Reading

Current Mood: busy

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Birdfeeding

Today is overcast, humid, and hot. I'm hearing thunder, so it's likely to rain soon.

I rushed through feeding the birds. I've seen several sparrows and house finches.

I put out water for the birds.

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Got through a few episodes of Voyager with E

So, there was the one where Naomi Wildman's mother doesn't die but we never see her again, which is kinda weak as episodes go but which does set up Naomi becoming Seven's little duckling.

We skipped the ice episode - I mean, it's a great episode, I just wasn't feeling it - and went on to Seven's multiple personality episode, or as I call it, "Jeri Ryan is an amazing actress". Like, wow.

This is another episode in which the crew has seemingly forgotten the concept of diplomacy. Okay, you have a Borg device with a computer virus that kills lots of Borg. The people who invented the thing obviously want it put back in space, intact, so it can kill even more Borg. You don't want to do that until you've cured Seven - great, wonderful. Have you considered asking them if there is anything they might accept in trade? Like, I don't know, information about the Borg? They only met the menace four years ago! Sure, they've made remarkable strides in killing them since them, but they'd surely like to know more about your novel approach of deborgifying the drones? They could get some of their own people back if they tried that approach, and that'd surely be better than killing them all? More information so they could pursue multiple goals can only be a good thing, especially as the Borg are bound to adapt to any one approach sooner or later.

But no, nobody even suggests it. Geez, these people. (And also? Maybe information on this virus would've been a good thing to trade for. You don't need people to sacrifice themselves. If the virus is nonfatal but persistent you can just infect people prophylacticly and hope for the... uh, best? Worst? You can hope that if the worst ever happens, at least you'll take some Borg out with you.)

And we wrapped up with the episode in which the Doctor creates a holographic Cardassian war criminal as a medical expert with whom to confer. So-so writing, honestly - the themes deserved better, and it's only saved by the acting.

My mother's favorite word etymology - and I agree it's pretty nifty - was maverick

A maverick is, literally, an unbranded cow. Sam Maverick refused to brand his cattle. Mommy just could not get over that semantic drift.

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So, I thought Gaiman had confirmed the literal facts of the (first) accusation

while denying that it was in any way wrong to act like that.

But now I'm not sure where I read that. Does anybody have a link?

Hot today

Not as hot as the Primaries, god that was hellish, but still plenty hot.

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Current Mood: busy

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Summer of the 69

Check out the awesome essay about 69 Accommodations: Working with disabilities, sensory issues, and sexual disorders.

Current Mood: busy

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Green Building

Indigenous-designed mural doubles as a giant solar power generator, reducing 150 tons of CO2 emissions annually

What if public art could also power an entire residential building?

The SunRise Building, an apartment complex in Alberta, Canada, has answered that question — and is now the title holder of the Guinness World Record for the largest solar panel mural on Earth.
[---8<---]
On the northern wall of the building is the main mural, called “The Land We Share,” which stands 85 feet tall, by the Edmonton-based Indigenous artist Lance Cardinal. The photovoltaic panels are strategically placed to depict a tribute to the First Nations and Chinese cultures that are integral to the history of the area.

More of this would be good. People often resist green energy projects because so many of those are eyesores. Make them beautiful, and they will become more popular.

Current Mood: busy

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Sunshine Revival Challenge 7: The Ferris Wheel

Sunshine Revival Challenge 7: The Ferris Wheel

Journaling: Life in fandom goes through ups and downs. Reminisce about the "wild ride" of your time in fandom or in other online communities.

Creative: Create an image or a photo with the theme "let's go for a ride".

Post your answer to today’s challenge in your own space and leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.

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Current Mood: excited

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New Crowdfunding Project: Scholarly Pursuits: A Queer Cozy Academia Anthology

Now open for crowdfunding! :D 3q3q3q!!! This is a project I want to support. Pass the word to your queer, nerdy, and librarian friends.

EDIT 7/25/25 -- I have backed this project.

Scholarly Pursuits: A Queer Cozy Academia Anthology
A collection of 22 delightfully queer, charmingly cozy stories that put a fluffy LGBTQIA+ spin on the dark academia genre.

$5,735 pledged of $13,000 goal
90 backers
17 days to go

Pursue an education in queer speculative fiction with Scholarly Pursuits!
Transforming the core settings of “dark academia” to be cozy and snug, Scholarly Pursuits: A Queer Anthology of Cozy Academia Stories features 22 delightful, charming science fiction and fantasy stories set at colleges, universities, libraries, and other places where people pursue academic excellence – and all feature queer characters! From field research shenanigans to cooking adventures, from space station education departments to eldritch libraries, our awesome authors have brought their vivid imaginings to life in this anthology. We can’t wait to share it with you!

Current Mood: busy

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Birdfeeding

Today is partly sunny and sweltering.

