mirror_gate | Reading

The June

crowdfunding Creative Jam is now open with a theme of "Good vs. Bad." Come give us prompts, or claim some for your own inspiration.

What I Have Written

From My Prompts

Current Mood: creative

ysabetwordsmith

People have expressed interest in deep topics, so this list focuses on philosophical questions.

What causes the most harm in the world, but is completely avoidable?

Gosh, that's a hard one. Personal vices leap readily to mind, like adultery and alcohol. But then there are things like climate change, which is created by humans, who could choose to stop pushing in that direction but won't.

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Today we went to the Marshall Farmer's Market. It's an evening market from 6-8 PM, followed by a band concert, which is way better than a morning one.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: happy

lb_lee

The winner of the fan poll, supported by fans like you on LiberaPay and Patreon!

Mori goes to Rawlin and says, 'Dunno if I like proper kissing. Can I give it a shot?' Rawlin chuckles placidly. 'Sure.' Mori leans in to kiss her, only for her eyes to go wide and her fur to involuntarily fluff. Not noticing, Mori pulls away. 'Hmm... still not sure... might need more trials... you?' Rawlin touches her lips with her gloved hand and just says, '...I like it.'

Current Mood: groggy

lb_lee

Original posts by Phosphor of Hungry Ghosts here, used with permission: https://nightfeather.cafe/notice/AuOng8NknA7IRvgusi

A janky GIMP pen drawing of Mori shrugging. In her speech bubble is a post from Phosphor of Hungry Ghosts: "'that's like saying God should not treat his creations however he sees fit--' well, you see, if god was real I would simply kill him. skill issue."

A janky GIMP pen drawing of Mori shrugging. In her speech bubble is a post from Phosphor of Hungry Ghosts: "'that's like saying God should not treat his creations however he sees fit--' well, you see, if god was real I would simply kill him. skill issue."

A much sketchier drawing of Mori smirking dramatically, one hand to her chest, the other thrown out with a flame at one fingertip. She oversees a burning fire, and her speech bubble contains another Phosphor post: "maybe YOU can't kill god. but lbr. that's a you issue, my friend, not a me issue"

Current Mood: bitchy

ysabetwordsmith

musicianships
We Are The Scene.
This Community is for everyone who is involved in music in any way.
[Found via

gothfvck]

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

This cartoon is true, as far as it goes.

But if you think Russia is likely to blink at those losses, think again.

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

This poll covers the ideas proposed in the recent call for themes. Everyone is eligible to vote in this poll. I will keep it open until at least Saturday night. If there are clear answers then, I'll close it. Otherwise I may leave it open a little longer. If you don't have a Dreamwidth account, you can vote in an anonymous comment or email to me, but include some kind of handle to distinguish yourself.

For this poll, you can vote for as many themes as you find appealing. I recommend that you don't vote for all of them, since that makes it harder to whittle down the list. The themes are arranged in alphabetical order.

Here are your options ...

Poll #33248 Poetry Fishbowl Themes for Late 2025

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 15

View Respondents

Which of these themes do you want featured in future fishbowls?

View Answers

Angels and Demons
4 (26.7%)

Apocalyptic Visions
3 (20.0%)

Books and Learning
10 (66.7%)

Building Mental Linkages
2 (13.3%)

Changing Personality One Habit at a Time
7 (46.7%)

Communication Styles
8 (53.3%)

Dealing with Frustration
6 (40.0%)

Emotional Regulation
7 (46.7%)

Empathy and Understanding
2 (13.3%)

Empowering Language
5 (33.3%)

Ergonomics
1 (6.7%)

Exercise and Stretching
2 (13.3%)

Faeries and Fey
7 (46.7%)

False Economy
3 (20.0%)

Fixing Loneliness or Overwhelm
6 (40.0%)

Fixit
5 (33.3%)

Goddesses and Divas
5 (33.3%)

Immigrants and Refugees
6 (40.0%)

"Knowledge is power. Power corrupts. Study hard. Be evil."
7 (46.7%)

Knowledge Webs
2 (13.3%)

Language as Power and Power as a Language
4 (26.7%)

Leadership in Unusual Situations
4 (26.7%)

Managing Change and Disruption
1 (6.7%)

Non-Book Learning and Knowledge
7 (46.7%)

Ordinary Characters in Epic Stories
6 (40.0%)

Overlooked Key Moments
2 (13.3%)

Patterns and Patterning
7 (46.7%)

Personhood
5 (33.3%)

Pirates, Rascals, and Rogues
3 (20.0%)

Putting Traumatic Memories in Context
3 (20.0%)

Recognition and Recollection
3 (20.0%)

Sentient and Self-Aware Machines
6 (40.0%)

Strength in Numbers or Alone
4 (26.7%)

Time Travel Twists
8 (53.3%)

Unexpected Leadership
6 (40.0%)

Unlikely or Unwieldy Weapons
5 (33.3%)

Weaponized Incompetence and Malicious Compliance
9 (60.0%)

Westerns
2 (13.3%)

Work, Leisure, and Hobbies
5 (33.3%)

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

A friend tipped me to this campaign: Take Us North is a video game about migrants trying to cross the border into the United States of America. If you're interested and jump fast, you may be able to catch the Early Bird reward in the first 24 hours at $25, after that it jumps to $35 minimum. I backed it because I want to project to exist -- tell ALL the stories, and poke a bigot in the eye!

Take Us North description
A narrative adventure/survival game that follows the journeys of migrants and asylum seekers on their way to cross the US-Mexico border

$6,056 pledged of $30,000 goal
95 backers
29 days to go

🎮 [Early Bird] Take Us North!
$25
Backers 52
Estimated delivery Dec 2026
🚨FIRST 24 HOURS DISCOUNT!🚨 Receive a digital copy of Take Us North (PC/Steam) and digital wallpapers!
3 items included
Digital Copy of the Game Quantity: 1
High-Resolution Digital Wallpapers Quantity: 1
Invitation to Virtual Community Launch Party Quantity: 1

( Read more... )

Current Mood: excited

ysabetwordsmith

Today is cloudy and steamy. It rained last night.

I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 6/13/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

It started mizzling.

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Governor JB Pritzker (Dem IL) to Rep. Mary Miller: "I refuse to be lectured to by somebody who extols the virtue of Hitler."

I can't remember the last time I felt so represented by one of my actual representatives. \o/

Sometimes, you just gotta call a spade a spade.

Current Mood: satisfied

ysabetwordsmith

Today's theme is Hetalia. Initially a webcomic, Hetalia was later adapted as a serialized manga and an anime series. The series personifies the nations of the world into immortal anthropomorphic characters and presents an allegorical (and often satirical) interpretation of political, historical, and cultural events throughout history and the present day. This riff is a personal favorite.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

If you want to suggest themes for upcoming Poetry Fishbowls, now is the time. I plan to set up the poll tomorrow (Friday). You can put your theme ideas in a comment below the Call for Themes post.

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Here's another post about the insect apocalypse, including a trophic cascade devastating other species especially insectivores. This one proposes electromagnetic radiation as a causal factor, which may or may not be true, and is not being studied. It would be nice if that were a cause, because it is a factor under human control and thus could be fixed.

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Orphan earrings to awesome necklaces!

Current Mood: busy

lb_lee

We were at the nearby Indian grocery store to stock up on yogurt (only they sell it in the giant quantities we require), when Biff noticed something new: enormous Ziploc bags filled with clearly-homemade momo (Nepalese dumplings). There are a few momo joints around here; maybe it's some sort of mysterious shadow kitchen thing?

Anyway, there were tons of these big gallon-size Ziploc bags, crammed full and tersely labeled in Sharpie as to their contents: (halal) BEEF, (halal) CHICKEN, and... VAG (veg).

It's Pride. We bought the VAG MOMO.

And guys, they were delicious. So flavorful! Cabbage, carrot, (probably?) chickpeas, onion, cilantro (we think), herbs and spices. We've bought bags of potstickers from the (southeast) Asian groceries around town, and they tended to be pretty bland. Nice, but bland, so we took to cooking them with sauces to flavor them up. But these? These packed all the flavor they needed. More support for the "ghost kitchen" idea.

They were expensive ($32), but they were so worth it. That bag will last us a long time; we spent half the bag feeding us and two roommates tonight, and we had leftovers, so that's an easy six meals' worth in one bag, a good treat item. And if I'm going to shell out for food, I'm happy to be giving it to my local Indian grocery and this mysterious momo chef!

Current Mood: full

ysabetwordsmith

The old

sunshine_challenge is defunct, but other folks are reviving it this summer with the

sunshine_revival. See the schedule and link below for more information. Spread the word!

( Read more... )

Current Mood: excited

ysabetwordsmith

A Rainbow of Queer Books for 2025: Orange

HAPPY PRIDE 2025! For Pride this year, we’re changing up our usual rec lists. Instead of doing books with specific identities or themes, we’re focused this time on cover color! Throughout the month of June, we’ll be doing 8 rec lists, each with covers inspired by one of the colors of the original Gilbert Baker Pride Flag. We drew a little additional inspiration from the meaning behind the color and why it was included in the original LGBTQIA+ flag (in this case, orange = healing), but we prioritized color over meaning. The contributors to this list are: Sanne, Tris Lawrence, Nina Waters, polls, Shannon, Linnea Peterson and Owl Outerbridge.

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Today is cloudy and quite warm.

I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches plus a mourning dove.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 6/12/25 -- I checked the firepit. It has burned down mostly to ashes. I started trimming weeds around the outside edge.

EDIT 6/12/25 -- I picked half a bag of mulberries in the savanna.

EDIT 6/12/25 -- I sowed Bee Lawn Mix on a bare patch beside the garden shed.

EDIT 6/12/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 6/12/25 -- I did a bit more work around the patio.

EDIT 6/12/25 -- I picked a bag of mulberries in the savanna.

EDIT 6/12/25 -- I finished trimming around the firepit.

EDIT 6/12/25 -- I trimmed more grass along the edge of the strip garden.

EDIT 6/12/25 -- I trimmed grass along the south edge of the patio.

EDIT 6/12/25 -- I trimmed brush along the edge of the strip garden.

EDIT 6/12/25 -- I trimmed weeds along the edge of the south sidewalk.

EDIT 6/12/25 -- I intended to lay the base for the next bonfire. I was only able to find one log big enough, and I need two. There are some older ones but they are buried under too much brush to reach. >_< And it started drizzling anyhow, so fuck it.

I am done for the night.

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Use a hair clip. It holds securely, doesn't damage yarn, molds to the shape of the ball, and tells you exactly where the end is.

Current Mood: busy

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Mirror Gate

Who is this girl I see?

Creative Jam

Philosophical Questions: Avoidable

Today's Adventures

Comic: Kissing

Killing God is a Skill Issue

New Communities

Russian Losses

Poetry Fishbowl Themes for Late 2025

New Crowdfunding Project: "Take Us North"

Birdfeeding

Politics

Follow Friday 6-13-24: Hetalia

Poetry Fishbowl Update

Insect Apocalypse

Crafts

VAG MOMO

Sunshine Revival

Books

Birdfeeding

How to Secure Yarn End on a Ball

Profile

January 2015

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