"La esencia de la improvisación es permitir que la música surja por sí misma. Es un ir siempre adelante: no puedo quedarme tocando cosas que ya sé". Sonny Rollins.

This ranks as one of the funniest things I think I've ever seen on BlueSky to date. The cherry on top is that it can't even be called an exaggeration. Wow.

Reading through Noam Chomsky's Understanding Power. Not too far in yet, but thus far it's focused a lot on criticism of the media/press. Dates back to 1989. Should serve as a reminder that leftists, while generally supporting journalism, have been critical of it as well, and with better criticisms.

‘Nickname’ is not ‘nick’ + ‘name.’ It was originally ‘ekename.’ ‘Eke’ was the Middle English word for “also” or “in addition.” Since ‘ekename’ began with a vowel, people used ‘an’ before it. Over time, 'an ekename' became 'a nickname.'

Some news.

My shoulder's a tad sore where I got my COVID/flu shots this morning. Took some Tylenol, more for my arthritis than for the shoulder, but two birds and all. The kind of depraved life I lead as some radical believer in science-based medicine. 😈

rapture thighs around my face, girl. i'm ready to meet god

Imagine my shock that the person giving me my immunizations this morning isn't particularly fond of RFK Jr. He must be a socialist!

Been reminded a couple times this morning by BlueSky users that I am the same age as this Gollum impersonator and Deputy AG.

Waiting until 11:58pm when I'm going to find Jesus in my heart. Just in case, Rapture folks tell me that's all I have to do to get a free ride to heaven. And, means I get to celebrate the rest of my birthday DOING ALL THE DRUGS. #rapture2025

So I'm not the only one expecting to find out Kenvue (makers of Tylenol) or rather someone affiliated with them did something Trump didn't like, right? Didn't cut him an appropriately large enough campaign contribution in 2024 or something. #tylenol

Birthday present for myself arrived right on time. Might even say it arrived in time in more ways than one.

I've been seeing his name more and more again lately (must've respawned from the fetid mire that bore him) and I cannot ever see it written without pronouncing it "Ross Douche-Hat" in my mind.

"I grow... hungry... I must... feed... Money... I am... forsaken"

One of my favorite moths: the atlas moth. Outdo most butterflies in terms of color and beauty if you ask me. They're also big, wingspans as long as my forearm. Despite being huge adult moths never eat. They're also invertebrates. Spineless. Please don't compare these beauties to politicians.

I am going for an evening stroll, and I pass this woman on the sidewalk who says to me, "There's sweet potatoes falling everywhere. Sweet potatoes." I figured she might be ill or high--both not uncommon where I am. A block later... I'm sorry I doubted you, potato muse.

Neutral Milk Airbnb

Got these king oyster mushrooms for a bargain ($3.25) from my local Asian market. But what to do with all these? Mushroom barley soup I guess.

Art inspiring art...

Every single criticism of BlueSky is valid except somehow the one the pundits stumbled upon, which is roughly equivalent to kicking down the door of a KFC and incredulously asking everyone if they are aware they are eating fried chicken.

Squirrels in the neighborhood having a real field day with all the plentiful walnuts dropping. You often hear it said "tomatoes are actually a fruit!" which is true. Less often that walnuts are also a fruit. Same kind as peaches & plums. They just have less flesh, and it smells like lime & PineSol.

Wondering if my Die Weiße Rose t-shirt falls under the new (and illegal) category of "terrorism." Really fascinating anti-fascist group who were part of the German resistance during WWII. I've met some Germans who aren't even familiar with them (many, however, are.) Kinda doubt the FBI/US L.E. know

Damn. I have been trading a lot of my perusing news for the sake of my mental health this year. Downside is that I had no idea that one of my favorite poets, Andrea Gibson, died this past July. If you haven't heard them before... www.them.us/story/andrea...

Ska punk demon hunters.

These days I can never stop into the library without getting into an extended conversation about books or some topic within them with whoever is working the desk. If I should ever get hired on (possible with my experience; fingers crossed) I can only imagine the amount of chatter.

I appreciate the rise in voices pointing to so many problems we're facing--not just in the US but globally--come down to ascending oligarchs, and in no way to immigrants, trans persons, comedians, etc. But red herring socio-political issues doesn't mean the harm caused by them is illusory too.

Words formed after a particular person associated with the thing: zany, leotard, fedora, nachos, quisling, and (this was surprising to me) pants.

My word for the day is "ælfsogoða" ("elf pains.") Used to describe, among other ailments, hiccups. The thought was they were caused by mischievous elves. Going to start using it from now on I think.

The suffix "-al" is used often in English to create adjectives from nouns, with the sense of "relating to X" (e.g., tidal, floral, sensual, etc.) There is one possible exception: "bridal." An older word "brydealo" ("bride ale") described wedding festivities. The Latin -al suffix was later presumed.

Jesus, ever the literalist when it comes to prayers. 🫤

I completed my Goodreads 2025 reading challenge this morning. A relatively modest 60 books (I didn't really pick up my reading habit until midway through the year.) Getting back into books and GR paint a clear picture of how my mental health is improving. Between 2020-2023 I read a total of: 19.

Reading a novel right now (The Flamethrowers) that's largely set in mid-70's Italy, which I know was a pretty chaotic time there. Good, but published by an American in 2013. Checking with #booksky and #Italy for recs on novels written around and about the Anni di piombo.

"The damage has been done - irreparable and all-encompassing. Nature is as archaic word that could never explain this mess. Worlds become obsolete like ideas. And they won't have to burn the books, when no one reads them anyway." Tragedy, "The Point of No Return" www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkLY...

"When you accuse someone of evil, history disappears. In the great and uneven distribution of the world's resources, it becomes strictly irrelevant where or who they are." Jacqueline Rose, The Last Resistance (2007)

When I was getting inked yesterday, I had a thought pop to mind about a potential tattoo. I've never had any real appeal in portraiture tats for myself, but then I saw a photo on the wall, much like this. I may end up reconsidering my stance.

So, "Department of War"... in a similar vein I suggest we also change the CDC to the "Centers for Disease Conveyance." "I get horny coughing over salad bars." - RFK Jr.

The last few weeks I've been getting really into overnight oats. I used to just do cereal & milk, which was fine because I like a low effort meal in the morning, but it's nice to be able to switch things up day-by-day. Strawberry molasses today. Also, better for me for health reasons too.

Calling peoples' employers in a rage because their tributes to Robert Redford weren't horny enough

Intermission. 🤘

One more hour until TATTOO TIME!

RIP to one of the hottest men this country has ever produced

RIP, Tomas Lindberg. I've been a metalhead for decades, and to say At the Gates was influential to that would be an understatement. One of the best people in the scene as a whole.

I live very close to a university. Noticed lately around campus, younger adults wearing hoodies, even though it's 80 degrees. Two just now. Is this some kind of new trend?

🇪🇪Estonia closes airspace near Russian border Estonia has banned flights along its border with Russia following Ukrainian drone strikes on the Leningrad region and increased Russian military activity. The first affected flight was Tartu–Helsinki, which has already been canceled, ERR reports.

jacking my dick at half mast in honor of charlie krik

Dammit! I plugged in the charging case for my earbuds before I went to bed, and I was a little frustrated to find the charging light was still on. Yeah... because I forgot to put the fucking earbuds in it. They were floating around my gym bag. 😩 I wish such things were rare for me.

Tattoo appointment on Tuesday! I'm excited. I have not gotten any work done since 2004. Either didn't have money to spare or else had too many other priorities. But now I'm rich and I'm bored!

Uhh... yeah. Call all of you out, huh? 🤡

How do you answer your phone?