Birdfeeding
Oct. 25th, 2025 01:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithToday 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.
.
Database maintenance
Oct. 25th, 2025 08:42 am![[staff profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user_staff.png){kind=small}
mark posting in ![[site community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/comm_staff.png){kind=small}
dw_maintenanceGood morning, afternoon, and evening!
We're doing some database and other light server maintenance this weekend (upgrading the version of MySQL we use in particular, but also probably doing some CDN work.)
I expect all of this to be pretty invisible except for some small "couple of minute" blips as we switch between machines, but there's a chance you will notice something untoward. I'll keep an eye on comments as per usual.
Ta for now!
Philosophical Questions: Privacy
Oct. 25th, 2025 12:47 amysabetwordsmithPeople have expressed interest in deep topics, so this list focuses on philosophical questions.
How much privacy are you willing to sacrifice for safety?
( Read more... )
How much privacy are you willing to sacrifice for safety?
( Read more... )
Birdfeeding
Oct. 24th, 2025 02:06 pmysabetwordsmithToday is cloudy and cool.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 10/24/25 -- I planted 15 purple and pink mixed tulips in the purple-and-white garden.
10/24/25 -- I gathered seeds from sunflowers, zinnias, wild senna, and northern sea oats.
I saw a downy woodpecker industriously drilling insects from the dry stems of cup plants.
10/24/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
10/24/25 -- I did a more work around the patio.
10/24/25 -- I planted 8 'Purissima' tulips, 4 around the barrel garden and 4 in the tulip bed. These are white tulips with variegated green-and-yellow leaves.
10/24/25 -- I planted 15 'Ice Queen' giant snow crocuses in the purple-and-white garden. That completes the shipment from Breck's.
I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 10/24/25 -- I planted 15 purple and pink mixed tulips in the purple-and-white garden.
10/24/25 -- I gathered seeds from sunflowers, zinnias, wild senna, and northern sea oats.
I saw a downy woodpecker industriously drilling insects from the dry stems of cup plants.
10/24/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
10/24/25 -- I did a more work around the patio.
10/24/25 -- I planted 8 'Purissima' tulips, 4 around the barrel garden and 4 in the tulip bed. These are white tulips with variegated green-and-yellow leaves.
10/24/25 -- I planted 15 'Ice Queen' giant snow crocuses in the purple-and-white garden. That completes the shipment from Breck's.
I am done for the night.
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
Girl Genius for Friday, October 24, 2025
Oct. 24th, 2025 04:00 am![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
girlgenius_main_feedThe Girl Genius comic for Friday, October 24, 2025 has been posted.
Affordable Housing
Oct. 23rd, 2025 09:18 pmysabetwordsmithThis motel was transformed into colorful affordable housing. And it's named after a civil rights icon
Once a motel in the Reynoldstown neighborhood — built in the 1960s — the space was transformed into 56 modern studio apartments for individuals or families who were previously unhoused.
( Read more... )
Once a motel in the Reynoldstown neighborhood — built in the 1960s — the space was transformed into 56 modern studio apartments for individuals or families who were previously unhoused.
( Read more... )
Activism
Oct. 23rd, 2025 09:08 pmysabetwordsmith10 effective ways you can make change — in addition to attending a protest
In a nutshell: Nonviolent resistance is based on noncooperation with autocratic actions. It has proven more effective in toppling autocracies than violent, armed struggle.
But it requires more than street demonstrations.
( Read more... )
In a nutshell: Nonviolent resistance is based on noncooperation with autocratic actions. It has proven more effective in toppling autocracies than violent, armed struggle.
But it requires more than street demonstrations.
( Read more... )
Advice
Oct. 23rd, 2025 06:35 pmysabetwordsmithOn mental health advice
What nobody tells you: Most mental health advice is just expensive ways to avoid hard conversations and difficult decisions.
You don't need another coping mechanism. You need to quit the job. Leave the relationship. Set the boundary. Therapy can't fix problems that require action.
( Read more... )
What nobody tells you: Most mental health advice is just expensive ways to avoid hard conversations and difficult decisions.
You don't need another coping mechanism. You need to quit the job. Leave the relationship. Set the boundary. Therapy can't fix problems that require action.
