Yes, absolutely. And when I get kudos for accomplishing something like that, I always have to fight myself to allow myself to feel like I’ve earned them and not go, “If I were smarter and not a complete fraud, I’d have solved it sooner.”

What I’ve learned is that if I solve it in a day, my brain will try to make me think half a day would have been better, and if I solve it in half a day, my brain will try to make me think four hours would have been better. Rinse and repeat.

Sometimes my brain will do everything it can to sabotage any feeling of accomplishment I might have. And I’ve had to learn how to say, “No, fuck you, brain… I did this, and I deserve to feel good about it.”

Imposter syndrome sucks, doesn’t it. I’ve been a professional software developer and engineer for more than two decades, and I still find myself worrying people will realize I have no idea what I’m talking about, even on topics where I absolutely know what I’m talking about.

Especially on topics where I absolutely know what I’m talking about.

The “make it” step is already happening. It just doesn’t feel like it, because there is no single moment the switch occurs, no time you can point to and say, “before that I was putting all my effort into presenting as a competent person, and after that I just was a competent person.” The mental effort to see yourself that way will always be there.

What changes is the degree of effort it takes, and that change is gradual.

Oh! Oh! I know the answer! It’s me! Me!

From the article:

According to language in the Senate bill, there is “documentation” that “the federal government or other entities acting on the federal government’s behalf or at the federal government’s request may conduct geoengineering experiments by intentionally dispersing chemicals into the atmosphere, and those activities may occur within the State of Tennessee.”

While the word “chemtrail” isn’t there, the idea that the federal government is doing “geoengineering experiments” is basically the core belief of the conspiracy theory.

I’m… I’m jealous.

The U.S. watching Canadian news is just a sleeping dude.

In your defense, the Jewish space lasers is still an astoundingly stupid idea. It’s just that Israel’s current right-wing government seems to have been smoking whatever it is that made Marge the way she is.

Imagine his view of the Republican caucus shit-show. I’ll bet he’s downright desperate to get out at this point.

“Yeah, an’ that makes it a stump! I ain’t wrong.”

Please use the correct spelling: Graebener.

Please use the correct spelling: Graebener.

Interesting. It may not have been a director-level signoff, but he certainly would have hired whoever did.

2009 was the first year of the Obama presidency, and changes at the DOJ and FBI are slow. So my first question is: Who signed off on his mistreatment? Whose name is on the order, and did that person start at the FBI with Obama, or in an earlier administration?

Yes, without a doubt.

A few months ago, a new gym set up near where I live - like, five minutes walking distance away.

We took a tour of it, and saw that it’s a really nice facility. The ventilation and spacing of equipment is good (for avoiding disease), the variety of equipment is good, and it just seems like the ideal gym.

So my family and I thought, “Why not? Let’s get a family membership.” Now I head down there most mornings, spend an hour or so exercising, and then walk back, sometimes with coffee from a nice nearby cafe in hand.

I hadn’t noticed the slow decline in how I felt about my body and my life. I’ve always been a pretty fit guy, but the pandemic made me more sedentary than usual, and it was slowly affecting my self-esteem and mental health.

And I didn’t realize that until the effects of working out regularly showed up and I started looking and feeling better again. It was a “boiled frog” situation.

That gym moving nearby might have saved my life long-term, because I don’t know how I would have gotten the impetus to go to a more distant one otherwise.

It’s just been a few months, but I’ve already put on visible muscle and lowered noticeable belly fat substantially. And more importantly, I feel stronger than I have for several years. Like, lifting things is easier, carrying furniture is easier, just… moving is easier. I probably weigh more, because muscle is denser than fat, but I feel lighter.

It’s a good feeling. It’s clearing away a brain fog I didn’t know I had. My software work is improving, I’m writing again, and I’m re-engaging with hobbies and interests that had fallen by the wayside.

If you can’t or don’t want to get a gym membership, learn some body weight exercises, find a park you can jog at… Do something physical every day. Your brain and body are one system, and keeping all of it tuned and maintained is important for mental health.

That’s… That’s really the headline. I had to check.

My money’s on Bolsonaro. Lula isn’t fucking around, and Brazil isn’t afraid to imprison a former president if he’s a crook.

Agreed, but we’ll find out soon. Deadline’s in just six days.

No it’s fucking not. Democrats - stupidly - believed that with Trump as the Republican candidate, it would be an easy campaign. Now they know better. 2016 != 2024. GTFO with this nonsense.

Do that too long, and judges start doing things like seizing assets.

A not insignificant number. COVID-19 probably impacted the 2020 election and 2021 special elections.