thecrazygm made me a new PFP!

I have sometimes been known as an optimistic guy. Its how I see myself at least, and it has pros and cons, but generally I struggle to make posts if I cannot find something positive to say or if the issue is unfinished.

I do have some posts I am working on, but its been hard to find such positive motivation. I did get a hot tip, and I am working on a journalistic deep dive on a possibly uncomfortable subject regarding HBD. That should be fun, I hope to have it out this week.

So I am hoping this post can break the ice, because I am really blessed to have a great friend like @thecrazygm AND I think this picture of me is pretty amazing.

According to GM, he gave some AI the most recent pictures of my life that I had shared with him, and asked it to do some sort of magic or another, and this is what came out! Its a friendly reminder maybe of who I am, I mean, that guy doesn't look like a developer. He looks like an anthropologist.

Well, I am a sociologist and farmer, which may be related to my skills at project management - which has been both a job and a hobby of mine for the last 8 years.

Unfortunately its becoming more and more clear to me that this is a hobby that I cannot really afford right now. While my trees always agree with me and are interested in what I think about their development, its not that way with people.

I learned a hard lesson this year - that people don't really want advice. They do love giving it - I know. I have been "support staff" and really good at it for dozens of different projects, small and large, for many years. But fortunately or unfortunately I am a bit too contrarian to "nod and grin", even if I am being paid. I'm not at all corporate, my mind just doesn't work that way.

But if its a hobby, this sort of thing starts to feel more like a personal problem, perhaps even an unhealthy addiction.

Goodbye Clippy

I changed my profile pic to clippy after watching this Louis Rossman video about consumer advocacy against greedy tech companies. Its something I do feel strongly about - personally and philosophically - and I have gotten in fights before about this issue and how I practice it in my life.

But tech really doesn't define me, even though I like it. Its just a hobby I am passionate about.

I think its time that my profile picture restores my machete-wielding nature again. Big thanks to @thecrazygm for that. Be careful around me, because I keep it sharp.

Freedom and Friendship