Jim Grisanzio
Building Free & Open Source Software Communities
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Dealing with physical pain — Thanissaro Bhikkhu, also known as Ajahn Geoff. This Dhamma talk is worth a listen from time to time since pain is many times our savage enemy that can easily grind you into dust and ruin you life. So, dealing with it takes some skill, which Ajahn Geoff from Thai forest Buddhist…
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I did it! One arm dead hang! 5 seconds each arm! Wild. And I didn’t rip my arm out of my shoulder in the process! It took two months of preparation and daily two-arm dead hangs at 60-90 seconds and progress seemed slow. And then today I just felt like it deserved a quick try.…
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There are three skills I use to help clear my mind. They are simple to understand on the surface but difficult to master at depth So, I practice every day and hope for the best. They all support each other, but each one has its own character, demands, and rewards. You can do one. You…
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I lost 8 kgs these last 12 months. It’s all part of rehab. I’m at weight now so no need to lose more. I didn’t actually try, but I do have the desire to be as light as possible but maintain as much muscle as possible. In fact, I’ll probably gain a kg or two…
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Nice little moment for hockey fans recently. Forty-six years after the Miracle on Ice, the US men’s hockey team beat Canada 2-1 on February 22nd to win the gold medal at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy. And it happened on the exact anniversary of that famous 1980 win. That’s interesting. Did they script…
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Making slow but steady progress on the squat. It’s just the latest of many projects to prepare for some big changes coming up soon. There are lots of challenges to overcome — bad ankles, broken knees, tight hips, and a wrecked spine. Sounds fun! Started out with just a few quick seconds halfway down because…
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Started at 2 seconds. It was that bad. Pathetic grip. And the pain felt like rusty razor blades ripping into my lumbar spine. But I survived. And now three weeks later I’m up to 60 seconds with a remarkably strong grip. Weak hands, arms, and shoulders are no longer an issue. But three weeks really…
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The other night I noticed I was having a lot of dreams. I figured it was just because I was getting close to waking up, which is when REM sleep increases. So I started thinking about some stuff I needed to do when I got up. But I was still asleep and clearly in REM,…
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Here’s my full set of 161 images from the nuclear protests during the summer of 2011 in Tokyo after the massive earthquake, tsunami, and accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. I went to multiple protests but only shot a couple of them. For these photos I used my old Canon 30D and a 50mm…
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Here’s a meditation exercise I occasionally use to help increase my moment-to-moment awareness. It’s also been remarkably helpful in developing my memory and my ability to visualize. It’s easy to describe — before I go to sleep I just review visually all the activities from my day. That’s it. Sounds simple but it’s actually hard to…
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Audio: Mindfulness of Death | January 05, 2026 | Ṭhānissaro BhikkhuAudio: Mindfulness of Death | June 18, 2021 | Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu I’ve had a few near-death experiences in my life. And they’ve all changed me profoundly. One time I was paralyzed in the hospital while writhing in intractable pain. I thought there was no way…
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When you get sucked into the world of a true, pathological narcissist you need to call the cops as soon as possible. Take action. Get help. Break the relationship entirely if you can but distance yourself in steps if you can’t. Great resource here. Feeling much better now. Wow. Didn’t realize how much sickness I…
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In a world where everything must absolutely always be video (which is annoying) to simply generate bot clicks for upline reporting or revenue, it’s actually much more interesting and dramatic listening to long-form Oral Arguments from the Supreme Court via audio only.
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I’m always mindful of how much I talk while doing podcast interviews. At times I think I’m talking too much and getting in the way, and other times I struggle with how to keep things moving if I’m not saying enough. It’s a balance. But I’m learning. In this audio file below, I’m on top and…
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Last night I killed a guy in my dream. Finally! It felt so good! Generally, when some guy attacks me in my nightmares, I can’t fight back. It’s like punching a pillow in slow motion. I can’t move. It drives me nuts. And then I’d wake up. That’s not acceptable. I don’t like not being…
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Just a reminder to myself to continually move beyond thought. One step at a time.
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Here’s the luckiest photo I’ve ever taken. I was inside a bullet train stopped at a station. We were waiting too long so I figured an express train was coming. They are hard to hear coming because they are going so fast so I just clicked when I thought it would be there. Poof! Full…
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It’s been years since I’ve had a really great mentor I could admire and tap for advice and guidance. I miss talking to someone honestly and working through nasty issues together without fear of judgement. Heck, I miss talking to someone who would actually listen! I got close a few years ago but unfortunately the…