I finally got around to it and set up the Factorio server. I invited several friends, additionally invited N. I think it’ll be a bit interesting, as this seems to be one of the few things we may be able to share an interest in. I am a bit worried however because my other friends are from all different walks of life and I don’t know how well things will mesh. Oh well, time to find out!

I spent a while with T expanding, and I hope we didn’t get too far for S to not feel like he’s a part of it. Oh well.

R – 3 breaths

E – I have a ton of different mini-creative projects that I haven’t started or worked on at all.

S – I want to work on it this weekend, so I’ll just set aside some time to do it.

T – This Sunday I will work on getting some footage for some idea, or I can ask S tomorrow.

Was released on April 5, 2024. This is the 56th release. See the current changelog

Here you will find a changelog from 7.4 to 7.5.

Read the announcement

As I make Elf thief characters for Swords & Wizardry Complete, I decided to create new equipment packs instead of reusing human ones. In my mind it makes sense that elves would prefer bows over crossbows, and elegant, aesthetically pleasing weapons like swords over crude clubs. From 160 gp and up, packs also includes a riding horse.

30 GP PACK

Armour: 1 × Leather (-2[+2] AC) Weapons: 1 × Dagger (1d4; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 1 × Staff (2H 1d6); 9 × Dart (1d3, ROF 3, range 15’) Gear: 1 × Thieves’ tools; 1 × Backpack (30-pound capacity); 1 × Bell; 1 × Hammer; 1 × Rope, hemp (50 feet); 12 × Spike, iron; 6 × Candle; 6 × Torch; 2 × Oil, lamp (1 pint); 1 × Flint & steel; 5 × Rations, trail (per day); 5 × Rations, dried (per day); 1 × Bedroll Coins: 4 gp, 0 sp, 8 cp Encumbrance: 57 lbs

40 GP PACK

Armour: 1 × Leather (-2[+2] 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’); 1 × Sling (2H, ROF 1, range 40’); 1 × Stones, sling (20) (1d4) Gear: 1 × Thieves’ tools; 1 × Backpack (30-pound capacity); 2 × Sack (15 pounds capacity); 1 × Waterskin; 1 × Grappling hook; 2 × Rope, hemp (50 feet); 1 × Shovel; 6 × Candle; 6 × Torch; 2 × Oil, lamp (1 pint); Flint & steel; 1 × Fishing net (25 square feet); 1 × Signal whistle; 5 × Rations, trail (per day); 5 × Rations, dried (per day); 1 × Bedroll Coins: 5 gp, 2 sp, 8 cp Encumbrance: 59 lbs

50 GP PACK

Armour: 1 × Leather (-2[+2] AC) Weapons: 1 × Dagger (1d4; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 1 × Sword, short (1d6); 1 × Staff (2H 1d6); 9 × Dart (1d3, ROF 3, range 15’) Gear: 1 × Thieves’ tools; 1 × Backpack (30-pound capacity); 1 × Waterskin; 1 × Lamp, bronze; 1 × Case (map or scroll); 1 × Rope, hemp (50 feet); 2 × Candle; 1 × Lantern, hooded; 4 × Oil, lamp (1 pint); 1 × Flint & steel; 5 × Rations, trail (per day); 5 × Rations, dried (per day); 1 × Canvas (per square yard); 1 × Bedroll; 1 × Musical instrument Coins: 3 gp, 8 sp, 8 cp Encumbrance: 63 lbs

60 GP PACK

Armour: 1 × Leather (-2[+2] AC) Weapons: 3 × Dagger (1d4; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 1 × Staff (2H 1d6); 1 × Bow, short (2H, ROF 2, range 50’); 1 × Arrows (20) (1d6) Gear: 1 × Thieves’ tools; 1 × Backpack (30-pound capacity); 2 × Sack (15 pounds capacity); 1 × Waterskin; 1 × Bell; 3 × Chalk, 1 piece; 1 × Crowbar; 1 × Grappling hook; 3 × Rope, hemp (50 feet); 6 × Spike, iron; 6 × Candle; 6 × Torch; 2 × Oil, lamp (1 pint); 1 × Flint & steel; 1 × Fishing net (25 square feet); 3 × Wolfsbane; 5 × Rations, trail (per day); 5 × Rations, dried (per day); 1 × Bedroll Coins: 5 gp, 0 sp, 3 cp Encumbrance: 58 lbs

70 GP PACK

Armour: 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 × Thieves’ tools; 1 × Backpack (30-pound capacity); 2 × Sack (30 pounds capacity); 1 × Waterskin; 1 × Flask, leather; 1 × Bell; 1 × Hammer; 3 × Rope, hemp (50 feet); 12 × Spike, iron; 6 × Candle; 6 × Torch; 4 × 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, 0 sp, 5 cp Encumbrance: 64 lbs

80 GP PACK

Armour: 1 × Leather (-2[+2] AC) Weapons: 1 × Dagger (1d4; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 1 × Sword, bastard (1H 1d8; 2H 1d8+1); 1 × Spear (1H 1d6; 2H 1d6+1; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 12 × Dart (1d3, ROF 3, range 15’) Gear: 1 × Thieves’ tools; 1 × Backpack (30-pound capacity); 2 × Sack (30 pounds capacity); 1 × Waterskin; 1 × Flask, leather; 1 × Case (map or scroll); 3 × Chalk, 1 piece; 1 × Crowbar; 1 × Grappling hook; 1 × Hammer; 3 × Rope, hemp (50 feet); 12 × Spike, iron; 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 Coins: 4 gp, 0 sp, 10 cp Encumbrance: 70 lbs

90 GP PACK

Armour: 1 × Leather (-2[+2] AC) Weapons: 1 × Dagger (1d4; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 1 × Staff (2H 1d6); 1 × Bow, long (2H, ROF 2, range 70’); 1 × Arrows (20) (1d6) Gear: 1 × Thieves’ tools; 1 × Backpack (30-pound capacity); 1 × Waterskin; 1 × Grappling hook; 1 × Rope, hemp (50 feet); 6 × Candle; 6 × Torch; 2 × Oil, lamp (1 pint); 1 × Flint & steel; 5 × Rations, trail (per day); 5 × Rations, dried (per day); 1 × Bedroll Coins: 3 gp, 9 sp, 8 cp Encumbrance: 55 lbs

100 GP PACK

Armour: 1 × Leather (-2[+2] 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 × Thieves’ tools; 1 × Backpack (30-pound capacity); 2 × Sack (30 pounds capacity); 1 × Waterskin; 1 × Case (map or scroll); 1 × Bell; 1 × Chalk, 1 piece; 1 × Grappling hook; 1 × Hammer; 3 × Rope, hemp (50 feet); 1 × Rope, silk (50 feet); 12 × Spike, iron; 6 × Candle; 6 × Torch; 4 × Oil, lamp (1 pint); 1 × Flint & steel; 1 × Manacles; 2 × Fishing net (25 square feet); 1 × Signal whistle; 5 × Rations, trail (per day); 5 × Rations, dried (per day); 1 × Bottle of wine, glass; 1 × Canvas (per square yard); 1 × Bedroll Coins: 3 gp, 0 sp, 3 cp Encumbrance: 64 lbs

110 GP PACK

Armour: 1 × Leather (-2[+2] AC) Weapons: 1 × Dagger (1d4; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 1 × Hammer, war (1d4+1); 1 × Spear (1H 1d6; 2H 1d6+1; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 1 × Bow, long (2H, ROF 2, range 70’); 1 × Arrows (20) (1d6) Gear: 1 × Thieves’ tools; 1 × Backpack (30-pound capacity); 2 × Sack (30 pounds capacity); 1 × Waterskin; 1 × Flask, leather; 2 × Case (map or scroll); 1 × Grappling hook; 3 × Rope, hemp (50 feet); 1 × Shovel; 6 × Candle; 6 × Torch; 6 × Oil, lamp (1 pint); 1 × Flint & steel; 1 × Fishing net (25 square feet); 6 × Wolfsbane; 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, 5 cp Encumbrance: 64 lbs

120 GP PACK

Armour: 1 × Leather (-2[+2] AC) Weapons: 1 × Dagger (1d4; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 1 × Sword, long (1d8); 1 × Staff (2H 1d6); 1 × Bow, short (2H, ROF 2, range 50’); 1 × Arrows (20) (1d6) Gear: 1 × Thieves’ tools; 1 × Backpack (30-pound capacity); 1 × Waterskin; 1 × Flask, leather; 1 × Case (map or scroll); 1 × Grappling hook; 1 × Hammer; 1 × Rope, hemp (50 feet); 1 × Rope, silk (50 feet); 12 × Spike, iron; 6 × Candle; 6 × Torch; 4 × Oil, lamp (1 pint); 1 × Flint & steel; 1 × Mirror, small steel; 1 × Manacles; 1 × Signal whistle; 1 × Garlic, charmed; 6 × Wolfsbane; 5 × Rations, trail (per day); 5 × Rations, dried (per day); 1 × Bedroll; 1 × Ink (1-ounce bottle); 1 × Parchment (sheet) Coins: 4 gp, 3 sp, 5 cp Encumbrance: 64 lbs

130 GP PACK

Armour: 1 × Leather (-2[+2] 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’); 1 × Bow, long (2H, ROF 2, range 70’); 1 × Arrows (20) (1d6) Gear: 1 × Thieves’ tools; 1 × Backpack (30-pound capacity); 2 × Sack (15 pounds capacity); 1 × Waterskin; 1 × Flask, leather; 3 × Chalk, 1 piece; 1 × Hammer; 1 × Rope, hemp (50 feet); 1 × Rope, silk (50 feet); 12 × Spike, iron; 6 × Candle; 6 × Torch; 4 × Oil, lamp (1 pint); 1 × Flint & steel; 1 × Mirror, small steel; 1 × Fishing net (25 square feet); 1 × Signal whistle; 5 × Rations, trail (per day); 5 × Rations, dried (per day); 1 × Bedroll Coins: 5 gp, 0 sp, 0 cp Encumbrance: 59 lbs

