Birdfeeding
Jun. 14th, 2025 11:11 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithToday is cloudy, mild, and damp. It rained off and on yesterday.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.
.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.
.
ysabetwordsmith
Creative Jam
Jun. 14th, 2025 01:29 amysabetwordsmithThe June ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
crowdfunding Creative Jam is now open with a theme of "Good vs. Bad." Come give us prompts, or claim some for your own inspiration.
What I Have Written
From My Prompts
crowdfunding Creative Jam is now open with a theme of "Good vs. Bad." Come give us prompts, or claim some for your own inspiration.What I Have Written
From My Prompts
Tags:
Philosophical Questions: Avoidable
Jun. 14th, 2025 01:03 amysabetwordsmithPeople have expressed interest in deep topics, so this list focuses on philosophical questions.
What causes the most harm in the world, but is completely avoidable?
Gosh, that's a hard one. Personal vices leap readily to mind, like adultery and alcohol. But then there are things like climate change, which is created by humans, who could choose to stop pushing in that direction but won't.
What causes the most harm in the world, but is completely avoidable?
Gosh, that's a hard one. Personal vices leap readily to mind, like adultery and alcohol. But then there are things like climate change, which is created by humans, who could choose to stop pushing in that direction but won't.
Today's Adventures
Jun. 13th, 2025 09:54 pmysabetwordsmithToday we went to the Marshall Farmer's Market. It's an evening market from 6-8 PM, followed by a band concert, which is way better than a morning one.
( Read more... )
( Read more... )
Killing God is a Skill Issue
Jun. 13th, 2025 08:14 pmlb_leeOriginal posts by Phosphor of Hungry Ghosts here, used with permission: https://nightfeather.cafe/notice/AuOng8NknA7IRvgusi
New Communities
Jun. 13th, 2025 04:21 pmysabetwordsmithmusicianships We Are The Scene.
This Community is for everyone who is involved in music in any way.
[Found via
gothfvck]Russian Losses
Jun. 13th, 2025 03:21 pmysabetwordsmithThis cartoon is true, as far as it goes.
But if you think Russia is likely to blink at those losses, think again.
But if you think Russia is likely to blink at those losses, think again.
Poetry Fishbowl Themes for Late 2025
Jun. 13th, 2025 03:16 pmysabetwordsmithThis poll covers the ideas proposed in the recent call for themes. Everyone is eligible to vote in this poll. I will keep it open until at least Saturday night. If there are clear answers then, I'll close it. Otherwise I may leave it open a little longer. If you don't have a Dreamwidth account, you can vote in an anonymous comment or email to me, but include some kind of handle to distinguish yourself.
For this poll, you can vote for as many themes as you find appealing. I recommend that you don't vote for all of them, since that makes it harder to whittle down the list. The themes are arranged in alphabetical order.
Here are your options ...
For this poll, you can vote for as many themes as you find appealing. I recommend that you don't vote for all of them, since that makes it harder to whittle down the list. The themes are arranged in alphabetical order.
Here are your options ...
Poll #33248 Poetry Fishbowl Themes for Late 2025
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 15
Which of these themes do you want featured in future fishbowls?
View Answers
Angels and Demons
4 (26.7%)
Apocalyptic Visions
3 (20.0%)
Books and Learning
10 (66.7%)
Building Mental Linkages
2 (13.3%)
Changing Personality One Habit at a Time
7 (46.7%)
Communication Styles
8 (53.3%)
Dealing with Frustration
6 (40.0%)
Emotional Regulation
7 (46.7%)
Empathy and Understanding
2 (13.3%)
Empowering Language
5 (33.3%)
Ergonomics
1 (6.7%)
Exercise and Stretching
2 (13.3%)
Faeries and Fey
7 (46.7%)
False Economy
3 (20.0%)
Fixing Loneliness or Overwhelm
6 (40.0%)
Fixit
5 (33.3%)
Goddesses and Divas
5 (33.3%)
Immigrants and Refugees
6 (40.0%)
"Knowledge is power. Power corrupts. Study hard. Be evil."
7 (46.7%)
Knowledge Webs
2 (13.3%)
Language as Power and Power as a Language
4 (26.7%)
Leadership in Unusual Situations
4 (26.7%)
Managing Change and Disruption
1 (6.7%)
Non-Book Learning and Knowledge
7 (46.7%)
Ordinary Characters in Epic Stories
6 (40.0%)
Overlooked Key Moments
2 (13.3%)
Patterns and Patterning
7 (46.7%)
Personhood
5 (33.3%)
Pirates, Rascals, and Rogues
3 (20.0%)
Putting Traumatic Memories in Context
3 (20.0%)
Recognition and Recollection
3 (20.0%)
Sentient and Self-Aware Machines
6 (40.0%)
Strength in Numbers or Alone
4 (26.7%)
Time Travel Twists
8 (53.3%)
Unexpected Leadership
6 (40.0%)
Unlikely or Unwieldy Weapons
5 (33.3%)
Weaponized Incompetence and Malicious Compliance
9 (60.0%)
Westerns
2 (13.3%)
Work, Leisure, and Hobbies
5 (33.3%)
New Crowdfunding Project: "Take Us North"
Jun. 13th, 2025 02:29 pmysabetwordsmithA friend tipped me to this campaign: Take Us North is a video game about migrants trying to cross the border into the United States of America. If you're interested and jump fast, you may be able to catch the Early Bird reward in the first 24 hours at $25, after that it jumps to $35 minimum. I backed it because I want to project to exist -- tell ALL the stories, and poke a bigot in the eye!
