ionelv | Reading

Made dinner - left it home.

And there’s no delivery because of all this snow. Also, they’re nearly out of food.

Good thing I waited for the bus at the corner store - I have cheezits, coke, and a cupcake, a c food diet. (And in the morning I’ll eat some of their Cheerios!)

I nearly didn’t make it in. Couldn’t get a car, and my bus kept getting canceled, but finally one made it out of the terminal.

ysabetwordsmith

Snowflake Challenge 13: Community

We spend a lot of time in fandom talking about community, and we mean a lot of different things by it. And that’s okay! I’m always interested in what other people think about community in fandom, and especially – considering the online nature of so much of fandom -- what are the places and groups that create/allow/encourage that community. These could be flashfic or challenge communities that encourage fanwork creation, discords for talking about the latest episode of your favorite show, exchanges, promptfests, watch-alongs, live streams… whatever promotes community for you.

Today’s challenge:

TALK ABOUT A COMMUNITY SPACE YOU LIKE. It doesn’t need to be your favorite, or the one where you spend the most time (although it certainly can be). Maybe it’s even one that you’ve barely visited. But talk about that space and how it helps support fannish community.

An old-fashioned ornament of two young girls bundled up in coats and walking side by side is nestled amidst pine boughs.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Ancient people carried a wild potato across the American Southwest

Ancient travelers carried a wild potato across the Southwest, shaping its future for thousands of years.

Long before farming took hold, ancient Indigenous peoples of the American Southwest were already shaping the future of a wild potato. New evidence shows that this small, hardy plant was deliberately carried across the Four Corners region more than 10,000 years ago, helping it spread far beyond its natural range.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

It snowed yesterday, probably about 4 inches. The ground is covered. The trees still have a little sticking to them, but this is light fluffy snow so most has already fallen off. The temperature is frigid.

I haven't been out to feed the birds yet, but they're active. I've seen a flock of sparrows, a flock of mourning doves, two starlings, and a downy woodpecker.

EDIT 1/25/26 -- I fed the birds. I've seen a male and a female cardinal.

I put out water for the birds.

It's snowing slightly again.

EDIT 1/25/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

Snow is sifting down off and on, but the wind has picked up so it's drifting more in places. Surprisingly the snowplow has already passed by at least once. That usually doesn't happen until the day after the snow stops, because we're out in the country.

EDIT 1/25/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 1/25/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

I am done for the night.

Current Mood: busy

james_davis_nicoll

Fostering a teen is a challenge at the best of times. The end of civilization is not the best of times.

The Memoirs of a Survivor by Doris Lessing

conuly

The plot is picking up and I have no idea where it's going!

Also, it is absolutely impossible to track down the music for that show. There was one song I liked, so I tried to look it up. No dice. I eventually gave in and searched up "Killjoys soundtrack" and then, armed with the song title and artist name, tried again. Still no luck. I did find an entirely different song that's apparently written by somebody with no internet presence at all. If it wasn't apparently their only song I'd suspect AI. That picture is AI, though, has "artificial" written all over it, in illegible text. Song's not too uncatchy, but - I honestly don't know why the music in Killjoys is so hard to find.

***************************

( Read more... )

ysabetwordsmith

Today I'm making Healthy Spice Quick Bread. This way we'll have something that isn't cold to go with the apple topping.

EDIT 1/25/26 -- The spice bread turned out pretty well. The flavor is good, not particularly strong, a little on the dry side -- but it works great with the apple topping and probably would with any other wet topping. \o/

Current Mood: accomplished

ysabetwordsmith

The January 6, 2026 Poetry Fishbowl has made its $200 goal, so you get a free epic. Everyone is eligible to vote in this poll. I will keep it open at least until Sunday night. If there's a clear answer then, I'll close it; otherwise I may leave it open a little while longer. Here are your options...

"A Fountain of Energy"
Johan practices with his abilities.
70 lines

"Once the Avalanche Has Begun"
A foolish choice in a neighboring town makes life challenging for Shaeth's followers.
70 lines

Poll #34116 Free Epic for the January 6, 2026 Poetry Fishbowl

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 9

View Respondents

Which of these should be the free epic?

