View source for Blog/February 2018/Feb 23rd

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'''Feb 23rd'''

The weather was “up and down” this week.  I managed to do two loads of laundry, but the third got rained on.  Recall that we use a “Solar-powered Dryer”, e.g. a [https://lifeontheclothesline.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/img_7094s.jpg laundry-line].  Anyway, the last load was just towels, so no real problem; but it’s irritating to have your laundry get wet again when rain wasn’t in the forecast.  Or ''was'' it?

Anyway, one of my friends posted a message to a group he belongs to, telling them that they should contact me if they needed a (software) developer.  I got about ten calls from them, and one of them wanted to interview me… in Tel Aviv.  So I figured, why not?  After all, it would be an opportunity to get out of the house, and take mom to a foreign country.

So we did go to Tel Aviv yesterday.  I interviewed — as it happens, they weren’t actually looking for someone with my qualifications, which begs the question, “why did you invite me?”.  Esther and mom went to the [https://www.touristisrael.com/namal-tel-aviv-tel-aviv-port/362/ Port of Tel Aviv], where they enjoyed the Mediterranean Sea while I listened to my interviewer talk about how great his company will be.  When I was done, I walked to the Port and then the three of us met up with Sarah for lunch.

A good time was had by all.

I managed to make [https://8th-dev.com/forum/index.php/topic,1579.msg8676.html#msg8676 another release of 8th]; once again, some bug fixes and some improvements.  My customers are happy by and large; some are quite actively searching for bugs, which does everyone good even if it gives me more work.

I also had a “home test” interview question from another potential job.  Since they said I could answer the programming questions with any language I wanted, I did one in “C”, and the other I [https://8th-dev.com/forum/index.php/topic,1584.msg8720.html answered using 8th].  In retrospect, that may not have been a good decision, but it was eminently satisfying.

Some tech news:
* Does GMO corn [https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2018/02/19/gmo-corns-yield-human-health-benefits-vindicated-21-years-studies/ increase crop yields]?
* [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/posteverything/wp/2018/01/25/how-to-fight-mass-surveillance-even-though-congress-just-reauthorized-it/?utm_term=.e7ed055c48d7 Fighting mass surveillance] despite Congress’ best efforts.
* Apple [https://www.engadget.com/2018/02/19/apple-updates-all-of-its-operating-systems-to-fix-app-crashing-b/ updates all its OSes] to fix an app-crashing bug caused by… a single Indian-language character.


A message from mom to her fan-base: she apologizes for not answering you sooner, she’s been busy trying to get her bearings in the Land.  So please be patient, she’ll get back to you in time.

As for me, I have an appointment in an hour for my yearly check-up at the nurses’ office.  They’ll take my blood-pressure, check my feet, tell me how wonderful my feet look (because I wear socks, you savages!) and probably recommend I lose weight and exercise more.  So I have to get ready for that.  In the meantime…

This ''shabbat'' we’re all alone, just the three of us.  On the menu:
<br>
butternut-squash soup,
stir-fried bok-choy,
rice,
roast chicken,
chicken [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cholent ''cholent''],
various ''salatim'',
and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugelach ''rugelach''].

Until next time,<br>
''shabbat shalom''!

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