Sigh. I’m learning things again.
I couldn’t stand it. I had to play with the map data myself. I like maps and I’ve worked with them a lot over the years, but always in the context of, like, Google maps with fearsome copyright protections.
The idea of playing with free map data using free tools was just too tempting.
Of course, the tools to do this are hella complicated. At least, tools like QGIS are. The simple Java tool Java Open Street Map editor is more amenable to the casual tinkerer.
If you want to play, go to Open Street Map, pan and zoom to the place you want to map, export to an .osm file and import it to your preferred tool. Have fun!
The image is Mount Teide on the island of Tenerife, the highest point in Spain, visualized by Saber Razmjooei using QGIS.
January 22, 2026 — 6:02 pm
Comments: 2
Say hi to my grandpa
The family farm that got turned into a cemetery. My grandpa was allowed to pick his own plot, so he picked a beautiful hillside he used to plough. It is now nestled between a state highway and an interstate highway.
There’s a plot for me, if anyone cares to ship me over there when I croak.
I’ve been struggling with openstreetmap data (not this – this is Google maps). Does anyone have experience with it?
In theory, I love it – open source mapping that I can download and use without licensing. In practice, you have to download the whole world if you want to slice it up yourself, or ask a third party to do it for you. Downloading out of the app only gives you xml text data (as far as I can tell).
More learning stuff!
January 21, 2026 — 7:01 pm
Comments: 2
Wales. Welsh. Health. Health ambassador.
Health ambassador from Wales is opening a dialogue on female wellness. I’m so not kidding.
I tried to find the item on the BBC site with no luck, but multiple source confirm (and I’m too lazy to be one of them).
When I asked ChatGPT to redraw this in the style of Thomas Nast, it described her as “determined Muslim woman.” No, ChatGPT…fat gives you a permanent frowny face.
January 20, 2026 — 7:13 pm
Comments: 6
Untangling my empire
I just registered a domain name for a local club and went to hang their site off my server and discovered…I have no idea how it works any more.
Actually, not true. Considering I haven’t designed a webpage in a serious way for 20 years, it’s amazing how little the technology has changed. I can navigate my way around just fine, thank you. That’s weird.
But I’ve got thirteen websites hanging off my account, most of which have been dead for years. And somehow Uncle B’s account has been set to the master account. And it would be nice to fix the thing making this website flag as dangerous.
I have some learning to do. I hate learning.
January 19, 2026 — 6:54 pm
Comments: 7
Dead Pool 193: and now we’re all sad
Scott Adams is dead and now we’re all sad. Uncle Al takes the sad dick. Now let’s pick up our skirts and carry on…it’s what he would have wanted.
0. Rule Zero (AKA Steve’s Rule): your pick has to be living when picked. Also, nobody whose execution date is circled on the calendar. Also, please don’t kill anybody. Plus (Pupster’s Rule) no picking someone who’s only famous for being the oldest person alive.
1. Pick a celebrity. Any celebrity — though I reserve the right to nix picks I never heard of (I don’t generally follow the Dead Pool threads carefully, so if you’re unsure of your pick, call it to my attention).
2. We start from scratch every time. No matter who you had last time, or who you may have called between rounds, you have to turn up on this very thread and stake your claim.
3. Poaching and other dirty tricks positively encouraged.
4. Your first choice sticks. Don’t just blurt something out, m’kay? Also, make sure you have a correct spelling of your choice somewhere in your comment. These threads get longish and I use search to figure out if we have a winner.
5. It’s up to you to search the thread and make sure your choice is unique. I’m waayyyy too lazy to catch the dupes. Popular picks go fast.
6. The pool stays open until somebody on the list dies. Feel free to jump in any time. Noobs, strangers, drive-bys and one-comment-wonders — all are welcome.
7. If you want your fabulous prize, you have to entrust me with a mailing address. If you’ve won before, send me your address again. I don’t keep good records.
8. The new DeadPool will begin 6pm WBT (Weasel’s Blog Time) the Friday after the last round is concluded.
The winner, if the winner chooses to entrust me with a mailing address, will receive an Official Certificate of Dick Winning and a small original drawing on paper suffused with elephant shit particles. Because I’m fresh out of fairy shit particles.
Note: I am woefully behind on dick deliveries. If I owe you one, you’ll know how long. I ain’t gived up, but I haven’t drawn much since lockdown. Some day, your heirs might hear from my heirs.
January 16, 2026 — 6:00 pm
Comments: 49
Sulking
Yes, I struggled in to my toenail appointment this morning. On my bike. In the freezing rain. I arrived, soaked through and sullen, and had my claws clipped. When I got home, I planted myself on the couch and refused to budge.
God, it can be vile here in Winter.
I’ve discovered ChatGPT does a bang-up weasel, but you have to say “ermine” or you’re likely to get a ferret or pole cat. Grok, on the other hand, is hopeless.
Meet me here tomorrow for You Know What number 193!
January 15, 2026 — 7:10 pm
Comments: 2
Toenails!
I’m finally of an age that someone else cuts my toenails.
Well, I could do it myself. I can cut my toenails in sunlight! I have problems with vision more than flexibility or dexterity. But the old ladies I hang out with go to this woman podiatrist in town, so I’ve started going too.
She trims my nails, checks my feet out and anoints them with oil. Bit luxuriant, really.
But my next appointment is 9:00 in the morning. What was I thinking?
January 14, 2026 — 5:45 pm
Comments: 3
G’bye
When Dilbert first appeared in syndication, I worked for a corporate engineering company – so, worst of both worlds. Dilbert, as you might imagine, was an instant hit.
I wrote Scott Adams a fan letter. Fan email. It was obvious he wasn’t used to it and didn’t quite know what to do. He wrote back. “Thanks. My agent has the same first name as you.”
lol
Uncle Al takes the Dead Pool with Scott Adams, and we are all sad. See you Friday!
January 13, 2026 — 6:07 pm
Comments: 5
Spooky
A friend picked me up today in a newly leased Mercedes SUV (yeah, I don’t think they’re short of a few bucks). I don’t know if it was this one exactly, but it was close. Have you been in a modern car lately? It’s creepy as hell.
The whole dashboard is one big screen. The instrument cluster and everything is just an image (and, I gather, completely customizable). The center console was showing us video out front (or back, depending which way we were moving) with helpful guidelines overlaid for the position of curbs, etc.
Gosh, I ain’t even notice if it was electric.
We go around one corner, and both our seatbelts tighten. She laughed, “it saw something it didn’t like – a pedestrian or something.”
Saw something it didn’t like. Let me off this consarnit newfangled earth!
January 12, 2026 — 6:28 pm
Comments: 6
I passed!
Well, kind of. They want me back in eight weeks. But I’m cleared for the gym. Woot!
On a train headed to a party. Have an excellent weekend, everyone!
January 9, 2026 — 6:15 pm
Comments: 4