View Answers

"A Fountain of Energy"
3 (33.3%)

"Once the Avalanche Has Begun"
6 (66.7%)

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

This poem came out of the January 6, 2026 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by a prompt from

siliconshaman. It has been sponsored by

fuzzyred.

lacquerware poet
haiku in and haiku out --
beauty? or cheating?

* * *

Notes:

Haiku is a form of poetry, first made popular in Japan, which has become appreciated around the world. Haiku poets are challenged to convey a vivid message in only 17 syllables.

The Machines Are Coming, and They Write Really Bad Poetry

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Warming spices have hot, aromatic qualities. They encourage body heat; they go well with other thermogenic foods. Their scent evokes warmth and comfort. That makes them ideal for cold days. Browse a list of warming spices; you probably have some in your cabinet already. Here is a FAQ list. Screw winter, make something redolent.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

shadowkat

The high today was 18°F (degree Fahrenheit)/ -7.778°C (degree Celsius), most of the day it was 10 F/-12.2222 C, so I spent most it napping, snacking, and watching television, also did knee exercises. [Next week will be fun - since I'll have to venture out at 8-10 F/ -15-12 C, and get home at 22 F. But maybe it will be warmer? At least most of the time is spent inside the trains and stations. No outdoor stations any longer.]

Train Dreams - available exclusively on Netflix at the moment, and nominated for Best Picture, Cinematography, and song (by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds) for the Oscars. Nothing against Nick Cave (who I actually love) but I don't remember the song. I think they rolled it over the end credits - and being on Netflix, I didn't watch the end credits.

Train Dreams by Nick Cave and Bryce Dessner (the video is a nice trailer for the film).

It's a beautiful film - kind of dreamy, and weirdly comforting. Felt a bit like a hug on a cold winter night, which I sort of needed today as the radiators hiss to life in the background. The cinematography and the score by Nick Cave is dreamy and lovely all on its own.

The film is about the life and experiences of a logger in the Pacific Northwest, around the turn of the last century (19th to the 20th). It has strong themes about being interconnected, and the ebb and flow of life. Also grief.

Watching it felt a bit like curling up with a good book in front of a fire place, drinking hot coco on a cold winter's day.

Prior to that, I fell asleep watching Grey's Anatomy, which yes, has been on too long. It is on it's 23rd season, it is the longest running prime time medical serial on television. It beat both ER and MASH.

***

"I caught the [60s Batman] TV show in reruns after school every weekday. There’d be a great block of shows that I’d run home for: Star Trek, The Monkees, Twilight Zone, etc. There was a lot of cool stuff that hit stores from Batman-mania that Dad and Mom would get for us, so it was always I source of excitement and great joy. When I was asked to do an issue of DC Solo I immediately got together with my big brother, Lee to do our Batman love letter, BATMAN A Go-Go." - Mike Allred"

Apparently I had the same childhood viewing habits as comic book writer Mike Allred in the 1970s? Just add The Brady Bunch to the docket, and a lot of Godzilla movies. Also, quite a few Elvis Presley films - he died in the 70s, so the Afternoon Movie decided to show every single film he'd ever done. And Presley did a lot of films. None of which were any good.

We used to have The After-School Special (basically a made for television flick with a moral message or lesson), the Afternoon Movie (an afternoon film - usually from the 1950s or 60s that was rated G, they tended to steer clear of the 1970s films which kind of sneered at G ratings, unless they were done by Disney), the Western Film on Saturdays, and Wonderful World of Disney, Masterpiece Theater or Masterpiece Mystery on Sundays. We also watched Star Trek and Space:1999 and Battlestar Galatica, and any other sci-fi show that my parents could find. They liked science fiction, mysteries, noir, and Westerns.

[This was in the 1970s and early 80s. Everything changed somewhere in the 1990s.]

***

Apparently She-Rah is leaving Netflix in a month. Which means if you are like me and probably still need to finish watching the series or watching it at all - you might want to get on that nowhish? I'm guessing they are getting rid of it to make room for the new Star Search? I don't know if anyone else remembers Star Search? It was basically American Idol or Everybody's Got Talent for the kiddie set (or anyone under the age of 18). Brittany Spears and Beyonce were discovered on it. Sarah Michelle Gellar auditioned for it - but didn't make the cut. (I can see why - Gellar can't dance or sing to save her life (note it was Spike who saved Buffy's life singing not Buffy). And juggling ...unless it's death defying, isn't that interesting. This isn't really geared towards actors, it's a talent show for everyone else.) I watched it off and on when I was a kid in the 1970s-80s, but not often.

