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cobalt123

@[email protected]

Ferment vs. foment, I’m likely doing one or the other quietly and slowly. May boost posts that some call politics: I think vital news. Terry Pratchett fan. I like rocks. I mean I really really like rocks. Very Antifa. Slava Ukraini. Artist. UU. Disability advocate. I probably wish I were where you live. Oh yes, I post many photos but the largest ones are shared from Flickr account now 20 years old. Original Mastodon from 2017. 3rd Instance for me.

This profile is from a federated server and may be incomplete. View on remote instance

@AnarchoNinaWrites@jorts.horse avatar AnarchoNinaWrites , to random

Also, I saw the Trump interview on NBC and that reporter/interviewer can kiss my salty piss flaps. You folks are fucking cowards. The entire US media class. You have Hitler 2.0 in the chair, and you just let him fucking LIE his ass off about "driving crime rates down" and why he wants to be "asked" to keep Dem cities safe... no pushback at all. You actually LAUGHED with him. Gimme a break. You're not a journalist, you're a fart catcher. Grotesque.

cobalt123 ,
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@AnarchoNinaWrites I hope people continue to call the cowardly journalists, their corporate masters, and sycophants out for enabling this authoritarian rule. There will come a time those of us who dissent or even publically call out these things will be subject to retribution.

Even this week in the US it has been publicly affirmed Reddit user posts and comments are being tracked by US security agents as possible domestic terrorists. Of course this is built into US versions of Threads, Meta/FB, X formerly Twitter and Bluesky already.

@cobalt123@beige.party avatar cobalt123 , to random

A group of malachite specimens all in vertical images. Malachite comes in so many astonishing forms. These are all shown by the higher end dealer, Marcus Budil. I saw far more malachite from many dealers than is typical. Democratic Republic of Congo is the source for the specimens. You can spot the growing fan base in the specimens shown prominently each year. This is also a big year for fluorite.

Malachite is a green mineral of many forms. This specimen is about 6” each tall in rounded columns like long fat fingers or a stack of sausages. It likely forms upside down in a cave or pocket. There is a fine sparkling smooth texture on this. It almost looks like a sprayed powder coat but it’s all natural. It’s beautiful piece priced about $5,200. Other pieces are shown behind and below on the glass shelves.
Malachite is a green mineral of many forms. This specimen is about 7” tall for the tallest columns in a cluster with the fat bases joined to a harder matrix stone. It is shown pointing up but likely forms down in a cave or pocket. You can see the growth rings of layers of the green malachite formed in drips and blobs. It’s beautiful.
Malachite here in a specimen of 6 fat columns shown pointing up. It is about 9” tall and 5” width at the base. This specimen likely forms upside down in a cave or pocket. It’s different from the other vertical pieces shown in the previous photos because it is not smooth but showing a heavy texture of crunchy coarse green crystal grains. It seems like a castle made with many towers, torrents and decorative spires.

Malachite here in a specimen of 6 fat columns shown pointing up. It is about 9” tall and 5” width at the base. This specimen likely forms upside down in a cave or pocket. It’s different from the other vertical pieces shown in the previous photos because it is not smooth but showing a heavy texture of crunchy coarse green crystal grains. It seems like a castle made with many towers, torrents and decorative spires.
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@cobalt123@beige.party avatar cobalt123 , to random
@cobalt123@beige.party avatar cobalt123 , to random

Oh my, what a treat. “TipOfDay. I was gifted a “medicine ball” tea from Starbucks last weekend and really enjoyed it. Reminded me of the old “waitress remedy” for a sore throat and cold when you still have to work. I avoid Starbucks and just won’t pay the high expense for coffees there. I got 3, 20 oz hot tea drinks from the one tall paper cup because they left 2 teabags in it. Perfect for someone with fierce bronchitis.

Worked most of the day on opening dusty and dirty boxes of rocks and crystals (see posts yesterday) and all that dust in the air, whoa. Kinda made my congestion and coughing worse. So I found a copycat recipe online and winged it. Bingo! 1 bag green tea, 1 peppermint tea and 1 peach flavor tea. Added lemon juice and raw honey. It works!

Fossils of very delicate ammonites still having a thin iridescent nacre, from England. The chunk of flint behind these is very fine grains and striped in waves and swirls, also from England.
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@cobalt123@beige.party avatar cobalt123 , to random

Fall in Arizona

Giant variegated agave is about 8’ tall and 7 1/2 diameter, seems like a sphere of very sharp and sturdy leaves fronds. The image is taking up most of the frame slightly above middle center. It’s like an astral starburst. Tan small gravel is all around. A bit of a tan stucco square home behind it and above top right a tree shown a quarter round of the canopy. It had very tiny green leaves that are starting to dry and fall below. This is at the home of a friend.
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@ChrisMayLA6@zirk.us avatar ChrisMayLA6 , to random

Emma Monk's latest post examines the miss-reporting of the development of a community space (including prayer spaces) at the site of the Trocadero in Central London - as so often, the media has swung into a major anti-Muslim account of the story.

