A couple hours after the sense of release/relief following the completion of the TSG chapter that precedes the very last, I started to think about the work ahead: The next and final chapter in THE SOLAR GRID.

According to script and thumbs, the last chapter is a 50-page beast. Between pencils, inks, and letters, we're looking at an average of 3 days per page, and that's if I work fast and assuming no pages require color, but there are in fact quite a few that do. In fact in fact, some even require what might best be described as ill-advised mixed media madness that I'm not entirely sure I can adequately assess the time it would need to make before trying to work on one or two such pages first. Which means we can be sure that 3 pages a day is way too optimistic and things will probably not work out that way. But even if we were to make use of this ludicrously optimistic calculation, we would be looking at 150 days of work. Five months basically, and that's if I work weekends and take on no other projects whatsoever, however small.

This is a terribly depressing realization and wholly unrealistic. I can't not have this chapter finished before year's end, I just can't. I will kill myself. The only logical thing to do at this point would be to go back to script and thumbs, see if there's anything I can cut or at least compress. And perhaps do without any unpredictable visual experiments that could potentially multiply execution time, no matter how strong the creative itch is. I really shouldn't spend more than three months on the thing, so that means I need to see if I can bring the page-count down to 30. That's a lot of fucking cutting and compressing.

Shit.

On a completely different note, I have done absolutely nothing towards this week's newsletter which typically goes out every other Friday at 11:59 pm. It is now 9:45 pm.

Fml.

#journal #comix #tsg

Contains depictions of sex, confidence, and self-satisfied tieflings.

Parts 1 & 2: https://write.as/diotima-after-dark/interlude-w-vul-pts-1-and-2

Vul, nudging me with her foot, breathing shallow. “I thought you were…” she trails off as I lay soft kisses across her thighs, teasing. “oh.”

A tongue, darting out to tease… a gasp…

Flitting memories of the first time I’d offered this from so far away, brave behind a screen. Her assertion, almost apologetic, that this sort of thing ‘didn’t really work,’ an inadvertent challenge issued to her future lover. My secret belief that I could… confident, yes, but also terrified that I would fail.

Our first meeting, the tension electric, pleasantries exchanged.

Sitting on that couch, knees touching, both hesitant to make the first move.

Then, a kiss. And more. Pulling Vul onto me, her skirt little barrier for my hands, hungrily exploring… shaky, dizzy, sex drunk, needing her now now now….

Upstairs, though I don’t remember how… pulling off her skirt, my mouth on her, tasting, shaking with the realness of it all, her surprised gasps, her screams, her little laughs... her legs tensing, her back arching….

Release. I come back to the present, an echo, Vul’s hands resting on my horns, fingers intertwined in my hair, petting.. her legs shaking, a small satisfied grin on her face, lost to the world.

Grinning, I ask quietly “Was it okay?”

A small slap… this ritual ours, this pretense of mediocrity. “Shut up, you know it wasn’t just ‘okay.’” Humor in her voice.

“So like… a 5 out of 10?” I offer.

“Oh my gods.” She sighs, laughing, slapping at me again. “Stop.”

“But it was… it was nice?” A hint of insecurity in my voice, foolish. I know the answer but…

Her tone softens. “It was amazing, of course. As always.”

“Hn. Okay.” I say, meekly, pleased. “I’m glad… it was at least a six out of ten.”

Vul laughs. “Stop, you know that’s not true.” Stroking my hair, she adds “It’s your turn.”

(To Be Continued)

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. • 06:45 – Fox & Father – Ep. 021 • 08:00 – Thought for today from Archbishop Lefebvre: We have a tendency to live in a total illusion, because we do not know God, because we settle for a very vague knowledge of Him and we do not seek to know Him better. We think that is enough for us to live well, for us to be good Christians. But it is very grave to live in that kind of mediocrity, that kind of anesthesia. • 08:25 – July 25, 2024: FrancisChurch is a Bubble of Empty Hype – Canon212 • 12:00 – the Angelus • 14:25 – Traditional Priests Kicked Out Of Diocese With NO WARNING – Return to Tradition • 17:30 – Meditation and Prayer for Friday of this Ninth Week after Pentecost from The Light of The World, followed by today's Daily Meditation found in Benedictus Magazine. • 18:00 – the Angelus • 19:25 – 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.

