Photos: Dark Gardening
Jun. 11th, 2025 11:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithI enjoy growing dark-colored plants. I have black flowers, bronze leaves, black fruits, all kinds of interesting things.
( Walk with me ... )
( Walk with me ... )
ysabetwordsmith
FIC: None of Us Stand Alone
Jun. 11th, 2025 11:43 pmalexcatTitle: None of Us Stand Alone
Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe
Rating: PG
Length: 681 words
Content notes: This is post Endgame
Author notes: My grandmother used to say 'Charity begins at home' because she never gave anyone anything.
Summary: Tony has a surprise for Steve at his charity ball.
Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe
Rating: PG
Length: 681 words
Content notes: This is post Endgame
Author notes: My grandmother used to say 'Charity begins at home' because she never gave anyone anything.
Summary: Tony has a surprise for Steve at his charity ball.
Fireflies
Jun. 11th, 2025 09:06 pmysabetwordsmithFirefly species discovered after 90-year absence: 'Even when things seem lost, they can still find their way back'
Tan soon realized that he was looking at a Pteroptyx gombakia, or a Gombak bent-winged firefly. The discovery marked the first time that the species had been identified in 90 years — and the first live sighting of the species, ever.
Yay, fireflies!
Tan soon realized that he was looking at a Pteroptyx gombakia, or a Gombak bent-winged firefly. The discovery marked the first time that the species had been identified in 90 years — and the first live sighting of the species, ever.
Yay, fireflies!
Birdfeeding
Jun. 11th, 2025 03:14 pmysabetwordsmithToday is sunny and warm.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches. They've been draining the hopper feeder daily and putting a dent in the thistle feeder.
I put out water for the birds.
My partner Doug is out mowing the house yard.
EDIT 6/11/25 -- I refilled the thistle feeder.
I started trimming grass around the edge of the strip garden, now that I have the big weeds pulled out.
EDIT 6/11/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 6/11/25 -- I took some pictures around the yard.
EDIT 6/11/25 -- I picked half a bag of mulberries in the south lot.
I've seen a skunk on the patio. I've seen a catbird and a phoebe. I heard a red-bellied woodpecker but didn't see it.
EDIT 6/11/25 -- I set up firestarters for the firepit.
I picked half a bag of mulberries along the west fence.
EDIT 6/11/25 -- We lit the bonfire for the esbat tonight. It took a little while to get going but then it burned pretty well. I'll try to check on it later.
Fireflies are out and I've seen a bat.
EDIT 6/11/25 -- I checked the bonfire. It's mostly burned down. I threw most of the stray ends into the middle, but it was still too warm for me to get all the way around. I'll need to go back out later.
.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches. They've been draining the hopper feeder daily and putting a dent in the thistle feeder.
I put out water for the birds.
My partner Doug is out mowing the house yard.
EDIT 6/11/25 -- I refilled the thistle feeder.
I started trimming grass around the edge of the strip garden, now that I have the big weeds pulled out.
EDIT 6/11/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 6/11/25 -- I took some pictures around the yard.
EDIT 6/11/25 -- I picked half a bag of mulberries in the south lot.
I've seen a skunk on the patio. I've seen a catbird and a phoebe. I heard a red-bellied woodpecker but didn't see it.
EDIT 6/11/25 -- I set up firestarters for the firepit.
I picked half a bag of mulberries along the west fence.
EDIT 6/11/25 -- We lit the bonfire for the esbat tonight. It took a little while to get going but then it burned pretty well. I'll try to check on it later.
Fireflies are out and I've seen a bat.
EDIT 6/11/25 -- I checked the bonfire. It's mostly burned down. I threw most of the stray ends into the middle, but it was still too warm for me to get all the way around. I'll need to go back out later.
.
Wednesday Reading Meme for June 11 2025
Jun. 11th, 2025 03:46 pmkitewithfishWhat I've Read
All Systems Red by Martha Wells - Watching Murderbot the show with some friends led us into a discussion of differences between the show and the book, so I ended up re-listening to the book. It just keeps holding up - it's tightly written with a narrative voice that is just so clear and so dry and sometimes so scared - I love this book. I'm not sure where I land on the show exactly, but this did confirm that at least some of the plot differences are from the show removing the drones that SecUnit uses to see things remotely.
