Relevant, interests
Apr. 23rd, 2025 02:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rydra_wong"You Wouldn't Steal A Gender" and "I Would Definitely Steal A Gender" badges, in exactly the font you'd expect.
rydra_wong
Black Cherries by W. S. Merwin
Apr. 27th, 2025 04:13 amconulyLate in May as the light lengthens
toward summer the young goldfinches
flutter down through the day for the first time
to find themselves among fallen petals
cradling their day's colors in the day's shadows
of the garden beside the old house
after a cold spring with no rain
not a sound comes from the empty village
as I stand eating the black cherries
from the loaded branches above me
saying to myself Remember this
*******
Link
toward summer the young goldfinches
flutter down through the day for the first time
to find themselves among fallen petals
cradling their day's colors in the day's shadows
of the garden beside the old house
after a cold spring with no rain
not a sound comes from the empty village
as I stand eating the black cherries
from the loaded branches above me
saying to myself Remember this
Link
Lily watches: "Rozen Maiden: Traumend" eps 1-2
Apr. 22nd, 2025 10:20 pmatamascolilyI knew I was going to be confused jumping in in media res, and I think I've figured most things out from context, but wow, I was not expecting the creepy rabbit in evening dress who runs an alternate mirror dimension (literally accessed through a mirror). He hasn't been mentioned by name, but I looked it up and it's "Laplace's Demon" which is just a little too on the nose.
The premise of the show is that there are a bunch of living dolls created by a guy who studied alchemy, but they have to fight each other in the "Alice Game" so that the lone survivor can become a real girl. What the hell, "Father"?! Why the hell would you do this to your so-called children??! Clearly, he's the bad guy here, but I'm surprised none of the characters have figured it out yet; it seems like a total no-brainer. I get why the dolls would be for it (fucked-up family dynamics; going along with what "Daddy" tells them) but seems weird that their human companions would go along with it. I think they should unionize.
Overall, very 2000s animation, lots of roses as a thematic motif. The contrast between the dark, serious OP and then the comedy antics is wild, though. I like the doll themes (reminds me of TBF puppets) and the general aesthetic, so I'll stick with it for now. Looking forward to learning what the hell is going on in future episodes.
The premise of the show is that there are a bunch of living dolls created by a guy who studied alchemy, but they have to fight each other in the "Alice Game" so that the lone survivor can become a real girl. What the hell, "Father"?! Why the hell would you do this to your so-called children??! Clearly, he's the bad guy here, but I'm surprised none of the characters have figured it out yet; it seems like a total no-brainer. I get why the dolls would be for it (fucked-up family dynamics; going along with what "Daddy" tells them) but seems weird that their human companions would go along with it. I think they should unionize.
Overall, very 2000s animation, lots of roses as a thematic motif. The contrast between the dark, serious OP and then the comedy antics is wild, though. I like the doll themes (reminds me of TBF puppets) and the general aesthetic, so I'll stick with it for now. Looking forward to learning what the hell is going on in future episodes.
We're the talk of the town
Apr. 22nd, 2025 04:33 pmsovayApparently if permitted to sleep for nine hours, my brain presents me with a cheerfully escapist dream of meeting Dirk Bogarde at a film festival and then spending the rest of the afternoon perusing his library and forgoing dinner in favor of sailing, which was probably more my idea of a good time than his, but I like to think if I hadn't woken when I did, he'd have introduced me to Anthony Forwood.
(no subject)
Apr. 22nd, 2025 12:25 pmursulaEarth Day call log:
The Sierra Club is trying to break a record for the most origami fish, if you want a fun craft for celebration.
The Sierra Club is trying to break a record for the most origami fish, if you want a fun craft for celebration.
If anyone could use a morale boost
Apr. 22nd, 2025 05:17 pmrydra_wonghttps://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/04/protests-erupt-across-the-uk-after-supreme-court-ruled-against-trans-rights/
Many many pictures.
Also, more protests yet to come, apparently, with ones scheduled for Oxford and Cambridge.
Many many pictures.
Also, more protests yet to come, apparently, with ones scheduled for Oxford and Cambridge.
Limericks!
Apr. 21st, 2025 10:15 pmpetraI have recently written limericks in: due South, Interview with the Vampire (TV), Murderbot, Star Wars Original & Prequel Trilogies, and Venom (Movies). Go here for the links and summaries, in alphabetical order by fandom.
I would be happy to write more, so if reading my limericks makes you want more of them, prompt at will.
I would be happy to write more, so if reading my limericks makes you want more of them, prompt at will.
And some no one from the future remembers that you're gone
Apr. 21st, 2025 07:05 pmsovayStill toast. Successfully collected my father from the airport two nights ago. Would like my capacity for movies to get back online before I run out of month in which to write about them. Would also like our next-door neighbor to have ceased to use loud air-whining machineries after seven p.m.
I saw the news of the death of Pope Francis. If it was going to be one of his last public statements, the construction site of Hell was an incredibly metal image to go out on.
I was not expecting to see the news that Willy Ley had been found in a can in a co-op on 67th Street. The idea of sending his ashes to space is completely correct and I wouldn't put SpaceX anywhere near that gesture. I could rewatch Frau im Mond (1929) for his memory.
Playing Stan Rogers' "Macdonnell on the Heights" (1984) forspatch may actually have counter-observed Patriots' Day, but my point still stands that the song has successfully superseded its chorus, or at least one in ten thousand seems to underrate Rogers' influence.
Personally I would ask Nigel Havers about the 1986 LWT A Little Princess.
I saw the news of the death of Pope Francis. If it was going to be one of his last public statements, the construction site of Hell was an incredibly metal image to go out on.
I was not expecting to see the news that Willy Ley had been found in a can in a co-op on 67th Street. The idea of sending his ashes to space is completely correct and I wouldn't put SpaceX anywhere near that gesture. I could rewatch Frau im Mond (1929) for his memory.
Playing Stan Rogers' "Macdonnell on the Heights" (1984) for
spatch may actually have counter-observed Patriots' Day, but my point still stands that the song has successfully superseded its chorus, or at least one in ten thousand seems to underrate Rogers' influence.Personally I would ask Nigel Havers about the 1986 LWT A Little Princess.
I did the second most terrifying thing
Apr. 24th, 2025 02:00 pmconulyand applied for a shitton of jobs. The worst they can do is call me a dipshit, and they probably wouldn't do that to my face. I think? Seems like a waste of time to call somebody up and say "You're terrible, how could you think we'd consider you?"
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4/20/25 - 4/21/25 Catch Up Edition
Apr. 21st, 2025 06:04 amgwydion* As has been the case since January, the sort may be a little rough. News keeps moving fast, so some items may be already out of date.
