Kerr Avonsen (she/her)

Proudly leftist southpaw. Theist. Great-Aunt. Older than Star Trek, younger than Doctor Who. Artist. Artisan. Programmer. Occasional poet. Liable to spout random opinions and observations about Life, The Universe, and Everything.

Ye Arte Shop: https://fluid-visions.com
Archive of Our Own: https://archiveofourown.org/users/KerrAvonsen
Dreamwidth: https://kerravonsen.dreamwidth.org/

Public Key

npub1l2mq3j8pphqv7nll8atzglew0hmu0zj2gx0c7ts4z9u6l5xjlw3suhzw0a

NIP-05 Address

[email protected]

Profile Code

nprofile1qqs04dsgerssmsx0flln743y0uh8ma783f9yr8u09c23z7d06rf0hgcpz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduqs6amnwvaz7tmwdaejumr0dsu7a4w4

Publishing to

relay.damus.io

nos.lol

Author Public Key

npub1l2mq3j8pphqv7nll8atzglew0hmu0zj2gx0c7ts4z9u6l5xjlw3suhzw0a

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Last Notes

2026-07-25 08:59:46 GMT

I am baffled by why the lovers of #Obtainium say that #Fdroid is "bad" and "insecure" -- and yet Obtainium still uses F-droid as one of its app-sources.
Can someone explain this to me?
#Android #Apps #AppStore

2026-02-21 04:34:34 GMT

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So these 40ml bottles, is the price increase 33% on the 30ml bottles, or is it more than that?

2026-01-24 11:19:25 GMT

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I was just looking at my favourite wool shop, Bendigo Woollen Mills, and realised that ALL their wool (apart from one limited-edition style) is superwash. Ooops.
Where am I going to find good-value non-superwash wool in Australia, then?
#fibrearts #fiberarts #textilearts #knitting #crochet

2026-01-24 06:52:03 GMT

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However, I do think there is a way forward:
1. Knit or crochet a basket or bag from 100% non-superwash wool.
2. Chuck this in the washing machine, on hot, with some sheets, jeans, and a few rubber balls.
3. Leave the fulling to process, rather than checking it every five minutes. After all, nobody knows how big it was *meant* to be, right?
4. Get a needle-felting kit and use that to *decorate* the fully fulled item.
This should get me a pretty felted thing without driving me bonkers with impatience. Right?
@npub1nd7…p8lj #craft #textilearts #fibrearts #fiberarts #crochet #knitting

2026-01-15 04:17:57 GMT

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Hope it can be fixed. Older machines were built to last, so let's hope it lasts for another 40 years!

2026-01-14 03:56:46 GMT

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It is so tempting to harden one's heart in self-protection; and yet the way through this darkness is to open one's heart, *even though one is going to be hurt*.
"Don't let them make you be unkind."
Our first impulse is to hit back when we are hit. It takes strong self-control to continue to be kind. But their badness is on them. We don't have to let it control us.
#Peace #Love

2026-01-13 23:31:26 GMT

Looking at various tutorials yesterday, and I realised that I do not have the patience for felting (either wet or needle).
@npub1nd7…p8lj

2025-12-15 02:19:12 GMT

Simmer bitter brew
Stewing over slights. Turn back!
Forgiveness brings peace.
#DailyHaikuPrompt - 15th Dec - Stew - #Haiku #Poetry

2025-11-03 11:01:55 GMT

My only purpose
On dark days is to endure
Until the morning
#DailyHaikuPrompt - Nov 3, Endure, Morning - #Haiku #Poetry

2025-09-05 12:22:26 GMT

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So if one composes 1000 haiku, does one get a wish? 😉

2025-08-27 09:28:37 GMT

#3GoodThings @npub14fw…lg25
Three good things today.
1. Still enjoying the #Murderbot series (finished the third story).
2. Boxes arrived, yarn continued being sorted/stored.
3. Jelly is so wobbly. And it's like eating semi-solid cordial. So delightfully weird.
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things." - Philippians 4:8

2025-08-17 11:56:18 GMT

The seeds of decay
Were planted in this barrel
With the bad apples
#DailyHaikuPrompt - 17th August - Decay, Seed #Haiku #Poetry

2025-08-13 21:25:03 GMT

As they bow before
This smoke-and-mirrors bully
Do we quail and bow?
#DailyHaikuPrompt - 13th August - Quail #Haiku #Poetry #USpol

2025-08-06 12:03:54 GMT

I am uncertain as to whether human nature is inherently horrible, or human nature is inherently good, or whether I am asking the wrong question altogether.
#philosophy #GoodAndEvil

