Just trying to clear my tabs...
9 March 2025 11:50 amA collection of... things I have been meaning to share.
One thing outside the cut, in case there are people who haven't seen it:
French politician Claude Malhuret critiqued the United States' shifting stance on Ukraine and targeted President Donald Trump in his remarks during a general session of the French Senate on Tuesday 4 March 2025.
Watch the whole thing.
( Read more... )
In positive news, the weather is gorgeous and spring-like.
One thing outside the cut, in case there are people who haven't seen it:
French politician Claude Malhuret critiqued the United States' shifting stance on Ukraine and targeted President Donald Trump in his remarks during a general session of the French Senate on Tuesday 4 March 2025.
Watch the whole thing.
( Read more... )
In positive news, the weather is gorgeous and spring-like.
International Women's Day
8 March 2025 10:21 pmJust one thing (the day got away from me):
Petition: Bring a little girl inuk greenlander ZAMMI BACK HOME
(Denmark is a lovely country. It's also a colonial power, and colonisers, alas, just keep on.)
Petition: Bring a little girl inuk greenlander ZAMMI BACK HOME
(Denmark is a lovely country. It's also a colonial power, and colonisers, alas, just keep on.)
From today's readings
2 March 2025 05:16 pmWhen a sieve is shaken, the husks appear;
so do people’s faults when they speak.
The furnace tests the potter’s vessels;
the test of a person is in conversation.
The fruit of a tree shows the care it has had;
so speech discloses the bent of a person’s heart.
Praise no one before he speaks,
for it is then that people are tested.
Sirach 27:4-7
A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.
Luke 6: 43-45
ETA:
so do people’s faults when they speak.
The furnace tests the potter’s vessels;
the test of a person is in conversation.
The fruit of a tree shows the care it has had;
so speech discloses the bent of a person’s heart.
Praise no one before he speaks,
for it is then that people are tested.
Sirach 27:4-7
A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.
Luke 6: 43-45
ETA:
They Not Like Us
23 February 2025 01:29 pmSo, I fell into the rabbit hole of Kendrick Lamar's superbowl halftime show. (Disclaimer: I have never watched the superbowl - or the halftime show - ever before, and could not have named a single Lamar song before this. My interest is cultural rather than musical.)
That said, I have watched a number of Josh Johnson sets about the Lamar and Drake feud, so I had some background knowledge. However the performance itself turned out to be this dense and complex thing, full of symbolism, and well. That's my jam. ^_^
ETA: Outside the cut. Here is Josh Johnson talking about Kendrick, where he came from and why he does what he does. As always, starts as a fun set and then... digs into stuff far deeper than you would expect:
( Videos under the cut )
Now the thing is that Kendrick Lamar is obviously coming from this from within his own culture, the struggle of his own community. And I think this is why it resonates? If you speak your own truth, others will recognise it.
And I think all of it ties in with this Black History Month thread about The Black Panthers.
Snippet:
To this day, if you find a white trades person over the age of 50, and ask them what "It's not race, it's class" means, many can tell you. If you ask them "Who is Fred Hampton" many can tell you. If you ask them what a "rainbow coalition" was, many can tell you.
Why does an old, white, union steel worker in Detroit know who Fred Hampton is?
'They not like us' the whole stadium chanted with Trump right there.
If you want an anthem against the oligarchs and the 1%, there it is.
That said, I have watched a number of Josh Johnson sets about the Lamar and Drake feud, so I had some background knowledge. However the performance itself turned out to be this dense and complex thing, full of symbolism, and well. That's my jam. ^_^
ETA: Outside the cut. Here is Josh Johnson talking about Kendrick, where he came from and why he does what he does. As always, starts as a fun set and then... digs into stuff far deeper than you would expect:
( Videos under the cut )
Now the thing is that Kendrick Lamar is obviously coming from this from within his own culture, the struggle of his own community. And I think this is why it resonates? If you speak your own truth, others will recognise it.
And I think all of it ties in with this Black History Month thread about The Black Panthers.
