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Birdfeeding
May. 18th, 2026 01:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithToday is cloudy, mild, and wet. It has varied between light rain, pouring rain, and "the air is water" outside. We need the rain, though.
I fed the birds. I haven't seen any.
EDIT 5/18/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
.
I fed the birds. I haven't seen any.
EDIT 5/18/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
.
Poem: "A Spark in the Dark"
May. 18th, 2026 01:33 pmysabetwordsmithThis poem came out of the May 2026 ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
crowdfunding Creative Jam. It was inspired by a prompt from siliconshaman. It also fills the "wait" square in my 5-1-26 card for the Greek Myth Fest bingo. This poem belongs to the Blueshift Troupers series.
( Read more... )
crowdfunding Creative Jam. It was inspired by a prompt from siliconshaman. It also fills the "wait" square in my 5-1-26 card for the Greek Myth Fest bingo. This poem belongs to the Blueshift Troupers series.( Read more... )
Half-Price Sale in Polychrome Heroics
May. 18th, 2026 11:49 amysabetwordsmithThis week, the poetry of Polychrome Heroics is on sale for half price from Monday, May 18 through Sunday, May 24. This series is superhero fantasy. It features themes of heroism, coming of age, diversity, identity kink, family of choice, friendship, and cultural engineering. Sale prices range from $5 to $319, so hopefully there will be something for everyone.
Prices on open epics are locked at the time of opening; however, if anyone wants to donate to open epics and buy poetry, spending $100 will get you the quarter-price rate on the new poems, regardless of the rate on the open epic(s) you support. There are no open epics at present, so you may open one if you wish.
We are repeating the special discount for purchases of $100 or more, in which you get poetry at 25% of its original price instead of 50%. (Note that this increases the amount of poetry you get, rather than reducing the amount of money spent; the point is to get this stuff off of my desk. Yes, I can afford it.) That size of donation also makes you a k-fan which comes with some other perks, like a year-end collection of a poetic series. If several folks want to bundle their orders to make the $100 threshold and have one person send it all, that's okay; you'll get the discount and I'll list all your names as donors, but you'll have to decide amongst you who gets the k-fan credit. If you host a pool, please close it the day before the sale closes, so you have time to collect funds and turn them in on time.
Some of the poems are in sequence of related action, so in places there are prerequisites before a poem can be published. They can be sponsored at any time, just might have to wait for publication until something else gets posted first. Those are marked accordingly. I have also made lists of poems which unlock sequels, and poems which have prerequisites.
Linkback perk: The following poems have verses left to reveal. Boost the signal for this half-price sale and tell me which poem you want to extend.
"A Sense of Weather Changes"
"The Loving Embrace of Night"
"Generations of Cooks Past"
"Homefree and Clear "
"One Bite at a Time"
"Mishpocha"
"Changing Your Nature"
"Besa"
About characters and storylines: The storylines feature multiple characters, so if you want poems about ONE specific character, look closely. The thumbnail descriptions here give some indication who features in each poem. The storyline pages are adding precise, complete information about which characters appear in each poem. If you need more than what's already visible, you can ask me.
About timing: If you want maximum choice, shop early. We usually send a batch of things to my father near the end of a sale, and those poems will be posted as I have time.
About pools: Yes, you can combine your funds with other prompters to get the quarter-price rate. Yes, you can combine your funds with other prompters to buy a bigger poem. Yes, you can offer to match donations by other people. However, the wordsmith is not also a math whiz! After several attempts to find a way that I can work with pools and matches, I have concluded that this is over my head. (I did figure out how to avoid generating fractional pennies, though: all initial prices are now whole dollars, which means they cut evenly into halves and quarters.) So if you want to host a pool or a match, make a post for that in your blog or other venue, then comment here with what you're doing and include a link to wherever the discussion will be. You figure out the poems, you collect the funds, and when stuff is fully funded, you send me the money and the list of what it's for. Then I'll post the goodies. Please close the pool in time to collect donations by the end of the sale, so I can start posting pool poems no later than the day after the sale.
Before placing your order, please check this sale page to see what is still unsold! I will try to update the page as things sell, and it's likely to be the case that some poems will be marked SOLD before appearing in posts. People often buy things in batches, which means that selling gets ahead of posting. Also sometimes people ask for the same thing at the same time, so that not all overlaps are preventable. If you have alternate instructions in case you request something that has just sold, please include that in your message; otherwise I'll email you back and ask what you want to do.