Health Metrics: • bw= 225.50 lbs. • bp= 139/75 (71)

Diet: • 05:30 – ½ pb&j sandwich, 1 banana • 07:00 – 6 in. Jimmy John's submarine sandwich • 09:30 – fig newtons • 10:15 – tangerine • 12:00 – cottage cheese and applesauce, meatloaf and white bread • 16:00 – another 6 in. Jimmy John's submarine sandwich

Chores, etc.: • 05:00 – local news talk radio • 05:55 – monitor bank accounts activity • 08:00 – follow news reports from various sources • 08:50 – load weekly pill boxes • 17:30 – turn to the Texas Rangers pregame show ahead of their game vs. the Toronto Blue Jays

Chess: • 08:20 – moved in all pending CC games

posted Friday, 2024-07-26 ~19:50 #DLJUL2024

Ooof.

Okay, off to New York for a few days.

#journal #tsg

I get the sense that the oncologists base the dosing and pacing of treatment, in part, on what it seems the patient (me) can tolerate.

And now I fear I might have come across as stronger and healthier than I am. And now I’m paying the price.

Such are the scenarios that I come up with in these moments post infusion (chemotherapy treatment for those — blessed be!— not familiar with the oncology world).

I spend a lot of energy resisting the urge to google every symptom, side effect, twinge, and twist. It’s hard to tamp down that niggling feeling that somehow if I just knew enough, if I just “understand” what’s going on then I could heal myself. But then I remember: there are many ways of knowing. There are many ways of comprehending. I’m lucky in that I feel like I have doctors and nurses who are super smart. I leave the western medicine and science to them. I trust them to understand that …. and in the meantime I try to lean into some other understanding, some other forms of knowing.

I recently met a woman whose mom had just had cancer. She took the time to encourage me and, amongst other words of advice, one that stood out was how important it is to eat. At the time, I didn’t know yet how hard it would be (my sense of taste and appetite have changed) to do such a basic thing. This woman was very emphatic about the importance of eating and her energy comes to mind whenever I’m struggling to eat.

One of the reasons that this sticks with me is that this was an in-person interaction. It holds extra weight to me. And while the internet is obviously full of information, having to weed through what is or is not relevant is exhausting.

Hello, my friends!

Have you ever paused to truly consider who you are in Christ? It's a profound question that often gets lost in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, yet it's absolutely crucial to our walk with God. Today, we're going to investigate this vital truth as we explore Ephesians 5 and unpack what it really means to remember our identity in Christ.

Friends, we are called to be imitators of God, as His dear children. But do you truly grasp the weight of what it means to be God's dear child? The Greek word used here is 'agapetos', which stems from 'agape' – that selfless, unconditional love that God has for us. It's the very same word used when God spoke of Jesus at His baptism: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Can you imagine that? The same depth of love the Father has for Jesus, He now has for you and me. It's almost too wonderful to comprehend, isn't it?

But it doesn't stop there, my friends. Christ's love for us was demonstrated in the most profound and sacrificial way possible – through His death on the cross. As Paul reminds us in Ephesians 5:2, “And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” This imagery of a sweet-smelling aroma takes us back to the sacrificial system in Leviticus, where certain offerings were described as pleasing to God.

Do you remember when you first became a Christian and decided to read through the Bible? I bet many of you breezed through Genesis and Exodus, but then hit a wall with Leviticus. All those detailed descriptions of sacrifices and offerings might have seemed tedious and perhaps even irrelevant. But let me tell you, they paint a beautiful and profound picture of what Christ would do for us.

The burnt offering, completely consumed on the altar, represents Jesus' total obedience to the Father, even unto death. He held nothing back, pouring out His life in complete surrender to God's will. The peace offering symbolizes our reconciliation with God through Christ. Remember, we were once enemies of God, but through Christ's sacrifice, we've been brought near and made at peace with Him. And the meal offering, always accompanied by a blood sacrifice, reminds us that all our service and worship are made acceptable to God through Jesus.

Friends, this sacrificial system is the foundation upon which we can truly understand God's love for us. As John so beautifully puts it, “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10). We can't truly grasp the depth of God's love if we leave out the cross. It's there, in Christ's sacrifice, that we see the lengths of God's love most clearly.

