spikedluv: (winter: mittens by raynedanser)
it only hurts when i breathe ([personal profile] spikedluv) wrote2025-12-16 07:31 am

The Day in Spikedluv (Monday, Dec 15)

Today is Sister A’s b-day! She’s the baby; 10-years younger than me.

I hit Walmart, Dollar Tree and Agway while I was downtown. Dollar Tree was for cards; Agway was for a gift card because I forgot Pip’s dad’s b-day! I was reminded at the Bear’s Dinner and I was like o_O I couldn’t believe I had forgotten it.

I visited mom, hand-washed dishes, cut up chicken for the dogs' meals, scooped kitty litter, and showered. I also mailed more cards at the post office, returned a book to the library, and hit the bank drive-thru. AND I shoveled the sidewalk again.

I watched Tracker and an HGTV program. Dr. Pol was my evening background tv.

Temps started out at 8.8(F) and reached 25.3. I’m not loving this cold.


Mom Update:

Mom was not doing great. more back here )
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ysabetwordsmith ([personal profile] ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-12-15 11:35 pm

Pool Open!

[personal profile] fuzzyred is hosting a pool for the Holiday Poetry Sale.  There are no individual poem targets yet, just a general discussion of some favorite areas. If you're shopping for poetry, dive in!
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ysabetwordsmith ([personal profile] ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-12-15 08:38 pm

Holiday Poetry Sale

The Holiday Poetry Sale is now open on LiveJournal. Sponsors, start your engines! It runs Monday, December 15-Friday, December 19. All listed poems are half-price. If you spend $100 or more, you get the quarter-price rate. Watch to see if someone opens a pool; there is usually one for this event.
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ysabetwordsmith ([personal profile] ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-12-15 06:00 pm

Conservation

Coffee-driven deforestation is making it harder to grow coffee, watchdog group says

Scientists have shown how deforestation leads to less rainfall in tropical rainforests. That's because the trees there soak up and release moisture, which rises to create clouds and more rain. Cutting down trees disrupts the cycle, reducing rainfall and leading to drought.

Drought, of course, makes it harder to grow coffee.

"When you kill the forest, you're actually also killing the rains, which is exactly what your crop needs to thrive in the long run," Higonnet says. "Even for people who don't much care about climate change and mass extinction, if they drink coffee and care about having coffee in the long run, this should be very scary for them."


Read more... )
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ysabetwordsmith ([personal profile] ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-12-15 03:26 pm
Entry tags:

Science

Hidden dimensions could explain where mass comes from

A new theory proposes that the universe’s fundamental forces and particle properties may arise from the geometry of hidden extra dimensions. These dimensions could twist and evolve over time, forming stable structures that generate mass and symmetry breaking on their own. The approach may even explain cosmic expansion and predict a new particle. It hints at a universe built entirely from geometry.
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ysabetwordsmith ([personal profile] ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-12-15 01:42 pm

Birdfeeding

Today is sunny and cold, but less frigid than yesterday.  It got down to 8 below last night.

I fed the birds.  I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.  I put out a new block of peanut suet.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 12/15/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

I've seen a female cardinal.

EDIT 12/15/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 12/15/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

I've seen a male cardinal.

EDIT 12/15/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

I've seen one female and two male cardinals, plus two mourning doves.

As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
 
spikedluv: (winter: mittens by raynedanser)
it only hurts when i breathe ([personal profile] spikedluv) wrote2025-12-15 08:54 am
Entry tags:
spikedluv: (winter: mittens by raynedanser)
it only hurts when i breathe ([personal profile] spikedluv) wrote2025-12-15 08:24 am

The Day in Spikedluv (Sunday, Dec 14)

I did two loads of laundry, hand-washed dishes, ran a load in the dishwasher, went for a walk with Pip and the dogs, cut up chicken for the dogs' meals, changed kitty litter (my funnest Sunday task), and ordered an Etsy GC. I did not have to make supper because it was leftovers from The Bear's.

I made myself cheesy scrambled eggs for breakfast. I think I’ve mentioned that I hate cooking breakfast for myself. I love breakfast foods, though. I think I’ve discovered the secret. Which is to wait a little while until I’m more awake. Like, don’t try to make breakfast as soon as I’m dressed, but wait until I’ve, say, checked my f-list. Once I’m awake, it feels like less of a chore. When I try to do it earlier, my body is like, you made us get up, and now you want us to cook breakfast, too? What kind of insanity is this?!! o_O

I finished reading Killing Floor and watched the Bills’ game. I enjoy a good come-from-behind win, but they need to stop doing this to me. Evening background tv was Secrets of the Zoo.

Temps started out at 18.7(F) and reached 25.0. We were only supposed to get ‘less than an inch’ overnight, but according to Pip it was more like 2-3 inches. It’s not a lot, but enough to make a mess of the driveway and the walking trails, so he was out snow blowing for a while.


