So, I did it

I took Firefox 57. NoSquintPlus (NSP) seems okay. Except there are no minimise/maximise/close buttons and the menu text, against a black background cannot be read.

I have tried various themes to change the background and they work only on the tab currently displayed at the time. It brings back the missing buttons. Note that I say brings back the missing buttons rather than simply having them visible because of a different background. Oh yes, the right click drop down menu for the same features doesn't work either.

Not only that, the moment I change tabs or open a new one, the theme I just activated disappears. It doesn't get saved. So I'm back to an unreadable menu and no min/max/close buttons.

Also, only the tab that is displayed has text I can read. The other tabs are just tabs with no clue as to what they are until you open them.

I went back to Firefox 56 but noted that NSP had updated (even though I'd set it not to update as later versions didn't work) but it still seemed to work.

I tried again, no change so went back to 56. But now NSP isn't working. So I shall have to re-install the version that was working before and maybe FF58 will work properly.

I realise FF is free and I'm so used to it that I don't want to change. But why can't they charge for their Browsers giving users the choice of what they want to pay for instead of having things foisted upon them?

Firefox 57 - to upgrade or not?

So for some weeks now it has been known that with the latest Firefox (57) a bunch of favourite add-ons won't work. This includes No Squintplus which for many the internet becomes unusable without it. There is supposed to be an equivalent Web Extension of Zoom that is supposed to do all the same things but, of course, there are plenty saying it doesn't work.

I experimented with my mother in law's laptop which had already updated to 57. She's on the internet so little that she's not bothered by all the usual sizing or resizing issues.

Right, I thought, I'll install the new zoom thing on hers and see how it stands up. But I noticed she still has NoSquint Plus. And it all seems to respond despite posts all over the net saying it doesn't. I experimented to double check.

I changed the guardian settings and checked other tabs - all working as it should. I had several goes at changing some keeping others the same but it was all working as you'd expect it. It looks compatible after all.

Do I take a chance doing my own?

Look, it happened again

Another terrorist mass killing and "American" Muslims are, once again, not slow to condemn.


“We condemn this monstrous attack and offer our heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of all those killed or injured,’ the head of the Florida chapter of the Council of American-Islamic Relations, Rasha Mubarak, said in a statement.
“The Muslim community joins our fellow Americans in repudiating anyone or any group that would claim to justify or excuse such an appalling act of violence.”
The leaders of the American Muslim Community Centers, from Longwood, Flrodia, have also released a statement.
“The American Muslim Community Centers is saddened and shocked by the senseless killings in downtown Orlando, and we pray for the victims and their family members,” says chairman Atif Fareed.
Mr Fareed adds, “Ramadan is a month of deep reflection and prayer. Senseless violence has no place in our religion or in our society. We strongly condemn this heinous act of violence against humanity.”

What seasons?

Whenever people explore the possibility of life in Canada a common refrain is having proper seasons.

We certainly get huge variations but I wouldn't say there were four distinct seasons.

The best time is undoubtedly autumn. Or Fall as North Americans call it. Days are still sunny and warm, the mosquitoes have gone, evenings are nice and not overly hot. Best of all the snow hasn't arrived yet.

By our standards we had a nice winter. Less than half the snow we'd normally get and not too many cheek slicing days. None of last winter's ridiculous amounts of snow.

But the cold weather hung around. Until a week ago we still needed heating on a few days.

Suddenly this week we're into the mid 20s with feels like @ 30. I'm determined not to turn on the air-conditioning yet. But if you have to switch from heating to AC that quickly, you have to wonder what happens to spring.

A year on...almost

We just had the anniversary of the first of several events leading up to my wife dying.

I'm wondering whether to arrange for a meal out or something for the day itself. Morbid? Or might that be better than everyone moping around at home?

First Christmas

We normally watch Love Actually on xmas eve.

This is the first xmas since my wife, the mother in law's daughter (another one!) and the stepkids' mum, died back in April. I'm not sure the rest of us should watch it this time. On the other hand something will likely set off a few tears.

In praise of 'Americans'

It's not often I can find something good to say about America but following the latest 'nutter' shooting it appears there's an Islamic connection for those responsible.

Islamic organisations as well as individuals have been very quick off the mark with condemnation and dissociation. Even standing at vigils or whatever in groups and holding placards, leaving ordinary folk in no doubt that they really don't approve of what some claim to be in their name and want no part of it.  

Very visible.

'European' Muslims could learn from this.