Kristen Slater
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kristenslater.bsky.social
Kristen Slater
@kristenslater.bsky.social
160 followers 150 following 800 posts
Born romantic, lover of romance & spec fiction, loves a happy ending. Any day I learn new things is an awesome day! Enby, ace, aro. She/her
(PS: Don't bother follow farming, I don't do automatic 'follow back')
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kristenslater.bsky.social
Today's adventure in cinema started before I even got there. Surprise morris! Featured are two groups - The Rumworth Morris & Sheffield City Morris. A very nice surprise, and good to see young people in the mix. 1/3
Two lines of men facing each other, in the process of approaching each other. They're dressed in clogs (not the modern plastic things but wooden Lancashire clogs), white stockings, black trousers that finish just below the knee, white shirts, & hats with high crowns covered in flowers. Across their bodies they have red sashes, over which are yellow fabric belts. They're holding upraised wooden sticks with a diagonal blue & white stripe & blue tassels at each end. Beyond them are the musicians. Four accordionists, each with a different kind of accordion. They are dressed in black suits & wearing hats. They're a bit reminiscent of the Amish. The drummer providing the rhythm. The instrument is a large drum which is supported on a harness so it sticks out in front of him, with the 2 faces vertical so you can see the words 'The Rumworth Morris' pribted on it. He's also in a black suit. The other people the suits remind me of are the blues brothers. The women & girls. They are dressed all in white, with the exception of rainbow-striped ribbons tied around one arm. They are wearing what look like cricket shoes and they're holding wooden sticks that have a green & white striped pattern at each end. They're also wearing bells on their lower legs. A couple of the men are standing in the foreground to the left of the picture.
September 27, 2025 at 6:39 PM
kristenslater.bsky.social
Intermission. I'm a bit over halfway through my wine. It was meant to be 175ml, but they accidentally gave me a 250ml glass, so extra wine!
A glass completely full of red wine, on a small, round table attached to the arm of my seat. It's the house red & is very pleasant.
September 20, 2025 at 3:10 PM
kristenslater.bsky.social
Grocery shopping's not usually this exciting. 🔥 We weren't out for long, but I'm glad I got a small trolley I could lean on instead of a basket.
Two fire engines in the store carpark (with bonus image of me, or rather the shadow of my head, hands & phone)
July 8, 2025 at 6:15 PM
kristenslater.bsky.social
If you see this, quote with a robot that isn't from "Star Wars", "Star Trek", "Dr Who", or "Transformers".
Roz from the film "The Wild Robot" Roz has a spherical body, and a spherical head, supported by a thin neck. It has long, thin arms and its eyes glow with a warm yellow light. It is seated among plants and one hand gently cups a tiny white & orange gosling. A fox sits on the other side from the bird and is either smiling or smirking (it's hard to say which).
July 5, 2025 at 12:23 PM
kristenslater.bsky.social
They are also dangerous
Chart headed "Just use ___ straws!" Down the left side of the chart are listed different materials from which you can make straws (metal, paper, glass, silicone, acrylic, pasta/rice, bamboo, biodegradable, single use). Across the top are a number of risks (allergy risk, choking hazard, injury risk, not positionable, not hot liquid safe, dissolve with long use, hard to sanitize, high cost). All but one type of straw have checkmarks under at least 4 different risks. The one with none of those risks is the single use straw. Below the chart is a short paragraph noting straws are vital to many disabled people & suggesting focusing on pressuring companies to reduce waste in larger ways instead of banning single use straws.
June 28, 2025 at 8:57 PM
kristenslater.bsky.social
I had a momentary reluctance to repost, seeing as how the current number was so appropriate, but some things are more important than a brief adolescent snigger
Post from @mistresssnowphd.bsky.social "SEX WORKERS & KINKSTERS! the list of websites shadowdragon is surveilling to map relational networks between people includes chaturbate, eporner, fansly, fetlife, furaffinity, justforfans, onlyfans, pornhub, rule34, seneporno, xhamster, & xvideos" It includes a link to 404media listing the sites the ICE surveillance contractor is monitoring. At the bottom of the image are numbers indicating how many likes, replies & reposts there have been. Reposts is, well, appropriate. (For those who can't see the image, it's 69.)
June 8, 2025 at 2:42 PM
kristenslater.bsky.social
Now sitting here waiting until it's time to go in for the film - The Phoenician Scheme. It looks suitably quirky & fun. I'll get some food & a drink to go in with.📽 🍰🍷
Display made by cinema staff for the film. A framed map, as seen in the trailer, titled 'Modern Greater Independent Phoenicia'. It includes a flight plan for getting to the hotel that is extremely indirect. In fact, it avoids the whole centre of the territiory, presumably to avoid flying over (or into) the mountains shown on the map. Perched on a corner of the frame is a beret with a scorpion emblem on the front. There is also a small, pink booklet with a coat of arms on the front & the words 'Pass Norge'. Also in the picture is a vase with a couple of roses in, but that's just part of the general decor, there are quite a few dotted about the place. The counter where you can get tickets & buy drinks, sweets & other refreshments, including one of the scrumptious cakes & cookies that are on display here. There's a big coffee machine visible behind the cakes (did I mention they're scrumptious?). On the front of the counter top is a cute little round vase with a couple of red roses in it.
May 25, 2025 at 5:02 PM
kristenslater.bsky.social
I've not posted about my cinema-going recently. I've seen some films, a couple of operas & an art exhibition. Tonight it's Mission:Impossible. To see the making of the diorama go to their instagram CurzonSheffield (www.instagram.com/reel/DIgwfe8...)
3D display created by the staff at the cinema. There are 2 biplanes (1 red & 1 yellow) flying in front of a canyon wall, with the canyon floor below them. There's a signpost at the front of the diorama "Tom Cruise Misdion: Impossible The final reckoning"
May 23, 2025 at 5:52 PM
kristenslater.bsky.social
Ofsted is the inspection authority for schools/educational establishments (except universities) here in the UK. They grade the school on several measures as well as giving it an overall score. Ofsted's reports & grades are made public so people can check a school's performance & compare schools.
Extract from Ofsted school inspection handbook: "In graded inspections, we use Ofsted’s education inspection framework and grade the school for each of our key judgements (quality of education; behaviour and attitudes; personal development; and leadership and management) and for any relevant provision judgement (early years and/or sixth-form provision) against our grade descriptors."
May 11, 2025 at 1:57 AM
kristenslater.bsky.social
Visiting family this week. Mum & I had a very nice lunch at a cafe with great views today.
View of picnic benches on grass, next to a low wooden fence. Beyond them, flat sea sparkling with sunshine, land curving around behind that &, above everything, blue sky & light cumulus mediocris clouds. View over the top of a low wooden fence. In the foreground are various plants (don't ask me to ID them, 'cos I have minimal plant recognition skills). Behind is a vista of sunlit sea, curved cliffs and blue sky with white clouds. It's beautiful. A stone wall made of granite & topped with green grass, white daisies, & yellow dandelions (even I recognise those plants). Growing between the stones of the wall are other plants, including a little pink flower I can't name (maybe thrift?). There are a couple of weatherbeaten tamarisk trees in the background (Mum said that's what they are & she *is* a plant person).
May 6, 2025 at 3:46 PM
kristenslater.bsky.social
I thought 'oh, yeah, I blocked that account this morning'. Then found out it's *another* one. Having a go at the same cat pictures account. Oh well, another obnoxious misery, another block.
(Cat tax attached)
Leopold, a tiny black & white cat, curled up asleep on a crocheted blanket.
April 22, 2025 at 10:21 PM
kristenslater.bsky.social
You *say* making out but I'm getting a distinct Dali vibe from this sketch
Photograph of a page in an art book I have. The painting on this page is 'Autumn Cannibalism' by Salvador Dali. It depicts 'a couple locked in a deadly embrace of mutual cannibalism' (quote from the book).
April 20, 2025 at 2:04 AM
kristenslater.bsky.social
The little leaflet they print with the week's listings has a graphic of the building at the top of the page. The manager always adds a little something related to one of the films.
Stylised black & white graphic of a building. The roofline has several levels. On one level is a silhouette of a character with a long skirt-like garment, holding a bow, drawn and ready to fire. (The Return, of course.) Stylised black & white graphic of a building. On the ground, to the right of the building as we're looking at it, is a penguin. (The Penguin Lessons.)