Tried it today - and lasted all of five minutes before I jumped away to something else. ( Read more... )

sturgeonslawyer

Important message to Americans from a Ukrainian.

I urge you to read the whole thing, but the tl;dr money quote is this:

[W]e will never mistake you for him.

thewayne

On the first day of the current administration, an executive order was announced terminating the participation of the USA in the WHO. This was broadly denounced as an incredibly stupid move. Aside from coordinating a global response to pandemics, outbreaks, the studies thereof, it has annual meetings to try to formulate the annual flu vaccines - said meeting happens next month.

The reason why? A certain person doesn't think the world did a good job with its Covid-19 response. This was at the same time that said person postulated that drinking bleach and exposing your innards to UV light would be a good cure, not to mention the other quack cures he put forth that directly led to deaths of people in the USA and perhaps elsewhere in the world.

From the article: "While the United States is walking away from the organization, a senior official with the Department of Health and Human Services told reporters on Thursday that the Trump administration was considering some type of narrow, limited engagement with W.H.O. global networks that track infectious diseases, including influenza."

and "On Thursday, the administration said that all U.S. government funding to the organization had been terminated, and that all assigned federal employees and contractors had been recalled from its Geneva headquarters and its offices worldwide.

The up-in-the-air status of the flu vaccine is just one of countless global health matters that are left hanging in the balance by the United States’ withdrawal. Global health experts are deeply concerned that if a novel bug similar to the coronavirus emerges, a lack of international coordination will lead to death and disaster." Good thing that novel bugs never happen!

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/us/politics/united-states-withdraws-world-health-organization.html?unlocked_article_code=1.GlA.ey5P.2X66jrh_mNPI&smid=url-share

https://science.slashdot.org/story/26/01/23/1226253/us-formally-withdraws-from-who

The Slashdot story has an interesting discussion on population and farming. You probably ought to set the right filter slider to exclude -1 rated comments.

That was Thursday. On Friday, the State of California formally joined the WHO. Governor Gavin travelled to the Davos conference in Switzerland and was scheduled to speak, but the State Department quashed that. He met with the Director-General of the WHO and his office issued a statement:

“As President Trump withdraws the United States from the World Health Organization, California is stepping up under Governor Gavin Newsom — becoming the first, and currently the only, state to join the WHO’s Global Outbreak Alert & Response Network (GOARN), strengthening public health preparedness and rapid response coordination,” Newsom’s office said in a statement.

...

“The Trump administration’s withdrawal from WHO is a reckless decision that will hurt all Californians and Americans,” Newsom said in a statement. “California will not bear witness to the chaos this decision will bring. We will continue to foster partnerships across the globe and remain at the forefront of public health preparedness, including through our membership as the only state in WHO’s Global Outbreak Alert & Response Network.”

Go, Gavin! Here's hoping that other states will step up and join the WHO and flip a massive bird to the Feds. I would probably die laughing if all 50 states plus the territories joined up!

Gavin has also been instrumental in forming a "coalition of states in launching both the West Coast Health Alliance and the Governors Public Health Alliance to lead public health policies that diverge from that of the White House."

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5703447-who-gavin-newsom-california/

https://yro.slashdot.org/story/26/01/23/2350246/california-becomes-first-state-to-join-who-disease-network-after-us-exit

ysabetwordsmith

A major storm is sweeping over America. Here it has just started to snow.

Here is a post about keeping water liquid for birds. If you have feeders, make sure they're full.

Looking for something to do? Buy Nothing Day has links to many crafts and other activities.

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Today is cloudy and frigid. The first fine snowflakes are beginning to fall. Much snow is predicted for the weekend.

I fed the birds. I've seen several sparrows, a pair of cardinals plus an extra male, and a starling.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 1/25/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

I also put more seed in the hopper feeder, so that's full in case snow covers the ground. I've seen one female and four male cardinals.

Snow is still dusting down, just enough to leave a white film over flat things and pockets in the grassl.

