In this endless push to create more cost-effective efficiency, (replace human workers) I wonder in the future vision for society HOW people are expected to survive and be parts of society? I know in the science-fiction world, it was often written that people wouldn't NEED to work anymore yet still had an active part and the means to follow their dreams. I'm not seeing much of that being discussed for our future..

Looks amazing. Off topic but I was thinking about Charles III's famous garden at Highgrove (Georgian FTW) of course now owned by William with the ironic and strange twist that on the King's Duchy there exists a revenue producing toxic waste dump with a neighborhood next door who have tried and tried and failed to have the environmental situation remedied while their health deteriorates. I guess the scandal now is that he isn't seen to be the Defender of the Church and William doesn't seem all that interested in the role. I'd like to have a garden but don't think it's in the cards.

I didn't, actually. "Can you afford it?" Well if I could, I'd be living there. On second thought, the library is perfect. The main thing I don't like is the kitchen island. I'd make it minimalist, change it to stone, make it parallel to the wall with the stove, get rid of the bar stools, and then put a rectangular table parallel to the island.

@CHAS said: Hope surgery is not needed. Also hope you recover soon. thank you! I have a follow up with the foot surgeon at the beginning of May, so we'll see...

Just took an online test for ADHD. Scored "Several signs of ADHD". No surprise have scored at the less than 100% level on casual tests before. So?

Alex Jones (on X) referring to the orange #*$&%(#: Yikes. “You’ve already shit all over me, and if you try to rub it in, I just, at that point, I don’t care anymore. So, if you think I’ve been coming after you. You think that I’m trying to attack you so I’ll get clicks from the Democrats who don’t buy anything from me and don’t like me and want to put me in jail? “If you think I’ve been on your ass, say one more thing. One more thing outta your mouth — and Laura Loomer, send him this — one more thing when I’ve gone through hell backing your ass cause you’re the lesser of two evils, then I’m gonna show you how the cow ate the cabbage. “You should be kissing my ass! But instead, you shit all over me and rub it in. I’m not looking for a fight, but if you want one, you’ve come to the right place. I’m going to politically throw you down the reactor shaft in like two seconds. “You think I’m intimidated by you Trump, the president of the United States? Do you think I’m intimidated by your hit teams and all the rest of it? Whatever, man. You got God to deal with.” – Alex Jones, on his podcast. Via Google: “How the cow ate the cabbage” is a Southern American idiom meaning to tell the blunt, unvarnished truth. It implies delivering harsh news or exposing how someone behaved badly.

Very nice.

WTF finally delivers the enlightenment I always expected.

Interesting. My brother has stage 4 bone cancer. My brother and I weren't in touch with each other. My father never told me. Looking back, it must have been diagnosed after my sister died. My sister-in-law (separated 14 years, couldn't accomplish a legal divorce by the time COVID hit by the time couldn't divorce her child's father because he needed health insurance, he just received Medicare, and they are finally getting a divorce...) told me people with his type of cancer usually die of co-morbidities like infections I didn't tell her this but I think she hasn't interpreted his heath situation exactly right. My brother refuses to talk about the details other than he did have a 5 day chemotherapy treatment during a 7 day NY hospital visit so I don't know them. I know by definition the cancer has spread to distant organs. Of course he could die with co-morbidities but the proximate cause of death will be cancer sadly. I love my brother even if he wasn't always good to my sister and me. He had a serious accident and traumatic brain injury including a 6 month coma when he was 16 or I think he would have been more sensitive and caring to his loved ones. I'm really hoping for him that he can and will improve his quality of life with his share of our inheritance. I want for him what I want for myself. No different.

Customer: "I want a refund please, HAL." HAL: "I'm sorry. I can't do that."

Yes, I'm ok. I'm walking a little every day and the pain is becoming less. I'm treating the wounds over and over so I don't get an infection. It's impossible to tell if the pain will go away completely. I have "aches and pains" from many times it didn't. I doubt I did any permanent damage. The real problem is there's something wrong with my right hip. I'm really lucky I didn't seriously injure myself. It was a close call. Thanks for asking, SK!

I have nothing good to say so I'm going to say nothing.

"U.S. birth rate continues to fall" https://www.npr.org/2026/04/09/nx-s1-5779627/birthrate-united-states-babies-immigration 710,000 fewer babies were born last year in U.S. compared with two decades ago The U.S. fertility rate continued its slide to historic levels, due to plunging teen pregnancies and far more women delaying motherhood into their 30s and 40s. In 2007: 4.2 million babies were born In 2024: 3.6 million babies were born

Wow!

A tucan was photographed in a tree in downtown Saint Petersburg yesterday. I randomly saw the post and the picture on FB today. I've never seen one. This is the first time I've heard of anyone seeing one.