Now, knowing who we are in Christ, how should we live? Paul doesn't mince words in Ephesians 5:3-5. He lists behaviours that are unbecoming for saints – fornication, uncleanness, covetousness. These things, he says, should not even be named among us. Why? Because they simply don't fit who we are now in Christ. It's like trying to squeeze into clothes that are several sizes too small – uncomfortable and clearly not right.

But what if we forget who we are? What if we slip back into old habits and ways of living? Paul addresses this too, warning that no fornicator, unclean person, or covetous man has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. These words might seem harsh, even contradictory to the message of God's unconditional love and grace that we've just been discussing. How do we reconcile this?

Here's where we need to make an important distinction between our salvation and our inheritance. Our salvation is a gift, unconditional and eternal. Once we're born again into God's family, we can't become “unborn”. But our inheritance – our reward and position in Christ's kingdom – that's something we can lose if we're not faithful.

Think of it like this: in Old Testament times, the firstborn son received a double portion of the inheritance and the right to rule over the family in the father's absence. But this birthright could be lost, as we see with Reuben and Esau. They remained sons, but they forfeited their special inheritance. Reuben, for his grievous sin, lost both the priesthood and the kingship that should have been his as the firstborn. Esau, for a single meal, despised his birthright and lost it.

Similarly, while our salvation is secure in Christ, our inheritance – our reward and position in His kingdom – can be affected by how we live. Paul isn't talking about occasional slip-ups here, but about those who habitually practice sin, those who make it their lifestyle. It's a sobering thought, isn't it?

But be encouraged, my friends! Paul reminds us in Ephesians 5:8, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” This is who we are now – children of light! And it's from this identity that we're called to live.

Friends, remembering who we are in Christ isn't just about feeling good about ourselves. It's about living in a way that reflects our new identity. It's about walking worthy of our calling, giving equal weight to both doctrine and practice in our lives. As Paul says in Ephesians 4:1, we are to “walk worthy of the calling with which you were called.”

So how do we do this? How do we live out our identity in Christ? First and foremost, we need to continually remind ourselves of who we are in Christ. This isn't a one-time revelation, but a truth we need to meditate on daily. Spend time in God's Word, allowing the Holy Spirit to illuminate these truths to you. Let them sink deep into your heart and mind.

Secondly, we need to allow the Holy Spirit to transform us from the inside out. Remember, holiness isn't about following a set of rules, but about being conformed to the image of Christ. As we spend time in God's presence, beholding His glory, we are “being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

Thirdly, surround yourself with fellow believers who can encourage you and hold you accountable. We weren't meant to walk this journey alone. As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another (Proverbs 27:17). Find a community of believers who will remind you of your identity in Christ when you forget, who will encourage you to live up to your calling, and who will lovingly correct you when you stray.

Friends, let's not be like those Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 3, building with wood, hay, and straw on the foundation of Christ. These materials, common and combustible, represent a life lived without regard for our high calling in Christ. Instead, let's build with gold, silver, and precious stones – materials that will withstand the fire of God's judgment and bring reward.

Remember, we're not just saved from something, but for something. God has a purpose for each one of us. As Paul says in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Our identity in Christ isn't just about our status, but about our purpose.

Think about it – you are a child of the King of kings! You are an ambassador for Christ, entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). You are a member of a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession (1 Peter 2:9). These aren't just nice-sounding titles, but profound truths that should shape how we live every day.

When we truly grasp who we are in Christ, it changes everything. It changes how we view ourselves – no longer defined by our past mistakes or current struggles, but by our identity in Christ. It changes how we view others – seeing them not as enemies or competitors, but as fellow image-bearers of God, potential brothers and sisters in Christ. It changes how we view our circumstances – no longer at the mercy of fate or chance, but securely held in the loving hands of our Heavenly Father.

So, my friends, I urge you – remember who you are in Christ. You are dearly loved children of God, redeemed by the blood of Christ, called to walk in the light. You are forgiven, justified, sanctified, and one day, you will be glorified. You are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Romans 8:37).

Be blessed today my brothers and sisters, and never forget your true identity in Christ. May this truth sink deep into your hearts and transform every aspect of your lives. Remember, it's not about striving in your own strength, but about resting in your identity in Christ and allowing His life to flow through you. As you go about your day, in every decision you make, in every interaction you have, let this truth guide you: you are in Christ, and Christ is in you. Live in light of this glorious reality!