2025-07-18 09:07:12 GMT

I can has Plied and Spun! Yes, in that order. This took most of the day. I didn't notice it getting dark.
First thing I did with my new Ashford e-spinner was to increase the twist on a single-ply not-very-twisted yarn which I already owned, and then when that was done, the second thing I did was to chain-ply it into three-ply yarn. (It was one of those frustrating almost-roving yarns that breaks very easily).
The third thing I did was to spin (white) crepe-paper rolls into one length of yarn. Whee! I hope I can use it as-is, without having to ply it. Or maybe I could ply it with some cotton yarn, that might work.
Of course ALL of my spinning is unevenly twisted, but since I didn't have to contend with drafting, at least I haven't made one of those cringe-worthy thick-thin yarns.
@npub158w…9r9m @npub1v7p…4pnr @npub1h92…5jfa #Spinning
https://o.mastodon.au/media_attachments/files/114/873/332/638/840/565/original/0bb7438eac55579f.jpg

2025-07-16 23:36:03 GMT

Looking at craft tools on eBay, just came across an "Encrypted Weaving Machine" - which was a simple wood-frame loom. I have no idea what word they *thought* they were using, but it's hilarious.
@npub1v7p…4pnr @npub158w…9r9m @npub1h92…5jfa

2025-07-06 10:36:07 GMT

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Yeah, I had a similar attitude towards "needlessly" electric kitchen tools such as electric pepper grinders and electric knives.
Then I injured my hand trying to take the lid off my pepper grinder to refill it, and, being diabetic, it took months to heal.
I got myself an electric pepper grinder.
Didn't want the same injury to happen again.
Things which might be "lazy" to able-bodied folks, can make a big difference to those less able - even for something as trivial as pepper.

2025-06-29 07:43:29 GMT

Blackened leaves, parched soil
Poisoned rivers, stolen lands
Such desolation
#DailyHaikuPrompt - June 29th - Desolate #Haiku #Poetry

2025-06-14 07:28:35 GMT

#3GoodThings @npub14fw…lg25
Three good things today:
1. Cheese.
2. Edwards Seven-Grain Sourdough; a robust and beautiful bread, good for going underneath cheese.
3. All the judges in the USA who are handing Trump's DoJ losses in court (96% of the time!). ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MviCv5MUu0 )
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things." - Philippians 4:8

2025-06-09 08:09:28 GMT

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More on the saga of the chunky yarn #Hulk #Scarf
I remembered that I had another knitting option: loom knitting! I have a couple of very large gauge knitting looms; one hand-made out of wooden pegs, and the other a Zippy Loom (which I was finally able to get recently). I tried both of them, and the Zippy Loom looks very promising, at least with the stitch size not being too tight.
Unfortunately, the resultant cloth is still a bit too stiff, and, worse, too yarn-hungry, it will eat up all the yarn before I get to scarf length.
The quest continues.
@npub1v7p…4pnr @npub158w…9r9m @npub1h92…5jfa @npub1tnu…g0xj @npub1u96…htvx

2025-06-08 12:01:53 GMT

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So... the chunky chunky yarn I made for the #Hulk scarf? Is very chunky. So I set off with the thickest straight needles I have, 12mm wide. Just plain garter stitch, I figure it goes along with the "big and chunky" theme.
But the resultant cloth... is stiff. Which indicates to me that 12mm is not wide enough for this yarn. So... what should I do?
1. Buy some thicker needles, 15mm or 25mm or both?
2. Switch to crochet? (I have thicker crochet hooks)
3. Something else? What? Is there a stitch I could use which is more drape-y?
@npub1v7p…4pnr @npub158w…9r9m @npub1h92…5jfa @npub1tnu…g0xj @npub1u96…htvx
#HelpMeObiWan

2025-06-07 13:58:49 GMT

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It is two minutes to midnight, and I now have a 200g ball of super-bulky yarn, ready to be made into a chunky scarf. Victory is mine!
Now I have to decide on a pattern. Tomorrow.

2025-06-07 09:13:09 GMT

I''ve been turning some Light yarn into Super-Bulky yarn by using an electric i-cord maker. It is pretty fiddly, it needs to be constantly monitored, and it can only make about 18 inches of cord before the bundle touches the floor and has to be adjusted again. But it is still faster than doing it by hand. Not a task to be undertaken lightly, but I'm going to make a Hulk-themed scarf and the Hulk deserves chunky yarn, dammit.
@npub1v7p…4pnr @npub158w…9r9m @npub1h92…5jfa #Yarn #Hulk #Scarf #MarvelTrumpsHate

2025-06-02 10:20:02 GMT

The humble sparrow
Has no sorrow over crumbs
Of its lowly lot
#DailyHaikuPrompt - 2nd June - Sparrow #Haiku #Poetry

2025-05-30 10:29:47 GMT

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I voted greens. Didn't help.

