Busy Day!!
May. 9th, 2026 02:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
susandennisI swam, I did a load of laundry - wash, dry and put away - I went to elbow coffee (no new maladies but lengthy conversations about the only ones). I had a long conversation with Martha about amigurumi. Then I hopped into the car and drove up to the Other Safeway. It was fine but I like mine better. I did stop at Dollar Tree, again, for more amigurumi kits. I got one of all they had and 2 of some for Martha and others who might be interested. At a buck 25, it's just too good a deal.
Now I still have some chores but I thought I'd better get an entry done before the whole day got away from me.
The Mariners game is in two hours and I now have a massive number of yarn projects going on. Plus, I lost two of my good yarn needles in my yarn needle pin cushion - massive engineering failure there - and I need to find them. They are very narrow needles with very long eyes and I have no idea where I would buy more. I have 3 but two are currently housed in the pin cushion.
I'm really torn about watching Remarkably Bright Creatures - the movie. Just like I am about Project Hail Mary - the movie. I loved the books so much but cannot fathom how the octopus and space creature on screen could live up to the versions in my imagination. But the former is now live on Netflix and so decision time. Not today but...
I have a poke bowl for dinner - well half of it. It's a large bowl so the other half will be lunch tomorrow.
Now I still have some chores but I thought I'd better get an entry done before the whole day got away from me.
The Mariners game is in two hours and I now have a massive number of yarn projects going on. Plus, I lost two of my good yarn needles in my yarn needle pin cushion - massive engineering failure there - and I need to find them. They are very narrow needles with very long eyes and I have no idea where I would buy more. I have 3 but two are currently housed in the pin cushion.
I'm really torn about watching Remarkably Bright Creatures - the movie. Just like I am about Project Hail Mary - the movie. I loved the books so much but cannot fathom how the octopus and space creature on screen could live up to the versions in my imagination. But the former is now live on Netflix and so decision time. Not today but...
I have a poke bowl for dinner - well half of it. It's a large bowl so the other half will be lunch tomorrow.
How river DNA can track fish, frogs, fungi and human feces all at once
May. 9th, 2026 05:00 pm![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
phys_breaking_feedA single scoop of water from an Irish river has revealed evidence not only of Ireland's only frog species—as expected—but also signs of the dreaded B. dendrobatidis fungus, marking the first time this devastating amphibian disease has been spotted in the country and exposing a previously unknown risk to Ireland's frog population.
Iran
May. 9th, 2026 09:26 pmelisiWhat I didn't have on my bingo card for 2026 was AI LEGO videos from Iran... (Probably the only use of AI slop that I would defend.) I hope they have educated many people on issues they might otherwise not know. (Yes they're propaganda, but when speaking about the rot in America they are not wrong.)
Now there are many, many videos, but this one's my favourite:
Same sun rising, but we're living in hell,
while the leaders are ringing the funeral bell.
Love for the people, but the system must cease,
from Tehran to DC, we're screaming for peace...
~
I don't feel like writing any essays on the situation, but I still vividly remember the Green Movement in 2009. (Just follow the tag to see my posts from back then.) It's where this icon is from. Remember watching the news with hope and terror, seeing the sea of people protesting and thinking that surely they would win?
And then they didn't.
I have re-uploaded a video from back then (8.81MB):
My Elementary Schoolmate.flv
My Elementary Schoolmate.mov
My Elementary Schoolmate.wmv
Content/trigger warning: The footage is exclusively from the 2009 protests. Very raw and powerful, and a lot of violence and injury.
The song is from 1979, and apparently they were singing again during the Green Revolution. (Lyrics here.)
So yeah. The Iranians know a lot about living under a repressive regime...
Now there are many, many videos, but this one's my favourite:
Same sun rising, but we're living in hell,
while the leaders are ringing the funeral bell.
Love for the people, but the system must cease,
from Tehran to DC, we're screaming for peace...
~
I don't feel like writing any essays on the situation, but I still vividly remember the Green Movement in 2009. (Just follow the tag to see my posts from back then.) It's where this icon is from. Remember watching the news with hope and terror, seeing the sea of people protesting and thinking that surely they would win?
And then they didn't.
I have re-uploaded a video from back then (8.81MB):
My Elementary Schoolmate.flv
My Elementary Schoolmate.mov
My Elementary Schoolmate.wmv
Content/trigger warning: The footage is exclusively from the 2009 protests. Very raw and powerful, and a lot of violence and injury.
The song is from 1979, and apparently they were singing again during the Green Revolution. (Lyrics here.)
So yeah. The Iranians know a lot about living under a repressive regime...
