All sorts of out-comments to get the lonely thing kickin'.

nucypher/characters/lawful.py

@@ -1180,10 +1180,10 @@ class Ursula(Teacher, Character, Worker):
             if emitter:
                 emitter.message(f"✓ Database pruning", color='green')
 
-        if learning:
-            self.start_learning_loop(now=self._start_learning_now)
-            if emitter:
-                emitter.message(f"✓ Node Discovery ({','.join(self.learning_domains)})", color='green')
+        # if learning:
+        #     self.start_learning_loop(now=self._start_learning_now)
+        #     if emitter:
+        #         emitter.message(f"✓ Node Discovery ({','.join(self.learning_domains)})", color='green')
 
         if self._availability_check and availability:
             self._availability_tracker.start(now=False)  # wait...

nucypher/cli/utils.py

@@ -73,15 +73,16 @@ def make_cli_character(character_config,
                                 password=get_nucypher_password(confirm=False))
 
     # Handle Teachers
+    # TODO: Is this still relevant?  Is it better to DRY this up by doing it later?
     teacher_nodes = list()
-    if load_preferred_teachers:
-        teacher_nodes = load_seednodes(emitter,
-                                       teacher_uris=[teacher_uri] if teacher_uri else None,
-                                       min_stake=min_stake,
-                                       federated_only=character_config.federated_only,
-                                       network_domains=character_config.domains,
-                                       network_middleware=character_config.network_middleware,
-                                       registry=character_config.registry)
+    # if load_preferred_teachers:
+    #     teacher_nodes = load_seednodes(emitter,
+    #                                    teacher_uris=[teacher_uri] if teacher_uri else None,
+    #                                    min_stake=min_stake,
+    #                                    federated_only=character_config.federated_only,
+    #                                    network_domains=character_config.domains,
+    #                                    network_middleware=character_config.network_middleware,
+    #                                    registry=character_config.registry)
 
     #
     # Character Init

nucypher/network/nodes.py

@@ -354,19 +354,26 @@ class Learner:
         elif now:
             self.log.info("Starting Learning Loop NOW.")
 
-            if self.lonely:
-                self.done_seeding = True
-                self.read_nodes_from_storage()
+            # if self.lonely:
+            #     self.done_seeding = True
+            #     self.read_nodes_from_storage()
+            #
+            # else:
+            #     self.load_seednodes()
+            try:
+                self.learn_from_teacher_node()
+            except self.NotEnoughTeachers:
+                if self.lonely:
+                    assert False
+                else:
+                    assert False
 
-            else:
-                self.load_seednodes()
-
-            self.learn_from_teacher_node()
             self.learning_deferred = self._learning_task.start(interval=self._SHORT_LEARNING_DELAY)
             self.learning_deferred.addErrback(self.handle_learning_errors)
             return self.learning_deferred
         else:
             self.log.info("Starting Learning Loop.")
+            self.cycle_teacher_node()
 
             learning_deferreds = list()
             if not self.lonely: