(no subject)

Monday August 3, 2009 I went to St. Vincent de Paul, and I brought back a computer. Saint Vinnie's seems to be the last Minneapolis thrift store which sells computers.

It's a Windows XP desktop, competently refurbished.

Thanks to L_, who gave me and the computer a ride. And jamestrainor (LiveJournal), who helped me carry it in and get it set up.

I made some changes in the way it operates, moved freeware, text files, etc. over from the older computer, and deleted things I was unlikely to use.

Connecting it to the Internet will have to wait for a bit; probably till the beginning of September.

With any luck, my next computer will be something lighter and less bulky. Maybe a netbook, maybe whatever replaces netbooks.

(no subject)

Tuesday August 4, 2009 "Washington:Seattle--When housing complex Videre opens soon, it will feature single rooms the size of a typical parking space. Project developers say the space fits the budget and lifestyle of young adults who might be working minimum-wage jobs. For about $500 a month, tenants will get a cable-ready, furnished room with private bath, utilities and broadband Internet." USA Today state news snippets page.
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I spent much of today travelling around Minneapolis.

First to Southwest Senior Center to use the computer lab.

Then the Wedge Coop, mostly to use the ATM (easiest to reach of the ones which don't charge me a fee.)

Across Lyndale to Steeple People thrift store. Since I was going to a rummage sale, this might seem odd. But I figured it would inoculate me against the "I've got to buy it all!" feeling.

Temple Israel holds its annual Garage Sale in the basement. I don't know of any car which could be gotten in there without dismantling either the vehicle or the building, but I think a motorcycle could be brought in and out.

This was half-price day. I've learned to look at stuff for sale and ask myself "Will I really mind if this isn't still available for the bag sale?" I spent fifty cents. [And I didn't return for Wednesday's bag sale.]

***Back on the bus. Looked through the Wedge's newsletter. Found two items of interest.

Volunteers are wanted to help set up a health cooperative, modeled after the Ithaca Health Fund. This looks useful, if it works.

Someone I know -- David S. Cargo -- will be teaching two Wedge classes on bread baking.

***To HealthPartners Riverside, where I picked up this month's meds.

On to the Rainbow and Aldi supermarkets along Lake Street. And then home on the Hiawatha Line.

***Walking home from the LRT station, I found myself thinking that the day's travel might have been much easier if I'd driven. Then I remembered what the traffic had been like.

Which brought up a couple of thoughts I've had about transportation in a libertarian society.

1) Streets and roads might be financed by the kind of pledge drive public broadcasting uses in the US. During the pledge drive, everything would stop till drivers and passengers had pledged enough money.

2) People likely to drive unsafely might be paid not to drive.

***This was National Night out. It suddenly occurred to me that the two nearby NNO events I knew about were both scheduled to end before dusk.