web development tenets, and my resume, need to be finished and uploaded.</p>
<p>Still snowing.</p>
<p>The three books I got for Xmas still sit, uncracked, on the shelf.</p>
<p>I post this. Is this something? Not really.</p>
More experiments with Chili2023-01-30T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-01-30-experiments-with-chili/<p>Second attempt to find "my" recipe for chili.</p>
<p>After the first attempt I did a quick search and found <a href="https://youtu.be/mb3k0wApWas" title="YouTube">"The SHOCKING SECRET to great chili" by Adam Ragusea</a> on YouTube. Very similar to what I'd done in <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2022-11-22-experiments-with-chili" title="my blog post about first chili test">Experiment 001</a>, but with the addition of chocolate.</p>
<p>I also had some different peppers to play with.</p>
<p><strong>Experiment 002 turned out <em>very tasty</em>. Not much heat due to the types of peppers I used.</strong></p>
<p>I did add an extra dose of chili powder. The chocolate brought a smoothness and did seem to balance with the tomatoes—Thanks Adam.
I feel this is getting close. Maybe one more try , but going back to the Jalapeños.</p>
<img class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-01-30-chili-cooking.jpeg" title="chili cooking in pot" width="706" height="706" />
<p>Again this gave me 6 servings (3 lunches, 3 for the freezer).</p>
<section class="h-recipe">
<h2>Chili Experiment 002</h2>
<h3>Ingredients</h3>
<img src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-01-30-chili-ingredients.jpeg" title="chili ingredients assembled" width="500" height="500" />
<ul>
<li class="p-ingredient">2 <abbr title="tablespoons">tbs</abbr> oil</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">2 long green peppers</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">1 medium red onion</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">2 garlic cloves, chopped </li>
<li class="p-ingredient">A squeeze of tomato paste</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">28oz diced tomatoes</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">1 cup water</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">14oz black beans</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">14oz kidney beans</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">14oz great northern beans</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">1 <abbr title="teaspoon">tsp</abbr> ground cumin</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">2 <abbr title="teaspoon">tsp</abbr> chili powder</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">1 <abbr title="teaspoon">tsp</abbr> paprika</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">1 orange pepper</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">1 red pepper</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">handful of dark chocolate chips (62% Cacao)</li>
</ul>
<p>Takes <time class="dt-duration" datetime="90M">90 minutes</time>, serves <data class="p-yield" value="4">six people</data>.</p>
<div class="e-instructions">
<h3>Directions</h3>
<ol>
<li>Finely chop onion</li>
<li>Remove seeds and veins from long green, orange, and red peppers then finely chop</li>
<li>Heat oil, then add onion, garlic, and peppers. Stir-fry until soft</li>
<li>Add tomato paste, and stir for 5 minutes</li>
<li>Add tomatoes, water, beans, and spices</li>
<li>Stir</li>
<li>Add chocolate chips</li>
<li>Bring to a boil, then simmer for about an hour</li>
</ol>
</div>
</section>GOUT2023-02-03T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-02-03-gout/<p>2 weeks ago I had a pain in my left foot. It felt a little like <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/plantar-fasciitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20354846" title="Mayo Clinic page">Plantar fasciitis</a>, which I've experienced before. So I started with some stretches and ice. See if I could get ahead of it.</p>
<p>The pain got worse. I noticed my foot was swollen when I removed my socks & shoes. It got so bad I could only wear Josh's old Crocks, and was hobbling around.</p>
<p>Then I started losing sleep. Blankets touching my foot was painful. Stretching or touching it was painful. I took Tylenol (no effect), then switched to Advil, which did make a difference.</p>
<p>Friends and family started suggesting it <em>could</em> be <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gout/symptoms-causes/syc-20372897" title="Mayo Clinic page">Gout</a>. Ridiculous. That's for old Dickensian characters, swigging Port and eating Roast Beef all day.</p>
<p>Off to the doctors and, 3 attempts at drawing blood later (it <strong>never</strong> goes well), I picked up a a prescription for Indomethacin.
<img class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/my-arm-after-blood-draw.jpeg" alt="My arm bandaged after 3 blood draw attempts" width="706" height="706" />
This reduced the pain and the swelling. Labs came back and yes, Gout confirmed. So a different prescription, this time for Colchicine.</p>
<p>Stop one, start the other.</p>
<p>The pain is gone and I can start wearing shoes & socks again. But now another drug, Allopurinol. This is to help keep the levels of Uric Acid down which caused the Gout flare-up. But I shouldn't be taken with the Triamterene-Hydrochlorothiazid I use for my high blood pressure.</p>
<p>Ye Gods!</p>
<p>So I have to buy a blood pressure monitoring device so I can check at home.</p>
<p>Growing old sucks.</p>
54th Birthday2023-02-04T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-02-04-54th-birthday/<img class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-02-04-me.jpeg" title="black and white photo of me smiling on my birthday" width="706" height="706" />
<p>Yup. That's me. Another trip around the sun.</p>
<p>Once again Julie scored on the present front, with a whole box of goodies from <a href="https://cameronsbritishfoods.com/" alt="">Camerons British Foods</a>.</p>
<img class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-02-04-birthday-present-food.jpeg" title="British food and drink laid out on a table" width="706" height="401" />
<p>Everything from Weetabix to Pork Pies. Even a loaf of bread for spreading Marmite or Bovrite on.</p>
<p>A Chinese take-away tonight, but no beer (see <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-02-03-gout/" title="">Gout</a>).</p>
Eating Ethiopian2023-02-11T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-02-11-eating-ethiopian/<p>I saw that the owners were <a href="https://www.clevescene.com/food-drink/empress-taytu-owners-looking-to-sell-business-building-and-retire-41210482" title="article on Cleveland Scene">looking to sell Empress Tatyu and retire</a> after 31 years in business.</p>
<p>I've only eaten Ethiopian cuisine twice. One of those times at Empress Tatyu. This is the latest of a spate of Cleveland institutions closing.</p>
<p>I mentioned it on Slack and <a href="https://ctmiller.net/" title="Chris Miller blog" rel="friend met">Chris</a> arranged a reservation.</p>
<p>Josh & I arrived at 6.30pm. Meeting Rachel, Laura & Kris, Chris & Cathrine, and Tina & Damon.</p>
<p>The place was packed, staff friendly, and the smells were great as you enter by the kitchen.</p>
<p>After some appetizers I ordered the Meat and Veggie Combo. This consisted of Dorowat (Chicken), Tikil Gomen (Vegetable Stew), Kik-alicha (Yellow Split Peas), and Misir (Red Lentils). All of this served of a bed of Injera (sour-fermented pancake).</p>
<img class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-02-11-meat-vegetable-combo.jpeg" alt="meat and vegetable combo, served on injera" />
<p>It was delicious, and very filling. I also got to try some of the lamb the Cathrine ordered. Also delicious.</p>
<p>We ended the evening with the Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony...</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-02-11-eating-ethiopian/">
<p>A traditional, leisurely ceremony starting with the roasting of green Ethiopian coffee beans in the kitchen. The smoking pan of aromatic beans brought to your table. The coffee is served from a jebena (clay pot), poured into traditional coffee cups, with incense burning on the side.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— <cite>Empress Tatyu menu</cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Though it took a while for our main courses to arrive, the time flew by as we had some great conversation and enjoyed spending time with friends. I'm also glad that Josh had the opportunity to try new tastes in this part of Cleveland history.</p>
Friends, wine, and music2023-02-18T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-02-18-friends-wine-and-music/<p>It'd been over a year since we last <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-12-11-babies-wineries-power-cuts/" title="Post from December 2021">met up at the wineries</a>, so it was great seeing some of the old gang again. Pity Tom P. and Adam couldn't make it.</p>
<p>This time we tried some different places. Starting at <a href="https://www.hundleycellars.com/" title="">Hundley Cellars</a> I met up with Tom B., Linda, and her husband Chris. Surprisingly this was the first time I'd met him. Starting with a pleasant glass of Harvest Red we caught up, but had to sit pretty close to the live band. After a few songs, and a bowl of salt & vinegar almonds, we moved on.</p>
<p>Next stop was <a href="https://www.debonne.com/" title="">Debonne Vineyards</a>. I opted for half a pint of the <a href="https://untappd.com/user/davidmead/checkin/1249201092" title="Untappd check-in">Red Ale by Double Wing Brewing</a>. Once again there was live music, but this time nowhere to sit.</p>
<p>On to <a href="https://www.mcellars.com/" title="">M Cellars</a> where I had a really nice glass of 2021 Noiret. Music here was from a solo acoustic guitar. Laid back and very pleasant.</p>
<p>With the sun setting we made our last stop at <a href="https://www.stonegaitwinery.com/" title="">Stonegait Winery</a>. Just water for me here. Joined by Jess (Tom's wife, and another ex-Optiem/Adcom alum) and two of their boys, we enjoyed the left-over almonds Linda brought from Hundley, and Cheeseburger Pizza.</p>
<p>It was <em>really</em> good reminiscing, hearing new stories from Chris of cycling trips to Trappist Breweries in Belgium and teaching in Utah, as well as getting to meet Tom's family.</p>
<p>Fingers crossed this becomes a yearly tradition.</p>
