Done Since 2023-06-04

[mdlbear]

Was it a good week? I'm not sure I was there. It started with tears, had some optimism in the middle, and ended with a pulled back (QL) muscle. So maybe it's a good thing I missed it.

I'm up on the island, as with most weekends, but I've gotten very little done. I can blame most of that on filking, but not all of it. And I'd like to say more, but my brain seems to have vanished. Probably went wherever the week went.

Notes & links:
0604Su 
  * up 5:51; S=6:42, W=196.2, BP=122/78, P=70; exercises (+16), shower, Dutch
  % hearing aids.  10ish?  forgot to log.
  @ Falling Behind: The Growing Gap in Life Expectancy Between the United States and
    Other Countries, 1933–2021 | AJPH | Vol. Issue (abstract.  PDF behind paywall)
    Life expectancy in US: Problems date back to 1950s, report finds
    " 'State policy matters' More Americans die younger in states with conservative
      policies, study finds "
  @ Transgender adults in Florida `blindsided' that new law also limits their access to
    health care | AP News
  @ Vishal P. Singh They/He: "Here is my account of the events on June 2,2023…"
    " Welcome to Saticoy Elementary School in North Hollywood. Anti-LGBTQ+ extremists are
      rallying against the school’s Pride event today. "
    -> The fight started because the far-right beat this man until he stopped moving. They
    stomped him on the ground. As LAPD attempted to render aid, a far-right extremist
    screams at the unmoving body, "he has to suffer!" LAPD would not allow me to continue
    filming the injured man. Mainstream media covered up this incident as well.
  * 15min:  round-up some of the blackberries and thistles near the house. ~11:30
  * walk: to Middle and back.  Could maybe have gone another block, but it would
    have been pushing it.  Wore the Keen hiking boots that haven't been used for at least
    three years and maybe more.  Damned if I know where the other pair are.
  @ Archaeological Breakthrough: Ancient Greek Civilisation Rewritten By A Quarter
    Million Years
  @ Most hated brands in America: Trump Organization, FTX, Fox Corporation
  * after arrival:  o water orchids  * sort mail  * make a payment or do other paperwork
  @ Twitter’s rightwing takeover is complete. Why are liberals still on it? | Guardian
  @ Five Things You Should Do Now to Prepare for a Heatwave
  * spent about an hour photographing Colleen's and Curio's mementos before packing them
    (actually some of those ought to go down to RS to be added to her shrine) (and I need
    to look in the memento boxes from before the last move, because I think there are
    things there that I should document) (and there's stuff still in boxes in the garage).
    -> put 1/3 of Colleen's braid into each of two ointment jars, for the kids.
    -> put the other third, with her wedding ring and the little cat necklace, in a purple
       box with a transparent lid.  I'll take that down to RS with me, and pack the rest.
    % not in the best of shape right now.  Not clear whether due to standing, or emotion.
    -> Elsenet, I wrote (in reply to something I don't need to quote)
       -> Sympathy. I have pretty much the same vision for my future -- sitting home alone
          and petting my cat. But I'm selling the house -- the last house that Colleen and
          I lived in together -- and planning on moving with my chosen family, and packing
          up memories.
          I'm not in the best of shape right now, and feeling very much adrift.
    -> burst into ugly sobs reading the last verse of N's song "Staying Home Tonight".
       -> WTF?  so I can, in fact, cry.  But... but...  ... okay, it follows.  But...
  % R hearing aid isn't fitting well -- there's feedback when it comes out too far.
    OTOH the alarm on the rice cooker was unexpectedly loud, so they must be working
  * RE->RS: pack some books for Little Free Library
  * Singing:  Eyes Like the Morning, The Stuff that Dreams are Made Of
    Tried strumming on Stuff... -- not sure I like it that way.
  * 15min:  laundry

