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fidelioscabinet.bsky.social
fidelioscabinet
@fidelioscabinet.bsky.social
1.8K followers 3.7K following 8K posts
Extremely cranky individual with more books than the structure of my dwelling can support.
Why the hell are you following me?
(At BalloonJuice sometimes)
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fidelioscabinet.bsky.social
With alt-text added. Spread the truth!
On a dark beige tablecloth rests a white folding matchbook. On the matchbook is printed in green letters: Biscuits will set you free.
November 24, 2025 at 4:54 AM
fidelioscabinet.bsky.social
Who am I to argue with Du Maurier?
From the Wikipedia article on the novel Wuthering Heights: The novelist Daphne du Maurier argued the status of Wuthering Heights as a "supreme romantic novel" in 1971: There is more savagery, more brutality, in the pages of Wuthering Heights than in any novel of the nineteenth century, and, for good measure, more beauty too, more poetry, and what is more unusual, a complete lack of sexual emotion. ... Emily Brontë, striding over the Yorkshire moors with her dog, did not conjure from her imagination any cozy tale of happy lovers to console women readers sitting snugly within doors. [28]
November 20, 2025 at 4:53 AM
fidelioscabinet.bsky.social
He may have put it best:
A thumbnail image of Truman Capote, besides one of his most famous comments: That’s not writing, that’s typing.
November 17, 2025 at 3:31 PM
fidelioscabinet.bsky.social
If your pedant really wanted some pedantry, he needed to dig deeper. Actual pedantry, in a reply to @kenwhite.bsky.social, from someone who prosecuted sex trafficking cases:
A screenshot of a comment by Mitchell Epner on one of Popehats’s comments. It reads Mitchell Epner @mitchellepner.bsky.social As a former federal prosecutor who focused on sex trafficking cases, it is true that there is a "difference" between criminals who traffic 15 year olds and criminals who traffic 5 year olds. One gets a greater sentence than the other. Both are aggravated felonies with a 15 year mandatory minimum. November 12, 2025 at 8:31 PM
November 14, 2025 at 2:44 AM
fidelioscabinet.bsky.social
Red beans & rice, even if it isn’t wash day.
A square dark blue stoneware bowl with a white rim sits on a table. It is full of red beans and rice. The handle of a spoon sticks out from the rice & beans.
November 12, 2025 at 1:20 AM
fidelioscabinet.bsky.social
With ALT-text:
Chicago BY CARL SANDBURG Hog Butcher for the World, Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat, Player with Railroads and the Nation's Freight Handler; Stormy, husky, brawling. City of the Big Shoulders: They tell me you are wicked and I believe them, for I have seen your painted women under the gas lamps luring the farm boys. And they tell me you are crooked and I answer: Yes, it is true I have seen the gunman kill and go free to kill again. And they tell me you are brutal and my reply is: On the faces of women and children I have seen the marks of wanton hunger. And having answered so I turn once more to those who sneer at this my city, and I give them back the sneer and say to them: Come and show me another city with lifted head singing so proud to be alive and coarse and strong and cunning. Flinging magnetic curses amid the toil of piling job on job, here is a tall bold slugger set vivid against the little soft cities; Fierce as a dog with tongue lapping for action, cunning as a savage pitted against the wilderness, Bareheaded, Shoveling, Wrecking, Planning, Building, breaking, rebuilding. Under the smoke, dust all over his mouth, laughing with white teeth, Under the terrible burden of destiny laughing as a young man laughs, Laughing even as an ignorant fighter laughs who has never lost a battle, Bragging and laughing that under his wrist is the pulse, and under his ribs the heart of the people, Laughing! Laughing the stormy, husky, brawling laughter of Youth, half-naked, sweating, proud to be Hog Butcher, Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat, Player with Railroads and Freight Handler to the Nation.
November 6, 2025 at 6:03 PM
fidelioscabinet.bsky.social
Wikipedia is here for you if you need help sorting out the details about America’s New Mayor.

(I lol’d.)
A screenshot of the current Top Reads on today’s front page of the English-language version of Wikipedia. It lists, in order: 1. Zohran Mamdani Mayor-elect of New York City 2. Rama Duwaji. American artist, First Lady-designate of New York City 3. Mira Nair Indian-American filmmaker [the mayor-elect’s mother] 4. Mahmood Mamdani Ugandan academic [the mayor-elect’s father] 5. 2025 New York City mayoral election An election for the mayor of New York City All top read articles ›
November 6, 2025 at 1:41 PM
fidelioscabinet.bsky.social
Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia broadcasting on WNYC in 1945, during the newspaper delivery strike. He is reading the comics pages over the air, for the benefit of children who were missing the funny papers.
