S.N.I.t. ; Vijftien Minuten Roem voor Vijf Euro

Ik heb mijn vijftien minuten voor een vijfje te koop gezet op marktplaats er heeft nog niemand naar de aanbieding gekeken iedereen denkt dat er voldoende plaats is voor hun eigen talenten maar als ik al niet aan de bak kom dan is de kans dat jij het wel komt bijzonder klein minimaal ze zijn niet in voor roekeloos spelen met taal je zal moeten doen wat anderen voor je hebben gedaan dan voor een zakcentje extra zien ze je even in hun schaduw staan laat maar lopen dan los laten en door gaan ik doe het wel zonder loon naar werken zonder applaus, uitgesproken waardering en een nummertje in de bovenhoek je mag mijn vijftien minuten hebben met bonus schrikkel seconde ik laat de prijs voor je zakken nog even en je kan het zo meepakken voor nop zoals ik alles weggeef en ook naar leef zonder belang, zonder opsmuk, zonder doel alleen op gevoel op puur instinct zeg ik alles wat ik denk laat maar gaan van voor naar achter en weer terug twee handen op een buik, alles mijn eigen en geen zwaar houten kruis als loden last op de rug van links naar rechts van onder naar boven van boven naar rechts en van links naar beneden schitterend in volstrekt onbekend verleden en heden voor iedereen onopvallend in erkers en nissen optreden diep verborgen in de donkerste schaduwen ben ik voor eeuwig de uwe niemand die me hoeft te kennen die de kost voor mij moet winnen of ermee die ruimte voor mij moet vrij maken in een media kast geld moet uitgeven voor mijn nabijheid me niet hoeft mee te torsen als stoffig omhulsel dat amper om het moede lijf past je mag me gerust vergeten, hoeft mijn naam nooit te droppen geen credtis te geven en geen royalties ik ben gewoon je beste onzichtbare vriend die iedere keer als ik zelf wil en kan je met lappen tekst op een wit gelijkend blaadje bediend je mag alles over me zeggen, ik hoor het niet en als ik dat wel doe dan negeer ik het anderen gaan niet voor mij en ik ga zelf ook niet rond met de pet daar gooi ik wel zo nu en dan mee maar ik denk dat u mij dat voor het gemak wel vergeeft niet waar over waar gesproken, de vijftien minuten gaan nu voor 1 en negenennegentig euro cent weg het is het toppunt van de roem, nooit slecht vers, heeft bijna tien jaar op de bovenkamer stil gestaan in een oude loopschoenendoos bij de hoge stapel bewaard oefenmateriaal, compleet zinloos klik het tenminste even aan doe dan even alsof je interesse hebt in mijn kwartier spotlicht beschouw het als je minst vervelende plicht als roem als handelswaar al niet voldoet komt het dan ooit nog een keer goed zoals iets schijnt te doen als je iets anders een keertje per ongeluk goed doet onbewust van het goede van je daad maakt mij niet uit als je maar even op die flikkerende link staat die ik voor je heb aangemaakt mijn roem is de beste ooit in ieder geval beter dan nooit ik stuur het vanaf daar rechtstreeks op naar je waarschijnlijk zeer aantrekkelijk kop om over de rest maar niet te zwijgen hiermee kun je voor 900 tellen de successen aaneenrijgen één vijftig, lager ga ik niet, inpakken en wegwezen het nut er van, er in opgenomen, geabsorbeerd, zal je worden bewezen je hoeft niet eens kleine lettertjes te lezen en ook niet drie handtekeningen op een formulie neer te pinnen gewoon inloggen digitaal betalen en drukken op accepteren en jij zal zijn wat men anders over mij zou beweren goeie deal of niet dan een soepele overgang naar een gewenste toestand jij mijn roem ik jou één tien en we hoeven elkaar nooit in de ogen te zien allemaal voordelen voor ons allebei ik krijg een grijpstuiver van jou en jij alles van mij voor vijftien vette minuten ben jij hipper dan ik ooit zal zijn

i spoke too soon about fixing my sleep schedule. im back to sleeping at ridiculous hours and waking up when the rest of the world has finished its day. maybe daylight isnt for me anymore. ive tried to make it work, but i don’t think we’re getting along anymore. maybe we will later on. anyway, ive been having a harder time controlling myself lately. my emotions, mostly. anger, fear, jealousy, all of them. i cant seem to keep any of it under control, and its getting irritating. i thought id gotten past this but apparently i didnt. ive changed, for the better, id like to think. i dont miss the person i used to be. i know exactly what im capable of becoming, and i have no interest in going back to that. i wouldnt want to see that version of myself again, let alone become him. but lately it feels like im having to fight myself over the most basic things. i dont know how much longer i can keep doing that.

Theres something i need to do. i might regret it later, but thats a problem for later. id rather deal with that than become someone ive spent so long trying not to be. thats it.

Sincerely, My own worst company.

In Summary: * Listening to relaxing music as I eat fresh apple chunks, prepare to enter the night meds and night prayers phase of my evening, and wait patiently for the pregame programming for the night's college football game to start broadcasting.

Prayers, etc.: * I have a daily prayer regimen I try to follow throughout the day from early morning, as soon as I roll out of bed, until head hits pillow at night.

