kafkaestblog

31 MARCH BEEP BEEP WORLD BACKUP DAY BEEP BEEP

31 March is a day of note: you take your computer and make sure you have backed everything up, preferably in a number of different places. And then you attempt to remember to do it every time you are working on your computer. Second nature.

When working on a current manuscript (either inputting it into the computer from longhand, or creating it right on the computer), at the end of the working day, I attach the file to an email and send it to myself at four different email addresses. I also download it to the desktop. Weekly (or more) I send it to an external site (I use Dropbox). And (of course) it is on a key.

World Backup Day

World Backup Day is a day for people to learn about the increasing role of data in our lives and the importance of regular backups.

This independent initiative to raise awareness about backups and data preservation started out — like most good things on the internet – on reddit by a couple of concerned users. Let’s make this happen!

https://www.worldbackupday.com/en/about

03/31/2025 0

Saint Patrick’s Day On Partridge Island And Sister Darling Brings Stew (With – Perhaps – The Luck Of The Irish)

Paw, my cat/kitten,
Black as the Ides of March
With one white mitten,
Has a green ribbon
Tied around his neck,
As we stand on the dock
And welcome the arrival of Sister Darling,

Of The Rarefied Church of the World (reformed)

On this Saint Patrick’s Day,
She steps off the fishing boat,
And unceremoniously hands me
A hefty cauldron,
As she scoops up Paw
And holds him close, the way
(I trust)
She will eventually hold me.
“Irish stew,” says she.
But I didn’t even have to guess,
For I can recite, by smell,
The ingredients:
[Lamb on the bone

Carrots/celeryonions/leeks/garlic

Bay leaf/sea salt/black pepper

Lots of potatoes]

And two (I hope) pints of ale

“You are right,” she says
As Paw snuggles into her hair,
“And you will get

A Reward.”

I’m The Lighthouse Poet Laureate of Partridge Island /1821 – 2025 / A lot of stuff have I seen / A lot of stuff to report}

DE BA. UEL

03/17/2025 0

The Blood Moon Engulfs Partridge Island

The moon didn’t disappear,

Tonight,

Because of the total eclipse.

It bathed Partridge Island

In blood,

As it turned dark.

There was no way to convince

Paw, my cat/kitten,

Black as an eclipse

With one white mitten,

That it wasn’t dripping blood.

He spat

He howled

He bared his teeth

And claws

He paced

He sometimes cowered

(I swear from exhaustion, as

the bloody thing went on

and on).

I finally threw a towel

Over him,

And tucked him

Into a closet.

Closed the door,

And talked to him.

(I confess, using baby talk),

’till the blood stopped.

It exhausted me, too.

And, when the moon shone full,

I let Paw out, and took him

For a walk outside.

If cats could howl at the moon

That is what he would have done.

{I’m The Lighthouse Poet Laureate of Partridge Island /1821 – 2025 / A lot of stuff have I seen / A lot of stuff to report}

03/14/2025 0

2025 Commonwealth Day and Canada

It is positive for Canada to be part of The Commonwealth.

With dangerous (and Rogue) Countries putting too heavy a foot on the balance of power in the World, organizations of countries which are less powerful, offer more protection than standing alone.

This Commonwealth has evolved from an Empire, so it has gone from bad to better. Being led by a Monarch who rules only by the will of the people, leads to safety, common ground, and an equality among all the participants.

As of last year, the total population of the Commonwealth was over 2.4 billion people. Lets stack that up against Dangerous and Rogue nations. It comes to a reasonable balance.

Enjoy some “foreign’ culture and eat some different food.

Hold out your hand to an ally.

Dale Estey

03/10/2025 0

The King and Ukraine and Trump and Putin (the Puppet Master) and Canada

I am troubled by the invitation from King Charles given to Trump.

