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Pumpkins
Sep. 23rd, 2025 08:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithPumpkins, squash, and gourds come in many varieties and the "winter" types are ripening now. These typically have thick rind and long storage potential. There are sweet and savory cultivars in a huge range of sizes, shapes, and colors. There are also all kinds of gnarly ones for fall decor. Watch for them at farmer's markets or grocery stores. In particular, if you enjoy a squash that you buy, you can save its seeds, or note its cultivar to buy seeds, and try to grow them in spring.
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Grr. Argh.
Sep. 23rd, 2025 06:57 pmjennariaI am not dead, but I currently hate everything. (Personal stuff, which is sufficiently embarrassing that I'm not going into detail. I am just flopped on the floor and screaming into a pillow. Metaphorically.)
I keep meaning to write up a review of the new SUPERMAN movie (which I did not hate), and K-POP DEMON HUNTERS (which I also did not hate), and perhaps plans for NaNo. But it ain't happening today. I am posting to vent, in a small way, and also I realized I hadn't posted since July, and here it is late September. So: not dead, vexed, grr.
I keep meaning to write up a review of the new SUPERMAN movie (which I did not hate), and K-POP DEMON HUNTERS (which I also did not hate), and perhaps plans for NaNo. But it ain't happening today. I am posting to vent, in a small way, and also I realized I hadn't posted since July, and here it is late September. So: not dead, vexed, grr.
Climate Change
Sep. 23rd, 2025 02:11 pmysabetwordsmithThis 'blue-green jay' may be the first climate change-created bird hybrid found in nature. Here's why that's good news
Joined by his faculty advisor, integrative biology professor Tim Keitt, Stokes confirmed that the bird was, in fact, a male offspring of a green jay mother and a blue jay father.
Marc Airhart, who interviewed Stokes for the University of Texas at Austin's College of Natural Sciences, jokingly referred to it as a “grue jay” — but the hybrid does not have an official name.
The grue jay is cool, but it is long preceded by the grolar bear (aka pizzly bear).
Joined by his faculty advisor, integrative biology professor Tim Keitt, Stokes confirmed that the bird was, in fact, a male offspring of a green jay mother and a blue jay father.
Marc Airhart, who interviewed Stokes for the University of Texas at Austin's College of Natural Sciences, jokingly referred to it as a “grue jay” — but the hybrid does not have an official name.
The grue jay is cool, but it is long preceded by the grolar bear (aka pizzly bear).
Birdfeeding
Sep. 23rd, 2025 02:05 pmysabetwordsmithToday is cloudy and warm. It drizzled a bit yesterday.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 9/23/25 -- I planted some Leucojum (aka summer snowflake) 'Gravetye Giant' around the contorta willow.
EDIT 9/23/25 -- I watered the leucojum.
EDIT 9/23/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 9/23/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 9/23/25 -- I planted the rest of the leucojum in the purple-and-white garden. Then I watered that whole garden.
EDIT 9/23/25 -- I gathered seeds from two ripe sunflower heads, one in the septic garden and one in the telephone pole garden. I'm working on a 'Summer of Love' sunflower landrace that will grow well here. Commercial seeds are hit or miss.
EDIT 9/23/25 -- I did some work around the yard.
It's trying to drizzle again, so I am done for the night.
EDIT 9/23/25 -- It's actually raining! :D Puddles are starting to form on the patio.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 9/23/25 -- I planted some Leucojum (aka summer snowflake) 'Gravetye Giant' around the contorta willow.
EDIT 9/23/25 -- I watered the leucojum.
EDIT 9/23/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 9/23/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 9/23/25 -- I planted the rest of the leucojum in the purple-and-white garden. Then I watered that whole garden.
EDIT 9/23/25 -- I gathered seeds from two ripe sunflower heads, one in the septic garden and one in the telephone pole garden. I'm working on a 'Summer of Love' sunflower landrace that will grow well here. Commercial seeds are hit or miss.
EDIT 9/23/25 -- I did some work around the yard.
It's trying to drizzle again, so I am done for the night.
EDIT 9/23/25 -- It's actually raining! :D Puddles are starting to form on the patio.
Don't read this if you're easily queazed
Sep. 22nd, 2025 08:01 pmfayanoraI just watched the most vile recipe ever made by a person. This bloke made a mushroom parfait! I thought I had misheard, or that parfait means something different in Britain, but no. The man actually made a parfait -- basically ice cream -- out of pureed mushrooms and onion. I'm gonna go vomit now.