*
*
* "Back to Russian gas? Trump-wary EU has energy security dilemma:" https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/back-russian-gas-trump-wary-eu-has-energy-security-dilemma-2025-04-14/
* "Saudi Arabia plans to pay off Syria's World Bank debts, sources say:" https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-plans-pay-off-syrias-world-bank-debts-sources-say-2025-04-14/
* "Memo shows U.S. can send migrants without criminal records to Guantanamo, despite Trump's promise to hold "the worst" there:" https://www.cbsnews.com/news/guantanamo-trump-migrants-without-criminal-records/
* "ICE director envisions Amazon-like mass deportation system: ‘Prime, but with human beings’:" https://azmirror.com/2025/04/08/ice-director-envisions-amazon-like-mass-deportation-system-prime-but-with-human-beings/
* "Deporting veterans betrays America’s promise:" https://prismreports.org/2025/04/07/deported-veterans-undocumented-immigrants/
* "Hispanic Churches Groan Under Florida’s Double Immigration Crackdown:" https://www.christianitytoday.com/2025/03/florida-hispanic-latino-evangelicals-immigration-persecution/
* "In the battle to keep ICE from raiding houses of worship, the grassroots needs to flex more muscle:" https://religionnews.com/2025/03/21/in-the-battle-to-keep-ice-from-raiding-houses-of-worship-the-grassroots-needs-to-flex-more-muscle/
* "Tufts student ICE grabbed off street says hijab was removed, asthma wasn't treated at Louisiana facility:" https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/tufts-student-grabbed-street-ice-says-hijab-removed-asthma-not-treated-rcna201122
* "Don’t Take the Bait — Kristi Noem and Fascism’s Sadistic Eroticization of Power:" https://religiondispatches.org/dont-take-the-bait-kristi-noem-and-fascisms-sadistic-eroticization-of-power/
* "Immigrants prove they are alive, forcing Social Security to undo death label:" https://archive.ph/oj0SK
* "DOGE is collecting federal data to remove immigrants from housing, jobs:" https://archive.ph/pFB6F
* "Social Insecurity:" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-insecurity/id1638974657?i=1000703934164
* "Pentagon chief Hegseth shared sensitive Yemen war plans in second Signal chat, source says:" https://archive.ph/x89u0
* "Pete Buttigieg calls Pete Hegseth ‘unfit to lead’ after second bombshell Signal chat leak revelation:" https://www.advocate.com/news/pete-buttigieg-pete-hegseth-unfit
* "The MAGA-fication of the Military:" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-maga-fication-of-the-military/id1638974657?i=1000702094669
* "The speech police: Chairman Brendan Carr and the FCC’s news distortion policy:" https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/04/trumps-fcc-chair-invokes-rarely-enforced-news-distortion-policy-to-punish-media/
* "What exactly does Trump think is in the Smithsonian?:" https://archive.ph/rp6e9
* "'Please don’t tax the rich': Seattle crosswalk buttons hacked to sound like Jeff Bezos:" https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seattle/hacked-crosswalk-buttons-altered-play-fake-messages-south-lake-union-u-district/281-a2fb5c9b-be47-40c1-bdba-8cf36316ecfc
* Our job for the next two years is to survive, to build grassroots resistance, to do all in our power to slow the republican Christo-fascist agenda, and to prepare for 2026 in case there is still Democracy.
We are trying to build a good list of resistance resources.
Please add more below if you have them.
* Trump 2.0 Indivisible Guide. https://indivisible.org/resource/guide
* "Democracy 2025:" https://www.democracy2025.org/?utm_source=df-ad&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=21912407002&utm_content=721373734297&source=df-ad-gs&gad_source=1
* "Resisting Fascism in 2025 and Beyond:" https://www.prideandpagesbookclub.com/resisting-fascism-in-2025-and-beyond
* If you can't safely contact them in person, here are some other options for contacting your Congress Critters:
Five Calls to your critters: https://5calls.org/
Here is one that will send your reps a fax: https://resist.bot/
"Congress. gov:" https://www.congress.gov/
White house (Possibly Dangerous): https://www.whitehouse.gov/
ACLU advice for writing to your Critters: https://www.aclu.org/writing-your-elected-representatives
Script to complain about Elon Musk/DOGE. I also suggest contacting your AG about data privacy. "Introducing Red State Scripts, Vol. 1:" https://homewiththearmadillo.blog/2025/02/10/introducing-red-state-scripts-vol-1/
* This tracks legislation: https://www.govtrack.us/
* "Vote Smart:" https://justfacts.votesmart.org/
* Useful organizing links and resources: https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/771859083592613888/hater-of-terfs-ive-already-reblogged-a-link-to?source=share
* Run for Something: https://runforsomething.net/
* How to render emergency aid in a riot: https://riotmedicine.net/static/downloads/riot-medicine_a5.pdf
* "How to Safely and Ethically Film Police Misconduct:" https://www.teenvogue.com/story/how-to-film-police-safely
* Avoiding Activist Burnout: https://www.tumblr.com/veluigi/771755723969478656/on-twitter-im-seeing-dozens-of-threads-from-black?source=share
* "ICE Raids Toolkit: Defend Against ICE Raids and Community Arrests:" https://www.immigrantdefenseproject.org/raids-toolkit/
* Contains a raid tip hotline amoung other things. "Know Your Rights
LEARN HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY:" https://wearecasa.org/know-your-rights/
* Free Bystander training amoung other useful things. "Right to Be Training:" https://righttobe.org/upcoming-free-trainings/
* "Meet the Iowa Democrat challenging Sen. Joni Ernst: 'I live in the real world':" https://www.msnbc.com/jonathan-capehart/watch/meet-the-iowa-democrat-challenging-sen-joni-ernst-i-live-in-the-real-world-237952581831
* "Former OneRepublic bassist announces bid for Congress:" https://www.msnbc.com/jonathan-capehart/watch/former-onerepublic-bassist-announces-bid-for-congress-237953093677
* "Nancy Mace yells 'F**k you!' at man she assumes is gay for asking her a question in an Ulta store:" https://www.advocate.com/news/nancy-mace-confronts-gay-man
* "Two dead, suspect in custody after sheriff’s deputy’s son opens fire at FSU:" https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article304434411.html
* "A Key Fight Over the Most Infamous Police Project in the Country Is Coming to a Head:" https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/04/copy-city-fight-future-of-journalism.html
* "A Lawyer’s Crusade Against “Copaganda”:" https://newrepublic.com/article/192070/copaganda-book-alec-karakatsanis-police-crime-statistics
