I don't know why I'm pissed off at Canada and the falling of it. I mean, I made so little money this year it's not going to cost me anything, really. I mean, other my kid's future, my hopes, and all the beliefs I grew up with... But financially it's not gonna cost much at all. Especially when adjusted for inflation. Ain't "democracy" grand?!

How is it that I've fallen down a toaster rabbit hole? Coolest old tech: Sunbeam Radiant Coolest current: Dualit Coolest Japan is on another level: Mitsubishi Single TO-ST1-T That I even post this is your sign to follow up why.

So the US is looking at requiring 5 years of social media history and selfies for those requiring a ESTA visa. That would include my wife. The fact that Japan is even on the list of ESTA required is nuts. I hope they like posts about wine and dogs! In all seriousness, I don't have a problem with this requirement (and every country should be doing this). If you PUBLICLY post material that indicates your spite for a nation, threatens a nation, wishes harm to a nation, then maybe you shouldn't be allowed into that nation? F'n Canada not only has let terrorists in, but gave them citizenship! And then busted them for a bomb threat where they were going to hit downtown Toronto! Maybe we need a bit more security on our own country?

"the perfect condition" does not exist. It's the spontaneity of the result that brings joy. The emotion in the soul is real. The memory of that moment is the true value. We lost so much when we went from film to digital. Quality took a dive. Analog processing from how we treated the negatives to printing in the darkrooms was a real art. Now, anyone can take a picture with their phone of a mountain and edit them but none will approach the power of an image crafted by Ansel Adams. That's not to dismiss any value from digital but to point out the cold, missing element. Faking further with AI slop is a step further. And as to "your daughter won't flip through your photos"... I just found pics of my Great Grandfather and GG Grandmother for sale on eBay! We have photos by my grandfather who was a professional (ie paid) photographer on our house. Great art needs to be recognized. View quoted note →

I'm starting to fear that the only truly sovereign are the dead, and, unfortunately, they're dead.

Well... I'm back. Back for good dont care if anyone sees this or not. What pushed me over the edge this time? Sick of the whining, complaining, signalling, and inaction. Oh... And then there's this: Grok has been apparently scrolling and feeding on private messaging? I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

Life achievement unlocked! I managed to keep from new, and use till through, a classic Bic pen! How many of you can say that?

Thanks for the cheaper sats!

Productive day with the teenage son. Taught him how to walk mount shelves and we installed a security camera system. Anchor bolts, drilling into masonry, mounting, levelling... And then we got on to staining some wood. I told him how it's done and then let him attempt with some adjustments and demonstration after he attempted. No one taught me that as a kid. It was all trial and error (pre-youtube days) or a neighbour. More than the work done was the sense of accomplishment he displayed.

Taken just now. Was attracted to the song it chirped as I enjoyed a beer in the backyard.

And for those wondering maybe what happened to Thomas Paine after his death? Well, his worst enemy turned obsessive admirer dug up his body and robbed his grave!

The Library of Congress

The Bones of Thomas Paine | Headlines & Heroes

They dug up the body in the dead of night. Men armed with shovels and pickaxes extracted the coffin and fled into the October darkness. Authorities...

You may know Thomas Paine from his most important work "Common Sense" but the rest of his life is one seriously incredulous story! This is highly recommended. Why has no one made a great movie about him?

Father's Day Eve is just another excuse to beef. Marinated Flank Steak later addi g some zing on the plate with some Churrasco. But you all just get the freshly sliced pic.

Hey @Brad Mills it's getting close to time for you to introduce Jasmin Laine to NOSTR. She's coming around on the Bitcoin talk and you did well to introduce it to her. With her 150k followers (almost none commented about btc) just keep dropping it in and more will wake up. Maybe more of the old school ethos is just what she, and they, need. Maybe a "how to get started" and a collab with Francis would be good? Just some thoughts! I was so stoked to see the last appearance you did with her.

It's weird not living under the current "global reserve currency", the USD... So when people get all excited about $110k... And then you check and see it has not made a new ATH in CAD (or Moosesheckles) it's just kinda, meh. Like, we're actively cheering the death of the USD while for some reason the CAD is lagging in dying breaths.

