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A few things have happened in this month and a half.
Mid-December was a time to continue experimenting with the hacklab 3D printer. I've been learning how to operate it and set it up to print as cleanly as possible. I'm excited about printing things that are useful, so I've been printing things along those lines. I made a few prints for them to take, in case they wanted to give them as Christmas gifts.
I went camping to say goodbye to 2021 and welcome 2022. Something simple, not so far from a city, but very close to a lagoon. Sleeping on the ground wrecked my back, but going far away from concrete did me good mentally.
It's still hard for me to register that it's 2022, it really amazes me how fast time is passing me by. I feel like I arrived to the Southern Cone yesterday.
From the end of December until the end of January I was house-sitting for some friends while they were traveling. The change of space and company did me a lot of good, and nI have returned to where I was with a better attitude, and more willing to make an effort.
January was quite busy, and a worrying time.
I became infected with COVID, and spent almost two weeks in isolation. 4-5 days with the most noticeable things. Fever, runny nose, fatigue and throat discomfort. I am glad to be vaccinated and that the symptoms were not severe. I still feel a little weird, but overall fine.
I helped translate a Uxn programming tutorial, and that experience gave way to two things: the inauguration of a digital community that I called Archipelago I, and along with that the inauguration of a translation service that I called Alphanumeric Translations (Traducciones AlfanumΓ©rico).
I want to organize myself to be able to advance in the definition of both things, and to be able to attend them as I want. Also because I am still unemployed and I would like to take advantage of the translations to have some steady income with that. We''ll see.
How did February arrive...?
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This month and a bit has been an extension of past downers, although I must admit that these last two weeks have motivated me a bit more. For one thing, I'm still out of work and without a steady income.The uncertainty is already dangerously familiar, but for that very reason I feel I can handle it. On the other hand, and in relation to my communities, I have recognized that there is not much compatibility in the dynamics of action/work, nor is there much overlap in specific interests, so I have opted to calm down and practice a little indifference. It has helped me calm down, although it's hard for me.
With intentions of highlighting optimism I have to tell that I have learned basic programming of a one-chip computer (Raspberry Pi 2 B+; Debian). I have managed to configure a wifi board, install a web server, a forum (phpBB), a Scuttlebutt server (a social network), a server and chat (on web) IRC (The Lounge) and a program to transmit on FM frequency. Later I want to learn how to configure Calibre, so that books can be accessed and downloaded, and/or a server for document exchange. It is configured to work without being connected to the internet. The idea is to be able to take it anywhere and have people connect and access everything just by wifi. It is my version of a Pirate Box. Now that I'm more comfortable using the command line I'm interested in learning how to install terminal-only programs, using plain-text and tildeverse as examples. :)
In one of the spaces I frequent there is a 3D printer that I have been learning to use. I managed to print a case for the Raspi, and I've learned to calibrate it+use it without fear. These days we are printing another case for a Raspi 3 B+ and some chess pieces. It's awesome the feeling of recognizing that you can design and create* whatever pieces you want. I admit that I didn't find the "cult" to 3D printing fascinating, but more and more I'm understanding where it's coming from.
For this weekend I am organizing a talk about technopolitical relations, as part of a digital culture festival. It's been fun and interesting to re-explore the definitions of hackerspaces and hacklab, it helps me to clarify the political positions+distinctions that determine a space.
It's hot these days in this part of the hemisphere, and heat always puts me in a good mood. It helps my mood and mobility. Let's hope my bike doesn't end up in pieces soon, because I want to pedal a lot and I don't have a lot of money for repairs. ;D
I can't believe it's 2022 soon, I don't know what happened to the last two years, much less the last 5. Recognizing that makes me dizzy, but at the same time it pushes me to take more advantage of the things I have within reach, and also to prepare myself to explore other things that sometimes feel very+very far away.
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This week my discouragement has extended. Survival on the basis of capital is very frustrating for me. Why is my effort equated to a currency? Why is my knowledge and skills valued on the basis of how much money I can produce? What is the need of that? I partially know the answer to these questions. It causes me much disgust and much anger that it's like this in this day and age. I feel like I'm repeating myself with the last post, but I greatly appreciate being able to participate in communities that have a sense of this.