* "Lawsuit alleging Alabama officials illegally harvested inmates’ organs can proceed, judge rules:" https://apnews.com/article/organ-harvesting-university-of-alabama-corrections-department-ddf8f08ccedf4998961f20e2ff0740b1
* "For the American Prison Writing Archive, a ‘Shadow Canon’ Sheds Light:" https://archive.ph/pkS6c
* "Via porn, gore and ultra-violence, extremist groups are sinking hooks online into the very young:" https://apnews.com/article/technology-parenting-terror-islamic-state-police-security-attacks-4888bab2d10502edadf787d419d45b5b
* "Whiteness rooted in place:" https://www.christiancentury.org/article/interview/whiteness-rooted-place
* "Barbarian Virtues:" https://currentpub.com/2025/04/02/barbarian-virtues/
* "Vandalism at NYU Islamic prayer room under investigation as hate crime:" https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/vandalism-nyu-islamic-prayer-room-hate-crime-rcna199832
* "DEI? You're Fired:" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dei-youre-fired-with-heather-mcghee/id1583132133?i=1000703845266
* "Top 5 LGBTQ+ books banned in the U.S. :" https://www.advocate.com/top-5-lgbtq-books-banned-2024#rebelltitem1
* CW: Sexual Assault. "The She Made Him Do It Theory of Everything:" https://www.meditationsinanemergency.com/the-she-made-him-do-it-theory-of-everything-2/
* "MAGA's war on empathy exposes misogynist fears:" https://www.salon.com/2025/04/11/magas-on-empathy-exposes-misogynist-fears/
* "This reporter spent a year dating rabid anti-feminists — here’s what she found:" https://www.alternet.org/breaking-social/manosphere-cnn-papisova/
* "In Your Face: The Brutal Aesthetics of MAGA:" https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/03/maralago-face-conservative-girl-makeup-brutal-aesthetics-of-maga-trump-gaetz-guilfoyle/
* "Morning-after pill to be offered without charge at pharmacies in England:" https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/mar/30/morning-after-pill-contraception-free-pharmacies-nhs-england
* "Why Elon Musk and JD Vance Are Obsessed With You Having More Babies:" https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/03/this-is-a-war-and-natalism-is-our-sword-and-shield-my-weekend-with-the-pronatalists/
* "NY county clerk refuses to file Texas’ fine for doctor accused of prescribing abortion pills:" https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pills-lawsuit-texas-new-york-carpenter-e97d5c38d9429083d03c2a7b385cbbfd
* "From Afghanistan to Malaysia, these are the 61 countries that still criminalize homosexuality:" https://www.advocate.com/news/61-countries-criminalize-homosexuality#rebelltitem65
* "Hungary passes constitutional amendment banning public LGBTQ+ events:" https://www.advocate.com/world/hungary-gray-pride-protest-lgbtq
* "Caribbean activists step up fight to end homophobic laws that ‘breach fundamental rights’:" https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/caribbean-activists-step-up-fight-to-end-homophobic-laws-that-breach-fundamental-rights/ar-AA1CXwL5
* "New German, Swiss, And Austrian Guidelines Recommend Trans Youth Care, Slam Cass Review:" https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/new-german-swiss-and-austria-guidelines
* "Trans Norwegian politician wants to give asylum to transgender people fleeing Trump's policies:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/norwegian-us-trans-asylum
* "Transgender teen can't legally change name until age 21, Mississippi Supreme Court rules:" https://www.advocate.com/law/mississippi-transgender-teen-name-change
* "Chicago Teachers Union ratifies groundbreaking contract cementing LGBTQ+ protections:" https://www.advocate.com/news/chicago-teachers-union-lgbtq-inclusion
* "Hundreds protest Pittsburgh hospital for caving to Trump and denying trans youth gender-affirming care:" https://www.advocate.com/news/hundreds-protest-upmc-trump-transgender-care
* "How doctors became providers of hope and our kids' last line of defense:" https://www.advocate.com/voices/gender-affirming-care-doctors-children
* "Anti-LGBTQ+ attacks on the rise in Los Angeles: report:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/anti-lgbtq-attacks-on-the-rise-in-los-angeles-report
* "'Kiss your kids goodbye:' Indiana mom tells teacher who flew a Pride flag in class, police say:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/indiana-mom-threatens-queer-teacher
* "Florida high school teacher loses job for using student's preferred name:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/florida-teacher-fired-preferred-name
* "Georgia mother of trans and nonbinary children forcibly removed from school board meeting:" https://www.advocate.com/news/georgia-mother-removed-school-board
* "A mom complained about a trans girl using the locker room. Hundreds turned out to support the girl:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/chicago-transgender-girl-locker-room
* "New Hampshire men can't wear anti-trans gear at their kids' school while their lawsuit proceeds:" https://www.advocate.com/news/transphobic-gear-banned-new-hampshire
* "University of Cincinnati removes 'biological' bathroom signs, wasting $16K :" https://www.advocate.com/transgender/university-cincinnati-biological-bathroom-removed
* "Right-wing extremists threaten LGBTQ-affirming religious communities: report:" https://www.advocate.com/news/extremists-target-affirming-religious-institutions
* "‘Just plain old Larry’: A Wisconsin man’s testimony about gender-affirming care went viral. Here’s his story.:" https://www.wpr.org/news/larry-jones-wisconsin-testimony-gender-affirming-care-viral
* "It takes a village to raise a child, but what if the village votes red?:" https://www.advocate.com/voices/trump-connecticut
* "Texas investigating USA Fencing Association after it disqualified cis player for refusing to play trans woman:" https://www.advocate.com/sports/texas-usa-fencing-investigation
* "Tennessee far-right pastor fears 'gay beam' airport scanner will make him queer:" https://www.advocate.com/news/pastor-airport-scanners-gay
* "I was beset by a sudden desire to know what, exactly, JKR said recently:" https://conuly.dreamwidth.org/3617152.html
* "Imperfect sounds:Cochlear implants give deaf kids unprecedented access to sound. But insisting they avoid using sign language may be risky:" https://www.science.org/content/article/implants-can-help-deaf-kids-hear-many-still-struggle-spoken-language
Ya think?
* "“Not Just Measles”: Whooping Cough Cases Are Soaring as Vaccine Rates Decline:" https://www.propublica.org/article/whooping-cough-measles-outbreak-vaccine-hesitancy-trump?
* "How stress shapes cancer’s course:" https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/health-disease/2025/how-stress-affects-cancer?
