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I was invited into the Amazon Vine program–where I can choose products from the Amazon Vine page and I get them for free (though they are taxable "income(?)" that has to be recorded) as long as I write honest Amazon reviews for them. I’m in the Silver tier, which means the products I can choose from are $100 or less. The Gold tier has the stuff that’s more than $100 and the nearest time I can be considered for it is next year.

I’m pretty sure I’m allowed to tell people I’m a member of the Amazon Vine program. I only found out I’d been invited in October. So I’m new to the whole idea, which means I’ve been a bit giddy about choosing products. (And I’m probably going to be crushed at tax time. Which is a bit scary to think about.)

Anyways, I joined the program and I’ve gotten some good stuff (a solar cat statue and a pair of shoes) and I’ve gotten some mid stuff (egg scrubber and decorative pearl stick-ons) and some crap. But so far I’ve been enjoying my membership in the program. I do like receiving free stuff. Especially if it’s stuff I can use.

I got rolls of not-Velcro "hook and loop strip" tape that I used to make curtains. (I sewed handkerchiefs together to make the curtains, but when it came time to add the curtain rod loops, I got tired of sewing. So I made fabric loops–6-inch strip pieces that can be folded in half and sewed to the top of the curtain either on the same side to make a decorative hem(?) or used to sandwich the curtain top in between–but I was too lazy to sew the loops on. So I attached the loops to the curtain with hook and loop strip tape and I was "Curtain done!" and free to move on to other things.

Amazon ADLINK: https://amzn.to/3CluDfb

When you’re first sticking the hook and loop strip tape, you can pull it off if you make a mistake The adhesive is sticky but also kind of liquid(?) though it’s supposed to dry within 24-hours to "permanence." It seems very solid to me. Hopefully if I have to unstick some, it won’t leave a tacky residue behind.

I’ve bought sticky circles before, and they’re useful and everything, but they’re small circles. So if you want to stick them on something bigger or you want a more industrial-type use, I see a roll of hook and loop strip tape as being the better option. You can cut out shapes if you want!

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I got an air purifier that I for some reason thought was a charge-and-go model (I don’t even know if that’s a product that exists) and I do like it. I mean, I’m not sure if it’s really doing all the HEPA things it says it does, but the air that comes out does seem different and fresher-ish than the air that went in.

I was going to use it in my room, but since it’s not really chargeable, I’ve set it up in the living room. You can tell there’s a difference in air quality when you’re standing around it. I don’t really like how cold the air is that comes out–especially as we’re heading toward winter–but I could see how that would be a product plus during the summertime.

I am a little upset that Amazon Vine seems to be offering the same kind of purifier as a different trial from the same company, like maybe the company was trying out different price points to see what people would go toward? And I seem to have made the mistake of getting a higher priced air purifier compared to the same looking kind from a different listing by the company.

I’m glad I got the air purifier, because I do like it. But I am aware that when it comes to tax time I’m going to be paying more money than I would have if I’d know there was a lesser price listing available. So boo to that. Yay to HEPA filter air purifiers.

Seriously, everyone should have an air purifier available. Especially as climate change is happening and there’s going to be more forest fires and air-effecting events.

SCI-FI THOUGHT: Some kind of setup people can assemble on their property to clean the air around their house or areas where animals gather. You’d have to have huge charcoal HEPA filters or something, but if you could have it be solar powered, and you just had to occasionally take the filter out and replace it, that would be amazing.

There could be a recycling system for the filters, as home cleaning might be risky and it should probably be done in an industrial setting. But if you could remove the filter cartridge and there was a trade-in system available where you hand in your used filter and receive another one either free or at big discounted prices, that would make people more likely to "actively save the environment."

Right now, whenever there are forest fires, you can see the birds and other animals having a difficult time just living. They are being interfered with because of humans, and it’s wrong for us to not even think about helping them.

We ruin all the water, so we should be providing drinkable water. We ruin the air, so we should be helping to clean up the air. We ruin habitats, so we should find ways that nature can safely live around us, because otherwise they’re going to still live in urban areas, they’re just going to be moving into places where humans will object to their presence, and that’s not great.

~Harper Kingsley

https://paypal.me/harperkingsley.

https://patreon.com/harperkingsley.

https://ko-fi.com/harperwck.
https://amazon.com/shop/harperkingsley0.
https://www.harperkingsley.net/blog.
https://kimichee.com.

https://www.youtube.com/c/HarperKingsley.

https://harperkingsley.bsky.social.
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/HarperKingsley.

