Google Calendar Passive Agression

Jemma's school is using a mob called
https://www.parentteacheronline.com.au/
to fascilliate booking online parent teacher intervies.  Can't say I'm excited about not doing it face to face and the process here is a bit cludgy.  The booking process is OK it's the provision of links to the actual teams meeting afterwards is really sub par.
1. The links do not show up in google calendar.
2. The downloaded PDF of your meetings has text that says click here but it's not clickable.

Lets not forget how friggin crap teams is compared to zoom.  Like how can a global company like Microsoft produce a video conferencing app for android with no volume control.  How crap is that.

Then to really annoy me, parentteacheronline have no way for us plebs to bring such shortcomings to their attention.

In summary, they should
a) Use zoom or some similar platform.
b) Make sure the info they send out includes clickable links to the meeting.

This is the booking screen.
When done you can download your bookings as a ical file all ready to load into your calendar program.

 This is part of the ical file.
You will notice that it does have a url link to click.
It's the line https://teams. microsoft bla bla

 This is from my google calendar.
The links are noticably absent.

Feels like google trying to freeze out microsoft or some such pettyness.

And while I am complaining about google calendar, the font is way too small and you can't zoom in and separate short duration events.  Slack dogs.

This is the PDF advice of when my parent teacher conferences are on.  They look like links but they are not clickable.

New v Old Blogger

Google have been fiddling with the UI.
Pity they don't put the effort into making a decent app.

OLD

NEW
Less line visible
Photo visible.

 NEW
Compose / HTML views need 2 clicks.

Generally more clicks.
Less clarity about the edge of the authoring area.

OLD
Compose HTML selection is only one click. 

Centenary Rowing Community Meeting - Pre AGM

 

We have the Centenary AGM on the horizon on 2-AUG-2020.
There have been rumnligs of discontent so I figured lets have a meeting before the AGM to surface the issues both negative and positive that are close to peoples hearts.

Dear Centenary Community,

On Sunday (19-7-2020 10:30m) we had the Community meeting at the club.  I have attached the photo that I took.  Big thank you to those who attended.

The purpose of this meeting was to surface issues in an environment that would allow a deeper level of discussion that will be possible at the AGM. 

I have attached a photo of the white board that I wrote on during the meeting and below are the minutes that Tanya kindly took.  You will see both positives and negatives listed and that were discussed.

Here’s my take – I think “we” the club have a great future.  I think we do need to stop festering over the things of the past and live in the present.  I think we need to recognise that each of us have strengths and weaknesses.  In my opinion, we need to leverage off people’s strengths and constrain and forgive their weaknesses.  We also need to ask ourselves if the issue that is irking us is really helping us as an individual or helping the club.  Forgiveness is a hard thing to do but o-boy so important.   As individuals we need to do a bit of self reflection and see if we can change a bit in order to move everything to a more professional and harmonious position.

I have been really encouraged by people offering to do things.  Two dad’s were the first duck poo cleaners on Sunday morning.   A mum told me the other day she has a tinnie licence.  We had lots of good positive ideas surfaced in yesterday’s meeting.  If everyone does a small bit, it becomes easy.  I also would like to point out there is more than one way to clean duck poo off the pontoon. 😊

I would also like to highlight some of the things that are happening.  Rowing is happening.  That is what we do. 

We have kids rowing Wednesday & Thursday afternoons, Saturday & Sunday mornings.  We have Mike O doing what he loves – coaching the performance kids.  Peter is taking a break from public duties but is maintaining contact and researching grants and so on.  I specifically mention this because as I indicated earlier, we need to leverage off peoples strengths and put aside memories of past grievances.  Mark Wilsmore is about to start a gym session on Wednesday mornings and Carla has said she will coordinate a adult LTR.

AGM

The AGM is coming up on 2-AUG-2020.  10:30am  The key purpose of the AGM is to elect a new committee. 

Remember that to vote, you need to be a Voting Member.

TO BECOME A VOTING MEMBER

First Deposit $33 into BSB xxx-xxx  Account# 123456   Reference:M20"yourname"     <-- account="" earlier="" fees="" have="" in="" is="" p="" paid="" same="" should="" that="" the="" this="" year.="" you="" your="">

Then if you are not a 2019 financial member, you will need to complete a membership application form.  It is available on the web site.

In order to grow the club into enjoyable place to row, we will obviously need to look closely at how we operate and what we do.    That is for the months ahead.  We wont solve it in the AGM.

