Today is cloudy and cool.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
.
On the lower right there are some stairs with railings and on the upper right is the spa (aka Old People Hang Out). That's facing east, so when the sun is out, particularly in the early morning, it screams through there and blinds all in its wake. (ok, a little dramatic) But, when it's not out, like this morning, it's a beautiful snow-capped mountain view. Oh and see that big white swanish looking thing in the center on the far side of the pool? There's one on the other side and they hold the volleyball net.
My swim this morning was just lovely. And I remembered to stop by the mail room on my way home and pick up Bonny's mail. She wants someone to go to the grocery store for her but she didn't ask and I didn't volunteer. She's too picky and I don't want the stress. Joan taught me that. Joan no longer drives and yet has a laundry list of things she must have at the grocery store. She has a shitload of family but apparently they can't be bothered. I get it. She wants green bananas and when you go out of your way to find green ones and get them for her, she bitches about the price. Nope. The end. Bonny says Safeway does not slice the compressed turkey roll the right way, only QFC does. WHAT THE FUCK??? 1. She could have gotten it before her surgery and popped it in the freezer if she was afraid it wouldn't last a week. (that shit will probably last a year) 2. Beggers should take whatever sliced turkey they get and 3. They sell sliced turkey downstairs at the Bistro. So. No. I'm not volunteering. IF she asks me directly, AND I'm going anyway, I will likely get whatever she wants. Otherwise nope.
I am going to Safeway today, probably. I need tortillas and flat cheese and cottage cheese. But, honestly, I can hold out for another few days and I might. Ok, a little interruption. I just ordered two things from Amazon and had them sent to a locker at a different Safeway! It's still in Issaquah but I've actually never been there. ADVENTURE!! They will be ready for pick up tomorrow. This is exciting.
Today is the usual. I might toss in the laundry. I finally remembered to get some mesh laundry bags at Dollar Tree yesterday. I want one for my bras and one for my socks. My brash always want to octopus my pants and my socks want to wander all over the place so this will contain them. And then... When the closet lady designed my closet she made this neat little pull out thing for scarves. Except. I only have one scarf. BUT I just discovered I can use it to hang my mesh bags above my dirty clothes hamper. Genius.
Ok. I gotta go see my pocket bottoms back together.
I’m feeling antsy this morning, I don’t work until 3 and the waiting is weird. I have plenty to do, the laundry-to-fold pile is so big it’s starting to creep down the stairs, but i’m immobilized by the impending work doom. I’ll get there and have to STAY there until close and won’t be able to say -actually, I’m done with this and leave -napping in my car during the shift is frowned upon, and so is drinking wine. It is beautiful and still outside, the high will be 69 today.
Maybe I’ve just had too much coffee and work will be fine. Maybe the kids will be on point today, and the shift will be a dream of coordinated movement, perfect food, gracious service -looking like a choreographed dance with servers dipping under other’s trays gracefully, the glasses being tossed from one bartender to the other, laughter flowing and even cooks breaking out in song.
I’m going to go for a walk and find some carbs to dampen the caffeine jitters.
Maybe I’ve just had too much coffee and work will be fine. Maybe the kids will be on point today, and the shift will be a dream of coordinated movement, perfect food, gracious service -looking like a choreographed dance with servers dipping under other’s trays gracefully, the glasses being tossed from one bartender to the other, laughter flowing and even cooks breaking out in song.
I’m going to go for a walk and find some carbs to dampen the caffeine jitters.
Mr Diane & I just flew back from a week & a half in Hawaii.
While we were away, spring has f'ing SPRUNG. The trees are in leaf, the forget-me-nots have taken over the meadow, and the rhubarb is bigger than I am.
I'll write more when I'm less jet-lagged and more caught up.
While we were away, spring has f'ing SPRUNG. The trees are in leaf, the forget-me-nots have taken over the meadow, and the rhubarb is bigger than I am.
I'll write more when I'm less jet-lagged and more caught up.
Day 8: Favourite romance
I am not a romance person (being aromantic) so I don't have one. I've only noticed a few, and none of them grabs me.
Jenna/Blake - probably one-sided, or it's friendship, and I do much prefer the whole friendship thing. As people may have noticed. ;) Besides, Blake puts his cause well before people.
Avon/Servalan - there's a twisted attraction there on both sides. Avon knows it's not going anywhere, and though he's attracted by wealth and power, he's right - he wouldn't live long.
Vila/Kerril - too short to be a romance, and Kerril's playing a part to get Vila to come over all protective. He made the right decision not to stay on that planet: the pioneer life wouldn't exactly suit him, and Kerril would probably drop her act and be as contemptuous as she first was.
