Blog 33/2024

How can I feel so in pain and bleeding one minute

while feeling so empowered and alive the next?

The heart is a strange muscle

No

The heart is the strangest muscle

I don't understand its mystery yet fully

You never knew me as he yet you take one look and judge me My hair too short, my chest too small you see one detail instead of them all And if you looked a little higher you'd see the pin that says “she/her” But you don't see me, you see a boy As though trying to strip away my joy For you see, I shed my strife And learned how to love life This is what you'd see If instead of judging, you got to know me

#Poetry #Trans

Aquest treball és fruit del projecte, presentat el seu dia, titulat Art i cultura popular al Puig de Santa Maria, que va resultar guanyador de l’onzena Beca d’Estudis sobre El Puig per un jurat format per: Carlos María Álvarez Bel, doctor enginyer industrial i catedràtic de la Universitat Politècnica de València; Mercè Aznar Alcaina, doctora en Biologia i professora de l’IES de Massamagrell; María Torres Hurtado, mestra, especialista de Filologia i professora de l’IES de Rafelbunyol, i Francesc Orts Hurtado, director-gerent de la Fundació Pública Municipal per a la Cultura i l’Educació, la Joventut i l’Esport, d'El Puig, que hi actuà com a secretari. #CulturaVisualAlPuig #llibre #publicacions

La justificació del projecte presentat es basava en la premissa que la cultura popular, i sobretot els objectes i manifestacions produïts per aquesta, han estat habitualment menyspreats i oblidats pels estudis i investigacions referents a la història de l’art i l’estètica. Tan sols disciplines com ara la història o l’antropologia han dedicat una part important dels seus estudis a aquesta matèria. Pel que fa a la història de l’art, tradicionalment s’ha ocupat de manera preferent només dels grans moviments artístics i dels creadors de renom, és a dir, de la cultura oficial i de l’art institucional, i han oblidat de manera injustificable la quasi totalitat de les manifestacions i objectes artístics, que en la seua major part han estat produïts per ciutadans anònims, i inserits dins altres manifestacions de cultura popular, com la religiositat, les festes, l’oci o el treball artesà.

Una ciutat amb tanta tradició històrica com El Puig, està repleta d’exemples d’aquestes manifestacions artístiques que era necessari valorar amb l’estudi i la investigació seriosa, rigorosa i científica, des dels criteris d’una disciplina com la història de l'art i la investigació estètica. És per això que es va presentar i proposar aquest projecte d’investigació.

El projecte va anar evolucionant amb el temps, i a poc a poc es va configurar cada vegada més com a una investigació inserida dins el camp de l’educació artística i la cultura visual, que constitueixen el centre de les meues investigacions actualment.

A banda de configurar una posició prou innovadora en el camp de la investigació local, acostumat al tractament d’aspectes més testimonials i documentals, aquest treball presenta una proposta d’investigació basada en l’estudi de la imatge, de la cultura visual, des d’una posició reflexiva i crítica. Però es tracta, òbviament, d’imatges i mirades amb una perspectiva local, amb els espais de cultura popular i vida quotidiana dels ciutadans d’El Puig, com a centre de gravetat de les reflexions i propostes.

El treball fa un recorregut per alguns aspectes fonamentals a l’hora d’entendre la cultura visual popular dels seus ciutadans, és a dir, aquella que es troba més inserida dins la vida quotidiana i col·lectiva. Probablement, quedaran moltes coses per tractar, però les necessàries limitacions d’espai i temps han atorgat al treball la seua estructura actual, amb una intencionalitat més educativa, entenent aquesta com un procés d’investigació i redescobriment permanents.

Woke up with mild headache.

It’s gone now.

I have zero interest in snyk kubernetes controllers installed via helm charts.

It’s about as interesting to me as listening to some drunk dude talking about how to breathe through a didgeridoo to make it sound consistently even while you inhale. It’s a special technique he said called ”circular breathing”.

Or as interesting as looking at some sort of sport. I have tried to care about sports, but it doesn’t work. I feel nothing.

