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highlyeccentric) wrote2025-06-15 07:59 pmListening Post: some things
Instagram has been feeding me a trickle of interesting indie protest-song creators lately.
Consider Jesse Welles, who seems to be able to come up with a new political song within a day of every new twist the Trump administration disaster show. I do somewhat prefer his less "breaking news" work, for instance:
There's Malört & Savior, who have this rather catchy little track. Although what really strikes me is that they seem to be a fairly new band, and cerainly this was put out in the past month - but they SOUND like they walked straight out of 2009.
And there's Rain McMey, who has a few bangers going back a few years now, but this one delights me:
Podcasts, assorted recommendations:
Fiction:
spikedluv) wrote2025-06-15 06:55 amThe Day in Spikedluv (Saturday, June 14)
For fun stuff I watched the current ep of Resident Alien and some HGTV programs, read some more Lily Adler, and sent more messages to mom. I also wrote ~550 words on a new fic.
Temps started out at 55.0(F) and reached 61.2. It was originally supposed to rain all day, but the forecast showed that the percentage was going to drop to very low after 9am, though we weren’t going to have any sun. And that’s sort of what happened; there were still sprinkles, but not a soaking rain. Still it was very chilly.
Mom Update:
Mom had been moved to the SCU when my sister, A, arrived this morning. She’s talkative and actually ‘eating’ her lunch (beef broth and Italian ice – still on liquid diet). My sister said she’s much more herself today, which is great news! She’s getting a roommate, which is not good news as we were hoping for a private room, but what can you do. They didn’t get her up to walk at all, so that must’ve been PT coming around yesterday, not just the nurse. It’s ridiculous that the patients get zero PT on the weekend. Seems like they'd lose some of the progress they made.
fred_mouse) wrote2025-06-15 01:20 pmTrain Touristing
The Thornlie line opened last weekend. We weren't in a position to go travel it last weekend, but artisanat, Youngest, and I went out to ride it yesterday. We discussed whether to go to the local station and do the loop (three trains) or to drive to Cockburn (the southern terminus; two trains) and go from there. In the end we decided that the local station was the better option. However, we could have timed things better, arriving at the carpark as the northbound train (not the one we wanted) arrived, and still being in the carpark when the southbound arrived.
What this meant was that Youngest had time to top up their smartrider at the station kiosk, and I was tempted by the (extravagantly expensive) GF Belgian Chocolate Cookie (by which it means a chocolate chip biscuit; I'm not sure whether the implication is that the chocolate chips are from Belgium, or there is some specific style of biscuit characterised as being from Belgium/made by someone with the last name Belgium). And then we sat in the sun on the platform for about 10 minutes, and I ate the biscuit (not bad, too heavy on the coconut).
The trip to Cockburn was uneventful, but we did talk about the train line, and the upcoming tunnel. I got to see scenery I don't often, because usually I'm taking the train north.
It is a little frustrating that we arrived at Cockburn to see the Thornlie line train departing (in terms of directions and terminology: both the Mandurah and the Thornlie lines go Cockburn to Perth; the former directly north, and the latter east to the Armadale line and then north-west. For the Mandurah line Cockburn is an intermediate stop, for the Thornlie it is the terminus). It did mean that we had time to explore. Platform 3 has been added north of the combined platforms 1 and 2; it has a fence on the west side, such that the northbound Mandurah trains are Right There. We took a few photos of the information sign with different subgroups, and then I wandered up and took a photo from the north end looking at the points (because there are three tracks at that point)
Our train arrived, and we embarked. The first section, up the freeway, is exactly the same. I haven't looked at the distances, but maybe a couple of km? and then we get to the split, where the Mandurah line goes up and over, and the Thornlie line goes through at tunnel that curves to the east. To my memory, this tunnel has been there since this bit of freeway was built, because the freight trains go through there. And from there we got to see bits of the back end of Jandakot, Canning Vale, Thornlie. We could just about see tiki-wanderer's* house.
The first (most southern) of the Armadale line stops that the line goes through is Beckenham, which gave us quite a different perspective -- this is one of the stations that has been raised, and is very new and swish. The line is raised quite a lot of the way from there to Burswood--this has been the redevelopment project that means that the Armadale line has been closed for roughly 18 months at this point (and it is great. there are zero level crossings in that area making life a nightmare for people during peak hour and school drop off and pick up times). All very exciting and I very much enjoyed the view out on the city (greater metro).
