FGAZ 18-06 Page 2 21 Mar 2022


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As I See It: Slowing Down
Sean Dennis (1:18/200)

My health has taken a turn for the worse these past few years and I am
now permanently disabled and unemployable due to health. I have had
the displeasure of fighting with Social Security for the past two
years and not having any income since January 2020. It's not been
easy nor fun but in the process of becoming disabled and changing my
worldview because of it, I have learned to slow down.

I now have seemingly unlimited time to do what I want if my health
isn't constantly interfering with me, making me either hurt constantly
or sleep for 14 hours. When I am feeling decent, I still enjoy
working on all of my BBS-related hobbies and, when I can get my radio
fixed, amateur radio even with being in an apartment.

However, the fight that was once in me is gone. I have to manage
stress carefully. I have a blood clot (DVT) in the artery in my right
leg that threatens to move if I get too upset or too physically
active. It could go to my lungs and suffocate me to death, to my
heart or brain blocking the blood flow to either organ and killing
me. Real fun to think about this, believe me.

So that's why I have backed off of a lot of things in Fidonet. I
simply can't handle it anymore. Now this doesn't mean that I am
leaving or anything (you can't get rid of me that easy) but it does
mean that if there's a problem I can't fix, I'll try to avoid the
situation altogether.

Thankfully, things are somewhat calmer these days and I really enjoy
shooting the breeze in different echoes. It's nice to spend time
chatting. I enjoy publishing the FidoGazette even if I don't have a
lot of content to publish (yes, this means you: where is your article
for the FG? <G>). I guess it's the satisfaction of having a routine.

And there you have it as I see it.

Constructive criticism and comments are welcomed. Letters to the
editor are also welcomed. Netmail is welcomed also but I prefer the
other methods first (I accept crashmail via BinkD). Leave your
flamethrower and vulgarities at the door or I will just delete your
message.

-- Sean
1:18/200


-----------------------------------------------------------------



--- MBSE BBS v1.0.8 (GNU/Linux-x86_64)
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Johnson City, TN (1:18/200)

Hello Sean!

** On Monday 14.03.22 - 18:21, Sean Dennis wrote to All:

I have a blood clot (DVT) in the artery in my right
leg that threatens to move if I get too upset or too
physically active. It could go to my lungs and
suffocate me to death, to my heart or brain
blocking the blood flow to either organ and killing
me. Real fun to think about this, believe me.

Why can't they clamp both ends of the artery, remove the clot,
and restore the flow?

--
../|ug

--- OpenXP 5.0.51
* Origin: (2:221/1.58)

Hello August,

14 Mar 22 22:16, you wrote to me:

Why can't they clamp both ends of the artery, remove the clot,
and restore the flow?

Because a piece could break off during prep and kill me.

-- Sean

... WinErr 004: Erroneous error: nothing is wrong.
--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20180707
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Home of the FidoGazette! (1:18/200)

Hi Sean,

My health has taken a turn for the worse these past few years and I am
now permanently disabled and unemployable due to health. I have had
the displeasure of fighting with Social Security for the past two
years and not having any income since January 2020. It's not been
easy nor fun but in the process of becoming disabled and changing my worldview because of it, I have learned to slow down.

Sean, that is so sad to hear! My Dad died from a clot just as you describe. His sister, my aunt Carm had one as well... :(

So that's why I have backed off of a lot of things in Fidonet. I
simply can't handle it anymore. Now this doesn't mean that I am
leaving or anything (you can't get rid of me that easy) but it does
mean that if there's a problem I can't fix, I'll try to avoid the
situation altogether.

I don't blame you at all for that... PLease do take it easy when you can.

Take care,
Janis

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-5
* Origin: Prism bbs (1:261/38)

Why can't they clamp both ends of the artery, remove the clot,
and restore the flow?

Because a piece could break off during prep and kill me.

I will write you a nice obituary ... 8-) 8-) 8-)

\%/@rd

--- DB4 - 20220222
* Origin: Hou het veilig, hou vol. Het komt allemaal weer goed (2:292/854)

Why can't they clamp both ends of the artery, remove the clot, SD>AA> and restore the flow?

Because a piece could break off during prep and kill me.

I will write you a nice obituary ... 8-) 8-) 8-)

And obituary in what paper? I mean, you're talking to the damned editor! If he's dead, there's probably no 'Gazette coming next week...

McDoob
SysOp, PiBBS
pibbs.sytes.net

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Raspberry Pi/32)
* Origin: PiBBS (1:229/110)

I will write you a nice obituary ... 8-) 8-) 8-)

And obituary in what paper?

Ever heard about Fidonews ?

