"Rabbit rabbit rabbit!"
Mar. 2nd, 2026 08:35 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mdlbearWelcome to March, 2026! Beware the Ides!
Does this count if it's a day late? OK, it's still the first in Seattle. I'll take it.
mdlbear
Done Since 2026-02-22
Mar. 1st, 2026 03:08 pmmdlbearNot a very good week. Lots of anxiety -- my impending trip to Seattle, income tax, events in the world, and phone calls to repair places. We got (scooter)Lizzy back from getting her flat tire repaired, but now she has an electrical problem and won't go. We were supposed to get Scarlett-the-carlet back this week, but she still has an electrical problem. I need to make another call about Lizzy. Tomorrow.
On the other hand, I did go for a walk six days out of seven this week. It's better than usual, and about time. The only way I can do it appears to be going out before breakfast. Any later and I run into deliveries and appointments.
Substack is using Persona for age verification -- that's the same one that exposed 700,000 Discord users' data a while back. So has LinkedIn. There are plenty of good alternatives to Substack -- you're reading one right now. Discord is another matter, but people are looking. In either case, moving a community never goes well.
I've ordered a copy of "The Magic of Code" by Samuel Arbesman. See also, The World Inside the Crystal. I started working on a book based on that idea, a long time ago.
If you're an Emacs user you might want to look at This bad -- it says so on the tin -- version of emacs implemented purely from Unix shell commands I'm not sure I would advise it. If you're a web developer, you definitely shouldn't look at this 8086 emulation written entirely in CSS and HTML5. There are some things...
If you're into sewing, you definitely should take a look at FreeSewing, a collection of free parametric sewing patterns.
Dept. of The World is Too Much With Us
Feb. 28th, 2026 07:01 pmkaffy_rDysfunctional Families Close Ranks
Whatever the horrors that Iran's theocracy has visited upon its own people - and they are horrors, as the grieving survivors of at least 7,000 Iranians killed by the regime in the past few months can attest, and the relatives of untold thousands killed in the years since 1979 - people in Iran will put that aside and stand against what we've done to them in the past 36 or so hours.
Your family may break your bones, bruise your mind, or force you down into heartbreak. You may hate your mother or your brother for what they've done to you. You may dream of revenge.
But when the neighborhood bully comes and strikes them down, injured or dead, then turns to you with a smile and says, "You're welcome," and expects you to go to your knees and thank him for that violence? You may well jump on the bastard's back and close your fingers around his neck, or hook them into his eyes, because they were your weight to bear, your sorrow to work through.
Didn't we learn this when we "freed" Iraq?
Apparently not.
Whatever the horrors that Iran's theocracy has visited upon its own people - and they are horrors, as the grieving survivors of at least 7,000 Iranians killed by the regime in the past few months can attest, and the relatives of untold thousands killed in the years since 1979 - people in Iran will put that aside and stand against what we've done to them in the past 36 or so hours.
Your family may break your bones, bruise your mind, or force you down into heartbreak. You may hate your mother or your brother for what they've done to you. You may dream of revenge.
But when the neighborhood bully comes and strikes them down, injured or dead, then turns to you with a smile and says, "You're welcome," and expects you to go to your knees and thank him for that violence? You may well jump on the bastard's back and close your fingers around his neck, or hook them into his eyes, because they were your weight to bear, your sorrow to work through.
Didn't we learn this when we "freed" Iraq?
Apparently not.
2026 Board Elections Update
Feb. 27th, 2026 03:46 pmsraun posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
mnstfI have received the first ballot!
Matt mailed ballots to everyone currently eligible to vote earlier this week.
You can download the ballot from https://mnstf.org/ballot/ballot2026.pdf if you'd like to start thinking about what order you are going to rank the candidates.
You can print that out and submit it if you do not want to wait for the ballot that was mailed to you.
Matt mailed ballots to everyone currently eligible to vote earlier this week.
You can download the ballot from https://mnstf.org/ballot/ballot2026.pdf if you'd like to start thinking about what order you are going to rank the candidates.
You can print that out and submit it if you do not want to wait for the ballot that was mailed to you.
2026 52 Card Project: Week 8: Bunnies
Feb. 27th, 2026 03:26 pmpegkerrThis week's collage feels slightly as though it is edging toward being a little too personal and perhaps embarrassingly sentimental.
Back when I began doing collage, I started with Soulcollage. One of the series of collages that the person who developed Soulcollage suggested that you do, which felt a little odd, almost New Age-y, was to identify an animal that you associated with for each of your seven chakra points.
Well, okay.
I didn't do collages for each of the seven chakras, but I did do one for the heart chakra, identifying the animal I associated with it as a bunny.
In my family, 'bunny' was our endearment. That's what Rob and I called each other, and that is what we called the girls. We associated the word with 'love.'
For a number of years after Rob died, the sight of bunnies was a bit of a mixed blessing. Whenever I saw a rabbit hanging out under the lilac bush he had planted in our backyard, I would smile and say to it, "Say hi to Rob for me."
