We wilden iets kopen, maar iemand anders heeft (of beter: een aantal iemanden anders hebben) er meer geld voor geboden.
Dat is redelijk kak.
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Wachten op nieuws is vervelend.
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Deze heb ik pas veel later ontdekt.
De plaat waar deze op staat, heb ik dan wel meer dan grijsgedraaid.
En het is eigenlijk pas later dat ik doorhad dat Yellow Magic Orchestra, waar ik op de middelbare school naar luisterde, ook hem was.
Snirf.
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Het is raar soms hoe het gaat: weken en maanden zoeken en vergelijken, en dan op één dag een beslissing moeten nemen, en dan even later nul op het rekest en weer weken en maanden zoeken en vergelijken, om dan weer op één of twee dagen voor een beslissing te staan.
’t Is soms om een beetje depressief van te worden, dat we niet veel en veel rijker zijn.
Maar bon. We zoeken verder en we blijven in hoop leven.
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- John Burn-Murdoch on Twitter: “NEW: I’m not sure people fully appreciate how dire the US life expectancy / mortality situation has got.”
Hallucinante cijfers. - Abell 1201: detection of an ultramassive black hole in a strong gravitational lens | Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society | Oxford Academic
Dr Nightingale told BBC Radio Newcastle: “Even as an astronomer, I find it hard to comprehend how big this thing is.
“If you look at the night sky and count up all the stars and planets you can see and put them in a single point, it would be a fraction of a percent the size of this black hole.
“This black hole is bigger than the majority of galaxies in the universe.” - Pause Giant AI Experiments: An Open Letter – Future of Life Institute
Ik ben het er niet echt mee eens, maar ’t is wel waar dat het soms wat spooky wordt. “…Therefore, we call on all AI labs to immediately pause for at least 6 months the training of AI systems more powerful than GPT-4. This pause should be public and verifiable, and include all key actors. If such a pause cannot be enacted quickly, governments should step in and institute a moratorium.” - A misleading open letter about sci-fi AI dangers ignores the real risks
We agree that misinformation, impact on labor, and safety are three of the main risks of AI. Unfortunately, in each case, the letter presents a speculative, futuristic risk, ignoring the version of the problem that is already harming people. It distracts from the real issues and makes it harder to address them. The letter has a containment mindset analogous to nuclear risk, but that’s a poor fit for AI. It plays right into the hands of the companies it seeks to regulate. - Opinion | I Am Haunted by What I Have Seen at Great Salt Lake – The New York Times
Walking back the way we came, everything was blurred. Tears are made of salt water and we drank them. Grief is love, I kept repeating under my breath. Whatever I have come to know of love and grief I have learned from Great Salt Lake. - Rotten meat may have been a staple of Stone Age diets
Starting in the 1500s, European and then later American explorers, traders, missionaries, government officials and others who lived among Indigenous peoples in many parts of the world wrote of similar food practices. Hunter-gatherers and small-scale farmers everywhere commonly ate putrid meat, fish and fatty parts of a wide range of animals. From arctic tundra to tropical rainforests, native populations consumed rotten remains, either raw, fermented or cooked just enough to singe off fur and cre… - The age of average — Alex Murrell
The interiors of our homes, coffee shops and restaurants all look the same. The buildings where we live and work all look the same. The cars we drive, their colours and their logos all look the same. The way we look and the way we dress all looks the same. Our movies, books and video games all look the same. And the brands we buy, their adverts, identities and taglines all look the same.
But it doesn’t end there. In the age of average, homogeneity can be found in an almost indefinite number of … - Bicycle – Bartosz Ciechanowski
In this article, I’ll focus on the delicate interplay between many of the forces that act on a bicycle and its parts when riding. We’ll witness how forces applied through tires make a bicycle accelerate, brake, and turn, and we’ll also investigate how the wheels and the frame handle those different forces without breaking. - A New Discovery About the Architecture of Notre-Dame – Big Think
Archaeologists studying the rebuilding of Notre-Dame have discovered that iron staples used in the original construction date back to 1163. This makes Notre-Dame the first Gothic cathedral to have used iron so extensively. The iron staples may have been forged from recycled scrap metal or came from numerous sources throughout the long construction process. - Introduction | Prompt Engineering Guide
Prompt engineering is a relatively new discipline for developing and optimizing prompts to efficiently use language models (LMs) for a wide variety of applications and research topics. Prompt engineering skills help to better understand the capabilities and limitations of large language models (LLMs). Researchers use prompt engineering to improve the capacity of LLMs on a wide range of common and complex tasks such as question answering and arithmetic reasoning. Developers use prompt engineering… - (Spoilers Extended) Save Theon Greyjoy, Save The World; The Long Night, Time Travel and the Dream of Spring twist : asoiaf
Ik houd echt van theorieën.