* "U.S. fentanyl deaths have been plunging. Enter Trump:" https://archive.ph/70V6M
* "“Slow Pay, Low Pay or No Pay”:" https://www.propublica.org/article/blue-cross-blue-shield-louisiana-insurance-lawsuit-breast-cancer-doctors
* "Climate Violence Is Coming for Rich Countries, and They’re Not Ready:" https://thewalrus.ca/climate-violence-is-coming-for-rich-countries-and-theyre-not-ready/
* "How South Korea's largest and deadliest wildfire spread:" https://www.reuters.com/graphics/SOUTHKOREA-FIRE/movaydeneva/
* "Why We Have Lawns:" https://blog.nwf.org/2024/04/why-we-have-lawns/
* "This Interactive Map Shows You Where Your Food Comes From:" https://www.mentalfloss.com/interactive-map-shows-where-food-comes-from
* "From Daikin to Samsung, companies fight Modi over e-waste policy:" https://www.reuters.com/world/india/daikin-samsung-companies-fight-modi-over-e-waste-policy-2025-04-11/
* "Bubble Trouble: An AI bubble threatens Silicon Valley, and all of us.:" https://prospect.org/power/2025-03-25-bubble-trouble-ai-threat/
* "That groan you hear is users’ reaction to Recall going back into Windows:" https://arstechnica.com/security/2025/04/microsoft-is-putting-privacy-endangering-recall-back-into-windows-11/
* "T-Mobile Shows Users the Names, Pictures, and Exact Locations of Random Children:" https://www.404media.co/t-mobile-shows-users-the-names-pictures-and-exact-locations-of-random-children/
* "Tesla accused of using sneaky tactic to dodge car repairs:" https://www.thestreet.com/automotive/tesla-accused-of-using-sneaky-tactic-to-dodge-car-repairs
* "Mark Zuckerberg personally lost the Facebook antitrust case:" https://pluralistic.net/2025/04/18/chatty-zucky/
* "Things to post about on Dreamwidth:" https://soc-puppet.dreamwidth.org/933696.html
* "The Animals That Exist Between Life and Death :" https://nautil.us/the-animals-that-exist-between-life-and-death-1202592/
* "Scientists map part of a mouse’s brain that’s so complex it looks like a galaxy:" https://apnews.com/article/brain-map-neurons-alzheimers-autism-1a4e9db0a86c082e10da9c154546c592
* "Amazing ROV Footage of the First Confirmed Live Sighting of the Elusive Colossal Squid:" https://laughingsquid.com/colossal-squid-first-live-sighting/
* "A crow's math skills include geometry:" https://www.npr.org/2025/04/12/nx-s1-5359438/a-crows-math-skills-include-geometry
* "The horses and mules that moved mountains and hearts:" https://www.hcn.org/articles/the-horses-and-mules-that-moved-mountains-and-hearts/
* "This Warrior Was Buried in Ice Under a Bone Shield for 4,000 Years and His Face Was Just Reconstructed:" https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/this-warrior-was-buried-in-ice-under-a-bone-shield-for-4000-years-and-his-face-was-just-reconstructed/
* "50 Viking Sayings That Still Hit Hard Today:" https://www.medievalists.net/2025/04/50-viking-sayings/
* "Sheryl Lee Ralph Learns of Ancestors' Uncommon Love Story | Finding Your Roots:"
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* "Unearth the homoerotic art of Impressionist Gustave Caillebotte :" https://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/gustave-caillebottes-impressionist-queer#rebelltitem16
* "Two women have sent each other the same weathered birthday card for 81 years:" https://archive.ph/Uz9HD#selection-234.0-234.1
* "Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff who ministered with a charming, humble style, dies at 88:" https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-francis-dead-01ca7d73c3c48d25fd1504ba076e2e2a
* "King of fruits:" https://worksinprogress.co/issue/king-of-fruits/
* Something has gone dramatically wrong with my bank account. I suspect paypal allowed a secret autowithdraw again at exactly the wrong time, which I will need to track down, as a bill I'd scheduled to pay with more than enough money in the account rather suddenly caused an overdraft. (I checked it wasn't Amazon prime randomly reactivating again, but it's a pain in the ass finding the right tab on paypal. I will do that next.) I had some cash I'd socked away at the beginning of the month in case I needed it for inspection cleaning. I put it back in in time to patch the hole, but when Insuarnce auto-withdraws hit, I am fucked. I think $70.00 would cover those plus fees.
Want to help? https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/Gwydion
* I've been behind on Tumblr scheduling since… I think Nov. 3rd 2023. On 4/20/25, I finally caught up. Guess my new system is working. O.o
I think I've finally got the workflow on computer stuff mostly settled. Finally.
I am really struggling with pain right now. Part of it is the new physio I've been working since the last visit to the ostio, part of it is the randomness of the spring weather, part of it? Who knows.
The Cats are definitively into their Spring migration pattern around the house, which means Livia is ascendant on bed pets and Tavy is mostly living in the living room. Mostly.
* ""ER" Sues "The Pitt":"
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* "The Hidden Meanings in Nature Art: Crash Course Art History #9:"
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* "How Communities Make Art: Crash Course Art History #10:"
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* "Bodies in Art: Crash Course Art History #11:"
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* "Senator Shenanigans:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/0sPH8N0-4w4
* "Obnoxious Octavian:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Kqi8Zl4rySE
* "Goofy Gladiators:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/SzaQlQabIsw
* "The Anxious Anarchy:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_cExqCxVi90
* "Crazy Crusaders:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/PZuDndcB750
* "Knaverous Knights:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/yE9u-SwW50A
* "Music Mayhem:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/17mjE0alOV4
*****
* Full list of Resistance and charity links has been migrated to my profile as it was getting out of hand.
The help links are at the bottom under the cut.
* "United States Disappeared Tracker:" https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/danielleharlow/viz/UnitedStatesDisappearedTracker/Map
* "Nationwide Economic Blackout: Boycott Dates for Target, Amazon, Others:" https://www.newsweek.com/nationwide-economic-blackout-boycott-dates-target-amazon-others-2037986
* "Introducing Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network:" https://aflcio.org/2025/4/16/introducing-rise-federal-workers-legal-defense-network
( More Links Underneath: )
*
*
* "Back to Russian gas? Trump-wary EU has energy security dilemma:" https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/back-russian-gas-trump-wary-eu-has-energy-security-dilemma-2025-04-14/
* "Saudi Arabia plans to pay off Syria's World Bank debts, sources say:" https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-plans-pay-off-syrias-world-bank-debts-sources-say-2025-04-14/
* "Memo shows U.S. can send migrants without criminal records to Guantanamo, despite Trump's promise to hold "the worst" there:" https://www.cbsnews.com/news/guantanamo-trump-migrants-without-criminal-records/
* "ICE director envisions Amazon-like mass deportation system: ‘Prime, but with human beings’:" https://azmirror.com/2025/04/08/ice-director-envisions-amazon-like-mass-deportation-system-prime-but-with-human-beings/
* "Deporting veterans betrays America’s promise:" https://prismreports.org/2025/04/07/deported-veterans-undocumented-immigrants/
* "Hispanic Churches Groan Under Florida’s Double Immigration Crackdown:" https://www.christianitytoday.com/2025/03/florida-hispanic-latino-evangelicals-immigration-persecution/
* "In the battle to keep ICE from raiding houses of worship, the grassroots needs to flex more muscle:" https://religionnews.com/2025/03/21/in-the-battle-to-keep-ice-from-raiding-houses-of-worship-the-grassroots-needs-to-flex-more-muscle/
* "Tufts student ICE grabbed off street says hijab was removed, asthma wasn't treated at Louisiana facility:" https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/tufts-student-grabbed-street-ice-says-hijab-removed-asthma-not-treated-rcna201122
* "Don’t Take the Bait — Kristi Noem and Fascism’s Sadistic Eroticization of Power:" https://religiondispatches.org/dont-take-the-bait-kristi-noem-and-fascisms-sadistic-eroticization-of-power/
* "Immigrants prove they are alive, forcing Social Security to undo death label:" https://archive.ph/oj0SK
* "DOGE is collecting federal data to remove immigrants from housing, jobs:" https://archive.ph/pFB6F
* "Social Insecurity:" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/social-insecurity/id1638974657?i=1000703934164
* "Pentagon chief Hegseth shared sensitive Yemen war plans in second Signal chat, source says:" https://archive.ph/x89u0
* "Pete Buttigieg calls Pete Hegseth ‘unfit to lead’ after second bombshell Signal chat leak revelation:" https://www.advocate.com/news/pete-buttigieg-pete-hegseth-unfit
* "The MAGA-fication of the Military:" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-maga-fication-of-the-military/id1638974657?i=1000702094669
* "The speech police: Chairman Brendan Carr and the FCC’s news distortion policy:" https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/04/trumps-fcc-chair-invokes-rarely-enforced-news-distortion-policy-to-punish-media/
* "What exactly does Trump think is in the Smithsonian?:" https://archive.ph/rp6e9
* "'Please don’t tax the rich': Seattle crosswalk buttons hacked to sound like Jeff Bezos:" https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seattle/hacked-crosswalk-buttons-altered-play-fake-messages-south-lake-union-u-district/281-a2fb5c9b-be47-40c1-bdba-8cf36316ecfc
* Our job for the next two years is to survive, to build grassroots resistance, to do all in our power to slow the republican Christo-fascist agenda, and to prepare for 2026 in case there is still Democracy.
