Interesting Links for 11-03-2026
Mar. 11th, 2026 12:00 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
andrewducker- 1. The neurons playing Doom are actually testing a theory of intelligence
- (tags:doom games intelligence ai )
- 2. Stay Classy (a history of the awfulness of Prince Andrew)
- (tags:royalty UK OhForFucksSake corruption )
- 3. How good are you at spotting colour differences? (I scored 0.006 - see if you can get yours lower)
- What was particularly interesting was that on some of them I had to let my eyes "settle". They'd see a wall of colour, get overloaded, and then after about 10 seconds I'd easily see the line.
Oh, and I'm much better with shades of green than with shades of blue.
(tags:colour viamybrothermike )
Tags:
Prairie Moon Order
Mar. 11th, 2026 12:14 amysabetwordsmithOn Monday, I picked out what I wanted for the Prairie Moon order. This is meant to be the last catalog order of the spring.
Spicebush (plant)
American Plum (plant)
Early Figwort (seed)
Late Figwort (seed)
Common Ironweed (seed)
Purple Love Grass (seed)
Lead Plant (seed)
Spicebush (plant)
American Plum (plant)
Early Figwort (seed)
Late Figwort (seed)
Common Ironweed (seed)
Purple Love Grass (seed)
Lead Plant (seed)
Select Seeds Order
Mar. 11th, 2026 12:04 amysabetwordsmithOn Monday, I picked out what I wanted for the Select Seeds order.
Old-Fashioned Climbing Petunia (plant)
Lantana 'PassionFruit' (plant)
Penstemon 'Dakota Burgundy' (plant)
Painted Tongue 'Select Superbissima Mix' (seeds)
Yarrow 'Flowerburst Red Shades' (seeds)
Coreopsis 'Corusco Cream-Red' (seeds)
Old-Fashioned Climbing Petunia (plant)
Lantana 'PassionFruit' (plant)
Penstemon 'Dakota Burgundy' (plant)
Painted Tongue 'Select Superbissima Mix' (seeds)
Yarrow 'Flowerburst Red Shades' (seeds)
Coreopsis 'Corusco Cream-Red' (seeds)
Hard Things
Mar. 11th, 2026 12:03 amysabetwordsmithLife is full of things which are hard or tedious or otherwise unpleasant that need doing anyhow. They help make the world go 'round, they improve skills, and they boost your sense of self-respect. But doing them still kinda sucks. It's all the more difficult to do those things when nobody appreciates it. Happily, blogging allows us to share our accomplishments and pat each other on the back.
What are some of the hard things you've done recently? What are some hard things you haven't gotten to yet, but need to do? Is there anything your online friends could do to make your hard things a little easier?
What are some of the hard things you've done recently? What are some hard things you haven't gotten to yet, but need to do? Is there anything your online friends could do to make your hard things a little easier?
The Joy Who Lived
Mar. 10th, 2026 07:59 pmdelphiIf anyone's interested in checking out some queer comedy theatre with a slate of great trans and gnc performers:
The Joy Who Lived: March 31st to April 12th
You can find a list of shows by date or you can browse by category. Shows are running both in person in Los Angeles and as live streaming events that are also available to view up to two weeks afterwards. I tuned in a while back for their fundraising show, a chaotic live runthrough of the Ocean's 11 script called Gender Heist, and it was a heck of a good time.
The Joy Who Lived: March 31st to April 12th
You can find a list of shows by date or you can browse by category. Shows are running both in person in Los Angeles and as live streaming events that are also available to view up to two weeks afterwards. I tuned in a while back for their fundraising show, a chaotic live runthrough of the Ocean's 11 script called Gender Heist, and it was a heck of a good time.
Space Exploration
Mar. 10th, 2026 07:01 pmysabetwordsmithRemember when DART struck an asteroid? New surprises!
Don’t miss this astounding 40-second video. It shows the DART spacecraft’s strike of the asteroid moon Dimorphos, in the year 2022, from the vantagepoint of a camera on the spacecraft. It was a test of our capabilities in planetary defense from asteroids that might strike us. Afterwards, we knew the strike had slightly changed the orbit of Dimorphos. Now a new study shows how the DART spacecraft also affected the orbit of the primary asteroid in this system.
Don’t miss this astounding 40-second video. It shows the DART spacecraft’s strike of the asteroid moon Dimorphos, in the year 2022, from the vantagepoint of a camera on the spacecraft. It was a test of our capabilities in planetary defense from asteroids that might strike us. Afterwards, we knew the strike had slightly changed the orbit of Dimorphos. Now a new study shows how the DART spacecraft also affected the orbit of the primary asteroid in this system.
Birdfeeding
Mar. 10th, 2026 02:01 pmysabetwordsmithToday is partly sunny, breezy, and quite warm. It's 76℉ already.