Take Us North description
A narrative adventure/survival game that follows the journeys of migrants and asylum seekers on their way to cross the US-Mexico border
$6,056 pledged of $30,000 goal
95 backers
29 days to go
🎮 [Early Bird] Take Us North!
$25
Backers 52
Estimated delivery Dec 2026
🚨FIRST 24 HOURS DISCOUNT!🚨 Receive a digital copy of Take Us North (PC/Steam) and digital wallpapers!
3 items included
Digital Copy of the Game Quantity: 1
High-Resolution Digital Wallpapers Quantity: 1
Invitation to Virtual Community Launch Party Quantity: 1
( Read more... )
Take Us North description
A narrative adventure/survival game that follows the journeys of migrants and asylum seekers on their way to cross the US-Mexico border
$6,056 pledged of $30,000 goal
95 backers
29 days to go
🎮 [Early Bird] Take Us North!
$25
Backers 52
Estimated delivery Dec 2026
🚨FIRST 24 HOURS DISCOUNT!🚨 Receive a digital copy of Take Us North (PC/Steam) and digital wallpapers!
3 items included
Digital Copy of the Game Quantity: 1
High-Resolution Digital Wallpapers Quantity: 1
Invitation to Virtual Community Launch Party Quantity: 1
( Read more... )
Birdfeeding
Jun. 13th, 2025 02:28 pmysabetwordsmithToday is cloudy and steamy. It rained last night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 6/13/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
It started mizzling.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 6/13/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
It started mizzling.
Politics
Jun. 13th, 2025 12:49 amysabetwordsmithGovernor JB Pritzker (Dem IL) to Rep. Mary Miller: "I refuse to be lectured to by somebody who extols the virtue of Hitler."
I can't remember the last time I felt so represented by one of my actual representatives. \o/
Sometimes, you just gotta call a spade a spade.
I can't remember the last time I felt so represented by one of my actual representatives. \o/
Sometimes, you just gotta call a spade a spade.
Follow Friday 6-13-24: Hetalia
Jun. 13th, 2025 12:02 amysabetwordsmithToday's theme is Hetalia. Initially a webcomic, Hetalia was later adapted as a serialized manga and an anime series. The series personifies the nations of the world into immortal anthropomorphic characters and presents an allegorical (and often satirical) interpretation of political, historical, and cultural events throughout history and the present day. This riff is a personal favorite.
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( Read more... )
Poetry Fishbowl Update
Jun. 12th, 2025 10:53 pmysabetwordsmithIf you want to suggest themes for upcoming Poetry Fishbowls, now is the time. I plan to set up the poll tomorrow (Friday). You can put your theme ideas in a comment below the Call for Themes post.
Insect Apocalypse
Jun. 12th, 2025 07:56 pmysabetwordsmithHere's another post about the insect apocalypse, including a trophic cascade devastating other species especially insectivores. This one proposes electromagnetic radiation as a causal factor, which may or may not be true, and is not being studied. It would be nice if that were a cause, because it is a factor under human control and thus could be fixed.
VAG MOMO
Jun. 12th, 2025 07:57 pmlb_leeWe were at the nearby Indian grocery store to stock up on yogurt (only they sell it in the giant quantities we require), when Biff noticed something new: enormous Ziploc bags filled with clearly-homemade momo (Nepalese dumplings). There are a few momo joints around here; maybe it's some sort of mysterious shadow kitchen thing?
Anyway, there were tons of these big gallon-size Ziploc bags, crammed full and tersely labeled in Sharpie as to their contents: (halal) BEEF, (halal) CHICKEN, and... VAG (veg).
It's Pride. We bought the VAG MOMO.
And guys, they were delicious. So flavorful! Cabbage, carrot, (probably?) chickpeas, onion, cilantro (we think), herbs and spices. We've bought bags of potstickers from the (southeast) Asian groceries around town, and they tended to be pretty bland. Nice, but bland, so we took to cooking them with sauces to flavor them up. But these? These packed all the flavor they needed. More support for the "ghost kitchen" idea.
They were expensive ($32), but they were so worth it. That bag will last us a long time; we spent half the bag feeding us and two roommates tonight, and we had leftovers, so that's an easy six meals' worth in one bag, a good treat item. And if I'm going to shell out for food, I'm happy to be giving it to my local Indian grocery and this mysterious momo chef!
