> Notes...

“there really are no uninteresting things...”
31 Aug 2023 @ 22:21:54

“I can’t remember the name of the first girl I had a crush on in kindergarten. Can’t remember the name of my first love!”, I tell my partner. “Good, you should only remember me!”, she replies, half-kidding. “It’s not about the girl, silly Horse. It is about my memories fading away.

Growing old isn’t fun. 😩

31 Aug 2023 @ 14:49:02

Where there is smoke, there is fire. Little sparks are starting to flare out on Clarence Thomas. There must be more transparency, Justices are not above the law.

“Justice Clarence Thomas disclosed Thursday that Republican megadonor Harlan Crow paid for private jet trips for Thomas in 2022 to attend a speech in Texas and a vacation at Crow’s luxurious New York estate, as ethics questions continue to rock the Supreme Court.”

But Clarence is not alone. Samuel Alito has also shed some light.

Having anyone from either side (Democrat, or Republican) covering expenses, or otherwise doing anything with the purpose of gaining favour, or swaying a Justice should be considered illegal, unethical, and disqualifying.

31 Aug 2023 @ 14:10:21

This dilemma came to mind. Should I enjoy an uninterrupted weekend (well, I still must fold clothes, but that’s unavoidable, unless I find a wish granting genie), or should I use tomorrow to mow the lawn, and forget about it for the entire next week?

If I were to find a wish granting genie, then I will ask more than having the clothes folded, but also to mow the lawn. If you are reading this, genie, don’t cross my path! You already know what awaits…

31 Aug 2023 @ 13:13:46

My weekend starts in around 45 minutes from now. Work closing for game day, taking tomorrow off, and then Saturday, Sunday, and Labour Day Monday! Ohhhh yeaaaah!

It feels good to be a ganster!
30 Aug 2023 @ 22:51:27

As someone with a few Indian friends, I have always been puzzled by the concept of caste that exists in India. My Indian friends, however, are not prone to talk about it. Yet, all of them are of a high caste, and none are Dalit or OBC. This prompted this note.

➝ Via Hacker News.

30 Aug 2023 @ 09:25:24

Barely a little rain, brought to us compliments of Idalia, and power goes off. Granted, only for a few minutes, but why?! What kind of third world country—or Banana Republic—is this state?

Update: 24 Jun 2025 @ 17:14:13

As if it heard me, now Idalia’s outer edge is giving us quite a show, downpouring with winds. It is kind of odd to see and hear a storm without any lighting. Thunderstorms are a brand around here, but rains brought by hurricanes come with few lightings, and thunders. Just more wind.

29 Aug 2023 @ 12:10:25

Sooo sleepy! Alarm set to 12:55, will power nap during lunch because I don’t know if I will, otherwise, be able to make it. Mental note, do not take allergies medicines after 18:00, but at noon instead.

29 Aug 2023 @ 10:44:46

This is quasi-horror story of a spouse the got a medical bill for her deceased husband, a year after she had paid the final bill—or so she thought. The takeaway:

“In the United States, medical bills and insurance statements create a burdensome puzzle for patients to sort through to determine what is actually owed. The first rule of thumb is: “Don’t pay the bill before you’ve gotten the EOB,” which is the insurer’s accounting of what you owe and what the insurer will pay.”

29 Aug 2023 @ 10:02:25

Looks like Idalia will not pass close enough to merit a university close down. Local colleges are doing so, though. Experience tell us that is a best to err on the safe side.

Update: 24 Jun 2025 @ 17:14:13

And UCF is following the rest; it’s closing! Woot!

25 Aug 2023 @ 12:05:36

I found this phrase from Frank Herbert’sDune” posted on the Fediverse by MrBadger42 to be, perhaps, perennially true.

“Once men turned their thinking over to machines in the hope that this would set them free. But that only permitted other men with machines to enslave them.”

25 Aug 2023 @ 10:06:02

A co-worker of mine reply when I told him I disliked our current enterprise web font, Gotham (yes, I am into fonts this week; it won’t last, I promise!): “It is a matter of taste, and yours is undisputable.” :rolling_on_the_floor_laughing:

25 Aug 2023 @ 07:17:53

While on the topic of fonts, I have to say that the Open Sans Pro font is extremely legible. It truly makes it a pleasurable reading experience, on sites using it. It is also open sourced.