CRISPR safeguard changes how engineered microbes can be controlled
May. 9th, 2026 04:00 pmphys_breaking_feedEngineered microorganisms are widely used in industrial biotechnology and biopharmaceutical applications, including the production of biofuels, sustainable chemicals, and therapeutic compounds. However, concerns remain regarding the unintended environmental release and uncontrolled proliferation of genetically engineered microbes. For this reason, biocontainment technologies, which are designed to prevent microorganisms from surviving outside controlled environments, have become increasingly important in both academia and industry.
Soft Questions Meme
May. 9th, 2026 03:43 pmmxcatmoonSnagged from spiralicious
spiralicious soft questions
What song makes you feel better?
Heaven is a Place on Earth, by Belinda Carlisle. It was a very meaningful song to me back in the 80s when it came out, so it always makes me smile when I hear it (those were also the best times of my life). In fact, I think I'll go listen to it now.
What is your go to comfort show?
Right now, I am hurt, stressed and depressed and needing something to soothe me at bedtime. I looked at all my choices and came up with one show that could lift my mood the best: Destination Truth. So, I know that is definitely my #1 go-to show when I need something on in the background to distract me and soothe me.
Right now, I am hurt, stressed and depressed and needing something to soothe me at bedtime. I looked at all my choices and came up with one show that could lift my mood the best: Destination Truth. So, I know that is definitely my #1 go-to show when I need something on in the background to distract me and soothe me.
What’s your favorite candle scent?
Pumpkin Spice/any autumn spice scent
Who do you feel most like yourself around?
Me, myself, and I
What calms you down?
Chocolate milkshakes. That's the cure for what ails you. That’s my drug and the quickest way to make me feel better. It's like magic. Also, watching episodes of my favorite TV show, which is currently Miami Vice.
What's something upcoming that you’re excited for?
The premiere of Good Omens 3, which is coming on Wednesday.
Have you ever written or received a love letter?
No. I love romance in my fandom ships, but in real life not so much.
Tea, Coffee, or hot cocoa?
Coffee, only because it's the thing I drink the most of and most regularly.
How many pillows do you sleep with?
2 but I usually only use one. The other stays at my side just in case. Sometimes I will swap out which one I want to use. One of them is a memory foam pillow and the other one is a cervical contour pillow. That one really worked great when I first got it, really helped me be more comfortable and sleep better. It's old now so I need to replace it but can't afford to.
Do you have a comfort book? Which one?
No.
Heavy Atlantic rain can block African aerosols from fertilizing Amazon, study finds
May. 9th, 2026 03:00 pmphys_breaking_feedHow are cold air masses advancing in the United States connected to fertilizers carried by "flying rivers" from Africa that nourish the soils of the Brazilian Amazon? An article published in Geophysical Research Letters reveals an atmospheric connection between these distant regions.
post-op gripes
May. 9th, 2026 11:07 amsistawendyI would like to state for the record that washing your hair when you have no sensation (back? yet?) in the top of your scalp is bizarre and difficult. And the prescription-strength dandruff shampoo that I'm using is particularly nasty if it gets in the eyes or mouth. And really, I'm supposed to leave it on for three minutes?
Yes, I know, this kind of surgery is mostly a rich bitch privilege and I should be grateful to even have this kind of problem. But that's hard to remember when your eyes are stinging.
I still don't quite have a solution for sleeping in the recommended position, i.e. with my back at a 45° angle to the horizontal. My camping recliner is almost there, but I think I need a sleeping bag with it. At the rate I'm going it'll be almost too late. My back's sensitivity is surely a sign of age.
Other things I've done that I shouldn't have according to a second reading of the post-op instructions: walk too long at once, carry too much weight (groceries), get busy with Clara*, and pull weeds.
I shall be buying foods today that I can eat when I go off liquids on Tuesday. Oh yes, I shall.
*The sex toy I designed.
Yes, I know, this kind of surgery is mostly a rich bitch privilege and I should be grateful to even have this kind of problem. But that's hard to remember when your eyes are stinging.
I still don't quite have a solution for sleeping in the recommended position, i.e. with my back at a 45° angle to the horizontal. My camping recliner is almost there, but I think I need a sleeping bag with it. At the rate I'm going it'll be almost too late. My back's sensitivity is surely a sign of age.
Other things I've done that I shouldn't have according to a second reading of the post-op instructions: walk too long at once, carry too much weight (groceries), get busy with Clara*, and pull weeds.
I shall be buying foods today that I can eat when I go off liquids on Tuesday. Oh yes, I shall.
