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Showing posts from October, 2025

Preparation Day

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Slept in. Journal post work. Laundry. Lunch. Photo shoot prep. Leland's laptop and astronomy book prep. Belo Retrato book and positioning page work. Met Michael, Mary, and Tim at Squirrels—child rearing late in development, in particular financial responsibility. Andromeda meeting with Steve. Greatest Controversies—whether Christianity was an "illegal" religion. Star Trek—good and bad sides of Kirk. Woke in the middle of the night, watched the Late Show.

Unexpected Impact

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SESIG with Larry—motorcycles, home energy systems. Deer hit car from Imagine Coffee—broke mirror housing, dented fender, still drivable. Merrique didn't find feedback useful. Cliffe progressing on KAI, needs to schedule pitch. Insurance claim—Caliber Collision, State Farm, phone, online. Lunch with Karen—daughter's wedding, decluttering complexities. Photo shuffling. Minecraft warehouse rework—project-focused model. Suds to test mirror repair, talked to Aaron. Zoom with Bob—tech debt, energy systems, security tools. Greatest Controversies—apostle stories. Hogan's Heroes. Star Trek. Late Show. Sleep.

The Entity Emerges

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Feedback for Merrique on Patreon site. Breakfast at Wise Cracks with Dan and Zelda. Applied the feedback to Merrique to my own site. Spent the rest of the day refining the Belo Retrato Photography plan. Walked to Suds with Tim, Jack, and Brian. Pizza there, Brian's ride home. Greatest Controversies then sleep. Woke at 11pm, had trouble falling back asleep. Got up, refined the Belo Retrato plan more. Eventually went back to sleep. A planning insight: Belo Retrato is not just me—it's an organization, an entity composed of component entities. A collaboration of a human (me), two AIs (Claude and Firefly), and significant model contributions. Recognizing this transforms messy into powerful. Great to be part of and even to lead a team. Hopefully the plan goes somewhere.

Bill Wickes' Lessons

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  Lessons Surround yourself with smart people Nothing stays the same Watch for the changes Be light on your feet

Bill's Binary Stars

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Cleaned kitchen, cleaned mushrooms, prepared for Philomath Salon. Lumos Winery to see Debi's art. Vinwood Taphouse for lunch. Market of Choice for salon snacks. Photo shuffling throughout the day. Philomath Salon—learned about Bill's early astrophysics career, binary star measurement device, time around Nobel Laureates, later HP career. Pretty good evening. Dan and Zelda staying over. Got things mostly cleaned up before bed.

Partial Print

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Slept in, vaccine hangover. Photo work—image ready to print, ran out of ink mid-print, ordered more. File copying for hours. Signed up for Aria's TinyBeans. Greenhouse Coffee + Plants—good service, tolerable vegan options, terrible Saturday parking, archaic metered system. Replied to Bob on Nate Hagen's deadly sins—sixth is anthropocentrism, seventh contradicts it. Dennis on contrasting epistemologies. Planning Friday shoot—window light portraits, composite overlays. Repository reorganization. Storm, backyard tree survived. Beautiful partial print. Tim at Suds, party that wasn't happening. Finished Brazil, Greatest Controversies, part of Star Trek.

Vivid Rainbow

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SESIG in the morning with good turnout. Ginger's to look at trees she's giving away—downsizing, many plants need homes, adds urgency to garden planning. Dizzy Hen breakfast on way to Safeway—delicious, reminded me of grandmother's cooking. Safeway for flu and COVID vaccines. Pizza and beer with Brian and Tim at American Dream. Home for nap. Very rainy and stormy day. Photo work—repository reorganization and print portfolio. On the way to Suds, most vivid rainbow seen in years. Met Michael, Cathy, and Tim at Suds. Groceries from Winco on way home. Watched Brazil. Feeling the vaccine hit this morning—not very functional.

Portfolio Progress

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Morning routine and email processing—entertaining Portland invasion video from Ian, sodium battery prompts, book on aging reference from Rajeev, Nate Hagen video from Bob Taylor. Cliffe no-show at 10am. Factor meal. Using The Brain as OneNote replacement—OneNote doesn't work well on MacOS. Leland's laptop work, setup Foo Minecraft server. Noon to 2pm Planet Fitness and errands. Photo work highlight: portfolio book of physical prints coming along well. Garage work during Lightroom processing. More photo work until 5pm. Minecraft progress stymied by reworking the warehouse. Yoga. Greatest Controversies explored Revelation and apocalyptic literature—genre conventions, barely canonical, two millennia of failed end-times predictions. Star Trek featured ESPers. Hogan's Heroes involved bombing ball bearing plant.

