Relevant, interests
Apr. 23rd, 2025 02:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rydra_wong"You Wouldn't Steal A Gender" and "I Would Definitely Steal A Gender" badges, in exactly the font you'd expect.
rydra_wong
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Apr. 22nd, 2025 03:24 pmlycomingstNow that the water pipes at the Park are done (I believe), all the roads are being repaved. And they said, let’s start ripping things up in front of the lady’s house who HAS to go to the DMV today . Also, she’s expecting a package delivery (UPS lied about that). So I pulled out and dodged some massive machine and enormous piles of asphalt to go pay the gov’t money to buy a joke “real id”. Coming back I had to drive like a tank over clumps of asphalt.
I’m working in the back yard every day and it’s a bigger job than I thought. I’ve scaled back my expectations and am concentrating on flowers in pots. I have one tomato plant and we wish it the best, but have no high hopes. There is so much weeding to be done and I’m old and kinda lazy so I do a little bit every day. Plus the cats got out one day and now I have to watch for that. They both came back at traditional dinner time like they just drove home from the office.
The rainy season has tapered off and I’m just watching the weather and sun patterns in the yard this year. My bedroom gets a lot of afternoon sun so I’m thinking it’ll be hot in the summer. But not California hot for endless days.
I have not watched The Last of Us yet. I’m putting it off because it’s going to take an emotional toll. I dropped Acorn and they naturally added more episodes of two of my favorite shows immediately afterward, so I had to sign up again.
I’m working in the back yard every day and it’s a bigger job than I thought. I’ve scaled back my expectations and am concentrating on flowers in pots. I have one tomato plant and we wish it the best, but have no high hopes. There is so much weeding to be done and I’m old and kinda lazy so I do a little bit every day. Plus the cats got out one day and now I have to watch for that. They both came back at traditional dinner time like they just drove home from the office.
The rainy season has tapered off and I’m just watching the weather and sun patterns in the yard this year. My bedroom gets a lot of afternoon sun so I’m thinking it’ll be hot in the summer. But not California hot for endless days.
I have not watched The Last of Us yet. I’m putting it off because it’s going to take an emotional toll. I dropped Acorn and they naturally added more episodes of two of my favorite shows immediately afterward, so I had to sign up again.
If anyone could use a morale boost
Apr. 22nd, 2025 05:17 pmrydra_wonghttps://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/04/protests-erupt-across-the-uk-after-supreme-court-ruled-against-trans-rights/
Many many pictures.
Also, more protests yet to come, apparently, with ones scheduled for Oxford and Cambridge.
Many many pictures.
Also, more protests yet to come, apparently, with ones scheduled for Oxford and Cambridge.
Theatre: Great Comet, and Wagner (not simultaneously)
Apr. 22nd, 2025 04:21 pmnineveh_ukOne of the major casualties of Covid for me has been the theatre, which I'm simply not up to going to as much as I was, so it was great this winter to go to two really good productions.
Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, Dave Molloy, at the Donmar Warehouse.
Musical based on War and Peace - wisely, on a limited chunk of War and Peace - finally making it to the UK in an excellent production. I'm so out of touch at the moment that I didn't know it was going to be on, but fortunatelyantisoppist did. I've no idea why it has taken 12 years (OK, Covid might have played a role there), because it is enormous fun. As the prologue tells us 'Natasha is young and Andrey' isn't here, but a lot of Moscow society is and taken up with entertaining itself at other people's expenses/being a miserable sod. Will Natasha's life be ruined for other people's idea of a good time? Will Pierre get a grip? Will anyone ever recognise (incuding Tolstoy) that Sonya is the MVP*? The singing and performances were excellent, production fast and sharp, and though it is not deeply moving, it tells its story very well. Surely some regional producing theatre must want to put it on? I'm baffled sometimes by UK theatre's curious resistance to the musical as a genre, despite the West End.
Plus surely the best piece in praise of a taxi driver in musical theatre.
The Flying Dutchman, Wagner, Opera North.
