Fortune Cookies for Android 1.50 is now available in the Google Play Store.
This update was driven by Google insisting that I target API level 34. Which is fair enough and I figured this would be a five minute task followed by a smooth release. I should have known better.
Of course the starting point is updating Visual Studio, updating the Android SDK, learning that my emulator won't launch any more and eventually coaxing it back to life. That's a couple of hours. Why this doesn't just happen when I'm doing other things I don't know, but for dev tools this has to be a ceremony.
Once all of that was done I learned that Xamarin was officially deprecated in May. I'm going to have to figure out MAUI.
There is a helpful migration page with this gob smacking advice:
"Once your dependencies are resolved and your code and resource files are added to your .NET native project, you should build your project. Any errors will guide you towards next steps."
I think they hired Yoda:
"Errors, they are. Guide you, they will, towards your next steps. Warnings, hmm, check them out you must... eventually. But information issues? Merely whispers they are, nudging you towards shiny new platform features, yes! Listen, you might, if time you have."
Anyway... the actual mechanics of getting this working in MAUI were not that bad. It could be that I need to reinstall my system with extreme prejudice but the platform itself seems to be very unstable. I constantly got Visual Studio and cryptic compile errors that went away on rebuild or a restart. Starting the android emulator has completely frozen my system several times requiring a hard reboot. I don't think I've had that experience since the Clinton administration.
Once it was finally working the Google Play Developer console wanted my "private" key, which I gave it; and to have a conversation about my tax situation in Cuba, which I'm ignoring for now.
As well as a brand new API target Fortune has a nifty new color scheme, a floating action button with a little fortune cookie on it, and will ask you nicely for permission to send notifications.
(Published to the Fediverse as:
Fortune Cookies for Android 1.50 #code#fortune#software#cookie#catfood#xamarin#maui Catfood Fortune for Android is based on the UNIX command of the same name and will display a random and possibly no longer socially acceptable fortune from a less civilized era.)
Starting from this parking area makes for a brisk walk up to Milagra Ridge and then a nice loop at the top before returning by the same trail. Milagra Ridge used to be a Nike missile site (SF-51), still has some WWII remains (Battery #244) and a reservoir. I thought it looked like a nice enough day to brave Pacifica but by the time I'd loaded the dog and driven down the fog had swept in. Still a pleasant 3 mile hike.
I have wanted a decentralized social network for alongtime. Maybe this Fediverse thing is starting to get legs. Bluesky and Mastodon can now talk to each other via Bridgy Fed. Threads can post to Mastodon. ITHCWY has been on ActivityPub for a year now and it's become a significant source of traffic and comments. If you are on Mastodon or a federated service you can follow me at @ithoughthecamewithyou.com@ithoughthecamewithyou.com. I plan to get even more federated over the next year.
I waded foolishly into the debate around turning the Great Highway in San Francisco into a park, and found that the data doesn't support the fear of carnage in the Sunset when this road is closed. I also made a custom GPT to discuss the San Francisco budget with, and had to spend some time writing the missing manual to even know what to ask. Too late now, but here's a guide to the March ballot measures (watch this space for November) On a national level I got to update my NPVIC page now that Maine has joined.
Hike from Banff to the Hoodoos on the Bow River, then around the back of Tunnel Mountain and back to Banff. Clearly you could close the loop but in this case we had some well deserved ice cream and then got the bus back.
(Published to the Fediverse as:
Tunnel Mountain #hike#banff#tunnelmountain#map Hike taking in the Bow River Hoodoos and Tunnel Mountain in Banff, Alberta, Canada.)
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
SONY DSC-RX10M4 220mm f8.0 1/250s ISO1000
Photo of a black bear near Blue River, British Columbia. I knew that black bears are sometimes pretty brown - this is a very brown black bear.
The photograph captures the serene presence of a brown black bear standing amidst a lush tapestry of green foliage. The bear’s coat, a rich blend of earthy tones, contrasts beautifully with the vibrant greens that envelop it, ranging from the deep, shadowy hues of the leaves in the background to the bright, delicate shades of wildflowers sprinkled in the meadow. The bear gazes directly at the viewer, a calm, curious expression in its eyes, as if pausing to embrace the symphony of nature's silence around it. The array of plant life in the foreground and background frames the bear, presenting a harmonious interaction between fauna and flora, while suggesting the vastness and vitality of its natural habitat.
The composition of this photograph is commendable for its use of color contrast and focus. The photographer employs a shallow depth of field that effectively isolates the bear as the focal point, against the slightly blurred backdrop, lending an intimate perspective to the scene. The horizontal composition allows for a generous depiction of the surrounding greenery, enhancing the sense of the bear's domain. The style captures the wild essence with a documentary flair, offering both a moment of stillness and immediacy. However, while the composition highlights the bear well, the image could benefit from a slight adjustment in lighting to accentuate the textures of both the bear's fur and the surrounding flora, adding a bit more dimensionality to the scene. Overall, the photograph beautifully encapsulates the quiet power and natural beauty of its subject.
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
SONY DSC-RX10M4 9mm f2.4 1/6,400s ISO100
SONY DSC-RX10M4 9mm f2.4 1/6,400s ISO100
SONY DSC-RX10M4 9mm f16.0 1/100s ISO100
SONY DSC-RX10M4 12mm f16.0 1/40s ISO100
SONY DSC-RX10M4 65mm f16.0 1/640s ISO100
Photos of Sunwapta and Athabasca Falls in Jasper National Park (Alberta), and Overlander, Nairn and Brandywine Falls in British Columbia.
The photograph titled "Canadian Water" captures a dramatic scene of a cascading waterfall, its white froth and mist creating a stark contrast against the dark, rugged rocks that frame the flow. The image is rendered in black and white, enhancing the texture and motion of the water while eliminating the distractions of color, thus focusing the viewer's attention on the interplay of light and shadows. The water appears to dance and churn as it sweeps over the rocks, its energy palpable and relentless, while the rocks stand as silent, stoic sentinels. This juxtaposition evokes a sense of timelessness and the raw power of nature, aptly reflecting the majestic wilderness of Canadian landscapes.
The choice of black and white lends a classic, timeless quality to the composition, drawing attention to texture, contrast, and form. The composition utilizes leading lines created by the water’s path, drawing the viewer’s eye deeper into the scene. The use of high contrast between the bright whites of the water and the deep blacks of the rocks adds a dramatic flair, heightening the sense of movement and vigor. While the image beautifully captures the dynamic motion and power of the waterfall, the lack of varied tonal gradations might limit the depth that color could provide, potentially offering more nuance and warmth to the scene. Overall, the photograph embodies a compelling blend of strength and serenity, though it might benefit from slightly greater tonal range to enhance its richness and dimensionality.
(Published to the Fediverse as:
Canadian Water #photo#waterfall Photos of Sunwapta, Athbasca, Overlander, Nairn and Brandywine Falls in Alberta and British Columbia, Canada.)
Photos of three humpback whales in the Strait of Georgia, near Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada.
The photograph captures a dynamic moment where humpback whales are majestically surfacing in the Strait of Georgia. The image is a dance of water and life, where the focal point is the explosion of activity as the whales break through the calm surface of the ocean. A fine mist is visible as one of the whales exhales, adding a sense of movement and vitality to the scene. The play of sunlight on the splashes creates a dazzling spectacle, casting shimmering reflections across the turquoise expanse, suggestive of both the power and grace of these gentle giants.
The composition of the photograph utilizes the rule of thirds effectively, drawing the eye towards the central action of the whales breaching the water. The tight framing keeps our focus on the interaction between the whales and their aquatic setting. The image captures high-speed movement with crisp clarity, showcasing the technical prowess of the photographer in freezing this moment in time. However, the busy nature of the splashes can create a somewhat chaotic scene, which might benefit from a slightly wider shot to provide context and enhance the grandeur of the surrounding landscape. Overall, the image is a striking portrayal of the natural beauty and immense power of humpback whales in their habitat.
(Published to the Fediverse as:
Humpback Whales in the Strait of Georgia #photo#whales#humpback Photos of three whales near Vancouver, British Columbia)
There is some debate in San Francisco at the moment around permanently closing the Great Highway to traffic.
This road was closed during the pandemic and I regularly visited with my kids to enjoy a bike ride in a safe and beautiful environment. There were also 'slow streets' dotted around the city, many of which persisted. These still have cars and parking and are much less compelling.
Opponents of the plan are concerned that traffic displaced from the Great Highway will make neighborhood streets more dangerous. The hope is that this traffic will shift to Sunset Boulevard but the reality is likely some increased traffic in the Outer Sunset. This seems like a reasonable complaint, but so far I haven't seen any data. Since August 2021 the Great Highway has been closed weekends, holidays and Friday afternoons. Is it possible to see the impact?
I downloaded injury accident and fatality data from Data SF. This covers the entire city so I first cut the data set down to an area bounded by the Great Highway and Sunset Boulevard (including both) and Lincoln Way and Sloat (excluding both). I then picked a pre period from May 28, 2017 to February 29, 2020 and a post period from September 1, 2021 to June 4, 2024. Both periods are 1,008 days which is 36 28 day periods. Here's a chart of injury accidents (number of people injured in total) by week day:
The good news is that injuries are down overall. Monday through Friday the total decrease is 26%. When the Great Highway is closed at the weekend the number of injuries decreases by 44%. It looks like the streets have got safer when the Great Highway is closed. Before the pandemic you would be 14% more likely to get injured at the weekend, for the last few years this has flipped to 14% less likely.
I also looked at deaths. There are only two, both in the post period. One was on a Saturday and one a Monday. That's not enough data to try and draw any conclusions.
Given how nice that stretch of road is, I'm now a big supporter of the Great Highway Park concept.
In case it's useful here's the code behind the analysis:
(Published to the Fediverse as:
Does closing the Great Highway cause an increase in traffic accidents? #politics#sanfrancisco#greathighway Analysis of data from DataSF shows injury accidents are lower when the Great Highway is closed to traffic.)
I just sent this note to my senators (Padilla and Butler):
"Being a presidential voter in California is like playing the Trolley Problem without a lever. I know my vote won't make much of a difference, but I can no longer vote for President Biden. I was an enthusiastic supporter in 2020. I'm grateful that Biden defeated Trump. I'm proud of the work this administration has done to reduce carbon emissions, make healthcare more affordable and increase domestic semiconductor production.
While impressive, these accomplishments are sunk benefits. If Trump is allowed to prevail in the 2024 election much of this good work will be undone. That will likely be the least of our problems as a country. President Biden is now almost certain to lose the election. We are currently stuck with everyone realizing that this is true, but too few willing to make their position public. We risk a catastrophic election result unless a landslide of hard truths are delivered in the next few days.
Biden ran on a platform of being the bridge to a new generation of leadership. He must fulfil this promise and start the process of passing the torch immediately. As my representative please take a public position that this must happen as I'm sure you must privately believe. Thank you."