Servalan/Tarrant - also a short fling, and I'm glad the crew expressed their opinion of it.
Did I miss any? I'm pretty oblivious in RL.
All the questions are on Tumblr.
I am not a romance person (being aromantic) so I don't have one. I've only noticed a few, and none of them grabs me.
Jenna/Blake - probably one-sided, or it's friendship, and I do much prefer the whole friendship thing. As people may have noticed. ;) Besides, Blake puts his cause well before people.
Avon/Servalan - there's a twisted attraction there on both sides. Avon knows it's not going anywhere, and though he's attracted by wealth and power, he's right - he wouldn't live long.
Vila/Kerril - too short to be a romance, and Kerril's playing a part to get Vila to come over all protective. He made the right decision not to stay on that planet: the pioneer life wouldn't exactly suit him, and Kerril would probably drop her act and be as contemptuous as she first was.
Servalan/Tarrant - also a short fling, and I'm glad the crew expressed their opinion of it.
Did I miss any? I'm pretty oblivious in RL.
All the questions are on Tumblr.
Tags:
Got any Follow Friday-related posts to share this week? Comment here with the link(s).
Here's the plan: every Friday, let's recommend some people and/or communities to follow on Dreamwidth. That's it. No complicated rules, no "pass this on to 7.328 friends or your cat will die".
Today's theme is Muse.
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
add_a_writer -- Add A Writer
Connect with other writers.
[Active with one post in May.]
musemostwanted -- Muse Most Wanted - A Home for RP Enablers and the
A place to find canonmates, request muses, and enable others.
[Somewhat active with last post in November 2025.]
museslash -- Museslash
Slash fanfiction based around the members of British rock band Muse.
[Low traffic with last post in December 2024.]
add_a_writer -- Add A WriterConnect with other writers.
[Active with one post in May.]
musemostwanted -- Muse Most Wanted - A Home for RP Enablers and theA place to find canonmates, request muses, and enable others.
[Somewhat active with last post in November 2025.]
museslash -- MuseslashSlash fanfiction based around the members of British rock band Muse.
[Low traffic with last post in December 2024.]
This year during Three Weeks for Dreamwidth, I'm writing about reading as a way of becoming an expert in a given subject. Read Part 1: Introduction to Becoming an Expert, Part 2: Architecture, Part 3: Dance, Part 4: Music, Part 5: Painting, Part 6: Poetry, Part 7: Sculpture, Part 8: Conflict Resolution, Part 9: Cooking, Part 10: Coping Skills, Part 11: Gardening, Part 12: Relationship Skills, Part 13: Repairing.
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth Part 14: Survival Skills
Survival skills make up a large assortment of knowledge and activities that keep people alive in challenging circumstances. Mostly people focus on what is called bushcraft or woodslore -- skills for use in the wilderness. However, survival skills also deal in things like first aid that apply to everyday emergencies; and to things like self-defense needed primarily in settled areas. Aspects include emergency preparedness, food (see my Cooking and Gardening posts; you'll also need foraging and hunting), water, shelter, repair and maintenance (see my Repairing post), health care, historic skills (like fire-starting and flint-knapping), self-defense, and self-sufficiency. Some cultures have retained an emphasis on survival more than others; Mormons recommend storing one year of food for your family. Here on Dreamwidth, there are no dedicated communities for survival but you can find subtopics such ascommon_nature, crafty, creative_cooks, gardening, or renew_repair_refashion.
( Read more... )
Three Weeks for Dreamwidth Part 14: Survival Skills
Survival skills make up a large assortment of knowledge and activities that keep people alive in challenging circumstances. Mostly people focus on what is called bushcraft or woodslore -- skills for use in the wilderness. However, survival skills also deal in things like first aid that apply to everyday emergencies; and to things like self-defense needed primarily in settled areas. Aspects include emergency preparedness, food (see my Cooking and Gardening posts; you'll also need foraging and hunting), water, shelter, repair and maintenance (see my Repairing post), health care, historic skills (like fire-starting and flint-knapping), self-defense, and self-sufficiency. Some cultures have retained an emphasis on survival more than others; Mormons recommend storing one year of food for your family. Here on Dreamwidth, there are no dedicated communities for survival but you can find subtopics such as
common_nature, crafty, creative_cooks, gardening, or renew_repair_refashion.( Read more... )
I'm hosting a comment event at the gamechangerhr community. Each post features two meme-style questions about Heated Rivalry. You can find all of the posts at the three weeks for DW tag. If you like Heated Rivalry, come join us!