We are trying to build a good list of resistance resources.
Please add more below if you have them.
* Trump 2.0 Indivisible Guide. https://indivisible.org/resource/guide
* "Democracy 2025:" https://www.democracy2025.org/?utm_source=df-ad&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=21912407002&utm_content=721373734297&source=df-ad-gs&gad_source=1
* "Resisting Fascism in 2025 and Beyond:" https://www.prideandpagesbookclub.com/resisting-fascism-in-2025-and-beyond
* If you can't safely contact them in person, here are some other options for contacting your Congress Critters:
Five Calls to your critters: https://5calls.org/
Here is one that will send your reps a fax: https://resist.bot/
"Congress. gov:" https://www.congress.gov/
White house (Possibly Dangerous): https://www.whitehouse.gov/
ACLU advice for writing to your Critters: https://www.aclu.org/writing-your-elected-representatives
Script to complain about Elon Musk/DOGE. I also suggest contacting your AG about data privacy. "Introducing Red State Scripts, Vol. 1:" https://homewiththearmadillo.blog/2025/02/10/introducing-red-state-scripts-vol-1/
* This tracks legislation: https://www.govtrack.us/
* "Vote Smart:" https://justfacts.votesmart.org/
* Useful organizing links and resources: https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/771859083592613888/hater-of-terfs-ive-already-reblogged-a-link-to?source=share
* Run for Something: https://runforsomething.net/
* How to render emergency aid in a riot: https://riotmedicine.net/static/downloads/riot-medicine_a5.pdf
* "How to Safely and Ethically Film Police Misconduct:" https://www.teenvogue.com/story/how-to-film-police-safely
* Avoiding Activist Burnout: https://www.tumblr.com/veluigi/771755723969478656/on-twitter-im-seeing-dozens-of-threads-from-black?source=share
* "ICE Raids Toolkit: Defend Against ICE Raids and Community Arrests:" https://www.immigrantdefenseproject.org/raids-toolkit/
* Contains a raid tip hotline amoung other things. "Know Your Rights
LEARN HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY:" https://wearecasa.org/know-your-rights/
* Free Bystander training amoung other useful things. "Right to Be Training:" https://righttobe.org/upcoming-free-trainings/
* "Meet the Iowa Democrat challenging Sen. Joni Ernst: 'I live in the real world':" https://www.msnbc.com/jonathan-capehart/watch/meet-the-iowa-democrat-challenging-sen-joni-ernst-i-live-in-the-real-world-237952581831
* "Former OneRepublic bassist announces bid for Congress:" https://www.msnbc.com/jonathan-capehart/watch/former-onerepublic-bassist-announces-bid-for-congress-237953093677
* "Nancy Mace yells 'F**k you!' at man she assumes is gay for asking her a question in an Ulta store:" https://www.advocate.com/news/nancy-mace-confronts-gay-man
* "Two dead, suspect in custody after sheriff’s deputy’s son opens fire at FSU:" https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article304434411.html
* "A Key Fight Over the Most Infamous Police Project in the Country Is Coming to a Head:" https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/04/copy-city-fight-future-of-journalism.html
* "A Lawyer’s Crusade Against “Copaganda”:" https://newrepublic.com/article/192070/copaganda-book-alec-karakatsanis-police-crime-statistics
* "Lawsuit alleging Alabama officials illegally harvested inmates’ organs can proceed, judge rules:" https://apnews.com/article/organ-harvesting-university-of-alabama-corrections-department-ddf8f08ccedf4998961f20e2ff0740b1
* "For the American Prison Writing Archive, a ‘Shadow Canon’ Sheds Light:" https://archive.ph/pkS6c
* "Via porn, gore and ultra-violence, extremist groups are sinking hooks online into the very young:" https://apnews.com/article/technology-parenting-terror-islamic-state-police-security-attacks-4888bab2d10502edadf787d419d45b5b
* "Whiteness rooted in place:" https://www.christiancentury.org/article/interview/whiteness-rooted-place
* "Barbarian Virtues:" https://currentpub.com/2025/04/02/barbarian-virtues/
* "Vandalism at NYU Islamic prayer room under investigation as hate crime:" https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/vandalism-nyu-islamic-prayer-room-hate-crime-rcna199832
* "DEI? You're Fired:" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dei-youre-fired-with-heather-mcghee/id1583132133?i=1000703845266
* "Top 5 LGBTQ+ books banned in the U.S. :" https://www.advocate.com/top-5-lgbtq-books-banned-2024#rebelltitem1
* CW: Sexual Assault. "The She Made Him Do It Theory of Everything:" https://www.meditationsinanemergency.com/the-she-made-him-do-it-theory-of-everything-2/
* "MAGA's war on empathy exposes misogynist fears:" https://www.salon.com/2025/04/11/magas-on-empathy-exposes-misogynist-fears/
* "This reporter spent a year dating rabid anti-feminists — here’s what she found:" https://www.alternet.org/breaking-social/manosphere-cnn-papisova/
* "In Your Face: The Brutal Aesthetics of MAGA:" https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/03/maralago-face-conservative-girl-makeup-brutal-aesthetics-of-maga-trump-gaetz-guilfoyle/
* "Morning-after pill to be offered without charge at pharmacies in England:" https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/mar/30/morning-after-pill-contraception-free-pharmacies-nhs-england
* "Why Elon Musk and JD Vance Are Obsessed With You Having More Babies:" https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/03/this-is-a-war-and-natalism-is-our-sword-and-shield-my-weekend-with-the-pronatalists/
* "NY county clerk refuses to file Texas’ fine for doctor accused of prescribing abortion pills:" https://apnews.com/article/abortion-pills-lawsuit-texas-new-york-carpenter-e97d5c38d9429083d03c2a7b385cbbfd
* "From Afghanistan to Malaysia, these are the 61 countries that still criminalize homosexuality:" https://www.advocate.com/news/61-countries-criminalize-homosexuality#rebelltitem65
* "Hungary passes constitutional amendment banning public LGBTQ+ events:" https://www.advocate.com/world/hungary-gray-pride-protest-lgbtq
* "Caribbean activists step up fight to end homophobic laws that ‘breach fundamental rights’:" https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/caribbean-activists-step-up-fight-to-end-homophobic-laws-that-breach-fundamental-rights/ar-AA1CXwL5
* "New German, Swiss, And Austrian Guidelines Recommend Trans Youth Care, Slam Cass Review:" https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/new-german-swiss-and-austria-guidelines
* "Trans Norwegian politician wants to give asylum to transgender people fleeing Trump's policies:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/norwegian-us-trans-asylum
* "Transgender teen can't legally change name until age 21, Mississippi Supreme Court rules:" https://www.advocate.com/law/mississippi-transgender-teen-name-change
* "Chicago Teachers Union ratifies groundbreaking contract cementing LGBTQ+ protections:" https://www.advocate.com/news/chicago-teachers-union-lgbtq-inclusion
* "Hundreds protest Pittsburgh hospital for caving to Trump and denying trans youth gender-affirming care:" https://www.advocate.com/news/hundreds-protest-upmc-trump-transgender-care
