Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.
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Why are you called The Motte?
A motte is a stone keep on a raised earthwork common in early medieval fortifications. More pertinently,
it's an element in a rhetorical move called a "Motte-and-Bailey",
originally identified by
philosopher Nicholas Shackel. It describes the tendency in discourse for people to move from a controversial
but high value claim to a defensible but less exciting one upon any resistance to the former. He likens
this to the medieval fortification, where a desirable land (the bailey) is abandoned when in danger for
the more easily defended motte. In Shackel's words, "The Motte represents the defensible but undesired
propositions to which one retreats when hard pressed."
On The Motte, always attempt to remain inside your defensible territory, even if you are not being pressed.
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Notes -
I am really cheap. I hate to waste money. However I'm happy to spend small amounts of money that tangibly improve my life. What are some small things that you spend money on (say, under $10 USD per month- or $20 if you really have to splurge) that you think are the most worth it?
Wife recently asked me to buy what seemed like an excessive number of plastic boxes, and then went on to surprise me by actually tidying up the place to some degree by sorting all our possessions that could somehow be categorized and meaningfully placed together in said boxes, then placing those on shelves, instead of the status quo ante of each shelf being stuffed with loosely associated objects. So, if you have any problems with orderliness, consider investing in boxes that fit into your shelves.
Ibuprofen, if you don't have any but you do get headaches that bother you, or in case of nasty fevers. That stuff just works.
If you don't own a belt, though I doubt this applies to anyone on the motte, consider acquiring one. Belts are pretty useful, I'm glad I have one, and I remain amazed that many people I know refuse to wear any.
Do you have a garden? Any potted plants? If no to both, get a small pot and some plant of your choosing. It's a dreary life that is without greenery, and a little pot and plant doesn't cost much.
Any lamps without shades? Get a lampshade! You can get cheap ones for two or three bucks, and it still looks much better than a naked bulb.
Not sure whether any of this is helpful, but here's my current answer to the question.
Wifeys and little bins seem to go together like peanut butter and jelly. I didn't realize in the before days.
Hopefully you're not putting wifeys in the little bins tho!
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Safety razor with a bunch of blades. Cheap, sanitary, and does a better job than plastic razors.
Obsidian Sync for storing all my notes and ideas and syncing them between my devices (you can do it for free with git but I like supporting Obsidian)
Plastic pan scraping squares. Cleaning pots and pans has never been so easy.
A dozen small glass bowls for storing small amounts of leftover food or for temporary ingredient storage while cooking
If you're poor, an all purpose hot sauce like Frank's Red Hot makes everything edible
Pour spouts for your liquor. Way less mess and wasted booze, way easier measuring.
Better than Bouillon, best stock/bouillon substitute ever (only available in America maybe?)
Kitchen chopsticks. These are giant chopsticks connected by a string for story frying stuff. Much easier to use than a spatula but might take some practice.
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