2025-05-30 04:10:33 GMT

Labor has done a bloody backflip on Climate Change! BASTARDS!
Sign the petition, please.
https://getup.org.au/campaigns/core-2025/let-s-hold-the-labor-government-to-account/hold-the-labor-government-to-account
#auspol #ClimateChange

2025-05-26 15:12:35 GMT

Ultraviolet
There is a hole in the air
Cold lies; brightness burns
#DailyHaikuPrompt - May 26th - Bright #Haiku #Poetry

2025-05-10 06:49:57 GMT

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So far as I can tell, here are the main advantages and disadvantages of the different types of spinning tools.
E-spinner:
Pro: takes up less space
Con: $$$$
Pro: only need to worry about your hands, not your feet
Pro: both hands are free
Pro: not going to injure my feet
Pro: the speed is steady (which some might consider a con)
Traditional wheel:
Con: takes up more space than I have available
Pro: it's traditional, there's more teaching material available
Con: I might injure my feet
Pro: more control over the process
Drop spindle: (which I think includes Turkish?)
Pro: takes up much less space
Con: have to keep on turning the spindle with your hand, the spin doesn't keep up the way a traditional wheel does
(Hey, does that mean you have to do the drafting with only one hand? Surely that would be more difficult?)
Pro: more control over the process
Other kinds of spindle -- I don't know enough about them to say!

2025-05-10 06:11:56 GMT

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Additional information: I am not a spinner, I would be a newbie. There are a few reasons why I would prefer to start with an e-spinner:
1. Doesn't take up a lot of space.
2. From my attempts at learning spinning when a teenager, I think it would be a lot less stressful to learn where I don't have to be controlling feet and hands at the same time.
3. Diabetic means that I'm more vulnerable to injuring my tendons, so I don't really want to take the risk of having to do treadle spinning.

2025-05-10 06:05:41 GMT

@npub1h92…5jfa @npub1v7p…4pnr @npub158w…9r9m #Spinning
I am, right now, seriously tempted to get an electric spinning wheel. Even though I'm not supposed to be buying any new yarn. Because the thing which caught my attention and interest was the idea of RECYCLING scrap yarn, by carding it and spinning it into new yarn.
Also, I like the idea of doing my own yarn-plying, specifically for yarns which I already have which are one-ply yarns.
BUT part of me says "NO! Too expensive! Don't spend money!"
And another part says "No, why do you want to dive down the rabbit-hole of ANOTHER craft?"
Expensive? Yes. The frustrating thing is that Australian sellers seem to ONLY want to sell the Ashford e-spinner, or other (European?) e-spinners which are even MORE expensive than the Ashford.
Sure, I could buy a cheap one from China... which doesn't have the right plug and probably won't work.
And before you say "The Dreaming Robots Nano e-spinner is cheap", firstly, they are out of stock and won't have any available until August, and secondly, exchange rate and postage makes it not-cheap.
What should I dooooooo?

2025-05-03 08:22:13 GMT

Revenge on onions
Making us cry when they bleed
We will consume them
#DailyHaikuPrompt - 3rd May - Onion #Haiku #Poetry

2025-05-01 08:19:09 GMT

Which straw is the one
Before the last straw? Stop there.
If only one knew.
#DailyHaikuPrompt - May 1st - Straw #Haiku #Poetry

2025-04-06 17:55:41 GMT

Knitting in the 24th century: https://kerravonsen.dreamwidth.org/1272894.html
@npub1tnu…g0xj #Knitting @npub1h92…5jfa @npub158w…9r9m @npub1v7p…4pnr

2025-03-21 09:17:59 GMT

Ah, the arms race of ad-blockers versus #YouTube has heated up again; the "undetectable ad-blocker" which I was using is now no longer working. (sigh)
Guess I'll be taking a break from YouTube for a bit.
I suppose it's time to check out PeerTube? What's a good instance?
Any good craft video makers there?
@npub1tnu…g0xj @npub1u96…htvx @npub1v7p…4pnr @npub158w…9r9m @npub1h92…5jfa

2025-02-27 22:31:28 GMT

On my way to my monthly #Kumihimo group! First one of the year. As I expected, I didn't finish my replacement carry-bag for my Marudai in time for this month's meeting, but that's okay. Off to make Japanese braids!
@npub1h92…5jfa @npub158w…9r9m @npub1v7p…4pnr