On the other hand, stepping into a home decoration store before Easter felt almost like an agony, like salt on a raw wound.
But lately, perhaps because I've been living alone and missing my girls and missing Rob, and perhaps because the awfulness of the world has added so much stress, I've been adding bunnies to my bedroom. Art postcards on a closet door. The little dishes I keep on my bedside table, where I put my bedtime pill, or my hair ties. A small pottery rabbit peeking out from a plant pot. The mug where I put the water I drink at night.
On the one hand, this feels almost a little childish. Yet, they've been a comforting reminder, that although I may live alone, I am still loved.
Image description: Background: a wooden door covered with art postcards featuring bunnies. A metal cone with forsythias hangs by a yellow ribbon from the door handle. Overlaid over the door are pictures of various decorative bunnies: a straw bunny, lower right corner, a pottery bunny peeking out of a planter of succulents, a couple of small dishes with bunnies inside, and a mug decorated with bunnies.
Bunnies
Click on the links to see the 2026, 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2021 52 Card Project galleries.
Back when I began doing collage, I started with Soulcollage. One of the series of collages that the person who developed Soulcollage suggested that you do, which felt a little odd, almost New Age-y, was to identify an animal that you associated with for each of your seven chakra points.
Well, okay.
I didn't do collages for each of the seven chakras, but I did do one for the heart chakra, identifying the animal I associated with it as a bunny.
In my family, 'bunny' was our endearment. That's what Rob and I called each other, and that is what we called the girls. We associated the word with 'love.'
For a number of years after Rob died, the sight of bunnies was a bit of a mixed blessing. Whenever I saw a rabbit hanging out under the lilac bush he had planted in our backyard, I would smile and say to it, "Say hi to Rob for me."
On the other hand, stepping into a home decoration store before Easter felt almost like an agony, like salt on a raw wound.
But lately, perhaps because I've been living alone and missing my girls and missing Rob, and perhaps because the awfulness of the world has added so much stress, I've been adding bunnies to my bedroom. Art postcards on a closet door. The little dishes I keep on my bedside table, where I put my bedtime pill, or my hair ties. A small pottery rabbit peeking out from a plant pot. The mug where I put the water I drink at night.
On the one hand, this feels almost a little childish. Yet, they've been a comforting reminder, that although I may live alone, I am still loved.
Image description: Background: a wooden door covered with art postcards featuring bunnies. A metal cone with forsythias hangs by a yellow ribbon from the door handle. Overlaid over the door are pictures of various decorative bunnies: a straw bunny, lower right corner, a pottery bunny peeking out of a planter of succulents, a couple of small dishes with bunnies inside, and a mug decorated with bunnies.
Click on the links to see the 2026, 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2021 52 Card Project galleries.
Thankful Thursday
Feb. 26th, 2026 05:37 pmmdlbearToday I am thankful for...
- Getting Scarlet repaired under warranty by the dealer. I'll be more thankful when we finally get her back. NO thanks for me not being persistant enough contacting Lizzy's dealer -- we sent her out to some random scooter repair place to get a flat tire fixed, and she came back broken. Might be related to an intermittent glitch we've noticed. But still...
- Tea. Particularly genmaicha, 100g of which arrived at the house only a few minutes ago.
- Also coffee.
- Successfully trouble-shooting (home server)Nova -- turned out to be a bad power supply.
- Mathematical rabbit-holes. Or else not so thankful, because they take up time that might otherwise be productive
- Speed controls on videos. (Except for music videos, of course.)
Dept. of OMG
Feb. 25th, 2026 05:44 pmkaffy_rSo ... It's Another KPop First
At least for me; I'm joining 19 other KPop fans, all of them BTS ARMYs, for the BTS concert in Chicago in August. For about the same amount of money that I paid for the Lolla ticket I had to see Stray Kids. I'm buying into a box with AC, a private bathroom and apparently all the popcorn one could possibly want.
And why did I do this? Why did I pay very good money to watch a group I'm truly not interested in beyond a curiosity about the first KPop group to break into the Western World, and upset the KPop apple cart whilst doing so?
I think I just answered my own question with the last sentence.
I have KPop friends who are ARMY (the name for BTS fandom) first, last, and always. The crew I tend to hang with in Discord often has multiple groups they like, but many of them got into KPop because of BTS. The music reactor who led me to the crew on Discord got into KPop via BTS. And there is a veritable army of ARMY across the world who love the group.
I've had more than one invitation to watch the group perform. Until now, I hadn't the slightest intention of doing so (beyond the concert films I went to see with some of my friendly ARMY acquaintances.)
Somehow, this time I knew this was a chance. I need to talk to these people about what lured them into being BTS fans. And I need to listen to some of their music - I have until August to get a little more acquainted with the music. (I do like the solo music from two group members, RM and Suga. If I like their music, perhaps I can listen to group songs and figure out a little bit of what makes them ... great? Yes, probably great.
