Bitter Grounds Magazine

espresso fueled ramblings

New Articles

September 25, 2020

World Tripe Day is coming up – I blame Pepys

Sep 23, 2020 | I'm getting too old for this shit

Ah yes, World Tripe Day is a thing. You might be one of those shaking your head in disbelief along with me. I mean… tripe? It’s one of those foods that you either love or loath. There doesn’t seem to be any middle ground. But what about Pepys? Where does he fit in...

Early Austrian airmail & a great cancel

Sep 22, 2020 | Stamps

I rediscovered an early Austrian airmail gem while rooting through my collection, looking for something. It's a great little cover, primarily because the cancels are pristine. Nothing says frustration like a messy, unreadable cancel. A clear cancel offers up a...

Doping & 1 scarce Royal Flying Corps manual

Sep 20, 2020 | history of tech

Today, we’re going to look at doping. No, no, not that kind, the aviation kind. Early airplanes were made of cloth pulled taut over a wood frame. To protect the wood, and create a streamlined body, the material was covered in something called dope, a liquid designed...

Support
Bitter Grounds

Subscribe through Patreon

Become a Patron!

or one time donations via Paypal

Random articles

App Review NotePlus – utilitarian #app that deserves it’s solid rating

Note Plus by DreamMatrix (http://www.dm360.cc/) -- ☕☕☕☕ /☕☕☕☕☕ Works on: Windows phone / iPhone – not available on Android I went hunting for a...

Sign found on construction sign: No idling Turn off engine Delivers will be denied

Delivers us from idlers – more signage errors

by catpaw | September 27, 2017 | typography, typos & design | 0 Comments

Remember the last article about the sign in need of proofing? This sign stirs up a few questions as well: Each time I walk by it, I begin to itch. I...

Win 10 Tips ‘n hints – easy photo editing VIDEO

I'm trying something new - videos of various tips and hints for Windows 10 users. I started thinking about doing this as an aid to my customers and...

I know I’ll regret this -> Lifehacks | fail hacks

by catpaw | February 22, 2019 | I'm getting too old for this shit | 0 Comments

Lifehack - a strategy or technique adopted in order to manage one's time and daily activities in a more efficient way. Oxford Dictionary The web is...

Photo resizing for Surface – Fotor

Windows 8.1's built in photo editing app allows the user to straighten, colour correct, fix red eye, add funky effects, crop, and improve much more....

Peace quiet, lattes and board games

by catpaw | November 9, 2015 | I'm getting too old for this shit | 0 Comments

Every once in awhile I stumble across a spot I haven't been to in ages. Today is one of those days. In the Bloor Bathurst area and waiting on...

Twitter winner – Reboot the world

by catpaw | March 22, 2016 | I'm getting too old for this shit | 0 Comments

What do you think? This person wins the Internet?

Bring Win 10 menu to your Surface RT

If you are running Surface RT and really want the new Win 10 - well you are in luck … sort of. Microsoft has issued an update to the venerable RT...

Photo still from old 1950's atomic fear movies - giant spiders EEEEE

Attack of the ATOMIC SPIDERS at midnight

by catpaw | August 23, 2016 | I'm getting too old for this shit | 0 Comments

Ok, I’m admitting to a severe spider phobia. Snakes, preying mantis (which are the coolest creatures in the entire bug kingdom by the way),...

mmm no I don’t think this is Clinton or Trump – Headline disconnect

by catpaw | October 28, 2016 | typography, typos & design | 0 Comments

Not sure about this, but I think we have a little bit of headline disconnect going on here:

Screen capture from r/choosingbeggars post on Reddit

I have to stay off r/ChoosingBeggars

by catpaw | March 5, 2019 | I'm getting too old for this shit | 0 Comments

I've been lurking over at r/ChoosingBeggars lately. Lots of time to kill while I wait in hospital corridors and luckily Reddit supplies an endless...

Well … this is confusing

by catpaw | January 29, 2016 | typography, typos & design | 0 Comments

New browser for Windows 10 – Spartan

The cat is out of the bag. This week, ZDNET reported Microsoft will be unveiling a new browser for Windows 10. Although IE11 will still ship with...

Oh Canada – we really are nerdy

by catpaw | May 3, 2016 | I'm getting too old for this shit | 0 Comments

Canada's census has returned and so many Canadians rushed in breathless excitement to fill it out, we took the Census Canada servers down for awhile...

Life is conspiring against me … and an update on the building demo across the road

by catpaw | October 26, 2016 | I'm getting too old for this shit | 0 Comments

I’ve been so busy lately, I’ve not had a lot of time to do anything but go back and forth, back and forth…. The subway sucks by the way. I’ve not...

Having fun w/ my Wacom – Line art and water colour bridge in Kyoto

by catpaw | November 17, 2016 | photos & digital art | 0 Comments

A couple of friends are enjoying Kyoto at the moment and sending wonderful photos my direction. This one in particular caught my eye: Beautiful,...

Night after ice storm – photo Toronto March 25 2016

by catpaw | March 25, 2016 | photos & digital art | 0 Comments

We had a bit of an ice storm here in Toronto. Not too serious - unlike the one in 2013. Just your typical early spring mess. I was lucky and didn't...

Testing aperture & shutter speed at Queen’s Quay

by catpaw | August 5, 2020 | photos & digital art | 0 Comments

At long last, I've begun to take photos again. I spent a bit of time testing aperture and shutter speed settings, attempting to capture some...

Last shot of May – Ivy covered building in downtown Toronto

by catpaw | May 31, 2016 | photos & digital art | 0 Comments

I never know when I'll see something that makes me want to stop and take a photo. Today, trotting along the hall of a building near St Lawrence...

March on Yonge & Yorkmills – blasted and depressing

by catpaw | March 9, 2016 | photos & digital art | 0 Comments

Not all photographs should document the lovely and pretty. Sometimes, there isn't anything to be done about a view, but they should still be...

Another Monday – made it out alive and a bit of street art

by catpaw | August 21, 2017 | photos & digital art | 0 Comments

Pretty much describes Monday, doesn't it - best you can hope for some days is getting to the end of the day without being arrested. Kudos to the...

Best sign in Toronto – Bauhaus Windows & Doors

by catpaw | April 2, 2019 | photos & digital art | 0 Comments

I didn't use the camera much this winter. I hate wandering around in the cold. But, there's a hint of spring in the air and it's time to start...

Nik filter – film noire and the Cathedral

by catpaw | July 15, 2016 | photos & digital art | 0 Comments

I keep some photos in reserve to experiment with. These'll be toss away shots that aren't particularly ... anything. Not good, not really bad, just...

Photographing clouds east on Dundas at the foot of Old City Hall

by catpaw | June 24, 2017 | photos & digital art | 0 Comments

Padded around Old City Hall today, looking for interesting shots. Got some good contrasting images of old buildings and the shiny skyscrappers. This...

Spring in Toronto – a riot of green & colour

by catpaw | May 20, 2016 | photos & digital art | 0 Comments

Spring in Toronto brings a riot of colour. After the relentless dull grey of winter, everything seems so bright: I picked photos I took the last 5...

Index of articles

About the author

Haven't decided what to say. I'll have to chew on this for a few weeks before I figure out what to drop into this section, but it certainly needs...