Back in December, after the Christmas lights show at my county fair, my family and I made a late night stop at a recently opened Yemeni cafe several blocks away from our home. I bought a hot pistachio latte for myself, a strawberry refresher for my wife, and a chocolate croissant for all of us to share. Everything was delicious, but pricey (about $21 before tip).

Moka & Co. has more traditional Yemeni coffee choices and plenty of desserts like baklava and more savory items like samosas. As far as cafe corporate chains go, Moka & Co. is clean and the food and drink items are better than Starbucks and some Peet’s Coffee locations. I know there’s another smaller Yemeni cafe chain a few more miles away from our house and I plan on trying it in the near future.

So if Moka & Co. is in your neighborhood, give it a try. And yes, I do recommend the pistachio latte.

I need to make a quick stop.

#coffee #Yemeni #mokaandco

I went off the rails a little for the holiday. I managed to finish a surprise project but everything else fell by the wayside.

The typewriter

I've been working on setting up a low powered computer with Alpine Linux. You know how people are always saying Linux is so easy now that anyone can do it? Don't do that with Alpine Linux. It was originally intended for running on high security, niche devices. It's probably most commonly used in Docker images. Most people who interact with it probably don't put it on an actual computer.

Why did I want to? I've been using Linux since 2000. Possibly a little earlier. The first time I used it, I did it on an aging computer that I couldn't afford to upgrade. That describes most of the computers I've used it on, actually. The challenge in most of those cases was stripping something pretty full spec down to the point where it ran pretty tolerably.

In this case, I wanted to do it on purpose. On finding out about Alpine, I realized I had the perfect opportunity. The regular install's ISO takes up less than 400 MiB of space. Everything you want, you're adding to that count. Putting Xfce on it along with some other packages I needed have taken me to about 2 GiB. I'd like to set it up so it doesn't load Xfce by default but, right now, I'm most focused on making it a writing computer.

And technically it is. I'm typing this on it right now. The network connection is off. I'm typing this using the micro text editor from a virtual terminal.

When I get it back to a network, I'll run a Unison profile I created. It will copy this and any other local changes up to the network.

Some of my scripts aren't working ... yet but the Typewriter lives.

Update since I wrote the previous section

Turning off Xfce on boot turned out to be much easier than my experience with LXQt. I disabled automatic startup for the display manager using the rc-update del command used in Alpine for removing services from run groups.

When I do want to load the GUI, I type startx and it comes up.

For micro to be a good prose writing tool, I had to put this in .config/micro/settings.json:

{
	"softwrap": true,
	"wordwrap": true
}

To make Unison work the way I wanted, I created the profile using the GUI on my main Linux computer and adjusted it until it worked the way I wanted. I did a replace all on paths that were specific to my main Linux computer.

I've also adapted some of my writing related scripts for use on Alpine.

Outcomes

Due in part to Typewriter, I wrote almost 13K words in the last week. Typewriter has only been really operational for three writing days and, in those writing days, I wrote 10.5K words. That's an average of 3.3K words per day.

For me, those are pretty good numbers. If those are sustainable, I could write about 23K in a week.

Next week's goals

This is going to be a little sparse for a while.

1. Figure out my next project
2. Get some words written
3. Record at least one video

The current projects are resuming The Novel, starting work on Fallen Heaven, or writing book 3 of Vay Ideal.

I'm leaning toward working on a novel because I think a published Novel will probably drive some purchases of the Vay Ideal books. Adding additional Vay Ideal books while I'm not really having sales on Vay Ideal yet is probably not a useful thing at the moment.

With my improved word count from Typewriter, I did a bit of work on both Book 3 and The Novel.

#ProgressUpdate #VayIdeal

Siempre es buen momento para ir cerrando el año anterior porque aún queda gente con las luces de navidad encendidas. En diciembre pasó una cosa poco frecuente y es que tenga apuntados más juegos con partidas en físico que en BGA, que últimamente sólo tengo abiertas un par de partidas a juegos más complejos que ya conozco, en lugar de novedades, así que este mes hay poco que rascar por ahí.

Al que más he jugado ha sido Carnival of Sins porque normalmente, tras la primera partida, la gente se pica y quiere, puede que con poco éxito, usar la carta de Ira de mejor manera (en un par de ocasiones eso me dio la victoria, incentivando un poco la risa de malvado, siempre en pos del juego). Seguimos con la campaña de My City, avanzando lentamente, y hemos empezado una a Dorfromantik Sakura, que pinta bien aunque aún nos quede una partida al Dorfromantik original. Probé Leviathan Wilds en solitario, y parece que es lo suficientemente sencillo de reglas como para que le dé más partidas, aunque creo que a más de un jugador, la interacción lo debe hacer más interesante.

