Want to join in? Respond to our weekly writing prompts, open to everyone.
Want to join in? Respond to our weekly writing prompts, open to everyone.
from An Open Letter
from thehypocrite
Doing so good. But now (1:07)… can’t sleep… and listening to all of these songs again. Music rewrites reality.
Like Paul said on the starship, There’s a melting acid fever streakin’ through my mind.
Straight to 88. Right to plaid. The phone booth is gummed & ringing. Circuits are primed and chevrons locked.
Your friends all want to hear you’re doin’ fine. And so do you.
And you are.
You are.
Because it simply must be.
What the hell else is there but to be just fine?
Magnets to the soul are unshieldable, only magnificate, magnificate, magnification.
Must grow taller, learn to survive.
There is no corner lonely enough, no ocean vast enough, to escape who we really are.
It’s a simple choice to walk against the wind and hold out hope that the loved get only the best. Work for everyone we love.
The advice to starve a feeling seems reasonable enough. But how do you fold a flood and put it in a drawer?
Does it not spill out upon the cedar floor? No, you cannot put out a fire which can start and burn itself.
First, irridescent. Then, transparent. Finally, Just absent.
God bless the patient ones, and forgive all the rest.
willtherealslimhadypleasespeakup 🙊🙉🙈 #poetry #wyst #sxsw
from Diotima After Dark
I have been back writing a little, so to celebrate… here’s a new Questions No One Asked. I’m calling it NSFW but it’s probably mostly fine. Nothing explicit, just a few mentions of oversexed tieflings, weird preferences, and some super awful puns.
You have been warned.
#writing #nsfw #questionsnooneasked #ama
So, what’s your ideal partner? Vul.
I walked into that. Fine, what general traits do you look for in a partner?
I’m a bi, demi, sapio non-human introvert with trust issues. I mean, that like… gives you some ideas I hope? But if you’re confused… I like men and women, I need emotional connections, I connect best to smart people, I’m not human, I’m not super social, and I have issues trusting people.
And tbh I’m a snarky, salty bitch and apparently intimidating according to like, too many people. And I honestly can’t much be bothered most of the time so my default is undersexed and overhorny.
So let’s try this. What kind of boys do you like?
Oh. uh right. So the thing is, I’m like… new to liking boys? Well, I used to kind of like them but then I went on a low frat diet. You know, like, a vagitarian. I’ve not really been a fan of the bro-ffett. I-
OMG Dio, stop...
Ha ha ha fine. Okay like, all seriousness? I’m still experimenting and learning but like… mostly I’ve noticed boys that aren’t human. Like okay, you know Invincible? I think Allen is kind of hot, not gonna lie. It’s not just his look tho, I like his attitude and stuff. And obviously if you read my stuff, you know Runar is a vibe. So… right now, that means hench non-human boys, I guess?
So you’re into girls. What kind of girls?
I mean, lots of girls. So like… you might have noticed but I’m a little weird, so I like weird and edgy girls. Goth girls can be a vibe, but like… more scene and gamer and less existential crisis sorts. Smart, please always smart (I’ve dated not smart, I couldn’t stand it) and adventurers are totally necessary because seriously, adventurers dating non-adventurers doesn’t work well (again, tried it.) Looks I mean, I don’t know? As long as everything like, works well as whole person I am happy.
Anything weird?
What? What’s weird? Like tentacle girls or whatever? I mean, I dunno, I kind of have a thing for monster girls? Not like creepypasta weird stuff but… you know, cute ones? Like okay, you know Cherri Bomb from Hazbin? I like the look, she’s kind of cute. Yeah I know, I know, I’m going to end up ate by a stupid eldritch horror and not in a good way. Hey, whatever, I can’t help what I like. And TBH it’s not like I see many people like me outside of fiction so… what do you want from me?
So you’re not into humans?
I mean humans are fine, but they have this superiority complex that’s a pretty huge turn off. And getting told that I’m ‘cute for a tiefling’ is pretty much a permanent nope from me. But I mean sure, some humans might be appealing? But mostly they find me intimidating or scary, so I don’t bother.
But I’m not like… against them, I just don’t really find they’re into me.
What are your biggest turn-offs?
Bigotry, racism, sexism and all that are the biggest for me. I fucking hate bullies and all the ‘isms are just bullies. There are tons of small things, but those are the biggest.
Biggest turn-ons?
