Wednesday Coffee Chat 

I feel like sharing a few random thoughts today, so get yourself a cup of coffee (or tea, or whatever beverage you like) and sit with me for a minute, will you? I’d prefer we could do this in person, a quick little coffee date at the local coffee shop, but I’ll take a virtual date over none.

Too far

Today is my Dad’s birthday and I am not there to celebrate with him, which is a huge bummer. I wish they lived close enough for a weekend visit. At least, we got to “see” each other via FaceTime. Technology has come such a long way. I know we sometimes long for simpler times, but I cannot imagine anymore not to be able to (basically for free) video call with people overseas anytime I want to.
Last year at this time, we were two weeks away from my parents visiting us for three weeks and I wish we could turn back time and anticipate their visit again. I don’t know when I am going to see them next, but I hope it’ll be soon (in the spring at the latest).

A glimmer of common sense

I am sure you’ve heard that SCOTUS rejected FDTs restrictions on mail-in ballots for the midterms elections? Two of the corrupt judges sided with FDT, but thankfully lawfulness and decency prevailed with the other judges for now. I am more curious about what might happen on January, 3rd when newly elected members of Congress are supposed to be sworn in. 

Estate Update

I haven’t shared any updates recently, because there aren’t any. My mother-in-law’s estate is still not settled. I want to say more, for example that I am frustrated with the process, but also that I’ve been putting off dealing with my brother-in-law. He’s the executor and he’s… well, not executing. I already talked to a trust attorney (back in June) but she basically said that unless we want to get legal representation (which we don’t want to do), there is really no oversight over the timeline and execution of the will. I honestly had to hear this from an attorney’s mouth to believe it, because what’s a trust for, if nobody actually oversees its execution? (I thought that was what the law firm that created the trust was for).

According to standard procedure, the executor of a trust/will is supposed to keep financial aspects documented and transparent, keep the beneficiaries in the loop, and divide/distribute the assets in a reasonable amount of time, and let’s just say, none of that has been happening. Accounts outside of the trust were handled and dispersed, but the house and personal belongings, etc. are still in the trust. 

More thoughts on tech and A.I.

I recently shared the quote it’s a crime against yourself to let a machine speak for you, that it equates to the silencing of your own voice by writer, Dave Eggers. Intrigued by this statement, I checked out his books and I am currently reading his book “The Circle“. It’s a 2013 dystopian novel that explores the dark consequences of a dominant, rapidly evolving tech monopoly and a culture of surveillance, promoted as the only way for full transparency and accountability. I am only half way through but I know I already have A LOT of thoughts about it. Have you heart about or read it yet?

Time to DNF

I am sure you have heard of the HYROX poop controversy? If not, the scoop is that a female Australian athlete lost control of her bowels during a HYROX fitness competition in Beijing on September 12, but was allowed to continue the competition to win first place. Many people were outraged that she wasn’t pulled off the course, few argued that pushing through was the right thing to do.
For the people in the back: this is the time to DNF*. Nothing – no title, no medal, no matter how hard you trained – justifies staying in the competition and putting everyone around you at risk for your own selfish reasons. As many athletes likely know, shit happens. Sometimes literally (and when it happens, there’d better be a restroom nearby!). In the running world, we call it the runner’s trots. There are famous incidents of marathoners that finished races after soiling themselves and I still don’t think that’s condonable, but at least it was happening outdoors. HYROX is an indoor event with shared equipment and she should have been disqualified immediately.

* DNF = did not finish.

top photo credit: @gaellemarcel via Unsplash