Posted 5:30 AM by Gerald So
Earlier this month I updated my almost nine-year-old home office PC's Ubuntu, jumping four releases. Since about then, the computer's fan noise had been too loud for me to stand. At first I thought it was only the 80mm case fan, but upon replacing that, I heard the 92mm CPU fan was more the culprit. With both fans replaced, the computer has finally stopped whining.
Thursday, November 28, 2024
Sunday, November 24, 2024
S.O.B.
Posted 3:00 AM by Gerald So
Appropriately, the medical abbreviation for shortness of breath is the social abbreviation for son of a bitch. Almost two years after my mother, then eighty-nine, developed pneumonia with complicated pleural effusion, spending a week in the hospital and two weeks at a sloppy rehab facility, shortness of breath at a checkup Tuesday led her to a four-night hospital stay.
Her life wasn't as in danger this time, but her right lung proved to be trapped, so though a January 2023 pleural tap relieved her, the doctors advised against a second. Instead, they inserted a catheter to self-drain the fluid in smaller amounts, first once daily, then two or three times a week.
Since the pneumonia, she's acquired an oxygen concentrator, tanks, a cane, a walker, a wheelchair, and recently hired a caregiver, all of which allowed her to be discharged today to home care. The catheter is a palliative measure. Leaky valves have left her heart too weak to prevent the fluid buildup.
It was a small miracle she recovered from pneumonia two years ago during Advent. Now to have her life prolonged just before Thanksgiving, I'm surely thankful.
Appropriately, the medical abbreviation for shortness of breath is the social abbreviation for son of a bitch. Almost two years after my mother, then eighty-nine, developed pneumonia with complicated pleural effusion, spending a week in the hospital and two weeks at a sloppy rehab facility, shortness of breath at a checkup Tuesday led her to a four-night hospital stay.
Her life wasn't as in danger this time, but her right lung proved to be trapped, so though a January 2023 pleural tap relieved her, the doctors advised against a second. Instead, they inserted a catheter to self-drain the fluid in smaller amounts, first once daily, then two or three times a week.
Since the pneumonia, she's acquired an oxygen concentrator, tanks, a cane, a walker, a wheelchair, and recently hired a caregiver, all of which allowed her to be discharged today to home care. The catheter is a palliative measure. Leaky valves have left her heart too weak to prevent the fluid buildup.
It was a small miracle she recovered from pneumonia two years ago during Advent. Now to have her life prolonged just before Thanksgiving, I'm surely thankful.
Sunday, November 17, 2024
Rerun
Posted 8:30 AM by Gerald So
I've been trying to think of a word to sum up my feelings about how Trump has gone about building his second-term cabinet. I was shocked and worried the first time around. I can't react the same way this time because I have literally seen this already.
I know how Trump will conduct himself as president, and, because I was roundly outvoted, I don't particularly care. I do hope more Republicans push back on his lunacy now that he's out of terms. If not, well, I've seen that already, too. I think I'll tune out till the next new episode.
I've been trying to think of a word to sum up my feelings about how Trump has gone about building his second-term cabinet. I was shocked and worried the first time around. I can't react the same way this time because I have literally seen this already.
I know how Trump will conduct himself as president, and, because I was roundly outvoted, I don't particularly care. I do hope more Republicans push back on his lunacy now that he's out of terms. If not, well, I've seen that already, too. I think I'll tune out till the next new episode.
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
It's That Bad
Posted 10:30 AM by Gerald So
As shown in recent posts reacting to the election, I'm the kind of person who stays optimistic. My attitude doesn't change the reality that all three branches of the U.S. government and the American people as a whole failed to hold Donald Trump accountable for the crimes of his previous term, and now we have him poised to be president again.
We need to face this epic fail and take it to heart, not brush it off or put a positive spin on it. My pragmatic assessment is we'll need enough people of impeccable integrity in every branch of government to ensure just processes and outcomes. Political pressure and the threat of punishment don't stop bad actors in power. On paper, we should always have honorable people in position. In reality, we seldom do. Yes, we band together in times of great crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic. When crisis abates, evidentally, we get complacent enough to bring back Donald Trump.
As shown in recent posts reacting to the election, I'm the kind of person who stays optimistic. My attitude doesn't change the reality that all three branches of the U.S. government and the American people as a whole failed to hold Donald Trump accountable for the crimes of his previous term, and now we have him poised to be president again.
