March 21, 2022
For What Are We Born, if Not to Aid One Another?
"After years of serving in smoldering occupations, trying to spread democracy in places that had only a tepid interest in it, many are hungry for what they see as a righteous fight to defend freedom against an autocratic aggressor with a conventional and target-rich army"20,000 people, from over 52 countries, are in the process of heading to Ukraine to fight, after a plea from Zelenskyy. Among those are large numbers of American veterans - yet a number of challenges and barriers exist: vetting; logistical, and legal. [more inside]
The greener the colour, the more climate-friendly the electricity ...
electricityMap shows the carbon intensity of the electricity generated in countries and regions around the world. It's open source. Sadly, missing data from China, Russia, Africa et al. [more inside]
That's not gay, what the hell is that?
"And what's funny was I was thinking, man, what's the deal? Why is no one attractive?" While maintaining personal boundaries, JaidenAnimations publicly comes out as aro-ace - aromantic, asexual [slyt] (15m) and explains what that is and how she viewed romance growing up.
Subdermal compliments
You so truly know your inner plankton, it is a revelation not unlike discovering an impacted toll booth upon the plains of Patagonia. Spread a little off-kilter, approbatory joy with the The Surrealist Compliment Generator.
Look down, look down.
Fans of rust and public infrastructure might enjoy the twitter tag #ManHoleCoverMonday, as well as the images curated by @IronCovers [all twitter links]
Petra and her pals -- Talking Parrot Heads
I now sit down on my botom to answer all the kind & beloved letters...
Marjory Fleming died in 1811 from complications of measles. She was not quite nine years old. Yet, over fifty years later, the little Scottish girl became a famous author. She was celebrated for the naughtiness and sharp observations in her diaries, published here, which read a bit like an Eloise of Regency Scotland.
In the love novels all the heroins are very desperate Isabella will not allow me to speak about lovers & heroins and tiss too refined for my taste ... A sailor called here to say farewell, it must be dreadful to leave his native country where he might get a wife or perhaps me, for I love him very much & with all my heart, but O I forgot Isabella forbid me to speak about love
... I am now going to tell you about the horible and wretched plaege that my multiplication gives me you cant concieve it — the most Devilish thing is 8 times 8 & 7 times 7 it is what nature itselfe cant endure [more inside]
In the love novels all the heroins are very desperate Isabella will not allow me to speak about lovers & heroins and tiss too refined for my taste ... A sailor called here to say farewell, it must be dreadful to leave his native country where he might get a wife or perhaps me, for I love him very much & with all my heart, but O I forgot Isabella forbid me to speak about love
... I am now going to tell you about the horible and wretched plaege that my multiplication gives me you cant concieve it — the most Devilish thing is 8 times 8 & 7 times 7 it is what nature itselfe cant endure [more inside]
Trans people talking about state level anti Trans efforts in the US
There are between 238 and 280 anti LGBTQ+ bills filed this year, mostly targeting trans people, particularly trans youth, and this doesn't include measures like the the recent anti trans youth directive from Texas Gov. Greg Abbot. There are between one and three million transgender and non cisgendered people in the US. Here are a three of us, talking about how this unprecedented government onslaught threatens our lives. [more inside]
Maybe it's time to Chiliad a bit
The hidden recesses of long-played videogames can sometimes reveal fantastic surprises. The mountain of Chiliad in GTA V is apparently one of these slowly unfolding, little-visited spaces. Come along on a journey that involves Sasquatch hunting, magical transformations, and alien visitations, plus a side journey into the Old West. Perhaps a bit grand with its naming, here's Chiliad - Gaming's Greatest Mystery [1h], an astounding watch into the tucked-away borders of truly popular videogames.
Ask not for whom the bell threads; it threads for free
It's Monday, the site is not currently experiencing unexpected downtime, and we're just narrowly on the far side of the the equinox: what else is there for it but another Free Thread? Come on in and discuss your favorite solar calendrical phenomena or, like, probably mostly other things, whatever is fine.
"But enough with the veiled warnings."
"There are a lot more seems-haunted old-house-turned-traveller’s-rest places than most people think, and in my experience most night auditors are hollow-eyed, faintly eldritch, and disinclined to let someone check in just before dawn." "The Late Traveller" by dyce (Sarah Blackwell) is a short fantasy story set at "a little old hotel in the middle of nowhere, with a creaking wooden sign instead of neon".
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