oh right, technology
Dec. 16th, 2021 05:53 am*I think at one point I knew you could get keyboards on your phone for different languages, but never connected it to something I would find helpful.
*But recently my phone was like 'hey it looks like you're typing in Spanish, do you want some help?' (The ghost of Clippy returns!)
*So I now have the Spanish keyboard option, and it turns out it's Super Helpful in duolingo! Because 1) now I can do the swipe-to-spell thingy, which is fun; and 2) when I type the wrong letter in 'abuelos' during a timed activity, my phone helpfully offers the correct spelling instead -- much faster than deleting and re-typing!
*Swipe-spelling 'mañana' is The Best. (Presumably this would also be Extremely Good on the English keyboard with the word 'banana,' but it turns out I have very little need to ever do that.)
*I usually take Mondays off from duolingo, which means I get assigned to my weekly league group on Tuesday, and the Tuesday leagues are FANTASTIC. Typically very chill, so I don't have to scramble to stay out of the demotion zone. This week everyone is still sort of waffling around at this point; I expect someone will decide by tomorrow to make a run at the top spot.
*Which is to say, duolingo leagues are such an interesting look at this tiny aspect of the people participating! I enjoy them far more than I ever expected.
*But recently my phone was like 'hey it looks like you're typing in Spanish, do you want some help?' (The ghost of Clippy returns!)
*So I now have the Spanish keyboard option, and it turns out it's Super Helpful in duolingo! Because 1) now I can do the swipe-to-spell thingy, which is fun; and 2) when I type the wrong letter in 'abuelos' during a timed activity, my phone helpfully offers the correct spelling instead -- much faster than deleting and re-typing!
*Swipe-spelling 'mañana' is The Best. (Presumably this would also be Extremely Good on the English keyboard with the word 'banana,' but it turns out I have very little need to ever do that.)
*I usually take Mondays off from duolingo, which means I get assigned to my weekly league group on Tuesday, and the Tuesday leagues are FANTASTIC. Typically very chill, so I don't have to scramble to stay out of the demotion zone. This week everyone is still sort of waffling around at this point; I expect someone will decide by tomorrow to make a run at the top spot.
*Which is to say, duolingo leagues are such an interesting look at this tiny aspect of the people participating! I enjoy them far more than I ever expected.
::nervous laughter::
Oct. 2nd, 2021 07:06 amAhahaha, look at that -- October 2nd! Just one short month away from nanowrimo...
In other news, our neighbors are still in the process of moving out, which they have been working on since before we moved in. It's surprisingly reassuring, actually. I feel like I had this image in my mind that the 'moving' part of moving houses was supposed to be quick-ish, and it definitely wasn't, and watching other people have a Very Extended moving process has given me more perspective.
In other other news, I was casting around for something else to do to procrastinate on my duolingo lessons this morning, and I thought, 'ooh, an email just came in! well, I better check that first.' Joke's on me; it was a reminder from duolingo to learn something.
In other news, our neighbors are still in the process of moving out, which they have been working on since before we moved in. It's surprisingly reassuring, actually. I feel like I had this image in my mind that the 'moving' part of moving houses was supposed to be quick-ish, and it definitely wasn't, and watching other people have a Very Extended moving process has given me more perspective.
In other other news, I was casting around for something else to do to procrastinate on my duolingo lessons this morning, and I thought, 'ooh, an email just came in! well, I better check that first.' Joke's on me; it was a reminder from duolingo to learn something.
rainy day Sunday
Jul. 18th, 2021 06:53 amTime to get myself out of the danger zone in duolingo! Small goals today; we got this!
duolingo: big mood
Feb. 10th, 2021 05:50 amA few of today's gems:
*Soon you will start writing poems to my horse.
*You installed a game and now nothing works.
*The monkey created twelve web pages about bananas.
*Soon you will start writing poems to my horse.
*You installed a game and now nothing works.
*The monkey created twelve web pages about bananas.
workaday Wednesday
Jan. 27th, 2021 05:41 amBig work meeting day today, but I'm hoping that I can be off-video, which would mean I could at least do some other work while I'm listening, or maybe some stretching.