Poems that unlock sequels: "Your Emotional Abilities"
Poems that have prerequisites: "A Beautiful Paradox"
FOR SALE
18 poems, $3,322 ÷ 2 = $1,661
prices from $5 to $319
BROKEN ANGELS (2 poems,was $323, sale price $161.50
"A Proper Community Is a Commonwealth"
Story Date: Mid-February, 2016
Summary: Boss Blaster watches Pressnall Pocket Neighborhood go from a site plan to a community with new residents.
329 lines,was $165, sale price $82.50
"Play Off the Energy of the Crowd"
Story Date: Saturday, June 18, 2016
Summary: Shiv takes up Boss Blaster's offer to treat him at the food trucks.
316 lines,was $158, sale price $79
KRAKEN (3 poems,was $154, sale price $77)
"The Frequent Passage from Hand to Hand"
Story Date: April 2002
Summary: Kraken appreciates BookCrossing.
56 lines,was $20, sale price $10
"Filled with Things You Don't Know"
Story Date: Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Summary: Marjane works on library decor and gets a new assistant.
98 lines,was $49, sale price $24.50
"Lágrimas da Floresta Tropical"
Story Date: Monday, November 17, 2014
Summary: Pinion and Camberhawk team up with Kayapó forest guardians to stop a logging incursion.
170 lines,was $85, sale price $42.50
RUTLEDGE (5 poems,was $867, sale price $433.50)
"Nothing Like Looking"
Story Date: Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Summary: Aria visits Rutledge as part of Many Paths Up the Mountain.
466 lines,was $233, sale price $116.50
"Your Emotional Abilities"
Story Date: Saturday, May 30, 2015
Summary: Amethyst gives Johan some ideas about accommodations that might help cope with his current challenges.
366 lines,was $183, sale price $91.50
"Shag Carpet Cuddles"
Story Date: June 2015
Summary: The Vermont Shag Carpet Cats love snuggling with people.
19 lines,was $10, sale price $5
"A Beautiful Paradox"
Story Date: Friday, June 5, 2015
Summary: Johan loses his temper
259 lines,was $130, sale price $65
Available for posting after "Your Emotional Abilities" has been sponsored and published.
"Learning New Skills"
Story Date: Sunday, June 12, 2016
Summary: Wrenley Immen teaches her new neighbor about gardening.
311 lines,was $311, sale price $155.50
Double price for research.
OTHER POLYCHROME POEMS (8 poems,was $1978, sale price $989)
"The Four Marks of True Repentance"
Story Date: Monday, August 13, 2013
Summary: Three former child soldiers move to America.
953 lines,was $477, sale price $238.50
"When Everyone Around You Has Theirs Bowed"
Story Date: Sunday, April 6, 2014
Summary: Therapy for men's genital injury tends to focus on loss, but Marvis Willing knows the proud history of eunuchs.
304 lines,was $152, sale price $76
"Let's Go on This Journey Together"
Story Date: Monday, September 29, 2014
Summary: After breaking his arm, Linus gets a lot of support from his friends.
638 lines,was $638, sale price $319
Double price for research.
"Hear a Thousand Stars Singing"
Story Date: Night of Sunday, October 25, 2015
Summary: Fascinated by the idea of becoming a robonaut, Quain takes up stargazing.
28 lines,was $15, sale price $7.50
"Far Stronger Links"
Story Date: Friday, September 4, 2015
Summary: A coworker's loss inspires support at work.
515 lines,was $258, sale price $129
"Aim a Little Above It"
Nagi deals with a young man who tries to rob her.
260 lines,was $130, sale price $65
"Formidable Tasks of Adaptation"
Story Date: Sunday, March 20, 2016
Summary: Denim has had enough of her parents' shit.
359 lines,was $180, sale price $90
"Upholding It, Wherever Found"
Story Date: Thursday, November 3, 2016
Summary: Gail Somerville works for Interpol, but feels increasingly uncomfortable with it.
256 lines,was $128, sale price $64
Prices on open epics are locked at the time of opening; however, if anyone wants to donate to open epics and buy poetry, spending $100 will get you the quarter-price rate on the new poems, regardless of the rate on the open epic(s) you support. There are no open epics at present, so you may open one if you wish.
