mama_kestrel | Reading

Today is mostly cloudy and cool.

I fed the birds. I've seen a large flock of sparrows and a starling.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 1/4/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

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Current Mood: busy

$mdlbear: blue fractal bear with text "since 2002" (Default)$

mdlbear

Not a great week. It starts with my mother's 105th birthday -- she died a little before her 100th -- and ends with my 50th wedding anniversary -- the last one Colleen was alive for was our 45th.

The New Year's Eve/Day Zoom filksing was a high point -- I sang 9 songs. It went on for almost another day after I left. R was online too, so I got to hear him sing a little; we decided that this could count as our holiday video chat if we didn't get arouond to an official one. OTOH because I don't plan well and don't multitask at all, there were undoubtedly a number of things that should have been done before year's end that weren't.

In the category of things that ought to be done soon, see this Post by @rahaeli.bsky.social — Bluesky " I strongly suspect, from all these signals, that Sberbank is preparing to either sell the outside-Russia part of LJ if they can find a buyer, or shut it down if they can't. " -- so back up everything you care about from LJ to DW, if you haven't already, or import it all into DW. I did that several years ago.

As for links... Maduro 'captured and flown out' of Venezuela, Trump says -- it's been suggested that Venezuela should return the favor. How We Came To Know Earth | Quanta Magazine's special issue on climate, including A Biography of Earth Across the Age of Animals.

( Notes & links, as usual )

Current Mood: not okay
Current Location: Schildhaven in Den Haag
Current Music: see post

ysabetwordsmith

This poem is spillover from the September 2023

crowdfunding Creative Jam. It was inspired by prompts from

curiosity. It also fills the "Rescue / Recovery" square in my 9-1-23 card for the Story Sparks Bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by a pool with

fuzzyred. It belongs to Aquariana, Cuoio & Chiara, and Marionettes threads of the Polychrome Heroics series, and follows "Help Others to Grow Up."

Warning: This poem contains intense and controversial topics with emotional mayhem. Highlight to read the warnings, some of which are spoilers. It includes traumatic loss, traumatic stress, supporting character death, a crying man, an inept messenger, reference to past losses, upset baby super-intellect, and other challenges. If these are sensitive issues for you, please consider your tastes and headspace before deciding if this is something you want to read.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

So today, America's craziness reached a new frenzy...

What’s Happening in Venezuela? Start Here

US forces struck multiple military and civilian targets in Caracas and nearby cities, and captured Maduro. Here’s what we know at this point.

Sovereign countries are not supposed to violate each other's borders or leadership, outside of properly declared war; and that's largely about defense because war of aggression is also forbidden at this time. But people have largely quite caring about those rules, which is a growing problem.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

fuzzyred

The carpet is thick, soft and cream coloured, while the walls are a yellow bronze colour. In the corner along one wall there is a large sofa, able to seat 4 or 5 people comfortably. Along the other corner wall there is a smaller sofa for 2 or 3 people. In the middle of the furniture, there is a low, round coffee table, perfect for colouring at or for other craft activities.

There is a scratching post and a cat tree for climbing, which are both along the wall opposite the couch. A few fluffy beds have also been put out, in varying sizes, in case any one prefers the floor. There is also a large sturdy perch and a marked off area that says "Landing Pad" in case any winged friends want to visit.

There is now a blue chaise chair in the nook as well, which has been placed near the couch and is good for both sitting and spreading out lengthwise. There are also two armchairs; one an oversized, deep gray leather chair, the other a square fabric armchair in deep blue with light purple swirls on it.

There are two baskets off to the side. One contains fuzzy blankets, a variety of fuzzy and textured pillows, and a collection of stuffed animals while the other contains a variety of art supplies, ranging from colouring pages and blank paper to crayons and coloured pencils, and more besides.

Happy new year everyone! I happy you are all doing well, and we all have a great year!

Current Mood: good

ysabetwordsmith

Here are the content notes for "Help Others to Grow Up."

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Here are the location notes for "Help Others to Grow Up."

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

These are the character notes for "Help Others to Grow Up."

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

dialecticdreamer

Exploring the Darkness
By Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
Part 1 of 1, complete
Word count (story only): 1252
[Monday, May 11, 2020, a few hours before dawn]

:: Aidan roams the island and finds a surprising... Part of the Edison’s Mirror universe. ::

Aidan began walking, using long, ground-eating strides which were utterly silent. His thoughts tumbled, but the familiar movements turned the thrumming energy in his head in to loose, warm muscles.

When he could think instead of tumble amid the random ideas and scraps of details, like the single amber-tinted branch on a pine tree on his left, Aidan began sorting through every detail connected to the new friends that he’d made, and through them, every connection to others on the island and beyond.
( Read more... )

Current Mood: awake

conuly

I thought I outgrew this behavior a good two decades ago, but I guess illegal wars really get my dander up.

The conversation, such as it was, was long and pointless, but it did have this amusing, paraphrased exchange:

Them: I didn't say that you should say "ones of them", I just said that even though it sounds wrong it's technically grammatical! Go to ChatGPT, it'll tell you the same thing!

Me: No, it won't, here's the screenshot.