gamechangerhr community. Each post features two meme-style questions about Heated Rivalry. You can find all of the posts at the three weeks for DW tag. If you like Heated Rivalry, come join us!Tags:
Unguarded Discussion
By Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
Part 1a of 1, complete
Word count (story only):
[Midafternoon of Saturday, 11 November of 2017]
:: Jules chooses to work on Saturday, hoping for peace and quiet to focus on re-filing the mess of printed documents. He doesn’t get it. Part of the Lodestar story arc in the Polychrome Heroics universe. ::
“Box number nine, you have served well,” Jules intoned, starting soberly down at the now empty cardboard container. “Your service is now ended, and appreciated. May your next role be as fulfilling and offer you both peace and satisfaction.”
He finally laughed as he broke the box down to its flat state and set it atop the other eight that he’d managed to empty. “I am so glad that there aren’t any cameras in here,” he muttered.
Someone kicked the door to the file room.
( Read more... )
By Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
Part 1a of 1, complete
Word count (story only):
[Midafternoon of Saturday, 11 November of 2017]
:: Jules chooses to work on Saturday, hoping for peace and quiet to focus on re-filing the mess of printed documents. He doesn’t get it. Part of the Lodestar story arc in the Polychrome Heroics universe. ::
“Box number nine, you have served well,” Jules intoned, starting soberly down at the now empty cardboard container. “Your service is now ended, and appreciated. May your next role be as fulfilling and offer you both peace and satisfaction.”
He finally laughed as he broke the box down to its flat state and set it atop the other eight that he’d managed to empty. “I am so glad that there aren’t any cameras in here,” he muttered.
Someone kicked the door to the file room.
( Read more... )
Tags:
I have this switch system that was fairly expensive and has never worked right in this apartment. The individual switches sit on top of the wall switches and make them into smart switches. I've had them for years and they worked great in the condo but here they have been fiddly since the day I moved in. BUT... I may have conquered them.
They are one of those class of fucking wifi gizmos that require 2.4 wifi. Most of those can find it in a hybrid (2.4/5) signal but not these fuckers. So this morning, I finally got the idea of redoing my extender. My extender takes my wifi network and spreads it to the bedroom and bathroom. When I set it up, I blew off the 2.4 and went for the hybrid. This morning, I factory reset it and then set it up to spit out two different SSID's one for 2.4 and one for 5. And the hub for my stupid switches loved it immediately!
I had to set them all up again and rename them all and then re set up all the routines but totally worth it. I'm quite excited about it.
Then on to Dollar Tree. You know how embarrassing it can be like in a grocery store when the cash register clerk holds up you jar of hemorrhoid lotion and screams to the entire store "CAN ANYONE GET ME A PRICE CHECK ON THIS HEMORRHOID LOTION?????" Well, that's the kind of embarrassment shared when you have a lot of Dollar Tree items and the helpful cashier announces to you so that everyone in line can here "THAT'S SIXTY-EIGHT TWENTY TWO". I'll bet those people in line behind me spent less than $20. At least I'm keeping the store open for all of us!
I did find the cutest cheapest amigurumi kits. I've been kind of thinking about this and looking at some other kits. In fact, I was looking through a sampling just last night of toys about the same size in really nice kits for $40 and $50 bucks and here these were for $1.25.
Amigurumi is the tight crochet of little dolls and animals (Google will help you get an idea). I've never done any and wanted to give it a whirl and so I got this little kit
It included everything I needed to make this!!
I'm pretty delighted.
Then I did some research and, turns out, Amigurumi really refers to small stuffed toys that are crochet or knitted! So I've been doing it all along!
They are one of those class of fucking wifi gizmos that require 2.4 wifi. Most of those can find it in a hybrid (2.4/5) signal but not these fuckers. So this morning, I finally got the idea of redoing my extender. My extender takes my wifi network and spreads it to the bedroom and bathroom. When I set it up, I blew off the 2.4 and went for the hybrid. This morning, I factory reset it and then set it up to spit out two different SSID's one for 2.4 and one for 5. And the hub for my stupid switches loved it immediately!
I had to set them all up again and rename them all and then re set up all the routines but totally worth it. I'm quite excited about it.
Then on to Dollar Tree. You know how embarrassing it can be like in a grocery store when the cash register clerk holds up you jar of hemorrhoid lotion and screams to the entire store "CAN ANYONE GET ME A PRICE CHECK ON THIS HEMORRHOID LOTION?????" Well, that's the kind of embarrassment shared when you have a lot of Dollar Tree items and the helpful cashier announces to you so that everyone in line can here "THAT'S SIXTY-EIGHT TWENTY TWO". I'll bet those people in line behind me spent less than $20. At least I'm keeping the store open for all of us!
