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Philosophical Questions: Economy
Sep. 6th, 2025 12:01 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithPeople have expressed interest in deep topics, so this list focuses on philosophical questions.
What will the economy of wealthy countries look like in 50 to 100 years?
Like this.
What will the economy of wealthy countries look like in 50 to 100 years?
Like this.
(no subject)
Sep. 6th, 2025 12:18 amskygiantsgenarti and I have been working our very slow but delighted way through We Are Lady Parts, the British sitcom about an all-Muslim punk rock band composed of opinionated women with beautiful and compelling faces. I'd been seeing a lot of gifsets of these faces before we watched the show and I am pleased to report that they are even more beautiful and compelling at full length. For those of you who have missed the gifsets, please enjoy Lady Parts performing "Villain Era":The two most protagonist-y protagonists are Saira, the band's lead singer/guitarist, who is at all times extremely punk rock, and Amina, a stressed-out trad-Muslim scientist with terrible stage fright, who really has to work to access her inner punk rock. The cast is rounded out with Ayesha, the angry lesbian drummer; Bisma, who plays the role of maternal peacemaker until she starts to chafe at it; and Momtaz, the band's go-getter manager. The first season focuses mostly on the question of whether Amina can conquer her own inhibitions enough to contribute her excellent guitar skills and huge Disney eyes to the band after Saira press-gangs her into joining them. The second season brings the whole band up against the music industry more generally, and the various ways that the public pressure of moderate fame starts to push each of them into re-examining their self-image and relationships to their music and identity. It's a good show! I liked it very much!
Also, like everyone else in the world, we have recently watched KPop Demon Hunters. Also a very good time featuring banger music tracks -- I'd seen it described as 'a series of really good music videos' and broadly I agree with this assessment -- plus twenty pounds of fun kdrama tropes stuffed into a five-pound bag. Probably would not have felt compelled to write anything about it except for the fact that by an accident of timing, we ended up watching the season finale of Lady Parts the day after we watched KPop Demon Hunters which made for a very funny accidental wine pairing. Both funny and telling to go from ( high-level spoilers for both KPop Demon Hunters and Lady Parts )
Climate Change
Sep. 5th, 2025 11:49 pmysabetwordsmithScientists made plastic that eats carbon
From waste to valuable resource: Chemists at the University of Copenhagen have developed a method to convert plastic waste into a climate solution for efficient and sustainable CO2 capture, thereby addressing not one, but two major global challenges.
( Read more... )
From waste to valuable resource: Chemists at the University of Copenhagen have developed a method to convert plastic waste into a climate solution for efficient and sustainable CO2 capture, thereby addressing not one, but two major global challenges.
( Read more... )
Digital communication.
Sep. 5th, 2025 10:54 pmhannahMy phone's inability to hold a decent charge is starting to grate on me. I don't use it for a whole lot of things or for many minutes throughout a given day, and based on the stats provided by said phone, the things that I use it for the most - the phone function itself for calls, the CitiBike app, and the home and lock screen - are fairly baffling that they're taking up the most energy. I can't claim to understand the details of the technology involved, but I can claim to be confused that using this phone as a phone is a major drain.
I'm not replacing it, though, not unless I can get the exact same model in the exact same color. I'm holding out until I've got no choice in the matter. Hopefully by then, technology's going to have advanced to the point I can replace the battery myself.
I'm not replacing it, though, not unless I can get the exact same model in the exact same color. I'm holding out until I've got no choice in the matter. Hopefully by then, technology's going to have advanced to the point I can replace the battery myself.
Wednesday on Friday
Sep. 5th, 2025 10:53 pmsilver_chipmunkGot up later than I've been, til almost 12:00, but then got up and had breakfast and coffee.
After that I watched the last episode of Wednesday, and enjoyed it very much. I see that it has been renewed for a third season so I'll be looking forward to that. Next up, the third season of The Diplomat, which drops on t 16th.
After Wednesday, I took a shower and dressed. Then I basically killed time and puttered around until 5:00ish when I left for my Al-anon meeting.
Once more there was the annoying issue of do I wait for the 25, on Farrington or Linden. This time I went straight to Farrington cause I saw a 25 go there (which I missed). But the next 25s went by on Linden! So I stood on the corner to see where the next 25 would go. It went on Linden, so I ran to make it and did.
Anyway, the 50 came pretty quickly after I got off the 25, so I got to the Bronx earlier than I've been getting. I had my one slice of pizza before my meeting, as usual. No donuts tonight, M, who brings them, didn't come to the meeting.