Once in the city we decided to womble a little bit, rather than just going for the next train home (we could have made it; the signboard said 6 minutes, and it is possible to get from platform 3 to platform 1 in that time. according to the journey planner it is about 330m). We had a wander through Forrest Chase, took a detour into Myer to use the loos (because there are zero actual public loos in that space. even the ones we used to use at the west end of the platform aren't there any more, which sucks), and bought a small amount of sushi (passable. expensive. my salmon and avocado appeared to have more mayonnaise per volume than avocado).
And then home again. At which point I needed a lie down. It was exhausting, but I'm glad I did it. I have some photos, and I might remember to do something with them, but I'm making no promises.
(I do not have a train icon. this seems like an oversight).
* I originally had this tagged as a username, but comes up as doesn't exist. Have I misremembered the name? was that their LJ name and they never moved to DW? I do not have the oomph to work this out.
shadowkat) wrote2025-06-14 09:46 pmNo Kings Day...2025
Over 11 million or 3.5% of the population showed up in the US alone [as reported by Alt National Parks and those who counted on the ground and provided reports as they happened - they use drones, and handcounters apparently, and multiple by size of crowd and square footage of the area], more than any other protest on record in the United States. They marched in solidarity and peacefully. Waving signs. They marched in the rain. It was pouring in New York City and in the seventies. They marched in scorching heat, across the Southwest and in California and in Florida, and Mississippi, and Texas. Veterans marched up the Capital Steps, and elderly women from nursing homes came out in their wheelchairs and canes and walkers, to march in their small communities. They stood on sidewalks in Metropolitan DC waving signs, and along highways, in towns. They formed signs with their bodies along the beaches of California. And in Mountain Towns they shouted down the slopes. They came out in droves. Filling city blocks for as far the eye could see.
All chanting. No Kings. Impeach. Remove. This is What Democracy Looks Like.
From sea to shining sea. Every single State across the country showed up and protested the wannabe king. Every one.
While very few attended the military parade, which had prepared for 200,000 and got maybe 10,000 if that. And many were people protesting it, discreetly.
NYC outdid itself, with about 25,000 by 9 am, after noon, it had risen to well over 50,000, among the largest protests in its history astonishing those who've gone to them. San Francisco got creative and made Human Banner that can be seen from the sky ...
The police stood silently by. Some helped and marched with them.
They protested in small towns across America. They protested on Long Island. They protested in Alaska. They protested in Boise, and they protested in Grand Rapids. They protested in Arizona and in Texas. They protested in Nashville, Tennessee, and Talahassee, Florida. They protested in Red States and in Blue States. They came out rain or shine.
The people came and stood shoulder to shoulder, shouting and waving signs.
No Kings! No Kings! No ICE! Everyone is legal here! This is what true Democracy Looks Like!
And those of us who watched, cheered them on, and were there in spirit if not in body.
Links:
NBC NEWS - No Kings Day Protests
ABC NEWS - No Kings
https://www.lohud.com/story/news/2025/06/14/livestream-video-of-no-kings-protests-from-across-the-us-how-to-watch/84200645007/
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/no-kings-day-demonstration-protest-rally-trump-military-parade/
scriggle) wrote2025-06-14 02:57 pmThings I did today
I went to the No Kings protest in my town. Turnout was great. I was talking to one of the volunteers and she estimated there were over 500 people. Although I have to say, where are the young people? Probably 95% were 40+. And of those most were 60+. I talked to one group and they told me they protested the war during the 60s & 70s. If there were more than 50 people in their 20s, I'd be amazed.
I also stopped by the Farmer's Market (first one of the year) and bought a half pound of divers scallops. I'm going to simply sear/pan fry them for dinner.
I have successfully made Italian pastry cream. Go me! I have frozen puff pastry shells to bake and fill.
Not something I did today but I had been looking for something to plant where a blue spruce used to be. The spruce blew down in a micro-burst probably 15 years ago now. I wanted something that would be pretty but wouldn't get huge. So last week, my nephew and his wife got me Japanese Maple for my birthday.
( look at the pretty little tree )
shadowkat) wrote2025-06-14 12:18 pmSigh
The lyrics feel ironic now. More so then they did in 2015, which is saying something I guess.
Particularly the Mad King's refrains.
I've considered getting tickets to see it live. But I'm not sure I can sit for three hours in those seats?
Slept fitfully at best. Sciatica down both legs was bothering me due to IBS issues. Doctor referred me to physical therapy - but there's little a physical therapist can do about a sciatica resulting from IBS and knee issues resulting from arthritis. (I should know - I've seen physical therapists five to six times, about every five years it seems, sometimes every two. Not even sure my insurance will cover it now.) I know which exercises to do. I have six different analgesic creams. No, my problem is IBS, which has pretty much always been my problem.
