(no subject)

May. 15th, 2026 06:19 pm
angrboda: Viking style dragon head finial against a blue sky (Default)
[personal profile] angrboda
White and red cat

Flisters, we have had results at last! The Great Cat Hunt has been on since Easter, but it's really hard to find a suitable indoor cat when all the shelters insist on the cats should have outdoors access. Because of living on a road with a good deal of traffic, that's just not something we dare offer them. (I mean, it seems to be going okay for the neighbours' cat who come into our garden a lot, but I really don't have that sort of bravery) And on top of that, there's the added difficulty of finding one that can be put together with an older cat and preferably not look like the older cat OR the cat that came before it. It has not been easy!

HOWEVER! Yesterday the God of Cats finally smiled down on us, and we drove nearly two hours each way, coincidentally to the same shelter that Holly came from. (And you know what, now that I think of it, I'm not entirely certain, Holly did not actually live in that very same cage...)

So here's Daisy! She's 27 weeks old and seems to be settling in. She has not yet met Holly (who is protesting wildly against the closed door), but she is interested in her surroundings and has had a good long nap on Husband's lap today. If she continues to settle in well, we will probably try to let them meet briefly on Sunday and see how that goes. Tonight, they will swap ends of the house, so Holly can get a good sniff at Daisy's smell and Daisy can explore the rest of the house before meeting Holly.

A Ballet Documentary

May. 15th, 2026 07:57 am
ateolf: (zoo and you)
[personal profile] ateolf
Shortly after work, Mary Beth and I went up to the Dixon to see this documentary called A Ballet Season. It follows Ballet Memphis through their 2018/2019 season. It was tied in 'cuz of the current art exhibit from Dorothy Gunther Pugh who founded Ballet Memphis and was the ceo at the time of the documentary. That ended up being her last full season as she announced retirement right at the beginning of 2020 and shortly thereafter covid cancelled the rest of the season. Anyway, the documentary was good and it was fun to see at least some behind the scenes stuff as lately we've been going to more ballet stuff.
missdiane: (Don't Give a Damn)
[personal profile] missdiane
So this week took a fun turn with the University telling us about not spending USDA money due to this lawsuit. Not surprisingly, the useless central office that I used to be the "data goddess" at (mind, not a title I gave myself, it's the one that the director introduced me to the President of the University at the time in front of everyone. Embarrassing) gave us wildly inadequate information. Am I shocked? Oh hell no.

So during this week, all of a sudden, I'm back to being the "subject matter expert"...well sort of. First Josh kept trying to get former bitch boss Wendie, the now Vice Provost for Research to get answers from the people that fall under the Vice President for Research's office which not shockingly, she couldn't do. He REALLY needs to stop dealing with her office. I would pay good money that the other office realizes she's a nasty attitude moron and avoids her.

So last night, Josh had to contact the people he should have contacted all along and got a sort of answer, one where we'd have to make a choice about how to proceed. Well who is the first person that Josh visited this morning? Yep, yours truly. I brought up the fact that regardless which choice is made (to either continue the pause on FY26 spending or proceed by only paying salary on "safe" projects), the business office needs to look at the rate of spending on the carryover dollars and stretch them to the end of September with the hopes that the lawsuit will resolve by then. But hey, y'all never listen to me and shit invariably hits the fan so gee, why start now?
colbertmiddlefinger
ad

Anyhoo, I'm not going to stress about it. I don't get paid enough to.

I did get an interesting request the night before last. I was contacted by the head of the National system that coordinates multistate projects to serve as a reviewer on the five year renewal of the National multistate program. Other reviewers are people like the Director of Communications for USDA and also the head of one of the research land grant Universities. Hey, sure, why not? At least people more lofty and important than the ones here appreciate my input and you can bet I'll put that on the ol' resume.

(morning writing)

May. 15th, 2026 07:55 am
elainegrey: Inspired by Grypping/gripping beast styles from Nordic cultures (Default)
[personal profile] elainegrey

Good news: Bruno has gotten in my lap (briefly)!! And he's started chasing his tail this week, which i take as a sign of playful relaxation.

Sad news: i think i have killed another pecan. The one that has survived is down hill from our ... perc field... and so has had moisture presumably these dry years. I'm hoping the apparently dead pecan will recover and sprout from the root stock,  and that i have some chance, possibly less than 1 in 2 that it will be able to pollinate the survivor.

Had a one on one visit with my nephew D, pleasant and ... well, i'm not sure what to think about my brother's family in general. He's definitely a charming, successful, and bright young man.

My brother's mission to get his stuff out of my Dad's house ended in a mess. My brother's workaholic ADHD  passed to his wife's cold disregard (or spousal boundary setting where my brother's failure does not mean she's got to make up for it). My Dad is in a dither, but he's finally on the side of recognizing he has to do something about stuff.

Off, with dreams

May. 15th, 2026 08:55 am
smokingboot: (snail)
[personal profile] smokingboot
I discovered a prior mistake of mine yesterday, and while it's better caught now than later, I was annoyed enough to stay down all day. Met friends in the evening, including one whose spark always engages me, but even surrounded by great historians and fab mates, I was lacklustre. I have been up since 7, it is 8.45 as I write this, and I want to go back to sleep. Something must be wrong. If this is about the letrozole, my body is not acclimatising, in fact this is getting worse. But I see nothing to be done, except give up letrozole, or maybe have my thyroid tested. I presume they've done this latter a few times, but honestly I have had so many tests I don't recall what they were all for. Maybe they're just collecting my blood, cc by cc, for artistic purposes.

