Misty

For a few moments this morning, my kitchen smelled like a bustling hometown cafe. Strong coffee. Buttered biscuits. Sizzle on the grill.

I'm back to square one on my bitcoin self-custody solution search. I watched Coldcard "how to" videos, but I'm still scared I'm going to screw that up somewhere. Like, really scared. I promise, I can follow directions (I write them for a living), but often the directions I'm looking at do not match the current workflow exactly and my intuitive choices in those moments can mess up a process. This is not something I want to chance. I opted for a Bitkey because I could buy it and have it transferred there in one step, *not two*. When it arrived today, I couldn't set up the app. Turns out my up-to-date phone does not support NFC. 😔 (It's less than a year old, I never use the NFC function on the phone, and I thought it just came "standard" like an option in a car, so I didn't think about it.) How do you buy bitcoin and have it go directly into a cold-storage wallet in one transaction? Ideally, that's the setup I'm looking for. #asknostr

The dog and I got caught in the rain. The slight drizzle turned into a downpour. I dried him off and he wrapped himself in his blanket. I've changed my clothes and am off for more coffee and proofreading. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest. Hearing the rain is comforting, just not 10 months out of the year. ☕️ ☕️

X is currently full of rage bait in all flavors, plus pieces passing as "informative" that lack critical information, mostly on purpose. I started building on X in the first year to establish a base. This second year, I was meant to attract subscribers or find clients. I know I can control how much content I put out and how many replies I make. The challenge I've consistently had is that many times, it is not worth my time to reply to many of these things. - people don't want correction - trolls are only interested in being trolls - reading comprehension is very, very low - you have to explain, declare, or disclose every little thing so someone might believe you - someone else already replied with what I was going to say, so why duplicate it? - Is what I'm about to add adding value? Before I get that far, my most significant energy drain is sorting through all the posts in the feed. I have multiple lists that screen out things, but even then, there's little I can add to the situation, or I cannot comment or interact with it because my followers may start seeing content I know they don't want to see. I have the mute list, but I need to make it longer. The whole point of the X account was to build a business. To do that, you have to play by the algorithm's whims. All I want to do is publish my stories, columns, and thought pieces regularly and get paid for it. You know, like a syndicated columnist used to. Enter Nostr. Now, we have a new dynamic, one returning to its original intent and roots. - Nostr = people following you is basically a person specifically flipping to the opt-ed section of the paper to find your column - Nostr = people gifting you sats is their way of appreciating your content without having to also pay for the sports, news, or business sections - Relays = the old-style distribution methods of the newspapers (concentrated regions with specific requests) It's nerve-tingling and exciting. But is it enough? I can always go back and get a regular job if I want. I didn't want to spend my life doing that, though. Of course, I will if I have to, but there has to be some redemption for the lost years. - Is publishing solely to Nostr that redemption? - Can I improve people's lives by sharing what I know, sharing my stories, teaching my skills, offering my services, or sharing random journal entries? - Can I get back to extra-long walks, writing everything down for the pure joy of it, and sharing my letters with people who are trapped to keep their hope alive? These are all excellent questions.

I'll be lengthening my mute list on X over the next week as terms come to mind. It's long already, but it needs to be longer. I'll be doing this at the expense of seeing some of the latest headlines, current news, politics, & passionate or scathing tones (even if rightfully deserved). If there are 6 million(?) active users on X then there has to be a greater selection of content to find and curate.

I just found one of my old #unfiltered notes that referenced the Department of Child Support as the *Department of Vampires*. I'll skip that one for now.

If someone has time to be a #bully or harass you online, one or more of these things are happening: * They don't fill their time conducting fulfilling activities * They may experience mental illness * They like staying in dysfunction or ignorance * They don't experience respect because of their current lifestyle choices * They obsess over a false sense of superiority * They possibly thrive off misery It has nothing to do with you. The bully might need a job, a doctor, or a hug, but not necessarily in that order. If you're the bully, remember you can seek help for your behavior.

My long-time girlfriend called. We were discussing the generally high tensions in people. Today, while she was in the grocery store, someone tried to run her over with a grocery cart.

Watching Waterworld. I've known about it, but I've never seen it.