wyld_dandelyon | Reading

Still working through that big stack of zines from Jimmy Dunson and Rebel Hearts Press, and we're down to the last thing: a paper back anthology of essays entitled Building Power While The Lights Are Out: Disasters, Mutual Aid, and Dual Power. It's really making my brain buzz with ideas! I'm only midway through, but so far my favorites are "Mutual Aid and Anti-Racist Organizing in Rural Appalachia" by Rural Organizing and Resilience, "Love My People: Following in the Footprints of the Panthers" by Suncere Ali Shakur, and "Survival Programs: Then And Now" by Malik Rahim (an old guy in his seventies who was part of the Black Panthers in the '70s). Like the other stuff from Rebel Hearts, it looks to be a paper-only release.

I just want to quote a few paragraphs from Shakur here, because... how could I NOT love this book? He cut his teeth on mutual aid in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, where black men were getting murdered as looters by vigilantes, cops, and others. It was not a safe time and place, and he describes the following events:

( The stories of Mike and No. 1 Gangster Killa )

Current Mood: hopeful

ysabetwordsmith

Today is cloudy, warm, and damp with a light breeze. It rained last night.

I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches plus a catbird. We seem to have a lot of catbirds this year.

I put out water for the birds.

I set out the flats of pots and watered them.

EDIT 5/20/25 -- I did a bit more work outside.

.

Current Mood: busy

analogbasilisk posting in

rainbowfic

Universe: Elemenverse
Story: Sculpted By Ice
Title: Made For Destruction
Colour: Alien Green #03. Have I pissed you off in a way that's more than normal?, Warm Heart ##09. Confusion
Supplies and styles: parchment, canvas, chiaroscuro, graffiti, resin
Resin:

fan_flashworks - Prompt 479. Underwater
Word count: 1,025
Rating: Mature
Warnings: child abuse, suicidal tendencies (ish), mentioned A/B/O dynamics
A/N: Dominick is around 14 at this point, even if her age is not stated in this piece. The A/B/O is barely mentioned, but it'll be relevant in future pieces. I haven't written this character in over two years, I believe.
Summary: Dominick has heard sometimes parents don't know why they're punishing their children, but the children know why they're being punished. Dominick wasn't one of those shildren.

( Read more... )

kevin_standlee

Hey, look: Kayla made a public entry, in her role as Westercon 77 (2027) Site Selection Administrator. I'm still the lead maintainer of Westercon.org, so I posted the announcement after she worked out the wording with her deputy and got sign-off from the Santa Clara in 2027 bid. I guess eventually I should have her sign up for an account on the website so I can hand that job over to her as well.

Current Mood: accomplished
Current Location: Fernley, Nevada

kayla_allen

As some of you know, I've been appointed to run the 2027 Westercon (Westercon 79) Site Selection election that will take place at Westercon 77/BayCon 2025 this year. Initially, it did not look like anyone was going to bid, but it turned out that I'd misunderstood what a potential bidder was telling me. We had a discussion, they provided the necessary paperwork, and I decided that in the interest of fairness since I made a mistake, and with nobody being harmed (nobody else had filed or even expressed an interest), that we could consider their bid filed in time.

Here's the Formal Announcement that Santa Clara in 2027 is on the ballot.

One of the good things about this delay is that we worked out a way to allow people to vote other than on printed paper ballots any by sending paper checks. Once this year's hosting Westercon puts the mechanism for purchasing a "Voting Token" on their website, we'll publish the Westercon 79 Site Selection ballot on Westercon.org and ask Westercon 77 to send it to all of their members.

Current Mood: accomplished

boxofdelights posting in

wiscon

These #WisCon panels still need panelists:

We've lost some people and are looking for panelists on the below:

May 23 Fri7:00-7:45pm | Breathe the Pressure: Burnout and Recovery for Creatives

May 24 Sat10:00-10:45am | Pathways to Publishing

May 24 Sat4:00-4:45pm | Small Press Publishing

Please email [email protected] if you are able to participate!

leecetheartist posting in

drawesome

Title: She is so Blue

Artist:

leecetheartist

Rating: G

Fandom: N/A
Characters/Pairings: n/a

Summary: Blue mermaid
Content Notes: A mermaid, with her hair tied up and floating in the water. First painted as a silhouette in diluted blue, then details sketched in with high sheen and sparkly inks.

mific posting in

drawesome

Title: Steve MerGarrett on AO3
Artist:

mific
Rating: Teen
Fandom: Hawaii five-O
Characters/Pairings: Danny Williams/Steve McGarrett
Content Notes: Made in Procreate. Part of a cracky series for Mermay and the current Drawesome prompt, where I shoehorn "mer" into various characters' names.
Summary: "I don't swim, Steven."

ysabetwordsmith

Wild orangutans show communication complexity thought to be uniquely human

Researchers have found that wild orangutans vocalize with a layered complexity previously thought to be unique to human communication, suggesting a much older evolutionary origin.