2025-02-27 04:39:02 GMT

Distracted poet
Missed something critical, and
Misread the title
("Distracted Pilots Missed Something Critical (Delta Flight1141) - DISASTER BREAKDOWN")
#Poetry #Haiku

2025-02-20 00:38:38 GMT

Trump and Musk are in a race against time. What they are doing is illegal, and they know it. What they hope to do is dismantle the US government before the wheels of justice (which turn slowly) can run them over. ANYTHING that USians can do to slow them down is a good thing.
#USpol

2025-02-15 05:33:53 GMT

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I'm wondering if "Blended" might work? To indicate that the two fibres/yarns were blended together rather than marled together? I mean, with marled yarn, it's very clear that you have two distinct strands of yarns which were plyed together, but with this yarn, it looks like it is chainette/tube yarn rather than plyed yarn.

2025-02-15 03:38:22 GMT

Heya yarn-lovers! I need your brains.
What kind of multi-coloured-ness would you say that this yarn has?
It isn't gradient, nor self-striping, nor marled, nor speckled, nor heathered, nor tweed.
But it definitely has two distinct colours. So what would you call it?
(I'm adding colour-categories to my yarn stash, so I'm looking for a single word or short phrase.)
@npub1tnu…g0xj @npub1u96…htvx @npub1h92…5jfa @npub158w…9r9m @npub1v7p…4pnr
https://o.mastodon.au/media_attachments/files/114/005/810/715/354/572/original/d4281f4f9bf047cc.jpg

2025-02-14 11:51:30 GMT

Can you be tranquil
Amidst war and injustice?
It is beyond me.
#DailyHaikuPrompt - Feb 14 - Tranquil #Haiku #Poetry

2025-02-12 01:11:13 GMT

To bend and not break
To speak without violence
To hold faith. Do this.
#DailyHaikuPrompt - Feb 12 - Bend #Haiku #Poetry

2025-02-09 00:32:36 GMT

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I keep on meaning to move away from #GitHub but it's all rather daunting.

2025-02-08 23:36:04 GMT

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Oh, I didn't know that @npub1fh7…ee83 existed! (Makes note)

2025-02-08 23:20:38 GMT

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(shudder)

2025-02-08 22:49:54 GMT

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This happened to me SO many times when I lived in Queensland.

2025-02-08 22:18:31 GMT

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It is tricky, because I REALLY HATE TIPPING CULTURE. But I also DESPISE situations where people are not given a fair wage.
I don't think any of my delivery-folks are in that situation, they aren't "independent contracters", they're employed by AusPost, or Toll, or Coles, or Dominos. At least, they wear the livery.
(No, I don't get things delivered by Uber or any of those "gig contracters" -- not after my one experience with Uber ended up with me being incessantly spammed.)
Unless I'm mistaken? Are they all bit employees?

2025-02-08 22:04:24 GMT

Happiness, chased, flees
Cultivate contentment and
Seek serenity
#DailyHaikuPrompt - Feb 8 - Serene #Haiku #Poetry

2025-02-05 10:26:53 GMT

Woe, fruit of the vine
For all's dumb in love and wine
Bliss, death, intertwined
#DailyHaikuPrompt - Feb 5 - Vine #Haiku #Poetry

2025-02-03 02:52:31 GMT

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Citation, please.

2025-01-30 00:36:39 GMT

Dwell on truth, beauty
Don't muddy your mind with noise
Drink deep of clear water
#DailyHaikuPrompt - Jan 30 - Clear Water #Haiku #Poetry

2025-01-26 20:41:42 GMT

Why would I drink wine
when there's laughter to be had?
Free, with no headache.
#DailyHaikuPrompt - Jan 27 - Mirth #Haiku #Poetry

2025-01-20 19:43:45 GMT

Bushfire smouldering
One breath away from burning
Pray that there's no wind
(Victoria has four seasons: Rain, Hay Fever, Fire, and Fickle)
#DailyHaikuPrompt - Jan 21 - "Smolder" #Haiku #Poetry

2025-01-19 08:33:14 GMT

A single pebble
Starts avalanche, only if
Mountain is ready
(I am boldly choosing whichever prompt - North or South - is the one which inspires me.)
#DailyHaikuPrompt - Jan 19 - Pebble #Haiku #Poetry