Think I’m in the wrong line of work. On the other hand I don’t know what would be the right one.

I just want to be rich without going through so much effort, is that too much to ask for?

Better get started on my new book.

I think it’s a good indication of how I’m able to get over this fairly quickly, I think in the past I would have stewed on this situation way longer than I did. Instead I just reasonably moved on, and lost no time. Today was the last day I told myself I’d be allowed to mope at all, and I didn’t end up needing to at all. Good job me I guess.

No DBT today because it’s super late and I want to sleep. Goodnight!

These are the same as Elf Fighter/Magic-User equipment packs, except they also include, wait for it, thieves' tools! Remember that spellcasting is possible only unarmoured, and thieving skills are possible only in leather or less (no shield either). Spellbook and thieves' tools are “free” during character creation, hence I did not deduce their cost.

30 GP PACK

Armour: None Weapons: 1 × Club (1d4); 1 × Dagger (1d4; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 1 × Spear (1H 1d6; 2H 1d6+1; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 3 × Javelin (1d6, ROF 1, range 20’) Gear: 1 × Spellbook; 1 × Thieves’ tools; 1 × Chalk, 1 piece; 1 × Rope, hemp (50 feet); 1 × Backpack (30-pound capacity); 2 × Sack (15 pounds capacity); 1 × Waterskin; 1 × Case (map or scroll); 6 × Candle; 6 × Torch; 2 × Oil, lamp (1 pint); 1 × Flint & steel; 5 × Rations, trail (per day); 5 × Rations, dried (per day); 1 × Bedroll; 1 × Ink (1-ounce bottle); 3 × Parchment (sheet) Coins: 4 gp, 8 sp, 3 cp Encumbrance: 48 lbs

40 GP PACK

Armour: None Weapons: 1 × Dagger (1d4; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 1 × Spear (1H 1d6; 2H 1d6+1; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 1 × Bow, short (2H, ROF 2, range 50’); 1 × Arrows (20) (1d6) Gear: 1 × Spellbook; 1 × Thieves’ tools; 1 × Chalk, 1 piece; 1 × Crowbar; 1 × Backpack (30-pound capacity); 1 × Waterskin; 1 × Case (map or scroll); 6 × Candle; 6 × Torch; 2 × Oil, lamp (1 pint); 1 × Flint & steel; 5 × Rations, trail (per day); 5 × Rations, dried (per day); 1 × Bedroll; 1 × Ink (1-ounce bottle); 3 × Parchment (sheet) Coins: 2 gp, 1 sp, 3 cp Encumbrance: 29 lbs

50 GP PACK

Armour: 1 × Shield (-1[+1] AC) Weapons: 1 × Axe, hand (1d6; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 1 × Dagger (1d4; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 1 × Spear (1H 1d6; 2H 1d6+1; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 9 × Dart (1d3, ROF 3, range 15’) Gear: 1 × Spellbook; 1 × Thieves’ tools; 1 × Chalk, 1 piece; 1 × Grappling hook; 1 × Rope, hemp (50 feet); 1 × Backpack (30-pound capacity); 1 × Waterskin; 1 × Case (map or scroll); 6 × Candle; 6 × Torch; 2 × Oil, lamp (1 pint); 1 × Flint & steel; 1 × Fishing net (25 square feet); 5 × Rations, trail (per day); 5 × Rations, dried (per day); 1 × Bedroll; 1 × Ink (1-ounce bottle); 3 × Parchment (sheet) Coins: 5 gp, 5 sp, 3 cp Encumbrance: 47 lbs

