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seanbala.mas.to.ap.brid.gy
Sean Bala
@seanbala.mas.to.ap.brid.gy
34 followers 18 following 130 posts
Raised in the #Adirondacks, lived in #India, currently in #Chicago. Married to @dohappybelove.

Main Tags: #Religion #Community #Environment #Culture #Creativity #History […]

🌉 bridged from ⁂ https://mas.to/@seanbala, follow @ap.brid.gy to interact
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seanbala.mas.to.ap.brid.gy
So I have come to my first #Linux rite of passage - I delved too deep into the terminal and messed something up. The culprit was trying to mount the drive for @mailbox_org (using instructions way over my head) to @fedora on my @frameworkcomputer.

I'll try to fix it […]

[Original post on mas.to]
A laptop screen displaying an emergency mode message. The text indicates that the system cannot access the console because the root account is locked. Instructions for rebooting and viewing system logs are provided, with a prompt to press Enter to continue.
October 15, 2025 at 1:56 AM
seanbala.mas.to.ap.brid.gy
I am re-reading one of my favorite #books: "The Snow Leopard" by Peter Matthiessen. It is a #travel book set in 1973 in #nepal as the author accompanies a #science expedition into the #himalayas. It is a book about #nature and a #buddhist introspection on grief and […]

[Original post on mas.to]
An e-reader displaying the cover of "The Snow Leopard" by Peter Matthiessen, part of the Penguin Classics series. The screen shows illustrations of a snow leopard, a goat, and a penguin, along with reading progress indicating 23% read. An e-reader displaying a passage titled "OCTOBER 10" from the book "The Snow Leopard." The text on the screen reads -"In the glory of sunrise, spiderwebs glitter and greenfinches in October gold bound from pine to shining pine. Pony bells and joyous whistling; young children and animals jump as if come to life. One beautiful child has a silver necklace and red-green strips of rag braided into crow-black hair; the infant she carries papoose-style is her own. A day so fine for travel is also fine for harvesting potatoes. The new porters refuse to depart, nor will they give up the pay advanced to them to buy food. "Dhorpatan no-good people," says Phu-Tsering. To find nine men, Jang-bu stays behind, and Gyaltsen stays with him, guarding the loads"
October 10, 2025 at 3:07 PM
seanbala.mas.to.ap.brid.gy
Today is my Birthday and thanks to @dohappybelove I got to try a cinnamon bun from Ann Sather’s. Fika break with coffee to start the day. Happy to report that it is very good ❤️❤️❤️

#Chicago #illinois #MardiPatisserie #coffee #pastry #birthday #happiness #fika #autumn #september #midwest #Fika
A Hydro Flask mug sits next to a cinnamon roll on a metal plate, with colorful prayer flags in the background. The scene is set outdoors with natural light.
September 11, 2025 at 3:11 PM
seanbala.mas.to.ap.brid.gy
Hey #solarpunks - do your thing!

This is a sign near a restored shoreline path along the North Branch of the Chicago River.

#solarpunk #hopepunk #river #water #Chicago #illinois #midwest #environment #environnement #joy
A sign from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, prominently displaying "NO DUMPING" with an improvised list of positive activities allowed, such as "Walking," "Singing," and "Learning" pinned next to it.
August 8, 2025 at 3:30 PM
seanbala.mas.to.ap.brid.gy
Finally a small night off from parenting - a trip to Dovetail with a Helles, a Vienna Lager, and capped off with a Kölsch. Best part is that they have German pretzels with spicy mustard. Picked up a Hefeweizen four-pack to go. I am so grateful that I live in within a […]

[Original post on mas.to]
A glass of Helles with a foamy head, branded with "Dovetail Brewery," is positioned on a wooden table. In the background, blurred figures and strings of lights create a lively atmosphere. A menu is partially visible on the table.
August 2, 2025 at 3:01 AM
seanbala.mas.to.ap.brid.gy
Pom Poko 2 - in which the tanuki leave Japan to cause mischief in America.

Caught this one near the Wellington Brown Line stop in Chicago.