Came home on the 50 as usual, waited for the 25 at 31st. Got home and managed to get Teams running and Teamed the FWiB. We talked for about a half hour, then I fed the pets and started here.
Gratitude List:
1. The FWiB.
2.mashfanficchick comes home tomorrow.
3. My meetings and the people there.
4. Netflix and good TV.
5. Pizza.
6. I'm succeeding at losing weight.
After that I watched the last episode of Wednesday, and enjoyed it very much. I see that it has been renewed for a third season so I'll be looking forward to that. Next up, the third season of The Diplomat, which drops on t 16th.
After Wednesday, I took a shower and dressed. Then I basically killed time and puttered around until 5:00ish when I left for my Al-anon meeting.
Once more there was the annoying issue of do I wait for the 25, on Farrington or Linden. This time I went straight to Farrington cause I saw a 25 go there (which I missed). But the next 25s went by on Linden! So I stood on the corner to see where the next 25 would go. It went on Linden, so I ran to make it and did.
Anyway, the 50 came pretty quickly after I got off the 25, so I got to the Bronx earlier than I've been getting. I had my one slice of pizza before my meeting, as usual. No donuts tonight, M, who brings them, didn't come to the meeting.
Came home on the 50 as usual, waited for the 25 at 31st. Got home and managed to get Teams running and Teamed the FWiB. We talked for about a half hour, then I fed the pets and started here.
Gratitude List:
1. The FWiB.
2.
mashfanficchick comes home tomorrow.3. My meetings and the people there.
4. Netflix and good TV.
5. Pizza.
6. I'm succeeding at losing weight.
Watching "Kpopped" on Apple TV.
Sep. 5th, 2025 02:49 pmbrithistorianYesterday I started watching Kpopped, the new song competition show that blends K-pop and Western artists. I watched the first two episodes last night, and I'm really enjoying it. I think the format is really great — everyone has fun because the stakes are so low. Each episode follows the same format:
- A K-pop group is split in half.
- Each half of the group works with a Western artist to create and perform a "K-popified" version of one of that artist's songs.
- The in-studio audience votes on the winning group.
- Immediately after the winning group is announced, the two halves of the K-pop group are reunited to perform one of the group's songs along with the Western artists.
There are no penalties for losing, no prizes for winning. Just performance and comradery between musicians.
The two episodes I've watched so far are:
- Half of Billlie performs "Savage" with Megan Thee Stallion, the other half performs "Lady Marmalade" with Patti LaBelle.
- Both halves of Itzy perform with Emma Bunton and Mel B from the Spice Girls. One group performs "Wannabe" and the other performs "Be As One."
A recurring theme is the Western artists having trouble learning the K-pop choreography. (Except for Patti LaBelle — out of respect for her age, they had her stay still and everyone danced around her.)
Neighborly Request
Sep. 5th, 2025 09:37 pmysabetwordsmithI'm copying this from dialecticdreamer:
Our online friendchanter1944 needs help re-linking works from their old user name to the current one. (This affects the Schroedinger’s Heroes stories that they have written, specifically.) I have no idea how to do this, but there are plenty of people here who probably have a better clue about how to proceed. So I’m asking.
They have many stories which should not be lost in the black box of their former DW handle. Please contactchanter1944 , who uses a screen reader which can slow down response time.
Thank you for your time and attention.
Wishing success tochanter1944 , and the helpers who tackle this project!
I will add that this affects the Schrodinger's Heroes links for the Orange!verse on my website; I know I've got some folks here who can edit that, so hopefully someone will have time to help.
dialecticdreamer:Our online friend
chanter1944 needs help re-linking works from their old user name to the current one. (This affects the Schroedinger’s Heroes stories that they have written, specifically.) I have no idea how to do this, but there are plenty of people here who probably have a better clue about how to proceed. So I’m asking.They have many stories which should not be lost in the black box of their former DW handle. Please contact
chanter1944 , who uses a screen reader which can slow down response time.Thank you for your time and attention.
Wishing success to
chanter1944 , and the helpers who tackle this project!I will add that this affects the Schrodinger's Heroes links for the Orange!verse on my website; I know I've got some folks here who can edit that, so hopefully someone will have time to help.
Today's Adventures
Sep. 5th, 2025 08:10 pmysabetwordsmithToday we went to the Broomcorn Festival in Arcola. This is a big harvest festival, well worth catching, and it runs the whole weekend if you want to check it out. The weather was beautiful, cloudy and mild, couldn't ask for better weather.
