I played around on my iPad today and found some interesting sites. The
first is a neat book that might appeal to any campers or hikers. The
second is listed for one reason only. It is one of the most difficult
registrations I have ever experienced. I believe that it has been
programmed to make registration very difficult using a well known security
system. You must enter the letters and numbers using either a random mix.
I started with the visual presentation and must have tried about 20 tries
before I got by. One hint. If some of the spaces between the digits and
letters, you must also make your answer also have more space too. Some of
the spaces might need two, three, and even four taps on the space bar.
https://www.amazon.ca/Lost-Reading-Natures-Signs-Animals/dp/1615192417/ref=pd_bxgy_img_1/139-5956565-0054960?pd_rd_w=k8j4x&pf_rd_p=8c482a45-7c0f-409b-937c-741a67b11a67&pf_rd_r=MQGXW1S6M774XMGXDPR2&pd_rd_r=6596c44d-d3c3-4fa2-9f7a-68866591bc16&pd_rd_wg=YCslp&pd_rd_i=1615192417&psc=1
https://iq.aws.amazon.com/services/aws/iam
I then switched to the audio method*.* With strange sounds on the audio
track speakers give you the numbers to enter. Once again many tries with
very carefully entering.
Both seem to be a very simple security measure. I found this one by
accident and tried to join just to see what the app was all about.
Between the visual and audio, it seems programmed to make it very difficult
to enter - I think - telling you that your entry is wrong repeatedly. Most
would give up after so many rejections. Certainly a an attack a laptop
would have a hard time. That is, of course, quite a deterrent to the
casual surfer. Once I determined entries were deliberately rejected, I was
like a dog with a bone.
The long and short is that the app is totally useless for me. For certain
businesses it might be a good app and very useful.
Now I am not a computer whiz but I can hear numbers, although some are next
to impossible background sounds. I was very very careful to enter the
numbers correctly. Time after time I entered the numbers and time after
time I was told the number was wrong.
For those looking for something new to read, two Canadian writer are worthy
reading. Giles Blunt wrote for Law & Order programs. Back in Canada he
started a series called Cardinal. I really enjoyed the books and much
enjoyed the series on dVD. The photography is excellent. He is the
director of the TV series now as it enters its fifth year. Cardinal works
in a little town on one of the Great Lakes. His companion In the tv series
is a delightful French Canadian woman. Good actor.
Rosemary Aubert has an interesting series. Her main character is a
Judge wrong convicted of a crime. He spends time in prison, gets out, and
having been disbarred, becomes one of the homeless. her writing takes a
bit of time to enjoy.
From Scandinavia, Jo Nesbo writes the Harry Hole police procedures. He
also plays in a band. Arnaldur Indridason hales from Iceland. He is the
first of a growing number of Icelandic writers. I was lucky to catch him
after his first book (By the way, the history of the Icelandic community by
Lake Winnipeg is has a fascinating history).
From Seattle, Michael Gruber writes some very good standalones. More
adventure that mystery. He is the real writer of a well known NYC lawyer’s
series.Add Mark Gimenez, a lawyer from Texas.
Just for fun, Eric Flint started a series that has now gone to about 25
books. The first is titled 1632 when the Thirty Years War was underway.
The premise of the series is that a large chunk of West Virginia is
suddenly take back in time, with their cars, homes, and all modern
appliances. Okay. If you liked the TVSeries called Dome and other books
that verge on science fiction and alternative history. They interact
with real historical notable figures - King Vasa leading the Swedes to
capture Paris, Charles in England, Cardinal Richelieu in France, and many
more. There’s lots of history woven in, like the way I like to present
history. But the history is very accurate, save for the west Virginians.
It so happens that one of the times I enjoy reading about is the Thirty
Years War, the most brutal war ever with massive civilian casualties,
perhaps as high as eight million. Basically a war between Catholics and
Protestants. It started with the 1618 Defenestration of Prague. Look that
big word up. In addition, the Germans burned the highest number of witches
- check out The Hangman’s Daughter series which takes place just after the
War ended).
Perhaps the very best mysteries set in the past is the Shardlake series by
C.J. Sansom. Sansom is now suffering from a terminal disease. A story. I
was browsing in Coles remainder bins. I spotted one Sanson book then a
second. I read a bit and bought both for $4.99 each. They were both first
editions. When I got home, I looked Sanson up on Abebooks. To my surprise,
the first book was selling for over $1,000. The publisher had thought the
book would never be a success so only 5,000 were printed and most of those
went to schools and libraries. So a mint copy of a first took off in price
when people like me discovered this wonderful writer. Thanks to Coles and
the Safeway points system, I had cobbled up more. They were rare and I
took the time to write to Sanson so my copies were signed by way of
bookplates. I sold the books for over $1,000 us each to a very posh
bookstore in London, just a block away from Trafalgar Square which I had
visited at one time. The following books had massive printings - the first
is the treasure.
Okay. Today I had time on my hands to ponder,read, and write (note the
Oxford comma). I shall probably write long posts - historians love to tell
stories). If I happen to engage with any of you, be prepared! I have a
butterfly switch on my right shoulder, so just press the switch and I
stop. Nobody has turned me off in years…
Willow
