Rubber and Glue

 "Whatchya doing over there Jack?"
"Studying."
"Studying what."
"Um...Yes?"

At the moment I'm just recovering after the big clean.  All this furniture doesn't move it's self and making sure all the hardware is still in working order takes more time than you'd think. 
But also, studying.  
I've got the script outline done and as fara s the book goes it's a matter of settling on which story.   My story?  A fantasy story?  A sci-fi story?   a horror story?  
I dunno.
I've been feeling very swashbuckler of late. 
At the very least I'll finish the other two musketeers duels.  
I already know how tea time goes I'm just finishing the choreography.  
The question on that front is:  What's for lunch?


At the moment though, recovery and study .  
Catching up on and reviewing the most current astrological models. 
Checking in on battery technology as I revisit some of the designs I've been playing with. 
That's the trick isn't it?  
I can design all the cool tech in the world but without a way to power them then it's just a bunch of shiny paper weights.  

Which is where I find myself in designing a sustainable, low repair, home electrical system. 
Wind works as long as the wind is blowing. 
As long as the sun is shining. 
Geo thermal works, if you have a source to tap into. 
But three solutions keep coming back to me. 
Water and Weight. 

Using waste water to power turbines. 
But that introduces more breakdown points into the water systems. 

Using weights and exercise bikes  to create supplemental energy. 
Imagine that instead of riding an exercise bike just for health while someone screams at you in a group call; the peddling is charging your phone, warming the water heater,  powering the t.v.  and getting you healthy.  

All this workout equipment is so backwards. 


Catching up on modern chemistry and adjusting my projections to reflect current market conditions. 

"That telling the future thing?"
"It's not..."

Think about it like this. 
Every day a person needs food, water, and to poop. 
Sometimes because of situation or emergency one or more of those things may happen more or less often. 
But they still have to happen. 
Now, scale this up from a person to a neighborhood, to a city, to a country, to a state, to a nation, to a globe.  
It's not telling the future. 
It's just watching what's being eaten, seeing where the water if flowing, and then figuring out where the shit is going to land. 
It's not a magic trick, or a miracle, or any other such nonsense.   
I've got a hundred and a half very uncouth ways of wrapping that statement up. 

"What are we going to do tonight Brain."
"Same thing we do every other night..."

~~~~
"You haven't done a story time in a long while Jack."
"I know."
"Why not?"
"The big sad."
"Oh?"
"Yeah."
"Then don't be sad."
"Ah."
"Hadn't tried that yet?"
"Ha."
"I'm serious."
"All the world is a stage, and we but players on it."
"Is that a fortnite thing?"
"Sure."
"You seem tired."
"Yeah."
~~~

The Glasgow Kiss and the Irish Goodbye. 
When I was younger I didn't know how to leave. 
As I've gotten older I give out a lot fewer kisses. 
 

Splitting Hairs

"Thought you said you were done dusting there Jack."
"I did finish dusting. But there's also vacuuming and repairs to do."
~~

Fun fact : Vacuuming isn't just about sucking up the dust.  The high pitched wine of the motor that animals hate so much is for a good reason.  That sound, in most vacuums, is at a vibrational frequency that shatters small egg shells. 
Particularly those of pests.  
So remember kids. 
Do your daily sonic attacks to keep the bed bugs away!
The dust clean up is just a bonus.

~~~

It took 5 years to pull this little office together to the point of being able to sit and write again. 
Yeah.  
It's been a minute. 
But I'm glad to say that even as things have come together my notebooks have new pages drying with more already outlined.  
Not to mention the compositions. 
Budget proposal is done. 
Just have to finish filing and updating licenses.
 
~~~
"Whoa?  Compositions?" 
"Yeah, don't you compose when you write?" 
"Compose what?"
"The music."
"...."
"That goes with the words?"
"...."
"The beat and rhythm?"
"...."
"Wait?   You just write words?  Like, you don't compose them like a symphony before hand?" 
"...."
"Plan the pauses? 
"...."
"Read it out loud to make sure it flows correctly?"
"...."
"When you type the words it's not like the first time playing a song that's been stuck in your head for an embarrassingly long time?"
"...."
"I'm starting to feel like the crazy one."

~~~~

A lot of legends have fallen over the past couple of years. 

Sometimes people tell you to never meet your heroes. 
Then there's the heroes you'll never get to meet. 

I find the latter to be far worse.
Because there are real people out there the way Mr. Rogers was on T.V. 
I've had the privilege of meeting some of them.
And I'll tell you. 
I never trusted it. 
Well.
Not until met Ms. Frizzle anyways. 

I was used to Southern Kindness. 
Don't know what I'm talking about?
Oh?  Bless Your Heart.

So I always assumed that was what kindness was.
And when I met Ms. Frizzle my first thought was. 
"What the actual hell did I do to piss this lady off?"

But then as we worked together I realized she pissed adults, well most adults, off the same way I did. 
Ms. Frizzle talked to children like adults and adults like children. 
It set the tone for when people entered Frizzles domain. 

~~~~


"New projects huh?  Any juicy details you can share?"
"Um.  Updating contracts and social media E.U.L.A. with A.I. provisions to protect artists and their work."
"So you're working with A.I.?"
"I'm exploring A.I.s possibilities for weather and traffic modeling."
"What's the hold up?"
"Privacy concerns and exploit response protocols."
"Exploit Response Protocol? Sounds scary."
"Well, I don't want a repeat of Grok.   Or to see peoples personal information sold and exploited without their consent or knowledge.  You know, like Meta and Facebook where in trouble for a little while back before the E.U. slammed the consumer protections dick on the table. And...you know...sometimes it just means 'Unplug the damn thing before it finishes installing!!' " 
"Speaking of, how do you feel about age verification."
"Yes in spaces that are marketed to and frequented by minors.  No to adult spaces.  Basically the opposite of how it is now." 
"How exactly does that work?"
"Well, students/kids have their school networks that can verify a yes/no question to their accounts.  If an adult wants access/to interact with children's spaces.  Parents, guardians, educators, medical professionals.  Then I think their age and credentials should be verified. 
Which is already the standard for professionals in those spaces.  I'm just saying we formalize it."
"And you'd just let kids run amok in adult spaces without verification." 
"I'm saying that for the purposes of privacy once a person becomes an adult their credentials should be encrypted and only require verification for medical, financial, or professional reasons."
"What?"
"Basically think about it like this.  Anon accounts wouldn't be allowed in spaces for minors."
 Bro.  Kids need spaces they feel like is their own that they can explore and shape.  And digital spaces are just that.  The only thing that keeps them from being so is the fellas in the unmarked white vans selling candy. Stranger danger bro."
"So the kids would just have free reign."
"Na dude, they'd be like little stealth riders." 
"You're starting to use a lot of...slang."
"Um...think like...admin level but not?   Like they can access the networks, explore them, but to them it's like walking through a ghost town for the most part.  Only able to see verified accounts they're permitted to see.  Like, admins.  Or say, it's a site for horror films but the minor has a pass for a project to post to the forums or attend a live stream. Or maybe being like "oh shit! It's Ms. Rachel!"
"You think kids are going to follows those rules."
"Na, but they might if we trust them."
"Trust kids to not get into trouble"
"Man, kids are going to get into trouble.  That's just what they do. Just show them how to make good trouble."
"Good trouble?"
"Oh man..."

~~~

On a positive note. 
The busted hand is nearly back to 100%.   
Still needs strength and mobility training for the...well...the whole arm. 
 Not being able to use your hand properly for nearly 8 months takes a toll on the ol strength and dexterity.   
But I was able to get all of the tangles brushed out and all of the hair ties in without my hand cramping!
There were a lot of tangles too. 
No one around to help me out with that this time around.
But 5 full ties before hitting split ends. 
Top's getting a little thin though.

Stay Safe

As we know it.

 Okay. 

Let's break it down for a moment. 

The commonality amongst both the Iran situation and the Palestinian Situation. 

Pardon the language, but it is apt.

Israel trying to push the Palestinian people out of the area and the U.S. swinging dick. 

Which.  
Is not because land is scare. 
But sustainable land is scarce.  
Fishing regions, farmable regions, herdable regions. 
You need all three. 
And viable routs to remove excesses and bring in scarcities. 
Imports and Exports

And since we do live in 2026 A.D. and not 2026 B.C. it might be time to start writing a new play book. 
I mean.
Depending on your calendar this is supposed to be the end of Chapter 1 and the start of Chapter 2. 
Crazy I know, it's almost like they're numbered that way. 

My solution isn't a single state or a two state solution. 
But rather a counseling situation. 

So.  
Take the E.U. model of trade, travel, and support and overlay that on the Mediterranean region. 
Like a regional government.  

Will there be some overlap.  
Yes. 
But it would be a separate entity from N.A.T.O making Moscow happy. 
Would have representatives from multiple regions with distinctly different views on governance but all agree that freely flowing food, water, and travel in and out of the region is a goal. 
I don't think the U.N. was the wrong idea.   

I think it was just too big of an idea.

Too many pots on the stove and too many cooks trying to spice things their way. 
 
So.  
Base regional responsibilities...
Oof, can't not with the branding it seems.
...on geographical isolations and limitations. 
Not arbitrary lines in the sand.  
Ask anyone who lives near a desert what a line in the sand means after the seasons have changed. 

Keep the U.N.  largely as is and utilize it as the trade floor for the world stock exchange. But instead of focusing on speculative finances and made up currencies they deal in commodities only. 
Food, Fuel, Finished products. 
To support the creation of smaller regional infrastructure management comities.

The heaviest burden on any governing body is the building and management of infrastructure.
Energy, Agriculture, Emergency Services. 
So. 
Alleviate this burden for the smallest, mass produce for the largest, and focus on rehabilitation over reconstruction whenever possible. 
Rehabilitation takes much longer that reconstruction. 
But.
If the waters do rise?
Imagine saving Venice instead of watching it sink. 
Imagine turning New York, New Orleans, and all the other New cities on coasts destined for submersion and planning for it.  
Planning to live, or at least work and farm, underwater. 
I mean, we want to go to space right? 
My vote?
Turn New Orleans into Atlantis now.  So the next time the Levies break it's because we didn't need them anymore.