Just read an article that ascribed the term "iconic" to my phone from 2021. The Galaxy S21U. Ok. I mean, is 4 years old with of "iconic"? Those indestructible Nokias from the 90s are iconic (and STILL work). Those Blackberries were iconic. The Motorola Razer and Startacs were iconic. Don't get me wrong, the S21U is a great device... But iconic? Nah.

Upon further reflection on the election in Canada it is more clear than ever what we have is a battle of the classes. The Libs gerrymandered Pierre Polievre's riding with Ottawa Libs (formerly Kanata riding) mostly CUPE and OPSEU union Ottawa bureaucrats whose roles were being threatened by the Cons along with higher immigrants who became Canadian citizens in record numbers and were thus able to vote. The urban centres were filled with much the same and more of the "Laptop Class" and "boomer class". They fell like sheep to the "elbows up" rhetoric (I door knocked and it wasn't pretty). On the other side you had all the "boots class" be it Police Unions, Boilermaker/Pipefitters/Electricians... Etc and they turned previous red riding blue (red is Liberal and Blue is Conservative in Canada). So we got a battle between bureaucrats, laptops, and boomers VS essential trades, small and medium business, and youth. Remember when during covid what was essential was permitted to continue working and all measures were taken to protect the bureaucrats, laptops, and boomers? Sure would be a shame if they all laid down their tools now and walked. I foresee a very strong battle brewing and I hope it's with wallets and feet more than anything else.

Debating uprooting the family from Onterrible. Here's the thing: it ain't gonna be easy. I got a kid who wrapped up first year university. I got another who's doing well in highschool and is popular, girlfriend(s), straight As, job, and in a band. It's a social development special time. Wife has a good job. I have a good business. We have three passports but really only two that could be used effectively. Hey Trump! Abolish the IRS and you'll have so much reshoring of capital from dual citizens you'll get that carving on Rushmore. We could go overseas but are not really in the financial position to live to the same standard, yet. I'm now in serious discussions, like many Canadians, to move to Alberta. It's been years of thinking this (shoulda done it decades ago). But only if it remains independent. Again... IRS is no ones friend and they have global reach. Whatever decision gets made it likely won't be until our hand is forced.

There's been lots of pontificating about why Pierre Polievre lost the election and lost his seat. Few know what really happened and even fewer understand the Canadian cultural makeup when they give their opinions. Blanket fact is that he lost. No excuses. Hey, you know what? Trump lost 2020. Maybe cheating/rigging but still HE LOST. He didn't have a seat. He had a movement... but no official presidential seat. And what happened next? 4 years of battle in the US. You can pretty much believe that's what's going to happen in Canada. And while we wait for the next election, whenever that may be (could be called as soon as the budget is tabled so we're talking months or it could be up to four years from now) the conservatives need to get their ground game ramped up. Also, Pierre needs to dump ALL of his advisors. He went from instinctual pit bull pivoting to pussy once the election was called. Dump the slogans only speeches. We know when you go of script because you sound human. Challenge and pushback against the BS non matter who you're talking to. I mean, for gawd sake, you sloganeered your concession speech! Don't pander to the TDS Crowd. It makes you and us seem weak. Your first approach, cooperation for mutual growth and enrichment (you know, like Danielle Smith) was a banger. Fuck the TDS Crowd. Call them out. Call out the media for pushing fear to drive engagement. Be honest. And go back to glasses. That's who you are. Maybe it's your shield but you were fearless with the glasses. And that's who we supported

Breaking MSM's grip, the centralized messaging concentrated into the hands of the few corporate overlords is key to a truly free nation. The tools, like Nostr, exist but are used by such a small percentage. X has its algorithm. Reddit recently got busted for bot experiments being run on its platform. Meanwhile the average person consumes corporate TV at home, gets fed corporate radio on the way to and from work, discusses corporate talking points around the water-cooler, and sees corporate messaging everywhere else. Unless you're in Canada... Then it corporate with partial or even fully tax payer subsidies thus ensuring the govt maintains its messaging. Oh, the youth? They like TikTok and that ain't different. But here I am on NOSTR preaching to the already aware.