0605Mo  * litter boxen
  & awake 3:48; S=3:51; blue-blocker glasses  -> down 4:20
    % dream included something about PC cases. ?! Was getting into Mac minis wen I woke
      up.  Politics was involved as well.  back pain -> heat until down: 4:20. no sleep.
  * up 5:40ish; S=5:20, W=195.6; exercises, Dutch
  @ More than 70% of US household COVID spread started with a child, study suggests
  @ Sick Workers Connected to 41 Percent of Food Poisoning Outbreaks, CDC Reports
  * Dutch.  I'm actually #8 on the (US) leaderboard.  Must not be many Americans on the app
    : The Dutch word for "lemon" is "citroen" (no umlaut), which I find extremely amusing.
  @ Meet Shoggoth, an octopus-like creature that has come to symbolize AI | SeaTimes
    " The executive explained that the Shoggoth had become a jokey reference among workers
      in artificial intelligence, as a vivid visual metaphor for how a large language
      model (the type of AI system that powers ChatGPT and other chatbots) actually works.
        But it was only partly a joke, he said, because it also hinted at the anxieties
      many researchers and engineers have about the tools they’re building. " ...
    " That some AI insiders refer to their creations as Lovecraftian horrors, even as a
      joke, is unusual by historical standards. "
    Cue I Had A Shoggoth
  @ Why I'm signing the Stack Overflow strike letter (cellio
    Stack Exchange moderator strike
  % birdsong s definitely louder via the hearing aids, but also about 50% static.
    -> Trying with gain up 3dB.  Low-level static is continuous.  More feedback on R
    -> incipient feedback gives crinkling plastic bags etc a distinctly metalic ring
    -> (later) breathing etc. also has ringing.
  @ LGBTQ Pride Events Targeted, Advocates Report | Time
   LGBTQ+ Pride month kicks off with protests, parades, parties | AP News
   Protest over Pride month assembly at Los Angeles school turns violent | Guardian
   Unbowed, Proud Boys Plan Biggest Pride Month Disruptions Ever: ADL
   Pride Organizers Are Canceling Florida Events Over 'Climate of Fear'
  @ Sign On | Message in a Bottle – NASA's Europa Clipper
    You can put your name on something NASA is sending to Europa (moon of Jupiter)
  @ Taylor Swift is What the GOP Fears Most She's too big to boycott
  @ Siderea, Sibylla Bostoniensis: "Dear Mastodoners, I know a lo…" - Indieweb.Social
    Thread about commercial activity in the Fediverse, and how to handle it.
  * CPAP RE:  replace nosepiece  (Keep previous, which was only changed last month, in
    case I start to run out.)
  * Singing: Bad Guys (+ actual verses), For Amy  (a little trouble on the last line)
  : 11:58 heard back from OnStar.  I gave them an update, but they're going to check into
    it anyway -- which is good, because it shouldn't be dropping messages on the floor.
    Although AT+T does have a history of doing that.
  % QL spasm on the R.  -> 1g acetaminophen; heat.
  % 9:50pm 1g acetaminophen

0606Tu
  & awake 3ish
  * up 6ish; S=7:14; cat cuddle, exercises, Dutch
  * walk: around park
  % hearing aids - trying medium dome on R.  Feels more secure, but there's still feedback
    Still seems okay with +3dB gain; no feedback with headphones; constant static
  @ A sinterless, low-temperature route to 3D print nanoscale optical-grade glass
    " [using] a hybrid organic-inorganic polymer resin as a feedstock material that
      requires a much lower temperature for curing. The ability to form transparent, fused
      silica at only 650°C opens up different uses for the material. "
  * walk with m to the LFL at Phinney (Dayton?) and 90th.  gMap says .5mi each way
    -> a little bit winded by the end, but legs and hips seemed okay
  @ LGBTQ+ Americans living in state of emergency, human rights group warns | Guardian
  @ Moderation Strike: Stack Overflow, Inc. cannot consistently ignore, mistreat, and
    malign its volunteers - Meta Stack Exchange open letter
  @ Gov. Gavin Newsom calls Ron DeSantis 'pathetic' on Twitter; calls for kidnapping
    charges after migrants dropped off in Sacramento - ABC7 Los Angeles
  & apparently I had about $35 in loyalty points at Musician's Friend expiring today.
    Just enough to cover two sets of Martin Silk + Steel, and set of D'Addario for Plink.
    The Martin strings sound ravishing on Snuggles, but the silk wrap means they don't
    have a ground path on Plink, which hums horribly unless I ground the strings
  * upgrade GS to PHP version 8.1.  Went smoothly once I got past the error caused by a
    plugin that I'm not using.  Has to be done on the staging site, but that's okay.

0607We  * litter boxen; water
  & Awake 2:30ish(?); gave up 3:45; politics, earworm
  * up 6:15ish; no mask; S=3:09, maybe an hour btw 5 and 6; 
  * 7am talk with Dutch lawyer  -> using M$ Teams; there's a Linux version.  Seems to work
    (ended up using G's machine.  we had to squeeze together a bit but it worked.)
    % actually feeling somewhat optimistic about this.
  % hearing aid:  feedback when holding phone up to R ear.  Presumably from the side-tone
  % lots of metalic-sounding ringing in R ear from crinkling plastic etc.
  * Fish tacos for lunch.  Went the long way around, via Linden; came back via Aurora
  : replacement hearing aids arrived.
    -> same ~500Hz tone.  Starting with large domes on both sides, which definitely
       reduces the feedback problems I was hearing on the RHS, but doesn't feel secure,
       and doesn't fix it completely.
  % it's hot here in the Lair -- turn on AC, skip nightshirt.