Not answering, figure them out!
from headchecks
earlier today, i put my skates on for the first time in 5 years
the tongue was stiff, my ankles tight, edges dull
no brakes, but i trusted myself that i wouldn't fall.
from Roscoe's Story
Prayers, etc.: * 05:00 – Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel * 06:00 – praying The Angelus * 07:15 – praying the Joyful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary, followed by the Memorare * 07:45 – Day 2 of 9 of the Immaculate Conception Election Novena * 10:10 – Thought for today from Archbishop Lefebvre: The means to become Christians and disciples of Christ are prayer, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the sacraments, and devotion to the Virgin Mary. Those are the principal means by which God gives us grace and transforms us. * 12:00 – praying The Angelus * 14:50 – prayerfully reading The Athanasian Creed, followed by today's Daily Meditation found in Benedictus Magazine. * 18:00 – praying The Angelus, followed by praying the hour of Compline for tonight according to the Traditional Pre-Vatican II Divine Office, followed by Fr. Chad Ripperger's Prayer of Command to protect my family, my sons, my daughter and her family, my granddaughters and their families, my great grandchildren, and everyone for whom I have responsibility from any demonic activity. – And that followed by the Monday Prayers of the Association of the Auxilium Christianorum.
Health Metrics: * bw= 212.85 lbs. * bp= 141/77 (66)
Diet: * 07:00 – ½ pb&j sandwich * 07:30 – 1 banana * 09:30 – bowl of yogurt * 11:20 – bowl of macaroni salad * 14:30- another bowl of yogurt * 16:20 – can of V8 juice
Chores, etc.: * 09:15 – bank accounts monitored * 10:30 – starting my weekly laundry * 11:00 – follow news reports from various sources * 13:00 – watch NFL+ Press Conference Show * 16:00 – follow news reports from various sources * 16:50 – tuned into live coverage of Trump's Rally in Georgia via RAV * 18:35 – tuned into the Westwood One Radio National Coverage of tonight's Monday Night NFL Game, Steelers vs Giants
Chess: * 10:00 – moved in all pending CC games
posted Monday, 2024-10-28 ~19:40 #DLOCT2024
from Roscoe's Quick Notes
Settling into a relaxing Monday evening, listening to the Westwood One Radio's Pregame Show, part of their National Coverage of tonight's Monday Night NFL Game, Steelers vs Giants. Kickoff scheduled for ~30 min. from now.
posted Monday, Oct 28, 2024 at ~6:45 PM #QNOCT2024
from govindasgarden
from G A N Z E E R . T O D A Y
“If you are ready to be ashamed of your own country, this is the first step towards freedom today.”
— Slavoj Zizek, How to become Free
#radar
from The happy place
at daycare when I was seven or thereabouts, I took a toy airplane with thin styrofoam wings and I broke them into pieces just because I wanted to feel them snap and crumble in my hands.
The childminder lady who was the mother of the child who owned that airplane didn’t like that. She got angry.
I don’t like being yelled at.
It couldn’t explain myself.
Once when I was at school at art school and I was a vegetarian, a weird girl who I used to be friends with who lived with her weirdly old father far away in the middle of nowhere, she spat on my food. It was pancakes. For class she once drew a big picture of an angel and a devil coupling “doggy style” (erotic), she wore dr. Martens and we were friends until we weren’t and she spat on my pancakes.
I shall try to remember more about this and for example what lead up to the incident with the spittle pancakes.
from thehypocrite
7pm – October 21, 2024
A coal train clacks and rumbles by. There is a break in the track And the wheels sound Like a drummers patter. Ratta-tat-tat Ratta-tat-tat
Ratta-tat-tat Ratta-tat-tat
This is a long one. 200 cars at least. All of this coal, How many centuries Or millennia did it take?
Ratta-tat-tat
And here is it Scraped from a mine in the east And shipped across a continent In days numbering few. Where are you going?
Ratta-tat-tat
An electric plant south of here? Certainly not to fill stockings Or warm homes.
What do they do When the plant calls and The answer is, ‘Sorry, we’re all out of coal.’?
Ratta-tat-tat
Do tvs and dishwashers Suddenly become paperweights?
Ratta-tat-tat
Will all those love songs No long inspire Expressions of passion? Will they only be written By daylight? By candlelight? Who will read in the dark, When passions are most Readily needed?
Ratta-tat-tat
At least painters will Suddenly have a place again. Only their pigments will Be berries and mud.
7am – October 22, 2024
This morning The train is now Far away. I can hear the whistle Through the darkness Howling its lone call. Not to gather, But to warn. It warns us all at how Modernity drives us apart Creating social barriers Through the constructs Of Technology.