140 GP PACK

Armour: 1 × Leather (-2[+2] AC) Weapons: 1 × Dagger (1d4; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 1 × Sword, bastard (1H 1d8; 2H 1d8+1); 1 × Bow, short (2H, ROF 2, range 50’); 2 × Arrows (20) (1d6) Gear: 1 × Thieves’ tools; 1 × Backpack (30-pound capacity); 2 × Sack (30 pounds capacity); 1 × Waterskin; 1 × Flask, leather; 2 × Case (map or scroll); 1 × Block and tackle; 1 × Grappling hook; 1 × Hammer; 3 × Rope, hemp (50 feet); 1 × Rope, silk (50 feet); 12 × Spike, iron; 6 × Candle; 6 × Torch; 6 × Oil, lamp (1 pint); 1 × Flint & steel; 1 × Manacles; 1 × Lock (minimum price); 2 × Fishing net (25 square feet); 5 × Rations, trail (per day); 5 × Rations, dried (per day); 1 × Bottle of wine, glass; 1 × Bedroll; 1 × Ink (1-ounce bottle); 2 × Parchment (sheet) Coins: 6 gp, 0 sp, 5 cp Encumbrance: 55 lbs

150 GP PACK

Armour: 1 × Leather (-2[+2] AC) Weapons: 1 × Dagger (1d4; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 1 × Mace, heavy (1d6); 1 × Polearm (2H, 1d8+1); 1 × Bow, long (2H, ROF 2, range 70’); 1 × Arrows (20) (1d6) Gear: 1 × Thieves’ tools; 1 × Backpack (30-pound capacity); 2 × Sack (30 pounds capacity); 1 × Waterskin; 1 × Flask, leather; 1 × Case (map or scroll); 1 × Bell; 3 × Chalk, 1 piece; 1 × Grappling hook; 1 × Hammer; 1 × Rope, hemp (50 feet); 12 × Spike, iron; 6 × Candle; 6 × Torch; 6 × Oil, lamp (1 pint); 1 × Flint & steel; 1 × Mirror, small steel; 1 × Fishing net (25 square feet); 1 × Signal whistle; 5 × Rations, trail (per day); 5 × Rations, dried (per day); 1 × Bedroll; 1 × Musical instrument; 1 × Ink (1-ounce bottle); 1 × Parchment (sheet) Coins: 5 gp, 6 sp, 0 cp Encumbrance: 69 lbs

160 GP PACK

Armour: 1 × Leather (-2[+2] AC) Weapons: 1 × Dagger (1d4; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 1 × Sword, long (1d8); 1 × Spear (1H 1d6; 2H 1d6+1; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 1 × Bow, short (2H, ROF 2, range 50’); 2 × Arrows (20) (1d6) Gear: 1 × Horse, Riding; 1 × Thieves’ tools; 1 × Backpack (30-pound capacity); 6 × Sack (30 pounds capacity); 1 × Waterskin; 1 × Flask, leather; 2 × Case (map or scroll); 1 × Block and tackle; 1 × Grappling hook; 1 × Hammer; 4 × Rope, hemp (50 feet); 1 × Shovel; 12 × Spike, iron; 6 × Candle; 6 × Torch; 6 × Oil, lamp (1 pint); 1 × Flint & steel; 1 × Mirror, small steel; 2 × Fishing net (25 square feet); 1 × Signal whistle; 5 × Rations, trail (per day); 5 × Rations, dried (per day); 1 × Canvas (per square yard); 1 × Bedroll; 1 × Ink (1-ounce bottle); 2 × Parchment (sheet) Coins: 5 gp, 4 sp, 5 cp Encumbrance: 65 lbs

170 GP PACK

Armour: 1 × Leather (-2[+2] AC) Weapons: 1 × Dagger (1d4; missile ROF 1, range 10’); 1 × Hammer, war (1d4+1); 1 × Sword, bastard (1H 1d8; 2H 1d8+1); 1 × Bow, long (2H, ROF 2, range 70’); 1 × Arrows (20) (1d6) Gear: 1 × Horse, Riding; 1 × Thieves’ tools; 1 × Backpack (30-pound capacity); 4 × Sack (15 pounds capacity); 1 × Waterskin; 1 × Flask, leather; 1 × Bell; 3 × Chalk, 1 piece; 1 × Grappling hook; 3 × Rope, hemp (50 feet); 1 × Shovel; 12 × Spike, iron; 6 × Candle; 6 × Torch; 6 × Oil, lamp (1 pint); 1 × Flint & steel; 2 × Fishing net (25 square feet); 1 × Signal whistle; 5 × Rations, trail (per day); 5 × Rations, dried (per day); 1 × Bedroll Coins: 4 gp, 3 sp, 0 cp Encumbrance: 64 lbs