I fed the birds. I've seen a small mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
The first hostas have sprouted, and more bluebells are putting up leaves. More things are sprouting in the water jugs too. The first daffodils are blooming under the maple tree.
EDIT 3/10/26 -- I put out my indoor flat of fruit tree sprouts to get some sun and air.
I took pictures around the yard.
EDIT 3/10/26 -- It's 79℉ now. Earlier was overly warm; now it's just plain hot even with a brisk breeze. We had to turn on the air conditioning. In early March. Fuck climate change. >_<
We hauled the two bags of topsoil from the car to the old picnic table bench. We put the solid-top pallet in the garden shed.
EDIT 3/10/26 -- I trimmed the woody stems from the wildflower garden. Lots of miniature irises are blooming there. :D
EDIT 3/10/26 -- I started trimming woody stems from the septic garden.
EDIT 3/10/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
I brought in the fruit tree sprouts. I've seen a fox squirrel bounding across the ground.
EDIT 3/10/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 3/10/26 -- I finished trimming woody stems from the septic garden.
I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a small mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
The first hostas have sprouted, and more bluebells are putting up leaves. More things are sprouting in the water jugs too. The first daffodils are blooming under the maple tree.
EDIT 3/10/26 -- I put out my indoor flat of fruit tree sprouts to get some sun and air.
I took pictures around the yard.
EDIT 3/10/26 -- It's 79℉ now. Earlier was overly warm; now it's just plain hot even with a brisk breeze. We had to turn on the air conditioning. In early March. Fuck climate change. >_<
We hauled the two bags of topsoil from the car to the old picnic table bench. We put the solid-top pallet in the garden shed.
EDIT 3/10/26 -- I trimmed the woody stems from the wildflower garden. Lots of miniature irises are blooming there. :D
EDIT 3/10/26 -- I started trimming woody stems from the septic garden.
EDIT 3/10/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
I brought in the fruit tree sprouts. I've seen a fox squirrel bounding across the ground.
EDIT 3/10/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 3/10/26 -- I finished trimming woody stems from the septic garden.
I am done for the night.
Tags:
Interesting Links for 10-03-2026
Mar. 10th, 2026 12:00 pmandrewducker- 1. Grammarly Is Offering 'Expert' AI Reviews From Your Favorite Authors—Dead or Alive (without their permission)
- (tags:ohforfuckssake ai writing )
- 2. Google proposes an AI training datacenter that would use up to 8 million gallons of water *per day*
- (tags:water google ai )
- 3. NHS England continues attacks on trans kids
- (tags:uk transgender lgbt ohforfuckssake )
- 4. It is likely that the UK is still under-diagnosing ADHD
- (tags:adhd uk )
Tags:
- adhd,
- ai,
- google,
- lgbt,
- links,
- ohforfuckssake,
- transgender,
- uk,
- water,
- writing
Birdfeeding
Mar. 9th, 2026 01:48 pmysabetwordsmithToday is cloudy and chilly with gusts of wind.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
In the water jug greenhouses, a few shady wildflowers are sprouting. :D
EDIT 3/9/26 -- My gold curly willow cuttings have arrived! \o/ I have put two in water and one in a pot.
EDIT 3/9/26 -- I took cuttings from the older serviceberry tree and a shellbark hickory sapling to put in the willow cups.
EDIT 3/9/26 -- I cracked open some peach pits. It was a lot easier than I expected. I found a natural hollow in the concrete step, where I balanced a peach pit on its edge. A seam goes along the sides. I put a flathead screwdriver point into the seam and tapped the handle with a hammer. Most of the peach pits popped apart neatly, releasing the seed. A couple chipped in fragments. I think I got several viable seeds, which I put in a baggie of damp sand. I also bagged up some leftover persimmon seeds. Then I put the baggies in the refrigerator for cold stratification to see if they'll sprout.
EDIT 3/9/26 -- I tried using an ax to hack away at one of the saplings in the driveway. I certainly made more progress than I did with the saw. It's slow going, but I might be able to beaver it down eventually. The question is whether I'll have the time and energy for that, with all the other spring yardening to do.
EDIT 3/9/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 3/9/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 3/9/26 -- I transplanted a few more snowdrops from the parking lot to the apricot tree.
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.
In the water jug greenhouses, a few shady wildflowers are sprouting. :D
EDIT 3/9/26 -- My gold curly willow cuttings have arrived! \o/ I have put two in water and one in a pot.
EDIT 3/9/26 -- I took cuttings from the older serviceberry tree and a shellbark hickory sapling to put in the willow cups.
EDIT 3/9/26 -- I cracked open some peach pits. It was a lot easier than I expected. I found a natural hollow in the concrete step, where I balanced a peach pit on its edge. A seam goes along the sides. I put a flathead screwdriver point into the seam and tapped the handle with a hammer. Most of the peach pits popped apart neatly, releasing the seed. A couple chipped in fragments. I think I got several viable seeds, which I put in a baggie of damp sand. I also bagged up some leftover persimmon seeds. Then I put the baggies in the refrigerator for cold stratification to see if they'll sprout.