I mean, I like mushrooms and onions. But as a parfait? This man is clearly insane and needs to be stopped.
Link, if you're morbidly curious: here.
Tags I used when posting this to Tumblr:
I mean, I like mushrooms and onions. But as a parfait? This man is clearly insane and needs to be stopped.
Link, if you're morbidly curious: here.
Tags I used when posting this to Tumblr:
I fucking hate ads
Sep. 22nd, 2025 06:06 pmfayanoraThe ads on the various games on my phone have gotten unbearable. I was fine with them when it was just the tiny X you had to hit. Now what I end up having to do is pressing a link reading "Google Play store" and then I have to hit the back button at the exact right amount of time after clicking that for it to go back into the app, and if I'm lucky, it will then bring up the X to click. More often than not, though, what it does instead is restart the fucking app! Which means restarting the level I was on if I'm especially unlucky, or if I'm just mildly unlucky, any reward that I might have gotten for watching the ad is just fucking gone.
I need to find out if there's an app I can install on my phone that will kill all of the ads or at least put them back to the way they were when it was just pressing the X. Because before this change, I could put up with the ads pretty much indefinitely. But now it's to the point where I get maybe a half hour of play time in before I just fucking give up in frustration.
I need to find out if there's an app I can install on my phone that will kill all of the ads or at least put them back to the way they were when it was just pressing the X. Because before this change, I could put up with the ads pretty much indefinitely. But now it's to the point where I get maybe a half hour of play time in before I just fucking give up in frustration.
Update
Sep. 22nd, 2025 05:26 pmfayanoraI I've gotten well enough that the cough is almost completely gone and more importantly I have been writing again! I've gotten two chapters done in the last two days, and a third may be in the works tomorrow.
What's been helping is that these are "dueling tournament" chapters, so there's a lot of excitement from various featured duels.
What's been helping is that these are "dueling tournament" chapters, so there's a lot of excitement from various featured duels.
for the wonder of who i am i praise you
Sep. 22nd, 2025 09:30 pmwychwood( 72. Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone - Benjamin Stevenson ) A great gimmick, but I didn't like the protagonist enough to stay with it.
( 73. Gathering Moss - Robin Wall Kimmerer ) I do have some arguments with this book, but it's honestly fascinating.
( 74. Buried Deep and Other Stories - Naomi Novik ) A delightful set of stories - including one in her new world, which I'm looking forward to seeing once it's out!
( 75. The Private Lives of the Saints - Janina Ramirez ) Power, politics, and prayer; early mediaeval saints were very powerful people, and could be used in many ways in life and death, and Ramirez did an interesting job of looking at some examples of that.
( 76. Life on Earth - David Attenborough ) There's a reason these series (books) are such classics.
( 77. Lake of Souls - Ann Leckie ) Leckie does so many different things, and I like almost all of them.
( 78. Saturnalia - Lindsey Davis ) I think it's probably me, but I just did not enjoy this.
( 79. The Cricket Term - Antonia Forest ) I have a complicated relationship with these books, but I do enjoy them.
( 80. A City on Mars - Kelly and Zach Weinersmith ) I knew that Elon Musk's alleged Mars colony was in no way a viable prospect in this decade, but I hadn't understood quite how much work is absolutely still needed. A must-read for anyone who thinks living in space would be cool.
( 81. The Moonlight Market - Joanne Harris ) Sort of... disappointing? Harris is a pretty big name, but I've not been terribly impressed thus far.
( 82. The Far Pavilions - MM Kaye ) This was lush and beautiful and astonishingly compelling for something this long.
( 83. All Systems Red - Martha Wells ) A good start to one of my favourite series.
( 84. Evelina - Fanny Burney ) Politeness should not require people to put up with violent assaults! It's OK to say "no" and stick to it!!
( 85. Batman: Wayne Family Adventures vol 1 - CRC Payne and Starbite ) An absolute delight; looking forward to reading more of this!
( 73. Gathering Moss - Robin Wall Kimmerer ) I do have some arguments with this book, but it's honestly fascinating.
( 74. Buried Deep and Other Stories - Naomi Novik ) A delightful set of stories - including one in her new world, which I'm looking forward to seeing once it's out!
( 75. The Private Lives of the Saints - Janina Ramirez ) Power, politics, and prayer; early mediaeval saints were very powerful people, and could be used in many ways in life and death, and Ramirez did an interesting job of looking at some examples of that.