( Read more... )
( Read more... )
Friday Five
Sep. 5th, 2025 07:59 pmysabetwordsmith1. What was recently interrupted?
Gardening, because today we went to the Broomcorn Festival.
2. What could you use a break from?
The drought. Seriously, the weeds are dying. My sunchokes continue to give zero fucks though.
3. What would get you to continue that long-unfinished project?
Time. And since I have time currently, I am working on an unfinished poem.
4. When did you last attend something that had an intermission?
Gosh, it's been years, we used to attend theatre events.
5. What’s your favorite way to spend a lunch break?
Eating lunch.
Gardening, because today we went to the Broomcorn Festival.
2. What could you use a break from?
The drought. Seriously, the weeds are dying. My sunchokes continue to give zero fucks though.
3. What would get you to continue that long-unfinished project?
Time. And since I have time currently, I am working on an unfinished poem.
4. When did you last attend something that had an intermission?
Gosh, it's been years, we used to attend theatre events.
5. What’s your favorite way to spend a lunch break?
Eating lunch.
Birdfeeding
Sep. 5th, 2025 06:25 pmysabetwordsmithToday is cloudy and mild.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 9/5/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 9/5/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 9/5/25 -- I watered the old picnic table, new picnic table, telephone pole garden, and a few of the savanna seedlings.
I picked 2 yellow pear tomatoes.
Cicadas and crickets are singing.
As it is now dark, I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 9/5/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 9/5/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 9/5/25 -- I watered the old picnic table, new picnic table, telephone pole garden, and a few of the savanna seedlings.
I picked 2 yellow pear tomatoes.
Cicadas and crickets are singing.
As it is now dark, I am done for the night.
Lesson
Sep. 5th, 2025 03:50 pmranunculusYesterday I was making some phone calls to round up judges for my next ETS event. I called Lisa F. During the conversation I managed to talk her into taking a lesson. Actually we managed to schedule two lessons, one of which was this morning.
Lisa has a nice, quiet sorrel gelding. She described him as being very gentle, but hard to get moving and also as being uncomfortable leaving his herd. I told her we would be starting with ground work.
Lisa's mom joined us, mostly sitting off to the side, but watching and listening. We started by talking about how horses see the world. It is really hard for people to wrap their heads around the idea that in a herd, the dominant animal is the one keeping all the rest of the horses safe, so horses are much happier if you establish the fact that you are the alpha horse. The trick is to do this without violence. Lisa's horse started by standing too close to me and trying to nibble me for treats. A few sharp raps to his nose persuaded him he really didn't want to do that. It was harder to get Lisa to break the habit of petting him when he did so, but she worked on it throughout the lesson. We moved on to asking the horse to move his hind end away, to back away from us and to move his front feet away. We stood and talked and corrected him when he stepped forward into our space and when he dropped his head to graze. No grazing while working unless explicit permission is given. We talked about cues using body posture and gestures. In the beginning it is appropriate to use a stick called a carrot stick, to extend your arm, but as the horse begins to understand and move appropriately a hand gesture can be substituted. Over the lesson the horse got more responsive and less sleepy.
I was so happy to be teaching and Lisa (and her mom) were thrilled with the info. At the very end the mom got up and approached the horse who immediately swung his head over to demand treats. I pointed this out and she did an appropriate correction. It was a great demonstration of the fact that each individual is treated differently. (i.e. the mom was treated as another herd member, with whom the horse had a relationship with - just because one human is dominant doesn't mean they all are.) The horse is a nice fellow and I think they will make good progress with him. We have the second lesson in a couple of weeks.
Lisa has a nice, quiet sorrel gelding. She described him as being very gentle, but hard to get moving and also as being uncomfortable leaving his herd. I told her we would be starting with ground work.
Lisa's mom joined us, mostly sitting off to the side, but watching and listening. We started by talking about how horses see the world. It is really hard for people to wrap their heads around the idea that in a herd, the dominant animal is the one keeping all the rest of the horses safe, so horses are much happier if you establish the fact that you are the alpha horse. The trick is to do this without violence. Lisa's horse started by standing too close to me and trying to nibble me for treats. A few sharp raps to his nose persuaded him he really didn't want to do that. It was harder to get Lisa to break the habit of petting him when he did so, but she worked on it throughout the lesson. We moved on to asking the horse to move his hind end away, to back away from us and to move his front feet away. We stood and talked and corrected him when he stepped forward into our space and when he dropped his head to graze. No grazing while working unless explicit permission is given. We talked about cues using body posture and gestures. In the beginning it is appropriate to use a stick called a carrot stick, to extend your arm, but as the horse begins to understand and move appropriately a hand gesture can be substituted. Over the lesson the horse got more responsive and less sleepy.