Related to work, last week I got an email from HR saying they wanted to follow up on the suggestion I'd given. Naturally, I had to ask what the suggestion was, but I felt less bad about that when they told me it was from waaaaaaaaay back on December 4th. And to my enormous relief, it was something super innocuous, and I got the impression that it was more a 'the new person in HR was just given the task of following up on suggestions, and picked mine to start with because it seemed easy' than any actually *need* to follow up. Still, a good lesson for me to never ever make suggestions again.
Unrelated to work, two duolingo gems from today:
"I'll throw my used books through the window."
"The cow won't be able to write this text in French."
Related to work, last week I got an email from HR saying they wanted to follow up on the suggestion I'd given. Naturally, I had to ask what the suggestion was, but I felt less bad about that when they told me it was from waaaaaaaaay back on December 4th. And to my enormous relief, it was something super innocuous, and I got the impression that it was more a 'the new person in HR was just given the task of following up on suggestions, and picked mine to start with because it seemed easy' than any actually *need* to follow up. Still, a good lesson for me to never ever make suggestions again.
Unrelated to work, two duolingo gems from today:
"I'll throw my used books through the window."
"The cow won't be able to write this text in French."
I am exhausted in every way
Jan. 7th, 2021 05:45 amCan we just take a day?
...
...
...
Okay, but some good things, too:
*Got a surprise duolingo power-up this morning that pulled me out of risking the demotion zone!
*Sunset is now back to almost 4:30; days are getting longer again!
*Fifteen days till my birthday!
...
...
...
Okay, but some good things, too:
*Got a surprise duolingo power-up this morning that pulled me out of risking the demotion zone!
*Sunset is now back to almost 4:30; days are getting longer again!
*Fifteen days till my birthday!
where is the lie?
Dec. 15th, 2020 05:47 amDuolingo really gets me this morning:
"I don't want to work, I want to lie down."
(PS: Duolingo's 'What's the most 2020 phrase you've learned this year?' instagram battle was pretty funny, and the ultimate winner was a true Duo gem: I am eating bread and crying on the floor.)
"I don't want to work, I want to lie down."
(PS: Duolingo's 'What's the most 2020 phrase you've learned this year?' instagram battle was pretty funny, and the ultimate winner was a true Duo gem: I am eating bread and crying on the floor.)
it just be like that sometimes
Oct. 27th, 2020 05:43 amDear Spanish language: come on, really?!
Things I am pretty okay at with language learning:
*memorizing vocabulary
Things I struggle with in language learning:
*everything else
So you can imagine my dismay when I found out that *sometimes* Spanish just smooshes words together! As a treat, I guess!
(ie. Duolingo's example of 'She has the keys. She is going to bring them to me.' APPARENTLY you can smoosh the bringing and the me and the them all into one word, which is possibly too much for my brain to handle at 6 in the morning.)
Things I am pretty okay at with language learning:
*memorizing vocabulary
Things I struggle with in language learning:
*everything else
So you can imagine my dismay when I found out that *sometimes* Spanish just smooshes words together! As a treat, I guess!
(ie. Duolingo's example of 'She has the keys. She is going to bring them to me.' APPARENTLY you can smoosh the bringing and the me and the them all into one word, which is possibly too much for my brain to handle at 6 in the morning.)
donde esta la salida?
Aug. 30th, 2020 06:34 amI'm not sure why duolingo thinks it might be useful for me to know how to say: 'Dad can't find out you brought a bear to the house,' but such is the way of things.
Also fun:
*A large bird ate my formula.
*My horse sent a message to all my contacts.
And then there's the practical side:
*Where is the exit?
*Does this place have two exits?
*We need to look for the exit.
(Note: all of these are from the same set of lessons! It's the "Info" set. Pretty sure that just means 'miscellaneous.')
Also fun:
*A large bird ate my formula.
*My horse sent a message to all my contacts.
And then there's the practical side:
*Where is the exit?
*Does this place have two exits?
*We need to look for the exit.
(Note: all of these are from the same set of lessons! It's the "Info" set. Pretty sure that just means 'miscellaneous.')
catching up from the week
Aug. 22nd, 2020 06:13 am*The week that had all of August's events in it is now complete! YAY! ::sigh of relief::
*Nothing improves a zoom meeting like having a cat in the frame.