Phil

There is a mirror that keeps being shown to me when I look around in society, particularly in politics. People get mad when I offer it, but I’m going to offer it again because until we see it, this dynamic won’t change.

For simplicity we’re going to talk about this in terms of left and right. On the left, they want mandated, free access to women’s reproductive healthcare. On the right they want to ban that access. This works with gay marriage and many other things as well.

Do you see that this is a reflection? It is the equal and the opposite reflecting back to each other.

Mandating and banning are equal and opposite constructs. They are the extreme ends of the same spectrum. The left wants to do away with the right and the right wants to do away with the left. That can’t happen because in order to have one you need the other. The spectrum will always be a spectrum. It cannot be any other way.

The left sees what the right is doing as far more intrusive. The effect of a ban seems greater than the effect of a mandate. I get that. That makes sense. I understand why it’s seen that way, it’s just not a true story. All it does is perpetuate the argument.

The right wants to do away with the mandate. The left says, “it doesn’t affect you”. The existence of a mandate is the thing they are wanting to get rid of. It does affect them as long as the mandate exists because they see the mandate as the problem they need to fix. The reverse is also true. The ban affects those who want access for as long as the ban exists. They are equal and opposite constructs.

The fight is not about participating or not participating in something. The fight is over the simple existence of it as a thing in itself. If the fight was about simple participation then the existence of the thing would not be an issue. We wouldn’t even be having this discussion.

We need to change the discussion. Telling people that it doesn’t affect them because they don’t have to participate in it, doesn’t solve the problem. The existence of it does affect them. The left doesn’t believe that argument because it doesn’t appear as though the existence of something would be a problem.

Let’s think of it this way. When a hurricane happens somewhere, are you bothered by it even though the hurricane didn’t hit your house? If there’s a war somewhere else, are you bothered by it even though there is no war where you live? When there’s a school shooting, are you bothered by it even though it wasn’t your kid or your kids’ school or maybe you don’t even have children? Are you bothered by how other countries are run, even though you don’t live in those countries? Are you bothered by poverty even though you’re not poor? Are you bothered by homelessness even though you have a home? How many things in the world do you take on and become bothered by even though 99% of it doesn’t affect you at all?

The existence of these things bothers you and you want them to change. You make that argument okay all the time. But then when the existence of women’s reproductive rights or gay marriage comes up, you refuse to acknowledge that the existence of something can be a problem even though you engage in that exact argument all the time.

I want to be very clear here. I’m not arguing morality with you. I’m not arguing for or against mandating or banning anything. I’m trying to show you the argument. I want you to see the argument you have and the problem with what’s happening. Neither side can fully get to where they want to go doing what they are doing.

You don’t get to decide what bothers people. You don’t get to decide that it doesn’t apply or it doesn’t affect them or it doesn’t matter or it’s not the same. It’s not under your control. It’s not yours to decide. These things are having an effect whether you think they should or not. They are all equal and opposite and until we see that we’re going to continue to go around in this loop.

The argument needs to change. The left is being hypocritical and the right is being stubborn. Neither side will win like that.

Something needs to change and I would suggest we start with the topic of the discussion we’re having.

Love to all.

Della

#001786 – 26 de Julho de 2024

Oitavo dia. Em Pitões de Júnias, os cães são grandes, são muitos e andam soltos. São também cães tranquilos, habituados a pessoas. Está manhã, antes de pedalar, comi um croissant na única e excelente padaria da aldeia e uma senhora explicava que os cães são tranquilos precisamente porque andam soltos. Posso comprovar que à noite não ladram e que sempre passei por eles à vontade. A minha chegada à aldeia foi mesmo escoltada por cães. Um pastor regressava de moto 4 e era seguido por cinco cães, um border collie a liderar. Hoje pedalei até Venda Nova e fiquei num hotel. Estou gordo e cansado, feliz mas fora de forma. Não é isto exatamente bikepacking, mas são férias, pedalei e visito sítios bonitos. Faz-me bem.

Lydia's Weekly Lifestyle blog is for today's African girl, so no subject is taboo. My purpose is to share things that may interest today's African girl.