 
~~~~


I mean, that's my plan.  
I think I even have a map I did back during Katrina on my days off. 
Something to focus on since being at work meant trying to get a very panicked, angry, and traumatized public from point A to point B. without freaking anyone out.
So I just pretended I had all the money in the world and asked myself what I would do with it. 
And that's what I'd do with it. 
Underwater development and planning, update regional infrastructure starting with the smallest towns abandoned factory neighborhoods, rebuild them to support new industries and to act as emergency over flow for regions hit by a disaster. 

"Oh no, I'm so sorry your trailer was lost in the storm."
"It's okay, I got to stay in Old Detroit and washed dishes at a dinner theater while things were rebuilt." 

~~~~

I mean...I think I still have my physical files from that far back, but yeesh, that's been a minute.
That design might have been shredded with the tax paperwork.  But, man, to re-do a project like that with modern mapping instead of what I was able to find on the limited internet of the day and copy from my rand mc-Neily. 
 
Oh man...giving away my library....my collection of maps probably hurt the worst. 
Curated and updated annually. 
But, now we have gps in our pockets so I don't need a whole backpack just for maps and phone books. Smaller towns phone books were usually only the size of a comic book and having emergency numbers and knowing if there was a grocery store or mechanic helped plan stops.  
I'd always rather get out and stretch where the work shop is because if there's an issue I've only gotta push the car a few feet instead of a few miles. 
Slow roads over highways any time I can. 
More fun to drive, safer for the cargo, and an extra pair of eyes where there usually isn't a pair. 
I can't be everywhere, but I can be somewhere.

Like doctors without boarders but for things like running water and farming rights for land, sea, and air. 
We can't overhunt herd animals otherwise we'll end up in situations like the American dust bowl of the 1930's or the starvation of the Savannah in the 1980s.  But we also need to feed the people.  
So. 
2 birds, 1 stone. 
Hunting enthusiasts can get...
here's that language again.
...get their rocks off. 
 People are fed, large scale herds can do what they do for the eco systems, the meat produced is ethically sourced, and it designates and protects existing natural habitats for food production without over developing the land and destroying the natural eco systems.  

I know.
I Know. 
I'm a genius. 
Solving the worlds problems one simple solution at a time. 
Yes.  
I am white jesus. 

"Uh...sir...what are you going to do when they find out you're just copying the way it was being done before the colonists showed up, but with star trek stuff?"
"Shhh....smile for the cameras and keep up the soft shoe until we get this all done." 
"The....the uh...mic is hot...they heard all of that."
"Aw fuck."
 "Jigs up!"
" Cheese it!"
 "Mystery Inc is on the Case!"
"Good one!"
"Let's go!"

Quiet Morning

 Watching the sun rise on the last day of Ramadan...assuming I was given the right date.
I look around and count my blessings. 

1. Is the sunrise it's self. 
2. The relative safety that has gotten me to the sunrise.
3. The memories of those that have helped me arrive at this sunrise. 


Around noon I'll put a couple of sodas in the fridge to chill for this evening. 
And try to remember the lessons of the year.

1. Rehabilitation is hard work.
2. Rebuilding harder.
3. The harder the work, the more rewarding.

As the night sky settles over the land I'll enjoy a simple meal with my soda. 
And set my intentions for the future.
1. Continue repairing my tools. 
2.  Make sure all of my paper work is up to date.
3. Finish a script, a book, and the playlist. 

Stay Safe out there.

Tea and crumpets batman

The real world has a way of happening. 
~
"So you think you'd handle things differently?"
"Well, for starters I wouldn't have pulled out of a nuclear treaty without having another one ready to sign."
"So you would have pulled the U.S. out of the treaty with Iran?"
"I would have a better nuclear treaty drawn up and ready to propose to U.N. quietly get everyone on board with it then as a signing ceremony tear up the old agreements as the new one is signed."
"You're trying to police the worlds nuclear arsenal?"
"One thing that everyone except the willfully ignorant will admit is that the electrical infrastructure needs updating.  On commercial and governmental levels the cleanest large scale power source is nuclear energy. Until some other form of magic rock is found that's what we have.  Yes, like with any other industrial scale infrastructure disasters and mishandled waste can be incredibly detrimental to surrounding housing and ecosystems. But that's why, side by side with large scale plants being powered up I'm laying down the grounds for a self sufficiency initiative to integrate renewable infrastructure on a small scale." 
"Sounds expensive."
"Infrastructure projects usually are, but as a nation, we're over due for one."
"What do you mean?
"The early 1700's saw the establishment of major water trade ports, the early1800's rail infrastructure, the early 1900's automotive and electrical infrastructure with the late 1900's focused on air and data transmission.  We're in the digital age, it's time for true governmental scale adoption of digital rights standards instead of leaving these standards up to businesses motivated by profit margins with little to no guard rails for public safety.
My proposal is for humanities 2000's project we establish, if not cities on the moon, telescopes for looking further out and being known as the generation that was able to truly make slavery a thing of the past.  By looking out we're better able to see what's coming from the stars, by giving humanity a project to work together on it gives us all a common goal rather than focusing on who's got the bigger beat stick.   The way I'm trying to look at nuclear energy is the same way to look at fertilizer for a field. When you use fertilizer it can help bring health to your plants, to grow larger, faster, and more bountiful. 
If you use too much fertilizer you contaminate the ground water around the fields.
Fertilizer will also feed the weeds and invasive plants if not managed properly. 
Fertilizer is highly combustible if handled in unsafely."
"What does any of this have to do with what's going on in Iran."
"I'm sayin if these two old men trying to carver their name in history or so dead set on reversing time for diplomacy and  and stability in the region by nearly 60 years then we might as well try to solve the issue that stemmed the whole 'but they have bombs' bullshit. 
 'It's not polite to point honey, especially when your mouth is full.' " 
"I didn't know you did voices."
"Oh...uh...yeah...so...umm...my point is that the big kids with the big bombs all agree to the same oversight committee. Not made up by people who have the bombs but by people who the bombs were tested on. Regardless of their national allegiances they're the most qualified to speak on their effects and be driven to see those things not happen to others."
"But most of the testing was done on inhabited islands."
"Uninhabited by who?  Do you think you keep your garden where you sleep.  And by uninhabited islands do you mean the tribal lands surrounding the Los Alamos testing grounds or the uninhabited Japanese archipelago? Because I'm fairly certain that's very famously not an uninhabited island."
"So...you'd agree to this committees oversight to the U.S. nuclear arsenal?"
"Absolutely, and if it took an executive order for that to happen I would issue one."
"I thought you said you wouldn't issue executive orders while President." 

"Here is my reasoning: and I will provide my reasoning for any time I were to exercise that power.   Executive orders are a wartime power and the only war left is the Nuclear one.  Everything else is just byproducts of the friction created by that war. 
Hunger, solved, save for distribution which is interrupted by conflicts sparking off of the Nuclear war. The race to hoard resources?  With renewables for common usages and the ability to quickly deploy large scale power stations in emergencies relatively hoarding becomes relatively moot unless you count a nuclear war.
People being, lest we forget, a part of nature no matter how hard some people try to believe themselves above it. People need the ability to move, to travel, to migrate freely.  It's a biological imperative on a level beyond ourselves.  Call it God, or gods, or simple animal instinct, it is a drive that everyone feels at some point in their life. And the only thing that limits that for humans isn't will or ability but... conflict.  Sparked by the Nuclear war.  So if it came to an assured and guaranteed nuclear armistice for global security I absolutely would sign an executive order giving such a committee oversight of the nuclear stockpile."

"So you'd give away the nukes?"
"I'd get people to stop pissing on each others boots long enough to look up. 
 Here's the thing.
  If a meteor.
  Or a piece of trash from, at this point, literally 100 years ago lands somewhere populated. 
Then some jack off with a paranoid cult get's froggy and decides to "shoot back" because they were too busy cleaning piss off of their boots to notice it was raining 'fire and brimstone'" 
"So you're doomsday prepping?"
"I have two mottos I live by.  
'Leave things better than the way you found them'
'Plan for the worst, hope for the best and you'll never be unprepared.'

"We're a little off topic here. What does this have to do with the situation in Iran?"
"I just wanted to illustrate my philosophy before I explain how I would have reacted to this whole situation is that I wouldn't have been in it to begin with, but since we are I would come at it from a point of accountability. 
Regardless of who did what, when, or where.  Even if it was aliens, I'd have the CIA do forensic analysis of the situation, have u.s. forces in the region offer emergency aid and evacuation of the area, then instruct the F.B.I and the Department of Labor to secure work and places to stay for the short term and plans for either permanent relocation or returning when it's safe and if returning if they want to return before or after reconstruction."
"And if it was a U.S. asset that caused the collateral damage?"
"One, there is no such thing as collateral damage. My heartfelt condolences go out to every family affected by this tragedy."
"Even the Terrorists?"
"Especially the 'terrorists'.
Because either they truly felt the only path forward was through one of destruction.  Possibly they were opportunists seeking to monopolize on the chaos.  Or maybe truly innocent people caught in a hopeless situation. Or an innocent bystander with nothing at stake but proximity.
All are true in these situations and it is heart breaking. It is why it has taken me so long to find these words even though they change little from happening to happening.
 Which ever truth comes to light while the dead are laid to rest, someone's loved one was lost.  Be it that day or years before that took them down such a path.  I make no judgment on the dead, only their effects on the living.  
So to answer the question; I don't think I would have been in the situation the current administration finds it's self in. And if I were having to deal with such a mess I'd offer assistance and if it was declined I'd respect that decision."

"No thoughts and prayers?"
"I offer assistance and accountability. 
And if neither are needed I offer my wish for good winds and clean rains."  

Sit down for a minute dude!

 Cleaning done.
It's always such a strange and cathartic thing.  

I'm not talking about making the bed or wiping down the counter, or running the vacuum. 
I'm talking about. 
Dusting shelves, cleaning figures, redoing all of the displays. 

Moving furniture to;
 sweep and disinfect the floors and base boards.
Check clothes, blankets, and fabrics for mouse or moth chewings. 