We need to face this epic fail and take it to heart, not brush it off or put a positive spin on it. My pragmatic assessment is we'll need enough people of impeccable integrity in every branch of government to ensure just processes and outcomes. Political pressure and the threat of punishment don't stop bad actors in power. On paper, we should always have honorable people in position. In reality, we seldom do. Yes, we band together in times of great crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic. When crisis abates, evidentally, we get complacent enough to bring back Donald Trump.
Sunday, November 10, 2024
What I Learned in College
Posted 3:30 AM by Gerald So
Some pundits say one reason the Democrats lost on Election Day was they were unable to frame their policies to reach workers who see the party as know-it-all elitists. As someone who loved college and went on to be an English teacher, I don't understand the animosity toward education. It's true college changes and matures you, for the better, in my experience.
I grew up around a large, tight-knit extended family. After Catholic elementary school, I was rejected from my first-choice Catholic high school, where my brother was a student, but I chose to attend St Mary's in Manhasset. After that, I felt I had enough of a religious foundation and wanted to meet a wider variety of people.
I attended Hofstra because one of my favorite English teachers was an alum. Hofstra had an Asian American Organization, but I didn't join. I didn't want friendships primarily based on common ethnicity. By contrast, my younger cousin eventually attended Hofstra, too, and became AAO president.
At the start of second semester junior year, I heard about a meeting to explore creating a student literary magazine. I attended and not only saw all kinds of people but befriended many of them, including someone four years younger, who had skipped second and eighth grades. He wore a Detroit Lions cap, so I turned to him and said, "Barry Sanders." It was that easy.
Others at the meeting stood out in their own ways, which is what attracted me. We built the magazine FONT from common interest in writing, welcoming any students to have a say in what was published. Six people who worked on the early magazine remain my best friends today. I was already open, but I learned to be much moreso. I saw how everyone's differences improved the magazine.
I'm massively disappointed America wasn't ready to elect Kamala Harris president. I'm all the more grateful that my college experience lived up to the ideal of diversity. I think college would benefit almost everyone who derides it. It's one of the best and safest ways to open your mind. If you resist opening your mind, ask yourself why. Is what you are now all you ever want to be?
Some pundits say one reason the Democrats lost on Election Day was they were unable to frame their policies to reach workers who see the party as know-it-all elitists. As someone who loved college and went on to be an English teacher, I don't understand the animosity toward education. It's true college changes and matures you, for the better, in my experience.
I grew up around a large, tight-knit extended family. After Catholic elementary school, I was rejected from my first-choice Catholic high school, where my brother was a student, but I chose to attend St Mary's in Manhasset. After that, I felt I had enough of a religious foundation and wanted to meet a wider variety of people.
I attended Hofstra because one of my favorite English teachers was an alum. Hofstra had an Asian American Organization, but I didn't join. I didn't want friendships primarily based on common ethnicity. By contrast, my younger cousin eventually attended Hofstra, too, and became AAO president.
At the start of second semester junior year, I heard about a meeting to explore creating a student literary magazine. I attended and not only saw all kinds of people but befriended many of them, including someone four years younger, who had skipped second and eighth grades. He wore a Detroit Lions cap, so I turned to him and said, "Barry Sanders." It was that easy.
Others at the meeting stood out in their own ways, which is what attracted me. We built the magazine FONT from common interest in writing, welcoming any students to have a say in what was published. Six people who worked on the early magazine remain my best friends today. I was already open, but I learned to be much moreso. I saw how everyone's differences improved the magazine.
I'm massively disappointed America wasn't ready to elect Kamala Harris president. I'm all the more grateful that my college experience lived up to the ideal of diversity. I think college would benefit almost everyone who derides it. It's one of the best and safest ways to open your mind. If you resist opening your mind, ask yourself why. Is what you are now all you ever want to be?
Friday, November 08, 2024
Facing Reality with Fiction
Posted 5:30 AM by Gerald So
Getting away from the reality of the election with a story, book, or TV show seems futile in one way, but in another it's important. In fiction, good usually wins in the very end. Core principles are upheld. Yes, this may not happen in life. See Tuesday's example. But if our principles exist and justice prevails only in fiction, at least they do there, reminding us that individuals and the people at large can make crucial, good decisions. Even one person who carries this into reality makes a difference.
Getting away from the reality of the election with a story, book, or TV show seems futile in one way, but in another it's important. In fiction, good usually wins in the very end. Core principles are upheld. Yes, this may not happen in life. See Tuesday's example. But if our principles exist and justice prevails only in fiction, at least they do there, reminding us that individuals and the people at large can make crucial, good decisions. Even one person who carries this into reality makes a difference.