60 GP PACK

Armour: 1 × Shield (-1[+1] AC) Weapons: 1 × Sword, long (1d8); 1 × Spear (1H 1d6; 2H 1d6+1; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 3 × Javelin (1d6, ROF 1, range 20’) Gear: 1 × Spellbook; 1 × Thieves’ tools; 1 × Bell; 1 × Chalk, 1 piece; 1 × Crowbar; 1 × Hammer; 1 × Rope, hemp (50 feet); 12 × Spike, iron; 1 × Backpack (30-pound capacity); 2 × Sack (15 pounds capacity); 1 × Waterskin; 1 × Case (map or scroll); 6 × Candle; 6 × Torch; 2 × Oil, lamp (1 pint); 1 × Flint & steel; 3 × Wolfsbane; 5 × Rations, trail (per day); 5 × Rations, dried (per day); 1 × Bedroll; 1 × Ink (1-ounce bottle); 3 × Parchment (sheet) Coins: 4 gp, 2 sp, 3 cp Encumbrance: 56 lbs

70 GP PACK

Armour: 1 × Shield (-1[+1] AC); 1 × Leather (-2[+2] AC) Weapons: 1 × Dagger (1d4; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 1 × Sword, short (1d6); 1 × Spear (1H 1d6; 2H 1d6+1; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 1 × Bow, short (2H, ROF 2, range 50’); 1 × Arrows (20) (1d6) Gear: 1 × Spellbook; 1 × Thieves’ tools; 1 × Rope, hemp (50 feet); 1 × Backpack (30-pound capacity); 1 × Waterskin; 1 × Case (map or scroll); 6 × Candle; 6 × Torch; 2 × Oil, lamp (1 pint); 1 × Flint & steel; 5 × Rations, trail (per day); 5 × Rations, dried (per day); 1 × Bedroll; 1 × Ink (1-ounce bottle); 3 × Parchment (sheet) Coins: 3 gp, 3 sp, 8 cp Encumbrance: 69 lbs

80 GP PACK

Armour: 1 × Shield (-1[+1] AC); 1 × Leather (-2[+2] AC) Weapons: 1 × Dagger (1d4; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 1 × Mace, heavy (1d6); 1 × Spear (1H 1d6; 2H 1d6+1; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 1 × Bow, short (2H, ROF 2, range 50’); 1 × Arrows (20) (1d6) Gear: 1 × Spellbook; 1 × Thieves’ tools; 1 × Block and tackle; 1 × Grappling hook; 1 × Rope, hemp (50 feet); 1 × Backpack (30-pound capacity); 2 × Sack (15 pounds capacity); 1 × Waterskin; 1 × Case (map or scroll); 6 × Candle; 6 × Torch; 2 × Oil, lamp (1 pint); 1 × Flint & steel; 5 × Rations, trail (per day); 5 × Rations, dried (per day); 1 × Bedroll; 1 × Ink (1-ounce bottle); 3 × Parchment (sheet) Coins: 3 gp, 3 sp, 8 cp Encumbrance: 74 lbs

90 GP PACK

Armour: 1 × Ring (-3[+3] AC) Weapons: 1 × Dagger (1d4; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 1 × Sword, bastard (1H 1d8; 2H 1d8+1); 3 × Javelin (1d6, ROF 1, range 20’) Gear: 1 × Spellbook; 1 × Thieves’ tools; 1 × Chalk, 1 piece; 1 × Crowbar; 3 × Rope, hemp (50 feet); 1 × Backpack (30-pound capacity); 2 × Sack (30 pounds capacity); 1 × Waterskin; 1 × Case (map or scroll); 6 × Candle; 6 × Torch; 6 × Oil, lamp (1 pint); 1 × Flint & steel; 1 × Fishing net (25 square feet); 1 × Signal whistle; 5 × Rations, trail (per day); 5 × Rations, dried (per day); 1 × Bedroll; 1 × Ink (1-ounce bottle); 3 × Parchment (sheet) Coins: 6 gp, 7 sp, 3 cp Encumbrance: 79 lbs