This week's contributors: Lydia, Pépé Pépinière, this week's subjects: Unveiling the Gen Z Designers Revolutionizing Fashion, Rosé Garden, Events at Labadi Beach Hotel, and +233 Jazzclub and Grill

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Unveiling the Gen Z Designers Revolutionizing Fashion. The heartbeat of the fashion industry has always been innovation, pushing boundaries, and redefining style norms. In recent years, a wave of fresh creativity has been sweeping through the industry, led by a new generation of trailblazing designers—Gen Z talents who are carving out their own spaces and reshaping the future of fashion. From sustainability champions to boundary-pushing creatives, these young visionaries are leaving an indelible mark on the industry. Let's dive into the world of Gen Z designers and explore how they are reshaping the fashion landscape. Sustainable Sensations: Sustainability is more than just a trend—it’s a movement that is here to stay. Gen Z designers are at the forefront of this eco-conscious revolution, pioneering new ways to create fashion that is as kind to the planet as it is stylish. Emma Green, a 23-year-old designer known for her upcycled streetwear pieces, is a shining example of this ethos. With a commitment to using recycled materials and reducing waste, Green’s collections not only make a fashion statement but also a sustainability statement. Rosé Garden. (30 Orphan Cres, Labone, Accra) serves a decent expresso coffee at GHC 30 and fresh orange juice at 25 GHC. One sits semi outside. The service is correct and one has to wait to be seated. The washroom is clean and spacious. They filter the orange juice thus removing most of the fibers, which is one of the healthy parts of orange juice and when the bill comes you get a little surprise. Mine was not 85 GHC (double expresso and orange juice), but 87.77 because they added a 2.5 % table service charge (that should have made it 87.13). Not a big deal, but if on your menu you mentioned that all taxes are inclusive, why do you not talk about the table service charge? And how are you going to give me my change of 12 GHC 33 pesewas? They also serve breakfasts and burgers and a whole load of other things which I will try when I have more time.

Events at Labadi Beach Hotel. Last Saturday I was invited to a wine tasting at Labadi Beach Hotel (No.1 La Bypass, Labadi, Accra). The parking was a bit full and full of policemen and women who directed me towards a very far away hidden parking, across the water. So I decided to get into the hotel through the back and ended up in a very posh wedding, but managed to finally find my way to my wine event. On the way back I took the same route, but then problems started. Cars kept coming in and blocking my way out and the policemen- and women tasked with keeping things under control were rather giving contradictory instructions, allowing cars to park on the grass and anywhere, and blocking me more. It took quite some unfriendly words to finally get someone to undo this Gordian knot, all in all wasting 45 minutes of my time and making me completely miss my next appointment. One would expect the Labadi Beach Hotel management to better anticipate numbers and to arrange things accordingly. I'll definitely not have my wedding there, nor my wine tasting, or my fashion show (look out for that one)

+233 Jazzclub and Grill (Dr. Isert Street, North Ridge, opposite Ghana Broadcasting, (but you get there from the Alisa Hotel, down), Accra) on a Thursday evening is nicely quiet, with lead guitar Chris Turkson, a former banker and IT programmer and now 74 at the helm of his 1983 Zoom Band, and former Zoom drummer Tijani Amartey now on vocals with his silky voice, reminding one of Salvatore Adamo (search him, if you like soft romantic) going through about every evergreen piece you can think of, including Osibisa. Come to think of it, I don't understand why they didn't give a big bash when they celebrated 40, I'll talk to Chris about it, watch this space. Entrance is still free on Thursdays, as I write this. +233 has a new menu but I haven't really studied that yet but their Greek salad is still full of olives.

Lydia...

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• Tricentis Data Integrity focuses on ensuring your data remains accurate and reliable. With data being a critical asset for businesses, maintaining its integrity is crucial. Tricentis offers automated tools to handle this complex task, covering everything from data entry to transformations and migrations. These tools help catch errors early, ensuring data accuracy and consistency. By using Tricentis Data Integrity tools, organizations can streamline their data management processes, reduce costs, and ensure compliance with regulations. These tools also support continuous data monitoring and quality checks, making it easier to maintain data integrity even as data volumes grow. This ultimately leads to better decision-making and operational efficiency.
• Infrastructure as Code (IaC) is changing the game for IT management by allowing infrastructure setup and maintenance through code. This method ensures consistency, reduces manual errors, and speeds up deployments. While IaC offers benefits like cost savings and improved reliability, it also presents challenges like managing configuration drifts and developing the right skills. Embracing IaC aligns well with DevOps practices, enhancing collaboration and operational efficiency.
• Dive into the significance of DORA (DevOps Research and Assessment) metrics for measuring DevOps performance. These metrics—deployment frequency, lead time for changes, mean time to recover, and change failure rate—are crucial for understanding and improving software delivery processes. They provide a standardized way to evaluate how well DevOps practices are working within an organization. By focusing on these metrics, teams can align their development efforts with broader business goals. This alignment helps ensure that software is delivered both quickly and reliably, ultimately benefiting the end-users and the organization as a whole. It's about making sure that every change is both fast and safe, which is the essence of effective DevOps.
• While automation helps streamline DevOps, it often leads to fragmented processes when teams work independently. Release orchestration brings these tasks together, providing a complete view of the pipeline and ensuring smooth operation. Beyond efficiency, release orchestration enhances security and compliance. It offers real-time insights through dashboards, tracks security across the development lifecycle, and ensures auditability. By supporting developers and focusing on delivering customer value, release orchestration connects software delivery to business outcomes effectively.
• Continuous deployment differs from continuous delivery, where changes are automatically prepared but require a manual release step. Companies like Netflix and Tesla leverage continuous deployment to release updates frequently, gathering real user feedback to refine their products continuously. Successfully adopting continuous deployment starts with continuous integration, using automated, reliable tests, and releasing small, manageable changes. This strategy improves software quality, accelerates delivery times, and makes releases a regular, stress-free part of the development cycle.
• Continuous integration (CI) enhances development speed by facilitating the regular testing and deployment of small code changes. This allows teams to build and deploy features rapidly, receiving timely feedback from users to guide further development. It's all about making the development cycle faster and more responsive to user needs. For businesses, continuous integration translates to better outcomes through constant data collection and analysis. This helps in making informed decisions about the product's direction and technological improvements.
• Configuration as Code (CaC) is different from Infrastructure as Code (IaC), which focuses on managing infrastructure through code. While IaC handles the underlying hardware and services, CaC deals with the configuration settings of applications. Together, they offer a robust framework for managing complex environments. For successful CaC implementation, it’s crucial to keep configuration management separate from application code, simplify configuration data, and use version control practices. This helps in preventing errors and ensuring that configurations are easy to update and roll back if needed.
• Progressive delivery emerged to provide more control over the software release process, enhancing the continuous delivery model. Inspired by concepts like Microsoft's progressive experimentation, it ensures that updates are thoroughly tested and refined before reaching the entire user base. This approach offers several benefits: it increases efficiency by catching problems early, allows for targeted deployments to specific user groups, and reduces user resistance by introducing changes gradually. Ultimately, progressive delivery helps maintain customer trust and improves the overall quality of software releases.
• DevOps is a cultural and technical approach that unites development and operations teams to streamline software delivery. It emphasizes collaboration, automation, and continuous delivery to achieve faster and more reliable releases. This approach breaks down traditional silos and aligns teams toward shared goals, improving efficiency and quality. Implementing DevOps involves adopting continuous integration, continuous delivery, and automation tools. This shift not only enhances productivity but also attracts top talent and increases job satisfaction. CloudBees provides the necessary tools and platforms to facilitate this transformation, ensuring organizations can thrive in the fast-paced world of software development.
• Cloud-native applications are those designed to leverage cloud environments using tools like containers, microservices, and declarative APIs. These technologies enable applications to be scalable, resilient, and manageable, supporting frequent updates with minimal disruption. Simply migrating applications to the cloud doesn't make them cloud-native. True cloud-native apps are purpose-built to harness the full potential of cloud infrastructure, ensuring they are adaptable and scalable. This involves a fundamental shift in how applications are developed and managed, focusing on cloud-specific advantages.
• Explore the nuances of merging DataFrames in Pandas. This tutorial breaks down various joins and explains when to use merge vs. concat vs. join. A must-read for refining your Python data skills!

Check out more of our fav tech links on our official Notion

This month, we’ve seen waves of attacks by (what appear to be) bots testing stolen credit card numbers on the service. It started around the 4th, which we were able to stop relatively easy. The attackers gave up for a bit, then picked it up again this past Sunday with new tactics that caused some intermittent downtime.