Mom Update:

I talked to mom on the phone; she didn’t sound great. My brother had visited and she was watching a Hallmark Christmas movie, but she said her day had just been so-so. I expect she’s not looking forward to her first PT appointment tomorrow (Monday).
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ysabetwordsmith ([personal profile] ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-12-15 12:03 am
Entry tags:

Monday Update 12-15-25

These are some posts from the later part of last week in case you missed them:
Recipe: "Butternut Squash Soup with Apples and Onions"
Food
Birdfeeding
Safety
Today's Cooking
Science
Birdfeeding
Economics
Philosophical Questions: Humans
Water
Birdfeeding
Early Humans
Follow Friday 12-12-25: Labyrinth
Today's Adventures
Birdfeeding
Today's Cooking
Sustainability
Family Skills
History
Poem: "Koinophobia"
Poem: "Nementia"
Politics
Birdfeeding
Good News

Trauma has 46 comments. Affordable Housing has 77 comments. Robotics has 118 comments.


The 2025 Holiday Poetry Sale will run Monday, December 15 through Friday 19. This is a good place to spend holiday money or buy a gift for a fellow bookworm. \o/


Winterfaire 2025 is now open! List a Booth for anything you sell that would make good holiday gifts, or comment with what you're shopping for to crowdsource ideas. There are links to two similar shopping events online. if you know others, please pass the word.


"An Inkling of Things to Come" belongs to Polychrome: Shiv. It needs $72 to be complete. Shiv and his classmates discuss magical weather, magical geography, natural resources, plants and animals, history, and other aspects of worldbuilding.


The weather has been cold and snowy here. Seen at the birdfeeders this week: a large mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, at least one female and four male cardinals, several mourning doves, and a wren.
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ysabetwordsmith ([personal profile] ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-12-14 07:21 pm
Entry tags:

Recipe: "Butternut Squash Soup with Apples and Onions"

Today I made this soup, based on a similar recipe from Stock the Crock page 24. I wanted to write down my version so I don't forget it.

Read more... )
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ysabetwordsmith ([personal profile] ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-12-14 05:20 pm
Entry tags:

Safety

Scientists Thought Parkinson’s Was in Our Genes. It Might Be in the Water

New ideas about chronic illness could revolutionize treatment, if we take the research seriously.

All told, more than half of Parkinson’s research dollars in the past two decades have flowed toward genetics.
But Parkinson’s rates in the US have doubled in the past 30 years. And studies suggest they will climb another 15 to 35 percent in each coming decade. This is not how an inherited genetic disease is supposed to behave.
Despite the avalanche of funding, the latest research suggests that only 10 to 15 percent of Parkinson’s cases can be fully explained by genetics. The other three-quarters are, functionally, a mystery.
[---8<---]
Parkinson’s, it appeared, could be caused by a chemical.
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ysabetwordsmith ([personal profile] ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-12-14 02:29 pm
Entry tags:

Food

Scientists find dark chocolate ingredient that slows aging

Scientists have uncovered a surprising link between dark chocolate and slower aging. A natural cocoa compound called theobromine was found in higher levels among people who appeared biologically younger than their real age.


Well, that's good news! :D Watch for clinical-grade chocolate with a high level of cocoa solids (dark or the higher end of milk), preferably organic and environmentally friendly. Enjoy a recipe:

Dark Chocolate Brownies with Raspberry Spread



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ysabetwordsmith ([personal profile] ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-12-14 02:17 pm
Entry tags:

Human Rights

Three-year-old child forced to serve as her own attorney in Tucson immigration court

The child, barely old enough to talk, was one of 25 immigrant children forced to fight removal efforts by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at the Pima County immigration courthouse in Tucson on Nov. 24.


This article highlights numerous abuses and other problems.

Read more... )
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ysabetwordsmith ([personal profile] ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-12-14 02:08 pm

Birdfeeding

Today is mostly sunny and quite frigid.  It snowed copiously yesterday, wiping out our plans to visit a holiday market. :(

I fed the birds.  I've seen a large mixed flock of sparrows and house finches plus at least one mourning dove.  The windows are frosted so much that it's hard to identify them. 

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 12/14/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 12/14/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 12/14/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

I've seen two male and one female cardinal.  At one point, the sparrows were trying to fit 7-8 birds on an edge of the hopper feeder with room for maybe 4-5 if they weren't fighting.  So it's actually beyond four-bird-cold today!

As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.

spikedluv: (winter: mittens by raynedanser)
it only hurts when i breathe ([personal profile] spikedluv) wrote2025-12-14 07:19 am

The Day in Spikedluv (Saturday, Dec 13)

I hit Price Chopper and the Bakery while I was downtown. I actually got breakfast at the Bakery this morning and picked up some GCs there, in addition to my weekly order of Boar’s Head deli meat.

