May question of the day catch-up

[petrea_mitchell]

I only just realized I missed one near the beginning of the month, so starting with that:

5/2 - Bike Month: Do you cycle? If yes, do you do it mostly for fun/occasional outings, or is it your main mode of transportation? Does your municipality have good cycling infrastructure? Do you cycle year-round, even in winter (and in the snow if you get snow where you live)?

Yes, it used to be part of my commute, yes, and I draw the line at snow or significant ice.

Every job but one-- which was in central Beaverton so I just walked to the bus stop and took the bus to the job-- since moving into this house, my commute has started and ended with a mile and a half on the bike between here and the light rail station. I did that in all sorts of weather and temperatures. I did wonder from time to time if I'd still be doing this at 50 or 60. It turns out probably not, thanks to the shift to working from home.

I still ride the bike for errands or when I want to get to the light rail station.

5/25 - Towel Day: According to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, “A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have.” Do you agree with this statement? Are towels equally useful to those of us not engaging in interstellar travels?

I think Hitchhiker's Guide makes a good case for it. On Earth, maybe not quite so much.

5/26 - Paper Airplane Day: Can you make a paper airplane? Can you make one that actually flies more than a foot or two before crashing?

I think I could remember how. Haven't made one in years.

5/27 - Sunscreen Day: Do you use sunscreen regularly? Do you use it on its own, or do you buy other skin care products that include a sunscreen?

I use standalone sunscreen when I expect to be out in the sun a bunch.

5/28 - Hamburger Day: Let’s face it, there isn't anything in the world quite so delightful as your first bite of a rich, juicy hamburger. Do you love hamburgers (or veggie burgers)? What are your favourite toppings to put on your burger?

I do like them. Ketchup and pickles are my favorites. (Least favorite: raw onions.)

5/29 - Paperclip Day: Paperclips are not just for holding papers together. There are many other things that you can do with them! What are some of the uses you've found for paperclips beyond holding papers together? Do you think Microsoft's Windows 97 personal assistant "Clippy" did irreparable harm to the reputation of paperclips worldwide?

I think people understand that Clippy is not representative of all paperclips.

By far the most handy alternate use I was taught for a paperclip was how to bend it into a tool for manipulating DIP switches.

5/30 - Loomis Day: Mahlon Loomis, a humble dentist, revolutionized the world when he created the “wireless telegram” in 1886. How different would your life be without wi-fi, TV, or radio?

More tranquil but undoubtedly much more limited. Lots of phone calls, no online gaming, play-by-post by actual mail.

5/31 - Web Designer Day: We all visit various websites every single day of the year. What are "features" on some websites that really annoy you? What features do you appreciate the most on well-designed websites?

In the modern era, my least favorite feature is the cookie popup designed to trick you into accepting them. The feature I appreciate most is being able to find what I need even with JavaScript turned off.

Comments

[delosharriman]

I was fascinated to discover that the paperclips sold in Germany are not symmetrically round at both ends. One end is bent flatter, and one is bent with a sort of point.

[petrea_mitchell]

Were they deliberately designed that way or is that just how the machines happen to make them there?