We are repeating the special discount for purchases of $100 or more, in which you get poetry at 25% of its original price instead of 50%. (Note that this increases the amount of poetry you get, rather than reducing the amount of money spent; the point is to get this stuff off of my desk. Yes, I can afford it.) That size of donation also makes you a k-fan which comes with some other perks, like a year-end collection of a poetic series. If several folks want to bundle their orders to make the $100 threshold and have one person send it all, that's okay; you'll get the discount and I'll list all your names as donors, but you'll have to decide amongst you who gets the k-fan credit. If you host a pool, please close it the day before the sale closes, so you have time to collect funds and turn them in on time.
Some of the poems are in sequence of related action, so in places there are prerequisites before a poem can be published. They can be sponsored at any time, just might have to wait for publication until something else gets posted first. Those are marked accordingly. I have also made lists of poems which unlock sequels, and poems which have prerequisites.
Linkback perk: The following poems have verses left to reveal. Boost the signal for this half-price sale and tell me which poem you want to extend.
"A Sense of Weather Changes"
"The Loving Embrace of Night"
"Generations of Cooks Past"
"Homefree and Clear "
"One Bite at a Time"
"Mishpocha"
"Changing Your Nature"
"Besa"
About characters and storylines: The storylines feature multiple characters, so if you want poems about ONE specific character, look closely. The thumbnail descriptions here give some indication who features in each poem. The storyline pages are adding precise, complete information about which characters appear in each poem. If you need more than what's already visible, you can ask me.
About timing: If you want maximum choice, shop early. We usually send a batch of things to my father near the end of a sale, and those poems will be posted as I have time.
About pools: Yes, you can combine your funds with other prompters to get the quarter-price rate. Yes, you can combine your funds with other prompters to buy a bigger poem. Yes, you can offer to match donations by other people. However, the wordsmith is not also a math whiz! After several attempts to find a way that I can work with pools and matches, I have concluded that this is over my head. (I did figure out how to avoid generating fractional pennies, though: all initial prices are now whole dollars, which means they cut evenly into halves and quarters.) So if you want to host a pool or a match, make a post for that in your blog or other venue, then comment here with what you're doing and include a link to wherever the discussion will be. You figure out the poems, you collect the funds, and when stuff is fully funded, you send me the money and the list of what it's for. Then I'll post the goodies. Please close the pool in time to collect donations by the end of the sale, so I can start posting pool poems no later than the day after the sale.
Before placing your order, please check this sale page to see what is still unsold! I will try to update the page as things sell, and it's likely to be the case that some poems will be marked SOLD before appearing in posts. People often buy things in batches, which means that selling gets ahead of posting. Also sometimes people ask for the same thing at the same time, so that not all overlaps are preventable. If you have alternate instructions in case you request something that has just sold, please include that in your message; otherwise I'll email you back and ask what you want to do.
Poems that unlock sequels: "Your Emotional Abilities"
Poems that have prerequisites: "A Beautiful Paradox"
FOR SALE
18 poems, $3,322 ÷ 2 = $1,661
prices from $5 to $319
BROKEN ANGELS (2 poems,
"A Proper Community Is a Commonwealth"
Story Date: Mid-February, 2016
Summary: Boss Blaster watches Pressnall Pocket Neighborhood go from a site plan to a community with new residents.
329 lines,
"Play Off the Energy of the Crowd"
Story Date: Saturday, June 18, 2016
Summary: Shiv takes up Boss Blaster's offer to treat him at the food trucks.
316 lines,
KRAKEN (3 poems,
"The Frequent Passage from Hand to Hand"
Story Date: April 2002
Summary: Kraken appreciates BookCrossing.
56 lines,
"Filled with Things You Don't Know"
Story Date: Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Summary: Marjane works on library decor and gets a new assistant.
98 lines,
"Lágrimas da Floresta Tropical"
Story Date: Monday, November 17, 2014
Summary: Pinion and Camberhawk team up with Kayapó forest guardians to stop a logging incursion.
170 lines,
RUTLEDGE (5 poems,
"Nothing Like Looking"
Story Date: Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Summary: Aria visits Rutledge as part of Many Paths Up the Mountain.
466 lines,
"Your Emotional Abilities"
Story Date: Saturday, May 30, 2015
Summary: Amethyst gives Johan some ideas about accommodations that might help cope with his current challenges.