That doesn't mean I'll come out of this expensive experiment as a dedicated member of ARMY. It does mean that I really want to understand the BTS deal, and approach that with people I'm already at least a bit friendly with. I mean, they invited me, which to me says that they're the positive type of ARMY, not the toxic ones that are apparently out there.
So at the age of 70 - hell, I'll be almost 71 when the concert happens - I'm checking out something new. At least for me.
I don't want to say pray for me, because I doubt it'll be a terrible experience. I do want to say cross your fingers for me.
JFC,kaffy_r ....
At least for me; I'm joining 19 other KPop fans, all of them BTS ARMYs, for the BTS concert in Chicago in August. For about the same amount of money that I paid for the Lolla ticket I had to see Stray Kids. I'm buying into a box with AC, a private bathroom and apparently all the popcorn one could possibly want.
And why did I do this? Why did I pay very good money to watch a group I'm truly not interested in beyond a curiosity about the first KPop group to break into the Western World, and upset the KPop apple cart whilst doing so?
I think I just answered my own question with the last sentence.
I have KPop friends who are ARMY (the name for BTS fandom) first, last, and always. The crew I tend to hang with in Discord often has multiple groups they like, but many of them got into KPop because of BTS. The music reactor who led me to the crew on Discord got into KPop via BTS. And there is a veritable army of ARMY across the world who love the group.
I've had more than one invitation to watch the group perform. Until now, I hadn't the slightest intention of doing so (beyond the concert films I went to see with some of my friendly ARMY acquaintances.)
Somehow, this time I knew this was a chance. I need to talk to these people about what lured them into being BTS fans. And I need to listen to some of their music - I have until August to get a little more acquainted with the music. (I do like the solo music from two group members, RM and Suga. If I like their music, perhaps I can listen to group songs and figure out a little bit of what makes them ... great? Yes, probably great.
That doesn't mean I'll come out of this expensive experiment as a dedicated member of ARMY. It does mean that I really want to understand the BTS deal, and approach that with people I'm already at least a bit friendly with. I mean, they invited me, which to me says that they're the positive type of ARMY, not the toxic ones that are apparently out there.
So at the age of 70 - hell, I'll be almost 71 when the concert happens - I'm checking out something new. At least for me.
I don't want to say pray for me, because I doubt it'll be a terrible experience. I do want to say cross your fingers for me.
JFC,
kaffy_r ....
Turning Away
Feb. 24th, 2026 10:14 amlydamorehouse Ramadan has just started and my Signal group is having trouble finding enough protectors to fill evening slots. My Food Communists are talking about a $40,000 shortfall that may end their ability to feed people in hiding. March 1 is looming for people who haven't been able to pay rent and are facing evictions. Yet, local politicians are declaring victory and telling people it's time to "go shopping."
Meanwhile, ICE is still being tracked throughout Saint Paul (and presumably Minneapolis, but I don't have access to those Rapid Response groups). Reports that I've seen seem to indicate that the majority of the activity has moved out to the less well organized smaller towns and suburbs. Though the "sexy" part of the resistance--the gas in the streets, the violent confrontations--has dried up, the danger to our immigrant communities is far from over. There is zero sense that ICE is actually leaving. They have switched to quieter, more subtle tactics. They've gone further afield. But make no mistake, they are very much still here.
Last night I went to a Singing Resistance meeting for an action that took place this morning. I managed to miss this morning's action because my GPS decided that it wanted to autocorrect Street to Avenue! VERY DIFFERENT, GPS! In fact, a very important distinction!!! So, I ended up getting lost in downtown Minneapolis long enough to miss the gathering time. But, what was interesting to me is that these Singing Actions have, in the past, brought thousands of people into the streets. Famously, they sang songs encouraging ICE agents to defect outside of some of the hotels hosting them. The action today was for rent relief and trying to get the city officials to consider a temporary rent moritorium, something they were very willing to do during COVID, but which they seem less willing to do for Black and brown folks (shocking, I know!) At any rate, I went to the pre-planning/song rehersal last night withrachelmanija who is visiting right now and... it wasn't an empty church, but it also wasn't standing room only. The organizers kept saying, "I think more people will join us tomorrow." Well, I wasn't able to. I sure hope other people did. Otherwise, it's going to be pretty sparse. They will not fill City Hall, like they hoped.
But, this seems to be part of a trend. I'd noticed the day after it was announced that ICE was pulling out, my Food Communists was almost ghostly. Plenty of bags of groceries still needed filling, but the number of volunteers that showed up to do the work was less than half of the normal amount. More people have showed up since, but we are nowhere near our previous number. It seems to be the regulars and the die-hards again--although thankfully the Veterans for Peace are still guarding the doors for us.
I ran into some neighbors yesterday when I was walking home from the Communists and they were returning from a daily protest. They also noticed a significant lack of bodies. People were still there, but the crowd was thinner. It's worrying because we are all still very much holding our breaths.