Them: Well! That doesn't count because it doesn't cite a rule! I did check before posting that you should go to ChatGPT, you know!

(They spontaneously claimed elsewhere that they understand the idea of descriptivist linguistics, but I think they don't understand how much of language has yet to be described, even in very well-studied languages like English.)

ysabetwordsmith

This poem is spillover from the June 6, 2023 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by a prompt from

mama_kestrel. It also fills the "Main character has to use odds and ends to fix a problem" square in my 6-1-23 card for the Kinky and Unusual Situations Bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by a pool with

fuzzyred. It belongs to Aquariana, Cuoio & Chiara, and Marionettes threads of the Polychrome Heroics series.

Warning: This poem contains intense and controversial topics. Highlight to read the warnings, some of which are spoilers. It includes reference to past injuries, reference to traumatic loss of teammates, volcanic activity, traumatic stress, human trafficking, surprise baby, moving to a new home, dramatic scars, attachment, and other challenges. If these are sensitive issues for you, please consider your tastes and headspace before reading onward.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Fossilized bones are revealing secrets from a lost world

Tiny chemical clues trapped inside ancient bones are revealing what animals ate, the diseases they carried, and the environments they lived in.

Researchers have uncovered thousands of preserved metabolic molecules inside fossilized bones millions of years old, offering a surprising new window into prehistoric life. The findings reveal animals’ diets, diseases, and even their surrounding climate, including evidence of warmer, wetter environments. One fossil even showed signs of a parasite still known today. This approach could transform how scientists reconstruct ancient ecosystems.

That which is small can still hold volumes. :D

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Today is partly sunny and cool.

I fed the birds. I've seen a large flock of sparrows.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 1/3/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 1/3/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 1/3/25 -- I filled a trolley with sticks from the brushpile beside the driveway, then dumped that in the firepit.

I saw a flock of mourning doves in the ritual meadow.

EDIT 1/3/25 -- I filled another trolley with sticks, then dumped that in the firepit.

EDIT 1/3/25 -- I filled another trolley with sticks, then dumped that in the firepit.

EDIT 1/3/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

As it is getting dark, I am done for the night. It's 4:50 and still twilight, a big improvement over 4:30!

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Bad Brains

Your brain on revenge looks a lot like your brain on drugs—and there’s only one twisted way to get your fix.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Snowflake Challenge 2: Pets of Fandom

Loosely defined! Post about your pets, pets from your canon, anything you want!

Snowflake Challenge: A close up shot of an owl ornament hanging amidst pine boughs..

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

mdlbear

Hello love. Happy anniversary? I'm afraid I couldn't find anything to give you this year. I know you would have wanted us all to be healthy, happy, and safe, but, well... We're surviving -- things aren't nearly as bad as they could be. That will have to do.
Put in a word with Bast for our protection, please, and give hugs to Ame and cuddles to Curio and Desti. I'll always love you.

We were married fifty years ago today. This is the fifth time I haven't had her with me to celebrate it. See also, Song for Sunday: Forty Five Years

Current Mood: grieving (but okay?)
Current Location: Schildhaven Centraal
Current Music: Stan Rogers: Forty-Five Years

conuly

There is no chance of me making this one - I just got off of work at 8, and I need to sleep.

But as soon as I figure out what to say I'll be contacting my... my everyone. My congresscritters and anybody else.

conuly

What the hell did I just see on the news.

ysabetwordsmith

This poem came out of the October 7, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by a prompt from

wyld_dandelyon. It also fills the "Alone in the Woods" square in my 10-1-25 card for the Fall Festival Bingo. This poem has been sponsored by a pool with

fuzzyred. It belongs to the series Practical Magics and follows "Maybe She's Just Singing."

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

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

Would a government run with algorithms, A.I., and statistics be better or worse than the government we have now?

Worse. AI can't even figure out how many fingers a hand is supposed to have.

"Dear Autocorrect: Not once have I ever meant ducking."

Current Mood: busy

Profile

mama_kestrel

September 2023

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Page Summary

ysabetwordsmith - Birdfeeding
mdlbear - Done Since 2025-12-28
ysabetwordsmith - Poem: "The Sound of Anguish"
ysabetwordsmith - Politics
fuzzyred - First Comfort Corner of 2026
ysabetwordsmith - Content notes for "Help Others to Grow Up"
ysabetwordsmith - Location notes for "Help Others to Grow Up"
ysabetwordsmith - Character notes for "Help Others to Grow Up"
dialecticdreamer - #49 Exploring the Darkness (part 1 of 1, complete)
conuly - Well, I dealt with my shock and horror by getting into a very stupid flamewar at /r/englishlearning
ysabetwordsmith - Poem: "Help Others to Grow Up"
ysabetwordsmith - Fossils
ysabetwordsmith - Birdfeeding
ysabetwordsmith - Brains
ysabetwordsmith - Snowflake Challenge 2: Pets of Fandom
mdlbear - River: Remembering the FlowerCat: 50th Anniversary
conuly - Protest at Times Square at 2pm
conuly - (no subject)
ysabetwordsmith - Poem: "The Songwitch"
ysabetwordsmith - Philosophical Questions: Government

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