366 lines,
"Shag Carpet Cuddles"
Story Date: June 2015
Summary: The Vermont Shag Carpet Cats love snuggling with people.
19 lines,
"A Beautiful Paradox"
Story Date: Friday, June 5, 2015
Summary: Johan loses his temper
259 lines,
Available for posting after "Your Emotional Abilities" has been sponsored and published.
"Learning New Skills"
Story Date: Sunday, June 12, 2016
Summary: Wrenley Immen teaches her new neighbor about gardening.
311 lines,
Double price for research.
OTHER POLYCHROME POEMS (8 poems,
"The Four Marks of True Repentance"
Story Date: Monday, August 13, 2013
Summary: Three former child soldiers move to America.
953 lines,
"When Everyone Around You Has Theirs Bowed"
Story Date: Sunday, April 6, 2014
Summary: Therapy for men's genital injury tends to focus on loss, but Marvis Willing knows the proud history of eunuchs.
304 lines,
"Let's Go on This Journey Together"
Story Date: Monday, September 29, 2014
Summary: After breaking his arm, Linus gets a lot of support from his friends.
638 lines,
Double price for research.
"Hear a Thousand Stars Singing"
Story Date: Night of Sunday, October 25, 2015
Summary: Fascinated by the idea of becoming a robonaut, Quain takes up stargazing.
28 lines,
"Far Stronger Links"
Story Date: Friday, September 4, 2015
Summary: A coworker's loss inspires support at work.
515 lines,
"Aim a Little Above It"
Nagi deals with a young man who tries to rob her.
260 lines,
"Formidable Tasks of Adaptation"
Story Date: Sunday, March 20, 2016
Summary: Denim has had enough of her parents' shit.
359 lines,
"Upholding It, Wherever Found"
Story Date: Thursday, November 3, 2016
Summary: Gail Somerville works for Interpol, but feels increasingly uncomfortable with it.
256 lines,
Monday Update 5-18-26
May. 18th, 2026 12:57 amysabetwordsmithThese are some posts from the later part of last week in case you missed them:
Economics
Birdfeeding
Geography
Affordable Housing
Birdfeeding
Philosophical Questions: Peace
Artificial Intelligence
Poem: "Never Turn Your Back"
Family Skills
Dreamwidth Points
Climate Change
Birdfeeding
Follow Friday 5-15-26: Active Communities on Dreamwidth Spring 2026 A-I
Fossils
Birdfeeding
Books
Community Thursdays
Indigenous People
Today's Adventures
Birdfeeding
Hard Things
Poem: "Walnut Park" has 46 comments. Early Humans has 22 comments. Philosophical Questions: Pregnancy has 83 comments. Safety has 83 comments.
There will be a half-price sale in Polychrome Heroics from Monday, May 18-Sunday May 24.
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth ran April 25-May 15. I have completed my posts for this year.
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Introduction to Becoming an Expert
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Architecture
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Dance
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Music
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Painting
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Poetry
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Sculpture
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Conflict Resolution
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Cooking
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Coping Skills
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Gardening
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Relationship Skills
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Repairing
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Survival Skills
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Anthropology
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Biology
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Chemistry
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Linguistics
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Meteorology
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Physics
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Psychology
"No Faster or Firmer Friendships" has 50 new verses. It belongs to Polychrome Heroics and needs $35 to be complete. Josué reads a funny poem to Maria-Vera.
The weather has been variable here. We got some rain the other day. Seen at the birdfeeders this week: a large mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, a male cardinal, a brown thrasher, a robin, a mourning dove, a gray catbird, and a fox squirrel. I saw a bobwhite quail in the savanna. :D I saw a ruby-throated hummingbird poking around the irises. I've heard the great horned owl but didn't see it. Currently blooming: pansies, violas, sweet alyssum, alliums, marigolds, honeysuckle, snapdragons, lantana, million bells, blue lobelia, petunias, portulaca, nemesia, wild chives, wood hyacinths, columbine, peonies, irises, mock orange, bergamot, Washington hawthorn, blackberries. Green fruit: raspberries. Pink fruit: mulberries.