I guess people are buying into the idea that we won and that it's all over. I mean, I would very much like that to be true? I'm just not sure it is and it's disheartening to see that the energy could not, in fact, be maintained. Maybe people are just taking a breather. I hope that's the case.
Meanwhile, ICE is still being tracked throughout Saint Paul (and presumably Minneapolis, but I don't have access to those Rapid Response groups). Reports that I've seen seem to indicate that the majority of the activity has moved out to the less well organized smaller towns and suburbs. Though the "sexy" part of the resistance--the gas in the streets, the violent confrontations--has dried up, the danger to our immigrant communities is far from over. There is zero sense that ICE is actually leaving. They have switched to quieter, more subtle tactics. They've gone further afield. But make no mistake, they are very much still here.
Last night I went to a Singing Resistance meeting for an action that took place this morning. I managed to miss this morning's action because my GPS decided that it wanted to autocorrect Street to Avenue! VERY DIFFERENT, GPS! In fact, a very important distinction!!! So, I ended up getting lost in downtown Minneapolis long enough to miss the gathering time. But, what was interesting to me is that these Singing Actions have, in the past, brought thousands of people into the streets. Famously, they sang songs encouraging ICE agents to defect outside of some of the hotels hosting them. The action today was for rent relief and trying to get the city officials to consider a temporary rent moritorium, something they were very willing to do during COVID, but which they seem less willing to do for Black and brown folks (shocking, I know!) At any rate, I went to the pre-planning/song rehersal last night with
rachelmanija who is visiting right now and... it wasn't an empty church, but it also wasn't standing room only. The organizers kept saying, "I think more people will join us tomorrow." Well, I wasn't able to. I sure hope other people did. Otherwise, it's going to be pretty sparse. They will not fill City Hall, like they hoped.But, this seems to be part of a trend. I'd noticed the day after it was announced that ICE was pulling out, my Food Communists was almost ghostly. Plenty of bags of groceries still needed filling, but the number of volunteers that showed up to do the work was less than half of the normal amount. More people have showed up since, but we are nowhere near our previous number. It seems to be the regulars and the die-hards again--although thankfully the Veterans for Peace are still guarding the doors for us.
I ran into some neighbors yesterday when I was walking home from the Communists and they were returning from a daily protest. They also noticed a significant lack of bodies. People were still there, but the crowd was thinner. It's worrying because we are all still very much holding our breaths.
I guess people are buying into the idea that we won and that it's all over. I mean, I would very much like that to be true? I'm just not sure it is and it's disheartening to see that the energy could not, in fact, be maintained. Maybe people are just taking a breather. I hope that's the case.
Local protest
Feb. 24th, 2026 10:56 amdreamsharkThanks to a tip from Nico I finally connected with the 40th and Lyndale group. I've seen them now and then when I drive by, but was unable to discern the pattern for when they appear. Turns out is pretty obvious if you are paying attention - they come out every Monday 4:30-5:30 pm. I stopped on my way home from the gym and joined in for the last 20 minutes. It's a sedate and convivial group organized by Judson Baptist. Some very beautiful signs and even a couple of Portland-style inflatables. Now that I know the drill I might go back next Monday.
Board minutes
Feb. 23rd, 2026 07:57 amquadong posting in mnstfMinutes for March 21, 1995 and Jan 11, 2026 are now posted at https://mnstf.org/records/
Dept. of Slow and Steady Wins the Race
Feb. 22nd, 2026 11:56 amkaffy_rJob One: Remember that Computers Are Stupid
Job Two: bake Bob's favorite cookies to thank him for setting up my new laptop, and putting up with the occasional stupidity that's part of dealing with ones and zeroes.
We both knew it would take a couple of days, or even more than that, and I'm trying to be patient as he preps the new one (an Asus Vivo) so that we can download all my files from my slowly dying Lenovo, files that have been downloaded onto a delightful little red portable 2T hard drive.
That drive may will come in handy after the transfer, since I might need to keep it connected to my new laptop for a few weeks, or maybe months. My Lenovo has 1.82 T of storage, whilst my Asus only has 1T. We'll eventually see about getting a new, larger, drive in the Asus, but I don't foresee me using up the 1T of storage the Asus has.
I've named the little hard drive Ada, and my new laptop is officially Alice-Alyx. It's the first time I've named a laptop, but it seemed the right thing to do with this one. I'm laughing a bit at myself, but hell, why not name some things that will help keep me happy for a good long time?
Now one of the remaining questions is whether Alice-Alyx will recognize my Samsung Galaxy ear buds. We tried to get them paired up yesterday, and the Asus laughed at us. Once again, I'm reminded that computers are stupid; they only do what we tell their ones and zeroes to do.
In the non-computer part of the weekend, I was able to get in touch with a skiffy fannish acquaintance whose holiday card came back to me a bit ago. It turns out that he and his partner had indeed moved from the address I had for him, so I can send him something soon, and most definitely this coming holiday season.
