Where Gratitude Gets You | #HiddenBrain #Podcast

Many of us struggle with self-control.  And we assume willpower is the key to achieving our goals. But there’s a simple and often overlooked mental habit
— Read on hiddenbrain.org/podcast/where-gratitude-gets-you/

I am totally a grasshopper. But a good thing to practice in the coming year is gratitude, rather than trying to guilt myself into a goal.

Posting to my #Wordpress blog this via the #Tooot #sharesheet in #iOS as a “publish immediately” post. The “draft” option in the #iPhone app didn’t trigger the #Mastodon plugin. It works from the desktop version but there’s a little checkbox that should always be ticked. The phone app doesn’t have that option.

Listened to this #HiddenBrain episode this morning, and I’m grateful for electric power, warmth, clean water, love, and a couple of simple gifts.

Jeremy Clarkson Not Fired, Shunned, Or Banished. Why?

Who wants to watch a millionaire who posts awful things, and is somehow still on TV and writing opinion columns? 

They need him down on his farm at Diddly Squat. 

Kevin Lygo says presenter should apologise for column about Duchess of Sussex that attracted record number of complaints
— Read on www.theguardian.com/media/2022/dec/21/jeremy-clarkson-to-remain-host-of-who-wants-to-be-a-millionaire-says-itv-boss

Elon Musk Will Step Down As Twitter CEO (and burn it down by proxy)

Oh boy, here we go.

Mr. Musk, who asked his Twitter followers on Sunday if he should step down as head of the service, will remain the company’s owner.
— Read on New York Times Gift Link 

Space Karen Elon Musk
My guess is he’ll pick someone guaranteed to offend everyone and to totally ruin the company. 

Think Jared Kushner, or Steve Bannon, or Alex Jones, or Kellyanne Conway (which would be awkward for George).

Harvey Weinstein…Wait, What?

There’s a bizarre detail about Weinstein’s anatomy at the end of this story. It’s a gift link, so you’ll be able to read it. Don’t read it at work or people on Zoom or in the next cube will look up and wonder why you’re gagging at your desk. 

A Los Angeles jury on Monday found Harvey Weinstein guilty of rape, forced oral copulation and a third sexual misconduct charge after a weekslong trial.
— Read on https://wapo.st/3G7Hz81

In Review: Macally Backlit Portable Bluetooth Keyboard for iPad Mini/Pro, iPhone

no title has been provided for this book

This is a review of a review plugin for WordPress.. It’s not a book… but it’s also a review of the wireless keyboard I’m trying to type it on. 

A year or more ago, I thought I’d be reading more books, so I enthusiastically read about 3 books and looked for a way to add stars and so on like I’ve seen on other blogs. 

The review plugin is called Recensio Book Reviews, and it’s a little too powerful for someone that doesn’t read as many books as she should.  But I’ve read a few lately and so I’ll keep it. 

Macally Backlit Wireless keyboard

The keyboard is a Macally Wireless Backlit Keyboard and it’s not very good. I should have gotten a higher quality one from the same maker or any well-known maker – the space bar is really hard to press and I have to pound it, sometimes multiple times. It’s really light and feels a bit flimsy, actually. Would not buy again if it breaks. It came with an extended warranty, but not really worth it. I went for price and the backlit feature. 

The full name is a mouthful: 

“Macally Backlit Portable Bluetooth Keyboard for iPad Mini/Pro, iPhone, Phone, Kindle Fire, Android – Universal 7 Backlit Colors Tablet Keyboard Mini – Small Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard”

Don’t bother, get a better quality one.

I’ll keep the review plugin, I could see using it more in the new year.

Tom Lehrer Songs And Lyrics Released to the Public Domain

Anyone for a little New Math, or Dead Puppies?

LINK: Tom Lehrer Songs

In short, I no longer retain any rights to any of my songs. So help yourselves, and don’t send me any money. THIS WEBSITE WILL BE SHUT DOWN AT SOME DATE IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE, SO IF YOU WANT TO DOWNLOAD ANYTHING, DON’T WAIT TOO LONG. TOM LEHRER

Choosing Between Lifeboats: Why Not Both?

Seth Abramson over on Post.news thinks everyone needs to run, not walk, to the lifeboats. I also added that link to the mini posts column to the right, since it’s easier to grab the link via WordPress’ “publish or draft post via share sheet” option.

Another story that’s been making the rounds on Post.news is the one about the steps you need to take to lock down your Twitter account and get your data. I had already downloaded my data but missed the window for grabbing it. I’m considering requesting it again before the end of the year and sunsetting my Twitter accounts, but Seth’s warning has added a note of urgency. 

I’m using both Post.news and Mastodon and liking both for different reasons. Post is still in beta, while Mastodon has been around long enough to have useful WordPress logins and an actual APP that formats well on both the iPhone and iPad – it’s especially nice on the tablet screen in landscape mode. I’m waiting for Post to catch up on the features side before coming to any kind of decision about committing to one or the other. 

So currently I have a foot in each lifeboat, so to speak, and although it’s a bit precarious, it all seems to be working. It’s a bit awkward having to manually repost everything to Post.news, but I could see hanging out there to do the blabbity news commenting and hanging out on Mastodon for more entertainment and community-building social interaction, since this blog now autoposts there. 

Both of them have their strengths and weaknesses as social media platforms – and both thus far are clear of trollish minions. Twitter, though, soon will be flooded with enthusiastic wannabe shitlords acting like huge flocks of soiled budgies flying out of people’s lavatories,  infringing on people’s personal freedoms. 

Mrs Premise and Mrs Conclusion Discuss Personal Freedoms

Probably best to start paddling the lifeboats somehow, or doing that thing from Mythbusters with the awkward aquatic shoes.