Trumpist posting about “350K missing children at the border.” I don’t think I should engage with this one, but I’m curious about the math here. How many children are they defining as “at the border”? If 350K are missing, are any of them left?

I wanted to be spooky, so I posted Storied asks 'Why Does A Ghost Whale Terrorize The Japanese Coast?' An Earth Month ghost story, then I wanted to laugh, so I posted 'The Daily Show' Celebrates Earth Day by Tackling Climate Change.

This one was clearly ripped off the Ashley Madison hack, with a weird reference to Rohinie Bisesar (the woman who stabbed a stranger to death in the PATH Shoppers Drug Mart). The latter is even name-checked in the show, which I'm kind of surprised is legal.

The plot is needlessly convoluted. A hacker gets the database for Not!Ashley!Madison Dot Com, and appears to be blackmailing either the owner or someone in the database. People in the database include a well-regarded judge and a pastor of a megachurch. She's about to reveal the identity of someone in the database to her married best friend, but will only do it in person. They agree to meet in their usual spot in the PATH, but the hacker, who arrives first, is being followed. She makes her way to a Shoppers, where she's stabbed to death by a masked assailant.

( you know the drill )

Good afternoon, happy Tuesday! I finally spotted the morning doves again-- well, actually, one of the landed on the back porch and made eye contact with me through the sliding glass door, and then another dove dive-bombed the first one and they both flew off. Fun!

Got some links for y'all here! I'm experimenting with formatting this time. Is this easier to read, or worse?


siderea did an informal poll about some of the differences in educational systems in the US, with regards specifically to when civics was taught.

I did most of my schooling in Maryland and I took a civics class in 9th or 10th grade, but I'm pretty sure we went over some stuff before then in elementary school/middle school. We had mock presidential elections, for instance, so I'm sure we at least went over the stuff about voting.

I also remember seeing the Schoolhouse Rock video about how bills are passed, but I honestly can't remember where along my educational timeline it happened. I AM fairly certain a teacher showed it to us, though!

( More links under here )
Need more stuff to read? I've compiled all previous linkspam posts here on my website or of course you can explore the linkspam tag below.

Well, it's been 2 weeks since my last post, so here's an update.

( mentions of health issues )

*

In job news, something pretty huge and happy-making has happened???

One of the 4 companies I interviewed with has gotten back to me (after like 7 stages) to say they want me to work for them and they'll send me a contract offer in the next few days (which is standard). Fingers crossed, nothing certain until papers are signed etc, but. BUT.

It's been over a year, and finally I have a job offer.

At least one company wants to pay me a decent salary with all the nice perks and everything.

Now, if I had no other offers and was not in the running for any other position, I would take this one IN A HEARTBEAT. I would take it and be SO GRATEFUL.

But since I am still somehow in the process with 3 other companies, I'm in the weird position of mentally wondering which one I'd choose if they were to make me an offer.

Company #2 - I've finished all the interviews, and they're supposed to get back to me tomorrow on whether they want to check my references, which usually takes 1-2 days and is more of a formality. There's good reason to assume that if they say yes to me tomorrow they'll make me an offer next week.

Company #3 - I'm doing my final interview with them on Thursday, a big presentation, and after that they'll let me know if they're interested, no reference checks. If they want me they'll just make an offer.

Company #4 - the actual company of my heart, that all other considerations aside I would probably choose to work for because I love their product so much - I'm doing my final interview with them on Monday (next week). Of course they have the WORST HR process, so I actually have no idea what their next step is and whether there's something else they'll want to do before deciding yay/nay after Monday.

Now I'm mostly stressed because Company #1, that's already told me they want me, will probably try to pressure me to finalize a contract with them before Company #4 has a chance to decide whether they want me, sigh.

All of these potential roles are so good. None of them are "I can live with that" compromises. All of them are amazing, it's more a question of specific types of amazing, and of course I ideally want the combination that works best for me.

It is utterly surreal to be in this position after a year and 2 months of being unemployed. UTTERLY SURREAL.

But you know, maybe all the other companies will reject me and only Company #1 will remain, which will still be perfectly fine and even great.

Or maybe I somehow manage to fuck up this whole thing and will be left with nothing ////o\\\\ IDK it's just too good to be true at the moment.

Phew. Deep breath. The next 2 weeks will be continued stress, especially since I have a big presentation on Thursday and on Monday, but then... then. I don't know. Maybe, just maybe. *fingers crossed*

I didn't want to give too much away about my IRL situation, but the fence has been busted for a long time. In 2020 there was going to be a community/city project to fix it, but the pandemic happened. Then various storms and whatnot made a piece of the fence just fall over which is a huge safety hazard I've lost sleep over lol. But it costs thousands to fix and we don't make that money, which is really bad because the city has been getting on us about how if it isn't fixed by a certain span of time, they might take the house and shit. (I don't know the legalese but yes, they can do this...)

