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I bought these Clorox Handi Wipes from Walmart and I really like them.

Use them for wiping counters or drying hands or whatever, then rinse them clean and let them air dry. The little breathing holes means they drive quickly.

The cloths are big, so I cut one down into 4ths. This makes it about the size of a paper towel from a select-a-size roll.

Clorox Handi Wipes

I looked on Amazon, and they do have them for sale: Clorox Handi Wipes Multi-Use Reusable Cloths. There’s different sellers, but this one is 72 cloths for $13.39 and seemed the best deal. (72 cloths = 24 rolls of paper towels. But I think it can equal more since I cut my cloth into four pieces. So 24 x 4 = 96 ^_^)

I’m not sure how much I spent at Walmart for my small pack of 6, but they were worth buying. I can wash a counter, rinse and wring out the cloth, and wash another counter. Much better than paper towels, and more hygienic than squishy sponges.

I think I’m going to sew some color coded thread onto the cloths so I can designate some for use in cleaning the kitchen, the bathroom, dusting, etc. I would really prefer not to mix them up.

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“Ghost In the Shell” is an amazing anime series. They would play episodes on AdultSwim’s animation block, Toonami.

Ghost in the Shell (攻殻機動隊 Kōkaku Kidōtai, literally “Mobile Armored Riot Police”) is a Japanese media franchise originally published as a seinen manga series of the same name written and illustrated by Masamune Shirow. The manga, first serialized in 1989 under the subtitle of The Ghost in the Shell, and later published as its own tankōbon volumes by Kodansha, told the story of the fictional counter-cyberterrorist organization Public Security Section 9, led by protagonist Major Motoko Kusanagi, in the mid 21st century of Japan.

In the series/movies, Major Kusanagi has a body that failed when she was a child. Through science and technology, she was put into a cyborg body, or “shell.” And in a society where shells are recognized as people and cybernetics are somewhat normalized, there is always the danger of hackers, terrorists, and everyday criminals abusing the technology or those that use it.

It is a great series and everyone should watch it.

But the upcoming movie…

I’m boycotting the movie.

I will not watch it in theaters. I will not buy the movie. If I see it, it will be on TV or Netflix/Amazon/Hulu, which may give the producers a tiny bit of money, but definitely not as much as they want.

Hollywood needs to understand that whitewashing their movies has results. Mostly that people of conscience will not watch them in the way they want.

And if, instead of the $8 they expect to receive per viewer, they only receive $0.30 — I hope they’ll get the message that what they’re doing is unacceptable.

Whitewashing is a casting practice in the Cinema of the United States film industry of the United States in

… Read the rest “Ghost In the Shell live-action movie #boycott”

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As things fall apart around us, and the systems we depend on cease to work in the manner they’re supposed to, it would be easy to fall into despair.

It would be easy to turn to anger and resentment. To throw your hands up in the air and declare “We should just fuck everything up. That’ll show them.”

When really, more than ever, we need to hold each other up, lean on each other, and help each other out. As the government and our fellow citizens begin to fail as human beings, the rest of us need to build a backup infrastructure and backup resources on which to draw on and use.

What does that mean?

Well, companies that turn to the hatred of Trump as the answer don’t deserve our money. They don’t deserve our shares on social media. They don’t deserve anything at all.

So what if a business produces a product or service that I want right now. So what if their model is neat, and their idea is interesting. If they support hatred, than they’re not getting any money from me or my family.

Because when it all comes down to it, the service or app might be great, but if I wait 2 months someone else will come up with the same concept and model without all the crap.

So go ahead, businesses, don’t pay your employees proper wages. Don’t give them benefits because their family-unit doesn’t conform to your ultra-rigid ideas of what’s proper.

It sucks that your employees will have to get other jobs when your business tanks, but that’s not my fault. I’m not required to do business with any company I don’t believe in.

I might not be powerful or important.

But I spend money. I buy things. I do the … Read the rest “Vote with your money #TEOTWAWKI”

Piper Computer

When I first saw the Piper Computer Kit, I thought it was a waste of money ($253!) but then I took a closer look at what it was and I find myself impressed.

About the Product

  • Hand-crafted wooden computer case with lcd screen monitor

  • Minecraft story mode adventure play with hardware components and challenges

  • Wifi enabled gameplay for extra levels and sharing capabilities

  • Electronic gadgets including led lights, motion sensors, buzzers, buttons and switches

  • Self-contained computer running on a raspberry pi 3 project board – 1gb ram – 1.2Ghz quad-core CPU

The kit contains:
● Beautiful, hand­crafted wooden computer case with HD LCD display
● Fully functioning computer running on a Raspberry Pi 3 Project Board. 1GB RAM. 1200 MHz Quad­Core CPU
● Electronic gadgets including LED lights, buzzers, buttons, switches, sensors and more
● Cables to connect the screen, Pi and 6600 mAh powerbank together
● 8 square foot laminated blueprint explaining how to assemble your Piper Computer
● USB mouse with a retractable cable
● An 8GB SD card that holds your game progress and keeps your creations safe
● Custom Minecraft Pi adventure that you play by building and programming electronic modules
● Wifi enabled gameplay for multiplayer, new downloadable levels, and sharing capabilities
● Free automatic level updates
● It even comes with a Piper Screwdriver!

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One of the questioners asked if the computer could be assembled, disassembled, and reassembled again. This would allow it to be built and played with by different children.

A reviewer said that once the Piper Computer is put together, there are lesson plans available at the Piper website for further edutainment. [Piper: Minecraft Raspbery Pi Edition – https://playpiper.com/]

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So while it seems like the price might be a bit much, if you’ve got the scratch to … Read the rest “Gifts for kids: Piper Computer [STEM, educational]”

Through a window darkly gazing
At a sight afraid to see
Breathing deep the salted water
Dreaming dreams, of you and me.