I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches. Some of them are dustbathing in the burn barrel; they like the fresh ashes.

EDIT 7/25/25 -- I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 7/25/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 7/25/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 7/25/25 -- I picked herbs to make omelettes for supper, which also included some cherry tomatoes from yesterday.

It's drizzling a bit.

EDIT 7/25/25 -- I refilled the birdfeeders.

EDIT 7/25/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

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Well, that job with that hiring manager I thought didn't like me did not pan out

I'm a little relieved. I mean, not very, I'd rather have the job, but if I'd gotten it then I'd maybe have had to interact with him again and who needs that?

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Follow Friday 7-25-25: Horror

Today's theme is Horror.

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Activism

The future of antisemitism

We can't get confused about what constitutes anti-Jewish prejudice.
[---8<---]
That's why we have to face a painful paradox: when it comes to the continuing agony of Gaza, Israel's most fervent defenders are the ones muddying the water. They seek to define criticism of the actions of Israel as anti-Jewish prejudice.

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France Recognizes Palestine

France will recognize Palestine as a state, President Macron says

PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday that France will recognize Palestine as a state, in a bold diplomatic move amid snowballing global anger over people starving in Gaza. Israel denounced the decision.

Macron said in a post on X that he will formalize the decision at the United Nations General Assembly in September. “The urgent thing today is that the war in Gaza stops and the civilian population is saved,” he wrote.

Today, France is a hero. France is taking a stance that a lot of bigger, richer, meaner countries are going to hate. That's punching up. \o/ Let's put more pressure on Israel to stop the genocide.

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Current Mood: busy

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Aroace Spectrum

Individualism is Killing The (Online) Aspec Community

But whilst I know I’ve changed in my queer journey, the communities I’ve been involved in have not. When I was a baby ace, I needed to know aspec 101, distinguish your aro from your ace from your agender, what the cake memes were for, what the split attraction model is and so on. But 5 years on, half a decade mind you, the online community that was once my intro and a place that helped me learn more about myself now feels like a burden, a constant reminder of pain and like being a teenager again in Catholic secondary school; not standing the people I’m with and wanting to just go home.
[---8<---]
Most people tolerate asexuality, but they don’t support asexuality. That's not the same. They think asexuality is valid but they don’t support it. They only support asexuality if it’s palatable to their own sexuality. In an attempt to push back on the very real infantilisation of asexuality (looking at you ‘but we can’t have kink at pride because of the aces’ discourse), but we’ve (not me!) walked back into compulsory sexuality and basing support of asexuality based on how well asexuals perform the sexual script, instead of supporting it in its own right.

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Current Mood: busy

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New Crowdfunding Project: Scholarly Pursuits: A Queer Cozy Academia Anthology

duckprintspress will be launching a new project tomorrow. The swag release is on their Dreamwidth blog.

Scholarly Pursuits: A Queer Cozy Academia Anthology
A collection of 22 delightfully queer, charmingly cozy stories that put a fluffy LGBTQIA+ spin on the dark academia genre.

For reference, "cozy academia" seems to lean toward "light academia" in mood, but doesn't necessarily exclude the deeper colors of "dark academia," and is basically the "comfy/cozy" aesthetic or subgenre with an academic setting. So if you want queer romance and culture without the gaybashing and other stress of local-America, this is probably an excellent bet. And if you are going to romanticize something, there are a lot worse things to admire than academia, which has long been a refuge for queers, nerds, and freaks of all flavors.

As a bonus, this is exactly the kind of content that lots of people want not to exist, so buy a queer book and poke a bigot in the eye! If you know of librarians defending queer books, tip them to this campaign.

Current Mood: busy

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Birdfeeding

Today is sweltering again, 86°F with a heat index of 98°F. :P So I have to break up yard tasks into smaller sections.

I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.

EDIT 7/24/25 -- I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 7/24/25 -- I refilled birdfeeders.

EDIT 7/24/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 7/24/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 7/24/25 -- I picked 4 red cherry tomatoes. :D

I watered the new picnic table garden.

EDIT 7/24/25 -- I potted up 12 sweet cherry seeds.

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

JFC, famous folks are dropping like flies!

Wrestling legend Hulk Hogan dies at 71

Current Mood: busy

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Hobbies: Hairstyling

Folks have mentioned an interest in questions and conversations that make them think. So I've decided to offer more of those. This batch features hobbies.

Hairstyling is a hobby that includes cutting, braiding, and related accessories such as wigs or hair jewelry. It all depends on what you what looks you wish to create. Like makeup, it varies a great deal depending on your human canvas -- African or other curly hair textures require different techniques than straight or wavy hair.

On Dreamwidth, consider communities like

daily_gyaru,

edgoreyanfashion,

first_nations_freaks,

justcreate,

sw_costumes, and