Lake Lewisia #1324
31/10/25 15:27![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
scrubjayspeaksSome traditions suggested that offerings to the dead were appeasement, made in fear because they outnumber us; others made offerings in invitation, like a charcuterie board laid out for arriving guests. Then there were those who placed offerings like bait and bribe, akin to peanuts left out for a local murder of crows, who might one day bring stolen jewelry and loose change to their favorite human. The dead did outnumber the living, and some people wanted to make lots of friends in low, six-foot-deep places.
---
LL#1324
---
LL#1324
Moment of Silence: Patricia Crowther
31/10/25 15:38ysabetwordsmithFamous witch Patricia Crowther has crossed over.
And there is much rejoicing in the Summerland!
( Read more... )
And there is much rejoicing in the Summerland!
( Read more... )
Tags:
Birdfeeding
31/10/25 15:23ysabetwordsmithToday is mostly sunny and mild.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches. They drained the hopper feeder.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 10/31/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 10/31/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 10/31/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 10/31/25 -- We set up for our Samhain ritual.
A great horned owl is hoo-hooing outside. :D
I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches. They drained the hopper feeder.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 10/31/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 10/31/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 10/31/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 10/31/25 -- We set up for our Samhain ritual.
A great horned owl is hoo-hooing outside. :D
I am done for the night.
Tags:
Holiday
31/10/25 14:25ysabetwordsmithI saw this line elsenet and thought it would be fun to share here:
What day does the Christmas season begin?
( Read more... )
What day does the Christmas season begin?
( Read more... )
Tags:
Books
31/10/25 13:53ysabetwordsmithlibraries as resistance
In a system that wants to dismantle education and undermine critical thought, libraries become sanctuaries of truth, radical hope, and quiet rebellion.
Generously stocked, freely accessible, public libraries are ideal.
However, if the government destroys them, we have another option: private libraries run by actual bookworms. A library can be stocked quite cheaply with used books, hence the Little Free Library movement and swap shelves. But if you have or can afford to rent or buy space in a building, then you can provide a bigger collection. A private library is not at the mercy of the government, and you are free to do things like ban censorship.
In a system that wants to dismantle education and undermine critical thought, libraries become sanctuaries of truth, radical hope, and quiet rebellion.
Generously stocked, freely accessible, public libraries are ideal.
However, if the government destroys them, we have another option: private libraries run by actual bookworms. A library can be stocked quite cheaply with used books, hence the Little Free Library movement and swap shelves. But if you have or can afford to rent or buy space in a building, then you can provide a bigger collection. A private library is not at the mercy of the government, and you are free to do things like ban censorship.
Tags:
The demolition of the White House East Wing? ASBESTOS!!!
31/10/25 10:16thewayneRenovations in the early 1900s and 1940s probably introduced a large amount of asbestos insulation in the walls and around the plumbing in the building, which means any renovation or demolition of the building needed to have a thorough inspection and abatement plan in place before any work or demolition could be done.
And we all know that didn't happen. There's no way in hell that with the speed in which that building came down that any sort of plan or abatement could have been done. Which means all of the construction workers, White House workers, Secret Service, WH security, press, visitors, protestors, anyone walking near the area - all have been potentially exposed to asbestos.
Also, when asbestos is removed from building renovations, it has to be specially packaged for disposal, including the special handling outerwear that the workers wear. Which means the landfill that the East Wing now occupies is now a haz mat dump and probably thoroughly contaminated with free-floating asbestos. Every time more rubble gets dumped on top of the East Wing debris, the physical impact hitting the lower layers of WH debris is stirring things up and more asbestos gets pumped into the air.
https://arstechnica.com/health/2025/10/trumps-swift-demolition-of-east-wing-may-have-launched-asbestos-plumes/
Oh - and another thing? #47 also just disbanded the commission in charge of regulating and approving changes to historic buildings and monuments throughout the DC area, which would have been in charge of any renovations to the White House East Wing.
And we all know that didn't happen. There's no way in hell that with the speed in which that building came down that any sort of plan or abatement could have been done. Which means all of the construction workers, White House workers, Secret Service, WH security, press, visitors, protestors, anyone walking near the area - all have been potentially exposed to asbestos.