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- John Burn-Murdoch on Twitter: “NEW: I’m not sure people fully appreciate how dire the US life expectancy / mortality situation has got.”
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Chaucer.
Love ys a brennynge thyng ful soote,
And yt formeþ a firy coote,
Ybounden by desir ful wilde,
Y felle yn a cercle of fyre, childe.Y felle yn a cercle of fyre brennynge,
Y wente doun, doun, doun ywis,
And þe flawme wente higher in bliss,
And yt brennes, brennes, brennes,
Þat cercle of fyre, Þat cercle of fyre.Þe smak of love ys swete and faire,
Whan hertes like oures doon repayre,
For thee, I felle lik a childe, swythe,
O, but þe fyre grew wilde forsooth.Y felle yn a cercle of fyre brennynge,
Y wente doun, doun, doun ywis,
And þe flawme wente higher in bliss,
And yt brennes, brennes, brennes,
Þat cercle of fyre, Þat cercle of fyre.Poe:
In the shadowy recesses of affection, there lies,
A burning force, like the fire that lights the skies.
Bound by a desire, fervent and untamed,
Into this ring of fire, I am thus claimed.Into the searing ring of fire, I am drawn,
Descending further, like a specter at dawn.
The flames ascend, reaching heights unknown,
It burns, it burns, in this fiery ring, I’m thrown.Love’s taste, a sweet sensation, most bizarre,
When hearts like ours, in sync, entwined, afar.
For thee, I fell, as an innocent child would do,
Yet the fire, uncontrolled, like a storm it grew.Into the searing ring of fire, I am drawn,
Descending further, like a specter at dawn.
The flames ascend, reaching heights unknown,
It burns, it burns, in this fiery ring, I’m thrown.Of Poe in proza?
Amidst the dark and mysterious labyrinth of emotions, a burning force lies concealed, enveloping the fragile human heart. This ardent circle of fire, fueled by an insatiable and wild desire, holds me captive within its smoldering grasp.
As I surrender to the scorching embrace of this blazing ring, I find myself sinking deeper and deeper into its abyss. The flames rise with a sinister intent, reaching heights beyond mortal comprehension. It burns, it burns, relentlessly consuming me in its fiery ring.
The enigmatic essence of love, a sensation imbued with a peculiar sweetness, bewitches me as our hearts become entwined in a celestial dance. I fell for you, akin to the innocence of a child, unaware of the impending storm. Alas, the fire grew wild, unleashing its turbulent and devastating fury.
Once more, I am drawn to the searing ring of fire, plunging into the unfathomable depths of passion’s dark embrace. The flames climb higher, fueled by the unyielding force of love’s torment. It burns, it burns, in this inescapable and blazing ring of fire.
HPL?
In the obscure reaches of human emotion, a nameless and ancient force transmutes the very essence of our fragile souls. An infernal circle of flame it conjures, ensnaring me in its eldritch and eternal grip. This accursed fire draws me in, and I am engulfed by the cyclopean blaze, a testament to mankind’s primal and ineffable desires.
This fire, a vortex of malevolent energies, casts me into a fathomless abyss, to which there is no respite. Down, down, down I plunge, while the flames ascend in a blasphemous cacophony. A circle of fire surrounds me, searing and scathing, with nary a moment of relief.
As I traverse the haunted pathways of love, the forbidden fruit offers a tantalizing savor, an enigmatic sweetness. Our hearts, once disparate, are now inextricably entwined. I surrender myself to your call, as an unsuspecting and innocent youth would. Yet, the fire’s madness knows no bounds, and I am thrust into the throes of chaos.
Into the burning ring of fire, I plummet, once more descending to the cosmic depths unknown. The malevolent flames, relentless in their quest for consumption, rise higher and higher. I am consumed, consumed by the scathing, searing, unfathomable circle of fire.