Dealing with this has occupied most of my week, as we close / open registrations, and keep up with the attackers’ shifting tactics. But with the work I’ll be finishing up this weekend, the service should be much more resilient towards these types of attacks.

Hiding behind these masks I've crafted Each a calculated risk Created to show you a falsehood My truth, buried somewhere in these lies

First a graying mask for a graying world This shade, gliding through featureless days Pretending to be something less than I am Your reality safe from me

This boring, half-life you call existence Predictable But perhaps I am unfair You mask could be as good as mine

Lost in this sea of banality Perhaps you struggle too Wishing to break the shackles That bind you to this slow death

But then, no You effortlessly glide, accepted The others around you sensing You are one of them

Do you ever wonder if I'm more? Do I ever unsettle you with my intensity? That fire that smolders just underneath the surface My eyes dismantling you with a thought

Do you catch my critical assessment, wondering What it might be like to have you The disgust of the idea flitting across my face Hating you for making me wonder

I am not jealous (I am jealous) I am not angry (I am furious)

This mask, a prison Screaming, I tear it from my face Shattering it against the wall of my rage It will be waiting for me tomorrow.

--

My second mask A bespoke self for the digital world A fantasy for us both This 'slutty nerd,' you love, free of consequence

I laugh, your hobbies my hobbies My stories, more truth than lie Fantasies never shared Writ large, shared, exposed

I deny you the best of me Sensuality screaming loud enough to protect my heart What you offer me in the moment enough Your base reality satisfying my need

Is this all you think I am? This vapid idiot, running through the halls Screaming 'fuck me' and blushing at your ministrations Swooning at your touch?

Do you see the smirk in the corner of my mouth How I lead you How I let you believe that you're in control That you might have me?

I want to tell you that I'm more I drop hints, shades of myself Clues, hidden in plain sight Seeds of me that I wish you'd nurture

I am not hurt (Perhaps I am hurt) I am not disappointed (I am resigned)

This mask, a cage Crying, I snap it in twain Leaving it where I know I can find it when next I need it.

--

My last mask, gossamer threads As close to my reality as I am able to share This girl, as she would be If she were braver than the coward she is

This me, eyes intent with the intelligence I often deny Your discomfort apparent As you realize that I am so much more Than what I have allowed myself to be

'This is me', I scream, ecstatic Knowing that I can only hold on for a moment The other masks, twitching Aching to return themselves to my face

Sensing a change, you flirt Expecting the playful awkwardess you know Terrified by my intensity As my eyes glitter with predatory glee

The door closed, I move in Wondering how you'll you taste when I have you Gliding closer, lips close to yours Hoping another hapless boy will not flee

I am whole, for the moment This mask, healing wounds long festering Limiters I erected to protect Discarded as my self shines through

I am happy (I am overjoyed) I want this forever (This will not last)

This mask, my unshaded truth I hold it to my face as long as I can Hoping to keep it a little longer And knowing I cannot.

--

And then... there is me.

Mid-morning Friday and I don't know why, but I have a very good feeling about this day. There is nothing special on this day's agenda, but it's good to have a positive outlook.

posted Friday, 2024-07-26 ~ 09:33 #QNJUL2024

Lorena and I have been living in San Clemente, California since January 2023, after moving from Austin, Texas. It’s easily the most beautiful place I have ever lived.

Situated less than a mile from the beach, I’ve had plenty of opportunities to go to the ocean – my favorite thing to do. There are palm trees all over, the sun is (almost) always shining, and the temperature doesn’t get too hot nor cold.

Without question, my favorite part of where we live is the ocean view from our upstairs living room, where I admired the sunset every evening.

That said, after some lengthy conversations for the past six months or so, we’ve decided that San Clemente is just not where we want to be for the long term.

As beautiful as it is, there is something missing.

To put it plainly: Orange County lacks the diversity we value.

Diversity in people, culture, thoughts, food, and activities. It’s closed off and slow. In San Clemente, you find either retirees, or San Clemente families who have lived here for generations. It’s not close to any real major city, so in many ways it feels like you’re stuck on an island.

At this stage of our lives, we desire more. We started to look at bigger cities again, specifically San Diego and Los Angeles. We actually met in San Diego, so it holds a special place in our hearts. But after a bit of conversation, neither of us were really that excited to go back. Nothing against the city personally, we just wanted to move onto something new and different.