I feel this need, after being on various social media platforms this morning and yesterday, to remind folks to be mindful, to be kind, and just because they can walk about and march and protest, doesn't mean everyone can or feels capable of it. There's something about posting on the internet that brings the self-righteous bully out in folks? I get that we may to persuade everyone to join us? But be mindful that not everyone can do the same things.
Found this excellent piece of advice on Face Book:
Yesterday, while taking my walk at lunch - largely to walk out the sciatic nerve and cricks in my knees and legs - I stumbled upon a large crowd hollering and clapping and cheering in front of the Staten Island Ferry Terminal. This area attracts a lot of New York Street Performers - due to the fact that it is a large and for the most part unencumbered plaza.
So I found a portion of the crowd that was rather thin, and less rambunctious, and peer through the people to see what was happening. At the center of the crowd was a little girl, pale freckled skin, pink palsy shirt, and jeans, bent over and very still. Brownish blond hair sweeping down on either side of her face. She moved every once and a while, to lift her head. People were clapping near her, and there was a line of white men of varying sizes and ages lined up in her realm of vision - they may have been family members, most had beards, and were relatively young and sturdy and looked for the most part like tourists. Next to them was a man with dreadlocks, dark skin, and bright colored red and orange and black t-shirt and shorts, clapping and getting them to clap as well. As the crowd complied and clapped as well, cheering, music roared to life, and then another man in dreadlocks and a similar outfit, ran and did an acrobatic flip over the little girl's head.
I cringed, and walked away. Unsettled. I'm certain they wouldn't hit her - or come close. She's probably perfectly safe. But I found the whole thing oddly unsettling all the same.
Off to do stuff. Here's a picture:
neekabe) wrote2025-06-14 12:17 pmEyes are stupid
Also occasionally I wake up with pain like something is in my eye, but it always resolved quickly and I figured it was just like... eye crusties or something irritating in the morning. I occasionally used drops for dry eyes and just decided it was a body thing
But in the past two weeks I noticed a significant decline in my left eye and usually my eyes get worse at a nice slow predictable pace until I'm like 'I think I used to be able to see that?' and schedule an appointment. Or I hit my usual 2 year insurance cycle.
Right now time the right eye is still fine, but the left eye is blurry at all distances, so I took myself to the eye doctor who said 1. I have dry eyes and I should be using said drops more often than 'occasionally' and 2. There is some variation on the surface of the eye that's causing the fun new blurryness and increase in astigmatism. He's not worried about it but is going put in a referral for a specialist to make sure it's not early signs of something.
The fun bit is that the eye drops and possible treatment will likely improve my prescription from the one I got yesterday, though not resolve it entirely (he was hesitant to say it's permanent, but I am expecting my eyes to just slowly degrade over my life so it's not that terrible). But I can't actually focus with one eye now and I'm getting noticable astigmatism shadows, like someone has copied an image and shifted it an inch or so with fainter opacity. Which is annoying. So I'm debating getting a cheap online pair of glasses for like however long this is going to take and then paying proper funds for actual glasses once it settles? I'm not sure.
But last night I put in special thick nighttime eye drops and woke up without pain. So now I have another step to my nighttime routine to go along with the mouthguard for teeth grinding and moisturizer to keep my face and hands from drying up and falling off, and my bonnet to keep my curly hair in some reasonable condition... *sighs*
spikedluv) wrote2025-06-14 07:24 amThe Day in Spikedluv (Friday, June 13)
I did a load of laundry, the usual amount of hand-washing dishes, and scooped kitty litter. I made it to the library to return and pick-up a book. I started a new book (the first Lily Adler one), watched the current ep of Murderbot, and sent mom another message. I hope she enjoys them when she’s home and sees them.
I picked up my car from the garage this morning when I dropped off Grant. I forgot to mention it in yesterday’s post, but just when I pulled out on the main road to head to the hospital it started acting up. (Thank goodness I leave early to make sure I can find parking. And thank goodness Pip has a used car he can lend me.) It bucked and sent the dreaded ‘reduced engine power’ message, along with the ‘service stabilitrak’ and ‘service traction control’ messages I’ve gotten before. This time Pip replaced the gas pedal, of all things. He said there are two sensors in the gas pedal and they weren’t lining up. It drove well today, so hopefully that’s the fix.
I also haven’t mentioned that a bird, a killdeer, built a nest in our driveway. At first we spotted the male dancing around trying to attract a female. Then the male chased Pip one day and we joked that he might have a nest nearby. Then we saw the female sitting in our driveway forever, and it turns out, they did have a nest in the driveway. Seems like a weird place to build a nest, especially with cats and dogs living here, but what do I know, nature is weird. I got photos of the female and the eggs when she was off the nest one time.