Speaking of which, my dreams were weird. DT and I were being pursued by two white faced dolly vampire creatures. We lured them through a front door into a small vestibule which crucially served as a lift, and had doors on two sides. We let them in as we stepped out, and locked both doors. There they were, trapped. I made my way upstairs, but DT stayed behind and, out of what I presumed was misplaced mercy, unlocked one of the doors. Meanwhile in an upper room, I found many people playing at being vampires and monsters in a some kind of gothic casino/circus set up. They weren't all vampires, but of course some might be. And away I drifted, away...

This reminds me of a dream I had earlier, which made me happy so I should keep it. There was my beautiful Surya, sitting in her prim position but she was a much bigger cat and her fur was thicker. She was very pleased to see me, and made nice faces at me. Then R was beside me and her face lit up, and she made welcoming sounds. I spotted an old black cat still sleeping. Guess Ralik is snoozing even yet in the dream lands. Let's face it, nearly 100 years of life is enough for any cat. He deserves some astral relaxation.

To add a moment of drama to the morning, the door to R's office room jammed thoroughly. Fortunately a neighbour helped out and he's no longer trapped in there, but internally the mechanism is crumbling. I know how it feels.

Wake up wake up wake up!

30 Days of Blake's 7 - day 15

May. 15th, 2026 09:03 pm
vilakins: (vila gan)
[personal profile] vilakins
Day 15: Character who didn’t get enough screen time

Gan, of course! In Breakdown, the so-called 'Gan' episode, he only got nine lines. We should have seen more of his quiet strength and goodness. Though I know some people think he was a violent person controlled only by his limiter - and there's a case for that - I see him as a salt-of-the-earth type.

Jenna also should have got more screen time and away missions. It made sense to leave the pilot on board, but she deserved more action, as she showed in Bounty.

All the questions are on Tumblr.

5/11/26 - 5/14/26

May. 14th, 2026 11:34 pm
gwydion: (Default)
[personal profile] gwydion

* The latest Iran news isn't in here. Apologies.

* "Ceasefire with Iran on ‘life support,’ Trump says:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/11/trump-iran-ceasefire-life-support-00914197

* "The Long Journey From the Strait of Hormuz to the Gas Tank:" https://archive.ph/sBHBx

* "Trump says he’ll move to suspend federal gasoline tax. He can’t do it on his own:" https://apnews.com/article/trump-gas-tax-high-prices-iran-war-85313468d583c40b79c59e34d8186ee7

It requires a vote from Congress. The taxes fund things like road repair and mass transit.

* "Oil price predicted to remain above $100 for rest of year:" https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgp4ev4yg4o

******

* "More than 70 civilians killed in Ukraine in less than a week :" https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/05/1167454

****

* "Military strikes, gang massacres in Nigeria kill around 100 civilians:" https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20260511-military-strikes-gang-massacres-in-nigeria-kill-around-100-civilians
* "Keir Starmer's party lost big in U.K. local elections. Here's what comes next:" https://www.npr.org/2026/05/10/nx-s1-5817491/uk-elections-keir-starmer-resign-reform-green

* "As Two Trans Candidates Win Scottish Parliament Bids, J.K. Rowling Praises Anti-Trans Loser:" https://www.them.us/story/jk-rowling-q-manivannan-iris-duane-election-anti-trans-candidate
*** Immigration/I.C.E/Autocracy/***

* "Murder suspect missing after Trump administration lawyer withheld info from immigration judge:" https://www.wcvb.com/article/doj-ice-gomez-rhode-island-release-trump-lawyer/71269017

* "How do state prison systems work with ICE?:" https://mailchi.mp/themarshallproject/irq4yg4ca7

* "Rabbis arrested during Jewish-led anti-ICE protest in NYC:" https://www.jta.org/2026/05/01/ny/rabbis-arrested-during-jewish-led-anti-ice-protest-in-nyc?

* "NM ICE detainee says he was subject to sudden transfer, poor conditions amid 10-day hunger strike:" https://sourcenm.com/2026/05/08/nm-ice-detainee-says-he-was-subject-to-sudden-transfer-poor-conditions-amid-10-day-hunger-strike/

* "Hundreds gather for protest, sit-in at Taylor Park to speak out against federal immigration activity:" https://www.mynbc5.com/article/vermont-protest-st-albans-ice-out/71253699

* "Judge rejects Florida's push to pause Alligator Alcatraz phone order:" https://www.wptv.com/wptv-investigates/judge-rejects-floridas-push-to-pause-alligator-alcatraz-phone-order

* "Florida's controversial 'Alligator Alcatraz' immigration detention center faces closure:" https://www.npr.org/2026/05/09/nx-s1-5816182/floridas-controversial-alligator-alcatraz-immigration-detention-center-faces-closure

* "A Pa. county hosts one of ICE’s largest detention centers, a site of controversy and complaints:" https://www.pennlive.com/news/2026/05/abuse-claims-protests-surround-moshannon-valleys-ice-prison.html

* "Austin protesters rally for detained immigrant mothers ahead of Mother's Day:" https://www.kvue.com/article/news/politics/immigration-news/austin-protest-rally-detained-immigrant-mothers/269-7e11fb54-8f38-4bf1-b33d-8597e299d000