EDIT 3/9/26 -- I tried using an ax to hack away at one of the saplings in the driveway. I certainly made more progress than I did with the saw. It's slow going, but I might be able to beaver it down eventually. The question is whether I'll have the time and energy for that, with all the other spring yardening to do.
EDIT 3/9/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 3/9/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 3/9/26 -- I transplanted a few more snowdrops from the parking lot to the apricot tree.
I am done for the night.
Magpie Monday
Mar. 9th, 2026 12:49 pmysabetwordsmithdialecticdreamer is hosting Magpie Monday with a theme of "Apologies." Leave prompts, get ficlets! Links Extra: More data than you ever wanted.
Mar. 9th, 2026 09:47 amandrewduckerI was chatting to a couple of friends last week, and realised that I really fancied having one of those "bar chart race" videos for my links, showing what had been the most popular links over the last 21 years that I've been saving links (to Delicious, and then Pinboard).
So I downloaded the JSON blob of my whole link history, used some PowerShell to slice and dice it into a CSV, and uploaded it to a site that converts a bunch of data with dates into a bar chart race. And voila:
Unsurprising to see "Europe" break the top 20 in 2017. Followed a year later by "OhForFucksSake".
Both files available here, for the very curious.
Monday Update 3-9-26
Mar. 9th, 2026 02:01 amysabetwordsmithThese are some posts from the later part of last week in case you missed them:
Space Exploration
Moment of Silence: Country Joe McDonald
Poem: "Confident Guesswork and Improvisation"
Poem: "Nuff Respect"
Esbat
Science
Safety
Humor
Birdfeeding
Today's Adventures
Birdfeeding
Philosophical Questions: Civilization
Photos: Savanna
Photos: House Yard
Wildlife
Birdfeeding
Follow Friday 3-6-36: Meta
Wildlife
Poem: "The Express Bus to Crazy-ass Death Land"
Read "ICE Out" by Charles de Lint
Nature
Birdfeeding
Community Thursdays
Read "Find a Way Forward"
Safety
Birdfeeding
Good News
Linguistics has 32 comments. Philosophical Questions: Pregnancy has 40 comments. Safety has 53 comments. Wildlife has 40 comments. Food has 67 comments.
Last week's Poetry Fishbowl went well. I still have at least one more poem to write.
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
marchmetamatterschallenge is running this month. See my tracking post and the first check-in post.
"The Struggle Against Overwhelming Odds" is now complete. Gideon and Raymond get some unexpected help in the fight.
The weather has been warmish here, though it rained much of the week. Seen at the birdfeeders this week: a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, a female cardinal, and a fox squirrel. A skein of geese flew overhead, honking quite loudly. Red-winged blackbirds have been singing overhead. I've heard a killdeer and a mourning dove calling, but didn't see them. Honeybees are out and swarming the flowers. Currently blooming: crocuses, snowdrops, winter aconite, miniature irises.
Space Exploration
Moment of Silence: Country Joe McDonald
Poem: "Confident Guesswork and Improvisation"
Poem: "Nuff Respect"
Esbat
Science
Safety
Humor
Birdfeeding
Today's Adventures
Birdfeeding
Philosophical Questions: Civilization
Photos: Savanna
Photos: House Yard
Wildlife
Birdfeeding
Follow Friday 3-6-36: Meta
Wildlife
Poem: "The Express Bus to Crazy-ass Death Land"
Read "ICE Out" by Charles de Lint
Nature
Birdfeeding
Community Thursdays
Read "Find a Way Forward"
Safety
Birdfeeding
Good News
Linguistics has 32 comments. Philosophical Questions: Pregnancy has 40 comments. Safety has 53 comments. Wildlife has 40 comments. Food has 67 comments.
Last week's Poetry Fishbowl went well. I still have at least one more poem to write.
marchmetamatterschallenge is running this month. See my tracking post and the first check-in post."The Struggle Against Overwhelming Odds" is now complete. Gideon and Raymond get some unexpected help in the fight.
The weather has been warmish here, though it rained much of the week. Seen at the birdfeeders this week: a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, a female cardinal, and a fox squirrel. A skein of geese flew overhead, honking quite loudly. Red-winged blackbirds have been singing overhead. I've heard a killdeer and a mourning dove calling, but didn't see them. Honeybees are out and swarming the flowers. Currently blooming: crocuses, snowdrops, winter aconite, miniature irises.
Space Exploration
Mar. 9th, 2026 01:11 amysabetwordsmithNASA shares photos of an extraordinary event witnessed by astronauts on the space station
While most people witness only the familiar crack of thunder and flash of lightning from storms on Earth, brilliantly-colorful electric fireworks detonate much higher, in the thin air up to 55 miles overhead, easily seen from the ISS.
