Apparently the client hated the original painting so much, that he delayed paying the artist. I bet he would've loved my portrait instead 😏😏😂😏😏😏😏 Support helps me make more garden art! 🌱 ko-fi.com/rainbowofcrazy #rainbowofcrazyvegart #art

I've been spending more time offline because I've had it with people ruining the world out of ignorance and malice. So I am actually using my bead horde to make things.

No country that arrested librarians and booksellers was on the right side of history. But that's what's happening in Arkansas. And this is where your whole country is headed with H.R 7661 and S 4925. Via @everylibrary.bsky.social action.everylibrary.org/arkansasact372

Arresting Librarians AND Booksellers in the United States

History has shown that arresting librarians and booksellers has never led to greater freedom or liberty.

action.everylibrary.org

A data center was just shut down in Wisconsin after the town council refused to have private talks with the developer and told them everything would include public approval That’s how it’s done, folks

I did not work countless hours in an ICU full of proned patients and go back to my hotel crying because we lost more patients in a day than a typical week to hear a moron with a worm in his brain say that the ICU's were empty. I AM SO FUCKING ANGRY.

Dr. Lucky Tran@luckytran.com · 3d ago

I worked for New York’s largest medical center at the start of the pandemic. There were morgue trucks on the streets. They set up emergency medical tents in Central Park. Healthcare worker colleagues died. It is horrific that RFK Jr is on national TV lying that ICUs were empty.

Quartley reminder that if you care about physical media you better support your local library! Where else can you get books, games, board games, puzzles, internet hotspots etc for free? *Get library card, use it *Use library programs *Share library social media *Donate to its foundation

My fellow New Yorkers: What is one thing in our fine City that you always make sure to either tell people about, or actually take them to? For me, it's the Morgan Library and Museum, because it feels like stepping into another realm, and they always have amazing exhibits on. #NYC #WhatToDo

Earlier today, I was told I am miserable and holier than thou for being anti-AI. I was told use of AI is an addiction and I am insensitive to addicts. I lost my accessible job because of AI. Nobody would be casual about any other person burning their job and stealing their art. But they let AI.

Dear Universe, Today would be a great day for things to start getting better. Please send hope.

This is gender specific child abuse. This is normalizing adults looking at children's genitals. It's the next step in the push to end women's rights and women's sports. They want only men to be seen and have freedom.

Gillian Branstetter@gbbranstetter.bsky.social · 2d ago

An initiative on the ballot in Washington state in November would require all athletes seeking to play girl's sports from kindergarten to high school to undergo "genetic screening, a testosterone-levels test, or an examination of their reproductive anatomy" before they can play

“These children, some too young to speak for themselves, will be forced to face trained government attorneys by themselves, in a language they may not speak, in a system they cannot navigate without help.”

Gabe Ortíz@tusk81.bsky.social · 2d ago

“The administration’s decision to end this contract goes against a nearly two decade precedent in which Republicans and Democrats alike supported legal assistance for the most vulnerable children who came to the United States alone.” acaciajustice.org/trump-admini...

I have a fucked up story in the Eat The Rich anthology, available for pre-order now! "Inside a tank, seven people dressed in bathing suits and scuba masks swam in small, frantic circles[...] Number 3’s body looked familiar; I’d definitely groped someone with similar tits at a BAFTA afterparty."

Eat the Rich

Cover art and design by Eirik Gumeny. If there’s a problem in the world — literally any problem — you can bet there’s a billionaire behind it somewhere, exacerbating…

atomiccarnivalbooks.com

Everything said within: 100% My one quibble is with the headline framing, which gives “these two guys bravely stand up to buck the trend“ energy, when they speak for almost* our entire field, writers, editors, artists, readers. (* always a few turds in the punch bowl, amirite?)

The Register@theregister.com · 3d ago

Sci-fi authors Scalzi and Stross decry AI's dystopian impact on their craft

Ew. I was just perusing Land's End online, looking for a reliable button-down. The Image felt off, but I know how hard they photoshop catalogs. Then I saw the tiny "AI Generated" warning. Land's End can't afford to hire real humans anymore? You can't trust a product if the image isn't real.