And about my communities, there is also something that has been frustrating recently. I've felt a sense of fear (or wariness) about taking on responsibility and/or delegation. Even when there are clear events where there's need, nobody mobilizes (or the same person(s), as always). The idea of doing things in community is that everyone's effort (however minimal it may be) is enough to achieve some objective. I recognize that surviving these days implies attending to the most urgent responsibilities and a lot of times that means not having time for those enjoyable things. That doesn't bother me, and it's more than understandable. My frustration comes from the lack of communication. A minimal "I agree, and I can't participate" I think is enough.
The anger that you see reflected here has several other things behind it that I can't/won't divulge, not just what is written here. I write to let off steam and continue working on what interests me. I hope it doesn't go on longer than necessary.
By the way, and on a much happier note, Texto-plano is one year old! I hope it will be many more.
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These last few days have passed without much event. A lot of time to "do nothing", a lot of stress and a sense of guilt for it. It's a familiar feeling, I have more indifference than anything else. I am discouraged by all the obligation that these capitalist times bring. I'm glad to be able to participate in communities that aren't guided by that.
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These last few days have been mainly for reorganizing. I really want to self-host but it's not viable for me right now. Anyway, I'm taking advantage of my contact with communities that do to learn as much as I can. For now, the computing resources they lend me are enough. In terms of priorities, I've decided on personal and local goals.
I took my friend ~l to RLAB for the first time, and they liked it very much. I really wanted to teach them, and they also wanted to know the place. Cybercirujas were working on computers. Something I thought was a beautiful gesture is that they fixed a laptop and gave it to a person who was going to give it, by surprise, to his best friend (who did not have a computer) to study. I'm glad to be able to witness these things up close. Also, pizza night.
The next morning I went to a natural reserve, also with ~l, breaking with the city monotony, and to accompany them in their bota-biologist tasks.
This week began with the usual visit to RLAB. I am pleased with the "usual feeling" that is forming.
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I had to take a break from HTML in the middle of the week, I got overwhelmed. Riding my bike is my therapy in those moments where I need to be away from the keyboard. It always helps me to visit a friend who lives far from where I do.
Even so, I got back at coding the next day, to work on the english translation of the /house. I was able to finish it. The day after that I dedicated myself to finish the portuguese translation. I hope that those who visit me can point out the mistakes, which I'll surely have (especially the Portuguese version).
I was also participating more in the texto-plano community. Learning how to manage myself on the console and starting to use the rest of the services. There's a lot of willingness to help, I appreciate that.
Something happened that left me stuck with an idea in mind: Several people shared one of my toots where I had written about Permacomputing. Some of these people, I think, are very relevant to the subject. I'm eager to know if there's a place/space where they are talking exclusively about that topic. Is there a room on IRC that I don't know of, any forums? I would be interested in participating, or at least reading.
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The last two days I've been editing HTML for this /house. Learning and testing. On Tuesdays I usually visit the lab, but I decided to stay at home. I just uploaded the first official version of this page, and it made me feel good.
At some point I edited HTML, maybe for MySpace, but I forgot everything. Reading the guides also helped me a lot, but it wasn't until I read somewhere "Everything in HTML/CSS are boxes" that I understood in detail how the code works. I'm excited.
I'm also excited to have my own website. I've never had one. And what better way to start it than with a tilde philosophy. I like the idea of encouraging the times where text guided navigation, rather than the excessive use of images. I'm excited about the idea that my page can be accessed by devices with low memory and limited graphics.
Now I have to keep updating it.
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On Sunday I had my second dose of the COVID vaccine. I had no side effects. So nice! The first dose was also chill, just had a slight headache. I like to play with the idea that I was injected with a placebo, but I'm not interested in giving space to pseudoscientific thoughts.
I went to the Arcade Social Club for the first time. Had been wanting to know it for some years now, but it's not a public place. I met with ~crazyjane and talked about permacomputing, PowerPCs and old video games.
Rode my bike back home. It was about 1am. It had rained and the street was wet. I was cautious, although there wasn't many people on the street. For me, those are the best moments to ride.
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