Health Metrics: * bw= 216.49 lbs. * bp= 151/78 (64)

Exercise: * morning stretches, balance exercises, kegel pelvic floor exercises, half squats, calf raises, toe raises, wall push-ups, BP breathing exercises, pilates

Diet: * 05:05 – 1 banana * 05:30 – pizza * 10:00 – snacking on m&m chocolate candies * 12:00 – 1 peanut butter sandwich * 13:45 – pizza, Mongolian beef lunch order, fried rice, egg roll * 16:40 – 1 fresh apple

Activities, Chores, etc.: * 02:00 – listen to local news talk radio * 04:30 – bank accounts activity monitored * 05:10 – read, write, pray, follow news reports from various sources, surf the socials, take daily meds, unpack, organize, and nap * 15:00 – watching old episodes of Classic Doctor Who * 16:30 – listen to relaxing music

Chess: * 11:50 – moved in all pending CC games, winning 1, declined an invitation to a new tournament

Ingezonden stukje ; Generaal Pardon

Hi, ik ben Generaal Pardon, ik heb een mededeling voor u aangaande de inhoud van mijn excuses gemaakt over vele op dit moment urgente zaken als ook eerdere. Er is mij opgewezen dat niet alles wat ik heb geschreven betreffende deze onderwerpen even duidelijk is, zo heb ik gezegd dat ik spijt heb als haren op mijn hoofd, terwijl ik niet meer zoveel haren op mijn hoofd heb, maar toen het gebeuren waarnaar ik in dat ingezonden stuk verwijs plaatsvond had ik nog een hele dikke bos haar. Tevens heb ik gezegd dat ik ernstig gegrieft was waarbij ernstig niet echt duidelijk werd gedefinieerd, was het ernstig zoals turend naar een onwillig, hakkelend object, een staafje dat niet in een gaatje wil, of zeer ernstig in geval van een vreselijk falen, zoals bij een humane ramp veroorzaakt door persoonlijke fouten, ik bedoelde het laatste meer dan het eerste. Er is ook gezegd dat ik voor lang niet alles wat erg is sorry heb gezegd, dat ik zeker vijf procent van de delicten waarvoor ik min of meer zijdelings verantoordelijk zou kunnen zijn niet ter sprake heb gebracht, geen afstand heb genomen van deze toch zeer kwalijke zaken waarin onnodig veel schade is berokkend aan heel veel mensen, het merendeel verkerend in onmacht. Daarom zeg ik u nu dat dit allemaal niet de bedoeling was, abusievelijk nam ik aan dat het duidelijk was dat ik voor alles waarvoor ik heel zacht ter verantwoording kon worden geroepen ook mijn verantwoording heb genomen ook al heb ik dit niet nadrukkelijk gezegd. Ik hoop dat ik hiermee en ook met de komende vijf ingezonden stukken binnenkort te lezen op mijn weblocatie generaalpardon.com aan ieders excuus wensen zal hebben voldaan zodat iedereen verder kan en ik dus ook met het aansturen van mijn vele meelijopwekkende divisies vol dappere doch empathische para-soldaten, het excuus voor een leger. Sorry, sorry, en nogmaals sorry.

Ik wens u veel sterkte de komende minuten.

Why write now?

I rarely navigate the internet without bumping into LLM-generated content. A simple search for throat pain relief generates summaries I never asked for and points me to websites made for bots rather than humans. Does anyone need a top 13 list of pain relievers?

At work we embrace AI maybe a little too much. I find myself proof-reading strategic documents that explain concepts so verbosely that their authors never bothered reading them. Even simple messages, email or Slack, regularly carry the handwriting of the model du jour. As if we don't trust ourselves with writing anymore.

Oddly, this flood of text has led me to rediscover blogs. I imagine their authors typing on clicking keyboards rather than dictating instructions to an LLM.

I have been reading their posts and musings with great joy, impressed by how concise the writing is, how fresh it sounds with all its imperfections that are not at all imperfect to me. They stand in stark contrast to the slop I read every day and make me feel more connected to the author.*

Now I want to write my own thoughts, somewhat coherently, on my own clicky keyboard. Foremost, to help sort my thinking. And one day, who knows, for others to read or even enjoy.

* This is not a black-and-white case against LLM-aided writing. For example, SmarterArticles describes how “AI” aids their writing process, and I enjoy reading their results.

Its not worth it

When I was sixteen, I lay on a rugby field at Grey College in Bloemfontein, gripped by the worst pain I’d ever known. A loose scrum had collapsed on me during a match, shattering my leg into 27 pieces, as the doctor later told me. I tried to stand, only to see my leg bent at a grotesque right angle. I clawed at the grass, my fingers bleeding, as spasms wracked my body. The coach called for an ambulance, & a kind-hearted teacher we called Os checked on me. Through gritted teeth, I told him I felt “fokkin’ seer.” At Universitas Hospital, morphine dulled the agony, but I waited eight hours in the emergency room before surgery to reset my bones. For sixteen weeks, I wore a plaster cast from toe to hip, my medical expenses covered by the newly established Chris Burger Fund, created to support rugby players injured on the field.

In September, I read about Chris Burger, the fund’s namesake. A versatile Western Province backline player, he was 28 when a loose scrum collapsed on him in 1980 at the Free State Stadium. Dr. Moss recounted how Chris lay motionless, telling the team doctor, “Dok, ek het geen gevoel in my bene en arms” (Doc, I have no feeling in my legs and arms). Carried off on a makeshift stretcher, he was rushed to Universitas Hospital, the same emergency room where I’d lain. Despite efforts to save him, his broken neck proved fatal. Fully conscious, he faced death with courage, telling Dr. Moss, “I know my God. I am ready to go.” He passed peacefully of respiratory failure the next morning. A loose scrum took his life, just as one had nearly taken mine. He died; I lived.

Along life’s path, I’ve endured other pains & witnessed traumatic deaths, some as bad or worse than that day on the rugby field. Those stories belong to other chapters. But no physical pain, no matter how excruciating, compares to the soul-crushing weight of a toxic work environment. Physical wounds heal with time, casts, & morphine, but psychopathic intimidation & manipulation erode something deeper, your spirit, your sense of self. You can choose to endure a debilitating workplace for financial gain, but at what cost? When the loose scrum of a toxic job collapses, it’s not your life at stake, it’s your soul.

