now ads free

If there were still any regulars they would have noticed that the ads are no more on this site. The blog loads faster now.

After a long run of nearly 20 years I disconnected from Google AdSense. There was enough in there for a modest cashout. There was no realistic path to the required AdSense cashout level so I just closed the account to get what was in there and call it good.

The original dream from 2005 was to hopefully pull maybe $30 a month blogging for dollars. That dollar a day dream never materialized. Back then 30 a month would have been material. See debt. Today I'd rather have an extra 30 than lose 30 at the end of each month but as of this moment I'm fortunate it doesn't make much difference one way or the other.

Onward and upwards. There were a few regulars for a few years. The site never generated much search engine traffic for whatever reason. Blogging had a good heyday. Blogs were a bit sadly kind of displaced by social media Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. This site will live on demonetized.

Working on Sunday

My dishwasher hasn't been working well lately. A busy repairman said he was fine to come by on a Sunday to look at it. Usually I try to take it easy on Sundays and avoid work. He had a bit of a point that it was him doing the work

The dishwasher has been on the fritz at my townhouse. I rent, the landlord is pretty good. She got her repairman Johnny in touch with us.

We went through his checklist. Check the spinner arm works and isn't clogged. Run hot water before and during. Fill the rinse aide. Tried…

— argc (@tookalito) February 1, 2024

survivors bias and nervous breakdown

I grew up believing that nervous breakdown was very rare, and being on the verge of a nervous breakdown was somewhat common. Years later I wonder if nervous breakdown was more frequent than I believed.

When I was young going to church they sometimes did this thing called testimony. In testimony people in the congregation could stand up and talk for a short time about their experience with God in their lives.

A theme I noticed back then was some would describe some difficult…

— argc (@tookalito) January 12, 2024

The Russian front

There was an interview on CTV News a couple of days ago. The talking head felt that if Russia won in Ukraine, then this was just the first phase in an eventual Russian invasion of Western Europe. The Ukrainian supporter theory was that the West should thus bring greatest effort to the Ukraine conflict. I thought about this a bit and what the West perhaps should do at this point at the end of 2023 and into the beginning of 2024

if the West is to fight Russia, as Ukraine supporters claim it will have to. if Russia indeed plans to conquer Ukraine and then continue into Western Europe. what is the best strategy. if this is inevitable

it seems logical to figure out where and when the fight should be in…

— argc (@tookalito) January 1, 2024

themes for 2024

I didn't set out to write an end of 2023, New Year resolutions for 2024 post. It just kind of came to me early on Christmas morning.

I awoke at 4:26 on Christmas morning. I’m older now, was in bed before 10 on Christmas Eve.

Too early to be up. Nothing to do but lay there. During that time between awake and asleep some thoughts crossed my mind. Eventually I drifted back to sleep. When I awoke Christmas Day… pic.twitter.com/ZY3PM02oXD

— argc (@tookalito) December 27, 2023

returning to work after being retired

Lately out and about I've noticed older workers in the stores and restaurants. I wonder if they are previously retired and now have to return to the workforce in their sixties for financial reasons

in the last few months I’ve noticed more older people, well into their sixties, working at retail and restaurants.

mostly older women and some older men. perhaps sign of these times people having to come out of retirement to make ends meet

— argc (@tookalito) December 22, 2023