*The dentist visit went waaaaay better than last time.**
*Duolingo included this charming sentence: "The cat is already dressed for the party."
*And today, the prize for getting through the week: new fitbit band!
[**Notes about the dentist: Okay, one, there's this thing they do where they're checking your gum health, right? And the last time I had it done it hurt SO MUCH. And the hygienist was like 'mm, not good, there's some bleeding.' And I was like 'no sh*t there's some bleeding, you just jabbed me with a sharp metal tool like fifty times!' But APPARENTLY that is not a universal -- I don't even know what to call it! Method? Experience? ANYWAY, this time I had a different (better!) hygienist, and the test was sooo comfortable and there was no jabbing or bleeding and I can tell you for certain it is not because my gums have experienced a miraculous improvement. And SECOND, they can put that numbing gel on your gums just for a cleaning! Just because you want it! Sometimes it's not even that something hurts, but that I expect it to hurt, you know? And so when I expected it NOT to hurt, it was much easier. So I have LEARNED SOME THINGS this week, for sure.)
*Nothing improves a zoom meeting like having a cat in the frame.
*The dentist visit went waaaaay better than last time.**
*Duolingo included this charming sentence: "The cat is already dressed for the party."
*And today, the prize for getting through the week: new fitbit band!
[**Notes about the dentist: Okay, one, there's this thing they do where they're checking your gum health, right? And the last time I had it done it hurt SO MUCH. And the hygienist was like 'mm, not good, there's some bleeding.' And I was like 'no sh*t there's some bleeding, you just jabbed me with a sharp metal tool like fifty times!' But APPARENTLY that is not a universal -- I don't even know what to call it! Method? Experience? ANYWAY, this time I had a different (better!) hygienist, and the test was sooo comfortable and there was no jabbing or bleeding and I can tell you for certain it is not because my gums have experienced a miraculous improvement. And SECOND, they can put that numbing gel on your gums just for a cleaning! Just because you want it! Sometimes it's not even that something hurts, but that I expect it to hurt, you know? And so when I expected it NOT to hurt, it was much easier. So I have LEARNED SOME THINGS this week, for sure.)
but it's fun!
Aug. 18th, 2020 05:41 amI got talking about duolingo at work the other day (PS: autocorrect wanted that to be 'talking about DUELING at work, which would have been WAY more exciting), which led to the inevitable replies of 'oh, I always wanted to learn x language,' followed by the counter-replies of 'I don't think an app can make you fluent.'
Which is probably true! Sometimes I'm not entirely sure if I'm getting better at Spanish, or just getting better at Duolingo. But I definitely know MORE Spanish than I did two years ago.
Also it's fun!
Even more also, I feel like it's important to know what the goal is. For me, becoming fluent in Spanish isn't really the goal? It's more like -- hey, apps are fun, I'd like a game-like app that also teaches me something.
((Also I like the positive reinforcement and the clear, achievable goals. I just want someone to tell me I'm doing a good job, and if that someone is a green owl that waves at me and cheers me on with pre-set messages, so be it!))
Which is probably true! Sometimes I'm not entirely sure if I'm getting better at Spanish, or just getting better at Duolingo. But I definitely know MORE Spanish than I did two years ago.
Also it's fun!
Even more also, I feel like it's important to know what the goal is. For me, becoming fluent in Spanish isn't really the goal? It's more like -- hey, apps are fun, I'd like a game-like app that also teaches me something.
((Also I like the positive reinforcement and the clear, achievable goals. I just want someone to tell me I'm doing a good job, and if that someone is a green owl that waves at me and cheers me on with pre-set messages, so be it!))
the duck had what?
Jun. 25th, 2020 05:55 amI am currently in the 'Story 2' module of Spanish Duolingo, and it's fantastic. Some gems:
*"The forest animals loved magic."
*"The duck had a bedroom in the castle."
*"The lion looks after his three children."
*"The forest animals loved magic."
*"The duck had a bedroom in the castle."
*"The lion looks after his three children."
good to know!