Landing on Culver City.

After ruling out anywhere south of San Clemente, our sights shifted north to Los Angeles. LA has the diversity we crave, and a vibe that we really mesh well with on a personal level. There are so many different neighborhoods, and each one has its own look & feel.

We spent many weekends taking trips up to learn more about the city and to see some homes. In the end, we found a place in Culver City. It’s a great mix of a family-oriented community with easy walkability to cafés, shops, and more. As an added bonus, it has its own school district, police, and other public services given that it is a separate city from LA.

We are thrilled to have landed in a place where we are excited about the daily life, and the opportunities. Now all we have to do is sell our home!

#personal

Decía el bueno de San Ambrosio que de las cenizas del ave fénix salía un gusanico que se colaba en un huevo para convertirse, al salir de él, en águila celeste. Dejando a un lado la posible evidencia científica del hecho (y la evidente simbología con la resurrección cristiana), la simbología de un renacer tras un fracaso es común a varias culturas.

The Phoenix Project: A Novel About IT, DevOps, and Helping Your Business Win (El Proyecto Fénix, una novela sobre iT, DevOps y ayudar a triunfar a tu empresa) es una novela que me pasó Pablo. A pesar de haber asistido a reuniones con programadores, ingenieros, técnicos, managers y líderes de todo tipo, no acababa de entender su mundo ni su manera de pensar. Mis creencias limitantes no ayudaban en exceso, más bien al revés. Me creía un forastero en el Salvaje Oeste de IT. Un “ventas”, perdón, un puto comercial que iba a ser baleado en el saloon por algún técnico. Perdón, por algún puto informático.

Esta novela, escrita por Gene Kim, Kevin Behr y George Spafford, no la podía tener en papel, claro.

Cuenta la historia de Parts Unlimited, empresa ficticia fabricante de piezas de automóvil que está a punto de hundirse. Steve Masters, director general, asciende a Bill Palmer como vicepresidente de IT. Y le encomienda una misión suicida, tratar de ayudar a la empresa a recuperar la rentabilidad perdida.El Proyecto Phoenix era la última oportunidad de la empresa. El tiempo vuela, el barco se hunde sin remisión. Sin estar muy entusiasmado, Bill acepta. El director de sistemas y la directora de soporte serán sus aliados en esta encomienda.

Bill, antiguo marine, entiende la organización como un ejército. Pronto el día a día comienza a ser un caos y cada día va a peor. Cuando todo está cerca de explosionar, aparece el doctor Erik Reíd, personaje central de la novela. Un nuevo miembro de la Junta Directiva que comparte su conocimiento y experiencia con Bill, ayudándole a pensar mejor. Pronto le saca de uno de sus errores: el ejército y una empresa no necesariamente funcionan igual. Erik lleva a Bill a una de las fábricas de la empresa y le muestra cómo las políticas que lleva esa fabricación de piezas son trasladables a IT.

Sin hacer spoilers porque no quiero destripar una historia entretenida, la novela muestra los 3 principios fundamentales de las DevOps, los 4 tipos de trabajo en IT, la definición de “cambio” (cualquier cosa física o virtual en software o hardware que afectara al servicio prestado), la manera en la que evitar el “fuego amigo” y muchas cosas más. Erik también le sugiere a Bill la lectura de La meta, del físico y Doctor Eli Goldratt, que describe la Teoría de las Restricciones (un caramelo para los que nos entusiasman las aportaciones de la ciencia a la mejora de las organizaciones). Leyéndomela, al margen de la novela, entendí mejor esos “cuellos de botella” de los que hablaban en IT y los problemas de comunicación entre Operaciones y Desarrollo.

Cuando acabé de leer la novela sentí un gran alivio, casi con la emoción de Champollion al traducir la Piedra de Rosetta. Así, sin exagerar. Ya no me sentía incapaz de sostener conversaciones y hacer las preguntas adecuadas. Que, al fin y al cabo, era mi trabajo. Nadie me pedía saber sumergirme en códigos y lenguajes de programación. Sólo entender los escenarios deseados que dibujaban las empresas con las que hablábamos, incluyendo pilares como el trabajo colaborativo, experimentos de bajo riesgo o la cultura del aprendizaje.