Dependency breeds animosity …
Chat … GPT
From all our interactions, what is one thing you can tell about myself, that I may not already know about myself?
ChatGPT said:
One thing I notice about you is your passion for creating tools and apps that make life more efficient and enjoyable, whether for work or personal interests. You’re deeply engaged in improving processes, building apps that solve practical problems for people—from tracking sewer installations to celebrating colleagues’ milestones. You also balance this focus on productivity with personal connections, like attending friends’ weddings or sharing thoughtful moments with family. This mix of efficiency and meaningful relationships seems to drive much of what you do. It shows a unique blend of technical skill and empathy. Does this resonate with you?
The quiet art of attention
Source: https://billwear.github.io/art-of-attention.html
There comes a moment in life, often in the quietest of hours, when one realizes that the world will continue on its wayward course, indifferent to our desires or frustrations. And it is then, perhaps, that a subtle truth begins to emerge: the only thing we truly possess, the only thing we might, with enough care, exert some mastery over, is our mind. It is not a realization of resignation, but rather of liberation. For if the mind can be ordered, if it can be made still in the midst of this restless life, then we have already discovered the key to a deeper kind of freedom.
But how does one begin? It is not with grand declarations or bold, sweeping changes. That would miss the point entirely. Rather, it is with a gentle attention to the present, a deliberate shift in the way we move through the world. We begin by paying attention to what our mind does—its wanderings, its anxieties, its compulsions. It is a garden untended, overgrown with concerns that may not even be our own. And the first step is simply to watch, to observe how the mind moves, without judgment, without rush.
DIY – “Forged” Carbon Fiber
After having some reasonable success in #D printing moulds and doing some layup in CF, I thought I would attempt a “forged” CF version of a part I have 3D printed in the past. Unfortunately it didn’t quite go according to plan, it ended up weighing close to 4 x more than the basic version. A fun experiment none-the-less!




Looking back: Swimming Technique
Sometimes it fun to zoom out, and take a look back to where my swim journey started. Here is a Reddit post asking for some advice on how to improve my technique. Since posting this, I have swum about 400 miles over the past 2 years, and got my comfortable pace down to ~ 1:30 min/100 yards.
Hi All,
I started swimming more frequently last year preparing for a half distance triathlon (Augusta, GA, USA), and have another race planned for October this year (Beach to Battleship, NC, USA). I am looking for some form/suggestions/ideas/advice based on the videos I have included below.
While speed is important, with the race being 1.2 miles / 2000 yards / 1.9km, its not the most important aspect (maybe I am wrong?).
Bookmark: Bop Spotter
Live Music: The Copper Children
The “Third place”?
In sociology, the third place refers to the social surroundings that are separate from the two usual social environments of home (“first place”) and the workplace (“second place”). Examples of third places include churches, cafes, bars, clubs, libraries, gyms, bookstores, hackerspaces, stoops, parks, theaters, among others.
Right now statistically speaking, my “Second place” would be the gym to swim. Although I only have “One place” … I would love my third to be a library. Where is your third place?
The Great Good Place (book) – WikipediaFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
DIY – Carbon Fiber
After years of dreaming and ideating around making carbon fiber products of some sort, I finally had a need to build some custom parts for my triathlon bike. After spending a considerable amount of time reading, watching and listening to tutorials online, I took the plunge and purchased some starter materials. My initial plan was to work with 3D printed moulds and do wet layup.
I purchased a 3D printed started kit from Easy Composites. The shipping was a little expensive (they are based in the UK) but seemed to have the best products, prices and matching material requirements for my needs.
My first project was a simple chain ring cover (which would be the next version of the 3D printed aero cover I 3D printed here). The purpose of this cover is to streamline airflow over the crank while in motion to reduce the bikes Cda (Coefficient of Drag). aka. More slip streamed.
Color.com
Some interesting, and a few not so interesting or surprising insights from my DNA test from Color.com … SAP had a fairly large discount code offering employees to use the service.

| you are unlikely to experience the alcohol flush response | Blushing from alcohol flush response |
| you’re more likely to notice the smell of asparagus in your urine | What’s that smell? |
| you’re unlikely to taste certain bitter compounds. | The science of bitter taste |
| you’re somewhat likely to drink more caffeine than average | Your genes and your daily grind |
| you have a slightly higher chance of disliking cilantro | Beyond DNA |
| you’re likely to have wet earwax. | Earwax keeps our ears healthy. |
| you’re unlikely to be lactose intolerant. | Lactose intolerance, and other gut feelings |


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