Forged Documents

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Productive morning clearing tasks—kitchen cleanup, home energy planning, outdoor work installing hose hanger and cleaning decks, laptop repair, planting prickly pear and transplanting window plants. Minecraft building a replica Home Depot. Catching up with Patrick. Walk to Tacovore for beer and queso, saw Donna, groceries at Winco, checked Ace for broom hangers. Photo work. Beer and pizza with Steve at Suds discussing AI and Andromeda objectives. Greatest Controversies revealed up to half of New Testament books are forgeries. Star Trek's Charlie episode unwatchable. Hogan's Heroes scheming to keep Klink commanding. Evening call with Christopher—MRI results show brain tumor, likely OHSU surgery soon. Tough but addressable with good medical team. 16,000+ steps. Grateful for friends, challenging problems, and the resources we have available in our society.

Anonymous Witnesses

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Morning SESIG with John, Jim, Will, and Tom. Call with Ian and Emma about UK trip takeaways and ponzi-scheme economics in private equity and AI. Lunch with Christopher and Aolani—Christopher awaiting test results. Photo processing, first print. Beer with Tim at Treebeard's hearing seafaring tales. Minecraft progress on Home Depot. Yoga. Greatest Controversies revealed gospel anonymity—attributed authors likely illiterate in their own languages, texts based on distant oral accounts by unknown Greek-speaking authors decades later, four gospels chosen for poetic symmetry. Early Christian tradition lacks credible foundation. Faith/fact separation creates ongoing problems.

Two Different Religions

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Yesterday brought airport pickup for fog-delayed Cathy allowing sleep-in, photo work at home, driving to Suds discussing Minecraft with Tim, Brian, and Jack. Deaken's birthday dinner with Sydne and Dakota, seeing Sage there. Heard about Sydne and Dakota's protest Saturday followed by rude treatment at Tommy's revealing political inclinations—Tommy's now off my list. Evening Minecraft then Greatest Controversies exploring how Jesus and Paul taught entirely different religions, Jesus possibly not recognizing what Christianity became. Western society offers little moral pride—limitless examples of institutional bad treatment perpetuated by misinformation.

Shopping Philosophy

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Yesterday began at Greenhouse Coffee + Plants downtown—good coffee, great service, quiet ambiance with lots of plants—where I wrote a blog post on shopping philosophy: not anti-business but not supporting distasteful behaviors. Photo work at home hit a rough transition with the start of a new Claude chat that provided overly involved editing advice with poor results. Tacovore lunch with pleasant server Malika, salad half brought home. Progress on Leland's laptop software installation. Walked to Suds for beer with Michael and Tim, Tim providing ride home. Evening watching Sirens with leftovers—wonderful movie showing humans getting caught up in irrelevant things, entertaining pushback, few humans having clues.

Where I Shop: A Values-Based Approach

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Shopping as activism isn't much different than showing up for a protest. Your individual contribution is pretty small. It's only really effective in aggregate. This doesn't imply that you shouldn't be part of the aggregate—just don't overrate your personal influence. So why bother?

A Few Mushrooms

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Yesterday began with early rising and photo editing, then mushroom hunting with Larry—neither haul nor bust, just a few mushrooms and fun tromping through the woods. Pizza and beer at Benny's, dropped Larry off, met Michael at Coffee Culture about publishing his short story book which will help resurrect my publishing flow. More photo work at home, learning from Claude interactions, discovering dodging and burning needs tablet not mouse. Evening binge-watching My Favorite Martian—ancient sitcom proving more interesting than expected, Uncle Martin's wise vulnerability creating morality tales rather than pure comedy.

Portfolio Living

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Friday brought SESIG discussions about technology, energy, trade policy, personal plans, and education. Photo editing consumed the bulk of the day, interrupted by beer at Squirrels with Brian and Tim, then Suds with Michael, Mary, and Tim. Queen's Chopstick provided delicious spicy pork and vegetables. Evening brought Tw's blog link questioning retirement—20th century expectations of dying shortly after 65 versus today's reality of 30 more years meaning another whole career. As photographer, publisher, IT specialist, consultant, philosopher, social coordinator, retirement feels less like an ending and more like a different funding model.

Mushroom Hunt

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Yesterday morning brought file copying, photo work, Leland's laptop configuration, and Minecraft between tasks. Afternoon mushroom hunting after overpriced Dirt Road lunch yielded few edibles but many other types and potential photo spots. Return drive offered gorgeous golden light—bright low sun, clear sky with wispy clouds, golden trees—unphotographed but pleasant. Evening work on Joey trilogy Patreon posts interrupted by stiff yoga, then Greatest Controversies comparing Jewish versus Christian Messiah beliefs, Hogan's Heroes sneaking Hitler's assassin list and spy extraction via balloon.