November 6, 2025 at 12:17 AM
fidelioscabinet.bsky.social
Speaking of your old home state, I hadn’t seem the Devils’ third jersey until recently:
Hockey Player PK Subban in a New Jersey Devils black and white alternate jersey, with the single word Jersey on the front.
November 4, 2025 at 3:56 PM
fidelioscabinet.bsky.social
And a very crowded penalty box.
The penalty boxes after That Fight at a game in Nashville between the Winnipeg Jets and the Nashville Predators in November 2015. The top shot shows 6 Jets players in white jammed into the box with two officials. The lower shot shows 6 Predators players in gold with one official. There’s not enough seating in the boxes for the people in them.
November 2, 2025 at 11:52 AM
fidelioscabinet.bsky.social
With ALT-text
But Obama spent $376 million on White House renovations. Lies! 1. The Bush administration requested the spending, not Obama. 2. Congress approved it - before Obama took office, by the way. 3. The money was spent to upgrade the aging infrastructure in the 200-year-old building, including the heating, cooling, electrical, fire-alarm equipment, and security systems. 4. They didn't tear down 1/3 of the White House. 5. They didn't lie about it to the American people.
October 29, 2025 at 7:46 AM
fidelioscabinet.bsky.social
From a 2004 post at the Cato Institute website. www.cato.org/commentary/r...
Text of image: It was the Reagan administration that launched the Uruguay Round of multilateral trade negotiations in 1986 that lowered global tariffs and created the World Trade Organization. It was his administration that won approval of the U.S.-Canada Free Trade Agreement in 1988. That agreement soon expanded to include Mexico in what became the North American Free Trade Agreement, realizing a vision that Reagan first articulated in the 1980 campaign. It was Reagan who vetoed protectionist textile quota bills in 1985 and 1988.
October 26, 2025 at 9:01 PM
fidelioscabinet.bsky.social
With ALT-text.

Teach this wisdom to your friends and to the young people around you.
@iamragesparkle I was at a shitty crustpunk bar once getting an after-work beer. One of those shitholes where the bartenders clearly hate you. So the bartender and I were ignoring one another when someone sits next to me and he immediately says, "no. get out." And the dude next to me says, "hey i'm not doing anything, i'm a paying customer." and the bartender reaches under the counter for a bat or something and says, "out. now." and the dude leaves, kind of yelling. And he was dressed in a punk uniform, I noticed Anyway, I asked what that was about and the bartender was like, "you didn't see his vest but it was all nazi shit. Iron crosses and stuff. You get to recognize them." And i was like, ohok and he continues. "you have to nip it in the bud immediately. These guys come in and it's always a nice, polite one. And you serve them because you don't want to cause a scene. And then they become a regular and after awhile they bring a friend. And that dude is cool too. And then THEY bring friends and the friends bring friends and they stop being cool and then you realize, oh shit, this is a Nazi bar now. And it's too late because they're entrenched and if you try to kick them out, they cause a PROBLEM. So you have to shut them down. And i was like, 'oh damn.' and he said "yeah, you have to ignore their reasonable arguments becaus their end goal is to be terrible, awful people." And then he went back to ignoring me. But I haven't forgotten that at all.
October 22, 2025 at 10:08 PM
fidelioscabinet.bsky.social
If anyone would like more detail, here’s a picture of a denier (the basic silver coin) minted by Charlemagne—AD 768–814. 21mm (.83 inches diameter), 1.19 g (0.004 ounce), Toulouse mint. From the Wikipedia article on the denier.
A picture from the Wikipedia article on the denier, a common medieval silver coin—the silver penny. It’s slightly larger in diameter than an American dime, but not by much, and is from the reign of Charlemagne. There’s no royal profile on this coin—one side has an equal-armed cross in circle, surrounded by text; the other side has what looks like Charlemagne’s royal monogram in a circle, also surrounded by text. In both cases the text is worn and hard to read. The coin has a lot of wear, but we should all look so good when we’re 1200 years old. This is Wikipedia’s description: Denier (the basic silver coin) minted by Charlemagne—AD 768–814. 21mm (.83 inches diameter), 1.19 g (0.004 ounce), Toulouse mint. (From the Wikipedia article on the denier, which is not pronounced the same as a denier, a person who denies.)
October 16, 2025 at 12:09 PM
fidelioscabinet.bsky.social
I’ve seen it in a deli case in at least one of the Kroger stores in Nashville. (Do I have enough prepositions in that sentence?)
Refrigerated case in a grocery store in Nashville. Among other items, six packages of Taylor ham are prominently displayed.