* "Advocates rally against alleged treatment of female detainees at Mo-Valley ICE Center:" https://wjactv.com/news/local/advocates-rally-against-treatment-of-female-detainees-at-moshannon-valley-ice-center

* Here are some ways to help Immigrants and the anti-ICE Protesters:

"Project Salt Box:" https://projectsaltbox.substack.com/
Links to Help organize in advance of ICE Occupation: https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/807226885129060352?source=share
"When the Feds Come to Your City: Standing Up to ICE :" https://crimethinc.com/2025/12/03/when-the-feds-come-to-your-city-standing-up-to-ice-a-guide-from-chicago-organizers
Immigrant Defenders: https://give.immdef.org/give/545119/#!/donation/checkout
The Bail Project: https://bailproject.org/
National Bail Fund Network: https://www.communityjusticeexchange.org/en/nbfn-directory
Amnesty International: protect asylum-seekers: https://donate.amnestyusa.org/page/113080/donate/1
The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights: https://www.theyoungcenter.org/
CHIRLA: https://www.chirla.org/
AL Otro Lado: https://alotrolado.networkforgood.com/projects/63833-al-otro-lado-fund
"Know Your Rights:" https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/protesters-rights
"Disappeared In America:" https://www.disappearedinamerica.us/
* "Lawsuit seeks halt to Trump’s reflecting pool makeover:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/11/trump-reflecting-pool-lawsuit-00914078

* "Reflecting Pool Repairs to Cost $13.1 Million. Trump Had Promised $1.8 Million.:" https://archive.ph/68qOp

* "‘The Damage Is Massive’: How the Justice Department Dismantled Its Voting Rights Section:" https://www.wired.com/story/the-justice-department-has-destroyed-its-voting-rights-section/

* "The Trump Administration Approved a Big Lithium Mine. A Top Official’s Husband Profited.:" https://archive.ph/haRS8

* "Trump official says she’s involved in policy changes that benefit her family’s ranches, video shows:" https://archive.ph/ck1Ik

* CW: Rape. "Lawsuit accuses Trump DOJ of stripping anti-rape protections from trans prisoners:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/transgender-prisoner-rape-lawsuit

* "RFK Jr. defends his health agenda and Trump's proposed budget cuts in hearing:" https://www.npr.org/2026/04/16/nx-s1-5787749/rfk-jr-hearing-hhs-health-budget-cuts

* "Kennedy Refuses to Commit to Backing New C.D.C. Director on Vaccines:" https://archive.ph/whPbp

* "US health officials nix publication of a study on COVID vaccine effectiveness:" https://apnews.com/article/cdc-covid19-vaccine-study-ea3a8e56d0dcdb7428f060b395b5ff23

* "CDC’s Full-Time Cruise Ship Inspectors Were Laid Off One Year Ago amid Record Outbreaks: Report:" https://people.com/cdc-full-time-cruise-ship-inspectors-were-laid-off-one-year-ago-amid-record-outbreaks-report-11969485

* "RFK Jr. Halts Ban on Minors Using Tanning Beds, Cites 'Personal Choice' and 'Parental Decision-Making':" https://people.com/rfk-jr-hals-proposed-ban-minors-tanning-beds-11969258

* "Federal judge unloads on ‘unserious’ RFK Jr., says anti-trans policy showed his ‘cruelty’:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/judge-calls-rfk-unserious

* "RFK Jr. can’t do math, former top CDC scientist says, and Pete Hegseth should stick to pushups:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/rfk-embarrasing-math-daskalakis

* "RFK Jr once cut penis off ‘road-killed raccoon’ in New York, new book reveals:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/16/rfk-jr-road-kill-raccoon-new-book

* "Federal appeals court says Trump orders aren’t law, rejects trans athlete ban in Minnesota:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/legal-win-trans-athletes-minnesota

* "Pete Hegseth’s Pentagon has started kicking trans troops out of the military, DOJ says:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/pentagon-begins-terminating-transgender-troops

* "Lawyers ask judge to certify case to protect all trans troops affected by Trump military ban:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/trans-military-ban-class-action

* "The Pentagon forced out a transgender Army major. Now her story is Emmy-nominated:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/erica-vandal-transgender-emmy-nomination

* "The Trump administration is paying trans troops not to work:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/transgender-military-wasted-money

* CW: Rape "Appeals court clears path to move trans women into men’s prisons despite sexual assault risk:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/transgender-women-court-mens-prisons

* "Trump fires the entire National Science Board:" https://www.theverge.com/science/918769/trump-fires-the-entire-national-science-board
* Terrifying things. "White House puts trans rights groups in counterterrorism crosshairs:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/transgender-activists-terrorism-threat

* "Trump Justice Department recruits transphobes with law degrees using $25,000 bonuses:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/doj-transgender-case-bonuses

* "Families ask judge to block Trump DOJ nationwide from getting trans kids’ medical records:" https://www.advocate.com/health/transgender-health/class-action-transgender-minor-records

* " Rhode Island resists Trump DOJ demand for trans youth records ordered by Texas judge :" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/rhode-island-trans-records-texas

* "Federal judge blocks FTC probes into trans medicine groups, citing ‘extensive evidence of animus’:" https://www.advocate.com/health/transgender-health/wpath-endocrine-society-legal-victory

