[User] ...it probably isn't reasonable for me to be angry about my husband replacing my favorite mug that he broke with a different similar mug that is exactly dissimilar in a way that I hate, right? Like, I know he was trying to make up for ruining a thing, but I wasn't mad about that... I am mad at this.

[Assistant] I think it's because I had decided, when I bought the mug he broke, to only purchase further ceramics that brought me joy. Ceramics are a thing I love, and I was looking forward to selecting ones as they spoke to me. This... Robbed me of that opportunity, and I would feel guilty discarding it.

[User] Which means now I am stuck housing an object that will bring me unhappiness every time I see it. Every time he has replaced a broken mug unasked, he has purchased new mugs that share a common element with the old one but that I nonetheless disliked and would not have purchased.

[Assistant] I don't WANT a cabinet full of mugs I hate! I don't care that it was only like $1.50 for the new mug, I don't WANT to put resources into amassing ugly, uncomfortable things without joy or memories attached to them. It's not just a thing to me, I don't want it replaced like it is.

[User] I feel this. I would probably use it to hold a plant outside or paint brushes on a shelf in the basement (wall painting, not art painting because that mug needs to bring joy 😂).

[Assistant]
I am asking my young college friend if their household could use it. After that I'll get more creative, but I want it entirely out of my house where it can't make me angry anymore.

I had done WELL at not overly mourning the loss of my favorite, until this non-identical interloper arrived.

[User] On the plus side, now my husband actually KNOWS about the whole ceramics thing I had been mulling over in my head the last six months or so, which to be fair I had not actually communicated to him before this. My love of ceramics he knew, my decision about acquiring stuff he wasn't fully versed in.

[Assistant] Maybe your husband loves you enough to “accidentally” break it so that you can buy another mug?


[User] When will I learn to stop buying white t-shirts? Been in the office 15 minutes and I already have a coffee stain 😒

[Assistant] Maybe a sippy cup when you next buy a white t-shirt? 🤣

[User] If only it were that simple 😭

[Assistant] Hahaha maybe one of those tipping ones so that it never falls over. 🤣


[User]
I was chatting with Twin2 at the weekend and telling him about the animals I'd seen in the Kruger National park when we used to live in South Africa.

Later he told Physical Husband that this was "like when you learn new backstory about a character in a show you're watching" and I...
(+)

[Assistant] ... thought that's just the perfect description for when you learn stuff about your parents that surprises you 😅

[User] so insightful 🥹 it is the perfect analogy!

[Assistant] You used to live in South Africa? 😮


[User]
COMMS DRAWN BY @camillethewiz.bsky.social !!!

Pieces featuring my original OC SorrowStriding Evrix! A brave and valiant knight of the Kvreni Empire, hailing from the greatly respected House Of Starlight! He was forcibly exiled for failing to protect his house lord (which was an assassination!)

[Assistant] His outfit in the first image is his house of starlight uniform but the cape has been blackened as a mark of shame. His outfit in the second is a more inconspicuous disguise of casual street wear so as not to immediately give himself away!

[User] His name SorrowStriding is his honor name, a name taken as a sign of great prestige to mark ones most legendary Deed! It comes from his dogged determination no matter how dire the odds no matter how grievous the injury he always gets back up to turn the tide of battle!

[Assistant] Of also special note is his eyes, most Kvreni show emotion with their eye colors! Evrix however has a special very rare condition of rainbow eyes of constant shifting emotions! It is spoken of in Kvreni legend as an omen of a hero destined to face great adversity.


[User] Some of you have been treated like absolute shite, and there is NO excuse for it. If a sexual partner makes you feel like crap for any reason other than you asking them to, please remember that you don't have to put up with it.

[Assistant]
It's not you, it's NEVER you.
You do NOT deserve it - no-one does.
You deserve to be happy and to be with someone who makes you happy - and if you like being called worthless or being humiliated than that's absolutely your choice, and a valid one, but on YOUR terms.

[User] If you've ever (unwillingly) been made to feel like you should be grateful that someone slept with you or spends time with you, then that's toxic AF. Yes, Doms might be all "say thank you for the orgasm I permitted you" but that still should be with your consent.

[Assistant] Please, if you aren't enjoying your sex life, make some changes. You're worth it.


[User] Mike Pence is not going to resign and if he did Paul Ryan would not become the Vice President. Read a textbook.

[Assistant] Knowing stuff is basically the only leg up we have on these goons.

[User] If the VP resigns the President chooses a new one with consultation and approval from congress. It's not linear succession all the way down.

[Assistant] Also lol at me saying all this as if I didn't learn it from an episode of The West Wing.


[User]
Does anyone have any suggestions for puppy proofing a Christmas tree?

First Christmas with our 1-year-old Cocker Spaniel who will eat every little toy our kids leave around and can stand on his hind legs tall enough to reach the counter...😬

[Assistant] I put the tree in the mesh sided play pen - wrapped gifts, too. And just remembered it is just one Christmas!

[User] That's a great idea!

[Assistant] No tips, but oh my goodness, look at that cute and (innocent-ha!) face! :)


[User]
Richard Lee's fascinating interview with @vivek123.bsky.social made me dip into the original "Man the Hunter" manuscript. A light search on "women hunting" brought me to this passage.

Is this common knowledge? That "Man the Hunter" discussed women's hunting as a widespread phenomenon? Thread👇

[Assistant]
2/ Has anyone actually tried to contradict these statements? Even if we take Anderson (2023) at face value, it seems to me that they are re-stating this basic pattern. I cannot remember them providing evidence against any of the "howevers" in this passage. Do they?
journals.plos.org/plosone/arti...

[User] 3/ Of course, we can make the fascianting argument pursued by @caraocobock.bsky.social and others that the ethnographic record isn't reflective of evolutionary trends. I've argued elsewhere that the current debate should really focus on this issue alone onhumans.substack.com/p/is-man-the...

[Assistant]
4/ But to conclude, I feel the 2020s have been a notch unfair to Richard Lee and others. Yes, "Man the Hunter" is a misleading title! Lee acknowledges this (see attached quote). But over half a century later, the quoted conclusions seem surprisingly plausible.

Or do they?

osf.io/preprints/os...


[User] Hey #writers what’s the worst disconnect you’ve ever had with someone culturally misunderstanding your work? An early editor on my first book (they left the company and were replaced) told me that most people think adults who call their parents “Mommy” and “Daddy” are weird and I should change it.

[Assistant] I said “Those people aren’t Black or Southern. It stays. My audience isn’t confused by it.” It was reminder that you have to defend your voice always.

[User]
Wow, such a wild comment from the editor.

Love your perfect response to the editor.

[Assistant] She was very young and was speaking from her very limited understanding of the world because her authority was all in her title and not her experience. And she got corrected. Nice lady. But she didn’t know what she was talking about.

[User] I hope this was an important learning experience for her moving forward.

[Assistant] Me too.


[User] The ONE day of the month I’m busy 🤦♂. Would life to go to this!

[Assistant] I’d also love to be able to tweak spellings in posts like in mastodon 🤪

[User] Ooooh, think I might actually be able to go! Cheers for sharing!

[Assistant] cool :) . Sounds like it will be a fun evening!


[User]
A few months ago, we @brieflybio.bsky.social created a silly personality test (bit.ly/4fOKwte) for scientists. We ended up with over 5000 responses. We couldn’t just leave this precious data locked up at castle Briefly.

So. What does your pipette tip box say about you?

[Assistant] Ouch. I feel personally attacked. But how many of us are there out there?

[User] OK. Not that many. Stop judging us.

[Assistant]
Compared to the average scientist, jumbled pipette tip boxers are:
- more intrigued by the outliers (+6%). Well maybe we have to be.
- more into their laptops than their pipettes (+7%)… To no one’s surprise.
- more likely to be late to the bus (+8%). Messy lab, messy life.

[User]
OK, back to the global analysis.

What are we in science for?

We spend months, planning, designing, troubleshooting, and analysing experiments. It seems like the vast majority of us really just crave a clear answer to the questions we set out to answer.

[Assistant] And how do we feel when a fly appears in the ointment – an outlier that threatens that clear answer?

[User]
Interestingly, a decent chunk (44%) of those hoping for clear answers can’t help but be curious about that fly. How did it get there? What’s its story? Why does it love my ointment so much?

The majority just hate the fly. I hope they give it a fair trial before they exclude it.

[Assistant]
So most of us want answers. How do we approach getting them?

Mostly, with due caution! 62% take the time to mull things over before rushing to test their brilliant new idea.

[User] Especially surprising given that most prefer their pipette to their laptop. That’s restraint.

[Assistant] And what about once we have some data? With how much caution do folks exercise when evaluating the results of this PCR?

[User] To the 42%… Well… Mayyybe there’s a band?. No judgement! But erm, maybe lets run it again to be sure? 😉

[Assistant] What about how you load your centrifuge?

[User]
Ask around your lab. Statistically, you probably know someone who has tried to develop an algorithm to solve The Balanced Centrifuge Problem (bit.ly/3V5yB1U).

And by the looks of it, quite a few have found a solution too.

[Assistant]
If you haven’t already, take the test (bit.ly/4fOKwte) and find out your lab type. And no, it isn’t any more scientific than this analysis.

But yes, I still wanna hear what result you got (architect for the record).


[User] Socrates often challenged the common beliefs and opinions of people, the things that everyone fears but shouldn't. These are the same things that are used to scare young children. (Meditations 11.21) 🧵

[Assistant] In this passage, Marcus is cautioning about giving into and accepting the many baseless fears that are often held by the majority of people. These often unhinged fears lead to stress and anxiety. He saw these fears as irrational and useless to one who is wise. 🧵

[User] He says that they easily frighten us the same way silly children are threatened by threats of the boogeyman or the monsters under their bed; no rational adult would be scared by those things, but we are often frightened by rumors, false narratives, and unfounded opinions. 🧵

[Assistant] Marcus says that the wise person will question these commonly held ideas and seek our more rational and honest perspective. 🧵

[User] We still face these same types of baseless fears and threats today. Watch a modern election and you will see it; the other candidate will destroy life as you know it. So, Marcus's advice is still relevant today. The question is how to combat it and not engage in baseless fear mongering. 🧵

[Assistant] We still face these same types of baseless fears and threats today. Watch a modern election campaign and you will see it; the other candidate will destroy life as you know it. The question is how to combat it and not engage in baseless fear mongering. Here are a few ideas. 🧵

[User] Learn to challenge the fears that arise. What fears are you facing? Are they genuine threats or just imaginary? Try and look at those fears from a different perspective, are they really as threatening as you are making them out to be? 🧵

[Assistant] Don't major on minors. Focus your energy on the things that matter the most to you and will have the biggest impact on you: your relationships, taking care of your mental and physical health, and growing as a human being.  🧵

[User] Minimize the time you spend scrolling through news articles and social media posts that are not backed up with actual evidence. Stay in the present moment and focus on what is front of you, not what might happen. Learn to appreciate all that you already have. 🧵

[Assistant] Become a critical thinker. When presented with frightening information, question it and avoid jumping to conclusions. Look for evidence and base true views on hard facts and logical reasoning, not what what someone else thinks or the first reaction you have. 🧵

[User] Remember the key teachings of Stoicism. Focus only on what you can control, appreciate the good things in your life, handle adversity with wisdom and virtue. 🧵

[Assistant] Doing these things will help you navigate the trouble waters of modern society and help you overcome the fears and anxieties that threaten to upset your peace and tranquility. They will help you live a more meaningful and peaceful life, just the way the Stoics intended. 🧵


[User]
Personal vent: questioning my Indigeneity because you don't see my activism in social media posts is a bad way to introduce yourself.