So if you've seen that story, Monks has a look at the facts and (as her blog indicates) debunks the media hysteria & misdirection.

Once again the corrosive & abusing character of the UK's media is on show!

https://monkdebunks.substack.com/p/how-the-trocadero-became-the-latest

cobalt123 ,
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@ChrisMayLA6 This clearly is a media-created sensationalist story fabricated wholly to provoke outrage. Makes me wonder if any of those papers ever just deliver “news”.

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cobalt123 ,
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@TheBreadmonkey @Alice @dannotdaniel @KevBot "And the fact it's got to do with interrogation and torture, I think that will appeal to a certain type of American collector."

Uh.
Not hard to imagine an American who has the funds and interest right now.

@gerrymcgovern@mastodon.green avatar gerrymcgovern , to random

"Fab 25 is expected to churn through 100,000 metric tons of water a day to produce the state-of-the-art semiconductors needed for the functioning of burgeoning artificial intelligence data centers worldwide. “When a local group told me 100,000 metric tons of water a day, I told them it cannot be true, because the number is huge,” Po-Jen Hsu, deputy CEO of the Environmental Rights Foundation in Taipei, told me."

https://www.truthdig.com/articles/the-ecological-cost-of-ai-is-much-higher-than-you-think/

cobalt123 ,
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@gerrymcgovern Right now it is mind-boggling that all around this desert metropolis are incoming massive data centers and semi-conductor/chip producers AND an enormous copper mining conglomerate starting up in the mountains just east of this area. Soon these operations will require far more water than the agriculture and people will have.

It’s stunning how short-sighted business interests have become. And then of course at some point actually not too far in the future, these operations will be tapped out and obsolete leaving modern new pyramids of toxic waste.

@TheBreadmonkey@beige.party avatar TheBreadmonkey , (edited ) to random

The problem with Indiana Jones is that they've used the most incredible MacGuffins so there's really nowhere else to go except aliens and time travel. How can you possibly follow up the Ark of the Covenant. You can't. Unless.......

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Prepuce

cobalt123 ,
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@TheBreadmonkey Oh. Dear. Ghods. I am NOT going to click on your link, Ben. Really not in the mood to learn more about this. Especially annoying to see it is illustrated in classical art. Ewwww.

@RalphBassfeld@swiss.social avatar RalphBassfeld , to random

The AI bubble will eventually burst and take down markets and economies. https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/2025/10/data-centers-ai-crash/684765/

cobalt123 ,
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@RalphBassfeld @NatureMC Seeing this I also see beyond now, on to the staggering amount of industrial debris and non-recyclable trash that will be left in the future. It seems infinite production of this mechanization is spewing everywhere in the US.

@TheBreadmonkey@beige.party avatar TheBreadmonkey , to random

Dealing with a client who's decided to call their company Enrych. Which I understand is supposed to be a fun way of just saying the word enrich, but it doesn't not look a bit like the verb - to make something a Reich. Come to us for all of your EnReich'ing needs. We've got all of the Reichs. Well, 3 anyway.

cobalt123 ,
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@TheBreadmonkey First thought was Eunuch. Although after staring at the made-up name again I’m puzzled why it was my first thought. Yet you have another comment here with same! Second was En-Reich. That’s what you saw right away. This would be a critical error if they continue this name. Egad!

@Crystal_Fish_Caves@mstdn.party avatar Crystal_Fish_Caves , to random

Can someone splain to me what all the hoopla is about this crappy game? Celebrity endorsements include LeBron James
Shakira
Jimmy Fallon
Kevin Hart
Amy Poehler
Sofia Vergara
and most appalling to me personally, Gabriel Macht

There are a million match 3 games out there and EVERY SINGLE ONE is better than this one. The graphics are horribly juvenile, colors are an assault on the eyes, game play is clunky and predictable, and you get no choices for personalization. Big BLECH

the extremely delectable Gabriel Macht Suit's Harvey Spector

the extremely delectable Gabriel Macht Suit's Harvey Spector
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cobalt123 ,
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@Crystal_Fish_Caves I despise this game over any other ever created. I’ve been seeing these ads for years. I can guarantee I will never download it or install it. Had no idea it has celebrity support. Ok, let’s make that I’ll never install it in any timeline, lifetime or alternate reality.