So we're fucked. UNTIL. Some lady moved in next door and my mother was dead convinced she hates us because she built a mini fence in her front yard to divide our lawns (?!???) (our lawn is ugly lol). But then last week she was outside, saw my mother in the backyard, which isn't hard because... a part of the fence is gone... she just said that fence needs to be fixed and she'll bring her friends over to do it next week. That week is now and they've been helping a lot. Holy shit. My paycheck doesn't come until later today and it isn't much, but I am going to be giving these guys money in two weeks.

So between a gas leak at home and me not sleeping for a week... "orz

I am exhausted and hoping for the weekend to finally get some rest. I'm still not sure why the spike in anxiety but it's definitely not helping.

Edit: Oh. OH! I don't think it's anxiety! I think it's my time of the month that is coming. *inhales* "#$"#%#&$&u/%/o/&%$#"#!/%$"!/&%$"/%$"!!!!!!!!!!

A minute later, they were on top of the Historia.

“So, those goggles have night vision?” Philippa asked.

“Yes, amongst other modes.”

“And you don’t have powers?”

“I’m neither confirming nor denying. Let’s just say I wouldn’t be doing this without these gadgets,” the Shadow explained. “It’s like my own play. It seems that in the drama of Lawndale, I have taken this role to help.”

“And the other vigilantes?”

“SpiderGirl does have powers. But I am not sure if her webs are organic or not. Ninja Talon seems to be just a teenager skilled in martial arts who also uses some gadgets alongside her weapons. The fourth vigilante is telekinetic and can project energy blasts. I haven’t yet met the apparent fifth.”

“You don’t know what name she’s taken?” Philippa asked.

“I do, but it seems she wants to remain in the shadows as she helps Lawndale in her way. I just hope any battle between her and SpiderGirl is short.”


The Shadow was about to say more, but she then heard something to the northwest of the Historia, in Dega Street. “Duty calls!” she said to Philippa.

“You are going to leave me here?” Philippa asked.

“You’d be a liability. I trained with my mentor a while before I started doing this,” the Shadow then handed her the spare grapple gun. “It is relatively easy to use. But I’ll be back soon. Keep an eye on Daria and Sandi.”


Daria and Sandi also heard the noise as they examined an Oscorp building. “What’s that?” Daria asked.

“Sounds like something to respond to,” Sandi replied.

Daria nodded. “Right. There are plenty of places along here…”

Sandi nodded and ran off to some cover.


‘What are they doing?’ Philippa wondered.

( Read More )

Because I completely forgot to mention it yesterday, this week's subject line will be from Dar Williams. I discovered her during a depression swing, and the songs talked to me. This is definitely one of my favorites. Even when I was really down, it gave me a little light.

Of course, yesterday after I signed off here, I discovered that the pope was dead. I actually feel slightly sad about it. Though if you're the couch fucker, this has to rankle. You made your Catholic faith a bit part of your presentation as a politician, and the beloved Pontiff spent the last full day of his life lecturing you on it and telling you how bad you are at it.

Yesterday was a quiet, yet crazy day. I started out by getting an e-card with Kudos from one of the nurse practitioners at the cancer center for helping her find a time sensitive spot for a patient where there was none. Then, about midday, I got a request to help with an irate patient. The person who was dealing with her flat out refused to call her back because she was so nasty. She was pretty nasty to me, too, but I just don't give a fuck. This isn't the first time they've had me make "sensitive" calls. When a patient self-schedules for a study and they're above the weight limit, it comes to me to call and sensitively tell them that they need to go to the hospital for scanning, because they trust that I'm not going to make the patient feel bad.

For my dealing with the pissed off patient yesterday, I got a kudo.



It's a little thing, but it's nice for them to recognize when you do something extra. The points just mean that I can get myself something pretty off our website of prizes. I'm up to 7000 points, which isn't really a ton. Once you get to 10,000, you can start getting nicer shit. I can wait. Fortunately, the bosses aren't stinting with their praise, so I can expect another one soon.

I made rice and beans last night. It turned out really well, and was very tasty. I didn't have any bacon, but Kinders Woodfire Garlic Seasoning gave it a little bit of a smoky flavor that worked out really well. I may have it for lunch today as well.

Today, I ordered a bunch of food, so I think tonight's dinner will be a dutch baby pancake and some sausage. Tomorrow, though, we are having chorizo and chicken fajitas with homemade tortillas. My tortilla press comes today, and I'm looking forward to trying it out.

