Contact Information: SteveAndPeggyB@gmail.com

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Zemanta - A Very Cool Blogging Tool

I installed a "addin" for Mozilla Firefox. It is from the site, "Zemanta". When I begin typing a particular topic, Zemanta will suggest snippets for your blog. As an example, this particular post is about Zemanta and the following was suggested:

As you can see, this is the "Coolest Application for Bloggers..." This application also shows some icons of Mozilla Firefox that can be clicked and "BAM!" it is in the post. See>>>

Now, this was amazing.

Okay, let me try another topic...

Let's try... Fuelcells... (should be two words but this is a test)

I believe our energy problems can be solved with fuelcells. I know that when we see the billions of dollars we send into our atmosphere every day in the form of burnt potrolium products, it is inevediable that something must be done. Fuelcell by-product is water.

Construction of a low temperature PEMFC: Bipol...Image via Wikipedia


As you can see, the link to fuel cells is embedded in the above list of links.

Additionally, I've clicked on a link, to a graphic, that was suggested and you can see how this image can now be discussed.

Embedding two or more images seems to be a bit cumbersome because when the photo was "clicked", it seemed to get embedded in the beginning of this post. Well, using Bloggers interface, I simply drug the image down to where I wanted it.

Another feature of this tool is the ability to quickly add labels to the post. This is another automatic system. As I type, suggested labels will dynamically appear. The only other thing that I need to do, is, click on the suggested words and "presumably" these words are now part of the post.

Additionally, just below the composition window (where I am typing right now) is another list of suggested words. These works are directly related to what I am typing. if I click any (or "apply al") of the words, this tool will automatically insert hyper links into the post. I no longer have to go out and embed links anymore.

Finally, in the event a particular topic does not promote suggested content, this tool has a search function that you can type in. As you may have noticed earlier in this post, I discussed "fuelcells" (one word). I later talked about fuel cells (two words). Well, when I first began, nothing came up but I then typed the two words into the search box and a plethora of suggestion were then available.

Well, that is all I have for this morning. Come again and I will talk about some of the "Random thoughts of Steve Blake".

Have a productive day.
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Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Welcome Back from Memorial Weekend

I hope everyone had a nice long weekend. Peggy and I were quite productive. We started by cleaning up our dry river bed in the back. Well, actually we started but we still need to finish cleaning up the dead parts of the yucca plants

After cleaning up the some of these plants, we started on the front walkway. This walkway goes from the front step that turned towards the driveway and meandered down to the front sidewalk. (Click on picture to see a large version) We put this walkway in some years ago and was ready for some basic maintenance. This was just a matter of removing the old pea gravel that was full of weeds and grasses, reset the decorative brick that went through the center of the walkway and reapply new pea gravel.

We also took the time to power spray the house and mend one of the gates to the back yard.

Additionally, we decided to do a little painting and repair on the back door. This was one of those double doors where one is latched on the top and bottom and the other is used as the basic entrance.

On a fun note. I had the opportunity to get my kayak our for the first time. Peggy bought me this kayak at Christmas and I finally got it licensed and out on Big Walnut Creek. I check

Recreational kayakImage via Wikipedia

on Google Earth and determined I went approximately 4 miles. Being this was the first time I have ever been in a kayak, I started out heading upstream for a while and just playing about near where I was parked. That way, when I take a dive, I would be able to get a dry towel. This was expected but I am very please to say I did not dump once. After a while, I got comfortable and headed upstream for just over a mile. Only once did I get a bit concerned. I was in a "fast water" situation when I hit a rock. Now, this rock was big and I saw it coming for quite a distance and yet, I hit it! All went well but that taught me a good lesson.

Now, you may have noticed I did not say I did not get wet. Actually, I can now understand why they developed the "spray skirt". This is a waterproof boot that goes around the waist and attaches to the opening on the kayak. Why did I get wet? Well, every time I took my paddle out of the water, it ran down the paddle and in my lap. I have these rubber things on the paddles that keeps most of the water from coming all the way down and in the kayak but even with that, I got wet.

Once I returned home, I got on line and ordered the same spray skirt that Gander Mountain wanted $69.00 for, but I only payed $40.95 with no shipping and tax and this was from the manufacturer.

Well, back to work. It is now Tuesday and we need to "reboot" our minds into "business as usual". So, have a productive day and I will post again.
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