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Spanish Flu 1918 sequenced

Spanish Flu Genome Resurrected From 107-Year-Old Lung, Revealing Deadly Mutations
Our immune system had no chance

“The complete genome of an early strain of "Spanish flu" - which killed up to 100,000 people between 1918 and 1920 - has been sequenced from the preserved lung of a young man who died of the illness. Presenting their findings in a new study, researchers say the virus displays a number of mutations that enhanced its ability to infect human cells and significantly increased its lethality, even at the very beginning of the pandemic.”

Spanish Flu Genome Resurrected From 107-Year-Old Lung, Revealing Deadly Mutations | IFLScience https://www.iflscience.com/spanish-flu-genome-resurrected-from-107-year-old-lung-revealing-deadly-mutations-80292

Current Mood: accomplished

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Preparing for Departure (part 1 of 1, complete)

Preparing for Departure
By Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
Part 1 of 1, complete
Word count (story only): 1600
[End of March 179-]

:: After meeting with the mazil and Igor, the group splits off, and, in a moment of privacy, Gregory and Lóránt have an important exchange. Part of the “Lost Son” story arc in the Frankenstein’s Family universe. ::

:: Pay special attention: Laszlo mentions a boy, now an adult, who suffered a TBI in an accident, as a guideline to help the newcomer understand Clyde, although the actual situations are different. Gentle and supportive inclusion is implied, though both situations are tragic. ::

On the walk back from the castle, Kalman bade the group farewell at the intersection of the two trails, and beckoned Yevhen to come with him. “I can introduce you to the brewer and the baker, today, because I have no intention of cooking a meal tonight. We’ll be peppered with questions as soon as anyone from the castle mentions that lovely, extravagant gift, and even those with mere aspirations of drinking foreign tea instead of an herbal one will want to hear all the juicy details.”

The priest wagged his eyebrows. “And you, young sir, will learn how young seminarians wrangled a bit of local gossip into a filling meal.” Kalman held up a finger. “Just this once.”

Gregory laughed warmly. “Study well, young man. Lessons like that can be quite valuable, especially if one has a taste for travel.” He paused, turning toward the descending path. Barely visible, a figure marched steadily closer. “Lóránt,” the older man called, “Are you in haste?” From that distance, they could see the figure raise a hand to wave casually.
( Read more... )

Day 1660: "They don’t care."

Posted by Matt Kiser

https://whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com/2025/08/06/day-1660/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=daily_update

https://whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com/2025/08/06/day-1660

1/ Trump threatened to impose a 100% tariff on all semiconductor and chip imports unless companies shift production to the U.S. or have “committed to build” domestically. Trump, however didn’t say when the tariff would take effect or define what level of investment qualifies for exemption. “But the good news for companies like Apple is, if you’re building in the United States […] there will be no charge,” Trump said during a meeting with Apple CEO Tim Cook. Hours later, Apple announced an additional $100 billion U.S. investment – on top of its earlier $500 billion pledge – and a new domestic manufacturing program that includes plans to produce over 19 billion chips in 24 factories across 12 states. The move followed Trump’s earlier threat to slap a 25% tariff on iPhones, which are still assembled abroad. In 2023, the U.S. imported $64 billion worth of semiconductors while producing only about 10–12% of the global supply. (CNBC / Associated Press / Bloomberg / Wall Street Journal / Reuters / New York Times / Axios / CNN / Washington Post / Wall Street Journal)

2/ Trump raised tariffs on Indian goods to 50%, citing India’s continued purchases of Russian oil. A new executive order adds a second 25% tariff on Aug. 27, on top of the 25% set to take effect this week. Trump said India was “fueling the war machine” and accused it of profiting from reselling Russian oil, adding that “they don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed.” India, meanwhile, called the move “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable,” saying its imports were based on “market factors” and needed for energy security. Trump also ordered officials to identify other countries importing Russian oil for possible trade penalties. (CNBC / Associated Press / Reuters / Wall Street Journal / Axios / NBC News / Washington Post / New York Times)

3/ Trump plans to meet with Putin as early as next week, followed by a separate meeting with Putin and Zelensky. Despite no agreement or commitment from either side, Trump disclosed the plan in a call with European leaders. “There’s a very good prospect that they will,” Trump said when asked if both leaders agreed to the talks. Secretary of State Marco Rubio added that the meetings depend on progress toward a short ceasefire and said “We now have some concrete examples of the kinds of things that Russia would ask for in order to end the war.” (New York Times / CNN / Bloomberg / Wall Street Journal / Axios / Associated Press / Politico / Washington Post)