( 76. Life on Earth - David Attenborough ) There's a reason these series (books) are such classics.
( 77. Lake of Souls - Ann Leckie ) Leckie does so many different things, and I like almost all of them.
( 78. Saturnalia - Lindsey Davis ) I think it's probably me, but I just did not enjoy this.
( 79. The Cricket Term - Antonia Forest ) I have a complicated relationship with these books, but I do enjoy them.
( 80. A City on Mars - Kelly and Zach Weinersmith ) I knew that Elon Musk's alleged Mars colony was in no way a viable prospect in this decade, but I hadn't understood quite how much work is absolutely still needed. A must-read for anyone who thinks living in space would be cool.
( 81. The Moonlight Market - Joanne Harris ) Sort of... disappointing? Harris is a pretty big name, but I've not been terribly impressed thus far.
( 82. The Far Pavilions - MM Kaye ) This was lush and beautiful and astonishingly compelling for something this long.
( 83. All Systems Red - Martha Wells ) A good start to one of my favourite series.
( 84. Evelina - Fanny Burney ) Politeness should not require people to put up with violent assaults! It's OK to say "no" and stick to it!!
( 85. Batman: Wayne Family Adventures vol 1 - CRC Payne and Starbite ) An absolute delight; looking forward to reading more of this!
Monday Update 9-22-25
Sep. 22nd, 2025 02:44 pmysabetwordsmithThese are some posts from the later part of last week in case you missed them:
Education
Nature
Birdfeeding
Cyberspace Theory
Creative Jam
Neurodiversity
Books
Birdfeeding
Philosophical Questions: Society
Books
Today's Adventures
Birdfeeding
Follow Friday 9-19-25: J-pop
Corncob Broth
Recipe: "Three Sisters Succotash"
Today's Cooking
Artificial Intelligence
Birdfeeding
Hobbies: Embroidery
Hopescrolling
Genocide
Space Exploration
Today's Adventures
Birdfeeding
Good News
Let's Boycott Mississippi has 60 comments. Affordable Housing has 49 comments. Robotics has 69 comments.
"An Inkling of Things to Come" belongs to Polychrome: Shiv and needs $200 to be complete. Shiv attends the first session of his Worldbuilding class.
The weather has cooled off somewhat. We got a little rain last night and drizzled today. Seen at the birdfeeders this week: a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches and a fox squirrel. Lots of butterflies are out, and honeybees are draining the small metal birdbath. Currently blooming: dandelions, marigolds, petunias, red salvia, verbena, lantana, sweet alyssum, zinnias, snapdragons, blue lobelia, perennial pinks, oxalis, moss rose, firecracker plant, tomatoes, tomatillos, yellow squash, zucchini, morning glory, purple echinacea, chicory, Queen Anne's lace, sunflowers, cup plant, firewheel, cypress vine, sunchokes, sedum. Tomatoes, ball carrots, cucumbers, and groundcherries are ripe. Fields are about a quarter harvested.
Education
Nature
Birdfeeding
Cyberspace Theory
Creative Jam
Neurodiversity
Books
Birdfeeding
Philosophical Questions: Society
Books
Today's Adventures
Birdfeeding
Follow Friday 9-19-25: J-pop
Corncob Broth
Recipe: "Three Sisters Succotash"
Today's Cooking
Artificial Intelligence
Birdfeeding
Hobbies: Embroidery
Hopescrolling
Genocide
Space Exploration
Today's Adventures
Birdfeeding
Good News
Let's Boycott Mississippi has 60 comments. Affordable Housing has 49 comments. Robotics has 69 comments.
"An Inkling of Things to Come" belongs to Polychrome: Shiv and needs $200 to be complete. Shiv attends the first session of his Worldbuilding class.
The weather has cooled off somewhat. We got a little rain last night and drizzled today. Seen at the birdfeeders this week: a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches and a fox squirrel. Lots of butterflies are out, and honeybees are draining the small metal birdbath. Currently blooming: dandelions, marigolds, petunias, red salvia, verbena, lantana, sweet alyssum, zinnias, snapdragons, blue lobelia, perennial pinks, oxalis, moss rose, firecracker plant, tomatoes, tomatillos, yellow squash, zucchini, morning glory, purple echinacea, chicory, Queen Anne's lace, sunflowers, cup plant, firewheel, cypress vine, sunchokes, sedum. Tomatoes, ball carrots, cucumbers, and groundcherries are ripe. Fields are about a quarter harvested.
