@m-a-r-k-k.bsky.social
Tired caregiver. Emancipated fintech drone. Chicagoan in exile. Soviet Immigrant. Non-believer.
I post an occasional random tidbit I learned that day.
I post an occasional random tidbit I learned that day.
Reposted
Congratulations to all the Democratic candidates who won tonight. It’s a reminder that when we come together around strong, forward-looking leaders who care about the issues that matter, we can win. We’ve still got plenty of work to do, but the future looks a little bit brighter.
November 5, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Congratulations to all the Democratic candidates who won tonight. It’s a reminder that when we come together around strong, forward-looking leaders who care about the issues that matter, we can win. We’ve still got plenty of work to do, but the future looks a little bit brighter.
Groovy and hypnotic, dark and foreboding, but somehow relaxing a the same time youtu.be/0VOTsywbwDQ?...
NIGREDO "BLACK SUN PHASES"
YouTube video by Gil De Ray
youtu.be
August 31, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Groovy and hypnotic, dark and foreboding, but somehow relaxing a the same time youtu.be/0VOTsywbwDQ?...
Reposted
Not to pile on, but every 'c' in 'Pacific Ocean' is pronounced differently.
August 3, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Not to pile on, but every 'c' in 'Pacific Ocean' is pronounced differently.
Reposted
tsu = harbor
nami = wave
tsunami = harbor wave
nami = wave
tsunami = harbor wave
July 30, 2025 at 2:43 PM
tsu = harbor
nami = wave
tsunami = harbor wave
nami = wave
tsunami = harbor wave
Great band, Vtoroi Ka, from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyTj...
Второй Ка - Тени от пальм (Mood video)
YouTube video by Второй Ка
www.youtube.com
June 27, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Great band, Vtoroi Ka, from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyTj...
The Russian word for train station, вокзал (vokzal) ultimately comes from Vauxhall Gardens in London. Gardens like it were popular in early 1800's Europe and the first Russian railroad ended at one of these gardens near St. Petersburg. After that all train stations used the name.
June 26, 2025 at 8:14 PM
The Russian word for train station, вокзал (vokzal) ultimately comes from Vauxhall Gardens in London. Gardens like it were popular in early 1800's Europe and the first Russian railroad ended at one of these gardens near St. Petersburg. After that all train stations used the name.
This is a good documentary about caregiving in the US and also the history of the social safety net in the country. Although it sugarcoats some aspects and is a bit too optimistic, it's good to raise awareness that so many millions of us are going through this hell. www.pbs.org/video/caregi...
Caregiving
A documentary revealing America’s caregiving crisis through intimate stories and expert insight.
www.pbs.org
June 24, 2025 at 12:47 AM
This is a good documentary about caregiving in the US and also the history of the social safety net in the country. Although it sugarcoats some aspects and is a bit too optimistic, it's good to raise awareness that so many millions of us are going through this hell. www.pbs.org/video/caregi...
Karla's Choice was excellent, this is great news
The question has occasionally been asked: “Will there be more Smiley?”
Yes.
www.thebookseller.com/rights/nick-...
Yes.
www.thebookseller.com/rights/nick-...
Nick Harkaway writes second George Smiley novel as le Carré’s work comes to West End for first time
John le Carré’s son, Nick Harkaway, has written a new George Smiley novel for Viking as le Carré’s work comes to London's West End for the first time. Harkaway has written a new novel, The Taper Man, ...
www.thebookseller.com
May 21, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Karla's Choice was excellent, this is great news
Great movie not to be overlooked. A riveting heist film, except based on important, terrifying history. Great acting by Jude Law and Nicholas Hoult letterboxd.com/film/the-ord...
The Order (2024)
A string of violent robberies in the Pacific Northwest leads veteran FBI agent Terry Husk into a white supremacist plot to overthrow the federal government.
letterboxd.com
May 19, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Great movie not to be overlooked. A riveting heist film, except based on important, terrifying history. Great acting by Jude Law and Nicholas Hoult letterboxd.com/film/the-ord...
Great Flood of 1910 occurred in Paris when the Seine River overflowed, rising 28.3 feet above normal. Water seeped into basements, subway tunnels, and streets, forcing evacuations. Boats were used to navigate the city, and makeshift wooden walkways were built to help people move around.
April 16, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Great Flood of 1910 occurred in Paris when the Seine River overflowed, rising 28.3 feet above normal. Water seeped into basements, subway tunnels, and streets, forcing evacuations. Boats were used to navigate the city, and makeshift wooden walkways were built to help people move around.
The English slang term "skosh," meaning "a little" or "a small amount," derives from the Japanese word すこし (sukoshi), which has the same meaning—"a bit" or "a small amount."
This connection originates from American soldiers stationed in Japan during and after World War II.
This connection originates from American soldiers stationed in Japan during and after World War II.
April 10, 2025 at 12:34 AM
The English slang term "skosh," meaning "a little" or "a small amount," derives from the Japanese word すこし (sukoshi), which has the same meaning—"a bit" or "a small amount."
This connection originates from American soldiers stationed in Japan during and after World War II.
This connection originates from American soldiers stationed in Japan during and after World War II.
Some species of grasshoppers can undergo "phase polyphenism" and become locusts. Triggered by crowding and increased serotonin levels, they change color, grow stronger, and start behaving more aggressively. They form massive swarms that can travel great distances, causing significant damage.
April 7, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Some species of grasshoppers can undergo "phase polyphenism" and become locusts. Triggered by crowding and increased serotonin levels, they change color, grow stronger, and start behaving more aggressively. They form massive swarms that can travel great distances, causing significant damage.