*The sex toy I designed.
phys_breaking_feedCircularly polarized light has properties that make it useful in a growing range of technologies, from next-generation 3D displays to bioimaging tools that can detect signals deep within living tissues. One way to produce this kind of light is with the help of chiral molecules—compounds that have a mirror-image form to which they cannot be perfectly superimposed. Among these, small organic molecules (SOMs) offer tunable emission wavelengths.
Birdfeeding
May. 9th, 2026 01:28 pmysabetwordsmith posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
birdfeedingToday is mostly sunny and mild. It rained most of yesterday.
I fed the birds. I've seen a large mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, a mourning dove, and a fox squirrel.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 5/9/26 -- We went out to run errands, which included a stop at Rural King for more bagged goods and a few flowers. Sadly they're moving away from the small sizes that I prefer; much of it was big pots and I'm not going spend $15-20 on something I could get elsewhere for $3-4, especially when most of my plantings are mixed. I only bought one big potted thing this season, and that was a pot with 4 different violas (purple-lavender, purple-white, purple-yellow, purple-orange) in it.
EDIT 5/9/26 -- I planted 4 celosia (3 pinkish-red and 1 yellow), a purple wave petunia, and a Bidens flower in the barrel garden. I hadn't seen the Bidens before but it is a yellow-and-orange flower similar to a marigold or coreopsis, so it fits well in the barrel garden. That's almost full -- I've got room to squeeze in a firecracker and maybe some marigolds but that's about it.
A petunia is blooming pale rosepetal pink under the maple tree, and an iris looks to be opening up sort of a chocolate color there too. I'm pleased that the peony has a strong scent; the dark pink one under the apricot tree is nearly scentless.
.
I fed the birds. I've seen a large mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, a mourning dove, and a fox squirrel.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 5/9/26 -- We went out to run errands, which included a stop at Rural King for more bagged goods and a few flowers. Sadly they're moving away from the small sizes that I prefer; much of it was big pots and I'm not going spend $15-20 on something I could get elsewhere for $3-4, especially when most of my plantings are mixed. I only bought one big potted thing this season, and that was a pot with 4 different violas (purple-lavender, purple-white, purple-yellow, purple-orange) in it.
EDIT 5/9/26 -- I planted 4 celosia (3 pinkish-red and 1 yellow), a purple wave petunia, and a Bidens flower in the barrel garden. I hadn't seen the Bidens before but it is a yellow-and-orange flower similar to a marigold or coreopsis, so it fits well in the barrel garden. That's almost full -- I've got room to squeeze in a firecracker and maybe some marigolds but that's about it.
A petunia is blooming pale rosepetal pink under the maple tree, and an iris looks to be opening up sort of a chocolate color there too. I'm pleased that the peony has a strong scent; the dark pink one under the apricot tree is nearly scentless.
.
Survived the week!
May. 9th, 2026 07:07 pmruricHad a lovely Bank Holiday away at gingerpig's.
Drove up Sunday early evening and had a very clear run so arrived in Suffolk just before 8pm - dinner of pizza, wine and chat and before we knew it we were into the wee small hours and retired at 1:30am.
On Monday we manage to leave the house briefly for a wander round the barns (antiques and jewellery) and I may have purchased a few small items which were calling my name. Coffee and cake in the cafe followed by a snacky lunch and we - perhaps unsurprisingly- had 6 eps of Heated Rivalry on the background whilst chatting.
After dinner I talked GP into watching the feeds for the Met gala (who are we and why are we watching this)? We had the feeds from the Mark and Carlyle hotels in on You Tube from 9pm to watch the departures, GP had her laptop queued up to the Vogue feed from the Met which was due to start at 11pm
(to make sure we missed nithing), and I was following the Met instagram on my tablet and in the London Loons Whatsapp chat for gossip.
A lot of time was GP and I saying who are these people (apparently we are now olds and not at all tuned in to pop culture) - fortunately the London Loons WhatsApp mostly knew the answers or the Met insta did. We were all hilariously scathing about most of the outfits (disappointing lack of imagination for most I felt) - though we were very impressed when Connor got his arms out on the Met steps and with Hudson leaving the Mark in little more than a bathrobe and stunning eye make up.
There was a sad lack of stills from the event on Tuesday - but some notable commentary on the fact the boys partied until dawn. If you can't do that in New York in your 20s when can you? I commend their ability to remain upright on so little sleep!
However from Wednesday onwards there's been a positive abundance of behind the scenes pixs and videos, from the sweet, to awkward to hilarious (the vids of Hudson trying to squash Connor into the matador jacket probably caused various designers/fashion houses to have a heart attack whilst the rest of us chortled in glee). I've been deriving a significant amount of second hand joy from them particularly in the hell week of local elections.