What I'm Reading
The City and the City by China Mieville - audiobook narrated by John Lee (not my fave but perfectly competent) - This is the first time I'm reading China Mieville after all the online awareness of the accusations and it's for a book club. The book does lean pretty well into the weirdness of the two cities arrangement - where you might have something pass in front of your eyes but you unsee it, because it's in a different city than the one you live in . It's a mureder mystery, so a lot of my final read will depend on how the story resolves
My Favorite Thing is Monsters Book 2 by Emil Ferris - still weird!
Hunting Toward Heartstill by Blackkat -about 45%
The Antarctica Conspiracy Derin Edala – slightly on hold.
The Ministry of time - on hold.
Someone you can build a nest in -on hold
What I'll Read Next
Star Trek: Lower Decks: Warp Your Own Way
The Tainted Cup
The Deep Dark
Track Changes
Alien Clay
Service Model
Someone You Can Build a Nest In
Monstress, Vol. 9: The Possessed
Navigational Entanglements
The Butcher of the Forest
The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain
Speculative Whiteness: Science Fiction and the Alt-Right
The Brides of High Hill
The Tusks of Extinction
“Charting the Cliff: An Investigation into the 2023 Hugo Nomination Statistics”
“Signs of Life”
“By Salt, By Sea, By Light of Stars”
“The Brotherhood of Montague St. Video”
“Loneliness Universe”
“The 2023 Hugo Awards: A Report on Censorship and Exclusion”
“The Four Sisters Overlooking the Sea”
“Lake of Souls”
All Systems Red by Martha Wells - Watching Murderbot the show with some friends led us into a discussion of differences between the show and the book, so I ended up re-listening to the book. It just keeps holding up - it's tightly written with a narrative voice that is just so clear and so dry and sometimes so scared - I love this book. I'm not sure where I land on the show exactly, but this did confirm that at least some of the plot differences are from the show removing the drones that SecUnit uses to see things remotely.
What I'm Reading
The City and the City by China Mieville - audiobook narrated by John Lee (not my fave but perfectly competent) - This is the first time I'm reading China Mieville after all the online awareness of the accusations and it's for a book club. The book does lean pretty well into the weirdness of the two cities arrangement - where you might have something pass in front of your eyes but you unsee it, because it's in a different city than the one you live in . It's a mureder mystery, so a lot of my final read will depend on how the story resolves
My Favorite Thing is Monsters Book 2 by Emil Ferris - still weird!
Hunting Toward Heartstill by Blackkat -about 45%
The Antarctica Conspiracy Derin Edala – slightly on hold.
The Ministry of time - on hold.
Someone you can build a nest in -on hold
What I'll Read Next
Star Trek: Lower Decks: Warp Your Own Way
The Tainted Cup
The Deep Dark
Track Changes
Alien Clay
Service Model
Someone You Can Build a Nest In
Monstress, Vol. 9: The Possessed
Navigational Entanglements
The Butcher of the Forest
The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain
Speculative Whiteness: Science Fiction and the Alt-Right
The Brides of High Hill
The Tusks of Extinction
“Charting the Cliff: An Investigation into the 2023 Hugo Nomination Statistics”
“Signs of Life”
“By Salt, By Sea, By Light of Stars”
“The Brotherhood of Montague St. Video”
“Loneliness Universe”
“The 2023 Hugo Awards: A Report on Censorship and Exclusion”
“The Four Sisters Overlooking the Sea”
“Lake of Souls”
Moment of Silence: Brian Wilson
Jun. 11th, 2025 01:18 pmysabetwordsmithBrian Wilson, leader and co-founder of the Beach Boys, has passed away. He will be missed.
Carry on the Work
Bands -- WikiHow
How to Learn to Sing Pop Without Getting a Teacher -- WikiHow
How To Produce: The Complete Guide to Making Pop Music -- Soundtrap
How to Start a Band (10 Easy Steps) -- Chicago Sound Collective
How to Write a Pop Song -- WikiHow
Learning to Sing -- WikiHow
Music Production -- WikiHow
Songwriting -- WikiHow
Carry on the Work
Bands -- WikiHow
How to Learn to Sing Pop Without Getting a Teacher -- WikiHow
How To Produce: The Complete Guide to Making Pop Music -- Soundtrap
How to Start a Band (10 Easy Steps) -- Chicago Sound Collective
How to Write a Pop Song -- WikiHow
Learning to Sing -- WikiHow
Music Production -- WikiHow
Songwriting -- WikiHow
Insect Apocalypse
Jun. 11th, 2025 04:04 amysabetwordsmith‘Half the tree of life’: ecologists’ horror as nature reserves are emptied of insects
A new point in history has been reached, entomologists say, as climate-led species’ collapse moves up the food chain even in supposedly protected regions free of pesticides.