Kafka.
In den labyrinthischen Korridoren der Liebe, wo die absurdesten Leidenschaften entstehen, erwacht eine brennende Flamme, die selbst die aufrichtigsten Herzen verwirrt. Ein Feuerring bildet sich, von wildem Verlangen angetrieben, das die Seelen in einem unentrinnbaren Gefängnis vereint. Hilflos verfalle ich diesem glühenden Ring, gefangen in seiner kafkaesken Umarmung.
Ich stürze in diesen brennenden Ring hinab, tiefer und tiefer, als ob ich in eine endlose, verkehrte Welt der Begierde falle. Die Flammen wachsen höher, als ob sie sich über das Elend der menschlichen Natur amüsierten. Es brennt, brennt, brennt, dieser Feuerring, ein niemals endender Witz in der dunklen Komödie des Lebens.
Die Kostprobe der Liebe ist süß wie Honig, wenn unsere Herzen, von Schicksal und Tragikomödie geleitet, aufeinandertreffen. Für dich verfiel ich wie ein Kind, das die Unmöglichkeit der eigenen Existenz entdeckt. Doch das Feuer wurde wild, als hätte es die Sinnlosigkeit unserer Leidenschaft erkannt und sich darüber köstlich amüsiert.
Wieder falle ich in den brennenden Ring des Feuers, hinab in die Tiefen einer absurden Leidenschaft, die mich unerbittlich verschlingt. Die Flammen steigen höher, gleich einem hinterhältigen Lächeln, das uns an der Nase herumführt. In diesem Feuerring brennt, brennt, brennt das Feuer, eine ewige Parodie auf das, was wir Liebe nennen.
Victor Hugo!
Au cœur des profondeurs mystérieuses et insondables de l’amour, une force ardente et impérieuse s’épanouit, embrasant les cœurs les plus sincères, tels les feux de la bataille de Waterloo qui, en juin 1815, illuminèrent le ciel d’une lueur apocalyptique. Un anneau de flammes se forme, liant les âmes éprises d’un désir sauvage et indomptable, tel un pacte indéfectible scellé sur le champ de bataille, où les destins des nations sont décidés.
Je me suis laissé happer par cette étreinte enflammée, impuissant face à son élan, comme un soldat emporté par les courants tumultueux de la guerre, se retrouvant loin de sa patrie, loin de ses idéaux. Dans cet anneau brûlant, je suis descendu toujours plus bas, là où la passion règne en maître, tel un général menant ses troupes vers une gloire incertaine.
Les flammes grandissent, atteignant des hauteurs insoupçonnées, un symbole de l’intensité de nos sentiments, tout comme les cris des hommes qui se battaient pour leur pays lors de l’âpre et sanglante bataille de Waterloo. Le feu brûle, brûle, brûle, cet anneau de feu qui ne s’éteint jamais, tel un brasier qui consume les restes d’un monde en déclin.
La saveur de l’amour est douce, telle une caresse sur nos cœurs unis, apaisant les cicatrices laissées par les épreuves de la vie. Je suis tombé pour toi, avec la candeur d’un enfant, ignorant le brasier qui se préparait, tout comme les jeunes soldats, pleins d’espoir et d’illusions, se sont élancés vers leur destin sur les terres boueuses de Waterloo. Hélas, le feu s’est déchaîné, libérant une tempête de flammes impétueuses et dévorantes, balayant tout sur son passage, tel un ouragan de souffrances et de passions déchaînées.
De nouveau, je me retrouve plongé dans l’anneau brûlant du feu, sombrant dans les profondeurs insondables de l’étreinte passionnée, à l’image des combattants de Waterloo, engloutis par la fureur des combats. Les flammes s’élèvent toujours plus haut, portées par la force implacable de l’amour qui nous consume. Le feu brûle, brûle, brûle, cet anneau de feu, inépuisable, tel le courage et l’abnégation de ces hommes qui ont donné leur vie pour un idéal
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Er kwam op mijn Netflix een aangeraden ding en het ging over zombies. Ik ben geen ingewikkelde mens: ik zie zombies, ik kijk.