This online programming course is not impressing me.
Sep. 22nd, 2025 12:22 pmkyrielleOh, it's not my course. Oldest is doing it for high school credit. So far either it omitted or he missed a simple but key step in setup. Given he's a high-schooler, I'd normally chalk that up to reading the instructions too fast.
Except it also had him copy/paste an imperfect program about ages, which he did, and build it until he cleared all the errors, which he did. And then claimed it would output his name and address. Which, fortunately for my sanity, it was not able to do without those having been input to it.
What the heck....
Yes, I will send an email to the school later. Getting the lesson name and info to let the online coordinator know about it will mean using his chromebook, which he needs to use to do other schoolwork. That is hopefully not attempting to make a psychic computer.
Except it also had him copy/paste an imperfect program about ages, which he did, and build it until he cleared all the errors, which he did. And then claimed it would output his name and address. Which, fortunately for my sanity, it was not able to do without those having been input to it.
What the heck....
Yes, I will send an email to the school later. Getting the lesson name and info to let the online coordinator know about it will mean using his chromebook, which he needs to use to do other schoolwork. That is hopefully not attempting to make a psychic computer.
Birdfeeding
Sep. 22nd, 2025 02:19 pmysabetwordsmithToday is cloudy and mild. It rained a little last night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 9/22/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 9/22/25 -- I started planting irises but only got one in the ground before it started drizzling again. However, there's a third 'Midnight Treat' purple iris in a bag meant to hold two, so that's awesome.
I saw a fox squirrel jumping through the treees.
EDIT 9/22/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 9/22/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 9/22/25 -- I planted 2 'Midnight Treat' purple irises and 2 'Best Bet' irises which have purple falls under lilac standards.
EDIT 9/22/25 -- I watered the irises.
EDIT 9/22/25 -- I did a bit of work around the yard.
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 9/22/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 9/22/25 -- I started planting irises but only got one in the ground before it started drizzling again. However, there's a third 'Midnight Treat' purple iris in a bag meant to hold two, so that's awesome.
I saw a fox squirrel jumping through the treees.
EDIT 9/22/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 9/22/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 9/22/25 -- I planted 2 'Midnight Treat' purple irises and 2 'Best Bet' irises which have purple falls under lilac standards.
EDIT 9/22/25 -- I watered the irises.
EDIT 9/22/25 -- I did a bit of work around the yard.
As it is now dark, I am done for the night.
Education
Sep. 21st, 2025 11:43 pmysabetwordsmithThe Learning Grove
As part of my ongoing series about reimagining education, I want to try something slightly different today. For this one, we will imagine that what I’m calling “The Living Curriculum” is already implemented, and I wil describe one aspect of it. For the sake of this exercise, we will need to suspend our disbelief for a littl while, and put aside questions of how we get from where we are now, to this mildly utopian imagining. The point is not to lay out a perfect plan of how to achieve an ideal education system, but rather, to explore a vision of what such a system might look like.
( Read more... )
As part of my ongoing series about reimagining education, I want to try something slightly different today. For this one, we will imagine that what I’m calling “The Living Curriculum” is already implemented, and I wil describe one aspect of it. For the sake of this exercise, we will need to suspend our disbelief for a littl while, and put aside questions of how we get from where we are now, to this mildly utopian imagining. The point is not to lay out a perfect plan of how to achieve an ideal education system, but rather, to explore a vision of what such a system might look like.
( Read more... )
Nature
Sep. 21st, 2025 07:47 pmysabetwordsmithNew study finds exercising outdoors is 'superior' to the gym or city: 'Our brain loves nature'
A major finding is that exercise in nature provided far greater mental benefits than urban and indoor environments, with participants reporting much higher levels of joy, calm, satisfaction, and optimism after working out in the outdoors.
On a physiological level, researchers measured that the participants’ heart rates dropped more quickly after a walk in nature. Additionally, heart rate variability, which shows how well the body’s nervous system goes into recovery, was 20-30% higher than the indoor walk.
Participants also reported lower levels of anxiety, irritation, and boredom after exercising in nature. Boredom levels actually increased after walking indoors, the researchers shared.
( Read more... )
A major finding is that exercise in nature provided far greater mental benefits than urban and indoor environments, with participants reporting much higher levels of joy, calm, satisfaction, and optimism after working out in the outdoors.