They include in Germany, where flying insects across 63 insect reserves dropped 75% in less than 30 years; the US, where beetle numbers dropped 83% in 45 years; and Puerto Rico, where insect biomass dropped up to 60-fold since the 1970s. These declines are occurring in ecosystems that are otherwise protected from direct human influence.
[---8<---]
At one research centre – falling within a 22,000-hectare (85 sq mile) stretch of intact forest in Panama – scientists comparing current bird numbers with the 1970s found 70% of species had declined, and 88% of these had lost more than half of their population.
As the insects die off, everything that eats them -- birds, amphibians, reptiles, etc. -- suffers a decline also.
A new point in history has been reached, entomologists say, as climate-led species’ collapse moves up the food chain even in supposedly protected regions free of pesticides.
They include in Germany, where flying insects across 63 insect reserves dropped 75% in less than 30 years; the US, where beetle numbers dropped 83% in 45 years; and Puerto Rico, where insect biomass dropped up to 60-fold since the 1970s. These declines are occurring in ecosystems that are otherwise protected from direct human influence.
[---8<---]
At one research centre – falling within a 22,000-hectare (85 sq mile) stretch of intact forest in Panama – scientists comparing current bird numbers with the 1970s found 70% of species had declined, and 88% of these had lost more than half of their population.
As the insects die off, everything that eats them -- birds, amphibians, reptiles, etc. -- suffers a decline also.
Hard Things
Jun. 11th, 2025 12:04 amysabetwordsmithLife is full of things which are hard or tedious or otherwise unpleasant that need doing anyhow. They help make the world go 'round, they improve skills, and they boost your sense of self-respect. But doing them still kinda sucks. It's all the more difficult to do those things when nobody appreciates it. Happily, blogging allows us to share our accomplishments and pat each other on the back.
What are some of the hard things you've done recently? What are some hard things you haven't gotten to yet, but need to do? Is there anything your online friends could do to make your hard things a little easier?
What are some of the hard things you've done recently? What are some hard things you haven't gotten to yet, but need to do? Is there anything your online friends could do to make your hard things a little easier?
Unsold Poems for the June 3, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl
Jun. 10th, 2025 11:36 pmysabetwordsmithThe following poems from the June 3, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl are currently available. Poems may be sponsored via PayPal -- there's a permanent donation button on my Dreamwidth profile page -- or you can write to me and discuss other methods. There are still verses left in the linkback poems "Delight in Another," "A Sense of Weather Changes," "Ouroboros Insects," "The Loving Embrace of Night," "Generations of Cooks Past," "Homefree and Clear, " "One Bite at a Time," "Stars and Diamonds," "Mishpocha," "Changing Your Nature," and "Besa."
( Read more... )
( Read more... )
(no subject)
Jun. 10th, 2025 09:05 pmravena_kadeToday was a better day. The boss had the day off so it was quiet and I had plenty of reports to do.
The new girl is fitting in nicely. She is friendly and listens to her trainer. The other guy tried to out talk the trainer and kept talking about how another coworker uses the bathroom a lot. Yeah medical reason... everyone is okay with it, but this guy wouldn't let it go and he was only with us 7 days. She is also very nice with customers so I think she is a good fit.
The weather seems a bit colder than usual. If we get rain Saturday it will be 13 Saturdays of rain and will set a record. The garden is not where it should be and I have no tan lines. Poo....
I think I want to see Jurassic Park Rebirth... not for any plot, but just to see the dinosaurs. I saw the first movie...it was memorable as it was the first movie I saw where I had to go pee. The T-rex going after the kids in the jeep was the scene. It was intense at the time. I didn't see any of the other movies. Maybe I just want to see a swimming T-rex.
I have found a you tube channel called The Grumpy Old Crone. She amuses me as she grouses about silly things in the pagan and witchcraft community. She also set me on another channel called The Tiny Angry Witch. I adore it. It is stop motion animation about a teeny tiny angry witch. I make the same noises she makes. It Cracks me up.
I saw a book that sounds fascinating. "The Women Who Threw Corn" Its about women from Spain, North Africa, Senegambia and the Canaries accused of sorcery in 16th century Mexico. I was bummed to find out that it doesn't come out until September. That and it costs $39. The Kindle edition costs $37. That is a lot of money.
