Blogger: Under My Thumb(nail)

When Google announced that Blogger would be getting a new user interface (UI) and that the existing UI would become legacy, I figured I would give the new version a try since reverting back to legacy was a promised option.  At first, I found the new UI somewhat clunky but quickly grew to appreciate the enhanced analytics and formatting options.  Soon, editing in the new UI seemed an improvement over the legacy app.  All worked well until last week.  At that time, I noticed that the thumbnail sketch of my lead photo was no longer appearing on my Blogs Followed list.  Curious.  Even more curious was that I noticed thumbnails missing from many other blogs I follow.  Had these bloggers switched to the new UI too?  Perhaps, the legacy UI experiences the same?

Sample of posts missing thumbnail sketches

Accustomed to seeing a thumbnail sketch of my latest post and those of others, I set out to find a remedy.

During an exploratory, I discovered that the way in which Blogger references embedded images has changed.  To see these differences, one must examine the underlying html.  I will use the leading image from my last post as an example.

From the post editor, select HTML view,

The script for the above image will look something like this:

Notice the highlighted bit of code.  This references the image size with width=410 and height=345.  Before thumbnails stopped appearing, the lead image size for the thumbnail would be translated implicitly as a square rather than as a non-square rectangle.  Without this implicit translation, Blogger does not know how to render the image as a thumbnail.  If your lead image is not square then to resolve this "feature" edit the lead image source ("src=" parameters) from 'wxxx-hxxx' to 'sxxx' where 's' signifies 'square'.  See below:

With this change (make sure to save it!), the lead image will now appear as a thumbnail sketch when published.  Until Blogger accounts for this feature, the above provides a work-around for now.  If your thumbnails have disappeared, give this technique a try.  This technique works for me.  Of course, YMMV.

Clearing Out The Bins

As mentioned in an earlier post (see Cretan Archers & Survey Time) on the need to consolidate and organize The Lead Pile, work on that front sees progress.  Continued digging surfaced the following three candidate bins for completion.

First up are two stands of Assyrian heavy slingers from Wargames Foundry.  As expected, this venerable range of figures continues to set the benchmark as a superb range of Biblicals.  While more Foundry Assyrians remain in inventory, these represent the last of the slingers.  Being out of slingers is good since already more slingers are present than recommended for most Army Lists.

Next off the painting desk are more skirmishers.  This time, I switch gears to field Celts for the Punic Wars project.  One stand each of slingers and bowmen can take to the field.  Perhaps when conditions allow for a reconsideration of Telamon these lads will see action?  These eight figures are from Crusader Miniatures and Black Tree Design.

Finally, I dug out six Cuban Rebels for the Spanish-American War project.  While not enough on their own to form a BMU, I can add these two stands to existing formations to bolster numbers.  Figures are Old Glory.

Besides these half-dozen rebels, the Spanish-American War project is seeing increased activity at the painting desk.  In work are a couple of units of Spanish infantry and a couple of units of American volunteer infantry.

Old Glory's SAW range of figures is always a joy to paint.  The figures are big and easy on the eyes.  Few uniforms are as smart looking as the American uniform during this conflict.  Quite a practical outfit too.

After allowing my Old Glory Army Card to lapse several years ago as I moved away from projects based on Old Glory figures, I renewed my card recently.  After considering my options, I moved on an impulse to expand an existing project using Blue Moon figures.  I am sure to find other Old Glory products to add to The Lead Pile over the coming year.  No matter how fast I paint, my Lead Pile may never shrink...

French Line for 1859

I sometimes find myself puzzling over which unit to push into the painting queue next.  Not that I lack choice.  The problem is that I have too much choice.  With one or two projects from which to choose, finding something to paint is easy.  A dozen or more projects on tap poses some bigger issues.  When I reach such indecision, I often prep three dozen French or Austrian infantry for the 1859 project and push them straight away onto the workbench.  Simple but colorful uniform buys time while I contemplate what next.

This week saw one of those times.  Rather than waste valuable painting time wondering what to paint next; pondering all of the useful possibilities; and going through The Lead Pile in search of just the right unit; I dove into work on a regiment of French line.  These Frenchmen are from Lancashire Games.  As I say every time I paint a few, the French and Austrian infantry for this period are my favorite Lancashire figures.  Really great figures.