23 Aug 2023 @ 13:23:40

On iOS 17 Public Beta 5 right now. Each beta has been getting better, so I don’t expect this one to be any different. I am all for surprises, though! 😂

23 Aug 2023 @ 07:39:18

This world that we, the smartest animals in the kingdom, call ours will be inherited by all the lesser animals we mistreat (or, at the very least, ignore) today. Then, and only then, Earth will heal.

22 Aug 2023 @ 14:01:34

Avenir Next is such an easy to read font! I wish it was decently priced, available to use on the web, and not ridiculously expensive as it is today.

21 Aug 2023 @ 21:33:30

This blog post, “We’re All Just Temporarily Abled”, from Jim Nielsen, pairs suitably with my previous train of thought. The older I get, the more often I find myself philosophising.

18 Aug 2023 @ 14:44:38

From Thoughts Without a Thinker: Psychotherapy from a Buddhist Perspective:

“‘You see this goblet?’ asks Achaan Chaa, the Thai meditation master. ‘For me this glass is already broken. I enjoy it; I drink out of it. It holds my water admirably, sometimes even reflecting the sun in beautiful patterns. If I should tap it, it has a lovely ring to it. But when I put this glass on the shelf and the wind knocks it over or my elbow brushes it off the table and it falls to the ground and shatters, I say, ‘Of course.’ When I understand that the glass is already broken, every moment with it is precious.’”

Also, from The Wise Heart:

“One day Ajahn Chah held up a beautiful Chinese tea cup, ‘To me this cup is already broken. Because I know its fate, I can enjoy it fully here and now. And when it’s gone, it’s gone.’ When we understand the truth of uncertainty and relax, we become free.”

And, from Marcus Aurelius, Meditations:

“Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now take what’s left and live it properly.”

16 Aug 2023 @ 16:09:11

Naomi Wu is my new hero. This video converted me to her.

16 Aug 2023 @ 10:18:25

Life is a loop. The known universe is a loop. Everything is a do while loop. Thus, everything is a program in an enormously big computer.

14 Aug 2023 @ 07:18:04

We survived the weekend, alone, without the boy. Now onto the working week. Got to mow the wilderness that is our backyard, this week. Soon after I will have to do the same for the front. It never ends!

11 Aug 2023 @ 13:13:06

Chetan Kunte updated his page! Chetan’s site is one of the few I, almost religiously, check each day for new content.

11 Aug 2023 @ 11:50:20

This is the second, or third time I receive this email. It shows how to make it to my blocklist in one single step.

I’m afraid this is my last email to you about my suggestions for Data Flow (gasp!). I haven’t heard back from you yet and this must mean one of three things:

  • You are happy with your current lead volume, CPL, and conversion rates.
  • You’ve been too busy with deadlines/meetings/tap-dance classes but you’re interested (It’s not too late!)
  • You’ve fallen and you can’t get up. Let me know if that’s the case, I’ll send help!

Please let me know - I’m worried!

11 Aug 2023 @ 11:13:34

Emails with a “friendly reminder” phrase in it irk me. Especially those requesting feedback—over, and over—for a service rendered. I know they are automated, but there is always a human behind them.

11 Aug 2023 @ 07:49:25

Boy is leaving for a week to the Keys before classes start again. Here comes a week of worries.

10 Aug 2023 @ 08:32:32

There has been eight 007s throughout the years. While going through my thoughts yesterday it struck weird that they all like it “shaken, not stirred”, are desired by women, are virtually un-killable, etc. Was that an MI6 requirement? 😂

10 Aug 2023 @ 07:47:38

The “Unknown unknowns”—things we don’t know we don’t know—have always fascinated me.

10 Aug 2023 @ 07:27:25

The former Attorney General is a discreet man.

“Discretion” is a complicated word. It can imply discernment, restraint and sober judgment, for example. It’s also a wonderful euphemism for covering up wrongdoing. And William Barr is a discreet man. — Bloomberg

09 Aug 2023 @ 08:03:03

After coming across “Vocal Fry: what it is, who does it, and why people hate it!” at Claud’s I cannot not notice it on just about any female newscaster.

➝ Via @claudrod.

08 Aug 2023 @ 14:36:52

Conduit is the easiest, fastest, leanest way to run a Matrix server. A single binary, and a small configuration file. Can’t beat that!