I also cleaned the bathroom, and sorted a small mountain of paperwork that had grown so high it was in danger of toppling over. I'm terrible at organizing and sorting, but I managed to do it today. I'm inordinately proud of myself. (I probably shouldn't be quite so loudly proud, because the universe will undoubtedly send something my way to punish me for such hubris. Heh.)
So that's my excitement for the weekend, and I am very happy that that's the most excitement I've had to deal with. Compared to this time last week, it's easy-peasy.
Job Two: bake Bob's favorite cookies to thank him for setting up my new laptop, and putting up with the occasional stupidity that's part of dealing with ones and zeroes.
We both knew it would take a couple of days, or even more than that, and I'm trying to be patient as he preps the new one (an Asus Vivo) so that we can download all my files from my slowly dying Lenovo, files that have been downloaded onto a delightful little red portable 2T hard drive.
That drive may will come in handy after the transfer, since I might need to keep it connected to my new laptop for a few weeks, or maybe months. My Lenovo has 1.82 T of storage, whilst my Asus only has 1T. We'll eventually see about getting a new, larger, drive in the Asus, but I don't foresee me using up the 1T of storage the Asus has.
I've named the little hard drive Ada, and my new laptop is officially Alice-Alyx. It's the first time I've named a laptop, but it seemed the right thing to do with this one. I'm laughing a bit at myself, but hell, why not name some things that will help keep me happy for a good long time?
Now one of the remaining questions is whether Alice-Alyx will recognize my Samsung Galaxy ear buds. We tried to get them paired up yesterday, and the Asus laughed at us. Once again, I'm reminded that computers are stupid; they only do what we tell their ones and zeroes to do.
In the non-computer part of the weekend, I was able to get in touch with a skiffy fannish acquaintance whose holiday card came back to me a bit ago. It turns out that he and his partner had indeed moved from the address I had for him, so I can send him something soon, and most definitely this coming holiday season.
I also cleaned the bathroom, and sorted a small mountain of paperwork that had grown so high it was in danger of toppling over. I'm terrible at organizing and sorting, but I managed to do it today. I'm inordinately proud of myself. (I probably shouldn't be quite so loudly proud, because the universe will undoubtedly send something my way to punish me for such hubris. Heh.)
So that's my excitement for the weekend, and I am very happy that that's the most excitement I've had to deal with. Compared to this time last week, it's easy-peasy.
2026 Minn-StF Board Elections Eligible Voters
Feb. 22nd, 2026 04:09 pmsraun posting in mnstfWe have nine people who can become eligible to vote on February 28th.
Eligible Voters (39)
====================
Evelyn Bogie
Seth Breidbart
Nate Bucklin
Bill Christ
Ben Cox
Corin Dennison
DD-B
Lisa Freitag
Dean C. Gahlon
Magenta Griffith
Clay Harris
Hershey Harris
Felicia Herman
Drew Jensen
Edison Jensen
Nico (Nicolas Johnson)
Sharon Kahn
Laura Krentz
Greg Larsen
Linda Lounsbury
Brian Lundgren
Gary Lynch
Jean Mlynczak
Susan Philbrook
Irene Raun
Scott Raun
Mark Richards
Lisa Sanders
Andra St. Arnauld
Emily Stewart
Matt Strait
Grenevic Stremski
Martin Summerton
Richard Tatge
Thorin N. Tatge
Crystal Therese
Ann Totusek
Aaron Vander Giessen
Lilly Song Watson
Needs One Meeting (3)
=====================
Pamela Dyer-Bennet
Delia Ihinger
John Sanderson
Needs one Minn-StF Meeting (6)
==============================
Ben Huset
Natasha Krentz
Roger Mlynczak
Rebecca Strait
Stacey Strait
Chris Weiss
We will be mailing ballots to all of the eligible voters.
Eligible Voters (39)
====================
Evelyn Bogie
Seth Breidbart
Nate Bucklin
Bill Christ
Ben Cox
Corin Dennison
DD-B
Lisa Freitag
Dean C. Gahlon
Magenta Griffith
Clay Harris
Hershey Harris
Felicia Herman
Drew Jensen
Edison Jensen
Nico (Nicolas Johnson)
Sharon Kahn
Laura Krentz
Greg Larsen
Linda Lounsbury
Brian Lundgren
Gary Lynch
Jean Mlynczak
Susan Philbrook
Irene Raun
Scott Raun
Mark Richards
Lisa Sanders
Andra St. Arnauld
Emily Stewart
Matt Strait
Grenevic Stremski
Martin Summerton
Richard Tatge
Thorin N. Tatge
Crystal Therese
Ann Totusek
Aaron Vander Giessen
Lilly Song Watson
Needs One Meeting (3)
=====================
Pamela Dyer-Bennet
Delia Ihinger
John Sanderson
Needs one Minn-StF Meeting (6)
==============================
Ben Huset
Natasha Krentz
Roger Mlynczak
Rebecca Strait
Stacey Strait
Chris Weiss
We will be mailing ballots to all of the eligible voters.