@cobalt123@beige.party avatar cobalt123 , to Pixy's Journey

If I just meditate on a beautiful place and time far from where I am now, life is more calm. Starting the day with an oldie photo I took with a rented lens, a gigantic 300 mm f2.8 L series Canon. This guy was only 15’ away in the backyard. It was handheld and so hard to hold still enough and not make a sudden movement. I think pretty much a few friends will like it and pass it along. pixys_journey_@makertube.net icon Pixy's Journey Pixy @Cynni

Squirrel sitting upright on wood post with paws folding and tail down. Watching me and as still as I am. Green blurred bush and grass background make the sharp focus on this mottled brown and tan squirrel a silhouette.
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@AnarchoNinaWrites@jorts.horse avatar AnarchoNinaWrites , to random

So, remember the lady ICE shot in Chicago?

Apparently the 10 car Sicario-style Antifa ambush to kill ICE agents was two people, and a fender bender. The ICE agent DID just come out firing. They DID know who the lady they were shooting was. They shot her fucking SEVEN TIMES so they did intend to kill her. And btw? The gun?

She had a concealed carry permit and it NEVER CAME OUT OF HER PURSE.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/07/chicago-woman-shot-immigration-agents

cobalt123 ,
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@AnarchoNinaWrites “Renfield in a skirt”! Oh that’s a good one. Tell me again how it is this was used to justify the Chicago cops being called out for the lie about ICE agents surrounded by protestors” and that agent said ICE was unable to leave? And then “Chicago is a war zone” lies to get Texas Nat’l guard on their way. Funny the judge allowing the TX guard to come to Chicago didn’t hear the pretext was a bunch of lives.

@Daojoan@mastodon.social avatar Daojoan , to random

The cruelest trick played on millennials wasn't poverty.

It was false mobility.

Just enough money to move cities, not enough to buy. Just enough prestige to feel special, not enough to command loyalty from employers. Just enough cultural capital to curate taste, not enough to own property.

We hover in the in-between.

The bookshelf comes with us.

https://www.joanwestenberg.com/p/the-sacred-object-of-a-generation-is-a-59-ikea-shelf

cobalt123 ,
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@Daojoan Before I click on the link, could I get reassurance I’m not imagining things here. That photo shows lots of books in the bookshelves. But all of them are open edges, none of the spines or titles. If I’m understanding this, that is a Twilight Zone set of bookshelves and books. I personally vote for leaving that bookshelf there and just backing away quietly till you can RUN.

@briankrebs@infosec.exchange avatar briankrebs , to random

Whatever this is, it's probably not great. WaPo writes: Pete Hegseth orders rare urgent meeting of hundreds of generals, admirals

"Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered hundreds of the U.S. military’s generals and admirals to gather on short notice — and without a stated reason — at a Marine Corps base in Virginia next week, sowing confusion and alarm after the Trump administration’s firing of numerous senior leaders this year."

"The highly unusual directive was sent to virtually all of the military’s top commanders worldwide, according to more than a dozen people familiar with the matter. The directive was issued earlier this week, as a government shutdown looms, and months after Hegseth’s team at the Pentagon announced plans to undertake a sweeping consolidation of top military commands."

"In a statement Thursday, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell affirmed that Hegseth “will be addressing his senior military leaders early next week,” but he offered no additional details. Parnell, a senior adviser to the defense secretary, voiced no concerns about The Washington Post reporting on the meeting, scheduled for Tuesday in Quantico, Virginia."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/09/25/hegseth-generals-quantico-meeting/

cobalt123 ,
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@briankrebs @joycebell Perhaps he wants to impress on them the importance of a military parade with precision marching in formations. Like Trump saw in England. And maybe to have a blowout extravaganza like China just had.

@cobalt123@beige.party avatar cobalt123 , to random

Copied from Bluesky for benefit of those who miss Betty Bowers and for those many many thousands of people who unsubscribed to Disney last week.

Mrs. Betty Bowers‬
‪@mrsbettybowers.bsky.social‬
DISNEY: "OK, we are putting Jimmy Kimmel back on the air. You can resubscribe now."

ME: "I unsubscribed because you immorally bowed to fascism. I'm not going to resubscribe because you immorally bowed to finances.

@Crystal_Fish_Caves@mstdn.party avatar Crystal_Fish_Caves , to random

I just love this game. Letters replace traditional cards, but the play is the same. Clear the board by making words. Details of game play are in the Alt if interested.

If I get stuck ill just try combinations of letters trying to make any word. This has brought words unique and wonderful to my attention, like

STYLITE : A Christian ascetic in ancient times that lived at the top of a tall pillar. Strangely specific. I simply MUST use that in conversations more often.

