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Monthly review: March 2021

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Lots of coding again this month!

  • Emacs News: I wrote some code to schedule announcements on IRC and Twitter, and I pulled the other meetups' iCal feeds in automatically.
  • Streaming: I tried streaming again, but I think OBS was taking up too much CPU and it made my computer a little too unresponsive. I'll try streaming from OBS to Twitch instead of using ffmpeg to multicast next time.
  • Captions: I wrote some code to use word-level timing from Google's video transcripts when splitting subtitles. I experimented with redirecting my automatic caption output into Emacs, using it to dictate a few sentences.
  • Video processing: I split the BigBlueButton video based on XML, writing some Emacs Lisp code to generate title clips with LaTeX and make the FFMPEG commands to cut by keyframes when possible. I split out audio into a separate track for smoother playback.
  • Publishing: I added the ability to expand all, collapse all, and toggle visibility of headings in my exported HTML. I added night mode to my blog, and I removed the search form and sidebar.
  • Other Emacs improvements: I added preview to my consult function for reading a sketch filename. I added the ability to set the category and add other text to my journal from Emacs.
  • Drawing:
    • I drew a lot during A-‘s classes. I practised sketching plants following “Illustration School: Let's Draw Plants and Small Creatures.”
    • I tried sketching in both Concepts and Procreate. They're both nice. I modified my sketch viewer to handle SVGs. I figured out how to switch colours on the SVG I exported from Concepts so that it could respect dark mode. I also changed my stylesheet.
    • I wrote some Emacs Lisp code to extract paths or groups to individual SVGs in preparation for updating my font.
  • Other:
    • I sewed some long dresses and a bonnet for A-. She wears them often. I also sewed a pair of pajama pants for myself.
    • I ordered the Georgi chording keyboard. I want to see if I can get the hang of stenography for captioning, writing, and coding.

Blog posts

Sketches

Time

Category Previous month % This month % Diff % h/wk Diff h/wk
Sleep 30.1 34.6 4.4 64.2 7.4
Business 0.7 1.8 1.1 3.3 1.8
Discretionary – Family 0.0 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.3
Discretionary – Play 0.5 0.6 0.1 1.1 0.2
Discretionary – Social 0.1 0.0 -0.1 0.0 -0.1
Unpaid work 3.6 3.4 -0.2 6.4 -0.3
A- 45.9 44.4 -1.5 82.6 -2.5
Personal 6.2 4.6 -1.5 8.6 -2.6
Discretionary – Productive 12.9 10.4 -2.5 19.3 -4.2
View or add comments (Disqus), or e-mail me at sacha@sachachua.com

Monthly review: February 2021

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  • Streaming:
    • I experimented with streaming to Twitch.
    • I added a hydra for switching OBS scenes.
    • I added a marginalia function for hiding password-ish variables.
    • I got captions to flow from my phone to Node to Emacs to OBS to Twitch. There's some delay, but it's a good starting point that might come in handy for live captioning my own stuff.
    • I experimented with using impatient-mode to share live show notes.
    • I wrote some code to split a video and its subtitles based on the selected region in Emacs.
  • Emacs:
    • I added regexp-based autocategorization to Emacs News.
    • I tried out pretty-hydra.
    • I wrote some commands to remotely control Geeqie from Emacs. They're useful for quickly flipping through images.
    • I got Embark to recognize headings from my Org agenda.
    • I attended the EmacsSF, EmacsNYC, and EmacsATX meetups.
  • Other coding:
    • I added photoswipe to A-‘s learning stories and my sketch gallery.
    • I removed lots of old docker images from my laptop and server, so now there's a bit more space on my root partition.
    • I tried using the TV as a second monitor, but typing on the coffee table was too awkward. I dusted off my Cintiq and set it up again.
    • I added photoswipe to my sketch gallery.
    • I broke Quantified Awesome in the process of trying to fix the http/https issue. I managed to fix it, and I think I have a reasonable docker image for it at least for now. I also disabled sign-ups and added a warning message.
    • I needed to restore from my Linode backup because I deleted more files than I intended to. Fortunately, the backups worked.
    • I started configuring 11ty to generate a static copy of my site. Neat! Search might be a challenge, though.
  • Us:
    • I started thinking about the second half of virtual kindergarten.
    • I spent some time tidying up my Org Mode inboxes. I'm actually reasonably up to date now, yay!
    • I tried out making yogurt. It turned out all right.
    • W- cleared off lots of snow from the roof so that it would melt away from the house.
    • I finished knitting a hat for A- and crocheting slipper socks for me.