( Read more... )
Birdfeeding
Oct. 23rd, 2025 01:56 pmysabetwordsmithToday is mostly sunny and cool.
I fed the birds. I've seen a small flock of sparrows and house finches. Some of the sparrows were splashing in the red birdbath.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 10/23/25 -- I potted up some of the asparagus seeds from the Charleston Food Forest.
EDIT 10/23/25 -- I planted 10 'Colour Magic' tulips around the barrel garden, and still have 10 left. These flowers change colors as they mature, often starting white or yellow with color at the edges which then spreads.
EDIT 10/23/25 -- I planted the rest of the 'Color Magic' tulips in the tulip bed.
EDIT 10/23/25 -- We went out for lunch. I picked up a bag of 12 assorted Dutch irises and a bag of 12 mixed crocuses at Rural King, plus 4 bags of compost and manure to top the flowerbeds. Then I got a bag of 15 purple and pink tulips, and a bag of 5 purple-and-white striped crocuses at Home Depot.
EDIT 10/23/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 10/23/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a small flock of sparrows and house finches. Some of the sparrows were splashing in the red birdbath.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 10/23/25 -- I potted up some of the asparagus seeds from the Charleston Food Forest.
EDIT 10/23/25 -- I planted 10 'Colour Magic' tulips around the barrel garden, and still have 10 left. These flowers change colors as they mature, often starting white or yellow with color at the edges which then spreads.
EDIT 10/23/25 -- I planted the rest of the 'Color Magic' tulips in the tulip bed.
EDIT 10/23/25 -- We went out for lunch. I picked up a bag of 12 assorted Dutch irises and a bag of 12 mixed crocuses at Rural King, plus 4 bags of compost and manure to top the flowerbeds. Then I got a bag of 15 purple and pink tulips, and a bag of 5 purple-and-white striped crocuses at Home Depot.
EDIT 10/23/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 10/23/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
I am done for the night.
Today's Smoothie
Oct. 22nd, 2025 10:45 pmysabetwordsmithNote to self: do not put red grapes in a green smoothie. Red + green = brown. :/ It still tastes good, but it is not the beautiful jade-green that we usually get.
We use the Alan's Going Green Smoothie. We don't use the jalapeño or cashews. Sometimes we use a kiwi instead of a lime. Today we used a handful of pea shoots instead of spinach, so there's a pea flavor alongside the lime.
We use the Alan's Going Green Smoothie. We don't use the jalapeño or cashews. Sometimes we use a kiwi instead of a lime. Today we used a handful of pea shoots instead of spinach, so there's a pea flavor alongside the lime.
Photography
Oct. 22nd, 2025 05:53 pmysabetwordsmithCórdoba -- Festival of the Patios
In addition to being listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Córdoba also appears on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list for its Festival of the Patios. Held each spring, the festival celebrates the tradition of decorating the patios or courtyards of the homes in the historic center of the city with flowers and other plants. During the Festival, these patios are open to the public, to show off the beauty of these spaces.
The pictures come from later in the season, not the festival itself, but are still beautiful.
Are you looking for a theme to make your small town stand out? Or a theme for a spring event that isn't Easter? Consider a patio festival! Celebrate the beauty of small gardens on patios, balconies, front porches, etc. Get your local florists and garden shops to join the fun with special displays or sales. Throw in a plant / seed swap for houseplants, garden plants that are customarily divided or planted in spring, local landraces of flowers or vegetables, and so on.
In addition to being listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Córdoba also appears on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list for its Festival of the Patios. Held each spring, the festival celebrates the tradition of decorating the patios or courtyards of the homes in the historic center of the city with flowers and other plants. During the Festival, these patios are open to the public, to show off the beauty of these spaces.
The pictures come from later in the season, not the festival itself, but are still beautiful.
Are you looking for a theme to make your small town stand out? Or a theme for a spring event that isn't Easter? Consider a patio festival! Celebrate the beauty of small gardens on patios, balconies, front porches, etc. Get your local florists and garden shops to join the fun with special displays or sales. Throw in a plant / seed swap for houseplants, garden plants that are customarily divided or planted in spring, local landraces of flowers or vegetables, and so on.