Anyway, there were tons of these big gallon-size Ziploc bags, crammed full and tersely labeled in Sharpie as to their contents: (halal) BEEF, (halal) CHICKEN, and... VAG (veg).
It's Pride. We bought the VAG MOMO.
And guys, they were delicious. So flavorful! Cabbage, carrot, (probably?) chickpeas, onion, cilantro (we think), herbs and spices. We've bought bags of potstickers from the (southeast) Asian groceries around town, and they tended to be pretty bland. Nice, but bland, so we took to cooking them with sauces to flavor them up. But these? These packed all the flavor they needed. More support for the "ghost kitchen" idea.
They were expensive ($32), but they were so worth it. That bag will last us a long time; we spent half the bag feeding us and two roommates tonight, and we had leftovers, so that's an easy six meals' worth in one bag, a good treat item. And if I'm going to shell out for food, I'm happy to be giving it to my local Indian grocery and this mysterious momo chef!
Sunshine Revival
Jun. 12th, 2025 04:20 pmysabetwordsmithThe old sunshine_challenge is defunct, but other folks are reviving it this summer with the sunshine_revival. See the schedule and link below for more information. Spread the word!
( Read more... )
sunshine_challenge is defunct, but other folks are reviving it this summer with the sunshine_revival. See the schedule and link below for more information. Spread the word!( Read more... )
Books
Jun. 12th, 2025 02:23 pmysabetwordsmithA Rainbow of Queer Books for 2025: Orange
HAPPY PRIDE 2025! For Pride this year, we’re changing up our usual rec lists. Instead of doing books with specific identities or themes, we’re focused this time on cover color! Throughout the month of June, we’ll be doing 8 rec lists, each with covers inspired by one of the colors of the original Gilbert Baker Pride Flag. We drew a little additional inspiration from the meaning behind the color and why it was included in the original LGBTQIA+ flag (in this case, orange = healing), but we prioritized color over meaning. The contributors to this list are: Sanne, Tris Lawrence, Nina Waters, polls, Shannon, Linnea Peterson and Owl Outerbridge.
HAPPY PRIDE 2025! For Pride this year, we’re changing up our usual rec lists. Instead of doing books with specific identities or themes, we’re focused this time on cover color! Throughout the month of June, we’ll be doing 8 rec lists, each with covers inspired by one of the colors of the original Gilbert Baker Pride Flag. We drew a little additional inspiration from the meaning behind the color and why it was included in the original LGBTQIA+ flag (in this case, orange = healing), but we prioritized color over meaning. The contributors to this list are: Sanne, Tris Lawrence, Nina Waters, polls, Shannon, Linnea Peterson and Owl Outerbridge.
Birdfeeding
Jun. 12th, 2025 01:57 pmysabetwordsmithToday is cloudy and quite warm.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches plus a mourning dove.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 6/12/25 -- I checked the firepit. It has burned down mostly to ashes. I started trimming weeds around the outside edge.
EDIT 6/12/25 -- I picked half a bag of mulberries in the savanna.
EDIT 6/12/25 -- I sowed Bee Lawn Mix on a bare patch beside the garden shed.
EDIT 6/12/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 6/12/25 -- I did a bit more work around the patio.
EDIT 6/12/25 -- I picked a bag of mulberries in the savanna.
EDIT 6/12/25 -- I finished trimming around the firepit.
EDIT 6/12/25 -- I trimmed more grass along the edge of the strip garden.
EDIT 6/12/25 -- I trimmed grass along the south edge of the patio.
EDIT 6/12/25 -- I trimmed brush along the edge of the strip garden.
EDIT 6/12/25 -- I trimmed weeds along the edge of the south sidewalk.
EDIT 6/12/25 -- I intended to lay the base for the next bonfire. I was only able to find one log big enough, and I need two. There are some older ones but they are buried under too much brush to reach. >_< And it started drizzling anyhow, so fuck it.
I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches plus a mourning dove.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 6/12/25 -- I checked the firepit. It has burned down mostly to ashes. I started trimming weeds around the outside edge.
EDIT 6/12/25 -- I picked half a bag of mulberries in the savanna.
EDIT 6/12/25 -- I sowed Bee Lawn Mix on a bare patch beside the garden shed.
EDIT 6/12/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 6/12/25 -- I did a bit more work around the patio.
EDIT 6/12/25 -- I picked a bag of mulberries in the savanna.
EDIT 6/12/25 -- I finished trimming around the firepit.
EDIT 6/12/25 -- I trimmed more grass along the edge of the strip garden.
EDIT 6/12/25 -- I trimmed grass along the south edge of the patio.
EDIT 6/12/25 -- I trimmed brush along the edge of the strip garden.
EDIT 6/12/25 -- I trimmed weeds along the edge of the south sidewalk.
EDIT 6/12/25 -- I intended to lay the base for the next bonfire. I was only able to find one log big enough, and I need two. There are some older ones but they are buried under too much brush to reach. >_< And it started drizzling anyhow, so fuck it.
I am done for the night.