The new girl is fitting in nicely. She is friendly and listens to her trainer. The other guy tried to out talk the trainer and kept talking about how another coworker uses the bathroom a lot. Yeah medical reason... everyone is okay with it, but this guy wouldn't let it go and he was only with us 7 days. She is also very nice with customers so I think she is a good fit.
The weather seems a bit colder than usual. If we get rain Saturday it will be 13 Saturdays of rain and will set a record. The garden is not where it should be and I have no tan lines. Poo....
I think I want to see Jurassic Park Rebirth... not for any plot, but just to see the dinosaurs. I saw the first movie...it was memorable as it was the first movie I saw where I had to go pee. The T-rex going after the kids in the jeep was the scene. It was intense at the time. I didn't see any of the other movies. Maybe I just want to see a swimming T-rex.
I have found a you tube channel called The Grumpy Old Crone. She amuses me as she grouses about silly things in the pagan and witchcraft community. She also set me on another channel called The Tiny Angry Witch. I adore it. It is stop motion animation about a teeny tiny angry witch. I make the same noises she makes. It Cracks me up.
I saw a book that sounds fascinating. "The Women Who Threw Corn" Its about women from Spain, North Africa, Senegambia and the Canaries accused of sorcery in 16th century Mexico. I was bummed to find out that it doesn't come out until September. That and it costs $39. The Kindle edition costs $37. That is a lot of money.
Refugees
Jun. 10th, 2025 06:28 pmysabetwordsmithCEO invites the world to invest in refugees: 'Humanity flourishes when people have the tools to succeed'
“One in 10 of us will be displaced in 25 years. One in 10. Each of us is more likely to be displaced than ever before,” Oyler said in her TED Talk, which will be published at a later date.
“The time for incremental change is over. We must do things differently.”
[---8<---]
“When Uganda allowed refugees to work, the country's GDP increased by nearly a billion dollars,” Oyler said. “Ethiopia reformed its policies, and now thousands of refugees contribute in key sectors like agriculture and manufacturing.”
“When Rwanda, the country where I live, included refugees in its national ID program, they gained access to health care, financial services, and are growing an economy.”
It's all about knitting people into society as fast as possible. Make sure they have access to survival needs such as food, shelter, clothing, and health care. Then compare what they can do with what needs doing. To accommodate untrained workers, list your top 10 or so fields with a desperate shortage of workers, then offer free training for anyone who wishes to enter those fields.
“One in 10 of us will be displaced in 25 years. One in 10. Each of us is more likely to be displaced than ever before,” Oyler said in her TED Talk, which will be published at a later date.
“The time for incremental change is over. We must do things differently.”
[---8<---]
“When Uganda allowed refugees to work, the country's GDP increased by nearly a billion dollars,” Oyler said. “Ethiopia reformed its policies, and now thousands of refugees contribute in key sectors like agriculture and manufacturing.”
“When Rwanda, the country where I live, included refugees in its national ID program, they gained access to health care, financial services, and are growing an economy.”
It's all about knitting people into society as fast as possible. Make sure they have access to survival needs such as food, shelter, clothing, and health care. Then compare what they can do with what needs doing. To accommodate untrained workers, list your top 10 or so fields with a desperate shortage of workers, then offer free training for anyone who wishes to enter those fields.
Birdfeeding
Jun. 10th, 2025 01:02 pmysabetwordsmithToday is partly sunny and mild.
I fed the birds. I haven't seen much activity yet.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 6/10/25 -- I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, a male cardinal, and at least one mourning dove.
EDIT 6/10/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
I heard a blue jay screaming but didn't see it.
EDIT 6/10/25 -- I've been outside a couple of times to walk around the yard. Fireflies are starting to come out, but it's still so light that they're hard to see. I may try again later. I've seen a bat over the south lot, and a skunk on the patio.
EDIT 6/10/25 -- We went out a little later to see the fireflies. This is the most I've seen so far, earlier it was just ones and twos. There aren't as many as there will be later in the season, but it's the first big flush so we're pleased to see them.
I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I haven't seen much activity yet.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 6/10/25 -- I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, a male cardinal, and at least one mourning dove.
EDIT 6/10/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
I heard a blue jay screaming but didn't see it.
EDIT 6/10/25 -- I've been outside a couple of times to walk around the yard. Fireflies are starting to come out, but it's still so light that they're hard to see. I may try again later. I've seen a bat over the south lot, and a skunk on the patio.