100 GP PACK

Armour: 1 × Ring (-3[+3] AC) Weapons: 1 × Axe, hand (1d6; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 1 × Dagger (1d4; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 1 × Polearm (2H, 1d8+1); 1 × Bow, short (2H, ROF 2, range 50’); 1 × Arrows (20) (1d6) Gear: 1 × Spellbook; 1 × Thieves’ tools; 1 × Block and tackle; 3 × Chalk, 1 piece; 1 × Grappling hook; 3 × Rope, hemp (50 feet); 1 × Backpack (30-pound capacity); 2 × Sack (30 pounds capacity); 1 × Waterskin; 1 × Case (map or scroll); 6 × Candle; 6 × Torch; 6 × Oil, lamp (1 pint); 1 × Flint & steel; 5 × Rations, trail (per day); 5 × Rations, dried (per day); 1 × Bedroll; 1 × Ink (1-ounce bottle); 3 × Parchment (sheet) Coins: 8 gp, 8 sp, 3 cp Encumbrance: 80 lbs

110 GP PACK

Armour: 1 × Shield (-1[+1] AC); 1 × Ring (-3[+3] AC) Weapons: 1 × Spear (1H 1d6; 2H 1d6+1; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 1 × Sword, long (1d8); 1 × Bow, short (2H, ROF 2, range 50’); 1 × Arrows (20) (1d6) Gear: 1 × Spellbook; 1 × Thieves’ tools; 1 × Crowbar; 1 × Rope, silk (50 feet); 1 × Backpack (30-pound capacity); 1 × Waterskin; 1 × Case (map or scroll); 6 × Candle; 6 × Torch; 2 × Oil, lamp (1 pint); 1 × Flint & steel; 5 × Rations, trail (per day); 5 × Rations, dried (per day); 1 × Bedroll; 1 × Ink (1-ounce bottle); 3 × Parchment (sheet) Coins: 4 gp, 1 sp, 8 cp Encumbrance: 87 lbs

120 GP PACK

Armour: 1 × Shield (-1[+1] AC); 1 × Ring (-3[+3] AC) Weapons: 1 × Axe, hand (1d6; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 1 × Spear (1H 1d6; 2H 1d6+1; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 1 × Sword, long (1d8); 3 × Javelin (1d6, ROF 1, range 20’) Gear: 1 × Spellbook; 1 × Thieves’ tools; 1 × Block and tackle; 3 × Chalk, 1 piece; 1 × Grappling hook; 3 × Rope, hemp (50 feet); 1 × Backpack (30-pound capacity); 2 × Sack (30 pounds capacity); 1 × Waterskin; 1 × Case (map or scroll); 6 × Candle; 6 × Torch; 6 × Oil, lamp (1 pint); 1 × Flint & steel; 1 × Mirror, small steel; 5 × Rations, trail (per day); 5 × Rations, dried (per day); 1 × Bedroll; 1 × Ink (1-ounce bottle); 3 × Parchment (sheet) Coins: 5 gp, 3 sp, 3 cp Encumbrance: 101 lbs

130 GP PACK

Armour: 1 × Chain (-4[+4] AC) Weapons: 1 × Dagger (1d4; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 1 × Polearm (2H, 1d8+1); 1 × Bow, short (2H, ROF 2, range 50’); 1 × Arrows (20) (1d6) Gear: 1 × Spellbook; 1 × Thieves’ tools; 1 × Chalk, 1 piece; 1 × Rope, hemp (50 feet); 1 × Backpack (30-pound capacity); 1 × Waterskin; 1 × Case (map or scroll); 6 × Candle; 6 × Torch; 2 × Oil, lamp (1 pint); 1 × Flint & steel; 1 × Fishing net (25 square feet); 5 × Rations, trail (per day); 5 × Rations, dried (per day); 1 × Bedroll; 1 × Ink (1-ounce bottle); 3 × Parchment (sheet) Coins: 3 gp, 3 sp, 3 cp Encumbrance: 84 lbs

