My work laptop was updated overnight to Windows 11, and I am more excited about its new theming in my work life than I am about the prospect of Apple’s Liquid Glass in my personal life.
I had the most efficient and painless encounter with government bureaucracy today. It was amazing.
Some History
So fifteen-plus years ago, Texas’ Department of Transportation (TXDOT) was doing specialized license plates for Texas universities. LSU fans began thinking, we should see if we can get specialized plates as well. The two largest alumni bases outside the state of Louisiana are in Houston and Dallas, respectively. The alumni associations reached out to TXDOT. The reply was, “Get 1,900 auto owners to commit by paying in advance, and we’ll do it.” And the LSU faithful responded.
So my wife and I each got LSU “Geaux Tigers” Texas license plates; the first out-of-state institution to do so. (Suck it, OU.) These have moved to each new vehicle we’ve gotten over the years. Until this past year-ish.
Last year, my wife got a new SUV, but we kept the minivan she’d been driving, rather than trade it in. The minivan retained the LSU plates, and her SUV got standard Texas ones. Kid2 then got to have the minivan as his primary vehicle as he got more and more comfortable behind the wheel.
But the minivan was reaching the end of its Odyssey. (Why yes, it was, in fact, a Honda.) It had reached a point where the major repairs that would probably be a good idea were more than the minivan was worth. And Kid2 goes to a private school for students with learning difficulties that is a 30-minute drive from our house without traffic. So those two things coupled together elevated my wife’s anxiety over Kid2 driving so far in the old minivan.
Said anxiety reached its peak one Friday evening, when Kid2 drove to the heart of Dallas to meet some friends for a movie, and he drove during rush hour.
“Is it him driving down there during rush hour on a Friday that bugs you, or him driving down there during rush hour on a Friday in the minivan?”
“The latter.”
So it was time to replace the minivan.
“Do we get a new (to him) vehicle for him, or do we get one for me and let him have my Highlander?”
“You can get a new car.”
“Good, because I’ve been researching and filing away vehicles for the past six months.”
Never say I don’t pay attention to my wife’s emotions and feelings. I saw this coming.
So we donate the minivan, say good-bye to it and its set of LSU plates, and I get a new SUV.
But we’re keeping the Highlander. Which has my LSU plates. I didn’t think to ask the dealership about swapping plates, and honestly, that sounded like a hassle they wouldn’t be happy to deal with and probably shouldn’t. So we went through the normal procedures, and my new SUV got standard Texas plates.
Getting the LSU plates on my new ride
Meanwhile, I did research on TXDOT’s web site on if we could swap license plates on two vehicles we own, and yes, you can.
But.
You can’t do this online. It has to be done at person. Oh no. Time spent at the DMV.
Only this particular matter isn’t handled at the DMV, it’s handled at your county’s tax assessor office. And in Denton County, they have multiple such offices. And you can book appointments online. Joy.
My appointment was today at 2:00pm. I roll in at 10 minutes til, thinking it’s going to be packed, there will be a wait, and I’ll probably see someone closer to 2:30pm, if that. Because government bureaucracy.
I check in the kiosk, elect to have SMS alerts sent to my phone to tell me when it’s my turn. The seating area is packed. The overflow seating area in the building’s main lobby is nearly full. I elect to do tiny laps in the main lobby.
I don’t get even a full lap in before my phone pings that it’s my turn. It’s 1:52pm when I get to window and the delightful (honest, this isn’t sarcasm) lady behind it.
I tell her what I’m there for, she gets my info pulled up, no problem, we can take care of that.
“Oh, you have specialized plates.”
“Yes, that’s why I’m here. My teenager doesn’t need my college alma mater license plates.” She grins at that.
“Okay, so we can’t do a straight swap then. The Highlander will have to get new plates.”
And I instantly deflated. Of course. This is going to be a process, and it’s not going to be wrapped up today, is it? Because government bureaucracy.
“Just fill out this form, and I’ll get you the new plates.”
WHAT?!? Right here? Right now?
I fill out the form; it’s short, only 5 items to fill in, then sign. Clackety-clack goes the keyboard. She pulls 2 new plates (in Texas we have front and back plates) off the cubby on the side desk, prints out new registrations with the window stickers, I pay the small (less than $5) fee, and I’m done.
It’s 2:02pm as I’m walking out the door and texting my wife my amazement at how utterly easy that was.
Lessons Learned
As always, be polite to the bureaucrats, especially when they in turn are polite and cheerfully engaging. Makes the process smoother.
And two, if given the opportunity to make an appointment, do so. It appears the crowd I witnessed were walk-ins, and appointment holders were given priority.
