Books
Oct. 6th, 2025 04:32 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmith14 Ways to Celebrate & Take Action for Banned Books Week
From July 2021 to the end of the 2024 school year, PEN America recorded nearly 22,810 cases of book bans across 45 states and 451 public school districts.
These numbers represent a crisis of censorship that is only growing, especially targeting historically marginalized voices that share stories and lived experiences of racism and LGBTQ+ oppression.
The most effective approach is to make it illegal to ban books. An effective tactic is to point out how much time and money it will save. People in office may care fuckall about civil rights or reading, but they are probably tired of hearing het up soccer moms whine about a book with two boys kissing.
From July 2021 to the end of the 2024 school year, PEN America recorded nearly 22,810 cases of book bans across 45 states and 451 public school districts.
These numbers represent a crisis of censorship that is only growing, especially targeting historically marginalized voices that share stories and lived experiences of racism and LGBTQ+ oppression.
The most effective approach is to make it illegal to ban books. An effective tactic is to point out how much time and money it will save. People in office may care fuckall about civil rights or reading, but they are probably tired of hearing het up soccer moms whine about a book with two boys kissing.
Monday Update 10-6-25
Oct. 6th, 2025 03:02 pmysabetwordsmithThese are some posts from the later part of last week in case you missed them:
Esbat
Shopping
Birdfeeding
Space Exploration
Today's Adventures
Birdfeeding
Philosophical Questions: Money
Today's Cooking
Gaming
Friday Five
Birdfeeding
Activism
Follow Friday 10-3-25: Japan / Japanese
Gender Studies
Birdfeeding
Hobbies: Seatweaving
Fall Festival Bingo Card 10-1-25
Moment of Silence: Jane Goodall
Birdfeeding
Cuddle Party
Food has 51 comments. Affordable Housing has 51 comments. Robotics has 73 comments.
There will be a Poetry Fishbowl on Tuesday, October 7 with a theme of "Witches and Wizards."
"An Inkling of Things to Come" belongs to Polychrome: Shiv and needs $200 to be complete. Shiv attends the first session of his Worldbuilding class.
The weather has been sweltering again, but today is slightly cooler. Seen at the birdfeeders this week: a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, a wren (possibly a Bewick's wren or Carolina wren), and a fox squirrel. I heard a blue jay screaming but didn't see it. The migration is heavily impacted -- we drove past the lake recently and there was no sign of waterbirds, whereas normally this time of year there would ducks, pelicans, etc. in fairly large flocks. I saw a huge corn devil in the field across from us that was harvested recently. Currently blooming: dandelions, marigolds, petunias, red salvia, verbena, lantana, sweet alyssum, zinnias, snapdragons, blue lobelia, perennial pinks, oxalis, moss rose, firecracker plant, tomatoes, tomatillos, yellow squash, zucchini, morning glory, chicory, Queen Anne's lace, sunflowers, cup plant, cypress vine, sunchokes, sedum, violas. Tomatoes, ball carrots, and groundcherries are ripe. Fields are about half harvested.
Esbat
Shopping
Birdfeeding
Space Exploration
Today's Adventures
Birdfeeding
Philosophical Questions: Money
Today's Cooking
Gaming
Friday Five
Birdfeeding
Activism
Follow Friday 10-3-25: Japan / Japanese
Gender Studies
Birdfeeding
Hobbies: Seatweaving
Fall Festival Bingo Card 10-1-25
Moment of Silence: Jane Goodall
Birdfeeding
Cuddle Party
Food has 51 comments. Affordable Housing has 51 comments. Robotics has 73 comments.
There will be a Poetry Fishbowl on Tuesday, October 7 with a theme of "Witches and Wizards."
"An Inkling of Things to Come" belongs to Polychrome: Shiv and needs $200 to be complete. Shiv attends the first session of his Worldbuilding class.
The weather has been sweltering again, but today is slightly cooler. Seen at the birdfeeders this week: a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, a wren (possibly a Bewick's wren or Carolina wren), and a fox squirrel. I heard a blue jay screaming but didn't see it. The migration is heavily impacted -- we drove past the lake recently and there was no sign of waterbirds, whereas normally this time of year there would ducks, pelicans, etc. in fairly large flocks. I saw a huge corn devil in the field across from us that was harvested recently. Currently blooming: dandelions, marigolds, petunias, red salvia, verbena, lantana, sweet alyssum, zinnias, snapdragons, blue lobelia, perennial pinks, oxalis, moss rose, firecracker plant, tomatoes, tomatillos, yellow squash, zucchini, morning glory, chicory, Queen Anne's lace, sunflowers, cup plant, cypress vine, sunchokes, sedum, violas. Tomatoes, ball carrots, and groundcherries are ripe. Fields are about half harvested.
