Author Archives: Frank Paynter

Google-fu — the grasshopper emerges

By Frank Paynter | Published: July 7, 2011

The Urban Dictionary defines google-fu as “the ability to quickly answer any given question using internet resources, such as a search engine.”  By that definition, my google-fu is generally pretty strong. I’m a Googler. I google when I want to search the web. I also use Gmail when I want to send or receive email. You [...]

Posted in Cloud Computing, Communications, Networks, SMEBLY, Technology | Tagged , , | Comments closed

Google+

By Frank Paynter | Published: July 6, 2011

Google+ excites me. Hell, Google excites me! If I was given to enthusiastic prognostication, I would say that Google will set the pace for Internet development over the next decade. Even knowing that a decade in dog years is a very, very long time and in Internet years it is practically forever, I would still [...]

Posted in Cloud Computing, SMEBLY, Tech Tools, Technology | Tagged , , | Comments closed

Maintenance

By Frank Paynter | Published: June 24, 2011

“WordPress 3.1.3 is available! Please update now.” Sure. I’ll do that–right after I’m done pruning the the shrubbery. Sometimes life seems like a simple cycle of never-ending maintenance, from software updates to landscape care, from painting the woodwork to replacing the tires on the car, from pet visits to the vet for rabies shots to [...]

Posted in Farm Almanac, Reflections | Tagged , | Comments closed

Olbermann on Osama and Obama

By Frank Paynter | Published: May 2, 2011

Here’s Keith Olbermann pounding out a piece on the death of Osama Bin Laden. Keith… good job man. Your hectoring tone and stentorian delivery were made for this.

Posted in Peace and Politics, Politics, Web Publishing | Comments closed

Let’s move

By Frank Paynter | Published: April 27, 2011

First Lady Michelle Obama, along with DC-area children, plant the White House Kitchen Garden. The garden includes spinach, peas, lettuce, broccoli, blueberries, raspberries and other vegetables and herbs. I wish I had nice raised beds and as fine a crew of helpers as Michelle Obama.

Posted in Farm Almanac, Food | Comments closed

Too hip

By Frank Paynter | Published: April 22, 2011

They were talking about dirt on public radio. The guest, some kind of eco-dude engaged for Earth Day infotainment, suggested there should be a contest. Offer some kind of prize, he suggested, for the first caller who can name the state soil. I’m fumbling in my shirt pocket for my phone, left hand on the [...]

Posted in Environment, Farm Almanac | Tagged , , | Comments closed

Urge JoAnne Kloppenburg to request a manual recount

By Frank Paynter | Published: April 20, 2011

JoAnne Kloppenburg lost the election for Supreme Court Justice by over 7,000 votes, less than half a percent of the total votes cast. This entitles her to a machine recount on the State’s dime. A machine recount will involve bundling up all the machine readable ballots and running them through the machines again. Seems like [...]

Posted in Democracy, Politics, Technology | Tagged , | Comments closed

Going down the road

By Frank Paynter | Published: April 18, 2011

It was a great day filled with lots of “what-does-it-take” chores. A “what-does-it-take” chore is just what it sounds like, something that needs doing, that can be done in a short time and with little effort, something that’s so obvious and likely so easy that it gets pushed to the bottom of the priority list [...]

Posted in Communications, Farm Almanac, Music | Comments closed