Author: DOuG pRATt

Downtime

When you’re alone and Trump is making you angry
You can always take some downtime
When you’ve got worries, all the pieces and lack of hurry
Seems to help, I know, downtime

Just get yourself jigsaw puzzled
Linger on the pieces so your thoughts are muzzled
How can you lose?

So take some downtime
Things will be great when you’re in downtime
No finer place for sure, downtime
Jigsaw puzzles are waiting for you

Just hang around and don’t let your problems surround you
There are jigsaw puzzles waiting for you
Maybe you know where some little pieces go to
Where they belong

Downtime
Downtime

– With apologies to Petula

ICEnce to Kill

It was so easy to predict what happened today in Minneapolis. An ICE agent, with unknown training and experience, has shot and killed a civilian. The president approves of this action.

The ICE agent who shot the woman should be arrested and charged with second degree murder. Outgoing Minnesota governor Walz should call out the National Guard to confront and detain all ICE agents.

I’ll say it again. Trump’s goal is to create enough civil unrest to declare martial law and call off the midterm elections.

Amazon Subprime

I was looking for an excuse to complain about something on Amazon, and Jeopardy! has provided it. Here’s another pop culture clue from the 1/1/26 game.

The response was wrong, and so is Alien as it appears on Amazon Prime. I ordered a 4K/Blu-ray copy of the movie at a super discounted price of $12.95. Delivery was estimated to be sometime later this month. Based on past experience with Amazon, that means availability is uncertain.

https://www.amazon.com/Alien-Sigourney-Weaver/dp/B07P83ZXX4/

The movie is available to watch instantly on Amazon Prime, in UHD format, for only five bucks. I had my doubts about this deal as well, so I applied some American Express points to make the out of pocket cost $0.00.

I was right to be doubtful. Not only is the movie in standard definition, or it’s a very poor HD transfer, the aspect ratio is wrong. Being 2.00:1, when it should be in Panavision 2.39:1, the image is stretched vertically. Here’s a sample.

I cancelled the 4K/Blu-ray disc order. Maybe I’ll buy a physical copy later.

4a Foray

The IFIXIT battery kit for my Google Pixel 4a is here. It includes a tube filled with something to heat in the microwave, to soften the glue that’s holding the OLED screen. I also have another, crafty, microwave oven option for warming up the glue. It was a gift from a friend years ago, during a bout of lower back pain.

I won’t rush into this job. Before tackling it, I’ll watch all of the available videos on the repair, to see the various techniques people have used, successfully… or not.