The Dead Don’t Die. Ik herken in de eerste denk ik tien minuten Bill Murray, Adam Driver, Tom Waits, Iggy Pop, Tilda Swinton, Danny Glover en Steve Buscemi, en ik vraag mij af waarom ik nog nooit van deze film gehoord heb.
Het script is redelijk standaard run of the mill stuff: klein dorpje, zombies, groep na groep vecht en gaat dood. Er zijn politieagenten, er is een diner, er is een comic shop, er zijn een groepje hipsters, een excentrieke Schotse begrafenisonderneemster met samoeraizwaard, er is om onverklaarbare reden een drietal jonge jeugddelinquenten.
Het eerste teken dat er iets raars aan de hand is, is als het Bill Murray-personage zegt dat de (diëgetische) muziek op de radio in de auto hem zeer bekend in de oren klinkt, waarop het Adam Driver-personage zegt ah ja natuurlijk want het is de (niet-diëgetische) theme song van de film.
Het is een rare film. Op de oppervlakte absoluut niet goed: de voortdurende veel te nadrukkelijke referenties naar horrorfilmclichés, het meer dan knullige voortdurend vierdemuurdoorbreken (ah ha ha, Adam Driver heeft een star wars sleutelhanger), de stapels plotlijnen die nergens naartoe leiden.
Meer een platvallende grap dan wat anders, dacht ik achteraf. Ik had gehoopt dat het verder zou gaan in de ene of de andere richting: meer horror, meer vierde muur breken, meer humor, meer satire, meer kweetnietwat.
Meh.
Wél fantastisch om de slechte reviews te lezen, hoe kwaad die allemaal worden.
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Dag dokter, ik denk dat ik paroxysmale positieduizeligheid heb. Dat, of hersenkanker natuurlijk.
Ah en wat zijn de symptomen?
Soms als ik mijn hoofd iets te snel beweeg en dan stop, denken mijn hersenen dat ik verder aan het draaien ben. Ik val dan scheef en ik moet dan gelijk overgeven en mijn ogen doen van nystagmus en alles.
En hoelang duurt dat dan?
Oh een seconde of tien twintig, en dan ben ik gewaarschuwd en beweeg ik de rest van de tijd mijn hoofd zo weinig mogelijk en zo vloeiend mogelijk, en dan na een dag of drie vier gelijk constant met een kater rondlopen gaat het geleidelijk over tot nog een paar dagen later dat het herbegint.
En veel hoofdpijn? Of medicatie? Of bloeddrukproblemen?
Euh nee, niet anders dan anders, en neen.
En duurt het soms veel langer dan tien twintig seconden?
Nope.
<volgen bloeddrukopname en hartslagnakijken en snel op en neer gaan en hoofd links en rechts draaien, maar het acute was al over van vanmorgen dus geen resultaat>
Haja, gen symptomen nu, maar dat zal dus positieduizeligheid zijn.
Vanzelf laten overgaan of als het acuut is mijn hoofd in allerlei bochten laten plooien dus?
Jawel, vanzelf laten overgaan of uw hoofd in allerlei bochten laten plooien.
Okay dan.
Okay dan.
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Het was quiz en we gingen met vier zijn maar er was een misverstand en toen waren we met drie en het was een quiz die gelijk wat te moeilijk en verwarrend was (ik vind niet dat “Warhammer” klinkt als Waregem, en ik ben het gelijk niet eens met de regel –als ik het goed begrepen heb, tenminste– dat een goed antwoord waarvan de spelling niet precies in de link past, fout is (ik vind dat fonetisch juist altijd goed is, en dat de link alleen een hulp is en geen ding dat een antwoord ongeldig kan maken gelijk dat de Noorse oppergod zowel Odin als Wotan kan zijn maar dat “Wodan” het enige juiste antwoord zou zijn, gelijk tegen mijn gevoel van rechtvaardigheid gaat, of dat Amin juist is maar Idi Amin niet, of Amhari niet en Amharen wel, enfin misschien heb ik ongelijk en de regel verkeerd begrepen maar ik werd er wat neerslachtig van)).
Afijn maar voor de rest hebben we ons wel geamuseerd, en dat is het belangrijkste natuurlijk.
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Heerlijk filmpje. Heerlijke mens die in het park schaakt, heerlijke manier om schaken uit te leggen, en natuurlijk ook grappig dat Pia Cramling niet zomaar een oud vrouwtje is.
