Laura Rainbow Dragon
Moderator
Normally I am a person who cares about professional sports not at all. Don't even follow the Olympics. I especially do not follow hockey (or gridiron football). But this made me happy this morning.
Rainbow Dragon's Lair
- Thread starter Laura Rainbow Dragon
- Start date
Laura Rainbow Dragon
Moderator
February 20:
Cardinal Points:
dancing: 30 minutes
10.6 km hiking
running-ish
Attended another "Wave" campaign event this day. It was 4.5 km from where we live. So Shelby came with me. (If I do 9km of hiking by myself on a winter day, Shelby really gets short-changed on her walk. So I wanted to avoid that. And since the campaign event was dancing on a street corner, there was no reason for Shelby not to come!) There was snow underfoot again. Not hugely challenging amounts of snow, but basically the equivalent of walking on sand. And we were late. So we ran part of the way. (With Shelby wrapped up in her blanket, and me in a winter coat and boots, carrying a knapsack and a basket of scones--hence the "ish" tag on the running.) Shelby made lots of new friends, of course, including one man who was very good at the Massage Shelby's Bum dance. So she was happy! Once we got home, however, it was dinner and then fast asleep. Shelby was zonked!
Reading:
Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism - Rachel Maddow (Not a book about Trump, but about the many Americans before him who also promoted fascism, and those who fought valiantly to beat it back. I'm hoping the book will be a source of inspiration and hope in our current dark times. I'm hoping it's not already too late.)
Les Rois maudits #1: Le Roi de fer - Maurice Druon (Recommended by @PetiteSheWolf .)
The Accursed Kings #1: The Iron King - Maurice Druon, translation by Humphrey Hare (Because my French is not good enough to read the original text without help.)
French:
reading (Le Roi de fer)
Scheduling Habits:
GOBOT:
SOOT:
GBOT:
GR:
Cumulative Habit Scores:
SOOT: 14
GBOT: 36
Gaming Rules: 39
Streaks:
Consecutive days of working out: 165
Consecutive days of French study: 1557
No Solo Gaming: 13
Cardinal Points:
dancing: 30 minutes
10.6 km hiking
running-ish
Attended another "Wave" campaign event this day. It was 4.5 km from where we live. So Shelby came with me. (If I do 9km of hiking by myself on a winter day, Shelby really gets short-changed on her walk. So I wanted to avoid that. And since the campaign event was dancing on a street corner, there was no reason for Shelby not to come!) There was snow underfoot again. Not hugely challenging amounts of snow, but basically the equivalent of walking on sand. And we were late. So we ran part of the way. (With Shelby wrapped up in her blanket, and me in a winter coat and boots, carrying a knapsack and a basket of scones--hence the "ish" tag on the running.) Shelby made lots of new friends, of course, including one man who was very good at the Massage Shelby's Bum dance. So she was happy! Once we got home, however, it was dinner and then fast asleep. Shelby was zonked!
Reading:
Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism - Rachel Maddow (Not a book about Trump, but about the many Americans before him who also promoted fascism, and those who fought valiantly to beat it back. I'm hoping the book will be a source of inspiration and hope in our current dark times. I'm hoping it's not already too late.)
Les Rois maudits #1: Le Roi de fer - Maurice Druon (Recommended by @PetiteSheWolf .)
The Accursed Kings #1: The Iron King - Maurice Druon, translation by Humphrey Hare (Because my French is not good enough to read the original text without help.)
French:
reading (Le Roi de fer)
Scheduling Habits:
GOBOT:
SOOT:
GBOT:
GR:
Cumulative Habit Scores:
SOOT: 14
GBOT: 36
Gaming Rules: 39
Streaks:
Consecutive days of working out: 165
Consecutive days of French study: 1557
No Solo Gaming: 13
Laura Rainbow Dragon
Moderator
February 21:
Cardinal Points:
yoga: Quiet Room
14.8 km hiking
running-ish
Did some canvassing in the afternoon. More running-ish due to being late for that (but then my teammate was late--so I ended up hanging out in the campaign office for a bit eating Timbits while waiting for him). Hiking is still like the cold version of walking on sand.
Reading:
Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism - Rachel Maddow (Not a book about Trump, but about the many Americans before him who also promoted fascism, and those who fought valiantly to beat it back. I'm hoping the book will be a source of inspiration and hope in our current dark times. I'm hoping it's not already too late.)
Les Rois maudits #1: Le Roi de fer - Maurice Druon (Recommended by PetiteSheWolf .)
The Accursed Kings #1: The Iron King - Maurice Druon, translation by Humphrey Hare (Because my French is not good enough to read the original text without help.)
The translation is not word-for-word. On the very first page the English text has a description of Isabella's complexion that is absent from the French entirely! (Perhaps the translation was done from a different edition of the French?) And both texts quote a poem by Duke William of Aquitaine--the French text is preserved in the English translation for this--but include different stanzas of the poem! Both texts also include endnotes--but they're not on the same points at all! But the texts are close enough that I can understand what is going on. Which is the point.
French:
reading (Le Roi de fer)
Scheduling Habits:
GOBOT:
SOOT:
GBOT:
GR:
Cumulative Habit Scores:
SOOT: 17
GBOT: 39
Gaming Rules: 42
Streaks:
Consecutive days of working out: 166
Consecutive days of French study: 1558
No Solo Gaming: 14
Cardinal Points:
yoga: Quiet Room
14.8 km hiking
running-ish
Did some canvassing in the afternoon. More running-ish due to being late for that (but then my teammate was late--so I ended up hanging out in the campaign office for a bit eating Timbits while waiting for him). Hiking is still like the cold version of walking on sand.
Reading:
Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism - Rachel Maddow (Not a book about Trump, but about the many Americans before him who also promoted fascism, and those who fought valiantly to beat it back. I'm hoping the book will be a source of inspiration and hope in our current dark times. I'm hoping it's not already too late.)
Les Rois maudits #1: Le Roi de fer - Maurice Druon (Recommended by PetiteSheWolf .)
The Accursed Kings #1: The Iron King - Maurice Druon, translation by Humphrey Hare (Because my French is not good enough to read the original text without help.)
The translation is not word-for-word. On the very first page the English text has a description of Isabella's complexion that is absent from the French entirely! (Perhaps the translation was done from a different edition of the French?) And both texts quote a poem by Duke William of Aquitaine--the French text is preserved in the English translation for this--but include different stanzas of the poem! Both texts also include endnotes--but they're not on the same points at all! But the texts are close enough that I can understand what is going on. Which is the point.
French:
reading (Le Roi de fer)
Scheduling Habits:
GOBOT:
SOOT:
GBOT:
GR:
Cumulative Habit Scores:
SOOT: 17
GBOT: 39
Gaming Rules: 42
Streaks:
Consecutive days of working out: 166
Consecutive days of French study: 1558
No Solo Gaming: 14
Laura Rainbow Dragon
Moderator
February 22:
Cardinal Points:
yoga: Quiet Room
7 km hiking
Reading:
Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism - Rachel Maddow (Not a book about Trump, but about the many Americans before him who also promoted fascism, and those who fought valiantly to beat it back. I'm hoping the book will be a source of inspiration and hope in our current dark times. I'm hoping it's not already too late.)