Photos
~*~ 
Additionally! On the drive to the hospital I pass a house that has a bunch of irises on their front lawn. Solid dark purple and solid pale yellow. They’re gorgeous and they look so pretty together.
Temps started out at 54.1(F) and reached 73.6. It was hazy most of the day. We’re supposed to have more rain tomorrow.
Mom Update:
Mom was much better today. ( not long, but cutting for those who don’t want to read it )
fred_mouse) wrote2025-06-14 06:11 pmTumblr poll
Over on tumblr, there is a new gimmick poll blog, for the sexiest (male; sorta) 80s rock star. They took submissions from wherever, but that was before I saw the blog, so I don't know the details, but I've seen Australia, NZ, USA, (possibly) Canada, UK, and at least two European countries represented (I'm reasonably sure Sweden and Germany, but ah, memory like a thingy).
Anyway, there is a Lot of nostalgia happening.
Each poll has two people, I have to pick the 'sexiest'. Some of them I recognise, sometimes I recognise the name or the band but couldn't have picked the photo out of a line up. Some I'm entirely voting for either the hair (so many fabulous hair styles), the make up, or because they were in a band that I remember a friend being absolutely gaga over. Occasionally I'm picking someone because I look at the alternative and say 'oh hell no'. Very few of these people do I consider to be 'sexy'. But I'm going to be Pissed if Prince doesn't make it to at least the last round, because I'm not sure I've seen any better options.
But I'd like to reiterate: the hair! Such a loss that such fabulous hair styles have been abandoned.
umadoshi) wrote2025-06-13 04:21 pmHeat pump repair | Random ebook pricing weirdness
scruloose found a heat pump-servicing company that would do the repair etc. under our warranty from the manufacturer. A service tech turned up on Wednesday (!) at the time he said he'd be here (!) and assessed the situation, sourced the required parts locally (all three units needed their coils replaced, which the manufacturer apparently says was a known issue with models from that year that has now been fixed, so this theoretically shouldn't recur), and came back first thing yesterday morning to actually do the repair (and replace a noisy fan in the exterior unit). Labor and parts=all covered. Things seem to be working fine now. *knocks wood* It was a bizarrely good experience.The cats were unsurprisingly unimpressed about being corralled in the bedroom repeatedly (both to keep them underfoot and to minimize their covid exposure as much as possible, in addition to all the purifiers running and
scruloose rigging the airflow so that the bedroom was pressurized and the tech wearing an N95 mask the entire time), but were mostly polite about it and appreciated the treats they got afterwards.I just went poking around in the Kobo listings for Adrian Tchaikovsky ebooks, and stumbled over the fact that there's an ebook (Terrible Worlds: Revolutions) collecting his three Terrible Worlds novellas, none of which I've read and one of which is on my wishlist. The collected volume is going for $7.99 Canadian. The individual novellas go for $10.99 each. [EDIT: Regular prices, in all cases.] I don't have a specific way in mind that I think this should be handled, but surely there are better ways to price/label/offer ebooks.
The poking around came after the ebook for Tchaikovsky's Service Model, which Ginny just read and liked, turned up on the on-sale list this morning, so this is also a PSA about that. (At least for the Canadian Kobo site.)
unicornduke) wrote2025-06-13 08:21 amergh
I have a cold.
My mom got sick early this week and spent the first part of the week sanitizing every surface but also just continuing to sit downstairs and breathe in the same room as the rest of us. Probably she got me sick even before that but who knows. I know she doesn't mask at the stores. Her cold manifested as incredible coughing and she went to the doctor about it yesterday. My cold so far is sore throat and vague tiredness.
I'm still working the register because I can't not. No one else can do the setup right now. Or that's not technically true, but my mom is involuntarily coughing and my dad is frantically planting pumpkins. I don't have any masks either. I've been running low and forgot to order more. I desperately wish I had some of the light medical masks but I haven't left the farm since Monday - before I felt sick. I've got all the windows and doors open on the RST and I'm sanitizing my hands...maybe my mom has some somewhere...
Thankfully, I have a new employee for the register. She's fantastic. She's a neighbor's teenage kid and she picked up the register work very quickly and is reliable. I'm so happy about it. We've got her working five hours a day, 4-5 days a week which frees me up to do farmwork. Or this week, probably go sleep.