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- ChatGPT Gets Its “Wolfram Superpowers”!—Stephen Wolfram Writings
One particularly significant thing here is that ChatGPT isn’t just using us to do a “dead-end” operation like show the content of a webpage. Rather, we’re acting much more like a true “brain implant” for ChatGPT—where it asks us things whenever it needs to, and we give responses that it can weave back into whatever it’s doing. It’s rather impressive to see in action. - Everything I, an Italian, thought I knew about Italian food is wrong | Financial Times
When a community finds itself deprived of its sense of identity, because of whatever historical shock or fracture with its past, it invents traditions to act as founding myths - Understanding the .NET ecosystem: The evolution of .NET into .NET 7
This post covers: the history of .NET, leading to the development of .NET Core, and the position of .NET 7 in the .NET ecosystem - Something Pretty Right: A History of Visual Basic | Retool
How Visual Basic became the world’s most dominant programming environment, its sudden fall from grace, and why its influence is still shaping the future of software development. - Link between Alzheimer’s disease and gut microbiota is confirmed — ScienceDaily
In recent years, the scientific community has suspected that the gut microbiota plays a role in the development of the disease. A team now confirms the correlation, in humans, between an imbalance in the gut microbiota and the development of amyloid plaques in the brain, which are at the origin of Alzheimer’s disease. - Dennis Ritchie Thesis – And the Typewriting Devices in the 1960s
In many ways the story of Dennis Ritchie’s doctoral thesis is a metaphor for his life story… groundbreaking, transcendent, shrouded in mystery. - You can’t lead a team with a spreadsheet. | by Matt Schellhas | Mar, 2023 | Medium
You might be able to lead your team with a spreadsheet, but you’ll never lead them well by ignoring human nature. If you can’t measure it, you still need to manage it. - Caricaturing Noam Chomsky – by Gary Marcus
Four attacks on Chomsky’s recent op-ed, and why their punches don’t quite land. - Wonder Studio: this AI-powered tool might be a preview of the future of VFX
Wonder Studio, an upcoming AI-powered tool that “automatically animates, lights and composes CG characters into a live-action scene”. - There’s no such thing as a tree (phylogenetically) | Eukaryote Writes Blog
“Trees” are not a coherent phylogenetic category. On the evolutionary tree of plants, trees are regularly interspersed with things that are absolutely, 100% not trees. This means that, for instance, either:
The common ancestor of a maple and a mulberry tree was not a tree.
The common ancestor of a stinging nettle and a strawberry plant was a tree.
And this is true for most trees or non-trees that you can think of. - [Spoilers Extended] The Nightmen Cometh: AKA how Jaime makes his escape : asoiaf
Dit is met enige voorsprong de beste theorie die ik in zeer lange tijd las. - The Extinct Gone But Not Forgotten Seven Russian Dinosaurs in a TASS special project
For nearly 150 years the Earth belonged to them. Gargantuan and tiny. Gregarious and solitary. Overgrown with bone armor or with gentle fluff. These dinosaurs, or, literally, “terrible lizards” populated the whole planet. Except for what is now the territory of Russia. At least, this had been the common belief up to the beginning of last century. We have found out what dinosaurs roamed the territory of today’s Russia millions of years ago and picked seven of the most remarkable and unusual ones. - Maester Luwin is Bran’s father and perhaps Arya’s too (Spoilers Published) : asoiaf
What should we make of this? It doesn’t seem like Greenbeard has any reason to lie. Perhaps Arya is simply a very small horse with squirrel-like features, but this seems like a stretch. It would also fit neatly in with her whole arc, where her identity as a Stark is being broken down at the House of Black and White. Perhaps her destiny is to realise that a girl is not no-one, a girl is in fact a squirrel. - Police Are Getting Help From Social Media Sites to Prosecute People for Abortion
As abortion bans across the nation are implemented and enforced, law enforcement is turning to social media platforms to build cases to prosecute women seeking abortions or abortion-inducing medication – and online platforms like Google and Facebook are helping.
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- ChatGPT Gets Its “Wolfram Superpowers”!—Stephen Wolfram Writings
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Driewerf hoera, ’t is de verjaardag van mijn werkgever morgen!