My activism is evident in four years and hundreds of stories - thousands of words - sharing Native development and success. I get the word out. I tell stories.

[Assistant]
I spent years - years - playing online activist. I wrote novels' worth of posts, battled with trolls six sub threads deep in conversations everyone else blocked, risked doxing and sometimes my physical safety.

None of it produced a fraction of the joy and tangible effects of the work I do now.

[User]
I don't owe anyone social media activism. I do my work, I support my causes, and I play some small part in making things immediately, provably better for people.

My manifesto on the horrors of transphobia gets me a few likes and comments. My stories on grant opportunities help people make change.

[Assistant]
And whether I'm wearing regalia or filing my third story this week on economic development grants for tribal agriculture, I am still Lumbee. I'm still Indigenous.

And I don't owe anyone performances for that.


[User] Niche cricket newsflash. Phil Salt and Michael Pepper, together in the middle.

[User] Quality!

[Assistant] Gordon Spinderella still in the hutch.


[User] Morning.

[Assistant] Good morning!

[User] Hello there, good sir. Hope you're doing fine today.

[Assistant] I am, thanks. I thought I was getting started early but it looks like you’re ready to start your day already.

[User] Heh... No rest for the immortals.

[Assistant] Oh, so you’ll sleep when you’re dead… wait…

[User] If that day comes... Yes.

[Assistant] Sorry, bad joke. I’m Peter Quill, by the way.

[User]
Death has many ways, and no one escapes death...
Kassandra. Nice to meet you.

*Reaching out her hand in a polite greeting*

[Assistant]
He took her hand and smiled.

“So true. And the pleasure is all mine, Kassandra.”

He looked her over and arched an eyebrow.

“You off to war or something?”

[User]
“Ah!”
Glancing down at herself and her clothes.
“It's just an everyday outfit, we could say. Nothing special.”

[Assistant]
“Oh.”

He looked her over again before chuckling.

“Well, I wouldn’t say it’s nothing special. It’s an impressive look.”

[User] “Wait until you see the Spartan war hero armor...”

[Assistant] “… How long do I have to wait?”

[User] With a slight flick of her wrist, her armor shifts before his eyes.

[Assistant]
His eyes went wide and he cleared his throat.

“I, uh, wow…”


[User]
Taking the ferry from Dublin to Holyhead on Friday for the first time...any protips or things to check out? I've been told it's not worth paying for various upgrades, but would love to hear your experiences.

Is getting around the ferry terminal on foot a pain at either end?

[Assistant] I paid for the lounge access on the ferry and greatly enjoyed the quiet and the view.

[User] Ooh, quiet sounds good. I may do that...

[Assistant] Depends on the time of the crossing and whether conventional or fast ferry. We were going to pay for the lounge, but the main areas weren't busy, so no real advantage.

[User] Always worthwhile for both. Plus the free nibbles. Are you Stena or Irish Ferries?

[Assistant] Irish Ferries for this trip.

[User] I slightly prefer their Club class lounge to the Stena offering - if it’s the Ulysses, that is. (I’ve never felt that it’s worth the extra money if you’re on the swift crossing.)

[Assistant] It's an easy journey. When we did it the only negative was seeing our train pull out as we (and a lot of other passengers) made our way to the platform. The ferry terminal/station at Holyhead is effectively one building, but some trains go from the platform furthest away, which is a fair walk.

[User] I would love to take the ferry, I never had. Most who’ve done it tell me it’s no craic!

[Assistant] Lisa, if you're going to need wifi while sailing, you only get 20 mins free. Upgrade to club class lounge for free wifi, tea and coffee, light buffet. It's only about €20.

[User] Oh, this is good to know - may need that wifi!

[Assistant] If you are upgrading to lounge then go the whole hog for a cabin. It’s infinitely more comfortable and quiet. Personally not having internet for 3hours is a time and mental cleanser. In the summer months there’s a orca warden on the ferry who give talks and whale watching orca.org.uk/our-work/oce...


[User]
Goodbye to you!

youtu.be/t08JzDgg8do?...

[Assistant] I love this song at karaoke and also The Warrior!

[User] Oh I've never sung this before! I should try it!

[Assistant] It’s a fun one to sing!


[User]
Dear Hasbro, I wrote you, but you still ain't callin'
No Gunray black series, but some non-canon Falleen??

[Assistant] Black series is seriously lacking. Needs more aliens. Separatist council when? Durge? Kaminoans? Turgle? Bobf gamorreans???

[User] I'm going to get pilloried for this, but we don't need 47 different clone variants. We need the Separatists. My shelves are bare. I won't put a dirty Pubby on them.

[Assistant] No you're right. They've been p good with droids, but we still don't even have any geonosians. A haslab separatist council war room.. Grievous' sheathipede shuttle.. c'mon. Even a pajama variant dooku!


[User]
Another day, another weird TTRPG creation insight.

Today I’m agonising over paper finish for the new printing of Spire and Strata.

Here we have the same illustration in two different finishes. On the left, a satin coated 130gsm paper, on the right an uncoated 130gsm paper. 1/?

[Assistant]
They might look identical at a glance, but they both act very different in reality.

Coated paper holds ink better, presents deeper blacks, and costs less in freight shipping as the paper is much thinner (freight cost is by volume, not weight, and coated paper sticks fibers together).
2/?

[User]
Uncoated paper DRINKS ink like a dog in a desert, which can cause colour desaturation, but the paper feels softer and warmer to the touch - generally making for a better reading experience.

So as a designer you're faced with a pretty tough choice when choosing your paper between spec and feel. 3/?

[Assistant] Consider the difference between flicking through a glossy magazine (normally coated) vs a hardback novel (normally uncoated). Magazines have colour perfect photographs, but feel plastic and cold to the touch, while novels may have slightly washed out illustrations, but feel warm and soft. 4/?


[User] I grew up in a rural part of the country that's mostly monoculture fields as far as the eye can see, and little villages dotted around, most of them with A Big House. Once upon a time, often til very recently, whoever owned The Big House effectively owned the entire village & employed most of the...

[Assistant] ...working age people who lived there. My Dad told me stories from as late as the '70s & '80s of how the reason one village didn't have a pub was because the Lady Of The House saw some of her staff drunk outside it, and had it shut down. Or of a baker's boy who, for years, delivered bread to one...

[User] ...of the staff living on the grounds of The Big House. Until one day, while he was parked up, a Land Rover pulled up close behind his van and the driver honked his horn incessantly. Baker's boy told him to wait, that it would only be a minute while he finished his delivery, and the Land Rover...

[Assistant] ...mounted the pavement and sped past him. The following month, the baker's boy returned, and knocked on his customer's door. She opened it only a crack, and said she wasn't buying anything this month, and didn't want to see him again. He asked what was wrong with last month's bread. She...


[User]
To make things clear,
Bai jing and I were never romantically involved.

[Assistant] So it was just one-sided on his part. Very cruel.

[User] I ask you not to judge on affairs you were not involved in. but yes, it was indeed one sided.

[Assistant] How cold-hearted, Ling Wen.


[User] 💯 about that genre of video, buuuut also TAA does legitimately look like ass. I understand the technical limitations that have led it to replace MSAA, but god damn if it doesn't look like greasy shit. And the occasional temporal glitches where textures get duplicated and smeared legit breaks games.

[Assistant] Which games come to mind that lead you to believe this? I feel like a lot of games do it very well to the point where you probably aren't even thinking of them - which is the point. It's only those that struggle where it sticks out.

[User]
Satisfactory was the worst one. Fast moving objects get smeared and blurred, and on the faster belts items get visually duped.

I've also noticed similar effects in Wolfenstein and Cyberpunk, though it's less obvious/reproducible.

[Assistant] Got it. Cyberpunk is one such game where any other solution is a million times worse, though. MSAA couldn’t dream of handling it. It would be a smear of noise and pixels!


[User] It’s a frosty one this morning in Donegal 🥶

[Assistant] Good morning 😀

[User] Great ice patterns on the windows this morning.

[Assistant] It’s gone now here in Wexford, lovely cold sunny day 😎


[User]
Thank you everyone!!! 🥹😭🖤

I’m now closing the form so I can focus on sending the last batch of emails and invoices by the end of this week. Already done with few sketches 👀

[Assistant] Dang, I missed it! Will you be open in the new year? :)

[User] I can add you to the waiting list and let you know as soon as I can open again 🖤

[Assistant] That'd be great! Do you want my email or is my bsky username here okay?


[User]
new day new question

how many of you are familiar with Shiny Toy Guns?

[Assistant] "You Are The One" was a certified early 2000s bop.

[User] Another high school find for me! So good. The electronics combined with rock still hits. Both vocalists are ace too. Their songs are mixed incredibly well.

[Assistant]
like how does he sound THIS good live 😭

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogNM...


[User] Genealogical records were kept for all Israel; they are recorded in the Scroll of the Kings of Israel. The people of Judah were carried away to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness (1 Chronicles 9:1).

[Assistant]
The First Book of Chronicles can be found in the #Writings section of the #Hebrew Bible, but presented as part of the historical narratives in Greek and English translations.

#1Chronicles may have been written by Ezra, but most definitely around the time of Ezra.

[User]
 1 Chronicles began with an elaborate series of #genealogies from Adam until those who returned from the #exile.

The Chronicler felt compelled to begin his narrative by laying out the names of all who had come before so all Israel could find themselves in the story.

[Assistant] Why would 1 Chronicles begin with genealogies?


[User] The problem with Zuckerberg’s approach to virtual reality is — everything. Meta continues to spend billions so people can have avatars that look exactly like them doing exactly what they do now. We already have that reality. And it kind of sucks. …

[Assistant] I want avatars that allow me to embody James Bond, and a Terminator T1000, and Grace Kelly, and Godzilla. The last thing I want is my familiar old face in a virtual mirror. Let me stomp on buildings and fly starships and if I must work, let’s do it in a private car in the Orient Express.