I worked extra hours earlier in the week to minimize the personal time I would have to take off work for this, because I figured government bureaucracy. And so now I had the rest of the afternoon to get the plates and stickers swapped on the vehicles and chill.
Really delightful.
Sabaton released an animated lyric video for their latest single, “Templars,” and I like the simple animation style.
There’s also the official video, which features the band as members of the Templar order.
Given that the history and end of the Templars figured prominently in Rob Kroese’s excellent Cross-Time Crusade series, I found the band’s choice for a song an inspiring worlds-collide for me.
So I was taken by the idea of a foldable mechanical keyboard, when I first learned of the Royal Kludge F86, that I could use with my iPhone as a portable writing setup. I’m not sure where I first learned of the F86, so if it happened to be anyone reading this, linking to it once upon a time, my thanks.
Granted, being a mechanical keyboard, even when folded, it’s not going to be as compact as other foldable keyboards, given it only folds the one way, and using mechanical switches, is thick. So if you’re looking for ultra-portability, this likely isn’t the keyboard for you.
I bought the black version on Amazon, where it was cheaper than direct from RK thanks to a 10% off coupon. Key text is white, with Functions in gray.
There is software available for it, but looks to be Windows-only (.exe). However, for remapping keys for use between Windows or macOS/iOS, this is handled on the keyboard itself. Fn+S gets you Mac layout; Fn+A is Windows. So in Mac mode, the Alt key becomes Command, Win key becomes Option. Ctrl remains Ctrl.
It uses “Low Profile Tactile Brown Switches,” to try and minimize key height. Sound seems to be typical for Brown switches. This has been a work-from-home week, so I’ll have to see next week when we’re in office if it’s too loud for some of my coworkers.
As for how it feels: not as good as my NuPhy Air75, but better than my older Keychron K2, which also has brown switches. I’m no mechanical keyboard aficionado, after all; this is just the fourth one I’ve ever owned. For what I want to do, it does the job with the tactile feedback.
You can connect three different devices to the keyboard. Currently I have my iPhone and my PowerBook M4 Pro (Yes, I am committed to this bit). I will likely connect my work laptop when in the office next week. Switching is pretty seamless:
- Device 1 – Fn+Q
- Device 2 – Fn+W
- Device 3 – Fn+E
When it’s flat on the desk, it feels like a typical mechanical keyboard. If you pick it up, there is a little inward flex from the two halves. I haven’t tried it on my lap, but given it’s a 60% size keyboard, I probably wouldn’t ever do that anyway. But if I did, I’m sure there’s going to be both inward and outward flex from the keyboard’s halves on such an uneven surface.
Keyboard is backlit, which is nice. Using Fn+\ you can cycle through the backlight settings, of which are three: on, slow pulse, and off. Fn+up or down arrows will adjust backlight intensity. There’s only about 4-5 settings. When you hit the max on Fn+Up arrow, the backlight flashes at you, as if to say, “I can’t go any higher!” If you Fn+Down arrow enough, the backlight will turn off.
It has two arms that fold flat against the top of the case to support your smartphone. Haven’t tried it as of yet with my iPad Air. The arms each have a dimple near the end, and that slots in to a notch on the casing, so they stay in place when folded.
The F68 charges via USB-C. It has a physical On/Off switch, which is rather stiff.
There is no carrying case for the keyboard, just a sleeve you slide the folded F68 in to. So there is minimal protection from being scratched or scuffed while in your bag, but that’s it. It’s a snug fit, but the sleeve does close all the way.
All in all, considering I’ve only had this a few days, I’m liking it. It does what I want it to do. Took it to Kid3’s lacrosse practice this past Thursday at the indoor facility, where they have tables and chairs, and used it there, so it’s fulfilling its purpose.
Time will tell if it sticks!
I am a big fan of the original, and this looks terrific. Can’t wait for mid-August.
I’ve stood outside a church in Kigali where this happened. Where the priest(s) abandoned to the mob those seeking safety.
It was sobering to drive past it every single day we went to the orphanage to see or pick up the little boy who would become our youngest son.
I’m perfectly content with it being an age thing that I totally do not get the city/team name being printed upside down on caps.
Just looks stupid.
The balancing act of buddy-comedy/action movie they’re trying to pull off with The Accountant 2 makes me wish we’d already had the second one and were working on the third. Love the chemistry I’m seeing so far in the trailers. Can’t wait for this one.
New Mac Day, and I practice what I preach.
I wouldn’t count on it, since it’s Boston, but the #4Nations championship game crowd should totally belt out “O, Canada” and show up the snooty Montrealans.