These brief spectacles – blue jets, red sprites, violet halos, ultraviolet rings – are collectively known as transient luminous events, or TLEs.
For decades, they eluded systematic study, appearing only in pilots’ anecdotes and the occasional lucky photograph.
The International Space Station (ISS) has changed that by offering an unobstructed seat above the storms, where specialized cameras and sensors capture every fleeting spark.
While most people witness only the familiar crack of thunder and flash of lightning from storms on Earth, brilliantly-colorful electric fireworks detonate much higher, in the thin air up to 55 miles overhead, easily seen from the ISS.
These brief spectacles – blue jets, red sprites, violet halos, ultraviolet rings – are collectively known as transient luminous events, or TLEs.
For decades, they eluded systematic study, appearing only in pilots’ anecdotes and the occasional lucky photograph.
The International Space Station (ISS) has changed that by offering an unobstructed seat above the storms, where specialized cameras and sensors capture every fleeting spark.
Moment of Silence: Country Joe McDonald
Mar. 8th, 2026 11:13 pmysabetwordsmithSinger and songwriter Country Joe McDonald has passed away. Among other accomplishments, he is famous for the "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die-Rag" at Woodstock, on record, and elsewhere.
Carry on the Work:
Guitar -- how to articles from wikiHow
Hippie Culture
How to Be a Singer Songwriter: 15 Steps (with Pictures)
Music Occupations -- how to articles from wikiHow
Musical Instruments -- how to articles from wikiHow
Singing -- how to articles from wikiHow
Social Activism -- how to articles from wikiHow
Songwriting -- how to articles from wikiHow
Carry on the Work:
Guitar -- how to articles from wikiHow
Hippie Culture
How to Be a Singer Songwriter: 15 Steps (with Pictures)
Music Occupations -- how to articles from wikiHow
Musical Instruments -- how to articles from wikiHow
Singing -- how to articles from wikiHow
Social Activism -- how to articles from wikiHow
Songwriting -- how to articles from wikiHow
Poem: "Confident Guesswork and Improvisation"
Mar. 8th, 2026 10:50 pmysabetwordsmithThis poem is spillover from the March 3, 2026 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by prompts from siliconshaman and janetmiles. It also fills the "Smudges" square in my 3-1-26 card for the National Crafting Month Bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by janetmiles. It belongs to the series Frankenstein's Family.
( Read more... )
siliconshaman and janetmiles. It also fills the "Smudges" square in my 3-1-26 card for the National Crafting Month Bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by janetmiles. It belongs to the series Frankenstein's Family.( Read more... )
Tags:
Notes for "Nuff Respect"
Mar. 8th, 2026 09:59 pmysabetwordsmithThese are the notes for "Nuff Respect." Enjoy some recipes for Jamaican and Minoan foods in memory of minoanmiss.
( Read more... )
minoanmiss.( Read more... )
Tags:
Post and Jam: Trinque l'amourette by La Bottine Souriante (1978)
Mar. 8th, 2026 08:02 pmdelphiFandom 50 #2
Continuing my list of fifty Canadian songs I love from the past fifty years, here's 1978's:
Trinque l'amourette by La Bottine Souriante
Continuing my list of fifty Canadian songs I love from the past fifty years, here's 1978's:
Trinque l'amourette by La Bottine Souriante
Poem: "Nuff Respect"
Mar. 8th, 2026 09:32 pmysabetwordsmithThis poem came out of the March 3, 2026 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by prompts from librarygeek, alatefeline, and mama_kestrel. It also fills the "Artisan" square in my 3-1-26 card for the National Crafting Month Bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by librarygeek in memory of minoanmiss, who passed away recently and loved both Jamaican and Minoan cultures. It belongs to the Trichromatic Attachments thread of the Polychrome Heroics series.
Warning: This poem contains graphic descriptions of delicious food that you may not be able to find or afford.
( Read more... )
librarygeek, alatefeline, and mama_kestrel. It also fills the "Artisan" square in my 3-1-26 card for the National Crafting Month Bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by librarygeek in memory of minoanmiss, who passed away recently and loved both Jamaican and Minoan cultures. It belongs to the Trichromatic Attachments thread of the Polychrome Heroics series.Warning: This poem contains graphic descriptions of delicious food that you may not be able to find or afford.
( Read more... )
Esbat
Mar. 8th, 2026 09:18 pmysabetwordsmithThis evening we held our esbat with an owl theme, inspired by the Festival of Owls this weekend. We charged a set of owl beads for people to keep.
... I am disappointed that I did not think ahead to obtain a gummy rat for the cakes and ale.
... I am disappointed that I did not think ahead to obtain a gummy rat for the cakes and ale.