3pm – October 25, 2024
Over the midday din Which includes the nearby Hammers of a roofing crew And some kind of excavator Two blocks from here I can hear the train still. It is only a rumble now. Like an undertow of sound Pulling my thoughts to what kind of cargo it must me moving.
Is it still coal? Or oil? Perhaps grain, or corn.
When last I saw that track It was a half-mile of war machines. Hummers and tanks and trucks. Containers full of something Designed to take life As efficiently as possible. Eliminating designated enemies While turning a tidy profit for everyone upstream. Ah, the wheels of industry. That is the sound the Train makes. Only most of the west can’t hear What it physically sounds like When those wheels do their business. That is a privilege for working class neighborhoods And of course, For those downrange.
| | |
#poetry #essay
from Telmina's notes
衆議院議員選挙投票日だった2024年10月27日(日)、すでに前日に期日前投票を済ませていた私は、私自身が運営するMastodonコミュニティの一つ「まいった~」の利用規約等を掲載する情報サイト「info.Mytter.jp」をリニューアルしておりました。
先日、私の新玄関口サイト「Telmina.net」を整備しておりましたが、そちらと同様、「info.Mytter.jp」につきましても、「Concrete CMS」を用いて再構築いたしました。
「まいった~」そのものが大規模志向と真逆の方針で運営しているコミュニティであり、元々そんなに多人数での利用を前提としていないのですが、それでも、コミュニティへの告知の効率化を図るべく、「Telmina.net」と同様にブログもどきの仕組みを導入し、さらに「まいった~」上の告知アカウント「 @MytterInfo@mytter.jp 」にも自動的に反映されるようにいたしました。
今週末には、同様のリニューアルを、リベラル(自由主義者)向けコミュニティ「LIBERA TOKYO」の情報サイト「info.LIBERA.tokyo」にも適用しようと考えております。ただ、そちらのほうは、単なるベタ移植ではなく、リベラル向けコミュニティにふさわしい仕組みを盛り込みたいとも考えております。まあ、その仕組みについては年明けになってからの実装になるかもしれませんが…。
「info.Mytter.jp」や「Telmina.net」についても、まだまだ改善の余地はありますので、時間を見計らって整備してゆきたいところです。
#2024年 #2024年10月 #2024年10月29日 #お知らせ #業務連絡 #infoMytterJp #ConcreteCMS #Concrete5 #Mastodon #マストドン #SNS #分散型SNS #Fediverse #Mytter #LiberaTokyo #infoLiberaTokyo
from Jake LaCaze
So many of us love tech yet have fallen out of love with the companies which comprise the tech industry.
But how can that be?
We're tired of tech companies exploiting our data.
'If you're not paying for the product, then you're the product' suggests you stop being a product once you start paying, but that's not always true. Often, we're paying to be the product as the tech companies mine and store our data. What are they doing with that data? What information is within that data? How secure is it? What happens to that data if the tech company shuts its doors?
Our tech products need to be separated from the companies themselves as much as possible. The tech companies should do as much as they can to limit the number of products that go offline if a tech vendor goes out of business.
For an example of what I mean, look at Fisker EVs, which are basically the largest and most expensive paperweights of all time, as they can't be used now that the manufacturer has filed for bankruptcy. To make matters worse, the cars can't even be ported to a new server.
This story shows one of the major flaws of SaaSification, as the SaaS model keeps tech products and services tied to the tech vendors.
DRM (digital rights management) via services like Kindle and Steam ensures you don't own media—you own only a license with little recourse if that license is revoked by the other party. (The tech vendor can likely remove the licensed product from your gadget without your knowledge.)
The right to repair the products you buy is increasingly at risk.
Apple has a long history of fighting right to repair. Then they endorsed it. Then they backtracked.
Even farmers aren't safe as John Deere made sure users couldn't repair their tractors without going through the approved channels. Farmers appear to have the right to service their own equipment for the time being, but who knows how long that'll last.
What are the implied rights of ownership? What rights do you enjoy, and which can you exercise?
These are only a few of the reasons people are now disenchanted with tech and are now skeptical of anything the industry is peddling.
At the end of the 20th century and early into the 21st, we fell in love with tech due to two chief promises: convenience and productivity.
On one hand, tech delivered in terms of convenience. But convenience didn't benefit only the user. It also benefitted the tech companies as new services made it more convenient to spy on customers and extract and exploit their data. If anything, gathering all that data made it easier for the tech companies to inconvenience us with wave after wave of personalized distraction.