From Consciousness to Wings

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Yesterday began with coffee and Jim exploring entities and qualia theory after IT discussions, moved through file transfers and Minecraft waiting periods while assembling a laptop for Leland. Picked up Deaken from school for a nice chat, went to Suds for beer, shared wings with Mark. Evening TV brought Bette Midler on The Late Show, Greatest Controversies exploring Jesus' resurrection, and Hogan's Heroes episodes—one with fake war ending, another with Klink's romantic engagement. Hochstetter didn't appear until third season but quickly became regular—interesting character evolution.

Qualia: An Exploration of Subjective Experience

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Inspired by a fascinating conversation with Jim over coffee, I continued to explore the topic of qualia with Gemini. The following paper is the result of our collaboration.

Conversations vs. Yoga

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Yesterday brought SESIG discussions about solar power systems and photography gear, then flaky networking issues consuming most of the day in frustrating IT struggles. Did laundry, played Minecraft, but couldn't get out for a dedicated walk. Late afternoon conversation with Ashley about his current work proved so interesting that I skipped yoga. I ended up going to a Burner gathering at El Palenque instead. Evening TV included the current Late Show episode, Greatest Controversies exploring Pilate's role in Jesus' death, and Hogan's Heroes. Sometimes compelling conversation trumps physical obligation.

The Quiet After

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Yesterday began with early waking and cat struggles over routine disruption, moved through hanging out with kids before their departure, then settled into domestic restoration—picking up, IT systems work cleaning Mac backups and reorganizing photo storage, fixing the toilet, doing laundry. Worked on a Mika photo set, walked to Suds for a beer with Tim, Brian, and Jack, Brian providing ride home. Evening brought Minecraft and usual TV including Greatest Controversies asking whether the Jews killed Jesus—the conclusion was no they did not. Just a typical day, the kind that follows big gatherings, house slowly returning to its normal rhythms.

The Aunties Arrive

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Yesterday brought Sam's breakfast burritos, my sisters arriving early afternoon expanding the family gathering, Jackson-Frasier walk with beautiful fall colors and Leland doing photography, investigating open source photo tools for his budding practice. Evening converged at Tacovore—Sydne, Dakota, Sage joining, dinner with so many family members together, even Deaken appearing afterward. Happy people talking late into evening, until toilet flapper self-destructed reminding me that houses demand attention regardless of social joy.

Family Convergence

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Yesterday brought Loni and the boys midday, Sam's dramatic eMountain bike fall down a ravine leaving him beat up but unbroken, and McMenamins lunch converging with Sydne, Dakota, and Koa. Art gallery pondering, baby chicks at Coastal serving as micro zoo, Leland discovering photographer joy with his camera. Evening pizza with Debi and John, Uno games, conversation flowing easily among generations. The house filled with family energy, multiple branches gathering, kids exploring their interests while adults facilitated and observed.

Technical Talk and Vineyard Walks

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Yesterday moved from SESIG's technical discussions about solar inverters and sodium batteries through guest preparation to Joey's arrival and Corvallis tour—Coffee Culture barista recognition, Airlie Winery's lovely flight and vineyard photography, E.E. Wilson pictures, finishing my Suds beer card earning the T-shirt, and Old World Deli dinner where Joey made new musical contacts. The day divided between morning engineering talk and afternoon social adventure, both satisfying in their own ways.

Deck Transformations

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Yesterday brought lower deck cleaning that transformed the hot tub space, a quest for storage containers yielding wooden boxes at Bi-Mart, and a squeezed-in Planet Fitness workout where I caught up with Steve. Brief beer at Suds with yet another new bartender got cut short by a call that canceled, leaving time for Minecraft before yoga. Post-yoga conversation with Cathy about organizational change, while separately noticing Suds now runs two shifts daily—new rhythms, new bartenders, new patterns emerging from what used to be stable.

Systems and Understanding

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Yesterday brought chats with many people, Zoom conversation with Gwen about British travels and retirement aspirations, and an abandoned Planet Fitness workout after discovering my padlock had wandered off. Evening beer and pizza with Steve included pondering how humans know and trust anything—thought experiments about dropping stone age people into modern government or average people into AI-saturated worlds, questions about abstraction tools we lack for understanding complex systems. We've always dealt with incomprehensible intelligence though: other humans. Those relationship tools work but aren't generally accepted for AI.