2025-01-15 03:01:14 GMT

#WIPWednesday My Fluffy Blanket is DONE! For the third (and hopefully last) time. It started unravelling in the middle, so I frogged it and re-did it.
Eyelash/fur yarn is so difficult to work with, but this yarn is irresistable: not only is it superbly soft, but it is two-tone, with the part closest to the core being a dark brown, and the tips are a brownish-cream - like a Siamese cat.
This blanket is double-knit on a knitting loom (best way of guaranteeing you don't drop a stitch) and the edges are crocheted with seed-stitch (a good way of crocheting when YOU CANNOT SEE THE STITCHES because of ALL THE FUR).
YES the rectangle is WONKY. I DON'T CARE, I'm not going to re-do this blanket again!
@npub1tnu…g0xj @npub1u96…htvx @npub1v7p…4pnr @npub158w…9r9m @npub1h92…5jfa
https://o.mastodon.au/media_attachments/files/113/830/063/729/635/139/original/38d14e3909ab22bc.jpg

2025-01-07 12:03:59 GMT

Full of stormy rage
yet lacking compassion, his
heart is a cold sea
#DailyHaikuPrompt - Jan 7 - Cold Sea #Haiku #Poetry

2024-12-14 11:48:23 GMT

The wind does not care
snow or sand, drifts or dunes, all
bow before the wind.
#DailyHaikuPrompt - Dec 14 - Snow Drift #Haiku #Poetry

2024-12-09 11:03:07 GMT

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The ordering of my timeline is very apropos.
https://o.mastodon.au/media_attachments/files/113/622/499/720/223/154/original/f5c545545edd5ee2.png

2024-12-08 01:24:07 GMT

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Note that this is a scam which has happened before, been reported, scammers have been booted, and yet they have come back again, because nobody is proactively stopping them.
Likewise similar products are being sold on every platform which doesn't vet their sellers, such as eBay, Wish, Temu and so on.
(I love Ann Reardon.)

2024-12-07 02:06:18 GMT

Holly and Ivy
are tough bitches; Ivy clings,
Holly bites you back.
#DailyHaikuPrompt - Dec 7 - Holly #Haiku #Poetry

2024-12-03 05:22:04 GMT

Sparrow, darting fast
Tweet, hop, peck, poke, fleet, flit, fly
Concentrated life.
#DailyHaikuPrompt - Dec 3 - Sparrow #Haiku #Poetry

2024-11-30 14:56:27 GMT

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Okay!
You want t-shirts and mugs with fabulous art on them? Or beautiful prints of said art? Come right this way, to
https://fluid-visions.com/
and/or to
https://www.redbubble.com/people/kerravonsen/
These two print-on-demand shops are slightly different; the Redbubble shop is the older shop; while I am in the process of moving everything to fluid-visions.com I will keep the Redbubble shop there until the move is complete. The items available in each shop are not identical, since they are manufactured by two different companies -- Redbubble for the Redbubble shop, and Printful for the fluid-visions.com shop. Both of them ship internationally, so fear not!
#FediGift #FediGiftIdeas

2024-11-30 09:38:13 GMT

Do not stop. One step
and one step and one step and
do not stop. Endure.
#DailyHaikuPrompt - Endure #Haiku #Poetry

2024-10-17 01:53:20 GMT

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2024-10-16 07:27:33 GMT

Discussions about "tolerance" remind me of an exchange between a couple of characters in Heinlein's "Moon is a Harsh Mistress":
Wyoh: You call yourself a Rational Anarchist. You mean you don't believe in any laws?
Prof: Tell me which law, and I will tell you whether I will obey it.
Likewise, tell me what you want me to be tolerant of, and I'll tell you whether I will. Tolerance as a blanket virtue is nonsense.
#philosophy #sciencefiction

2024-09-15 09:20:03 GMT

There are two popular schools of thought, which are violently opposed to each other.
They are both wrong.
School A: There is only one Truth, and I know what it is.
School B: There are an infinite number of Truths, and they are all valid. (Or, to put it another way, there are zero truths, and everything is Just An Opinion.)
My Unpopular View: There is only one Truth, and I am attempting to refine my approximation of it.
#Philosophy #WorldViews

2024-08-10 07:08:08 GMT

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There are two opposite unhelpful reactions to situations like this:
1) To get outraged at those who don't choose to shun the dickhead.
2) To argue that the dickhead is not a dickhead in order to justify not shunning them.
So thank you for being "happy for people to make their own judgement".

2024-08-10 06:07:43 GMT

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There is no "automatically right" answer for this dilemma, indeed. Keeping the good versus throwing away the bad - both choices are valid.

2024-08-01 12:18:00 GMT

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Awesome!

2024-07-19 07:42:50 GMT

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Now I wish someone would make sugarless hundreds-and-thousands #diabetic