EDIT 1/25/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

The birds have disappeared, likely holed up somewhere sheltered.

EDIT 1/25/26 -- I brought in more firewood for the woodstove.

I've seen birds off and on, plus a fox squirrel.

EDIT 1/25/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

Snow has made a light layer of frosting over everything.

As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.

Current Mood: busy

james_davis_nicoll

I got an email from Riotminds providing me with a free preview of their upcoming Wicked Dew - Victorian Horror RPG. What caught my eye is that it seems to be entirely online. I've asked if there's a downloadable rulebook I overlooked, but I can see why a company might adopt a purely online approach.

[Update]

There will be a printed book.

ysabetwordsmith

A friend from Tennessee shared this video made by a nearby police station, a parody of "Let It Snow." Bear in mind that they're expecting a lot of snow, in an area that rarely gets any, so folks have neither the experience nor the equipment to deal with heavy snow safely.

Current Mood: amused

ysabetwordsmith

Here are the content notes for "The Bones of Chihuly."

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

People have expressed interest in deep topics, so this list focuses on philosophical questions.

Under our government are there any rights that you have but shouldn’t? How about rights you don’t have but should?

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Today I made apple topping. A slight tactical error: all we have to pour it over is vanilla ice cream, and the weather is currently subzero. 0_o Perhaps tomorrow I'll make something else to go with it.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: accomplished

conuly

And not, apparently, legitimately going anywhere?

Guys, you need to tell me these things! Now where am I supposed to pirate this one from? (I mean, uh, legally obtain it - oh, fuck it.)

shadowkat

1. Sleep

I might actually get more than 6 hours sleep tonight. ( general state of my health such as it is )

2. The Weather outside is frightful...actually it's just really windy and as a result, really cold. ( it's cold and everyone is cancelling activities this weekend except for insane Prospect Park hikers )

3. The Unasked for, but you will get it anyway...Daily Buffy Rewatch Post - for those who are remotely interested.

On the Buffy Re-Watch - about to enter one of my favorite stretches in the Spike redemption arc - Conversations with Dead People through Never Leave Me. These episodes, along with Lies My Parents Told Me - explain the Spike/Buffy relationship rather well or what drew the characters together.
And what they needed to learn from each other. ( Where I feel the need to explain my thoughts on it for the millioneth time )

(This is probably the only television show that I've felt the need to endlessly write about. I've written about others just not to this degree. I don't what it is about Buffy that makes me feel the need to do this...)

4. Social media has found a way to convince me to check out Star Fleet Academy (which I was previously ambivalent about) and breaking my boycott of Paramount +. How? ( Read more... )

5. Not that any one cares any longer...(time was I'd see a lot of posts on this, now, John Scalzi didn't even post on it) - the Oscar nominations came out.
( Read more... )
Actually most of the nominees this year were kind of amazing. 20 Cool, Shocking, and Downright Wild Facts about the 2026 Oscars( Read more... )

*********

January Question a Day Memage

19. What colour scheme is your bedroom?

I don't know - shades of blue, with some red in there? (The bed spread, throw pillows - blue, coverlet, white, rug - it's a turkish red and blue rug, photo on wall of niece and big fluffy white (streaked with red) cats.

20. Have you read any of the Winnie the Pooh books?

Yes. To say I was an avid reader as a child would be a gross understatement. I couldn't read until the second-third grade, but once I figured out how? I read whatever I could find. I also had them read to me at one stage. I've read most of the children's classics. Plus the Winnie the Pooh books had pictures and illustrations.

21. Do you like wearing colourful socks? What do the brightest socks you own look like?

I tend to only wear them at home - and they usually are fluffy stay at home socks. The brightest ones had a raccoon on them - but I lost them, now they are the purple fluffy ones. I also have a pair of fluffy socks with penguins on them. My difficulty with socks is I lose them doing laundry.

22. In January 1496, Leonardo da Vinci unsuccessfully tested a flying machine. Do you like flying?

Not really? I mean it's okay. I don't mind being in the plane. But I'm six foot, and planes are built for midgets. Also, I hate the logistics of flying? Which has only gotten worse over the years? Too many odds and bits to worry about. Personally, I prefer trains - easier to get on and off, not as many things to worry about, more comfortable seats, bigger windows, better views, and more leg room.