Les Rois maudits #1: Le Roi de fer - Maurice Druon (Recommended by PetiteSheWolf .)
The Accursed Kings #1: The Iron King - Maurice Druon, translation by Humphrey Hare (Because my French is not good enough to read the original text without help.)
The English text translates "Dès qu'il apparaissait, tout semblait autour de lui devenir faible, fragile, friable." as: "Wherever he might be, everything about him seemed fragile, feeble, and weak." Which is an odd and confusing construction. In modern English, "everything about him" would most often be interpreted to mean "every characteristic of the person we are talking about" which clearly is not the intention here, given that the character in question has "des cuisses comme des troncs de chêne, des poings comme des masses d'armes" (thighs like oak trunks and fists like maces).
French:
reading (Le Roi de fer)
Scheduling Habits:
GOBOT:
SOOT:
GBOT:
GR:
Cumulative Habit Scores:
SOOT: 18
GBOT: 41
Gaming Rules: 45
Streaks:
Consecutive days of working out: 167
Consecutive days of French study: 1559
No Solo Gaming: 15
Cardinal Points:
yoga: Quiet Room
7 km hiking
Reading:
Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism - Rachel Maddow (Not a book about Trump, but about the many Americans before him who also promoted fascism, and those who fought valiantly to beat it back. I'm hoping the book will be a source of inspiration and hope in our current dark times. I'm hoping it's not already too late.)
Les Rois maudits #1: Le Roi de fer - Maurice Druon (Recommended by PetiteSheWolf .)
The Accursed Kings #1: The Iron King - Maurice Druon, translation by Humphrey Hare (Because my French is not good enough to read the original text without help.)
The English text translates "Dès qu'il apparaissait, tout semblait autour de lui devenir faible, fragile, friable." as: "Wherever he might be, everything about him seemed fragile, feeble, and weak." Which is an odd and confusing construction. In modern English, "everything about him" would most often be interpreted to mean "every characteristic of the person we are talking about" which clearly is not the intention here, given that the character in question has "des cuisses comme des troncs de chêne, des poings comme des masses d'armes" (thighs like oak trunks and fists like maces).
French:
reading (Le Roi de fer)
Scheduling Habits:
GOBOT:
SOOT:
GBOT:
GR:
Cumulative Habit Scores:
SOOT: 18
GBOT: 41
Gaming Rules: 45
Streaks:
Consecutive days of working out: 167
Consecutive days of French study: 1559
No Solo Gaming: 15
Laura Rainbow Dragon
Moderator
Eleven years ago today, this girl and I officially became family!
from
NightWolf714
Well-known member
Berserker
from
Nashville, TN, USA
Pronouns: They/she
Posts: 1,603
from
Nashville, TN, USA
Pronouns: They/she
Posts: 1,603
"The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change. ~Carl Rogers"
Happy Gotcha-Day Shelby!
Mamatigerj
Well-known member
Laura Rainbow Dragon
Moderator
Temperature got up to -1°C today, and the windchill was only -6°C. So Shelby and I did our hike up the northern branch of the TVP. And we saw Long-tailed Ducks!
The male:
and the female:
We also saw all of the Mergansers:
Red-breasted Mergansers (2 females):
Common Merganser (female):
Hooded Mergansers (male is the one with the white crest outlined in black):
and a Mallard (which you've all seen before. But I got a pretty nice photo of this guy.):
Not as many shad as before--the water level is quite low now--but there's still quite a few hanging out in their little inlet:
The snow was nicely packed down for us on most of the trail:
The male:
and the female:
We also saw all of the Mergansers:
Red-breasted Mergansers (2 females):
Common Merganser (female):
Hooded Mergansers (male is the one with the white crest outlined in black):
and a Mallard (which you've all seen before. But I got a pretty nice photo of this guy.):
Not as many shad as before--the water level is quite low now--but there's still quite a few hanging out in their little inlet:
The snow was nicely packed down for us on most of the trail:
Maegaranthelas
Moderator
All the hugs and pets for the bestest girl
PetiteSheWolf
Well-known member
Happy Gotcha Day for this good doggo!
And interesting about the translations! Definitly "about" was mixed with "around". BTW, was it a description of Philippe le Bel, or of Robert d'Artois ? (sounds more like Robert, our red devil!).
I was reminded recently that Maurice Druon was the lead of l'académie Française / French Academy (the principal french council for matters pertaining to the french language), so you should get a good dose of really proper French
And interesting about the translations! Definitly "about" was mixed with "around". BTW, was it a description of Philippe le Bel, or of Robert d'Artois ? (sounds more like Robert, our red devil!).
I was reminded recently that Maurice Druon was the lead of l'académie Française / French Academy (the principal french council for matters pertaining to the french language), so you should get a good dose of really proper French
Laura Rainbow Dragon
Moderator
Right. Technically, "about" could be used in the same sense as "around". One just wouldn't in this context, given the potential for confusion.
Yes, Robert.
I was reminded recently that Maurice Druon was the lead of l'académie Française / French Academy (the principal french council for matters pertaining to the french language), so you should get a good dose of really proper French
Antheia & Colossus
MODERATOR
Saffity
Moderator
Mother of Dragons
from
Southern Ontario, Canada
Pronouns: She/Her
Posts: 723
from
Southern Ontario, Canada
Pronouns: She/Her
Posts: 723
"Getting strong enough to keep two tiny humans from unaliving themselves."
Congrats to puppy coming home day!
I often get frustrated with translations (especially when I understand the original language somewhat and see the differences) because they don't translate how I think it should, but then have to remember that since words can mean different things in different contexts, the translator bias has to be brought into factor. Still doesn't mean this translator was in anyway correct, as it sounds like he most definitely used the wrong meaning of the word.
I do love your animal pictures. I love that you know what each species is. I honestly would be like Biggie and just call them all "DUCKIES!"
I often get frustrated with translations (especially when I understand the original language somewhat and see the differences) because they don't translate how I think it should, but then have to remember that since words can mean different things in different contexts, the translator bias has to be brought into factor. Still doesn't mean this translator was in anyway correct, as it sounds like he most definitely used the wrong meaning of the word.
I do love your animal pictures. I love that you know what each species is. I honestly would be like Biggie and just call them all "DUCKIES!"
Laura Rainbow Dragon
Moderator
This article is a good read for Americans trying to understand how Canadians are feeling these days about the repeated threats of annexation coming out of the White House, and the response of far too many American commentators to those threats: https://archive.ph/tJhC6
TLDR: Forcibly annexing another sovereign nation is an international war crime. Threatening to commit a war crime is not something we joke about in Canada. You shouldn't joke about it either.