Also, when asbestos is removed from building renovations, it has to be specially packaged for disposal, including the special handling outerwear that the workers wear. Which means the landfill that the East Wing now occupies is now a haz mat dump and probably thoroughly contaminated with free-floating asbestos. Every time more rubble gets dumped on top of the East Wing debris, the physical impact hitting the lower layers of WH debris is stirring things up and more asbestos gets pumped into the air.
https://arstechnica.com/health/2025/10/trumps-swift-demolition-of-east-wing-may-have-launched-asbestos-plumes/
Oh - and another thing? #47 also just disbanded the commission in charge of regulating and approving changes to historic buildings and monuments throughout the DC area, which would have been in charge of any renovations to the White House East Wing.
Tags:
Wildlife
31/10/25 04:44ysabetwordsmithScientists discover a stunning new golden-tongued lizard in China
A new species of mountain lizard, Diploderma bifluviale, has been discovered in the upper Dadu River Valley of China. Its distinct traits and isolated habitat highlight the hidden biodiversity of the Hengduan Mountains.
A new species of mountain lizard, Diploderma bifluviale, has been discovered in the upper Dadu River Valley of China. Its distinct traits and isolated habitat highlight the hidden biodiversity of the Hengduan Mountains.
Garden of Repose
31/10/25 04:28ysabetwordsmithRevisit those who have passed during the year. These entries from my "Moment of Silence" tag highlight those who have died recently. Some of my posts have a "Carry on the Work" section regarding the person's accomplishments in case anyone else wants to explore those.
Browse ways to celebrate Dia de los Muertos.
Here are some things to do for Samhain. See the Greenhaven Coven page for Samhain and its recipes.
Does anyone else have names to remember?
Browse ways to celebrate Dia de los Muertos.
Here are some things to do for Samhain. See the Greenhaven Coven page for Samhain and its recipes.
Does anyone else have names to remember?
Tags:
New Year's Resolutions Check In
31/10/25 00:46ysabetwordsmithWe made it to the end of October! \o/ If you have completed some of your medium-term goals or subgoals, and/or you're still chugging away at your ongoing goals, then pat yourself on the back. You worked hard for that. We are now well into autumn. If you're doing seasonal goals, share what you're working on for this fall.
This year I'm trying something new, continuing to track goals at the end of each month. So far it seems to be helping, so that's encouraging. I'm looking at my goal list more often and trying to keep ticking off more of them. The main drawback is that this update becomes more of a chore each month.
These are the previous check in posts:
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 4
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 10
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 17
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 24
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 31
New Year's Resolutions Check In February 28
New Year's Resolutions Check In March 31
New Year's Resolutions Check In April 30
New Year's Resolutions Check In May 31
New Year's Resolutions Check In June 30
New Year's Resolutions Check In July 31
New Year's Resolutions Check In August 31
New Year's Resolutions Check In September 30
( Read more... )
This year I'm trying something new, continuing to track goals at the end of each month. So far it seems to be helping, so that's encouraging. I'm looking at my goal list more often and trying to keep ticking off more of them. The main drawback is that this update becomes more of a chore each month.
These are the previous check in posts:
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 4
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 10
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 17
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 24
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 31
New Year's Resolutions Check In February 28
New Year's Resolutions Check In March 31
New Year's Resolutions Check In April 30
New Year's Resolutions Check In May 31
New Year's Resolutions Check In June 30
New Year's Resolutions Check In July 31
New Year's Resolutions Check In August 31
New Year's Resolutions Check In September 30
( Read more... )
Bingo
30/10/25 23:52ysabetwordsmithI have made bingo down the B column of my 10-1-25 card for the Fall Festival Bingo. I also have 8 extra fills.
B1 (wizards) -- "What Wizardry Is All About" (standalone)
B2 (black / orange) -- "The Two Cottages" (Quixotic Ideas)
B3 (magic) -- "Maybe She's Just Singing" (Practical Magic)
B4 (witches) -- "The Unretired Witch" (The Adventures of Aldornia and Zenobia)
B5 (unstable) -- "A Fountain of Energy" (Polychrome Heroics: Rutledge)
I2 (herbs) -- "No Worthless Herbs" (One God's Story of Mid-Life Crisis)
I3 (dark side) -- "Set on Continuous Improvement" (Polychrome Heroics: City Engines)
I5 (broken) -- "The Clearest Signal" (Polychrome Heroics: City Engines)
G1 (Alone in the Woods) -- "The Songwitch" (Practical Magic)
G2 (transformation) -- "The Road to Transformation" (Sleeping Beauty)
O2 (talking dog) -- "The Disappointing Daughter" (The Adventures of Aldornia and Zenobia)
O4 ("That felt weird.") -- "To Understand Water" (Polychrome Heroics)
O5 ("Do you trust me?") -- "Trying to Be Better" (Polychrome Heroics: City Engines)
B1 (wizards) -- "What Wizardry Is All About" (standalone)
B2 (black / orange) -- "The Two Cottages" (Quixotic Ideas)
B3 (magic) -- "Maybe She's Just Singing" (Practical Magic)
B4 (witches) -- "The Unretired Witch" (The Adventures of Aldornia and Zenobia)
B5 (unstable) -- "A Fountain of Energy" (Polychrome Heroics: Rutledge)
I2 (herbs) -- "No Worthless Herbs" (One God's Story of Mid-Life Crisis)
I3 (dark side) -- "Set on Continuous Improvement" (Polychrome Heroics: City Engines)
I5 (broken) -- "The Clearest Signal" (Polychrome Heroics: City Engines)
G1 (Alone in the Woods) -- "The Songwitch" (Practical Magic)
G2 (transformation) -- "The Road to Transformation" (Sleeping Beauty)
O2 (talking dog) -- "The Disappointing Daughter" (The Adventures of Aldornia and Zenobia)
O4 ("That felt weird.") -- "To Understand Water" (Polychrome Heroics)
O5 ("Do you trust me?") -- "Trying to Be Better" (Polychrome Heroics: City Engines)
So...