Now that this unit is finished, did the time spent working up another French regiment clear my head for what to paint next?  I think so!  In addition to clearing out the figure bins of more skirmisher figures from an assortment of projects (like I did recently for Cretan bowmen), expect more Hittites to enter into the painting fray.

Does indecision on what to paint next ever grip anyone else?  I would enjoy reading your thoughts.

On the cycling front, weekly mileage remains at a little over 200 miles with each day averaging about 33 miles.  At this pace, August will come in with roughly the same totals as July.  Weather has been pleasant but cycling is not without hazard.  Witnessing a crash unfold is a rare event.  This past weekend, that rare event came to pass.

As I entered Riverfront Park, I saw a cyclist approach the street from the park.  Making the transition from park pedestrian/cycle path to the street, he failed to notice a missing pylon from one piece of road furniture barring vehicles from the path.  The event unfolded in slow motion for me as the cyclist's rear wheel clipped the offending pylon bracket.  His back wheel slide out from under and he went crashing to the ground, landing in the street.  He appeared uninjured.  Perhaps his dignity suffered a bruise or two?  Ouch!  After confirming all was OK, I continued on.  One must remain ever vigilant.

The Victim

The Perp

The Fall

The Crash

Pharsalus: CCA in 6mm

 

This weekend past saw a return of Commands & Colors Ancients (CCA) in 6mm with a LIVE opponent!  That's right.  I managed a F2F game of CCA after many months of no in-person gaming.  A major milestone, I think.  I set the game up outside on the patio table in the evening shade of the house.

The battle fought was Pharsalus, a contest between Caesar and Pompey in 48 BCE during the Roman Civil Wars.  Since the historical battle was fought on 09 August, the game this weekend represented an "anniversary edition" of the famous contest.

The battle deployment using the CCA scenario is illustrated below with Caesar's army at the bottom and Pompey's army at the top.  Each side requires seven banners to win.  Pompey holds four Command Cards while Caesar holds six.  Pompey moves first.  The Julian Legions Rule is in effect for both armies.  This rule allows Medium and Heavy infantry to conduct ranged combat.  Also, the Julius Caesar Rule is in effect allowing a unit attached to Caesar extra capabilities.  

CCA version of Pharsalus

My version of the battle deployments converted to 6mm figures rather than blocks is shown below:

Kevin chose to command the Caesarians and we launched into battle.

My Pompeian battle plan was grounded on the notion that the Pompeians hold a numerical and qualitative superiority in cavalry on the Pompeian left.  I would try to overwhelm the Roman cavalry on the Roman right, expose that flank, and then roll up the Roman line.  I would need to accomplish this task before Caesar's superior Heavy infantry defeated the Pompeian Medium infantry.

One note on the troops differentiation between the Caesarians and Pompeians.  Caesar's legions were superior to the Pompeian legions.  To account for this qualitative difference, the game assigns most of the Caesarian infantry as Heavy and the Pompeians are mostly rated as Medium.  In game terms, Caesar's infantry battle with five dice while the Pompeians will battle with four dice.  This is an effective and simple way to distinguish troop quality.  Neat.  

Back to the game.  This seemed a reasonable plan until I drew my four Command Cards.  None of the cards drawn were applicable for the Pompeian cavalry wing. OK.  Toss that plan out and begin an advance on the Pompeian right since I had at least two cards for that sector.  Perhaps I could launch a cavalry attack later?  Well, that was not to be.  At no time during the battle did the Pompeians draw a card that would activate their cavalry wing.  Rats.

What Pompey did was to attack on the right with great force.  Caesar lost a unit or two and then fell back having suffered heavy casualties in that sector.  Pompey pressed on.  While Caesar fell back on his left, he advanced in the center leading from the front when required.  Units were exchanged during this phase of the battle but Pompey managed to break the Roman left.  The banner count at mid-game was 6-4 to Pompey.  Leading from the front, Caesar with a heavy infantry legion struck into the Pompeian center.  Two Pompeian legions fell in quick succession.  The Pompeian center was in shambles.  With banner count tied 6-6, Pompey attacked a weakened legion near the Roman base line destroying it for the win, 7-6.  A very close contest that went down to the final banner.  

At the end of the battle, the field looked like this:

End of Game

This was a very fun contest and a real pleasure to game again against a live opponent.  A very bloody affair; over in about 45 minutes.  Caesar will expect a rematch.

