I Eat Menu Gatekeepers Like You For Breakfast
Jan. 22nd, 2026 06:55 pmRead I Eat Menu Gatekeepers Like You For Breakfast
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Barista: "The bagel is on the kid’s menu, so you can't order it."
Me: "Just to clarify, it's a regular-size bagel?"
Barista: "Yeah."
Certain things accomplished (with some niggles)
Jan. 22nd, 2026 07:17 pmSo, at long last, I finally have an email address associated with My New Academic Position (this has been A Saga to do with their system upgrade).
I have also achieved reader's card for library of former workplace (spat out from the bowels of their system with A Very Old Photo of Yrs Truly).
And went and looked at the items I wanted to check, and found that lo, I was right and they did NOT have anything pertinent, as I had in fact hoped they would not. Though I had hoped to look, for another thing, at a couple of closed stack items and discovered that these cannot be ordered on a day's notice INFAMY I am sure I recall the times when there were regular deliveries throughout the day. Not actually critical, but irksome. (Also irksome was that I moaned about this on bluesky and got various responses that had no relevance at all to research libraries, in the UK, in particular this one.)
I then managed to get a digital passport photo at one of the photobooths on Euston station and have applied for a new passport, as mine is well out of date and I seem to keep seeing things that want 'government ID' to verify WHO I AM (over here, making like Hemingway....) so thought this was probably the way to go.
Also this is a trivial thing but in the course of my perambs of the day I walked past the statue of Trim, and his human.
In the niggles department, I did that thing of putting my phone down in place I never usually put it and flapping about trying to find it.
The lockers at the library have really annoying electronic locks.
Printer playing up a bit again. Though I think this really is that one has to let it mutter and sulk for a bit between turning it on and actually trying to print anything.
Birdfeeding
Jan. 22nd, 2026 01:33 pmI fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows.
I put out water for the birds.
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Jack Smith, the former special counsel who filed indictments against U.S. President Donald Trump in two separate cases that never went to trial, condemned "false and misleading narratives" in his first public congressional testimony regarding his investigation.
Paradise Mill in Macclesfield, England
Jan. 22nd, 2026 02:00 pm
During the Industrial Revolution, the city of Macclesfield in Northwest England was particularly well-known for its silk mills. The luxury goods produced in the various city’s mills were sought after across the United Kingdom and around the world. In the mid-twentieth century, however, general textile manufacturing declined in the United Kingdom, including in Macclesfield, and by the twentieth century, most of Macclesfield’s silk mills and related manufacturing businesses had closed.
Paradise Mill is one of the few surviving buildings from this era. The mill operated from 1862 until 1981 and was noted for its luxury silks, including custom-made items. After the business closed, the building stood unused for a few decades. However, after considerable restoration efforts, the mill reopened as part of the adjacent Silk Museum.
Paradise Mill today preserves a small part of Macclesfield’s industrial past. Most notably, the top floor of the building features 26 restored Jacquard looms that stand in same places that they would have stood when the mill was operational. The looms themselves along with additional exhibits in the loom hall, the designers’ office, and the managers’ office show how raw silk was transformed into luxury goods.
However, Paradise Mill functions as more than just a museum. People are also re-learning how to use the looms to create new silk textiles, and they are using the restored looms to do this. In this sense, Paradise Mill is not only preserving the machinery from the Industrial Revolution but also preserving the skills needed to use that machinery.
The Friday Five for 23 January 2026: Hair
Jan. 22nd, 2026 01:52 pm1. What type of hair do you have? (Thin, Normal, Thick, Frizzy, etc.)
2. What color is your hair currently?
3. What colors have you dyed/highlighted your hair?
4. If you could dye your hair any color, what would it be?
5. What is your hair's length?
Copy and paste to your own journal, then reply to this post with a link to your answers. If your journal is private or friends-only, you can post your full answers in the comments below.