I got a second cast Iron pan, a larger one, so I can Make a big dutch baby and to make the fajitas in.

Today will probably be busy again at work, and afterwards, I'll be making a trip up to Sam's club to pick up some tasty food. Then, I will come home and begin the process of getting all of that food in from the car, and also get it packed away. It's going to be a lot of food.

Okay, time for me to go get myself together. Everyone have an awesome Tuesday!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c20xd9xnp0wo

I'm not Catholic but the news makes me sad. I'm sure it's devastating news for the Catholics we know.

I hope his passing was a peaceful one.

I have the ability to summarize good stories in a way that makes them sound like shit. My latest demonstration:

“Necroepilogos is about a group of women and girls who wake up as zombies in a burned-out wasteland with nothing to eat but other zombies. It’s much more idealistic than it initially looks, and apparently it’s going Communist now?”

april! i meant to make a post on my birthday (04/08) but i'd been so busy that i'd forgotten. oopsie!
anyway, things have been a bit hectic over here...a big issue happened at my current job and i and some others on my team ended up laid off at the beginning of april..i start my new job tomorrow though haha!!!

my birthday went well, i mostly slept...which was a dream bday for me. i always just want to rest for my bday and do nothing else and im really glad i got the chance to just relax.

lately ive been focusing more on flans...and looking into the specifics surrounding oshikatsu and how all of that works...i want to make a flans themed uchiwa..flans themed pen light....uwaah...cute...i love him so so so much it hurts sometimes. i'm working on making a dedicated area of my room for him, and im excited to finish it up!

also today is Glean's birthday! Happy 10th Birthday Glean!

ehe...i also take the time to post and archive pictures i like of him on my photoblog: handinsidepuppethead, i really cant wait to take some of my own later this year!! i'm so super excited...hopefully he'll also get back to doing live vibe reports sometime! i really miss seeing him fumble around on tiktok, it's cute.

currently, i'm waiting on a new craft book that shows you how to make felt dolls in the style of aranzi aronzo! I'm super excited to make a flans kitty and a linnell bunny! that's all for now! /wave

Originally a prompt fill from here. The original prompt was 'Pink.'


Title: Backup Plans
Fandom: Mega Man Battle Network
Characters: Yuichiro Hikari, Haruka Hikari, Lan Hikari, Megaman.exe
Length: 3k+
Content notes: Character Death (offscreen)
Author notes: This fic assumes you know what a NetNavi is. For the purposes of this fic, all you really need to know is that it's a little digital guy who lives in your phone that you can customize and befriend, and that basically everyone has one.

Summary: Pre-series. Yuichiro Hikari becomes a father to twins. Yuichiro Hikari becomes a father thrice over.

( Read more... )

By no one's request, I have downloaded Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent season 2 so that I can watch it so you don't have to.

This one is bad. Like, I normally like my trash TV but it's possible for a pop culture product to be actively harmful and the season opener, "White Squirrel City," is definitely that. It's also an incredible microcosm of our cultural moment.

Which is to say, a few years ago the cops cleared a tent encampment at Bickford Park. Residents were violently displaced, their possessions confiscated, and either forced to go elsewhere, minus their belongings, or shoved into insufficient temporary shelter. This is a major cause of death for homeless people.* Then, to film the copaganda show, they set up a fake tent encampment in the same place where the city had evicted real ones.

So it's one of those situations where even if it had been Great Art, the price of creation would have been outweighed by the moral violation. That said, it's also bad art.

Here is an article from the excellent Grind magazine about all of the things wrong in this episode. The author says it better than I could, and also points out its most egregious flaws, leaving me to nitpick and mock the minor ones.


( spoilers )

Happy cheap chocolate day!

I am a sadly lil llama after yesterday's tennis finals. Ben Shelton was in the Munich final and Carlos Alcaraz was in the Barcelona final - and they both lost 😭 Even worse they both lost to players I Do Not Like 😂

It was also the last year that David Ferrer is the Tournament Director at the Barcelona Open. I was thoroughly enjoying the Ferru spotting all week, not gonna lie.

The one very excellent tennis thing from the last week, however, is that we're getting closer to the end of Jannik Sinner's suspension. He's now allowed to practice tennis again, play on an ATP affiliated court, play with ATP players and work with his coaches. He's spent the last few weeks in the gym with Marco, his fitness trainer and... yeah, Marco's been working that boy hard. He is looking fine. Jannik's been training with Jack Draper last week - OMG so many people ship them and I do not get it but I'm glad they're happy. Me? I'm happy about the fact that him being able to work with his coaches = pictures and videos including Darren and Simone. (Mind, there was also Darren and Simone spotting in Monte Carlo the other week as well which made me all 😻)

This week is the Madrid Masters (and I hadn't realised Feli Lopez was the TD - between him and Ferru, especially with Juanki as Carlitos' coach) it's like a resurgence of the 00s Spanish Armada and I am here for it!)