* "Trump DOJ redoubling election scrutiny efforts:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/19/trump-doj-redoubling-election-scrutiny-efforts-00880159

* "Federal judge dismisses DOJ lawsuit seeking detailed information about Rhode Island voters:" https://apnews.com/article/voter-data-doj-privacy-elections-rhode-island-c79e6f395f4b296ce91d3eeff172365a

* "White House cuts $1.3 billion in Medicaid payments to California:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/13/white-house-cuts-billions-california-medicaid-00919351?__cf_chl_tk=Rdy4p8m4wgvbWPueuIf3KXGwaJo0eKpAmHLSjUDeu.s-1778821711-1.0.1.1-W3dGJ9J28B3JvFA9Zlb8Btf1FtShW1jpGSjZN9VAMGs
* "Republican resistance to Iran war grows in the Senate as Murkowski flips:" https://apnews.com/article/iran-war-congress-lisa-murkowski-3efd8b6bc1834a66eca8526a0a9b3ffe

That makes three (Murkowski, Collins, and Rand). If one of these is your Critter, I beg of you that you call to thank them. Yes, I know all the ways that they are shitty, but it is more important that we reign in Trump and stop the war.

WE NEED ONE MORE VOTE. I know, I know, number four is the hardest, but we are So Close.

* "Senate confirms Warsh for seat on Fed Board, clearing path to become chair:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/12/senate-warsh-fed-board-chair-trump-00915835

* "Do Your Phone Calls and Emails Matter? :" https://cmarmitage.substack.com/p/do-your-phone-calls-and-emails-matter
* Our until Midterms is to survive, to build grassroots resistance, to do all in our power to slow the republican Christo-fascist agenda, and to prepare for 2026 in case there is still Democracy.

"Take action with Indivisible:" https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/

Trump 2.0 Indivisible Guide.  https://indivisible.org/resource/guide

If you can't safely contact them in person, here are some other options for contacting your Congress Critters:

Five Calls to your critters: https://5calls.org/

Here is one that will send your reps a fax: https://resist.bot/

And another: https://faxzero.com/fax_senate.php

Snail Mail Campaigns: https://conuly.dreamwidth.org/3622760.html

"Congress. gov:" https://www.congress.gov/

White house (Possibly Dangerous): https://www.whitehouse.gov/

ACLU advice for writing to your Critters: https://www.aclu.org/writing-your-elected-representatives

This tracks legislation: https://www.govtrack.us/

"The Public Comment Process (+ how to write effective public comments):" https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/781844516804149248?source=share

"Swing Left:" https://swingleft.org/

Run for Something: https://runforsomething.net/

"Vote Smart:" https://justfacts.votesmart.org/

Protests: "50501 Events:" https://www.fiftyfifty.one/events

"ICE Raids Toolkit: Defend Against ICE Raids and Community Arrests:" https://www.immigrantdefenseproject.org/raids-toolkit/

Contains a raid tip hotline amoung other things. "Know Your Rights
LEARN HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY:" https://wearecasa.org/know-your-rights/
* "North Carolina voters have until July to comment on proposed election rules:" https://www.1011now.com/video/2026/05/15/north-carolina-voters-have-until-july-comment-proposed-election-rules/

* "She was forced to retire for being trans. Now, Virginia’s redistricting fight ended her congressional dreams:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/bree-fram-ends-house-campaign

* "Local election officials fear retribution ahead of fall midterms:" https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/13/local-election-interference-midterms-00868234

* We are in primary season. States vote at different times, so I beg ALL of you to check when your state is voting. If you are in an in-person vote state, research ahead of time so you can vote for the candidate with views closest to your own. If you vote by mail, take the time to look them up when your ballot comes.

THIS is how you move the party further LEFT.

PLAN YOUR VOTE!!!

Primary schedule here:

* "2026 Statewide Primary Calendar:" https://www.270towin.com/2026-state-primary-calendar/

I don't know where you live, so I can't link this for you, but I find the Progressive Voter Guide online very helpful in narrowing down candidates in the often packed primaries where I live.

I also suggest looking at things like volunteer work and endorsements, because it really, really helps with things like sheriff and judicial elections, but can be useful in all sorts of primaries when you have multiple good options.

REMEMBER: Don't just vote for the big things like US Congress. Vote in every State and local race down to the smallest and on all the referendums.

State and local elections have a massive impact on your quality of life.

* Louisiana! Don't forget to vote May 16!

* Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Kentucky, Oregon, Pennsylvania! Don't forget to vote May 19!

* "West Virginia election results: Who won primaries for US Senate, House?:" https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2026/05/13/west-virginia-election-results-midterm-primaries/90045364007/

* "Nebraska Democratic Senate primary winner says she’ll drop out to support independent in general election:" https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/12/nebraska-demoratic-house-primary-winner-cindy-burbank

* "This gay D.C. Council candidate wants Washington to live up to its progressive image:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/election/miguel-trindade-deramo-dc-council

* "Barack Obama appears with James Talarico and Gina Hinojosa at Austin restaurant:" https://www.texastribune.org/2026/05/12/texas-barack-obama-james-talarico-gina-hinojosa-austin-restaurant-2026/

* "Trump leaves GOP candidates to ‘eat each other alive’ as Dems seize advantage to rally:" https://www.ms.now/the-briefing-with-jen-psaki/watch/trump-leaves-gop-candidates-to-eat-each-other-alive-as-dems-seize-advantage-to-rally-2499866179730