Moving hosts2023-02-19T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-02-19-moving-hosts/<p>I've been with <a href="https://mediatemple.net/" title="">Media Temple</a> for years. Various incarnations of this blog, clients from when I did freelance web design, sites for friends & family all hosted there.</p>
<p>But now that the acquisition by <a href="https://www.godaddy.com/" title="">GoDaddy</a> is complete I think it's time to move.</p>
<p>I know there's been <a href="https://www.wired.com/2015/05/godaddy-isnt-company-think/" title="Wired article">big changes at GoDaddy</a>, but that sour taste still lingers for me, and they still have some <a href="https://www.theregister.com/2021/11/22/godaddy_managed_wordpress_ssl_keys/" title="The Register article on Hackers in GoDaddy servers">issues</a>.</p>
<p>Also I only have this blog to manage now so I don't need a lot.</p>
<p>After a quick recommendation poll on Slack I am trying <a href="https://www.a2hosting.com/" title="">A2 Hosting</a>.</p>
<p>So things may be a little rocky while I move everything around.</p>
New music haul2023-02-19T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-02-19-new-music-haul/<p>Went on a bit of a buying spree this week. Picked up some great stuff from <a href="https://bandcamp.com/" title="">Bandcamp</a>, so in no particular order...</p>
<h2>Ambient</h2>
<p><a href="https://infraction.bandcamp.com/album/bordeaux" title="">Bordeaux</a>—More slightly chilly, dreamy Russian atmospheres from Beautumn (Alexander Ananyev). This time mixed with distant vocal recordings that sound like found radio broadcasts. Released in 2016 its's been on my wishlist for some time. I think this was the last album he put out under the Beautumn moniker.</p>
<p>Next two by <a href="https://robertrich.com/" title="official site">Robert Rich</a>, one of my favourite musicians.</p>
<p><a href="https://robertrich.bandcamp.com/album/offering-to-the-morning-fog" title="">Offering to the Morning Fog</a>—Released as a 'name your price' album this calm and relaxing, but has a lot of layers. In the same vein as his Somnium releases. Track 7 is a continuous mix of all 6 tracks, coming in just over an hour.</p>
<p><a href="https://robertrich.bandcamp.com/album/neurogenesis" title="">Neurogenesis</a>—This is one of Robert Rich's more electronic albums. A mix of analog and digital sounds it dives into pulsing patterns like some of the track titles suggest; such as 'Dendritic' and 'Neurogenesis'.</p>
<p><a href="https://poemme.bandcamp.com/album/frozen-passages" title="">Frozen Passages</a>—Another one sitting in my wishlist for some time. This album is by poemme (Angela Klimek) who, with her husband Andrew, also runs <a href="https://ambientsleepingpill.com/" title="streaming music for sleep, meditation or study">Ambient Sleeping Pill</a> internet radio here in Cleveland. This is another chilly atmospheres album, but not bleak. She describes it as...</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://poemme.bandcamp.com/album/frozen-passages">
<p>Frozen Passages is an imagined journey into the far north of the continent, through boreal forest, across vast, barren landscape, through the iciest storm, and eventually finding warm refuge as the night brings a welcome calm to the tundra.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— poemme, <cite>Album page on Bandcamp</cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Electronic/Dance</h2>
<p><a href="https://orbitalofficial.bandcamp.com/album/optical-delusion" title="">Optical Delusion</a>—The latest album by Orbital. 30 years and still going strong! This already has two of my favourite tracks this year; 'Ringa Ringa' with The Mediaeval Baebes, and 'Dirty Rat' with Sleaford Mods. I can see this moving up the list of my top Orbital albums.</p>
<p><a href="https://orbitalofficial.bandcamp.com/album/smiley" title="">Smiley</a>—Another one by Orbital, this time a single from the '30 Something' album. Banger!</p>
<p><a href="https://danielavery.bandcamp.com/album/ultra-truth" title="">Ultra Truth</a>—I can't say I'd heard of Daniel Avery before this album. I had seen <a href="https://darko.audio/" title="audiophile reviews">John Darko</a> mention it a couple of times, and it had appeared on several "top lists" from people I follow like <a href="https://hicks.design/journal/hicks-music-of-2022" title="blog post of music from 2022">Jon Hicks</a> and <a href="https://colly.com/articles/twenty-twentytwo-in-music" title="2022 in music blog post">Simon Collison</a>. This is a huge album. Great swelling distortions then subtle pianos, the some D&B.</p>
<h2>Wrapping up</h2>
<p>I downloaded all of these as FLAC files, and made sure I paid a little over on the 'name your price' ones.</p>
<p>I still have 200 left on <a href="https://bandcamp.com/davidmead/wishlist" title="">wishlist</a>. How does it never get any smaller?</p>
Gowalla is back2023-03-10T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-03-10-gowalla-is-back/<p>Back when social networks were new, and sharing locations was coming to the fore, <a href="https://www.gowalla.com/" title="">Gowalla</a> was my preferred choice.</p>
<p>It felt more polished, more fun to use, and an all round better experience than Foursquare. I even managed to <a href="https://flic.kr/p/9qo5rf" title="2011 photo of me getting a Gowalla t-shirt for Josh">catch up with some of the team at SxSW one year</a>, just before the Facebook acquisition and eventually shuttering.</p>
<p>Now, 12 years later, it <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2023/03/10/gowalla-location-based-social-app/" title="Techcrunch article">launched anew at this years SxSW</a>. And even though I've left using social media behind, I thought I'd give this a go.</p>
<p>The sense of play and discovery is still there. I really like the illustrations and refreshed sticker designs too.</p>
<p>Sign up was a little bumpy, but I put that down to an influx of new users. The interface for creating new places, and checking in, is easy to use. Only available on iOS at the moment.</p>
<p>I'm interested to see, not only where it'll go, but if/how I'll use it. The world is a very different place.</p>
UK Pies and Fries2023-03-11T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-03-11-uk-pies-and-fries/<p>My Sister-in-law sent me a video of a new place opening on the other side of Cleveland. Called <a href="https://ukpiesandfries.com/" title="">UK Pies and Fries</a> they serve "British style pies" along with chips (fries) and gravy.</p>
<p>Located round the corner from <a href="https://www.grayhousepizza.com/" title="">Gray House Pizza</a> (same building, same owners), the small storefront has counter seating for 3.</p>
<p>Today they had Cheese & Potato, Mexican Chicken, and Steak & Ale on offer. I went for Steak & Ale with gravy on the chips.</p>
<p>Other customers were a woman from Sheffield whose been here for 17 years, and an American Grandmother who loves BritBox and wanted to try some UK grub. They both got the food to-go, where I sat at the counter to eat.</p>
<img class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-03-11-pie-chips-gravy.jpeg" alt="Steak and ale pie with chips and gravy" width="802" height="802" />
<p>I made ample use of the HP Sauce and Malt Vinegar provided. The pie was delicious. A nice thick crust with a hearty filling of meat. Large portion of chips, which were good, and the gravy was ok. With a drink it only cost $13, which is a steal.</p>
<p>Chatting with one of the friendly staff, she told me they are hoping to expand the pie choices when the Head Baker (originally from Hull apparently) returns. I echoed the lady from Sheffield in suggesting Curry Sauce and Mushy Peas as additions; Both staples in Chip Shops back home.</p>
<p>I also got to sample a homemade Bakewell Tart which was very good.</p>
<p>This was some of the most authentic UK food I've had since moving to Cleveland. Definitely worth the drive, and I'm looking forward to another visit soon.</p>
Moving Out2023-03-22T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-03-22-moving-out/<p>Big day today. Huge, even.</p>
<p>I took the day off work and helped <a href="http://joshuajohnmead.com/" title="" rel="child met">Josh</a> move out.</p>
<p>The past week has been spent making sure he's packing all of his stuff into every available box, tote bin, and suitcase we have. Getting it moved downstairs to the garage. Staged for a quick loading today.</p>
<p>Last Sunday we took him him shopping to make sure he had the essentials. Salt, pepper, their requisite shakers, dried goods (rice, cereal, etc.), cleaning goods, a microwave. Toilet paper. Anything you "expect" to be there when you reach for it.</p>
<p>A 10:30am we picked up the U-Haul he booked and started packing, with the help of his friend Jack. Around midday the convey set off.</p>
<p>Jack's Dad driving the truck, followed by three cars full of clothes, food, and miscellaneous "stuff".</p>
<p>Two-and-half hours later we arrived and started lugging everything upstairs to the new apartment.</p>
<img class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-03-22-new-apartment.jpeg" alt="furniture randomly placed in empty room" width="706" height="706" />
<p>Jack and his Dad returned the empty U-Haul and started the trip back. I stayed, unpacking my car, while Josh picked up Kris.</p>
<p>After thanks and hugs I made the drive back (with the microwave, as it came with one), leaving them to get situated and deciding where everything should go.</p>
<p>It's been a long day and I ache all over.</p>
<p>Big day today.</p>
Lay offs at work2023-03-23T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-03-23-lay-offs/<p>Being told that 11 people had been laid off today, five in our department. one of which we were in a meeting with not 30 minutes previous.</p>
<p>Reached out on LinkedIn where I was connected.</p>
Potato & Vegetable Croquettes2023-03-24T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-03-24-croquettes/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-03-24-croquettes.jpeg" alt="Potato and vegatable croquettes with katsu sauce" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>I was in Mentor on Friday and treated myself to lunch at <a href="https://kikos-kitchen.square.site/" title="Japanese style food made fresh">Kiko's Kitchen</a>. I went for a Chicken Katsu rice bowl, but they also had a special Potato & Vegetable Croquette served with Katsu sauce (photo).</p>
<p>There were delicious!</p>
Game Gather2023-03-25T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-03-25-game-gather/<p>Up and at 'em early today. Swing by Biagio's to grab coffee and a half dozen donuts. Then it's off to Medina. I'm attending <a href="https://ctmiller.net/" title="Chris Miller">Chris</a>'s second 'Game Gather' weekend.</p>
