Poem: "Stones and Woods"
Feb. 12th, 2026 06:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithThis poem was written outside the regular prompt calls. It is posted here in thanks for nsfwords helping with website updates. It belongs to the series Hart's Farm.
( Read more... )
nsfwords helping with website updates. It belongs to the series Hart's Farm. ( Read more... )
Extinction
Feb. 12th, 2026 03:21 pmysabetwordsmithPlant extinction risk rises as garden databases remain divided
Botanic gardens have amassed one of the world’s largest living reserves of plant diversity.
A new study demonstrates that fragmented data systems have kept that global collection from functioning as a single, coordinated safeguard against extinction.
At a moment when plant loss is accelerating, the information needed to act often remains locked inside incompatible databases, limiting the very safety net designed to prevent disappearance.
I have mixed feelings about this. A unified body of knowledge is certainly easier to use -- but it's also easier to damage or destroy. Right now, the government is a major threat to information that it dislikes. So having that information scattered around in places that aren't easy to reach all at once can offer a kind of protection.
Botanic gardens have amassed one of the world’s largest living reserves of plant diversity.
A new study demonstrates that fragmented data systems have kept that global collection from functioning as a single, coordinated safeguard against extinction.
At a moment when plant loss is accelerating, the information needed to act often remains locked inside incompatible databases, limiting the very safety net designed to prevent disappearance.
I have mixed feelings about this. A unified body of knowledge is certainly easier to use -- but it's also easier to damage or destroy. Right now, the government is a major threat to information that it dislikes. So having that information scattered around in places that aren't easy to reach all at once can offer a kind of protection.
Birdfeeding
Feb. 12th, 2026 01:18 pmysabetwordsmithToday is cloudy and chilly. Most of the snow has melted away, leaving only a few small patches.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 1/12/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
I refilled the hopper feeder. I've seen a large flock of sparrows.
EDIT 1/12/26 -- I put out a fresh peanut suet cake and more birdseed.
EDIT 1/12/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
I saw a male cardinal at the fly-through feeder.
I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 1/12/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
I refilled the hopper feeder. I've seen a large flock of sparrows.
EDIT 1/12/26 -- I put out a fresh peanut suet cake and more birdseed.
EDIT 1/12/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
I saw a male cardinal at the fly-through feeder.
I am done for the night.
Community Thursdays
Feb. 12th, 2026 12:36 amysabetwordsmithThis year I'm doing Community Thursdays. Some of my activity will involve maintaining communities I run, and my favorites. Some will involve checking my list of subscriptions and posting in lower-traffic ones. Today I have interacted with the following communities...
* Commented in![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
common_nature.
* Posted "National Craft Month Bingo Fest" incrafty.
* Posted "Homes for Birds Week" ondatahoarders.
* Commented in
common_nature.* Posted "National Craft Month Bingo Fest" in
crafty.* Posted "Homes for Birds Week" on
datahoarders.Website Updates
Feb. 11th, 2026 08:47 pmysabetwordsmithThanks to nsfwords, the series Daughters of the Apocalypse is now up to date. \o/ You can browse that page to see if you missed anything.
nsfwords, the series Daughters of the Apocalypse is now up to date. \o/ You can browse that page to see if you missed anything. Notes for "The Tranquility and Beauty of the Winter Landscape"
Feb. 11th, 2026 04:40 pmPoem: "The Tranquility and Beauty of the Winter Landscape"
Feb. 11th, 2026 04:12 pmysabetwordsmithThis poem came out of the March 4, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by a prompt from zesty_pinto. It also fills the "Mountains" square in my 3-1-25 card for the Tolkien Bingo Fest. This poem has been sponsored by Anthony Barrette. It belongs to the Rutledge thread of the Polychrome Heroics series.
( Read more... )
zesty_pinto. It also fills the "Mountains" square in my 3-1-25 card for the Tolkien Bingo Fest. This poem has been sponsored by Anthony Barrette. It belongs to the Rutledge thread of the Polychrome Heroics series.( Read more... )
Birdfeeding
Feb. 11th, 2026 03:31 pmysabetwordsmithToday is partly sunny and chilly.
I fed the birds. I've seen a flock of sparrows.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 2/11/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
I refilled the hopper feeder.
EDIT 2/11/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
I saw several starlings foraging in the grass.