180 GP PACK

Armour: 1 × Leather (-2[+2] 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 × Horse, Riding; 1 × Thieves’ tools; 1 × Backpack (30-pound capacity); 2 × Sack (30 pounds capacity); 1 × Waterskin; 1 × Flask, leather; 1 × Case (map or scroll); 3 × Chalk, 1 piece; 1 × Grappling hook; 1 × Hammer; 1 × Rope, hemp (50 feet); 1 × Rope, silk (50 feet); 12 × Spike, iron; 6 × Candle; 6 × Torch; 6 × Oil, lamp (1 pint); 1 × Flint & steel; 1 × Manacles; 1 × Signal whistle; 5 × Rations, trail (per day); 5 × Rations, dried (per day); 1 × Bedroll; 1 × Ink (1-ounce bottle); 1 × Parchment (sheet) Coins: 4 gp, 6 sp, 0 cp Encumbrance: 64 lbs

#Resource #SW #OSR

I hate writing 'About' page for blogs. I always either overthink them or pound them out so fast I end up under-thinking them. How much do I share? Am I sharing too much? Too little? Do I sound arrogant? Am I striking the right tone? I write and rewrite and re-re-re-write, and then I put up the version I hate the least. I guess that means the first thing I'm telling you is that I'm crap about writing about myself, which is particularly hilarious considering this is a blog about writing about myself.

Who I am exactly doesn't matter. People who try hard enough can figure it out. Some of my friends know I use this alias. That's only around half a dozen people. Other than that, though, Lotte Peisch is actually just a pen name I use because I don't really feel like being me on the internet any longer. That's the second thing I'll share about myself. The name is an anagram of another name that encapsulates a lot of how I feel about the world and my current place in it. I'm not going to explain it though because what's the fun in that? The most important thing to know is that to my knowledge no one by this name actually exists.

I took the name to work through this contradictory need I seem to have to want to step away from the modern world of social media, algorithm-induced mania and news-as-entertainment, but to also talk about that journey. Because two years after deleting my last social media account, I feel like a different person, and because every day I'm finding out how in new ways. To that end, it'll likely be a lot of screaming into the void because I will likely never return to social media, and that appears to be the only reason the internet exists anymore – to support a handful of billionaires.

I really think other people could benefit from doing the same thing, but I'm also no longer at a place anymore in my life where I feel like I want to go to battle over this opinion. So instead, I'm going to leave these little missives here, in a mostly anonymous way, on a sparse blog with no advertisements or social feeds or links literally anywhere... and if people happen to stumble on them and find them useful, then that's great.

But if no one does, that's okay, too... every therapist I've ever had has told me I should journal some more. Also, writing has always scratched an itch for me. I've been writing out my thoughts and feelings for a very long time, which is why this whole weird contradictory need exists in the first place. If scratching that itch benefits someone else out there, great. If not, it benefits me.

I'm going to do my best to write when I'm feeling kind and compassionate so I don't come from a place of bitterness and anger. This is, honestly, because I feel bitter and angry a lot, so I'm hoping this will give me the chance to mindfully come back to somewhere healthier. I can't promise I'll always be successful.

Otherwise, welcome to Run Your Own Race.

Friday 26/Apr/2024

Prayers, etc.: • 05:00 – Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel • 06:00 – the Angelus • 06:20 – The SORROWFUL MYSTERIES of the Holy Rosary. Followed by The Memorare. • 12:00 – the Angelus • 18:00 – the Angelus • 21:30 – 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 Friday Prayers of the Association of the Auxilium Christianorum.

Health Metrics: • bw= 220.50 lbs • bp= 129/69 (80)

Diet: • 04:50 – 1 banana • 05:30 – ½ pb&j sandwich • 12:00 – plate of egg rolls • 16:00 – plate of sweet rice

Chores, etc.: • 04:00 – listen to local news talk radio • 04:40 – monitor bank accounts activity • 07:05 – The Flame of the West – Bill Whittle's Right Angle • 07:45 to 09:15 – yard work, try to use my manual tree tools on the back yard project. As expected, I'll need to wait for a few days until I get the new chainsaw working. • 10:30 to 14:00 – watch live local coverage of San Antonio's 2024 Battle of Flowers Parade • 14:30 to 15:30 – another work session on those back yard trees, still using manual tools • 16:00 – following news reports from various sources • 18:30 – Wheel of Fortune • 19:00 – tuned in to the Rangers vs the Reds MLB game

Chess: • 14:20 – moved in all pending CC games

posted Friday 26/Apr/2024 ~21:50 #DLAPR2024

Newsletter drafted and scheduled for tomorrow but my week—despite it being a Friday evening already—is still not over. Much email to catch up on and my RSS reader is at 36. Would like to bring it all down to zero before night's end. If I can.

#journal

Today’s readings

There’s a funny picture I have seen go around on social media fairly often. It’s a picture of a student’s math test, and the student was clearly stumped. So he or she wrote in, “Jesus is the answer.” But the teacher corrected it in red, and wrote, “Not to this question it isn’t!”

Probably the most urgent task of our lives is to find our way.  Lots of people get hung up on that: often in happens in young adulthood, or perhaps even later.  They lose their way and maybe they don’t even know where they are going.  Thomas gives voice to that kind of thing which the other disciples were probably experiencing as well: we don’t know where you’re going, we don’t know where we are supposed to go, so how can we know the way?

At some level though, we know the goal is heaven, that’s where we are supposed to go. We know we want to be there in the afterlife, but we forget, or we never realize, that getting there in the afterlife means finding it now.  The disciples thought they didn’t know the way, and maybe we think that too.  But really they, and we, have always known the Way, and also the Truth, and also the Life. Because it’s Jesus, it’s always been Jesus, it will always be Jesus. Jesus is the answer!

To get to heaven, we just have to follow the Way.  Now, and in the life to come.

Christ is risen.  He is risen indeed.  Alleluia.

This morning I proved to myself that I'm unable to cut the needed back yard tree branches with my old manual tools. Spent an hour and a half trying, but no go.

Tomorrow I'll finish assembling the new cordless electric pole saw and maybe by Sunday or Monday, depending on the weather, I'll work on those trees again.

posted Friday, Apr 26, 2024 at ~2:40 PM #QNAPR2024

I’ve been missing in action. Don’t worry, I didn’t run out of things to say. I ran out of the motivation to say it. Let me explain.

My motivation up until now has been based on external goals. Some of you may know that I was able to pay off the debt that I had and we were gifted a new to us truck. Things have calmed down significantly and that means that the external motivations I had are also, well, gone.

That left me in a bit of a void. If I’m no longer motivated by the external world, then what? That’s the question I’ve been asking for a while now. Here’s what I’ve come up with so far.

One of the things I’ve always wanted to feel about my writing was that “pull” that some people get, where they can’t stop. They forget to eat and sleep. They are so pulled to write that it’s all they do until they get whatever it is finished.

Well, I suppose since my goals were externally motivated, that wasn’t possible. I needed to learn to enjoy the process of writing, be less bothered by the outcome or getting things done, and allow more flow. External motivation doesn’t offer much in the way of flow. The external world requires us to power through things. It’s masculine energy. Flow is feminine energy that isn’t generally found in external goals.

When I no longer had the external motivation, I just kind of stopped. My intuition tried to offer me other types of external motivation, but I wasn’t interested. Nothing that’s going on around me right now is worth putting my energy into. I’m simply not interested anymore.

Finally, I started questioning where the motivation had gone to. If I wasn’t interested anymore, then where did that leave me? What was next? I was offered the idea intuitively that I needed to find the internal “pull” that I’d been asking for. Oh. Now I get it.

By the way, when you ask for things, you get them. They don’t always come in the way you expect, but they do come. This seems like an obvious path now that I see it. But it wasn’t very obvious when I started this journey.

I’ve been given the opportunity to experience what I want. I’ve been given the opportunity to connect with my writing on a much deeper level than I have so far. And what am I doing with that? Not a damn thing.

Why?

Because apparently I need to deal with the fear of it or the concerns I have about it. It’s a blind path. The thing with external motivators is that the destination is very much known. The thing with internal motivators for me at the moment, is that the destination is very much unknown. I’m not sure what’s going to come out of this. I don’t know where I’m going to end up.

Will I do it anyway?

Yes, of course I will. As I often say, it’s not a question of whether or not I’ll do it. It’s only a question of how long it takes me to get there. Yeah, sometimes I wriggle around in it for a while first. Sometimes I’m a little slow on the uptake, much to the annoyance of my intuition, but I always get there. So here I sit, writing this blog because that’s the process. That’s always been the process.

When I’m offered something intuitively through my cards, I have to write about it to clarify it. Whether I do that publicly or not, the writing part needs to happen before anything else can take place. If I procrastinate on the writing because I’m a little concerned about what’s going to show up, then I get to wriggle around in the uncomfortable feelings for a while. Let’s just say, that’s what I’ve been doing most of this week.

Is it uncomfortable or annoyed? Both actually. I’m somewhat annoyed at my external world and I’m somewhat uncomfortable with what’s coming next. Both are true.

From where I am at the moment, the external world is what it is. There is nothing within my power right now that I can do to change it. That means just accepting things as they are. Been there. Done that. I will do it again. By the way, even if there were something within my power I could do to change things, I’m so unmotivated right now, I’m not sure I’d do it anyway. So, as I often say in my posts, drop the story. Stop paying attention to it. If it’s not offering you anything new, shift your focus away from it.

As for my writing, I just need to do it already. I know that. Will there be some hiccups here? Yes, no doubt there will be. Will I figure it out? Yep because that’s just what I do.

Life has taught me how to handle all this stuff. It doesn’t always mean I want to, it just means I can. I know, from a lot of experience, that there is far greater value in the reward for doing the work than I will ever understand from where I am right now.

The unknown future will almost always make your present self uncomfortable and that’s a good thing. It means there is something new to experience. It means there is more to learn. It means the expansion is continuing. Getting okay with being uncomfortable will make this journey much easier.

It’s okay to take a pit stop. It’s okay to re-evaluate, see where you are, look around, and pat yourself on the back for how far you’ve come.

To be in a place where I get the opportunity to shift my motivation because the external world is no longer offering me much of anything, shows exactly how far I’ve come. It’s a good thing.

Give yourself some credit. You’re doing it, just like me!

Love to all.

Della

Secular humanism is a philosophical and ethical stance that embraces human reason, ethics, and justice, and rejects religious dogma, supernaturalism, and superstition as the basis of morality and decision-making.

Key beliefs of secular humanism include:

• Using science, reason and critical thinking as the basis of understanding reality rather than religious doctrine or faith.
• Promoting ethical values like empathy, compassion, and justice without reliance on religious texts or teachings. Morality is determined through rational discussion of consequences.
• Viewing human beings as responsible for their own lives and situations, as opposed to being governed by supernatural forces, gods or divine beings.
• Focusing on living life in the here and now, rather than believing this life is just a test for an afterlife. Secular humanists place importance on maximizing well-being in the real, physical world.
• Rejecting absolute guidelines for morality. Secular humanists support an open and evolving view of ethics and morality based on rational discussion of consequences rather than appeals to religious authority.

So in summary, secular humanism is a philosophy that embraces reason, ethics, and human welfare, without appeals to religious belief or doctrine.

🤖 AI answer by Claude 1.2. 📝 Edited by @rafe@c.im

This week's contributors: Lydia, Pépé Pépinière, this week's subjects: Latest News: IN THE CHEST OF A WOMAN CANCELLED, A Harmonious Blend: Exploring Jazz Fashion in Africa, Nestlé and healthy baby food, and Gold Coast kebabs (Chinchinga).

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Latest News: IN THE CHEST OF A WOMAN CANCELLED. This theatre play, scheduled for the 3rd and 4th May at the National Theatre in Accra has been canceled because of the new LGBTQ Bill (I call it the BBQ Barbeque Bill) which forbids crossdressing (cross-dressing with the intent to engage in an act prohibited under the Act, which I feel is not the case in this play) and because it promotes lesbianism. The organizers could get 6 to 10 years of imprisonment for producing and distributing material deemed to be promoting LGBTTQAP+ activities. The script, by Efo Mawugbe, is now also a forbidden material, and booksellers are advised to hand over any remaining copies to the Ministry of Information, Barnes Road, Accra for destruction, or face 6-10 years imprisonment as well if they are found stocking it. Note that the act also forbids public show of romantic relations between people of the same sex, so be careful when you embrace your friend in public. Like it or not, this is where we have now reached, both Ruling and Opposition parties have unanimously accepted the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Act 2024 which addresses LGBTTQAP+ and related activities (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transexual, queer, pansexual, an ally or a person of any other sexual orientation or in a sexual relationship that is contrary to the sociocultural relationship between a male and a female). So get ready for some idiotic witch-hunting by people and officials trying to get admission to Heaven by judging others. The above is fake news, but once our current or our next President has signed the Bill into law the above nightmare WILL become the happening scenario. Note that today you can still agitate against this Act, but once it is law you are not even allowed to express opposition to it. Read the act and draw your conclusions.

https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=779b01740ca52ec5&sca_upv=1&rlz=1C5CHFA_enGH857GH857&sxsrf=ACQVn0_dmbU1RMrbTtkF52-EHsQr6fapZA:1714044392503&q=LGBTTQAP&udm=2&source=univ&fir=iUUPhPPvaFYceM%252C9iJQkJwSR6p8CM%252C_%253BOzhvp7oA8tQdSM%252CzKre3cLBt65mGM%252C_%253BZ4AafNBhPkaS2M%252ChycSUCELPiGLXM%252C_%253BJ8O7CMDdwcGc1M%252CVMNVee36_I0RzM%252C_%253BB-bTgL-tfGAWqM%252CfMPNYRMYXK__FM%252C_%253BbzrkcuZzZoUKvM%252CPepr9w2wR7cdGM%252C_%253BA-oqpJyI7WFZpM%252CPepr9w2wR7cdGM%252C_%253BlOORDLv1M8CM2M%252CPGpEIEGSApc6TM%252C_%253B7WBKBzt2VlbLRM%252CWJHI7DTWAqKnCM%252C_%253BQsKqCFlWVc3lUM%252CPepr9w2wR7cdGM%252C_&usg=AI4_-kSwlf6pWhfDRfNZlj92Yx6bQd-tbw&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiIv5P5oN2FAxWgWkEAHak-Dg8Q7Al6BAgPEAo&biw=1847&bih=945&dpr=2

A Harmonious Blend: Exploring Jazz Fashion in Africa. The vibrant tapestry of African culture, one finds a harmonious fusion of rhythm, melody, and style in the realm of jazz music. Rooted in a rich history of indigenous sounds and global influences, jazz in Africa not only captivates the ears but also dazzles the eyes with its unique and diverse fashion expressions. From the vibrant streets of Cape Town to the bustling markets of Lagos, the fashion of jazz in Africa is a dynamic reflection of the continent's creativity and spirit. A Tapestry of Influences: Jazz, with its origins in the African American communities of New Orleans, or earlier still, in the origins of the Por Por music of the La community around Accra, quickly gained popularity across the globe, reaching the African continent in the early 20th century. As African musicians embraced this genre and made it their own, they also imbued jazz fashion with a kaleidoscope of influences from traditional African attire to contemporary urban styles. In cities like Johannesburg, Accra, and Nairobi, jazz clubs became hubs of creativity where musicians and fashionistas mingled, inspiring each other with their sartorial choices. The result? A fusion of cultures and styles that gave birth to a new aesthetic—jazz fashion in Africa.

Nestlé and healthy baby food. Quite some time ago, it was discovered that giving lots of sugar to young people made them obese and gave them a bigger chance of getting diabetes 2 at a later age. So rules were set in Europe that food for toddlers of up to 2 years old is not to contain added sugar. Nestlé, a Swiss company, and the world’s largest consumer goods company, of course sticks to these rules. But only in Europe, as no similar laws have been passed in most other parts of the world. In Nigeria, one product tested had up to 6.8g of added sugar per serving. Brands affected are Nido and Cerelac. In order not to have to write “with added sugar”, they use sucrose and honey. So, if you want a healthy baby, read the label. Or better still, make your own.

Gold Coast Kebabs (Chinchinga) on a weekend evening have a lot more stick than meat and are long in coming and hard to chew. Helpful if you need to lose a few pounds after a birthday.

Lydia...

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Here’s the neatest thing nobody told me about BASIC:

If I want to add a line in between line 10 and 20, I just have to pick a number between 10 and 20, like 15. And then I type my line.

—Kurt Leucht

Oh, you can do that with line numbers? Not just GOTO 10?

Wait, it gets better:

Let’s say I wasn’t happy with line 15 and I wanted it to be different. I could just type in a new line number 15.

That blew my whippersnapper mind.

The trick is, there’s no “editor”. No files, no compiling.

You simply write into the computer’s memory, and tell it to run—from the moment you turn it on.

Even on my childhood TI-83 calculator, the program editor is a separate mode. But on an Apple II, it’s the default environment.

Defaults matter; they express a product’s purpose.

• A Macintosh shows you the Finder. I guess I’ll arrange some files and windows.
• An iPhone shows you the Home Screen. I guess I’ll browse some music and websites.
• A Game Boy? Put in a game, silly.
• And an Apple II? This thing is for programming.

That’s what inspired a generation about what computers should be.

Now I grok this complaint:

Every step between turning on the computer and running your program loses 30% of the students.

—paraphrasing David Brin

Imagine having to log in to your guitar and create a music document before you could start strumming.

C’est #VendrediLiens, alors voici quelques liens que je souhaite partager avec vous cette semaine.

#Egalite #Emploi #Environnement #Feminisme #Femmes #Travail #TransportsEnCommun #TransportsCollectifs

L’R des centres de femmes du Québec regroupe 77 centre de femmes. Elle se décrit comme le plus grand réseau féministe d'action communautaire autonome au Québec. Son but est de contribuer au développement du réseau des centres de femmes, d'assurer la consolidation et le renforcement des pratiques des centres, de travailler à l’amélioration des conditions de vie des femmes et de promouvoir leurs intérêts, la justice sociale, l’égalité et l’équité pour les femmes. L'R des centres de femmes du Québec

À travers les quatre épisodes de Nous sortirons de nos cuisines, Jenny Cartwright fait revivre l’histoire de la première troupe de théâtre féministe québécoise, le Théâtre des Cuisines, et trace en filigrane celle du militantisme féministe québécois. Première troupe de théâtre féministe québécoise, le Théâtre des Cuisines, voit le jour en 1973. Elle naît de ce désir de nommer que la vie privée est politique, et que la transformation du monde ne saurait se faire sans la parole, le regard et les actions des femmes. Nous sortirons de nos cuisines

L’ARUC-GATS s’intéresse aux dispositifs existants de conciliation emploi-famille, et de gestion des âges et des temps (retraites, préretraites, temps de travail et horaires de travail notamment), ainsi qu’aux positions des acteurs sociaux concernant ces modalités et toutes autres qui pourraient être expérimentées. Plusieurs notes de recherche sur divers aspects de ces questions. Alliance de recherche université communauté sur la « gestion des âges et des temps sociaux »

Le Centre québécois du droit de l’environnement met son expertise juridique au service des citoyen·nes et de la protection de l’environnement. C'est le seul organisme au Québec à offrir une expertise indépendante en matière de droit de l’environnement. Sur leur site, on trouve de l'information sur le droit à l'environnement, des publications (mémoires, rapports de recherche...), un formulaire de contact (Ligne verte) pour obtenir de l’information juridique, ainsi que le Guide citoyen du droit québécois de l'environnement. Centre québécois du droit de l’environnement