* "Flurry of new NC constitutional amendments piling up for November ballot:" https://ncnewsline.com/2026/05/14/flurry-of-new-nc-constitutional-amendments-piling-up-for-november-ballot/

* "Signature dispute could derail Maine’s anti-trans ballot initiative:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/maine-anti-trans-ballot-measures

* "Conservatives are turning to American voters to target trans rights:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/war-on-trans-rights-continues

* "New Jersey races to block red state attacks on reproductive & gender-affirming care providers:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/new-jersey-trans-abortion-care

* "California to provide free diapers to newborns leaving hospitals in 1st-in-the-nation program:" https://abc7news.com/post/california-provide-free-diapers-newborns-leaving-hospitals-1st-nation-program-newsom-announces/19064053/

* "Mom Slams 82-Year-Old Congresswoman's 'Hostile' Response to Her Son's Letter, Which Told 4th Grader to Learn What 'Propaganda' Means:" https://people.com/mom-slams-virginia-foxx-letter-to-fourth-grader-11971908

She sent him a bunch of propaganda while attacking his fact based report on Electric vehicles with seemingly no sense of self awareness.

* "‘Unhinged’: MAGA lawmaker melts down over 10-year-old’s letter:" https://www.ms.now/all-in/watch/unhinged-maga-lawmaker-melts-down-over-10-year-old-s-letter-2499995715681

* "Rand Paul’s son unleashed antisemitic, antigay rant toward prominent Republican congressman:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/rand-paul-mike-lawler-homophobic

* "Oklahoma teacher suing Ryan Walters says Libs of TikTok terrorized him for years:" https://www.advocate.com/news/ryan-walters-defamation-lawsuit

* "Media For Truth, Not Profit w/ Democracy Now!’s Amy Goodman | The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart:"

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* "Man charged in White House correspondents’ dinner attack pleads not guilty:" https://apnews.com/article/trump-correspondents-dinner-allen-shooting-d9a2d4ddab8c6a48d3e365f72eea9a86

* "19-year-old transgender University of Washington student fatally stabbed:" https://www.advocate.com/news/19-year-old-transgender-university-of-washington-student-fatally-stabbed

* "Suspect in fatal stabbing of trans University of Washington student turns himself in:" https://www.advocate.com/news/suspect-in-fatal-stabbing-of-trans-university-of-washington-student-turns-himself-in

* CW: Sex Crimes "Anti-LGBTQ+ extremist charged for filming men using public bathroom at Florida Pride event:" https://www.advocate.com/news/crime/naples-pride-voyeurism-arrest

* "The right tried to take down this transgender instructor in Oklahoma. She's staying put.:" https://www.advocate.com/news/people/mel-curth-oklahoma-instructor-interview

* "‘I’m livid’: Republicans called out for denying Arizona town funds over library drag events:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/grijalva-republicans-library-drag-defunded

* " Federal appeals court weighs whether schools must out trans students during trips:" https://www.advocate.com/politics/states/transgender-student-trips-colorado

* "GLAAD warns that the internet is becoming more dangerous for LGBTQ+ people:" https://www.advocate.com/news/glaad-2026-social-media-safety

* "Can a single infusion of immune cells suppress HIV for years?:" https://www.advocate.com/health/breakthrough-for-possible-hiv-cure

* "Jack Schlossberg wants free PrEP for all — and for his cousin to stop undermining HIV care :" https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/jack-schlossberg-hiv-prevention

* "US passengers of hantavirus cruise ship being monitored in Nebraska:" https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy2e9e1g0wo

I can't reiterate enough that person to person transmission rates are low. This is a disease carried by rodents. It is a terrible thing to catch, yes, but the risk for treating them on land is low, especially with proper precautions taken by medical personnel in nice clean rodent free hospitals.

No matter what the AI slop and scaremongers in general say, this is not the next great pandemic. There are small outbreaks every year in areas where it is endemic.

If you are worried about a pandemic, COVID is still COVIDing.

* "Spain reports new hantavirus case in passenger evacuated from cruise ship as outbreak grows to 11:" https://apnews.com/article/hantavirus-outbreak-hondius-cruise-ship-ac42357c5c3ae1694a93f1d43ba38bdb

* "Norovirus Outbreak Sickens 115 on Cruise Ship:" https://archive.ph/8nIra

Unlike Hantavirus, Norovirus is very transmissible, to the point I've seen a school close over an outbreak and the district sent around letters, and email begging people not to send asymptomatic siblings to school lest they spread it to other buildings servicing divergent age groups.

* "‘Unprecedented’ global effort gives new name to polycystic ovary syndrome – and new hope to millions of women:" https://www.theguardian.com/society/ng-interactive/2026/may/12/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos-new-name-polyendocrine-metabolic-ovarian-syndrome-pmos
* "Josh Tyrangiel - “AI for Good” | The Daily Show:" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kolVzstukgs

Jon asks a question in there several times that I don't think I've heard anyone in media ask before.

* "Kickstarter’s New “Mature Content” Guidelines:" https://jackviolet.com/2026/05/12/kickstarters-new-mature-content-guidelines/

* "Tesla is recalling its cheaper Cybertruck because the wheels might fall off:" https://www.theverge.com/transportation/926741/tesla-cybertruck-cheaper-recall

* Monday, I stayed up for errands. My ILL went back with only a few chapters read because it arrived at the same time as the glorious Plague book. I shall order it back, but not just now as both Apparently, Sir Cameron and my returning Plague book arrived last week.