============================================================

Centenary Rowing Club General Meeting- 19^th July 2020 10.30am

Attendance: Tanya Brehmer, Cody Ellem, Nick Freney, Rob Kennedy, Ros Hall, Mark Cramond, Dennis Taylor, Bruce Richardson, Marianne Moore-O’Farrell, Frank Thomson, Kim Heycott, Arn Ellem, Danielle Keymar, Mike Swainston, Karen Van Huffel, Hans Van Huffel, Jemma Thomson, Rebecca Moore-O’Farrell, Tanya Brooks and Martin Buckley.

Apologies: Peter Hayes and John Cox.

Introductions: All the people present introduced themselves and gave what they want for the Club into the future and issues that we have. There was a range of questions and concerned offered for further discussion.

Issues/Concerns:

Financials being given to members prior to meeting- 14^th July Audit is being done. No one knew why financials were not done in January prior to the original AGM date. Tanya concerned that the handover to the new Committee. Rob mentioned that he was concerned that the process was not followed.

Looking for a new direction- We need to look at this, once the new Committee are elected due to some direction through goals. Cody mentioned that we need a Committee that will be enthusiastic in how they develop the Club. Possible team building night or carbo loading night to bring the children coming together.

Coaching direction/plan- This needs to be discussed further once the Committee. Ros suggested that we have some stability within the clubs so the children have someone to go to- same Coaches in each group. Coaches need to feel that they have the ability to coach no matter the level- Learn to row through to Performance squad.- Coaches need to feel empowered.

Mike S has offered to run a Level 0 Introduction to Coaching course. He will organise a date that will work.

Frank mentioned that we need to look at a yearly planner for regattas.

Improved culture- This can only be done with all the children coming back and new Committee. We need to look at a Social/Functions person, who can put some functions together. We need to involve parents from the beginning of their child’s rowing journey. We need to look at mixing the children up at regattas this year so that they can row in more events.

Rob mentioned about the behaviour from the President through to the newest rower. We need to be more aware of this going forward. There needs to be consequences.

Hans mentioned that the Code of Conduct needs to be displayed where everyone can see it so that everyone can follow it.

Hans mentioned that he and Karen (wife) have experience in cooking so they can help out.

Parent Inductions-Code of Conduct (get them to sign it), Grievance procedure and a little about the Club.

Code of Conduct- signed by Coaches, Committee members, Parents, Children, ect.

Selection Criteria- Dennis asked if it had changed. The last one was created in 2018. They need to be advertised to all Members for clarity (ergos, on water performance, ect)- Committee decision?

Frank suggested that there be 2 members payments. If you are a Parent of a rower no fee and one vote, if not a rower or parent of a member then $33 per year. The motion of payment needs to be agreed at during the next AGM. There was a suggestion that this be reviewed at the 2021 AGM to allow the next Committee to settle in.

Need to build on the relationship with Rowing QLD so that the networking is improved. We also need to rebuild our network with the local members.

Nick suggested that maybe we look at a discounted rate for University students to allow them to be able to row. This needs to be further discussed. Possibly contact past rowers and ask what they would like to see if they return to the Club to row- discounted fees, coached, ect?

Outgoing Committee not being here- Frank discussed that over time stories have turned a little sour resulting in negativity. Michael Opstelten and Peter Wadsworth have become stressed so have resigned from their positions as Coaches. Frank conveyed that both Michael and Peter felt they couldn’t attend this meeting. Kim asked about who would be rerunning for next Committee- unsure however the feeling is that Michael, Peter, Gabby and Angela will not continue. Tanya asked about individual members not turning up to this meeting to make answer clear:

·        Micheal O- just wants to do the 4 performance children

·        Peter W- stepping back from Committee. Not Coaching.

·        Gabby N- unknown

·        Angela- Accountant and working today

Nick asked about the respect between members as the children are watching and listening. Adults are role models.

Cody mentioned that we need the AGM to occur so that we can get the Club moving in a positive direction. Frank mentioned that the new Committee may need to look at the Club Constitution (Rules and By Laws on the CRC webpage) to bring it up to date.

Marianne explained what her role entails to everyone as this is her last year at the Club. Need to look for a new Regatta Secretary.

Rob asked about a position as Captain of Boats. This will be asked by the new Committee for someone to take on.

Volunteers within the Club- Parents do the drop and children row. Can we get the Parents assist with some of the jobs (eg. cleaning pontoon before children row). Danielle discussed the implementation of more parent involvement through sausage sizzles, etc.

Job Titles and description- These need to be defined a little more and some of the jobs around the Club spread out. Some of the Job Descriptions are on the CRC website in the Rules and Bylaws.