\%/@rd

--- DB4 - 20220222
* Origin: Hou het veilig, hou vol. Het komt allemaal weer goed (2:292/854)

And obituary in what paper?

Ever heard about Fidonews ?

Why, is it some sort of 'gazette'-like publication specific to Fidonet? And, don't we already have a Fido Gazette? (o_-)

I am at least familiar with an echo of the same name, but I haven't seen a Fidonews 'publication', like what takes place here...is it not released in the same way? Or did I simply not see the last issue?

McDoob
SysOp, PiBBS
pibbs.sytes.net

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Raspberry Pi/32)
* Origin: PiBBS (1:229/110)

I am at least familiar with an echo of the same name, but I haven't seen
a Fidonews 'publication', like what takes place here...is it not
released in the same way? Or did I simply not see the last issue?

Apparently, the latter was the case. I stand corrected. ~\(^_^)/~

McDoob
SysOp, PiBBS
pibbs.sytes.net

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Raspberry Pi/32)
* Origin: PiBBS (1:229/110)

Hello Shaun,

On Tuesday March 15 2022 09:24, you wrote to Ward Dossche:

Why, is it some sort of 'gazette'-like publication specific to
Fidonet?

Yes. From P4:

1.3.1 FidoNews

FidoNews is a weekly newsletter distributed in electronic form throughout the network. It is an important medium by which FidoNet sysops communicate with each other. FidoNews provides a sense of being a community of people with common interests. Accordingly, sysops and users are encouraged to contribute to FidoNews.


See also P4, 2.4 3.1 3.6 4.1.4 4.5 5.1.6 5.8 6.1 7.1 and 8.2


Cheers, Michiel

--- GoldED+/W32-MSVC 1.1.5-b20170303
* Origin: http://www.vlist.eu (2:280/5555)

Why, is it some sort of 'gazette'-like publication specific to Fidonet?

Yes. From P4:

Thank you for answering an entirely rhetorical question, asked purely for comedic purposes... (o_O)

McDoob
SysOp, PiBBS
pibbs.sytes.net

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Raspberry Pi/32)
* Origin: PiBBS (1:229/110)

Janis Kracht wrote to Sean Dennis <=-

Sean, that is so sad to hear! My Dad died from a clot just as you describe. His sister, my aunt Carm had one as well... :(

I nearly died on March 23, 2020 of both a DVT and a PE. I was hospitalized
for four days from them. I have been taking Elliquis (blood thinner) since.
I had a vascular ultrasound on December 20 and it showed the clot to be half-gone. I am told that since I have had a clot, I will be at risk for
the rest of my life.

I don't blame you at all for that... PLease do take it easy when you
can.

I will, thank you. Once Social Security quits jerking me around, a lot of
the stress will be off of me but I will never be able to work again because
of that damn clot.

-- Sean

... This tagline is SHAREWARE! To register, send me $10.
--- MultiMail/Linux
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Johnson City, TN (1:18/200)

Ward Dossche wrote to Sean Dennis <=-

I will write you a nice obituary ... 8-) 8-) 8-)

I want either "I told you I was sick!" or "I thought therefore I was" on my headstone.

Fun fact: I am to be buried at the Mountain Home National Cemetery in
Mountain Home, TN (inside Johnson City, TN) since I served honorably in the
US Army. I made plans already. With my health, I could quite literally
drop dead at any minute and I don't want to cause any more stress than
needed for my family.

https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/mountainhome.asp

-- Sean

... A plan so cunning that if it had a tail it would be a weasel.
--- MultiMail/Linux
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Johnson City, TN (1:18/200)

Shaun Buzza wrote to Ward Dossche <=-

Apparently, the latter was the case. I stand corrected. ~\(^_^)/~

FidoNews (or "the Snooze") is an official part of Fidonet. The FidoGazette
is an alternative newsletter I started in 2007. If you look in the
FidoGazette header and mast, that fact is reiterated a few times about being
an alternative.

It's important so people know what is what.

-- Sean

... Making up your mind is the hard part. The rest is pure work.
--- MultiMail/Linux
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Johnson City, TN (1:18/200)

On 15 Mar 22 17:41:13, Sean Dennis said the following to Ward Dossche:

I will write you a nice obituary ... 8-) 8-) 8-)

I want either "I told you I was sick!" or "I thought therefore I was" on my headstone.

A program in this session has encountered a problem and cannot continue.

We apologise for the inconvenience.

Nick

--- Renegade vY2Ka2
* Origin: Joey, do you like movies about gladiators? (1:229/426)

Fun fact: [...]