~~~~
The Warrior Mouse
~
Last winter a little family of mice had taken up residency in a little corner of shelf behind some boxes and used the carpet like fabric from some old suite jackets I'd thrifted for a weekend of Frank cosplays to climb from floor to ceiling. (Still need to let those out in the shoulders). 
I was able to get all of them out into the field to either find a warm bit of hay to curl up in or nature take it's way.  
But then there was one.  
I couldn't catch the little guy. 
I had to chase him from one end of the house to the other.
Wiley and smart the little warrior used glue traps as parkour hurdles.  
I finally had the little dude cornered, removed the suitcases and shoe boxes so there was no where for them to hide.  Instead of freezing or make another neo like escape from the broom they ran strait up the broom handle and leapt claws first directly at my face.
(You stun them with the broom bristles and snag em before they get their bearings.) 
I caught the fearless fighter inches from my face.  
We looked at each other for a long, long moment before put him out in the field. 
I hope I didn't hurt him when I caught him, because I'd like to think that little warrior is one the crows watched and cheered for as he carved a path through the tall grass.
~
~~~~

Turning the mattresses. 
Changing out the wardrobe for the season.
Rerunning cables and checking batteries for damage or corrosion. 
Cleaning the coats and outerwear

~~~~
Luckily I got all of the dusting done before the cold snap hit so I've been breathing easy, which is nice.  Let me tell ya dude.   
I told bros at the game shop the reason I hired them is because it was too dusty around here to do any real open heart surgery on a system and the filtration system on this case is so good dude.  Heat dissipation combined with airflow that keeps about 90% of the dust off of the components. One of the hard drives crapped out, luckily the one I was using to store massive online games incase someone needed a pickup player.
It's still under warranty and I think I can get it out with just a screw and a couple of clips.
Well, pretty sure, since I checked under the back plate while cleaning. 

~~~~

Planning shopping trips and budgets for the year. 

~~~~~

"You budget your whole year in advance?"
"Yeah.  Don't you?"
"No."
"Look, I know I need to make a minimum amount to pay rent, bills, and groceries in that order.  
So that money's already spent on pay day, so I know how much I need to make in net take home each month."
"Net take home?"
"The amount after paying taxes and transportation costs. 
Before 45 took office I could get a weeks worth of groceries for $1000 fresh $40, spend $20 on canned goods and non perishables for storage, and $20 for cleaning supplies with $20 left over for gas.  (Never let your car get under 1/2 tank if you can avoid it, it's bad for the fuel pump to run at low fuel for too long.) 
Now for a full grocery run?  it's $100 for a fresh groceries, $50 for cleaning supplies...canned goods when I can afford them, but usually spending $100 or more for less, and fuel...it almost feels malicious at this point."
"Is that why we don't go to the theater anymore?"
"That's exactly why we don't go to the theater anymore."

~~~~

Ordering replacement parts and consumables. 

~~~
"Consumables?"
"Glue, tape, sand paper.  Ya know, stuff in the tool box that's only good for a handful of projects."
"Glass cleaner and air fresheners."
"Yeah, you got it."
"Why do you buy this expensive stuff?"
"I buy the stuff that last the longest. And that is usually more expensive than the cheap stuff."
"The cheap stuff?"
"Um...like the toy version of something.   Something that will teach you how it works but only really works if you're careful."
~~~


Then recovering.  
Which is where I'm at now. 

Can never seem to get through a cleaning without stubbing a toe or something. 
Going to have to be more careful, or find someone to give me a hand in case I turtle.
A little mantra I have to remind myself as I get older. 

Good news is I seem to still have decent balance, though I need to do some more ankle strengthening exercises. 
Going to need to do some more weight training to keep my strength up, furniture moving went considerably easier than I expected.  Certainly more easily than last year.
So with the exception of not practicing the gravity hammer as much as I would have I liked I at least hit my fitness goal for flexibility and cardio this last year, so yay!

Going to need a trainer at some point to keep me motivated 'cause it's easy to get wrapped up in a project and forget to exercise for a day or two.  
When I was younger, not as much of as an issue.  Just get up, stretch, and good to go.  
Now it's like "fuck, need my cane just to stand up"
So the exercise has become much more necessary but as long as I keep stretching and wiggling I should be solid.

Anyways, back to work,  I have some notes to go over and a few papers to update with the current data sets. 

Planet Money here I come!

Like Water

 "Hollywood often has a way of blowing things out of proportion."
"What do you mean Mrs. Fletcher?"
"Well, remember when old man Johnson's tuna nets were torn into by the school of sharks that got caught in the shallows a few summers back?"
"Aye."
"Then they made that dreadful movie Jaws about a runaway shark?"
"Poor girl."
"Aye."

~~~

"Dusting sure takes awhile Jack."
"It used to only take about 10 or 15 minutes."
"What changed?"
"I got older and slower and there's a lot more than Bumblebee and a few books on the shelf now."
"You call that a few books?"
"Oh, you saw the old library?"
"Yeah....that was not 'a few books'?"
"You want to know the crazy part?"
"Yes?"
"Those where just the Book Marks."
"Shut the fuck up."
"True Story."

~~~~

white t-shirts and cold beer
t-shirts to see if I was leaking.
Cold beer to ease the creaking. 

~~~~

Four more days man.

~~~
"Why do we wait to eat?"
"Because there are those that can not."
"Why can't they?"
"Because there are those that have to."
"Why do they have to?"
"Because life is funny sometimes."
"And sad sometimes."
"Indeed."
~~~~

There is one thing that all of the wise men and wise women agree on. 
"Look to the stars and watch where you walk."

"Everything between is the world."

"Genius is 98% perspiration and 2% inspiration...."  Or some such. 
"He forgot to factor in the blood and tears."
"What do you think perspiration means lad?" 

"They're all full of shit." 

~~~~~

Almost done.
Floors are swept and baseboards wiped down. 
Now it's just putting the furniture back and re running the cabling to make sure there haven't been any nibbles.  
Which, so far so good. 
The exciting part. 
For me at least.
Is that I'm finally getting things settled in the way I imagined them when I first walked into the room. 
But...
Life being do what life being do recovery was a little slower than I'd hoped.
That's the funny thing about age. 
The thing that young people don't think about and older people often regret.  
When you're young is how you shape your health. 
Not fitting into arbitrary beauty standards, but shaping yourself for the life you hope for. 

~~~~

Strength.
Stamina.
Acuity. 
Awareness. 
Luck. 

Luck is the one you can't shape, but you can stack in your favor the longer you play.
The first and fourth you start with in abundance and grow rapidly but ultimately decline over time.
The Second and Third start weak and grow slowly but decay slower than the first and fourth.

Background - Affects Strength, Stamina, and Luck and is fixed at character creation
Education - Affects all 4 and is allocated into actions per turn.
Age - Affects all 5 and is applied over time.

"I'm going to use a background point to perform this action with an Awareness check?"
"Roll with a Luck and Stamina modifier."
"15 so...40 in total." 
"The air feels heavy and you're slightly dizzy. Like you've been underwater to long."
"Hey...uh...guys..."


Anyways.  
That's how I'd create/run/write the games.


What's Luck represent?
A hoagie when you're running on empty.
Damn dude. 


~~~

"Go eat Jack, you can't think if you don't fuel the machine."
"hrm"

If, and, or, maybe.

 I think one of the major things that needs changed when it comes to Labor discussions is framing.  Not in how it's presented but in the vocabulary.  Words make a difference when people look at things.  
For instance. 
Minimum wage. 

"Oh, we only pay them minimum wage because that's what they're worth."
"I only make minimum wage because this job doesn't matter."

Then you have people say a Living wage.  Which isn't as bad but still doesn't hit the mark.

"I pay them a living wage because that's all I can afford."
"I make a living but I could always do better."

Compared to how I look at it.
A sustainable wage.
"I pay them a sustainable wage, because that's what they're worth."
"I make a sustainable wage.  Sometimes things are tight, but I always have what I need."

Framing. 
In the perception. 
In the respect.
In the mindset. 
 
What does a sustainable wage look like?

Well. 
Under current market conditions. 
Using my handy dandy little equation.
Food Costs, housing costs, medical costs that was roughly $135k/yr 8 years ago. Pre pandemic.  
But in a 45 economy? 

One shaped by legislative and legal skullduggery established 12 years ago by with holding key appointments 16 years ago.

To our current situation.  
Where food costs have risen by nearly 200% across the board because of bad trade deals.
Housing costs have, on average, risen by 50% because building new has become largely un needed, while neglected renovations and repairs have been redlined at a financial level and socially shamed for anyone wanting or needing them. 
Medical costs so exclusionary that you need a dual income house hold just to afford basic check ups. 

So.  
In a Trump America what does a Sustainable Wage look like? 
Almost $300k a year. 
A Quarter of a million dollars annually to be able to support a family of 4.5

"What's .5?"  
"Dog, Cat, Ferret, horse...I dunno, you tell me.
Personally, if I looked at how I prioritize my spending I would have a family of 2.   
Myself plus two  .5 critters. 

And because of their environmental impact I think cars should count as 1. 
 Particularly in house holds where a vehicle is necessary to employment.  
  
Counting like this would count the population of People, Critters, and Things. 
So for myself I would need a 3 person income if I wanted to keep a personal vehicle. 
If I adopted or fostered, a 4.
So, standard 4.5 being $300k means I, in my current financial needs, should have a net annual income of  $200k/yr. 
Roughly $67k per dependent. 
V.S. 20 years ago when $67k could reasonably support a family of 4.5

I hate to say it but...
"I told you."
~~~

Conservatives 
"I don't understand why they don't pull themselves up by the boot straps."