23. The pirate William Kidd was born this month in 1645. Have you read Treasure Island?

No. Seen it performed a lot on screen, but never felt the need to read it.

ysabetwordsmith

We've passed the third week of January. This includes more of the dropoff days: January 17, January 19, and the third Friday.

It's good for people to make their own plans, with help if wanted or needed. Variations of "How is that working for you?" are used to gauge progress. Here's an example from Brief Action Planning with a flow chart. This concept applies to most problem-solving situations, and it's something that anyone can learn to use.

The above approach is a shorthand version of the engineer problem-solving method. It requires following several steps such as defining a problem, brainstorming solutions, testing a solution, evaluating results, and making changes if necessary.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: accomplished

ioplokon

Check out this free, online short film festival out of Quebec. They have a cool selection of films - lots of LGBT/queer stuff! And there are English subtitles.

ysabetwordsmith

Cities Must Fix Inspections

Think permitting and inspections reform don't matter? Listen to this hellish account.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Today is partly sunny and cold. Heavy snow and deep cold are predicted for the weekend. :/

I fed the birds. I've seen a small flock of sparrows and a male cardinal.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 1/23/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

I've seen a large flock of sparrows and a female downy woodpecker.

EDIT 1/23/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 1/23/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

I am done for the night.

Current Mood: busy

james_davis_nicoll

Su Lin dutifully accepts a social obligation, only to find herself embroiled in another murder and further colonial machinations.

The Angsana Tree Mystery (Crown Colony, volume 8) by Ovidia Yu

prettygoodword

lignify (LIG-nuh-fai) - v., to turn into wood or into woody tissue; to become rigid or fixed like something wooden.

Can be transitive (turn something else into wood) or intransitive (turn one/itself into wood). Biologically, this is caused by formation and deposit of lignin in cell walls, which in certain plants can happen during secondary growth. I can see this being used in a P.G. Wodehouse novel, when the butler's face lignifies as the young cad prattles on, not realizing he's given himself away. This was coined in French as lignifier, from the Latin root līgnum, wood.

---L.

ysabetwordsmith

Snowflake Challenge 12: Appreciation

Today's challenge is all about delivering appreciation where it's due. Who makes your fandom life better?

Make an appreciation post to those who enhance your fandom life. Appreciate them in bullet points, prose, poetry, a moodboard, a song... whatever moves you!

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

bookclub_dw is running a poll about what to read in February.

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Today's theme is Libraries and Librarians.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

conuly

If you're actually writing for children, especially young children, then I guess you don't want to scare them off - but if you're writing for adolescents or adults you can afford to be honest.

So here's the thing. Every book or story in which a character gets glasses for the first time - or the second if their first pair is painfully out of date - emphasizes how clear everything is and how they can see so much detail that they had no idea they were missing. And yes, that's a thing. None of them point out that it's a thing that can be less "wondrous" and more "disorienting and distracting" until you've gotten used to seeing that much detail.

None of them mention that if your prescription is strong enough - especially if there's astigmatism involved - your perception will be wonky and you'll have a hard time judging how close and far things are for a day or two.

Definitely none of them mention that you will absolutely get eye strain every time you get a new prescription, and possibly headaches or nausea to accompany it. It goes away, again, in a day or two, but until it does you'll feel like you're cross-eyed at all times. (And with children, every year is a new prescription. They grow, which means their eyeballs grow, and just like that growth is unlikely to suddenly give them perfect vision if they already were nearsighted, it's also unlikely to keep them exactly where they were before.)

Absolutely none of them point out that if you've never worn glasses before you'll have to spend the aforementioned day or two learning how to not see the frames. This is also true if your old frames were much bigger than the new ones, but that, at least, is less likely to apply to children - their faces grow along with the rest of them, necessitating larger frames, so even if they choose a smaller overall style with the new pair the fact that it fits properly may even out.