If you'd like to suggest questions for a future Friday Five, then do so on DreamWidth or LiveJournal. Old sets that were used have been deleted, so we encourage you to suggest some more!
Museo De Arte Huichol Wixárika in Zapopan, Mexico
Jan. 22nd, 2026 12:00 pm
The Huichol people, or as they call themselves, the Wixárika, are indigenous to the mountains north of Zapopan and Guadalajara, in the area where the states of Jalisco, Nayarit, Zacatecas, and Durango meet. Their religion is noted for the ritual usage of the hallucinogenic peyote cactus, which they consider one of their sacred deities.
Although they are not the only people to use it, their usage is considered especially reflective of pre-Colombian traditions. Ancestral spirits are said to be contacted utilizing the peyote. They also hold annual pilgrimages to collect peyote for year-round usage.
Another method in which the Huichol's psychedelic traditions are unique is their reflection in art. Divine, brightly colored yarn and bead art aims to capture the visions seen through the peyote rituals. Traditionally, yarn art would be used as offerings to their gods.
However, as many Huichol have migrated to cities, they have also begun producing art in new iterations for commercial sale and as a general means of creative expression. As such, Huichol art is today a common sight at tourist hotspots across Mexico. The Museo De Arte Huichol Wixárika at Zapopan Basilica is dedicated to showcasing a wide variety of the Huichol's unique art.
(no subject)
Jan. 22nd, 2026 10:30 am* Here is an interview clip where Rachel talks about being angry at hockey and the books being a way to get her thoughts out. Based on things she said a while ago, well before the show, I got the impression that the sweetest, coziest scenes in hockey romance all are rooted in anger at the sport. That's one of things about the genre that's interesting to me.
While I love the Shane/Ilya books, it's Tough Guy that deals the most with the impacts of hockey culture. Love Shane and Ilya, but I think Tough Guy is very interesting book and there's a lot there to discuss.
(no subject)
Jan. 22nd, 2026 01:06 pmQ+A | Greenland's PM takes questions on Trump, sovereignty and what comes next
Jan. 22nd, 2026 12:36 pm
Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen spoke to reporters in Nuuk on Thursday about President Donald Trump’s repeated assertions that the U.S. should control the semi-autonomous territory, the potential framework deal floated by Trump — about which very little is known — and what Nielsen thinks is the best path forward for Greenland.
Here are the countries joining Trump's 'Board of Peace' so far
Jan. 22nd, 2026 12:31 pm
U.S. President Donald Trump launched his newly formed "Board of Peace" on an international stage Thursday as more countries responded to his invitation for a seat at the table that will initially aim to rebuild Gaza.
Antifa Regimental Gear!
Jan. 22nd, 2026 11:37 am
Your laser-eye loon art for the day is a faux Antifa Regimental Badge for the Northern Defenders, Loon Liberator Brigade.(warning: this may be AI generated. I never saw an artist attribution.)
It is such a shame that antifa is actually just a bunch of collective action groups because I would sign up for this brigade just for the gear! (Well, and the paycheck if that were real.)
So, yesterday in the Defendre le Nord regiment, I did a bunch of stuff that felt a little bit like nothing, but which is probably 100% mission critical. I have a friend who is acting as a drop-off point for folks who are donating things from out of state and I went over to their house yesterday to help them open packages, sort, and get stuff ready for delivery. Then, we drove together over to their contact's house and unloaded everything for distribution.
As we unloaded the last box, I asked the contact if there was specific immigrant owned/operated restaurant nearby that they knew was struggling and needed a couple of customers. Having gotten that info, we drove over and had lunch.
I should explain to folks from out of town what it is like to go into a Mexican restaurant right now. You don't just walk in. There's someone standing guard inside over a locked door, they unlock it long enough for you to slip in, and then they lock it up tight again. Somewhere on the door is posted a 4th amendment statement that says something to the effect that this business does not give permission for any search and seizure operations, including but not limited to the seizing of persons.