Liberals
"Come on guys!   You can do it!  I'll help you find boot straps!"

Me.
"You do realize that phrase means doing the impossible because you can not, in fact, lift yourself by your boot straps.  I could point you to some remedial pre-school level physics lessons if you lack the necessary understanding of Newtonian Physics....
Um...
Apple?"




Conservetives
"They need to stop complaining and work harder." 

Liberals
"If you work harder we can change things."

Me.
"I'm going to make sure your basic needs are met before asking you to work.
I will only ask you to work harder in an emergency."



Conservatives 
"They need to stop being a drain on the system."

Liberals
"We'll stop the drain on the system"

Me.
"I'm going to unclog the drain and make sure the faucet works."

Conservatives
"Their cup is too full!"

Liberals
"Our cup does not have enough!"

Me
"Here's a cup, I'll be back in a bit, let me know if you need a refill"

~~~~


"Jack, you're being accused of trying to use tribal sovereignty as a political stunt."
"I'm asking tribal sovereignty to use me as a 3rd party candidate."
"White savior complex?"
"Ah man..."
"Only person smart enough for the job?"
"I could point at a hundred other people that would be better at it than me." 
"Then why you?"
"Because I don't want to ask anyone else to put their neck out that far."
"So you're wanting a PAC supported by tribal sovereignty to support your run for the white house."
"I'm pretty good on food, water, and medicine for now,  and though not in an ideal living situation it's stable enough for the moment.  So, no I don't need any sort of doners or funding currently.  Though I wouldn't mind being able to settle this issue with the banks now instead of later." 
"Then why do all of it, especially without getting any tribes approval?"
"I went to the museum.  I read the treaties.  I know what was asked for, but more importantly, I know what was given.   I'm just arguing for their seat at the table and doing what I can to help them secure it."
"What's in it for you?"
"To quote a Space Captain ; 'I do a job, I get paid, I go home.'"  
"And what do you expect to get paid for such a job?"
"Uh same as any government contract I've worked on. $10 million."
"Awful lot for one person."
"Oh, that's because I've been working this case pro bono for almost 30 years now and I have some people I owe for their help."
"Oh, so paying bribes." 
"Na.  Back rent, educational and medical bills, finding my home, and paying some artists for work they've already done out of kindness."
"So you're expecting the tribes to foot the bill for you?"
"Yeesh.  Absolutely not. I don't get paid unless I get the job.  Isn't that how capitalism works?"
"Mmmhmm, what are you really after Jack?"
"Amazon."
"The Amazon?"
"My background is in logistics.  If I got majority shares I'd restructure to my standards, establish it as a market place and delivery system, not a seller.  License with the Post Office for medication deliveries and partner with hospitals, fire stations, and EMT services to make sure they stay stocked and outfitted."
"Just Amazon huh?  That's all you want?"
"Oh, and I'll take a side of Paramount, Warner Brothers, and Discover.  Maybe HBO if it's still on the table."
"Uh...Amazon Studios?"
"Publishing.  I'll find industry people to run the other companies as independent studios.  My only ask for Amazon on those contracts is permission to ad their productions to the streaming library and/or to offer their parent streaming service for a discounted cost in the Amazon marketplace."
"So you're going to buy production studios to give them away?"
"Kind of?"
"What do you mean kind of?"
"I want to use the studios to  create a standard for licensing and residuals on streaming platforms. By purchasing the studios and then negotiating their sell through production contracts with the various entertainment guilds so that they can create legal precedent to protect their IP and digital identities. If the studios won't agree to terms with the guilds then I'll provide the guilds with studios to demonstrate their model and wish them luck on their endeavors." 
"Digital Identities?"
"You know.  Scanned likenesses, digital reproductions, vocal performances, catalogue integrity."
"Where'd you get that idea from?"
"Sony.  Watching how they've worked with their in house developers.  They let artists art and have had consistently good games that push the boundaries of story telling and technical capabilities that surpasses most of their competitors."
"Sounding like a corporate shill there bud."
"Game recognize game.  Besides, you can't enter a market without doing your due diligence on potential competitors." 
"So, you're entering the gaming space."
"No, nothing like that.  I mean, It'd be cool to make a game sure and I've got ideas certainly.  Sony is a hardware company and if I'm going to build a transforming space ship I'm going to to need hardware." 
"Transforming space ship..."
"Oh yeah...So my plans for a U.N. Space agency proposal and what NASA projects I'd like to throw DoD levels of funding at."
"You want to give NASA to the DoD?"
"What!?!?  NO!  I want to give NASA DoD level funding."
"You're insane."
"No. Delusional." 
"There's a difference?"
"One suggests I believe in something that can't be done.
While delusional means I think I can do something no one else thinks can be done."
"Crazy."
"Magic"
~~~

The great negotiator my ass.
Art of the bankruptcy more like.
 
~~
"What's next on your list Jack?"
"Labor rights for the oldest profession in history?"
" 0.0 "
"You're joking..."
"Deadly serious"
"That's not going to sell."
"Who says I was selling anything?"
"No way in Hell."
"Not looking for a way in Hell, I'm looking for a way on Earth." 
"Isn't going to work."
"Jesus once said...."
"Oh fuck off."
"Not until we get the labor rights."
"Under who's banner." 
"SAG"
"Fuck you."
"Hey man. To some people that female orgasm is just a myth.  So, counts as story telling in my book." 
"Somebody shut him the hell up before he says something else stupid."
~~~

"So what are your re-election plans."
"I'm looking to do my 4 years and get out.  I don't have plans for re-election." 
"But polls say you have the support to pull off another win."
"That'd have to be at least a 75% to 85% in the polls to have me even consider it."
"So you are running for a second term."
"No, I'm doing my job.  If I end up getting extended to the full 8 I'll do it, but I won't be happy about it." 
"What?  Why?"
"Because I have everything I need, did the best I could, and all I want to do is wander the world knowing people are safe."

~~~~

"If you just want left alone why put your neck on the block like that?"
"Because people weren't safe."

Hai

"Where'd you go Jack?"
"Cleaning man, you think all these figures and shelves dust themselves?" 
"Why drop everything to do that now?"
"Because it's getting proper rainy right now, and the last thing I want is wet dust in my systems."
"Wet dust?"
"Mud."
"How'd you know that was coming."
"I listen to the wind man."
"And, when it's proper rainy that's the best time to clean the little stuff."
"Why?"
"It keeps the dust wet."
"I thought you didn't want wet dust."
"Wet dust is heavy dust."
"The wetter it is the less it floats."
"Exactly."

~~~~~~

Cleaning is Zen to me man.  
It's the one thing when everything else is going crazy that I can do and it helps me focus my thoughts. 

~~~~

Oil the leather. 
Sweep the floors. 
Clean the messes.
Dust the big stuff.
Vaccume floors.
Look for Mice
Dust the little stuff.
Do the Laundry
File the Paperwork
Check Supplies
Check Budget
Resupply
Lift the weights 
Pack for show
Sleep and Recover
Stretch
Food
Plan for next show
Sleep
Stretch
Food
Show
Sleep
Stretch
Food
Practice
Practice
Practice
Practice

~~~~
"How do you spend your free time Jack?"
"Uh...I don't understand the question."
~~~~~


Chop wood.  
Carry water.

Find your wood. 
Every day you need wood to light your fire.  
You need fire to boil you tea, cook your food, and warm you bath.

Carry your water.
Every morning and evening you will need water. 
To fill your tea, to cool your food, to fill your bath. 


~~~~

"You're telling me that you're just going to take everything as is to the white house and just keep working from there?"
"Yep."
"Why?"
"Simple."
"How?"
"If I don't work the way I work no one will trust me, including myself."
"Seems crazy." 
"Yeah, well.  everyone else brings their family."

~~~~

We need a boat.  
Well, everyone needs a boat. 
A trillion dollar boat.
To get to U.N. meetings.

~~~
"Um...sir...they're land locked."
"Call the air force.  Evac and drop off only until the line is gone or they designate a spot."
"That's still an active fire zone sir." 
"Tell the engineers to scout supply lines.  Observational only until the shooting stops." 
"Air to air?"
"Fly light and slow, open frequencies, project debris fields in the event of percussive malfunctions. "
~~~

"That's a lot of boats."

