Questions for Sunday the 26th

I’m sorry to start this way but I did wake up, because the story of a day starts at that point generally, and my first thought was, “I better check Slack.” There were no new messages. That was an indication that there would be no new build to test today, and I would not have to go to the office to test it. I was prepared to do so, if necessary, but everyone took their Sunday off. We really needed new builds and they really needed testing, but I would never ask anyone to work on a Sunday. I just respond in kind if they do.

There was an assignment due for my literature class. We needed to post five questions centered around the characters and themes of our selected reading. I am in the Uncle Tom’s Cabin group. I’d never read it and it’s good to finally understand its controversy in modern criticism.

These were my questions. I think I could have done better, but it is done.

  1. Christianity (or a lack thereof) is a core part of many characters’ personalities and beliefs. Do you think Stowe agreed with the Christian sentiments in the novel?
  2. Stowe often employs stereotype in her depictions of characters. What purpose do these stereotypes serve in her story? How do you think readers at the time of the novel’s publication felt about the stereotypical depictions, and how do you feel about them?
  3. George Harris is presented to the reader as a fiery and bitter person who would rather die a free man than live as a slave. Uncle Tom is pious, kind, and often resigned to his fate. Compare these two characters and their impact on the story. How do their differences matter?
  4. Augustine and his brother, Alfred, argue about slavery in chapter XXIII, with Alfred stating, “The slave-owner can whip his refractory slave to death,–the capitalist can starve him to death,” referring to the idea that Northerners oppress the lower class just as Southerners oppress slaves. Is this a valid comparison? Do you agree or disagree?
  5. Consider the black characters in the story and their treatment by white characters. What are the similarities or differences in the way different black characters are treated? Why do you think that is?

I have very little money in my bank account today ($9.92 to be precise), and I will likely need to use that to cover gas for the remainder of the week. I estimate that’ll happen on the Wednesday evening return trip, which is two days before my next paycheck. In any case, I’m low on dough and will not be going anywhere today so that I may conserve gas and money. I just received a significant raise (to which I internally reacted, genuinely, with “Thank God!”) The raise puts me in a place to pay more than the minimum on the debts I accrued five years ago, pay my bills, and perhaps save for emergencies. Do you know, I don’t plan for financial emergencies? Not a one. I react to them.

These are my questions.

  1. Why do I tread water while others go under?
  2. Why should I be so fortunate?

I plan to finish Uncle Tom’s Cabin today. I needed to finish last week, but it’s difficult to read, what with the distractions of computer and Internet. The train is a great spot to read, but that’s only about 100 minutes a day. Never enough time for a novel. When I finish, I’ll likely eat tamales, watch something on Netflix, and generally seek something to occupy my mind in this maddening indoor state.

Tonight, at 10 AM GMT, 2 AM PST, I need to tell some folks that they need to remove one of their game’s features in order to hit a deadline. I’ve rehearsed my words, at least in thought. “It’s not that it’s good or bad, but it’s the only path forward at this point.”

If you wonder (because I wonder), “Well, why not extend the deadline so that the feature could be included when the game is released?”, it’s a valid question, but no longer applicable. We are committed. Everything can be modified, updated, and enhanced. The only limits are a willingness and the money to keep going.

Questions for Sunday the 26th

I’m sorry to start this way but I did wake up, because the story of a day starts at that point generally, and my first thought was, “I better check Slack.” There were no new messages. That was an indication that there would be no new build to test today, and I would not have to go to the office to test it. I was prepared to do so, if necessary, but everyone took their Sunday off. We really needed new builds and they really needed testing, but I would never ask anyone to work on a Sunday. I just respond in kind if they do.

There was an assignment due for my literature class. We needed to post five questions centered around the characters and themes of our selected reading. I am in the Uncle Tom’s Cabin group. I’d never read it and it’s good to finally understand its controversy in modern criticism.

These were my questions. I think I could have done better, but it is done.

  1. Christianity (or a lack thereof) is a core part of many characters’ personalities and beliefs. Do you think Stowe agreed with the Christian sentiments in the novel?
  2. Stowe often employs stereotype in her depictions of characters. What purpose do these stereotypes serve in her story? How do you think readers at the time of the novel’s publication felt about the stereotypical depictions, and how do you feel about them?
  3. George Harris is presented to the reader as a fiery and bitter person who would rather die a free man than live as a slave. Uncle Tom is pious, kind, and often resigned to his fate. Compare these two characters and their impact on the story. How do their differences matter?
  4. Augustine and his brother, Alfred, argue about slavery in chapter XXIII, with Alfred stating, “The slave-owner can whip his refractory slave to death,–the capitalist can starve him to death,” referring to the idea that Northerners oppress the lower class just as Southerners oppress slaves. Is this a valid comparison? Do you agree or disagree?
  5. Consider the black characters in the story and their treatment by white characters. What are the similarities or differences in the way different black characters are treated? Why do you think that is?

