No roots. Phew. The pipe is nearly clear. The plumber found a couple scrunchies. 😳 They may have contributed, but the problem is probably a slightly wonky section of pipes that's allowing accumulation. Argh. "I found at least a couple of these?" Holds up a scrunchie. "Maybe the cat drops them in?"

Sarah LR@kerendith.bsky.social · 8h ago

Cable rodding. $530. *Might* clear the blockage. What *is* the blockage? It's probably too soon to be more roots, but who knows. I had to text my mother 'cause that $530 and a $99 diagnostic are all I can manage. (More than, really, but I can at least get this done today.)

Cable rodding. $530. *Might* clear the blockage. What *is* the blockage? It's probably too soon to be more roots, but who knows. I had to text my mother 'cause that $530 and a $99 diagnostic are all I can manage. (More than, really, but I can at least get this done today.)

Sarah LR@kerendith.bsky.social · 8h ago

I'm awake. I have coffee. The plumber is in the cellar. I had a bad dream. Maybe more than one. But definitely one hospital dream. Which, now that I think about it, was also a "You're failing this math/philosophy class" dream. And there was a terrible shower. Stress? 🤷🏻‍♀️

I'm awake. I have coffee. The plumber is in the cellar. I had a bad dream. Maybe more than one. But definitely one hospital dream. Which, now that I think about it, was also a "You're failing this math/philosophy class" dream. And there was a terrible shower. Stress? 🤷🏻‍♀️

My impression is that 10-year-olds today have MUCH cooler books available. Much more variety in topics, characters, settings, issues. Everything. If I had to be stuck with tween literature? Today's. Absolutely no question.

Constantine@ajaxsinger.bsky.social · 20h ago

Food, man. Food is so much better than it was in 1986. All of it. Poor-people food, restaurant food, fresh food, frozen food. Food is just a hell of a lot better.

Question for cat parents who use Churu: what are your experiences with it, and who is the manufacturer? (trying to get some for @ameliaearhart2.bsky.social's cat Leo)

I slept for almost 5 hours after lunch. I'm still dragging. And I guess I'm going to take my 7 p.m. meds a bit early and get back in bed, 'cause I do need to be awake for the plumbers in the morning. That may not work out if I push things now. (I never really know. I'm trying.) ...

Sarah LR@kerendith.bsky.social · yesterday

Called plumbers again this morning. They think it's likely to be a fairly deep clog again. Nooooo. Not nice. Service Now is sending someone tomorrow morning. Okay. Well. Now I'm sniffly (allergies?). And I need to clean later. So, lunch and a nap.

Called plumbers again this morning. They think it's likely to be a fairly deep clog again. Nooooo. Not nice. Service Now is sending someone tomorrow morning. Okay. Well. Now I'm sniffly (allergies?). And I need to clean later. So, lunch and a nap.

Sarah LR@kerendith.bsky.social · last wk.

I was going to put off getting a plumber again, but the downstairs toilet burbling is a stressful problem when I'm having issues requiring Imodium. [Listens to disturbing glurping noises behind her.] I'm not going to bother my brother-in-law. My sister's had a nasty respiratory virus and they're...

"Instead, far-right and MAGA politicians, influencers, and podcasters will immediately use the most divisive language possible in order to make voters as angry as possible, as fast as possible, regardless of what actually happened."

Anne Applebaum@anneapplebaum.wsocial.eu · 3d ago

Vance, Farage and Weidel posted fear-mongering messages about a Spanish migrant crisis that weren't true. They haven't retracted them. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...

Made coffee. Watched @fumblebee.bsky.social play Skyrim. Got out 4 eggs for maybe making coffee cake later. Helped Mom load up her lawnmower that was at my place. Switched the towel in the washer to the dryer. Am sitting slightly shaky now. But I should probably load and run the dishwasher. Hm.

Wow, brain. That was an unusually mean dream about failure. Damn.

Argh. I'm too dopey to finish this lecture on the speed of gravity. Maybe I'll try later, after more sleep. Maybe I'll get pastries. Or make coffee cake. Right now... This "The Valet" audiobook and a pile of blankets. Gabs, you wanna come cuddle?