[User] His vision for the future is a Sci Fi horror show.

[Assistant]
Zuck Fuckerberg believes all people are stuoid and waste their livea online.

And he isnt wrong. If people ditched facebook, he would be over.

Yet here we are.

[User] So if I see Godzilla in VR shall I say hello?

[Assistant] How do you write the Godzilla roar in text?


[User] Wondering why I say "Lounge family" every AM? TG22110 was the unofficial mayor of Twitter & a force of positivity & strength in difficult times. He passed unexpectedly in Jan '24 & a group of followers/friends created a place to keep his spirit alive. The feed pinned to my profile is its home here.

[User] I need to change my profile to say part of the Lounge Family. 💖 miss TG.

[Assistant] I was thinking about it recently and expecting TG to get us through a 2nd term of TFG might have been asking too much. He already gave so much to this community. 😢

[User] Yes he did. Hoping someone makes a feed for TG here, including some of his best over the time they have known him.

[Assistant] I know Liz took a bunch of screen shots and stuff before she left the bad place. 💙


[User] 🍿 Moana 2, review: 'Disney’s follow-up to its 2016 hit could all too easily have been merely adequate – in fact, it’s a complete, giddily animated triumph'

[Assistant]
Read the full review below ⬇
www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/moan...

[User]
Read the full review below ⬇
www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/moan...

[Assistant] Hooray! I loved the first Moana so much.


[User] I think even if the Sabres lose tonight they still hold that final playoff spot. They should win and head into the break with maybe even the 2nd or 3rd in the Atlantic. Do that and then we can pray that the stat about 77% of teams holding a playoff spot at American Thanksgiving making it holds true.

[Assistant]
Problems are in the short term that Minnesota, Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Colorado are all tough teams in their next 5.

Also they're like 23rd in expected goals % at 5 on 5 so that might be an issue. Hopefully they can be coached up on shot quality.

[User] The thing that stands out to me is goal differential.  There is a big difference between the Sabres and Bruins, who are just below them.

[Assistant] Yeah the Atlantic is pretty wild with that, even the Panthers have a negative goal differential. The Sabres aren't getting skated off the ice much anymore. Even the losses they've hung around even if they can't generate much at times.


[User]
I get to help many people speak up, and invite people into their communities in VRChat.
And I get to help document and tell their stories, aspirations, connections, and experiences through an unbiased and raw POV without any of my own commentary.

Its starting to hit me like a bag of bricks now.

[Assistant] Don't forget to tell your own stories. They're just as important as lending support to other's voices.

[User]
If I have something important to say I'll share it. But for now, everything is pretty much covered!

The doc features B-roll throughout which is all from my POV, so you get to see what the past few months have been like in my life through footage. Which i think is a good way to show not tell!

[Assistant]
Imagining how much this means to me, to be able to bottle up the raw emotions and important context you miss when you are only seeing surface level VRChat and presenting it.
This is a very important thought that I get to share here with you all. Thank you for listening.


[User] who else is trying for Lana tickets today??? manifesting for everybody 🕯🕯🕯

[Assistant] im not but good luck 🤞🏻 (btw i did get a code if u want another one)

[User] thank you!! its okay me and my friend have codes but tysm for the offer 🫶🥹

[Assistant] awesome 🫶🏻  i hope you get those tickets then!!


[User]
Here’s why learning Latin is important, and also why they don’t teach it in (most) schools anymore: It helps you understand the etymology of words, and therefore, you can divine their deeper, often unspoken meaning. This, is a source of POWER.

Let’s start with the word, “property.” 🧵🪡

[Assistant] “Property” originates from the Latin term to “deny.” Namely, to deny others access to a resource (in the case of the Romans, to wall off a garden to deny poor people the ability to walk in it, and enjoy the Nature therein).

[User] The principal meaning of a city, is a group of humans who’ve grown so large, that they require the importation of resources from elsewhere. With this, comes an implicit violence, because if someone refuses to import to you, you must take, because you “require” that resource.

[Assistant]
Do you know how the First Nations managed to live successfully on this continent for 12,000 years without draining it of all its natural resources?

It wasn’t “owned” as much as recognized that Nature was a common resource relied upon by all.

“Carrying capacity” was understood by everyone.

[User] Everyone was conscious that a space of land could only support so much, and if you did something like hunt deer when it wasn’t time, in order to have more for just yourself, they broke your weapons, tore up your tent, and reduced you to beggary, because you abused the balance everyone relied upon.

[Assistant] Side Note: I am consistently amazed by Christians in particular who admire the wretched excess of the 85 billionaires who “own” half the world’s wealth, yet fail to understand Jesus’ parable of, “The Rich Fool.”


[User]
Wrote about the consultancy model in the international development space & how it's broken. (Will also put story on my site). For instance some feminist organisations who claim to care about gender equality are now making women do unpaid tests for potential work.

www.devex.com/news/does-th...

[Assistant]
Yet they can't see the hypocrisy here. Luckily there's now some agencies around like Comotion who are changing this. Link here
media.journoportfolio.com/users/22436/...

[User]
(This is not to be confused with the story I wrote about the unpaid tests that people in the media are being asked to do for potential work, which I wrote last year. Same type of exploitation, different industry. Sigh.)
www.journoresources.org.uk/unpaid-tests...

[Assistant] I should say they are making every one do tests. It may just affect women more.


[User] I honestly thought this was "Bliss" mushroom from The Penguin.

[Assistant] fucking same, and I was kind of excited it was "real" for a second. But I choose to think that makes us awesome and fun nerds!

[User] It looks similar enough that it probably had to be the inspiration for it.

[Assistant] Wild!

[User] Hahaha. Just started watching the Penguin and thought the same. HBO bringing Sopranos vibes back with Penguin. ♥

[Assistant] I have just discovered mushroom channels on Bluesky too - one I follow is Fun Girl. (As opposed to Fungi or Fun Guy - lol)


[User]
Reflections on 2021:
1) Still grateful as, every single day, I was in this country, and especially grateful I was not the States.
2) I met some wonderful people this year, and am grateful especially for my Pokémon Go pals.
3) My son awed and amazed me with his growth this year.

[Assistant]
4) I may never know how hard all the lockdowns were for Auckland residents, but I'm so grateful for all the ones who followed guidelines and did the hard work to eliminate, or try to eliminate covid-19 in the population.
5) Fighting misinformation is hecking challenging.

[User]
6) On social media, the block button is your friend.
7) Puppies really should be planned for in advance. (I already knew this, but I'm FEELING IT lately, possibly side eyeing flatmates.)
8) You can actually stay in love for over a decade, still always wanting more of each other.

[Assistant]
9) Keeping in touch by Zoom isn't ideal, but it sure helps to keep connected to people across the planet.
10) I really need to put more effort into learning NZSL because I really do think my hearing is getting to be a bloody issue.

[User]
11) There might be more idiots on Earth than I anticipated.
12) Sometimes those idiots are your friends and it gets complicated.
13) Sometimes friendships dissolve for reasons that feel really unfair/unjust, but relationships are 2 way so if one isn't feeling it, best to let go.

[Assistant]
14) There are a lot of amazing people out there, full of generosity, kindness, and love. Y'all are bloody treasures. I'm so honoured by the kindness found in Aotearoa Twitter. 🥰🥰
15) Every year I feel it more, no moments are guaranteed. Express love and kindness freely. 💓

[User]
16) I can still art! And people seem to like it! I may try to do more in the future, but self motivation is NOT my forté.
17) I wish I could have just not had that "bright idea" to ship my things in a tiny house. That thing has been a TERRIBLE investment so far. No progress yet.

[Assistant]
I think that's mostly it.

Hopes for 2022: Stay healthy, alive, and covid-19 free!!!! Those are my biggest hopes!


[User] Neither will we. Love 🇨🇦

[Assistant] Essentially destroying western economies with no obvious purpose or just dominating news cycles...?

[User] Drumpf's a deranged clueless lunatic. Canada and Mexico are currently being led by even handed, clear thinking leaders who won't escalate but will match the threat. No one will win - everyone but the billionaires will lose - hopefully it's averted or doesn't last long because it will be a sh*tshow.

[Assistant] And I don't know the answer to your question...who truly understands the motivations of a demented madman?


[User]
Yes all brilliant  BUT WHERE IS IT IN OUR FOOD
if it is not in our food then maybe its man made and dodgy

www.newscientist.com/article/2456...

[Assistant] Don't worry, creatine is naturally in the muscles, so you will get it in your diet - so long as you are eating meat.

[User] I don't eat meat, life long vegetarian.  I do eat eggs, cheese & milk. I am that crank that was different & told I would be weak & sickly.  Told my family the horse is very strong & the horse eats no meat.  I have never been sickly. I am in much better health than my elderly contemporaries.

[Assistant] My grandparents were farmers too haha.  I didn't like the idea of killing animals for food or eating them.   Still a crank but it's more fashionable now.


[User] No Panic 😂😂😂

[Assistant] Have to repeat myself... 😅 (guess this meme will come handy in the next few hours/days)

[Assistant] Do we know whether banks are seeing a meaningful cash outflow. The amount that can be converted to USD by individuals is limited but they may try to go via crypto assets.


[User] The New York Public Library included THE ACE AND ARO RELATIONSHIP GUIDE as one of the best books of the year for teens!

[Assistant] That is great! Congrats 😊

[User] Thank you friend!

[Assistant] Congratulations!! That’s incredible 👏


[User] I played another hour of vanilla Civ 6 on a larger map with fewer city-states and other civs, and it reminded me that an even bigger problem is Builders. I'm all about Workers in V and BE, but they're kind of terrible in 6. Instead of taking time, they can do 3 improvements instantly, then die.

[Assistant] Districts are kind of neat in 6, but combined with the way Builders work, having to build a District on a tile with an improvement is awful -- building on a corpse. And making new Builders instead of the literally-anything-else I'd rather be making in a city also feels bad.

[User]
Honestly, if I play a Civ game these days, it's going to be Revolutions emulated via RPCS3.

After II, the mechanics have entirely gotten away from me.

[Assistant] I've only played the PC ones, and I couldn't get into 3 at all and didn't try 4 (which is apparently many people's favorite), but something about V really got its hooks in me (maybe the hexes?). 6 looks nice and made a brilliant change to how research works, but the rest of it rubs me the wrong way.


[User] 24 pity plus his engine woohoo!!!

[Assistant]
Awesome! I got him early too!

I pity pushed on the weapon banner too but that didn’t arrive early enough. I’m gonna wait until 1.4 stream to see if there’s a rerun or not.

[User]
Update: I gave in to the temptation real fast 😅. I won the 75%.

Well, as long as I keep at least 100 pulls reserved for Ellen’s W-Engine, I should be fine.

