What are we but a collection of memories? Not much. A body, some desires, occasional suffering and joy.

The memories give context to everything else. Change them, and you change everything.

This is why my chronic illness is so terrifying. It’s in my brain. Literal brain damage. It’s being treated, but I wake up every day with a low lying terror that I have forgotten something important.

“We can hurt the bad people until they tell us what we need to know to be safe.”

It’s nonsense, but it can feel true.

That’s called a taint squeeze.

Hijacking a plane wouldn’t be enough. Plane highjackings were nothing new. They were even common back in the 60’s. Conventional wisdom was you cooperate with the highjackers. They have to land eventually.

Nobody anticipated suicide highjackers.

2001 you could use a pay phone to stay anonymous.

I thank my lucky stars to be in San Antonio where we have municipal power.

People complain about CPS (city public service) but we get a say in how the company is run and our bills are quite reasonable compared to the state average.

Bullshit.

Most of us don’t pay the market price hour to hour. Our electricity provider absorbs the risk of price spikes and raises our rates if the math stops working for them.

Griddy was a provider that sells at the market rate, which is usually below the general price you would pay, but you take the risk of price spikes during peak demand.

I wouldn’t feel safe letting a stranger in to shower. My wife would be very upset with me.

They could have a bottle of water and a sandwich.

The algo assumes you must not be activated yet, and the most profitable way to do that is to make you a raging right winger.

That’s completely reasonable.

That’s tragic when it happens. I know that it will happen. Free lunches attract flies.

That doesn’t mean you can’t help people. It means you cut them off when it’s clear they are being hurt and not helped.

Then you have a hard conversation.

I’ve been that person. I lived with my grandparents for a year. Rent free, nearly no job. My aunt and uncle sat me down and explained that they appreciated my work helping to care for my grandparents, but if I stayed with them I would only be qualified for a career as a home health aid.

I talked to my extended family and moved out. Other arrangements were made for my grandparents. I found a job and started a new career. It’s certainly possible to enable bad behavior, but it’s also possible to help someone that needs it.

Don’t have to worry about your friend’s motives if you honestly want to help them.

Travel a little bit. Spend most of your time at home, either enjoying the simple pleasures, or with friends and family.

So what if they are taking advantage of you? You are rich! What’s the downside?

Sure, you have to be vigilant against con artists, grifters, and addicts. You have to draw a line somewhere. Maybe don’t fund their casino trips, drug trips, or Candy Crush high score.

Extravagant birthday gifts? College tuition for your niblings? Why not?

If someone is lying to you, you will find out eventually. I’d rather have friends now and let future me deal with the fallout from the grifters.

Inns like that existed during the enlightenment up through the invention of the railroad. In the medieval era you slept in a church or maybe someone’s home.

I’m glad it’s better.

If you do I’m sorry.

Sandy Hook survivors are in high school now and some are getting into activism.

You give us too much credit.

Anhedonia is horrifying if you think about it.