TLDR: Forcibly annexing another sovereign nation is an international war crime. Threatening to commit a war crime is not something we joke about in Canada. You shouldn't joke about it either.
Mamatigerj
Well-known member
I completely agree, @Laura Rainbow Dragon.
NightWolf714
Well-known member
Berserker
from
Nashville, TN, USA
Pronouns: They/she
Posts: 1,603
from
Nashville, TN, USA
Pronouns: They/she
Posts: 1,603
"The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change. ~Carl Rogers"
It's ... a bit concerning how many, like, threats of war crimes our president is just doing willy-nilly. Though not surprising given his history, unfortunately.
Syrius
Well-known member
Valkyrie
from
The Sonoran Desert
Pronouns: she/her
Posts: 2,290
from
The Sonoran Desert
Pronouns: she/her
Posts: 2,290
"Just moving forward with steel in my spine and glitter in the air!"
Happy Gotcha Day!!!
Laura Rainbow Dragon
Moderator
American friends: WTELF? Just... seriously: WTELF?
Surely somebody down there still has the power and the will to stop this?
Surely somebody down there still has the power and the will to stop this?
NightWolf714
Well-known member
Berserker
from
Nashville, TN, USA
Pronouns: They/she
Posts: 1,603
from
Nashville, TN, USA
Pronouns: They/she
Posts: 1,603
"The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change. ~Carl Rogers"
I really wished we did. My main hope is that this utter mess will be the hard-hitting lesson America needs to get their shit together and do better. :/ If we survive that long. :/
Laura Rainbow Dragon
Moderator
My fear is that you won't. You've already alienated all of your allies. Nobody can trust the US anymore. Russia will never be your friend. (Putin is tossing back the vodka in celebration of all the assistance Trump and Vance are giving him. But he'll never help your country in return.)
Republican lawmakers have the power to stop the insanity. The only missing ingredient is their astonishing lack of will.
Laura Rainbow Dragon
Moderator
I don't know if any Ukrainians read this log. But if any do: I am sorry. I am sorry for what is happening to your country. I am disgusted by Donald Trump's extortion of your country. I am disgusted by Trump's and Vance's infantile, schoolyard-bullying behaviour towards your president. I am disgusted by American lawmakers who contradict even themselves to kowtow to Trump's lies.
I stand with Ukraine.
Canada stands with Ukraine.
We can still see the truth here. And we support your fight to maintain your sovereignty and regain your territorial integrity.
I stand with Ukraine.
Canada stands with Ukraine.
We can still see the truth here. And we support your fight to maintain your sovereignty and regain your territorial integrity.
NightWolf714
Well-known member
Berserker
from
Nashville, TN, USA
Pronouns: They/she
Posts: 1,603
from
Nashville, TN, USA
Pronouns: They/she
Posts: 1,603
"The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change. ~Carl Rogers"
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Laura Rainbow Dragon
Moderator
Shelby says:
She also says:
(Last week was a pretty rough one for Shelby in terms of being left home alone. A lot. We are getting things back on track now though. More below.)
to: @Fremen @JCU @NightWolf714 @Mamatigerj @Maegaranthelas @PetiteSheWolf @Antheia & Colossus @Saffity @Syrius for sending love for her adoption day anniversary.Thank you!
She also says:
(Last week was a pretty rough one for Shelby in terms of being left home alone. A lot. We are getting things back on track now though. More below.)
Laura Rainbow Dragon
Moderator
February 23:
Cardinal Points:
yoga: Quiet Room
10.9 km hiking
This was a good day for Shelby as this was the day we did our hike up the north branch of the TVP and saw all the ducks.
Reading:
Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism - Rachel Maddow (Not a book about Trump, but about the many Americans before him who also promoted fascism, and those who fought valiantly to beat it back. I'm hoping the book will be a source of inspiration and hope in our current dark times. I'm hoping it's not already too late.)
Les Rois maudits #1: Le Roi de fer - Maurice Druon (Recommended by PetiteSheWolf .)
The Accursed Kings #1: The Iron King - Maurice Druon, translation by Humphrey Hare (Because my French is not good enough to read the original text without help.)
French:
reading (Le Roi de fer)
Scheduling Habits:
GOBOT:
SOOT:
GBOT:
GR:
Cardinal Points:
yoga: Quiet Room
10.9 km hiking
This was a good day for Shelby as this was the day we did our hike up the north branch of the TVP and saw all the ducks.
Reading:
Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism - Rachel Maddow (Not a book about Trump, but about the many Americans before him who also promoted fascism, and those who fought valiantly to beat it back. I'm hoping the book will be a source of inspiration and hope in our current dark times. I'm hoping it's not already too late.)
Les Rois maudits #1: Le Roi de fer - Maurice Druon (Recommended by PetiteSheWolf .)
The Accursed Kings #1: The Iron King - Maurice Druon, translation by Humphrey Hare (Because my French is not good enough to read the original text without help.)
French:
reading (Le Roi de fer)
Scheduling Habits:
GOBOT:
SOOT:
GBOT:
GR:
Laura Rainbow Dragon
Moderator
February 24:
Cardinal Points:
dancing: City-wide pep rally for NDP supporters of all 3 metropolitan London ridings. Marit Stiles (Ontario NDP leader) paid us a visit. So there were speeches. The speeches by all 3 London MPPs were short and on point. Marit's speech was also relatively short and pretty good. The venue was crowded and thus hot, and I was wearing my winter coat tied around my waist (as there was nowhere else to put it). I spent most of the evening trying to avoid the stage light, which was super hot. Then I got asked to be part of the backdrop behind the stage for the speeches (on the side of the really hot light, no less). So I was doubly grateful for the speeches being short! The event was a happy reminder of how great it is to be back in London, however. And the snacks were pretty good. The event also gave me the opportunity to thank in person someone (the MPP for one of the other two London ridings) who had helped me out with ideas and information back in the summer when I was desperately searching for a new place to live. It was worth attending for that alone.
18.3 km hiking
Shelby and I went back to see the Long-tailed ducks again this day, but did not do the full hike up to the uni. I also had canvassing during the day, plus walking to and from the pep rally in the evening. So Shelby got pretty short-changed on her walks.
Reading:
Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism - Rachel Maddow (Not a book about Trump, but about the many Americans before him who also promoted fascism, and those who fought valiantly to beat it back. I'm hoping the book will be a source of inspiration and hope in our current dark times. I'm hoping it's not already too late.)
Les Rois maudits #1: Le Roi de fer - Maurice Druon (Recommended by PetiteSheWolf .)
The Accursed Kings #1: The Iron King - Maurice Druon, translation by Humphrey Hare (Because my French is not good enough to read the original text without help.)