But did tech make us more productive? That claim is called into question by assertions that the tech revolution increased productivity by only 0.5%.
And don't forget the promise of the cloud, which proposed simplifying operations by letting businesses outsource their tech infrastructure rather than maintaining it themselves. But more and more businesses are asking if the move off-site was worth it.
And now the tech industry insists we all need Generative AI. Don't get left behind, they tell us, but it's unclear what we're missing out on by refusing to adopt their over hyped, half-baked 'solutions'. Why should we trust tech when they say there's something for us to gain? For the companies rushing out to fuse generative AI into their processes, what's the total cost? What liabilities are they opening themselves up for? How will businesses stand out from their competitors while they're all using the same technology?
This criticism is not a call for Ludditism. It's not a call to go back to the 'good old days', back when mobile phones were in big bags and had to be plugged into your car's cigarette lighter port and cost $4 a minute to use. This criticism is instead a plea for the tech industry to work harder to deliver on more of its promises and stop certain practices (like the misuse of our data), which make our relationship with tech so adversarial.
Not so long ago, tech was fun and exciting and full of such potential. But it now feels like an industry devoid of any good ideas.
#tech
from ein sof
Peuple sale Peuple sable Cèdre & cendre D'amour & d'armes La langue me revient Tel un territoire & j'y plante des clous Y efface les frontières Je cultive un désert Dans chacun de mes soupirs Car j'appartiens au sable & mon sang retournera à ce sable Qui raye les cartes Enraye toute raison d'État Mais jamais je ne donnerai Mon souffle à ceux Ni des uns ni des autres Qui veulent faire Du sable un territoire Du drapeau un linceul
#image
from faithpeterson
As a neurodivergent professional, I've discovered that working with AI assistants offers unique advantages that complement and enhance our natural cognitive styles. While there are many benefits to this collaboration, one of the most powerful is how it supports self-awareness and metacognition – the ability to observe and understand our own thought patterns.
Traditional workplace environments often require neurodivergent individuals to constantly monitor and adjust their communication and work styles, leading to exhausting levels of self-censorship. Working with AI creates a unique opportunity: a space where we can express thoughts freely while developing greater awareness of our natural patterns, without judgment or social pressure.
This creates several powerful advantages: 1. We can observe our thought processes in real-time 2. We can practice metacognition without the cognitive load of masking 3. We can experiment with different approaches to managing our tendencies 4. We can make conscious choices about when and how to adapt our communication
For example, during a conversation with AI, you might notice yourself diving into a fascinating tangent and ask, “Is this relevant to our main topic?” This kind of real-time self-awareness, developed in a low-stakes environment, can transfer to other professional contexts.
Instead of self-censoring, use AI interactions to:
Example dialogue:
You: [After sharing a detailed exploration] I notice I've gone down an interesting path here – does this seem relevant to our main goal? AI: Let's look at how this connects. Would you like to capture these insights for later and refocus on the immediate objective?
Use AI collaboration to:
Work with AI to:
When we develop stronger metacognition through AI collaboration, we can:
The goal isn't just to work more effectively – it's to develop a deeper understanding of our cognitive styles and make conscious choices about how we engage with workplace requirements. This approach enables us to:
Remember: The aim is not to change your fundamental thinking style, but to develop awareness that empowers you to make conscious choices about how you engage with workplace requirements. This awareness can help reduce the energy cost of constant adaptation while preserving the unique strengths of neurodivergent cognition.
This guide was developed in collaboration with Claude, an AI assistant from Anthropic. After all, who better to ask about this powerful way of using generative AI?
#AI #Neurovirgence #Autism #ADHD
from faithpeterson
Working with AI can help support various cognitive styles that don't always align with traditional workplace expectations. This guide offers practical prompting strategies that can benefit anyone, followed by specific guidance for those who choose to explicitly incorporate their neurodivergent identity into their AI interactions.
For those who identify as neurodivergent and wish to incorporate this context explicitly into their AI interactions, you can enhance the above strategies with more specific prompting:
“Given my neurodivergent perspective, could you help me identify when I might be: – Going into more detail than needed for this audience – Shifting into divergent thinking mode – Moving away from the core topic while exploring interesting connections”
Remember: The goal of these prompting strategies isn't to change your thinking style but to create productive collaboration that honors your cognitive approach while meeting project needs. Whether you choose to explicitly mention neurodivergence or not, these prompting techniques can help create a more effective and comfortable working relationship with AI assistants.