I went up to Leeds to see this with my father and sister a week after Great Comet, and I have to admit that about a minute into the overture I was thinking, 'Great Comet was excellent, but this is on another level.' Fabulous orchestral playing of a magnificent score, superb singing and acting, a riveting experience from start to finish. The production introduced some concepts of refugees, being lost on the sea and wandering, including voices of refugees speaking their experiences, that met with a mixed reception. Frankly, I didn't think it really added much to the main narrative, but I've come across infinitely worse opera production concepts, and the critical bafflement about this one seems out of proportion. It was a pretty straightforward production with an additional element, there was no obscurity of the main story, and making Daland a government minister ranks pretty low on "weird things that happen in opera stagings".
Much more distracting to me was something integral to the original. While I was aware of the basic story (sailor cursed to wander the seas coming to land only once ever seven years, unless he can be saved by the love of a good woman), and there is little more plot than that, what I hadn't realised was that the second act is basically this:
Heroine's father: So I've offered you to this rich creepy kind of ghost sailor for his money.
Heroine: I have read a million vampire fanfics, I am READY.
I am not kidding. Senta is literally the girl that people worry about reading Twilight, she is DTF the exotic erotic scary doomed creature, and Wagner thinks that this is cool.
Have you seen the ship upon the ocean
with blood‑red sails and black masts?
On her bridge a pallid man,
the ship's master, watches incessantly.
Whee! How the wind howls! Yohohe!
Whee! How it whistles in the rigging! Yohohe!
Whee! Like on arrow he flies on,
without aim, without end, without rest!
Yet there could be redemption one day for that pale man
if he found a wife on earth who'd be true to him till death!
Ah when, pale seaman, will you find her?
Pray Heaven, that soon
a wife will keep faith with him!
...
Let me be the one whose loyalty shall save you!
May God's angel reveal me to you!
Through me shall you attain redemption!
I sat there thinking what a pity it was that Wagner died too soon to see Nosferatu. There is also some wonderful sea music, and the Dutchman has a great aria, but honestly, it's Senta's batshit goth fangirlery that sticks with me.
*Credit to the Olivier Awards, who gave Maimuna Menon the award for best supporting actress.
Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, Dave Molloy, at the Donmar Warehouse.
Musical based on War and Peace - wisely, on a limited chunk of War and Peace - finally making it to the UK in an excellent production. I'm so out of touch at the moment that I didn't know it was going to be on, but fortunately
antisoppist did. I've no idea why it has taken 12 years (OK, Covid might have played a role there), because it is enormous fun. As the prologue tells us 'Natasha is young and Andrey' isn't here, but a lot of Moscow society is and taken up with entertaining itself at other people's expenses/being a miserable sod. Will Natasha's life be ruined for other people's idea of a good time? Will Pierre get a grip? Will anyone ever recognise (incuding Tolstoy) that Sonya is the MVP*? The singing and performances were excellent, production fast and sharp, and though it is not deeply moving, it tells its story very well. Surely some regional producing theatre must want to put it on? I'm baffled sometimes by UK theatre's curious resistance to the musical as a genre, despite the West End.Plus surely the best piece in praise of a taxi driver in musical theatre.
The Flying Dutchman, Wagner, Opera North.
I went up to Leeds to see this with my father and sister a week after Great Comet, and I have to admit that about a minute into the overture I was thinking, 'Great Comet was excellent, but this is on another level.' Fabulous orchestral playing of a magnificent score, superb singing and acting, a riveting experience from start to finish. The production introduced some concepts of refugees, being lost on the sea and wandering, including voices of refugees speaking their experiences, that met with a mixed reception. Frankly, I didn't think it really added much to the main narrative, but I've come across infinitely worse opera production concepts, and the critical bafflement about this one seems out of proportion. It was a pretty straightforward production with an additional element, there was no obscurity of the main story, and making Daland a government minister ranks pretty low on "weird things that happen in opera stagings".
Much more distracting to me was something integral to the original. While I was aware of the basic story (sailor cursed to wander the seas coming to land only once ever seven years, unless he can be saved by the love of a good woman), and there is little more plot than that, what I hadn't realised was that the second act is basically this:
Heroine's father: So I've offered you to this rich creepy kind of ghost sailor for his money.