Snippet:
To this day, if you find a white trades person over the age of 50, and ask them what "It's not race, it's class" means, many can tell you. If you ask them "Who is Fred Hampton" many can tell you. If you ask them what a "rainbow coalition" was, many can tell you.
Why does an old, white, union steel worker in Detroit know who Fred Hampton is?
'They not like us' the whole stadium chanted with Trump right there.
If you want an anthem against the oligarchs and the 1%, there it is.
I have shared this before, but. For UK peeps:
Petition: Decriminalise Abortion
I am calling on the UK government to remove abortion from criminal law so that no pregnant person can be criminalised for procuring their own abortion.
The Surprising Afterlife of Used Hotel Soap
Hotel guests leave behind millions of half-used bars of soap every day. A nonprofit is on a mission to repurpose them.
Taking Leave (John Scalzi on the NG situation.)
Aljazeera: The man behind the graffiti that sparked the Syrian revolution
“I would write these phrases again and again.” The Syrian revolution was sparked by a few teens who wrote anti-government graffiti on the walls of their school in Daraa. Al Jazeera spoke to one of them, a month after the fall of the regime they dedicated their life to fight.
If you are interested in the trans allegories of the Matrix, then Tilly Bridges has written a whole book.
Huff Post: Liz Truss's Attempt To Stop People Saying She Crashed The Economy Has Quite The Opposite Effect
Was this a miscalculation almost as large as her £45bn of unfunded tax cuts?
(This just made me laugh. Because it's better to laugh than to try to think through the fact that this woman single-handedly crashed the economy.)
Movie rec:
Love In The Big City (Kmovie HD - link goes to facebook, sorry. But I don't think it's available anywhere else)
This is a rec I got from Kerk, and here is his summary:
It is about a friendship between a straight woman and a gay man, over the span of approx 13 years. There's so much love as they go through pain and tears and happiness together.
It's on my to-watch list, but I know that there are a lot of k-drama fans on my flist so thought I'd throw it out there sooner rather than later. (Also who knows what will happen to content like this now? It might be gone before we know it.)
ETA: Oh, it really is absolutely LOVELY. Highly recommended!
Petition: Decriminalise Abortion
I am calling on the UK government to remove abortion from criminal law so that no pregnant person can be criminalised for procuring their own abortion.
The Surprising Afterlife of Used Hotel Soap
Hotel guests leave behind millions of half-used bars of soap every day. A nonprofit is on a mission to repurpose them.
Taking Leave (John Scalzi on the NG situation.)
Aljazeera: The man behind the graffiti that sparked the Syrian revolution
“I would write these phrases again and again.” The Syrian revolution was sparked by a few teens who wrote anti-government graffiti on the walls of their school in Daraa. Al Jazeera spoke to one of them, a month after the fall of the regime they dedicated their life to fight.
If you are interested in the trans allegories of the Matrix, then Tilly Bridges has written a whole book.
Huff Post: Liz Truss's Attempt To Stop People Saying She Crashed The Economy Has Quite The Opposite Effect
Was this a miscalculation almost as large as her £45bn of unfunded tax cuts?
(This just made me laugh. Because it's better to laugh than to try to think through the fact that this woman single-handedly crashed the economy.)
Movie rec:
Love In The Big City (Kmovie HD - link goes to facebook, sorry. But I don't think it's available anywhere else)
This is a rec I got from Kerk, and here is his summary:
It is about a friendship between a straight woman and a gay man, over the span of approx 13 years. There's so much love as they go through pain and tears and happiness together.
It's on my to-watch list, but I know that there are a lot of k-drama fans on my flist so thought I'd throw it out there sooner rather than later. (Also who knows what will happen to content like this now? It might be gone before we know it.)
ETA: Oh, it really is absolutely LOVELY. Highly recommended!
Not Christmassy, but...