I did find the cutest cheapest amigurumi kits. I've been kind of thinking about this and looking at some other kits. In fact, I was looking through a sampling just last night of toys about the same size in really nice kits for $40 and $50 bucks and here these were for $1.25.
Amigurumi is the tight crochet of little dolls and animals (Google will help you get an idea). I've never done any and wanted to give it a whirl and so I got this little kit
It included everything I needed to make this!!
I'm pretty delighted.
Then I did some research and, turns out, Amigurumi really refers to small stuffed toys that are crochet or knitted! So I've been doing it all along!
(![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
thewayne May. 7th, 2026 01:24 pm)
thewayne May. 7th, 2026 01:24 pm)A security researcher did some poking around and discovered a bad thing with the Edge browser. Every browser wants you to trust them with your passwords and credit card data. At least in the case of Edge and passwords, that trust may be unwarranted.
The researcher stored a password and then captured all the memory. And found the password in plaintext. Unencrypted, unhashed. Completely readable. Microsoft dismissed this finding, saying that the computer would have to be compromised by malware for this to be a vulnerability.
Well, guess what. COMPUTERS GET COMPROMISED BY MALWARE ON A REGULAR BASIS. THIS IS A PROBLEM.
The Edge browser is based on Google's Chrome browser. There are many browsers based on Chrome, and apparently they take the very minimal resources required to encrypt or hash said passwords.
No word if this problem exists on Edge browser on other operating systems such as Mac.
Now, here's the really bonus extra-stupid thing. If I'm a user on a computer, and I want to view a password for a web site, I HAVE TO ENTER MY LOGIN PASSWORD TO VIEW IT. It's already been decrypted and stuffed into memory in plaintext, but I have to authenticate myself to view it!
This is quite an amazing level of stupidity. The amount of CPU resources required to decrypt one password for one web site is miniscule. There is zero reason to decrypt all of those passwords and stuff them into ram where any malware can steal them.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/researcher-finds-microsoft-edge-stored-passwords-load-in-plaintext
https://yro.slashdot.org/story/26/05/06/2014204/microsoft-edge-stores-passwords-in-plaintext-in-ram
The researcher stored a password and then captured all the memory. And found the password in plaintext. Unencrypted, unhashed. Completely readable. Microsoft dismissed this finding, saying that the computer would have to be compromised by malware for this to be a vulnerability.
Well, guess what. COMPUTERS GET COMPROMISED BY MALWARE ON A REGULAR BASIS. THIS IS A PROBLEM.
The Edge browser is based on Google's Chrome browser. There are many browsers based on Chrome, and apparently they take the very minimal resources required to encrypt or hash said passwords.
No word if this problem exists on Edge browser on other operating systems such as Mac.
Now, here's the really bonus extra-stupid thing. If I'm a user on a computer, and I want to view a password for a web site, I HAVE TO ENTER MY LOGIN PASSWORD TO VIEW IT. It's already been decrypted and stuffed into memory in plaintext, but I have to authenticate myself to view it!
This is quite an amazing level of stupidity. The amount of CPU resources required to decrypt one password for one web site is miniscule. There is zero reason to decrypt all of those passwords and stuff them into ram where any malware can steal them.
https://www.pcmag.com/news/researcher-finds-microsoft-edge-stored-passwords-load-in-plaintext
https://yro.slashdot.org/story/26/05/06/2014204/microsoft-edge-stores-passwords-in-plaintext-in-ram
Tags:
Why are scorpion stings so painful? Metal stingers!
In the scorpion stingers, the researchers found zinc at the tip of the needle-like structure. But many of the scorpions had a sharp transition to manganese below this point.
Meanwhile, in the outer part of the pincers, called the tarsus, the researchers found zinc. In addition, some scorpion pincers also contained iron. Interestingly, the metal only reinforced the cutting edge of the pincer. That’s the side of the tarsus that endures the most stress from struggling prey.
Well no, it's the venom that makes a sting painful. The metal is there for structural support and armor-piercing capacity. Many scorpions hunt primarily chitinous prey and need a way to defeat that armor. It's also why some larger scorpions can sting through heavy cloth or even leather. O_O
Anyhow, this has terrific potential for speculative fiction and speculative evolution. So don't tease people who design species with metallic components, because there is hard science behind how some extant wildlife uses metal.
In the scorpion stingers, the researchers found zinc at the tip of the needle-like structure. But many of the scorpions had a sharp transition to manganese below this point.