Oh look. Free Apple Music for 3 months
Feb. 22nd, 2026 02:48 pmdreamsharkWhat should I listen to? I'm not likely to keep it, but it gives me a chance to sample some new music and see what I like.
Of course not having the most adventurous tastes in music, my first inclination is to listen to some Dylan albums I never got around to buying and that kind of thing.
I really don't like most music, so just random selections aren't going to work. I mostly like folk music (esp but not exclusively trad), old rock and roll, and some country (upbeat and/or clever, not the slow whiny kind). Where should I start? Or should I just stick to old Dylan tracks?
Of course not having the most adventurous tastes in music, my first inclination is to listen to some Dylan albums I never got around to buying and that kind of thing.
I really don't like most music, so just random selections aren't going to work. I mostly like folk music (esp but not exclusively trad), old rock and roll, and some country (upbeat and/or clever, not the slow whiny kind). Where should I start? Or should I just stick to old Dylan tracks?
Done Since 2026-02-15
Feb. 22nd, 2026 05:16 pmmdlbearIt's been a rather stressful week, and most of the time I've been very down on myself, mostly for procrastination. But I got through it. I think I'm supposed to count that as a win, even though it doesn't feel like it.
I did figure something out, though. I often (usually?) procrastinate things that may require a decision, because when I finally get around to them the decision often (usually?) turns out to be wrong. (The decision is sometimes to skip something with a time limit, and then regretting not going for it while I had the chance. Same thing.)
Now that Discord has started age-gating NSFW channels and servers, many people (including me) are looking for alternatives. Especially since it was revealed that their age verification vendor Persona left frontend exposed, researchers say. In particular, people are looking for open source alternatives, since those are less likely to be enshittified in the future. We have some time, because most fannish discord communities have few, if any, NSFW channels, and because moving a community is always an extremely lossy process (as those of us who left LJ for DW remember well) and not to be undertaken lightly.
It's concievable that matterbridge could help hold things togather. Not counting on it. I hate this timeline.
You should also replace links that use archive.today, which includes archive.ph et.al., which I have lots of links to. That's going to take a long time. See also Wikipedia blacklists Archive.today, starts removing 695,000 archive links.
Links: You can find Babylon 5 on YouTube HERE. OpenFactBook - Country Data & Statistics is the replacement for the CIA's recently-shut-down World Factbook.
2026 52 Card Project: Week 7: Menneskeverd
Feb. 20th, 2026 12:55 pmpegkerrI drove to Needles and Skein this week and bought a red Melt the Ice hat. For those of you not aware of this news story: a knitting shop in St. Louis Park did some brainstorming about what they might do to respond to the ICE Metro Surge in the twin cities. One of the employees, Paul Neary, read about the history of red hats that were knitted in Norway in World War II to signal resistence to the Nazis. They became so popular that the Nazis actually outlawed the wearing of red knitted hats.
So the shop posted a pattern on the knitting website Ravelry, charging $5.00 for the download.
On the day that I went to the shop, they had raised $750,000.00 through the sale of the pattern, which they are donating entirely to charities to help people caught up in this extraordinary situation. People all over the world have downloaded it. The wall behind the cash register was full of letters from people who had knitted the hat and sent it to the store. I was able to buy a hat for $30.00 that someone had knitted and sent in.
While scrolling through some news feeds about this, I saw this Instagram post from a man who has a knit hat company in Norway who was talking about this story, and about the initiative to encourage people to wear their Melt the Ice patterned hats on February 26, which is the anniversary of the date that the Nazis attempted to outlaw the red hats. In the course of his commentary, he mentioned a Norwegian word that struck me as a very appropriate title for my collage this week: Menneskeverd, which refers to the fundamental, intrinsic value of every human being simply by virtue of being human.
That is what we are fighting for, here in Minnesota.
I thought about ICE, and icebergs, and how what you see is only a small part of what is hidden underneath. I mentioned when I did my post last week that I'm doing work that I can't talk about. We are ALL doing work that we can't talk about, here in Minnesota, much of it on the encrypted app Signal. The administration is rumbling about trying to outlaw the totally constitutionally protected actions we are taking to deal with this siege, threatening to subpoena media companies to identify people who dare to criticize ICE. I have wondered about the safety of my blog here, in this little corner of the internet where I have been posting for close to twenty years.
Well. Doing what we are doing requires bravery, because you see, even though the administration argues against empathy and threatens those of us who show it, we believe in the fundamental, intrinsic value of every human being simply by virtue of being human.
Edited to add: a comment I saw elsewhere: if we are no longer in the land of the free, at least we must be the home of the brave.