140 GP PACK

Armour: 1 × Chain (-4[+4] AC) Weapons: 1 × Dagger (1d4; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 1 × Hammer, war (1d4+1); 1 × Sword, bastard (1H 1d8; 2H 1d8+1); 3 × Javelin (1d6, ROF 1, range 20’) Gear: 1 × Spellbook; 1 × Thieves’ tools; 1 × Bell; 3 × Chalk, 1 piece; 1 × Shovel; 12 × Spike, iron; 1 × Backpack (30-pound capacity); 2 × Sack (30 pounds capacity); 1 × Waterskin; 1 × Flask, leather; 1 × Case (map or scroll); 6 × Candle; 6 × Torch; 6 × Oil, lamp (1 pint); 1 × Flint & steel; 1 × Signal whistle; 1 × Garlic, charmed; 5 × Wolfsbane; 5 × Rations, trail (per day); 5 × Rations, dried (per day); 1 × Bedroll; 1 × Ink (1-ounce bottle); 5 × Parchment (sheet) Coins: 3 gp, 3 sp, 0 cp Encumbrance: 98 lbs

150 GP PACK

Armour: 1 × Shield (-1[+1] AC); 1 × Chain (-4[+4] AC) Weapons: 1 × Sword, long (1d8); 1 × Spear (1H 1d6; 2H 1d6+1; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 9 × Dart (1d3, ROF 3, range 15’) Gear: 1 × Spellbook; 1 × Thieves’ tools; 1 × Chalk, 1 piece; 1 × Rope, hemp (50 feet); 1 × Backpack (30-pound capacity); 1 × Waterskin; 1 × Flask, leather; 1 × Case (map or scroll); 6 × Candle; 6 × Torch; 2 × Oil, lamp (1 pint); 1 × Flint & steel; 1 × Mirror, small steel; 5 × Rations, trail (per day); 5 × Rations, dried (per day); 1 × Bedroll; 1 × Ink (1-ounce bottle); 3 × Parchment (sheet) Coins: 3 gp, 5 sp, 0 cp Encumbrance: 100 lbs

160 GP PACK

Armour: 1 × Shield (-1[+1] AC); 1 × Chain (-4[+4] AC) Weapons: 1 × Axe, hand (1d6; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 1 × Sword, short (1d6); 1 × Spear (1H 1d6; 2H 1d6+1; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 1 × Bow, short (2H, ROF 2, range 50’); 1 × Arrows (20) (1d6) Gear: 1 × Spellbook; 1 × Thieves’ tools; 1 × Block and tackle; 1 × Grappling hook; 1 × Rope, hemp (50 feet); 1 × Backpack (30-pound capacity); 1 × Waterskin; 1 × Flask, leather; 1 × Case (map or scroll); 6 × Candle; 6 × Torch; 2 × Oil, lamp (1 pint); 1 × Flint & steel; 1 × Fishing net (25 square feet); 1 × Signal whistle; 1 × Garlic, charmed; 5 × Wolfsbane; 5 × Rations, trail (per day); 5 × Rations, dried (per day); 1 × Bedroll; 1 × Ink (1-ounce bottle); 3 × Parchment (sheet) Coins: 3 gp, 3 sp, 5 cp Encumbrance: 97 lbs

170 GP PACK

Armour: 1 × Shield (-1[+1] AC) Weapons: 1 × Dagger (1d4; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 1 × Spear (1H 1d6; 2H 1d6+1; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 1 × Sword, long (1d8); 1 × Bow, long (2H, ROF 2, range 70’); 1 × Arrows (20) (1d6) Gear: 1 × Spellbook; 1 × Thieves’ tools; 1 × Bell; 3 × Chalk, 1 piece; 1 × Rope, silk (50 feet); 1 × Backpack (30-pound capacity); 2 × Sack (30 pounds capacity); 1 × Waterskin; 1 × Flask, leather; 1 × Case (map or scroll); 6 × Candle; 6 × Torch; 6 × Oil, lamp (1 pint); 1 × Flint & steel; 1 × Chain (10 feet); 5 × Rations, trail (per day); 5 × Rations, dried (per day); 1 × Bedroll; 1 × Ink (1-ounce bottle); 5 × Parchment (sheet) Coins: 11 gp, 4 sp, 0 cp Encumbrance: 50 lbs