0608Th
  * up 5:30ish; S=5:30ish; exercises, Dutch
    : CPAP (DS2) refused to turn off -- probably piece of grit in the button (which is on
      top where stuff can fall into it).  Power-cycling worked, but now it won't pair.
      -> switch back to the DS1 full time, as soon as I can retrieve it.
  : today is my 21st LJ bloggaversary.  Old enough to drink.  LJ sent me a virtual gift
  @ Meet Your New Creative Writing Partner — The Jetpack AI Assistant
    well, there goes the neighborhood.  $10/month after free trial period
  * walk:  around the park (whole block, 87th to 90th)
  @ The Dutch government wants to automatically and administratively gain permission to
    target victims of hackers - Bert Hubert's writings
  : Hearing aid:  lots of ringing on R. much more when loose, but some anyway.
  @ DIY box fan filters – Corsi-Rosenthal box - Clean Air Crew because wildfires
    article includes optimal shroud opening diameters for two common fans.
  @ From “Heavy Purchasers” of Pregnancy Tests to the Depression-Prone: We Found 650,000
    Ways Advertisers Label You – The Markup
  @ AskHistorians and uncertainty surrounding the future of API access : AskHistorians
  @ Don’t feed the physicists  What if God is a programmer? -- funny
  @ Advice
    from California on bad air from the fires:
    "Recommend keeping windows closed, running air filters, & sending fossil fuel execs to
    The Hague"
  @ NOAA declares the arrival of El Nino
  : From Apolloneuro: "I wanted to reach out to you and let you know that the Power Nap
    Vibe is not going to be released on the Android version of the Apollo application
    until 3.1 is released."  And it took two weeks for customer service to figure this out
  & went through record/* to see if I have a recordingn of Staying Home Tonight. -> I don't
  * email Greg, Monika.  This is getting ridiculous.
    -> bill scanned and sent   -> Greg will pay from Mom's trust
  : As it turns out I already have Schwab checks
  % 3:45 sleepy
  * k's concert.  record audio with the zoom, video with my phone.
    sending video is confusing -- doing _anything_ on a phone is confusing.
    syncing video to the cloud is slow.

0609Fr
  & awake 3:30ish; no mask
  * up 6:36ish; S=3:32+; cat cuddle, exercises(+10), Dutch
  : Nice Seattle weather for a change -- cool with a very light drizzle
  @ 30 Terrible Designs Created By People Who Don't Have To Clean Them
  @ GMcGath: Pat Robertson has died. Sadly, I don't believe in the existence of Hell.
  @ God Strikes Down Pat Robertson For What He Said About Gays, Hurricanes, 9/11, Haiti,
    Orphans ... - Wonkette
  @ Harry Belafonte & Falumi Prince - Turn the World Around (Live) - YT (Stone Bear
  @ US doctors forced to ration as cancer drug shortages hit nationwide - BBC News
  @ CVE-2023-2868: Total Compromise of Physical Barracuda ESG Appliances
    " The pivot from patch to total replacement of affected devices is fairly stunning and
      implies the malware the threat actors deployed somehow achieves persistence at a low
      enough level that even wiping the device wouldn’t eradicate attacker access. "
  @ Boris Johnson quits as UK lawmaker after being told he will be sanctioned for
    misleading Parliament | AP News  partygate
  * request birdsite archive -- should email when it's available
  @ The big idea: Are cats really domesticated? | Books | The Guardian
  @ Chatbot that offered bad advice for eating disorders taken down 
  & install a desk clock app on my old S5mini; put in bathroom as wall clock
    -> might want to strip it down; log out (had to log in for app store)
    -> The Meross app doesn't run on it; either set up Home Assistant, switch devices, or

0610Sa
  & awake 3:30ish; -> cats; gave up 4:35;
    -> didn't get much if any sleep, but lots of cat time
  * up 7:30ish;
  * pack: fiber cookies (from closet shelf)
  @ Reddit CEO doubles down on attack on Apollo developer in drama-filled AMA
  @ A brief history of singular ‘they’ | Oxford English Dictionary
  * activate HX debit card
  : arrived: Zeus: Worlds First & Smallest 270W GaN USB-C Charger by asap Technologies
  * drive up to RE
    % tweaked R QL getting into Molly.  Didn't hurt once I sat down, but ...
    ! one moment in the parking lot leaving TJ when I noticed that I felt pretty good
  * SL:  RE:  prunes, almonds, protein, lychee, laxative
  % ... then I went and dropped my L hearing aid.  Didn't even notice until I was almost
    finished in Payless.  Retraced my steps.  Found it in Molly, on the floor.  ! Whew!
    -> must have come off either putting on or taking off a mask.
  % R. QL twinges walking and shifting position in chair.
    -> 3:40 400mg (2 tabs) of ibuprofen
  : FOTL.  R. hearing aid feeding back, so pulled it.
    -> Then switched to the little JBL battery-powered speaker set.  Works perfectly.
    -> spending the afternoon/evening listening to filk means I won't re-injure my back
  * toss old sunscreen -- it degrades over time.  -> but didn't find as much as I expected
    @ See Protect your skin from summer sun damage by avoiding these sunscreen mistakes
  * Quote of the week: (from siliconshaman's post likening depression to a zombie apocalypse:
    " the best you can hope for is surviving long enough to die of old age. "
  * Kheer for dinner -- probably way too much milk:  one package makes 4 servings