Economics
Birdfeeding
Geography
Affordable Housing
Birdfeeding
Philosophical Questions: Peace
Artificial Intelligence
Poem: "Never Turn Your Back"
Family Skills
Dreamwidth Points
Climate Change
Birdfeeding
Follow Friday 5-15-26: Active Communities on Dreamwidth Spring 2026 A-I
Fossils
Birdfeeding
Books
Community Thursdays
Indigenous People
Today's Adventures
Birdfeeding
Hard Things
Poem: "Walnut Park" has 46 comments. Early Humans has 22 comments. Philosophical Questions: Pregnancy has 83 comments. Safety has 83 comments.
There will be a half-price sale in Polychrome Heroics from Monday, May 18-Sunday May 24.
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth ran April 25-May 15. I have completed my posts for this year.
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Introduction to Becoming an Expert
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Architecture
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Dance
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Music
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Painting
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Poetry
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Sculpture
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Conflict Resolution
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Cooking
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Coping Skills
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Gardening
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Relationship Skills
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Repairing
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Survival Skills
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Anthropology
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Biology
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Chemistry
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Linguistics
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Meteorology
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Physics
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth: Psychology
"No Faster or Firmer Friendships" has 50 new verses. It belongs to Polychrome Heroics and needs $35 to be complete. Josué reads a funny poem to Maria-Vera.
The weather has been variable here. We got some rain the other day. Seen at the birdfeeders this week: a large mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, a male cardinal, a brown thrasher, a robin, a mourning dove, a gray catbird, and a fox squirrel. I saw a bobwhite quail in the savanna. :D I saw a ruby-throated hummingbird poking around the irises. I've heard the great horned owl but didn't see it. Currently blooming: pansies, violas, sweet alyssum, alliums, marigolds, honeysuckle, snapdragons, lantana, million bells, blue lobelia, petunias, portulaca, nemesia, wild chives, wood hyacinths, columbine, peonies, irises, mock orange, bergamot, Washington hawthorn, blackberries. Green fruit: raspberries. Pink fruit: mulberries.
Economics
May. 17th, 2026 02:07 pmysabetwordsmithThe Great GASB!
There are major flaws in the accounting standards that shape municipal finance in American cities. But there’s an opportunity too: a chance to comment on — and perhaps change — those standards going forward.
Using standards that only look at roads as “assets” and not as “liabilities" hides their true cost. We cannot sell this road asset to the next town over (consider this 2014 Strong Towns post). The standards merely ask for documentation of the infrastructure, but don’t account for the obligated burden of future replacement. We are watching the consequences of that decision unfold in plain sight. Let me be clear: these are standards not laws. Yet our municipalities are marching themselves off the fiscal cliff because the standards made them do it.
( Read more... )
There are major flaws in the accounting standards that shape municipal finance in American cities. But there’s an opportunity too: a chance to comment on — and perhaps change — those standards going forward.
Using standards that only look at roads as “assets” and not as “liabilities" hides their true cost. We cannot sell this road asset to the next town over (consider this 2014 Strong Towns post). The standards merely ask for documentation of the infrastructure, but don’t account for the obligated burden of future replacement. We are watching the consequences of that decision unfold in plain sight. Let me be clear: these are standards not laws. Yet our municipalities are marching themselves off the fiscal cliff because the standards made them do it.
( Read more... )
Birdfeeding
May. 17th, 2026 12:59 pmysabetwordsmithToday is partly sunny, breezy, and humid. It's warm now and supposed to reach the mid-80sF later.
I fed the birds. I haven't seen much activity yet.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 5/17/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 5/17/26 -- I dug a hole in the pawpaw patch.
EDIT 5/17/26 -- I planted the pawpaw.
I startled a bobwhite quail in the savanna, which scuttled into the deep shade of the Midwinter grove. :D 3q3q3q!!! The bright white markings make me suspect this was a male. It is not normal for them to live alone, so I don't know where the rest of the covey is but it's probably around somewhere. This is the first one I've ever seen in the yard, how exciting! But it turns out we've had them all along. I've heard the clear "bob-white" whistle frequently, I just thought it must be some other bird because quail seemed unlikely. I'm delighted to have them around.
I've also seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, plus a starling, at the hopper feeder.
EDIT 5/17/26 -- I trimmed grass in the savanna around where I want to plant a serviceberry seedling.
EDIT 5/17/26 -- I dug a hole in the savanna.
EDIT 5/17/26 -- I planted a serviceberry in the savanna.