On a physiological level, researchers measured that the participants’ heart rates dropped more quickly after a walk in nature. Additionally, heart rate variability, which shows how well the body’s nervous system goes into recovery, was 20-30% higher than the indoor walk.
Participants also reported lower levels of anxiety, irritation, and boredom after exercising in nature. Boredom levels actually increased after walking indoors, the researchers shared.
( Read more... )
I'd like to order a resupply of sorts, please.
Sep. 21st, 2025 03:06 pmkyrielleI am tired and out of them. But I know why: I got the second dose of the shingles vaccine yesterday. On the plus side, the local reaction isn't as bad this go-round as it was for the first. On the minus side, the tired factor is at least as bad, maybe worse. But it will pass soon, and I'd far rather be tired for a few days than get shingles.
We will see how much chaos this week does or doesn't bring. I've kept it fairly light on appointments, because Scott is going in for jury duty tomorrow. After tomorrow we'll know if he gets seated and hopefully know more of whether that means I'm soloing school drop-off/pick-up or not the rest of the week. It is doable, but not fun. The busiest piece of the morning starts about 8 am, so if he is at jury duty he won't be helping with that. (The middle school starts at 9:15 am. Whee.)
At least the various decisions on the covid vaccine are all sorted out and we can get them scheduled now, and insurance should cover them. It was uncertain there for a bit, and I'm just as glad to have a clear answer.
The cats remain adorable. It has taken some effort to get Kala to stop trying to nap on our oldest's chromebook while he's doing online school, but she seems to settle for curling up behind it now.
Other than cats on keyboard, so far the school year is going well. And as always the school staff / teachers / etc. here are great. Possibly a little strained this year with the budget cuts, which is not ideal; I hope they're not running toward burnout.
We will see how much chaos this week does or doesn't bring. I've kept it fairly light on appointments, because Scott is going in for jury duty tomorrow. After tomorrow we'll know if he gets seated and hopefully know more of whether that means I'm soloing school drop-off/pick-up or not the rest of the week. It is doable, but not fun. The busiest piece of the morning starts about 8 am, so if he is at jury duty he won't be helping with that. (The middle school starts at 9:15 am. Whee.)
At least the various decisions on the covid vaccine are all sorted out and we can get them scheduled now, and insurance should cover them. It was uncertain there for a bit, and I'm just as glad to have a clear answer.
The cats remain adorable. It has taken some effort to get Kala to stop trying to nap on our oldest's chromebook while he's doing online school, but she seems to settle for curling up behind it now.
Other than cats on keyboard, so far the school year is going well. And as always the school staff / teachers / etc. here are great. Possibly a little strained this year with the budget cuts, which is not ideal; I hope they're not running toward burnout.
Birdfeeding
Sep. 21st, 2025 02:12 pmysabetwordsmithToday is partly sunny and hot.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.
EDIT 9/21/25 -- I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 9/21/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 9/21/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 9/21/25 -- I watered the old picnic table, irises, patio plants, and a few more around the house yard.
EDIT 9/21/25 -- I watered the new picnic table, septic garden, telephone pole garden, and a few of the savanna seedlings.
Cicadas and crickets are singing.
As it is now dark, I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.
EDIT 9/21/25 -- I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 9/21/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 9/21/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 9/21/25 -- I watered the old picnic table, irises, patio plants, and a few more around the house yard.
EDIT 9/21/25 -- I watered the new picnic table, septic garden, telephone pole garden, and a few of the savanna seedlings.
Cicadas and crickets are singing.
As it is now dark, I am done for the night.
Cyberspace Theory
Sep. 20th, 2025 11:27 pmysabetwordsmithProtect your peace: How to avoid disturbing content on social media
Social media platforms are designed to maximize engagement, not protect your peace of mind. The major platforms have also reduced their content moderation efforts over the past year or so. That means upsetting content can reach you even when you never chose to watch it.
You do not have to watch every piece of content that crosses your screen, however. Protecting your own mental state is not avoidance or denial.
( Read more... )
Social media platforms are designed to maximize engagement, not protect your peace of mind. The major platforms have also reduced their content moderation efforts over the past year or so. That means upsetting content can reach you even when you never chose to watch it.
You do not have to watch every piece of content that crosses your screen, however. Protecting your own mental state is not avoidance or denial.
( Read more... )