Engineering Solutions

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Yesterday moved from SESIG discussions about grease through England blog migration to solar system engineering, from First Tuesday lunch stories about Alaska to solo yoga that proved painful and good. Jerry at Be Solar clarified I'll need to engineer my own system, Aurora the new Suds bartender draws an interesting crowd, and I chatted with Emily on Strava—pleasant conversation, though these days you have to wonder if online connections are actually human.

Slow Momentum

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Yesterday moved at a gentler pace—photo processing interspersed with naps, solar installation discussions acknowledging expensive realities, and the discovery that tree clearing created an impressive layer of dust on my upper deck. Between conversations with Tom from Earthlight Technologies about energy independence costs and checking off bottled beers at Suds with Tim, Brian, and Jack, the day accumulated modest progress without demanding urgency. Sometimes productivity means accepting a restorative pace, letting tasks unfold without forcing momentum that isn't naturally there.

Photos and Philosophy

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Yesterday divided between abstract political theory and concrete image-making, between refining democracy arguments at Coffee Culture and processing Mika's photos at home, between Zoom conversations with Terril and showing friends my transformed view. The democracy piece continues evolving, the Mika photos turned out pretty classy, and Mary impressively completed a 25K run that morning. My house, unfortunately, wasn't prepared for visitors—a reminder that maintaining guest-ready domestic space requires more attention than I've been giving it. My sister Nancy will visit this week, adding another layer of social navigation to the calendar.

Coast Photography

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The day stretched from democracy theory through pork ragu to pelican photography, from wave-watching painters to overconfident experts, from jetty rocks to Minecraft redstone. Between the south jetty and Yaquina Head I captured one good landscape and one good pelican shot, plus learned that 1/250th shutter speed won't freeze birds in flight and that long exposures of calm ocean lack the drama of turbulent water. Not a photographic bust—just the accumulation of practical lessons that gradually build competence. The painter at the gallery doesn't like photographs because they can't capture the colors she sees, which might be the most honest assessment of the medium's limitations I've heard in a while.

Friday

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SESIG ranged from self-driving cars to federal policies to solar installations, Ben from Pure Energy brought solar consultation to my living room, and Minecraft claimed multiple sessions between social engagements. The day accumulated through alternating rhythms—virtual warehouse construction, real conversations about energy independence, hot tub soaking, and 3am insomnia remedied by more block-placing. Woke up this morning wanting my Starbucks routine, but that life is gone now. Some changes arrive through corporate decisions you never get to vote on.

The Fading of America

In lands once vibrant, a hush began to fall, As hues receded, answering a silent call. A robin’s breast, once scarlet, soft and bright, Now softened to a whisper, dimming into white. The laughter bubbling, free and light and bold, Grew fainter, like a story seldom told. And as the spectrum bled from every scene, So too, the world forgot what joy had been. The golden sun, a muted, pallid gleam, Reflected in a colorless, slow-flowing stream. No longer emerald fields, but shades of grey, Where children used to frolic, laugh, and play. Their smiles, once radiant, a gentle, fading glow, As happiness diminished, soft and low. The vibrant zest, the keen, delightful spark, Surrendered to the encroaching, joyless dark. A painter wept, his canvas stark and bare, For all the pigments vanished from the air. No fiery passion, no serene cool blue, Just endless tones of what was once so new. And with each brushstroke, spirit seemed to wane, A silent sorrow, washing through the rain. The songs once su...

Just another Thursday

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The morning brought solar system emails and realizations about Red Queen's races, lunch revealed John's breakfast venture might include me somehow, and yoga reminded my body what stretching feels like after too long away. Between optimizing digital storage and making electrical panels accessible, between Minecraft warehouses and England trip posts, the day accumulated its small purposes. Oh, and I apparently went all of yesterday without contacts—discovered only while driving when things looked fuzzy—proof that functionality doesn't always require perfect vision.

Threading Possibilities

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The day unfolded through meaningful exchanges: journaling methods with Jim over backgammon, celebrating Sydne's post-op clearance over Mexican food, initiating solar panel plans, and exploring information theory at the Andromeda meeting. Between backgammon moves and Minecraft sessions, life assembled itself from conversations about energy independence, portrait photography opportunities, and getting a stubborn cat to use her fancy litter box. Sometimes productivity means connecting threads between people and possibilities.

Attack Surfaces

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Yesterday delivered small satisfactions—contractors dumping dirt in my backyard, assembling Trouble's fancy litter box, warehouse progress in Minecraft—until my phone decided to spontaneously broadcast street noises just as I was going to bed. No call, no explanation, just mysterious audio that required a reboot to silence. Not every day needs a grand theme, but apparently some days need unexplained technical weirdness to remind you that attack surfaces deserve more attention than you've been giving them.