Getting back in my bed for a couple hours. My heating pad died. ☹️

My first of the species since I noticed the name update to the Northern Yellow Warbler and probably my best photo of the species under any name. Happy to see this little tennis ball in a nearby shrub. 🪶 #itsabird

At some point it would be nice if marginalized groups who should know better would stop equating brain damage with transphobia/racism/sexism/etc but what would I know I’ve only had some brain damage ✨ ✨

What a funny lil dude! 🩶

Gatsby@thegraygatsby.bsky.social · 5d ago

oh hi :3

I finished the 2nd Viviana Valentine book. Already! I know! 😮 I just started Chanda Prescod-Weinstein's "The Disordered Cosmos," which I've had for a while and kinda thought I'd never read. I'm sure I'll also start a fiction ebook soon, but I hope that won't completely derail things. #BookSky

Sorry I’m running late, I had to stop and wish this very pleasant stray cat a good morning

I took drugs so I could get some better sleep last night. It totally threw off my meds schedule, but I needed it; the sore muscles from my weeding adventures days ago were not recovering. NOW they feel somewhat better. And my brain was perky enough to listen to music this morning! ...

Huh. I didn't think of Legionnaire's as waterborne. Learned something! Legionnaires’ Disease Surfaced 50 Years Ago. It’s Still Killing People. America’s deadliest waterborne illness. by Brett Walton July 20, 2026 www.circleofblue.org/2026/health/...

Legionnaires’ Disease Surfaced 50 Years Ago. It’s Still Killing People.

Uncover the origins of Legionnaires' disease illness linked to the 1976 Philadelphia conference and its tragic impact.

circleofblue.org

Y'all can read about one of Sophia L'Orange Kitten Rescue's special needs foster kittens here!

@brokenkitty.bsky.social · last wk.

Love that Catster magazine highlighted our little kitten rescue in a story by one of our fosters about her swaying kitten: www.catster.com/catster-tale...

NIU offers one of country's only courses on the experience of blind and visually-impaired people Northern Public Radio By Peter Medlin Published July 24, 2026 www.northernpublicradio.org/wnij-news/20...

In other news, I finished the Black Death audiobook and have just restarted the one of "Figuring" by Maria Popova. I've started it twice before, really loved it, and gotten distracted not far along. And I've made it to page... 65 of 280 in "Viviana Valentine Goes Up the River". #BookSky

I was going to put off getting a plumber again, but the downstairs toilet burbling is a stressful problem when I'm having issues requiring Imodium. [Listens to disturbing glurping noises behind her.] I'm not going to bother my brother-in-law. My sister's had a nasty respiratory virus and they're...

Hahahaha, clearly I am not the only person with this question. From the Pierogi Fest 2026 website, www.pierogifest.net/vendors-1 "**Please note: We do not know if any of our vendors will serve gluten-free pierogi."

Aw man, I have a bruise by my right eye from dropping my phone on my face earlier. What the heck. Geez. Well. Lol. Anyway, it's overcast and in the 70s F, so I was finally able to go out and hack at the enormous unwanted plants in the bit of landscaped area north of the garage. ...

whitmanarchive.org/about/archiv...

Adding alt text.

tony romm@tonyromm.bsky.social · 2w ago

It's part of a major federal court case over those cancelations. Here's what the government admitted as part of a process meant to avoid discovery (and perhaps spare it from sharing more damaging records):

Moby Dick, Herbert Melville’s great American novella, was inspired when Herbert’s family was unable to afford a Fudgie the Whale cake at his local Carvel for his 6th birthday. This inspired an obsession with whales and Whaling that stayed with him until his premature death at the age of 117.

James McLeod@jamespmcleod.ca · 2w ago

It's safe to assume that all major LLMs are scraping Bluesky data to train future models. As an open protocol, Bluesky is one of the few sources of fresh human-generated content that anybody can gobble up. So all this is probably going in the models. There are submarines in the Great Lakes.

"Five-year plan" always sounds ominous. I expect shock workers and lots of lying about statistics. Excessive industrial accidents. But anyway. Same old, same old. I need more income, which means figuring out part-time work. I need to move to a single-story home. I want to visit some friends!

Xavier D’Leau@xavierdleau.com · 2w ago

i saw someone on threads ask this but they asked if anyone had a 5 year plan. i...honestly don't. i once did. but do you have a 5 year plan?

Lightning Talks: Bioluminescence is TONIGHT! 🪼✨ Starting at 6pm PT, join our five expert speakers for an illuminating talk all about this amazing natural phenomenon. 🌌 This event is free and virtual. Tune in at 6pm PT: https://www.youtube.com/live/CyHaS1nRxVI