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Silversprite @silversprite.bsky.social · 2h

Continuing re-reads of classic horror (in the wider sense of the genre) short stories.

The Repairer of Reputations, from The King in Yellow (Robert W. Chambers, 1895) is something of an 'oof!' world build in this current time of US politics.

Perhaps oddly, now want to re-play Kentucky Route Zero.

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David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · Jul 22

Chambers' "The Repairer of Reputations" is one of the better horror stories out there. Its skewering of its unreliable narrator, whose bigotry and entitlement are inextricably tied to his corruption and madness, had the number of Lovecraft's ilk before Lovecraft was even a thing.

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Monteiro @monteiro.bsky.social · 1d

Don’t make me tap the sign.

Tap the sign meme saying “Using AI ironically is still using AI.”

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Silversprite @silversprite.bsky.social · 4h

With 10 weeks till Christmas Day, a short review of Lidl's mini Stollen Pan dulce (poppy seeds). £1.99, 200g.

Standard mass market stollen. Not as sweet as most others. Firm, cuttable, texture. Blue poppy seed swirly filling; flavour slightly of figs. Disappointing lack of high.

Unmemorable. 5/10.

A miniature stollen, in a white and blue plastic wrapping, sitting on a wooden kitchen surface.

An unwrapped miniature stollen, on a grey plate (isometric view), showing the light dusting of white powder covering most of it.

A miniature stollen, on a grey plate, cut in two and opened up to show the inside.

A slice of stollen, on a grey plate, viewed from above. Some of the dusting is visible above the slice. The dark blue filling, a thin swirl of poppy seeds and other ingredients, is visible.

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Silversprite @silversprite.bsky.social · 5h

Playing That Song from the soundtrack to Apocalypse Now is, well, quite a novel way of um enhancing a yoga session.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIrvSJwwJUE

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Benny Brycheiniog @cupking11.bsky.social · 10h

My favourite academic / IT story involves a phonecall to our IT support:

Support: Hi, Alex. How are things?
Alex: Fine thanks.
Support: So, what can I do for you?
Alex: It's my computer.
Support: What's wrong with it?
Alex: It's on fire?.......What do I do?

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Silversprite @silversprite.bsky.social · 1d

Hmmmm, I'll pass :-)

Part of the text from an interview, A Koala Bite Wound and Lonepinella Infection, the transcript of which is at:

https://tools.cdc.gov/podcasts/media/pdf/EID_1-19_Lonepinella.pdf

[Holly Sinclair] Yeah, so as with any bite from an animal, or even a human, there’s bacteria within that oral cavity or saliva of the biter can be transferred to the skin. And with a break in that skin defense barrier, that can then lead to infection. The bacteria that causes the infection will depend on what organisms are present within the animal’s mouth. And this is really the fascinating part of these cases. So, initially, the koala bite would start off with a puncture site, and then develop erythema, or redness, and a purulent discharge within days, if not treated. And some of these patients did not improve with oral antibiotics and did require surgical drainage for the infection. Yes, each patient was seen in hospital for intravenous antibiotics and surgical management. Yep.

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Silversprite @silversprite.bsky.social · 1d

That looks to have ten sharp, curved, claws. Good luck.

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Silversprite @silversprite.bsky.social · 1d

"Australia's largest owl, which eats koalas and possums..."

Is there *any* species in Australia which is *not* quietly terrifying?!

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Silversprite @silversprite.bsky.social · 1d

Still ambivalent about The Great Gatsby. Will probably always be ambivalent about it.

{starts typing screed, then deletes}

I should read less Fitzgerald and more Faulkner. Lesson learned.

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Paul Jonker-Hoffrén @pjonkerhoffren.bsky.social · 2d

If you think ChatGPT is a bad development, remember Coleco invented, built and shipped the Coleco ADAM. Coleco went bankrupt when it became apparent that this home computer emitted such a strong EMP that it would destroy data tapes nearby, including often its own startup tape. #1980s #computing

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Silversprite @silversprite.bsky.social · 2d

Just glanced at the synopsis of Clive Barker's "In the Hills, the Cities" on Goodreads. And blinked. In entirety, it reads:

+ + + + +

Two men on vacation in Yugoslavia.

+ + + + +

That's quite the example of something technically correct, but also spectacularly misleading through over-brevity.

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Silversprite @silversprite.bsky.social · 2d

First Christmas carol heard playing over the sound system in a shop or supermarket: check.

Noting it is 14th October; Christmas Day is 10 weeks and 2 days away.

(It was "The Holly and the Ivy")

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Silversprite @silversprite.bsky.social · 2d

Mis-timed the 2.2 mile walk to Lidl, so am here several minutes before it opens. Efficiency fail; I could have had another coffee.

The closed outer doors of a supermarket. Inside, lights are on.

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Silversprite @silversprite.bsky.social · 2d

Lived here long enough to identify, from pre-dawn sounds alone, which cats are fighting nearby.

It's Menace [real name unknown], a burglar cat with a truncated tail who may not be local, and Pebble, a large tabby who just wants a quiet life sitting under a tree.

(can identify with Pebble)

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Nat Guest @unfortunatalie.bsky.social · 2d

Why do we call it gaming addiction and not consoling ourselves

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Silversprite @silversprite.bsky.social · 3d

Post you from a different era.

2011, with Becky outside the Gothic house in Eldon, Iowa, as painted by Grant Wood in 1930. The little museum on site had a wardrobe of clothes (and a few pitchforks) so visitors could do this for a donation.

Two people dressed up in a homage to Grant Wood's 1930 painting. They are standing outside the actual house in the painting, and wearing clothes similar in style to the original, while posing. The man is holding a pitchfork.

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VinegarMike @vinegarmike.bsky.social · 3d

Good morning

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Silversprite @silversprite.bsky.social · 3d

“Introduce yourself using only one food you refuse to eat, one movie you’ll never watch again, and one song you can’t stand”

Canned tuna - always hated the smell.

Forrest Gump - aged badly.

(controversial) Don't You Want Me, The Human League - dirge. Still like The Things That Dreams Are Made Of.

Martin Nutbeem @martinnutbeem.bsky.social · 3d

“Introduce yourself using only one food you refuse to eat, one movie you’ll never watch again, and one song you can’t stand”

Red meat - work experience in a food tech lab taking swabs in an abattoir put pay to that.

Top Gun - Honestly, Tom Cruise gives me the ick.

Mr Brightside - Shouty mindpiss.

Danie Ware @danacea.bsky.social · 3d

“Introduce yourself using only one food you refuse to eat, one movie you’ll never watch again, and one song you can’t stand”

Avocado (with or without the toast) 🤢

Event Horizon (watched it once, scared the ABSOLUTE living shit out of me)

The fucking Macarena (and the dance that goes with)

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Silversprite @silversprite.bsky.social · 3d

"Over 50? Have you considered the advantages of living in a retirement complex?"

No, annoying advert. If I'm going to live in an open prison, I'll do some rewarding crimes beforehand.

Jo Kershaw @mthrjo.bsky.social · 3d

Facebook just served me an ad for an online yodelling workshop.

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Silversprite @silversprite.bsky.social · 3d

bsky.app/profile/port...

Portland Frogs @portlandfrogs.bsky.social · 3d

Keep Portland weird!

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Silversprite @silversprite.bsky.social · 3d

Morning Silversprite has an answer to the depletion of the blueberry cheesecake purchased by weekend Silversprite.

Silversprite @silversprite.bsky.social · 3d

Middle of the night Silversprite is pleased that weekend Silversprite had the wisdom to not only purchase a blueberry cheesecake, but to let it defrost in the fridge.

Middle of the night Silversprite has also probably had too much sugar, but that's a different thing.

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Silversprite @silversprite.bsky.social · 3d

Owl.

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Silversprite @silversprite.bsky.social · 3d

Middle of the night Silversprite is pleased that weekend Silversprite had the wisdom to not only purchase a blueberry cheesecake, but to let it defrost in the fridge.

Middle of the night Silversprite has also probably had too much sugar, but that's a different thing.

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Silversprite @silversprite.bsky.social · 3d

But in a (mince pie flavoured) nutshell. If you love Christmas, Yule, Festive foods, and especially love the flavour of mince pies, there's a product for you out there, somewhere.

/EndOfThread

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