French:
reading (Le Roi de fer)
Scheduling Habits:
GOBOT:
SOOT:
GBOT:
GR:
Cardinal Points:
dancing: City-wide pep rally for NDP supporters of all 3 metropolitan London ridings. Marit Stiles (Ontario NDP leader) paid us a visit. So there were speeches. The speeches by all 3 London MPPs were short and on point. Marit's speech was also relatively short and pretty good. The venue was crowded and thus hot, and I was wearing my winter coat tied around my waist (as there was nowhere else to put it). I spent most of the evening trying to avoid the stage light, which was super hot. Then I got asked to be part of the backdrop behind the stage for the speeches (on the side of the really hot light, no less). So I was doubly grateful for the speeches being short! The event was a happy reminder of how great it is to be back in London, however. And the snacks were pretty good. The event also gave me the opportunity to thank in person someone (the MPP for one of the other two London ridings) who had helped me out with ideas and information back in the summer when I was desperately searching for a new place to live. It was worth attending for that alone.
18.3 km hiking
Shelby and I went back to see the Long-tailed ducks again this day, but did not do the full hike up to the uni. I also had canvassing during the day, plus walking to and from the pep rally in the evening. So Shelby got pretty short-changed on her walks.
Reading:
Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism - Rachel Maddow (Not a book about Trump, but about the many Americans before him who also promoted fascism, and those who fought valiantly to beat it back. I'm hoping the book will be a source of inspiration and hope in our current dark times. I'm hoping it's not already too late.)
Les Rois maudits #1: Le Roi de fer - Maurice Druon (Recommended by PetiteSheWolf .)
The Accursed Kings #1: The Iron King - Maurice Druon, translation by Humphrey Hare (Because my French is not good enough to read the original text without help.)
French:
reading (Le Roi de fer)
Scheduling Habits:
GOBOT:
SOOT:
GBOT:
GR:
Laura Rainbow Dragon
Moderator
February 25:
Cardinal Points:
yoga: Quiet Room
14 km hiking
Again a good chunk of the hiking was canvassing, and Shelby's walks were shorter.
Reading:
Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism - Rachel Maddow (Not a book about Trump, but about the many Americans before him who also promoted fascism, and those who fought valiantly to beat it back. I'm hoping the book will be a source of inspiration and hope in our current dark times. I'm hoping it's not already too late.)
Les Rois maudits #1: Le Roi de fer - Maurice Druon (Recommended by PetiteSheWolf .)
The Accursed Kings #1: The Iron King - Maurice Druon, translation by Humphrey Hare (Because my French is not good enough to read the original text without help.)
French:
reading (Le Roi de fer)
Scheduling Habits:
GOBOT::
SOOT:
GBOT:
GR:
Cardinal Points:
yoga: Quiet Room
14 km hiking
Again a good chunk of the hiking was canvassing, and Shelby's walks were shorter.
Reading:
Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism - Rachel Maddow (Not a book about Trump, but about the many Americans before him who also promoted fascism, and those who fought valiantly to beat it back. I'm hoping the book will be a source of inspiration and hope in our current dark times. I'm hoping it's not already too late.)
Les Rois maudits #1: Le Roi de fer - Maurice Druon (Recommended by PetiteSheWolf .)
The Accursed Kings #1: The Iron King - Maurice Druon, translation by Humphrey Hare (Because my French is not good enough to read the original text without help.)
French:
reading (Le Roi de fer)
Scheduling Habits:
GOBOT:
:SOOT:
GBOT:
GR:
Laura Rainbow Dragon
Moderator
February 26:
Cardinal Points:
yoga: Quiet Room
18 km hiking
More canvassing. On this day my canvassing partner and I were working opposite sides of the street. I was a few houses ahead of her. So I was by myself when a guy in an SUV pulled up beside me, rolled down his window, and started shouting at me:
"You're not allowed to be doing what you're doing! You're campaigning illegally during a campaign blackout period!"
"I'm not campaigning illegally," I told him. (I was canvassing during a blackout period for political advertising. But the blackout only applies to radio, television, and daily print media buys. It doesn't apply to distributing flyers or going door-to-door to talk to people.)
"You're wearing a campaign button and you're going door-to-door. That's campaigning!" the guy said. "I'm reporting this!" Then he identified himself to me by name and as the local candidate for the Libertarian party.
I was like: "Knock yourself out, buddy."
When I got home, I looked the guy up. His profile claims he decided to put up for political office because he was injured at work a couple of years back and the social assistance he received to help him cope with that, he felt, was inadequate. So he decided to run for a party whose main goal is to destroy our social safety net. (I don't just mean underfund it, like the Conservatives do. The Ontario Libertarian Party wants to eliminate corporate taxes entirely and make paying individual taxes optional. It also wants to make paying WSIB premiums--which are paid by employers and ensure that employees injured in the workplace receive the supports they need--optional. If we had Libertarian government in Ontario, this guy would have received ZERO help when he was injured at work. He would have lost everything.) It boggles my mind that so many people choose to use their democratic right to vote against (and in this case even run as a candidate against) not only their community's best interests but also their own best interests.
Reading:
Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism - Rachel Maddow (Not a book about Trump, but about the many Americans before him who also promoted fascism, and those who fought valiantly to beat it back. I'm hoping the book will be a source of inspiration and hope in our current dark times. I'm hoping it's not already too late.)
Les Rois maudits #1: Le Roi de fer - Maurice Druon (Recommended by PetiteSheWolf .)
The Accursed Kings #1: The Iron King - Maurice Druon, translation by Humphrey Hare (Because my French is not good enough to read the original text without help.)
Birding With Benefits - Sarah T. Dubb (Don't know if I'll get through this one. I picked it up because the premise amuses me--it's about a woman who, mostly accidentally, gets herself signed up for a 6-week-long birding competition. And she knows nothing at all about birding! From a craft perspective, the book is well-written thus far. It's just that it's a genre I don't typically read--romance--because I don't enjoy it.)
French:
reading (Le Roi de fer)
Scheduling Habits:
GOBOT:
SOOT:
GBOT:
GR:
Cardinal Points:
yoga: Quiet Room
18 km hiking
More canvassing. On this day my canvassing partner and I were working opposite sides of the street. I was a few houses ahead of her. So I was by myself when a guy in an SUV pulled up beside me, rolled down his window, and started shouting at me:
"You're not allowed to be doing what you're doing! You're campaigning illegally during a campaign blackout period!"
"I'm not campaigning illegally," I told him. (I was canvassing during a blackout period for political advertising. But the blackout only applies to radio, television, and daily print media buys. It doesn't apply to distributing flyers or going door-to-door to talk to people.)
"You're wearing a campaign button and you're going door-to-door. That's campaigning!" the guy said. "I'm reporting this!" Then he identified himself to me by name and as the local candidate for the Libertarian party.
I was like: "Knock yourself out, buddy."