I hit the Co-op on the way back and got a ton of basil (thai and goth. I already have sweet growing.) and some more tomato varietals, all of which are now planted. I am trying rosemary again. Wish me luck, as I have never kept rosemary alive through the fall, though last year wasn't my fault for once. I am endlessly grateful EBT lets me buy starts and seeds. The tomatoes that went in I think it was two weeks ago are growing beautifully. I really need to start eating the lettuce more, and have purchased more burger rolls and tomatoes and veggie patties to put in them to start using the garden lettuce more. If I made a salad, that would be it, but this way they last longer. On my to do list is starting the next lettuce crop. The regular basil is inside. I am checking temp frequently tonight to see if I need to bring the rest of the basil in.

I even remembered the gravy this time and worked out which vegetarian broth has the least salt and bought a couple extra. You'd think this would be easy, but it wasn't. I don't much like salt, as it tends to make me queasy, but it is in nearly everything. (I get cravings when I need sodium and have a small number of foods I like salt on which I eat in those circumstances, but I generally like low or no sodium things best taste wise). The other broths were 15-25% of daily allowance, but I found the one brand at 5%. I feel less stupid for struggling with this now.

In other news, I've been refereed to a foster at the town just north of us for kitteens (Teenaged kittens). This is the best outcome at this point. Two there are significantly cheaper then one in my small city, and the drive is reasonable. I admit I really liked the ones from the place we got Livia, but carrying two kittens for an hour or more over a mountain pass is not ideal. If the place that responded tonight works out, I'm taking those.

UPDATE: I decided to bring them in just to be safe. It's a dangerous undertaking involving a ladder as otherwise Livia will eat them all, but better safe than sorry.

* My body is just being extra awful with the pain and exhaustion, plus bonus allergy stuff. They mowed Monday and my eyes went itchy and painful and the lids swelled up. It was significantly worse with the eye that is always much worse. I spent Tuesday with it swollen half shut and attempting to glue itself together if I left it shut the rest of the way too long. It is hard to do anything with an eye that hurts that much and keeps filming over. I did compresses as one does and the swelling was gone on the left and half the size Wednesday, but also I was exhausted as it had been days at that point since anything like proper sleep in appropriate amounts.

I remain really angry about multiple insurance company scammers phoning me twice a day in hopes of me letting them trick me into fucking up my medicare. We are on the forth script with one of them. The other called when I was at the computer. They are apparently a massive private insurance company that deliberately named themselves so they sound like a non-profit senior advocacy group, the bastards.

I still haven't heard from the foster with the kitteens. Livia's rescue emailed me Thursday. Apparently they'd been texting my landline as no one ever believes one when one says one has a landline and not a cell. They still had five of the seven kittens from January that I'd inquired about. I said my priority was two kittens bonded to each other and I didn't mind that the specific one I'd asked about had been adopted out. She wants to do a phone call interview which is perfect. These kittens are about 50 dollars more for the pair than the teens, plus gas, which would be worth it. The kitten fund has been moved in anticipation, so I can pay up front if they accept us.

I also emailed the kitteen people reminding them that I had a landline and can't receive texts in case this is why the foster hasn't contacted me yet.

I would love if someone phoned me tomorrow. Let us hope.

* "Hantavirus Is Not the Next Covid, But Try Telling That to the News Media | The Daily Show:"

Embed: )

* "Trump's "Very Simple" Iran War Plan | Forgetting Mother’s Day | Duffy's Road Show | The Alien Files:"

Embed: )

* "RFK Jr. Dissatisfied with Teen Sperm & Sean Duffy Gets Back to Reality | The Daily Show:"

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* "Are These Dueling AI Necklaces the Solution to Male Loneliness? Ronny Investigates | The Daily Show:"

Embed: )

* The adaption history is worth the watch. "Every Frankenstein Adaptation Sucks And Here's Why:"

Embed: )

* "ONE HIT WONDERLAND: "Zoot Suit Riot" by Cherry Poppin' Daddies:"

Embed: )

* "Andy Richter’s Near-Death Experience: How a Stroke Changed His Life:"

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* "Radical Roman Reforms:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/DKB01ahVWSw

* "Civilly Caesar Wars 4 (Dyrrhachium):" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rCH8wHleQJQ

* "Civilly Caesar Wars Final Part (Pharsalus):" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ZQAQcZU4J60

* "Belligerent Britons:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/E2vOtjUX-Y8

* "Naughty Nero:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/lcv9dt2ENiE

* "Frivolous Fields (of Gold):" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/J6528HFX-8M

* "Conniving Colonial Companies:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/UMFX4xN7WsU

* "Nautical Naval Combat:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/63L-ewlySh0

* "Blase Britannia:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/CwIkqS5mSfg

* "Goofy Gollum Gandering:" https://www.youtube.com/shorts/yOHwuZDBPyk

* "This Is Not A Golden Calf!:"

Embed: )

*****
* Full list of Resistance and charity links has been migrated to my profile as it was getting out of hand.

The help links are at the bottom under the cut.