I believe it was orchestrated by the British government, but still, it is disrespectful and insulting. However, the invitation – and gracious greeting – by the King to the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, (in his working attire) is a brilliant countermeasure. I don’t know if this is His Majesty’s “soft power”, or if the government exercised a wonderful display of juggling. Regardless, I extend my praise and great thanks.

But, it is best to be patient with Royalty.

His Majesty, King Charles III of Canada, received the Prime Minister of Canada at the same private residence where he welcomed President Zelensky.

I will happily concede the invasion of a sovereign state and ally, by a murderous thug, does take precedence over the wild blustering from Trump and his repulsive Vice president. It is best to first deal with the ultimate source of power in the current USA.

Interesting times, anyone?

03/03/2025 0

A Valentine’s Day Feast Awaits Sister Darling On Partridge Island

Sister Darling, of

The Rarified Church of the World (reformed),

Steps upon the dock of the Partridge Island Lighthouse.

My humble self (the Lighthouse keeper) awaits her,

As does Paw, the cat/kitten,

Black as Liquorice candy

With one white mitten.

I pondered tying a red riband

Around his neck, in celebration

Of the day.

But our cat/kitten is not as young

As he used to be,

And took umbrage at my attempt.

Still, he is young enough

– And spry enough –

And has memories enough,

To jump upon Sister Darling’s shoulder

And nestle in her hair.

And thus, we three climbed our way

To my Lighthouse Keepers house.

I have prepared a most wonderous fish stew,

Bubbling on the hob

(It even has lobster),

And, I have baked a pan of biscuits,

For her edification.

Sister Darling presents me with

A red envelope, wherein resides

(If I don’t miss my guess)

An embossed card to celebrate the day.

But,

Before I can open it,

She shoos Paw from her locks,

Opens wide her winter cloak,

And

“Oh, My!”

Our repast is threatened

To be delayed.

{I’m The Lighthouse Poet Laureate of Partridge Island /1821 – 2025 / A lot of stuff have I seen / A lot of stuff to report}

02/14/2025 0

Scots Wha Hae W/ Robbie Burns On Partridge Island

I’ve made a special meal

For Paw, my cat/kitten,

Black as dark ale,

With one white mitten.

It will be his second

Robbie Burns Night feast,

And again, to keep him

In good cheer,

I am going to omit the haggis

(A hellish thing to make anyway),

And lay on the

Tatties & neeps.

But,

Since I doubt Paw will enjoy

Either Spuds or Rutabaga,

There will be a couple of

Mutton chops each,

And a piece of steak.

I will, however,

Have the whisky flowing.

And be in full voice

When I recite:

‘The Selkirk Grace’ by Burns himself.

“Some hae meat and canna eat,

And some wad eat that want it,

But we hae meat and we can eat,

And sae the Lord be thankit.”

And,

If the little bugger

(And myself)

Have more luck than we deserve,

We’ll be sharing our wee feast

With Sister Darling, of the

Rarified Church of the World (Reformed)

Who is

(Hopefully),

Boarding a fishing boat

On its way to our Lighthouse,

Right Now.

{I’m The Lighthouse Poet Laureate of Partridge Island /1821 – 2025/ A lot of stuff have I seen / A lot of stuff to report}

DE BA. UEL

01/25/2025 0

Ignoring The Start of the Trump Clown Karnival – It Is Meet and Right So To Do

So, I did not see one minute of the Trump Transition.

The TV was off, and the computer was sedately ignored.

Thus it was for the whole day of the event. I’m one proud boy who has something to be proud about.

But – I gotta tell you – today Trump seeped into my quarantine. However, it was not the aged and befuddled president, it was his wife.

Melania appeared twice.

Once was a story (with photo) about her hat. The hat looked fine to me, and Melania is a looker. And if it helps keep Prezy at a distance . . . then it is also functional.

Her second appearance was a story about Melania launching her own cryptocurrency. Apparently so did the prez. This is indeed perfect, as cryptocurrency is what those rubes – one of whom is born every minute – love to purchase. It fits right into the Karnival.

01/21/2025 0