European Ashkenazi Jews did not widely adopt surnames until around the turn of 19th century. That was when European countries started to require citizens to have surnames for purposes like taxation and conscription. The Austro-Hungarian Empire's 1787 law required Jews to take German surnames.
March 27, 2025 at 12:41 AM
European Ashkenazi Jews did not widely adopt surnames until around the turn of 19th century. That was when European countries started to require citizens to have surnames for purposes like taxation and conscription. The Austro-Hungarian Empire's 1787 law required Jews to take German surnames.
Akira Ishikawa (石川 晶, Ishikawa Akira, November 10, 1934 - February 10, 2002) was a Japanese jazz drummer and bandleader. The bass player on the record Akira Ishikawa & His Count Buffalos – Get Up! was Masaoki Terakawa www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8he...
Akira Ishikawa & His Count Buffalos – Get Up ! (1975)
YouTube video by Yum Yam
www.youtube.com
March 21, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Akira Ishikawa (石川 晶, Ishikawa Akira, November 10, 1934 - February 10, 2002) was a Japanese jazz drummer and bandleader. The bass player on the record Akira Ishikawa & His Count Buffalos – Get Up! was Masaoki Terakawa www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8he...
The word "buffoon" comes from the French term "bouffon", a style of clown theater.
March 2, 2025 at 6:52 PM
The word "buffoon" comes from the French term "bouffon", a style of clown theater.
Reposted
Reposted
Wait long enough, and deer turn into whales
The blog of Neil Steinberg
www.everygoddamnday.com
January 21, 2025 at 2:02 PM
December 15 is the birthday of Nero, the emperor of the Julian-Claudian dynasty, born in 37 AD, ruled from 54 AD until his death in 68 AD, aged 30.
Most sources offer overwhelmingly negative assessments of his personality and reign, however he was popular among the Roman commoners.
Most sources offer overwhelmingly negative assessments of his personality and reign, however he was popular among the Roman commoners.
December 16, 2024 at 1:59 AM
December 15 is the birthday of Nero, the emperor of the Julian-Claudian dynasty, born in 37 AD, ruled from 54 AD until his death in 68 AD, aged 30.
Most sources offer overwhelmingly negative assessments of his personality and reign, however he was popular among the Roman commoners.
Most sources offer overwhelmingly negative assessments of his personality and reign, however he was popular among the Roman commoners.
A lunar halo occurs when light from the moon is refracted, reflected, and dispersed by ice crystals suspended in high cirrus or cirrostratus clouds. The ice crystals act like tiny prisms, creating a large, bright ring around the moon.
Sometimes, they can also have a faint rainbow-like appearance.
Sometimes, they can also have a faint rainbow-like appearance.
December 14, 2024 at 2:14 AM
A lunar halo occurs when light from the moon is refracted, reflected, and dispersed by ice crystals suspended in high cirrus or cirrostratus clouds. The ice crystals act like tiny prisms, creating a large, bright ring around the moon.
Sometimes, they can also have a faint rainbow-like appearance.
Sometimes, they can also have a faint rainbow-like appearance.
Cheese was introduced to Japan from the Korean kingdom of Baekje around 645 AD. It was presented to Emperor Kōtoku and was known as "so" (蘇). The exact recipe for this early Japanese cheese is unknown, but it was likely a fresh cheese made by boiling cow's milk and letting it harden.
December 13, 2024 at 1:43 AM
Cheese was introduced to Japan from the Korean kingdom of Baekje around 645 AD. It was presented to Emperor Kōtoku and was known as "so" (蘇). The exact recipe for this early Japanese cheese is unknown, but it was likely a fresh cheese made by boiling cow's milk and letting it harden.
"Sometimes, if you were in an impossible situation, you gave yourself permission to pantomime insanity and only later recognised that there’d never been anything false in it at all." - Karla's Choice, by Nick Harkaway (A George Smiley novel)
December 6, 2024 at 9:18 PM
"Sometimes, if you were in an impossible situation, you gave yourself permission to pantomime insanity and only later recognised that there’d never been anything false in it at all." - Karla's Choice, by Nick Harkaway (A George Smiley novel)
The fight-or-flight response dates back to early vertebrates, around the Cambrian explosion, approximately 500 million years ago. This response is part of the sympathetic nervous system and is triggered by the release of hormones like adrenaline.
December 2, 2024 at 1:43 AM
The fight-or-flight response dates back to early vertebrates, around the Cambrian explosion, approximately 500 million years ago. This response is part of the sympathetic nervous system and is triggered by the release of hormones like adrenaline.
Reposted
For anyone interested in Black Chicago, or Chicago in general, or urban housing in general, this is both a treasure and a promising start to a new YouTube/Podcast series youtu.be/edvy9MAYneE?...
You Don’t Know Chi! Episode 01
YouTube video by 6figga_dilla
youtu.be
November 30, 2024 at 3:17 AM
For anyone interested in Black Chicago, or Chicago in general, or urban housing in general, this is both a treasure and a promising start to a new YouTube/Podcast series youtu.be/edvy9MAYneE?...
A "thrupence" or "threepence" refers to a coin that was used in the United Kingdom, worth three old pence. The coin was quite distinctive, often featuring a design with a crowned portcullis or a Tudor rose. The threepence was in circulation from the early 16th century until decimalisation in 1971.
November 27, 2024 at 1:51 AM
A "thrupence" or "threepence" refers to a coin that was used in the United Kingdom, worth three old pence. The coin was quite distinctive, often featuring a design with a crowned portcullis or a Tudor rose. The threepence was in circulation from the early 16th century until decimalisation in 1971.