<p>Along with some of the usual faces from Game Night, I finally met <a href="https://vandermore.com/" title="">David Moore</a> face-to-face, which was nice as he'd travelled in from out-of-State.</p>
<p>After some catching up we started the day with a couple rounds of <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cheapassgames/get-lucky-the-kill-doctor-lucky-card-game" title="Kickstarter page">Get Lucky</a>, the Kill Doctor Lucky Card Game. A fun deck-building game, which was pretty easy to pick up.</p>
<p>Rachel also brought quick game called Poison (I think?), where you had to wager against the other players in matching tokens with dice rolls. A quick coffee break and then it's on to the big games.</p>
<h2>Vampire: The Masquerade – Vendetta</h2>
<p>I've <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-07-06-game-night-vendetta/" title="post from 2021">played this before</a> and always enjoy it. Using the same archetypes from White Wolf's <abbr title="Role playing game">RPG</abbr> (which I used to play & run back in the UK), you play as one of the many vampire clans in Chicago. Plotting, and battling to acquire control of the city.</p>
<img class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-03-25-vampire.jpeg" alt="not many tokens at the beginning" width="706" height="706" />
<p>Halfway through we broke for lunch.</p>
<h2>Cthulhu: Death May Die</h2>
<p>Next up was <a href="https://cmon.com/product/cthulhu-death-may-die/cthulhu-death-may-die" title="">Cthulhu: Death May Die</a>. I'd never played this before–It was a lot of fun. With the usual Lovecraftian stakes of death, madness, or both, this is a co-operative game where we make our way around the "board" trying to stay alive and destroy certain items before the "big bad" is summoned.</p>
<img class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-03-25-cthulu.jpeg" alt="a lot of monsters on the board" width="706" height="706" />
<p>The Elder God was summoned and it was touch-and-go, but thanks to a self-sacrifice from David, we beat it!</p>
<h2>Calling it</h2>
<p>This week has felt particularly long, so when it got to 8pm I called it a night. Chris & Cat were great hosts. I had a lot of fun playing new games, catching up, and relaxing for a while. Here's to next years Game Gather.</p>
Using Kimchi2023-04-03T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-04-03-using-kimchi/<p>We were gifted a jar of homemade kimchi. This is <strong>delicious!</strong></p>
<p>But now I'm the only one in the house who'll eat something like this, I wanted to try something new.</p>
<p>A quick search revealed a Korean stew named <a href="https://www.koreanbapsang.com/budae-jjigae-army-stew/" rel="external" title="Korean cooking blog recipe">Budae Jjigae</a>, or "Army Stew".</p>
<img class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-04-03-kimchi.jpeg" width="706" height="706" alt="half empty glass jar of kimchi" />
<p>Now I didn't have everything in the house to follow the recipe exactly, but I did have Spam, Broth, Ramen, Kimchi, Onions, Scallions, and Garlic.</p>
<p>I fried the Spam first, then added the Kimchi. I poured in the broth, kimchi juice, onions, garlic, and a dash of sugar. Let the whole thing bubble away then added the ramen. That did soak up a lot of the broth, but it tasted great.</p>
<p>If we get any more of that Kimchi I will make it again.</p>
The Coronation2023-05-06T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-05-06-the-coronation/<p>Today was The Coronation of King Charles III.</p>
<p>I didn't wake up early for it, though did lend my Union Jack to Rena who watched it live.</p>
<p>I caught up with the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/nWmPw8dok3Q?feature=share" title="">BBC's live stream on YouTube</a>. It captured all the pomp and ceremony.</p>
<p>Certainly hit me in the "the feels" when <a href="https://youtu.be/MiXgOQ9_-RI" title="YouTube video">Zadok the Priest</a> (Handel's Coronation Anthem No. 1) started during the anointing. Was a favourite piece of music for my Dad.</p>
<p>This is the first coronation to happen in my lifetime. Though I have seen footage of Queen Elizabeth's, I didn't remember how much moving around there was. Lots of undressing, dressing, changing chairs. This "dance" choreographed over hundreds of years.</p>
<p>I spoke to my sister later in the day. She'd caught most of it on TV. Tomorrow there is a street party happening. Hopefully the rain will hold off for them. I wonder if there'll be <a href="https://www.royal.uk/the-coronation-quiche" title="Official recipe">Coronation Quiche"</a>?</p>
New soles2023-05-07T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-05-07-new-soles/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-05-07-resoled-mephisto-shoe.jpeg" alt="hand holding brown leather shoes" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>In 2016 I dropped off some clothes at Goodwill. I was in the market for some replacement shoes so I thought I'd look here. Lo-and-behold I found a brown pair (that fit) for about $30.</p>
<p>Slightly worn and made by a brand I'd never heard of, <a href="https://www.mephisto.com/us/" title="US website for shoes">Mephisto</a>. After a quick clean they became my go-to pair.</p>
<p>Last year I noticed they had worn down considerably, so I looked to get a new pair. It was then that I discovered 1) Mephisto shoes are in the over $300 range and 2) they offered a <a href="https://www.mephistoresole.com/" title="mephisto shoe & sandal refurbishment">refurbishment service</a> for about $160.</p>
<p>After a slight delay, due to parts coming from France, I received my (virtually) new shoes complete with cedar blocks, new laces, and fully polished.</p>
<p>Here's to another 6 years of wear.</p>
Wardrobe change2023-05-07T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-05-07-wardrobe-change/<p>This weekend saw the start of 立夏・Rikka, according to the <a href="https://smallseasons.guide/" title="">Small Seasons Guide</a>.</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://smallseasons.guide/">
<p>立夏・Rikka・Start of Summer</p>
<p>The songs of summer begin. Frogs start their singing, and birds chirp in the forests. Worms surface from underground, bamboo shoots begin to sprout.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— <cite><a href="https://smallseasons.guide/" id="ow3372" __is_owner="true">smallseasons.guide</a></cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>So I figure this serves as good a reason as any to swap out to my Summer wardrobe.</p>
<p>To be clear I am in <em>no way</em> a "fashion horse" (cue Balenciaga vs. H&M meme). This is more swapping out my <a href="https://www.wigwam.com/products/el-pine-f2044?variant=42833076387971" title="WigWam El-Pine socks">heavy socks</a> and t-shirts with lighter weight ones. Away go the majority of long sleeved shirts, replaced with short sleeved.</p>
<p>A few items go in the donate pile thanks to my Winter-induced belly expansion. Hopefully this comes down a little so the same fate doesn't befall my favourite Summer shirts.</p>
<p>Over the years I've cultivated this habit, mainly due Ohio's swing between bitter Winters and searing Summers.</p>
New power spoiled Destiny 2 storyline for me2023-05-15T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-05-15-new-power-spoiled-destiny2-for-me/<p>With less than a week left in the current season, I've finally came back to finish the storyline for Lightfall. The reason? It's the new power they introduced, Strand.</p>
<p>I found Strand <strong>annoying</strong>. So much so, that I abandoned the campaign storyline and have only played the seasonal content up to this weekend.</p>
<p>One of the trailer reveals is the introduction of being able to act like Spiderman—Swinging around this new neon city called Neomuna. Great!</p>
<div class="yt-container">
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lfoeZLp5A7k" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
</div>
<p>Only not so much.</p>
<p>As part of each story mission you run across these "strand columns" which gives you the new power for a limited time. I get it from a story and ability introduction view, but the grapple ability is tied to your grenade slot. Meaning it has a limited amount and a cooldown. And I lose grenades as an "ad clear" option.</p>
<p>If I mis-timed the swing or release, and I used up the 2 swings I had, I died from falling. Meaning I go back to the last checkpoint and then have to wait for the grenade energy to build up again. I found this infuriating.</p>
<p>This weekend I sat down and forced myself to finish the story. I did not have much fun, which is a real shame as everything else (storyline, setting) was right in my wheelhouse.</p>
<p>Now it's completed, I unlocked Strand as a usable power and found out you <em>don't even have to use the grapple</em>. There are other actual grenades that I can equip in that slot. In the story mission you weren't given any other option.</p>
<p>This was such a wasted opportunity. It has soured me on using this power in the game.</p>
<p>Here's hoping that none of the upcoming story missions need the use of Strand's grapple.</p>
My Father-in-law died2023-05-22T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-05-22-my-father-in-law-died/<p>We got the sad news last night.</p>
<p>After a long struggle with various health issues, compounded by cancer, Julie's dad died last night.</p>
<p>He served as a Marine in the Vietnam War. Worked as a telephone engineer for "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_System" title="Wikipedia entry for Bell Telephone Company">Ma Bell</a>", AT&T, and later as an independent contractor.</p>
<p>I always felt welcomed and supported by Jim. He helped with my visa, financially when we moved over by co-signing, led me through the radically different taxes system, helped with practical home repairs, and what little I know of US sports is pretty much thanks to him.</p>
<p>He was always curious. Asking questions about a multitude of topics. But we could also just sit and watch a crazy 80's action film.</p>
<p>He was a big part of my life. He was my second father. We will all miss him.</p>
YouTube shame pop-up2023-08-17T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-08-17-youtube-shame-pop-up/<p>Today when I visited YouTube I faced an empty homepage, with a pop-up stating "Your watch history is off".</p>
<img class="img-border" height="554" width="706" alt="screenshot of empty YouTube homepage with pop-up" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-08-17-ss-youtube-homepage.png" />