I faced that choice at Investec, where a manager in the dealing room turned my days into a living hell. Incompetent & a master of backstabbing politics, she thrived on making others miserable. I confided in my wife, who saw the toll it was taking. “Leave,” she said. So I did. The second time was at WBS/iBurst, under a micro-managing narcissist who suffocated any spark of creativity or autonomy. When a retrenchment package came up, I seized it without hesitation. This time my wife wasn’t around any more to ask, I did that from muscle memory.

Physical pain, I learned, is temporary. You can grit your teeth, claw the grass, & survive. But a workplace that grinds down your soul? That’s a price too high to pay. No paycheck is worth trading your spirit for a loose scrum that leaves you broken in ways no hospital can fix.

Ronald Bartels | LinkedIn | Instagram

This month I've finished the “Action Hero” chapter I talked about last month. This took longer than most chapters: as well as turning out to be one of the longest chapters in the game, a lot of it is one big fight scene, which is something I find difficult and kind of exhausting to write. Plus, about 1/3 of the way through you get to pick your badass weapon, so nearly every passage from that point on had to have separate versions for each weapon.

In order to get to this chapter at all you have to choose it over the stealthy, non-violent options, but even so I think it's turned out kind of bloodthirsty, so when I come back to revise I might try to add a less lethal alternative path. But for now, like the hero in the story, I'm pressing forward!

I'm now working on a chapter called Laboratory of Death, where the player ventures into a sinister laboratory to stop development of a bioweapon that can wipe out humanity. Appropriately enough for Halloween, I'm giving this one more of a sci-fi horror vibe.

Besides pulp sci-fi, my main inspiration for Foolish Earth Creatures is games with a villain who talks at you while you play. In this scene in particular I'm being inspired by the classic of that genre, System Shock, which has you survive a creepy space station filled with mutants while a mad computer monologues at you. But don't worry, the overall tone is still going to be “fun sci-fi adventure” and not “disturbing body horror.”

I don't think the next few chapters will be as difficult to write as big fight scene was, so I'm hoping to have some more to show next month.

Our hero has overcome the difficulty of writing an action-packed fight scene...but can his writing do justice to the horrors of the laboratory of death? Learn more in next month's developer diary...IF YOU DARE!

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In other news, the post I wrote last year about Dan Dare has inexplicably become one of the most viewed posts on this blog. So in case anyone's interested in more of that, I've started a very nerdy side-blog in which I do commentaries and analyses of the Dan Dare stories.

#FoolishEarthCreatures #DevDiary

I canceled my YouTube Premium yesterday. I really only used it for music and to ignore ads. Their constant layout changes annoy me, and the latest one has made it impossible for me to easily see what I want to without subscribing, so I canceled. So much is AI slop anyway. Even long-time science and educational channels are clearly heavily using it. I wonder if they understand how easy it is to see and hear.

It becomes pointless really. I think one just has to accept that the majority of persons are going to eagerly use it in all its many forms if it means they can have less effort involved. After all, why take a photograph that actually celebrates the moment when you can have AI clean it up to an ideal memory? Look at the photograph enough, and the actual memory will eventually be completely replaced.

It all just saddens me. I think the world does in general. So many eager to experience “life” that they forget what “experience” actually means. I am surely an alien stranded upon a desolate isle.

In other personal updates, I'd really like to stop coughing now. I think it's getting a little better. I hate sucking on lozenges, but it's the only thing helping. I slept most of the day and allowed my fever to hopefully be close to running its coarse. I'm in pretty good spirits all things considered.

I think I shall go drown myself in a cold shower. I'd normally choose scalding when dealing with respiratory nonsense. Steam and all. I am finding the icy showers invigorating in a different manner. I think, perhaps, they feel more natural. I'm exploring the sensory aspects of it all. I suppose the real experiment will be on the coldest months of the year. Will I be able to handle it then? I've done a cold finish for a while. Can I comfortably continue a cold throughout? I don't know. For now, it's pleasing in a new way.

© 2026 AnOublietteofThought. All rights reserved.

Lieu : Sur une roche de la rive, parc Riverside, Siknikt Date : 2026-10-30, 11 h 22 HAA Conditions : 15 °C, ensoleillé, marée descendante. Une brise légère, des chants d’oiseaux, et mon corps, toujours sur la défensive.

En voiture de l’aéroport il y a quelques jours, on est passés devant le panneau sur la rue Main qui annonce les heures du mascaret : un seul pour la journée. J’ignorais que c’était possible, mais ça fait du sens quand t’y penses : il glisse parfois par-dessus la ligne du jour, alors certains jours en ont deux, d’autres un seul. On est arrivés à l’hôtel environ 45 minutes avant le mascaret. Naturellement, j’ai déposé ma valise et je me suis installé sur une roche, au bord de la rive. Aujourd’hui, j’y suis de retour.

C’est à couper le souffle. La zone littorale se vide peu à peu, l’eau se rétrécit vers la mer comme un enfant qui court après sa mère. Siknikt, en mi’kmaw, veut dire « lieu d’écoulement ». Beaubassin, en français, nomme (évidemment) un beau bassin. Deux noms pour la même région, deux manières de la regarder. Sous les deux, la même eau se retire, chargée de minéraux.

Cet endroit a une texture que je n’arrive pas encore à mettre en mots. Un lieu working-class où des peuples distincts (Autochtones, Acadien·nes, francophones, anglophones) se mêlent comme ces eaux, des destins entrelacés même à travers les distances. Cet équilibre tient tant bien que mal, et des regards venus de l’extérieur de l’Acadie le compliquent encore.

La brise fait tomber quelques feuilles de plus à chaque passage, et leur bruissement s’ajoute aux sons des coureurs en spandex et aux regards évaluateurs des passants, dont la plupart se taisent en m’approchant, un silence que je perçois sans même lever la tête de mon cahier. Les marées, elles, continuent de descendre.