Jun. 23rd, 2020 05:50 am*Now that my hair is short, the humidity doesn't impact it as much. Not so for the cat, whose fur is veeeery long. As humidity approaches 100%, fluffiness intensifies!
*Duolingo's level-up option when you get two lessons all correct in a row doesn't require those lessons to be completed in close time proximity. You could do one on, say, Saturday, and the next on Tuesday morning, and it still counts!
*I really thought there should be three things, because three feels more like I planned this out instead of just jotting down the random thoughts that passed through my brain!
*Duolingo's level-up option when you get two lessons all correct in a row doesn't require those lessons to be completed in close time proximity. You could do one on, say, Saturday, and the next on Tuesday morning, and it still counts!
*I really thought there should be three things, because three feels more like I planned this out instead of just jotting down the random thoughts that passed through my brain!
thanks April, you've been weird
Apr. 30th, 2020 05:39 amA few weirdlights from the month:
*After announcing that employees should expect to work from home until June 19th, my workplace also decided that perhaps employees MIGHT need more than just the laptop they'd been allowed to take back in March. Rather than letting people schedule a time to do curbside pickup of more of their things, the company will reimburse us for buying new ones. (Yes, this policy has just as many odd caveats as every other policy they come up with.) If I didn't know for sure that there are people still working on-site, I would seriously be wondering if they'd burned the place down and were trying to cover it up.
*Last weekend I mentioned handball (it's an Olympic sport!), which is probably the first time I've even thought of handball in years. (Logically, probably about four years? Since the last summer Olympics?) And then this week duolingo taught me how to say it in Spanish! (balonmano) The synchronicity! The sheer coincidence of it all! The fact that when I looked up handball on the internet, it turns out all this time I had no idea what it was!
*My favorite breakfast bar was discontinued a while ago, and I finally ate the last of my supply this month. It's been my go-to breakfast for at least five years. (What, I like not having to think too hard in the mornings!) Anyway, new challenges, new breakfast plans.
*After announcing that employees should expect to work from home until June 19th, my workplace also decided that perhaps employees MIGHT need more than just the laptop they'd been allowed to take back in March. Rather than letting people schedule a time to do curbside pickup of more of their things, the company will reimburse us for buying new ones. (Yes, this policy has just as many odd caveats as every other policy they come up with.) If I didn't know for sure that there are people still working on-site, I would seriously be wondering if they'd burned the place down and were trying to cover it up.
*Last weekend I mentioned handball (it's an Olympic sport!), which is probably the first time I've even thought of handball in years. (Logically, probably about four years? Since the last summer Olympics?) And then this week duolingo taught me how to say it in Spanish! (balonmano) The synchronicity! The sheer coincidence of it all! The fact that when I looked up handball on the internet, it turns out all this time I had no idea what it was!
*My favorite breakfast bar was discontinued a while ago, and I finally ate the last of my supply this month. It's been my go-to breakfast for at least five years. (What, I like not having to think too hard in the mornings!) Anyway, new challenges, new breakfast plans.
(no subject)
Mar. 17th, 2020 05:37 amSentence I got wrong in Duolingo this morning:
"They are interested in other sports."
(Look, I don't even understand grammar in English, and that's my first language. The only reason I've made it as far as I have in Duolingo is because it's surprisingly forgiving of me just constantly answering with the familiar 'you.' I have successfully fooled a virtual owl into thinking I'm just a very friendly person, apparently.)
BUT! I think it's also important to note what I got RIGHT in Duolingo this morning:
"My cat does not have a beard."
(Anything with cats, I try harder! Good to know!)
"They are interested in other sports."
(Look, I don't even understand grammar in English, and that's my first language. The only reason I've made it as far as I have in Duolingo is because it's surprisingly forgiving of me just constantly answering with the familiar 'you.' I have successfully fooled a virtual owl into thinking I'm just a very friendly person, apparently.)
BUT! I think it's also important to note what I got RIGHT in Duolingo this morning:
"My cat does not have a beard."