I visited mom, did two loads of laundry, hand-washed dishes, went for a couple walks with Pip and the dogs, cut up chicken for the dogs' meals, and scooped kitty litter. I stopped at Stewart’s on the way home from mom’s (for gas and milk). I mailed a couple more cards at the Post Office and stopped at the library to pick up a book.

I picked up the poinsettia that I ordered from the school band to support Ireland (Sister A dropped it off at mom’s) and am on a new candle scent for the holiday, pine instead of cookies. *g*

I did not have to cook supper because tonight was the garage Christmas dinner at The Bear’s, which is an awesome restaurant. We’ve been going there for years. The meal is served family style, but starts with an appetizer course and a soup or salad course, and is followed by dessert. We get a platter of prime rib (with potatoes and baby carrots) and a platter of Chateaubriand. (I prefer the prime rib.) [And there are plenty of leftovers for people to take home, so I won't have to cook tomorrow, either!]

I started reading Killing Floor.

Temps started out at 23.0(F) (and went down to 21.7 before I left the house) and reached 36.1 (that I saw). It was pretty nice for the drive to the restaurant.


Mom Update:

Mom was doing okay when I visited. more back here )
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ysabetwordsmith ([personal profile] ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-12-13 11:08 pm
Entry tags:

Safety

One Critical Factor Predicts Longevity Better Than Diet or Exercise, Study Says

They then factored in other variables that can affect life expectancy, including physical inactivity, employment status, and educational level. The association between insufficient sleep and lower life expectancy still held. Only smoking had a stronger link.


Good, adequate sleep is a survival need. Modern society often sabotages it.

However, this study suggests that banking sleep on weekends can mitigate the effects of lost sleep during the week.  I used to do that in school, and people said it didn't work, but it certainly helped my energy level.  It may be a trick that some but not all bodies can do.




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ysabetwordsmith ([personal profile] ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-12-13 11:03 pm
Entry tags:

Today's Cooking

Today's plan to visit a holiday market got wiped out by copious snow. Again. :( So I'm drowning our sorrows in a batch of Dark Chocolate Brownies with Raspberry Spread.
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ysabetwordsmith ([personal profile] ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-12-13 02:00 pm

Science

Human brains light up for chimp voices in a way no one expected

Humans may carry ancient neural traces that let us recognize the voices of our primate cousins.

Humans don’t just recognize each other’s voices—our brains also light up for the calls of chimpanzees, hinting at ancient communication roots shared with our closest primate relatives. Researchers found a specialized region in the auditory cortex that reacts distinctly to chimp vocalizations, but not to those of bonobos or macaques, revealing an unexpected mix of evolutionary and acoustic influences.

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ysabetwordsmith ([personal profile] ysabetwordsmith) wrote2025-12-13 01:51 pm

Birdfeeding

Today is cloudy and cold with copious snow.  This has wiped out our plans to visit a holiday market.  :(

I fed the birds.  I've seen a large mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, at least one female and four male cardinals, a mourning dove, and a tiny wren clinging to the bathroom window as it probed the edges for hibernating insects.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 12/13/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 12/13/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 12/13/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
spikedluv: (winter: mittens by raynedanser)
it only hurts when i breathe ([personal profile] spikedluv) wrote2025-12-13 06:05 am

The Day in Spikedluv (Friday, Dec 12)

This could’ve been a no-shopping day, but it didn’t turn out that way. I hit Walmart, Price Chopper and Agway while I was downtown. Walmart was to pick up some things for mom, both Price Chopper and Agway were quickies for GCs. I figured I’d check Price Chopper to see if they had gotten in more Texas Roadhouse GCs and it just so happened the woman was refilling all the GCs when I arrived! I asked her about Texas Roadhouse and she pulled them out of the bin for me, so that was nice.

I also got Alaska!niece’s box packed up and went to the post office to mail it! Then I stopped at mom’s to drop off the shopping and GCs I’d picked up for her, as I knew she was eager to get some into the mail.

Sister S was at mom’s and while I was there L called because Addilyn wanted to talk to her. (She tattled about seeing me at BK. *g*) They’re currently down at CHOP for Addi to have a bladder scan to make sure it continues to work well. Apparently lack of sensation in that area is common with the spinal injury where she has it from the spina bifida. All good thoughts welcome.

I did three loads of laundry, hand-washed dishes, emptied the dishwasher, went for a couple walks with Pip and the dogs, cut up chicken for the dogs' meals, hit the bank drive-thru, scooped kitty litter, and showered. I baked chicken breasts with a honey mustard sauce for supper.

I watched an HGTV program, wrote out a couple more cards, and wrote ~400 more words on my second [community profile] fandomtrees fic!!

Temps started out at 17.6(F) and reached 32.7. There was more wind, so once again the walking trails were drifted in a bit and it made for difficult walking.


Mom Update:

Mom was doing okay when I saw her. more back here )