When I got home, I looked the guy up. His profile claims he decided to put up for political office because he was injured at work a couple of years back and the social assistance he received to help him cope with that, he felt, was inadequate. So he decided to run for a party whose main goal is to destroy our social safety net. (I don't just mean underfund it, like the Conservatives do. The Ontario Libertarian Party wants to eliminate corporate taxes entirely and make paying individual taxes optional. It also wants to make paying WSIB premiums--which are paid by employers and ensure that employees injured in the workplace receive the supports they need--optional. If we had Libertarian government in Ontario, this guy would have received ZERO help when he was injured at work. He would have lost everything.) It boggles my mind that so many people choose to use their democratic right to vote against (and in this case even run as a candidate against) not only their community's best interests but also their own best interests.
Reading:
Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism - Rachel Maddow (Not a book about Trump, but about the many Americans before him who also promoted fascism, and those who fought valiantly to beat it back. I'm hoping the book will be a source of inspiration and hope in our current dark times. I'm hoping it's not already too late.)
Les Rois maudits #1: Le Roi de fer - Maurice Druon (Recommended by PetiteSheWolf .)
The Accursed Kings #1: The Iron King - Maurice Druon, translation by Humphrey Hare (Because my French is not good enough to read the original text without help.)
Birding With Benefits - Sarah T. Dubb (Don't know if I'll get through this one. I picked it up because the premise amuses me--it's about a woman who, mostly accidentally, gets herself signed up for a 6-week-long birding competition. And she knows nothing at all about birding! From a craft perspective, the book is well-written thus far. It's just that it's a genre I don't typically read--romance--because I don't enjoy it.)
French:
reading (Le Roi de fer)
Scheduling Habits:
GOBOT:
SOOT:
GBOT:
GR:
Last edited:
Laura Rainbow Dragon
Moderator
February 27 - E-Day!:
Cardinal Points:
yoga: restorative
19.8 km hiking
This was a tough day for Shelby. Our friend from Cambridge came out to visit us this week. This is the friend with whom we usually go hiking. Her visits are supposed to mean we put Shelby's car sling in the back of her car, and then we all go out together to some place cool and exciting for the day. But this week she drove out to London on Wednesday evening after work. So she arrived just in time for dinner and to come with us on our boring old 3km evening walk through the Village Wednesday evening. She stayed over Wednesday night. But this morning I took Shelby for our super short (1.2 km) walk around our block before our friend was even out of bed. Then we all had breakfast. And then our Cambridge friend and I left the apartment together without Shelby. (Our friend dropped me off at the campaign office and then drove back to her home in Cambridge. I spent the day canvassing.) Shelby did not understand why she should be subjected to such cruel and unusual punishment!
I was home from canvassing shortly after 5PM. But I was tired. So Shelby got dinner and another short walk. And then we just lazed about the apartment for a bit until I left Shelby again to attend our candidate's election night victory party. (Which, thankfully, was only 2 blocks from where we live.) There was good company and good food at the party. Our newly re-elected MPP gave a speech thanking everyone. (Including Doug Ford! Reportedly a LOT of people donated their $200 bribe cheques to her campaign!) I teared up a bit during the speech. (This was my first time campaigning for a candidate who actually won!) The defeated Conservative candidate for our riding showed up at our party to congratulate our candidate in person. I thought that was classy.
After the party Shelby and I did our short walk again. Then we went to bed.
Reading:
Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism - Rachel Maddow (Not a book about Trump, but about the many Americans before him who also promoted fascism, and those who fought valiantly to beat it back. I'm hoping the book will be a source of inspiration and hope in our current dark times. I'm hoping it's not already too late.)
Les Rois maudits #1: Le Roi de fer - Maurice Druon (Recommended by PetiteSheWolf .)
The Accursed Kings #1: The Iron King - Maurice Druon, translation by Humphrey Hare (Because my French is not good enough to read the original text without help.)
Birding With Benefits - Sarah T. Dubb (Still don't know about this one. The story is amusing enough. But the romance tropes do not interest me. At all.)
French:
reading (Le Roi de fer)
Scheduling Habits:
GOBOT:
SOOT:
GBOT: (0 - no penalty because the reason I was late was due to a social event)
GR:
Cardinal Points:
yoga: restorative
19.8 km hiking
This was a tough day for Shelby. Our friend from Cambridge came out to visit us this week. This is the friend with whom we usually go hiking. Her visits are supposed to mean we put Shelby's car sling in the back of her car, and then we all go out together to some place cool and exciting for the day. But this week she drove out to London on Wednesday evening after work. So she arrived just in time for dinner and to come with us on our boring old 3km evening walk through the Village Wednesday evening. She stayed over Wednesday night. But this morning I took Shelby for our super short (1.2 km) walk around our block before our friend was even out of bed. Then we all had breakfast. And then our Cambridge friend and I left the apartment together without Shelby. (Our friend dropped me off at the campaign office and then drove back to her home in Cambridge. I spent the day canvassing.) Shelby did not understand why she should be subjected to such cruel and unusual punishment!
I was home from canvassing shortly after 5PM. But I was tired. So Shelby got dinner and another short walk. And then we just lazed about the apartment for a bit until I left Shelby again to attend our candidate's election night victory party. (Which, thankfully, was only 2 blocks from where we live.) There was good company and good food at the party. Our newly re-elected MPP gave a speech thanking everyone. (Including Doug Ford! Reportedly a LOT of people donated their $200 bribe cheques to her campaign!) I teared up a bit during the speech. (This was my first time campaigning for a candidate who actually won!) The defeated Conservative candidate for our riding showed up at our party to congratulate our candidate in person. I thought that was classy.
After the party Shelby and I did our short walk again. Then we went to bed.
Reading:
Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism - Rachel Maddow (Not a book about Trump, but about the many Americans before him who also promoted fascism, and those who fought valiantly to beat it back. I'm hoping the book will be a source of inspiration and hope in our current dark times. I'm hoping it's not already too late.)
Les Rois maudits #1: Le Roi de fer - Maurice Druon (Recommended by PetiteSheWolf .)
The Accursed Kings #1: The Iron King - Maurice Druon, translation by Humphrey Hare (Because my French is not good enough to read the original text without help.)
Birding With Benefits - Sarah T. Dubb (Still don't know about this one. The story is amusing enough. But the romance tropes do not interest me. At all.)
French:
reading (Le Roi de fer)
Scheduling Habits:
GOBOT:
SOOT:
GBOT:
(0 - no penalty because the reason I was late was due to a social event)GR:
Laura Rainbow Dragon
Moderator
February 28:
Cardinal Points:
yoga: restorative
16.6 km hiking
Shelby and I did our northern hike up the TVP to the university again this day. I did not wear my crampons since the sidewalks in Wortley Village were mostly bare concrete, or puddles, on this day. I regretted that decision, however, as the TVP was very icy. (I managed to complete the walk without a wipeout. But it was slow-going.) I need to remember to at least pack the crampons in a pocket these days, I think. Anyhow... we had a nice hike and saw lots of birds: a Red-Tailed Hawk, the Long-tailed Ducks, a pair of Hooded Mergansers, the usual Canada Geese and Mallards--including the Pekin--some Northern Cardinals, Black-capped Chickadees, and American Crows. (No photos this day though. It was too cold!)