4/ Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. canceled $500 million in funding for 22 mRNA vaccine projects, including work on bird flu, COVID-19, and other viruses. Kennedy claimed the technology “poses more risks than benefits” and said the vaccines “fail to protect effectively against upper respiratory infections.” The Department of Health and Human Services said future investments would go toward older vaccine methods that use weakened or inactivated viruses instead of mRNA. Scientists disputed Kennedy’s claims, noting that mRNA vaccines helped slow the COVID-19 pandemic, saved millions of lives, and remain effective at preventing severe illness and death. Vaccine experts called the move “a huge strategic failure” and warned it would weaken U.S. readiness for future pandemics. (Politico / New York Times / NBC News / BBC / Semafor / Associated Press / Axios / Reuters / NPR / Washington Post)

5/ JD Vance will host top Trump officials for dinner to discuss whether to release the transcript of Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche’s interview with Ghislaine Maxwell. The meeting will include White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel and Blanche. Although the White House called the report “pure fiction,” Vance said, “We’re not meeting to talk about the Epstein situation.” Trump, meanwhile, defended Blanche’s interview, saying, “We’d like to release everything, but we don’t want people to get hurt that shouldn’t be hurt.” Maxwell, who is appealing her 2021 sex trafficking conviction, reportedly told Blanche that Trump “never did anything” concerning in her presence. The House Oversight Committee subpoenaed the Justice Department and several former officials Tuesday for Epstein-related files and testimony. (CNN / ABC News / The Guardian)

6/ Stanford’s student newspaper sued the Trump administration, accusing officials of using federal immigration powers to intimidate noncitizen reporters into silence over Israel and Gaza. The lawsuit, filed by the Stanford Daily and two international students, names Secretary of State Marco Rubio and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem as defendants and challenges policies that let them cancel visas if they decide someone’s views threaten U.S. foreign policy. The plaintiffs say reporters pulled articles, turned down assignments, and quit out of fear of retaliation. DHS called the lawsuit “baseless” and said it “doesn’t arrest people based on protected speech.” DHS, however, added: “There is no room in the United States for the rest of the world’s terrorist sympathizers.” (The Mercury News / USA Today / New York Times / Bloomberg)

7/ Key sections of the U.S. Constitution, including the ban on unlawful detention, disappeared from a government website run by the Library of Congress. The deleted text included all of Article I Sections 9 and 10, which limit congressional and state power, and the line, “The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended.” The Library blamed a “coding error” and said the issue had been fixed. Screenshots and archives confirmed the deletions, which also removed the foreign emoluments clause. The sections remained online through mid-July, weeks after Trump officials publicly pushed to suspend habeas corpus. (Axios / Washington Post / TechCrunch / 404 Media)

The midterm elections are in 454 days.

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Lake Lewisia #1287

Deer generally could not carry humans, unless the humans were young and small and the deer were ancient and large. Their leader, considered grizzled at sixteen, rode a creature with a spreading rack that could only have navigated a forest with a touch of magic, and rare sightings often reported it as an Irish elk or other impossible megafauna. More often, sightings were only of rosebushes with every blossom plucked, save one left as a calling card and ill omen on the front steps by the band of marauders.

---

LL#1287

Current Mood: busy

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Bigotry

Islamophobia Research Hub at York U releases report on Canada's anti-Palestine bias

Documenting the “Palestine Exception": An Overview of Trends in Islamophobia, Anti-Palestinian and Anti-Arab Racism in Canada in the aftermath of October 7, 2023.
In the aftermath of October 7, 2023, Canada saw a rise in anti-Palestinian racism (APR), Islamophobia, anti-Arab racism (AAR) and antisemitism that affects many areas of life and work for Canadians.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

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Birdfeeding

Today is partly cloudy and warm.

I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, a mourning dove, and a fox squirrel.

EDIT 8/6/25 -- I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 8/6/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

The day has gotten sunnier and much hotter.

I've seen a house wren screaming its head off at anything that moves.

EDIT 8/6/25 -- I potted up 3 white peach seeds and 4 local yellow peach seeds.

EDIT 8/6/25 -- I did a bit more work around the patio.

I picked 3 red cherry tomatoes and a ball carrot from the septic garden.