* "How doctors became providers of hope and our kids' last line of defense:" https://www.advocate.com/voices/gender-affirming-care-doctors-children
* "Anti-LGBTQ+ attacks on the rise in Los Angeles: report:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/anti-lgbtq-attacks-on-the-rise-in-los-angeles-report
* "'Kiss your kids goodbye:' Indiana mom tells teacher who flew a Pride flag in class, police say:" https://www.advocate.com/crime/indiana-mom-threatens-queer-teacher
* "Florida high school teacher loses job for using student's preferred name:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/florida-teacher-fired-preferred-name
* "Georgia mother of trans and nonbinary children forcibly removed from school board meeting:" https://www.advocate.com/news/georgia-mother-removed-school-board
* "A mom complained about a trans girl using the locker room. Hundreds turned out to support the girl:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/chicago-transgender-girl-locker-room
* "New Hampshire men can't wear anti-trans gear at their kids' school while their lawsuit proceeds:" https://www.advocate.com/news/transphobic-gear-banned-new-hampshire
* "University of Cincinnati removes 'biological' bathroom signs, wasting $16K :" https://www.advocate.com/transgender/university-cincinnati-biological-bathroom-removed
* "Right-wing extremists threaten LGBTQ-affirming religious communities: report:" https://www.advocate.com/news/extremists-target-affirming-religious-institutions
* "‘Just plain old Larry’: A Wisconsin man’s testimony about gender-affirming care went viral. Here’s his story.:" https://www.wpr.org/news/larry-jones-wisconsin-testimony-gender-affirming-care-viral
* "It takes a village to raise a child, but what if the village votes red?:" https://www.advocate.com/voices/trump-connecticut
* "Texas investigating USA Fencing Association after it disqualified cis player for refusing to play trans woman:" https://www.advocate.com/sports/texas-usa-fencing-investigation
* "Tennessee far-right pastor fears 'gay beam' airport scanner will make him queer:" https://www.advocate.com/news/pastor-airport-scanners-gay
* "I was beset by a sudden desire to know what, exactly, JKR said recently:" https://conuly.dreamwidth.org/3617152.html
* "Imperfect sounds:Cochlear implants give deaf kids unprecedented access to sound. But insisting they avoid using sign language may be risky:" https://www.science.org/content/article/implants-can-help-deaf-kids-hear-many-still-struggle-spoken-language
Ya think?
* "“Not Just Measles”: Whooping Cough Cases Are Soaring as Vaccine Rates Decline:" https://www.propublica.org/article/whooping-cough-measles-outbreak-vaccine-hesitancy-trump?
* "How stress shapes cancer’s course:" https://knowablemagazine.org/content/article/health-disease/2025/how-stress-affects-cancer?
* "U.S. fentanyl deaths have been plunging. Enter Trump:" https://archive.ph/70V6M
* "“Slow Pay, Low Pay or No Pay”:" https://www.propublica.org/article/blue-cross-blue-shield-louisiana-insurance-lawsuit-breast-cancer-doctors
* "Climate Violence Is Coming for Rich Countries, and They’re Not Ready:" https://thewalrus.ca/climate-violence-is-coming-for-rich-countries-and-theyre-not-ready/
* "How South Korea's largest and deadliest wildfire spread:" https://www.reuters.com/graphics/SOUTHKOREA-FIRE/movaydeneva/
* "Why We Have Lawns:" https://blog.nwf.org/2024/04/why-we-have-lawns/
* "This Interactive Map Shows You Where Your Food Comes From:" https://www.mentalfloss.com/interactive-map-shows-where-food-comes-from
* "From Daikin to Samsung, companies fight Modi over e-waste policy:" https://www.reuters.com/world/india/daikin-samsung-companies-fight-modi-over-e-waste-policy-2025-04-11/
* "Bubble Trouble: An AI bubble threatens Silicon Valley, and all of us.:" https://prospect.org/power/2025-03-25-bubble-trouble-ai-threat/
* "That groan you hear is users’ reaction to Recall going back into Windows:" https://arstechnica.com/security/2025/04/microsoft-is-putting-privacy-endangering-recall-back-into-windows-11/
* "T-Mobile Shows Users the Names, Pictures, and Exact Locations of Random Children:" https://www.404media.co/t-mobile-shows-users-the-names-pictures-and-exact-locations-of-random-children/
* "Tesla accused of using sneaky tactic to dodge car repairs:" https://www.thestreet.com/automotive/tesla-accused-of-using-sneaky-tactic-to-dodge-car-repairs
* "Mark Zuckerberg personally lost the Facebook antitrust case:" https://pluralistic.net/2025/04/18/chatty-zucky/
* "Things to post about on Dreamwidth:" https://soc-puppet.dreamwidth.org/933696.html
* "The Animals That Exist Between Life and Death :" https://nautil.us/the-animals-that-exist-between-life-and-death-1202592/
* "Scientists map part of a mouse’s brain that’s so complex it looks like a galaxy:" https://apnews.com/article/brain-map-neurons-alzheimers-autism-1a4e9db0a86c082e10da9c154546c592
* "Amazing ROV Footage of the First Confirmed Live Sighting of the Elusive Colossal Squid:" https://laughingsquid.com/colossal-squid-first-live-sighting/
* "A crow's math skills include geometry:" https://www.npr.org/2025/04/12/nx-s1-5359438/a-crows-math-skills-include-geometry
* "The horses and mules that moved mountains and hearts:" https://www.hcn.org/articles/the-horses-and-mules-that-moved-mountains-and-hearts/
* "This Warrior Was Buried in Ice Under a Bone Shield for 4,000 Years and His Face Was Just Reconstructed:" https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/this-warrior-was-buried-in-ice-under-a-bone-shield-for-4000-years-and-his-face-was-just-reconstructed/
* "50 Viking Sayings That Still Hit Hard Today:" https://www.medievalists.net/2025/04/50-viking-sayings/
* "Sheryl Lee Ralph Learns of Ancestors' Uncommon Love Story | Finding Your Roots:"
( Embed: )
* "Unearth the homoerotic art of Impressionist Gustave Caillebotte :" https://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/gustave-caillebottes-impressionist-queer#rebelltitem16
* "Two women have sent each other the same weathered birthday card for 81 years:" https://archive.ph/Uz9HD#selection-234.0-234.1
* "Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff who ministered with a charming, humble style, dies at 88:" https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-francis-dead-01ca7d73c3c48d25fd1504ba076e2e2a
* "King of fruits:" https://worksinprogress.co/issue/king-of-fruits/
* Something has gone dramatically wrong with my bank account. I suspect paypal allowed a secret autowithdraw again at exactly the wrong time, which I will need to track down, as a bill I'd scheduled to pay with more than enough money in the account rather suddenly caused an overdraft. (I checked it wasn't Amazon prime randomly reactivating again, but it's a pain in the ass finding the right tab on paypal. I will do that next.) I had some cash I'd socked away at the beginning of the month in case I needed it for inspection cleaning. I put it back in in time to patch the hole, but when Insuarnce auto-withdraws hit, I am fucked. I think $70.00 would cover those plus fees.