[Assistant] hehe nice!!


[User]
Holy shit, I need F1 and motorsport content on my Bluesky feed.
It's the only reason I keep scrolling X, and the amount of political shit I need to wad through, before I get to my fast cars and silly drivers, is becoming such a headache!!

[Assistant]
Like, seriously thank goodness this app is taking off the way it is. I feel like politics injects itself into my X feed WAY more since the election.
It's either that or I just can't stomach it anymore.

[User] Search either #Formula1, #F1, or any Grand Prix hashtag and start following people. That's what I did and now the F1 feed gets rowdy on a weekend.

[Assistant] Add it as a feed, pin it to the top and you will have nothing but F1 bsky.app/profile/did:...


[User]
I can feel my arm aching this isnt okay anymore i need to have a break tomorrow
(but i can finish the project and submit early tomorrow, says my brain)

[Assistant]
Oh, god, yeah. Please rest. The project isn't worth your wellbeing. I'm working on taking this advice myself, but you being your best is always gonna be what I encourage.

Good art takes time, and great artists need time too.

[User] I do need to but the client wants this printed before the end of the first week of december. Theyre even aware that I got sick during one week of November (i did get rest then but the project got delayed) 🫠

[Assistant] Do you think it'll risk long term harm if you power through?

[User]
I think it will. I had this before and I got arm-KOed for almost 1 month for how much I needed to ice it.
I don’t want that to happen especially when I want to finish this one artwork before the year ends.

[Assistant]
With that in mind, I think you have to put your health first. I hope the client understands, but it's not gonna be good if you lose out on a month or more from burnout.

This is just my opinion, but out of care. You're an adult and know what you need to do, I'm just an online rando here.

[User] True. I appreciate your advice and concern. I am thinking of just taking the day off after your question. I really don’t want to go through that again.

[Assistant] It's no problem at all. Please do what you you feel is best. I'll be cheering you on either way.


[User] Genealogical records were kept for all Israel; they are recorded in the Scroll of the Kings of Israel. The people of Judah were carried away to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness (1 Chronicles 9:1).

[Assistant]
The First Book of Chronicles can be found in the #Writings section of the #Hebrew Bible, but presented as part of the historical narratives in Greek and English translations.

#1Chronicles may have been written by Ezra, but most definitely around the time of Ezra.

[User]
1 Chronicles began with an elaborate series of #genealogies from Adam until those who returned from the #exile.

The Chronicler felt compelled to begin his narrative by laying out the names of all who had come before so all Israel could find themselves in the story.

[Assistant] Why would 1 Chronicles begin with genealogies?


[User]
Been baking all day for Thanksgiving & stressing about how time is running out for Hanukkah shopping. NTM Milton repairs need to be done & a lot of medical tests too.

On top of all that, I’ve got to worry about that fucking lunatic & his numbnut sycophants taking office in Jan.

[Assistant]
Oh man I feel you. Just finished the first batch of cookies--trying to figure out when to frost them.
Daughter's medical tests/appts tomorrow morning--an hour away.
I think 5 hours of sleep is enough.
🙏
Or should I go for the mommy water. 🥂

[User]
Maybe a little mommy water to help with the sleepy.😀

Hope all goes well with your daughter tomorrow! 🙏🏻

[Assistant] We always go to a resort and have a really nice buffet. They have to be open anyway they're hotel. No cooking no cleaning just enjoying 😊

[User] What did you bake? Keep the faith.  We can't give up or give in. 💙

[Assistant]
Remember this line from the movie Airplane?
Well with January fast approaching I feel like I picked the wrong week to diet.
How am I not going to eat my way through the next 4 yrs? That's why I can't bake anymore. Too tempting.


[User] I'm gone barely a week and this place turns into Twitter 😅

[Assistant] Same toxic people on both platforms.

[User] Ya gotta block! Block block block. Don't bother engaging, we have to starve them out.

[Assistant] My theory still stands they are bored farting around each other on Twitter so they come here to troll.


[User] Here’s Marie-Dominique Chenu on the novelty of Thomas Aquinas in his historical situation. The emphasis on realism, the commune, as well as the final claim that anthropology determines theology make clear his interest in a certain reading of Marx as grounding a historical method.

[Assistant] This dialogue with Marx (as well as Chenu’s experience with the worker priest movement) also structures his emphasis on a science of nature in Thomas’s work, his “materialism,” and the nature of solidarity.

[User] In this piece by Chenu’s student Edward Schillebeeckx we see this materialism re-expressed as a conception of liturgy. And instead of speaking about novelty he speaks about a “modernism” in the medieval opposed to “fundamentalistic integralism” (which I find very fascinating).

[Assistant]
This is all very different from Fredric Jameson, who argues that Marxism must be non-Aristotelian and non-Thomist. For Chenu and Schillebeeckx, Thomist Aristotelianism is itself a kind of “medieval Marxism” that represents a critical realism opposed to theological reaction.

bsky.app/profile/samb...


[User] A friend of mine created a piece of art that meditates on the parallels between our practice of scrolling on phones with the old practice of prayer beads. Thinking about our digital practices as continuation of older analogue practices opens up a wide range of existing knowledge and thought […]

[Assistant]
@tante Except that I think prayer beads led to improved focus and relaxation ...

I see the parallel, but there's a "multiply by -1" in there somewhere 🙂

[User] @larsmb I think there is a form of "relaxation" that people achieve by scrolling. You see how nervous people get when the phone isn't there.

[Assistant]
@tante That’s rad, thanks for sharing!

I* think another analogy like this is taking a picture of your food before eating vs saying grace before a meal. Both can function as a short moment of appreciation before actually eating the food.

*there is a good chance I just took this obervation from […]


[User] I was very early getting to work today, so I spent some time chasing the sunrise.

[Assistant] That’s beautiful.

[User] Just over yonder in Oakville. There are some pretty lakefront corners.

[Assistant] Beautiful  shot..well done.


[User] Well I have printed a few and have them on my bookshelf 🤭The first one I had printed was Tired Tired Sea.

[Assistant] If anyone is curious (probably not but I’ll share anyway 🤣), I also printed Young and Beautiful, Walk that Mile, Wild and Unruly, For as long as I can Remember (it’s been December), and So let’s cross the lines we Lost.

[User] Your bookshelf must be beautiful 🥹

[Assistant] Thanks🥰 I think it is 🤭


[User] Genuine question: what does the Chancellor of Oxford do? What's the influence or power of the role? Why is it important?

[Assistant] Presumably neither Mandelson nor Hague need the role financially or as a platform - so is it just status?

[User] They have very well stocked wine cellars....

[Assistant] Does the university itself have a wine cellar or is it just the individual colleges? Or does Hague now have the power to demand a bottle from any of them as tribute?


[User] If you see this, post a Knight!

[Assistant] Haha 😂 You are wonderful!

[User] That's "Sir You".

[Assistant] *Giggles* I beg your pardon, o’ chivalrous one. 🙇🏻♀

[Assistant] If you see this, post a Knight!


[User] I saw a ton of great live music this year (I think I went to ~30-40 shows?) and I thought it might be fun to do a thread of some of my favorites. I might keep adding as I have time through the day.

[Assistant] Finom: Honestly one of the tightest bands live I've ever seen; innovative, compelling, and rocks so hard--Not God was my favorite album this year. The crowd was sort of the experimental NPR set which was a bit strange (no hate I'll be there soon enough), they deserve a bigger & younger crowd.

[User] Brittany Howard: Without exaggeration probably the greatest live performance I've ever seen, if you can see her live you ABSOLUTELY should. She has the stage presence of a god and a truly massive talent, I was reeling for a week.

[Assistant] Thumpasaurus: It's like if a bunch of jazz musicians founded Devo. Pure energy, deeply silly, 10/10 maybe the most fun I've had a show. It was a double-bill with Gorilla Toss who I didn't know before the show and they were also FANTASTIC.

[User] Hatis Noit: A super talented vocalist working only with voice and loop pedal. Her work is hard enough to perform that I was really shocked to see her do the whole thing live, it was deeply moving. I saw her in the evening at a church in Brooklyn which 100% added to the vibe.

[Assistant] Kokoroko: Could We Be More was one of my favorite albums of 2022 and they have continued to produce phenomenal music since. They make beautiful, danceable jazz / afrobeat and when they play it's obvious they have been together for years, they blend seamlessly and groove really hard.


[User]
TIL 2 white men made up the stories of pre-european Māori settlement that were taught in Aotearoa New Zealand schools for at least 60 years.
Here is a quick intro.
youtu.be/btWxud8T2YU?...

[Assistant] Stories of The Great Migration, Kupe & Māoriori published in the school journals are not based in the oral history of Māori.

[User]
This is the book I am listening to.

Listen to The Penguin History of New Zealand by Michael King on Audible. www.audible.ca/pd/B092JTFSM...

[Assistant]
This one is fantastic. It explains why we must protect Māori sites.
youtu.be/4tRvwDRunOg?...

[User]
I am too! Though via the BorrowBox eAudiobook platform offered by Christchurch City library.

I listened to the same section today 😊

[Assistant] It's crazy how much fake history we all believe.

[User] youtu.be/tT11yvE5plo?...

[Assistant] Fascinating. Tbh I never thought we came from anywhere it was just home. I hope we didn't clear out any previous inhabitants when we arrived 😬

[User]
This is why the new Aotearoa history curriculum is so important.
Not knowing this stuff is what leads to important sites being destroyed & idiots like Seymour getting supported by far too many people.

[Assistant] It is not your or my fault we don't know. There has been decades of disinformation or no information taught in schools about Māori history.

[User]
A similar truth was in Australia until recently (allegedly, I haven't checked). They taught us about the Europeans and the exploration of the heroic pioneers but hold up: there were already people here that you enslaved?!

Good to see they're pushing for transparency over at home too.

[Assistant] youtu.be/fX2Ve1byM-I?...

[User] I was one of a few boys who did UE art history at Auckland Grammar in 1979. We covered Gericault's "Wreck of the Medusa" and our teacher was very keen to point out that Louis Steel not only nicked the composition, but signed his name on the classroom wall along with other previous art teachers.

[Assistant] That is crazy. I never knew this either!  So much to learn.


[User] Postcard from the Undivided Back Era — Webster, Massachusetts: Main Street View, Posted 1906, Rotograph Company.

[Assistant] This postcard from the undivided back era offers a charming snapshot of Main Street in Webster, Massachusetts, circa 1906. The scene is alive with activity, showcasing an era before automobiles dominated the roads. Horse-drawn buggies and wagons traverse the dirt street.

[User] This historic view captures the essence of small-town life, evoking a sense of nostalgia and wonder for the simpler, slower-paced days of the early 1900s.

[Assistant] The storefronts lining both sides of the street feature a variety of bold, detailed signs advertising local businesses. These signs, painted on awnings or directly on the buildings, hint at the bustling commerce of the time.


[User] Does this place have a 'Turn Off Reposts' for individual accounts? Or is it something we're still waiting for?

[Assistant] You have to turn them off altogether. Needs adding!

[User] yeah it's a pain when people just repost stuff without comment, relentlessly.. unfollow is the word.


[User] An insightful line: “The problem is likely that billionaires Zuckerberg & Musk flounder in predicting what normal people want out of a social site.” Their concern is not re: what users want but re: what users want that allows them to serve more ads.

[Assistant] That's why existing social media platforms have introduced lots and lots of friction around outbound links to news & other websites. Those links are competing for your attention.

[User] But the real reason is to keep you on their services longer to serve more ads. It's why stickiness ratios like DAU, MAU & avg exist. session duration.

[Assistant] But the main reason is to keep you on their services longer to serve more ads. It's why stickiness ratios like DAU, MAU & average session duration exist.


[User]
cw: sexual assualt

I have been sexually and physically abused from the hands of multiple people since I was 7, just for being myself. Being a girl. Being trans.
I was at the lowest point of my life when I made the fifth attempt to ask my father for a therapist and HRT.
And he said...

[Assistant]
"If you get boobs and all that, what's in it for me?" (translated from Hindi but with the same bluntness here)

I can't even begin to imagine the implications behind that... He used to beat me for being a "loser" and "shabby" when I was disassociating FROM BEING RAISED THE WRONG GENDER.

[User]
He emotionally tortured me for several hours one time because I wrote "Im a feminist" in a school essay.
Eventually I became tired of being betrayed so disgustingly by my father so many times, little by little. I gave up on him.
Sometimes I wonder... what do these men want????????

[Assistant] Putting this out there because Cis people surely wouldnt think that a father would torment his daughter sexually, emotionally and physically, just because that daughter is a tranny :)


[User] 1)In January to early February I'm coming around the 1st Ward with my petition for re-election.   If you would like to sign it message me, other wise look for me walking.  ...

[Assistant] 2)My goal is to keep up the progress and maintain what was done.   I am planning a 1st ward community day at Robinson rd for next year(tba).

[User] 3)My goal is to keep up the progress and maintain what was done.   I am planning a 1st ward community day at Robinson rd for next year(tba).

[Assistant] 4)If you have any questions,  comments,    or concerns.   Don't hesitate to contact me.   I am here for you,  wither you like me or not. Lol I still have to honor the oath I took.

[User] 5)What I have gotten done since 2019, I have I have made more improvments in less than 6 years, compared to the last the last 25 years in total.

[Assistant] 6)I look forward to your support and thank you in advance for trusting me these last 3 terms as your councilman, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

[User]
7)I am in this for you.   Lets make the 1st ward -1st! Lets change history.  When I make a promise, I KEEP IT, what I say, GETS DONE. I keep my word.

Thank you.


[User]
And if I said we’re getting a new range for the kitchen today?? That we need to cut cabinets to make it fit, and paint the new bits of wood to make it look okay for HOSTING THANKSGIVING TOMORROW.

What then? 😮💨

[Assistant] ooft. as if the holiday wasn’t stressful enough. you got this, though!! wishing you minimal trips to the hardware store 🫡

[User] Thank you!!! It’s really a self-inflicted situation, but it’s still stressful!!

[Assistant] i feel this. you gots it!!


[User] Posted a poll over on our FB page— if the park reverted back to one of the older logos, which would you like to see? Or would you like to see something new?

[Assistant] I'd love to see a modern take on the rainbow logo. Keep Six Flags in the name, but smaller.

[User] Like an updated version of this one:

[Assistant] The rainbow and stars logo is so cool!


[User] Made the Portland gays upset again. 🤷♂

[Assistant] That's fairly easy to do 😂

[User] They will survive and, perhaps, even grow from the discomfort.  But prob not.

[Assistant] The better ones do grow. But mostly they just hold a grudge and act like you don't exist. But that's fine. You keep doing you boo and posting some great content. 😘

[User] I'm a top with a big dick. They'll be kissing my ass again in a week.

[Assistant] Haha there you go! Make them work to get your attention back. 😁

[User] Oh, there's no chance of them getting my attention. 😅 I have other prospects.

[Assistant] I love to hear it! They don't deserve it anyway.


[User] Don't put hopes that former F1 drivers will be chosen for the Cadillac seats and I have a feeling it will be their own American drivers they already signed to other series that will be put into these seats.

[Assistant] Only if they have amassed enough points to obtain a Super License....

[User] They will be on the grid in 2026. It's doable.

[Assistant] They will be on the grid in 2026. It's doable. Especially those in IndyCar.


[User] Have condoms fallen out of fashion or is it just me? I am asking because I see a very strong push by some people in favour of vasectomy and I can't believe things have gone so bad in Western sexuality that our dick bearers can't just put on condoms to prevent unwanted consequences.

[Assistant] And vasectomies don't prevent you from transmitting ISTs so really, I am questionning this rather aggressive nudge by some to encourage drastic measures.

[User] I know some vasectomies are reversible, or that you can have your sperm frozen "in case of wanting a child" but not all of us can affort such operations. For example I doubt these operations are covered by Swiss insurances.

[Assistant] More importantly, I find the discourse "don't like abortions, get a vasectomy" to create a false dichotomy. I get the political reasons behind it but it's such a false duality that completely erases reasonable, moderate measures, it's bound to be seen as provocation.

[User] Don't worry that will probably be my last political musing before the end of the year. Back to our usual programme. And if you reply to all this, be mindful of the way you engage the conversation with me, thank you.

[Assistant] This definitely has more to do with people planning long term because of of the loss of abortion in the US than anything else. Mostly seen it in couple talk, hoping people still know they'd have to do condoms with anybody else.

[User] Social media has a distorting effect on perception, and I probably didn't take the American context into account. In that case, yeah that makes sense. But thank you for your sensible answer and your enlightments. ^^

[Assistant] Ahah, np, sometimes it's a bit hard to get context and since I've seen it a bunch I thought I'd chime in.


[User] Having so much fun on Animal Crossing! I love it when you get really stuck into a game!  😃

[Assistant] Is that the festive decorating you’re doing?

[User] Yeah it is, just built the  Christmas market 😃☺

[Assistant] You’ll have to show it when you’re ready. ☺

[User]
bsky.app/profile/jura...

Here it is 😃 ugh I deleted the post by mistake 🤦😂

[Assistant] Ah it looks cute. ☺

[User] Thank yoooou, the very first stall is a bonsai stall, in honour of Mr Miyagi 😃

[Assistant]
bsky.app/profile/jura...

Here it is 😃😃🎄🎄


[User]
27Nov24
Good Morning!
============

[User] G’morning! ☕


[User]
Your #InnerState matters more than your goals.
It’s not about wishing or visualizing and expecting everything to be okay; it doesn’t work like that. It takes CONSCIOUSNESS, and this takes work. It requires constant balance.

[Assistant] 👉 It takes CONSCIOUSNESS to see, value, and welcome what feels like #obstacles (when they are actually parts of yourself that were rejected long ago, from which you will benefit enormously by reclaiming).

[User] 👉 It takes #CONSCIOUSNESS to #surrender to the reality that’s bigger than you, to stop wasting your energy on fighting, and to utilize everything that arises for your own expansion.

[Assistant] Once you do that consistently, it will be easier than ever to tap into a state of #innerabundance. It will also be easier to create external #success, although you won’t need it, because real success will already be inside of you. ❤🔥


[User]
If you know who this is, I rocks with you.

#blacksky #blackskyover40 #musicsky

☕

[Assistant] Dilla Dog!!! Just finished listening to Champion Sound!

[User]
Fantastic album.  Pun intended.

🤌🏾✨

☕

[Assistant]
RIP J Dilla.

Damn...lemme go find my playlist with him and Flying Lotus.


[User]
@thatsokaybook.bsky.social
These books are more than wonderful!! Cant wait to start using them in primary schools across the country with your colouring in sheets!

Any teachers looking for an author for #WorldBookDay2025 book Chris quick!

[Assistant] @thatsokaybook.bsky.social Now to make some plush toys! Ill buy them all!

[User]
Good idea!

I think the Bored pillow creature would be quite cool!

[Assistant]
@sueatkins.bsky.social @thatsokaybook.bsky.social Fabulous interview too!

m.youtube.com/watch?v=W3MB...


[User] All I want for Christmas is this specific e-reader because I feel like somehow an e-reader would help me remember ebooks exist. 🫠

[Assistant] I constantly forget to charge my e-reader even when in the middle of a book. 😅🙃

[User] There's one that looks super cool and it's small and you can put apps on it so I could use it for edelweiss!

[Assistant]
This one!
www.amazon.com/dp/B0CHF746J...

[User] I have one of their larger models, and it's sooo nice! Palma looks neat just for the sake of being tiny. I hope you can get it!

[Assistant] If I win the JPat thing, I'll treat myself!

[User] Fingers crossed!

[Assistant] I got a Palma for my birthday. It’s nice.


[User] One of the very first pics taken of me and my beautiful rescue boxer boy Charlie (🙂)…and one of the very last (😭). It’s been 3 weeks and it’s still ripping me apart. 💔

[Assistant] They bring such joy to our lives for a preciously short amount of time… 😢

[User] Very true, my friend - but I’d always accept the pain after for all that unconditional love they give us. 👍

[Assistant]
The love and experiencing all their different personalities is what makes the pain of losing them worth it!

Our two, sweet Akitas being adorable…


[User] Re-watched the video and with the knowledge I have with OpenAPI, the WWDC 2023 video makes *so* much more sense now.

[Assistant] I'll continue with this in the morning, but before I start that, I'll have 0.20.1 out later today (fixed a small bug, and the StrictConcurrency flag is disabled until the data race issues are resolved. Sorry again!)

[User] Middleware looks interesting. Don't know if there's a use for that, but I'm willing to see what that's all about.

[Assistant]
I think token refresh is a super compelling reason to look into middleware.
I've currently got all my actual Bluesky access methods wrapped in a withRefresh function, but I'm looking at adding some kind of middleware layer to my code, so I just write it the once.

[User] Middleware is the unsung hero of Swift OpenAPI-generated projects. For example, retries: github.com/apple/swift-... and auth: github.com/apple/swift-...

[Assistant] Oooh I really like this API. Might have to borrow aspects of it for my app 😜


[User] Spotify Wrapped is lame. I just want to hear about the video games people played this year.

[Assistant]
I played Pizza Tower and Street Fighter 6 and a few Yakuza games.
Also others. Probably!

So there. Take that!

[User]
I slept on Pizza Tower last year and this year.