Blog posts

Sketches

Time

Category Previous month % This month % Diff % h/wk Diff h/wk
A- 43.5 45.4 1.8 68.8 3.1
Sleep 28.6 30.1 1.6 45.7 2.6
Personal 6.0 6.8 0.8 10.3 1.3
Discretionary – Play 0.0 0.5 0.5 0.8 0.8
Unpaid work 3.6 3.6 0.0 5.5 0.0
Discretionary – Social 0.2 0.1 -0.1 0.1 -0.2
Discretionary – Family 0.3 0.0 -0.3 0.0 -0.5
Business 2.1 0.7 -1.4 1.1 -2.4
Discretionary – Productive 15.6 12.9 -2.8 19.5 -4.7
View or add comments (Disqus), or e-mail me at sacha@sachachua.com

Monthly review: January 2021

Posted: - Modified: | monthly, review
  • Emacs:
    • Made an HTML and Org calendar thing for Emacs meetups which summarizes Emacs meetups in different timezones.
    • Hacked up a quick obs-websocket client for Emacs using websocket.el and I sent it to mplsCorwin.
    • Wrote some Emacs Lisp to summarize an Org entry in different timezones.
    • Tweaked subed.el to make it easier for me to split subtitles.
    • Figured out how to make it easier to post to my journal.
    • Finished editing the captions for the first day of EmacsConf 2020.
    • Started checking out 11ty, a static site generator.
    • Fixed my code for doing weekly reviews.
  • Other tech:
    • Set up znc-push to talk to Telegram.
    • Set up Nginx to serve static files for my journal and sketches.
    • Thought about my scanning workflow. I want to be able to file our sketches and eventually get a sense of our progress through time. Loading images in Emacs still seems a little too slow, so maybe I should get the hang of geeqie.
    • Returned my new laptop because I wanted to hold out for a machine with even more memory, and I wasn't as comfortable drawing on it as I was on my old one.
    • Made a MIDI of the teacher's opening song, and I experimented with creating animated lyrics.
    • Made a typing tutor for A- that showed which key to press and displayed a random picture when she completed the word. 2021-01-26-02
  • School:
    • Learned how to use Google Sheets custom functions to summarize observations by keywords.
    • Figured out how to make a spreadsheet of Youtube channel videos with durations by modifying yt-videos-list. That might come in handy for filtering Numberblocks videos by duration.
    • Gave some of our Duplo to A-‘s kindergarten teacher.
  • Household:
    • Sorted A-‘s old clothes and toys for giving away.
    • Sewed a slipcover for the sofa out of the Ultrasuede sofa wrap I made before.
    • Knitted rainbow hats and scarves for A- and me. I crocheted slipper socks for her, too.
    • Made a LEGO playing card holder for A- so that she could hide her cards from us instead of playing face-up. She promptly challenged us to Crazy Eights and won a few games.

Blog posts

Sketches

Time

Category Previous month % This month % Diff % h/wk Diff h/wk
Discretionary – Productive 9.8 15.6 5.9 26.3 9.9
Personal 4.9 6.0 1.1 10.1 1.8
Business 1.4 2.1 0.8 3.6 1.3
Unpaid work 3.3 3.6 0.3 6.0 0.5
Discretionary – Social 0.4 0.2 -0.2 0.3 -0.3
Discretionary – Family 0.6 0.3 -0.3 0.5 -0.5
Discretionary – Play 0.4 0.0 -0.4 0.0 -0.6
A- 46.2 43.5 -2.7 73.1 -4.5
Sleep 33.1 28.6 -4.5 48.0 -7.6

I stayed up late to do things.