EDIT 8/6/25 -- I picked a handful of blackberries from the second-crop bush.

EDIT 8/6/25 -- I pulled a few weeds around the septic garden.

Cicadas and crickets are singing.

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

Current Mood: busy

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recurring posts

Good News

Good news includes all the things which make us happy or otherwise feel good. It can be personal or public. We never know when something wonderful will happen, and when it does, most people want to share it with someone. It's disappointing when nobody is there to appreciate it. Happily, blogging allows us to share our joys and pat each other on the back.

What good news have you had recently? Are you anticipating any more? Have you found a cute picture or a video that makes you smile? Is there anything your online friends could do to make your life a little happier?

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Massachusetts Universal Voting Restoration

For anyone registered to vote in Massachusetts -- you can sign up to get reminded when it's time to officially sign papers to put on the Massachusetts ballot a measure to repeal the Massachusetts constitutional amendment that took the right to vote away from people serving felony sentences.

From an email from Progressive Mass:

Unlock Democracy in Massachusetts

In 2000, Massachusetts passed a constitutional amendment that took away voting rights from people incarcerated for a felony conviction. This stripping of rights was in response to political organizing happening in prison. The Empowering Descendant Communities to Unlock Democracy project and allies aim to get voting rights restoration on the statewide ballot. If you are a registered voter in Massachusetts, please take a minute to fill out our pledge form now: https://tinyurl.com/uvrpledge. Once the Attorney General approves the language, organizers will reach out to those who filled out the pledge with dates/locations for nearby signature collection efforts.

The EDC to Unlock Democracy is is committed to ensuring that democracy does not stop at prisons and jails in Massachusetts. It is a collaborative project between the Democracy Behind Bars Coalition, the African American Coalition Committee at MCI-Norfolk, Healing our Land, Inc., and more. To get in touch email EDCtoUnlockDemocracyMA@gmail.com.

Current Mood: busy

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What To Do Next

Rachel Maddow argues that the United States is "there" now...

I have figured out some things that I have already been doing, that I will keep doing, in order to keep the Problem from fully installing itself in Canada. Other things, I need to either stop or start doing. There are lists that others have worked up, lists I should be copying from, to that end.

Resistance to the revival of the nightmare continues in the States and in Canada, of course, with or without me.

I'm also still looking for work because until either that job is secured or I'm driven out of the workforce to whatever result, I still have to live within the existing system.

Current Mood: accomplished

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Gifts From Afar (part 1 of 1, complete)

Gifts From Afar
By Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
Part 1 of 1, complete
Word count (story only): 1886
[End of March 179-]

:: The group heads up to the castle to see what happens when the stranger meets the mazil, and Igor. Part of the “Lost Son” story arc in the Frankenstein’s Family universe. ::

Igor opened the door and stepped back in surprise. The group included Kalman, Gregory, Vladimir, and a stranger. “This is quite the surprise for this hour of the morning,” the mazil’s right hand declared. He stepped back another pace. “Come in.”
( Read more... )

Day 1659: "Everything is on the table."

Posted by Matt Kiser

https://whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com/2025/08/05/day-1659/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=daily_update

https://whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com/2025/08/05/day-1659

1/ The House Oversight Committee subpoenaed the Justice Department for all unredacted records related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, including communications with the Trump and Biden White Houses. Chairman James Comer also issued subpoenas for depositions from Bill and Hillary Clinton, two former FBI directors, and six former attorneys general across four administrations. Comer was required to act after Democrats forced a subcommittee vote, joined by three Republicans, to compel release of the files two weeks ago. As a result, Speaker Mike Johnson recessed the House early to avoid floor votes on Epstein, as Republicans faced backlash from Trump’s base over the administration’s refusal to release documents and a Justice Department memo stating there was no “client list” and no further prosecutions were planned. The memo contradicted Attorney General Pam Bondi’s earlier claim that a list existed and was under review. Separately, the Justice Department is weighing whether to release audio and transcripts of Maxwell’s July interview with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who questioned her for nine hours over two days under conditional immunity. Maxwell was moved to a minimum-security prison in Texas days later — an unusual transfer for sex offenders. Trump denied involvement and said he hadn’t spoken to Blanche. (NBC News / Washington Post / Associated Press / New York Times / Wall Street Journal / Reuters / CNN / Bloomberg / CBS News / ABC News / Politico / Axios / CNN / The Hill)