"Pretty rad huh?"
"What if we don't want a big boat?"
"Not for me to tell you how to show up to meetings.  I just want to make sure you got a boat to show up."
"That's a big boat."
"I plan on throwing it at the moon when we're done." 
"The whole thing?"
"The whole thing."  
~~~

Dungeons and Dragons
Playing is fun.
Running a game is work. 
For every hour at the table you've about 10 of homework to do. 
For example.
Reading the handbook.
Then, reading the what ever associated guides you need for setting and npcs.
Then reading the handbook again to mark important rules information, pictures, or flavor text relevant to the session you're planning. 
Then going back over your notes to make sure you've got everything you need. 
Then staging everything in order of importance and/or difficulty.
Then finding the right terrain to help give the table depth and perspective for the players.
Then going back over your notes to make sure you have answers ready to any questions that might be asked with answers that keep the conversation directed towards the end goal. 
Then making sure you've included enough plot hooks and focus time for each character to feel natural and each player understanding their role in the situation.
Then putting together prep sheets and notes for each of the players.
Then going over your notes to make sure everything is in order. 
Then try to eat and drink enough you won't be hangry or tired at the end of the session.  
 

~~~
"We have SDF calling."
"Tell them to turn around."
~~~

"You're going to do the Job for $10 million?"
"Well, originally it was $3 million, but inflation, and for some damn reason I keep staying healthy so my long term has changed a bit in the personal expenses side." 
"Hero for hire?"
"That's just expenses." 

~~~

"Everyone assumed I was Mycroft, when all I said was "Yes." to the question "Mr. Holmes?" " 
"You delight in being clever don't you?"
"Keep up Watson."

~~~~

What are you doing over there Jack?
 
Trying to make some peoples dying wishes come true?

Which ones?

All of em?

Yeah.?

Got enough money?

Think so.

Got enough people to help.

Hope so.

What's the problem?  

Grandma told me I couldn't start any fights.

Tied your arm behind your back did she?

Yeah.

You figure it out?

Yep.

So what's the hold up?

Waiting for everyone else to catch up.


~~~

Salty

"What's the recommendations Jack?"

"Dunno man. Haven't dug into the back catalogue in awhile, and it's a long list."  

My recommendation? 
Assuming you're new to the gaming world or looking to branch out, invest in an eco system that fit your lifestyle.

Currently in the hardware world: 
Playstation if you want all the options.
Nintendo from any era if you want to play the long game.  Because as long as your keep their stuff clean and make sure your batteries aren't leaking every so often it's going to stay with you. 
Bet. 
Go ask an old gamer where their favorite handheld ended up. 
Almost guarantee it wasn't in the trash.

PC if you want to tinker with stuff. 
Apple if you don't.
Steam if you want a little in between. 

For VR ?
Playstation if you don't want to think about it and are good with cable management.
PC if you can handle software troubleshooting.
If Steam can deliver wait. 
If you need it for work or school Meta has monopolized the consumer market in the U.S. 
Anyway you cut the mustered you're dropping a $1,000 at a minimum if you plan on using a VR setup for anything more than collecting dust.

Here's why : 
You'll need grip and safety straps that fit your hand size.
Corrective lenses if you need them, there's lots of brands out there.
A head strap to fit your comfort and usage situation.
Cable management for anything other than stand alone. 
 I prefer over head so the cat's don't get tangled in them.  
Battery management for controllers and headset.
For wireless setups I recommend getting a strap mounted battery for better balance, though do take it slow and play sitting games for awhile first.  That batteries do add quite a bit of weight and you'll need to build up some neck muscles before getting to squirrely. 
Same goes for wired headsets as well, start seated until you get used to having a little tail behind, or above you.  

Personally, for long sessions, especially trouble shooting, I use a belt mounted battery and keep the strap mounted battery as a counterweight for the headset.   Then if I'm just popping in for log in bonuses or to get perspective on a build I'll use the head mounted battery to keep the headset charged.   
That's the irritating thing about the Meta headset. 
It's always on....like if Alexa had eyes and was trying to peek at you naked.

~~~~
"Man, if that biz ever leaked you better bet I'm getting residuals on that shit. "
"On what?"
"Uh...Toy Sales?"
"Licensing fees."
"How much?"
".000000001%"
"And that would be?"
"$10 million"
"Total?"
"Annually." 
"For how long"
"22 years."
"But that's means..."
"Give or take."
"Coffee and a Bagel wasn't a brag then?"
"Nope."
"Jesus."
"Nope.  Just lucky."
~~~~


Low be the day I actually cash one of those checks because me and the kitties will be hitting the road man. 

Personally I'm going for a very modular design in the long term with a water cooling system attached to a kettle for heat management.   If it's a hot day you'll be watering the flowers a lot, if not you'll have hot water enough for a cup of noodles.
That way you can have a cup of tea while the systems cool down. 
Batteries on the outside in case of over heating, two, with deployable solar panels for on the go charging. 
Have the "view screen" be user dependent. 
Glasses for museum exhibits where you'll be around gatherings of people.
Goggles for remote piloting and sports exercises. 
Phone/tablet connection for accessibility needs.  
Recording only in permitted areas by the the packs geo tag.
~~~
"Hey, my phone went black."
"That's because you're a pervert, now put your phone away." 
~~~
"You're advocating Sur valence tech?" 
"Na dude. I'm advocating that journalist, law enforcement, and students on class trips be monitored for Safety, Security, and Ethical considerations." 
"How so?"
"Students to keep them out of trouble, Law Enforcement for legal documentation and ethics reviews, journalists for reporting and accountability." 
"Why would you put the most powerful technology in the world in the hands of children?"
"For one, we have to, otherwise we're just hindering their development.  For 2 these kids, with the leading edge of them being fucking adults getting married and having children of their own now, are the only generations that have lived being surveilled without consent,  and It's my hope and belief that they will find ethical and cultural norms and rules for it's use these older generations seem unable or unwilling to outline and enforce."
"What do you base that on?"
"If it wasn't true why did marketing and regulators try to push computers and video games so far into 'the blue aisle' during the 80's and 90's?   When, in my opinion, they should have been in the educational aisle.  
I'll tell you this for certain. 
Toxic bro culture didn't grow out of untilled soil."
"Is that one of your little down home sayings?"
"It's a verifiable fact."

~~~~
What did I learn playing Dominos? 
No matter how good you are at what you do, never let a cracker see you work.  
And that unspoken advice is what has kept me alive through all the crazy shit.
My only regret is not having learned that truth earlier in life.
~~~~

"D.A.R.E!"
"You realize you just dared a school full of children to snitch on dealers and hustlers in exchange for baseball cards you son of a bitch."

At least I hope that's what teachers said.

After cameras ended up boots on the ground during Vietnam the public started to refuse support for foreign wars. So, what did 'they' do?  Brought the War home and re branded. 

And to think.  
All I wanted to be was an astronaut and see that view for myself.
But...
You've heard the stories.

   

Ad Break

"What's the order sir?"
"Clean, Plan, Repair"
"Copy."


M.A.S.H first. 
Docs and Chow.

"Umm, sir...they don't have anything." 
"Tell the mess to start cooking extra, let 'em know when chow time is and make sure no one gets out of hand.  Oh, and start scheduling adequate rack and shower time for everyone. Last thing we need is to have our own little game of Oregon Trail in camp.
"Uhh, we have instigators." 
"Orders stands.  We're here in a humanitarian capacity not as combatants. Just try to make everyone understands they leave their weapons and grievances outside this camp and that there will be no trade with personnel" 
"Sir."


That's the difference.   

"Did you give 'em the catalogue?" 
"Sir." 
"Did they pick a post office?"
"Sir." 
Job done, let's head home.

~~~

Build homes to be off grid for emergencies. 
Limit wireless traffic to emergency and news channels in  high population areas, hard line everything else. 
Instead of a milk man have a battery man that replaces your batteries if they start to deteriorate. 
Ensures efficient use, proper recycling, and someone for emergency services to ask for head counts during disasters. 
Postal carriers can show you the most efficient routs. 
Local delivery drivers can be hired to side by side to evacuate people and bring the truck back after they drop them off. 
Rail lines can be cleared and repaired faster than a road once conditions are within safety tolerances of the equipment and personnel.  

Build houses to be portable. 
Think R.V sized.

~~~

Don't want to go floating away in Zero G or fall 20 feet if it takes a tumble?
 
During red alerts remain in emergency seating for departures and landings. 
 
Remain close to a handholds during yellow alerts.
Emergency services may be asking us to slow our speed for weather or traffic.
Do watch for timers during yellow alerts as they will be notifying you of imminent deceleration or acceleration events.
Be sure to secure personal belongings during this time.

 During green alerts please feel free to visit the atrium and inquire with Librarians for emergency shelters and rest facilities if needed. 

Insert comical but accurate situations of the worst case of each scenario above in written, auditory, and visual formats to ensure understanding of passengers.  If passengers do not understand be sure they are accompanied by a guardian. 

While traveling as a student, please remain in groups of five and ensure that all have contact details for your accompanying educators, your classrooms will be offloaded at your destinations once commuter traffic has concluded. 

~~~~

"Mommy mommy, that one said *explitive*! 
 It sure did.
Exercise your first amendment with new house wraps. 
 Design it and explore it VR!  
Then at your next Mech Check wrap it! 
Please for your safety be aware of your destinations rules and restrictions for public display ordinances.  
Tune in to the local NPR or PBS affiliate station for updates and travel advisements. 
Stay Informed, Travel Wise.

~~~
 
Scoots is wicked smart.
She just closed the browser window because she wanted my attention.  
Then when I went back to typing because the recovery held she tried to do it a second time.   
If there's a third I might need to get her a sound board.
...
Oh shit....
She understand the middle button and joysticks on the playstation because of how much time I've spent on destiny and the like. 