Moving past the realm of accurate fiction writing, children really should have their first optometrist appointment, at the latest, in the summer before first grade (so, aged 5 or 6 years old). Ideally, they'll have it before they start school, at age 2 or 3, but you can't convince people on that point. They should have a new appointment every year until the age of 20 or so, or every two years if every year really is unfeasible, even if you don't think you see the signs of poor vision. They won't complain that they can't see, because they'll just assume that their vision is normal. This is true even if they wear glasses - you never notice how bad your eyes have gotten until you get a new prescription, and then it's like "whoa".

The screening done at school or at the doctor's office is imperfect at best. You really want the optometrist.

*******************

( Read more... )

ysabetwordsmith

Here are the location notes for "The Bones of Chihuly."

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

james_davis_nicoll

DAVOS, SWITZERLAND – Following his poorly-received and rambling address at the World Economic Forum, U.S. President Donald Trump angrily demanded that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney personally give him the standing ovation he earned for his speech yesterday.

james_davis_nicoll

Canada denied spot on the Bored of Peace.

This is roughly on par with being denied a lifetime supply of dogshit popsicles.

shadowkat

I've decided the world went nuts long ago and I just happen to reside within it. It does make want to stay in my apartment and hibernate at times, like the human version of a bear. Wouldn't it be nice if we could all make like a bear and just hibernate through the winter months?

Speaking of winter - it's decided to thrust itself up the United States proverbial ass with a nasty vengeance this weekend. If you have weekend plans to travel anywhere within the US, with the possible except of the Pacific Northwest? I'd cancel them. This is a good weekend to make like a bear and hibernate. For myself? I decided to take Monday off, and canceled my Physical Therapy appointment scheduled for Monday. ( Read more... )

Overall - I think my knees are getting better? But I foresee more doctors in my future.

***

Found an article in Elephant Journal via FB - the best advice I ever saw in Ask Amy Column (kind of the modern version of Dear Abby or the print version of Am I an Asshole (spoiler? They usually are).
( gist in case you can't read it )

***

Rewatched "Him" - Buffy S7 Episode - I think 7? I can't remember the number?

It's a favorite - because I think it's hilarious, and it does a good job of satirizing/lampooning the romantic relationships/entanglements on Buffy to date. And the whole love at first sight or lust trope.

But I picked up on something that I hadn't previously - a little annoyance.

Buffy tells Dawn in Him - that her feelings for RJ aren't real. And she's rather cruel and condescending about it.

Dawn: What I feel for him is real. You don't understand -
Buffy: I think it's real for you.

It's an echo of what she said to Spike in Entropy, before he ended up sleeping with Anya.

"I think it's real for you."

Ugh. Buffy. I want to smack her. I'm not surprised both Spike and Dawn yelled at her.

ysabetwordsmith

Here are the character notes for "The Bones of Chihuly."

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

This poem is spillover from the March 4, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by a prompt from

librarygeek. It has been sponsored by a pool with

fuzzyred. This poem belongs to the Big One and Shiv threads of the Polychrome Heroics series.

Warning: This poem contains intense topics that may distress some readers, especially glass artists and fans of glass art. Highlight to read the more detailed warnings, some of which are spoilers. It includes upset friends, crying man, emotional first aid, Shiv's awkward but effective crisis response, Chihuly Garden and Glass destroyed by earthquake, salvage operations, insufficient organization causing emotional upset, reference to clumsiness, sorting broken glass that used to be art, and other challenges. If these are sensitive issues for you, please consider your taste and headspace before deciding if this is something you want to read.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Today is cloudy and chilly.

I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 1/22/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 1/22/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 1/22/26 -- I filled the trolley twice with large branches that I hauled to the ritual meadow. Now all that's left of the brushpile by the driveway is one big forked branch that I can't break down myself, and the leftover twigs that will need to be raked up. \o/

I've seen a large flock of sparrows, a male and a female cardinal separately, and a starling.

EDIT 1/22/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

I've seen a pair of cardinals.

I am done for the night.

Current Mood: busy

prettygoodword

serophobia (ser-uh-FOH-bee-uh) - n., fear of, dislike of, or prejudice against people testing positive for a given pathogen, especially HIV.

So commonly HIV that many dictionaries give only that in their definition. Coined from sero-, combining form of serum (from Latin serum, whey) + phobia, fear of (from Ancient Greek phóbos, fear). And some day I need to dive into that whey > serum connection in more detail.