Reading:
Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism - Rachel Maddow (Not a book about Trump, but about the many Americans before him who also promoted fascism, and those who fought valiantly to beat it back. I'm hoping the book will be a source of inspiration and hope in our current dark times. I'm hoping it's not already too late.)
Les Rois maudits #1: Le Roi de fer - Maurice Druon (Recommended by PetiteSheWolf .)
The Accursed Kings #1: The Iron King - Maurice Druon, translation by Humphrey Hare (Because my French is not good enough to read the original text without help.)
Birding With Benefits - Sarah T. Dubb (Still don't know about this one. The story is amusing enough. But the romance tropes do not interest me. At all.) - Haven't given up on this one yet. I just didn't have time for it this day.
French:
reading (Le Roi de fer)
Scheduling Habits:
GOBOT:
SOOT: (-13) Doomscrolling
GBOT: (-11) Doomscrolling
GR:
Cardinal Points:
yoga: restorative
16.6 km hiking
Shelby and I did our northern hike up the TVP to the university again this day. I did not wear my crampons since the sidewalks in Wortley Village were mostly bare concrete, or puddles, on this day. I regretted that decision, however, as the TVP was very icy. (I managed to complete the walk without a wipeout. But it was slow-going.) I need to remember to at least pack the crampons in a pocket these days, I think. Anyhow... we had a nice hike and saw lots of birds: a Red-Tailed Hawk, the Long-tailed Ducks, a pair of Hooded Mergansers, the usual Canada Geese and Mallards--including the Pekin--some Northern Cardinals, Black-capped Chickadees, and American Crows. (No photos this day though. It was too cold!)
Reading:
Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism - Rachel Maddow (Not a book about Trump, but about the many Americans before him who also promoted fascism, and those who fought valiantly to beat it back. I'm hoping the book will be a source of inspiration and hope in our current dark times. I'm hoping it's not already too late.)
Les Rois maudits #1: Le Roi de fer - Maurice Druon (Recommended by PetiteSheWolf .)
The Accursed Kings #1: The Iron King - Maurice Druon, translation by Humphrey Hare (Because my French is not good enough to read the original text without help.)
French:
reading (Le Roi de fer)
Scheduling Habits:
GOBOT:
SOOT:
(-13) DoomscrollingGBOT:
(-11) DoomscrollingGR:
Last edited:
Laura Rainbow Dragon
Moderator
March 1:
Cardinal Points:
G7:
yoga: Quiet Room, restorative
Atlas Challenge Day 1 - 1 min. w. rear leg lifted
some foot and ankle strengthening work
push-ups
4.2 km hiking - it was COLD!
Reading:
Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism - Rachel Maddow (Not a book about Trump, but about the many Americans before him who also promoted fascism, and those who fought valiantly to beat it back. I'm hoping the book will be a source of inspiration and hope in our current dark times. I'm hoping it's not already too late.)
Les Rois maudits #1: Le Roi de fer - Maurice Druon (Recommended by PetiteSheWolf .)
The Accursed Kings #1: The Iron King - Maurice Druon, translation by Humphrey Hare (Because my French is not good enough to read the original text without help.)
Birding With Benefits - Sarah T. Dubb (Still enjoying the story well enough. But it's moving too slowly for my tastes due to all the words spent talking about her physical appearance and his physical appearance and how she feels about his physical appearance and how he feels about her physical appearance--none of which interests me in the slightest.)
French:
reading (Le Roi de fer)
Scheduling Habits:
GOBOT:
SOOT:
GBOT:
GR:
Cumulative Habit Scores:
SOOT: 20
GBOT: 43
Gaming Rules: 66
Streaks:
Consecutive days of working out: 174
Consecutive days of French study: 1566
No Solo Gaming: 22
Cardinal Points:
G7:
yoga: Quiet Room, restorative
Atlas Challenge Day 1 - 1 min. w. rear leg lifted
some foot and ankle strengthening work
push-ups
4.2 km hiking - it was COLD!
Reading:
Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism - Rachel Maddow (Not a book about Trump, but about the many Americans before him who also promoted fascism, and those who fought valiantly to beat it back. I'm hoping the book will be a source of inspiration and hope in our current dark times. I'm hoping it's not already too late.)
Les Rois maudits #1: Le Roi de fer - Maurice Druon (Recommended by PetiteSheWolf .)
The Accursed Kings #1: The Iron King - Maurice Druon, translation by Humphrey Hare (Because my French is not good enough to read the original text without help.)
Birding With Benefits - Sarah T. Dubb (Still enjoying the story well enough. But it's moving too slowly for my tastes due to all the words spent talking about her physical appearance and his physical appearance and how she feels about his physical appearance and how he feels about her physical appearance--none of which interests me in the slightest.)
French:
reading (Le Roi de fer)
Scheduling Habits:
GOBOT:
SOOT:
GBOT:
GR:
Cumulative Habit Scores:
SOOT: 20
GBOT: 43
Gaming Rules: 66
Streaks:
Consecutive days of working out: 174
Consecutive days of French study: 1566
No Solo Gaming: 22
NightWolf714
Well-known member
Berserker
from
Nashville, TN, USA
Pronouns: They/she
Posts: 1,603
from
Nashville, TN, USA
Pronouns: They/she
Posts: 1,603
"The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change. ~Carl Rogers"
Shelby deserves much extra love and cuddles and walks to see the ducks after this cruel treatment.
XD
XD
Mamatigerj
Well-known member
for poor Shelby.
Laura Rainbow Dragon
Moderator
March 2:
Cardinal Points:
G7:
yoga: restorative
Atlas Challenge Day 2 - 1 min. w. rear leg lifted
push-ups
6 km hiking - still cold
Reading:
Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism - Rachel Maddow (Not a book about Trump, but about the many Americans before him who also promoted fascism, and those who fought valiantly to beat it back. I'm hoping the book will be a source of inspiration and hope in our current dark times. I'm hoping it's not already too late.)
Les Rois maudits #1: Le Roi de fer - Maurice Druon (Recommended by PetiteSheWolf .)
The Accursed Kings #1: The Iron King - Maurice Druon, translation by Humphrey Hare (Because my French is not good enough to read the original text without help.)
Birding With Benefits - Sarah T. Dubb (I'm going to drop this one. I tried. But after an entire chapter in which nothing happened except a woman washed dishes, another woman breast-fed a baby, and then the baby pooped; followed by another chapter in which nothing happened except a man counted snails in an aquarium while another man recorded the count on his laptop, tossed a pencil across the room, stood up, sat back down again, stood up a second time and shoved some boxes around on a table. Oh. And he ran his fingers through his hair. I just can't. Romance is hands down the best-selling written fiction genre. It just isn't for me*.)