En BGA, que he jugado el resto de novedades aparte de Dorfromantik, sólo puedo opinar sobre Popcorn, porque Arabella y Wandering Towers creo que no capté lo suficiente como para ello. Popcorn es un juego estratégico sobre llevar un cine y ganar dinero llevando a espectadores a ver las películas que debes ir renovando, a la par que mejoras las butacas de tu cine para ir aumentando el número de efectos que se van desencadenando. Tiene algunos aspectos que siempre se valoran como positivos en este tipo de juegos, como que haya una fase del turno que es simultánea, de manera que el juego no se hace largo, pero que tampoco están implementadas de manera que represente una novedad demasiado interesante.

Nuevos juegos probados

• Arabella
• Dorfromantik: Sakura
• Leviathan Wilds
• Miams
• Popcorn
• Wandering Towers

Tags: #boardgames #juegosdemesa

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, Titi. This week's subjects: Happy New Year, Ankara Reimagined: Blending African Prints with Power Dressing — The Accra Corporate Board Room Girl Edition, Dressing etiquette, Snowman, and Gold Coast Restaurant and Cocktail bar upgrades

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Happy New Year to all of you, may health be with you. I haven't made too many reflections on 2025, but what sticks out is that the economy is at a standstill, if you are in business and wanted things to grow then you could say it was a lost year. We're trying to grab some of the culprits, but even if we do it is not positive thinking. Pray 2026 gives a more positive vibe.

Ankara Reimagined: Blending African Prints with Power Dressing — The Accra Corporate Board Room Girl Edition. Where culture meets confidence in the boardroom. There’s something undeniably powerful about a woman who walks into a room wearing colour — not just any colour, but Ankara, that bold, unapologetic symphony of pattern and pride. For the Accra corporate girl, African prints aren’t just fashion — they’re identity, heritage, and a statement that says, “I can be powerful and vibrant at the same time.” Gone are the days when corporate wear meant dull greys and strict suits. Today’s Accra professional knows how to weave her roots into her rhythm, one print at a time. The New Corporate Power Look: Modern power dressing is no longer just about shoulder pads and monochrome suits — it’s about expression. In Accra, where creativity meets commerce, the corporate wardrobe has evolved. Imagine a fitted Ankara blazer layered over crisp white pants. Or a pencil skirt in a muted kente print paired with a silk blouse. It’s structure meets story — and it commands attention without saying a word. The key? Balance. Let one piece shine. If your Ankara skirt is vibrant, pair it with solid tones — think camel, cream, or navy. You want to say, “I’m bold, but I’m in control.” Print Meets Professionalism: Wearing prints at work doesn’t mean dressing for a festival. It’s about tailoring and tone. Choose Ankara pieces with cleaner patterns and softer palettes for a refined, office-ready finish. Earth tones, navy blues, and pastels make prints feel elegant and powerful — not overpowering. A structured Ankara jacket, for instance, instantly elevates a plain shift dress. Or try a high-waisted wax print trouser with a tucked-in chiffon blouse for that “I came to close deals and turn heads” energy. To be continued.... Dressing etiquette. I agree that walking into a night club dressed in a T-shirt and shorts and flipflops is not the way to go, but some seem not to know and must be told. And will be rejected at the door. But I wear flipflops till I get there and then change into my full 4 inches, no platform. And keep the flipflops rolled in my handbag. A bit of a worrying development is the searching at the door for weapons, makes you wonder what sort of people come there. And I wouldn't even know how to use a gun. So I happily stepped forward at SOHO, Marina mall (Airport City, Airport By-pass Rd, Accra), to be searched, first with something around me that made biiiiii, and then hands on check of my handbag. REJECTED. Flipflops in the handbag, whilst it strongly said no flip flops allowed. My mother taught me never to argue with fools because the passers-by wouldn't know who of the 2 is the fool, so I agreed to leave my handbag at the check point. And now I was allowed in, I had passed. You get into the club through a lift which opens directly into the club, which has limited lightening and a few king size machos to keep you out of the walkways. I haven't really seen where to get out in case of a fire when that lift would not work, pray all lights will go on and escape staircases clearly indicated in case of too much smoke. No flipflops and T shirts agreed, but some of the ladies were dressed such that I wondered if I was in a brothel, but maybe these days it is decent? Have to go back one of these days to make a proper evaluation but as for now it will not be my favourite haunt for 2026.