Want to help? https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/Gwydion
* I've been behind on Tumblr scheduling since… I think Nov. 3rd 2023. On 4/20/25, I finally caught up. Guess my new system is working. O.o
I think I've finally got the workflow on computer stuff mostly settled. Finally.
I am really struggling with pain right now. Part of it is the new physio I've been working since the last visit to the ostio, part of it is the randomness of the spring weather, part of it? Who knows.
The Cats are definitively into their Spring migration pattern around the house, which means Livia is ascendant on bed pets and Tavy is mostly living in the living room. Mostly.
* ""ER" Sues "The Pitt":"
( Embed: )
* "The Hidden Meanings in Nature Art: Crash Course Art History #9:"
( Embed: )
* "How Communities Make Art: Crash Course Art History #10:"
( Embed: )
* "Bodies in Art: Crash Course Art History #11:"
( Embed: )
* "Senator Shenanigans:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/0sPH8N0-4w4
* "Obnoxious Octavian:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Kqi8Zl4rySE
* "Goofy Gladiators:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/SzaQlQabIsw
* "The Anxious Anarchy:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/_cExqCxVi90
* "Crazy Crusaders:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/PZuDndcB750
* "Knaverous Knights:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/yE9u-SwW50A
* "Music Mayhem:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/17mjE0alOV4
*****
* Full list of Resistance and charity links has been migrated to my profile as it was getting out of hand.
The help links are at the bottom under the cut.
* "United States Disappeared Tracker:" https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/danielleharlow/viz/UnitedStatesDisappearedTracker/Map
* "Nationwide Economic Blackout: Boycott Dates for Target, Amazon, Others:" https://www.newsweek.com/nationwide-economic-blackout-boycott-dates-target-amazon-others-2037986
* "Introducing Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network:" https://aflcio.org/2025/4/16/introducing-rise-federal-workers-legal-defense-network
( More Links Underneath: )
Reflections on a Revolution [Ω, hist, pols, curr ev, MA]
Apr. 21st, 2025 05:46 amsidereaThere's been a lot of really great public addresses of various kinds on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord. I thought I'd share a few.
1.
Here's one that is quite worth your time. Historian Heather Cox Richardson gave a talk on the 18th of April in the Old North Church – the very building where the two lanterns of legend were hung. It's an absolutely fantastic account of the events leading up to April 19, 1775 – a marvel of concision, coherence, and clarity – that I think helps really see them anew.
You can read it at her blog if you prefer, but I strongly recommend listening to her tell you this story in her voice, standing on the site.
2025 April 18: Heather Cox Richardson [YT]: Heather Cox Richardson Speech - 250 Year Lantern Anniversary - Old North Church (28 minutes):
( More within )
1.
Here's one that is quite worth your time. Historian Heather Cox Richardson gave a talk on the 18th of April in the Old North Church – the very building where the two lanterns of legend were hung. It's an absolutely fantastic account of the events leading up to April 19, 1775 – a marvel of concision, coherence, and clarity – that I think helps really see them anew.
You can read it at her blog if you prefer, but I strongly recommend listening to her tell you this story in her voice, standing on the site.
2025 April 18: Heather Cox Richardson [YT]: Heather Cox Richardson Speech - 250 Year Lantern Anniversary - Old North Church (28 minutes):
( More within )
UK people: disability benefit cuts
Apr. 21st, 2025 09:48 amrydra_wongRebellion is growing among Labour MPs, so if you have a Labour MP, now is a VERY good and important time to write to them to protest the proposed PIP and other cuts:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/apr/20/the-whole-policy-is-wrong-rebellion-among-labour-mps-grows-over-5bn-benefits-cut
(If you have a non-Labour MP, hassle them too and see if they can be persuaded to do something vaguely useful.)
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/apr/20/the-whole-policy-is-wrong-rebellion-among-labour-mps-grows-over-5bn-benefits-cut
(If you have a non-Labour MP, hassle them too and see if they can be persuaded to do something vaguely useful.)
Ode to a Yellow Onion by C. Dale Young
Apr. 23rd, 2025 03:51 amconulyAnd what if I had simply passed you by,
your false skins gathering light in a basket,
those skins of unpolished copper,
would you have lived more greatly?
Now you are free of that metallic coating,
a broken hull of parchment,
the dried petals of a lily—
those who have not loved you
will not know differently.
But you are green fading into yellow—
how deceptive you have been.
Once I played the cithara,
fingers chafing against each note.
Once I worked the loom,
cast the shuttle through the warp.
Once I scrubbed the tiles
deep in the tub of Alejandro.
Now I try to deciper you.
Beyond the village, within a cloud
of wild cacao and tamarind,
they chant your tale, how you,
most common of your kind,
make the great warrior-men cry
but a woman can unravel you.
****
Link
your false skins gathering light in a basket,
those skins of unpolished copper,
would you have lived more greatly?