April 15, 2025 at 7:28 PM
kristenslater.bsky.social
Got an email about an hour ago.
1) If I'm not already subscribed to their emails, why did I get this one?
2) I certainly have NOT signed up to use their piece of shit software.
Oh. And there's no link to opt out of getting more emails (or out of Gemini itself). Which is just a tiny bit illegal here
Screenshot of top of email. Subject is: Hey [redacted] welcome to Gemini There's a box with a link in, saying: Get the latest updates and more. Subscribe to our emails. Then a big blue box saying "Welcome to Gemini" & claiming it "helps supercharge your creativity" blah blah Screenshot of the bottom of the same email. It contains a couple of footnotes with caveats so they can disclaim responsibility for any errors. Then a paragraph which I've circled in red saying "This message was sent to you because you signed up to use Gemini"
April 15, 2025 at 6:53 PM
kristenslater.bsky.social
At the cinema again. I've not been much lately because most things have had long-ish runs, but a bunch of new things are on the way. Tonight is Mr Burton. 📽 The D&D group's in a little side room downstairs, there's improv upstairs & I'm sitting here with my phone listening to the background music 🎶
Poster for movie 'Mr Burton' about how the actor, Richard Burton, got started. There's one picture across the top half, showing Harry Lawtey against a background of hills & industry. Below that is the film title on a white background. The bottom of the poster shows 2 square panels, one showing Toby Jones & the other showing Lesley Manville. 2 chalkboards on the pavement outside the cinema. One advertises upcoming attractions in a variety of fonts - plays, concerts & films. The other advertises some of the refreshments available - coffee & cake, and cocktails. There are illustrations of these (the staff here are very talented).
April 8, 2025 at 6:02 PM
kristenslater.bsky.social
12 years ago I reviewed a book from 1905 "The Boy Craftsman" by A. Neely Hall and it was full of things for enterprising boys to do. Including making a log cabin, painting things with white lead, using all kinds of pointy or sharp implements and dangerous chemicals.
Extract from review The basic tools for a workshop are listed as “A hatchet, hammer, saw, plane, chisel, jack-knife, bit and bit-stock, screw-driver, and square”. Another extract from the same review A toy pistol, that will fire a piece of cardboard has a piece of advice that I think would have been good to repeat later when making arrows. “It is advisable to keep this pistol out of range of your companions’ faces.” Really? You think?"
March 31, 2025 at 8:53 PM
kristenslater.bsky.social
Tonight's cinema adventure. Earlier, the latest in a series called 'Exhibition on Screen' - 'Dawn of Impressionism: Paris 1874'. It was fabulous - I recommend watching it if you get a chance. And reposting a picture I posted a few days ago because I'm in awe of anyone who can paint. 📽🎨 #Movies #Art
Poster for the film, fearuring Claude Monet's picture "Impression, Sunrise". Programme notes. To the right of the text are 4 images from the film. Text reads: In 1874, a group of disillusioned Parisian artists “hungry for independence” broke the mould by holding their own exhibition outside official channels, an event that has since taken on legendary status as the pivotal moment in Western Art. At the time, they were ridiculed mercilessly by many critics for their new style, yet these outsiders went on to become the iconic founders of the world’s favourite art movement. 150 years later, the Musée d’Orsay in Paris and the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC are revisiting this groundbreaking event in a major exhibition. For this film, our approach is a little different. As well as looking at the event with modern experts, curators and art historians, we are telling this story of passion and rebellion through the words of those who actually witnessed the dawn of Impressionism: the artists, writers and journalists of Paris, 1874. You will be transported to the world of the people who lived, worked and wondered about life in the pivotal years that led up to the opening of the doors of Nadar’s Studio on April 15th, 1874. Having read the letters and diary entries of the artists that created the works and also the critic’s reviews after seeing them for the first time during the month-long exhibition, I feel closer to these incredible works and the people who created them. I also feel very differently about these works now compared to how I felt when I had only read modern day commentaries. I hope that this film opens your eyes anew to this unique moment in art history. Ali Ray, Director Original oil painting by one of the staff at the cinema (Dave). It's a copy of Renoir's painting of Monet reading his newspaper
March 18, 2025 at 8:56 PM
kristenslater.bsky.social
From another angle, so you can see the smug look of a dragon that's very pleased with itself
The same articulated, 3D-printed dragon, curled up with its head resting on its tail. Under the living room light it's looking more grey & red in this picture. It is also smirking at us.