180 GP PACK

Armour: 1 × Plate (-6[+6] AC) Weapons: 1 × Dagger (1d4; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 1 × Sword, two-handed (2H 1d10); 3 × Javelin (1d6, ROF 1, range 20’) Gear: 1 × Spellbook; 1 × Thieves’ tools; 1 × Crowbar; 1 × Hammer; 3 × Rope, hemp (50 feet); 12 × Spike, iron; 1 × Backpack (30-pound capacity); 2 × Sack (30 pounds capacity); 1 × Waterskin; 1 × Flask, leather; 1 × Case (map or scroll); 6 × Candle; 6 × Torch; 6 × Oil, lamp (1 pint); 1 × Flint & steel; 1 × Fishing net (25 square feet); 1 × Garlic, charmed; 5 × Wolfsbane; 5 × Rations, trail (per day); 5 × Rations, dried (per day); 1 × Bedroll; 1 × Ink (1-ounce bottle); 5 × Parchment (sheet) Coins: 5 gp, 2 sp, 5 cp Encumbrance: 113 lbs

#Resource #SW #OSR

Skulle ha gått upp tidigt och tränat. Somnade om. Drömde om ett stort bibliotek eller museum och en uppgift jag fått att skriva något tungt. Jag letade efter en bra plats att sitta på, det var bråttom och jag kände stress. Första meningen jag formulerade var “Poesin vill veta”.

Wednesday 24/Apr/2024

Prayers, etc.: • 04:00 – Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel • 06:00 – the Angelus • 08:00 – The Glorious Mysteries of the Holy Rosary. Followed by The Memorare • 10:45 – Thought for today from Archbishop Lefebvre: Why is it necessary that you take the time to withdraw from the world? In order to reflect on the great gift which God has bestowed upon you in giving you a soul, and above all in order to receive the light of grace. You will reflect on what eternity is compared to time, what the spirit is compared with matter, what God is compared with yourselves, poor creatures. As our Lord said so perfectly to St. Catherine of Siena, you will reflect on Him who is everything, and on her who is nothing. • 12:00 – the Angelus • 18:00 – the Angelus • 20:30 – The hour of Compline for tonight according to the Traditional Pre-Vatican II Divine Office, followed by Fr. Chad Rippberger's Prayer of Command to protect my family, my sons, my daughter and her family, my granddaughters and their families, my great grandchildren, and everyone for whom I have responsibility from any demonic activity. – And that followed by the Wednesday Prayers of the Association of the Auxilium Christianorum.

Health Metrics: • bw= 224.00 lbs. • bp= 135/78 (67)

Diet: • 05:00 – ½ pb&j sandwich • 06:30 – 1 BLT sandwich • 11:50 – 4 hot dog sandwiches • 12:20 – cherry pie • 18:30 – Cole slaw

Chores, etc.: • 04:00 – listen to local news talk radio • 08:30 – The Absolute Truth With Emerald Robinson April 23, 2024 • 10:30 – police alley behind the fence • 11:00 – watch old episodes of Wheel of Fortune • 12:15 – eat lunch at home with Sylvia • 13:30 to 17:00 – yard work, trim alley and back yard fence • 18:00 – order cordless electric pole saw, watch local news and weather • 18:30 – a new episode of Wheel of Fortune • 19:00 – tuned into tonight's Rangers vs Mariners MLB Game

Chess: • 10:15 – moved in all pending CC games

posted Wednesday 24/Apr/2024 ~20:50 #DLAPR2024

Insomnia kicked in the other night, and I found myself beaming RIPLEY. Beautifully shot series! Entirely black and white with some of the most unusual angles I've seen on screen. In this iteration, Mr. Ripley is actually not all that talented, and in fact kind of a fuckup.

It's all played far more believably than the Matt Damon portrayal. Though, it's been a very long time since I looked at that one.

#journal #watches

Surprise yard work this afternoon. City compliance officer knocked on my front door late morning and handed me a ticket. I was given 10 days to trim the bushes growing out of my back fence and mow the grass on my half of the alley. And I need to trim some of the tree branches reaching out into the alley so there will be at least 14 ft. of clearance. The officer told me not to feel like the Lone Ranger. He showed me a stack of tickets he had yet to deliver to neighbors down the street and across the alley. Complicating matters, out of these 10 days, we're supposed to have thunderstorms on 7 of them. So... this afternoon I trimmed all the foliage poking out of that back fence, and I mowed my part of the alley.