Snowman, Oxford Street, near the Osu Presbyterian Church, Accra. This is a creamery selling sort of milkshakes/ice creams with several branches spread over Accra. Snow Man is also a Japanese idol boy band founded in 2020 and with more than 20 million copies sold, Japanese style of creating entertainment. And then of course there is the original snowman, every child's dream, but I am told it is hard work. And there is the mysterious Abominable Snowman purported to inhabit the Himalayan mountain range in Asia. Many dubious articles have been offered in an attempt to prove the existence of this Yeti, including disputed video recordings, photographs, and plaster casts of large footprints. The Yeti, as it is called is often described as being a large, ape-like creature that is covered with brown, grey, or white hair, and it is sometimes depicted as having large, sharp teeth. But we just came for ice cream and had a strawberry delight and a “make your shake”, at 105 GHS each, which turned out to be very cold and creamy milk shake but quite nice.

Gold Coast Restaurant and Cocktail bar upgrades. 32 Fifth Avenue Extension opposite Afrikiko, Cantonments, Accra. Renovations were going on for months, one at a time, but it seems they've now come to the end and opened for the Xmas. Neat dining tables with plate mats and napkins, and a new price list that has to pay for all this, vodka at 100 GHC a shot and a virgin Mojito at 170. Popular is Tilapia à la Abidjan, 185. Yam fries go for 55 GHS, kebabs are at 20 GHC. You can find your way here but need to study before you order. And they have regular live music which makes things worthwhile. Service is prompt.

Lydia...

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I’m kinda broken about fascism. The tiny town I live in is indifferent, most folks thinking the big cities deserve what’s happening to them; most folks here are just ignorant. So, there’s not a lot of community within walking distance to be in community with over issues like this.

Ironically, if the supply chains all come crashing down tomorrow, I feel more secure with these people than half the leftists I’ve known.

But I couldn’t be at a vigil last night, I didn’t have a place to put that sadness and heartbreak and anger and fear, so I painted instead.

Getting somewhat better at gel plates – I think I need to reevaluate the paper I’m using. My mixed media sketchbook might not be the best option here.

Slædepatruljen

Reading the clocks and boulders For trips upon the chloe and land Third highest and under known A space to see the view Of Navy ships and current wonder From a place to know of wisdom here Thousands belted to there believe A prophet for the heavens And to unto this place called Danish A sovereign reel and we are proud For prodding first and orchestration Unruly to the fairness day Riding snow and proper here The forest of a plain in man Sore, sore, but truly on In fortune with a witness Currents lit and duly proper A place to here find out With to and there beyond the bog A sea is truly home The bay and the beautiful Expectants reap Four bowls for dog and man With Lytton space and married plan No hotel but time A fresh day on and pulsing chair The year is getting younger But far but better and mercy day A salience in ray The noon and valour can For piercing shine a sure And sun on skin with little hound a space to bow and round- The verdant was of this small world To froth in ocean be Fortune there and is for us Trains and car and bus A view in rod to see the seek Here asore but imbued in clear Fittings fjord and land To forest glen of over course The story’s longest night We’ll overturn- then intern our sun Repeat upon that hill Of southern north and wilding here The limerence and chill

JOURNAL 9 janvier 2026

À 20:30, on était dans le métro, séisme intensité 3, mais ça a bien remué. Les pauvres voyageurs se sont réveillés. Annonce du conducteur : on était arrêtés en plein tunnel. C'est jamais rassurant, on se regarde, on vérifie les portables, épicentre pas loin de tôkyô cette fois. Au bout de dix minutes le métro est reparti. La vie quotidienne dans ce pays tremblant, on ne s'ennuie jamais longtemps.

Ce soir kotastu, moi un bouquin et mon dictionnaire Larousse acheté d'occasion à Paris. Je l'aime avec ses illustrations gravées, certes il est pas très actuel (édition 1920 ) mais pour lire le français de l'époque c'est parfait justement. Pendant ce temps ma princesse entre deux sourires par dessus l'écran de son laptop tape nerveusement sur le clavier. chicachicachica Elle en a au moins pour une heure m'a-t-elle dit. On est pas couchées.