O.o

I'm glad the kitties like me otherwise I'd be nervous.

~~~

When taking your new car to space be sure to have an open save drive and storage bay available.
Then inquire with your local university about graduate studies looking to rent your sensors during travel and get your next Mech Check Free!  
Be sure to Verify your Privacy settings and schedule your processing time today!

Want to travel free to the big game?
Rent a logo.  
Businesses and teams are looking for your support, logo your car today and receive free travel to or from one event from their list of destinations. 
Please be aware that Wrap approval may delayed or denied if your design does not fit licensing agreements with your sponsors.  
In the event of delay, you may be offered alternate wrap configurations that will fit within guidelines. 
In the event of denial reasoning will be provided. 

~~~

You know what's crazy man.  
I listen to new anime openings, like Dr. Stone. 
And, bruh, 
I couldn't get the lyrics down for the longest time.  
Not because I wasn't understanding the Japanese, but because there were english lyrics in there and my brain was hearing them as gibberish.  
I actually ended up looking up the lyrics to see why I couldn't get them right...
And it was the English that was tripping me up. 

Hello World.  
Yes.
I am a live.
And a real person.
Not an AI.

~~~

I dunno man.  
I Know it can't be exactly the way I want it to be. 
But if I put it out there and can demonstrate models that work.  
Then maybe, down the road, someone else can get there. 

~~~

Gasp

 Jack and Jill

~~~
"You are quite the enigma Mr. Wayne." 
"I don't know what you mean."
"The men will not tell me the truth about you."
"That is not odd in our line of work."
"Cigar?"
~~~


"Took you long enough Jack."
"Sometimes finding the right words is difficult little one." 

~~~~~

We are farmers bum adumdadumdadumda

~~~

"Whoa!"
"Pretty cool huh?"
"A to B"
"Safely"

Catchy Slogan

~~~


Reading?
For america? 
Do I have to?
Nope.
But you should.
Is that a threat?
Should it be?
Um.
No?
Welcome aboard.

~~~~

"ARrgh, they always be after me lucky charms!"

~~~

I have a big pee pee car!
I have a big pee pee truck!
I'm delivering people!
Drive safely. 
It's the law.  
AHHH!
Brought to you by Fred Gibson
"Mommy, who's Fred Gibson?"
"Go ask Alexa honey."
"Oh no."

~~~~


The truth of Mr. Jackson.
He was willing to identify the shooter. 
For that he will always be a hero in my heart.

~~~~

"That's cold brother."
"It's the only way to free the people, speak our truth, and see the future."
"May the people be merciful for I will not."
"It's okay Clark we know who you are."

"Our history's are the same."
o.o


~~~~

"Cool backpack?  What's it do?"

~~~

Fucking Babe Ruth dude. 
God damn legend.

~~~

"Why do they travel in our place?"
"Because they are the ones with the most understanding for what needs done."
Space - Get gud Scrub!

~~~

"What's the deal Jack."
"Food, water, supplies." 
"What's supplies? "
"Trash for cash?"
"Cash for Trash?"
"Not a $1"
"$5 meals"
"$20 dollar toys."
"$100 Car"
"$1,000 house"
"$1,000,000 home"
"$1,000,000,000 business."
"$1,000,000,000,000 UN representative"


25% Arts and Sciences
50% Medical 
75% Utilities
95% Infrastructure

Simple.
Math.

"What do we get in return?"
"Plains and Trains"
"How do we get there?"
"In your house silly"

In need ?
Medicare

Invalid?
Medicade

Working or Not
Social Security


No plans. 
No bullshit. 
No interest
Just your library card.
Pay your taxes.
~~~

"Whoa whoa whoa whoa. You want countries to pay to be in the UN."
"I want to pay them to be in the UN"
"Um...huh?"
GDP under a trillion get a trillion. 
GDP over a trillion?
Pay a Trillion. 
Simple.
Math.
"Who decides?"
"Not me. 
I'm biased."
My vote?
The Samoans, the Māori, and a third of their choosing. I'd recommend Taiwan or Cuba. 
But,  I'm biased. 

~~~

"That's quite the claim there fella."
"I don't gamble with lives."
"Seems like you're betting an awful lot."   
"Pocket change when you're trading for the stars my friend."
"Cocky."
"Bet ya $1 that by the end of the day we'll both have a $1,000,000."
"What for?" 
"To build a home."
"What's a home?" 
"You tell me."

~~~
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa...um...how are we going to run our businesses?" 
"I dunno there boss, better start talking to some investors  'cause we're all starting with the same balance sheet this time around."
"Ummm...No?"
"Reparations bud, either we all pay em or the debt hangs over our grandchildren's heads, personally I think we've all played that game long enough."

So what's the budget?
$9 billion people times $10 million dollars. 

~~~

"Planning ahead there are ya Jack?"
"Yeah, people want to go to space, the moon, mars.
"So?"
"I ran the budget. Did the math."
"What math?"
"All of it."
"Can't be done." 
"Bet."

~~~

Good thing I'm so pretty, 'cause I sure ain't smart.

Decoherence

 Musicians are historians man.  
Regardless of instrument or language.  
Regardless of hearing or sight music has a way of moving everyone. 

You can sing your intentions into the world. 
And even without knowing the language of the lyrics the soul of the singer moves through them. 

Performers give context to the strange sounds. 
The reason some movies are so timeless is because artists used their tools to send a story through time. 
How fortunate we are that we can capture the imaginations of the world with just a few moments. 
How do you split your time when you want to hear them all? 

I think. 
If and/or when I ended up in that cursed office I'll try to expand the Smithsonian's footprint to have dedicated buildings for curators from all over the world manage their collections. 
Places to teach languages and history. 
What's the official count now? 
Just shy of 300? 
I could ask an AI to tell me. 
Yeah, cat's out of the bag on that one. 
With the way they have all been handled and just kinda shoved into everything you can tell the suits calling the shot have little to no understanding of the word "consent".   
That word man.  
That's the difference between lovers and abusers. 
A single word that shapes the world in civilization shaking ways. 
 I just spent the last little bit scrambling my algorithm by posting almost all of a full workout in bites and then deleting it and I am absolutely bushed.  
Kid you not man.  
The algorithms, for the longest time, thought I was a multilingual southern lesbian. 
Which, I guess, in a way it was pretty damn close.  

"Wait, why'd you delete all those videos?" 
"Because you always have to give something back to the sea, or in this case...space on the server for someone else.  Maybe one day I'll feel comfortable enough doing lives so I can try to raise the funds to get the kitties and I a traveling house."

"Hold on Jack, wouldn't letting all countries manage their own collections invite propaganda?"
"Do you know what peer reviewed means?  Also, isn't that what art is?  Thinking back to the oldest paintings on cave walls?   Hunters saying 'This is how you do the hunting.' but in the only way they had to communicate once true spatial awareness happened.  
I honestly think that's what truly measures intelligence. 
Not how fast you can count or how many books you've read. 
Just awareness of people and things beyond yourself. 
That's why, I'd wager, some animals allowed themselves to be domesticated. 
Just as human's have...well...mostly. 
Cause don't forget man. 
Not matter which of the holy texts you ascribe to they all agree that something made someone, along with all the everything else. So. Regardless everybody is a part of everything whether we like it or not.  And we can choose look around, and be aware of our actions and how they effect yourself, the world, the other people and creatures that share this little island we call earth? 

"But what about the states?" 
"Listen, most everything there is already a history of this country, about the only thing I think would want to be added first  would be a south asian history museum, a south american, and a central american museum.  Places to tell the storys of the immigrants from those countries and how they've shaped our nation.  
I mean, isn't everything in DC meant to teach the representatives from other states about each other so that everyone can agree on how to distribute and manage resources?"

Anyways "I'm just a madman in a box trying to see all of time and history."

BTWs

 If I can crack this equation I'm going to call it the "Prior Equation" 
Prior to this, prior to that.  

Because a joke about a match made me re-examine everything. 

What's the genius of the equation?  
It works with real numbers and fake numbers and still holds the model together regardless. 

Cat

 Wee-Man and Scoots

Scoots is pretty skittish. 
 She was caught by a hawk and survived the drop.
So, she's wairy about high pitched noises, but still plays tag, hide and seek, and enjoys trying to trip me if I haven't been active enough.  One good thing about her is that she has learned to trade with the crows that land out back, so she's stopped bringing birds and snakes in, which I appreciate.
Nothing like waking up with a bird dropped on your face because you overslept breakfast.

Wee man eats what he catches, which is most everything if they come close enough to the house. 
He got worried about me the first couple of days of Ramadan because of the caffeine headaches and extra sleep so...as is he way.
He dropped a mouse in his bowl then came to get me. 
That not working, he dropped one in a bowl that I left out on the counter.     
That not working he had scoots wake me up, made sure to make eye contact, mouse in mouth, then led me out to his bowl and put it in the bowl.  

One thing I know for certain that if we do end up in the wilderness together I won't go hungry. 

"Why Scoots?" 
"Cause bro, on hardwood or ice she is like a professional drifter on an old mountain road."

"Why Wee-Man?" 
"Cause he's fearless but not stupid and the only battle he's ever lost was to a hubcap." 


How smart are cats? 
Bout that smart.

We have a few bits of sign language. 
I can mimic a mouse accurately enough that it'll put Scoots on alert. 
Wee-Man just waits for me to come out and play most days.  
Both of em get really excited when I go out at night to look at the stars or really get stretched out.
But the neighbors lights are so bright I can't see shit if there's even a hint of cloud cover so mostly it's just popping out to see the same slice of the sky each night and count how many satellites are over head.   Let me tell you man, when I first got back here and looked up I was confused as hell. 
My memory isn't that bad is it? 
Then I pulled out the night sky app to see if I was actually loosing it.
Nope. 
Just a shit load of satellites along with the usual air traffic.
It's almost like looking at one of those magic eyes trying to pick out the old constellations. 
Man, winter nights around here used to be the best show money couldn't buy. 
Now...
I mean...