Wordscapes Solitaire is really fun and addictive. The game play is easy enough, make words out of the cards to clear the board. The layouts have a lot of variety with game goals like no two letter words, make so many 7 letter words, or time limit (I hate those). There are also daily goals like make 20 words starting with R or ending in Y, finish so many levels on the first crack, and a daily word that you get a bonus if you spell it that day. And Power ups; scramble the board, a hammer to break one letter, a joker to be any letter you need, and a search that will tell you the best word. There are also books of words that you get special bonuses if you complete all the words in the book which are added to your library through out the game, as well as tokens for all the countries that the game uses for your background. And yes it is just full of annoying ads. The game will tell you when you have spelled a valid word, and there is a box that will tell you the definition of the word you just made. Sometimes when I am stuck ill just try combinations of letters trying to make any word. This has brought words strange and wonderful to my attention, like STYLITE : A Christian ascetic in ancient times that lived at the top of a tall pillar. Strangely specific. I simply MUST use that in conversations more often.
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cobalt123 ,
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@Crystal_Fish_Caves Oh great, 30 minutes straight in the games. Actually far better than I thought. And it’s decent if you are more advanced in word play. Thanks!

@AnarchoNinaWrites@jorts.horse avatar AnarchoNinaWrites , to random

So like, I think what I'm going to do, in fact have already begun doing, is to simply extricate myself from places people THINK are private - I left the "friends only" football Discord server I was on yesterday, for example.

After that? I dunno man, we're all adults here right? You know the score - if our government DOES declare being trans domestic terrorism, your interactions with me are going to be called into question. I can't answer those questions FOR you.

Do what you must.

cobalt123 ,
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@AnarchoNinaWrites Understandable. A sad thing is, I began to assess people I know IRL who might be snitches if things get even more sideways in the US. And let me say that a little old straight white lady thinking this way should tell everyone what this says about the perilous days here.

Can’t be outraged anymore, hey, of course out openly now are the Republican US politicians saying all trans folks must be considered terrorists, a National security threat, and “a virus” plague afflicting the US.

I would not blame any trans folks for no longer speaking with “the Public”. Black and brown people are sus. Even comedians can’t tell jokes in public. So maybe the Reich is going to force out any bit of diversity or thoughts.

That phrase “F- them if they can’t take a joke”. Nope, these fascists sure can’t.

@w7voa@journa.host avatar w7voa , to random

CPJ - Israel’s targeted strikes on two newspaper offices in Yemen’s capital, which killed 31 journalists and media support workers, is the second deadliest single attack on the press ever recorded. https://cpj.org/2025/09/israels-killing-of-31-yemeni-journalists-marks-deadliest-global-attack-in-16-years/

cobalt123 ,
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@w7voa @Holberg I though it was official now that all journalists are scum, trolls, liars or Hamas. So no problem here in Yemen, right?

@georgetakei@universeodon.com avatar georgetakei , to random

As many of you know, this week Disney suspended Jimmy Kimmel under pressure from Trump. That is censorship, plain and simple. And when corporations act like this, we all pay the price, because free speech is a pillar of our democracy. If you want Disney to know how you feel about its shameful decision, there’s a petition going around. I’d love to see the number of signers grow to the point that executives at Disney lose a great deal of sleep. Together, let us remind them that our voices will not be silenced. https://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/551/365/912/?TAP=2430&source_id=KimmelMastodon

cobalt123 ,
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@georgetakei Done.

I was maybe 17,465 signers in. Goal only 600 to go.

@AnarchoNinaWrites@jorts.horse avatar AnarchoNinaWrites , to random

lol, we're getting Mexican politicos fired for not being sad about Charlie Kirk. Fuck man, I cannot believe folks are going for this shit...

cobalt123 ,
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@AnarchoNinaWrites Things could be worse. You could be here right down the street from the funeral next weekend so big that it’s at the giant stadium where they hold the Super Bowl when it’s in Arizona. I wrote about it an hour ago on my TL.

@stopthatgirl7@famichiki.jp avatar stopthatgirl7 , to random

No mourning at all, and seeing the rush to minimize the things he said has been disgusting.
https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/charlie-kirk-assassination-maga/

cobalt123 ,
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@stopthatgirl7 @roknrol She wrote all the hard things that so much of White America will not hear.

@cobalt123@beige.party avatar cobalt123 , to random

Wow! Thats too small a word for THIS
(And this is why a geology fan has subscribed for years, back to G+. Phil’s article today explains how this discovery came about.)
@badastro
https://badastronomy.beehiiv.com/p/earth-s-oldest-crater-found

@FediTips@social.growyourown.services avatar FediTips , to random

Okay, some really bad news but also a suggestion for a way forward.