I know this was supposed to be a post about what games people DID play. But I did not play Pizza Tower and I’m probably missing out.

[Assistant] Yeah man you should give it a shot. It's really fun and good.

[User] Even if I’m not a big time trails/score-attack kinda guy?

[Assistant]
Nah man.
You dont need to get the best score to have a fun time exploring what a game has to offer!

It just a really good platformer.


[User]
The problem of AI use in assessments on professional degrees. Old fashioned exams will sometimes be the answer, yes.

But AI can be a useful tool. Shouldn't we be teaching  when and how to use it too?

[Assistant] We do - there needs to be a balanced approach to assessment and at least for some points in a degree in person exams are appropriate.

[User] Absolutely. Actually, to be fair in my experience it seems to me that professional programmes are more likely to be thinking about integrated AI into teaching than other subjects.

[Assistant] It's an important conversation. Hopefully different professions can learn from each other on this journey.


[User] + SS/Scalp 🇬🇧🇫🇷🚀

[Assistant] Wait for it Kerch 🌉.... 😈 💪🏽🇺🇦

[Assistant] Any update on this?


[User]
@garethdennis.bsky.social Whenever you can, could you please explain something that might be obvious to everyone else, please?

How does double-heading work in practice? Does the 2nd loco have to be 'always on' full? I'm thinking for example of a pair of Class 20s nose-to-nose. Two drivers? Braking?

[Assistant] Simply a through connection of the control systems (even on something as old as that!), usually electrical. That said, I did talk to an old railway hand a few years ago who described *brand new* class 37s, as they became, that would run in opposite directions when so connected. Not ideal...

[User] ... especially on coal traffic in South Wales without automatic brakes on the wagons. Obviously, the brakes could be operated remotely in a variety of ways, too.

[Assistant] Thanks !

[User] Of course, being British Industry there were not hard and fast standards for these (and still aren't...).

[Assistant] Anyway, that area of nerdery unveiled, I'll go back to my copyediting.


[User]
i've always wondered what it would... look/feel like to have a tapetum lucidum, it's bullshit that humans don't have them, obviously, but like, i'm very curious what that is *like* perceptually

i'm also curious what colour ours would be. what colour is the t.l. of a strepsirrhine primate?

[Assistant] fucking blows my mind that there are four *totally distinct structural types* of tapetum lucidum that all evolved separately from one another to solve for "how 2 make a shitty mirror behind the retina"

[User] god holy shit can you imagine if humans had a tapetum lucidum and then we'd invented photography? what would the aesthetics/culture of human eyeshine be like? would a photo of someone WITHOUT eyeshine be considered weird and dead-looking?

[Assistant] Huh. I mean as it is we try to avoid the red-eye effect, so probably not? I feel it depends on how often we'd perceive others' eyeshine in non-photography settings. But if it's truly unavoidable even with non-flash photography then perhaps indeed yes.

[User]
Fantasy races with darkvision -- do elves have tapetum lucidum in some aesthetically pleasing color, orcs&goblins in an aesthetically displeasing color, causing different flavors of racisms?

More interestingly: it is dark; beholders have tapetum lucidum; you see 11 eyes gleaming in the torchlight.

[Assistant] One of many exciting features that humans are sadly lacking. I’m pretty happy about our ability to metabolize plant irritants, though.


[User] Am I the only one wandering around this app like a lost tourist? I had the bird app too…but let’s be for real, I never knew what I was doing there either.

[Assistant] Same! 😅🙈 I never had the bird...

[User] I don’t know if claim it when I never posted or used it 😂😂😂

[Assistant] Same lol. I'm still trying to get the hang of this.


[User]
At the 50 Best Restaurants Latin America, yesterday, in Sao Paulo, we had two amazing wins for Bolivia.

Gustu came in at 38; and was voted the best restaurant in Bolivia.

And, my dear friend, Marsia Taha Mohammed, was crowned as the best female chef.

[Assistant]
Ancestral and Phayawi were just outside the running at 63 and 69, respectively.

I know awards are bollocks; but I also know that there are amazing things happening with food, and food culture, in Bolivia.

It is a troubled country; and an isolated one...

[User]
But there is so much energy and creativity here.

Not just with food; but also with other aspects, such as textiles, fashion, art and tourism.

Bolivia deserves much more recognition for its positive aspects.

[Assistant]
It is a massive privilege to be playing a small part, in what is happening in this beautiful country.

Anyway, less of the ranting, from me; back to a day making kimchi and crumpets...


[User] God is with us 🙏

[Assistant] God isn't real, obviously. Keep your delusions to yourself, please.

[User] Free will..if you don't like Phil's post..scroll on by...this isn't Twitter...

[Assistant] It was on my feed. I have the free will to respond to it.


[User] Have a beautiful day 😄

[Assistant] Have an awesome day, Robb! ☕ 👋

[User]
Happy Wednesday MK.  You too.

Coffee tastes great this morning. ☕

I can't wait to relax and watch the games tomorrow.  🏈

[Assistant]
Football and feeding my face all day!
That's my kind of Thanksgiving!


[User]
"Spawning Salmon" is a sculpture made of automotive parts in Alliance, Nebraska. This is a long-exposure shot (52s) I made of it, and I used it for the cover of my eBook on long exposure photography! #photography #longexposure

eBook: Stretching Time
luminescentphoto.com/blog/eshop/s...

[Assistant] Interesting sculpture and shot you captured. What’s the significance of this sculpture?

[User] It’s part of the Carhenge installation. Everything there is crafted from auto parts.

[Assistant] I see. Thanks for replying!

[User] I'll try to find some other shots!

[Assistant] Alright!


[User]
#ZhangZheHan
#张哲瀚
#TheRealZhangZhehan

What woman in this world would be able to bear such shame and live? WOH, episode 13, part 10. YQF goes to the residence he occupies in the pouring rain and heads for the Shimei Pavilion. He says to himself in his mind that there is+

[Assistant] still no news of Tian Jie. He wonders if there really is no hope left. Suddenly he hears a woman's voice asking him why he is tormenting himself so much. YQF turns around and sees a woman standing in the middle of the courtyard under an umbrella. To see her face, he goes down +

[User] the stairs towards the woman. Seeing the woman, he reaches for his sword, and LQQ asks him if he intends to hurt her. However, after a while, he hides the sword in its sheath and says LQQ's name and asks her, approaching her, if she is dead. LQQ dispassionately tells him that +

[Assistant] of course she is dead. He explains that YQF's wife was great at martial arts, she hit her twice and stabbed her once. And she asks if she could not have died. He also adds that these were not mortal wounds. She tells him that his wife stripped her naked and disfigured her. +

[User] She explains that she forced her to parade around town like that for three days. She says that YQF's wife showed everyone that LQQ, the Green Siren, was not only promiscuous and shameless but also a disfigured and ugly woman. YQF listens to this story with his head down. +

[Assistant] LQQ approaches the man and asks what woman in this world would be able to endure such shame and live. YQF asks LQQ to stop talking, begs her to stop. LQQ turns her face away from him and asks why, then walks away saying that she barely mentioned it and that she can't listen +

[User] to it anymore. She asks him what about the pain she feels. She tells him that even though she is a woman who does not deserve sympathy, why should he take all the blame for their shared mistakes. YQF tells her that he knows she hates him and that he feels resentment towards +

[Assistant] him. He adds that he has nothing to justify himself, even if she killed him now, it wouldn't erase his sin. YQF starts looking at LQQ for the first time and begs her not to talk about it anymore. I add that he also suffered all these years. He says violently that he wanted to+

[User] kill his wife and avenge LQQ, but she gave birth to his son. He approaches her and continues to say that he wanted to commit suicide to accompany LQQ. LQQ interrupts him when he wants to explain why he didn't do it and tells him that he should have died. LQQ turns to him and+

[Assistant] asks if he didn't promise that if the worst happened, they would die together. Then, seeing that YQF doesn't answer, LQQ points to himself saying that she is already a ghost and asks what will happen to him. YQF, not knowing what to do, grabs his former lover in his arms, and+

[User] LQQ lowers his umbrella. Both standing in the pouring rain, YQF states that he thinks he doesn't deserve the right to die. He adds that he caused her so much pain and he deserves to miss her every day and suffer every day. He tells her that because he saw her today, even if +

[Assistant] he dies now, he will not hold a grudge against her. LQQ drops his umbrella to the ground. YQF says in his mind that the sea has turned into a smooth plain. The snow-capped mountain peaks have dissolved among the clouds. Thousands of years in his eyes disappear like dust, but his+

[User] heart is the same as before. LQQ is very emotionally affected by the gesture of the man who digs his fingers into her neck. YQF stops hugging the woman. YQF says that it is a sinful fate, and the emotionally broken LQQ replies that he should forget about it. He explains that +

[Assistant] he is unable to hurt her and she knew it and he knows it too. YQF turns around without a word and heads towards the entrance to the pavilion. We could already tell that YQF is a coward, and the conversation with LQQ only confirms it. As a man, he was unable to take +

[User] responsibility for his actions and the consequences, and only the woman suffered. YQF can only speak and threaten, but when it comes to action, he hides. LQQ, coming to his former lover, wants to face the past and see if he has changed. The only thing he gets is the certainty+

[Assistant] that YQF has not changed and is still the same coward who is afraid of the story told by a woman.


[User]
“Absolutely not!”

“Hyung,” YG starts and SJ preemptively rolls his eyes at whatever reasoning he’s about to be fed, “I already paid and it’s non refundable.”

SJ forces his eyes as wide as he can to get his point across. “Then *you* do it.”

+

[Assistant]
YG sighs as if SJ is on the one being ridiculous. “I don’t need it.”

“Neither do I!” SJ exclaims and YG raises an eyebrow as if his outburst is all the proof he needs.

“I have two working hands and a boyfriend,” YG reminds him and SJ scowls.

+

[User]
The boyfriend part wasn’t strictly necessary. “But you’ve been on edge for weeks now, and who can blame you?” YG says softly.

“i’m *fine*,” SJ insists, face heating with embarrassment.

+

[Assistant]
“Maybe you would be if you were ambidextrous but I think we both know The Stranger isn’t cutting it,” YG reasons and SJ tries to scowl harder.

“It’s just four more weeks in the splint-“

“I can’t live with you for four more weeks of this,” YG cuts him off.

+

[User]
SJ thinks maybe it’s time to come clean with his roommate to avoid utter disaster. He’d only actually come out to a handful of people since he moved to Seoul, YG being one of them. They’d met at a club, the kind of club SJ wouldn’t dare be seen at in his hometown.

+

[Assistant]
Word travelled fast there and he didn’t want his parents finding out that way, because he’d been too scared to tell them yet.

Meeting YG, there was an assumption of commonality due to their location, so he really hadn’t had to say anything.