2/ Ghislaine Maxwell asked a federal judge to block the Justice Department from unsealing grand jury transcripts in her sex trafficking case, saying the release would “severely and irrevocably” damage her Supreme Court appeal. “Whatever interest the public may have in Epstein, that interest cannot justify a broad intrusion into grand jury secrecy in a case where the defendant is alive,” her lawyers wrote. Trump previously directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the release of grand jury materials after backlash from supporters demanding disclosure. The Justice Department, meanwhile, said only two law enforcement officials testified and most of the content is already public. (Bloomberg / Associated Press / Politico / New York Times)

3/ Attorney General Pam Bondi ordered a grand jury investigation into Obama-era officials, reviving long-debunked claims that they faked intelligence to tie Trump to Russian election interference. The move stems from a criminal referral by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who accused former officials of a “treasonous conspiracy,” but offered no new evidence that alters the U.S. intelligence community’s 2017 findings. Multiple investigations, including by Robert Mueller, the Justice Department inspector general, and a Republican-led Senate committee, confirmed Russia interfered to help Trump and found no criminal wrongdoing by Obama officials. Similar allegations were investigated during Trump’s first term and resulted in no criminal charges. (NBC News / Associated Press / CNN / CBS News / Bloomberg / Washington Post / Axios)

4/ Texas Sen. John Cornyn asked the FBI to help locate and arrest Democratic lawmakers who fled the state to block a Republican redistricting plan that could give the Republicans five more U.S. House seats. Trump backed the move, saying the FBI “may have to” get involved, and claimed Republicans are “entitled” to those seats. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott asked the state Supreme Court to expel Democratic caucus chair Gene Wu for abandoning office, while Attorney General Ken Paxton said he would begin seeking court orders on Friday to remove lawmakers who don’t return. Democrats, who traveled to Illinois, New York, and Massachusetts, said they would run out the clock on the session, which ends Aug. 19. Meanwhile, Democrats in California, Illinois, and New York began preparing redistricting plans of their own. California lawmakers are pushing to redraw House lines in a special election if Texas’s map is enacted to shift up to five seats to Democrats, mirroring the Texas map. New York Democrats introduced a constitutional amendment to allow mid-decade redistricting, and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said “everything is on the table.” (Axios / The Hill / New York Times / Washington Post / Politico / Texas Tribune / NBC News / Axios / The Guardian / Politico / CNN / Bloomberg)

5/ Trump claimed JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America refused to accept over $1 billion in deposits from him after his presidency, saying they “discriminated against me very badly” because the Biden administration told regulators to “destroy Trump.” Trump, however, offered no documents or evidence and didn’t say whether the accounts were personal or business, but blamed it on “political discrimination” nonetheless. Neither bank confirmed his story or explained the account closures. Both denied closing accounts for political reasons. The Trump administration, meanwhile, is preparing an executive order directing regulators to investigate banks accused of cutting off conservatives and crypto firms. Banks say these decisions often stem from legal requirements to guard against fraud, money laundering, or sanctions violations – especially under anti-money laundering rules that apply to high-risk accounts or industries. Republicans argue regulators used “reputational risk” policies to pressure banks into dropping clients based on politics or ideology. (Wall Street Journal / Politico / New York Times / CNBC / The Hill)

The midterm elections are in 455 days.

✏️ Notables.

The Trump administration wants NASA to destroy a satellite used by scientists, oil companies, and farmers to track carbon and crop health, despite it being fully funded through September. NASA staff were ordered to draft shutdown plans that would burn the satellite in the atmosphere, based on Trump’s 2026 budget proposal, which eliminates funding for federal climate monitoring. (NPR / Gizmodo)
The EPA plans to cancel $7 billion in grants from the Solar for All program, which aims to help nearly a million low- and middle-income households install rooftop solar and cut electric bills by up to 70%. (New York Times / Washington Post)
Trump ruled out Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as a candidate to replace Jerome Powell as Fed chair, saying Bessent told him: “Nope, I want to stay where I am.” Trump said Kevin Hassett and Kevin Warsh are among four finalists and called the early resignation of Fed Governor Adriana Kugler “a pleasant surprise.” He said it’s “a possibility” that the new governor could later replace Powell, whose term ends in May. (Bloomberg / Associated Press / Politico)
The National Park Service will reinstall the statue of Confederate general Albert Pike in Washington, D.C. – five years after protesters tore it down and set it on fire during the racial justice protests that followed the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020. The agency cited federal preservation law and Trump’s executive orders to “restore truth and sanity to American history.” Pike led pro-slavery alliances with Native American troops for the Confederacy and was accused of war crimes, but the monument calls him a “philanthropist” and says nothing about the war. (Politico / NPR / New York Times / Washington Post)
Trump said he would “probably not” run for a third term, even though the Constitution doesn’t allow it. “I’d like to run. I have the best poll numbers I’ve ever had,” Trump said, despite his approval rating sitting at 37% – both the lowest of his current term and just above his all-time low of 34%. Trump then added, “Probably not,” with a laugh. (Politico / USA Today)
A man convicted of interstate prostitution is seeking a pardon from a man found liable for sexual abuse. Sean “Diddy” Combs asked Trump for a pardon after being convicted in July on two counts of interstate prostitution. Prosecutors said Combs used money and power to run a “criminal enterprise” that sexually abused women for two decades. He faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced in October. (NBC News)