The Guppe groups domain name was sold by their registrar before they could renew it. This means all Guppe groups are broken, and their web addresses point to a spam blog 😞

However, there is another group provider called FediGroups, you can find out more on their site:

➡️ https://about.fedigroups.social/home

FediGroups has features that Guppe never had, including private groups.

(More info about situation: https://github.com/immers-space/guppe/issues/118 )

cobalt123 ,
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@FediTips @meganL This us very important @caregivers
I was just going to post solely for caregivers today and now I’m stopped. I’ll read about the workaround suggested. Thanks for bringing this up!

cobalt123 ,
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@FediTips Note to friends and followers of my posts and the Caregivers group. Because of this situation I encourage you to unfollow our group ( which is/was
@caregivers
and I will announce a new group if FediGroups.social approves it. See this please @constantorbit

@kevinrothrock@infosec.exchange avatar kevinrothrock , to random

our dumb world

cobalt123 ,
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@kevinrothrock @ai6yr Ai used to plan football strategy, yikes.

@Daojoan@mastodon.social avatar Daojoan , to random

There were two wolves inside me but I replaced one with AI and there were layoffs

cobalt123 ,
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@Daojoan @amiserabilist Ha ha ha ha ha!

@PixysJourney@beige.party avatar PixysJourney , to weirdfolks group

of a slightly enthusiastic Dutch Pixy :pixy_party: (Wednesday, 03/09/2025).

I had fallen asleep a tad early. I had woken up a few times during the night, feeling achy and sweaty (my age perhaps? 🤔). When I woke up again around midnight I was wide awake. I scrolled on my phone for a while and then I got ready to start my day a little earlier than planned.

Because I didn't sleep between 12-2, my sleep score was rather low this time, with only 74. But it was also because I had only slept around 6 hours tonight... My energy score was even lower, as it depends more on the time that you are asleep. Somehow you can't change your sleeping pattern hours in the energy score bit, and if you don't sleep between 12-2, as I mentioned, your sleep score goes down a lot. I only got a score of 57, saying my sleep was getting in danger. Well, I did have a bad night, but still... I've had worse...

Scale, meds, getting dressed. Got to Skoosh and we headed to the gym. As my PT had said what I was and wasn't allowed to do, I just started with the seated bike again. Then, I went to the treadmill. I felt a bit wobbly, like my right leg is a bit shorter than the left one. 🤔 Must ask my PT about this on Tuesday. I walked at 2,5kmh with a 2% incline for 0,25km. Then without the incline for 50 meters. It felt weird but also satisfying, in a way. Then I used the hip abductor (pushing the knees outward) on lowest setting for a wee bit, which went better than I expected. I almost wanted to add more weight, but I remembered the PT's warning and I didn't.

Then I got ready to head back home again. Back home, I changed my clothes and headed upstairs. I worked on my blog for a while. Got back down, where I wrote some bits on my tablet. After some writing and some telly, I got ready to head out for a walk. I played a little Ingress and managed to walk a bit further. When I got back, I made me some brekky.

After the food, I went upstairs and I rode my home trainer for half an hour. During that time, bestie called me and we had a nice chat while she rode to her work. I was a bit tired of the walk and riding, so I watched some telly on bed. When I was a tad more rested, and the weather seemed to improve a little, I decided to head out to for another walk.

After the walk, I was eagerly waiting for an update from DHL. They would deliver my pendant parcel to the parcel dispenser safe in town today. I was hoping they'd do it early, so I could walk to the supermarket (where the safe is) and retrieve it. I never used it before, so I hoped that it would be as easy as they said. But first, I needed an email with the code.

As it was dry, I went to Skoosh, who fortunately was parked behind the house, and I took out the special dog protection cover. I still need to hoover the car, but I need to be a bit more "bendy" to be able to do that. Maybe, if the weather os good enough, I will visit the car wash before PT next week and then get the hoover through it as well. It was a bit emotional to get the cover out. It felt like I was "getting rid of" Arwen from Skoosh. I still have her ball in my car and I won't take that out. I tried to get most of the sand out, I shook out the cover, and then I headed back inside.

I fixed some food, watched some telly, and tried to relax a bit. Around noon, I got the notification. Slipped on my shoes and headed to the store. It was a bit of a longer walk, as it was about 1km to the store, and then back again. So I was hoping that I could manage it... I got to the safe, didn't figure out how to scan the QR I got, so manually added the code. Got a sweet little box out of it, and then I started my walk back.

All went well, fortunately. When I got home, I unpacked the box and found a beautiful pendant. It really looked wonderful. It was heavier than I thought, so I need to get used to wearing the weight, and I won't wear it everywhere, as I am scared something may happen to it. But yeah, I loved it! I tried to take a snap of it to share with some family and friends. I got a tad emotional because of it, so I spent some time sobbing and such. And then I got very tired, so I tried to relax with some telly. I had managed to get to 10k steps, and I had done some exercises, so I felt good about myself. Tired and a bit sore, but good.

