jsealand

[jsealand]

I'm imagining what it must have been like to be Cam and Palamedes trying to figure out who Nona was. And they assumed it was either Harrow or Gideon for good reason but also because they didn't know either of them enough to be able to say she wasn't them!! Like Pal would say "she can't read Cam what does that mean." And Cam would record herself with a short silence that he understands perfectly and he goes "well Harrow I'm pretty confident could read but you're right I...I can't remember if I ever actually saw Gideon read? I just assumed she could but scientifically I suppose we aren't certain so I'll put a check mark on her half..?" meanwhile the soul of the earth is in the bedroom eating linens but maybe that's just what they do on the ninth

[jsealand]

Old Man Eating Alone in a Chinese Restaurant

by Billy Collins

I am glad I resisted the temptation, if it was a temptation when I was young, to write a poem about an old man eating alone at a corner table in a Chinese restaurant.

I would have gotten it all wrong thinking: the poor bastard, not a friend in the world and with only a book for a companion. He'll probably pay the bill out of a change purse.

So glad I waited all these decades to record how hot and sour the hot and sour soup is here at Chang's this afternoon and how cold the Chinese beer in a frosted glass.

And my book — José Saramago's Blindness as it turns out — is so absorbing that I look up from its escalating horrors only when I am stunned by one of his gleaming sentences.

And I should mention the light that falls through the big windows this time of day italicizing everything it touches — the plates and teapots, the immaculate tablecloths,

as well as the soft brown hair of the waitress in the white blouse and short black skirt, the one who is smiling now as she bears a cup of rice and shredded beef with garlic to my favorite table in the corner.

[jsealand]

BABES WAKE UP NEW MESOPOTAMIAN MYTH FEATURING AN ABDUCTION TO THE UNDERWORLD FOOD OF THE DEAD AND WITHERED CROPS JUST DROPPED

[jsealand]

i feel like so many people misunderstand redemption arcs. they’re not about forgiving past actions. they’re not about softening previous behavior. redemption arcs are about realizing past behavior was heinous and resolving to be better, do better. that’s why so many redemption arcs fall apart upon close scrutiny.

[jsealand]

In January of this year, the 1998 Danish cover of @meganwhalenturner ’s The Thief was shared in the Geninsula (a discord for Queen’s Thief fans).

We were in turns delighted, horrified, and amused by the design choices made here, but what really stuck out to us what what appeared to be a classic robber’s mask around Gen’s neck. He’s The Thief, you guys. In case you weren’t sure.

Anyway, Danish Raccoon Gen fascinated us and the talented @sassaffrassa drew us a “terrible emoji face” of him:

I love him, your honor.

So, I did what any self-respecting crafter would do, and made an amigurumi version of him. I really struggled with the eyes until I realized what the only possible solution could be:

It’s pretty hard to sneak around with googly eyes, you know. It’s a good thing Gen hasn’t offended the gods.

(I’ve been working on Helen and Irene off and on since then, and I think I’ve finally figured out how I want Irene’s hair so she’ll probably be finished next.)

[jsealand]

exercise is good for you! Unfortunate that it’s also boring and annoying and feels like a massive waste of time and leaves me feeling grumpy and sweaty so I have to take a shower and waste even more time

[jsealand]

[jsealand]

We out here, stridulating off key

[jsealand]

Yesterday, more than 50 Texas House Democrats left the state to block Texas House Republicans’ gerrymandered map. Texas lawmakers returned to the legislature on July 21st, with flood relief at the top of their legislative priorities. But since then, they've held one single hearing on flood relief. Instead, they rammed through a heavily gerrymandered map personally demanded by Trump, with the express goal of creating five new Republican seats so his party won’t get wiped out in next year’s midterms. The map guts the voting power of Black and Latino Texans and entrenches Republicans’ rule even more. Redrawing maps usually only happens at the beginning of the decade after the Census is conducted – but when Trump says jump, Texas Republicans say how high. As long as Texas Democrats remain out of the state, the Texas House cannot conduct any business, including voting on Trump’s map. Let’s be clear: they aren’t running away from anything. They’re fighting, with every tool at their disposal, to save our democracy. And their courage is rattling Republicans: Governor Greg Abbott says he will attempt to remove them from office if they don’t return today and threatened them with felony charges. Kudos to Texas Democrats for taking this stand. We must all support them however we can in their battle against Trump’s authoritarianism. Their courage is a potent reminder that tyranny is only possible if we submit to it.

[jsealand]

[jsealand]

I made him <3

[jsealand]

truly from the bottom of my heart i hate the level of enshittification etsy has reached because it's still the best place to buy patterns for my hobby and every time i go scrolling through endless ai-generated bullshit to finally dig up a human-designed pattern i like, i'm hit with a deluge of 'popular!! 563 people are looking at this right now!! it's in 134632 baskets!! you must buy immediately!!!' it's a pdf file. it's a fucking pdf file. do you get off on trying to give people fomo over a fucking pdf file. fuck off. get diarrhea forever.

[jsealand]

i had a dream two nights ago where i was being shown around a fancy medieval port, and my guide said "this coast used to have two ports, Mangeet and Totoga, but in recent years we've combined them both into one - Port ManTo" and i actually woke up with a fucking start

[jsealand]

Do kids today even understand why podcasts are called podcasts?

[jsealand]

The City of Atlanta Georgia has decided to demolish the research and conservation center of the Amphibian Foundation. This organization works tirelessly to conserve the Frogs, Toads, Salamanders, Newts, and other amphibians in the United States. In addition, they provide key education for herpetologists on the care, conservation, and preservation of reptiles and amphibians.

This emergency need is compounded by the government mass firing of conservation officials and the pulling of funds from many of the country's conservation organizations.

If you can help please donate here:

Key points from the Amphibian Foundation.

Our building will be demolished in 2026, and we need to identify a new location (or locations) for 7 labs and over 1,000 animals, many of which are endangered and part of critical conservation programs.

We've identified a new location for most of AF, but not our research and conservation programs. We have an amazing lead, but it's not confirmed yet.

Our first fundraising project is the AF Emergency Fund as the minimum cost estimates to move this many labs and animals safely is $50,000. (It costs about 50 USD per animal to move them)

If you can't donate.. please share... here.. and everywhere else.

[jsealand]

[jsealand]