Update: 24 Oct 2025 @ 08:13:25

Or, as George pointed out, docker compose up.

friends selfhost tech
08 Aug 2023 @ 13:43:41

Feeling rather meh. One of those things that happen after taking a long break, or after taking a short one. Or just simply meh.

07 Aug 2023 @ 13:57:10

The United States Postal Service (USPS) has no problems selling you a Postal Money Order. It will take your cash—or debit card—gladly. Now, try cashing one in, and you will be stumped: they carry no money to exchange for the Money Order. To cash it in you will need to deposit it on your bank. In other words, avoid them. This isn’t fully accurate.

07 Aug 2023 @ 10:00:29

My four days long weekend is over. Where did the time go?! The relativity of time is truly annoying. 😩

06 Aug 2023 @ 14:35:48

My Personal Identifiable Information (PII) leaked (unauthorized third parties were likely able to access and download full names, Social Security numbers, policy/account numbers, dates of birth, and addresses, among other), again, compliments of SaaS. This time it was “MOVEit Transfer”, which Corebridge (one of my retirement accounts financial institutions) uses.

This CVE provides details of the vulnerability that was exploited. Links within that page explains it further.

Duuuuuuuck! 🤬 Initial fraud alert—1 year—placed on the three major credit bureaus.

Update: 24 Jun 2025 @ 17:14:13

Partner is also receiving the same notification I got, today. The impact of the breach goes beyond Corebridge. Maybe you are affected too!

06 Aug 2023 @ 07:14:44

“Well, birthdays are merely symbolic of how another year has gone by and how little we’ve grown. No matter how desperate we are that someday a better self will emerge, with each flicker of the candles on the cake, we know it’s not to be, that for the rest of our sad, wretched, pathetic lives, this is who we are to the bitter end. Inevitably, irrevocably; happy birthday? No such thing.”

Update: 24 Jun 2025 @ 17:14:13

The above from one of “Seinfeld” episodes.

03 Aug 2023 @ 15:20:05

Based on what I have seeing of the gameplay and the looks, I have absolutely no interest, nor desire to play, Baldur’s Gate 3. Almost died of boredom! I will pass, 100%.

03 Aug 2023 @ 08:48:17
Netscape Navigator logo

The sentimental in me found this blog entry, and was touched. So many times I have thought about Netscape, and what will it be if it was still around. Right after Mosaic, Netscape Navigator was the web browser I used for a very long time.

02 Aug 2023 @ 15:39:53

I am just surprised this didn’t come along earlier, and that it took a pandemic event to make it a reality. Going to an office to sit all day, and then go home never made sense to me. When pushed for a change, all we got—begrudgingly—was one “telecommuting” day per week.

“If they were to say ’everyone back in the office’, I would probably be asking for a raise,” said Coomber, who still visits the office once or twice a week. “You get more family time. You can actually finish work at five, rather than finishing at five spending 45 minutes trying to get home.”

02 Aug 2023 @ 10:53:47

Related to my previous note, this The New York Times annotated indictment is very good. It is especially good for those who might have a hard time reading legalese—though I found the language used on the indictment very easy (purposely?) to read.

01 Aug 2023 @ 20:05:22

“Despite having lost, the defendant was determined to remain in power”, prosecutors wrote. The 6 January 2021 riot was “fueled by lies” — Mr. Trump’s lies. The gigantic ignoramus also known as Donald Trump has been indicted—yes, again!—on four criminal charges relating to his involvement on the 6 January 2021 revolt.

From The New York Times:

  1. Conspiracy to defraud the United States (1 count)
    The charge against Mr. Trump details the various methods he and co-conspirators used to try to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
  2. Related to efforts to obstruct the vote certification proceedings (2 counts)
    Mr. Trump faces two charges involving the vote certification proceedings at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021: one of obstructing that process and one of conspiring to do so.
  3. Conspiracy to violate civil rights (1 count)
    Related to Mr. Trump’s attempts to reverse election results in states with close elections in 2020.

The wheels of justice move slow, but thank goodness they move. I also found interesting what Will Hurd (a Republican presidential candidate) said about Trump:

“Trump’s presidential bid is driven by an attempt to stay out of prison and scam his supporters into footing his legal bills…”

01 Aug 2023 @ 15:22:18

When the girl tells me she is stressed, and had a mental breakdown, it truly hurts my heart—that feeling one gets, as if someone was squeezing it. It upsets, worries me so much! Why will there be things for which we feel so impotent to do anything?

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