* If I want to seriously investigate whether or not I could ever actually write this genre, I should read best-selling romance writers, like Nora Roberts. Not debut novelists. I know this. I just thought the whole birding angle might make the book more palatable for me. But I suffered through 53 pages during which the characters encountered a grand total of 3 birds (which is completely unrealistic, given that they were meant to be actively birding in a birding hotspot) and pretty much nothing else has happened at all. Is there a "cozy" sub-genre of romance fiction? Is that what this is? I wouldn't normally gravitate towards cozies in mystery fiction either. So that might be the problem right there. Either way, I think I'm going to go back to reading genres I know I actually enjoy for a while.
French:
reading (Le Roi de fer)
Scheduling Habits:
GOBOT:
SOOT:
GBOT:
GR:
Cumulative Habit Scores:
SOOT: 22
GBOT: 46
Gaming Rules: 69
Streaks:
Consecutive days of working out: 175
Consecutive days of French study: 1567
No Solo Gaming: 23
Cardinal Points:
G7:
yoga: restorative
Atlas Challenge Day 2 - 1 min. w. rear leg lifted
push-ups
6 km hiking - still cold
Reading:
Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism - Rachel Maddow (Not a book about Trump, but about the many Americans before him who also promoted fascism, and those who fought valiantly to beat it back. I'm hoping the book will be a source of inspiration and hope in our current dark times. I'm hoping it's not already too late.)
Les Rois maudits #1: Le Roi de fer - Maurice Druon (Recommended by PetiteSheWolf .)
The Accursed Kings #1: The Iron King - Maurice Druon, translation by Humphrey Hare (Because my French is not good enough to read the original text without help.)
Birding With Benefits - Sarah T. Dubb (I'm going to drop this one. I tried. But after an entire chapter in which nothing happened except a woman washed dishes, another woman breast-fed a baby, and then the baby pooped; followed by another chapter in which nothing happened except a man counted snails in an aquarium while another man recorded the count on his laptop, tossed a pencil across the room, stood up, sat back down again, stood up a second time and shoved some boxes around on a table. Oh. And he ran his fingers through his hair. I just can't. Romance is hands down the best-selling written fiction genre. It just isn't for me*.)
* If I want to seriously investigate whether or not I could ever actually write this genre, I should read best-selling romance writers, like Nora Roberts. Not debut novelists. I know this. I just thought the whole birding angle might make the book more palatable for me. But I suffered through 53 pages during which the characters encountered a grand total of 3 birds (which is completely unrealistic, given that they were meant to be actively birding in a birding hotspot) and pretty much nothing else has happened at all. Is there a "cozy" sub-genre of romance fiction? Is that what this is? I wouldn't normally gravitate towards cozies in mystery fiction either. So that might be the problem right there. Either way, I think I'm going to go back to reading genres I know I actually enjoy for a while.
French:
reading (Le Roi de fer)
Scheduling Habits:
GOBOT:
SOOT:
GBOT:
GR:
Cumulative Habit Scores:
SOOT: 22
GBOT: 46
Gaming Rules: 69
Streaks:
Consecutive days of working out: 175
Consecutive days of French study: 1567
No Solo Gaming: 23
Maegaranthelas
Moderator
I probably wouldn't be able to make it through that book either, but the fact that there are too few birds really is peak criticism 
The fantasy smut novel "that time I got drunk and yeeted a love potion at a werewolf" at least had both love potion and werewolf be integral to the plot
The fantasy smut novel "that time I got drunk and yeeted a love potion at a werewolf" at least had both love potion and werewolf be integral to the plot
NightWolf714
Well-known member
Berserker
from
Nashville, TN, USA
Pronouns: They/she
Posts: 1,603
from
Nashville, TN, USA
Pronouns: They/she
Posts: 1,603
"The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change. ~Carl Rogers"
Not me wanting to read such a werewolf book, haha.
I do like romances, but I also like the ones where the romance is also connected to a strong plot otherwise. One I was pleasantly surprised by as a cozier one was Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree. It feels more like a post fantasy/adventure found family deal. And queer, haha. But I enjoy stories with good, fun characters and this one had it.
I do like romances, but I also like the ones where the romance is also connected to a strong plot otherwise. One I was pleasantly surprised by as a cozier one was Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree. It feels more like a post fantasy/adventure found family deal. And queer, haha. But I enjoy stories with good, fun characters and this one had it.
Laura Rainbow Dragon
Moderator
I've not read Legends & Lattes. But my understanding is that it would be considered a cozy fantasy.
Fantasy stories, science fiction, mysteries, westerns--any genre of fiction can have a romance subplot. But for a book's main genre to be considered "romance", the romance has to be the main plot. (Of course, now with self-publishing, author's can classify their books however they like. But a bricks & mortar bookstore would put Legends & Lattes in its Fantasy section, not on its Romance shelves.)
NightWolf714
Well-known member
Berserker
from
Nashville, TN, USA
Pronouns: They/she
Posts: 1,603
from
Nashville, TN, USA
Pronouns: They/she
Posts: 1,603
"The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change. ~Carl Rogers"
I think you're right, now that I think about it. ^_^;;;
Laura Rainbow Dragon
Moderator
March 3:
Cardinal Points:
G7:
yoga: restorative
Atlas Challenge
some feet & ankle work
11.2 km hiking - Above zero temperatures this day, and the sun actually came out for a few hours. So, as per @NightWolf714 's suggestion, we went back to see the ducks.
Just saw the female Long-tailed Duck this day (who doesn't have a long tail!--only the males do):
Red-breasted Merganser (female):
Mallard drake:
Who you looking at?
Leucistic Mallard hen:
Male Hooded Merganser:
Female Hooded Merganser:
Common Mergansers (the one in front is a male, the other 2 females):
We saw some non-duck birds too.
Canada Geese, of course:
This Cooper's Hawk was high up in a tree, overlooking the bridge from which we were watching the Long-tailed Duck and the Red-breasted Merganser. It squawked at us the whole time, like it was saying, "Yo! What you doing lollygagging with those ducks? I'm up here! The real interest is up here! Look up! Look up!" So I did.
One of our Buteos (most likely a Red-tailed Hawk) with it's lunch. (Spoilered because not for the faint of heart.):
Reading:
Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism - Rachel Maddow (Not a book about Trump, but about the many Americans before him who also promoted fascism, and those who fought valiantly to beat it back. I'm hoping the book will be a source of inspiration and hope in our current dark times. I'm hoping it's not already too late.)
Les Rois maudits #1: Le Roi de fer - Maurice Druon (Recommended by PetiteSheWolf .)
The Accursed Kings #1: The Iron King - Maurice Druon, translation by Humphrey Hare (Because my French is not good enough to read the original text without help.)