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Its ok if you’re married to the child

If Epstein had been married to one of his victims, it would have been legal.
Child marriage is state-sanctioned statutory r@pe.
“…is legal in 34 states, Nearly 300,00 children were married in the U.S. between 2000 and 2018. The vast majority were girls wed to adult men.”:

Child Marriage in the United States - Equality Now

https://equalitynow.org/what-we-do/womens-rights-around-the-world/womens-rights-in-north-america/child_marriage_us/

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annoying default category

Battlemoor: Tom’s getting used to it

[Major Tom, a big grey tabby, is hunkered down behind one of my display boxes in the booth. He’s got one forepaw stretched out in front of himself, and the tip of his tongue is sticking out. My hand is resting on the table in front of him, forefinger tipped slightly up in hopes of a boop.]

Towards the middle of Battlemoor Tom realized that there was room on top of the tables for a tomcat. So, of course, he started spending time on top of the tables.

The ideal spot was right behind a display box, usually, & with part of himself tucked under the bottom shelf. Perfect for petting, sheltered enough he couldn’t be grabbed.

[He’s settled, a bit, and is sniffing one of the shelf uprights, preparatory to giving it a good headrub.]

He marked everything in the vicinity, of course — with his front end; SO glad he stopped spraying when I got him fixed — & left little dirty cat pawprints on the white silk tablecloths.

[He’s turned his head, and is now rubbing his face against the price sign on the display box in front of him. A couple of dirty little pawprints are visible past him, under the table.]

Having claimed everything in sight, including me, it was, apparently, time to settle.

[He’s flopped now, both forepaws out in front of himself. He looks very pleased with his life.]

& then, it was time for a love.

[His head is stuck out, resting on one of my fingers, while the others give him a good chin scritch. One eye is wide open, the other is squinched halfway shut; his whiskers are perked forwards while his ears stick out at various angles. He is extremely happy.]

Then there were customers, which is how this goes.

originally posted on Patreon; support me over there to see posts a week early!

Current Mood: busy

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Engineer restores pay phones for free public use

The 31-year-old electrical engineer says poor reception is a common frustration for residents of Vermont's Orange County. To address this issue, he's providing his community with a new way to stay connected.

Schlott has taken old pay phones, modified them to make free calls, and set them up in three different towns across the county. He buys the phones secondhand from sites like eBay and Craigslist and restores them in his home workshop.

I've always said that dismantling pay phones was dangerous, because even if most people have cell phones, those can be lost, broken, or out of service. It's nice to see this public good reviving in at least some areas.

Current Mood: busy

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Birdfeeding

Today is mostly clouding and mild, a beautiful day.

I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, a mourning dove, and a fox squirrel.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 8/5/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 8/5/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

I checked the new picnic table and septic garden. No new vegetables to pick, but multiple zinnias are now blooming in shades of red and red-violet. :D Also the first of the giant sunflowers are blooming there.

I am done for the night.

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The Interstellar Song Contest

( Spoilers under the cut )

Current Mood: creative

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Poetry Fishbowl Open!

The Poetry Fishbowl is now CLOSED. Thank you for your time and attention. Please keep an eye on this space as I am still writing.

Starting now, the Poetry Fishbowl is open! Today's theme is "Books and Learning." I will be checking this page periodically throughout the day. When people make suggestions, I'll pick some and weave them together into a poem ... and then another ... and so on. I'm hoping to get a lot of ideas and a lot of poems.