View or add comments (Disqus), or e-mail me at sacha@sachachua.com

Monthly review: August 2020

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  • We played with lots of LEGO: building sets and our own creations, and making up stories and games. A- had fun inventing new rules and events in Heroica.
  • A- practised playing independently with LEGO or Khan Academy Kids while I did some consulting. I shared some of my earnings with her, so she kept encouraging me to work more. That freed up evening discretionary time for personal projects.
  • I added lots of little things to my journaling system to help me use it as a Zettelkasten. I also started digging into analyzing and visualizing it using Python.
  • We rehabilitated the main planter box and draped some mesh over the tomatoes on the deck.
  • I sewed some skirts for A- and me.
  • I worked on sneaking more math into everyday play.
  • A- read lots of books on her own.
  • A- and I wore our masks inside stores and the library. Whee!
  • Because of LEGO board games, A- was curious about mummies, minotaurs, zombies, and vampires.

Blog posts

Sketches

Time

Category Previous month % This month % Diff % h/wk Diff h/wk
Business 0.5 3.2 2.7 5.4 4.5
Unpaid work 3.3 3.9 0.5 6.5 0.9
Discretionary – Productive 8.4 9.0 0.5 15.1 0.9
Discretionary – Play 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.5 0.4
Personal 4.3 4.2 -0.1 7.0 -0.2
Discretionary – Family 1.2 0.8 -0.4 1.3 -0.6
Sleep 31.5 30.1 -1.4 50.5 -2.4
A- 50.7 48.6 -2.1 81.7 -3.5
View or add comments (Disqus), or e-mail me at sacha@sachachua.com

Monthly review: July 2020

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  • LEGO Heroica was the big thing this month. After some initial anxiety, A- jumped right into the world. She loved playing the wizard, and she loved pretending to be a goblin or a golem. We tried a paper-and-pen RPG for little kids, and she got the hang of that too.
  • I experimented with different mask sewing patterns. Quilting cotton made a better outer layer than softer fabric did, and Procool interlock was nice for the inner layer. A mask bracket was great for breathability.
  • I added sketches and more features to my journaling system.
  • I reflected a lot on early childhood education. We'll probably do junior kindergarten at home, and we'll experiment with mostly child-initiated activities instead of focusing on crafts.
  • We worked up the courage to use the library again. Whee!
  • We spent some time outside exploring art and bubbles. A- seems a little hesitant about mark-making, but playfulness helps.
  • A- enjoys doing Khan Academy Kids. She was initially frustrated by an activity involving counting syllables, but she seems to have gotten the hang of it now.
  • We've been making great use of the popsicle mold that W- got. We use a base of Greek yogurt and vanilla or coconut milk and pandan extract, and then we add fruits.
  • A- discovered my little toy penguin. She had fun imitating its sounds and actions.

Blog posts

Sketches

Time

Category Previous month % This month % Diff % h/wk Diff h/wk
Sleep 30.3 31.5 1.1 54.7 1.9
Discretionary – Family 0.4 1.2 0.7 2.0 1.2
Personal 3.8 4.3 0.5 7.5 0.9
Unpaid work 3.0 3.3 0.3 5.8 0.5
Discretionary – Play 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1
Discretionary – Social 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Business 1.2 0.5 -0.7 0.9 -1.1
A- 51.7 50.7 -1.0 88.1 -1.6
Discretionary – Productive 9.6 8.4 -1.1 14.6 -1.9
View or add comments (Disqus), or e-mail me at sacha@sachachua.com

Monthly review: June 2020

Posted: - Modified: | monthly, review

2020-07-02 June 2020 #monthly #review
2020-07-02 June 2020 #monthly #review
  • I made a font based on my handwriting using FontForge, Python, Org Mode, and Medibang Paint.
  • I drew with crayons and with my tablet. I tweaked my Krita workflow by remapping buttons. I sketched an overview of the Ontario Kindergarten 2016 curriculum.
  • I made my journal more visual, and I updated my Emacs configuration.
  • A- learned how to ride a pedal bike! She also worked on learning how to type with all fingers. We built lots of LEGO sets together by using the bricks we already had, and A- started to build the habit of tidying up. She liked listening to me talk in Tagalog. We worked on play skills and making sure both of us have fun. She played with Khan Academy Kids and Scratch Jr on the tablet, and she encouraged me to consult while she did so. She pretended to be a baby yeti and a plant. We spent some time browsing through Childcraft and the children's dictionary.

Next month, I want to get better at taking advantage of the space created by screentime and independent play, maybe by preparing for kindergarten.