Speaking of which I pulled a 16 hour day on Thursday working as a poll clerk in Richmond. In some ways quite enjoyable (we were the party polling station with rounds of applause for first time voters and a chatty electorate), we were visited by many lovely dogs (despite the no dogs allowed sign) and lots of parents bringing kids along who we encouraged to pop the ballot in the box. I crashed as soon as I got in at midnight (fortunately didn't work the count) but the team whatsapp went mad at 4:30am the the news of the landslide. Every single one of the 54 councillors elected in Richmond was LibDem. I'd worried Reform might get a foot in the door but the voters came through with a very clear message.
Unsurprisingly my ward in Merton had voted our 3 Labour councillors back in with a strong majority, but more heartening the Greens were clearly in second place and Reform and the Tories were trounced. Forvoverall control of Merton - Labour have 39 councillors, LibDems 19, Conservative 4 and Indie's 2. Considering how many St George's flags turned up in the borough at one point I was very glad to see Reform not get any seats and they only made it to second place in one of the 20 wards.
Unfortunately nationally Reform took 1400 seats and several councils but their councillors have a habit of either stepping down when they realise the work involved or they say shitty thing which get them suspended. Going on the results of last year's local elections they'll fuck up the councils where they have control and cancel many much needed services whilst increasing council tax. Such absolute muppets.
As usual at work there's too much to do and not enough time but I'm feeling less stressed about it than before my weekend away.
Today was out allotment plant sale - I bought things - and tomorrow I'll be spending a lot of time on my plot strimming, prepping and planting. This evening I went back to my piercer, replaced the 3 studs I'd lost overvthe last few weeks and got my helix done again. There'll be a couple more helix piercings this year and then I start planning new tattoo's for 2027!
Tonight I plan to drink wine, eat a decent meals, clean the flat and read fic.
gingerpig's. Drove up Sunday early evening and had a very clear run so arrived in Suffolk just before 8pm - dinner of pizza, wine and chat and before we knew it we were into the wee small hours and retired at 1:30am.
On Monday we manage to leave the house briefly for a wander round the barns (antiques and jewellery) and I may have purchased a few small items which were calling my name. Coffee and cake in the cafe followed by a snacky lunch and we - perhaps unsurprisingly- had 6 eps of Heated Rivalry on the background whilst chatting.
After dinner I talked GP into watching the feeds for the Met gala (who are we and why are we watching this)? We had the feeds from the Mark and Carlyle hotels in on You Tube from 9pm to watch the departures, GP had her laptop queued up to the Vogue feed from the Met which was due to start at 11pm
(to make sure we missed nithing), and I was following the Met instagram on my tablet and in the London Loons Whatsapp chat for gossip.
A lot of time was GP and I saying who are these people (apparently we are now olds and not at all tuned in to pop culture) - fortunately the London Loons WhatsApp mostly knew the answers or the Met insta did. We were all hilariously scathing about most of the outfits (disappointing lack of imagination for most I felt) - though we were very impressed when Connor got his arms out on the Met steps and with Hudson leaving the Mark in little more than a bathrobe and stunning eye make up.
There was a sad lack of stills from the event on Tuesday - but some notable commentary on the fact the boys partied until dawn. If you can't do that in New York in your 20s when can you? I commend their ability to remain upright on so little sleep!
However from Wednesday onwards there's been a positive abundance of behind the scenes pixs and videos, from the sweet, to awkward to hilarious (the vids of Hudson trying to squash Connor into the matador jacket probably caused various designers/fashion houses to have a heart attack whilst the rest of us chortled in glee). I've been deriving a significant amount of second hand joy from them particularly in the hell week of local elections.
Speaking of which I pulled a 16 hour day on Thursday working as a poll clerk in Richmond. In some ways quite enjoyable (we were the party polling station with rounds of applause for first time voters and a chatty electorate), we were visited by many lovely dogs (despite the no dogs allowed sign) and lots of parents bringing kids along who we encouraged to pop the ballot in the box. I crashed as soon as I got in at midnight (fortunately didn't work the count) but the team whatsapp went mad at 4:30am the the news of the landslide. Every single one of the 54 councillors elected in Richmond was LibDem. I'd worried Reform might get a foot in the door but the voters came through with a very clear message.
Unsurprisingly my ward in Merton had voted our 3 Labour councillors back in with a strong majority, but more heartening the Greens were clearly in second place and Reform and the Tories were trounced. Forvoverall control of Merton - Labour have 39 councillors, LibDems 19, Conservative 4 and Indie's 2. Considering how many St George's flags turned up in the borough at one point I was very glad to see Reform not get any seats and they only made it to second place in one of the 20 wards.