22 December 2024 10:37 pmJosh Johnson (not surprisingly) has an excellent, thoughtful and insightful take on the CEO shooting:
~
Also UK residents, please sign this petition:
An independent evaluation of the Cass review on child gender services
~
Also UK residents, please sign this petition:
An independent evaluation of the Cass review on child gender services
Sometimes the youtube algorithm is on point. From my suggested:
Not Losing You: a two minute PSA micro-movie supporting trans youth during the election
And I forget if I have shared this: Open Letter to the Health Secretary
(Petition re the ban on puberty blockers)
Not Losing You: a two minute PSA micro-movie supporting trans youth during the election
And I forget if I have shared this: Open Letter to the Health Secretary
(Petition re the ban on puberty blockers)
A few nice things
13 July 2024 08:18 pmWhat have Keir Starmer’s cabinet members said about LGBTQ+ issues?
(I'm not keen on Starmer, but there are allies in Parliament now???)
Starmer confirms Rwanda deportation plan 'dead'
~
If you have any money to spare,![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
masakochan has set up a Go Fund Me for Top Surgery.<3
~
And finally, Kerk made me aware of a new Doctor Who reactor. This is not normally news, but he watched the new season FIRST, and has now gone back and started S1. It's fascinating, and he's absolutely delightful. :)
~
ETA: How could I forget!kaffy_r posted fic: Bubble Tea
Summary: Summary: The Doctor wasn't sure how many plates the mysterious entity that brought them all together could handle, nor could she figure out why all the plates were in the air. What she did know was that she had to get all the plates - her friends and colleagues - safely out of the holding pen in which they found themselves.
(It's a big crossover fic, go have a look if you are curious.)
(I'm not keen on Starmer, but there are allies in Parliament now???)
Starmer confirms Rwanda deportation plan 'dead'
~
If you have any money to spare,
masakochan has set up a Go Fund Me for Top Surgery.<3~
And finally, Kerk made me aware of a new Doctor Who reactor. This is not normally news, but he watched the new season FIRST, and has now gone back and started S1. It's fascinating, and he's absolutely delightful. :)
~
ETA: How could I forget!
kaffy_r posted fic: Bubble TeaSummary: Summary: The Doctor wasn't sure how many plates the mysterious entity that brought them all together could handle, nor could she figure out why all the plates were in the air. What she did know was that she had to get all the plates - her friends and colleagues - safely out of the holding pen in which they found themselves.
(It's a big crossover fic, go have a look if you are curious.)
Let's be happy for a few days!
5 July 2024 08:45 pmJonathan Pie 3 days ago:
Jonathan Pie today:
~
And from Tumblr (post here):
Comment by becausegoodheroesdeservekidneys:
Yeah those are indeed the candidates. Count Binface stands in opposition in whichever constituency is the incumbent Prime Minister's. The guy next to him is the Monster Raving Loony Party, who do something similar but don't limit themselves to the PM.
Believe it or not, this is actually a great and noble tradition of UK politics, and I invite everyone to look up Count Binface's manifesto.
I have copied and pasted it under the cut :)
( Read more... )
Jonathan Pie today:
~
And from Tumblr (post here):
Comment by becausegoodheroesdeservekidneys:
Yeah those are indeed the candidates. Count Binface stands in opposition in whichever constituency is the incumbent Prime Minister's. The guy next to him is the Monster Raving Loony Party, who do something similar but don't limit themselves to the PM.
Believe it or not, this is actually a great and noble tradition of UK politics, and I invite everyone to look up Count Binface's manifesto.
I have copied and pasted it under the cut :)
( Read more... )
The sun is shining, which seems apt
5 July 2024 07:28 amEven the Haunted Victorian Pencil and the Woman Who Couldn't Outlast a Lettuce are gone!
Truss and Rees-Mogg among big-name Tory losses
ETA: And via Owls:
Anti-trans campaigner Posie Parker has lost her deposit after receiving a dismal number of votes for the Party of Women in the general election.
Truss and Rees-Mogg among big-name Tory losses
ETA: And via Owls:
Anti-trans campaigner Posie Parker has lost her deposit after receiving a dismal number of votes for the Party of Women in the general election.