I've seen a male cardinal, a robin, a mourning dove, and a fox squirrel.
EDIT 5/17/26 -- I trimmed grass in the savanna around where I want to plant the second serviceberry seedling.
EDIT 5/17/26 -- I dug a hole in the savanna.
EDIT 5/17/26 -- I planted the second serviceberry in the savanna.
EDIT 5/17/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 5/17/26 -- I sowed the four big pots around the septic garden with Green Striped Cushaw, Tiny Butternut, Landrace Zucchini, and Lofthouse Landrace Muskmelon.
I did more work around the patio.
As it is now dark, I am done for the night. *goflopnow*
I fed the birds. I haven't seen much activity yet.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 5/17/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 5/17/26 -- I dug a hole in the pawpaw patch.
EDIT 5/17/26 -- I planted the pawpaw.
I startled a bobwhite quail in the savanna, which scuttled into the deep shade of the Midwinter grove. :D 3q3q3q!!! The bright white markings make me suspect this was a male. It is not normal for them to live alone, so I don't know where the rest of the covey is but it's probably around somewhere. This is the first one I've ever seen in the yard, how exciting! But it turns out we've had them all along. I've heard the clear "bob-white" whistle frequently, I just thought it must be some other bird because quail seemed unlikely. I'm delighted to have them around.
I've also seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, plus a starling, at the hopper feeder.
EDIT 5/17/26 -- I trimmed grass in the savanna around where I want to plant a serviceberry seedling.
EDIT 5/17/26 -- I dug a hole in the savanna.
EDIT 5/17/26 -- I planted a serviceberry in the savanna.
I've seen a male cardinal, a robin, a mourning dove, and a fox squirrel.
EDIT 5/17/26 -- I trimmed grass in the savanna around where I want to plant the second serviceberry seedling.
EDIT 5/17/26 -- I dug a hole in the savanna.
EDIT 5/17/26 -- I planted the second serviceberry in the savanna.
EDIT 5/17/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 5/17/26 -- I sowed the four big pots around the septic garden with Green Striped Cushaw, Tiny Butternut, Landrace Zucchini, and Lofthouse Landrace Muskmelon.
I did more work around the patio.
As it is now dark, I am done for the night. *goflopnow*
Stargate Atlantis shawl (reusing old graph)
May. 17th, 2026 06:45 pmmabianaEighteen (EIGHTEEN! 18! Yikes, how time passes) years ago I made a graph for a Stargate Atlantis cardigan. The cardigan alas is no more, and I wanted to make something else with that graph for a while. Finally I decided on a shawl because that is size neutral (the cardigan is no more because I didn't fit into it for a while and annoyingly, now I would fit into it perfectly well again but oh well spilled milk) and also goes with the shape of the motif well.
I got it done yesterday in time for taking it with me to FedCon next week. It is supposed to get warmer again, but I think it will at least in the evenings serve me well.
( knitting instructions and graph again )
Still can't get over the fact that it has been EIGHTEEN years...
I got it done yesterday in time for taking it with me to FedCon next week. It is supposed to get warmer again, but I think it will at least in the evenings serve me well.
( knitting instructions and graph again )
Still can't get over the fact that it has been EIGHTEEN years...
It really is all laundry all the time
May. 17th, 2026 10:28 amconulyPerson A: You know you're supposed to finish the laundry if you start it during your shift!
Me, silently: Don't think of it as my three loads of laundry that I didn't finish during my shift, think of it as your three loads of laundry that I got started for you. Though really, if Person B had done her laundry during her shift like she should have then neither of us would be having this conversation today.
(There was no reason for all four of the women to have their hampers literally overflowing with clothes. Somebody, or more like several somebodies, clearly has been falling down on the job here.)
Me, silently: Don't think of it as my three loads of laundry that I didn't finish during my shift, think of it as your three loads of laundry that I got started for you. Though really, if Person B had done her laundry during her shift like she should have then neither of us would be having this conversation today.
(There was no reason for all four of the women to have their hampers literally overflowing with clothes. Somebody, or more like several somebodies, clearly has been falling down on the job here.)
Geography
May. 17th, 2026 02:34 amysabetwordsmith30 Weird Geography Facts About Illinois
In this video, we uncover 30 weird and surprising geography facts about Illinois that most people have never heard of. From unusual land formations and hidden natural features to strange borders and unexpected records, Illinois is far more fascinating than it seems on the surface.
In this video, we uncover 30 weird and surprising geography facts about Illinois that most people have never heard of. From unusual land formations and hidden natural features to strange borders and unexpected records, Illinois is far more fascinating than it seems on the surface.
I may have fixed the dishwasher at work!
May. 21st, 2026 01:21 amconulyThe trick is that the top arm needs to be firmly clipped to the drawer - not jammed to the back wall. Time will tell if my fix lasts.
Edit: No, X*, not thank god, thank me. I'm the one who fixed it! God had nothing to do with any of it!
* Not the real initial.
Edit: No, X*, not thank god, thank me. I'm the one who fixed it! God had nothing to do with any of it!
* Not the real initial.
Affordable Housing
May. 16th, 2026 05:54 pmysabetwordsmith“Are We Trying To Do Nothing?”
Marblehead is like many Massachusetts towns struggling to balance state-level housing mandates with local implementation. That balancing act has resulted in the town finding a way to technically comply with the MBTA Communities Act while functionally avoiding the construction of any new housing. The town’s creative response meets the requirements of the state mandate by placing most of the zoning capacity on a golf course, where housing is unlikely to ever be built.
Standing at the microphone, hoodie sleeves pushed up, David Modica saw through all the technical “creativity,” recognized what was really happening, and posed this question:
“Are we trying to do nothing?”
( Read more... )
Marblehead is like many Massachusetts towns struggling to balance state-level housing mandates with local implementation. That balancing act has resulted in the town finding a way to technically comply with the MBTA Communities Act while functionally avoiding the construction of any new housing. The town’s creative response meets the requirements of the state mandate by placing most of the zoning capacity on a golf course, where housing is unlikely to ever be built.
Standing at the microphone, hoodie sleeves pushed up, David Modica saw through all the technical “creativity,” recognized what was really happening, and posed this question:
“Are we trying to do nothing?”
( Read more... )
Life improves slowly and goes wrong fast, and only catastrophe is clearly visible.
May. 19th, 2026 05:37 pmconulyHonestly have never heard of this person before, but what an apropos sentiment!
Ah. It seems he was "the real Doctor Strangelove", "the father of the hydrogen bomb". Well, there you have it!
*********************
( Read more... )
Ah. It seems he was "the real Doctor Strangelove", "the father of the hydrogen bomb". Well, there you have it!
( Read more... )
Right of Vengeance
May. 16th, 2026 11:57 ammarycatelli posting in booksRight of Vengeance by Thomas Doscher
Book 7 of The Vixen War Bride Series. Spoilers for the earlier ones ahead.
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Book 7 of The Vixen War Bride Series. Spoilers for the earlier ones ahead.
( Read more... )
Birdfeeding
May. 16th, 2026 09:54 amysabetwordsmithToday is cloudy, mild, and damp. It seems to have drizzled earlier.
I fed the birds. I haven't seen much activity yet.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 5/16/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 5/16/26 -- I sowed sunflower seeds gathered 10-8-25 along the south edge of the east-west strip in the prairie garden. That's the end of that envelope of seeds, and also all the sunflower planting in the prairie garden. \o/
The sun has come out somewhat, but the air is warm and humid. :P
I've seen more sparrows and house finches at the hopper feeder, along with a grackle.
EDIT 5/16/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 5/16/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 5/16/26 -- I planted the water jug of partial shade flowers in the forest garden. I planted the water jug of 20th Anniversary wildflowers in the middle north-south strip of the prairie garden. Of the various jug experiments (fruit trees, native grasses, native wildflowers, and mixes) the mixes were by far the most successful as something out of the batch always grew. I do have two surviving tree seedlings and a couple of milkweed seedlings.
EDIT 5/16/26 -- I trimmed grass around the support wire for the telephone pole, added fresh topsoil around it, then sowed cypress vine seeds.
It's been drizzling off and on today, so I haven't gotten a lot done, but I managed some things.
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I haven't seen much activity yet.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 5/16/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 5/16/26 -- I sowed sunflower seeds gathered 10-8-25 along the south edge of the east-west strip in the prairie garden. That's the end of that envelope of seeds, and also all the sunflower planting in the prairie garden. \o/
The sun has come out somewhat, but the air is warm and humid. :P
I've seen more sparrows and house finches at the hopper feeder, along with a grackle.
EDIT 5/16/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 5/16/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 5/16/26 -- I planted the water jug of partial shade flowers in the forest garden. I planted the water jug of 20th Anniversary wildflowers in the middle north-south strip of the prairie garden. Of the various jug experiments (fruit trees, native grasses, native wildflowers, and mixes) the mixes were by far the most successful as something out of the batch always grew. I do have two surviving tree seedlings and a couple of milkweed seedlings.
EDIT 5/16/26 -- I trimmed grass around the support wire for the telephone pole, added fresh topsoil around it, then sowed cypress vine seeds.
It's been drizzling off and on today, so I haven't gotten a lot done, but I managed some things.
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
Philosophical Questions: Peace
May. 16th, 2026 01:44 amysabetwordsmithPeople have expressed interest in deep topics, so this list focuses on philosophical questions.
Can people with vastly different cultural backgrounds live together peacefully? How?
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Can people with vastly different cultural backgrounds live together peacefully? How?
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Artificial Intelligence
May. 15th, 2026 11:32 pmysabetwordsmithTHE RISE OF EMOTIONAL SURVEILLANCE
Companies are monitoring workers not just for productivity but for agreeability.
The bad news is that software now purports to glean insights into the depths and vagaries of human emotion using AI, and it is coming to watch you. If it isn’t already: Morphcast, for example, has licensed its technology to a mental-health app, a program that monitors schoolchildren’s attention, and McDonald’s, which launched a promotional campaign in Portugal that scanned app users’ faces and offered them personalized coupons based on their (supposed) mood. It is one of many, many such companies doing similar work—the industry term is emotion AI or sometimes affective computing.
Back in 1984, the roleplaying came Paranoia came out. The primary antagonist was The Computer. It was always spying on people, and if they didn't look happy enough, The Computer became suspicious and sent Troubleshooters (the player characters) after them. Or each other. "Your job as a Troubleshooter is to hunt down mutants and members of secret societies. You are a mutant. You are also a member of a secret society. Won't this be fun?" It was amusing at the time, but it's far too much like modern life to be fun anymore. :( That memory of people faking happiness to minimize the risk of further abuse in a dystopia stuck with me. And now here we are.
( Read more... )
Companies are monitoring workers not just for productivity but for agreeability.
The bad news is that software now purports to glean insights into the depths and vagaries of human emotion using AI, and it is coming to watch you. If it isn’t already: Morphcast, for example, has licensed its technology to a mental-health app, a program that monitors schoolchildren’s attention, and McDonald’s, which launched a promotional campaign in Portugal that scanned app users’ faces and offered them personalized coupons based on their (supposed) mood. It is one of many, many such companies doing similar work—the industry term is emotion AI or sometimes affective computing.
Back in 1984, the roleplaying came Paranoia came out. The primary antagonist was The Computer. It was always spying on people, and if they didn't look happy enough, The Computer became suspicious and sent Troubleshooters (the player characters) after them. Or each other. "Your job as a Troubleshooter is to hunt down mutants and members of secret societies. You are a mutant. You are also a member of a secret society. Won't this be fun?" It was amusing at the time, but it's far too much like modern life to be fun anymore. :( That memory of people faking happiness to minimize the risk of further abuse in a dystopia stuck with me. And now here we are.
( Read more... )
Poem: "Never Turn Your Back"
May. 15th, 2026 10:46 pmysabetwordsmithThis poem came out of the February 2026 crowdfunding Creative Jam. It was inspired by a prompt from curiosity. It also fills the "Nonsexual Touch" square in my 2-1-26 card for the Valentines Bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by a pool with fuzzyred. This poem belong to the college arc of the Shiv thread in the Polychrome Heroics series.
Warning: This poem deals with a minor fall from a tree, superpower overstrain, and worried friends. If these are touchy topics for you, please consider your tastes and headspace before reading onward.
( Read more... )
crowdfunding Creative Jam. It was inspired by a prompt from curiosity. It also fills the "Nonsexual Touch" square in my 2-1-26 card for the Valentines Bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by a pool with fuzzyred. This poem belong to the college arc of the Shiv thread in the Polychrome Heroics series.Warning: This poem deals with a minor fall from a tree, superpower overstrain, and worried friends. If these are touchy topics for you, please consider your tastes and headspace before reading onward.
( Read more... )