---L.

james_davis_nicoll

An unhappily married man's quest for the truth leads into a past almost everyone has forgotten.

The Iowa Baseball Confederacy by W. P. Kinsella

ysabetwordsmith

This year I'm doing Community Thursdays. Some of my activity will involve maintaining communities I run, and my favorites. Some will involve checking my list of subscriptions and posting in lower-traffic ones. Today I have interacted with the following communities...

* Posted "How to Restart When You've Fallen Off Your Goals" in

goals_on_dw.

* Continued checking and responding to Wishlist posts in

snowflake_challenge. See my Granting Wishes post.

* Made my 3 nominations for the Rose and Bay Awards: Other Project in

crowdfunding. Nominations are still open through January, so if you haven't made yours yet, we could sure use more! Boost your favorite crowdfunded projects and patrons from 2025.

Current Mood: busy

conuly

Ms. Marcus says that an occasional poem is a poem
written about something
important
or special
that's gonna happen
or already did.
Think of a specific occasion, she says—and write about it.

Like what?! Lamont asks.
He's all slouched down in his seat.
I don't feel like writing about no occasion.

How about your birthday? Ms. Marcus says.
What about it? Just a birthday. Comes in June and it ain't
June, Lamont says. As a matter of fact,
he says, it's January and it's snowing.
Then his voice gets real low and he says
And when it's January and all cold like this
feels like June's a long, long ways away.

The whole class looks at Ms. Marcus.
Some of the kids are nodding.
Outside the sky looks like it's made out of metal
and the cold, cold air is rattling the windowpanes
and coming underneath them too.

I seen Lamont's coat.
It's gray and the sleeves are too short.
It's down but it looks like a lot of the feathers fell out
a long time ago.
Ms. Marcus got a nice coat.
It's down too but real puffy so
maybe when she's inside it
she can't even tell January from June.

Then write about January, Ms. Marcus says, that's
an occasion.
But she looks a little bit sad when she says it
Like she's sorry she ever brought the whole
occasional poem thing up.

I was gonna write about Mama's funeral
but Lamont and Ms. Marcus going back and forth
zapped all the ideas from my head.

I guess them arguing
on a Tuesday in January's an occasion
So I guess this is an occasional poem.

*************

Link

conuly

No real symptoms, but I'm a little stuffy and super sleepy.

******************************

( Read more... )

ysabetwordsmith

In this case, gizmology and super-intellect. I went to high school with guys like this.

Current Mood: amused

ysabetwordsmith

This poem was written outside the regular prompt calls. It fills "The Milky Way" square in my 1-1-25 card for the Public Domain Day Bingo fest. It has been sponsored by a pool with

fuzzyred.

"A Scarf of Stars"

In winter,
on a moonless night,

the Milky Way shimmers
like a scarf of stars

wound around
night's black neck.

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

pattrose made fanart for Love Is For Children as part of the

snowflake_challenge. :D

( Read more... )

Current Mood: excited

ysabetwordsmith

moonhare posted a lovely picture of snow, and a very amusing still life of "Snow Predicted." It got me thinking that occasions would make a great theme for still life in general.

Current Mood: amused

ysabetwordsmith

A friend asked about shopping for clothes over 40, with an eye toward age-appropriate and fashionable wear, given an opera subscription. That's different from my typical needs, but I'm familiar enough with wrangling clothes to have plenty of ideas ...

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

shadowkat

So, I'm scrolling through my Dreamwidth Correspondence List, and finding all sorts of interesting things!

* Disney attempts to create a fun marketing meme only to delete it when it goes unexpectedly wrong..except you can't easily delete things on the internet

"Social media changed the marketing game forever. Nowadays, brands gain popularity and "street cred" by engaging with folks in comment sections and through relatable posts. It's estimated that when brands reply to comments on Threads, it boosts their engagement by 42%.

However, some posts on social media can turn against big brands, and that's exactly what recently happened to Disney. "Share a Disney quote that sums up how you're feeling right now!" they prompted their fans. But they got a little more than they anticipated: people really let them know how they were feeling, especially about the social and political state of the country. [Americans aren't happy campers, needless to say.]

And, in a moment of poor judgment, they deleted the thread, resulting in a "Streisand effect": instead of going away, the screenshots from the thread went viral."

