Shell Peters
@shellpeters1.bsky.social
Author. Gardner. Optimistic cynic. Warning: Contents under pressure.
@ShellPeters@clacks.link
@ShellPeters@clacks.link
On this #caturday, the G-cat says there will be no e-books for you or me or anyone. The e-reader belongs to G-cat now. #cats #catsofbluesky
December 14, 2025 at 6:12 AM
On this #caturday, the G-cat says there will be no e-books for you or me or anyone. The e-reader belongs to G-cat now. #cats #catsofbluesky
For those in the #Seattle area looking for something seasonal but slightly different to do next weekend (includes pay-what-you-can option), the Medieval Women's Choir is having their St Nicholas concert on Saturday. More info: medievalwomenschoir.org/events/
Events | Medieval Women's Choir
Join us for upcoming concerts and events hosted by the Medieval Women's Choir in Seattle.
medievalwomenschoir.org
December 7, 2025 at 10:52 PM
For those in the #Seattle area looking for something seasonal but slightly different to do next weekend (includes pay-what-you-can option), the Medieval Women's Choir is having their St Nicholas concert on Saturday. More info: medievalwomenschoir.org/events/
Sometimes random brain is random: a chef on a cooking competition on TV used huitlacoche, which reminded me out of the blue of an ancient blog called Steve Don't Eat It, where one of the things the (presumably) eponymous Steve ate was a can of huitlacoche (not cooked it in something, just ate it).
December 7, 2025 at 4:53 AM
Sometimes random brain is random: a chef on a cooking competition on TV used huitlacoche, which reminded me out of the blue of an ancient blog called Steve Don't Eat It, where one of the things the (presumably) eponymous Steve ate was a can of huitlacoche (not cooked it in something, just ate it).
See an author righteously infuriated and railing against the piracy sites that are starving authors and killing careers? You do one or both of these things:
- Go buy one of their books
- Go check out one of their books from the library (or request the title if not available)
- Go buy one of their books
- Go check out one of their books from the library (or request the title if not available)
November 25, 2025 at 6:45 AM
See an author righteously infuriated and railing against the piracy sites that are starving authors and killing careers? You do one or both of these things:
- Go buy one of their books
- Go check out one of their books from the library (or request the title if not available)
- Go buy one of their books
- Go check out one of their books from the library (or request the title if not available)
Saying a prayer to the cereal gods, for I have embarked upon the Holiday Ritual of Making Nuts and Bolts, which I have not done in at least two decades if not more. The relative who usually does this is traveling, and so I have launched into the breach. The mix is in the oven... #cooking #holidays
November 23, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Heads up if you use GMail: you have an immediate action to take.
If you use GMail, AI (Gemini) was turned on yesterday by default and now scans all of your content for machine learning. To turn off, go to Settings>General and scroll down. Uncheck the box for "Smart features."
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
November 20, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Heads up if you use GMail: you have an immediate action to take.
On this Trans Day of Remembrance #TDOR, let me add my voice to the many reminding you that trans people have always been among us. My life has been enriched by knowing many, from acquaintances, co-workers, and fellow students to dear friends. And yes, because they are people just like you and me...
November 20, 2025 at 8:56 PM
On this Trans Day of Remembrance #TDOR, let me add my voice to the many reminding you that trans people have always been among us. My life has been enriched by knowing many, from acquaintances, co-workers, and fellow students to dear friends. And yes, because they are people just like you and me...
On this #caturday I did not get pictures of the L-cat rolling over in the cat bed in such a way that both the cat and the cat bed wound up on the floor, with the bed on top of the cat. It was very funny. No cats were harmed, although L-cat's dignity suffered. #cats #catsofbluesky
November 16, 2025 at 12:42 AM
On this #caturday I did not get pictures of the L-cat rolling over in the cat bed in such a way that both the cat and the cat bed wound up on the floor, with the bed on top of the cat. It was very funny. No cats were harmed, although L-cat's dignity suffered. #cats #catsofbluesky
As always, rahaeli has a really good explainer thread on how difficult moderation really is at scale. Be sure to check out some of her replies and responses, where you can learn just how bad the back-end software for moderation can be!
There is a very good reason why the thing I say most consistently about situations like this is "the violent rhetoric policy is my least favorite policy to write and enforce, and the policy that creates the most upheaval among the userbase when it is applied"!
"bluesky will suspend you for anything vaguely resembling a death threat" is maybe the single most consistent moderation policy they have I don't know why anyone is surprised by this one
yes, even if it's a reference to song lyrics
yes, even if it's a reference to song lyrics
November 14, 2025 at 7:31 PM
As always, rahaeli has a really good explainer thread on how difficult moderation really is at scale. Be sure to check out some of her replies and responses, where you can learn just how bad the back-end software for moderation can be!
People often think that a hyperverbal person must be an extrovert. Like a lot of assumptions, this is often not true.
November 14, 2025 at 4:08 AM
People often think that a hyperverbal person must be an extrovert. Like a lot of assumptions, this is often not true.
If you live somewhere where there's an election today, make sure you've done your research and then get out and vote, please and thank you.
November 4, 2025 at 5:09 PM
If you live somewhere where there's an election today, make sure you've done your research and then get out and vote, please and thank you.
Today's chores list includes "baking cookies", which means today's chores list is both highly unusual, and also involves delicious homemade cookies, so that's nice.
(Homemade cookies are surprisingly effective lures for board members, engineers, and other mysterious creatures of the night...)