30/10/25 23:11soc_puppetGuess who just remembered that ey've already written some "Image Hosting on Dreamwidth" tutorials?
They're just still stuck on Tumblr and not Dreamwidth at the moment.
Links, so I can get to migrating them later:
Brief tutorial with no images, Tutorial with images.
There's also this one, which is not by me, but covers posting images by email.
They're just still stuck on Tumblr and not Dreamwidth at the moment.
Links, so I can get to migrating them later:
Brief tutorial with no images, Tutorial with images.
There's also this one, which is not by me, but covers posting images by email.
Tags:
Frankenstein 2025
30/10/25 20:13scrubjayspeaks"I am obscene to you, but to myself, I simply am."
Y'all. Oooooh, boy, y'all, I am ruined. I mean, it's a Guillermo del Toro movie, which inevitably means a life-altering quantity of emotions.
In no particular order:
1) I desperately need to write something about reading the film and the creature through a trans, and especially transmasculine, lens.
2) I also desperately need to write the fix-it fic in which the Creature and Elizabeth escape together. For once, I am not interested in polyamory as the solution. Nor can the ever-attractive Oscar Isaac sway me from my desire to defenestrate these awful men.
3) This barely even qualifies as monsterfucking, but goddamn, the Creature could rail me into next week.
4) I feel a distinct bout of vegetarianism coming on... Why is everything and everyone made of meat?
Y'all. Oooooh, boy, y'all, I am ruined. I mean, it's a Guillermo del Toro movie, which inevitably means a life-altering quantity of emotions.
In no particular order:
1) I desperately need to write something about reading the film and the creature through a trans, and especially transmasculine, lens.
2) I also desperately need to write the fix-it fic in which the Creature and Elizabeth escape together. For once, I am not interested in polyamory as the solution. Nor can the ever-attractive Oscar Isaac sway me from my desire to defenestrate these awful men.
3) This barely even qualifies as monsterfucking, but goddamn, the Creature could rail me into next week.
4) I feel a distinct bout of vegetarianism coming on... Why is everything and everyone made of meat?
Tags:
Jenn's been playing Cult of the Lamb
29/10/25 15:29conulyand omg those cultists are so needy. They can't feed themselves, so you're constantly trying to keep them in berries and fish, and they complain about everything!
"There's no place to poop, build an outhouse!" (You're an animal, poop on the ground!)
"I want to eat a poop sandwich!" (Uh, okay, but why do I have to make it!?)
"Oh, that grass gruel made me sick!" (Get back to work!)
"I'm sick of your lies!" (Welp, time to perform anotherhuman sapient sacrifice of a, uh, willing victim!)
Seriously, who's running this cult, you or them?
*****************************
( Read more... )
"There's no place to poop, build an outhouse!" (You're an animal, poop on the ground!)
"I want to eat a poop sandwich!" (Uh, okay, but why do I have to make it!?)
"Oh, that grass gruel made me sick!" (Get back to work!)
"I'm sick of your lies!" (Welp, time to perform another
Seriously, who's running this cult, you or them?
( Read more... )
A Good Impression (part 2 of 2, complete)
30/10/25 19:44dialecticdreamerA Good Impression
By Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
Part 2 of 2, complete
Word count (story only): 1214
[Thursday, December 15, 2016, barely past seven in the morning]
Back to part one
To the City Engines Index
:: Thanks for reading! ::
:: This story was written for the October of 2025 Magpie Monday, from a prompt byreadera. Rather than wait for sponsorship, I am posting it in two parts (on two days), to keep from making the timeline any more tangled. Thank you to the wonderful Readera for the idea, and I hope readers enjoy the story as much as I did while writing it! Part of the City Engines stories in Mercedes, in the Polychrome Heroics universe::
Frank the Crank pursed his lips. “Why are you underselling yourself again?”
Lautaro laughed, his voice rolling in warm rumbles. “Did you ever see the movie ‘The Wizard of Oz’? Remember the line ‘Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain?” He set his mug on the counter and crossed his arms, but that only made him seem larger and more solid with no trace of threat. “As I understand it, my job is to be your curtain.”
Tension pulled Frank’s eyebrows down into a knotted snarl. “I don’t like all of this misdirection.”
( Read more... )
By Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
Part 2 of 2, complete
Word count (story only): 1214
[Thursday, December 15, 2016, barely past seven in the morning]
Back to part one
To the City Engines Index
:: Thanks for reading! ::
:: This story was written for the October of 2025 Magpie Monday, from a prompt by
readera. Rather than wait for sponsorship, I am posting it in two parts (on two days), to keep from making the timeline any more tangled. Thank you to the wonderful Readera for the idea, and I hope readers enjoy the story as much as I did while writing it! Part of the City Engines stories in Mercedes, in the Polychrome Heroics universe::Frank the Crank pursed his lips. “Why are you underselling yourself again?”
Lautaro laughed, his voice rolling in warm rumbles. “Did you ever see the movie ‘The Wizard of Oz’? Remember the line ‘Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain?” He set his mug on the counter and crossed his arms, but that only made him seem larger and more solid with no trace of threat. “As I understand it, my job is to be your curtain.”
Tension pulled Frank’s eyebrows down into a knotted snarl. “I don’t like all of this misdirection.”
( Read more... )
Climate Change
30/10/25 15:32ysabetwordsmithYale study: Most Americans support climate justice — once they know what it is
Climate change is an omnipresent threat for us all, but its impact disproportionately affects non-white populations.
Inequalities stem from generations of racial injustice and colonization of Indigenous lands, contributing to ongoing marginalization and risk in BIPOC populations.
Climate justice is a movement that seeks to rectify those inequities, with the goals of reducing unequal harms of climate change, producing equitable benefits from climate solutions, and including affected communities in the decision-making process.
Among examples of climate justice are taking steps to stop exploitative actions that worsen climate and environment, and ensuring that people have humane ways to escape environmental foreclosure. The latter is crucial because right now, victims of climate-driven eviction have no rights; they are classified as migrants without even the flimsy protections that refugees of war or discrimination have. And if you look at the Dustbowl, you can see how very badly America has handled that issue in the past.
Climate change is an omnipresent threat for us all, but its impact disproportionately affects non-white populations.
Inequalities stem from generations of racial injustice and colonization of Indigenous lands, contributing to ongoing marginalization and risk in BIPOC populations.
Climate justice is a movement that seeks to rectify those inequities, with the goals of reducing unequal harms of climate change, producing equitable benefits from climate solutions, and including affected communities in the decision-making process.
Among examples of climate justice are taking steps to stop exploitative actions that worsen climate and environment, and ensuring that people have humane ways to escape environmental foreclosure. The latter is crucial because right now, victims of climate-driven eviction have no rights; they are classified as migrants without even the flimsy protections that refugees of war or discrimination have. And if you look at the Dustbowl, you can see how very badly America has handled that issue in the past.
Tags:
Birdfeeding
30/10/25 14:08ysabetwordsmithToday is mostly sunny, breezy, and mild. It drizzled yesterday.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 10/30/25 -- I planted 12 mixed crocuses around the barrel garden.
EDIT 10/30/25 -- I planted 12 Dutch irises around the yard.
EDIT 10/30/25 -- I planted 5 purple-and-white striped crocuses in the purple-and-white garden. This concludes the currently purchased bulbs.
EDIT 10/30/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 10/30/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 10/30/25 -- I hauled a large fallen branch to the ritual meadow.
I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 10/30/25 -- I planted 12 mixed crocuses around the barrel garden.
EDIT 10/30/25 -- I planted 12 Dutch irises around the yard.
EDIT 10/30/25 -- I planted 5 purple-and-white striped crocuses in the purple-and-white garden. This concludes the currently purchased bulbs.
EDIT 10/30/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 10/30/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 10/30/25 -- I hauled a large fallen branch to the ritual meadow.
I am done for the night.