I'll be soliciting ideas for readers, writers, storytellers, scribes, editors, publishers, students, teachers, caregivers, children, parents, bookworms, nerds, bookstore owners, librarians, an anonymous benefactor, activists, volunteers, superheroes, supervillains, other bookish people, reading, writing, delighting the reader, editing, publishing, bookbinding, shopping for books, telling stories, teaching, inviting students to a lesson, demonstrating tools, educating the whole child, learning, studying, parenting, lending a hand, cooperating, concentrating on a current task, volunteering, supporting people in hard times, respecting people, modeling manners and skills, learning to trust others, observing the environment, engaging all the senses, cultivating a full life, creating intimacy, making friends, getting to know each other, cooking together, choosing your own goals, discovering things, improvising, adapting, cooperating, bartering, sharing, making mistakes, fixing what's broke, changing the world, accomplishing the impossible, other educational activities, books, scrolls, magical tomes, printing presses, pens and pencils, bookstores, libraries, Little Free Libraries, book nooks, windowseats, Montessori schools, other alternative schools, preschools or daycares, Montessori homeschool, prepared environment, colleges and universities, beautiful places, craft centers, community centers, coffeehouses, outdoor classrooms, parks, nature centers, other spaces designed for learning, Triton Teen Centers, mentor circles, intentional communities, clubs, quiet rooms, inclusive workplaces, Thalassia, the Maldives, the Lacuna, the Aqademy of the Qrossroads, Waldorf toys, Montessori materials, intrinsic motivation, child independence, respect for the child, freedom to choose, freedom of time and uninterrupted work periods, absorbent mind, post-traumatic growth, individualized education, three-part cards, language lessons, mathematics, diverse ages and abilities, self-correcting toys and lessons, natural consequences, freedom of movement, intentional neighboring, diversity, inclusivity, emotional closeness, nonsexual intimacies, first contact, rescue, interspecies relationships, trial and error, trust issues, teamwork, found family, complementary strengths and weaknesses, personal growth, and poetic forms in particular.

Currently eligible bingo card(s) for donors wishing to sponsor a square:

Crime Classics Bingo Card 8-1-25

Among my more relevant series for the main theme:

An Army of One involves education and reading in the Lacuna.

Arts and Crafts America focuses on fine arts and practical crafts, sometimes education. Bookbinding would be a logical craft.

The Bear Tunnels has future books in a past culture.

Daughters of the Apocalypse have to rediscover many historic skills for survival, including earlier methods of sharing knowledge.

Frankenstein's Family has two scientists teaching villagers to be thoughtful instead of stupid, and after a few years, several more people keenly interested in books and education.

Not Quite Kansas started with mishandling a book of spells, and involves trying to learn about a whole new world.

Path of the Paladins includes the Canticle of Thorns and other books.

Peculiar Obligations has Quakers in organized crime. The Religious Society of Friends has been greatly involved in education, including abolitionist and natural science publications.

Polychrome Heroics is largely about people learning things. Threads particularly focused on this include Antimatter and Stalwart Stan, Aquariana, the Big One, Danso and Family, Dr. Infanta, Iron Horses, Officer Pink, Rutledge, and Trichromatic Attachments.

Quixotic Ideas is set in a world with plenty of magic and a positive tone, where people often help each other and solve challenges peacefully. It includes a healthy magical school.

Schrodinger's Heroes save the world from alternate dimensions, and they learn a lot along the way.

Or you can ask for something new.

Linkbacks reveal a verse of any open linkback poem.

( Read more... )

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public service

Guy in rural Vermont installing free public pay phones

(Is rural Vermont redundant? I've never been there.)

Patrick Schlott is an electrical engineer and encounters cellular dead zones regularly while driving through work. So he gave himself a hobby and a calling.

He's buying pay phones from Ebay and Craig's List, restoring them, setting them up to make VOIP calls over the internet, and installing them in towns throughout rural Vermont, letting anyone make free calls to anywhere in the US and most of Canada. And thus far, paying for all of it out of his pocket.

I just now checked Ebay, and a push-button pay phone is running typically $100-300+.

These aren't going just anywhere, but into places like libraries, schools, etc. And they're getting used, and proving useful to drivers who have car breakdowns, students who need to call their parents, etc.

Very cool project!

https://www.npr.org/2025/08/04/nx-s1-5484013/engineer-restores-pay-phones-for-free-public-use