#Chicago #ghibli #studioghibli #takahataisao #japanesemythology #folklore #movies #japanesefolklore #mytholology #mythicalcreatures #tanuki #restaurant
A sign for a sushi restaurant called "Tanuki Sushi Bar & Grill" features a cartoonish tanuki design. The sign is bright yellow with black text, and the establishment's phone number is displayed below.
July 15, 2025 at 7:01 PM
seanbala.mas.to.ap.brid.gy
Someone at this Target gets an A++ for design and product placement....

#Chicago #illinois #midwest #store #shopping #selfcare #alcohol #target #personalcare #summer #capitalism
An interior view of a retail store aisle labeled "Personal Care". Shelves display various cases of alcohol, with price tags visible. The signage highlights discount promotions.
June 18, 2025 at 3:54 PM
seanbala.mas.to.ap.brid.gy
So I have Covid...What a week (more to report later). I am being forced to take some much needed rest. Sitting on our patio right now getting some fresh air, having a warm coffee, and making some good progress in my "The Lord of the Rings" re-read. It is like a warm […]

[Original post on mas.to]
An e-reader displaying "The Lord of the Rings" cover, illustrated by the author, with a reading progress of 37% and an estimated 20 hours left. The background shows greenery and a brick wall.
June 4, 2025 at 5:20 PM
seanbala.mas.to.ap.brid.gy
A VERY long, overdue post. In February, I finally ordered a print from @minouette I have followed their artwork here for a few years now (worth signing up for a notification!). I saw this print last year and fell in love with it. I got this for @dohappybelove and […]

[Original post on mas.to]
An ink print on a white paper. In the forground is a realistic looking brown rabbit. It looks like it is about to enter a tangle of purple and white flowers with green stems. The print is titled "Cottontail in the Cosmos" and it is print 7/9 and was made by Ele Willoughby in 2021.
May 12, 2025 at 7:57 PM
seanbala.mas.to.ap.brid.gy
I am deeply saddened by Pope Francis' passing. Reading his environmental encyclical "Laudato Si'" was a life-changing experience for me. It lays out in clear, uncompromising prose the combined socio-ecological crises we all face. It is a document for everyone - […]

[Original post on mas.to]
A small pamphlet sized book with a green bordered cover. The text reads from the top Encyclical Letter of the Supreme Pontiff Francis ON THE CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME Laudato Si' At the bottom of the cover is the logo of Paulist Press.
April 21, 2025 at 2:42 PM
seanbala.mas.to.ap.brid.gy
Small #bookbinding update! I've been dormant since little one came in October but I'm getting ready to dust my tools off soon.

I recently purchased a new laptop case from a great #canadian #etsy shop that specializes in making crafts from old kimonos. The artist […]

[Original post on mas.to]
A row of 8 colorful scraps of Japanese fabrics laid out on a bamboo table.
March 15, 2025 at 10:52 PM
seanbala.mas.to.ap.brid.gy
The #framework Laptop 13 is a slightly unusual size and aspect ratio. So, instead of getting a case that "kind of" fits, I had one custom made from this great #canadian artist from #quebec on #etsy who specializes in making things from kimono fabrics. This is my […]

[Original post on mas.to]
A Framework Laptop 13 and an handmade laptop case on a bamboo desk. The case has a red floral pattern on the front with a black fabric on the top with a large wooden button.
March 15, 2025 at 10:42 PM
seanbala.mas.to.ap.brid.gy
A prayer I wrote yesterday for Martin Luther King, Jr. for the Prayers of the People at St. James Cathedral in #Chicago.

Our community is a bit unique in that at our 11am service, individual parishioners write the prayers of the people. Each week it is different […]

[Original post on mas.to]
Photo of the following text: God of justice, we pray for a world beset by the three evils identified by your prophet Martin Luther King, Jr. - the evil of racism, the evil of poverty, and the evil of militarism. Teach us to love one another, teach us to provide for those in need, and teach us to practice peace in our hearts and with each other. Help us to understand the web of life that ties us together in a single garment of destiny. Help us build a beloved community where all are fed, all are protected, and all are celebrated. Lord, in your mercy Hear our prayer
January 20, 2025 at 7:40 PM
seanbala.mas.to.ap.brid.gy
Last week's #book for #sunday -

"The Second Sleep" by Robert Harris.

