What’s on your mind?

[Scepticalscribe]

I'd never have imagined seeing McDonalds and treat in the same sentence!

Indeed.

Granted, I wouldn't have either, but, I will admit that I have had friends who have had children.

In that context, the noun "treat" comes with very specific circumstances, in the sort of specific setting (birthdays come to mind), the sort of circumstances, that parents sometimes have had cause to be quite grateful for.

 

[WriteNow]

I have had friends who have had children.

In that context, the noun "treat" comes with very specific circumstances

True.

I remember at least once being part of a group that my elementary school principal took out to lunch at McDonald's. It was a reward of some sort, although I can't remember what. Given the circumstances, the restaurant reward wouldn't have been a place with French names all over the menu!

Most of my memories of eating there hinge on the idea of a convenient, fast meal. For example, when my family took a road trip to visit extended family, we'd stop by either McDonald's or Burger King to get lunch, which we'd eat as we drove. I recall on one such trip my father got Chicken McNuggets. I think were perhaps new at the time and certainly heavily advertised, so he was curious to try them. When at home, however, my family never went near fast food--at least once I was no longer a little kid. I have a sense that maybe my mother might have taken me to McDonald's when I was young.

The last time I ate McDonald's was the summer my mother died. That was quite some time ago--System 7 was still the current Macintosh OS at that time.

 

[Hamdullah Retarderson]

I entered the Sacre-Cœur cathedral in Paris. I listened to the mass. The cardinal threw water at me and held incense. He offered me wine, but I didn't drink it. As a Muslim, I was deeply moved. After all, we all believe in the same God

 

[Scepticalscribe]

The autumn equinox - which takes place tomorrow, 22nd September, - is on my mind.

As it heralds the approach of the short, bleak, dreary and dark days of winter, - as from then on, until spring, night will be longer than day in the northern hemisphere - it is a day (a day that, in itself, tends to be actually quite pleasant) that I view with no small degree of apprehension, as I detest winter.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

View attachment 2555103
I entered the Sacre-Cœur cathedral in Paris. I listened to the mass. The cardinal threw water at me and held incense. He offered me wine, but I didn't drink it. As a Muslim, I was deeply moved. After all, we all believe in the same God

That sounds as though it was an amazing experience; might I recommend attending - or, being present at, listening to - Mass in the (recently restored) Gothic splendour of Notre Dame Cathedral, in Paris?

Actually, I've attended Mass in both Notre Dame, and in Chartres Cathedral - two magnificent cathedrals in the Gothic style that were built over 700-800 years ago - and also, once, unforgettably, I attended Mass in a converted old Roman temple, - a building over 1700 years old - in Diocletian's Palace, Split, in Croatia.

It is an incredible experience (even if one is avowedly secular, as I am) to attend - or, be present at - a religious service, such as Mass, in such a spectacular and moving setting.

 

[WriteNow]

The autumn equinox - which takes place tomorrow, 22nd September, - is on my mind.

As it heralds the approach of the short, bleak, dreary and dark days of winter, - as from then on, until spring, night will be longer than day in the northern hemisphere - it is a day (a day that, in itself, tends to be actually quite pleasant) that I view with no small degree of apprehension, as I detest winter.

I haven't thought of the equinox as such much. But I keep thinking of the end of summer. I don't necessarily detest winter at the best of times, but, at the present, given some realities of the place I live, I am not looking forward to winter, which can (at times) give bad roads and lengthy power failures.

We have decent weather now, and it's forecast to be pretty decent for the next week. But I know in the back of my mind that each day is one of limited supply remaining before the winter season arrives.

 

[WriteNow]

I just finished looking at some photos of my grandparents' house. It is on the market again. Its interesting seeing the changes that were made since it left the family twenty-some years ago, some good (carpet gone, wood floors refinished), some bad (a big deck that blocks basement windows in what they are trying to sell as a family room). It's also interesting noticing some things I never really saw when growing up. like some nice woodwork. It also looks a lot more spacious without all the furniture and clutter my grandparents had.

Part of me fantasizes about buying the house. There are things I do like (such as that woodwork I mentioned). But I don't have the money. And I think the house would have some feeling of being haunted by the past for me. Better for someone else to get it, and--in the event I can ever own a house--for me to get something that feels neutral, with no history.

 

[rm5]

We have decent weather now, and it's forecast to be pretty decent for the next week. But I know in the back of my mind that each day is one of limited supply remaining before the winter season arrives.

I didn't mind the winter much back home. Growing up in the desert, it would occasionally be below freezing in the morning, but in the 50s usually during the day. However, words cannot express the winters in Wisconsin. I'll just say this: below 0 (Fahrenheit) for much of January and February is really something. This year, spring didn't come until the middle of May.