<p><a href="https://martymcgui.re/2023/08/17/115406/" title="blog post from Marty McGuire">I wasn't the only one who noticed</a>. But to what end? I guess in an attempt to shame me into turning it back on?</p>
<p>I turned off <a href="https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/95725" title="Explanation on Google Support">YouTube's watch history feature</a> off some time ago. Since doing that the homepage has been a mixed bag of videos ranging from the same thing I just watched (but from different people) to just random stuff.</p>
<p>But that was fine. I normally go straight to my subscription page and watch from that. When I did end up on there it was usually via reflective click on the logo.</p>
<p>But why take <em>this</em> approach has me scratching my head.</p>
<p>The watch history feature is directly tied to feeding the algorithm and providing "relevant" video recommendations. I'm sure it also feeds into the profile they build up on you as a user. That's why I turned it off—And you have too dive in to turn it off. I doubt anyone has done this by accident.</p>
<p>So for users like me this is, dare I say, an improvement. Removed is the temptation of being drawn into mindlessly clicking through. Exactly what we wanted.</p>
<p>I wonder how soon the usual homepage will be restored? Is the next step to blank out my subscriptions?</p>
Gamers on YouTube I enjoy2023-08-19T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-08-19-gamers-on-youtube-I-enjoy/<p>There are a handful of video games I play extensively on the Xbox. Three I play the most are <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/tags/thedivision2/" title="">The Division 2</a>, <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/tags/destiny2/" title="my posts">Destiny 2</a>, and <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/tags/thelongdark/" title="my posts">The Long Dark</a>.</p>
<p>Each of those have been around for over 5 years; Building, changing, and expanding.</p>
<p>These are the YouTube accounts I follow to keep me in-the-loop. If you play, check them out.</p>
<h2>The Division 2</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@NothingButSkillz" title="">NothingButSkillz</a> I've watched since playing the original Division game. Gameplay and general news</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@DodRegnbue" title="">DodRegenbue</a> is fantastic for build-crafting. Going in-depth with stats & talent interactions</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@hutchler" title="">Hutchler</a> is a new follow (via DodRegnbue). Speedrunner putting out some very interesting guides and history videos</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/TheLtBuzzLitebeer" title="">LtBuzzLightbeer</a> is another person from the original Division game. Less gameplay, more general video game news now</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@RoninKaze77" title="">Ronin Kaze</a> shares his builds and gameplay</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@NGN" title="">NGN</a> puts out great lore videos, and has even had his work used by Massive Studios, creators of the game</li>
</ul>
<p>Honorable mentions to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@LyricalFighter" title="">Lyrical Fighter</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@AArtjoMM" title="">AArtjoMM</a>. I'm no PvP'er but these two are good, and make me laugh.</p>
<h2>Destiny 2</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@timesausages" title="">Time Sausage</a> is a barmy Welshman putting out gameplay and really good walkthroughs</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@AztecrossGaming" title="">Aztecross</a> is fun to watch and puts together some very good long-form pieces about the state of Destiny</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@MynameisByf" title="">My Name Is Byf</a> puts together rich, in-depth, videos explaining the lore within the game. And theres a lot</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@DattoDoesDestiny" title="">Datto</a>, was a go-to for his "vault cleaning" videos. And, like Aztecross, puts out some pieces about the direction of the game too</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@AbbyHour" title="">AbbyHour</a> was the first person to explain <abbr title="Destiny Inventory Manager">DIM</abbr> and loadout optimization in a way that made sense to me</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@paul_tassi" title="">Paul Tassi</a> is a writer for Forbes who shares his personal views about Destiny (and other games)</li>
</ul>
<h2>The Long Dark</h2>
<p>There is only one YouTube channel I watch for the The Long Dark and that's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Zaknafein" title="">Zaknafein</a>. Great videos showing walk-throughs, gameplay, and his take on the direction of the game.</p>
Vegas Dust2023-08-27T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-08-27-listen-vegas-dust/<p>I've been reading James A. Reeves blog, Atlas Minor, for sometime now. He did a post a day in 2020, now collected as <a href="https://atlasminor.com/tag/notes-from-the-end-of-a-world/" title="">Notes from the end of a world</a> which I enjoyed.</p>
<p>Moving from New York to Nevada was also captured on the blog, and now he's released this album. Maybe a companion piece to the journey?</p>
<p>From the liner notes</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://atlasminor.bandcamp.com/album/vegas-dust">
<p>A few minutes after midnight in the Mojave desert, a preacher appears on a dead radio channel: “The devil’s job is to deceive you. The devil’s job is to make you think that God can’t do nothin’ for you, that God don’t care about you.”</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— James A. Reeves, <cite>Album page on Bandcamp</cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>There is a definite sense of driving at night. Shapes looming up, then receding, in your headlights. Standing under the bright fluorescence of a gas station, peering into the dark.</p>
<p>Snippets from AM radio shows weave in-and-out of the slowly evolving atmospheres. Everything covered in a grainy crackle.</p>
<p>I've had this on heavy rotation the past couple of days.</p>
<p>Would make a great companion to some Stars of the Lid.</p>
Oh no2023-08-29T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-08-29-oh-no/<p>It was only Sunday that I <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-08-27-listen-vegas-dust/" title="">posted about a new ambient album</a> where I said it'd make a nice companion to the music of The Stars of the Lid.</p>
<p>Then yesterday I saw <a href="https://hicks.design/journal/brian-mcbride-1970-2023" title="">Jon Hicks post</a> about the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CwdDLnWtCO-/" title="official instagram post">sudden death of Brian McBride</a>, one half of <abbr title="Stars of the Lid">SOTL</abbr>, that weekend.</p>
<p>Like Jon, I <strong>loved</strong> their music. Always held out hope that they'd make another album.</p>
<p>My favourite album is 'The Tired Sounds of'.</p>
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 42px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=4250292041/size=small/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/track=4038927639/transparent=true/" seamless=""><a href="https://starsofthelid.bandcamp.com/album/the-tired-sounds-of">The Tired Sounds of by Stars of the Lid</a></iframe>
<p>I'm going to take Jon's advice and grab McBride's '<a href="https://starsofthelid.bandcamp.com/album/the-effective-disconnect" title="Bandcamp page">The Effective Disconnect</a>' off my Bandcamp wishlist.</p>
<p>R.I.P.</p>
Arbitrary photo challenge2023-09-01T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-09-01-september-challenge/<p>I am <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-09-04-the-pox" title="my new post">plagued with a literal pox</a>. For the last (checks notes) 3 weeks, confined to the house due to being contagious. I still have 1 more week until I'm free—Fingers crossed.</p>
<p>So, to pull me out of the dumps, how about an arbitrary photo challenge for September?</p>
<h2>Rules</h2>
<ul>
<li>1 photo a day</li>
<li>No repeats (avoid a selfie in the same chair 30 times)
</li><li>Shot, in landscape, on my iPhone 13 mini</li>
<li>Apply <a href="https://theeditingstudio.co/presets/vsco-p6-preset-for-lightroom-and-lightroom-mobile" title="Description of effect">the 'P6' filter</a> using <a href="https://www.vsco.co/" title="">VSCOCAM app</a></li>
<li>Cropped to 16:9 ratio</li>
<li>Posted that day on my blog</li>
</ul>
Let's see what we end up.Photo 01, September challenge2023-09-02T03:14:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-09-01-photo-01/<img width="1000" height="562" class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-09-01-home-desk.jpeg" alt="Looking down at my messy desk at home" />Photo 02, September challenge2023-09-03T03:14:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-09-02-milo-birthday/<img width="1000" height="562" class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-09-02-milo-birthday.jpeg" alt="close up of sheepadoodle face" />
Photo 03, September challenge2023-09-04T03:14:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-09-03-driving/<img width="1000" height="562" class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-09-03-driving.jpeg" alt="a clear road, as seen from inside car" />
Photo 04, September challenge2023-09-04T03:14:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-09-04-dog-walking/<img width="1000" height="562" class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-09-04-dog-walking.jpeg" alt="long haired goldendoodle on a leash" />
1000 year long track as radio2023-09-04T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-09-04-longplayer-roon/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/ss-2023-09-04-longplayer-roon.png" alt="screenshot of Roon on iPad" /></p>
<p>I've been using <a href="https://roon.app/en/" title="a platform for all the music in your home">Roon</a> to listen to all my music for sometime now.</p>
<p>Today I found I could set up the <a href="https://longplayer.org/" title="Official site">Longplayer</a> live stream as a Roon Radio Station.</p>
<ul>
<li>Open the app</li>
<li>Choose 'My Live Radio' from the menu</li>
<li>Click/Touch '+ Add Station'</li>
<li>Manually add station by pasting in the stream URL - http://icecast.spc.org:8000/longplayer</li>
<li>Complete the name, icon, and description (optional)</li>
</ul>
