Rachel Lapidow
LightNews LightNews
banner
editrix-rachel.bsky.social
Rachel Lapidow
@editrix-rachel.bsky.social
2.3K followers 1.7K following 7.9K posts
Copyeditor, proofreader, & developmental editor of TTRPGs, comics, board games, sci-fi, & fantasy. Newbie indexer. Lover of apple cider doughnuts and buying books. Knitter. Generative AI sucks. She/her 📚 www.rachellapidow.com
Posts Replies Media Videos
editrix-rachel.bsky.social
Introduce yourself with four spaceships.
The Rocinante from The Expanse Faye Valentine's Red Tail from Cowboy Bebop. The Enterprise NCC-1701-D from Star Trek: The Next Generation ECV-197-1 Shuttle from The Orville, just about the cutest space shuttle in science fiction.
November 25, 2025 at 7:32 PM
editrix-rachel.bsky.social
Uh, yeah, of course I would.

Screenshot from Little Book Shop, a game recommended to me by a couple of people during ACES VCon.
Screenshot from Little Book Shop. A multicolored dog sits on the ground. A balloon above him asks, "Would you like to pet the dog?" the options for Yes and No are located below the dog. I obviously always select Yes.
November 24, 2025 at 8:59 PM
editrix-rachel.bsky.social
While gift shopping at Common Deer in Downtown Burlington, my husband came up to me with this absolutely adorable coaster and said we were getting it for me. As he put it, it's mug adjacent (I own a lot of mugs). It's on my desk right now and holding my glass of water.
A coaster that has painted on it a black-capped chickadee who is clutching a thin branch in both its feet. It is very cute.
November 24, 2025 at 3:46 PM
editrix-rachel.bsky.social
Scarf Style: Innovative to Traditional, 31 Inspirational Styles to Knit and Crochet edited by Pam Allen, from Interweave Press. I think it's out of print now, but here's the link on Ravelry: www.ravelry.com/patterns/lib...
Cover of Scarf Style: Innovative to Traditional, 31 Inspirational Styles to Knit and Crochet
November 21, 2025 at 1:35 AM
editrix-rachel.bsky.social
I've been busy in the evenings knitting a scarf for my mother-in-law. The pattern is called Midwest Moonlight and it is knit in Green Mountain Spinnery's Cotton Comfort in Iris, which is a wool-cotton blend. I'm currently about a third of the way done and need to hustle to get it done!🧶
A partially knit purple scarf in a lacy pattern lies on a light beige carpet. There is a ball of yarn toward the top that's in a green yarn cozy with a floral pattern.
November 20, 2025 at 4:48 PM
editrix-rachel.bsky.social
Another day of editing and another two terms that should be treated the same way but aren't. And of course both terms are used in the same sentence.

Argh.

#AmEditing
Merriam-Webster dictionary definition: cell phone noun variants or less commonly cellphone ˈsel-ˌfōn plural cell phones also cellphones smartphone noun smart·​phone ˈsmärt-ˌfōn variants or less commonly smart phone plural smartphones also smart phones
November 19, 2025 at 9:26 PM
editrix-rachel.bsky.social
Another instance of two terms that define similar things and are spelled similarly, but one is two words and the other is one.

#AmEditing
Dictionary entry from Merriam-Webster: tree line noun : timberline
November 18, 2025 at 4:39 PM
editrix-rachel.bsky.social
Because I think we could all use it today, I'm reposting a photo I took this summer of Elliot with one of his stuffed friends.