(Anything with cats, I try harder! Good to know!)
small victories
Mar. 8th, 2020 09:28 amSo Duolingo has leagues, which are neat but random, and there's a bunch of them. I was very happy in the Amethyst league, because purple, but was perfectly content to get bumped up into the Pearl league, because pink is nice too, and the name was cool. (Leagues are basically 'the rules are made up and the points don't matter,' but they sometimes motivate me to pick doing lessons over staring off into the middle distance, so that's a nice perk.)
By accident, one week I got promoted into the Obsidian league, which was disappointing to me because it has a vaguely 'wasn't the Obsidian Order a Star Trek villain?' feel to it. (The internet informs me that the Obsidian Order was in fact a Cardassian intelligence agency. Not having followed all of the twists and turns of plot, I'm not sure if that means I should apologize for calling them villains. Then again, wasn't that gray area basically of one of the core messages of DS9?)
ANYWAY. For various reasons, this was a good week to push to get out of Obsidian and into the Diamond league. And in approximately ten hours I'll find out if it worked!
By accident, one week I got promoted into the Obsidian league, which was disappointing to me because it has a vaguely 'wasn't the Obsidian Order a Star Trek villain?' feel to it. (The internet informs me that the Obsidian Order was in fact a Cardassian intelligence agency. Not having followed all of the twists and turns of plot, I'm not sure if that means I should apologize for calling them villains. Then again, wasn't that gray area basically of one of the core messages of DS9?)
ANYWAY. For various reasons, this was a good week to push to get out of Obsidian and into the Diamond league. And in approximately ten hours I'll find out if it worked!
but do we really *need* grammar?
Feb. 13th, 2020 05:34 amGot my 'congrats on one year with Duolingo' email yesterday -- okay, the email called it a 'Happy Duoversary,' but I haven't learned 'anniversary' in Spanish yet, haha. (Uh, I also haven't learned 'congratulations.')
I can say 'one year,' though? I mean, I definitely know more than I did last year at this time, even though verb conjugation and grammar is A Challenge For Sure, but let's be real -- it's not like I use proper grammar in English either. (Exhibit A: this post.)
I can say 'one year,' though? I mean, I definitely know more than I did last year at this time, even though verb conjugation and grammar is A Challenge For Sure, but let's be real -- it's not like I use proper grammar in English either. (Exhibit A: this post.)
Happy Halloween!
Oct. 31st, 2019 05:46 amIt's the day before nanowrimo! (AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!)
The good news: I finished writing out the notecards that will (theoretically) keep me from feeling like I have NO IDEA WHAT TO WRITE.
The bad news: The final card includes such unhelpful notes as "resolution - IDK." And when I went back to look at the beginning card, it says, "Prologue - the legend..." WHAT?! Past self, you wrote that five days ago, and I already have no recollection of what you were talking about.
HOWEVER! Today is not a writing day. Today is a language day! Time to (hopefully) get caught up on all the duolingo lessons I've been skipping and have fun forgetting all my story notes!
The good news: I finished writing out the notecards that will (theoretically) keep me from feeling like I have NO IDEA WHAT TO WRITE.
The bad news: The final card includes such unhelpful notes as "resolution - IDK." And when I went back to look at the beginning card, it says, "Prologue - the legend..." WHAT?! Past self, you wrote that five days ago, and I already have no recollection of what you were talking about.
HOWEVER! Today is not a writing day. Today is a language day! Time to (hopefully) get caught up on all the duolingo lessons I've been skipping and have fun forgetting all my story notes!
workaday Wednesday
Oct. 23rd, 2019 05:40 amOh, work. Sometimes there are just no words.
In better news, I thought it was going to rain all day today, but it looks like it's going to clear and be sunny this afternoon! What luck!
Also, I was looking back at pictures from![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
starandrea's and my foliage adventure, and it occurs to me that Duolingo has not yet taught me how to say, "Would you like me to take your picture?" This seems a useful -- and common! -- phrase at tourist destinations.
In better news, I thought it was going to rain all day today, but it looks like it's going to clear and be sunny this afternoon! What luck!
Also, I was looking back at pictures from
starandrea's and my foliage adventure, and it occurs to me that Duolingo has not yet taught me how to say, "Would you like me to take your picture?" This seems a useful -- and common! -- phrase at tourist destinations.