Next up will be pole saw work as I try to take care of those tree branches.

posted Wed Apr 2024 ~20:10 #QNAPR2024

An absolute bombshell of a story has dropped in the world of IndyCar. For the uninitiated, let me break down what exactly happened.

IndyCar race cars are equipped with a system called Push to Pass (or P2P for short). This allows the drivers at the push of a button to boost the car's engine output by around 50 horsepower for up to 20 second intervals. The drivers have a pool of time that P2P can be activated for, usually 150-200 seconds depending on the race.

For the initial start of the race, as well as any restarts following periods of full-course caution, P2P is disabled until the completion of the first green-flag lap, at which time drivers are free to start pressing the P2P button again and using up their allotted pool of time.

So then, to Sunday, March 10 2024: the date of IndyCar's season opener on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida. The checkered flag falls at the end of the race on Team Penske's Josef Newgarden after an absolutely dominant day. Finishing third is teammate Scott McLaughlin, and Will Power ends up finishing fourth.

Fast-forward 45 days to April 24th. It comes out that all three Penske cars had software that bypassed IndyCar's restriction on P2P for starts and restarts, meaning they had access to that extra horsepower almost a full lap before the rest of the field.

How this was caught is an interesting story on its own. Generally, IndyCar's race control enables unrestricted P2P for the entire field during practices and pre-race warmup to give teams a chance to test if it works and how the cars react to it. However, due to chasing technical issues during pre-race warmup for IndyCar's second race in Long Beach, California, P2P was not enabled for the field for the first 10 minutes of the 30 minute practice session. This made it very interesting when the three Penske cars, and only the Penske cars, were using P2P during that period when they shouldn't have had access to it.

This triggered a review of the previous race at St. Pete, where it was determined that Newgarden and McLaughlin did indeed use P2P a lap early during the race. Power, despite also having early access to the button, did not actually press it.

As a result, over a month after the conclusion of the race, Newgarden and McLaughlin were both disqualified from the race. Power, despite not actually using his advantage, was still docked 10 championship points for having the cheat installed, and all three cars received monetary fines, as well as the forfeit of their prize money from the race.

Team Penske's claim is that software that was used during testing was accidentally not removed from the cars. The excuse falls apart immediately. Newgarden and McLaughlin are experienced IndyCar drivers who are almost certainly aware that the P2P button does nothing until the conclusion of their first lap. And yet, both of them went to the button anyway. The only reason they would have done this is if they knew P2P would be active. It's extremely clear that this was no accident; it was completely willful cheating.

That isn't really the main concern. The bigger issue is the conflict of interest that has existed in IndyCar for the past four years, back when Roger Penske purchased the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the IndyCar series.

In case you still weren't sure, yes, he is also the owner of Team Penske.

IndyCar race cars send a lot of live telemetry back to the car's pit box, the team that fields the car, the manufacturers of the engines, and to IndyCar race control themselves. In fact, it was this very live telemetry that tipped IndyCar off to the potential issue and lead them to take a second look at the previous race at St. Pete. So then, how did the P2P usage slip through the cracks back then and only get noticed over a month later?

I've seen people praising IndyCar for coming down hard on Penske with the pretty heavy-handed penalties, and that's definitely something to be applauded. That said, IndyCar also didn't really have a choice. If they tried to sweep things under the rug it would only have made things infinitely worse when the truth inevitably came to light down the road. This isn't IndyCar having integrity by not giving their owner special treatment. This is IndyCar having no choice but to penalize and penalize hard.

All in all, this is a very bad look for Team Penske, Roger Penske himself, and the IndyCar series. The case is closed and there's really nothing more that can be or should be done, but, as a big fan of IndyCar, I can only hope that there isn't any additional fallout from everything that's happened and the IndyCar series can continue to grow and thrive.