Growth in the Club- Mike Swainston mentioned that our children’s numbers have decreased over time and we need to look on building the numbers.

Can't kick it

I wake in the night thinking how much of a fucktard I was. Maybe I'm just naturally a depressed person. I was lonely and down in the marriage.  I'm regretting the failure of the marriage. I'm lonely now too. I'm reflecting on how I'm a failure because the marriage failed. I wasted years not recognising that no matter what I did. No matter how hard I tried. It was going to end anyway.  Megan seems to continue business as usual. Activities and friends and family. Happy as.  I'm old. Grey. On my own. 

Sunday evening:

Then I'm reminded by FB that as a divorced man, I don't get invited anymore. I need a new tribe.

Fuck this life!

Late Sunday evening:

Megan drops Jemma over. She tells me I was invited. The invite was via WhatsApp. Ahh I've turned WhatsApp notifications off.  I was being deluged with notifications that were showing stuff just as if I was still married. That we were still a family. But we are not. 

So in a way it's my own stupid fault. I've disconnected myself. In order to try and not be triggered but then missing out on things is triggering in its own way 

Super early Monday morning:

Depression is fucked.  Self indulgence?  Anyway it's hard to take a deep breath and shake it. To clear the fog that accompanies it 

Jemma Brigidine Open day Tour Guide

Due to Covid-19, Brigidine did not have an open day.

Instead, Parents could book a tour and these guys were the tour guides.

Jemma is Bottom row, second from right

Circuit Simulation

Links to reviews
https://www.electronics-lab.com/top-ten-online-circuit-simulators/



FREE
LT Spice
https://www.analog.com/en/design-center/design-tools-and-calculators/ltspice-simulator.html





www.multisim.com
have to create  a national Instruments account.  What do you know, I have one.  Created way back in 1999.
Free limited to 25 parts - OK
Premium is unlimited parts





easyeda.com
I think it's a no from me.
Cant find easily how to start a new project.
The referenced tutorial on simulation does not seem to show up inthe help contents.
There is a note stating they are mainly focussed on PCB layout.

Note the paid options are all "Coming Soon"

I cant find the referenced tutorial on simulation

This is a bit of a worry



www.partsim.com
I don't think the simulator works.

 12V through a 1k resistor isnt 12 pA.
It has a stack load of vendor parts but I could not work our how to use them.  I suspect that it is two almost separate programs.  A spice simulator and a list of vendor parts.

NOT FREE
www.circuitlab.com
In my view pretty easy to build and use and there seems like a reasonable level of support.
The negative is the cost.
The cheapest commercial plan is $39/mo which is OK in one regard but given I use it haphazardly, it's hard to justify $399/yr.

Level	Free	Micr0	Hack Lite	Hack	Pro	Platinum
Month	Free	$2	$16	26	$39	$100
Year	Free	$24	$79	$129	$399	$999
Commercial	no	no	no	no	Y	Y
Key note	Times out	30 items / sch				24hr response support

Scorching Hot Oven

Our oven bring a whole new level of meaning to the phrase "Baking Hot"
I have hardly used the oven and I noticed it always seemed on the hot side.  I tried making meat loaf one day and it turned into a charcoal mass.  Baked potatoes and I had to keep turning it on and off.  A couple of days ago, Jemma put some cookies in the oven and we sat down to a game of Rummikub and in less than 10 minutes the cookies were toast.

I figured I would use some science and actually measure the temperature.  I knew it was a bit off compared to the manual and since the labels had worn away, I figured I would stick new labels on at the correct temperatures.  I printed labels and brought them home along with a multi meter and a thermocouple.  For the uninitiated a thermocouple is a thing for measuring temperatures.  In particular very high temperatures.  If I put a normal thermometer in the oven it would melt.

burnt Cookies

Editing Brother P-Touch labels.

This is a snip from the manual. 

This shows the actual knob.  Set to the 75 deg position.

Note the numbers are worn away.

Multimeter.
The yellow wire is the thermocouple.  If you blow the pic up you'll see a second thermocouple on the bench.

A close up.
the 70 deg position results in a 180 degree oven.







I then set the knob to the 200 deg position and the oven heated up to 302 deg C.

 Inside setup

Inside setup

Brother P-Touch Inserting Cut Line Manually

I want to print a line of labels. 
This necessitates a thing called a half cut.
Fnding how to insert a half cut was a bit of a time waste.  Shows up in the edit menu and not in the insert menu where I would have expected it.  But there you go.