After some telly I decided I would change my clothes, take my meds, get my eReader and just read until I would doze off. I fell asleep rather soon/early, around 16:11, or so my watch told me. But then, I was very tired, so I guess it was for the best... I woke up twice during the night for the loo. Around 0:42 I got up and started my day, as I felt rested enough now. My watch told me I had slept a little over 8 hours, so that was a good thing. Ready to start my new day.

:pixy_party: 💜 🍀 🐾



weirdfolks@a.gup.pe icon weirdfolks group

PS. The image I share now is the crystal glass heart that I ordered for my friends, but then I used the image that I used for the pendant (Arwen and her paw). I hope @altbot can make a good description for me.

The image features a clear, heart-shaped crystal sculpture with a black background. The heart is intricately carved to display a grayscale photograph of a dog's face, which is positioned centrally within the heart. The dog appears to be a Rottweiler, with its tongue slightly out, giving it a friendly expression. The dog is wearing a collar, and the engraving is detailed, capturing the texture of the fur and the dog's features. On the left side of the heart, there is a small, circular metal accent with a paw print engraved on it, adding a thematic touch to the piece. The overall effect is elegant and sentimental, likely intended as a memorial or tribute to a beloved pet. It's an example of what I want to order for my friends, but then with an image of Arwen. Behind the paw print cap, there is a little space to store some ashes.
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cobalt123 ,
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@PixysJourney weirdfolks@a.gup.pe icon weirdfolks group @altbot This is so excellent, what a great keepsake.

@cobalt123@beige.party avatar cobalt123 , to random

Just spent an amazing, important hour listening to what people young adult to us Olds discussing if the Present Times are the same, better or worse than other Times we remember. And such thoughtful replies from people all over the world—this could only happen in Present Times on the Mastodon sector of the Fediverse.

Thank you to @JessTheUnstill for prompting such a great exchange of memories. I know I had to go back and try to tighten up my comments but boy, I got wordy. If anyone wants to share their thoughts here on this new thread, have at it. I’ll start by saying as a Boomer, our world is scarier than it has ever been in my experience. What say you?

cobalt123 OP ,
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@JessTheUnstill Thanks for coming here to comment. I swear it’s almost mind-numbing for me, a big fan of sci-fi. I am seeing our world as I saw civilizations rise up and be decimated in the Dune series. When I read every book I that series through to the end of Frank Herbert tales in Chapterhouse Dune, he made it understandable to grasp infinite numbers of people, societies, cultures, cults and evolutions through time.

But, are we also able to picture OUR present world expired not in a BANG but a whimper? I now do. 😢😭😳😱💨

@molly0xfff@hachyderm.io avatar molly0xfff , to random

I’ve spent the better part of two decades dealing with people trying to dox and harass the volunteers who make Wikipedia the incredible resource it is today.

I liked it better when they weren’t in Congress.

https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/082725-letter-to-Wikimedia.pdf

cobalt123 ,
@cobalt123@beige.party avatar

@molly0xfff Oh this is dreadful. I so hope that Wikipedia and -Media and all entities affiliated can withstand the pressure. I guess the trial run was attempts in the last few years to buy it out.

@cobalt123@beige.party avatar cobalt123 , to random

Of course this happened. Pretty much the WH administration experimenting first with a convenient and local city administration. Without saying they are taking over the city. Just the police and now transportation hubs. What next to cement control in DC?
https://apnews.com/article/trump-duffy-union-station-amtrak-management-8c1f5d00ab7591f3f021cf4a9ee8d8e2

@molly0xfff@hachyderm.io avatar molly0xfff , to random

it feels deeply weird to be Going Through It with my lifelong anxiety disorder as an american in 2025

like yeah i'm grappling with crushing feelings of impending doom but who isn't?

cobalt123 ,
@cobalt123@beige.party avatar

@molly0xfff I feel it constantly since Fall 2015. Because reasons. Sigh.

Maybe it is worse if you are chronic depressed, Progressive and very attuned to politics that are fascist. You have articulated it perfectly in this post and your added comment.

I now read mostly sci-fi because the worlds are more normal than so/called reality in the US.

@AnarchoNinaWrites@jorts.horse avatar AnarchoNinaWrites , to random

This is just an accident right? He's not actually DOING a Pink from The Wall at the Nazi rally impression on purpose... right?

