Diminutive Disperser Post No. 4 – Extinct Snake and and Typos

Sometimes, I chance upon things that do not merit one of my lengthy posts, hence, these here diminutive posts. 

As I’m walking around — or even linearly — I’ll notice something and I snap a photo.

Such was the case with the above. Hawai’i has no snakes (mostly) but you can occasionally find a fossil of past island reptiles. It awakens the herpetologist in me. 

The original of this is a big file . . . compiled from multiple shots, it comes in at 12MB and roughly 11400 x4000 pixels. I’m not going to link it here because I set up a SmugMug Gallery HERE for all the photos I use in the Diminutive Posts. If you want to see the original, go there. Clicking on any of the photos opens a version roughly twice as big in a new tab or window. 

I tried a couple of different B&W conversions, a combination of onOne Effects and Lightroom. I like this one the best (the other is in the SmugMug gallery):

Unless someone clicks on the photo, one might miss the resemblance to an aquatic reptile . . . so here’s a closeup.

And, the corresponding B&W shot (one of two) . . . 

~ ~ ~ o o o ~ ~ ~

For the writing portion, I want to comment on something I notice with increasing frequency. 

In comments, in emails, in various modes of electronic communication, I can usually tell when someone is writing something using a phone or tablet. 

I can tell because of the mistakes. Anyone can mistype a word by hitting a letter next to the correct choice. For instance, “grest“ instead of “great”, or “Mississippi” instead of “Louisiana” . . . no, wait; that’s geographic proximity. 

Whatever. The point is that a true typo is one where the intended word is mistyped. Not misspelled — although that also happens — but rather the wrong key was mistakenly pressed even though the writer obviously knows how to spell the word. 

On most PC editors and interfaces, those errors are flagged by the spell checker and people correct them by hand.

Then, there’s autocorrect, something that is not usually switched on when typing on a computer using a keyboard but that is both prevalent and active on tablets and phones. As is implied by the name, autocorrect makes the decisions for you as far as what to “fix” when you mistype something.

In the sentence “I’m going done to the beach” I can work out that the person actually meant “I’m going down to the beach” but the autocorrect made a less-than-informed decision when it corrected a misspelled word.

Some autocorrect mistakes are now the source of great hilarity . . . do a search for “autocorrect fails” and you can waste a bunch of time being entertained with what are presented as actual texts. 

I bring this up because I’ve seen an uptick in these kinds of errors. I’ve been caught in them myself those times when I have to communicate via text or answer an email when I’m away from home.

I’m reading this increase as a sign that people’s — people not me — preferences shifted to portable devices over proper PCs.

I also bring this up because we now have a President Elect using Twitter as if his life depended on it . . . I can’t wait to read:

“I’ll make America Grate Again by giving people dope!”

and

“I’ve met with Genitals and Admirals to discuss military strategies.”

That’s it. This post has ended . . . except for the stuff below.

<><><><><><><><o><><><><><><><><><o><><><><><><><>

Note: if you are not reading this blog post at DisperserTracks.com, know that it has been copied without permission, and likely is being used by someone with nefarious intention, like attracting you to a malware-infested website.  Could be they also torture small mammals.

<><><><><><><><o><><><><><><><><><o><><><><><><><>

Please, if you are considering bestowing me recognition beyond commenting below, refrain from doing so.  I will decline blogger-to-blogger awards.   I appreciate the intent behind it, but I prefer a comment thanking me for turning you away from a life of crime, religion, or making you a better person in some other way.  That would mean something to me.

If you wish to know more, please read below.

About awards: Blogger Awards
About “likes”:   Of “Likes”, Subscriptions, and Stuff

Note: to those who may click on “like”, or rate the post; if you do not hear from me, know that I am sincerely appreciative, and I thank you for noticing what I do.

. . .  my FP ward  . . . chieken shit.

Finally, if you interpret anything on this blog as me asking or wanting pity, encouragement, or advice to better my life, know my subtle mix of irony, sarcasm, and humor is blowing right by you.