Début janvier, le moment est venu de mon rendez-vous annuel avec un nouveau roman de Philippe Besson, un auteur que je lis fidèlement depuis ses premiers romans au début des années 2000, même si mon enthousiasme pour ses textes a faibli depuis cette époque. Cette année, il s’agit de Une pension en Italie, toujours publié chez Julliard.

Milieu des années 60, en Toscane. Un été caniculaire. Une famille française en villégiature. Un événement inattendu. Des vies qui basculent irrémédiablement. Un secret qui s'impose aussitôt. Un écrivain, héritier de cette histoire, en quête de la vérité.

Philippe Besson revient cette année avec un récit autour d'un secret de famille qui concerne son grand-père paternel, autour d'un séjour de vacances en Italie au milieu des années 1960. Quand on connait Philippe Besson et son œuvre, le secret en question est assez aisé à devenir, et il ne fait d'ailleurs pas durer le suspense très longtemps. L'enjeu, ce n'est pas le secret lui-même, mais le déroulement des événements, leurs conséquences sur la famille, et la suite de l’histoire, pour les uns et les autres.

On retrouve le style caractéristique de Philippe Besson, avec ses tics de langage, ses effets de style maladroits, ses tentatives d'écrire du beau sans en avoir l'air. J'y ai longtemps été sensible, je le suis moins désormais.

Le récit lui-même est sans surprise, parfois un peu plat. Pourtant, la dernière partie m'a saisi au cœur, alors que je ne m'y attendais plus. J'ai refermé le livre en me disant qu'il reste dans l'écriture de Philippe Besson quelques traces de ce que j'avais tant aimé il y a plus de vingt ans, ou bien qu'il reste quelques traces de celui que j'étais alors, plus jeune, plus naïf sans doute.

Day 19 since the winter solstice. On this dark day, get to know your Soul for we are feeling like a bully shoved us to the ground and took our lunch money. Personal power and healthy interdependence lie in prioritizing spiritual growth so that we can stay open to each other even in moments of great emotional intensity.

Key emotions: startled, free, open-hearted, ecstatic, inspired.

This week I didn't actually highlight any new articles I've been reading, nor did I finish any of the four (?) books I'm reading at the moment. I am however, very busy with bunch of different projects, one of which I'd like to share.

Gas fermentation with an open-source bioreactor

Back in 2022 I wrote about open sourcing precision fermentation. While precision fermentation is about modifying microbes like yeast and bacteria to create products such as dairy proteins (whey, casein), fats or insulin, gas fermentation refers to using gases (e.g. carbon dioxide and hydrogen) as the main inputs to growing the microbes.

What makes gas fermentation interesting? You don't need traditional feedstocks (e.g. sugars from corn) and can basically grow stuff from thin air! In reality you need to get the carbon dioxide and hydrogen from somewhere, and green hydrogen is made using electricity. So if I'm growing protein using this method, I'd call it electro-protein.

At LabCrafter, we've been working with AMYBO on building an add-on kit for the Pioreactor open-source bioreactor to perform gas fermentation, which we're calling the electroPioreactor. AMYBO, Imperial College London and the University of Edinburgh recently received some grant funding from the Cellular Agriculture Manufacturing (CARMA) Hub to build an affordable aseptic version of the electroPioreactor, and we're helping them by supplying the hardware! It's still early days, but you can follow along on GitHub.

In more personal news, it's been snowing in Swansea this week! Even on the beach, for the first time in around 13 years I think.

Again, please get in touch in the comments if you have any questions or feedback!

The alley reeked of stale urine and shattered dreams as I spat out a molar—third one this month. “Had enough, pretty boy?” growled the Russian, his brass-knuckled fist glinting under the flickering neon. My rib screamed where his boot had connected. Behind us, the junkies placed bets with trembling hands. I grinned bloody. “Nah, just warming up.” The switchblade clicked open in my sleeve—a gift from Uncle Sam back in 'Stan. His eyes widened. Too late. The first slash sent his gold chain flying. The second made the pavement taste his vodka-breath. Classic Tuesday night.

#Scratch

I use Claude Code a lot; that was what I thought. But seeing the /usage from last week, there is plenty of room to use it even more. :D

Recently, I saw Clawd.bot, which is a personal AI assistant and looks promising. Let's see what use cases I can find here.

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84 of #100DaysToOffload
#log #ai #claude #dev
Thoughts?