Thursday, November 07, 2024
Most Popular ≠ Best
Posted 6:00 AM by Gerald So
There are a few recent examples of U.S. presidents who won the Electoral College but not the popular vote. Their opponents quickly pointed this out. But what about when a candidate wins both the popular and electoral vote? It's the will of the people. Majority rules. But does that make it best? I'm going to argue it doesn't.
American ideals point us toward tolerance, acceptance of all as equals. When the majority elects a candidate with a history of prejudice, they aren't living up to those ideals. In the same vein, someone may ask for tolerance, but are they tolerant? If they can't stand people who are different, with different views, they aren't following American ideals.
What's best tends to be difficult and unpopular for its difficulty, taking too much time for anyone's liking. Winning on Election Day is only one step in the long process of acceptance as an American ideal. When we achieve what we're striving for today, there will be more we haven't seen. The nature of ideals is they are never all achieved. yet they should always be pursued.
There are a few recent examples of U.S. presidents who won the Electoral College but not the popular vote. Their opponents quickly pointed this out. But what about when a candidate wins both the popular and electoral vote? It's the will of the people. Majority rules. But does that make it best? I'm going to argue it doesn't.
American ideals point us toward tolerance, acceptance of all as equals. When the majority elects a candidate with a history of prejudice, they aren't living up to those ideals. In the same vein, someone may ask for tolerance, but are they tolerant? If they can't stand people who are different, with different views, they aren't following American ideals.
What's best tends to be difficult and unpopular for its difficulty, taking too much time for anyone's liking. Winning on Election Day is only one step in the long process of acceptance as an American ideal. When we achieve what we're striving for today, there will be more we haven't seen. The nature of ideals is they are never all achieved. yet they should always be pursued.
Wednesday, November 06, 2024
Trending
Posted 3:30 AM by Gerald So
Well, it's looking like a lot more people voted for Trump and Republicans than I ever thought would. I don't want to think why, but it's a reminder of all the ills in the world, that good is against the odds. In every loss, all that remains is which side we were on. All we can do is start things moving again. That's the only way history eventually gets there. Carry on.
Well, it's looking like a lot more people voted for Trump and Republicans than I ever thought would. I don't want to think why, but it's a reminder of all the ills in the world, that good is against the odds. In every loss, all that remains is which side we were on. All we can do is start things moving again. That's the only way history eventually gets there. Carry on.
Monday, November 04, 2024
NCIS: ORIGINS So Far
Posted 7:30 AM by Gerald So
I think the show is well done enough. Kyle Schmid, Austin Stowell, and Robert Taylor bring their well-known characters to life.
I'm not sure we need a darker NCIS set in a bygone era. NCIS: ORIGINS replaced NCIS: HAWAII but hasn't done as well as HAWAII in the ratings. I think Gibbs' story was told thoroughly enough in the nineteen seasons Mark Harmon starred in NCIS. Obviously CBS disagrees.
I think the show is well done enough. Kyle Schmid, Austin Stowell, and Robert Taylor bring their well-known characters to life.
I'm not sure we need a darker NCIS set in a bygone era. NCIS: ORIGINS replaced NCIS: HAWAII but hasn't done as well as HAWAII in the ratings. I think Gibbs' story was told thoroughly enough in the nineteen seasons Mark Harmon starred in NCIS. Obviously CBS disagrees.
Friday, November 01, 2024
Trick Nor Treat
Posted 10:30 AM by Gerald So
We don't usually get trick-or-treaters. The one year we did in the last decade, we were embarrassingly unprepared and have had something on hand since then, just in case. This year, snack packs of Pringles potato crisps with Halloween foil tops: mummy, werewolf, pirate, etc.
We don't usually get trick-or-treaters. The one year we did in the last decade, we were embarrassingly unprepared and have had something on hand since then, just in case. This year, snack packs of Pringles potato crisps with Halloween foil tops: mummy, werewolf, pirate, etc.
An Election Simile
Posted 7:30 AM by Gerald So
It occurred to me the effort to remove Trump from the 2024 ballot was like a well-intentioned effort to remove a wrong answer from a multiple-choice test. If all the wrong answers were removed, it would no longer be a test. And as much as we'd like everyone to do well on tests, some don't.
Good luck, everyone.
It occurred to me the effort to remove Trump from the 2024 ballot was like a well-intentioned effort to remove a wrong answer from a multiple-choice test. If all the wrong answers were removed, it would no longer be a test. And as much as we'd like everyone to do well on tests, some don't.
Good luck, everyone.
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