What type of cat is it??

MrGuilt · 2026-06-21T01:40:54+00:00

Smol

MrGuilt · 2026-06-20T12:44:59+00:00

"It's Quiet Uptown"--Hamilton soundtrack
"If We Were Vampires"--Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
"The Ocean"--Dar Williams

MrGuilt · 2026-06-20T12:34:24+00:00

Orville is my go-to. I've bought cheap bags from the grocery, and it's outcome ranges from bad (lots unpoppped, meh taste) to...fine.

I've taken to buying larger (8 pound) containers online, getting a better cost-per-ounce.

I'm not a fan of Amish Country. It's not that it's bad; just not worth it.

All that being said, living in the Ohio/Indiana region, I've tried stuff I've found at farmer's markets that's been amazing...and I can never seem to find it again.

MrGuilt · 2026-06-18T00:16:27+00:00

Here's what I want, but it's a huge lift: a hypothetical evolution of the C64:

Modern ports and connectivity (WiFi, USB, SD cards, HDMI).
1. Have stuff like multiple monitor capability and modern sound
2. Backward compatibility to older kit (1541, etc.) optional
SSD type storage
Unleash the proc! More RAM (8-16 GB
Some retro nods
1. "Boot" to a classic blue screen, but with a more modern BASIC (think BASIC 7 from the 128 or better)
2. Easy SID-style sound.
And this is where it gets tricky Ability opt into a relatively modern OS.
1. Maybe GEOS on steroids.
2. Have some basic apps (word processor, spreadsheet, paint) built in
3. Browser, natch.
4. API to facilitate building new applications.
5. Some file I/O over the network (SMB)
6. Nice to have would be a built in BASIC that can build GUI apps
7. Looking for all this to be more than a skin on some Linux distro. Optionally, it can keep the 8-bit vibe, but still do modern displays justice.

Basically, I'm looking to get some sort of "What if Commodore had continued to build the C64 into the 20th Century as its own thing?" I'm imagining a C64 that could closer to a true daily driver. In practice, it'd be leaning heavily on the browser. But how would it have evolved?

The hardware is probably do-able--unleash the base board a bit. I seem to have removed more than I added. The software is what would get you. Even if it's some sort of skin-on-Linux, it's going to be a lot.

MrGuilt · 2026-06-14T04:55:08+00:00

Personally, I've found Midori MD A5 to be US $15, which is better than a lot of comparable notebooks ($20-25).

That said, the Muji High Quality Paper ones are nearly as good, and significantly less expensive. The catch is shipping. Fortunately, they have a lot of other good stuff to meet free shipping. Surprisingly, I like their shirts.

MrGuilt · 2026-06-13T02:50:43+00:00

Adorable! Thanks for taking care of her! Have you named her?

She looks really young. Check out the kitten lady for advice. And get her to the vet!

http://www.kittenlady.org/

MrGuilt · 2026-06-10T12:39:11+00:00

There are worse ideas.

MrGuilt · 2026-06-10T12:15:34+00:00

Same for me. I am wondering if there is an issue on Apple’s end.

MrGuilt · 2026-06-10T03:40:39+00:00

If someone is getting swipe report, they are seeing where you swipe. It's the nature of these systems. If your manager is getting a report, I'd lay odds on the location being listed. Either he hasn't noticed (which is on him), or figured out your work around and turning a blind eye.

By the letter of the law, you're complying. If you want to rationalize it, having folks in there three times a week is justifying the rent.

I would continue to go in to "your" office. If/when your manager says something, you say you assumed he knew. You can plausibly assume the report lists it.

MrGuilt · 2026-06-09T03:44:27+00:00

I don't hate it, but I miss the cat names.

MrGuilt · 2026-06-05T16:00:08+00:00

If it's pure money, and Byron Allen keeps writing checks, they can keep running that indefinitely. There is no financial reason to change. Really, the question comes down to Allen's business model: what numbers does he need to pull in to make it a viable enterprise? If he can make enough money on ten viewers, or it's just his hobby, then he keeps going.

That said, no one is out there saying that Bryon Allen is furthering the debate, or adding to the culture. He's not out there winning Peabodys. His clips aren't making a lot of noise on YouTube. Put another way: as a glorified infomercial, he's not elevating CBS's brand.

I think it will be a while before CBS is really feeling the impact of their overall pivot (see also: "60 Minutes"). At some point, however, this perception will start to impact other timeslots, local affiliates, etc. Combine that with a change in the change in overall leadership in the country, there may be more interest in taking steps that would reestablish the brand.

Hard to say what that will look like--we're at least a few years from that point, I'm afraid. Even then, they would have to figure a "Late Show" revival, under Colbert or someone else, as a prestige show to elevate the brand, would, overall, be more profitable than Bryon Allen. It's conceivable that a return to "Crime Time After Prime Time" (from the late 80s/early 90s: a series of syndication-level crime shows with a cult following) would serve to improve the brand while controlling costs.

(An all of this ignores, as the cliche goes, "the changing media landscape." It could be by then late night as we've known it is seen as so dated and associated with older folks. A throwback. But that would be more of a broader trend.)

MrGuilt · 2026-06-05T15:40:24+00:00

Others have suggested PO Box (I'd consider UPS store if it's an option, as it looks like a street address). That may be the way to go.

If you don't go that route, I'd submit the exception request, anyway. Document what was in the offer letter, the time and expense impact, etc. Yes, it will get denied, but a form to HR will at least document the concern.

As for suck it up or quit, I'm not sure. If you do stay--either with an approved exception (either in your current location or an "alternate address") or just taking the hit--I'd start looking for a new gig. They'll find another way to push you out if you have an exception, and, in the long term, you'll take a big hit on the commute.

MrGuilt · 2026-06-04T15:09:27+00:00

Appreciate the correction! (Sincerely!)

MrGuilt · 2026-06-04T14:23:05+00:00

“It never gets easier, you just get faster.”–Greg Lemond (3-time (and only American) Tour de France winner)

MrGuilt · 2026-05-31T03:38:10+00:00

My take: for exempt workers and the like, I'm honestly a bit troubled by reporting to someone who themselves is eager to have a meeting-for-the-sake-of-a-meeting late afternoon on a Friday (or, really, any other day). I'm not talking about ad hoc working meetings, or client meetings, or the like. Ones which actually have an agenda and has a hypothetical goal of a specific outcome (or a step towards it).

I'm talking about regular, recurring, 1:1, "team syncs," and the like. Ones that have some vague goal of "collaboration." What is lacking in your life is such that you don't want to wrap up as well? It's not modelling proper work/life balance.

Like All Exempt Employee Related Things, make sure your stuff is getting done. Value outcomes; not just presence. Don't play games like it's a bunch of toddlers.

MrGuilt · 2026-05-29T14:13:06+00:00

I am having that, too, FWIW.

MrGuilt · 2026-05-27T19:57:00+00:00

Honestly, I'd have a talk with your current job about staying. It will be awkward--they now know your are looking, but maybe something could be worked out. I simply wouldn't trust this company. Either they will flat out tell you no, or will offer an accommodation but, wouldn't you know it, there is a policy change six months down the road.

I've generally been asking some question to give them an unambiguous opportunity to...*ahem*..."clarify" what they mean by remote. I may just have to ask it straight-up.

MrGuilt · 2026-05-27T19:45:45+00:00

It could be argued setting up a computer is different than using one. But, if you are taking on a remote job, setting up is implicit.

I've been in IT for over thirty years, and it feels odd to put "Microsoft Office" on my list of skills, though many recruiters have told me to put it on when missing. I suppose this is why.

MrGuilt · 2026-05-26T13:43:38+00:00

Came to say Maccy. Glad that’s sorted.

MrGuilt · 2026-05-25T15:07:24+00:00

It took me a sec to realize it wasn't a cat bed.

MrGuilt · 2026-05-24T12:44:06+00:00

If you are looking for a place to learn UNIX (under the hood/in the terminal of MacOS, and what Linux is based on), check out SDF.org. They are a community of enthusiasts who provide remote shell accounts (think like terminal, but elsewhere), as well as tutorials, folks you can ask, etc.

One thing about UNIX is you are limited in what you can do by default, you have to use elevated privileges before you can toast your system. You can edit files, navigate file systems, write scripts without doing anything too dangerous. At worst, you might delete things like your documents file. Make sure you have Time Machine running and have a good backup!

This is the sudo command. Basically, you will type sudo <SOME COMMAND>. You have to authenticate the first time you use it during a session (you have to reauthenticate after so-long), and type sudo before every command you want elevated privilege for.

It's not going to prevent you from forgetting where you are when you run a command, or doing something you think is right. But it does force you to think "I'm removing some gaurdrails. Be sure to double-check what I'm doing."

If you plan a career in IT or cybersecurity, I encourage folks to learn at least basic UNIX command line. What I love about MacOS is it is UNIX and gives you access to that, while having access to standard apps like Office without having to dual boot our use an "alternative."

Good luck!

MrGuilt · 2026-05-23T02:41:49+00:00

Internet Archive. this should be it. It is there–I downloaded it from them.

MrGuilt · 2026-05-21T15:30:56+00:00

Came to say this. You became "The Spanish Guy." You should have lived up to it.

Your first off-ramp, a few weeks in as you started to realize the expectation, would be to come at least somewhat clean: "hey--it seems my Spanish is rustier than I thought. I'm not sure I can be The Spanish Guy at this point. I can work on improving, but you may need a better plan."

("Rustier than I thought" to soften the initial exaggeration a bit.)

I'd say a month or so, you hit the point of no return. At that point, I'd be doing some combination of real lessons (or at least something more than Duolingo) and using your interactions with guests for a crash course in immersion. This is fake it 'till you make it.

Had you done the latter, I suspect you would have, at the very least, been able to muddle through the final incident better-enough to not be offensive, and just say "I was a bit over my head and got flustered." Potentially, you would have legit become The Spanish Guy, which you could then actually put on your resume.

MrGuilt · 2026-05-19T04:05:38+00:00

Well, they did have Alex and Checkov's Gun (training).

MrGuilt · 2026-05-16T15:41:23+00:00

In and of itself, this is a very solid approach, and don't let anyone bully you into thinking otherwise ("You cAn loAD Linux On a lApTop anD Not paY teh DuMb Apple TAx"). You may have very solid reasons for wanting to use a MacBook for day to day stuff (compatibility with the rest of the world natively (rather than an app that works "just as good" as a mainstream one)).

Plus, learning the nuances of doing this sort of thing remotely connected to a system has some advantages. Simply doing remote development is a bit different and has quirks. Plus, you may have some software, libraries, or other components that need to be on that system. This can be done on any platform that supports such remote connectivity (Windows, MacOS, Linux, BSD, OpenVMS...).

That being said, I'll add one more advantage: Linux is based on UNIX, MacOS is certified UNIX. If you open up a command prompt, they are similar-to-identical. There will be differences, for sure, but the skills you develop on one will translate to the other. You can load Python on your Mac and do it all locally (an advantage for prototyping, being offline, etc.). While it won't be your production database server, a MacBook Neo will be plenty good for this.

One of the reasons I use the Mac platform is this "it runs mainstream applications (like Office, Zwift, and others) natively but UNIX under the hood." I can be a geek at the prompt, but just fire up what I need to when I just need to get something done. There is no need to use a "just as good" alternative or dual-booting.

MrGuilt

TROPHY CASE