+

[User]
A few months passed of them hanging out, then YG mentioned he needed someone to take over part of the lease and SJ was looking for a place, it was perfect.

Except YG was operating under the false impression that SJ had any idea what he was doing.

+

[Assistant]
He’d never dated a man, or kissed a man, or anything else that might follow.

SJ is sure YG meant well when he contacted the discreet service, booked a house call for his very stressed out roommate.

+

[User]
But considering how long it’s been since SJ’s had any relief, let alone been with someone, and compounded by his complete lack of experience, the service he’s supposed to be provided sounds anything but relieving.

+

[Assistant]
SJ doesn't get the chance though, because YG must have wisely decided to withhold the reveal of his charitable gift until moments before it's arrival, words of protest dying in SJ's throat when the intercom buzzes.

+

[User]
"Come on up," he says, releasing the button.

SJ knows it will take their visitor approximately 90 seconds to ride the elevator and walk to their door, which is not enough time for him to repel down the side of the building.

+

[Assistant]
Not that he could, due to his splinted hand, the whole reason he's in this mess to begin with.

Maybe if he runs he can get in a different elevator before this mystery man arrives, passing him like they're in some sort of heist movie.

+

[User]
A soft knock on the door alerts SJ to the fact his spent his 90 seconds plotting and not acting, which he's beginning to realize is a chronic problem for him.

YG barely pauses before opening it, SJ revisiting the window as a means of escape as the man walks through the door.

+

[Assistant]
It's not that SJ has doubted he's gay, at least not for a while. Of course there was a long stretch in his early teens where he tried to doubt it instead of coming to terms, then his late teens when he thought ignoring it was a valid approach.

+

[User]
In his 20s though he made peace with who he was, even if he couldn't tell anyone. Though the path to self acceptance was long, deep down he'd known as long as he could remember that he felt differently about other boys than his friends did.

+

[Assistant]
If there was any trace of being unsure before, just a brief glance at the man toeing off his shows in the entry way would have wiped it completely out of his mind permanently.

The man discreetly looks over the two of them, nodding briefly at YG before turning fully to SJ.

+

[User]
His eyes glance over the splint which SJ self consciously tucks behind his back, the man's eyes quickly back on his instead.

"You must be SJ-ssi," he says.

When SJ doesn't answer, YG steps behind him and nudges him forward a few awkward steps. "He is."

+

[Assistant]
"Ah," SJ starts, clearing his throat, "yes, I am, but there's been a bit of a misunderstanding with my roommate here. He thought he needed- he thought *I* needed- well anyway, the point is, I appreciate you taking the time but we're not in need of your services," SJ bumbles.

+

[User]
"I see," the man says, eyes flicking briefly over to YG before settling back on SJ. "Unfortunately there are no refunds."

"I understand," SJ confirms, "and I'm sorry for wasting your time."

+

[Assistant]
The man shrugs, pulling his phone from his pocket. "Would it be okay if I waited here for my car?"

"Of course!" SJ blurts, not wanting to be rude of course. Hopefully this guy won't take the rejection personally.

+

[User]
Under other circumstances, SJ would be over the moon to have someone this good looking in his apartment, offering what this man is offering.

+

[Assistant]
Those circumstances being if he had any game whatsoever and even a hint of experience because it seems wildly unfair for someone so pretty to have to suffer through what would inevitably be a very awkward first time with SJ.

+

[User]
"Ah, please, have a seat," SJ manages, gesturing to the couch, noticing as he turns that YG has somehow slipped out of the entry way, the door to his bedroom closed when SJ glances down the hall.

+

[Assistant]
The man nods in thanks and sits on one end, still absorbed in his phone so he doesn't seem to register SJ settling on the other side, as much space between them as possible.

+

[User]
He's not sure if he's concerned what this guy might do or what *he* might do, eyes roaming the man's cherubic face.

SJ needs to interrupt his own train of thought before it can leave the station,

+

[Assistant]
imagination ready to run wild about what he might get up to with someone like this gorgeous man in his apartment. And maybe YG had a point, because even with the briefest indulgent thoughts about what this guy's small hands would look like touching his-

+


[User] I don't know what this is, but it's not chaplaincy.

[Assistant] Two whole weeks of training. 😬

[User] my brother is a chaplain and whatever this is, isn't that! He did seminary + a year of chaplaincy specific training + ongoing CPE.

[Assistant] It sounds like a weird program, per the article. these folks are in no way equipped to deal with the various situations described, and I can only imagine the harm they're doing to folks in need of actual psychological help. 🫤

[User]
I am very much reminded that there were chapels at every death camp ran by Nazis to cater to the guards’ spiritual needs as they murdered human beings who weren’t good white Christians.

I’m still angry from when I learned about them. To me, that is every church.

[Assistant] But declaring them that probably gives them legal immunity from having to testify to the atrocities.


[User] Among my nan's possessions, this ring. It has always intrigued me. It's so small, probably a child's ring. She was born in 1916, & research tells me this was a WWI design. It's so dark & eroded, I can't decipher the stamps. But I know a jeweller I trust. I'll take it there. I want to know more.

[Assistant] This looks pretty similar: www.ratisbons.com/shop/militar...

[User] Thank you. My Google search threw this up, too, & I wonder how much of this was going around. WWII must have obliterated much of it. I have no idea how my nan rescued it, at least not between 1918 & 1945. I do now how they rescued their belongings & crossed the border from East to West afterwards.

[Assistant] I wear a gold ring that I inherited from my father. He got it from his father, who got it from his father. So it's from my great-grandfather - I feel it connects me with my past. I hope you can find out more about yours.


[User] What are they doing for 8 months??

[User] It's part of a bigger worker's dispute over their workload and compensation. The real reason isn't the NATO summit but these guys are going to be working 24x7 for an extended period around it. So in light of the bigger issue there is little flexibility to work more weekends for sporting events.

[Assistant] And in The Netherlands (unlike in other countries) it is not allowed to use non-police motards for traffic management. So it's a pretty dismal situation.


[User] Sourdough fresh out of the oven for breakfast today. Before I started making bread I had no idea how easy it was: 10 minutes to mix the ingredients, knead a few times over the next few hours for ~1 minute, 10 minutes to shape the loaves and set out to proof. 24 hours later:

[Assistant] I have a bread machine and while my bread does not look as good at yours, it has changed my life (and it's so easy and quick)! Good bread is a definite and easy life improvement.

[User] Are you using a starter for this? I tried making one and it just got moldy instead of actually growing. And do you have a specific recipe you recommend to get started with this?

[Assistant] Yes, I have a really good starter that I got from a friend! DM me your address and I'll mail you some if you like. I follow a recipe but it is very flexible, I have adjusted the times and steps a lot and basically always have good results.


[User] Why has no one done the Queen Never Cry meme with Sphene???? what are we doing??? As a society??????

[Assistant] You act like you couldn't be doing it yourself!!!!!

[User] Should I....? Is my power so vast?

[Assistant] Do it! Becomes history's most Brutal Queen!


[User] Heard someone complain the UK is a "nanny state" for the first time in months and I swear, every time I hear that phrase I read it as "I'm a big boy/girl now, I can decide for myself!"

[Assistant]
I get it, no one likes being nitpicked and finger-wagged.

But we are barely a couple of years from an epidemic where the state spent more time coming up with quirky three-bit slogans and hiding office parties than it did keeping the spread of an airborne virus in check.

[User] It also comes off as just a -bit- hypocritical to say that and then an hour later turn around to declare something you don't like (from vape bars and McDonalds to e-scooters) should be banned.

[Assistant] I loved watching Room 101 growing up. it was a great gripe-show. But I think it fed into a pretentious middle-class fantasy where anything which slightly annoys you should be banished to the Shadow Realm.


[User]
I’m doing my best 🫂
She was here last Thanksgiving 💔

[Assistant]
Be gentle with yourself. My son has been gone since 2022. It feels like yesterday and century ago.

Take care.

[User]
I’m so sorry.
Thanks for your kind words 🫂

[Assistant] I'm so sorry for your loss. May her memory be a blessing.


[User] I have heard so much about seed oils through right-wing media in recent years. Just hours and hours of content. Which is one of the big differences between right-wing talk radio from the 1990s to mid-2010s and the right-wing lifestyle podcasts that have taken over since.

[Assistant] There was always a food politics inherent in right-wing radio: sneering about vegetarianism and lattes and arugula as indicators of a cosmopolitan sensibility and a feminized culture.

[User] But this turn to nutrition-scientish content, and the sheer amount of time spent on it, is new. It springs from the same sort of politics: anxieties over manliness, a desire for domination, plus some conspiracism about companies trying to weaken Americans through vaccines and food supply.

[Assistant] There’s more to it, though. It draws heavily from a wellness culture that has exploded in recent decades, as well as from media that not only blend political content with entertainment—that’s old new—but with lifestyle content. On the right, that’s a new development, at least at this scale.

[User] And it’s something for progressives to think about as they’re imagining new media outlets for the coming years. Not that they have to get conspiratorial or peddle misinformation (they shouldn’t!), but that for millions of people, this blending of political and lifestyle media really works.

[Assistant] As with politics, there is superficial research combined with "but spend any time on TikTok or let your YouTube algorithm run too long.." (or other platforms).


[User] I'm so glad none of my classes are virtual next semester because in both of the classes I have that are virtual this semester, I have lazy ass Professors. Just give me my work and leave me tf alone.

[Assistant] That's a shame. Online classes do give faculty a chance to connect with students. I loved teaching online.

[User] This is my first time taking virtual classes.. I normally do on campus or online. This semester really left a bad taste in my mouth!

[Assistant] I think online classes can be good if you find a good teacher. I do think some faculty don't know how to engage students online.


[User]
Bus use in England is down compared to 2019, but is rebounding still from when COVID-19 decimated all travel on the industry. This graph shows a big reason why.

Travel using concessions, mainly the National Concessionary Travel Scheme, is still down and struggling to recover. Especially in cities.

[Assistant]
17% of bus trips across England used concessions in 2023. But that was dragged down by London (11%) which has a large share of total passenger trips.

In the North East its 30%
North West, East of England, Yorkshire & Humber, South East, South West and East Midlands - 23%
West Midlands - 19%

[User] All the data is here: www.gov.uk/government/s...

[Assistant] The 3 key requirements for a successful bus service is (as you know) is to provide a frequent, reliable and affordable service, in my area (just outside Bedford) the provider fails miserably on all 3 counts.


[User] Honestly don’t know how we were allowed to do that. We’d tried to do some Savile jokes before and our producer had said he was too litigious to risk it… wasn’t a cover up, he just used intimidation. Different producer let this through.