Image of California Governor Gavin Newsom giving a speech in which he's dressed and posed rather a lot like the character Pink, a fictional fascist dictator/rock star from the rock opera/album "The Wall" by Pink Floyd. Presumably Newsom is not TRYING to evoke that image, but doing it nonetheless.
ALT
cobalt123 ,
@cobalt123@beige.party avatar
@georgetakei@universeodon.com avatar georgetakei , to random

I for one am concerned.

cobalt123 ,
@cobalt123@beige.party avatar

@georgetakei It doesn’t appear that there is a gift shop in the White House. The company is private and not part of the US government in any way. Perhaps someone who is knowledgeable about any possible recent changes can enlighten further?

@billyjoebowers@mastodon.online avatar billyjoebowers , to random

I can't figure out why I see so many replies to people that are not attached to any thread, so I don't know what they're talking about.

cobalt123 ,
@cobalt123@beige.party avatar

@billyjoebowers I’ve been seeing it more and more. It’s frustrating to see a reply show up in my home view from someone who’s a mutual and see that it is tagged at the top of their reply that it is someone I’m also a mutual with.

I usually use Ivory on iPhone. I too thought it was for people who are using Followers only on a post but that’s not it. It’s not a filter thing since I have none. There’s only once or twice I ever figured out the reply was to someone who may have muted or blocked me.

So this mystery is one a number of us are likely interested in. Ideas? Tagging in @Gargron and @lauren and @ai6yr and @Alice
Because WTH one of these folks might know and might answer. 😊
@FediTips @Fedi

cobalt123 ,
@cobalt123@beige.party avatar

@FediTips @billyjoebowers Right, not seeing the thread it’s in even if I wait and come back later. So I’m thinking the info from @ai6yr may be the issue. Although it’s hard to understand when you see the thread is by 2 people involved are mutuals and the thread is not Followers Only.

Interesting I now see this thread from Billy Joe is tagged Quiet Public now. Hmmm

@oatmeal@kolektiva.social avatar oatmeal , to AcademicChatter group

Columbia gives up academic freedom for $400M

What made the university capitulation so devastating wasn’t just the individual policy changes, but how quickly institutional autonomy collapsed once the principle was breached. Columbia’s agreement follows this same pattern: transferring disciplinary authority from faculty to administrators, adopting government-mandated speech definitions, submitting to external monitoring, screening international students for ideological compliance, and reviewing curriculum content. The university justified each concession as necessary for survival, just as German institutions did.

Colleges in Nazi Germany thought giving in to government demands would save them https://www.alternet.org/universities-in-nazi-germany-and-the-soviet-union-thought-giving-in-to-government-demands-would-save-their-independence/

The agreement effectively allows the federal government to dictate campus speech policies, disciplinary procedures, and academic content through funding leverage, fundamentally altering ’s institutional governance structure.

https://apnews.com/article/columbia-trump-deal-00eef5dca9f003e593d2cb151f5cce17

academicchatter@a.gup.pe icon AcademicChatter group
histodons@a.gup.pe icon histodons group

cobalt123 ,
@cobalt123@beige.party avatar

@oatmeal academicchatter@a.gup.pe icon AcademicChatter group histodons@a.gup.pe icon histodons group I’m pretty sure @lavaeolus and other European folks affiliated with universities saw immediately where the overkill crackdown on any protesting in support of Palestinians was leading.

@w7voa@journa.host avatar w7voa , to random

The Arizona Republic newspaper will soon be printed and packaged in Las Vegas, Nevada. https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/arizona-republic/2025/07/22/arizona-republic-printing-moves-to-las-vegas/85330465007/

cobalt123 ,
@cobalt123@beige.party avatar

@w7voa Is Arizona winning with new plan?

@cobalt123@beige.party avatar cobalt123 , to random

The BEST Jon Stewart monologue in many years! Hang on to the very end. Unbelievable, almost. And yes, I think he’ll be cancelled tomorrow by CBS. I laughed so loud out loud. That good!
Thanks @qurlyjoe

https://youtu.be/TwOLo_U6bTw

@VeroniqueB99@mastodon.social avatar VeroniqueB99 , to random
cobalt123 ,
@cobalt123@beige.party avatar

@maddad @VeroniqueB99 @DoNotPunchDown @snow Was just having a conversation today about people online leaving unexpectedly and there’s no clue why or if they may return. From what I’ve been seeing, this may be accelerating. Changes in social media have been continuing steadily since the dramatic disruptions of the last 6 years. Online safety has been more of an issue too since threats began to affect travel if your online comments are deemed political, unwelcome, or dangerous even according to some security gatekeepers. I worry same as you all mention.