I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a flock of sparrows.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 2/11/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
I refilled the hopper feeder.
EDIT 2/11/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
I saw several starlings foraging in the grass.
I am done for the night.
Good News
Feb. 11th, 2026 12:54 pmysabetwordsmithGood news includes all the things which make us happy or otherwise feel good. It can be personal or public. We never know when something wonderful will happen, and when it does, most people want to share it with someone. It's disappointing when nobody is there to appreciate it. Happily, blogging allows us to share our joys and pat each other on the back.
What good news have you had recently? Are you anticipating any more? Have you found a cute picture or a video that makes you smile? Is there anything your online friends could do to make your life a little happier?
What good news have you had recently? Are you anticipating any more? Have you found a cute picture or a video that makes you smile? Is there anything your online friends could do to make your life a little happier?
Poem: "No Friend as Loyal"
Feb. 10th, 2026 10:12 pmysabetwordsmithThis poem is spillover from the February 3, 2026 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by a post from elinox. It also fills the "Validate Yourself" square in my 2-1-26 card for the Valentines Bingo fest. This poem is the second freebie courtesy of new prompters gs_silva, ionelv, and Laura G.
( Read more... )
elinox. It also fills the "Validate Yourself" square in my 2-1-26 card for the Valentines Bingo fest. This poem is the second freebie courtesy of new prompters gs_silva, ionelv, and Laura G.( Read more... )
Activism
Feb. 10th, 2026 02:47 pmysabetwordsmithDegrowing tomorrow in today's soil
My main claim is that regeneration work, together with resistance organising around ecosocialism (via unions, parties, media, communities), offers the most promising avenue towards desirable futures where no one is left behind. I will explain the opportunities and challenges of regenerative agriculture systems in this post as an introduction, and throughout the year in more detail.
The goal of regenerative agriculture is to bring life, resilience, and prosperity back to landscapes, communities, and ultimately entire ecosystems. It starts from a simple but profound understanding: soil health is the foundation of life and secures our capacity to heal both ecosystems and human bodies. Soil is not only a medium that provides nutrients to plants, microbes, and ultimately people; when healthy, it also acts as a sponge that retains water, cools the land, absorbs carbon, and buffers extreme weather events such as floods and droughts.
There are diverse types of regenerative agriculture and related programs for restoring the soil and other parts of the biosphere. Explore and see what's available in your locale. Here are some restoration ideas...
( Read more... )
My main claim is that regeneration work, together with resistance organising around ecosocialism (via unions, parties, media, communities), offers the most promising avenue towards desirable futures where no one is left behind. I will explain the opportunities and challenges of regenerative agriculture systems in this post as an introduction, and throughout the year in more detail.
The goal of regenerative agriculture is to bring life, resilience, and prosperity back to landscapes, communities, and ultimately entire ecosystems. It starts from a simple but profound understanding: soil health is the foundation of life and secures our capacity to heal both ecosystems and human bodies. Soil is not only a medium that provides nutrients to plants, microbes, and ultimately people; when healthy, it also acts as a sponge that retains water, cools the land, absorbs carbon, and buffers extreme weather events such as floods and droughts.
There are diverse types of regenerative agriculture and related programs for restoring the soil and other parts of the biosphere. Explore and see what's available in your locale. Here are some restoration ideas...
( Read more... )
Science
Feb. 10th, 2026 02:33 pmysabetwordsmithScientists find genes that existed before all life on Earth
Life’s story may stretch further back than scientists once thought. Some genes found in nearly every organism today were already duplicated before all life shared a common ancestor. By tracking these rare genes, researchers can investigate how early cells worked and what features of life emerged first. New computational tools are now helping scientists unlock this hidden chapter of evolution.
This is a much more useful look at "earliest life" than a lot of what I've seen with people fumbling around the Ediacaran acting like that's early, simple life. Here we are talking about genes that help define was the earliest life was like -- it had a membrane to distinguish itself from its environment, proteins to perform functions, and DNA to encode information. That is very, very close to the beginning. Much farther back and you get into, hmm, parabiology where things sort of behave like life, but also sort of not because they're missing key pieces. So for instance viruses, which are alive because they can be killed, but they can only reproduce by hijacking another cell's reproductive equipment. This far back is very interesting to explore, especially if you're also into things like worldbuilding or speculative evolution.