Cretan Archers & Survey Time

While no gaming on tap besides a few solo dabbles, my attention has been drawn to rummaging through The Lead Pile.  In an effort to consolidate and organize the bins of figures, I spent time inspecting the stockpiles of figures for each project.  The Punic Wars project likely already musters enough Cretan archers for the field armies but these dozen figures were left over and taking up space.  Grabbing these dozen 25mm BTD archers and pushing them into the painting queue frees up some space in the storage bin.  I get three skirmish stands too.  It is very good that I stockpiled a number of figures divisible by four since my BMUs are four figures strong and BTD has withdrawn the ancients ranges from the catalog.

On the gaming front, a solo AWI replay of the Action at Mill Creek remains to be tackled.  With some luck, I can get back to that little scenario later this week.  With even more luck, a F2F session is scheduled for Saturday evening outside on the patio.  Commands & Colors Ancients is on the slate using my 6mm collection.  With proper protocols and facing off across a table in the Great Outdoors, any risk should be minimal.

Finally,  01 August signaled the return of the Great Wargaming Survey by WSS.  Again, I plan to be performing some of the data wrangling for this venture when the survey closes.  Some of the questions have been tweaked just a bit from prior years to better enable analysis.  At least, that was my plan when I submitted my requests.  I added a couple of questions too.  Stay tuned to death by analysis once the surveys are in. 

If you have not already completed the survey, go to,

GWS 2020

and have your preferences counted. 

Another Project Finished?

Having finished off the Feudal Japan/Samurai Battles and the Federal ACW brigade projects in July, August kicks off with another project sliding over to the completed side of the ledger.  That project?  My Russian/Afghan/Indian force to be mustered as a primary protagonist against a British/Native Army for the Great Game.    

With several Afghan units coming off the painting desk in June, today sees two Russian regular artillery guns.  Fielding these two guns and crew exhausts the stockpile of figures in The Lead Pile for this project.  While these figures may potentially signify the completion of the project, nothing stops me from adding more units over time if Kevin decides to launch an arms race.  

Still plenty of action at the painting desk.  Next off the painting desk will likely be three stands of Cretan bowmen for the Punic Wars.  With a bit of luck, I can squeeze in a second game of Fields of Honor: AWI this week.

Cycling the Palouse - Fish Lake Trail

With Spokane being a rail hub and "Gateway to the West" at the height of the railroad boom in the late 19th/early 20th Centuries, the area's landscape is crisscrossed with many railroad lines.  Today, given different economies, a number of these rail lines are abandoned.  Luckily, some of these abandoned railways have been paved over and converted to trails.  Hundreds of miles of such trails await the cyclist.  One such path is the Fish Lake Trail.  

The trailhead is situated on the western end of Spokane and runs 15 miles southwest to the University town of Cheney.  Outbound, the trail is a constant and gradual incline to Cheney.  Inbound, the route is slightly downhill back to Spokane.  Downhill, that is, until I reach the Spokane trailhead.  After that, I face a grueling uphill climb home.  From my house, reaching the trailhead is seven miles.  The total mileage for this route is 44 miles.

Trail cutting through basalt

Another railroad cut through basalt

As a converted railway, the path frequently cuts through the basalt rock, common to the region.  In the heat of summer, these railroad cuts offer a bit of coolness and tranquility under the shade of the steeply banked corridor.

Wonderful shade on a hot day

Being a practical people, Fish Lake Trail passes by its namesake, Fish Lake.  Are there fish in the lake?  I don't know!

Fish Lake

As for cycling in general and metrics in particular, July witnessed a jump in miles put into the legs.  We say that summer doesn't begin until July 4 and 2020 was no different.  With temperatures heating up, the mileage climbed as well.  When the weather is good, cycling switches over from the indoor trainer to the Great Outdoors.  Indoor cycling simply cannot compete with the motivation of cycling outdoors.  Besides, when I am 20 miles from the house, I simply cannot climb off the bike and call it a day like I can after 20 miles on the trainer.

Now to the metrics.  I logged 834 miles in July.  June saw 552 miles logged but about half of those June days were spent on the trainer, indoors avoiding the rain.  Notice, also, that there was no day off in July for me!  My leg, broken in January (January sure seems like an eon ago, doesn't it?), works as expected although some stiffness, swelling, and soreness remain.  Fifty-two hours in the saddle?  That is a shocking statistic.    

Can I repeat this level of mileage in August?  Well, with no travel plans on the horizon and time on my hands, don't rule it out. 

Next time, I plan to put the finishing touches on another project.