Heroine: I have read a million vampire fanfics, I am READY.
I am not kidding. Senta is literally the girl that people worry about reading Twilight, she is DTF the exotic erotic scary doomed creature, and Wagner thinks that this is cool.
Have you seen the ship upon the ocean
with blood‑red sails and black masts?
On her bridge a pallid man,
the ship's master, watches incessantly.
Whee! How the wind howls! Yohohe!
Whee! How it whistles in the rigging! Yohohe!
Whee! Like on arrow he flies on,
without aim, without end, without rest!
Yet there could be redemption one day for that pale man
if he found a wife on earth who'd be true to him till death!
Ah when, pale seaman, will you find her?
Pray Heaven, that soon
a wife will keep faith with him!
...
Let me be the one whose loyalty shall save you!
May God's angel reveal me to you!
Through me shall you attain redemption!
I sat there thinking what a pity it was that Wagner died too soon to see Nosferatu. There is also some wonderful sea music, and the Dutchman has a great aria, but honestly, it's Senta's batshit goth fangirlery that sticks with me.
*Credit to the Olivier Awards, who gave Maimuna Menon the award for best supporting actress.
Book 16 - Niall Ferguson "Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World"
Apr. 22nd, 2025 08:24 amjazzy_daveNiall Ferguson "Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World" (Penguin)
Ferguson writes as a pro-Empire historian, and thus a non-Marxist, but one who is not blind to the awful aspects of the process. I learned much from this book. For example, the Indian "mutiny" of 1857 can be directly linked to the impact of missionary activity, which had been barred by the East India Company, but which had been allowed to intrude in the years leading up to the mutiny. Second, who knew that India sent more troops to WW1 than Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa combined? And third, that Roosevelt and the rest of the American leadership in the lead up to their involvement in WW2 were explicitly anti-Empire - that their support for the UK was conditional on it not being support for the British Empire as it stood. (As it turned out, Britain was broke after the war, so the empire collapsed of its own accord. The fact that the US was the creditor now makes it seem that the cause and consequence may have happily linked in the Americans' minds.) This is a good book, well written.
Ferguson writes as a pro-Empire historian, and thus a non-Marxist, but one who is not blind to the awful aspects of the process. I learned much from this book. For example, the Indian "mutiny" of 1857 can be directly linked to the impact of missionary activity, which had been barred by the East India Company, but which had been allowed to intrude in the years leading up to the mutiny. Second, who knew that India sent more troops to WW1 than Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa combined? And third, that Roosevelt and the rest of the American leadership in the lead up to their involvement in WW2 were explicitly anti-Empire - that their support for the UK was conditional on it not being support for the British Empire as it stood. (As it turned out, Britain was broke after the war, so the empire collapsed of its own accord. The fact that the US was the creditor now makes it seem that the cause and consequence may have happily linked in the Americans' minds.) This is a good book, well written.
UK people: disability benefit cuts
Apr. 21st, 2025 09:48 amrydra_wongRebellion is growing among Labour MPs, so if you have a Labour MP, now is a VERY good and important time to write to them to protest the proposed PIP and other cuts:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/apr/20/the-whole-policy-is-wrong-rebellion-among-labour-mps-grows-over-5bn-benefits-cut
(If you have a non-Labour MP, hassle them too and see if they can be persuaded to do something vaguely useful.)
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/apr/20/the-whole-policy-is-wrong-rebellion-among-labour-mps-grows-over-5bn-benefits-cut
(If you have a non-Labour MP, hassle them too and see if they can be persuaded to do something vaguely useful.)
Goals 2025/26
Apr. 20th, 2025 05:18 pmsmallhobbitEvery year it becomes harder to set goals, and yet again, particularly since I'm doing 25 Things in 2025, I wondered whether to bother, but 25 Things are short term, generally one-offs, and I don't think it hurts to look ahead and think about what I'd like to achieve in twelve months time.
So, lets go for a variety of goals:-
Goal No 1: Do a Themed Monthly Post
I've done this in the past, quite often with photos. If anyone would like to suggest a theme, please do so, as I haven't yet decided on one.