I have very little money in my bank account today ($9.92 to be precise), and I will likely need to use that to cover gas for the remainder of the week. I estimate that’ll happen on the Wednesday evening return trip, which is two days before my next paycheck. In any case, I’m low on dough and will not be going anywhere today so that I may conserve gas and money. I just received a significant raise (to which I internally reacted, genuinely, with “Thank God!”) The raise puts me in a place to pay more than the minimum on the debts I accrued five years ago, pay my bills, and perhaps save for emergencies. Do you know, I don’t plan for financial emergencies? Not a one. I react to them.

These are my questions.

  1. Why do I tread water while others go under?
  2. Why should I be so fortunate?

I plan to finish Uncle Tom’s Cabin today. I needed to finish last week, but it’s difficult to read, what with the distractions of computer and Internet. The train is a great spot to read, but that’s only about 100 minutes a day. Never enough time for a novel. When I finish, I’ll likely eat tamales, watch something on Netflix, and generally seek something to occupy my mind in this maddening indoor state.

Tonight, at 10 AM GMT, 2 AM PST, I need to tell some folks that they need to remove one of their game’s features in order to hit a deadline. I’ve rehearsed my words, at least in thought. “It’s not that it’s good or bad, but it’s the only path forward at this point.”

If you wonder (because I wonder), “Well, why not extend the deadline so that the feature could be included when the game is released?”, it’s a valid question, but no longer applicable. We are committed. Everything can be modified, updated, and enhanced. The only limits are a willingness and the money to keep going.

Trump’s FCC Is About to Destroy Net Neutrality, and a Democratic Commissioner Is Calling Foul

Trump’s FCC Is About to Destroy Net Neutrality, and a Democratic Commissioner Is Calling Foul

Trump’s FCC Is About to Destroy Net Neutrality, and a Democratic Commissioner Is Calling Foul

Trump’s FCC Is About to Destroy Net Neutrality, and a Democratic Commissioner Is Calling Foul

princessbubblegumandjustice:

nunyabizni:

my-very-own-opinion:

writscrib:

This is something that is very important to pay attention to, and if you are an American I implore you to do everything that you can! Contact your representatives, research your ISPs, and keep a vigilant eye on this! The FCC is likely to make this ruling close to Thanksgiving in an attempt to squeak it by without anyone noticing.

Net neutrality is the reason why you can visit any website confidently. It’s why you don’t have to pay a premium to be able to access YouTube. It’s why you don’t have the internet bundled into different packages like TV is.

If they remove net neutrality protections, then there is no benefit to the consumer. Put simply, your ISP could choose to charge you more in order to visit specific sites, and not every town in the United States has the option to switch to a new ISP because some ISPs hold a monopoly in some areas.

This is what the internet looks like without net neutrality:

@nunyabizni. Could you spread this?

Yikes, yeah.

They’re trying to fatigue public resistance by trying to repeal net neutrality as often as possible. We have to stay vigilant. Motivate yourself by assuming no one else is calling/writing. Don’t assume other people will do it.

🚨🚨🚨

fullhalalalchemist:

fullhalalalchemist:

today is Nov. 15. the FCC, under chairman Ajit Pai, will not listen to the public despite millions of comments in support of net neutrality. They are going to try their hardest to kill net neutrality, which in turn will kill the internet, which in turn will help eradicate democracy. it won’t just affect Americans, it has the potential to affect the entire internet, something we ALL use daily. you can bet your ass other countries will see america doing this, and use it as an excuse to do it in their own countries.

this is what buying a plan without net neutrality looks like there:

you have to pay MORE for features you’re already guaranteed to have under net neutrality. and in america, you already know how expensive everything is.

democrats AND republicans both want net neutrality. advocacy groups in touch with congress have said that if your members of congress receive calls from you, they are more encouraged and more likely to take action to stop Pai’s plan to gut net neutrality. after Nov. 22, it will be MUCH HARDER to convince your member of congress.

please, call them. call them daily.

https://www.battleforthenet.com/

hey guys, please reblog this version and don’t forget to call!!! if you are nervous about calling, you can use resistbot to send faxes to your reps and the stance app to pre-record your message so you won’t have to speak to anyone. (available in both google play and app store)

🚨🚨🚨

fullhalalalchemist:

fullhalalalchemist:

today is Nov. 15. the FCC, under chairman Ajit Pai, will not listen to the public despite millions of comments in support of net neutrality. They are going to try their hardest to kill net neutrality, which in turn will kill the internet, which in turn will help eradicate democracy. it won’t just affect Americans, it has the potential to affect the entire internet, something we ALL use daily. you can bet your ass other countries will see america doing this, and use it as an excuse to do it in their own countries.

this is what buying a plan without net neutrality looks like there:

you have to pay MORE for features you’re already guaranteed to have under net neutrality. and in america, you already know how expensive everything is.

democrats AND republicans both want net neutrality. advocacy groups in touch with congress have said that if your members of congress receive calls from you, they are more encouraged and more likely to take action to stop Pai’s plan to gut net neutrality. after Nov. 22, it will be MUCH HARDER to convince your member of congress.

please, call them. call them daily.

https://www.battleforthenet.com/

hey guys, please reblog this version and don’t forget to call!!! if you are nervous about calling, you can use resistbot to send faxes to your reps and the stance app to pre-record your message so you won’t have to speak to anyone. (available in both google play and app store)