* Donate what you can - Cross Stitch Patterns to Support Minnesota Non-Profits and Mutual Aid

"As a crafter, I believe in 'craftivism' - a form of activism that uses craft to convey political or social messages. Not only that, but during times of hardship, trauma, and chaos, craft, art, and joy is a form of resistance.

Patterns are created using Floss Cross and manual adjustments - NO AI ART HERE.

The idea is this - FREE cross stitch (alpha) patterns. They can be used for cross stitch, needlepoint, and more. My only ask is that you read about and check out the links I have posted to various Minneapolis/Twin Cities/Minnesota nonprofits and mutual aids and donate if and where you can, whether it be monetarily or by sharing and amplifying these organizations."

[I'm not really a crafter - I am more of a fine artist - so I'm just sharing it with you. Well unless you can poorly knitted scarves, blankets and hats (some unfinished) - crafting, in which case yes.]

* Lore Olympus Will Be Amazon Prime Video's next Animated Show

Webtoon's hit Greek myth romance is getting animated courtesy of Prime Video and the Jim Henson Company.

[Jim Henson Company? Interesting.]

I'd rather they made the Buffy Comics into an animated series, particularly the Last Slayer (which I adored) about a 50 something Buffy and Spike hooking up, and training Willow/Tara's daughter after both died, in an AU version of the verse. But that's just me.

Profile

JMA-PSOS

January 2026

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Page Summary

conuly - D’oh!
ysabetwordsmith - Snowflake Challenge 13: Community
ysabetwordsmith - Early Humans
ysabetwordsmith - Birdfeeding
james_davis_nicoll - The Memoirs of a Survivor by Doris Lessing
conuly - In other news, I've been watching Killjoys with E
ysabetwordsmith - Today's Cooking
ysabetwordsmith - Free Epic Poll
ysabetwordsmith - Poem: "lacquerware poet"
ysabetwordsmith - Warming Spices
shadowkat - Lazy Saturday - too cold to do anything but layabout and watch television
sturgeonslawyer - Slava Ukraini!
thewayne - The USA formally withdraws from the World Health Organization, California joins it
ysabetwordsmith - Snow
ysabetwordsmith - Birdfeeding
james_davis_nicoll - This is interesting
ysabetwordsmith - Watch "Stay at Home"
ysabetwordsmith - Content notes for "The Bones of Chihuly"
ysabetwordsmith - Philosophical Questions: Rights
ysabetwordsmith - Recipe: "Apple Topping"
conuly - Why didn't anybody tell me that She-Ra was going off Netflix in a month?
shadowkat - So glad it's Friday finally...
ysabetwordsmith - New Year's Resolutions Check In
ioplokon - Pleins Ecrans: Free short film festival this week-next
ysabetwordsmith - Affordable Housing
ysabetwordsmith - Birdfeeding
james_davis_nicoll - The Angsana Tree Mystery (Crown Colony, volume 8) By Ovidia Yu
prettygoodword - lignify
ysabetwordsmith - Snowflake Challenge 12: Appreciation
ysabetwordsmith - Books
ysabetwordsmith - Follow Friday 1-23-26: Libraries and Librarians
conuly - I was reading a story in which a young character gets a new pair of glasses
ysabetwordsmith - Location notes for "The Bones of Chihuly"
james_davis_nicoll - Trump demands Carney give him his standing ovation from Davos
james_davis_nicoll - Tragic
shadowkat - (no subject)
ysabetwordsmith - Character notes for "The Bones of Chihuly"
ysabetwordsmith - Poem: "The Bones of Chihuly"
ysabetwordsmith - Birdfeeding
prettygoodword - serophobia
james_davis_nicoll - The Iowa Baseball Confederacy by W. P. Kinsella
ysabetwordsmith - Community Thursdays
conuly - Occasional Poem by Jacqueline Woodson
conuly - I wonder if, despite my best efforts, I've managed to come down with a mild cold
ysabetwordsmith - Superpowers
ysabetwordsmith - Poem: "A Scarf of Stars"
ysabetwordsmith - Art
ysabetwordsmith - Snow
ysabetwordsmith - Opera Outfits Over 40
shadowkat - Interesting Tid-Bits from my DW Correspondence List

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