Goal No 2: Accept the Unexpected
Now, I know the saying is usually, 'Expect the unexpected', but this is more working with the unexpected when it happens. It's said that a battle plan never survives first contact with the enemy, but that's no reason to give up at that point.
Goal No 3: To Embrace My Personal Interests
Over the past few weeks I've been wondering why my daily To Do lists have had so much in the way of courses, crafting and writing, not to mention reading. But it suddenly occurred to me, why worry about it - if I really didn't want to do as much, then I could cut back. And if I do want to do all the courses/crafting/writing/reading&listening to books, then why not just enjoy it. If it were impinging on other things then it would be a problem (I don't count dusting within that!), but it's not. So what if I'm taking four online courses, stitching three or four different items, writing for three different challenges and have three books out of the library as well as the shelf and a bit of my own unread books - It's My Life!
So, lets go for a variety of goals:-
Goal No 1: Do a Themed Monthly Post
I've done this in the past, quite often with photos. If anyone would like to suggest a theme, please do so, as I haven't yet decided on one.
Goal No 2: Accept the Unexpected
Now, I know the saying is usually, 'Expect the unexpected', but this is more working with the unexpected when it happens. It's said that a battle plan never survives first contact with the enemy, but that's no reason to give up at that point.
Goal No 3: To Embrace My Personal Interests
Over the past few weeks I've been wondering why my daily To Do lists have had so much in the way of courses, crafting and writing, not to mention reading. But it suddenly occurred to me, why worry about it - if I really didn't want to do as much, then I could cut back. And if I do want to do all the courses/crafting/writing/reading&listening to books, then why not just enjoy it. If it were impinging on other things then it would be a problem (I don't count dusting within that!), but it's not. So what if I'm taking four online courses, stitching three or four different items, writing for three different challenges and have three books out of the library as well as the shelf and a bit of my own unread books - It's My Life!
Frances
Apr. 19th, 2025 05:26 pmshewhomustJ. has just telephoned to tell us that our friend Frances has died. She has been in hospital since late last month; she was admitted with the sort of breathlessness that durham_rambler suffered from a year earlier, and we were hopeful that she would respond as well to treatment - and maybe get help with some other long-term problems while she was there. But as the days passed, she did not seem any better. Perhaps we were just unlucky, and our visit coincided with her feeling particularly sleepy: J., who visited more often, was more upbeat. But I thought her weariness went deeper, and I feared that this was where we were heading.
She died this morning, slipping away quickly and quietly, and her three adult children were with her. So it could be a lot worse, but she will be very much missed. She was a kind, generous person, with a gift for friendship with a great variety of people. I've known her since my student days, when a series of friends baby-sat for her: there are so many memories -
- but not now. I'm closing comments on this post, because I've said what I want to say for now. But I didn't want to let it go unmentioned.
durham_rambler suffered from a year earlier, and we were hopeful that she would respond as well to treatment - and maybe get help with some other long-term problems while she was there. But as the days passed, she did not seem any better. Perhaps we were just unlucky, and our visit coincided with her feeling particularly sleepy: J., who visited more often, was more upbeat. But I thought her weariness went deeper, and I feared that this was where we were heading.She died this morning, slipping away quickly and quietly, and her three adult children were with her. So it could be a lot worse, but she will be very much missed. She was a kind, generous person, with a gift for friendship with a great variety of people. I've known her since my student days, when a series of friends baby-sat for her: there are so many memories -
- but not now. I'm closing comments on this post, because I've said what I want to say for now. But I didn't want to let it go unmentioned.
End of Year Goal Review
Apr. 19th, 2025 04:17 pmsmallhobbitHaving set my last annual goals in April 2024, it's time for my annual review.
Goal 1: To do something new each month
In January I went to London and Sadler's Wells by myself, which was something I've not done before. February I joined the church trip to look at the heating system in Rugby - not successful as the vicar's car broke down on the M5, but I did get to ride in two breakdown trucks, something none of us had done before! In March I met Catherine who had worked at Nature in Art at a reunion she'd organised and we went to the Elmore Chamber Group launch of their summer festival. And this month saw the end of my reduction in meat consumption, which I was doing for Lent. That was really successful and J and I will be continuing with eating less meat.