 

[The Clark]

My work keyboard broke and they sent me another one. It's called the Cherry Stream Keyboard and I have to say, it's quite pleasant. I might pick up a secondary one too in black (current one is white). They're about 40 dollars Canadian and very low profile, but a joy to type on. I love unexpected surprises.

 

[The Clark]

Brace yourself. Incoming rant.

So just got in from work. It’s 10pm.
My work day started at 7:30 am.

So for that I will get one 8 hour day back in lieu.

Dinner was a crappy KFC because that was all that was open at the services.
As you might imagine because everything else was shut it was rammed. Naturally the stupid point of order screen didn’t take Amex, so I’ll have to try and claim that back.
Oh and the EV chargers their were all out of order, so I had to make a separate stop 15 minutes later.

Apparently at KFC you can’t get a hot drink. No big issue. I’ll pick up a nice coffee at the next charging point.

Get there. Plenty of chargers. But Costs Coffee closed 15 minutes ago! FFS.

So I’ve made myself a hot chocolate as it’s too late for a tea. Mrs AFB was in bed when I got home. Grrrr.

Not happy. Tomorrow (my day off), I get to sort out all the crap in the car.

That sounds very frustrating.. however hot chocolate (IMO) is always a treat. I hope youo had a better day off.

 

[Apple fanboy]

That sounds very frustrating.. however hot chocolate (IMO) is always a treat. I hope youo had a better day off.

It was. But I spent a good chunk of it sorting through work stuff for my next trip.

But also got some other bits done and more importantly spent some time with Mrs AFB.

In the office today. So dark this morning. Soon it will be dark when I get home as well. At least it gets my in office day out of the way for the week.

 

[The Clark]

I have an exam to write in a month (GCIH) and after that I’m taking a break from cyber security and focusing on my hobby (cell phone/electronic repair)

In fact I was just given an SE in mint condition that won’t turn on anymore, but I think that I can fix it. I’ve started the repair process but I’ll finish it after I’m done studying.



Also have a date lined up next week for the girl I’ve been seeing to meet my puppy. She has one too and it should be lots of fun.

Sadly, I’m finding myself craving hydromorphone. All these months sober and I still think of it everyday and genuinely miss the feeling. Oh well, stay busy and stay out of trouble. Hopefully the cravings subside.

I suspect that it is a matter of attempting to assert control rather than a policy of brutal bleak and attrition, but yes, I must say that I do find the deliberate (and deliberately cultivated) ignorance of management (and owners) - and refusal to acknowledge (let alone accept) the widespread unhappiness of their workforce with conditions in the modern office work environment, to be rather telling

Well, in my case, I know of very few people who wished to return to the office, and I must say that I know hardly anyone who wished to return to the office full time.

I concur. In fact, I don't know a single person that prefers being in the office, and that includes management.

You’re absolutely right about their refusal to acknowledge the unhappiness. It’s bizarre and honestly mind-boggling. Why wouldn’t you want your workforce to be happy? What’s the real gain in building resentment and eroding trust with your employees?

In the evenings, yes.

For mornings, I prefer coffee.

I've still never had coffee. I love how it smells, but I have never just ordered or made a cup before. I'm 31, and I should really give it a go.

On the subject of punctuation, I noticed a recent iPhone thread's title:
Iphone 17 series delayed world over

If a semicolon is added after "delayed", the meaning changes dramatically:
Iphone 17 series delayed; world over

If I were an AI, I likely would have used an em-dash—would that really have been world-ending?

I’ve gotta admit, I’ve been using em dashes more and more in my writing—especially at work. I don’t care anymore if people think AI wrote it. I like them, they’re useful, and I’m going to keep using them unapologetically.

Regarding remote vs. office work, I think a few things:

1. It depends on if you actually work in an office. My mom does, but it is her personal office (i.e., not an "open office plan"). She loves her job, and open offices don't exist at her job either.
2. It depends on where you live. If a big, big city (think LA, London, New York, etc.), of course it's going to be hard and inconvenient to commute. My dad has a 20-minute commute by car (30 minutes on his bike, which he does regularly). Mom takes 35 minutes to get to and from work. Neither of them have ever complained about it. But we're also in a mid-size city that's reasonable.
3. It depends on who you work with. If you work with people you like, then you have a reason to go into the office. Both my parents' work colleagues are also their very good friends.

But I also understand that 1-3 above aren't true for everyone.

I have a closed office at work. It's very private, and I much prefer it to open offices, but NOTHING beats the comfort and convenience of a well equip home office.