I was so happy to be teaching and Lisa (and her mom) were thrilled with the info. At the very end the mom got up and approached the horse who immediately swung his head over to demand treats. I pointed this out and she did an appropriate correction. It was a great demonstration of the fact that each individual is treated differently. (i.e. the mom was treated as another herd member, with whom the horse had a relationship with - just because one human is dominant doesn't mean they all are.) The horse is a nice fellow and I think they will make good progress with him. We have the second lesson in a couple of weeks.
Daily Check In.
Sep. 5th, 2025 06:11 pmadafrog posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
fandom_checkinThis is your check-in post for today. The poll will be open from midnight Universal or Zulu Time (8pm Eastern Time) on Friday to midnight on Saturday (8pm Eastern Time).
Please, talk about how things are going for you in the comments, ask for advice or help if you need it, or just discuss whatever you feel like.
Poll #33578 Daily poll
Open to: Access List, detailed results viewable to: Access List, participants: 21
How are you doing?
I am okay
14 (66.7%)
I am not okay, but don't need help right now
7 (33.3%)
I could use some help.
0 (0.0%)
How many other humans are you living with?
I am living single
7 (33.3%)
One other person
10 (47.6%)
More than one other person
4 (19.0%)
Please, talk about how things are going for you in the comments, ask for advice or help if you need it, or just discuss whatever you feel like.
Cow Corrals, Kittens
Sep. 5th, 2025 03:05 pmranunculusTwo days ago (Wed) I went down to the Cow Corrals to clean up. Gaah, what a mess. Dried cow manure absolutely everywhere, mostly in small chunks. Also some leaves. Cody held the cows in the corrals for several days this summer and didn't clean anything up. Thankfully it was all really dry, but it took all day; on a day it reached 97F; to finish. The oaks are starting to loose their leaves as fall begins, so there will be more cleanup to do, but leaves are easy.
While I cleaned I dragged the horse panels back into place. The "horse panels" are lightweight panels that I use to divide the corrals up into sections Cody always moves them around when the cows use the corrals. There was baling string everywhere. It was used by all kinds of people to tie things together, hang hay bags from the panels an who knows what else. I ruthlessly cut it down.
As I was finishing the next to last corral (actually an alley) I untied more string plus a rope and stepped back from the alley fence. A big gust of wind hit the panels and knocked them to the ground, hitting my wrist in a very painful way. I had thought the panels were pinned to the post, and even looked to confirm this. The loop on the post was there, and the pin was there, but unfortunately the pin only went between two panels and did not include the loop to the post.
Yesterday Donald and I went back to the corrals. I repaired a couple of the chains that hold the gates closed. Those chains have brass snaps at the end which occasionally get broken. With the repairs done I began attaching more loops to posts so the panels would never fall again. We walked the heavy, heavy 20 ft panel back up so I could measure, tied it in place temporarily so I could be very precise. It was fussy work as the loops on the post in the center had to end up exactly in the right place. I didn't set the posts for the corrals, and whomever did wasn't very careful, so the posts going around the inside of the alley corner aren't quite in the right places. Happily I was able to make it all work. In a couple of places this meant using the hammer to bend the loop slightly.
While I was fiddling with the fences, Donald was pulling star thistle out of the side of the arena. He got quite a lot done before we got hot and tired and headed home for a nap.
In the evening we went back down to the Corrals. I installed two new water hoses, dropped two last pins into the alley fence and removed the last bits of stray baling string. Donald went off to pet the tiny kittens at the Red Barn. The barn cat had 7 kittens who are still quite tiny, they just opened their eyes. They are all some form of grey tabby. Sadly the light in the barn is so dim the pictures didn't turn out.
Paul and Anna pulled it right after 7pm after a long hot haul from the Sacramento area. They stayed the night, had a leisurely morning and left for Eureka this morning to attend a weekend endurance ride. They were so happy that the evening was cool; it was a perfect early fall evening with crickets singing and an almost full moon.