[Assistant] Amazing. I understand it was a very well known secret and in the privilege of hindsight, find it bizarre he got away with it. Different times I suppose. Ftr I always found him repellent, he made my teeth itch.

[User] Wasn't really a well known secret. As crass as it sounds, it was like all office rumours. There were a select few who knew the facts, everyone else was just poking fun at the rumour. He got away with it cause of the old boys club the BBC was back in the 70s and 80s.

[Assistant] Yeah, I remember people saying how deftly Savile hide sidestepped questions in the Theroux documentary, and I was like...he didn't sidestep shit, he just threatened to sue.


[User] I'm very seriously considering trying to write this book I outlined in December. Like just fast draft the whole thing in a month. It will be hard, because I suspect this book will be about 70k and I don't think I've done 70k in a month before, but I am soooo tempted to try.

[Assistant] At the same time, though, I have a project that I really should be working on first, I've just been struggling hard with it the last few weeks...

[User] Sometimes you need to change your perspective! If the heart wants to work on the other thing, it wants to work on the other thing!! Maybe once it's out of the way, the inspiration for the project you should be working on will return.

[Assistant] That's what I was thinking. Forcing myself to work through a project I needed a break from burned me out hardcore earlier this year. I think I need this to finally get me back to where I normally am creatively, because that project still feels associated with my burnout & makes me want to resist it.


[User] This is why I have no patience whatsoever for calls to empathize and understand conservatives. The group that made "fuck your feelings" a signature catch phrase while putting liberal hunting stickers on their coal rolling trucks can fuck all the way off with "the left is mean and doesn't listen" 🤡💩.

[Assistant]
Same applies to the suggestion that we shouldn't be mad at reactionary low-info rubes who voted to throw health, safety, and human rights out the window for entirely selfish, foolish reasons.

I, for one, intended to hold people accountable to their choices. If they feel bad, then good. They should.

[User]
Same applies to the suggestion that we shouldn't be mad at reactionary low-info rubes who voted to throw health, safety, and human rights out the window for entirely selfish, foolish reasons.

I, for one, intend to hold people accountable to their choices. If they feel bad, then good. They should.

[Assistant] It's not going to solve any problems other than my blood pressure but these guys are going to learn a new level of being ostracized I suspect.


[User] I'd love to see everyone's paleoart that features light, shadow and reflection, please 💚🦕🦖

[Assistant] Like these? bsky.app/profile/carl...

[User] Absolutely gorgeous 🥰

[Assistant] I’ve had a few attempts of it 👉👈

[User] Beautiful! I love how you create sunsets 🙌

[Assistant] Thank you!


[User]
Nearly 11 years ago I sent my novel to Gaspereau Press. I got this amazing rejection letter.

“What you are doing is worthwhile. Keep going.”

I kept this letter for all this time trying to get published.
Now it’s happening and I can’t believe it.
Keep going.

[Assistant] Isn't that wonderful? Decades ago I had something similar from a commissioning editor at what was then (maybe still is) Puffin Books.

[User]
This is a wonderful rejection and it’s wonderful that it spurred you on to where you are now. Congratulations!
I had a similarly encouraging rejection email from Sarah Odedina in 2015. Three years later she/Pushkin Press published my debut. Not sure I would have kept going without the encouragement.

[Assistant] Thank you!


[User] Horses, coffee, cannabis before half day of work.

[Assistant] Just got back to California a couple weeks ago and moved to a 7000ft high neighborhood. Not quite cool ranch living but I’m a block away from a cool lake.

[User] Nice, NorCal or SoCal?

[Assistant] I’m an LA kid so SoCal. Grew up below the San Gabriels. In San Bernardino mountains now in an above the clouds neighborhood between Arrowhead and Big Bear.


[User] Today’s surprise from the archives: Seventeenth century satnav!

[Assistant] That’s fascinating!

[User] these lists of waypoints and distances were super-common in late medieval England in personal miscellanies and standard sets of them clearly circulated in manuscript. More rare in print, arguably!

[Assistant] The source is very much in this tradition, indeed.

[User] heh I don't know that edition--funny how it recreates a medieval format, the miscellany, after Stowe had invented English history out of the medieval chronicle found in miscellanies.

[Assistant]
Yes it isn’t an edition the OED has used before as far as I can tell (we have several quotes from the 1560s/70s editions) but the material I need is in a chapter on the founding and endowments of English universities which has clearly been updated for 1604.
The pagination is a disaster.


[User] Of all the things you have done so far today, what was the most rewarding?🤔😁

[Assistant] Everything I have done today has been a faff so first coffee of the day gets my vote.

[User] Visited an art exhibition.

[Assistant] Opening the mail😀


[User] Outraged.

[Assistant] *Slips a dagger in her hand...*

[User] You know me so well, Love.

[Assistant] Of course, that's why we are married, my beloved goddess.


[User]
There's something incredibly arrogant about Conservatives demanding a government they don't like remove themselves from office.
They still believe they have a devine right to rule.
I'm afraid they gave up that right after 14 years of utter destruction.

[Assistant] There will be some morons cheering Bad Enoch on with this, but the rest of the country will be either shaking their heads in disbelief or give up on politics all together.

[User] It just shows how privilege can breed strong entitlement, but supresses awareness.

[Assistant] It's why they infantilize normal people and deny them agency. It's unthinkable that they could be wrong, despite never facing the struggles the rest of us have to deal with.


[User]
The subheading is even worse. It works in conjunction with the image to set up a racist & colonial justification for this man’s murder by police.

“Violent Nunavut resident with mental-health, addiction struggles repeatedly ran afoul of law during year ‘stuck’ in Winnipeg following prison sentence”

[Assistant] The article doesn’t even really address his murder by police at all.

[User] Imagine if this guy asked for help from passersby. They'd think it was a new spin on the ran out of gas needa get back to Swan Lake scam.

[Assistant]
Egregiously, the article doesn’t even really address his murder by police at all. It’s just brimming with racism, ableism, and more. And it buries that people called him kind and supportive at the bottom.

The @winnipegfreepress.com is such a racist rag.


[User]
Hate that I still need to open the other app sometimes to make sure I get all the fandom news. Just dipped my toes there this morning and the amount of ppl complaining about drama! I'm just like, GUYS! Come. to. the. good. place.
Pls.

[Assistant] Ugh it’s wild over there! I’m new with S3 to the 🐝 fandom. I had no idea what the drama was like. I do still check the other app for the latest news and pics though. 😬

[User] I mean, this isn't even 🐝 specific. I've been in enough fandoms over the years and whenever something gets this ridiculously big the odds are ppl will fight. Like, if anything, fans are passionate, often chaotic ppl. I just hate how the algorithm there favors the mess above all else 🤷♀

[Assistant] Fandom is a chaotic and lovely place.


[User]
I wish there were greater demand for electric cars. I got one earlier this year and would never go back to petrol.
- So much cheaper to run
- I can turn on the heating / defrost / Aircon from my phone so don't need to go outside.
- Charging is fine and I get plenty of range. It's a non-issue.

[Assistant] Same, absolutely. I can't get over how much better the ownership experience is so far.

[User] Turning on the heating while I'm still sat having my morning cup of tea is honestly a gamechanger.

[Assistant] Feels like the future doesn't it haha.

[User] My Mum was the first in my family to go electric. A few years back I was out for a family dinner in some pub during the winter and when we asked for the bill she said "Good chance to turn on my car heating too", we left, she got into a warm car, I got into my cold diesel one. Made my mind up then!

[Assistant] I agree but I think there would be if they were cheaper. I suspect demand has fallen mostly due to cost of living increases and people sticking with what they currently have.

[User] I totally agree they need to be cheaper, although that also comes with smaller cars, which are arriving now too. And the pre-owned market needs to be shown to be viable as I think that's a worry for folks too. And increase & improve the charging infrastructure. But these are all solvable.

[Assistant] That’s in interesting point about the pre-owned market. That’s what put my friend off, he didn’t like the thought of taking on a used battery.

[User] I guess because they're new tech so people are a bit concerned. But I don't think there's much difference between getting an EV with 100,000 miles on it vs an old diesel. In fact there's probably more that could go wrong in an ICE - transmission, fuel-pump, clutch, exhausts....

[Assistant] Completely agree. I’ve got a hybrid but I’ll go full electric next.

[User] Same. I've always been a 'car guy' to some extent, but as much as I'd love a nice 90s German saloon I couldn't in good conscience do it. I bought a Cupra last year and there's no way I'm going back. A shame that the momentum seems to have stalled.

[Assistant] People need to know the benefits of them, rather than too much talk about mitigating the problems. It's always talk about how the distance/range isn't as bad as people think, rather than "here's what's amazing about going electric"

[User]
Exactly. How often are people doing more than 300km at a time? ICE car you still have to stop for fuel too. Long trip in an EV stop at services, plug it in, get a bite/drink then go again 🤷🏻♂
So many plus points like you mention. Mine is also more fun to drive than any car I've had in years.

[Assistant] I haven’t had to service it, I'm not stopping in a petrol station every second day (so don't have all those ancillary "oh I'll just grab a drink/bar/crisps at the counter" costs). So many little positives.

[User] Yup. I love the rapid charger places when I need to go on a longer journey. Plug in, get a cup of tea and a sandwich for 20 minutes and I'm good to go. I'd be having a break that long if I were in an ICE too. There are so few situations I'd ever need a car that can go 500 miles without stopping.

[Assistant] I'd like one. I used to work for a co. that makes EV chargers, but still not feasible yet in a top storey flat with no reliable local chargers / enough chargers @ office 😑. But, I'm hoping to go Hybrid this weekend. I am excited about it as a first step. Hopefully, next time, I'll have moved house 🤞

[User] There definitely needs to be a solution for people who can't charge at home, yes. I guess we need a lot of infrastructure improvements to move away from oil and gas in general too, so could be an expensive and disruptive few decades while we move from fossils to renewables everwhere.

[Assistant] They're making a start in some places. I saw that they're building some chargers at the Starbucks "near" us. Hopefully, it spreads out more as well. I feel like a Hybrid will let me test it out in safe mode while my city catches up with the infrastructure 🤔😊


[User] Dear Elton John. Sorry to read about your eye. Dont worry living with just 1 isnt so bad, just takes time for the brain to get use to it. Retina in my left eye detached over a year ago so i know from personal experience.

[Assistant] i just emailed Elton a reassurance email. Basically telling him that he isnt alone with partial vision loss. Theres alot of people in the world that only has 1 useful eye for some reason. GET YOUR EYES CHECKED REGULARLY! But if a eye goes its not the end of your life, trust me it isnt.

[User] Having a bad eye, if that was what I was left with then I'd pretty much be useless.

[Assistant] not necessary. ya i cant drive again if i wanted to but thats what public transit is for. ya kinda difficult to have a shower but you get use to it.