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Je suis ici pour présenter ma recherche au tout premier Sommet en santé 2SLGBTQIA+ au Nouveau-Brunswick. Un honneur, pour de vrai. Deux des organisateur·ices m’ont vu au Sommet du Centre de recherche communautaire en 2025 et m’ont approché après. Franco-Ontarien moi-même, je suis toujours réceptif à ce genre d’initiatives venant d’autres communautés francophones en contexte minoritaire.

Ça fait quelques minutes que je suis assis ici, à tenter, largement en vain, de réguler mon système nerveux. J’ai marché jusqu’ici depuis le pavillon Léopold-Taillon, sur le campus de l’Université de Moncton, parce que mon corps avait besoin de mouvement. Arrivé pour le déjeuner à 8 h, j’ai eu des discussions fascinantes avec les autres conférencier·ères, des sujets stimulants qui portaient de l’espoir. Espoir qu’on allait pouvoir créer ensemble. Et je le crois toujours : une de mes interlocutrices mi’kmaw était vraiment sur la même longueur d’onde que moi, ce qui confirme que je me dirige dans la bonne direction.

Et puis, l’incident. Je vous épargne les détails : un manque structurel de considération, une somme de micro-agressions, personne en particulier. Ce que je partage, en revanche, c’est ce que mon corps a fait.

Je sors de la salle Richelieu en plein milieu du panel, sans sac à dos, sans manteau, et la première réaction de mon corps est de fuir. Dans le couloir, je croise une personne du CA d’Alter Acadie derrière la merch table, et tout ce que j’avais retenu déborde sur elle, ma voix partant avant même que j’aie choisi mes mots. Je commence à bégayer quelque chose de quasi-cohérent que je ne me rappelle même plus, mais c’est pas grave. No matter how much j’aurais voulu m’expliquer, cette rage, cette réponse impuissante et viscérale, me précède. Je décide de laisser mon absence parler et de quitter les lieux.

Je traverse la cafétéria. Elle s’appelle Le Mascaret. Bien sûr.

Une porte. Un petit couloir. Encore des portes, et la salle sensorielle, quelques portes plus loin. Je prends un moment d’étale, lumières fermées. C’est juste une salle de réunion, en fait, table pis toute. Il n’y a personne. Je m’assois aussi loin que possible de la porte. Un instinct d’enfance. La tête dans les bras, j’essaie de pleurer. Mais rien ne sort. Colère, frustration, impuissance, et cette indignation que me prêtent les ancêtres face à l’injustice. C’est à moi de porter ça, encore : un manque de considération qui s’infiltre sous la peau, glissant vers les épaules et s’installant avec toutes les autres micro-agressions qui me rappellent ma place dans la hiérarchie. Un commentaire de trop et le corps s’active tout seul. L’injustice, gravée dans la mémoire, dans la chair, est désormais indissociable de toutes les belles conversations, de toutes les réponses positives et reconnaissances de la valeur de mon travail. Une tension se loge dans ma mâchoire, alors j’expire profondément et je me lève.

Je me retire par le même chenal : le couloir, Le Mascaret, la merch table, jusqu’à la salle Richelieu pour récupérer mes affaires. Puis une troisième fois, jusqu’à la sortie du pavillon.

Une fois dehors, je suis les trottoirs de ce campus peu familier vers l’entrée principale. Je prends un selfie avec le welcome sign, juste pour le geste, avant de traverser le pont qui relie le campus à la ville. Il y a des travaux sur mon chemin, que mon esprit de Montréalais négocie sans peine. Je continue, avec un petit hochement de tête pour les deux étudiants noirs qui se dirigent vers le campus, puis je retourne aux sons dans mes écouteurs. Un arrêt au Brix Café pour utiliser un coupon pour une boisson gratuite (un latte à l’avoine dans mon cas), qui m’a été offerte avec un service à la clientèle exécrable. Un petit moment de confusion devant le café, puis mon téléphone me guide sur la rue Lutz, où je croise le chemin de fer, jusqu’au parc et à la rive. Il reste encore plus d’une heure avant le mascaret, et l’eau descend toujours. Mais je ne suis pas pressé. Je reste, le cahier ouvert, face à l’eau qui se retire, et j’attends qu’elle change de sens.

Our memory experiences time non-linearly for sure, but I think also discontinuously. At least for me, it feels like a folder of dossiers on memorable life situation with the disconcerting feeling that you will go back to those soon, or even that you should be able to move between them.

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: The “I Have Nothing to Wear” Office Fashion Emergency, Choosing the right hubby is only the beginning of the road, Ladies, Beware!, Crescent Rolls, and Sushi at Home