Happy Voting Out The Tories Day
4 July 2024 01:00 pmNot that Mr Starmer is particularly great, so here's to the lesser evil!
(I know I owe a lot of replies, but work is just wildly exhausting at the moment. I'll get there...)
ETA:nostalgia wrote a delightful fic: A Very Special Relationship
Summary: President Loki is visited by the new UK Prime Minister, Harold Saxon.
(I know I owe a lot of replies, but work is just wildly exhausting at the moment. I'll get there...)
ETA:
nostalgia wrote a delightful fic: A Very Special Relationship Summary: President Loki is visited by the new UK Prime Minister, Harold Saxon.
Voting matters
9 June 2024 09:51 amGeneral UK election stuff from ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
thissterlingcrew: here
~
And for those across the pond, an excellent video from Michael Spicer (very funny, but also on point):
British Man Running for US President
thissterlingcrew: here~
And for those across the pond, an excellent video from Michael Spicer (very funny, but also on point):
British Man Running for US President
If true...
7 June 2024 06:33 pmThis is a good thing... The world is changing, even if it is only very slowly.
Sir Keir Starmer makes manifesto pledge to recognise Palestinian state.
Sir Keir Starmer makes manifesto pledge to recognise Palestinian state.
Misc links
27 May 2024 04:21 pma_phoenixdragon could do with a little help: Assistance for paying bills and standard living expenses~
Huffington Post: Two Thirds Of Parents Disagree With Tories And Think Schools Should Teach Gender Identity
The government has said it should not be taught at all.
~
ANYWAY, General Election coming.
thissterlingcrew is a good resource if you have any queries.And speaking of the Tories... Two videos.
An adaptation of Common People from 14 years ago:
Russell T Davies speech at The South Bank Sky Arts Awards (13th July 2022)
I should say something about Doctor Who, but (although Promethia is full of good thoughts, and has a post here about Devil's Chord) my brain is just going: Yes, the show is weird and good. And wonderfully angry about all the right things. <3 (If you have been watching you know what I am talking about.)
Via Owls:
History of Solidarity: Why Ireland stands out in EU as fierce defender of Palestinian rights
Country's steadfast support for Palestinian cause, from grassroots to highest echelons of power, exemplifies profound sense of empathy, shared history
I have this open in a tab for weeks:
The US doctor who cannot forget what he saw in Gaza
And finally a post by
the_redjay (aka luckweaver aka Lee), from 10 years ago:Call it what it is: a terrorist attack against Gaza
Final line: If we don't stand up for Palestine now, don't stand up to free Gaza and condemn those who are making others live in terror now, then in ten years time, we might not have to. There may not be any Palestinians left.
(Context.)
I'm terrible at updates, but let's try!
- First of all, today is Impish Girl's Birthday. (As well as being Juneteenth of course - happy Juneteenth! <3) She turns 22, but we had to have all the celebrations yesterday because today (and for the next few days) she is in Manchester for her first proper acting job in TV! She has 1 line, and a few scenes in the background, but it's a proper big TV thing (like... BBC or ITV or Channel 4 or something, she's not allowed to say beyond 'TV') and they've put her up in a hotel and done costume and hair/make-up etc. She is Quite Overwhelmed, but we are sure she will have a great time. Also, one heck of a birthday story to tell. ^_^
- I've lost touch with the Ao3/OTW mess and just hope they manage to sort it out. I remember the Before and really want the whole idea to work, because the basic concept is good and important. However, by now it all seems a bit like this, what with the various infighting between those trying to hold the OTW to account:
- Sidebar: Speaking of Monty Python, then this is a very nicely considered short video:
John Cleese & Recontextualizing Art
(The comments also make sure to point out that Eric Idle is supportive of trans rights! <3 Delightful interview here, talking about Stan/Loretta at 11 minutes in.)
- Anyway, I have created a Squidgeworld account (if nothing else just to make sure no one takes my name) and it's always good to have a back-up. But ugh, so much work if/when I decide to upload stuff.
- Have also set up a Squidge Images account (not sure if the platforms are linked at all, or if the name is a co-incidence?), because at some point LJ will stop adding paid time to my account and I need to think of somewhere else to store images. And it's difficult to find a good place. :(
- I also checked in with the Teaspoon and uploaded a fic - and then got the message about a moderator going to check it and omg I had completely forgotten that was even a thing!
-magnavox_23 has icons for OFMD icons ep 6
- TV watching... We are currently watching two shows which are complete opposites:
Show 1) Shiny Happy People, which I knew a bit about, having read a few articles etc, but is still just... *hands* Cults are scary, yo.
Show 2) ANNIKA. This on the other hand is a delight. We tried it on a whim a week or two ago, as it looked like Scandi Noir but set in Scotland, and we generally like Scandi Noir. Except - it's not Noir! Annika is funny! Now it's a detective show, so there are murders and all that, but the throughline isn't grimdark, but oddly light-hearted. It's difficult to explain, although one part that I remember particularly is in the very first episode when Annika goes to meet her new team for the first time (she has just been promoted). She turns to the camera and says: "They were going to send me on this management course, but I went on holiday to Spain instead. Kinda regretting that now." Also all detectives should have teenage daughters!
In short, there are some shows that are just amazing, some that are brilliantly written, some where the actors are outstanding etc etc. This is a show where I just want to hang out with everyone: it's a comfy happy blanket [with murders].
Also ( Casting spoiler )
~~~
ETA: OMG!
Boris Johnson denied special access to parliament as MPs endorse report which said he lied
MPs voted by 354 to 7 to back the report's findings.
- First of all, today is Impish Girl's Birthday. (As well as being Juneteenth of course - happy Juneteenth! <3) She turns 22, but we had to have all the celebrations yesterday because today (and for the next few days) she is in Manchester for her first proper acting job in TV! She has 1 line, and a few scenes in the background, but it's a proper big TV thing (like... BBC or ITV or Channel 4 or something, she's not allowed to say beyond 'TV') and they've put her up in a hotel and done costume and hair/make-up etc. She is Quite Overwhelmed, but we are sure she will have a great time. Also, one heck of a birthday story to tell. ^_^
- I've lost touch with the Ao3/OTW mess and just hope they manage to sort it out. I remember the Before and really want the whole idea to work, because the basic concept is good and important. However, by now it all seems a bit like this, what with the various infighting between those trying to hold the OTW to account:
- Sidebar: Speaking of Monty Python, then this is a very nicely considered short video:
John Cleese & Recontextualizing Art
(The comments also make sure to point out that Eric Idle is supportive of trans rights! <3 Delightful interview here, talking about Stan/Loretta at 11 minutes in.)
- Anyway, I have created a Squidgeworld account (if nothing else just to make sure no one takes my name) and it's always good to have a back-up. But ugh, so much work if/when I decide to upload stuff.
- Have also set up a Squidge Images account (not sure if the platforms are linked at all, or if the name is a co-incidence?), because at some point LJ will stop adding paid time to my account and I need to think of somewhere else to store images. And it's difficult to find a good place. :(
- I also checked in with the Teaspoon and uploaded a fic - and then got the message about a moderator going to check it and omg I had completely forgotten that was even a thing!
-
magnavox_23 has icons for OFMD icons ep 6- TV watching... We are currently watching two shows which are complete opposites:
Show 1) Shiny Happy People, which I knew a bit about, having read a few articles etc, but is still just... *hands* Cults are scary, yo.
Show 2) ANNIKA. This on the other hand is a delight. We tried it on a whim a week or two ago, as it looked like Scandi Noir but set in Scotland, and we generally like Scandi Noir. Except - it's not Noir! Annika is funny! Now it's a detective show, so there are murders and all that, but the throughline isn't grimdark, but oddly light-hearted. It's difficult to explain, although one part that I remember particularly is in the very first episode when Annika goes to meet her new team for the first time (she has just been promoted). She turns to the camera and says: "They were going to send me on this management course, but I went on holiday to Spain instead. Kinda regretting that now." Also all detectives should have teenage daughters!
In short, there are some shows that are just amazing, some that are brilliantly written, some where the actors are outstanding etc etc. This is a show where I just want to hang out with everyone: it's a comfy happy blanket [with murders].
Also ( Casting spoiler )
~~~
ETA: OMG!
Boris Johnson denied special access to parliament as MPs endorse report which said he lied
MPs voted by 354 to 7 to back the report's findings.
Wait, what?
9 June 2023 08:57 pmBoris Johnson is stepping down as an MP with immediate effect after receiving the Partygate report
And Nadine Dorries has stepped down as well!
This on the same day that Trump is indicted.
😱😱😱
9th of June kids - clearly this is a date to remember. ^_^
~
ETA: Hope everyone in North America is okay, all the photos look like they are from Gallifrey. Except our sky is not supposed to be orange... :(
~
And here, have a lovely thing that I have been meaning to share:
northerners giving directions
This is SO ACCURATE. If you want a taste of my daily life, this is it.
And Nadine Dorries has stepped down as well!
This on the same day that Trump is indicted.
😱😱😱
9th of June kids - clearly this is a date to remember. ^_^
~
ETA: Hope everyone in North America is okay, all the photos look like they are from Gallifrey. Except our sky is not supposed to be orange... :(
~
And here, have a lovely thing that I have been meaning to share:
northerners giving directions
This is SO ACCURATE. If you want a taste of my daily life, this is it.
Random things
31 March 2023 05:38 pmRIP Paul O'Grady. The world is a bit more grey now.
Story that probably everyone has seen by now: Paul O’Grady’s historic Lily Savage arrest: Late star was handcuffed in homophobic police raid
ETA:
~
Very interesting video:
The Queer Erasure of Asexuality (A Discussion)
Very good video, although it seemed mostly stuff I knew until they got to Aegosexuality which I had literally never heard of before. (In short: It's all in your head. I.e. you like a smutty fic but have zero interest in trying any of it yourself: your fantasies never involve yourself. I have a feeling there are probably a lot of us in fandom.)
~
Petitions:
Hands off our NHS: Say NO to a tax on sickness!
Stop businesses getting away with human rights abuses
Tell the UK government to stop new oil and gas fields
~
Youtube videos:
every doctor who story described by community (2005-2022)
This is incredible. (with many thanks to my dedicated lurker for sending it my way.)
RIVER SONG!?! | Doctor Who - Season 4 Episode 8 (REACTION) 4x08 "Silence in the Library"
This is one of the most delightful reactions I've ever seen. :)
~
RL has been very busy (with good things!), I will try to write an update at some point.
~
Oh and the wannabe dictator in one of the colonies has been indicted? People seem very excited about this.
Story that probably everyone has seen by now: Paul O’Grady’s historic Lily Savage arrest: Late star was handcuffed in homophobic police raid
ETA:
~
Very interesting video:
The Queer Erasure of Asexuality (A Discussion)
Very good video, although it seemed mostly stuff I knew until they got to Aegosexuality which I had literally never heard of before. (In short: It's all in your head. I.e. you like a smutty fic but have zero interest in trying any of it yourself: your fantasies never involve yourself. I have a feeling there are probably a lot of us in fandom.)
~
Petitions:
Hands off our NHS: Say NO to a tax on sickness!
Stop businesses getting away with human rights abuses
Tell the UK government to stop new oil and gas fields
~
Youtube videos:
every doctor who story described by community (2005-2022)
This is incredible. (with many thanks to my dedicated lurker for sending it my way.)
RIVER SONG!?! | Doctor Who - Season 4 Episode 8 (REACTION) 4x08 "Silence in the Library"
This is one of the most delightful reactions I've ever seen. :)
~
RL has been very busy (with good things!), I will try to write an update at some point.
~
Oh and the wannabe dictator in one of the colonies has been indicted? People seem very excited about this.