Deploying troops or armed federal agents to election sites is illegal under federal law. And voters have the right to vote free from fear and intimidation. Here is what you can do to protect your vote if federal agents show up at your polling place. bit.ly/4wpSGAH

Vote Safely in 2026

Sending troops or ICE officers to the polls is illegal. Here’s how you can protect your vote and your community’s voice, even if federal agents unlawfully show up.

bit.ly

Woooooo! **happy dance!** I just realized that I could access the Oxford English Dictionary online with my Brooklyn Public Library card. Very useful, since I can get a feel for the prominence of a word in my setting by reading their timeline of known usage.

I want the superpower to mentally zap obvious bots, fake accounts, and fake/scam job listings. This brought to you by the fact that FB wouldn't block the "man" with obvious AI everything who went through and liked all of my public posts and sent the usual "you're beautiful, send a request" tripe.

If anyone uses Stripe to get payments, go to your Settings (Gear icon) > Plans and Fees > Radar (View plan details) > View Plans > Scroll to "More Options" and select "Lite" I want none of the money I earn to go to AI if I can help it.

💜 Noz 💜 Bust-up Commission Slots Open!@nozdraws.art · 6d ago

nice, now Stripe is auto-opting people into a nickel charge per transaction for "AI-enhanced" protection shit they never asked for you can change it back to their free "Lite" version, but the fact that it's opt-out by default is so fucking annoying

"I was in a hurry and used AI. Oops, sorry it was all wrong." Darlings. Sweethearts. Listen to me. If you're in a creative field and do this, you have no excuse. None. Especially now. The gen AI stole from YOU. The gen AI stole from your FRIENDS. It is wrong a lot! You should know and do better.

⅃ƎT'Ƨ ЯOƆꓘ

Rando Chrontendo@randochrontendo.famiconsumer.com · 6d ago

When I was a kid, we adopted a dog that had belonged to a Japanese student who was returning to Japan. The go-between person misunderstood the name, Risu, which means squirrel, and told us the dog's name was Rezuke. We kept the name we were told because we didn't want to confuse the dog.

Words! Stories! Drinks! Authors! Probably a lovely dog named Chief! What more could you ask for from a Tuesday evening in Industry City? Come join us!

Brooklyn Books & Booze @ Barrow's Intense@bklynbooksbooze.bsky.social · 6d ago

What does your third Tuesday in August look like? That's what we thought! So why not join us at the next BBB reading on 8/18 at 7pm at Barrow's Intense? You'll enjoy tales from @alexshvartsman.bsky.social @teelglenn.bsky.social #CatherineStine & @louisevans.bsky.social! Plus: It's free! 📚🎙️🍸👀

I have a henna blend that I made that does a lovely Tudor gold. I couldn't fully get the temporary pink out, though.

This is reminding me of the time that the middle school versions of myself and @smiller15.bsky.social found some random drunk yuppies in a parking lot (we did not know them) and persuaded them to get us tickets for an R-rated movie. The phrase "You don't want to be one of THOSE adults." worked.

alix e. harrow@alixeharrow.bsky.social · 6d ago

bought candy at the pool for a 13yo and she tried to give me cash. i was like nahh it's nbd, and she goes "girl i have seen your car." 13yo girls remain undefeated. you think you're talking to a child but you're actually talking to whatever gods used to send to punish mortals for their hubris

If you find food safety baffling at the moment, so do our underfunded federal agencies. In the FDA investigations list below, you'll see that there are 9 outbreaks (5 cyclospora, 2 salmonella, 1 listeria, 1 E.coli) with no source yet identified.

Investigations of Foodborne Illness Outbreaks

The following is a list of outbreak and adverse event investigations primarily being managed by FDA’s CORE Response Teams.

fda.gov

I guess our neighbor's Mom is no longer visiting. #sharedwalls

99% of the time, when someone accuses you of selective outrage, it’s a way of politically demobilizing you and shutting you up “Why are you angry about data centers instead of fast fashion” isn’t about making you care about fast fashion. It’s about shutting you up about data centers And visa versa

My youngest was standing in the doorway talking to me about today's schedule. I'm recovering from a sinus thing and I'm in bed without glasses on. So I can't see my offspring, just blurs of color. I feel like something is very off about the blur.

Not to mention, if your insurance sees one tiny thing they don't like in the paperwork from the hospital, they will still sometimes decide to pay nothing on something that was previously authorized. I know from personal experience.

Justin Schuh@justinschuh.com · 6d ago

Seems irresponsible to present prior authorization in such a glowing light when the overwhelming evidence is that it's a net negative on patient care. There are far better ways to reduce fraud without denying legitimate care.