<p>Now I can stream the "one thousand year long musical composition" while I drift off to sleep.</p>
The Pox2023-09-04T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-09-04-the-pox/<p>Julie got shingles at the end of July. Not great.</p>
<p>On August 4th I went and got jabbed with the first dose of the shingles vaccine.</p>
<p>On the weekend on the 12th Julie's shingles have pretty much gone, and I started itching.</p>
<p>Sitting with the Doctor on the 15th she tells me "well it's not shingles. Have you had chickenpox?" I tell her I grow up during the 70's in the UK—I've had everything.</p>
<p>The rash is on both sides (shingles presents only on one) and across my back. A working theory is a reaction to the vaccine.</p>
<p>As I was already exposed to the shingles from Julie, then injected with live chickenpox, it all hit the fan.</p>
<p>I'm on my way with a letter stating I'm contagious (work from home / not to mix in public). Pick up 2 sets of tablets, one nearly as big as my little finger!</p>
<p>At its height I felt covered in sunburnt poison ivy! Unable to get more than a couple of hours sleep at a time. Smell of Calamine lotion triggering childhood memories. Juggling that, work, and traveling between two (empty) houses for family, took its toll.</p>
<p>It's now September and after speaking to the Doctor's office I'm still WFH until the 11th. Apparently it takes as long as it takes because it's a virus. The pox does seems to be loosening its hold, down to that of a mildly itchy jumper.</p>
<p>Feeling I've been through the wringer I hope now it's not too long until I bounce back.</p>
Photo 05, September challenge2023-09-06T03:14:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-09-05-84-air-quality-alert/<img width="1000" height="562" class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-09-05-84-air-quality-alert.jpeg" alt="blue sky with clouds on horizon" />
Photo 06, September challenge2023-09-07T03:14:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-09-06-starfield/<img width="1000" height="562" class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-09-06-starfield.jpeg" alt="TV showing splash screen for Starfield game" />
Molly Holzschlag died2023-09-07T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-09-07-molly-holzschlag-died/<p>I heard <a href="https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/090523_molly_holzschlag/tucsons-molly-holzschlag-known-as-the-fairy-godmother-web-dead-60/" title="Obituary from Tucson Sentinel">Molly Holzschlag died</a> yesterday. Quite a few of the "old guard"; <a href="https://meyerweb.com/eric/thoughts/2023/09/06/memories-of-molly/" title="Eric Meyer's blog">Eric</a>, <a href="https://brucelawson.co.uk/2023/goodbye-molly-holzschlag/" title="Bruce Lawson's blog">Bruce</a>, and <a href="https://www.lireo.com/remembering-molly-holzschlag/" title="">Deborah</a>, posted their memories and stories about her.</p>
<p>I was lucky to have met Molly a couple of times, the first at SxSW back in 2007. She was a friendly force of good for the web. I enjoyed her writing advocating for Web Standards, and admired her will in the face of great adversity in her later life.</p>
<p>My last memory of her is receiving an envelope of original Technorati stickers in the mail that she'd sent. That must've been about 5 years ago.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the hard work, and taking time to say hello. You'll be missed.</p>
Photo 07, September challenge2023-09-08T03:14:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-09-07-patio-lunch/<img width="1000" height="562" class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-09-07-patio-lunch.jpeg" alt="Milo, our Sheepadoodle, wants some fries" />
Photo 08, September challenge2023-09-08T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-09-08-watchdog/<img width="1000" height="562" class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-09-08-watchdog.jpeg" alt="Rosie, our Goldendoodle, lying on the couch watching out the window" />
Photo 09, September challenge2023-09-09T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-09-09-did-not-happen/<p>Sleeping, cleaning, laundry, and Starfield got in the way.</p>
Photo 10, September challenge2023-09-10T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-09-10-flyby/<img width="1000" height="562" class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-09-10-fly-by.jpeg" alt="3 helicopters, in formation, fly overhead" />
Photo 11, September challenge2023-09-11T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-09-11-mum/<img width="1000" height="562" class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-09-11-mum.jpeg" alt="Mum and Josh at Hadliegh Castle, 2018" />
Reply-Who reads my blog?2023-09-11T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-09-11-reply-who-reads-my-blog/<p>Hey Terence.</p>
<p>I read your blog via RSS. Even linked back to a couple of your posts too over the years.</p>
<p>I'm a Brit living in Ohio, USA. My site uses Eleventy. I too have zero analytics on my site, so my working assumption is I have a couple people who read because they know me :-) I don't have comments on, and have yet to show webmentions.</p>
<p>Been blogging since the mid-2000's I think, though most of that is now in a Wordpress export that was corrupted when moving hosts. Some day I'll get around to finding a way to reinstate those posts here.</p>
Photo 12, September challenge2023-09-12T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-09-12-lunch/<img width="1000" height="562" class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-09-12-lunch.jpeg" alt="Takeout sweet and sour chicken" />
Photo 13, September challenge2023-09-13T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-09-13-empty-spot/<img width="1000" height="562" class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-09-13-empty-spot.jpeg" alt="empty parking spot" />
Photo 14, September challenge2023-09-14T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-09-14-pizza-pickup/<img width="1000" height="562" class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-09-14-pizza-pickup.jpeg" alt="empty counter looking into kitchen" />
Photo 15, September challenge2023-09-15T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-09-15-vets/<img width="1000" height="562" class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-09-15-vets.jpeg" alt="old xray light in vets office" />
Photo 16, September challenge2023-09-16T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-09-16-dusted/<img width="1000" height="562" class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-09-16-dusted.jpeg" alt="looking down onto a polished wooden table witha candle and plant in the middle" />
NOM - Homemade biscuits & gravy2023-09-16T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-09-16-homemade-biscuits-and-gravy/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-09-16-homemade-biscuits-and-sausage-gravy.jpeg" alt="Sausage gravy poured over biscuits" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">NOM - Homemade biscuits & gravy</h1>
<p class="summary">Trying to be better at cooking from scratch</p>
<p>Ate this at Home on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2023-09-16T05:00:01.000Z">September 16, 2023</time>, and noted <q class="">Turned out great. Froze some to give to Josh & Kris.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>I've posted the <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-12-01-sausage-gravy/" title="">sausage gravy recipe</a> I follow here before. This was only the second time I've made the biscuits from scratch though. For something so "simple" it can still be quite stress inducing.</p>
<p>I followed the directions from <a href="https://youtu.be/aA6tmTVVfk4" title="YouTube video">Sugar Spun Run</a>'s video. Her instructions were clear and concise. Good tip was putting the butter in the freezer for 10-20 minutes, then grating it.</p>
<p>I don't bother with pressing out rounds. Just use a knife to divide the dough into 6 squares.</p>
<section class="h-recipe">
<h2>Biscuits</h2>
<h3>Ingredients</h3>
<ul>
<li class="p-ingredient">2 cups all purpose flour</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">1 tablespoon baking powder</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">1 tablespoon sugar</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">1 teaspoon salt</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">6 tablespoons unsalted butter (very cold)</li>
<li class="p-ingredient">¾ cup of milk</li>
</ul>
<div class="e-instructions">
<h3>Directions</h3>
<ol>
<li>Pre-heat oven to 425°F</li>
<li>Mix flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt in a bowl</li>
<li>Grate in cold butter, mix with a fork until it looks like a course crumble</li>
<li>Stir in milk, with spoon, until dough gets "shaggy"</li>
<li>Flour a surface (and your hands) and turn out the dough</li>
<li>Fold, turn 90°, fold again. Repeat this about 6 times using only your hands</li>
<li>Form into a rectangle (about 1" thick) and cut / press out biscuits</li>
<li>Cook for about 15 minutes</li>
</ol>
</div>
</section>
Reply-My kind of weather2023-09-16T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-09-16-reply-my-kind-of-weather/<aside class="right">This post was written for this months IndieWeb carnival on <a href="https://www.jeremycherfas.net/blog/my-kind-of-weather" title="">the topic of My Kind of Weather</a>. If you want to take part, then check the post linked in this paragraph and write as well.</aside>
<p>Growing up in Essex, along the Thames, my kind of weather is generally what we experience in Autumn, or Fall in the USA.</p>
<p>Winds pick up and the days can get a little more overcast. Rain is abundant, clearing out the dust of Summer.</p>
<p>There is still a warmth during the day, though morning & evenings carry a crispness in the air.</p>
<p>Not cold enough that I need layers of thick coats & jumpers. But standing near a fire, or sipping on a hot drink, lets you feel the warmth seep through your body.</p>
<p>Moving to Ohio has only solidified my love of this weather. Here follows the same patterns as the UK. But both Summer & Winter can be taken to extremes.</p>
<p>And September has started to bring my kind of weather in. You can feel the nip in the air when I let the dogs out in the morning. Windows stay open most of the day. Neither AC or heating interrupt the sounds from outside.</p>
<p>Fingers crossed it lasts well in the Winter.</p>