@lowqualityfacts@mstdn.social avatar lowqualityfacts , to random

Today's Low Quality Ad is for this Knife Set, on sale for 63% off.
You can break this set down into three parts:

  1. The knife you use to cut bagels.
  2. The knife you use to cut everything else.
  3. The knives that will never leave the block.
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BKRVCLRL?ref=t_ac_view_request_product_image&campaignId=amzn1.campaign.3QIXHDA7E2MZI&linkCode=tr1&tag=connorstone06-20&linkId=amzn1.campaign.3QIXHDA7E2MZI_1752767208979
A sleek black knife set.
ALT
cobalt123 ,
@cobalt123@beige.party avatar

@lowqualityfacts I am so screwed. This week I received my Amazon Prime Days deal with a set of 3 super sharp knives I’ll keep separate in the padded box they came in.

Son asked why I have them since I got the new knife block filled with great quality knives in October. Um, seems the 3 I use the most now need sharpened and I never got the hang of that. Sooooo….

@constantorbit@hachyderm.io avatar constantorbit , to bookstodon group

Hello Fediverse book people!

In 2 weeks I drive (again) cross-country to California.

Looking for audiobook recommendations!

When I did the drive there & back last fall, I listened to:

> Steinbeck "Travels with Charley in Search of America" (which was the perfect road trip book imo)

> John Dos Passos - books 1 and 2 of the "U.S.A." trilogy.

(and of course radio and podcasts)

Suggestions? I know this is a broad ask, but do YOU have any favorite road trip reads? Fiction, non-fiction, what-have-you...

bookstodon@a.gup.pe icon bookstodon group

cobalt123 ,
@cobalt123@beige.party avatar

@constantorbit bookstodon@a.gup.pe icon bookstodon group Any of Jim Harrison’s novels would be terrific. They are all somewhat of a memoir of his family and others that took land in Arizona in the 1800’s and defended owning it as part of the grizzled white folks who still live by the creeds of the Wild West. Even while the more recent generations of family are now intermingled with “Them”. Very compelling storyteller! He also wrote books that include travel; even Anthony Bourdain met up with him.

Fascinating to read the Wikipedia article on him. The author there was excellent and detailed all the prose, novellas and poetry. It is a worthwhile read to know about Harrison. I personally began with Darva and then could not stop reading every novel following it. I had no idea he wrote Legends of the Fall because I read everything in the last 20 or so years of his life and career.

A side note: he lived in my favorite part of Arizona, Patagonia. This is just about 10 miles this side of the border, with Nexico beyond. I was very excited to spot him once in in a tiny park, leading and having conversation with a small group of likely writers. I was too in awe, and respectful of his known desire for privacy, so I got to enjoy my excitement seeing him from the street across the way while driving through.

@georgetakei@universeodon.com avatar georgetakei , to random
cobalt123 ,
@cobalt123@beige.party avatar

@georgetakei Too little and too late, Elon.

@w7voa@journa.host avatar w7voa , to random

Three-quarters of Americans say democracy is under serious threat, according to a new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll. https://www.npr.org/2025/07/01/nx-s1-5452527/poll-democracy-trump-immigration

cobalt123 ,
@cobalt123@beige.party avatar

@w7voa @GottaLaff This mirrors the results of a poll just closed, hitting this very same opinion and with quite similar poll results. You can see it in my stream right now.

@AnarchoNinaWrites@jorts.horse avatar AnarchoNinaWrites , to random

Folks, you're out of your mind if you the unilateral attack angle is going to make a lick of difference. Yes, Congress is supposed to get final say, but also absolutely fucking nothing is going to happen to Trump for breaking that part of the law because THEY ALL WANT THIS.

There were literally like 38 people willing to sponsor a bill giving the authorization to Congress expressly for THIS attack - there are like 538 members of Congress. Nobody is impeaching him for what they WANT TO DO ANYWAY

cobalt123 ,
@cobalt123@beige.party avatar

@AnarchoNinaWrites Just wondering since we can’t afford healthcare for all US citizens and we have been told we can afford more tax breaks for billionaires and millionaires, with war factored in - oh wait! Was actually thinking the US can’t afford war as well. But the reality is war is profitable for many billionaires, millionaires and certainly many corporations.

ICE, BCP, for-profit prisons, detention centers—so many people will coast without pesky protests. Too bad if you aren’t buddies with the fascists.

I’m also guessing all the farms that can’t get migrants to come pick the crops are no longer going to be in the news. Things are just great —go democracy!

@w7voa@journa.host avatar w7voa , (edited ) to random

President Trump, in a live address to the nation, says Iran's key nuclear sites were "completely and totally obliterated" and if they Tehran doesn't make peace now there'll be more attacks by the US.

cobalt123 ,
@cobalt123@beige.party avatar

@w7voa That must be the written script of Stephen Miller. Too many sentences for Trump.