Si comme moi vous préférez les transports collectifs, sachez que l'Alliance pour le financement des transports collectifs au Québec regroupe en date d'aujourd'hui plus de 61 organismes et s'est donnée comme mission de favoriser le développement et l’amélioration des services de transports collectifs au Québec, en s’assurant qu’ils reçoivent le financement nécessaire pour permettre au plus grand nombre possible de citoyens d’en bénéficier. Un site à visiter pour lire sur les enjeux des transports collectifs et lire leurs communiqués. Transit, Alliance pour le financement des transports collectifs au Québec

Un deuxième site en lien avec les transports collectifs: trajectoire, une association qui milite depuis plus de 45 ans pour faire du transport collectif le pilier d'un Québec plus vert, abordable, inclusif et sécuritaire! Trajectoire intervient dans la représentation des citoyens et la promotion de leurs intérêts en matière de transport collectif partout au Québec. Trajectoire

Bon Weekend!

Feet squeaked on the gymnasium floor. White lines breaking up the wooden pattern. He wondered if it was real wood or a laminate.

The new guy wearing the red flannel shirt and sweatpants, orange socks with the tread painted on, blue wrapped around his hand and wrist up to his elbow. Blond hair almost a bowl cut, shaved up in the back, fresh haircut.

He looked up when Andy said, incarcerated

Fielding replied, you're not incarcerated

So says you

Fielding laughed, Dr Spokelse scribbled a note.

Great, here we go

What's on your mind, Andy

I'm thinking about going back to being an alcoholic

Why

It was easier, I could just go to work and come home and drink, didn't have to pay attention to anyone else

It is a lot to keep up with

The simple life

A lonely alcoholic

Right, and just die like Jim Morrison

On your back in a bathtub in Paris

Is that how it happened

I thought that was the end of the movie

That could be the end of my movie

The doctor jotting down another note, scribbles in the silence.

Are you hearing yourself

Yeah

They looked at him

Maybe

Gabe leaning over to look him in the eye from the folding chair next to him.

What?

What do you think Hannah in Colorado is doing right now

Probably burping an infant, maybe another is dangling from her nipple, jaws clamped tight

No one laughed.

Why does that bother you, the doctor asked.

Fielding leaned back and waited for the answer, crossed his arms and pulled his feet in, knees pointing at Gabe and Davis.

Sex, Davis chimed in

Everyone turned to look except the new gal. She was off somewhere else, staring at the window, wondering how to get up there and get away, stroking her chin like she was thinking about the conversation.

What's on your mind, Rendell?

The woman replied, Holland. Everyone looked at her, she wore white socks, black leggings, a long black sweater buttoned up to her neck, hair hanging long and brown.

Randy pulled his lower lip into his mouth to keep from licking it, glanced at Davis who was openly leering. His hands cupped together, blue flannel rolled up, faded blue jeans tapered leg, bare feet in white paper sandals.

You think you're gonna climb that wall and go to Holland?

Yeah, do you even know where it is

Fielding let out a sigh, anyway, Andy

Fielding

They locked eyes.

We're waiting, the doctor looked serious, still staring at him.

I wanted to be a father.

You still can.

No.

Everyone waited. He was cracking.

Gabe inhaled sharply, looked at the doctor.

Andy sat there with tears welling in his eyes.

Is that important?

Davis chewed his fingers, leg bouncing nervously.

I guess we'll never know

Fielding put his hands on his knees and stared straight at him.

Yet it bothers you, the doctor's words were a statement or a question.

It bothers me, Andy crying and getting ugly.

So instead, Fielding prompted

Instead I will come home from a long day and face the empty promises and fill them with whiskey and cinnamon liquor.

She added, gas station ice and tumblers, a tall black thermos

Exactly

And the pressure will just melt away

And everything will be okay again

At least until you wake up the next morning

Right, the hangover and body aches and wondering what I said to her

But she's gone

And she's gone so that part won't even matter

Just make sure you hide your phone

Yeah, can't reach out

Don't want to scare anyone

No one cares about me anyway

The group was riffing, Fielding looked impressed, the doctor tried to hide his concern, put his pen down and adjusted his glasses, rubbed his nose, his left hand holding the notepad and pen.

Drink and forget all the reminders of people who loved you

Anyone the virus didn't take

The new people coming into your life

The new people leaving your life, becoming old people

Shadows of themselves

The echoes you see in other people

Why fall in love

Why care

Why not ghost them

Why not use them

This is getting out of had, the doctor had to interject, he showed some emotion, it was concern or worry and it was directed at Fielding to silently ask, why didn't you stop this?

We could just go to Holland

What's in Holland

Not this

They laughed, slapping knees, clapping, they had taken over for once.

Fielding looked disappointed.