* The public comment period is open now through May 22, 2026: https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/docket-detail/19-41

* "Transcontinental Pipeline:" https://tcpipeline.org/steps/

* "Project Salt Box:" https://projectsaltbox.substack.com/

* "When the Feds Come to Your City: Standing Up to ICE :" https://crimethinc.com/2025/12/03/when-the-feds-come-to-your-city-standing-up-to-ice-a-guide-from-chicago-organizers

* Links to Help organize in advance of ICE Occupation: https://www.tumblr.com/gwydionmisha/807226885129060352?source=share

* "Swing Left:" https://swingleft.org/

* "2026 Statewide Primary Calendar:" https://www.270towin.com/2026-state-primary-calendar/

More )
lannamichaels: Astronaut Dale Gardner holds up For Sale sign after EVA. (Default)
[personal profile] lannamichaels


Title: Drabble: Ned Stark's Firstborn.
Author: [personal profile] lannamichaels
Fandom: A Song Of Ice & Fire/Game Of Thrones
Rating: G
A/N: As threatened, the one where Jon Snow is Ned Stark's bastard.
Archives: Archive Of Our Own, SquidgeWorld

Summary: Her name was Jeyne Ley.


Drabble! )

cupcake_goth: (Default)
[personal profile] cupcake_goth
(FOB lyric, but this post isn't about them.)

tl;dr: my psyche is a wonderland of land mines, thank goodness I had a cathartic concert to go to after therapy.

Tuesday night was the Florence + the Machine concert, which was a hugely cathartic event that I absolutely needed. On the way home from the show it dawned on me that in some ways FOR ME, F+tM are more "grown-up" catharsis music that better fills the Emilie Autumn slot. EA is (apparently) the music of "welp, time to fall apart for a bit", whereas F+tM are "I feel a little fragile and stressed, but not quite Pete Wentz lyrics levels". 

Anyhoodle, I learned that the songs "Everybody Scream", "Sympathy Magic", and "Free" in concert make me cry. I expected that of the first two, but not of Free. Links to lyrics provided in case folks want to guess which parts hit me hard, because my psyche is not subtle.

One of the reasons that I absolutely needed the catharsis: Tuesday is therapy day, which I remembered two minutes before my appointment. My awesome therapist and I were talking about the deep rooted belief from my childhood in which I need to do everything perfectly for everyone, because that's how I'm worthy of affection and love. Y'know, a normal way of thinking. This somehow led to me telling her some of the family jokes from my childhood: I was picked up from the second-hand children's store but they lost the receipt and couldn't return me; how when I was around eleven Dad joked that one of his very rich Arab customers wanted to buy me as a bride but Dad was holding out for more camels; and the classic I didn't know my real middle name until I applied for my driver's permit because my parents committed to the bit of substituting "Veg-o-Matic" for my real middle name.

My therapist stared at me in a horrified manner, and then said, "Those aren't funny". Upon discussion and deep reflection, I agree, because the first two reinforced that programming of I need to be useful and helpful to be loved, and the third kinda-sorta did the same because 1) it was a "joke" at the expense of who I thought I was, and 2) saying my middle name was the name of an appliance? See the first two jokes. 

My therapist agreed that my parents weren't deliberately doing those things, that they did think they were jokes, and would be upset if they realized the cumulative effect they had on me. But damn, that was a difficult session. No wonder I cried at "I find no worthiness in virtue / I no longer try to be good / they didn't keep me safe / like you told me that it would".
 

darkoshi: (Default)
[personal profile] darkoshi
I wonder if people who don't have an internal monologue do actually have one, but in the other half of their brain. Maybe their awareness is centered on the side of the brain not involved in speech, versus people who are aware of the monologue.

I wonder if some people who don't have an internal monologue still talk to themselves out loud, or if they don't at all (since for me, talking to myself out loud is simply an extension of the internal monologue).

I wonder if other people who talk to themselves start developing and using their own personal dialects. For example, checking the status of a UPS tracking number, I said to myself, "Let's tracken the number" and "Let's check the trackening number". I add extra syllables and such to words whenever I'm feeling playful. (Now it morphs into "Let's checkening the trackening number").

Oh it is such a nice gently warm day with birdsong and train whistles and sunshine and wind.

Sometimes when I talk to myself, I get an impression of the other part of my brain (or maybe I imagine it), such as when the verbal part of me has to goad the other part of me before my body will take action, or when I'm trying to figure out why I feel glum and reluctant to do something.

Happy Birthday!

May. 14th, 2026 07:48 pm
jjpor: (Seven'n'Ace)
[personal profile] jjpor
Wishing all the best and many happy returns to [personal profile] thisbluespirit . I hope you are having the best day possible. <3

Not a Lot

May. 14th, 2026 08:07 am
ateolf: (synth & boobs)
[personal profile] ateolf
Mary Beth and I did our TFM grocery run during my lunch break. Not a lot else. A few cds in the mail: Shaun Robert: Useless Eater Seize Misanthropy, Shaun Robert: Touch Marks, Melophobia: Petit Électronique, and Melophobia: J5. I practiced synths a little at night but I didn't make a ton of progress.

30 Days of Blake's 7 - day 14

May. 14th, 2026 10:01 pm
vilakins: (vila avon hand)
[personal profile] vilakins
Day 14: Character you relate to the most

There are two for different reasons.

Avon (in S1 and S2) for being introverted, independent, resentful at being ordered around, contemptuous of sheer stupidity (I channel him about our local and national government), and a geek somewhat lacking in social skills.

Vila, but mainly for being anxious and sensibly scared. Seriously, I'd have been terrified; he's much braver than I am because he can function despite the fear. I also enjoy wordplay and board games. To me, Vila does react to that life in a more believable way than the others.

All the questions are on Tumblr.
tamaranth: me, in the sun (Default)
[personal profile] tamaranth
2026/069: Floating Hotel — Grace Curtis

Media featuring extra-terrestrial intelligence (‘subversions of the supremacy of man’) had been banned Empire-wide for several generations. Even the word ‘alien’ made Uwade flinch with taboo. [p. 37]

It's the 29th century. Humanity has spread across the galaxy. The Empire -- and its 500-year-old Emperor -- governs many planets, quite a few of which are gutted for their resources before being abandoned, their populace sent to mine the next resource-rich world. 

But there is still luxury: the Grand Abeona Hotel (really more of an interstellar cruise liner) travels its leisurely circuit, offering an 'analogue paradise' that is screen-free, along with the luxuries and services of a lost golden age. Read more... )

Convergence

May. 13th, 2026 08:06 am
ateolf: (The Metamorphosis)
[personal profile] ateolf
Got a few things in the mail: Les Rallizes Dénudés: Disque 4 -'76 Studio et Live- cd and The Tunnel by William H. Gass. Do I already have a copy of The Tunnel? Yes. Did it include full color illustrations as this new edition does for the first time since its initial publication in 1995? No! So, excited about this in a pretty dorky way! Lots of things starting to happen and yesterday was pretty busy with communications. One of these things is ready to be mentioned now. On Memorial Day morning, I'm going to be on a local tv station to talk about the festival! I'm also getting someone to perform on the tv show, but I've still yet to see who it will be as the tv confirmation is still very recent. After work Mary Beth and I went on a walk around the neighborhood.

I forgot to mention the biggest thing in my last post. On Monday morning, I took the car in to the glass shop to get the windshield replaced. Annoying to have to do, but that crack suddenly spreading right across a full half of the windshield seemed pretty bad. Had to pay a deductible, blah, but at least it's fixed. Then driving around with a new windshield everything seems weirdly clear, hahaha.

30 Days of Blake's 7 - day 13

May. 13th, 2026 10:10 pm
vilakins: (liberator)
[personal profile] vilakins
Day 13: Favourite guest character

I'll pick three: Bellfriar and Gambrill from Killer for being interesting, fully realised characters whose reactions to and acceptance of Blake showed that there are many good people in the Federation, and Jarriere from Gambit for sheer charm, eccentricity, and his complete ease with Servalan.

All the questions are on Tumblr.

Grocery Store Music

May. 12th, 2026 08:00 am
ateolf: (i ♥ George)
[personal profile] ateolf
After work I finished reading Amédée/The New Tenant/Victims of Duty by Eugène Ionesco and it was all pretty good. Then Mary Beth and I went and did our Superlo grocery run. I was pleased that the piped in music was back to whatever weird source it had had for the longest time, always playing music that was radio-popular in its day but isn't the kind of stuff you hear out in public hardly at all anymore. Usually stuff that's endearingly corny or just kinda weird in an off sorta way and occasionally a really awesome song (the really awesome song this time was "Higher Ground"). And we didn't hear it this time but a very emblematic music choice is the fact that we seem to hear "MacArthur Park" there once every few months. Anyway, I bring it up as coming back because for the past several grocery runs, so maybe something like a couple months, we'd go and it was some kind of "yacht rock" satellite station (and that's especially annoying, even moreso than the music itself which definitely isn't my cuppa, but the fact that it's a completely made up "genre" is especially grating...and the appellation isn't mine, there were bumpers with the "you're listening to Yacht Rock Radio on [Sirius XM or whatever]"...the typical Superlo music feed is nice and mysterious with no bumpers or voiceovers or anything). Okay, I've gone on way too long about the grocery store's music feed! I was up too late 'cuz I was messing around with video stuff and I got sucked in longer than I'd intended 'cuz I forgot to select the "realtime" button so I think I'm doing this for thirty minutes but it's running slower than real time so I got sucked in much longer than planned. Anyway.
tamaranth: me, in the sun (Default)
[personal profile] tamaranth
2026/068: She Made Herself a Monster — Anna Kovatchevka

"Humans have always needed people like me—as long as we’ve needed monsters.”
... “Do people need monsters?”
“A person can’t fight a plague, but they can fight the beast that cursed them with it. If not vampire or varkolak, it’s the Devil, or it’s witches. My way doesn’t end in witch burnings.” [loc. 1308]

Anka was orphaned on the night she was born: a house fire, a mother giving birth on bare earth lit by flames. The people of Koprivci, a small town in Bulgaria, believe Anka is the reason for the streak of stillbirths and fevers that has claimed nearly all of the children born in the last sixteen years.

Read more... )

30 Days of Blake's 7 - day 12

May. 12th, 2026 07:34 pm
vilakins: Both versions of Travis (two-faced)
[personal profile] vilakins
Day 12: Favourite villain

I'd say Servalan, but she outstayed her welcome in S4; I got heartily sick of her.

So it's Travis, and I've grown to like both versions. He was a little more complex in S2, especially Gambit.

All the questions are on Tumblr.
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