The atmosphere was a bit grim, but the food was amazing and I double-tipped the folks working there because holy shit none of this should be happening. They fucking kidnapped another child, y'all. None of this is right? But, that's fucking cruel beyond measure. (Not that that's news to them. They have no problem roughing up grandfathers either.)
I had hoped to join my singers again last night, but they have a tendency to gather exactly when I am making or eating dinner, so tonight I will have to try again. I just saw on Facebook that my mutual aid group, the Food Communists, are in desperate need for hands, so after I drop Mason off at his haircut (his partner is coming to town tomorrow!) I'm headed over there to help out for a couple of hours.
K. Also have to clean the house ocassionally, so I am off. Yesterday's dinner was knuefle soup, today's lunch: egg salad on an everything bun with cottage cheese! Fueling the revolution one meal at time!
Stay strong!
P.S. Vance is visiting us today, apparently. Wish us luck. They'll probably try to plant some aggitators to get violent.
Video of ICE agents' supposed 'attack' on Black church choir isn't what it seems
Jan. 22nd, 2026 05:26 pmLate October
Jan. 22nd, 2026 12:32 pmI’m working my way through the book slowly, a poem a night. I ought to save this one till next October, but I haven’t the patience, so here it is.
Late October
By Sara Teasdale
I found ten kinds of wild flower growing
On a steely day that looked like snowing:
Queen Anne’s lace, and blue heal-all,
A buttercup, straggling, grown too tall,
A rusty aster, a chicory flower–
Ten I found in half an hour.
The air was blurred with dry leaves flying,
Gold and scarlet, gaily dying.
A squirrel ran off with a nut in his mouth,
And always, always, flying south,
Twittering, the birds went by,
Flickering sharp against the sky,
Some in great bows, some in wedges,
Some in bands with wavering edges;
Flocks and flocks were flying over
With the north wind for their drover.
“Flowers,” I said, “you’d better go,
Surely it’s coming on for snow,”–
They did not heed me, nor head the birds,
Twittering thin, far-fallen words–
The others through of to-morrow, but they
Only remembered yesterday.
For Sale: Nintendo Switch games
Jan. 22nd, 2026 12:30 pmPokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! (example on Amazon)
Spyro Reignited Trilogy (example on Amazon)
TemTem (example on Amazon)
If you're not interested but know someone who might be, please point them my way. I'm about $70 shy of being where I need to in order to cover bills after that vet trip yesterday, so it would help a lot if I could manage to sell any of these games.
For payment, I have CashApp ($Settiai), PayPal, Venmo, or Zelle (nancy.lynn.foster@gmail.com).
Carney meets with cabinet fresh after forceful speech aimed at Trump administration
Jan. 22nd, 2026 04:00 am
Prime Minister Mark Carney is huddling with his cabinet in Quebec City to chart out the government's plan for the new year after using a closely watched moment on the world stage earlier this week to condemn the U.S. administration and signal a pivot for Canada.
Looking For Coffee But Serving Tea
Jan. 22nd, 2026 05:00 pmRead Looking For Coffee But Serving Tea
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Manager: "Good moooooorning, [Coworker]! Why looking so glum today? You should look happy to be here!"
Coworker: "Let me at least have my morning coffee before I can even attempt that."
'Heated Rivalry' stars named Olympic torchbearers for Milano-Cortina Winter Games
Jan. 22nd, 2026 11:29 am
The stars of the popular Canadian hockey drama Heated Rivalry are headed to the Olympics. Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie will be among the torchbearers carrying the Olympic flame for the Milano-Cortina Olympic Winter Games in February.
ICE detained a 5-year-old boy coming home from Minnesota preschool, say school officials
Jan. 22nd, 2026 11:18 am
A five-year-old boy, wearing a blue tuque with droopy ears, carrying a Spider-Man backpack, was reportedly apprehended by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in his Columbia Heights driveway on Tuesday.