"Don't say it Jack...don't say it....you're gonna make 'em mad." 
"Cool plains bro."

Double Nought

 "Do me a favor.  Apologize to the staff for me.  When the adrenaline hits I'm going to say some unhinged shit." 
"Adrenaline...?"
"Yeah...I know, I'm leaking like a siv...better fill me up before you drop me off..."
"...."
"I'll only have about 30 seconds after my eyes open so make em count and make sure they're ready to top me back off 'cause I really don't want any more brain damage than I already have."
"..."
"Hey...stop spinning."

~~~
"....and that's the 3rd time...?"
"Na, the first time." 

~~~
"Why would I waste a good tax ID?   Bond never changed his name." 
"...."
"Imagine the looks on their faces when a dead man clocks in on Monday...now if you'll excuse me I'm going to go find a nurse before I pass out.  Don't worry, I couldn't run if I wanted to."

~~~~

"So...what was the 2nd time?" 
"The first"
"And the 2nd?"
"I was sick. 
 Didn't have any medicine and was laying in bed, to tired to make food or even get a glass of water.  In my delirium an angel delivered orange juice and medicine.  Then sat with me until I fell into a restful sleep. I woke up a day later certain I'd died but everything hurt...so nope....  Ate something, drank something, took a shower then went back to bed and slept for another day then when I had enough strength back, went to work."
 

~~~
Ar : "Are you sure it's him?"
P : "Without a doubt.  I thought someone had given me bad mushrooms at first and the spirit of our friend had walked out of my memories." 
At "That kids going to get himself killed."
P : "Luckily everyone thought he was a fool playing a part and I obliged their opinions by playing the heel." 
At : "I'll go invite him to tea."
Ar : "I'll talk to the smith then make plans for lunch."
P : "The timing is fortuitous, I'm told the tax man is sitting in the shallows tonight." 
K : "Would his liege like me to draw his bath?"
P : "Lots of bubbles if you please, and Thank you."

~~~~

"I needed a nap.  A proper one. So I decided to perform an audit."
"How did you get a nap out of an audit?"
"I told the truth."
"And you 'died' telling the truth."
"No I died before that, that's why I needed a nap."
"I'm about to kill you myself if you don't stop talking in circles."
"Don't threaten me with a good time."

~~~

Can't shake this damned equation. 
The missing pieces are starting fall into place but how do you get a particle physicist to prove that it could actually be squared? 
"But C is the limit."
"If a baseball is traveling one way at 85mph and a semi traveling at 65 mph in the other collide head on, what is the force of their impact?" 
"Not the same thing."
"Tell that to Higgs and his boys."



~~~
"And that's how I created a universe. "
"Which one?"
"All of them"
"No..."
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"Because people needed hope and it was the only way I could think to provide it." 
"If that's true then..."
"Got it in one, and so far it's all gone according to plan."
"All of it...?
"Unfortunately yes."
"Unfortunately?"
"I would have preferred to have been wrong on a number of points." 
"But if that's true then..."
"Spoilers."

~~~

"Powder you cheeks!"  Came from the crows nest
"Turn out the sheets!"  Came from the helm
Athos strode up behind the young man, pulling his sharp eyes from approaching ship. 
Around them the tidy deck was turning into disarrayed chaos, sails went slack, women in rags and chains were being hauled to the deck by sailors.  D'artangion saw the weeping woman still wrapped in the same blanket.
As D'artagnion  was about to speak Athos offered him a cup of tea.  "That it none of our business, you and I still have an appointment."  The young man bristled then spun as the cheek of his ass was clapped by a calloused hand. 
"Drink up boy." Chuckled a passing sailor carrying a gang plank. "You don't want to die thirsty."

Hall Pass

  "How you feeling there Jack?"
"Like a bag of dicks."
"Thought you liked dicks Jack." 
"Oh, I'm not talking about nice dicks. I'm talking about the kind that makes your nose wrinkle 'cause they don't wash their booty hole and then try to shove your face into it."

Bad day man.  
Between the bullshit going on outside, trying to find the music again, and just my body fighting against me in ways that I should be used to by now.

"Finding the music again?"
I used to sing. To dance.  To write. To play. 
Music. 
Somewhere along the way my soul got tired and the music just...evaporated. 
The Carol Burnett Tarzan yell used to be my vocal warmups.
 
I can/could...I dunno...if I warmed my voice up can shout like a gun shot, able to be heard over jet engines and the Kansas wind.
Bark like the biggest dogs and make puppers look at me going "The fuck he say?"
I could yodel Maps with near pitch perfect changes in scale. 
Belt out "Are you going to be my girl" with a smokers rasp. 

Dance to anything that had a beat.  Hell, when the beat hit you couldn't stop me from dancing. 
Song lyrics, pick up almost any instrument and make it sound like something before I set it down again.  

But then the music just...

I think it was when my heart broke. 

Not like dumped by a significant other or having a falling out with a friend. 
Not loosing someone or sitting by a deathbed listening to the thoughts of someone seeing the end of their life coming. 
I've been doing that since I was a kid. 

No.  
It was when I started to feel...alone.
When the realizations really started to sink in. 
The things that happened in my child hood. 
The friends who turned out to be opps when I was a young adult.
Realizing no one was being real with me. 
Accepting that I was actually the smartest person in the room.

"Little full of yourself aren't you there Jack?'
No man.  
No I'm not. 

Ignorance is bliss they say. 
See...
I always thought people did the level of research I did on things. 
Hell.  As a kid I was often told how stupid I was.  
Reminded with a pop up side the head that "They were smarter and to stop talking back."

"The hell?   I wasn't talking back I was just asking a question about..."

I was never in the AP classes even though I read all the books and talked to the kids in them about what they were learning, even snuck their text books during breaks to read.  
But like I said, I thought everyone did that.  
I thought I just wasn't allowed in the AP classes because I was too poor.  
Fucking kids at school definitely made me feel that way.
Then going to work with people at least a decade older than I was. 

"He's just a kid, doesn't know anything." 
"What? I had to learn all the same stuff  you did and prove it." 
"You didn't earn it?"
"Earn what?"
"The job."
"Fuck off."

Then being a Librarian. 
 Working with the smartest kids and people in an area that were just as quick on the pick up as I was. 
I kinda...forgot that I really was that smart. 

But then I left the library...the place that helped my head and heart heal in a way I didn't know it needed at the time. And...was the smartest person in the room again...
Well.  
I never felt like it.  Always thought I was ten steps behind because I was learning from scratch.   
But then I caught up. 
Lifted my head from my work. 
Looked around.
And realized I was surrounded by sharks.
Then the next thing I knew the worst of my predictions were starting to come true.

"The events of the last 10 years that you said you predicted with 95% accuracy?"
"Yeah...those.  Looking around and feeling like Cassandra screaming from the top of the mountain and being told I was Chicken Little."

That's when I lost the music.  
Imagine that. 
Put yourself in my shoes. 
You think everyone sees the world the way you do.
Not necessarily agrees or feels the same way...but sees...the trajectories.  

The market shifts.
The moves on the map.
The changes in the wind.
The books not balancing. 

Like the pipes.

"Why don't we just fix it?" 
"Too expensive."
"But they're putting all this new pipe in over there why can't they fix this?  It's already dug up."
"Because this neighborhood doesn't matter."
"Huh?"

That was the trick they pulled in the 80's and 90's.  
How they paid for stuff and made it look like an economic boom. 
Robed Peter to pay Paul. 
Let the streets and bridges rot under tires to build new roads into subdivisions. 
Patched pipes instead of repairing. 
Cutting the maintenance costs and calling it savings. 

That's the thing kids. 
When you buy a car, build a house, install a power line.  
You have to budget for :  (2.5)the cost.
1. The initial cost.
2. The cost to replace it, either over time through regular maintenance or there's if there's a catastrophic failure.
.5 for the repairs of the heavily used parts.

For a car that's over 20 or so years. 
For a house that's over 50 or so years.
For infrastucture...Not hyperbole, 
150 years. 
Water lines, electrical lines, roads.

Most of the water lines I've been cleaning up after they break are that old. 
The lines that sparked the fires on the west coast 10 years ago where that old. 

I thought everyone looked at things on that scale. 
But they don't. 
It's become even more obvious recently with people saying "I can't believe this is happening." 
And all I can do is sit there watching each of these major events take place going "I'm either schizophrenic and having a paranoid break and hallucinating all of this or...I really am that smart."

So I distract myself with...theoretical physics, neuroscience, and writing stories that may never be told outside of my notebooks. 

"But what about this blog?" 
"Honey...this thing is just stream of conciseness writing that helps my little fingers stay limber filled with minimal editing and maximum ego, kind of like my tik tok but for my brain rather than my body."
And like the little bit of sword swinging I show over there, this is only a fraction of my work and skills.

I have to remind myself that sometimes. 
That yeah. 
I am that bitch. 

Like that little bit of the Musketeers from last night? 
I've already outlined the whole of the story. 
How I'd film it. 
Composed the next scenes.   

"I don't believe you."
"....Oh yeah....I haven't told you about the 3rd time I died."
" You couldn't have died 3 times...you'd be dead after the 1st." 
"Hey, it's not magic. It's modern medicine."  

There are days like today, after the reports of the school in Iran were confirmed by multiple sources, that I wish I was wrong more often.
That's why I like Science so much. 
Because in science I learn more from being wrong than right. 

Anyway...
Until I find the music in myself again I'll just be over here "Twerkin in the rain." 

"But...you haven't told me how you died...the 3rd time." 
"Spoilers my love. Spoilers..."