October 12, 2025 at 10:27 AM
fidelioscabinet.bsky.social
Part of the back wall of the Rivers of Tennessee fountain at the Bicentennial Mall in downtown Nashville. It’s a polished dark gray stone wall covered with inscriptions about the history of Tennessee rivers, scientific facts, poetry & quotations. The main quotation in this shot in credited to a Tennessee farmer after the completion of Norris Dam in 1933, part of the TVA system. It reads: The greatest thing on earth is to have the love of God in your heart. And the next greatest thing is to have electricity in your house.
October 3, 2025 at 4:07 AM
fidelioscabinet.bsky.social
Googie Architecture, Streamline Moderne’s frivolous child!
Have a sign for a drive-in movie theater!
Signage in Googie Architecture style for the Elm Road Drive-in Theatre in Warren, Ohio. It lists the movies then showing on it’s three screens: Monsters University and Iron Man 3; White House Down & The Heat; World War Z & Man of Steel. This is an illuminated sign that stands at the entrance to the drive-in; it’s intended to catch the attention of people in cars on Elm Road. The bottom half of the sign is a large white rectangle with movable red letters listing the movies then being shown. This is framed in metal painted light orange. The upper half of the sign comprises, from the top down: Two golden 8-pointed stars, covered in small electric bulbs. Just below that are 8 small rectangles, with a colored letters listing on a white background that spells out Elm Road. The E is pink, the L is green, and the M is red orange. Next is a blue 8-pointed star, then a green R, a pink O, a red orange A, and a blue D. The second, fourth, sixth, and eighth letters are set slightly higher than the others. All the letter boxes are lit from within. Below this is a strip with a red background framed in the same light orange as the bottom half of the sign. The frame has small electric bulbs. On the red background are the words drive-in theatre in white. All the letters are capitalized and have the letter shape in neon tubing on the white background. At night the power to the sign would be on. The electric bulbs might be set to flash regularly. It’s probably not visible from space but it’s easily seen from several blocks away. For more information about the Elm Road Drive-in and full photo credits, check the photo in the Wikipedia article on Googie Architecture.
October 3, 2025 at 12:27 AM
fidelioscabinet.bsky.social
This is all I’ve got.
"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean-neither more nor less." "The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many different things. "The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master-that's all." — Lewis Carroll: Through the Looking-Glass
October 1, 2025 at 2:30 PM
fidelioscabinet.bsky.social
Post something random or you’ll gave an AWFUL October.
A vintage table loom in a craft store. The heddles are petrified rubber bands. Some repair will soon be required!
September 28, 2025 at 3:23 PM
fidelioscabinet.bsky.social
With ALT-text. The rest of the posts are text discussing the findings, and are worth reading for anyone who wants to know more about Long Covid.
(I apologize in advance if this ALT-text isn’t as helpful as it could be—this chart is not easily described. Luckily, the text in the posts that follow the original give a good explanation of the affected areas and the potential effects on patients, and are worth reading.) Images of brain scans performed on a group of patients with Long Covid versus a control group. Different areas of the brain stem and adjacent areasare highlighted in different colors, so as to show the effects on Long Covid on different areas of the brain stem. They are shown from different angles: posterior, left, and anterior. Text: COVID (top row) HC (bottom row) Brain regions, with a color key: Midbrain—red Pons—gold Medulla—green SCP—yellow green LC_R and LC_L—royal blue LDTg_L and LDTg_R—orange PnO_L—blue PnO_R—blue PTg_L—purple PTg_R—purple LDTg_R—orange PAG—lavender PBC_L—yellow PBC_R—yellow DR—bright blue MnR—bright green mRt_L and mRt_R—red Figure 2: 3D Freeview of the structure and volume analysis as isosurface view of the brainstem regions of interest extracted from FreeSurfer segmentation for the COVID group and the healthy control group. The COVID (coronavirus disease 2019) group shows significant volume and structural decrease specifically in the Superior Cerebellar Peduncle (green SCP), Middle Cerebellar Peduncle FA Avg (fractional anisotropy of the conductivity value marked by the red line in the PONS area, dorsal and median Raphe (bright blue/bright green) and Midbrain reticular formation (red)(grey arrows). P = posterior; L = left; A = anterior.
September 28, 2025 at 3:10 AM
fidelioscabinet.bsky.social
I have been looking at old newspapers online. One of them is the Scarsdale Inquirer, up in Westchester County, New York. In the late 1930s/early 1940s, one of the local pharmacies had a recurring ad, in which they briefly explained a medical topic for their readers. Here are two of them.