French:
reading (Le Roi de fer)
Scheduling Habits:
GOBOT:
SOOT: (-2)
GBOT:
GR:
Cumulative Habit Scores:
SOOT: 20
GBOT: 47
Gaming Rules: 72
Streaks:
Consecutive days of working out: 176
Consecutive days of French study: 1568
No Solo Gaming: 24
Cardinal Points:
G7:
yoga: restorative
Atlas Challenge
some feet & ankle work
11.2 km hiking - Above zero temperatures this day, and the sun actually came out for a few hours. So, as per @NightWolf714 's suggestion, we went back to see the ducks.
Just saw the female Long-tailed Duck this day (who doesn't have a long tail!--only the males do):
Red-breasted Merganser (female):
Mallard drake:
Who you looking at?
Leucistic Mallard hen:
Male Hooded Merganser:
Female Hooded Merganser:
Common Mergansers (the one in front is a male, the other 2 females):
We saw some non-duck birds too.
Canada Geese, of course:
This Cooper's Hawk was high up in a tree, overlooking the bridge from which we were watching the Long-tailed Duck and the Red-breasted Merganser. It squawked at us the whole time, like it was saying, "Yo! What you doing lollygagging with those ducks? I'm up here! The real interest is up here! Look up! Look up!" So I did.
One of our Buteos (most likely a Red-tailed Hawk) with it's lunch. (Spoilered because not for the faint of heart.):
Reading:
Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism - Rachel Maddow (Not a book about Trump, but about the many Americans before him who also promoted fascism, and those who fought valiantly to beat it back. I'm hoping the book will be a source of inspiration and hope in our current dark times. I'm hoping it's not already too late.)
Les Rois maudits #1: Le Roi de fer - Maurice Druon (Recommended by PetiteSheWolf .)
The Accursed Kings #1: The Iron King - Maurice Druon, translation by Humphrey Hare (Because my French is not good enough to read the original text without help.)
French:
reading (Le Roi de fer)
Scheduling Habits:
GOBOT:
SOOT:
(-2)GBOT:
GR:
Cumulative Habit Scores:
SOOT: 20
GBOT: 47
Gaming Rules: 72
Streaks:
Consecutive days of working out: 176
Consecutive days of French study: 1568
No Solo Gaming: 24
Laura Rainbow Dragon
Moderator
Dear American friends,
This is a photograph of me and my dog Shelby:
We are a real human and a real dog who could end up living on the streets if your POTUS is allowed to destroy the economy of our country.
This is not a joke.
This is not hyperbole.
This has nothing at all to do with fentanyl.
Your power hungry President is intent on destroying the sovereignty of Canada.
He has said so many times.
There is NOTHING Canada can do to stop the trade war your President has unleashed on us.
Only YOU can stop it.
Please, I am begging you, call your Representatives and Senators. Write to them. Attend their town halls. Get in their faces however you can. And demand that they stand up to Donald Trump and STOP HIM.
Donald Trump is causing real harm to real people.
Please stop him. Before it is too late.
This is a photograph of me and my dog Shelby:
We are a real human and a real dog who could end up living on the streets if your POTUS is allowed to destroy the economy of our country.
This is not a joke.
This is not hyperbole.
This has nothing at all to do with fentanyl.
Your power hungry President is intent on destroying the sovereignty of Canada.
He has said so many times.
There is NOTHING Canada can do to stop the trade war your President has unleashed on us.
Only YOU can stop it.
Please, I am begging you, call your Representatives and Senators. Write to them. Attend their town halls. Get in their faces however you can. And demand that they stand up to Donald Trump and STOP HIM.
Donald Trump is causing real harm to real people.
Please stop him. Before it is too late.
Laura Rainbow Dragon
Moderator
PETERMORRIS966
Well-known member
Beautiful pictures of the various birds.
TopNotch
Well-known member
Isn't it funny how in nature, the males are the ones who have to look pretty to impress the females? What happened with humans?
At the moment, we don't know if we're going to get a tariff exemption. We might, seeing as we're one of the few countries the (non-)US is actually in a trade surplus with, but who knows?
Not sure that anyone can stop what's happening since freedom of speech has been declared illegal... *sigh*
At the moment, we don't know if we're going to get a tariff exemption. We might, seeing as we're one of the few countries the (non-)US is actually in a trade surplus with, but who knows?
Not sure that anyone can stop what's happening since freedom of speech has been declared illegal... *sigh*
Laura Rainbow Dragon
Moderator
Thank you! I don't get to see as many different species of birds now, living in a city. But, especially with ducks, the ones I do see are often a lot closer than those I'd see in Rondeau, far out on the bay or even further out on Lake Erie. The photography is challenging now with my cracked camera lens. But if I'm shooting at the right angle with the right lighting, my poor beat-up camera still does pretty well.
Laura Rainbow Dragon
Moderator
We created an inherently worthless commodity out of whole cloth and agreed to engage in the group fantasy that it's actually the most important asset of all. Males who lack that asset still generally need to look pretty to get a date, don't they?
Dating preferences for females who look obviously fake is pretty odd though, especially given make-up's well-known ability to disguise ill-health (including skin blemishes caused by STIs that can lead to serious health damage). But we do see in some bird species adaptations for attracting mates that are obviously maladaptive for every other aspect of survival. (See, for example, some of the ridiculous feathers on males of many birds-of-paradise species.)
The "males are pretty, females are choosy" dynamic isn't uniform across all bird species. In phalaropes, for example, the females are more colourful. They're also polyandrous and leave all the nest-building, egg-incubating, and chick-rearing to the males.
We could be entering into an On the Beach scenario, in which Australia is the last country left standing. Your area of the globe starts to look a lot less secure if America's abandonment of its long-time allies in favour of the dictator Putin gives China expansionist ideas though. How many refugees do you reckon Tasmania can take in? How about the Kiwis? Does New Zealand have anything Trump wants? I don't think anywhere is safe until he is behind bars or dead.
The US Congress still has the power to stop him. They won't for much longer, however, if they don't use it soon.
NightWolf714
Well-known member
Berserker
from
Nashville, TN, USA
Pronouns: They/she
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from
Nashville, TN, USA
Pronouns: They/she
Posts: 1,603
"The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change. ~Carl Rogers"
Laura Rainbow Dragon
Moderator
This demonstrates my point quite well. An expensive suit isn't about looking pretty. It's showing off that he has money.
TopNotch
Well-known member
Interesting counter. And yet who was wearing brightly-coloured, form-fitting and revealing clothes?
TopNotch
Well-known member
@Laura Rainbow Dragon Nobody would go to Tas - too far south. Everyone would end up in Brisbane or Sydney. Aus and NZ are the US's only foothold in the Indo-Pacific (except for Guam and how big's that?). Guess we've got our fingers crossed for ANZUS (unless that's been forgotten like AUKUS...) The Chinese are already making us a little uncomfortable atm, having had to be reprimanded over their recent live-fire exercises in the Tasman. Oh well.