misc — Dallineation

I Can't See Magic Eye 3D Illusions

Sat, 10 Dec 2022 03:27:28 +0000

I remember when those “Magic Eye” 3D illusions pictures were really popular back in the day (1990s). I never cared for them, though. Because try as I might, I could never see the 3D images.

Here's one that's supposed to be a shark. I'll have to take their word for it, because I can't see it.

I tried everything anyone recommended to me: hold it close to your face, relax your eyes, stare through the picture not at it, focus on your own reflection on the page/screen, etc. Nothing I have ever tried has worked and to this day I have never seen one of these 3D illusions.

I might be just a little bitter about it.

Discuss...

#100DaysToOffload (No. 74) #misc #retro

Snowy Morning

Sat, 03 Dec 2022 03:46:53 +0000

We had a pretty good snow overnight. The weather reports said Cache Valley got about a foot of snow. We measured about 10” in our front yard.

That meant busting out the snow shovels for the first time this season. Thankfully the snow was pretty dry and powdery, which makes it easier to shove. But after my wife and I cleared the driveway, the snow plow came through the neighborhood – which is a good thing – but that meant a second round of shoveling.

Aside from the shoveling part, I love it when we have a good snow overnight, especially when it's sunny the next day like it was today. The air is crystal clear, the sky is deep blue, and the mountain scenery is beautiful.

Discuss...

#100DaysToOffload (No. 67) #Utah #misc

Time to Offload

Sat, 01 Jan 2022 22:33:51 +0000

When I saw this post in my Mastodon feed, I thought it sounded like a good way to motivate me to start writing blogs again and develop a habit of writing consistently.

I was already familiar with the basic idea of 100 Days to Offload and have seen the hashtag pop up here and there across the Fediverse. But for some reason this post – and the info page it linked to – got me thinking about taking the challenge myself.

I used to write a lot more. But for some reason I got the idea into my head that I don't have anything interesting to say, so why bother? I'm realizing, though, that I need to write for writing's sake. Not to try to be interesting or popular.

I just need to write.

I have so many thoughts and ideas jumbled around in my brain and writing is a way for me to organize and make sense of them – if only for my own benefit.

Another struggle I've had with writing the past couple years is that some of the things I want to write about are controversial. Things like the COVID-19 pandemic, or cultural and social problems I see in my community and what I feel we can do to address them.

To be completely raw and honest, I'm afraid. I'm afraid that sharing my thoughts and opinions on these controversial issues – even in the most diplomatic and thoughtful and non-confrontational ways possible – might have real-life negative consequences like offending others, causing or deepening rifts between family or community members, or even jeopardizing my employment, negatively affecting my ability to serve in my church, etc.

Maybe I will work up the courage to address some of these topics. Or maybe such things are best left to a personal journal so my posterity, at least, will understand where I'm coming from. I'm going to have to wrestle with this a bit and decide what to do.

Regardless, there are plenty of benign, non-controversial, interesting (at least to me) things I can write about, too! I'm looking forward to seeing what my brain and fingers can come up with.

Have you been thinking about writing more? Why not take this challenge with me?

#100DaysToOffload No. 1 #misc

Topics

Sat, 13 Mar 2021 23:20:27 +0000

To see posts related to a topic, just click on a hashtag below. You can subscribe to specific topics using an RSS reader.

Topics of Focus

#faith – thoughts related to my religion #tech – self explanatory