Goal 2: To do a monthly review
That's been achieved. My thinking behind this was to reflect on how my life was going, and whether changes needed to be made. Being retired means there are less specific goals now than there once were. On the whole it established that in general things are going well, my involvement with both Gloucestershire Bundles, the charity I'm treasurer for, plus our church is at the right level. Inevitably church commitments vary depending on the season but that's within my bounds of commitment. I've decided that there's no reason to specifically plan holidays and activities as they tend to turn up anyway and I can just take part if they appeal. If anything, sometimes I'm trying to do too much writing/crafting/courses/reading but that's because there's so much that appeals and one way or another it gets done - and since they're all entirely my own choice I could cut back on things - except I don't want to!
Goal 3: To complete a bigger knitting project
This one didn't work out, for cost reasons I've already explained, but I have managed to complete one new garment and am well on the way to finishing another.
Which leaves me ready now to set my goals for 2025/26!
Goal 1: To do something new each month
In January I went to London and Sadler's Wells by myself, which was something I've not done before. February I joined the church trip to look at the heating system in Rugby - not successful as the vicar's car broke down on the M5, but I did get to ride in two breakdown trucks, something none of us had done before! In March I met Catherine who had worked at Nature in Art at a reunion she'd organised and we went to the Elmore Chamber Group launch of their summer festival. And this month saw the end of my reduction in meat consumption, which I was doing for Lent. That was really successful and J and I will be continuing with eating less meat.
Goal 2: To do a monthly review
That's been achieved. My thinking behind this was to reflect on how my life was going, and whether changes needed to be made. Being retired means there are less specific goals now than there once were. On the whole it established that in general things are going well, my involvement with both Gloucestershire Bundles, the charity I'm treasurer for, plus our church is at the right level. Inevitably church commitments vary depending on the season but that's within my bounds of commitment. I've decided that there's no reason to specifically plan holidays and activities as they tend to turn up anyway and I can just take part if they appeal. If anything, sometimes I'm trying to do too much writing/crafting/courses/reading but that's because there's so much that appeals and one way or another it gets done - and since they're all entirely my own choice I could cut back on things - except I don't want to!
Goal 3: To complete a bigger knitting project
This one didn't work out, for cost reasons I've already explained, but I have managed to complete one new garment and am well on the way to finishing another.
Which leaves me ready now to set my goals for 2025/26!
Courses - April 2025
Apr. 18th, 2025 03:26 pmsmallhobbitFutureLearn
Italian for Beginners (Part 1) (Open University) Continuing with my language learning, and because I'd like to go back to Italy some time - maybe next year? I'm now taking the six part course, which should keep me going until the end of the summer. So far it's reminded me of some of the basics.
OpenLearn
Migration
This was an Intermediate course, which, given my previous study of animals I was able to follow. It looked at the different ways animals migrate and the different reasons for doing so. I enjoyed it.
Evolutionary Tree of Mammals
While I fully accept that mammals have changed over time, I'm still never entirely convinced by the dogmatic way this is presented based on limited evidence which could, potentially, be interpreted differently.
What can Philosophy tell us about Race
Told me little I wasn't already aware of and ignored certain characteristics of racial origin which may effect the tendency to develop certain illnesses. Not my sort of course, and I disagreed with some of their conclusions.
An Introduction to Floodplain Meadows
A very interesting course, relevant to where we live and I learnt a lot. It was also realistic when talking about the benefits of good maintenance but considering other external pressures which will impinge on this. However, some of the research currently being undertaken by the OU and other organisations sounds quite long-term, when there is immediate needs to maintain what is still available before it's lost to other uses.
Succeed with Maths Part 2
I completed Part 1 in February and enjoyed the need to keep my brain active with the second part. I obtained my badge.
Everyday Maths 2
A slightly more basic course, I finished Part 1 last month and so, because I'm a completist, I took Part 2. Another badge!
Italian for Beginners (Part 1) (Open University) Continuing with my language learning, and because I'd like to go back to Italy some time - maybe next year? I'm now taking the six part course, which should keep me going until the end of the summer. So far it's reminded me of some of the basics.
OpenLearn
Migration
This was an Intermediate course, which, given my previous study of animals I was able to follow. It looked at the different ways animals migrate and the different reasons for doing so. I enjoyed it.
Evolutionary Tree of Mammals
While I fully accept that mammals have changed over time, I'm still never entirely convinced by the dogmatic way this is presented based on limited evidence which could, potentially, be interpreted differently.
What can Philosophy tell us about Race
Told me little I wasn't already aware of and ignored certain characteristics of racial origin which may effect the tendency to develop certain illnesses. Not my sort of course, and I disagreed with some of their conclusions.
An Introduction to Floodplain Meadows
A very interesting course, relevant to where we live and I learnt a lot. It was also realistic when talking about the benefits of good maintenance but considering other external pressures which will impinge on this. However, some of the research currently being undertaken by the OU and other organisations sounds quite long-term, when there is immediate needs to maintain what is still available before it's lost to other uses.
Succeed with Maths Part 2
I completed Part 1 in February and enjoyed the need to keep my brain active with the second part. I obtained my badge.
Everyday Maths 2
A slightly more basic course, I finished Part 1 last month and so, because I'm a completist, I took Part 2. Another badge!
A trip to Abergynolwyn
Apr. 18th, 2025 03:07 pmcmcmckI feel a little less emotionally exhausted after the last couple of days so here's another trip. We road the narrow gauge up to Nant Gwernol again ald walked to the village of Abergynolwyn. This is a planned village built for the slate quarry workers in the 19th century.
The walk down through the woods along the Nant Gwernol:
( More pics! )
The walk down through the woods along the Nant Gwernol:
( More pics! )
Sending love and support to all my trans friends (and acquaintances) in the UK right now
Apr. 17th, 2025 01:36 pmrydra_wongFuck TERF Island, and fuck Rowling gloating over how she bought this. Solidarity forever.
ETA: if anyone wants to rage-donate, off the top of my head here are some ideas:
https://transsafety.network/
https://transkidsdeservebetter.org/
https://transaid.cymru/
https://genderedintelligence.co.uk/
https://www.gofundme.com/f/london-trans-pride-2025
https://www.stonewall.org.uk/
https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/
https://lgbtiqoutside.org/
ETA: if anyone wants to rage-donate, off the top of my head here are some ideas:
https://transsafety.network/
https://transkidsdeservebetter.org/
https://transaid.cymru/
https://genderedintelligence.co.uk/
https://www.gofundme.com/f/london-trans-pride-2025
https://www.stonewall.org.uk/
https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/
https://lgbtiqoutside.org/
Unveiled
Apr. 17th, 2025 11:04 amshewhomustThe scaffolders arrived yesterday, and removed the scaffolding from the front of the house.
This was the second attempt. They came on Tuesday, but when they took up the planks of the top level walkway, they found that some of the roofing slates underneath had been broken during the building work. So the builders came back and replaced the slates, and then the scaffolders came back again and - finally! - removed the scaffolding.
I'm really quite surprised how smart the house looks, with its new windows and panelling.
This was the second attempt. They came on Tuesday, but when they took up the planks of the top level walkway, they found that some of the roofing slates underneath had been broken during the building work. So the builders came back and replaced the slates, and then the scaffolders came back again and - finally! - removed the scaffolding.
I'm really quite surprised how smart the house looks, with its new windows and panelling.
Fight for Harvard’s glorious name!
Apr. 16th, 2025 10:31 amshewhomustThe cynic in me mutters that if you are to stand up to the vandals in the administration, it can't hurt to have an endowment of over $50bn. The rest of me is just delighted that someone is prepared to do it. So, altogether now:
Official version here (with brass band)
Fight fiercely, Harvard!
Fight, fight, fight!
Demonstrate to them our skill.
Albeit they possess the might,
Nonetheless we have the will...