My commute is only 25-30 minutes; still hate every moment of it. I also have to pay for parking and do not get me started on unsafe drivers. That's why I rarely go in. Last year I went to the office three times and while I honestly enjoyed my time there, it's not worth the 30 dollars I pay for parking and the hour of time I lose a day.

You are right. It's largely dependent on who you work with. I like my co-workers, but they're not people I'd ever spend time with outside of the office. We have virtually nothing in common and I don't find them to be funny, engaging, or even remotely entertaining. They're friendly, responsible, and seemingly empathetic which is awesome, but again, nothing there for me to connect with on a deeper level. I'm also not at work to make friends, and some people treat work as their entire social life which I find to be very annoying,

 

[Scepticalscribe]

It was. But I spent a good chunk of it sorting through work stuff for my next trip.

But also got some other bits done and more importantly spent some time with Mrs AFB.

In the office today. So dark this morning. Soon it will be dark when I get home as well. At least it gets my in office day out of the way for the week.

Yes, I have noticed the encroaching darkness, as well.

There are now two hours (of natural light) less - both morning and evening, in other words, four hours less light, per day, in total - per day (since the summer solstice).

 

[decafjava]

Ah yes, a rainy miserable Monday in Geneva heading into autumn. Much of the rest of Switzerland including where our office and classroom is in the town of Nyon are off on the "Jeun Federal" (Federal fast) holiday, which took place here on 11 September. Catching up on stuff here at home and actually grateful that the rain is cleaning the last of the ragweed pollen from the air.

I quite like iOS 26 unlike many it seems except for an annoying bug concerning photo transfer to my Mac.

Looking forward to excursions in the autumn which are quite nice here.

 

[Apple fanboy]

There are three in the open office today. I said good morning to both as they arrived. No other words have been spoken since. Weird place here. I’m glad I’m just in for the one day a week now.

Car is charging so that’s about the only benefit.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Yes, I have noticed the encroaching darkness, as well.

There are now two hours (of natural light) less - both morning and evening, in other words, four hours less light, per day, in total - per day (since the summer solstice).

Yes it won’t be fully light when I get home until Spring time now.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Yes it won’t be fully light when I get home until Spring time now.

A dismal thought.

 

[rm5]

I think it may be time to break out the waterproof shoes... I can tell you, this NEVER happens back home in the desert!

 

[decafjava]

Wisconsin seems a bit ... wet. We have had our share here in Switzerland as well as my hometown of Vancouver. I got soaked this weekend as I didn't have my waterproof shoes.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Wisconsin seems a bit ... wet. We have had our share here in Switzerland as well as my hometown of Vancouver. I got soaked this weekend as I didn't have my waterproof shoes.

Yes, although today (which also happens to be the equinox) is actually quite cold, it has also been sunny and bright, unlike last week (and week-end) when it poured non-stop.

 

[rm5]

Wisconsin seems a bit ... wet. We have had our share here in Switzerland as well as my hometown of Vancouver. I got soaked this weekend as I didn't have my waterproof shoes.

I swear, the raindrops here are bigger than normal. I get wet MUCH quicker compared to when it rains back home. And when it rains in the desert (which isn’t often), it doesn’t get me soaking wet. Here, I can get absolutely dripping wet within five minutes of being outside.

 

[WriteNow]

However, words cannot express the winters in Wisconsin.

That's one of the states that has four seasons: Almost Winter, Winter, Still Winter, and Road Work!

 

[AVBeatMan]

Arrived in Glasgow. Noticeably colder and this evening I had to wear a jumper and jacket. Think tomorrow I'll have to buy a wool hat as am bald and my head was cold. Later in the week I am travelling up through the Highlands via Glencoe to Inverness, then on to John O'Groats. Thankfully it's going to be dry and sunny all week.

 

[goldmac2006]

have an exam to write in a month (GCIH) and after that I’m taking a break from cyber security and focusing on my hobby (cell phone/electronic repair)

In fact I was just given an SE in mint condition that won’t turn on anymore, but I think that I can fix it. I’ve started the repair process but I’ll finish it after I’m done studying.

Back at iPhone and Mac repair? 🙌

That’s the way to go! Would you also help fix others iPhones and macs again if they’d damaged them?

 

[Apple fanboy]

Arrived in Glasgow. Noticeably colder and this evening I had to wear a jumper and jacket. Think tomorrow I'll have to buy a wool hat as am bald and my head was cold. Later in the week I am travelling up through the Highlands via Glencoe to Inverness, then on to John O'Groats. Thankfully it's going to be dry and sunny all week.

Don’t forget the bug spray. Scotland can be terrible for midges in September.
But do enjoy. A very beautiful part of the world.