Unfortunately nationally Reform took 1400 seats and several councils but their councillors have a habit of either stepping down when they realise the work involved or they say shitty thing which get them suspended. Going on the results of last year's local elections they'll fuck up the councils where they have control and cancel many much needed services whilst increasing council tax. Such absolute muppets.
As usual at work there's too much to do and not enough time but I'm feeling less stressed about it than before my weekend away.
Today was out allotment plant sale - I bought things - and tomorrow I'll be spending a lot of time on my plot strimming, prepping and planting. This evening I went back to my piercer, replaced the 3 studs I'd lost overvthe last few weeks and got my helix done again. There'll be a couple more helix piercings this year and then I start planning new tattoo's for 2027!
Tonight I plan to drink wine, eat a decent meals, clean the flat and read fic.
30 Days of Blake's 7 - Day 9
May. 9th, 2026 05:37 pmjulesjones Day 9: Least favourite series
As with "most favourite", I'm pairing two seasons, and for the same reason - the Blakeless series 3 and 4. Blake, and the interplay between Blake and the others, is what transfixed me about the show in the first place, and that's gone. Tarrant's constant sniping at and jockeying with Avon for control of the ship and crew doesn't work for me, and doesn't have the same dynamic, in the way Avon doing it to Blake does. Ditto Jenna's mild hero worship of Blake, and Dayna's (initially) of Avon.
There's also a lot of aimless drifting in series 3 and 4, and 4 suffers terribly from the change in producer and the incoherent characterisation from a parade of writers who knew nothing about the series (and also Ben Steed...). This doesn't mean there are no redeeming features, because there are some good to stunning episodes, including anything written by Chris Boucher. There's a reason why that man had his own fan following, not just the actors.
As with "most favourite", I'm pairing two seasons, and for the same reason - the Blakeless series 3 and 4. Blake, and the interplay between Blake and the others, is what transfixed me about the show in the first place, and that's gone. Tarrant's constant sniping at and jockeying with Avon for control of the ship and crew doesn't work for me, and doesn't have the same dynamic, in the way Avon doing it to Blake does. Ditto Jenna's mild hero worship of Blake, and Dayna's (initially) of Avon.
There's also a lot of aimless drifting in series 3 and 4, and 4 suffers terribly from the change in producer and the incoherent characterisation from a parade of writers who knew nothing about the series (and also Ben Steed...). This doesn't mean there are no redeeming features, because there are some good to stunning episodes, including anything written by Chris Boucher. There's a reason why that man had his own fan following, not just the actors.
Yesterday (8 May 2026), Sir David Attenborough turned 100.
May. 9th, 2026 01:02 pmfull_metal_ox posting in common_natureI’m assuming he’s been a formative influence for a lot of people in this community.
phys_breaking_feedScientists from Trinity and Technical University of Denmark have developed a new radar-based technique that could address a critical gap in global conservation efforts, by transforming how we identify and track the insects that are actually responsible for pollinating plants.
spring is plant sale season
May. 9th, 2026 12:48 pmstarandreaWe had a frost warning the last two nights, but "frost free" or our last average frost date is coming up next week. Spring is here!
Since I have plenty of plants already, there is no need for me to acquire more. Fortunately my sister told me about the following tumblr meme: "Don't let anyone tell you not to spend $25 on plants. That $75 will be the best $300 you've ever spent."
Then she came with me to our first plant sale of the season, guarded plants while I paid and got the car, and carried not one but four bags of compost ♥
( bunch of flowers )
PS, This was my first time attending a fundraising plant sale sponsored by a nursery. Highly recommend.
PPS, Do you see the innocent looking green sprig behind the pink flowers on the left? That's a palm tree. Someday I will not have room to overwinter plants indoors because the entire lower level of our house will be filled with trees. "The forest floor," I'll call it.
Since I have plenty of plants already, there is no need for me to acquire more. Fortunately my sister told me about the following tumblr meme: "Don't let anyone tell you not to spend $25 on plants. That $75 will be the best $300 you've ever spent."
Then she came with me to our first plant sale of the season, guarded plants while I paid and got the car, and carried not one but four bags of compost ♥
( bunch of flowers )
PS, This was my first time attending a fundraising plant sale sponsored by a nursery. Highly recommend.
PPS, Do you see the innocent looking green sprig behind the pink flowers on the left? That's a palm tree. Someday I will not have room to overwinter plants indoors because the entire lower level of our house will be filled with trees. "The forest floor," I'll call it.