Image description: An iceberg floats in water. The view shows both the part of the iceberg above and below the water. The ice berg is topped by a red 'Melt the Ice' hat. Above the water surface is black text listing things being done openly: Rent relief, The Salt Cure, Diaper drives, Donating miles, t-shirts, 3D printed whistles, GoFundMe, Rebel Loon tattoes, signs on telephone poles, too many businesses to list, Safe Haven, Concerts. Below the water surface is a Signal app logo and text in white of things done in secret: rides for immigrants, grocery delivery, the People's Laundry, school patrols, neighborhood patrols, Rapid Response, Can I get a plate check?, donate breast milk, we need a translator, Dispatch.
Menneskeverd
Click on the links to see the 2026, 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2021 52 Card Project galleries.
So the shop posted a pattern on the knitting website Ravelry, charging $5.00 for the download.
On the day that I went to the shop, they had raised $750,000.00 through the sale of the pattern, which they are donating entirely to charities to help people caught up in this extraordinary situation. People all over the world have downloaded it. The wall behind the cash register was full of letters from people who had knitted the hat and sent it to the store. I was able to buy a hat for $30.00 that someone had knitted and sent in.
While scrolling through some news feeds about this, I saw this Instagram post from a man who has a knit hat company in Norway who was talking about this story, and about the initiative to encourage people to wear their Melt the Ice patterned hats on February 26, which is the anniversary of the date that the Nazis attempted to outlaw the red hats. In the course of his commentary, he mentioned a Norwegian word that struck me as a very appropriate title for my collage this week: Menneskeverd, which refers to the fundamental, intrinsic value of every human being simply by virtue of being human.
That is what we are fighting for, here in Minnesota.
I thought about ICE, and icebergs, and how what you see is only a small part of what is hidden underneath. I mentioned when I did my post last week that I'm doing work that I can't talk about. We are ALL doing work that we can't talk about, here in Minnesota, much of it on the encrypted app Signal. The administration is rumbling about trying to outlaw the totally constitutionally protected actions we are taking to deal with this siege, threatening to subpoena media companies to identify people who dare to criticize ICE. I have wondered about the safety of my blog here, in this little corner of the internet where I have been posting for close to twenty years.
Well. Doing what we are doing requires bravery, because you see, even though the administration argues against empathy and threatens those of us who show it, we believe in the fundamental, intrinsic value of every human being simply by virtue of being human.
Edited to add: a comment I saw elsewhere: if we are no longer in the land of the free, at least we must be the home of the brave.
Image description: An iceberg floats in water. The view shows both the part of the iceberg above and below the water. The ice berg is topped by a red 'Melt the Ice' hat. Above the water surface is black text listing things being done openly: Rent relief, The Salt Cure, Diaper drives, Donating miles, t-shirts, 3D printed whistles, GoFundMe, Rebel Loon tattoes, signs on telephone poles, too many businesses to list, Safe Haven, Concerts. Below the water surface is a Signal app logo and text in white of things done in secret: rides for immigrants, grocery delivery, the People's Laundry, school patrols, neighborhood patrols, Rapid Response, Can I get a plate check?, donate breast milk, we need a translator, Dispatch.
Click on the links to see the 2026, 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2021 52 Card Project galleries.
And the moral is... [unfortunately]
Feb. 19th, 2026 11:45 amdreamsharkThe AirPod charging case is the usual elegant Apple design, gleaming and smooth with a nice heft and rounded edges everywhere. It looks great and feels good in your hand. But a flat bottom would have been more practical, so it could sit upright for ease of use. So I rummaged around in my Box of Tiny Boxes and found one that fit perfectly. Cut some cardboard off the flap of a middle-sized box to add a supportive infrastructure, and... voila! Now I can easily plunk the AirPods in and out without having to pick up the case and open the top.
The moral? Don't ever throw anything away. 
Thankful Thursday
Feb. 19th, 2026 04:25 pmmdlbearToday I am thankful for...
- Getting Scarlett-the-Carlet back (hopefully today, assuming I didn't misunderstand the phone call from the dealer). NO thanks for (folding scooter)Lizzy getting a flat tire.
- Naproxen. NO thanks for my lower back.
- The microscopic fungi that make bread, booze, and blue cheese. Also the mostly macroscopic ones that produce edible mushrooms and other delights.
- Naomi's book finally getting a review. It's a start.
Dept. of Remembrance
Feb. 17th, 2026 08:37 pmkaffy_rWell Done, Thou Good and Faithful Servant
The Rev. Jesse Jackson has died at the age of 84. We were driving north on Ashland Avenue when the word came over the radio. I gasped, and did that "Nooo!" thing that's so cliche, but proof that cliches have their roots in truth.
I knew he was old; I knew he had progressive supranuclear palsy; I knew he could no longer walk or speak, this man whose oratory raised the hopes, dreams and resistance of so many black, brown, and marginalized people. I knew he was going to die. But I didn't want it to happen.
I knew he was a complex man. I knew he was vain. I knew he was a little apt to enlarge himself in many instances. I knew he'd made antisemitic comments years ago; I knew he felt sidelined by Barack Obama's presidential campaign, after doing the hard work of paving the way for a black president with his own two surprisingly successful campaigns in 1984 and 1988. I knew he'd had a child out of wedlock.