Dockside

"What's you're process Jack?"
"What do you mean?"
"How do you write?"

That depends...sometimes I start with a world. Looking down on it from a birds eye view and then ask myself  "What kind of story can we tell in it?"
Other times,  I hear snatches of conversation.  Real or imagined and then when I focus in on those voices the world begins unfolding around them. 
Other times I look at an old story and say "How can I tell it my way?"


~~~~

"Ring-di-diddle-i-didi-o
Ring-di-diddle-i-o"

~~~~~


The curfew bells rang as night fell. 

"Does he have no shame?" D'artangion said to the other two as they tossed cards back and forth in a game he didn't recognize. 

"None what so ever" Aramis says without looking up. 

The Young man watched as the Pirate traded clothes with a giggling woman.  Two other women filled wine skins with air and pushed them up under the blouse giving the impression of large breasts.

"It's not polite to stare" Artemis says without looking up.

The young man's head turns to look at the two in a mixture of disgust and confusion.  Then turns back as Porthos slipped behind the bar and out a back door. 
 He jumps to his feet. 
"Going to join him for his nightly swim?"  Artemis asks of D'artagnion's back.  
The chuckles of the tavern follow him into the night. 

The young swordsman follows, curiosity bristling more than his pride at this point.
Porthos winds threw ally's until arriving at a a tree overlooking the docks.  The Pirate performs the sign of the cross, kissing a fist and pointing up at the sky.  D'artagnion's sharp eyes notice a blue ribbon fluttering within the leaves of the tree above but gives it no thought as his attention is pulled by the sound of a splash.  He runs to the waters edge and watches the bubbles.
  They go on for what seems like an impossibly long time.  
"The fool is meant to die by my blade, not cowardice!" D'artagnion curses into the night while shedding his sword and boots before diving into the water.  The Young man looks around in the water, dips his head under and swims down. 
Only to have bubbles blown into his face as Porthos returns to the surface.
Sputtering and angry D'artangion pulls himself out of the water.  Porthos walks around behind him picking up the sword, examining it's hilt and nods to himself before handing it to the Young Man. 

"A ceremonial blade, certain to snap in a real fight." Porthos' voice says from behind. 
D'artagnion spins in surprise to find the woman in Porthos' clothes adorned a comically large moustache. 
"Come boy" She says in a near perfect imitation of the slovenly Pirate.  "Let's get you off of the street before the guard comes collecting strays."  

Porthos, the real Porthos, shuffles by.  Back bent as if in age, wine skins swaying and clinking in the night.  "See you in the morning" he says in the croak of an elderly woman.

The Pirate takes D'artagnion's arm in hers and steers him from the water front into a clump of buildings heavy with perfumes and sounds unfamiliar to the little traveled youth. 
They dip into a smithy. 
D'artagnions hand goes immediately to his hilt but fails to draw before a blade touches his neck. 
"Settle down there lad, this will only take a minute." Says the Pirate disarming him. 
D'artagnion tries not to swallow against the blade at his throat as a wizened man, appearing a Spaniard to his eyes but with an accent he couldn't place. 
The Pirate passes the blade to the old man in a very deferential manor.  With steady and practiced hands of the old man takes the sword and sniffs in derision.  "Why put such terrible blades into such fine craftsmanship?" He says dismantling it all and throwing the blade into a pile of scraps. 
D'artagnion bristles and a second blade extends from the shadows to press his ribs.
"Keep your head lad if ye want to keep yer appointment come dawn." 
The old man reaches under a work bench covered dust and detritus of abandoned projects to pull out an oil cloth.  He lays it on the counter and reverently unwraps a fighting blade.  Thicker and slightly shorter than the discarded metal. 
 With the same deft and practiced movements the Craftsman mounts it to the basket and grip of D'artagnions father. 
"Now maybe your blade will not snap when you face a true swordsman" The craftsman says in his accent.  He bows his head and holds the blade as he would an offering. 
The blade at D'artagnion's throat and ribs retract.
"Say Thank You."  The Pirate says nudging the Boy forward.
D'artangion steps forward, dumb struck, seemingly unaware of the hands removing the ornate hanger from his shoulders and replacing it with a simple and sturdy one. D'artagnion takes the blade carefully. 
"Thank you." 
It's heavier, but the familiarity of the grip in his hand feels right, the balance perfect.
The old man nods in satisfaction as D'artagnion sheaths the blade in a practiced motion.  
The craftsman wraps the old hanger in the oil cloth. 
"When your quest is finished return here for this and it will fit the blade you carry." 
"Quest...?"
For D'artagnion, the world goes dark.

~~~

Cold water splashes over D'artagnion in his bed of straw.  
Athos and Aramis stand over him with wide grins on their face. 
"Come now",  Aramis says offering his hand,  "You've your morning appointment to catch. 
"And if you survive we have our tea time."  Athos says offering his hand.
D'Artagnion takes the offered hands and is hauled to his feet.  "Don't think I've forgotten about lunch." He says trying to hide trepidation he hadn't felt yesterday.
The two chuckle as they brush the hay and dirt from D'artagnion's clothes and walk him down to the docks.  They bustled in the pre dawn light.  Ships with bows pointed to sea being loaded with supplies and sailors.  At the end of the decking of an empty dock stood Porthos, back to the water but D'artagnion wasn't paying attention to him.
   A hundred or more women of different ages stood nude around the waters edge, and as he approached they dove in.  
"What...?"
"Don't gawk boy, you've an audience with the King." 

"Halt in the name of the law!" Came bouncing down the streets behind them.

D'artagnion was about to turn at the call but was instead distracted by the bow of a ship rising from the water like a great leviathan. Porthos snagged the bow line in one hand, and stepped onto the bowsprit as it continued to rise, laughing maniacally the whole way up and riding it down as it dipped. 
 The ships emergence sending a wave of water up and over the dock. 
"Show off." Aramis said

As the ship settled three ropes lowered.  
Aramis and Athos stepped into the loops of one each and where hauled up to the deck. 
"Come now!" Athos called down. "You chose the time, we choose the location."
D'artangion takes a steadying breath and then steps into the loop to be hauled aboard.

Standing at midship Porthos draws his sword and motions the young man forward.  
Hesitantly D'artangion steps forward drawing his blade.  
They trade blows, neither finding a way through the others defense. 

Ropes tied to the ship in various positions snake up out of the water being hauled by dock workers on both sides of the shore from the ship.   The ship twists in place, as if in on a potters wheel.
Nude women run up and down the decks readying lines and securing sails. 
As the ship moves D'artagnions balance faulters and Porthos slaps him across his backside with the flat of  the blade. 
The ship stops, bow facing to the sea. 
Regaining his balance the young swordsman see's an opening and goes for it.  
"Hoist Sails!" Comes from the wheel of the ship.
Porthos locks blades laughing like a madman and pulls D'artagnion to the side to avoid a swinging boom arm. They part, D'artanginion regaining his feet and focus. The two clash, while around them, from the other ships supplies are tossed aboard and secured. 
Powder, food, water, clothes, muskets, and blades. 
Porthos faulters slightly at a loss of breath.
D'artagnion bats the older mans blade to the side forcing the pirate to stumble over a barrel, his sword sent spinning. 
D'artagnion places his blade to the Pirates throat.  "I do not need your blood for my honor to be satisfied. Do you yield?"
"Aye.   I yield."
Athos and Aramis politely applaud from the side as D'artagnion sheaths his blade and helps Porthos to his feet. 
It is then that the his surroundings fully sink in.  Nude Sailors, women to a one, worked quickly and profesionally as the ship set sail.  
"Who...?"
"His wives.  The Widows." Aramis says quietly
"Til Death do they part."  Athos says with respect.

Porthos chuckles. "The cardinal and his like will tell you of the pleasures of heaven and virgin flesh in glory of his honor.  Personally I think earth is heaven and I prefer my flesh seasoned and consensual." He says while slapping the impossibly muscled backside of a sailor.  
Without loosing their knot the sailor smacks his cheek with a thunderous clap, rocking the pirate to the side. "Spicy" He says rubbing his jaw.
Another sailor passes the four of them as they head towards the stern.  Hefting a cask she growls and gnashes her teeth at Porthos.  He gnashes his teeth back in response and they wiggle their fingers at each other without breaking stride. "Not in front of the boy" the Pirate says spinning to watch her pass then winks at D'artagnion. "Sweet." 
The young man stops dead in his tracks as a dark shadow passes across the Porthos face, his joviality suddenly becoming haggard, showing his age.   The old Musketeer plucks a blanket from a bundle before it's handed below decks and stops a gray haired women, nude as the rest, Pothos takes the cask she's carrying.  He points, handing her the blanket.. She nods.
 Da'rtagnion follows their gaze to a young woman looking back at the buildings, tears streaming down her face.  "Fresh from market..." Porthos says quietly to himself before continuing aft. 
"What...?" 
"You were lucky farm boy." Aramis says to the confused young man. "These are the wives, mothers,  and daughters of the men the cardinal slew as 'Traitors to the Church.'"  The usually soft spoken man said with an edge of anger in his voice." Thinking that by taking the men and boys he'd quell any sense of rebellion." 

Athos pats the boy on the shoulder.  "Don't be dour,  it's nearly tea time."
"Then lunch." Aramis says with a glint in his eye.

Looking somewhat overwhelmed by it all D'artagnion asks; "Wait...Where are we going?" 
"Castle d'Winter." Porthos says taking the wheel while the helmsman dresses. 

As the ship passed out into open water D'artagnion heard from the crows nest "All for one!" 
From the shore and the streets of the city Thunder answers in response. "One for All!"