Mechanics in The COVID Repair Shop

The Accomplice: Okay! The sun tea is inside (after only an hour outside in >100°F heat and blazing sun). We can safely leave it on the kitchen counter for a half hour or so (I'll set a timer); then we can put it into the fridge.

It's quite dark already, so I don't think limiting the time outdoors will be an issue.

b1-66er [1 floor above all the current the action]: Yeah.

You don't wanna jam that jar in immediately, that's for sure.

Was it too hot to handle?

TA: No. Hot, but not that hot.

b1: The last batch I made was out there for "awhile," I didn't time it, but it came back dark dark dark. (Having cherry as #3 probably helped.)

The jug was hot enough that i carried it in with silicon oven mitts. Set it on a potholder on the floor first and then on the counter making sure it was contacting the back wall.

When I put it in the refrigerator a couple hours later, the counter still had a warmish spot where it'd been sitting.

I drank the last of it with dinner last night because I hadn't had caffeine in a couple days.

Maybe that's where my headaches came from all along?

Maybe that's what's cured me.

TA: Caffeine is an interesting "drug" with some very positive characteristics

b1: That's why I mainline it.

TA: I dabble in it with my "mints"

b1: "Caffeine is brain food...

... make it your MAIN food."

TA: YEAH!

Do re mi fa so la ti om

b1-66er: <bar graphic>

This is a stress self-evaluation tool that's an optional part of my meditation app. Monthly, I'm presented a series of half a dozen (mildly stilted) situations similar to

This month I've found it difficult to keep up with the tasks I have to do

• Always

• Often

• Rarely

• Never

The answers of all the month's questions are conglomerated and given a single bar chart value (like what you see here)

Right now, I'm 13 (highest side of 'low'), 15 is moderate. Two months ago I was graded 5 when The Accomplice and I were doing the train trip. And THAT'S the lowest I've been in the two years they've done this survey ... 

The highest was 16 (which they call"moderate"), the same month when I passed out on my tilt table trial.

Although this is a far cry from Mr. Deming's Total Quality Management, I think being able to see the broad trending result is good. 

I see having my own bias spread evenly across all the answers, irrespective of mood or immediate conditions, as a +

Assuming these charts play out broadly across a population it must be true that a lot of people perceive themselves as having hard lives, or the people taking this survey is self-selecting [those who bother to meditate (and subsequently takingthe follow-on questionnaire) are not representative of the population as a whole].

Gumburu: 

I think most people would rate their lives as difficult. Though that could range wildly depending on what questions are asked. And also how, or in what context they are asked. For me- I would answer "almost always" to "did you have trouble keeping up with tasks...". But in other metrics, I would rate myself as pretty happy. And then an Integral lens would also be fascinating- depending on what level of development a person is at- what determines stress and happiness? At a traditional level, it is "did I follow the rules, and do I belong". Rational level- am I successful/productive/winning. Post Modern- do I have "meaning"... 

b1: Believe it or not...

I think of you as being the happiest person I know.