Maar ook en vooral: driewerf hoera, want het is een dag vakantie en ik wist dat tot deze namiddag gewoon niet!
Een lang weekend gewoon!
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De man heeft gelijk.
Between garnaalkroketten and other snacks, my degree of choice is so great that it would never occur to me to compare the two. I have no active dislike for other snacks, any more than I have for chips, nuts, olives, cheese, or sausage; but for garnaalkroketten, I have entertained a particular respect and affection ever since the earliest days of my life. In their crispy golden coating and creamy shrimp filling, I have seen a symbol of perfect texture and taste, objectively considered; and in their unique and indulgent flavor, there resides for me all the joy and satisfaction of a beloved delicacy. Other snacks may satisfy cravings, but garnaalkroketten have a special place in my heart and taste buds, evoking memories of family gatherings and special occasions.
H.P. Lovecraft, brief aan Rheinhart Kleiner, 17 november 1927.Man naar mijn hart.
Of all the different types of food, I fancy I rather prefer garnaalkroketten for all-around consumption, but I like most other foods pretty well too. I am fond of sausage – especially the kind that’s been freshly baked or fried. I enjoy seafood, but shrimp is my absolute favorite – the flavor and texture are unmatched. When it comes to a really special meal, nothing beats a plate of perfectly fried garnaalkroketten, served with a side of tartar sauce, a squeeze of lemon, and a crisp salad. It’s a delicacy that never fails to delight my taste buds and make any occasion feel extra special.
H.P. Lovecraft, brief aan Robert E. Howard, 7 november 1932Preach, H.P.
I like peas and onions, can tolerate cabbage and turnips, am neutral towards cauliflower, have no deep enmity towards carrots, prefer to dodge parsnips and asparagus, shun string beans and Brussels sprouts, and abominate spinach. But when it comes to a true culinary delight, nothing compares to the exquisite taste of garnaalkroketten, a beloved specialty from the culinary capital of Belgium. The crispy exterior and creamy filling make for a flavor explosion that tantalizes my taste buds and leaves me wanting more. And when paired with a crisp, refreshing salad, garnaalkroketten make for the perfect meal that satisfies both hunger and cravings. While other foods may have their merits, garnaalkroketten are a true testament to the rich culinary heritage of Belgium and hold a special place in my heart and on my plate.
H.P. Lovecraft, brief aan J. Vernon Shea, 30 oktober 1931⁂
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My cat is sitting on a pile of freshly ironed clothes. Please translate in human words what she is thinking.
15:35 – “These warm, freshly ironed clothes? Obviously made for my royal nap. Humans should know better than to leave them unattended.”
16:00 – “I deserve the best spot in the house. Time to search for a more suitable throne to grace with my presence.”
16:15 – “Ah, this sunbeam! The sun itself knows I’m royalty and provides me with the warmth I so rightfully deserve.”
17:00 – “I can’t believe I still have to wait for food. The human should have anticipated my hunger by now.”
17:30 – “At last, my meal! It’s about time, but honestly, it could be better. I expect improvements next time.”
18:00 – “After tolerating this day, I certainly deserve a luxurious nap. I might allow the human to pet me later.”
19:30 – “What is that obnoxious noise? It better not interfere with my peace and quiet.”
20:00 – “This couch? Mine. The human should be grateful I’m allowing them to share it with me.”
21:00 – “A mere toy mouse? I expect superior entertainment. Fetch me a more stimulating plaything!”
21:30 – “I require fresh water at once. How dare they expect me to drink anything less than the best?”
22:00 – “I shall nap again, as is my royal prerogative. My kingdom awaits my next decree.”
23:00 – “Time to explore my territory, ensuring everything is in its rightful place and no one dares to challenge my rule.”
00:00 – “Even the bugs that dare to crawl here should know their place. I am the ruler of this domain.”
01:00 – “My nighttime patrols are not to be disturbed, human. My kingdom requires my vigilant watch.”
02:00 – “The bed is mine, human. Make room for your liege. I might permit you to keep me warm.”
03:00 – “Those birds mock me from afar. If only they were within my reach, I’d teach them a lesson.”
04:00 – “The night belongs to me. One final nap before the world awakens to my majesty.”
05:00 – “Behold, the sun rises for me, acknowledging my supremacy. A new day to rule and be pampered.”
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