From The Scarsdale Inquirer, January 20, 1939: An advertisement from L. P. O’Farrell, Pharmacist: Impure water, milk, foods cause Typhoid fever Typhold Fever is another conquered disease, because medical science has definitely learned the cause and prevention. There is no longer necessity for anyone to have it, if he will immunize himself with anti-typhoid vaccine. Typhold fever is a serious and wasting disease, "fought out" between the typhoid germs and the bodily forces, with the intestines and blood as the battleground Typhoid germs enter the body, in nearly every instance, through water which has been contaminated through faulty drainage, unclean milk or uncooked food. When in doubt about the water you drink in strange places, it is best to go thirsty or boil it thoroughly. Be just as careful about milk and foods, especially salad foods served uncooked. The sure way for protection is to take a course of typhoid vaccine, consisting of three weekly injections, that will completely protect you for from three to five years. In these days of travel and being forced to eat and drink in all kinds of places, it is especially advisable. L. P. O’Farrell Pharmacist Filling prescriptions is the most important part of our business. Scarsdale, New York Phone 226-226 This is number 42 of a series telling the public about the doctor. From The Scarsdale Inquirer, February 10, 1939. Another ad from L.P. O’Farrell, pharmacist Cause and prevention of tetanus. Tetanus (or lockjaw) is not so common as formerly, chiefly because of the rapid disappearance of the horse and mule, and the tetanus germ emanates from the excreta of these animals. It is one of the most resistant of all germs to ordinary methods of sterilization, and has been known to live on sticks, nails and in dirt for years. Wounds from cap pistols sometimes result in tetanus, because germs from the dirty paper made from horse hair has been driven into the wound. In all instances where injury is received on the street, playground or where dirt has had a chance to enter the wound, tetanus serum should be administered by a competent physician at once. Serum which when given in time, will prevent tetanus, is administered by a simple hypodermic injection. It is harmless and the patient may usually return immediately to his work or play. If a chance is taken, and the serum not given until after development of the disease, there is very little chance of recovery. Be safe rather than sorry. L. P. O’Farrell pharmacist Filling prescriptions is the most important part of our business Scarsdale, New York Phone 225-226 This is number 45 of a series telling the public about the doctor.
September 25, 2025 at 7:15 PM
fidelioscabinet.bsky.social
I got yer Traveller’s church right here:
From Google Maps: a tiny area of Nashville, showing St. Patrick’s Catholic Church on Second Avenue near Dudley Park, just south of Chestnut Street. This was originally an Irish neighborhood, and for many years Irish Travellers from across the southeastern US would show up once a year to celebrate funerals and weddings here.
September 23, 2025 at 3:53 AM
fidelioscabinet.bsky.social
Suitably packaged, of course!
A vinaigrette—this one is a small white porcelain jar, decorated either a dainty wreath of painted flowers and a butterfly. It has silver fittings and a hinged cap with a silver-gilt grill to keep the smelling salts or aromatics from falling out. Because being elegant while managing your anxiety attack matters.
September 20, 2025 at 8:52 PM
fidelioscabinet.bsky.social
Maybe getting 4 vaccines at once yesterday was overdoing it a bit.
A crocheted possum hanging up in a kitchen. You stuff plastic shopping bags in its ass and pull them out of its mouth as needed.
September 18, 2025 at 1:29 PM
fidelioscabinet.bsky.social
With ALT-text
Text of screenshot of post Mx. Luna Corbden @corbden@defcon.social On the latest discourse... "Don't comply in advance" includes "don't freak out more than is useful." The word "prestige" used to mean "illusion." Human power enforcement has always been largely about illusion. Make yourself look bigger than you are. Paint the naked warriors blue. Wear a huge powdered wig. Project wealth through conspicuous consumption. Make each oppressed individual and group believe they're alone. My experience of moving to rural Idaho has taught me so much, when I was terrified of everyone because of the huge Trump sign coming into town and the big trucks with threatening bumper stickers. That kept me freaked out and terrified and shy and unwilling to OWN WHO I AM and connect with people authentically and confidently. Text of post in screenshot continued Now that I'm getting to know folks, I'm finding that those bullies are in the minority. While yes, there's an echo chamber here for sure, plenty of people are willing to jump to say things like, "I never really was a big fan of Trump." There is a thriving human rights group here, too, and the turnout at No Kings was surprisingly huge given that I didn't even think there would be one in this town. The *illusion* that everyone here was going to shoot me if they could was doing the work that they *don't have the actual resources to do*. It's a huge country and there are *hundreds of millions* of people. Even with each bit of power they grab, even with the full force of US military and legal might, it's not enough to take everyone, all at once, totally. And it never will be. But their victims thinking that they've already got it sewn up? That actually might be enough to lock it all down. So stop doing that work for them. Don't give up. And see if you can find joy somehow. And confidence in yourself. It's energizing. And it's defiant.
September 16, 2025 at 6:06 PM