Blog posts

Sketches

Time

Category Previous month % This month % Diff % h/wk Diff h/wk
Discretionary – Productive 5.3 9.6 4.2 15.5 7.1
A- 48.8 51.7 2.9 84.1 4.8
Discretionary – Social 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Discretionary – Family 0.4 0.4 0.0 0.7 0.0
Business 1.3 1.2 -0.1 1.9 -0.2
Personal 4.9 3.8 -1.1 6.2 -1.9
Discretionary – Play 1.3 0.0 -1.3 0.0 -2.2
Unpaid work 5.1 3.0 -2.1 4.9 -3.5
Sleep 32.8 30.3 -2.4 49.3 -4.1
View or add comments (Disqus), or e-mail me at sacha@sachachua.com

Monthly review: May 2020

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I've missed reviewing my journal entries. My weekly and monthly reviews had gotten a little unwieldy because my daily journal entries captured so many of A-‘s adventures.

  • Household
    • I experimented with using Grocy to track our pantry inventory, and I tried to modify the source code to make it easier to get the views I wanted. We decided to just keep things untracked, since we get through stuff in a reasonable time.
    • I set up a Tasker profile to lock the screen after seven minutes of watching videos, since I didn't like fighting A- about it.
    • W-‘s takoyaki pan arrived. He made shrimp balls, and we enjoyed eating them.
    • W- took apart the garden boxes near the shed. He built another one near the bottom of the dock stairs, and he moved the mint closer to the house. We added another container for the bitter melon, and we took off the chicken wire and added pea supports.
    • W- dug a trench around the shed and started stapling wire mesh around it.
    • We experimented with making ice cream cones and cups.
    • W- practised cooking outside with the butane stove. We tried baking bread outside too, since the toaster oven is portable.
    • I wore a mask and picked up my business mail. It was the first time I'd been out for a long walk in a couple of months.
  • Education
    • A- finished the online kindergarten readiness program.
    • I printed out the ELECT framework and updated my kindergarten readiness checklist. I think this will help me focus on specific areas and take notes. I also reflected on learning how to have fun with A-. I started reading through the kindergarten curriculum expectations. It has a lot of tips on how to respond, extend, and challenge kids while playing.
    • W- moved the printer upstairs to accommodate all our printing. I started printing worksheets for A-, since she sometimes asked for them. In addition to the worksheets I downloaded, I also created a bunch of worksheets about chess, taho, and other interests.
    • A- carefully completed a colour-by-number worksheet that had eight colours. She sometimes coloured outlines slowly so that she could scribble inside them faster. She tried to keep most of her crayon marks within the lines. It was pretty amazing.
    • A- breezed through almost 30 Christmas-related worksheets, asking for more. Towards the end, she developed the routine of doing two thumbs up after completing a sheet. She grinned and asked, “What's my reward?” I said, “That feeling of being proud. And more challenges, if you want them.” She asked for another sheet. I think we had that exchange four or five times.
  • Tech:
    • I started making a font of my handwriting using FontForge. I wrote a Python script to generate a font template, figured out how to compile autotrace against GraphicsMagick instead of ImageMagick, and experimented with class-based kerning.
    • Well, that was really exciting. I upgraded to Focal (Ubuntu 20.04) from Bionic (18.04), broke my server config in half a dozen places, and stayed up late to fix most of the pieces (I think). And I even ended up dockerizing Quantified Awesome (although the app directory is still mounted), since Passenger was getting annoying.
    • I set up a Docker container for developing Quantified Awesome, and I managed to initialize my database and log in. Whee! Next step: remember how tests work…

Blog posts

Sketches

Time

Category Previous month % This month % Diff % h/wk Diff h/wk
A- 45.1 48.8 3.8 84.8 6.4
Discretionary – Productive 4.1 5.3 1.2 9.3 2.1
Sleep 32.2 32.8 0.6 56.9 1.0
Unpaid work 5.2 5.1 -0.1 8.9 -0.1
Business 1.4 1.3 -0.1 2.3 -0.2
Discretionary – Social 0.3 0.0 -0.3 0.0 -0.5
Discretionary – Family 1.4 0.4 -1.0 0.7 -1.6
Personal 5.9 4.9 -1.0 8.5 -1.7
Discretionary – Play 4.5 1.3 -3.2 2.3 -5.4
View or add comments (Disqus), or e-mail me at sacha@sachachua.com