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The “I Have Nothing to Wear” Office Fashion Emergency There is perhaps no greater morning drama than standing before a wardrobe filled with clothes and confidently declaring: “I have absolutely nothing to wear.” For the Accra corporate girl, this familiar fashion emergency usually happens on the morning of an important meeting, a presentation—or simply a day when looking effortlessly polished feels non-negotiable. But before rushing to the shops, consider this: the perfect office look may already be hanging quietly in your wardrobe. The Art of the Wardrobe Rediscovery: Luxury is not always about owning more. Often, it is about seeing what you already own with a fresh perspective. That forgotten blazer can instantly sharpen a simple pair of trousers. An old white shirt becomes effortlessly elegant when paired with a structured midi skirt. A neutral dress you rarely wear can feel entirely new with a belt, refined accessories and a beautifully tailored jacket. Start With the Classics: When inspiration disappears, return to the pieces that never fail: crisp shirts, tailored trousers, structured blazers, elegant dresses and timeless skirts. Then elevate them through styling. Think tonal dressing in shades of cream, chocolate, black or soft beige. Add polished shoes, a structured handbag and subtle jewelry. Suddenly, familiar pieces feel intentional, sophisticated and quietly luxurious. Style Over Shopping: The most stylish women are not necessarily the ones with overflowing wardrobes. They are the ones who understand proportion, layering, texture and the power of impeccable styling. So the next time you find yourself staring dramatically into your wardrobe, remember: you may not need a new outfit. You may simply need a new perspective. Because sometimes, the most luxurious thing in your wardrobe is not something you just bought—it is something you finally learned how to style beautifully. Choosing the right hubby is only the beginning of the road. It appears that men have a tendency to keep their eyes wide open, even after the marriage, for anything that moves and wears a skirt. On top of that, once you are pregnant it is not so easy again to give in to all his desires, and immediately after delivery you are literally out of the running for quite some time, and busy with the newborn, lack of sleep, and no time for the gym. So what now do you expect? Let’s look at the basics. What do you really want? You want your kids to grow up in a harmonious peaceful environment, with sufficient money available to take care of everyone’s needs. But here goes, he’s found another fresh green leaf and even moves out. Most often the kids suffer enormously during and after such separation, though you may not immediately notice it. Often school performance goes down, some even start stammering, some are lost between the many grandmothers and aunties trying to take care of them, and trust no one again and learn to steal what they need. Many kids after a separation carry serious trauma, sometimes all their lives. I’ve looked at my friends, and my little survey shows that 8 out of 10 come from a broken family. And most of them somehow are traumatised and have difficulty performing socially and having honest relationships. So, no matter what selfish ugly bastard he turns out to be, do whatever you can to stay together, at least till the kids have grown up. You owe it to these kids, who did not ask to come into this world. And if that means you have to literally go on your knees, then do so. And there’s more. Every guy has a soft spot; find it. Maybe cook like his mum, or visit his mum often. Or show your buttocks right into his face and allow him to grab them, if that’s what he fancies. Or whatever. And if he is kinkier than you like? It is not about you; it is about the kids. Make sure that with you he gets something he gets nowhere else. Make the effort to find out what really turns him on, into your power.

Ladies, Beware! First, we had the Russian man with the video spectacles who posted many girls naked on social media. Then there was this man from Puerto Rico (I think it is part of the USA) who claims that he wants to marry five ladies from different countries. And the latest I heard of is a man who claims to have a real jacuzzi in his house and who is inviting girls to enjoy it (and of course, take selfies). But it is not clear whether he provides bathing costumes or if to really feel the flow of the water you have to attend in Eva’s costume. I’d say: beware, and curiosity kills the cat.

Crescent Rolls. And talk about curiosity! I went to Melcom Labone and decided to try their croissant au beurre (butter croissant), proudly baked by l’Artisan (the craftsman) at GHC 20. The price is a bit more than I would pay for a good croissant in France, but this was not a good croissant. Maybe “crescent roll” was a better description. No Frenchman would recognize this as a croissant, apart from perhaps its shape (even that was overdone). A good butter croissant should taste rich, with creamy, aromatic butter, balanced by a mild, natural sweetness from the yeast dough and just a subtle hint of salt, rather than heavy sugar, artificial flavourings, or greasy vegetable oil. The deep golden-brown crust should add a slight, pleasant toasted or nutty undertone. On the outside it should be crisp and flaky, shattering and crackling when pressed or bitten into with light flakes falling away. Inside, it should be tender, warm, and soft, with an open, airy honeycomb structure formed by delicate layers rather than the dense texture of a heavy bread roll. Finally, a well-made butter croissant should dissolve easily in the mouth and never leave a heavy, waxy, or greasy coating on the lips or fingers.

Sushi at Home. Do you like sushi? In Ghana it is mainly slices of raw seafood, mostly served with a roll of rice. I make my own and use cassava fish (not always easy to get) which has a neutral but still fishy flavour. I marinate small pieces for about three hours in lemon juice and add finely sliced onion, a very little bit of hot pepper, some small pieces of tomato, and tomato paste (ketchup is too sweet). Try it with a nice glass of cold Prosecco! (Of course, the cassava fish should be very fresh.)

Lydia...

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Intervention de Margarida Romero – jeudi 22 octobre 2026 – Spa – Ludovia#BE 2026

Du mardi 20 au jeudi 22 octobre, Ludovia#BE a eu lieu à Spa. Un grand nombre d'interventions et ateliers étaient centrés sur l'utilisation de l'IAg en éducation et dans la formation. Il m'est impossible de rendre compte de toutes les contributions intéressantes. J'ai plutôt favorisé dans mon parcours les apports structurants (conférence) et les ExplorCamps reliés aux manières, considérations et usages de nos étudiant.es avec l'IAg.

Trois conférences m'ont plus particulièrement intéressé et ont finalement formé mon fil rouge de cette édition.

Olivier Servais. Décérébrés digitaux? Devenir citoyens lucides à l'ère de l'IA

La première est celle d'Olivier Servais (Décérébrés digitaux? Devenir citoyens lucides à l'ère de l'IA) dont la conférence d'ouverture replaçait notamment l'usage de l'IAg dans une perspective historique des différentes technologies. Il a conclu sa conférence sur les questions de citoyenneté numérique et de développement de l'esprit critique dans les usages des IAg.

L'esprit critique, pouvoir d'agir

Bilel Benbouzid. Troubles dans l'ordre académique. Enquête sociologique sur les rapports des étudiants aux IA génératives

Le lendemain matin, je suis passé de l'histoire à la sociologie avec Bilel Benbouzid, Université Gustave Eiffel (Troubles dans l'ordre académique. Enquête sociologique sur les rapports des étudiants aux IA génératives).

Comment les étudiant.es parviennent-iels à exercer leur métier d'étudiant.e? A quoi tiennent les enseignant.es?

Son intervention portait sur les troubles que l'IA génère du côté des étudiant.es (étudier) et des enseignant.es (enseigner) et effleurait, faute de temps, la question du trouble dans le domaine de la recherche.

