Once again the calendar shows very few different numbers (but shows those few numbers a lot of times). I guess a lot of people wants to get married on a day like this, but I have also heard, that numerologists warns against it, because this date does not bring harmony but conflicts. Of course it is all nonsense. But it looks nice 0909090909.
(2008,2007,2006,2005)

I got myself a “Network Attached Storage” (NAS) yesterday. A NAS is a small box with hard disk storage that is attached to the network rather than being attached directly to the computer. I needed more disk space, and this solution seemed smarter than build another disk into my computer. If I plug another computer on the network, I can instantly make use of the disk. Without any computer started, I can listen to music or watch films directly from the NAS – or could, if I had some device that would be able to make use of that.

This may all sound like advertising. But I have never owned a NAS before. I just wanted some always available disk space, and got so much more.

Difficult to use? Not really. Yesterday I spend close to 20 minutes unpacking the box plus two hard disk drives, put the drives in the box, and then start it up for the first time.

Today I wanted to experience the build-in possibility to make an iTunes server.

• I started the special web interface, used for configuration of the NAS.
• I then found the place on the long list of possibilities where an iTunes server could be added.
• Then I put a checkmark in a box.
• Well … That’s it.

It was so easy – I forgot to read the manual.
I got one of the cheaper models from Synology. More money brings more opportunities, but I am pretty happy.

Looking at this blog, you may notice two things:
–  I do not write daily … well sometimes I do, but mostly I do not.
–  Lots of words in this blog are in some way or another just small talk.

Reading this blog post may give you the idea that this is just another bunch of small talk, leading absolutely nowhere. You might get the feeling that this is just a waste of time. Not just any time. No, a waste of YOUR time! That might make you sour or angry: Who the f… does this blogger think he is – writing a lot of meaningless words, stealing valuable time from you?

But what if the time you spend reading these words are not wasted? What if these seconds are some of the best spend seconds in a very long time?

Could this – or this – word be the one that makes you realize, that the thing you spend most of your time doing, is actually the biggest waste of your time?

A little while ago, I wrote about a close acquaintance of mine, who was affected by blood clots in his leg. He lost his leg, but after some time at the hospital, things started to look brighter.

He came home from hospital. He was about to learn to use an artificial leg.

There had to be taken further tests, and therefore he had to temporarily stop taking blood pressure lowering medication. That was a mistake! Shortly after, he was hit by a new blood clot, this time in the brain. Ever since it happened, he has remained in hospital, while family and friends was hoping the best and fearing the worst.

– He died today.

For two days, it has been poring down non-stop. It was like the massive rain during a thunderstorm – all day long. Yesterday we got twice the amount of water than we normally get in a whole month. But the rain has stopped now, and the sun is about to burn away the rest of the clouds.

A close acquaintance of mine has had a very bad week. For some time he has suffered from blood clots in his leg, for which he has taken medicine and made frequent visits at the hospital. There was not much progress, but we had no doubt that it was going to be all right soon. But it did not.

Approximately a week ago, it suddenly got worse. He got to the closest hospital, and got transferred to another hospital, because the blood circulation in the leg had stopped. Sadly they had to amputate part of the leg. Blood tests haven’t shown more clots, but it seems to be a hereditary weakness in his family, so it may be too soon to think everything is all right. Needless to say, this came as a shock to him (and everyone else).

I try to help as much as I can. But I feel I could do more, if I just knew what to do. I do not know what to do or say, that can make a difference in this situation. Mostly I try to help his cohabitant looking after their house, so they can spend time together at the hospital, without having to worry too much about things that don’t matter.