Is it just me or is this a very ADHD coded post thus far with all the parenthesis?

Lets see... what else?
I spent most of yesterday refreshing my social media profiles (except, apparently, this one. huh. I should look at that). But I'm super pleased at how things now look at tennisdadsaficionado, bibliollama, (and https://www.threads.net/@bibliollama), and tennisdads
I cooked chicken ramen yesterday and it was so fucking good. I used an Itsu broth carton and Itsu noodles but have a recipe for making my own broth next time
Li made hot cross buns yesterday and they were a little doughy (yeast didn't yeast properly) but super sticky and delicious.

I think that's about it from me, so I shall leave you with my Music Monday offering which, as ever, is my most played track of last week. I had a couple of meltdowns last week and so I comfort played a whole bunch of pop/punk, because that's still such a happy place for me.

And then, of course, leads to many many happy memories of so many gigs and tours following Good Charlotte around the UK on multiple occasions 🧡

Happy Monday! It's pretty windy out today and I haven't see any of my usual animal friends (weird squirrel, quail family, morning dove horde) so I'm assuming they're hiding from the pollen. So am I, tbh.

First up, art! Here's a wonderbread manatee from oddarette

Next, links!

Business Insider has an introspective article about the decline in quality of Lonely Planet guidebooks over the years.

Podcasting 101, which has all the stuff you'll need to just get started-- not worrying about making a commercial product or whatever, just getting your podcast off the ground.

I liked this post about realizing that human interaction has value, and that "Google it" isn't always the best thing to say.

From formlessvoidbeast: I am King Big Dick of Fanfic Mountain (h/t The Rec Center) (also saved to my commonplace notebook here because I liked it so much)

Here's a tech-focused solarpunk Discord server to explore. I like how they have activities that aren't just coding (or whatever).

A new Project Gutenberg release that caught my eye: The up-to-date sandwich book: 400 ways to make a sandwich by Eva Greene Fuller! Definitely downloading and adding it to my cookbook collection.

I found another "old web search engine": Marginalia Search-- but it actually pulls up newer stuff-- and it even pulled up a Dreamwidth post! I NEVER see DW posts on Ecosia or Google or whatever, unless I specifically look for them.

Finally, some RSS feeds I've subscribed to recently:
clover.poe, a "a literary blog dedicated to submissions of #poetry, #prose, #essay, #photography and other digital artworks by internet users."

The IndieBlog directory has RSS feeds where you can get random posts for the day or week from blogs in its collection.

anhvn.com -- her weeknotes posts are charming!

My ListenBrainz account has an RSS feed...so I guess if you want to see what I'm listening to, you can do it without needing an account there! I have that feed set to show the latest 30 minutes of listens, but if you adjust the minutes you can see up to 8 hours' worth of music.

Interested in more links? I've compiled all previous linkspam posts here on my website.

Expectations had been HIGH ever since it was announced that Coldplay would perform in Seoul for 6 sold out shows. They had TWICE during the first show (and then dropped an annoucement of a collabo they're doing with them.)

PPL were like OJO to the max cuz it was a fact that Jin was gonna show up. After all, he'd released "The Astronaut", a pop rock "I'm going into the military, but I'll be back" song that featured Coldplay. AND, shortly before enlisting, he'd flown something like 40 hrs from SK to perform the song live at what ARMYs affectionately call ArJINtina back in 2022.

The reunion happened this past Saturday and everyone was floating on cloud nine...

NB: these two videos (though filmed in HD) are fancams. As such, there's a lot of v. happy screaming, plenty of flashing lights from the stage, etc. BigHit will most deffo release a couple of Bangtan Bombs abt these two performances at some point in the future. But this is what we've got right now, so that's what I'm sharing with y'all. :DDD

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

I'm sharing another person's comment on Why Does A Ghost Whale Terrorize The Japanese Coast?

Sometimes creating a legend is the best way to get people to show respect. In the 1970s Volcano National Park in Hawaii had a problem with people taking volcanic rocks home as souvenirs. It was at this point a park ranger created the legend that anybody who takes a rock from the island would be cursed by the god Pele. Every year, the park still gets rocks mailed back.

I tell this story every semester in geology, although I read on Snopes that it was a tour bus driver who came up with it. Just the same, I first heard this story when I was a Park Ranger, and I know the rangers tell it, even if they didn't originate it.