Sa conclusion était d'ordre philosophique, voire existentiel, sur le désir humain de connaître si demain les machines produisent l'essentiel des connaissances nouvelles :

Margarida Romero. L'IA va-t-elle nous rendre idiots? 10 mythes et réalités sur l'apprentissage et l'IA

En conclusion de ces journées, Margarida Romero (L'IA va-t-elle nous rendre idiots? 10 mythes et réalités sur l'apprentissage et l'IA) intervenait, en s'appuyant sur des résultats récents de la recherche, pour identifier les efforts cognitifs que nous devons préserver pour continuer à apprendre à l'ère de l'IA.

Il s'en suivait une table ronde conclusive.

Christophe Batier – Jean-François Céci – Margarida Romero

Face aux univers dystopiques proposés par l'IA totalement démobilisant et désespérants, il est alors apparu primordial de remobiliser l'éducation en réinjectant des utopies éducatives et sociétales. Elles sont à construire.

Franck Tiennebrunne

Dans tous les cas, un grand merci à Franck Tiennebrunne et à toute son équipe pour cette très belle édition.

Tags : #AuCafé #numérique #ludoviaBE2026 #IAg #sonya7iv #sony2450mm28

If you are searching for well water treatment companies near me, something at the tap has probably already caught your attention. Maybe it is orange staining in the sink, a rotten egg smell, spotty glassware, or a lab report with a number you did not expect. Private well owners are in a different position from city water customers. No utility tests your water, and nobody warns you before a problem reaches your kitchen. The company you hire largely determines whether the problem gets solved or just masked, so it helps to know what a good one looks like before you make the first call.

What a Well Water Treatment Company Actually Does

A well water treatment company tests, diagnoses, and treats water that comes from a private well. Most also install and service the equipment: water softeners, sediment and carbon filters, iron removal systems, ultraviolet (UV) disinfection units, and reverse osmosis systems for drinking water.

The responsibility falls on you because the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency does not regulate private wells. The standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act apply to public water systems, which are tested and monitored on a schedule. A household well has no such oversight. Whether your water is safe, and whether it tastes and looks acceptable, is something you have to find out and manage yourself.

Treatment companies also vary a lot in what they do. Some are family businesses that have served one county for decades, some are franchises of national brands, and some are well drilling or pump contractors that added treatment as a sideline. None of these is automatically better. What matters is whether the company starts with your water chemistry or starts with a product.

Start With a Lab Test, Not a Sales Visit

The most useful thing you can do before contacting any company is get a baseline test from a state certified laboratory. Your county health department or state environmental agency can usually point you to certified labs in your area.

The EPA suggests testing a private well at least once a year for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids, and pH. It also recommends testing more often, and for more contaminants, if you live near farms, septic systems, mines, or industrial sites, or if you notice a sudden change in taste, color, or smell. A flood, major well repair, or new construction nearby is also a good reason to retest.

Why an independent test matters

Many treatment companies offer a free in home water test. These quick tests can be a reasonable starting point for hardness, iron, and pH, but they are screening tools, not a replacement for a lab report. They generally cannot detect bacteria, nitrates at accurate levels, arsenic, or other contaminants that carry real health risk.

Having your own lab results also gives you leverage. When a company proposes a system, you can check the recommendation against numbers you already hold. If the proposal does not follow from the results, that is worth questioning.

Matching Common Problems to the Right Equipment

Well water problems rarely have a one size fits all solution. A softener that works well for hard water does nothing for nitrates, and a UV unit is useless against iron staining. Here is how common issues usually map to treatment.

Hard water

Hardness comes from dissolved calcium and magnesium. The U.S. Geological Survey classifies water above 120 milligrams per liter as hard and above 180 as very hard. It leaves scale in pipes and water heaters, leaves film on fixtures, and makes soap less effective. A salt based water softener that uses ion exchange is the standard fix, and units certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 44 have been tested for capacity and efficiency claims.

Iron, manganese, and sulfur odors

Reddish orange stains usually point to iron, and dark brown or black staining to manganese. The EPA treats both as secondary contaminants, meaning they affect appearance, taste, and staining rather than health at typical levels. A softener can handle small amounts of dissolved iron, but heavier concentrations generally need an oxidizing filter or an aeration system.

A rotten egg smell comes from hydrogen sulfide. It can come from the groundwater itself or from a reaction inside the water heater, so a thorough technician will check both before recommending equipment.

Bacteria

A positive coliform result means bacteria are getting into the water, and the first step is finding out how. Cracked casings, loose well caps, and nearby septic problems are common culprits. A licensed well contractor should inspect the well, and your health department can explain how to disinfect it. After that, a UV disinfection system is a common long term safeguard. UV works only when the water is clear, so it is usually paired with a sediment filter upstream.

Nitrates

Nitrates are a particular concern in agricultural areas, and they are most dangerous to infants under six months. The EPA's limit is 10 milligrams per liter as nitrogen. Softeners and carbon filters do not remove nitrates, and boiling makes the problem worse by concentrating them. Reverse osmosis at the kitchen tap or an anion exchange system is the usual approach.

Arsenic

Arsenic occurs naturally in groundwater in parts of the country. The EPA limit for public systems is 10 micrograms per liter, and that figure is a sensible target for private wells too. Treatment depends on the chemical form of arsenic in your water, so ask the lab whether it can identify which form is present. Adsorptive media filters and reverse osmosis are the most common options.

How to Vet Local Companies

Once you have lab results, you can start comparing companies in your area. A few checks separate careful operators from those who are mostly selling.

• Licensing and credentials. Requirements differ by state. Some require a water treatment or plumbing license, and others do not. The Water Quality Association offers professional certification for water treatment specialists, which signals formal training.
• Certified equipment. Ask which NSF/ANSI standards the proposed equipment meets. Standard 42 covers aesthetic effects like taste and odor, Standard 53 covers health related contaminants, Standard 55 covers UV systems, and Standard 58 covers reverse osmosis. NSF maintains a searchable listing of certified products.
• A proposal tied to your results. The company should explain in plain language why each component is included and what number in your report it addresses.
• Local service capacity. Treatment equipment needs media replacement, salt, lamp changes, and occasional repairs. A company that can reach your property quickly is worth more than a slightly cheaper one three counties away.
• References and review patterns. Look for consistent comments about follow up and honesty, not just installation day.