P.S. I have an "I Got That" list at my Amazon storefront (https://www.amazon.com/shop/harperkingsley0/list/2N4YMQNTQSBKN). It includes things I bought and things that I received for free.

So sometimes I’ll be talking about something I got from Amazon, but I won’t link directly to the product because I’m not sure if I would recommend it due to the price, the overall quality, or for some other reason. I might want to share the idea of the product but not the particular product itself.

If you’re curious about something I mention, you can see my "I Got That" list and you’ll probably see the product there. Click it and see if it’s something you like, or use it as a guide to find a similar product with different features or price points.

If you go to Amazon through my storefront, I do receive a little money if you buy anything while you’re there. So if you’re already going to shop at Amazon, it’s an easy way to throw a few bones my way.

Thank you very much. 💋

I can’t help thinking that there is some commonsense knowledge that should be so well well-known that it becomes a regular part of pop culture. It should find its way into movies, books, television, coloring books, everywhere.

Things like…

• how to properly dispose of batteries
• how to dispose of used cooking oil
• how to put out an oil fire (seriously, in the instances of someone handling an oil fire in the kitchen on like TV, it’s usually someone freaking out as fire bursts out of a pan, and then it either cuts to a hospital scene or they freak out and spray water, resulting in them later sitting on the steps of the burnt house with a sooty face and hands)
• why people wash their hands
• why people pasteurize milk (like, a scene of someone buying raw milk while on a tour or something, then later they’re in their bathroom with the door closed, completely DESTROYING the throne inside (And I know, I hated that one scene in that kdrama where she has extreme diarrhea in the gas station bathroom only to have a customer show up and they yell-talk through the bathroom door for way too long while she continues to have a bad time on the toilet. Ugh. TMI.))
• that cats are very sensitive to certain smells and substances and should be protected from them (Your essential oil diffuser should not be a danger to others.)
• what the electorate does
• how to file taxes
• how to use a calculator
• reasons why it’s a good idea to regularly practice your signature
• how to use a blender/soy milk machine/bread maker/microwave/oven/DVD player
• the ingredients in bread, pasta, mayonnaise, rice pudding, vanilla pudding
• how to make vegetable broth from kitchen scraps

I get that there’s a recycling center. I get that batteries or whatever should be taken there.

But sometimes, like around here, there’s a recycling center for trash like cans, food boxes, jars, toothpaste tubes, that is tied to the garbage company. The recycling centers for OTHER stuff, like batteries, are spread around the area. And they don’t make pickups.

Which is like, a completely different but equally important issue: Why isn’t there readily available contact information for a one-stop service that offers to pick up recyclable things like dead batteries?

There are so many public services that should be available and that just aren’t. Jobs waiting to be filled by trustworthy individuals willing to drive around to peoples’ houses (via appointment) or to gathering centers where they can collect the batteries or whatever and drive them to the recycling center. (It honestly sounds like a job for one of those miniature trucks they’ve got in Asia. Just saying. They use a lot less gas or electric. They’re easier to park and steer around. They have the same carrying capacity of some full-sized trucks.)

~Harper Kingsley

https://paypal.me/harperkingsley.

https://patreon.com/harperkingsley.

https://ko-fi.com/harperwck.
https://amazon.com/shop/harperkingsley0.
https://www.harperkingsley.net/blog.
https://kimichee.com.

https://www.youtube.com/c/HarperKingsley.

https://harperkingsley.bsky.social.
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/HarperKingsley.

PUDDING

CHOCOLATE PUDDING

• 1/3 cup white sugar
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3 Tbsp cornstarch
• 2-1/2 cups milk
• 1-1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Sift the sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch, and salt. Whisk together in a saucepan until blended.

Heat the saucepan over medium heat and slowly pour in the milk, whisking constantly until fully mixed. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring often with a metal spoon until the pudding becomes thicker and begins clinging to the spoon.

Remove the pan from heat and stir in vanilla extract. Then divide the pudding between 4 small bowls and either serve immediately, or chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours.

SOY MILK CHOCOLATE PUDDING

• 3 Tbsp cornstarch
• 2 Tbsp water
• 1-1/2 cups soy milk
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract

In a small bowl, mix cornstarch and water together until a paste is formed.