Life’s story may stretch further back than scientists once thought. Some genes found in nearly every organism today were already duplicated before all life shared a common ancestor. By tracking these rare genes, researchers can investigate how early cells worked and what features of life emerged first. New computational tools are now helping scientists unlock this hidden chapter of evolution.
This is a much more useful look at "earliest life" than a lot of what I've seen with people fumbling around the Ediacaran acting like that's early, simple life. Here we are talking about genes that help define was the earliest life was like -- it had a membrane to distinguish itself from its environment, proteins to perform functions, and DNA to encode information. That is very, very close to the beginning. Much farther back and you get into, hmm, parabiology where things sort of behave like life, but also sort of not because they're missing key pieces. So for instance viruses, which are alive because they can be killed, but they can only reproduce by hijacking another cell's reproductive equipment. This far back is very interesting to explore, especially if you're also into things like worldbuilding or speculative evolution.
Birdfeeding
Feb. 10th, 2026 01:33 pmysabetwordsmithToday is sunny and cool. Most of the ground is bare, although patches of melting snow remain.
I fed the birds. I've seen a small flock of sparrows.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 2/10/26 -- I refilled the hopper feeder.
I did a bit of work around the patio.
I've seen a large flock of sparrows and two starlings.
EDIT 2/10/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a small flock of sparrows.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 2/10/26 -- I refilled the hopper feeder.
I did a bit of work around the patio.
I've seen a large flock of sparrows and two starlings.
EDIT 2/10/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
I am done for the night.
Magpie Monday
Feb. 9th, 2026 11:25 pmysabetwordsmithdialecticdreamer is hosting Magpie Monday with a theme of "just a normal day." Leave prompts, get ficlets! Economics
Feb. 9th, 2026 08:43 pmysabetwordsmithConsumers spend much more when making digital payments instead of using cash
The use of digital payments has led people to spend more than they do when using cash, according to survey evidence from more than 1,200 consumers.
The shift reframes everyday purchases as moments where restraint weakens quietly, long before shoppers notice any change in their budgets.
This is why one of the most effective ways to save money is to buy things with cash, and thus, one of the many reasons for protecting the use of cash.
The use of digital payments has led people to spend more than they do when using cash, according to survey evidence from more than 1,200 consumers.
The shift reframes everyday purchases as moments where restraint weakens quietly, long before shoppers notice any change in their budgets.
This is why one of the most effective ways to save money is to buy things with cash, and thus, one of the many reasons for protecting the use of cash.
Poem: "Libraries from the Ashes"
Feb. 9th, 2026 08:23 pmysabetwordsmithThis poem is spillover from the February 3, 2026 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by prompts from kengr, librarygeek, and (Anonymous) IP Address: (46.110.23.207). It also fills the "Take a Class" square in my 2-1-26 card for the Valentines Bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by janetmiles. It belongs to the series Daughters of the Apocalypse.
( Read more... )
kengr, librarygeek, and (Anonymous) IP Address: (46.110.23.207). It also fills the "Take a Class" square in my 2-1-26 card for the Valentines Bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by janetmiles. It belongs to the series Daughters of the Apocalypse.( Read more... )
Poem: "A Never Failing Spring"
Feb. 9th, 2026 05:56 pmysabetwordsmithThis poem is spillover from the February 3, 2026 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by a prompt from readera. It also fills the "Do What You Love" square in my 2-1-26 card for the Valentines Bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by janetmiles. It belongs to the Kraken thread of the Polychrome Heroics series. It follows "But an Empty Shell," "Beautiful, Damn Hard, Increasingly Useful," and "Filled with Things You Don't Know" ($49) so read at least the first two or this won't make as much sense.
( Read more... )
readera. It also fills the "Do What You Love" square in my 2-1-26 card for the Valentines Bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by janetmiles. It belongs to the Kraken thread of the Polychrome Heroics series. It follows "But an Empty Shell," "Beautiful, Damn Hard, Increasingly Useful," and "Filled with Things You Don't Know" ($49) so read at least the first two or this won't make as much sense.( Read more... )
Birdfeeding
Feb. 9th, 2026 05:33 pmysabetwordsmithToday is partly cloudy and cold. Patches of snow remain, separated by stretches of bare muddy ground.
I fed the birds. I've seen a large flock of sparrows.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 2/9/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 2/9/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a large flock of sparrows.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 2/9/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 2/9/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
I am done for the night.