Meanwhile, in the outer part of the pincers, called the tarsus, the researchers found zinc. In addition, some scorpion pincers also contained iron. Interestingly, the metal only reinforced the cutting edge of the pincer. That’s the side of the tarsus that endures the most stress from struggling prey.
Well no, it's the venom that makes a sting painful. The metal is there for structural support and armor-piercing capacity. Many scorpions hunt primarily chitinous prey and need a way to defeat that armor. It's also why some larger scorpions can sting through heavy cloth or even leather. O_O
Anyhow, this has terrific potential for speculative fiction and speculative evolution. So don't tease people who design species with metallic components, because there is hard science behind how some extant wildlife uses metal.
Tags:
Today is partly sunny, breezy, and cool.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches plus a fox squirrel.
I put out water for the birds.
I set out a few potted plants to get some sun.
More white peonies are blooming, along with deep pink ones under the apricot tree.
EDIT 5/7/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
I've seen a male Baltimore oriole eating the orange I put out. :D 3q3q3q!!!
EDIT 5/7/26 -- I planted the tulip poplar from Douglas-Hart at the north edge of the savanna. This species hosts multiple moths as well as the tiger swallowtail butterfly.
I've seen a male rose-breasted grosbeak, a male and a female cardinal separately, and a gray catbird.
EDIT 5/7/26 -- I did some bushwhacking to clear the mow space between the flowerbeds and the Midwinter Grove.
EDIT 5/7/26 -- I did more bushwhacking and stick pickup along the path around the prairie garden. I dumped a trolley of sticks into the firepit. There is still one sapling-sized branch too big for me to handle alone. Frustrating.
EDIT 5/7/26 -- We moved the big branch from the prairie garden to the ritual meadow.
I did more work around the patio.
I can see rain to the northwest, so I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches plus a fox squirrel.
I put out water for the birds.
I set out a few potted plants to get some sun.
More white peonies are blooming, along with deep pink ones under the apricot tree.
EDIT 5/7/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
I've seen a male Baltimore oriole eating the orange I put out. :D 3q3q3q!!!
EDIT 5/7/26 -- I planted the tulip poplar from Douglas-Hart at the north edge of the savanna. This species hosts multiple moths as well as the tiger swallowtail butterfly.
I've seen a male rose-breasted grosbeak, a male and a female cardinal separately, and a gray catbird.
EDIT 5/7/26 -- I did some bushwhacking to clear the mow space between the flowerbeds and the Midwinter Grove.
EDIT 5/7/26 -- I did more bushwhacking and stick pickup along the path around the prairie garden. I dumped a trolley of sticks into the firepit. There is still one sapling-sized branch too big for me to handle alone. Frustrating.
EDIT 5/7/26 -- We moved the big branch from the prairie garden to the ritual meadow.
I did more work around the patio.
I can see rain to the northwest, so I am done for the night.
Ted Turner has passed away. He is best known for founding CNN, TBS, and TNT but he also created the famous cartoon Captain Planet and the Planeteers.
Carry on the Work
4 Ways to Become an Environmentalist
How to Become an Activist and Advocate for Worthy Causes
How to Become a Broadcast Journalist (with Pictures)
How to Start a Cartoon Show
Institute for Nonprofit News Startup Guide
Carry on the Work
4 Ways to Become an Environmentalist
How to Become an Activist and Advocate for Worthy Causes
How to Become a Broadcast Journalist (with Pictures)
How to Start a Cartoon Show
Institute for Nonprofit News Startup Guide
A further trail of thought more or less kicked off by this comment by flemmings on yesterday's post about Ursula as an anthropologist's daughter and the way that inflected her fiction -
- and then I went, hey, wasn't he part of that whole Franz Boas group that I read that book about at the beginning of 2020 (Charles King, The Reinvention of Humanity) and would she not have been aware of Significant Lady Anthropologists and their work (not just her own ma) -
Like, Margaret Mead and Ruth Benedict?
(Maybe the forthcoming biography will shine some light there???)
Or was that going on in some entirely different compartment to the requirements of fictional narrative? (thinking of my 1920s gals and the gulf between what they were up to with their affairs and abortions and propagating birth control and what the protags in their novels were permitted to get up to.)
Or was there a whole generational thing going on there, which I sort of touched on in commenting about Mitchison on this post, though I think I could make a larger case about that generation that had had to fight for a lot of rights that were already accepted as given by UKleG's day even if there were still major constraints.
(Seem to recollect that I did not think Julie Phillips in that book on writers and motherhood quite brought out the extent to which she was writing of a very specific generation/time-period. With some exceptions.)
Tags:
.