Photo 17, September challenge2023-09-17T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-09-17-gas-station/<img width="1000" height="562" class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-09-17-gas-station.jpeg" alt="gas station pumps" />
Photo 18, September challenge2023-09-18T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-09-18-japanese-eggplant-curry-rice/<img width="1000" height="562" class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-09-18-japanese-eggplant-curry-rice.jpeg" alt="close up of Japanese eggplant curry and rice" />
Photo 19, September challenge2023-09-19T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-09-18-tesla-station/<img width="1000" height="562" class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-09-19-tesla-station.jpeg" alt="Tesla charging stations being installed" />
Photo 20, September challenge2023-09-20T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-09-20-waiting-for-breakfast/<img width="1000" height="562" class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-09-20-waiting-for-breakfast.jpeg" alt="3 empty chairs at the cafe pickup counter" />
Photo 22, September challenge2023-09-22T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-09-22-chicken/<img width="1000" height="562" class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-09-22-chicken.jpeg" alt="Eating fried chicken on the patio" />Photo 23, September challenge2023-09-23T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-09-23-autumn/<img width="1000" height="562" class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-09-23-autumn.jpeg" alt="dog looking out at trees with changing leaves" />Photo 24, September challenge2023-09-24T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-09-24-curried-carrot-soup/<img width="1000" height="562" class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-09-24-curried-carrot-soup.jpeg" alt="portioned out curried carrot soup, made in a vitamix blender, in the fridge" />Photo 26, September challenge2023-09-26T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-09-26-team-lunch/<img width="1000" height="562" class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-09-26-team-lunch.jpeg" alt="Maya. Mexican restaurant in a strip mall" />Photo 28, September challenge2023-09-28T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-09-28-waiting-room/<img width="1000" height="562" class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-09-28-waiting-room.jpeg" alt="Reading a book on my iPad mini in hospital waiting room" />Photo 30, September challenge2023-09-30T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-09-30-coffee/<img width="1000" height="562" class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-09-30-coffee.jpeg" alt="Goose neck kettle, V60 full of coffee, and an empty teal cup " />More thoughts on a digital legacy2023-09-30T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-09-30-more-thoughts-on-digital-legacy/<p>Back in 2021 I jotted down my thoughts on what <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-09-11-this-website-when-i-die/" title="">would happen to this site after I died</a>.</p>
<p>Maudlin I know, but I'm over 50 so...</p>
<p>Wordpress recently announced its <a href="https://wordpress.com/blog/2023/08/25/introducing-the-100-year-plan/" title="">100 Year Plan</a>. For $38,000 you'll get:</p>
<ul><li>Century-long domain registration</li>
<li>Backups and Internet Archive submittal</li>
<li>Enhanced ownership protocols</li>
<li>Hosting</li>
<li>Premier support</li></ul>
<p>All-in-all a great deal, and things I mentioned would be this sites downfall.</p>
<p>The 100 Year Plan also got Chris Coyier thinking, and wrote about <a href="https://chriscoyier.net/2023/09/18/how-long-does-free-hosting-last/" title="">how long free hosting lasts</a>. SPOILER! Not as long as you think.</p>
<p>This was one of the reasons <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-02-19-moving-hosts/" title="">I moved hosting</a>. My "lifetime" free hosting ended with GoDaddy buying Media Temple.</p>
<p>Nothing is forever. Even Wordpress stops at a century.</p>
New-ish music2023-09-30T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-09-30-new-ish-music/<p>I've been saving up my pennies and grabbed some new (and old) albums from <a href="https://bandcamp.com/davidmead/wishlist" title="Bandcamp">my wishlist</a>.</p>
<h2>Ambient</h2>
<p><a href="https://ambientelectronic.bandcamp.com/album/35-free-ambient-electronic-sampler" title="">Free ambient electronic sampler 35</a>—As the name suggests a free sampler from the excellent Spotted Peccary label, though I always pay something for these.</p>
<p><a href="https://astralindustries.bandcamp.com/album/ai-35-ghost-lights" title="">AI-35: Ghost Lights</a>—New album from Rod Modell. This mixes subtle environmental recordings with huge soundscapes that you'd expect from Modell. A return to the territory of one my personal faves, <a href="https://www.discogs.com/release/294662-Roderick-Julian-Modell-The-Autonomous-Music-Project" title="Discogs entry">The Autonomous Music Project</a> maybe? I have to sit with it more to tell.</p>
<p><a href="https://sitenonsite.bandcamp.com/album/tokyo-ep" title="">Tokyo EP</a>—This is a pre-order of the final part of the Japan series from <a href="https://colly.com/" title="personal site">Simon Collison</a>. Looking forward to hearing this soon.</p>
<h2>Electronic / Dance</h2>
<p><a href="https://simianmobiledisco.bandcamp.com/album/murmurations" title="">Murmurations</a>—Released in 2018 from Simian Mobile Disco feels more like a <a href="https://www.bellaunion.com/artist-page/deep-throat-choir" title="">Deep Throat Choir</a> album, with SMD providing backup. Really enjoyable big vocal dance tracks in there.</p>
<p><a href="https://soulwax.bandcamp.com/album/from-deewee" title="">From DEEWEE</a>—Another great Soulwax album, this time from 2017. Recorded in one continuous live take. Full of stonking big tracks that demand to be played loud! Could probably fall under indie rock with the 3 live drummers, etc.</p>
<p><a href="https://aboveboardprojects.bandcamp.com/album/no-photos-on-the-dancefloor" title="">No Photos On The Dancefloor</a>—Another album I found via <a href="https://darko.audio/" title="audiophile reviews">John Darko</a>. 20 tracks charting Berlin techno from 1992–2021.</p>
<p><a href="https://moderncathedrals.bandcamp.com/album/stained-glass" title="">Stained Glass</a>—A 5 track deep techno offering from cv313, who are Steve Hitchell & Rod Modell (again). Found via the, now shelved, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@DubMonitor/videos" title="YouTube">Dub Monitor</a> channel.</p>
Blocked by YouTube2023-10-19T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-10-19-blocked-by-youtube/<p>I wrote about how <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-08-17-youtube-shame-pop-up/" title="">YouTube emptied my homepage</a> because I have my watch history turned off. An option they offer.</p>
<p>Now I can no longer watch <strong>any videos on YouTube</strong><sup><a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-10-19-blocked-by-youtube/#footnote1" title="">1</a></sup> because I run an <a href="https://www.magiclasso.co/" title="Magic Lasso">Ad-Blocker</a> in my browser.</p>
<p>For a while I got this pop-up, with a close button that only appeared after a timer had run.</p>
<img class="img-border" height="1564" width="846" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/ss-youtube-popup-01.png" alt="Ad blockers are not allowed on YouTube" />
<p>Yesterday that was replaced by this pop-up. Giving me three strikes then I'm cut off.</p>
<img class="img-border" height="1548" width="1074" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/ss-youtube-popup-02.png" alt="Video player will be blocked after 1 video" />
<p>Then after watching 3 videos, the final pop-up is this, which replaces the video completely.</p>
<img class="img-border" height="1548" width="1074" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/ss-youtube-popup-03.png" alt="message states Video playback is blocked unless YouTube is allowlisted or the ad blocker is disabled." />
<p>Each time I'm given the opportunity to whitelist YouTube in the Ad Blocker, or pay for YouTube Premium. Neither of which I <del>will</del> want to do.</p>
<p>It seems YouTube has been this rolling this out globally. Alexander Hanff <q>filed a formal complaint against #YouTube with the Irish Data Protection Commissioner for their illegal deployment of #adblock detection technologies.</q> today, which he <a href="https://eupolicy.social/@thatprivacyguy/111261130799704016" title="">posted about on Mastadon</a> (hattip <a href="https://ctmiller.net/" title="" rel="friend">Chris</a>).</p>
<p>I think I'll take this as a sign to step away from the last "social media" site I use for a while. Maybe breaking the habit will be good for me.</p>
<h2>Footnotes</h2>
<ol>
<li id="footnote1">This is while I'm logged in</li>
</ol>
Bandcamp in trouble?2023-10-22T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-10-22-bandcamp-in-trouble/<p><a href="https://bandcamp.com/" title="">Bandcamp</a>, for years now, has been my <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/tags/bandcamp/" title="all my posts tagged Bandcamp">primary source</a> for purchasing new music.</p>
<p>I love the wide choice of genres from both new & established artists. Those artists may email you direct, <em>which is cool</em>. And <a href="https://isitbandcampfriday.com/" title="">Bandcamp Friday</a><sup><a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-10-22-bandcamp-in-trouble/#footnote1" title="footnote">1</a></sup> is a thing. Also they <a href="https://www.bandcampunited.org/" title="official union site">unionized</a>.</p>
<p>But over the last week there's been troubling news around Bandcamp.</p>
<h2>Bad news Bandcamp</h2>
<p>Along with the recent layoffs, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/28/epic-games-is-eliminating-16percent-of-its-workforce-and-selling-bandcamp.html" title="CNBC article">Epic sold off Bandcamp</a> (I had forgotten they bought them) after only a year or so of ownership.</p>
<p>Acquired by <a href="https://www.songtradr.com/" title="">Songtradr</a> (whom I'd never heard off), a music licensing platform, who stated they <q cite="https://www.songtradr.com/blog/posts/songtradr-bandcamp-acquisition">will continue to operate Bandcamp as a marketplace and music community with an artist-first revenue share</q>.</p>
<p>During the acquisition Bandcamp's union were in the midst of negotiations with Epic. There was <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/songtradr-recognize-bandcamp-united?source=direct_link&" title="">a petition</a> (which I signed) for Songtradr to meet with the union too.</p>