March 15, 2025 at 10:07 PM
kristenslater.bsky.social
If you see this QRP a dragon!
An excellent Christmas present from my brother who knows an artist who does 3D-printed work. Ever since I first saw @measuredandslow.bsky.social's dragons (via @mostlybree.kitrocha.com) I've yearned for one, but we're on different continents.
An articulated, 3D-printed dragon with a long tail, wrapped around a forearm & hand. Its head rests on the hand, facing the camera, most of its body is hidden behind the hand, and its tail is wrapped loosely around the wrist and arm. It's made of a colour-changing filament that shifts through pinks, lilacs & blues, depending on how the light hits it.
March 15, 2025 at 9:39 PM
kristenslater.bsky.social
Cinema tonight to watch Black Bag - trailer looks good. 📽 On Tuesday it's an art exhibition & one of the staff has done an actual oil painting for the display in the foyer.
Display on a table. Either side of a vase of red roses are a poster for the exhibition "Dawn of Impressionism" (part of the Exhibition on Screen programme) and a small oil painting. It's after Renoir's painting of Claude Monet Reading His Newspaper. Close up of the small oil painting. It is excellent. Dave's very talented. (There is a small card in front of the painting which says "Please don't touch. Painted by our staff member Dave C.")
March 14, 2025 at 9:17 PM
kristenslater.bsky.social
I work at a primary healthcare provider in England. We just had an inspection & the biggest number of complaints received by them were about inability to get an appointment. Here are some figures from Jan & Feb on "DNAs" (did not attend - ie didn't turn up & didn't call us/cancel) 1/3
Notice for January. Text reads Appointments lost over the last month due to patients not attending... Doctor 70 Nurse 118 Healthcare Assistant 79 Occupational therapist 5 Physician assistant 2 Physiotherapist 19 Total 293 Notice for February. Text reads Appointments lost in February due to patients not attending... Doctor 85 Nurse 134 Healthcare Assistant 93 Occupational therapist 0 Coach 4 Physiotherapist 22 Total 338
March 14, 2025 at 8:18 PM
kristenslater.bsky.social
Not been to the cinema much this week or last. Awards season means they're focusing on showing nominated films & I've already seen those. Tonight though is a new one-Mickey 17. Sitting here with my drink & crochet, listening to the music because it's not for another hour yet.
Chalkboard on a paved footway, advertising the film Mickey 17. Either side of the film title is a stick figure of a person. Below is a row of 15 more stick figures, each overlaid with a red X.
March 7, 2025 at 7:29 PM
kristenslater.bsky.social
That would be called a half double in the US. Here's a chart from www.thefuzzybee.co.uk that may be helpful.
Screengrab of comparison of US and UK crochet terms and hook sizes. It also includes the symbols for each stitch for when the pattern is shown as a chart instead of written in words.
February 26, 2025 at 12:57 AM
kristenslater.bsky.social
That was very good. Recommended viewing. And when I referred to it as a lane, above, it's more of an alley. 📽
The alley in question. A cobbled road surface with cracks & potholes in it, bordered by uneven, narrow pavements & the backs of buildings. There are rubbish bins on the pavement. Right at the far end, where the alley goes round a corner, there are bollards & bicycle/motorbike parking. Visible on the left, above those, is the sign for the cinema. It's a lovely cinema - which is why I keep going there.
February 16, 2025 at 5:08 PM
kristenslater.bsky.social
Today's adventure in cinema is 'I'm Still Here'. It looks like it's going to be a hard watch, but very good. Across from the doorway is this mural. It really lifts this slightly shabby lane.
Boards across the entry to a building that's been closed for a few years. They're painted with a pink backround, on which are stylised trees in orange & blue & arches in orange, pink & green. It's very pleasant to look at.
February 16, 2025 at 2:01 PM