The Eating Instinct
Book Notes Instead of being asleep at 12:32 on 15 April 2021, kitt created this:
This book was mentioned in another book, though I don't recall which recently-read one it was. The book discusses just how detached we are from our normal hunger signals, to the point we all have some sort of eating dysfunction. From trauma-induced aversions (L's dislike of asparagus and bacon is a strong example similar to the ones listed in the book, where L ate too quickly and choked on both asparagus and bacon at different times, and now "doesn't like them"), to media-induced distorted body images inspire us into often-unhealthy restriction diets, the Eating instinct is a great starting point for "finding your food freedom," a Whole30 tagline.
I enjoyed the book, and immediately went to the freezer, pulled out a dozen cookies, and ate them without guilt.
Not How This Works
Blog Instead of being asleep at 17:45 on 11 April 2021, kitt created this:First email:
I noticed that you have a broken link to a website. That site was first published way back in 2001 but unfortunately, it is no longer a working website.
We recently published an article that explains what happened to the site. I think it's an interesting story, and it could be useful to your readers.
Would you consider swapping out the broken link for our article? It would really help.
It went into the ignore folder.
Second email:
I wanted to check in and see if you got my note about the broken link on your site?
Yes, and I really don't particular want to invest the time in tracking down the 404 at this point. Such cleanup is on my Tech Debt List, which is not high on my to-do list yet. Soon, but not today.
Third email:
After emailing you, I realized this may not be your responsibility and you're focused on other stuff.
Who's the best person on your team to talk to about this?
Well, A+ for persistence. My site isn't so visited that this level of effort makes sense. I think I want to meet the author of these emails.
Fourth email:
I'm sure you're busy, but if you could respond to my email below, I can cross this off my list.
Well, shit, I've become a blocker for someone. That really sucks. I'd feel bad, except let's look back at this from the first email:
PS: if you didn't like getting this email, please just shoot me a note and ask me not to email you anymore. I'll make sure I don't.
Yeaaaaaaaaah, no. This isn't how this site works.
All of these emails have asks. All of these emails demand action from me. All of these are asking for my attention, for action on my part. If I fail to follow up, more demands for my attention are made.
I recognize there is a person on the other end of those emails, and, wow, would responding be easier than writing this note. I would like to be kind to the sender, but, increasing demands on my time, without my consent, eh, really shouldn't be rewarded.
And how funny that I balk at setting this boundary on demands for my time and my site. I'm sure Jonathan can relate to this boundary, unfortunately.
So, I checked my assumptions and went to look for the person behind the emails, as the wording leads me to believe there is a person, and, well, now I'm less sure. Looking on Twitter, the company behind the "replace your URL with this URL" emails has one tweet, no followers, and is following no one (ugh, non-parallel structure there). I haven't gone to the website, but note that searches for the sender's name and the company name yield zero results in Duckduckgo, and subsequently Google, results.
A company I contracted with recently would use fake names in their marketing emails, names odd enough that one would be able to find the senders on the internet if they existed. The sender of the emails seems to be as much of a ghost as that company's marketing women.
Ehhhhhh, yeah, link rot sucks. I have a better solution planned than what I have now. It is, also, on the Tech Debt List. It is, also, not today.
And the link that was referenced in the first email? Still rotten.
Circe
Book Notes Written with a loving hand by kitt some time around 21:32 on 10 April 2021
We, the Books on Books Book Club members, read this book as the third or fourth book, first for me. It was the first one in the book club that I read. Unsurprisingly, I enjoyed this book. I was, however, hit much harder with the dismissal of women's voices, opinions, and experiences portrayed in the book. It continued the trend of reading books that pissed me off, even as I enjoyed it.
I enjoyed the subsequent conversation with D about the womens' roles in the book, and the curse of Odysseus for his pride.
Mediocre
Book Notes Written with a loving hand by kitt some time around 11:32 on 7 April 2021
Well, I keep reading books that piss me off. This book continues the trend.
Pretty much a glorious rant on how we as a collective are subjugated to the "leadership" of mediocre white men. No, not all leaders are mediocre, but one can give a very, very, very long list of mediocre men suppressing the more brilliant subordinates of all genders and races.
If you're interested in reading this book and can't a find a copy at your library, I will buy you a copy. If you read it and see yourself in the book, be better.
Lost In Thought
Book Notes kitt decided around 21:26 on 2 April 2021 to publish this:
As a recommendation engine, the XOXO conference group slack books channel does not disappoint with this book. A lovely book about learning and reading for the sake of learning and reading, that the activities don't have to lead to increased wealth or better productivity or higher social status. One can read because she enjoys reading.