No, not really. It may be a fact, but it hardly qualifies as 'fun'...(o_O)

By the way, sorry for getting lost just a moment ago...I swear I thought I
was here...if you don't understand, I'm sure you will soon...(-_-)

McDoob
SysOp, PiBBS
pibbs.sytes.net

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Raspberry Pi/32)
* Origin: PiBBS (1:229/110)

Apparently, the latter was the case. I stand corrected. ~\(^_^)/~

FidoNews (or "the Snooze") is an official part of Fidonet. The FidoGazette is an alternative newsletter I started in 2007. If you look in the FidoGazette header and mast, that fact is reiterated a few times about being an alternative.

It's important so people know what is what.

Thank you. I found out on my own a bit about that, and I was given some pointers from various people. I agree, it is important to know the
history of Fidonet, if one is going to be a member. It helps one avoid
looking stupid. I may or may not know what I'm talking about here...I neither confirm nor deny that I have ever looked stupid. Pay no attention to those earlier messages where I looked pretty stupid. (^_^)

McDoob
SysOp, PiBBS
pibbs.sytes.net

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Raspberry Pi/32)
* Origin: PiBBS (1:229/110)

Nick Andre wrote to Sean Dennis <=-

A program in this session has encountered a problem and cannot
continue.

Did you turn it off and back on again?

We apologise for the inconvenience.

Please wait while we transmit your private data to the federal three-letter agency of your choice.

-- Sean

... 2 + 2 = 5 for extremely large values of 2.
--- MultiMail/Linux
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Johnson City, TN (1:18/200)

On 16 Mar 22 12:30:59, Sean Dennis said the following to Nick Andre:

A program in this session has encountered a problem and cannot continue.

Did you turn it off and back on again?

In Windows 10 the BSOD is now a big frowny-face and a QR code.

Nick

--- Renegade vY2Ka2
* Origin: Joey, do you like movies about gladiators? (1:229/426)

Hello Nick,

16 Mar 22 14:56, you wrote to me:

In Windows 10 the BSOD is now a big frowny-face and a QR code.

Because the users aren't smart enough to figure it out themselves anymore?

-- Sean

... "I cannot live without books." - Thomas Jefferson
--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20180707
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Home of the FidoGazette! (1:18/200)

On 16 Mar 22 16:37:06, Sean Dennis said the following to Nick Andre:

In Windows 10 the BSOD is now a big frowny-face and a QR code.

Because the users aren't smart enough to figure it out themselves anymore?

I can't even see the "average user" figuring out what to do with that QR code.

Nick

--- Renegade vY2Ka2
* Origin: Joey, do you like movies about gladiators? (1:229/426)

In Windows 10 the BSOD is now a big frowny-face and a QR code.

Because the users aren't smart enough to figure it out themselves
anymore?

If you'd ever spent time in customer support, you'd already know the answer
to that question.

'Uh, what's right click mean?' (o_O)

PEBKAC - problem exists between keyboard and chair

McDoob
SysOp, PiBBS
pibbs.sytes.net

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Raspberry Pi/32)
* Origin: PiBBS (1:229/110)

Hello Nick,

16 Mar 22 17:50, you wrote to me:

I can't even see the "average user" figuring out what to do with that
QR code.

I know some sysadmins who wouldn't know what to do with that QR code.

-- Sean

... Wynne's Law: negative slack tends to increase.
--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20180707
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Home of the FidoGazette! (1:18/200)

Hello Shaun,

16 Mar 22 18:27, you wrote to me:

If you'd ever spent time in customer support, you'd already know the answer to that question.

It was rhetorical. I spent 35 years as a help desk tech, a systems analyst, a system administrator, and a network administrator (I hold an AAS degree in network systems administration; Active Directory and I were best buddies). I also ran my own IT consulting business for a while. I know only too well.

PEBKAC - problem exists between keyboard and chair

There's the infamous "ID-10-T" error.

-- Sean

... "The best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas." - Linus Paulding
--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20180707
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Home of the FidoGazette! (1:18/200)

Shaun,

Why can't they clamp both ends of the artery, remove the clot, SD>AA> and restore the flow?

Because a piece could break off during prep and kill me.

I will write you a nice obituary ... 8-) 8-) 8-)

And obituary in what paper? I mean, you're talking to the damned
editor! If he's dead, there's probably no 'Gazette coming next week...

That reminds me of the pun with "taking your child to work day". This
father worked with the local paper, writing the death notices. His son
wanted to follow in his father's footsteps, so he became known as the
"Son of Obituary Editor".

That ought to get Sean's attention. <G>

Daryl

... A soldier surviving mustard gas is a seasoned veteran.
=== MultiMail/Win v0.52
--- SBBSecho 3.15-Win32
* Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS - Little Rock, Arkansas (1:2320/33)