Collecting “money” like it’s a form of competition where they track “score”

reed is bad. Greed is a form of mental illness, more so when it exceeds some rational, logical levels (e.g. people trying to hoard more capital than they conceivably and meaningfully spend in their remaining lifetime).

Stuff has gotten more expensive and companies try to make us believe or compel us to accept that we need “apps” or fake “modernity” that does not enrich life in any meaningful way.

“When I buy something,” as ploum.net put it the other day, “from a small kitchen appliance to a car, I’m now forced to get formal confirmation by the seller that I will be able to use it without installing one, two or three different apps. I kept the count: in the last year alone, I had to argue against the installation of 18 smartphone apps. Just in my toilet, I’m supposed to have an app for the seat, an app for the flush and one for the ventilation.”

We already reached “peak s–t” decades ago, there’s not much left to enhance in a toilet seat. We don’t need “apps” there.

Then again, never underestimate the power of aggressive marketing. Or an employer or hotel manager or “landlord” (landlady also) who puts “smart” things everywhere.

I was recently reminded of the Mancunian band protesting for freedom and also against greed and hoarding (back in the 1970s and 80s). They’re all still alive, doing well, and well into their 80s.

They did “art for art’s sake” and enjoyed the art. “Money for God’s sake…”

Does “God” take your bank balance when your life ends?

No animal can eat datacentres

ears ago we used to buy sacks of seed like these, but later we chose premium (vastly better) seeds at a local market. Months ago the government asked people to lessen or altogether stop the feeding of birds, saying there was no need during summer. This was immediately refuted by some NGOs. I had this theory about grain shortages leading to that advice. Are we prioritising humans over all other living beings?

It’s no secret the planet is overpopulated (by humans mostly).

Anyway, months ago I noticed that many stores no longer stocked large bags of seeds for birds. Last month not even the largest stores stocked them. Was this a business decision or something else?

I still have my sources for sacks of seeds, but they’re not cheap, even if they’re better and less “official”.

There are already press reports about how the oil shortages, the wars, and the drought lead to a grain shortage, potentially driving hunger/famine.

The demand grows, so do the prices. Poor countries are not prioritised for exports and the weather leads to crop (agra) failures.

And they tell us we need more energy-hungry datacentres that drive climate change!

It makes sense.

e have entered a war in Europe. It’s not an overnight “thing” and there won’t be a formal announcement about it. Finland (NATO) is at risk and Germany also. As someone with a clue put it, “Russia Is at War With the West. Don’t Call It ‘Hybrid.’”

To quote:

If Russia attacks Europe, and Europe doesn’t call it war, is it actually a war? As the Kremlin continues to probe the West’s defenses, it’s clear that European leaders would prefer you call it “hybrid war,” hoping that the focus stays on the “hybrid” half of the equation and not on the “war.”

Last month, Russia carried out a drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany. One UAV was discovered before its payload could be detonated; a second collided with a cargo plane.

Meanwhile our government is asking people to stockpile supplies. I assume that in order to avoid panic is talks about climate and weather, but the message is clear: “As the British government plans a campaign urging citizens to prepare for national emergencies, Angela Eagle told the Guardian the likelihood of a wild winter showed the importance of keeping supplies at home.”

Do it. Before there is a rush.

Tomorrow

omorrow afternoon (3PM BST) the 3^rd league match is played by Manchester City, only days ahead of another tournament (Champions League) that ‘gets in the way’ with a difficult away match.

City or EnzoFC should be able to retain the top spot. After the Manchester derby? Who knows! That won’t be an easy battle the following weekend.

We still enjoy walking past the Pep mural. We do this about 8 times a week.

Still worth the effort

ross misuse of other people’s work (aka slop) did not kill blogging and choosing to blog here again (on a frequent basis) has paid off. Hence, I will continue doing so for the foreseeable future.

In recent years there were whole months without any blog posts at all.

Why?

I blogged elsewhere.

But for personal matters and non-tech topics I might as well make better use of this platform. It’s still being read despite many people no longer using RSS readers.

Be prepared

rowing up with many dogs, I loved dogs. Don’t get more wrong, I’m a “dog(s) person”. Years ago we thought about getting a dog ourselves. We ended up delaying and we only bought things for a dog, except the dog. Delays delays…

We have one neighbour with a Bully XL. I don’t like those dogs (the breed) because I don’t trust them. I’ll probably never trust any Bully XL, not just because of what I read in papers (they even murder their own elderly owners sometimes) but the actual ban on such dogs (and sometimes “culls” too). The UK identified them as unworthy of the risk.

I’ve had to mentally prepare for a scenario where this one Bully XL goes berserk and decides to attack me. I’ve decided that because this dog is short-legged and clearly overweight sprinting away from it would be effective enough; he cannot catch me and I can run for a lot longer before stamina becomes an issue. This Bully XL is around 60-70KG, it’s very short, and it’s just a “fat boy” basically. Second option is, hop on the roof of a nearby car. This “fat boy” cannot even jump over his home’s fence, surely a car would be “too tall” for him. Failing that, in case I need to wrestle such a dog, avoid neck bites or falling to the ground. Fatalities won’t be possible due to a bleeding leg or hand.

Of course they could just put a muzzle on this Bully XL. But guess what… of course they don’t and lecturing an old lady about it ain’t “my cuppa tea”.

Sounds obscene, it’s about money rather than local talent

he “Premier League sets new transfer market record with more than €4 billion spent” according the French broadcaster. “The 20 Premier League sides spent more than €4 billion this summer in the transfer market, setting a new record.”

Manchester City spent the most and it is already top of the league (table).