All the great apes have more sophisticated linguistic capacity compared to other primates. I wonder how long it'll take scientists to figure out the rest.

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

The half-price sale in Polychrome Heroics is now open on LiveJournal. Donors, start your engines! :D

Current Mood: busy

dialecticdreamer

Morning Light
By Sarah Williams
Part 1 of 1, complete
Word count (story only):
[Landing #7, day 2]

:: Morning brings the Iblis back to the house, and a problem. Part of the Sidestep Travelers universe. ::

Backstep helped to clear the table after Gradmama served breakfast in heaping platters, and even a bowl of soup. “Thanks,” she whispered as she passed the elderly woman.

At the same moment, someone knocked politely on the front door.

Arthur Darius stared at Arthur. Arthur stared back at the older man.
( Read more... )

Current Mood: annoyed

billroper

It was back to work this morning. With some help from one of my coworkers, my new Linux VM is *almost* correctly configured. It is, at least, capable of being used to do work. :)

bitzsoii posting in

rainbowfic

Name: Battle of Wills
Story: Medicinal Love (Story 2: Vena Cava)
Colors: phlox #10 (Poinephilia: love of punishment) shocking pink #15 (half-smile)
Supplies and Styles: N/A
Word Count: 381
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: N/A
Summary: Hikaru puts a grumpy Aija in her place in the morning. (This seems to be the first of phlox. Can I have a tag for this color please?)
( You want to repeat yourself? )

kevin_standlee

For reasons that will be clear if you are subscribed to her DW account, I'm turning over further reporting about the laser hair removal to

kayla_allen. And really, this is not a bad thing.

If you're not following Kayla, you will need a DreamWidth account, because her posts are friends only, for reasons that I hope are obvious.

Current Mood: exhausted
Current Location: Fernley, Nevada

ysabetwordsmith

This poem is posted as a birthday present for Anthony Barrette.

"A Walking Song"

I walk in the morning, the sun at its rise.
I walk up the hill, and I there feast my eyes
On gardens and fields, and the grass growing green:
The loveliest sight that I ever have seen.

I walk in the midday, the sun at its peak.
I walk through the valley to find all I seek.
I pick the sweet berries, I taste the green leaves,
I gather the nuts underneath forest eaves.

I walk after lunchtime, the sun heading west.
I walk by the river, where fishing is best.
I catch a few catfish to hang on my string
And forage some cattails where young blackbirds sing.

I walk in the evening, the sun sinking low.
My baskets are full, and my heart is aglow.
The fireflies flicker, the fox and deer roam;
I walk down the hill toward the lights of my home.

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

These are some posts from the later part of last week in case you missed them:
Poetry Fishbowl Report for May 6, 2025
Unsold Poems for the May 6, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl
Poem: "A Lens of Ice"
Artificial Intelligence
Birdfeeding
Summer of the 69
Today's Adventures
Creative Jam
Birdfeeding
Philosophical Questions: Distance
Today's Adventures
Birdfeeding
Follow Friday 5-16-25: Heroes
Space Exploration
Hobbies: Jewelry Making
Photos: Cookie Jar Terrarium Part 2: Planting
Corruption
Gengineering
Birdfeeding
Economics
Fossils
Photos: Savanna and Prairie Garden
Photos: House Yard and South Lot
Poem: "The Delicate Balance of Mentoring"
How to Do Anything in 6 Steps
Birdfeeding
Photos: Sunset
How to Secure Trough Pots to a Bench
Good News

"Not a Destination, But a Process" has 133 comments. "The Democratic Armada of the Caribbean" has 85 comments.

There will be a half-price sale in Polychrome Heroics from Monday, May 19-Sunday May 25.

Three Weeks for Dreamwidth ran April 25-May 15. During this time, people post content only visible on Dreamwidth (although it can be reposted elsewhere after the event ends). There's usually a flurry of activity as bloggers share anchor posts, new fiction, icons, banners, questionnaires, friending fests, memes, and other goodies. Community hosts often hold special activities in their communities too. (See the introductory posts from 2022, 2023, 2024.)

Three Weeks for Dreamwidth April 25-May 15

Three Weeks for Dreamwidth April 25-May 15

This year during Three Weeks for Dreamwidth, I wrote about goal-setting frameworks for

newcomers.