I'm not sure how many stuffed animals he has, at least four or five. He'll be carrying a different one each time we run into him and his person.
Elliot, a medium-sized dog who looks to have a fair bit of yellow lab in him, holds a teddy bear in his mouth. The bear has antlers, likely a cryptid of some sort. Elliot seems happy and content.
November 13, 2025 at 4:07 PM
editrix-rachel.bsky.social
I very recently finished watching both seasons of Severance (I know, I know). I'm also someone who distrusts generative AI. No surprise then that I loved the essay "Severance Is the Future Tech Bros Want" by Tenacity Plys for Tor.
reactormag.com/severance-is...
The worst people in our culture are all about the hustle, and their reading is no exception. Book optimization seems to be the next frontier for Silicon Valley, from both the reading and writing sides. Amazon authors can churn out dozens of slop novels a month with GenAI, and tech bros can summarize Marcus Aurelius books into a paragraph or set of bullet points for consumption during a working lunch. They also listen to bro podcasts, which are just as bad. GenAI would automate Lumon’s cultural mission, allowing humans to sever themselves from the production of art and culture. This would have the same effect as severing people from history; people would become more passive, less capable of taste. In fact, a study came out from Microsoft recently showing that the more a person uses AI tools, the worse they get at critical thinking. The atrophy described in this article seems a lot like the state of intellectual life in Severance World. People are left to exchange factoids without the ability to fact-check or contextualize, much less string two or more ideas together into a larger train of thought.
November 12, 2025 at 5:30 PM
editrix-rachel.bsky.social
Took this photo about a week and a half ago. There are now about three or so inches of snow on the ground!
Deciduous trees with yellow and gold autumnal leaves are viewed from across a road. A gibbous moon can be seen on the left side of the trees. The sky is clear.
November 12, 2025 at 5:00 PM
editrix-rachel.bsky.social
Gizmodo article on why workslop--generative AI used in the workplace--is actually costing companies money and time. gizmodo.com/workslop-ai-...
How workslop hurts companies and workers The proliferation of workslop could cost companies time, money, and even trust among workers. Surveyed workers reported spending an average of one hour and 56 minutes per incident dealing with low-quality AI outputs. Researchers calculated that, based on respondents’ salaries, workslop carries an invisible cost of around $186 per month. For companies with thousands of employees, that can translate into millions of dollars in lost productivity each year. Workslop also takes a social and emotional toll in the office. When asked, 53% of participants said receiving workslop made them feel annoyed, 38% confused, and 22% offended. Half of the respondents also reported viewing colleagues who sent workslop as less capable and reliable.
November 7, 2025 at 9:27 PM
editrix-rachel.bsky.social
Me: Huh, I wonder if this term should be one word or two?

Merriam-Webster: One.

Me: Okay, then this other, similar term must also be one word, right?

Merriam-Webster: You wish.

#AmEditing #copyediting
wingsuit, noun wing·​suit ˈwiŋ-ˌsüt plural wingsuits : a jumpsuit worn by a skydiver or BASE jumper with folds of fabric between the arms and legs that create lift when extended and allow the wearer to glide through the air over long distances space suit noun 1 : a suit equipped with life supporting provisions to make life in space possible for its wearer 2 : g suit
November 6, 2025 at 7:05 PM
editrix-rachel.bsky.social
And I can't wear my hair too short either because then I look like a mushroom! Argh!
I used to dye it red, which I may do again because I loved the color. But I can't let it get much longer than this length.
A white woman with freckles and red hair is staring into the camera. She knows that she looks weird when she tries to smile on demand, so opts instead not to smile.
November 5, 2025 at 9:44 PM
editrix-rachel.bsky.social
I'm just starting a new sci-fi cyberpunk TTRPG. As is my wont, instead of diving in and making a bunch of edits, I plan to spend some time doing what I call axe sharpening.

1/3
Photo from Axe Advice's "The 9 Best Axe Sharpening Files" A hand axe rests on top of a sharpening stone. A file lays over the axe blade.
October 31, 2025 at 6:36 PM
editrix-rachel.bsky.social
My local coffee shop, Kestrel Coffee Roasters, has a tradition of putting googly eyes on the coffee cup lids for Halloween.
A takeout coffee cup on a faux granite counter. The coffee cup lid has three googly eyes on it, in the vague shape of a face. It is cute.
October 31, 2025 at 6:12 PM
editrix-rachel.bsky.social
I also want to point out that in addition to setting aside $6.3 million to fund SNAP for 15 days, the state is giving the Vermont Foodbank $250,000 to meet increased need, and setting aside money for fuel assistance.