EDIT 6/10/25 -- We went out a little later to see the fireflies. This is the most I've seen so far, earlier it was just ones and twos. There aren't as many as there will be later in the season, but it's the first big flush so we're pleased to see them.
I am done for the night.
Conservation
Jun. 10th, 2025 03:37 amysabetwordsmithFarmers are creating a brighter future for Bolivia’s red-fronted macaws
Once rural landowners learned they could generate income by protecting macaws, the endangered birds went from burdens to boons.
Progress!
Once rural landowners learned they could generate income by protecting macaws, the endangered birds went from burdens to boons.
Progress!
Moment of Silence: Sly Stone
Jun. 10th, 2025 03:27 amysabetwordsmithMusician Sly Stone has passed away. He will be missed. Listen to a performance.
Carry on the Work
How to Become a Musician
Social Activism -- how to articles from wikiHow
Ten Ways to Fight Hate: A Community Response Guide
Carry on the Work
How to Become a Musician
Social Activism -- how to articles from wikiHow
Ten Ways to Fight Hate: A Community Response Guide
Magpie Monday
Jun. 10th, 2025 03:05 amysabetwordsmithdialecticdreamer is hosting Magpie Monday with a theme of "recovering from nightmares." For each person who sends at least one prompt, I’ll write a story, send it via private message or (for too long fills) an email, then write a brief thumbnail summary and post that in reply to the comment, and move on.
The prompt call will be open until around midnight local time on late Tuesday/early Wednesday, which gives everyone time to join in.
How to Make Comfrey Liquid Fertilizer Part 2: Leaves
Jun. 9th, 2025 11:42 pmysabetwordsmithToday I started making liquid fertilizer from Russian comfrey. Begin with Part 1: Jugs. With those done, I harvested leaves.
( Walk with me ... )
( Walk with me ... )
How to Make Comfrey Liquid Fertilizer Part 1: Jugs
Jun. 9th, 2025 10:55 pmysabetwordsmithToday I started making liquid fertilizer from Russian comfrey. This plant fills a lot of guild roles in permaculture including fertilizer, miner, mulcher, protector, attractor. I have been using it primarily as a bee plant that I can also slash-and-drop several times a season. I grow it under many of my trees and there's some in the prairie garden too.
There are various ways to make liquid fertilizer from comfrey. I will be testing two: 1) a small amount of comfrey leaves in a large amount of water, and 2) only comfrey leaves crammed tightly in a jug. (See Part 2: Leaves.)
( Walk with me ... )
There are various ways to make liquid fertilizer from comfrey. I will be testing two: 1) a small amount of comfrey leaves in a large amount of water, and 2) only comfrey leaves crammed tightly in a jug. (See Part 2: Leaves.)
( Walk with me ... )
Brains
Jun. 9th, 2025 09:08 pmysabetwordsmithKrakencoder predicts brain function 20x better than past methods
Scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine have developed a new algorithm, the Krakencoder, that merges multiple types of brain imaging data to better understand how the brain s wiring underpins behavior, thought, and recovery after injury. This cutting-edge tool can predict brain function from structure with unprecedented accuracy 20 times better than past models and even estimate traits like age, sex, and cognitive ability.
That ... sounds pretty exactly like something over in Terramagne. It's part of Thalassia's health care system, although they've had theirs for a while. *ponder* I think the ~20 year gap between here and there is holding steady.
Scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine have developed a new algorithm, the Krakencoder, that merges multiple types of brain imaging data to better understand how the brain s wiring underpins behavior, thought, and recovery after injury. This cutting-edge tool can predict brain function from structure with unprecedented accuracy 20 times better than past models and even estimate traits like age, sex, and cognitive ability.
That ... sounds pretty exactly like something over in Terramagne. It's part of Thalassia's health care system, although they've had theirs for a while. *ponder* I think the ~20 year gap between here and there is holding steady.
Summer of the 69
Jun. 9th, 2025 09:03 pmysabetwordsmith![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
summerofthe69 is now open! You can see the calendar here and the comment prompt post. The initial theme is "First Time 69: Everyone has to start somewhere."Welcome to Summer of the 69, an event focused on creative works about the sexual position, open to all fandoms and to original works. Participation is through two means: A comment meme and weekly themes, running from June 9th through September 6th.
Poke a bigot in the eye, make some sexy stuff!
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