It's that time of year...

...Or in front of it anyway.

Emma is the best subject a photographer could ask for, she loves to strike a pose,

The box is very roomy, Emma approves.

She likes to hang out in the palm tree.

Cat in the Box. about to pop out... In the tunnel again, except this time she's ready to attack.

...As cats do.

Working at home, sitting in my office chair. Emma comes in, gives me a quick tail rub around the legs, I reach down and pet her once, and she walks out.

She does this a few times a day. I'm not sure if she's reassuring me, or herself. I guess it doesn't really matter. ❤️

It's sort of like a box...

Mornings this time of year, I go around the house opening the windows, and they always follow me and want to check each one out.

PayPay, in particular, seems a good target for consumer action. Just saying...

Maybe this is too nerdy for this group. I got an OpenWRT ONE router, replaced the old TP-Link one I had. The bad press got to me. The new one is fast, I could not believe how much faster things like downloading files is now.

The worst part was that I had picked out a complicated password with lots of punctuation, and typing that on phones and on-screen keyboards for TVs and game consoles was painful.

Also I pinged Google, and got an IPv6 response for the first time.

I can't figure out why: usually it's because I've been doing some dirty job, working on the car, planting, etc, but I have not been doing any of those things.

Obviously for Northern Hemisphere folks here. Where I am, it has been mostly below freezing, a little snow but not enough to pe pretty or good to play in. It's mostly indoor activities. I work out at the gym, play board games, have random get togethers with friends. What do you do?

I went for a haircut today. My usual barbershop has closed down, the owner retired, and the guy who did me went to another shop, that was closed today. So I went to a new place. I only asked for the usual, #4 buzz cut on the head and #3 on beard, but nobody else was in the place, and they ended doing everything they have: buzz cut, razor around the edges, hot towels, neck massage. Almost an hour in the chair.

Felt a little hustled, but it was not that much, and I did not say no to anything. I think it was a promo by the shop owner, they want me to come back. I will be in front of a lot of people next week, so does not hurt to look as good as possible, and I did enjoy it. Probably won't do it all the time, though.

I, personally, like to take the opportunity to express aspirations: not just trying to stop doing things I feel are harmful, but also to try new things or practice positive things more. A couple from me:

• Avoid sarcasm when dealing with people, especially strangers, it does not go over well when they don't get the joke
• Do something positive, helpful, and non-criminal to counter the right wing political trend. (granted, this one needs more detail)

How about you?

I figure it's about 50-50 for me. People buy some ridiculous things as gifts, mostly out of desperation to buy something.

These come in several categories:

• WTF: the giver is clueless or even malicious
• Other people's aspirations: gifts they think will make you a different, "better", person
• Meh: no explanation necessary
• Hmm: seems like a good idea, just not for you

...does that make me ineligible for this channel?

A while ago, I bought a purpose built knife sharpener appliance, on impulse, immediately, after seeing an ad. The sort of response that advertisers dream of. Have not regretted it. Dull knives are annoying to work with.

Darth Vader: "You are in command now, Admiral Plett"

Plett: (nervously) "Thank you, Lord Vader"

Another (US, yes, other cultures feel free to substitute your own here) Thanksgiving. I don't really enjoy turkey, I have food issues anyway, feasting is very conflicted.

Then, there is the enforced extended family togetherness, the clueless rightwing folks carrying on vs the suffering vegans. Everyone expected to be happy. This is almost beyond cliché, but it's real, happens every year.