<p>Then on October 17th, <a href="https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2023/10/every-member-of-bandcamp-united-union-bargaining-team-was-laid-off.html" title="Hypebot article">Songtradr essentially laid off 50% of Bandcamp's staff</a>, which included <strong>all the union’s eight-person bargaining team</strong>.</p>
<h2>What next?</h2>
<p>Im worried that Songtradr will shoe-horn Bandcamp into their licensing platform, making artists jump ship, and closing the shop.</p>
<p>Also, <a href="https://www.sfgate.com/tech/article/bandcamp-bargaining-union-layoffs-songtradr-18432047.php" title="SF Gate article">with 70% of the vinyl team gone, and the editorial cut by two-thirds</a>, some of what Bandcamp so special has already left.</p>
<p>Fingers-crossed that those remaining can make it work, and Bandcamp Friday will continue.</p>
<h2>Footnotes</h2>
<ol><li id="footnote1">Bandcamp waives their revenue share on all music sold</li></ol>
Real Tigers2023-10-22T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-10-22-real-tigers/<p>Just finished '<a href="https://www.mickherron.com/titles/mick-herron-6/real-tigers/9781399803298/" title="">Real Tigers</a>', the third in Mick Herron's Slough House series. <strong>Fantastic!</strong></p>
<p>After reading the first two, I watched the <a href="https://tv.apple.com/us/show/slow-horses/umc.cmc.2szz3fdt71tl1ulnbp8utgq5o" title="">Apple TV+ adaptations</a> to remind myself of the world before diving into the next. Gary Oldman does a great job bringing Jackson Lamb to life, and the whole production doesn't stray too far from the original material.</p>
<p>But something was missing from Slow Horses (TV), and after finishing Real Tigers (book) I figured out what—Pacing.</p>
<p>The breaking up into parts, need for cliffhangers, and filling of 6 episodes all works against what I can't get enough off in the books.</p>
<p>Herron's pacing makes you feel like you're watching an intricate clockwork machine unspooling in front of you. Getting faster & faster and there's nothing you, or his characters, can do about it.</p>
<p>I'll be starting 'Spook Street' soon.</p>
Foodspotting import complete2023-10-26T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-10-26-foodspotting-import-complete/<p><a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2021-04-28-documenting-food/" title="My Documenting Food post">Back in 2021</a> I posted about starting to add all my exported Foodspotting posts to this site. Today I finished.</p>
<p>All <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/tags/foodspotting/" title="everything tagged foodspotting">178 posts</a>, from 2011–2017. An on-and-off documenting of breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.</p>
<p>It was a fun having my memory jogged by seeing the restaurant names, or photo of a dish. Trips taken, happy hours with co-workers, day's out with the family.</p>
<p>Few things I noticed.</p>
<p>I had a lot of <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2016-11-17-foodspotting/" title="">Lunch Buffets from Bombay Chaat</a>.</p>
<p>A lot of places are now closed.</p>
<p>Some like <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2017-02-08-foodspotting/" title="Coastal bowl">Cafe 55</a> and <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2018-03-02-foodspotting-2/" title="Raspberry And Lemon Doughnut">Bigmouth Donuts</a> occupied the same space, one after another.</p>
2023-10-27 retro2023-10-27T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-10-27-retro/<p>I just read that <a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/iceland-nithing-pole" title="Atlas Obscura article">an ancient way to curse people, by sticking a horse head on a pole</a>, is still going on in Iceland. It's called a níðstöng, or “nithing pole”.</p>
<p>This week saw the Start of the Descending Frost</p>
<figure class="blockquote">
<blockquote cite="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-10-27-retro/link%20to%20original">
<p>霜降・Sōkō・Frost Descends. The first frosts. Rains disappear as the maple leaves and ivy turn yellow.</p>
</blockquote>
<figcaption>— <cite><a href="https://smallseasons.guide/">smallseasons.guide</a></cite></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>It got to be <strong>78℉ in the house</strong> today. We had all the windows open. It's supposed to be Sōkō!</p>
<p>I'd been looking forward to a celebratory work deliverable. Proud of the work that'd been put in, by everyone involved. Turned (and continues to be) sour, contentious, and personally disheartening.</p>
<p>I have 3 weeks of unused vacation time—Maybe it's time for some distance.</p>
Buddha Machine. Finally.2023-11-01T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-11-01-buddha-machine-finally/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" width="445" height="445" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-11-01-buddha-machine.jpeg" alt="orange buddha machine music player" /></p>
<p>If it wasn't for <a href="https://disquiet.com/2023/10/28/scratch-pad-buddha-machine-phones-criterion/" title="Marc Weidenbaum blog post">Mark buying one</a> last week over at Disquiet.com I would've missed it, <strong>again</strong>!</p>
<p>I've been after one since reading about the original launch (probably via Marc) back in 2005. Over the years I've either not had the spare cash, or they've been out-of-stock.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.fm3buddhamachine.com/" title="official site">The Buddha Machine</a> was designed by Christiaan Virant and Zhang Jian (jointly as FM3) in Beijing, China.</p>
<p>Described as <q>a strangely hypnotic journey of 9 generative looped tracks that are addictive to body and soul. All of this, simply seamlessly integrated into a box the size of a box of playing cards</q>.</p>
<p>Grab the <a href="https://www.memeantenna.com/products/fm3-buddha-machine-1-2023-reissue" title="product page">2023 reissue from MeMeAntenna</a> while stocks last, if you're interested.</p>
App Defaults2023-11-15T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-11-15-app-defaults/<p>I saw <a href="https://frenetic.ink/2023/11/07/defaults.html" title="Defaults">Kerri Krueger</a>, <a href="https://flamedfury.com/posts/app-defaults/" title="App Defaults">fLaMEd</a>, and <a href="https://brainbaking.com/post/2023/11/app-defaults-in-late-2023/" title="App Defaults In Late 2023">Wouter Groeneveld</a> list their App Defaults and, as I've recently moved to a couple of new defaults myself, thought I'd put mine down too.</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="bold">Mail Client:</span> Hey</li>
<li><span class="bold">Mail Server:</span> Hey</li>
<li><span class="bold">Notes:</span> Notesnook</li>
<li><span class="bold">To-Do:</span> Reminders.app</li>
<li><span class="bold">iPhone Photo Shooting:</span> Camera.app</li>
<li><span class="bold">Photo Management:</span> Photos.app</li>
<li><span class="bold">Photo Editor:</span> Acorn</li>
<li><span class="bold">Calendar:</span> Calendar.app</li>
<li><span class="bold">Cloud file storage:</span> iCloud Drive / NAS</li>
<li><span class="bold">RSS:</span> NetNewsWire</li>
<li><span class="bold">Contacts:</span> Contacts.app</li>
<li><span class="bold">Browser:</span> Safari</li>
<li><span class="bold">Code Editor:</span> Nova</li>
<li><span class="bold">Chat:</span> iMessage / Slack / WhatsApp</li>
<li><span class="bold">Bookmarks:</span> Safari / davidjohnmead.com</li>
<li><span class="bold">Read It Later:</span> Instapaper</li>
<li><span class="bold">Word Processing:</span> Hemingway</li>
<li><span class="bold">Spreadsheets:</span> Numbers</li>
<li><span class="bold">Presentations:</span> Keynote</li>
<li><span class="bold">Shopping Lists:</span> Reminders.app</li>
<li><span class="bold">Meal Planning:</span> N/A</li>
<li><span class="bold">Budgeting & Personal Finance:</span> Numbers</li>
<li><span class="bold">News:</span> NetNewsWire / Legible News</li>
<li><span class="bold">Music:</span> Roon & Roon Arc (self-hosted music files)</li>
<li><span class="bold">Podcasts:</span> Pocketcasts</li>
<li><span class="bold">Password Management:</span> 1Password</li>
</ul>
Sushi lunch2023-11-17T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-11-17-sushi/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-11-17-sushi.jpeg" alt="2 types of sushi roll on a plate with wasabi and ginger" width="500" height="500" /></p>
<p>Decided to have lunch at <a href="https://www.isshoniramen.com/" title="">ISSHO NI RAMEN</a>. Ordered the 3 roll lunch special; 'Rock N Roll', 'Spicy Tuna Roll', and the 'Negihama Roll' (not shown).</p>
<p>All were really good and it came with Miso Soup. I couldn't finish the Tempura Vegetable appetizer which I'd also ordered.</p>
My Mother-in-law died2023-12-07T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-12-07-my-mother-in-law-died/<p>Julie's mum died tonight. She got the call a few hours after leaving the hospital.</p>
<p>We'd all been sitting with Linda that day. Julie & Jamie having to talk about "making her comfortable" with the staff. It broke us all when Josh called to say his goodbyes. This was her second battle with cancer.</p>
<p>Linda was a wonderfully warm and caring person. Loved crafts, and was a great photographer.</p>
<p>Worked as an Executive Assistant for "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaufmann's" title="Wikipedia entry">Kaufmann's</a>", May Company, and later Macy's. Always organized and a massive help to us. Even flew over to the UK with empty suitcases to help us move.</p>
<p>I always felt I could talk to her. She knew just the right present to give someone, and was a great support when she became a Grandmother.</p>
<p>She was a big part of my life. My second mother. We will all miss her deeply.</p>
Ham and Eggs2023-12-27T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-12-27-ham-and-eggs/<p><img class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-12-27-ham-eggs.jpeg" alt="home cooked ham and eggs” width=" 500"="" height="500" /></p>We now have 3 dogs2023-12-27T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-12-27-we-have-3-dogs-now/<img class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-12-27-we-have-3-dogs-now.jpeg" alt="(l to r) Milo, Max, and Rosie looking out a window" width="1000" height="562" />
<p>We've adopted my Mother-in-law's dog, Max.</p>
<p>We were worried how he'd get along with other dogs. Being 14, an old man in dog years, he was set in his ways. Also losing some vision & hearing makes it difficult.</p>
