Mary
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thislemontwist.bsky.social
Mary
@thislemontwist.bsky.social
Surviving, maybe thriving. We'll see. She/her. I live in the PNW. I'm a weirdo with a lot of hobbies.
It's slime mold and jelly fungus time! This might be witch's butter or Dacrymyces chrysospermus. It's from a park down the street that I took my dog to today. 🌱
November 16, 2025 at 2:16 AM
I have to raise my eyebrows a bit at folks in my town who voted against the levy who are now pushing back against the idea of (necessary!!) budget cuts. There aren't any secret pools of money to draw from and creating more volunteer opportunities in town won't be a huge cost saver.
Damnit did I read the room wrong... I thought the levy was gonna pass 60/40, not fail 60/40.
November 15, 2025 at 4:25 AM
Oof, it's a rough week for social services orgs in my area! A week or two ago the food bank announced that their partnership with another church to build a new, bigger facility had fallen apart. Now the hygiene center is closing.
November 15, 2025 at 4:09 AM
It's raining buckets today and I'm thinking of all the forest fungi that are getting soaked and slimey, like this parasol (Chlorophyllum, dunno the species) I saw earlier in the week. 🌱
November 14, 2025 at 6:16 PM
I'm happy to announce I've found another Mexican food eatery to recommend in Seattle! This brings my list up to...... 4 places. 😅
November 13, 2025 at 10:22 PM
A huge patch of Zeller's boletes popped up in the woods near my house yesterday, and by this afternoon they were all gone! I'm glad I took pictures. 🌱
November 13, 2025 at 5:27 AM
I hate the day dark!
November 13, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Reposted by Mary
For the cover of Businessweek’s December issue, I wrote about the reigning queen of America’s strip malls: Ulta Beauty, the country’s biggest beauty retailer (yes, bigger than Sephora) and quietly one of the more fascinating retailers in the country. Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
How Beauty Behemoth Ulta Conquered the American Strip Mall
The retailer built an $11 billion business by acting more like Home Depot than like Sephora.
www.bloomberg.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:11 PM
This piece from Slate about grassroots resistance efforts to ICE in LA is so good. slate.com/business/202...
I Went to Watch the Tiny Operation That’s Making ICE Lose Its Mind. A Lot Can Happen in 24 Hours.
At the headquarters for Donald Trump’s darkest work, a few people are getting under the administration’s skin.
slate.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Thank you @geekgirlcon.bsky.social for letting my panelists and I chat about plants! 🌱
Are you watching the Garden Like a Cosplayer recap on twitch.tv/geekgirlcon?

#Cosplay #Gardening #GeekGirlCon
November 9, 2025 at 10:00 PM
It's load in day for @geekgirlcon.bsky.social! My car will be stuffed with so much plant material AND snacks.

Come learn about plant propagation and local fungi at my station in DIY Science! I'll be there both Saturday and Sunday. And on Sunday 11:30am, I'm moderating "Garden Like A Cosplayer."
November 7, 2025 at 4:06 PM
I called out someone in the comments of the local paper for making an ignorant take about one of our city council reps and now I'm getting (incorrectly!!) mansplained about the differences between municipal and nonprofit finances.

Whoops! Time to step back, breathe a few times, and ignore.
November 7, 2025 at 4:02 PM
I saw two very spooky things today. The first was so so many dried, colorful leaves swirling all around me as the wind whipped up and the rain poured. The second was fast moving wispy clouds flying past the bright full moon, which was situated perfectly above the roof and in between two tall trees.
November 7, 2025 at 5:38 AM
Ugh I vomit just a little.
Harrell says "it's never ever been about me," then says the whole country is watching this race. Pastor Carey Anderson (of FAME) is leading a prayer to close, but it's mostly praise for Harrell.
November 5, 2025 at 6:21 AM
Damnit did I read the room wrong... I thought the levy was gonna pass 60/40, not fail 60/40.
November 5, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Reposted by Mary
In exciting news, women of wizards erg will be hosting our first casual and learn to play space this saturday after @geekgirlcon.bsky.social

If you're in town for geek girl con, consider coming out to play and bringing friends! #wotcstaff

www.eventbrite.com/e/tap-in-lea...
Tap In: Learn & Play Magic: The Gathering with the Women of Wizards
Beginner-friendly Magic: The Gathering, good company, free snacks, and a raffle - what’s not to love?
www.eventbrite.com
November 3, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Reposted by Mary
thank you for all the support; the statement from our union is now live here with some more reporting.

now that this is public I can confirm that the majority of today’s layoffs were women of color. there are no longer any Black women working at Teen Vogue.
November 3, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Reposted by Mary
I don't have access to the numbers, but I do know that Teen Vogue built its identity, public profile and audience following over the past ten years in large part through its politics coverage, which was often interesting and punchy. Deciding to nuke that is a distinct choice
November 3, 2025 at 8:03 PM
I've enjoyed Teen Vogue's political reporting for years... Curious what the official justification is for this move.
I was laid off from Teen Vogue today along with multiple other staffers, and today is my last day.

certainly more to come from me when the dust has settled more, but to my knowledge, after today, there will be no politics staffers at Teen Vogue.
November 3, 2025 at 9:37 PM
As a kid, I loved this non-Disney animated Snow White movie that had the most stacked voice cast! The VHS tape had headshots of all the actors too... Zsa Zsa Gabor, who voiced some magical creature, looked so good.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happily...
November 3, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Is it just me or is it eerie the way the anti-Mamdani and anti-Wilson arguments mirror each order?
November 2, 2025 at 3:50 PM