I got hooked on TikTok during my breast reduction surgery recovery 2 years ago. I think the thing that pisses me off most on a personal level about our tech oligarchy is that it shouldn't feel like any kind of political statement to use an app that helps keep me in touch with far-flung friends and relatives (FB) or lets me amuse myself in spare moments with the antics of, say, a charmingly eccentric cat rescuer in Vancouver (TikTok).

Amen, Susan. As others said, I don’t feel any safer just because the billionaire with my data is American instead of Chinese…but also I just want nice things!! Why can’t we have nice things. (Other than borg)

Hec, how long will you be in Japan? I remember that Matilda was going, but I missed details.

I'll be there for ten days, about equally split between Tokyo and Kyoto. Matilda will be there for three months, studying Japanese. I overlap with her orientation but leave on her first day of class. She'll be with a host family (the mother is into Kendo and Country Guitar). They have a dog! We're looking for the right dog present.

Cash, I've been meaning to say that I'm happy to be a local contact for your eldest if ever needed.

Thank you, Aurelia! I love knowing people are looking out for my kids.

Well, I seem to have come down with a stomach bug this weekend. I haven't thrown up since last night, but I still feel off and can't seem to regulate my temp, so I'll be staying in bed tomorrow to avoid the "festivities". I had already been planning to call in when you guys reminded me why I would be pleased to miss any and all news feeds tomorrow. So thanks for that. And I'm also (sort of inexplicably?) disappointed in Snoop.

I actually plugged-in my plug-in hybrid new-to-me car yesterday! I don't have a driveway or garage, so an at-home recharge is not in the cards. So I found a public charging station in Central Square (Cambridge) and went walking/shopping for like 40 minutes, which got it up to a half-charge.. for 45 cents!

The half charge doesn't take it far at all on just EV -- like 6 miles. The gas half is way more efficient than my previous car -- I'm getting like 32mpg, so it's a win even if I don't charge up often. But it would be nice if I could charge up every day, I drive less than 6 miles on a typical day, to work and back and errands.

And, a big HI to Emily.

Sorry about the bug Epic.

I’ve got plans to see 2 movies with friends. I need to shovel the snow from yesterday and should probably see if they want to carpool since we have to pay for parking.

First though, coffee.

Kermit waves to Emily!

Getting up for an 8 am blood draw is particularly unpleasant when it's 11°F out with wind gusts, but I suppose I should be thankful there wasn't any snow or ice on the streets.

Feel better, Epic.

I'm still in hotel sequester because of the plumbing issue. The landlords' guy was there Friday, but he couldn't get it resolved, so the professional plumber came same afternoon, needed to come back Saturday with a power water blaster thing, but the power thing broke (I don't think "we" broke it; I think it just broke), so now they're back at the house right now.

We have lovely, responsive landlords, and I used points to pay for most of my stay to cut them a break, but I do hope it's resolved today for their sake and ours.

Being here, it's very easy to ignore the world right now, which is helpful.