Birdfeeding
Oct. 22nd, 2025 02:37 pmysabetwordsmithToday is mostly sunny, breezy, and cool.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
10/22/25 -- I installed the larger of the two wormstones beside the barrel garden. First I picked a spot, then I cleared the weeds. I dug into the ground a little so that the stone would lie closer to the surface. I had to move a few tulip bulbs that turned up there. Then I put the stone in place and pushed the soil back around the edges. \o/
10/22/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
10/22/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
10/22/25 -- I installed the second wormstone by the barrel garden.
10/22/25 -- I planted 10 'Flaming Beauties' tulips around the barrel garden. I still have 10 left. These are streaked tulips so they are yellow/red, purple/white, etc.
10/22/25 -- I planted the rest of the 'Flaming Beauties' in the tulip bed.
As it is almost suppertime, I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
10/22/25 -- I installed the larger of the two wormstones beside the barrel garden. First I picked a spot, then I cleared the weeds. I dug into the ground a little so that the stone would lie closer to the surface. I had to move a few tulip bulbs that turned up there. Then I put the stone in place and pushed the soil back around the edges. \o/
10/22/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
10/22/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
10/22/25 -- I installed the second wormstone by the barrel garden.
10/22/25 -- I planted 10 'Flaming Beauties' tulips around the barrel garden. I still have 10 left. These are streaked tulips so they are yellow/red, purple/white, etc.
10/22/25 -- I planted the rest of the 'Flaming Beauties' in the tulip bed.
As it is almost suppertime, I am done for the night.
Mad Science
Oct. 22nd, 2025 12:27 amysabetwordsmithScientists say dimming the sun could spark global chaos
Researchers warn that real-world solar geoengineering would be far more unpredictable and risky than models suggest.
Scientists are taking the once-radical concept of dimming the sun through stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) seriously, but a Columbia University team warns that reality is far messier than models suggest. Their study reveals how physical, geopolitical, and economic constraints could derail even the best-intentioned attempts to cool the planet. From unpredictable monsoon disruptions to material shortages and optical inefficiencies, every step introduces new risks.
WARNING: Do not practice mad science on whole planet!
Researchers warn that real-world solar geoengineering would be far more unpredictable and risky than models suggest.
Scientists are taking the once-radical concept of dimming the sun through stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) seriously, but a Columbia University team warns that reality is far messier than models suggest. Their study reveals how physical, geopolitical, and economic constraints could derail even the best-intentioned attempts to cool the planet. From unpredictable monsoon disruptions to material shortages and optical inefficiencies, every step introduces new risks.
WARNING: Do not practice mad science on whole planet!
Cuddle Party
Oct. 22nd, 2025 12:08 amysabetwordsmithEveryone needs contact comfort sometimes. Not everyone has ample opportunities for this in facetime. So here is a chance for a cuddle party in cyberspace. Virtual cuddling can help people feel better.
We have a cuddle room that comes with fort cushions, fort frames, sheets for draping, and a weighted blanket. A nest full of colorful egg pillows sits in one corner. There is a basket of grooming brushes, hairbrushes, and styling combs. A bin holds textured pillows. There is a big basket of craft supplies along with art markers, coloring pages, and blank paper. The kitchen has a popcorn machine. Labels are available to mark dietary needs, recipe ingredients, and level of spiciness. Here is the bathroom, open to everyone. There is a lawn tent and an outdoor hot tub. Bathers should post a sign for nude or clothed activity. Come snuggle up!
Enjoy a feast for Halloween, Samhain, All Saints Day, Dia de los Muertos, or whatever you prefer...
( Read more... )
We have a cuddle room that comes with fort cushions, fort frames, sheets for draping, and a weighted blanket. A nest full of colorful egg pillows sits in one corner. There is a basket of grooming brushes, hairbrushes, and styling combs. A bin holds textured pillows. There is a big basket of craft supplies along with art markers, coloring pages, and blank paper. The kitchen has a popcorn machine. Labels are available to mark dietary needs, recipe ingredients, and level of spiciness. Here is the bathroom, open to everyone. There is a lawn tent and an outdoor hot tub. Bathers should post a sign for nude or clothed activity. Come snuggle up!
Enjoy a feast for Halloween, Samhain, All Saints Day, Dia de los Muertos, or whatever you prefer...
( Read more... )