02:22 Zulu status update.
"Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?"
—attributed to The New Yorker
Not working has meant a great deal of anxiety. I've been more accustomed to being the benefactor of largesse rather than the recipient, but many people have made it easier for me by their kindness and generosity. bill has been doing his best to cover my rent since my savings ran out a couple of months ago. My friend Will has kindly donated a good working iPhone to replace my dropped and broken Pixel, Madison graciously donated a grocery cache (including a bag of a rather yummy dark decaf which kept me from insanity. I've planned a morning of yardwork for a friend which will hopefully put some gas in the tank and some milk in the 'fridge. I'm not starving but i can nonetheless hear the wolf at the gate.The buzzards are yet a way off and i am most grateful for that. I'm getting by, with a little help from my friends.
My wrestling with the iPhone is largely done; it works as a phone, and I can send and receive messages, including Signal messages. I still wish I could configure it to be more like my old Android, but I must not look the gift horse in the mouth. i'm even learning to appreciate elements of the phone and the OS but i'm still unlikely to become a convert to the cult of Cupertino.
I'm getting a lot of enquiries along the lines of "what can I do to help?" and to be honest the answer is to keep me in your thoughts. If you want to do something practical, my Amazon wishlist has many little things I would love to have, to help preserve my sanity as much as anything. Much of that list is books, which are always welcome, but there are household and tech things that would help me in the day-to-day. Rest assured that all gifts are welcome however, so if you have anything you'd like to send, my address is also available for the asking. Every gift carries with it the love of the giver; every day I bless the one who bought me coffee spoons, I get to thank you in my heart many times a day.
Meanwhile I continue to read a lot. Just now, Rudyard Kipling accompanies me quite a few places, and there's usually another book at my bedside (usually non-fiction). Today it's A History of God, a deep-dive into the Abrahamic religions' history, a fascinating and though-provoking read. Tomorrow, who knows? I've a few on my stack relating to Irish mythology and Celtic spirituality, perhaps one of those. I have the bad habit of having more than one book on the go, one "downstairs", one up. Books by Bruce Schneier and Steven Levy will eventually make it to my wishlist (hint, hint!) too.
It's embarrassing to be in this position, no-one enjoys this level of poverty. I feel a little ashamed but I'm learning that "he who begs in silence starves in silence" (Kim by Rudyard Kipling) so whilst I'm not begging, I'm at least throwing my wishes out there. The universe will answer or stay silent and I must accept both answers philosophically. Thus far the universe has been kind and thoughtful and I'm betting that I have attracted sufficient karmic merit to not want for too much. For those of you who've asked after me, thank you. Your messages of loving support let me know that I am seen; I am most grateful for that.
Coming Soon
I love to write for 'all, a good deal of my reading influences what I write here. I have some plans for: Linux/Unix file systems, how to choose and store coffee beans, beginning the Linux command line, BSD/Linux comparison, 502 Bad Gateway, Now We Are Six, possibly your suggestion here.
$ xclip -o | wc -w
629
_______________________________________
/ Today is Setting Orange, the 29th day \
\ of Confusion in the YOLD 3191 /
---------------------------------------
\
\
.--.
|o_o |
|:_/ |
// \ \
(| | )
/'\_ _/`\
\___)=(___/