I never figured out how the point system works until Al showed me this. If you look at your profile, there is a question mark next to your points. Click that and this information window opens. With this new information, the threshold for being active in the group is being "tightened." All new members, as of June 1st, will get this chat message upon acceptance in the society. Introduce yourself in the "Introduction to the Society" within 72 hours of acceptance. Read the "Begin Here: The S/OG" first, then "Like." No Introduction = No Membership Achieve Level 3 in less than 2 weeks Inactive for 30 days = possible removal. The grace period for members joining from the Lobby has ended as well. The Code of Conduct will be edited to reflect the new changes.

Poise, Patience, Pacing and Public Speaking! On several occasions I've successfully defended myself in court, Small Claims, Traffic and Trial courts. The method is to do a little legal research which is easy. At court, being patient at all times helps with poise, in other words not being triggered emotionally as the charges are read and the plaintiff lies, the police distort the truth, or the prosecutor makes you seem like public enemy number one. Public speaking confidence applies when it is time to refute the allegations, complaints and charges. Being able to examine a witness or cross examine is essential. Speaking clearly and using good grammar coupled with the patience and poise in a crowded courtroom does impress a judge because he will know ahead of time if you are a lawyer or law school graduate. I've never been to law school. I've won in Small Claims both times. I've prevailed in Traffic Court 11 times and in Trial Court twice. One was an aggravated assault charge, one was a DWI/DUI charge. To date, I have a clean or blank criminal record and my last moving violation was 25 years ago this month. And no charges pending.

I warned Scott in a comment, and I know we've had our share of rants about "modern fashion", so I'm taking my turn. When waiting to pick up my daughter from school, while I have noticed more men showing up more often to pick up their kids (which is a good thing), I can't help but notice they look so much like most people I see out and about. Basically, like homeless ex-convicts. Ill-fitted clothing, dirty, torn, faded graphic shirts, covered in tattoos, pajama pants, faces like they just escaped the Dust Bowl (no skin care routine or attempt to be clean apart from maybe a nice haircut), sometimes with piercings bigger than a pencil or sharpie marker, etc. Even when I was a kid/teen/20-something, I never saw the appeal in dressing like a slob. Sure, I was into the Goth style for 12 years (from high school until my late 20s), but I made sure it looked good/refined. Even James of GentZ was Goth once upon a time. The closest AI-generated answer search could give is it's just "trendy" to look like trash (partly thanks to the fashion industry). That, in some weird way, it's considered "more masculine", and the worst excuse yet, "showing solidarity to accept ex-cons back into society". While that last one seems well-intended, I think there are far better ways to be supportive than to dress like shit. Sure, it's the first thing we see, so "normalizing it" seems to reduce stigma, but it's detrimental as it overall lowers society's bar for standards. At least with "Lumber-sexual" (as opposed to the metro-sexual trend of 20 years ago), they tried to have kempt beards, neat haircuts, and their style aesthetic made sense. At this point, even athleisure-wear looks more appealing (and I'll never do that to myself). The "homeless ex-con cosplay" as I call it, just comes off as fake and a sorry excuse to "be comfortable" or "give up" in the face of an unfavorable economic era. Personally, I'd rather be intimidating as a well-dressed man with manners (or even seen as "a snob", "judgmental", or "trying too hard"), than some pseudo ex-con you'd approach for a toilet wine recipe and wonder if you'll get shanked. While sadly many end up in prison for totally unjustified reasons, many DO end up there for a good reason.

What’s missing from genesis 6, what is missing from Noah’s ark?

One of the basic lessons taught by any content advice on being "one's own man", a "gentleman", or a generally fully functional independent human, is the practice of maintaining one's living (and transportation) space(s). Sure, no one actually "enjoys" cleaning. It's maintenance, a necessity, a base-level of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. It's often preached that "a clean living space means a clean mental, physical, and emotional life style". WHEN YOU'RE DOWN On the flip-side, I acknowledge when someone lacks the motivation or even physical ability to do so. For those unaware, last year I was constantly sick. Combination of pneumonia/bronchitis until doctors discovered a lung tumor. I was coughing so much it caused micro-fractures in my ribs (I knew they hurt, but wasn't until CT scans and X-Rays confirmed it). The chronic coughing often caused conscious black-outs, among other very disturbing symptoms, and a general lack of energy. Thankfully, I've recovered post-surgery, and getting back to, and even beyond, my former healthier state. I did at the time have some help from my ex-wife. Then again, those were during friendlier terms. MOTIVATION SOURCE That last point brings me to "motivational sources". Now, often when we're not yet adults, we have to be scolded by family to do our chores, instilling in us the hard lesson that we must care for one's space. Especially when we share a living space. As adults, we're usually nagged by our partners, or we already put cleaning into practice and take initiative. As for me, it was multiple sources. Both my own desire to improve my life, but also in the form of nasty character assaults from the ex (not that she has much room to talk, but still, it was the "final kick" I needed). ACTION So, for 4 hours yesterday between my haircut and saxophone practice, I put on some upbeat Jazz (video below), and got to work. My kitchen really needed some love.