Kari Lippert’s Blog

Well, it turns out that this snow is so good at packing that it is impossible to roll a good ball. I tried a few and then gave up and decided on a sculpture. I think I might have managed a bigger one last night, but this one will have to do! He’s waving to all of those who missed this snow storm – and those of you who aren’t out playing in the snow like me!

I spent a good portion of my day unpacking and cleaning up. I’m hunting for a particular table lamp – the one with the magnifier – and just can’t put my hands on it. I remember packing it up in Ottawa, but I just can’t find it here. Ah well… you’ll be happy to know that I’ve been sorting and throwing away as I hunt. I even did some work on my dissertation today! Now for some quilting… sorry, can’t share photos of this one yet. The pattern hasn’t been published, but it is expected out in the next month or two, so stay tuned!

Well it certainly is snowing up a storm here! I thought to check the heat pump and couldn’t believe what I saw outside. I understand from the news that we’re experiencing about 2″ and hour of snow and it is expected to fall for a few more hours. I think I’m probably not going in to work tomorrow!

This gives you an idea of how hard the snow is falling here and how much has fallen since the snow started about 3 hours ago. We have had snow, freezing rain, sleet, ice pellets (small hail), rain, and then, without a break, it reversed from rain to hail to freezing rain to sleet to snow! We also had what they are calling thunder-snow. Thunder and lightning in a snow storm are really cool!

This is the willow tree standing back up. I’m sure I heard it say thanks! I’m definitely going to have to restake it in the spring to take out the bend if it doesn’t stand back up straight on its own. The trunk of that tree is about as big around as a soup can – it’s amazingly flexible (thankfully).

Here’s the trees out the front door, before and after the snow removal. I would have stayed out and played in the snow a bit more but the streetlights kept going out simultaneously with the big orange glow in the sky to the west and a distinct bang. I figure either the transformers in the local substation all popped (7 total) or they’ve blown up the mall!

Anyway, I’m glad I’m safe and warm and have power. I hope all my family and friends are enjoying the same! Stay tuned for some snowman pictures tomorrow!

Jack Lalanne, fitness pioneer, died yesterday at age 96. He performed ridiculous feats, like towing fleets of boats while handcuffed and shackled until he was the age of 70. Yes….70. When he turned 43 in 1957, he performed 1,033 push-ups in 23 minutes on national television. He encouraged people to pump iron at a time when even professional athletes avoided it for fear of becoming slow and muscle bound.

You owe it to yourself to go watch some videos at http://www.jacklalanne.com/

I’ve been pattern testing for this magazine and I think it’s going to be worth the subscription! If you quilt (or know someone besides me who does, pass it on!)

I’ll have pictures up soon of the things I’ve made for the pattern testing. I’m not allowed to post them until after the pattern is published so be patient! They’ll be in a new section of my Quilting Pages.

The Magazine is now up and running – go check it out and come back and leave a comment here. I get to pick one lucky person for a free year’s subscription!

… if you care about these sorts of things.

HTTP Cookies, or how not to design a protocol

As promised, pictures of the sunrise, both directly at the horizon and as a reflection.

According to the article in Wired, a gamer is claiming that Lineage II has made him unable to function in real life: “unable to function independently in usual daily activities such as getting up, getting dressed, bathing or communicating with family and friends.” But, this person who can’t get up or communicate with family and friends managed to get his act together long enough to concoct an idea for a lawsuit and contact a lawyer.

How can the judge justify the claim that the game company “acted negligently in failing to warn or instruct or adequately warn or instruct plaintiff and other players of Lineage II of its dangerous and defective characteristics, and of the safe and proper method of using the game.” Can someone please tell me what the “dangerous and defective characteristics” of this game are?

And then please share with me how Mr. Smallwood is unable to function in real life but was able to contact a lawyer? Come on! If you can call a lawyer you can obviously get up and talk to people. And how can you play when you can’t get up?? OMG! He spent time in the hospital and is now in therapy and claims that the actions of NCSoft did this to him.

I’m greatly saddened by this. U.S. District Judge, Alan Kay has ruled on this and there’s lots of interesting stuff in the ruling like this: Smallwood claims to have played “from 2004-2009 for over 20,000 hours.” That’s 11 HOURS EVERY DAY FOR 5 YEARS! [365 days per year *5 years *11 hours per day = 20075 hours].

Apparently, this player is annoyed because NCSoft locked out his account (they suspected that he was involved in money laundering). Obviously that’s not fair is it? You’ve got to love the part of his complaint where he says the rules weren’t applied “fair and square”, especially with respect to bots.

Smallwood alleges that NCSoft “acted with negligence [or gross negligence] in designing, developing, manufacturing, inspecting, testing, marketing, advertising, promoting, selling, distributing, maintaining, revising, servicing, administrating, and overseeing Lineage II.” And the judge has allowed the claims for defamation and libel, negligence, gross negligence and infliction of emotional distress to go forward.

This should be an interesting case – one I’m sure there will be much more news about in the days and weeks to come.