While I cleaned I dragged the horse panels back into place. The "horse panels" are lightweight panels that I use to divide the corrals up into sections Cody always moves them around when the cows use the corrals. There was baling string everywhere. It was used by all kinds of people to tie things together, hang hay bags from the panels an who knows what else. I ruthlessly cut it down.
As I was finishing the next to last corral (actually an alley) I untied more string plus a rope and stepped back from the alley fence. A big gust of wind hit the panels and knocked them to the ground, hitting my wrist in a very painful way. I had thought the panels were pinned to the post, and even looked to confirm this. The loop on the post was there, and the pin was there, but unfortunately the pin only went between two panels and did not include the loop to the post.
Yesterday Donald and I went back to the corrals. I repaired a couple of the chains that hold the gates closed. Those chains have brass snaps at the end which occasionally get broken. With the repairs done I began attaching more loops to posts so the panels would never fall again. We walked the heavy, heavy 20 ft panel back up so I could measure, tied it in place temporarily so I could be very precise. It was fussy work as the loops on the post in the center had to end up exactly in the right place. I didn't set the posts for the corrals, and whomever did wasn't very careful, so the posts going around the inside of the alley corner aren't quite in the right places. Happily I was able to make it all work. In a couple of places this meant using the hammer to bend the loop slightly.
While I was fiddling with the fences, Donald was pulling star thistle out of the side of the arena. He got quite a lot done before we got hot and tired and headed home for a nap.
In the evening we went back down to the Corrals. I installed two new water hoses, dropped two last pins into the alley fence and removed the last bits of stray baling string. Donald went off to pet the tiny kittens at the Red Barn. The barn cat had 7 kittens who are still quite tiny, they just opened their eyes. They are all some form of grey tabby. Sadly the light in the barn is so dim the pictures didn't turn out.
Paul and Anna pulled it right after 7pm after a long hot haul from the Sacramento area. They stayed the night, had a leisurely morning and left for Eureka this morning to attend a weekend endurance ride. They were so happy that the evening was cool; it was a perfect early fall evening with crickets singing and an almost full moon.
Hockey RPF: Game Plan by thehoyden
Sep. 5th, 2025 11:21 amdenynothing1 posting in fancakeFandom: Hockey RPF
Pairings/Characters: Sidney Crosby/Evgeni Malkin
Rating: Explicit
Length: 10,281 words / 1hr podfic
Creator Links: thehoyden on AO3, exmanhater on AO3
Theme: Food & Cooking
Summary: Unlike Nealsy, Evgeni can cook his own food when he has it. He’s perfectly capable of making breakfast. His kitchen is well-equipped, and he’s got some good basic cooking skills down. In short, he is not going to starve to death if left to his own devices.
None of this seems to matter to Sid.
Reccer's Notes: This is a story about seduction by breakfast. As the title says, there is a clear game plan at work here -- possibly more than one. Much of the charm of the story is in how oblivious the determined seducer is to the effect he is having and how bewildered his target is that it's not clear how willing he is to be seduced.
Bonus: the descriptions of the ever-more-elaborate breakfasts are fantastic.
There's an accompanying podfic by exmanhater that is a delicious listen as well.
Fanwork Links: story on AO3, podfic on AO3
Pairings/Characters: Sidney Crosby/Evgeni Malkin
Rating: Explicit
Length: 10,281 words / 1hr podfic
Creator Links: thehoyden on AO3, exmanhater on AO3
Theme: Food & Cooking
Summary: Unlike Nealsy, Evgeni can cook his own food when he has it. He’s perfectly capable of making breakfast. His kitchen is well-equipped, and he’s got some good basic cooking skills down. In short, he is not going to starve to death if left to his own devices.
None of this seems to matter to Sid.
Reccer's Notes: This is a story about seduction by breakfast. As the title says, there is a clear game plan at work here -- possibly more than one. Much of the charm of the story is in how oblivious the determined seducer is to the effect he is having and how bewildered his target is that it's not clear how willing he is to be seduced.
Bonus: the descriptions of the ever-more-elaborate breakfasts are fantastic.
There's an accompanying podfic by exmanhater that is a delicious listen as well.
Fanwork Links: story on AO3, podfic on AO3
I made a Community community
Sep. 5th, 2025 03:14 pmmarycuntrarian posting in ![[site community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/comm_staff.png){kind=small}
dw_community_promo
Come join and post discussions, fanworks, reviews, etc! I'm starting the comm with our own Friday Five, so reply now and meet some fellow fans!
Community TV