Category: FWIW

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Obfuscation, a PERSEC Device

PERSEC, INFOSEC, even OPSEC: fields to consider when using one’s Internet-connected computation devices (including phones). VPNs, TOR browsing, defeat of various tracking methods etc., are some standard tools, but do not underestimate sowing disinformation.

For one small example, Amazon has a record of ~8,500 books I have “bought” for my Kindles. Of course, MOST of those are freebies, and an [undisclosed] number of those are books I have absolutely no interest in at all (though I do fake having read ’em by “jumping” on through til I reach the end). This ensures that Amazon will keep pitching books to me that I have no interest in reading, demonstrating the company’s lack of true knowledge of my interest areas. (I do download a lot of PD books elsewhere while in TOR sessions, though.)

That’s just an example. There are others. It cheers my heart whenever a company sends my junk mail addresses emails touting things that “will interest me” demonstrating that a particular set of disinformation has taken root.

And now you get to wonder what part(s) of this post is(are) disinformation. . . 🙂

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What Happens When I Cut My BP Dosage in Half?

Generally, about what I want. For example, today:

BP: 105/57. HR: 60.

Also, tinnitus noticeably quieter. Pulse/blood oximeter reading: O2 reading: 98; Pulse: 57. Of course, I had relaxed a bit between BP/HR measurement and oximeter readings. Oh, and I had two pretty good naps between last night and early morning, so more rested than I often am.

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News of the “These ‘Workers’ Are Crap” Nature

Twenty-eight years with “our” bank and. . . it may be time for a change. The “new” idiots running the teller positions took TWELVE MINUTES to cash a couple of checks. *smh* When they asked me for ID, I knew they HAD to just be stalling. Heck, I didn’t have to present a photo ID when I applied for a mortgage (long paid off). What is it with “workers” nowadays? (Sadly, our “good neighbor” who worked there for years no linger does, apparently as of just this month.)

How do they get these people? By looking for “workers” to fill middle management positions?

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Weird.

Hmmm. . . missed my BP med yesterday (rare, nowadays, but it happens). A few hours after waking this AM, still haven’t taken my meds, and BP is 104/68 (pulse 69). THAT is VERY unusual. What?!? Did I actually sleep last night? *smh* Mirabile dictu!

I’m-a need to watch this. . .

Sidebar: signed up with Jase Medical for a year’s supply of meds (emergency stash to supplement my primary care physician’s quarterly prescription). Of course, I cheated a wee tad.

one med is prescribed at a level 2X the dosage I need (long story short: new Dr replicated previous prescription w/o noting my ongoing satisfaction with half dosage – what I had been previously instructed to try out). I’ve been doing VERY well on half dosages of that med for 3.5 years, now.
other med: I submitted an OLD prescription (pic taken from the ONE pill bottle I had left from a previous dr that had some leftover meds from before that dosage had been cut in half by the dr) that was twice the dosage level of what I’ve been on for 4 years, now.

Result: one year’s emergency stash = up to TWO year’s supply.

And both the meds have a MUCH longer real world expiration date than the ED noted by pharmaceutical company. (See the DoD Shelf-Life management Program and supportive research from 1986 through 2012 and beyond.)

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Olde Pharte Memories. . .

Darned near everything I see nowadays reminds me of vignettes of the past, oftentimes many different memories of things related to the current scene. Just a couple of minutes ago, someone mentioned Punnett Squares and reminded me that, though we covered their use in 7th Grade Science class, they were missing from my sophomore high school biology class. . . in a different state and district (as was a LOT of the human anatomy covered in an 8th Grade Science class in that other district).

Yeh, when we moved (9th Grade), the schools placed me in “average kids'” classes, in order to make absolutely sure I was bored out of my gourd.

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Neighborhood Watch

[N.B. Sorta-kinda-halfway tongue in cheek?]

Home Made Mortars?

No neighborhood watch should be without one. Or five.

(For when the Felonious Barony of Iniquity parks 1/4 mile away before launching yet ANOTHER illegitimate assault on a citizen’s inalienable rights? Maaaaaybe. . . 😉 )

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Get ‘er Done

Finally got around to cashing in a gift card (Thx, MF-n-Will!). A book (naturally), and pantry organization things – coupla my favorite things). My Wonder Woman had been carrying it around for more than half a year, but never could settle on something she wanted to spend it on for herself, so. . . Took me all of five minutes. Mr Efficiency.

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Needed More Fiber

This is the largest fossilized human turd ever found

“The hefty deposit, measuring 8? x 2? (20 cm by 5 cm), was found beneath the site of the famous bank [Lloyds]in 1972. . .”

Hefty? *meh* Maybe by weight, since it’s fossilized. (warning: may be TMI) 8”x2” isn’t much at all. Mine are regularly 12” (or longer) “floaters” of a diameter easily 50% larger than 2”. Maybe I should “fossilize” a personal “floater” and put it up for auction. . .

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Not Sure If I Should “Yelp” This Weekend or Not. . .

Weekend and on into tomorrow, stayed (am still staying) at a once well-known resort in the Ozarks. Future stays here? A tossup, at best. *sigh*

Advertises stables and horseback riding o web site. Horses “on vacation.” (Markdown)
Confirmed reservation. Complied with check-in times. More than five hour wait for room. (Markdown)
Room: OK, special rate for conference (Markup) So-so accommodations and substandard details, REALLY noisy. Remote from all resort amenities, with one Post Polio person (they knew this) and LOTS of hills. (Markdown x 3)
Workers: pleasant and helpful (for the most part) (Markup) but institutionally hamstrung at times (Markdown)
Said the room was noisy? REALLY noisy “music” imposed on everyone in public areas making communication difficult and speech LOUD. (Markdown)
Super hokey décor mandated by new owners. (Markdown) Seems designed to appeal to low-brow, nekulturny rednecks (not the good kind of redneck; trust me on that. Markdown)

Still, it’s a conference for my Wonder Woman’s librarian association. Lots of fun folks, but the especially good thing is that I’ve gotten to spend more time with her than usual, even with her meetings and different lecture sessions.

Weekend as a whole: Mark WAY up even with the accommodation negatives. Would do it again (even at the overcharged, IMO – given the accommodation flaws – special rate), even if it were here. But NEXT time, there had better be horses!

Oh, I should add that while the bed was made by a prankster, the sheets themselves were almost as nice as on our bed at home. The pillows sucked, though.

Workers were uniformly as helpful as circumstances and resources allowed.

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Like Donuts?

Never go to the donut shop with the BEST donuts. You’ll be waiting for HOURS while the cops are on *cough* “coffee breaks” *cough*. (But when you are late to work, get behind a cop if you can, ‘cos he’s probably speeding to his donut break. NOTE: For several years, I followed a speeding HiPo supervisor to his morning kaffe klatch, so this tip really does work.)