You can donate to the Vermont Foodbank at www.vtfoodbank.org
Quote from "Vermont will backfill SNAP benefits for at least 15 days" Vermont Public | By Lola Duffort Published October 29, 2025 at 1:39 PM EDT The Vermont Emergency Board, a five-member panel made of Scott and four legislative leaders, on Wednesday also greenlit $250,000 for the Vermont Foodbank to help meet increased demand. The Emergency Board can approve spending packages when the full Legislature is not in session. Vermont also plans to release money to pay for fuel assistance as it awaits federal funds from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program — although that money is also in limbo due to the shutdown. Scott and lawmakers both say they’re much more confident they’ll be refunded for that money once Congress passes an appropriations bill.
October 30, 2025 at 4:32 PM
editrix-rachel.bsky.social
Our governor is a Republican, I know at least one of the four members on the committee is a Democrat. I don't know about the other three. I will say that Gov. Scott initially wanted to fund SNAP at a lesser amount than the Dems, but he did still want to help.
Quote from Vermont Public article, "Vermont will backfill SNAP benefits for at least 15 days" By Lola Duffort Published October 29, 2025 at 1:39 PM EDT : Democratic leaders in the Vermont Legislature have generally been more bullish about backfilling the food assistance program than Scott, who initially suggested the state only partially cover the benefit. Ultimately, the two sides arrived at a compromise: fully funding the program, but for just two weeks, at least for now.
October 30, 2025 at 4:12 PM
editrix-rachel.bsky.social
Saw this cutie on today's #stetwalk. It's cooler here, in the high 40s, low 50s (Fahrenheit) but it is sunny. I bet this spot by the rock is nice and warm.
A garter snake is loosely coiled up on a large gray stone, nestled atop fallen dried leaves. It seems happy enough, I don't know enough about snakes to speculate more into its mood.
October 29, 2025 at 6:08 PM
editrix-rachel.bsky.social
Look at that sploot!

This is Swatch, the shop dog at Mood. The nice thing about watching older episodes of Project Runway--this is from season 18 which aired in early 2020--is that they spent more time in Mood and you often got to see Swatch.
A small black and white dog, possibly a Boston terrier or a French bulldog, is splooting on a gray store carpet. All four limbs are splayed away from his body and he looks a bit done with everything, as if it is high time he was fed and allowed to nap in peace.
October 28, 2025 at 11:14 PM
editrix-rachel.bsky.social
Want to let @joshuajfriedman.com know that it is still decorative gourd season.

Made our annual visit to Chapin Orchards for honey crisp apples, maple syrup, and cider doughnuts.
Two rows of large orange pumpkins sitting on wooden slats that are placed on the grass. The side of a faded red barn dominates the background. Wire basket on the side of a red barn. At the bottom is hay or straw and on top are over a dozen small pumpkins in a variety of colors.
October 25, 2025 at 8:14 PM
editrix-rachel.bsky.social
This is Rindo, he's one of my friend's dogs. He looks when we all get together to play D&D because then he can get all the pets.
October 24, 2025 at 2:39 AM
editrix-rachel.bsky.social
I love FiberStashes colorways. I made the cowl in the right photo with Picky Husband (green) and Charcoal (gray).
Two skeins of FiberStash yarns: Picky Husband, a malachite-like green and Charcoal, a medium gray. Knit cowl with Picky Husband, a malachite-like green and Charcoal, a medium gray.
October 23, 2025 at 7:09 PM
editrix-rachel.bsky.social
One of the yarns I got at the Vermont Sheep & Wool Festival this year is named after Perry. A Platypus? Perry the Platypus?! is from FiberStash Dyeworks.
A skein of mostly medium purple yarn with splashes of orange, teal, blue, and fuchsia.
October 23, 2025 at 6:40 PM
editrix-rachel.bsky.social
I think all the seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race that I've watched have rubbed off on my husband. While at the Montreal Biodome, upon seeing the common mures he said, "They have eyeliner for days."
A black and white bird, the common murre looks a bit like a penguin. One of the subspecies has a dramatic white line that surrounds its eye and then flicks out like eyeliner. Credit: Biodôme Copyright: Biodôme de Montréal Source: Biodôme
October 21, 2025 at 5:30 PM
editrix-rachel.bsky.social
A good boy/girl waiting for their person to done shopping at the bakery. And possibly bringing back a dog treat.
A medium-sized brown dog sits in the back seat of a car. The window is rolled down several inches, wide enough for the dog to point their nose out of the window. The dog seems to be patiently waiting for their person to return.
October 21, 2025 at 4:55 PM