Technology has become much too complicated as well as intrusive. All of this is much more of an energy sink than a convience. It also (electronics in appliances and devices, and cars, unfortunately) has a clear (and severe) tie in with planned obsolescence. I started using Android for the simplicity of it, the easy to understand and use software interface. Motorola has added so much bloatware to my phone since I bought it that it's not the same phone now. It also changes the user interface in numerous and random ways every matter of days (not weeks). Its battery is starting to drain progressively faster for the maker's purpose that a phone with a sealed battery (or every phone) is on a downward glide path to becoming inoperable (when otherwise it would last for many years). This is one time I won't mind it. I hate this phone with a passion.

Bob Dylan meets with Pope Leo at the Vatican. [image: alt text] https://www.euronews.com/2026/11/04/bob-dylan-meets-pope-leo-xiv-in-the-vatican-with-music-faith-and-a-rosary-gift

@AdagioM said: Dates are delicious! But be careful, they can have a laxative effect. Go slowly if they’re new to you. I'm a fan, too! But I love all dried fruits....plums (formerly known as prunes), apricots, and figs. Dried fruit compotes are common in the cuisines of many countries. We Lithuanians always have "kompotas" at the Christmas Eve meal. Bunch of dried fruits, some water, honey, cinnamon stick, and lemon. Simmer for a bit so everything softens up and the flavors meld together. So delicious! But definitely can be laxative....

She’s forgetting we’re basically insolvent. There won’t be another new deal or great society in our lifetimes. But I agree that we need a big tent strategy

I’m liking it. May the bull market continue as it has after every recent midterm.

There was more going on in Ohio than just Trump. The imperial GOP thought they owned us. They've neglected public school funding which was ruled unconstitutional by SCOO almost 30 years ago, plus a few scandals. Then their unfortunate choice for governor took the whole slate down. Hubris. I voted for as many Democrats as Republicans this year, maybe more. Plus an equal number of Libertarians.

Hart To Hart. Late 70's.

No worries, Bernard. The people have spoken!

The market has seen fit to...? This market of which you speak seems imperious. It doesn't seem to rest on a solid foundation nor to factor in the matter of the relation between the individual and society in neither an economic nor a social sense. Why would one assume the military should be privatized? There have always been mercenaries, but leaving this aside, how could a privatized military have an allegiance to a constitution? This is a rhetorical question. It couldn't. Our Constitution contains the provision that the military is under civilian command. This person's adventures are inconsistent with it. Also, this person's father's fortune, and his own, were built on literal slavery. It's a mining fortune held by apartheid fascists and slave owners. And, this is to say nothing about this person spending hundreds of millions of dollars to buy US elections. IMHO, "oligarch who wants to take over the world" is a good theme for comedy, but not so much of a good idea in real life.

Hope Johnson gets quite a spanking, not the kind he wants, but one that hurts nonetheless.

I'm so dumb! The dental office was having an all day Halloween costume party. I don't celebrate Halloween plus I can be somewhat too literal at times in social situations if that makes sense. I failed to notice. This was the day of my initial appointment. I thought the receptionist was a security guard. Hahaha! She was very beautiful and charming too which didn't help matters. Omg.

OMG! I think a lot of people (including my mother!) kind of try to do something in return to scammers, and I’ve done that thing where you just respond to every question with a different question back at them until they hang up. (It’s kind of funny tbh!) So this is a good reminder that just hanging up is probably best! Yikes!

A great date in those teenage years for when headlights are approaching.

@RealPlayer said: too clean, sterile side. Yep, I think that's what I'm hearing and of course @adagiom 's comments. @AdagioM said: It would be interesting to ask your uni tuner if he tunes the Fazioli. I know that he doesn't any more, because he is fully retired, but I don't know if he used to. I also don't know how long they've had the Fazioli, but for some reason I think it's somewhat recent. Anyway, I'll ask the next time he's here. @rontuner are you semi-retired now or still keeping a full schedule? (my memory is semi-retired?) How many pianos do you think you see, or used to see, a month?

@bernard You wrote- "Once-in-a-while I'll get a McDonald's 2 cheeseburger meal but not for the quality of the food, for nostalgic reasons. Fond memories attached to my first visit to a McDonald's when I was in high school." That's my favorite too and you've just made me realize why I still eat it (although I'm swearing it off). It's comfort food for me. Except its current engineered version is having the opposite effect on my body. It makes me physically uncomfortable and even sick. Well how many time do you have to touch a hot burner to know it will burn you? I think I've finally reached my limit. I'll achieve 50g protein today- I got up, couldn't focus on eating, went to my appointment, got home, stated making protein drinks. I've made the 3rd one with 10g this time. I have to take a break. I can't drink it now. I ate a variety of food yesterday. Today had to concentrate on protein.

I was out in the woods in a cabin, no trick or treaters out there!

@wtg said: @AndyD Love the rectory. The interior space is very inviting and I love the gardens. Three months in spring would be nice there. Three in summery Dublin. Then three autumn months in Japan. And three winter months in Penang I've pretty much finished the house and can plan my retirement properly