@Rontuner said: 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.. No, no, no. The people are meant to starve to death or be serfs. There are already planned, deliberate population starving events currently (but let's not go there) and plenty of slavery, only entering our "reality" as packaged stupidity- i.e the notion of "conflict free" diamonds as a description of mining diamonds, when there is, in fact, no such thing as, "conflict free," when it comes to the topic of mining, in general, around the globe. What? Too cynical? A basic income is a great idea, imho, but let's recall that we're housing some few homeless in garden sheds and then engaging in rituals of virtue signaling. It's not as if our society is setting high bars.

I wouldn't want to be in any club that would accept me as a member. Oh wait...

Over the weekend I tuned in, more than once, to the YT channel, Richard McVeigh | Beauty In Sound. He played all the Hymns from a newly published Hymnal (741 hymns), on organ, for 28 straight hours with a few 10 minute breaks. It was broken into 3 live streams because apparently there's a 12-hour limit on single streams. It was pretty awesome. I like listening to the music of hymns, especially on organ. He did it as a fundraiser for his crowdfunding of a new semi-public music performance space. I especially enjoyed the overnight session, which ended up in the 2nd video. It was quiet, peaceful, and lovely. This is the 2nd video, the 1st and 3rd are easy to find. Link to video

Food for thought. Nothing more. Link to video

I have synthetic cartilage in my big toe joint. Maybe that will become suitable for knees and hips.

Facebook report. I can't get used to the site. Not only that but it was sending me notifications every hour. I looked on YouTube for how to turn notifications off. I've turned off every notification category. I'll probably keep the app for a few months. I'm pretty sure I won't benefit from access to it after that and will remove it. I don't know why Zorba hated it so much. I never asked him. I myself think it's very strange. As a child of the '70's we were raised in a time when you kept all your personal information and especially information about your children private. I know a lot of people like FB. I'm old school though in appreciating the function of anonominity vis a vis internet communication (socks and all that). I don't feel like telling FB to **** off but I can't get used to the idea either.

I'll get the cite for you, jon. No problem. It was some Bizzaro legislation but it happened. Apologize for the delay. Very busy, high stress in my house. I'll focus on it.

https://www.bentley-skinner.co.uk/brooches-pendants-lockets/55189-the-gigantas-pendant/ Wow.

@jon-nyc Because being judgemental is more fun?

I'm trying to stay away from political topics but this would be a fitting quote for him to engrave on his tombstone.

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.

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."