*adds this to the irritation pile* mostly I'm too tired to be irritated to be honest. ha, my mom texted back, she does have light medical masks and will bring my some. just need to figure out if I'll be open tomorrow with the rain we've got coming
ETA: I feel way better about working now that I've got a mask, my N95s would be way to hard to talk through, my throat is not standing up well to all this talking
spikedluv) wrote2025-06-13 07:49 amThe Day in Spikedluv (Thursday, June 12)
I did a load of laundry, the usual amount of hand-washing dishes, and scooped kitty litter. I finished System Collapse, watched an HGTV program, and sent my mom some more messages.
Temps started out at 67.8(F) and reached 77.7. It was so nice out this morning, I got in a walk before I left to go visit mom.
Mom Update:
Mom was miserable today. ( more back here )
elainegrey) wrote2025-06-13 07:39 amChapter 4
We arrived in NC May 27th 2016, so have entered the tenth year here. And maybe chapter 4? The first two and a half years we were here were about clearing the overgrown property, getting a fenced area for the pets and the "orchard." Let's call that Chapter 1. Mom had her stroke in Dec of 2018. We still had some trees to plant in the orchard, but between Dec of 2018 and Mom's death June 1 of 2022, Mom's health and Grandmámá's health and care were constant concerns. I had a trip to Europe in there, and COVID certainly affected all those concerns for health fragile persons. I'm thinking of that as Chapter 2.
With Mom's passing i became focused on my health: i had just discovered the ADHD diagnoses of family members and realized it applied to me. A year later I had had my nose reshaped so i could breath through it, envisioning more energy from better breathing. I had a hard time recovering energy after the surgery. I finally pulled myself out of what i supposed to be depression, and then i was covered with spots. And so very tired. If this were fiction, the lethargy after surgery would be foreshadowing for the ITP diagnosis, and i can't imagine why ITP isn't the explanation for that low energy sense i had that year. Perhaps this third chapter ends with loosing two of our companions for the cross country move. It ends with Christine's sister becoming a widow, promising some change in her relationship with Christine. Part of Christine's desire to move here had to do with her relationship with Diana: i wonder how it will change. I hope it's a positive change.
I realize how different our experience of the political world was when we left California. NC's anti-trans "bathroom bill" was proposed or passed on the same day we closed on the house. Trump's position as presumptive nominee occurred as we were driving across country. I read the Doonesbury comics that are re-running George W era strips and feel horror at my nostalgic feelings for Rumsfeld.
My work world has changed in the third chapter: colleagues i was working with before we moved have left, including leadership changes that are beginning to reshape my work life. I hope i have the privilege of keeping my job until i want to leave. Were the world to continue as it has during my working life, i would retire in six years.
I am not optimistic. I think of the huge weight that sat on me in ... 1990? 1989? ... when i watched computer and climate scientists present their models of how climate would be in fifty years and the dreary and dim prospects they presented. Every presentation essentially ended with a list of aspects they didn't have included or that we didn't know that might make the impact less drastic. I walked away realizing i'd be in my early 70s. I did consider switching fields. I talked to someone doing acid rain research whose advice was that if you wanted to save the environment we needed advocacy and public opinion changed, not more research. He had apparently "gotten into trouble" by trying to advocate for change politically. His advocacy was used to turn against his research, implying it wasn't impartial. He was depressed and probably not a good person for me to turn to, but there it is.
I did not foresee the disaster of politics or the possibility of a tech change like generative and agentic AI. (OK the promise of "Agentic AI", something that could be a personal assistant has been promised by speculative fiction for ages.)
It seems like a new chapter. I dunno. One foot in front of the other.
elainegrey) wrote2025-06-12 08:42 pm(f&f)
B-- is at the hospice facility tonight, giving D-- a measure of rest from her worries as she keeps vigil with him. Christine returns tomorrow to to join D--.
petra) wrote2025-06-12 08:35 pmUS Politics: Transcending parody
Can we please fire the people scripting this season of the United States of America? Some of these choices are so asinine I think they're consulting genAI for their scripts, and no one is editing them.
Oh, wait, that's what the politicians are doing to make fucking laws.
I'm going to go read amnesia fic now and think, "I wish that were me."
lunabee34) wrote2025-06-12 09:16 amStranger Things recs
Steddie
Soulmate AU
Ink-Stained and Love-Filled series by writersagainstwritersblock
Steddie
Steve gets Eddie to tattoo him. Multiple times.
the shame is on the other side by scoops_ahoy
Steddie
Steve finds acceptance in a gay bar.
off-script series by pukner
Steddie
Steve figures out he's bi before Eddie figures out that he's gay.
lonely is the night by intrajanelle
Steddie
Get-together post-season two.
Since You've Gone Universe
Steddie
Post-Vecna, Steve is the one in a coma.