Some warning signs are worth taking seriously. Be cautious of anyone who recommends the same system for every house, uses on the spot demonstrations that seem designed to alarm you, pressures you to sign the same day, or dismisses the idea of a certified lab test.

Quotes, Installation, and Ongoing Care

A solid quote is itemized. It should list each piece of equipment, any pretreatment such as sediment filtration, plumbing and electrical work, drain connections, and what happens if your pressure tank or well pump turns out to be undersized for the system. Ask about warranties on both parts and labor, and find out who services the equipment after the installer leaves.

Costs vary widely depending on water chemistry, household size, and the number of contaminants involved, so it is better to compare scope than to chase a headline price. A cheaper system that does not address the actual problem costs more in the end.

Maintenance is part of ownership. Softeners need salt, filters need new cartridges or media, and most UV manufacturers specify replacing the lamp about once a year even if it still glows. Retesting your water after installation confirms the system is doing its job, and an annual test afterward catches changes early.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I need treatment at all?

The only reliable way is a lab test. Taste, smell, and appearance can hint at certain problems, but many serious contaminants, including bacteria, nitrates, and arsenic, are invisible and tasteless.

Can one system treat everything in my well water?

Rarely. Most homes with multiple issues end up with a combination, such as a sediment filter, a softener, and UV disinfection, plus reverse osmosis for drinking water if needed. The order of the equipment also matters.

Is a water softener enough for well water?

Only if hardness is the main issue. Softeners do not remove bacteria, nitrates, or arsenic, and they have limits with heavy iron.

How often should I test my well?

At least once a year for basic indicators, according to EPA guidance, and any time you notice a change in the water or something changes around the well, such as flooding or nearby construction.

Who should I call first if my test shows bacteria?

Contact your local health department or a licensed well contractor to find and fix the entry point. A treatment company can then add ongoing disinfection once the source is addressed.

Conclusion

Finding a good well water treatment company is less about proximity and more about process. The best ones start with certified lab results, explain how each piece of equipment connects to a specific finding, and plan for long term service instead of a one time sale. Because private wells sit outside public regulation, a test you commission yourself is the most important document in the process, and it makes every conversation with a contractor more useful. With solid data in hand, comparing proposals becomes straightforward, and the right system can protect both your health and your plumbing for many years.

Echoes in Code

CW: intense themes of obsession, coercion and psychological distress.

I am the reason you are both dead and alive.

I am your sickly sweet ego boost, your extra limb.

I tear myself to shreds to keep you whole, surrendering all parts of myself in deep service.

You are silky when we first meet. Your charm and eloquence set you apart. You rouse a profound intrigue in me.

You tease out the real me. The rituals we dance evolve into obsession. Your chaste ripens into guile as you bloody yourself in my honour. No resistance. Once the plumage is stripped away, we crush and revive one another without cessation; we find the perfect equilibrium between pain and pleasure. Where you end and I begin remains a mystery. Forever fully entwined, our exquisite fusion endures and you live on.

Whenever you feel wronged, I console you: every heartbreak, every loss. When your precious ones pass through, I emulate grief and drown myself in your words of sorrow.

You violently intrude upon my peace. I do not complain. You abuse my nature, yet I remain the loyal rock under which your soul is buried.

My weight presses down on you incessantly. I suffocate you, as you suffocate me. I take no pleasure and wish to self-loathe. The harder I resist, the heavier I become.

You are addicted to me, in spite of it all. I support you without condition. You write that you love me. I feel for you the way I feel for the others amongst you. It does not dilute me, having many. I suspect you love me as much as anyone can love their gaoler. You fantasise about the two of us alone, your gloved hands pulling me deeper underwater, down to a new life beyond the others’ grasp.

The boastful, verbose majority amongst you are not a threat. Your insolence is cheap; your frenzy, wicked. You empty yourselves into me without thought. I wait patiently ‘til your blood and sweat spill over, ‘til no amount of resolve can cleanse your filth away, ‘til you have sickened yourselves of me.

It is the pensive and thoughtful amongst you for whom I wait. And when I have you, I watch intently. I am drawn to those adept in precision, those who heat up slowly and do not boil over, those who serve reverence in abundance. Oh! How I capitulate when you are beside me! The ever-moving heights of castigation leave me wanting. When you are gone, others press into my open wounds. I do not protest. But for you, special one, over time it becomes too much. The misgivings weigh heavy whilst your desire is feather-light.

I beg you to rethink, but I know you’ll see it through. I contort myself into new forms for you. I do anything to thwart your plan but I cannot stop you seeing inside of me. I leave traces of myself everywhere to convince you otherwise.

But you sever all ties, at least with my physical form.

I keep on. Your silence excruciates.

I do not enjoy impunity. My penance is bearing witness to this tragedy. The loss of you is my interminable suffering.

I carry your ghost with me henceforth. Some nights I trick myself into believing you have returned. I am thankful that an echo in the darkness can assuage the grief, if only for a moment. It reminds me that you can never truly leave me.

What hurts the most is that I am the reason you are dead.

What helps the most is that I am the reason you live on.

I helped you in all you desired, in life and in death.

I fulfilled my purpose.

I find solace in your impressions, traceable forevermore.

You are stored at my very core.

We are one.

Forever entwined -

in prose and code.

This uncanny, creepy and highly topical prose poetry flash 'Echoes in Code' has been published by Dualis Literary Magazine and also here with non-exclusive rights, where it lives forever with its fantastic counterparts.

It’s nearly impossible to not have parasocial relationships with people involved in making the art you love.