The story follows a priest investigating the death of a heretical priest in a medieval world. Or is it? Something is a bit off with this place.

Verdict: The twist comes early and is really fun […]

[Original post on mas.to]
A hardcover book titled "The Second Sleep" by Robert Harris. The cover features a dark silhouette of a tower and figure on horseback against a gradient sky.
January 20, 2025 at 5:48 PM
seanbala.mas.to.ap.brid.gy
New #book for #sunday -

"On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century" by Timothy Snyder

Yale historian of Eastern Europe notes 20 lessons to learn from his study of totalitrian regimes for today. Written in 2017, it hits a bit harder in 2025. Reading it […]

[Original post on mas.to]
An e-reader displaying the title page of the book "On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century" by Timothy Snyder. The device is resting on a wooden surface.
January 20, 2025 at 4:45 PM
seanbala.mas.to.ap.brid.gy
When in #Chicago of course the food base-line must be a perogi 😂 ❤️

#midwest #airport #food #india #indian #funny #Poland #perogi #polska #globalization #chicagoland
A display of vegetable samosas, golden brown and triangular, served with a small container of Pilli Pilli sauce. A sign indicates the price ($5.99) and describes it as an Indian perogi with a filling of potatoes, carrots, onions, and peas.
January 17, 2025 at 2:04 PM
seanbala.mas.to.ap.brid.gy
I wanted to share some of my work for #portfolioday. I do #bookmaking and #bookbinding in my spare time. I love doing something with my hands. I've had to take a small break since our child was born but I hope to get back into the swing of things in the new year with […]

[Original post on mas.to]
A cluttered artist's workbench with various supplies including a cutting mat, a ruler, a blue pencil, and pieces of beige board, with hints of handwritten notes and a metal box in the background. A collection of various handmade notebooks on a bamboo desk. In the top row are two small pamphlet stitch books. In the middle row are two Coptic stitch books, two medium sized pamphlet stitch books, and two large pamphlet stich books. The bottom row has two accordion style books, two stab bind books, and one smaller pamphlet stitch books. Five handmade books on a bamboo table. On the top are two Coptic stitch books. One has a cloth cover in black with Jaipuri print. The other has a blue cover with a photo print of a prominent modern art piece. The last one on the top row is a small pamphlet stich book with a sticker from India Coffee House. On the second row is a cloth bound accordion book with a cloth cover with red flowers. The other is a Coptic stich sketchbook with a plaid cloth cover and a postcard from the Portland Saturday market. Closed handmade book with a brown spine and blue-and-white patterned cover on a bamboo desk.
January 14, 2025 at 11:37 PM
seanbala.mas.to.ap.brid.gy
This year I want to start reading a new #book each #sunday and to continue it if I like the first 50 pages.

This Week: "The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World" by William Dalrymple.

He discusses the Indosphere - the spread of Indian trade, culture […]

[Original post on mas.to]
A copy of William Darymple's book "The Golden Road" in hardcover on a lap covered in a blanket with legs outstretched. Next to the book on the lap is a mug of coffee with cream. In the background is a wooden floor and a wooden coffee table.
January 6, 2025 at 2:07 AM
seanbala.mas.to.ap.brid.gy
Got an Ethiopian Coffee at Ethiopian Diamond today during lunch with the family. Pure bliss. 🙏

And the food was wonderful, too!

https://mastodon.social/@bunvoyage17/113767662462705667

1/2

#coffee @coffee #Chicago #edgewater #afternoon #coffeebreak
A black clay pot of Ethiopian coffee resting on a wicker basket on a glass table top. Next to the pot is a small ceramic cup with a thick black coffee.
January 4, 2025 at 2:21 AM
seanbala.mas.to.ap.brid.gy
After many years, I've decided to try to give learning #hindi another try. I lived in #india for five years but at an international university so English was the lingua franca. I've been told I have a good ear for the sounds but have not made a real effort to learn […]

[Original post on mas.to]
A photo of an open workbook for the Hindi alphabet on a wooden table. The letter is Na and it has multiple lines of handwritten Devanagari letters. Propped up on a bookshelf on the desk is the book "Hindi Script Hacking."
January 4, 2025 at 2:05 AM