But he didn't let his vanity outpace his love for others. He relearned humility and other lessons after each misstep. I knew he acknowledged and supported his natural daughter. I knew he was a gifted organizer as well as an orator, I knew he visited Cook County jail every Christmas when others might have - indeed had - forgotten those men. I knew he walked the walk as well as talked the talk. And there's another cliche that has its root in truth.
I met him three times. Once, on the street, heading for Grant Park, the night Obama won the presidency in 2008. He took my questions, brief as they were, and answered me in as thoughtful a way as one can in about 30 seconds. I met him a second time when he spoke to students at Niles West High School in Skokie, a significantly Jewish community. I met him a final time, at a Wilmette synagogue, where he spoke, his voice already being conquered by his illness. He would never have remembered me, but I remembered him.
I'm not black. I'm not really poor. I have privilege that he never had. But I remember his "I am Somebody." I remember. And I cry.
I'm not a Christian believer, not really, not for years. But I can hope that if the God he tried so hard to honor is there somewhere, when the Rev. Jesse Jackson reaches the seat of the Lord, that Lord will look to him and say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."
Here is what an excellent Chicago writer, Neil Steinberg has to say about Rev. Jackson, who was, and is, quintessentially Chicago. And here is a link to a local CBS News special on him.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson has died at the age of 84. We were driving north on Ashland Avenue when the word came over the radio. I gasped, and did that "Nooo!" thing that's so cliche, but proof that cliches have their roots in truth.
I knew he was old; I knew he had progressive supranuclear palsy; I knew he could no longer walk or speak, this man whose oratory raised the hopes, dreams and resistance of so many black, brown, and marginalized people. I knew he was going to die. But I didn't want it to happen.
I knew he was a complex man. I knew he was vain. I knew he was a little apt to enlarge himself in many instances. I knew he'd made antisemitic comments years ago; I knew he felt sidelined by Barack Obama's presidential campaign, after doing the hard work of paving the way for a black president with his own two surprisingly successful campaigns in 1984 and 1988. I knew he'd had a child out of wedlock.
But he didn't let his vanity outpace his love for others. He relearned humility and other lessons after each misstep. I knew he acknowledged and supported his natural daughter. I knew he was a gifted organizer as well as an orator, I knew he visited Cook County jail every Christmas when others might have - indeed had - forgotten those men. I knew he walked the walk as well as talked the talk. And there's another cliche that has its root in truth.
I met him three times. Once, on the street, heading for Grant Park, the night Obama won the presidency in 2008. He took my questions, brief as they were, and answered me in as thoughtful a way as one can in about 30 seconds. I met him a second time when he spoke to students at Niles West High School in Skokie, a significantly Jewish community. I met him a final time, at a Wilmette synagogue, where he spoke, his voice already being conquered by his illness. He would never have remembered me, but I remembered him.
I'm not black. I'm not really poor. I have privilege that he never had. But I remember his "I am Somebody." I remember. And I cry.
I'm not a Christian believer, not really, not for years. But I can hope that if the God he tried so hard to honor is there somewhere, when the Rev. Jesse Jackson reaches the seat of the Lord, that Lord will look to him and say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."
Here is what an excellent Chicago writer, Neil Steinberg has to say about Rev. Jackson, who was, and is, quintessentially Chicago. And here is a link to a local CBS News special on him.
A Group of Loons is an Asylum
Feb. 17th, 2026 10:20 amlydamorehouse
Image: A kaiju loon looming over the skyline of Minneapolis. The words say "CthuLoon says, ICE get out!" by Jeremy Brandon. Not sure why this artist did not include LASER EYES, but hey, ChtuLOON is pretty hilarious in general.
Still sick, so not much to report today.
While I've been recovering I've been watching the Heartstopper series, which is based on webtoon of the same name. Apparently, there is a Heartstopper Forever finale movie, which I'll try to watch tonight. I stumbled across this a few days ago because I was looking for something that was kind of mindless and sweet. This very much fits that bill! The show came out in 22, but the finale movie is only a year old, so I don't feel like a complete looser only finding it now. It's basically a love story between two boys at an all-boys school in England, where one of the pair is the rugby captain who has a fairly profound coming out as bisexual. What I really like about it is the whole friend group. I'm particularly fond of Belle, the trans girl, and Issac, the ace/aro book nerd. But, I kind of love everyone in the show, which is rare for me!
Not sure I am recommending it to anyone, however, because it is just sort of sappy, sweet, and fairly low-stakes (though trigger warnings: eating disorder and some body disphoria in seasons 2-3). There aren't even any dragons. But it was sold to me by a reviewer who called it "a hug in TV series form." And I kind of just needed hugs while recovering from this head cold.
Otherwise, I'm thinking I will spend my afternoon finding maps and art and such for my various RPGs.