Oh, fellows, do not let the Crimson down;
Be of stout heart, and true.
Fight for Harvard’s glorious name!
Won’t it be peachy if we
Win the game?...
Official version here (with brass band)
people I know do cool stuff, get recognized
Apr. 15th, 2025 06:15 pmradiantfractureCongrats to the Wizards & Spaceships podcast for making the Aurora awards ballot!
Their season finale episode with Robert J. Sawyer just came out.
Also I am particularly stoked about their upcoming season, for reasons.
§rf§
Their season finale episode with Robert J. Sawyer just came out.
Also I am particularly stoked about their upcoming season, for reasons.
§rf§
US people: Kilmar Abrego Garcia phone scripts
Apr. 15th, 2025 09:15 amrydra_wonghttps://magebird.tumblr.com/post/780824786697945089/hello-my-name-is-and-i-am-a-constituent
https://thisfinecrew.dreamwidth.org/305758.html
N.B. The Trump administration is now blatantly defying the Supreme Court, pretending that being ordered to "facilitate" Abrego Garcia's return doesn't mean "bring him back".
As Justice Sotomayor noted, the Trump admin's argument in the case would mean that they "could deport and incarcerate any person, including U.S. citizens, without legal consequence, so long as it does so before a court can intervene."
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deportation_of_Kilmar_Abrego_Garcia
This is time to start screaming in whatever way you can.
https://thisfinecrew.dreamwidth.org/305758.html
N.B. The Trump administration is now blatantly defying the Supreme Court, pretending that being ordered to "facilitate" Abrego Garcia's return doesn't mean "bring him back".
As Justice Sotomayor noted, the Trump admin's argument in the case would mean that they "could deport and incarcerate any person, including U.S. citizens, without legal consequence, so long as it does so before a court can intervene."
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deportation_of_Kilmar_Abrego_Garcia
This is time to start screaming in whatever way you can.
Lazy poetry month part 3
Apr. 14th, 2025 10:19 amradiantfractureI was trying to use the word "sillion" in a word puzzle, which meant that I had to pick up Gerard Manley Hopkins, who is always close to hand, so that's what you get today.
It might as well be "The Windhover," source of the sillion (which means dirt), though I think I have posted it before.
(A windhover is a kestrel.)
You really have to read it out loud to hear the great sweeping wingbeats of it.
I caught this morning morning's minion, king-
dom of daylight's dauphin, dapple-dawn-drawn Falcon, in his riding
Of the rolling level underneath him steady air, and striding
High there, how he rung upon the rein of a wimpling wing
In his ecstasy! then off, off forth on swing,
As a skate's heel sweeps smooth on a bow-bend: the hurl and gliding
Rebuffed the big wind. My heart in hiding
Stirred for a bird, – the achieve of, the mastery of the thing!
Brute beauty and valour and act, oh, air, pride, plume, here
Buckle! AND the fire that breaks from thee then, a billion
Times told lovelier, more dangerous, O my chevalier!
No wonder of it: shéer plód makes plough down sillion
Shine, and blue-bleak embers, ah my dear,
Fall, gall themselves, and gash gold-vermilion.
It might as well be "The Windhover," source of the sillion (which means dirt), though I think I have posted it before.
(A windhover is a kestrel.)
You really have to read it out loud to hear the great sweeping wingbeats of it.
I caught this morning morning's minion, king-
dom of daylight's dauphin, dapple-dawn-drawn Falcon, in his riding
Of the rolling level underneath him steady air, and striding
High there, how he rung upon the rein of a wimpling wing
In his ecstasy! then off, off forth on swing,
As a skate's heel sweeps smooth on a bow-bend: the hurl and gliding
Rebuffed the big wind. My heart in hiding
Stirred for a bird, – the achieve of, the mastery of the thing!
Brute beauty and valour and act, oh, air, pride, plume, here
Buckle! AND the fire that breaks from thee then, a billion
Times told lovelier, more dangerous, O my chevalier!
No wonder of it: shéer plód makes plough down sillion
Shine, and blue-bleak embers, ah my dear,
Fall, gall themselves, and gash gold-vermilion.