Goal-Setting Frameworks
* Part 1: Introduction to Goal-Setting Frameworks
* Part 2: The 1-3-5 Rule
* Part 3: The 12-week Year
* Part 4: ABCS (Achievable, Believable, Committed, Specific)
* Part 5: Backward Goal
* Part 6: BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goals)
* Part 7: BSQ (Think Big, Act Small, Move Quick)
* Part 8: CLEAR (Collaborative, Limited, Emotional, Appreciable, Refinable)
* Part 9: Goal Pyramid
* Part 10: Golden Circle
* Part 11: GROW (Goal, Reality, Options, Way Forward)
* Part 12: HARD (Heartfelt, Animated, Required, Difficult)
* Part 13: KPI (Key Performance Indicators
* Part 14: MASTER (Measurable, Achievable, Specific, Transforming, Evolving, Relevant)
* Part 15: NCT (Narratives, Commitments, and Tasks)
* Part 16: OKR (Objectives, Key Results)
* Part 17: PACT (Purposeful, Aligned, Continuous, Tracked)
* Part 18: Tiered Goals
* Part 19: Theme Word
* Part 20: WISE (Written, Integrated, Synergistic, Expansive)
* Part 21: WOOP (Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan)
* Three Weeks for Dreamwidth Wrapup

"Babes in the Pineywoods is now complete! Bo-Art and Creamjeans say goodbye to the Pineyspooks.

The weather has been variable here. It was hot, then rainy, then milder. Seen at the birdfeeders this week: a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, several starlings, several catbirds, several blackbirds, several mourning doves, a pair of cardinals, two brown thrashers, a female goldfinch, a grackle, a blue jay, an adult fox squirrel, two young fox squirrels, and a skunk. Daffodils are done blooming. Columbine and lilies of the valley are winding down. Currently blooming: violets, dandelions, honeysuckle, alliums, Solomon's seal, pansies, violas, marigolds, petunias, red salvia, wild strawberries, verbena, lantana, sweet alyssum, zinnias, snapdragons, blue lobelia, perennial pinks, wood hyacinths, impatiens, oxalis, moss rose, pink peony, poppies, white peony, blackberries, irises, tomatoes. Mulberries and raspberries have green fruit.

Current Mood: busy

senmut

*\o/*	Word Count	Step Count	Headache?
Daily	486	8,349	no
Monthly	11,663	177,161	6 days

Current Music: "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)" - The Offspring

dialecticdreamer

I’m done! I made it! (I’m happy-dancing in my chair!)
( Read more... )

Current Mood: accomplished

donut_donut posting in

little_details

Hi! I'm writing a novel that takes place in the French Pyrenees (modern day), and I'm trying to figure out what plants to place in this fictional garden.

More info:
The novel takes place at a villa owned by a middle-aged bohemian lady who moved there from Paris maybe a decade ago. Gardening is her hobby. In the back of the house is a potager (vegetable garden), and I've got that covered. But the front of the house has a flower garden, and I don't know so much about that.

It doesn't need to be plants that are native to the region, but it has to be plausible that they would be available and could thrive there. It's summertime (late July-August), and I would like there to be flowers, because we often see her pruning the old blooms. I assume rose bushes would work, but I would love some other options to work with. I've been picturing something like hydrangeas or rhodedendrons, but I don't know how common they are in this environment.

Some kind of ornamental tree would also be nice, for a character cry under. A flowering tree or large bush would be nice but not necessary.

She has somewhat offbeat tastes, so anything off the beaten track would be great, but it has to make sense for the climate.

Thank you!

ysabetwordsmith

Today is sunny and mild.

I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, a catbird, a starling, and a young fox squirrel. I heard a blue jay screaming but didn't see it.

I put out water for the birds.

I put out the flats of pots and watered them.

EDIT 5/19/25 -- We went shopping. I have 2 new water pans for the giant pots, 4 new large-ish pots, and 2 bags of composed manure. I still need to get more of the Evergreen potting soil, though.

EDIT 5/19/25 -- I took a few pictures of flowers.

I've seen two young fox squirrels chasing each other.

EDIT 5/19/25 -- I trimmed grass where I will put one of the giant pots.

EDIT 5/19/25 -- I filled the giant pot with half composted manure and half potting soil, then planted a pot of 2 zucchini plants.

EDIT 5/19/25 -- I trimmed grass where I will put the second giant pot.

EDIT 5/19/25 -- I filled the giant pot with half composted manure and half potting soil, then planted a pot of 2 straightneck yellow squash plants.

EDIT 5/19/25 -- I watered the giant pots and the picnic table garden.

EDIT 5/19/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 5/19/25 -- I sowed Shithouse Marigold seeds in the new giant pots and several others that didn't already have marigolds.

I watered the marigold seeds and some other plants.

I saw the first bat of the season! :D

As it is now dark, I am done for the night.

Current Mood: busy

Friends Be Here

Building Power While The Lights Are Out: Disasters, Mutual Aid, and Dual Power

Birdfeeding

Alien Green #03, Warm Heart #09

Westercon News

Santa Clara Bids for 2027 Westercon

Panels needing panelists

She is so Blue

Steve MerGarrett

Orangutans

Half-Price Sale in Polychrome Heroics

Morning Light (part 1 of 1, complete)

Back to Work

Phlox #10 and Shocking Pink #15

2025: The Year of the Laser: Treatment 5 of 9

Poem: "A Walking Song"

Monday Update 5-19-25

Daily Check In

Magpie Monday Report for May 2025

Plants for Garden in the French Pyrenees

Birdfeeding

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May 2025

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