Now you are free of that metallic coating,
a broken hull of parchment,
the dried petals of a lily—
those who have not loved you
will not know differently.
But you are green fading into yellow—
how deceptive you have been.
Once I played the cithara,
fingers chafing against each note.
Once I worked the loom,
cast the shuttle through the warp.
Once I scrubbed the tiles
deep in the tub of Alejandro.
Now I try to deciper you.
Beyond the village, within a cloud
of wild cacao and tamarind,
they chant your tale, how you,
most common of your kind,
make the great warrior-men cry
but a woman can unravel you.
Link
conulyJenn's plan to self-set-up her own balanced billing + a random screwup with autopay that she didn't realize until we were in the hole + having to help a friend get out of an abusive relationship = omg.
I'm pretty sure that they legally can't actually shut us off until May 15th, and once we get the tax refund we can pay the entire past due bills... but there's no promise we will get that refund by that date, and I would be surprised if we do. I don't want to go a week without lights and hot water, or a fridge and stove.
I'm reasonably certain that if we pay even half the past due now, we can talk them into waiting for that refund. The entire total is something like $6k... I'm a little scared to look again, honestly. I just sorta glanced at the bills in horror.
I've got paypal and venmo, which is posted here, or if you can't see that and can and want to help out you can PM me. We can absolutely pay back (or forward!) as soon as that refund comes in. I know how much the refund is, it will cover these bills.
(I've also been sitting on posting this for a few days, so I better get it out before I chicken out again!)
I'm pretty sure that they legally can't actually shut us off until May 15th, and once we get the tax refund we can pay the entire past due bills... but there's no promise we will get that refund by that date, and I would be surprised if we do. I don't want to go a week without lights and hot water, or a fridge and stove.
I'm reasonably certain that if we pay even half the past due now, we can talk them into waiting for that refund. The entire total is something like $6k... I'm a little scared to look again, honestly. I just sorta glanced at the bills in horror.
I've got paypal and venmo, which is posted here, or if you can't see that and can and want to help out you can PM me. We can absolutely pay back (or forward!) as soon as that refund comes in. I know how much the refund is, it will cover these bills.
(I've also been sitting on posting this for a few days, so I better get it out before I chicken out again!)
vital functions
Apr. 20th, 2025 10:53 pmkaberettReading. I continue to make slow progress with both What An Owl Knows (Jennifer Ackerman) and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (Susanna Clarke).
Writing. Grumpy e-mails to Labour, mostly? Grumpy e-mails to Labour. Oh, and separately to the DWP courtesy of My UC Journal.
Playing. I have tripped and fallen back into 2048. I do not know why I have tripped and fallen thus. There are other things I would rather be doing. Brain whyyy.
I Love Hue current status: just started The Alchemy/Knowledge/12.
Cooking. Two new-to-us recipes from East: caramelised fennel and carrot salad with mung beans and herbs, of which I am a fan but about which A is a bit meh; and Amritsari pomegranate chickpeas, with the decaf English Breakfast I bought the other week, which I also quite liked but A was mildly dubious of.
Today has featured a different Welsh cake recipe, from one of the charity-shop books I acquired for the purposes of the special interest in EYB indexing. This one includes honey and ground mixed spice; I am decidedly disconcerted by how much they taste like Wrong Texture Mince Pies when cool.
Eating. ... yeah it's been A Migrainey Week, and has consequently contained two rounds of Wagamama. TRAGICALLY I decided on the first of these to branch out and try Not My Usual. Not My Usual turned out to contain The Dread Mayonnaise (I had been lulled into a false sense of security by the number of things called "slaw" I had recently encountered that did not contain mayo). It was mostly salvageable...
Exploring. ADVENTURES in VAN HIRE for the purposes of moving SHED. This involved heading out to Hatfield, because the one fifteen minutes up the road was already Thoroughly Booked. We got to observe MORE FLOWERS and lo they were good.
... I think that's it? I think that's it. (A also went on another adventure to acquire roof box and appropriate rack, but I stayed at home for that one.)
Making & mending. I have not, technically, actually resumed A's pair of gloves, BUT I have now got the information from A I need in order to do so! So that's a progress.
... there has also been. Event prep. So much event prep. The meal ticket booklets for crew are all done; the potions are all sliced and folded ready for laminating (except for the one that needed someone to actually finish writing what it did); ... progress?
Growing. SO MANY SQUASH. Not all of the ones I sowed, but... a lot... have come up.
Somewhat irritated that somebody found my Bravest Dwarf Pea, which had actually managed to find and attach itself to the pea sticks, and severed the stem a little below said attachment. :|
Main infrastructural progress this week was getting all the railway sleepers and shed bits up to the plot (with significant and indispensable help from A). I've not done anything with them yet but they are there, I have plans, necessary hardware is en route, etc.
What else what else? First of the beans are in the ground. I was feeling decidedly surly about my redcurrant but this turns out to have been premature and unfair -- since last weekend it's unfurled a little more and is looking much more promising in terms of potential harvest. The raspberries also seem to be very much enjoying the mulch + semi-regular watering, which is pleasing.
Observing. I totally forgot to mention in last week's section on this topic that on the ride back from Anglesey Abbey we observed Many Cowslips, including at least one that was red!
Tulips continue fantastic. Irises are getting into the swing of things at this point. The bindweed is definitely waking up...
Limericks on offer (and possibly other poetry)
Apr. 20th, 2025 05:19 pmpetraGive me a kink or a sex-related trope and/or one or more characters (ideally one(s) I know, though I have osmosed quite a bit from many other sources), and I will write you a limerick.
Please publicize this! Requests are welcome, no matter whether I know you or not. Anon commenting is on; just leave a name so I know who to dedicate the poem to.
*
Limericks thus far, alphabetical by fandom:
( due South )
( Interview with the Vampire (TV) )
( Murderbot Diaries )
( Star Wars Original Trilogy )
( Star Wars Prequel Trilogy )
( Venom Movies )
Please publicize this! Requests are welcome, no matter whether I know you or not. Anon commenting is on; just leave a name so I know who to dedicate the poem to.
*
Limericks thus far, alphabetical by fandom:
( due South )
( Interview with the Vampire (TV) )
( Murderbot Diaries )
( Star Wars Original Trilogy )
( Star Wars Prequel Trilogy )
( Venom Movies )
Tags:
- character: anakin skywalker,
- character: benton fraser,
- character: chewbacca,
- character: daniel molloy,
- character: eddie brock,
- character: han solo,
- character: leia organa,
- character: louis de pointe du lac,
- character: luke skywalker,
- character: murderbot,
- character: obi-wan kenobi,
- character: padmé amidala,
- character: ray kowalski,
- character: ray vecchio,
- character: the vampire armand,
- character: venom,
- limerick offer,
- poetry: limerick,
- story: due south,
- story: interview with the vampire (amc),
- story: murderbot,
- story: star wars,
- story: venom