AI collaboration offers unique opportunities to enhance communication effectiveness and professional output while honoring different cognitive styles. Whether you identify as neurodivergent or simply find traditional workplace conventions challenging, these prompting strategies can help create a more productive and authentic work experience.
The key is finding the right balance between leveraging your natural thinking style and meeting external requirements. With thoughtful prompting and consistent practice, AI collaboration can become a valuable tool for professional growth and workplace success.
The prompt examples in this guide were developed in collaboration with Claude, an AI assistant from Anthropic. The classification and organization of these prompts into categories for different needs and use cases was also done collaboratively with Claude.
#AI #Neurodivergence #Autism #ADHD
from BrittLeaPunch
Nebraska winters may be long and cold, but that doesn’t mean your garden has to be barren and lifeless. While many plants go dormant in the winter months, there are some hardy species that can withstand the cold and even bloom during this time, bringing a splash of color to the otherwise gray landscape. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just looking to brighten up your outdoor space, here are some winter-blooming plants to consider for Nebraska's chilly climate.
1. Hellebores (Helleborus spp.)
Also known as Lenten Roses, hellebores are one of the best options for winter interest in Nebraska. These hardy perennials are known for their ability to bloom in late winter to early spring, often pushing through the snow to show off their beautiful flowers. Their blooms range in color from white, pink, and purple to even deep maroon, adding an elegant touch to any winter garden.
2. Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis)
For a bright pop of color, Winter Aconites are a fantastic choice. These low-growing bulbs produce cheerful, buttercup-like yellow flowers in late winter, often before the snow melts. Winter aconites are great for naturalizing, meaning they can spread and fill in your garden over the years.
3. Witch Hazel (Hamamelis spp.)
Witch Hazel is a large deciduous shrub that blooms in late winter, providing a unique and fragrant addition to Nebraska gardens. Its spidery, ribbon-like flowers appear in shades of yellow, orange, and red, often before the leaves emerge in spring. Witch hazel is also known for its medicinal properties, and its branches add texture and interest even when not in bloom.
4. Snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis)
As their name suggests, Snowdrops are one of the earliest bloomers, often poking their delicate white bell-shaped flowers through the snow in late winter. These small but hardy bulbs are perfect for adding a touch of elegance to a winter garden and look stunning when planted in groups or drifts.
5. Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata)
For vibrant red color in the winter landscape, Winterberry Holly is a standout choice. This deciduous shrub loses its leaves in the fall, revealing clusters of bright red berries that last throughout the winter, providing both beauty and a source of food for birds. While it doesn’t produce flowers in winter, its bold berries offer eye-catching color against a snowy backdrop.
6. Camellia (Camellia japonica)
While Camellias are typically associated with warmer climates, there are cold-hardy varieties that can thrive in Nebraska’s winter. Known for their large, showy flowers in shades of pink, red, and white, camellias bloom from late fall to early spring, depending on the variety.
7. Mahonia (Mahonia aquifolium)
Also known as Oregon Grape Holly, Mahonia is a semi-evergreen shrub that brings year-round interest to your garden, including clusters of fragrant, bright yellow flowers in late winter. The spiny, holly-like leaves turn a beautiful bronze or purple hue in cold weather, adding further visual appeal.
8. Christmas Rose (Helleborus niger)
The Christmas Rose is another variety of hellebore that blooms in mid-to-late winter. Its beautiful, large white flowers can bloom through snow, offering a stunning contrast to the otherwise dreary winter landscape. Despite its name, the Christmas Rose usually blooms in late winter, closer to February, depending on the weather.
9. Cyclamen (Cyclamen coum)
Hardy Cyclamen species, such as Cyclamen coum, can bloom during winter and early spring, producing small, charming flowers in shades of pink, white, and magenta. Cyclamen’s attractive heart-shaped leaves also add interest to garden beds.
10. Cornelian Cherry Dogwood (Cornus mas)
The Cornelian Cherry Dogwood is a deciduous shrub or small tree that offers an early burst of yellow flowers in late winter to early spring. Its clusters of small, bright yellow blooms are a welcome sight during the colder months and can provide early nectar for pollinators.
Final Thoughts
Nebraska's winters can be harsh, but with the right plant choices, you can bring life and color to your garden even during the coldest months. Whether you're drawn to the bright flowers of hellebores or the striking berries of winterberry holly, these winter-blooming plants will keep your garden vibrant all year long. With a little planning and care, your winter garden can be as beautiful as your summer one!