Food
Oct. 6th, 2025 02:05 pmysabetwordsmithFruit might be the surprising key to healthier lungs
Eating more fruit could help protect lungs from air pollution damage, particularly in women. Researchers point to antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds in fruit as possible defenses against harmful airborne particles.
Fruit also includes many valuable nutrients such as vitamin C.
Of course, it would be better to avoid putting pollution into the air in the first place, or failing that, to live somewhere with lower pollution and more trees to filter the air -- and hey, you could make them fruit trees!
Eating more fruit could help protect lungs from air pollution damage, particularly in women. Researchers point to antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds in fruit as possible defenses against harmful airborne particles.
Fruit also includes many valuable nutrients such as vitamin C.
Of course, it would be better to avoid putting pollution into the air in the first place, or failing that, to live somewhere with lower pollution and more trees to filter the air -- and hey, you could make them fruit trees!
Birdfeeding
Oct. 6th, 2025 01:49 pmysabetwordsmithToday is mostly sunny and hot.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 10/6/25 -- I did a bit of work around the yard.
EDIT 10/6/25 -- I watered the septic garden and the new picnic table garden.
I picked a few groundcherries.
EDIT 10/6/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 10/6/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 10/6/25 -- I watered the irises and the patio plants.
EDIT 10/6/25 -- I watered the new picnic table, telephone pole garden, and savanna seedlings.
EDIT 10/6/25 -- I did a bit of work around the yard.
I bagged up the last of the Ginger Gold apple seeds to cold-stratify in the fridge.
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.
EDIT 10/6/25 -- I did a bit of work around the yard.
EDIT 10/6/25 -- I watered the septic garden and the new picnic table garden.
I picked a few groundcherries.
EDIT 10/6/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 10/6/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 10/6/25 -- I watered the irises and the patio plants.
EDIT 10/6/25 -- I watered the new picnic table, telephone pole garden, and savanna seedlings.
EDIT 10/6/25 -- I did a bit of work around the yard.
I bagged up the last of the Ginger Gold apple seeds to cold-stratify in the fridge.
As it is almost suppertime, I am done for the night.
Esbat
Oct. 5th, 2025 08:54 pmysabetwordsmithTonight we did our esbat ritual on attracting new folks to the coven. We used the intention board, which has a "seed of life" motif and different labels that can be added. It's kind of the mystical equivalent of a breadboard in science -- something you can plug in different things to generate diverse effects. :D
Shopping
Oct. 5th, 2025 05:13 pmysabetwordsmith52 Best Self-Care Gifts for Peak Pampering
We all know someone who deserves a little pampering. Actually, we all are someone who deserves a little pampering.
Meaningful self-care goes beyond a simple bubble bath or at-home facial (though, those are really nice, too), and we all need support and resources to maintain self-care routines that truly benefit us.
If you’re looking to be that support for someone else, self-care gifts can make a major impact.
Take care of yourself and those you love.
We all know someone who deserves a little pampering. Actually, we all are someone who deserves a little pampering.
Meaningful self-care goes beyond a simple bubble bath or at-home facial (though, those are really nice, too), and we all need support and resources to maintain self-care routines that truly benefit us.
If you’re looking to be that support for someone else, self-care gifts can make a major impact.
Take care of yourself and those you love.
Birdfeeding
Oct. 5th, 2025 02:47 pmysabetwordsmithToday is mostly sunny and hot.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 10/5/25 -- I did a bit of work around the yard.
I picked a handful of groundcherries.
EDIT 10/5/25 -- I watered the patio plants.
I picked another handful of groundcherries.
I've heard a bluejay screaming but haven't seen it.
EDIT 10/5/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 10/5/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 10/5/25 -- I watered the new picnic table garden.
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 10/5/25 -- I did a bit of work around the yard.
I picked a handful of groundcherries.
EDIT 10/5/25 -- I watered the patio plants.
I picked another handful of groundcherries.
I've heard a bluejay screaming but haven't seen it.
EDIT 10/5/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 10/5/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 10/5/25 -- I watered the new picnic table garden.
I am done for the night.
Space Exploration
Oct. 4th, 2025 10:48 pmysabetwordsmithNew rocket fuel compound packs 150% more energy
A new boron-rich compound, manganese diboride, delivers much higher energy density than current solid-rocket materials while remaining stable until intentionally ignited. Its power comes from an unusual, strained atomic structure formed during ultra-hot synthesis, with promising uses beyond propulsion.
Honestly, I'm FAR more impressed by the stability than by the power boost. Making things go "boom" is easy. Making wait until you tell them to go "boom" is much harder. One of the biggest risks in space exploration is the fuel itself -- says the person who has seen a lot of model rocket mishaps.
A new boron-rich compound, manganese diboride, delivers much higher energy density than current solid-rocket materials while remaining stable until intentionally ignited. Its power comes from an unusual, strained atomic structure formed during ultra-hot synthesis, with promising uses beyond propulsion.
Honestly, I'm FAR more impressed by the stability than by the power boost. Making things go "boom" is easy. Making wait until you tell them to go "boom" is much harder. One of the biggest risks in space exploration is the fuel itself -- says the person who has seen a lot of model rocket mishaps.
Today's Adventures
Oct. 4th, 2025 10:01 pmysabetwordsmithToday we went to the Second Annual Fall Fest at the Milk & Honey Coffeehouse in Mattoon. Here are some pictures from the event.
( Read more... )
( Read more... )
Birdfeeding
Oct. 4th, 2025 01:05 pmysabetwordsmithToday is mostly sunny and sweltering.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 10/4/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 10/4/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
I heard a bluejay screaming but didn't see it.
EDIT 10/4/25 -- I watered the irises, telephone pole garden, and a few of the savanna seedlings.
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.
EDIT 10/4/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 10/4/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
I heard a bluejay screaming but didn't see it.
EDIT 10/4/25 -- I watered the irises, telephone pole garden, and a few of the savanna seedlings.
As it is almost suppertime, I am done for the night.
Philosophical Questions: Money
Oct. 4th, 2025 03:01 amysabetwordsmithPeople have expressed interest in deep topics, so this list focuses on philosophical questions.
Should tax payers have the option to explicitly say what they don’t want their tax dollars spent on?
( Read more... )
Should tax payers have the option to explicitly say what they don’t want their tax dollars spent on?
( Read more... )
Gaming
Oct. 3rd, 2025 08:34 pmysabetwordsmithIn new heist video game, players return museum artifacts stolen from African countries
Set in the late 21st century, the game follows Nomali, a fast-thinking, acrobatic leader who assembles a crew of ordinary citizens-turned-thieves.
Their mission: to reclaim 70 real-life African artifacts from Western institutions and return them to their rightful homelands.
I am amused. :D And there are so many other cultures that could design similar games to retrieve their own artifacts. See, this is what we get from diverse game developers: new game plots instead of rehashes.
Set in the late 21st century, the game follows Nomali, a fast-thinking, acrobatic leader who assembles a crew of ordinary citizens-turned-thieves.
Their mission: to reclaim 70 real-life African artifacts from Western institutions and return them to their rightful homelands.
I am amused. :D And there are so many other cultures that could design similar games to retrieve their own artifacts. See, this is what we get from diverse game developers: new game plots instead of rehashes.
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Birdfeeding
Oct. 3rd, 2025 02:19 pmysabetwordsmithToday is partly sunny and sweltering.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 10/3/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 10/3/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 10/3/25 -- I watered the old picnic table and new picnic table.
I heard a squirrel chattering but didn't see it.
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.
EDIT 10/3/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 10/3/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 10/3/25 -- I watered the old picnic table and new picnic table.
I heard a squirrel chattering but didn't see it.
As it is almost suppertime, I am done for the night.
Activism
Oct. 3rd, 2025 03:50 amysabetwordsmithRecently I posted about the importance of how small actions can change the future. Here's an example: the Grapefruit Ladies.
Gender Studies
Oct. 2nd, 2025 10:10 pmysabetwordsmithThe Downside of Fertility
The fertility decline is everywhere in the world today. Moreover, the decline goes decades back in the histories of rich countries.
While not universal, this is a widespread trend. At the moment, it's great that fertility is falling because the human population is ravaging the planet. At some point, however, the population will need to stabilize. So it's good to think about factors that influence the number of births.
( Read more... )
The fertility decline is everywhere in the world today. Moreover, the decline goes decades back in the histories of rich countries.
While not universal, this is a widespread trend. At the moment, it's great that fertility is falling because the human population is ravaging the planet. At some point, however, the population will need to stabilize. So it's good to think about factors that influence the number of births.
( Read more... )