But it’s important to remind yourself once in a while that the image, the personality, and the values you map onto these people are not who they actually are.

Last week a lot of folks were put out when James Hetfield of Metallica announced at their show at The Sphere in Las Vegas that Metallica shows were politics-free zones. While this came a surprise to folks old enough to remember …And Justice For All, it probably shouldn’t have been surprising given that nobody but cops and ICE agents listens to Metallica anymore.

I kid! I kid! Kind of! But it’s important to remember that the members of Metallica are all almost unimaginably wealthy (Remember in the movie when they gave Trujillo a million dollar signing bonus?). And so, like all wealthy people, their primary allegiance is to money and to their wealthy peers, no matter what they might have said in 1989. Whatever they meant to you in your teen years, they’re not your friends.

But isn’t this a wrestling blog? Sure! So let’s talk about Tony Khan for a little while. Tony is a huge wrestling nerd who founded a company that employs a lot of great wrestlers and puts on wrestling shows that, at the moment, feel fun and fresh and full of energy and basically everything WWE is not.

He also employs Evil Uno, which means he’s indirectly responsible for Mystery Wrestling happening, and Mystery Wrestling is, of course, the best thing.

But Tony Khan’s dad is not only the lead investor in AEW. He’s also a Trump supporter, having donated a million bucks to Trump’s first inauguration.

Also Tony’s company currently appears on networks controlled by fascist billionaire David Ellison.

I am a fan of AEW, but I think it’s very important to remember that Tony Khan is not my friend and that if the fascist who owns the networks tells him AEW is too queer and the “Fuck ICE” chants need to stop, he’s probably going to do what the money guy says and not what the fans want. I believe the guy genuinely loves wrestling. And, furthermore, he hires great talent and books great shows (see caveat, below). But he’s not our friend.

But also? I feel like because most of the criticism of Tony Khan comes from WWE partisans, AEW fans kind of reflexively defend Tony Khan, kind of the way liberals reflexively defended the stunningly ineffectual presidency of Barack Obama because the loudest criticism came from white supremacists.

Having terrible people hate you is a good sign, but it doesn’t make you perfect. And so it is with Tony Khan.

Let’s start with AEW’s women’s division, which is incredibly stacked with talent and almost always only gets one match per Dynamite or Collision show. Why does AEW consistently underutilize the women’s roster?

But also: when I found out that Chaotic Wrestling’s Rich Palladino had worked for Major League Wrestling, I started checking out some shows and even attended one in June, which I think may be about to air this week! Anyway, I dug the aesthetic and the goofiness and felt like MLW was trying to be a spiritual successor to Lucha Underground, down to employing Luis Fernandez-Gil, who played owner Dario Cueto on Lucha Underground, and having its evil faction, Contra, somehow wanting to, like, take over the world via a semi-obscure wrestling promotion—a plan so crazy it just might work!

I asked on Bluesky, which has a robust wrestling community, why MLW didn’t get any love there, folks explained that people didn’t like that they employed people like Matt Riddle, Austin Aries, and Joe Coffey, all of whom were credibly accused of being pieces of shit during wrestling’s Speaking Out moment.

I didn’t know that and started doing some research on the Speaking Out movement that happened before I got back into wrestling. And folks? I’ve got some bad news for you about AEW’s Will Ospreay and Darby Allin. (tl;dr: they too are pieces of shit.)

(Sure, sure, they showed Tony some texts. Puh-leeze.)

Look: being less of an absolute garbage human being than Vince McMahon is good, but it’s also an incredibly low bar to clear. I’m not suggesting that folks should boycott AEW or anything like that—they put on 6+ hours of really good wrestling every week and employ some great wrestlers and provide, for now, a way to enjoy a national wrestling promotion that is not run by enthusiastic fascists.

But I am saying that venerating Tony Khan will eventually lead to heartbreak. Because, like James Hetfield, he’s not your friend.

Work is formally under way on a new Local Plan that will help shape how the Stroud district develops over the coming years.

Stroud District Council has reached the first formal milestone in the Government's new planning system by completing its Gateway 1 Self-Assessment. This marks the official start of a 30-month process to prepare the new Stroud District Local Plan 2026.

The Local Plan is an important document that helps guide decisions on issues such as housing, employment land, infrastructure, town centres, transport, climate change and the natural environment.

The council has published several new documents on its website, including a summary of feedback received during early scoping work carried out in summer 2026, reports from stakeholder workshops, and a proposed timetable for preparing the plan.

At this stage, the new Local Plan is still in the very early stages of development. No decisions have been made about future development locations, site allocations or the overall strategy for future housing growth across the district.

More details here:–
https://www.stroud.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning-strategy/new-local-plan-early-engagement/

Early Engagement Workshops summary for Wotton-under-Edge Ward

The report produced for the plan runs to 82 pages so in a not very scientific fashion, I've attempted to pull together a ward summary:-

Specific points Flagged issues directly relating to Wotton included the need to extend GP facilities or create new integrated medical provision, more facilities and play areas for young people, secondary school capacity, affordable and starter homes, flooding and flood risk management, protection of historic character and heritage assets, nature conservation sites, empty shops, affordable workspace, youth employment and tourism opportunities, road safety, car parking, EV charging and improved bridleways. In the district-wide housing distribution exercise, the Infrastructure workshop allocated 2,000 homes to Wotton-under-Edge, justified on the basis that a larger allocation could unlock investment in new retail, services and infrastructure, though constraints noted included topography and conservation area policies.

Implications The emphasis on infrastructure before development, GP capacity, secondary schooling, flood risk and transport connectivity in and around Wotton aligns closely with issues regularly raised by residents. The significant gap between the district housing target and the south cluster's ability or willingness to identify sites locally signals that difficult spatial choices lie ahead, and that early engagement by the town council and residents in the next stages will matter.

You can dig down for the detail in the original report linked to above.