<p>But with only one "accident" he settled in really quickly.</p>
<p>There's still the occasionally squabble, but all three now join in barking & howling at whatever is passing by our large Living Room window.</p>
<p>Taken with the <a href="https://westfilm.club/" title="">WEST Camera app</a>.</p>
Gas leak!2023-12-28T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-12-28-gas-leak/<p>Around 6pm there was a bang on our front door. It was the postman. Yelling above the dogs going mental, he told me he could smell gas out front.</p>
<p>I went to check and yes, I could smell something.</p>
<p>I called the emergency number. Within 30 minutes someone from Dominion was here and confirmed there was a leak on the service line.</p>
<img src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2023-12-28-gas-leak.jpeg" width="1000" height="564" class="img-border" />
<p>Around 8pm a truck turned up with digging equipment. Luckily they only had to replace the line near the meter. An hour-or-so later we're back up and running. Leak fixed and heating restored.</p>
<p>I hate to think what could've have happened.</p>
<p>Tomorrow I'm going to get the postman a little thank you :-)</p>
I am a Grandad2024-01-23T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2024-01-23-now-i-am-a-grandad/<p>Today <a href="http://jameseduardomead.com/" title="">James Eduardo Mead</a> came into the world.</p>
<p>Everyone's doing fine, and I'm looking forward to meeting him.</p>
<img class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2024-01-23-jameseduardomead.jpeg" alt="newborn baby sleeping" width="1000" height="562" />55th Birthday2024-02-04T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2024-02-04-55th-birthday/<img class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2024-02-04-me.jpeg" alt="black and white photo of me" width="1000" height="1000" />
<p>Still here. Collected a few more aches, pains, and wrinkles along the way.</p>
<p>Bacon sandwich for breakfast, while <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/davidmead" title="Twitch">streaming a couple of hours of Destiny 2</a>. Quite a few birthday texts, and well wishes.</p>
<p>Another great score on the presents front. Looking forward to diving into the <a href="http://www.simonstalenhag.se/" title="">Simon Stålenhag</a> book, along with those Turkish Delights and an <a href="https://www.greeneking.co.uk/our-beers/old-speckled-hen/old-speckled-hen" title="">Old Speckled Hen</a> tonight.</p>
<p>New to me is the '<a href="https://susherevans.com/drinks-us-var01/" title="">Drinks & Sinkholes</a>' book. Described as <q cite="https://susherevans.com/drinks-us-var01/">Warm beds, quaint mysteries, and the best rosemary bread this side of Pigsend Creek</q>. Sounds just what I need.</p>
<img class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2024-02-04-presents.jpeg" alt="books and sweets" width="1000" height="562" />TACOS2024-02-08T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2024-02-08-tacos/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2024-02-08-tacos.jpeg" alt="" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">TACOS</h1>
<p class="summary">Taco Fiesta Hinojosa</p>
<p>Ate this at Taco Fiesta Hinojosa on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2024-02-08T05:00:01.000Z">February 8, 2024</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Had 2 Barbacoa and 1 Chicken Fajita, with a side of rice. Tasted fresh-Really delicious.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>My music setup2024-02-10T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2024-02-10-my-music-setup/<p>I've sat down a few times to <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2023-01-22-i-should-do-something" title="">capture this</a>, to no avail. Sometimes long-winded, sometimes a bulleted list. But today's the day.</p>
<p>So here goes.</p>
<h2>History</h2>
<p>I had built up a large collection of music over the years. Vinyl, cassette, CD, and mini-disk. Even some early MP3's.</p>
<p>Only the MP3's, CD's, and mini-disks made the trans-Atlantic move at the turn of the Century.</p>
<p>With the arrival of the iPod & iTunes all those CD's got ripped. Being sold off over the coming years.</p>
<p>That digital library moved from iTunes to <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-07-12-google-kills-play-music" title="">Google Play Music</a>, then to <a href="https://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2020-11-28-iBroadcast" title="">iBroadcast</a>.</p>
<p>It was during the Pandemic, being at home during lock-downs, made me miss the ability to listen to my music "out loud". It had been years since I owned a stereo system with speakers.</p>
<p>My main consumption was via headphones. Either through iPod, phone, or laptop. Only exception was whilst in the car.</p>
<h2>Trying things</h2>
<p>Apple Music/iTunes had changed, a lot, since I'd used them last. I found it complicated and confusing, So I bought <a href="https://swinsian.com/" title="">Swinsain</a>.</p>
<p>More reminiscent of the old old iTunes but with newer features. It was faster, had some great tools like a duplicate finder, and still synched with my old iPods.</p>
<p>I added some <a href="https://www.apple.com/homepod-mini/" title="">Apple HomePod mini's</a> to the mix and this worked great for a while. I was still missing something though.</p>
<p>This was great when on my laptop or managing my library, but I wanted to listen when I was in the office or car.</p>
<p>I tried Plex but it didn't click with me. Then I heard about <a href="https://roon.app/en/" title="">Roon</a>, gave that a go, and got hooked. Roon gave me access to a whole world of extra information about what I was listening to.</p>
<p>As it pulls in album information from various sources, it'd surface connections between artists & albums. They also launched <a href="https://roon.app/en/arc" title="">Roon ARC</a> which streamed my files to my phone.</p>
<figure>
<img class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/ss-2024-02-10-roon-albums-by-year.png" alt="Roon showing albums by year" width="1000" height="405" />
<figcaption>Roon showing my music library by album year</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Present setup</h2>
<p>So there it is. All my purchased music stored locally, available in Roon, streamed through HomePod minis.</p>
<p>The difference is amazing. Having the music fill a room makes all the difference. I find myself actually sitting and listening more. Discovering and enjoying old albums like hearing them for the first time.</p>
<h3>Import flow</h3>
<ol>
<li>Buy & download (<code>.FLAC</code> if possible) from <a href="https://www.bandcamp.com/" title="">Bandcamp</a>, <a href="https://www.beatport.com/" title="">Beatport</a>, or the artists own site</li>
<li>I use <a href="https://amvidia.com/tag-editor" title="">Amvidia's Tag Editor</a> for filling in blanks in the files meta data</li>
<li>Then add to Swinsain which organizes them on the NAS</li>
<li>Roon then watches the NAS folders and pulls them in</li>
</ol>
<h2>Future-Fi</h2>
<p>John Darko coined the term, <a href="https://darko.audio/2023/05/what-is-future-fi-in-2023/" title="John's blog post">Future-Fi</a>, and it fits how I found myself listening to music now. Hardware with built-in ability to stream music, either through a service or your own files.</p>
<p>On the wishlist is a pair of <a href="https://www.crutchfield.com/p_991LSX2BK/KEF-LSX-II-Carbon-Black-Fabric.html" title="Crutchfield product page">Kef LSX II speakers</a>. An upgrade from the Apple HomePod minis that currently fill the living room.</p>
<p><a href="https://roonlabs.com/r/i28vNJ7x306rR6vFmpHYRQ" title="">Roon offers a free 30-day trail</a>, if anyone wanted to give a go.</p>
Honest Special Bhaji Pav2024-02-14T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2024-02-14-bhaji-pav/<figure class="nom">
<img class="u-photo img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2024-02-14-bhaji-pav.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="300" />
<figcaption>
<h1 class="title p-name">Honest Special Bhaji Pav</h1>
<p class="summary">Honest Restaurant Cleveland</p>
<p>Ate this at Honest Restaurant Cleveland on <time class="dt-published" datetime="2024-02-14T05:00:01.000Z">February 14, 2024</time>, and noted <q class="caption">Spiced vegetable and potato mash served with soft buttered bread and onions. Delicious street food from India.</q>
</p></figcaption>
</figure>Cuddles with my Grandson2024-02-16T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2024-02-08-me-and-james-cuddles/<p><img width="500" height="500" class="u-photo img-polaroid" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2024-02-08-me-and-james-cuddles.jpeg" alt="Me holding baby James" /></p>
<p>Last week I got to travel, spending a couple of days with Josh, Kris, and James.</p>
<p>A lot of time having cuddles, gurgling, and coochy-chooing back-and-forth with James.</p>
<img class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2024-02-08-james-closeup.jpeg" alt="close-up of James' face" width="1000" height="562" />
<p>He's "totes adorbs". Both parents are doing a great job.</p>
<img class="img-border" src="https://davidjohnmead.com/img/2024-02-09-me-josh-james.jpeg" alt="cstanding with my son and grandson" width="1000" height="562" />
Brian Eno documentary incoming2024-02-25T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2024-02-25-eno-documentary/<p>I'm a huge fan of <a href="https://www.enoshop.co.uk/index" title="">Brian Eno</a>. Gary Huwsit (<a href="https://vimeo.com/ondemand/helvetica3" title="Watch on Vimeo">Helvetica</a>, <a href="https://vimeo.com/ondemand/ramsfilm" title="Watch on Vimeo">Rams</a>) has now made a <a href="https://www.hustwit.com/eno" title="">documentary about him</a>.</p>
<p>Huwsit has made his film 'generative', meaning (like some of Eno's music) you'll never see the same version twice.</p>
<p>I doubt I'll get to see <a href="https://www.indiewire.com/features/craft/brian-eno-music-doc-ai-52-quintillion-versions-1234945990/" title="IndieWire article on Sundance premiere">one of those versions</a>, but I'm looking forward to a non-generative version being streamed soon.</p>
Falling behind2024-03-28T05:00:01Zhttps://davidjohnmead.com/posts/2024-03-28-falling-behind/<p>I have drafts for at least 6 posts in various states of completion.</p>
<p>A multitude of bookmarks and starred posts in my RSS reader to share.</p>
<p>But I've been so tired. Like a deep weariness. I've little motivation at the end of the day.</p>
<p>Might be time to shake things up a little.</p>