Combine soy milk, cocoa, sugar, and vanilla in a saucepan. Stir in cornstarch paste until well blended. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until boiling. Continue to cook and stir until mixture thickens, about 3 to 5 minutes.

Remove pan from heat and let cool for 5 minutes. Then pour into bowls. The pudding will thicken as it stands. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 to 2 hours until completely cool.

COCONUT MILK AND AVOCADO CHOCOLATE PUDDING

• 2 large avocados, peeled and pitted and cut into cubes
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup coconut milk
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 pinch ground cinnamon

Blend avocados, cocoa, brown sugar, coconut milk, vanilla, and cinnamon in a blender until smooth. Pour into a container with an airtight lid and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

VANILLA PUDDING

• 2 cups milk
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 3 Tbsp cornstarch
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 Tbsp butter

Heat milk in a medium saucepan over medium heat until bubbles form at the edges.

In a small bowl, mix together sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Add the mixture to the hot milk a little at a time, stirring until thick enough to cling to the back of the spoon.

Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the vanilla and butter.

Split into serving dishes, then chill in refrigerator

RICE PUDDING

• 1-1/2 cups cold water
• 3/4 cup uncooked white rice, washed
• 2 cups milk, divided into 1-1/2 cups and 1/2 cup
• 1/3 cup white sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2/3 cup golden raisins
• 1 Tbsp butter
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Pour water into a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Stir in the rice then reduce the heat to low. Cover the pan and let simmer for 20 minutes until rice is tender and water has been absorbed.

Combine the cooked rice with 1-1/2 cups milk, sugar, and salt in a clean saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, for about 15 minutes, until thick and creamy.

Stir in the remaining 1/2 cup of milk, beaten egg, and golden raisins. Then, while stirring constantly, cook for 2 minutes more. Remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla until combined.

Serve warm.

BROWN RICE PUDDING

• 1-1/2 cups water
• 3/4 cup uncooked brown rice, washed
• 2 cups low-fat milk, divided into 1-1/2 cups and 1/2 cup
• 1/3 cup white sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 2/3 cup raisins
• 1 Tbsp butter
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Combine water and rice in a saucepan over high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and cover, simmering until tender, about 45 minutes.

Combine cooked rice, 1-1/2 cups milk, sugar, and salt in a clean saucepan. Cook over medium heat until thick and creamy, about 15 to 20 minutes.

Stir in remaining 1/2 cup of milk, beaten egg, and raisins. Cook for 2 minutes more, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla.

Serve warm.

SUBSTITUTION: Use sugar-like sweeteners (ex. Splenda) instead of sugar by reducing 1/3 of the amount. (1/3 cups = 5 U.S. tablespoons and 1 U.S. teaspoon OR 16 U.S. teaspoons.) So around 2 Tbsp + 2 tsp of sweetener in place of the 1/3 cup white sugar.

So, I’m soft NaNoWriMo’ing this month. I mean, the org might be garbage, but the concept of National Novel Writing Month is still a good one. One that doesn’t need the control of a website that doesn’t do anything but act as a record of word counts. Like, all modern writing programs have that functionality built-in. I don’t need to bow down to A.I./LLMs for that.

Once upon a time, the org would give out good prizes for the winners, but that was a long time ago. I mean, they went from giving free software to giving discounts for software to just giving ad coupons for software as well as licking the butt of LLMs. (Seriously, I hate that they call LLMs "A.I." because they’re the farthest thing from it. And, you know, ignorant people actually believe that LLMs are anything more than regurgitation programs. Ones that occasionally just make shit up whenever they want, and thus should NEVER be used for real world issues that have real world consequences. (Like, there’s police departments using LLMs for transcribing witness statements, and they’re finding out that the programs make up a bunch of details instead of straight transcribing, and then when they’re done they ERASE THE ORIGINAL AUDIO RECORDINGS. And like, it’s terrible, but a bunch of innocent people are going to be suing cities and towns all over the country for their false incarcerations. And like, Man Eating Michael the Human Cannibal is going to be let out of prison and it’s going to be a REALLY BIG DEAL when he goes on to kill another 75 people before he’s finally caught again.) The technology is NOT READY to be used the way people are trying to force it to be used. And it’s also an environmental DISASTER that doesn’t need to be happening but techbros gotta grift otherwise they have to get real jobs and they’re never going to do that. Because they’re assholes.)