(Homemade cookies are surprisingly effective lures for board members, engineers, and other mysterious creatures of the night...)
November 3, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Today's chores list includes "baking cookies", which means today's chores list is both highly unusual, and also involves delicious homemade cookies, so that's nice.
(Homemade cookies are surprisingly effective lures for board members, engineers, and other mysterious creatures of the night...)
(Homemade cookies are surprisingly effective lures for board members, engineers, and other mysterious creatures of the night...)
...I was not expecting streakers running flat-out in November, I must admit.
Enthusiasts training for the next World Naked Bikeride/Run?
Baseball fans trying to hoodoo some magic for their team?
Frat boys doing frat boy things?
No idea, but you do you, dudes.
Enthusiasts training for the next World Naked Bikeride/Run?
Baseball fans trying to hoodoo some magic for their team?
Frat boys doing frat boy things?
No idea, but you do you, dudes.
November 2, 2025 at 4:28 AM
...I was not expecting streakers running flat-out in November, I must admit.
Enthusiasts training for the next World Naked Bikeride/Run?
Baseball fans trying to hoodoo some magic for their team?
Frat boys doing frat boy things?
No idea, but you do you, dudes.
Enthusiasts training for the next World Naked Bikeride/Run?
Baseball fans trying to hoodoo some magic for their team?
Frat boys doing frat boy things?
No idea, but you do you, dudes.
First group of kids: 4
Number of ghillie suits: 3
Number of anthropomorphic bananas: 1
...I really want to know the story of why the banana is traveling with three ghillie-suited companions, but hey, fun and unexpected combo.
Number of ghillie suits: 3
Number of anthropomorphic bananas: 1
...I really want to know the story of why the banana is traveling with three ghillie-suited companions, but hey, fun and unexpected combo.
November 1, 2025 at 1:22 AM
First group of kids: 4
Number of ghillie suits: 3
Number of anthropomorphic bananas: 1
...I really want to know the story of why the banana is traveling with three ghillie-suited companions, but hey, fun and unexpected combo.
Number of ghillie suits: 3
Number of anthropomorphic bananas: 1
...I really want to know the story of why the banana is traveling with three ghillie-suited companions, but hey, fun and unexpected combo.
This really says it all. (Also, her books are excellent. Give them a try if you like smart contemporary romance with a strong sense of humor. kate-davies.com/books/ )
Ready for Halloween! (Context: we generally get between 300-900 trick or treaters. Top Ramen added this year because *waves hand at everything*.)
October 31, 2025 at 9:22 PM
This really says it all. (Also, her books are excellent. Give them a try if you like smart contemporary romance with a strong sense of humor. kate-davies.com/books/ )
More of this, please. I'm tired of toadies asking what the party *not in control of the branches of the government* is going to do to get the government working and trying to misattribute responsibility for current conditions away from the folks in power.
@neguse.house.gov gives a lesson on how to reframe a journalist’s stupid question about #SNAP! 💪🏼
October 31, 2025 at 8:15 PM
More of this, please. I'm tired of toadies asking what the party *not in control of the branches of the government* is going to do to get the government working and trying to misattribute responsibility for current conditions away from the folks in power.
Happy Halloween! I've had more opportunity this year to be out and about in my neighborhood at night, and wow, there's a lot of new (to me) impressive tech to admire. I'm particularly delighted by whatever gadgets people use in their carved pumpkins to emulate candles that turns on at night.
October 31, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Happy Halloween! I've had more opportunity this year to be out and about in my neighborhood at night, and wow, there's a lot of new (to me) impressive tech to admire. I'm particularly delighted by whatever gadgets people use in their carved pumpkins to emulate candles that turns on at night.
I would argue that the fourth horseman is the Fiber Seeking Digger, not strictly limited to the North American Backhoe variety, but yeah, this tracks.
The four horsemen of the apocalypse are DNS, BGP, race conditions, and the North American Fiber Seeking Backhoe
October 24, 2025 at 12:07 AM
I would argue that the fourth horseman is the Fiber Seeking Digger, not strictly limited to the North American Backhoe variety, but yeah, this tracks.
Multiply that bottom picture by 2100+ events around the USA yesterday, not to mention the ones from expats abroad...
October 19, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Multiply that bottom picture by 2100+ events around the USA yesterday, not to mention the ones from expats abroad...
Harvested dried beans in the ghostlight, as you do when work is insanely busy and you have a harvest to get in before the rains come. Now to shell and sort them before sending the surplus to the community #garden for those in need for the next year's planting.
September 28, 2025 at 2:55 AM
Harvested dried beans in the ghostlight, as you do when work is insanely busy and you have a harvest to get in before the rains come. Now to shell and sort them before sending the surplus to the community #garden for those in need for the next year's planting.
A little happiness: My beloved Mariners are AL Champions, and the Padres have clinched at least a wild-card spot, so my perennial dream of a Mariners-Padres World Series is technically possible at this moment in 2025. #baseball
September 25, 2025 at 5:27 AM
A little happiness: My beloved Mariners are AL Champions, and the Padres have clinched at least a wild-card spot, so my perennial dream of a Mariners-Padres World Series is technically possible at this moment in 2025. #baseball
September 21, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Current mood:
a woman with long hair is making a funny face with a letter b on her forehead .
Alt: An old poor woman is booing the rich and entitled and pointing out their hypocritical actions.
media.tenor.com
September 19, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Current mood: