Member Posts

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

Birdfeeding

Today is cloudy and chilly.

I fed the birds. I haven't seen much activity today though.

I put out water for the birds.

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

food

Today I made Crockpot Healthy Chicken Soup with the Mazyana Curry Spices. Other ingredients included butternut squash, onion, peas, and pearl couscous. It was okay, but not exciting. We did both like the pearl couscous as a soup / crockpot ingredient, which is good because we have most of a jar left. If I make it again, I'll add more flavor. Possibilities include increasing the curry powder, adding other seasonings such as a bay leaf or sage, and adding fresh garlic and/or ginger.

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

Sustainability

How Uruguay’s energy supply became 98% renewable

The fossil fuel industry likes to make out that it is a pipe dream to think that we can completely replace fossil fuels with alternative sustainable sources. But the example of Uruguay shows that it is not only possible but the transformation can be done in as short a time as five years.

Now that's impressive.

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

Family Skills

The end of marriage?

If marriage goes extinct, it will be because it deserves to.

All these factors converge on one result: increasingly, women are finding marriage unappealing. They see it as a ticket to second-class status where they're expected to subordinate their own lives and dreams to the desires of men.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

History

Corpse Roads and Coffin Stones

Corpse roads are paths over which one carries a coffin to its final resting place. Like crossroads, corpse roads are physical places with metaphysical properties, according to folklore. Such pathways are found all over the world, but the origin of corpse roads in Great Britain is a little more political than you might expect.

The post also includes prompts for stories set in such places. I agree that it is an unparalleled location for family drama, but that is not my best topic.

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

Poem: "Koinophobia"

This poem was written outside the regular prompt calls and posted as part of a swap with

janetmiles. It also fills the Questioning square in my 6-2-25 card for the Pride Fest Bingo. It belongs to the series A Poesy of Obscure Sorrows.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

Poem: "Nementia"

This poem was written outside the regular prompt calls and posted as part of a swap with

janetmiles. It belongs to the series A Poesy of Obscure Sorrows.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

Politics

Congress quietly strips right-to-repair provisions from US military spending bill

Congress has released the final version of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), and critics have been quick to point out that previously proposed rules giving the US military the right to repair its equipment without having to rely on contractors have gone missing.

The House and Senate versions of the NDAA passed earlier both included provisions that would have extended common right-to-repair rules to US military branches, requiring defense contractors to provide access to technical data, information, and components that enabled military customers to quickly repair essential equipment. Both of those provisions were stripped from the final joint-chamber reconciled version of the bill, published Monday, right-to-repair advocates at the US Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) pointed out in a press release.

Imagine that you are deep in enemy territory, your gear breaks, and you have no way to fix it.

Also, this greatly undermines everyone else's argument that once you buy something, it belongs to you, and you can do whatever you damn please with it. The military was the best argument for right to repair.

However, it offers a huge opportunity to any manufacturer who wishes to scoop market share. You sell the product with its user manual. Then for those owners who want to repair their own equipment, you sell spare parts and offer classes on maintenance and repair. People who want to repair things would logically buy from you instead of your competitors.

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

Birdfeeding

Today is cloudy, windy, and chilly.

I fed the birds. I've see a few sparrows and house finches.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 12/10/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 12/10/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 12/10/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

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

Current Mood: good
Current Music: Tyrannosaurus Rex - Unicorn (1969)

Entry tags:

The Friday Five for November 28, 2025

1. What were some of the smells and tastes of your childhood?
There was a very distinct smell at my Montessori nursery school. I associate it with the smell of that tacky putty stuff that you'd use to put posters up. It was bluish in color.

As far as tastes, ice cream cone cupcakes come to mind. I think of them as very 80s, and I'm pretty sure my mom made these for my second or third birthday party.

2. What did you have as a child that you do not think children today have?
Freedom from the influence of social media! I do not envy Gen Alpha. Shit's getting dark.

3. What elementary grade was your favorite?
It's hard to say, as I've always had a hard time in school... I can easily name the worst year I had in elemenrary school though – 5th grade (age 10-11)!

4. What Summer do you remember the best as a child?
The couple of Summers I spent at my dad's. I played a lot of PC games! My favorites were Lemmings games.

5. What one piece of advice would you give to your younger self, and at what age?
Deep question... The first thing that comes to mind is, "Accept yourself." ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

recurring posts

Good News

Good news includes all the things which make us happy or otherwise feel good. It can be personal or public. We never know when something wonderful will happen, and when it does, most people want to share it with someone. It's disappointing when nobody is there to appreciate it. Happily, blogging allows us to share our joys and pat each other on the back.

What good news have you had recently? Are you anticipating any more? Have you found a cute picture or a video that makes you smile? Is there anything your online friends could do to make your life a little happier?

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

Gaming

How a Board Game Exposed Barriers to Local Investment & Inspired Change

After facing constant roadblocks in opening a neighborhood cafe, an artist in Savannah, Georgia, created a board game that mimics the frustration of small-scale development. It was a wake-up call for local officials.

Games aren't just entertainment. They can be powerful tools for education and change.

Current Mood: calm

Entry tags:

The Friday Five for December 5, 2025

1. If you had to participate in one Olympic event, what would it be and why?
Basketball, or anything involving throwing a ball.

2. What is the one song you always sing along to?
There's way more than one! But just today, I was singing along to "Alone in Hollywood on Acid." Check it out:

Watch on YouTube

3. Do you wear a seatbelt in the car?
Yes.

4. Car, SUV or truck and why?
Truck! BIG truck! Because large vehicles feel (are?) safer, and you can move things – good for thrifting furniture and stuff!

5. Are you a good/bad driver? Explain.
I'm what they call a "passenger princess."

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

Questions

Wayfinding and sense-making in a fractured world

Many of my friends are now in the 30-something club and facing many of the same existential questions about life and our place in it.

Am I happy? What skills do I need in this changing world? Do I want kids? Should I even have kids, knowing about climate change? What does a meaningful life look like? Should I move closer to home to be with my parents while they’re still around? Should I quit my job and start a commune?

These are great questions, and in general, asking probing questions about your life is an excellent idea. If you're into that,

goals_on_dw is into its busy season December-January when lots of people look at their past year's accomplishments, contemplate their level of satisfaction, identify areas they'd like to improve, and set new goals for the future.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

Birdfeeding

Today is partly cloudy and cold.

I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches plus a male cardinal.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 12/9/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 12/9/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 12/9/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 12/9/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

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

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

Economics

The 50-Year Mortgage Was Always Coming.

When homes are priced beyond what local incomes can sustain, the system stretches the debt instead of fixing the root problem.

In most cases, a 50-year mortgage is outright fraud.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: accomplished

Entry tags:

Photos: Tuscola Winter Window Walk Part 2

This is the second part of the Tuscola Winter Window Walk. Begin with Part 1.

( Walk with me ... )

Current Mood: accomplished

Entry tags:

Photos: Tuscola Winter Window Walk Part 1

Monday we visited Tuscola so I could take pictures of the holiday window paintings. These were done by Libby Neathery of Libby Jo Art Studio and there are 22 in this year's batch. I did not find quite all of them but I came close. Despite changing the camera batteries right before we left home, I barely got through the two sides of the block with Flesor's Candy Kitchen before the batteries died, so we had to stop and get new ones. I did manage to finish photographing the rest of the windows we found. I love seeing local artists do things like this, because it encourages people to get out and look for them. A little slice of Terramagne! (Continue with Part 2.)

( Walk with me ... )

Current Mood: happy

Entry tags:

Today's Adventures

Today we visited Tuscola and Champaign for holiday activities.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

Entry tags:

Birdfeeding

Today is sunny and quite cold.

I fed the birds. I've seen a large mixed flock of sparrows and house finches plus a male cardinal.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 12/8/25 -- While we were out, we saw a small flock of white birds with long necks. They may have been swans or geese. Trumpeter swans are the largest of those found in Illinois and tend to hold their necks straight, which these were doing, and the juveniles are gray, which I also saw. Tundra swans are similar but smaller. The pictures of geese are stockier with much shorter necks, so I'm thinking we saw swans.