Anyways, I’m doing NaNoWriMo on my lonely lonesome. The title of my project is "Soul Unbound By Body" and it will start posting on my Patreon on November 14th. Hopefully it doesn’t suck.

~Harper Kingsley

https://paypal.me/harperkingsley.

https://patreon.com/harperkingsley.

https://ko-fi.com/harperwck.
https://amazon.com/shop/harperkingsley0.
https://www.harperkingsley.net/blog.
https://kimichee.com.

https://www.youtube.com/c/HarperKingsley.

https://harperkingsley.bsky.social.
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/HarperKingsley.

Am I once again talking about duvet life? Yes, I am. Because duvets are fucking awesome.

With the right insert, a duvet is comfortable, fluffy, and warm as heck. Though a white cover, when living with a messy cat, can get a bit dingy faster than I like, so it’s better to have multiple duvet covers to switch between.

I chose a queen size insert and I’m pleased with the choice. Because it is 90-inches x 90-inches, it is a perfect square, which means not having to worry about which is the top or the side or anything like that. You just stuff the insert into the cover and you’re good to go.

I am a bit upset that I made the same mistake I did the first time, and ordered a second duvet cover THAT ONLY HAS 4 TIES. I really wanted a cover with 8 ties, because that seems so much easier to stuff with the insert. But whatever.

Me and my cat are enjoying duvet life. I was a bit upset, but she was happy, when she discovered that with a little nudging she could crawl under the cover and hide in the bed. It’s not too heavy or stifling for her, but it’s nice and cozy.

I have become a duvet convert. Though I have to wait until winter to really decide whether it’s gonna be duvet alone or duvet plus a cuddly blanket underneath.

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EXCERPT–

The days were getting colder, with frost covering the ground in the mornings. The interminable nights were requiring more fire wood to keep from shivering in her bed.

She’d entered this body with no resources and no idea how she was going to survive. A peasant in a society she didn’t understand with rules she hadn’t been able to figure out because she didn’t understand the language.

She’d barely managed to run away from the clay and straw house she’d woken up in and the man that may or may not have been her body’s husband. She didn’t take the time to find out, terrified of his angry expression and rough hands. There was no way she was waiting around to find out if this was a world that saw women as property and didn’t believe in spousal rape.

She’d run as far and fast as she could, pushing her body to the limit and beyond. For days afterward, it had been pure force of will that kept her moving and alive. Her SoulFire had maintained the body until she was able to settle down in an abandoned hut she’d found in the woods. And then she’d been able to hunt for meat as she’d made the hut as livable as possible.

It had taken her weeks to find plants her body was able to eat. Nothing here was familiar to what she’d known before. Even the animals were different. The "rabbits" that had become one of her main food sources had shorter fur, longer ears, and only two eyes. But they provided the nutrients necessary for her body’s survival.

And while she wasn’t exactly thriving in this unfamiliar world, she was surviving to make her each day a bit better than the ones before.

She’d found a kind of water bird that she was able to grow and farm along with the rabbits she’d begun breeding in the rough cages she’d made from sticks and vines. It had taken her months, but she’d collected enough fur and feathers to put to use.

The rough duvet she was making wasn’t like anything she was used to as she didn’t have access to actual fabric, but it would hopefully be enough to keep her alive during the winter months. An insert made of bird skins stuffed with feathers and a cover of rabbit leather and fur.

It was ugly and she’d sewn it together with rabbit sinew she’d pounded with rocks and twisted into cordage. The needles were sharpened rabbit bone she used to punch holes she could thread the cords through. It was a messy process made more difficult by the delicateness of her body’s skin. Her fingertips would redden and split and she would have to use her SoulFire to heal the ulcerated flesh as the body was too weak to fix itself.

—she is weak when she sleeps, and then susceptible to the cold. If she does not keep her body warm when she sleeps, there’s a chance she won’t wake up.

~Harper Kingsley

https://paypal.me/harperkingsley.

https://patreon.com/harperkingsley.

https://ko-fi.com/harperwck.
https://amazon.com/shop/harperkingsley0.
https://www.harperkingsley.net/blog.
https://kimichee.com.

https://www.youtube.com/c/HarperKingsley.

https://harperkingsley.bsky.social.
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/HarperKingsley.