Ralph Snyder
@ralphsnyder.bsky.social
I post and repost about books, philosophy, art, history, photography, random observations, and, sometimes, just silly stuff.
Reposted by Ralph Snyder
Nonviolence means avoiding not only external physical violence, but also internal violence of spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you refuse to hate him. — Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
December 5, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Nonviolence means avoiding not only external physical violence, but also internal violence of spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you refuse to hate him. — Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
December 5, 2025 at 8:04 PM
It's never been about reason, has it?
It's always been about power.
It's always been about power.
December 5, 2025 at 4:27 AM
It's never been about reason, has it?
It's always been about power.
It's always been about power.
Reposted by Ralph Snyder
Oregon data center water use drove up nitrates in local drinking water 10 times the “safe“ state level. Nitrates are linked to rare cancers and miscarriages. Terence O’Brien @verge: bit.ly/3Mi11nZ
@newalbanyohio.bsky.social @maxfilby.dispatch.com @kmkowalski.bsky.social @sarahedon.bsky.social
@newalbanyohio.bsky.social @maxfilby.dispatch.com @kmkowalski.bsky.social @sarahedon.bsky.social
Data centers in Oregon might be helping to drive an increase in cancer and miscarriages
Amazon data centers might be adding to a public health crisis in Morrow County, Oregon.
bit.ly
December 4, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Oregon data center water use drove up nitrates in local drinking water 10 times the “safe“ state level. Nitrates are linked to rare cancers and miscarriages. Terence O’Brien @verge: bit.ly/3Mi11nZ
@newalbanyohio.bsky.social @maxfilby.dispatch.com @kmkowalski.bsky.social @sarahedon.bsky.social
@newalbanyohio.bsky.social @maxfilby.dispatch.com @kmkowalski.bsky.social @sarahedon.bsky.social
Not sure which is more distressing
That most political analysis and historiography is romantic nonsense
- Or -
How long it took me to understand this.
That most political analysis and historiography is romantic nonsense
- Or -
How long it took me to understand this.
December 5, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Not sure which is more distressing
That most political analysis and historiography is romantic nonsense
- Or -
How long it took me to understand this.
That most political analysis and historiography is romantic nonsense
- Or -
How long it took me to understand this.
We got our Attestations from Assurance Maladie today.
This means we are enrolled in the French government's health insurance program.
We've heard stories of this taking up to a year; for us it was a little more than a month.
This means we are enrolled in the French government's health insurance program.
We've heard stories of this taking up to a year; for us it was a little more than a month.
December 4, 2025 at 11:04 PM
We got our Attestations from Assurance Maladie today.
This means we are enrolled in the French government's health insurance program.
We've heard stories of this taking up to a year; for us it was a little more than a month.
This means we are enrolled in the French government's health insurance program.
We've heard stories of this taking up to a year; for us it was a little more than a month.
💬📚
#bookskychat
Reupping this not because it's so great but because it didn't seem to post properly. I put a lot of thought into it, and I want it to have a fair shot.
#bookskychat
Reupping this not because it's so great but because it didn't seem to post properly. I put a lot of thought into it, and I want it to have a fair shot.
💬📚 #bookskychat
To conclude, R. F. Kuang writes in the acknowledgements,
"YELLOWFACE IS, IN LARGE PART, A HORROR STORY ABOUT LONELINESS in a fiercely competitive industry."
It is certainly that. It is also a meditation on guilt, delusion, paranoia, vindictiveness, and motivated thinking,
1/4
To conclude, R. F. Kuang writes in the acknowledgements,
"YELLOWFACE IS, IN LARGE PART, A HORROR STORY ABOUT LONELINESS in a fiercely competitive industry."
It is certainly that. It is also a meditation on guilt, delusion, paranoia, vindictiveness, and motivated thinking,
1/4
💬📚
#bookskychat
@rfkuang.bsky.social
R. F. Kuang: Yellowface.
Frankly, this surprised me. I've read a few other books by Ms. Kuang, and aside from the first two-thirds of Babel did not find them to my taste.
But Yellowface is entirely different from anything that she has written before.
1/6
#bookskychat
@rfkuang.bsky.social
R. F. Kuang: Yellowface.
Frankly, this surprised me. I've read a few other books by Ms. Kuang, and aside from the first two-thirds of Babel did not find them to my taste.
But Yellowface is entirely different from anything that she has written before.
1/6
December 4, 2025 at 6:32 PM
💬📚
#bookskychat
Reupping this not because it's so great but because it didn't seem to post properly. I put a lot of thought into it, and I want it to have a fair shot.
#bookskychat
Reupping this not because it's so great but because it didn't seem to post properly. I put a lot of thought into it, and I want it to have a fair shot.
Went to bed at decent time.
Two hours later woken by a nightmare.
Three hours after that still reluctant to sleep.
Two hours later woken by a nightmare.
Three hours after that still reluctant to sleep.
December 4, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Went to bed at decent time.
Two hours later woken by a nightmare.
Three hours after that still reluctant to sleep.
Two hours later woken by a nightmare.
Three hours after that still reluctant to sleep.
💬📚 #bookskychat
To conclude, R. F. Kuang writes in the acknowledgements,
"YELLOWFACE IS, IN LARGE PART, A HORROR STORY ABOUT LONELINESS in a fiercely competitive industry."
It is certainly that. It is also a meditation on guilt, delusion, paranoia, vindictiveness, and motivated thinking,
1/4
To conclude, R. F. Kuang writes in the acknowledgements,
"YELLOWFACE IS, IN LARGE PART, A HORROR STORY ABOUT LONELINESS in a fiercely competitive industry."
It is certainly that. It is also a meditation on guilt, delusion, paranoia, vindictiveness, and motivated thinking,
1/4
💬📚
#bookskychat
@rfkuang.bsky.social
R. F. Kuang: Yellowface.
Frankly, this surprised me. I've read a few other books by Ms. Kuang, and aside from the first two-thirds of Babel did not find them to my taste.
But Yellowface is entirely different from anything that she has written before.
1/6
#bookskychat
@rfkuang.bsky.social
R. F. Kuang: Yellowface.
Frankly, this surprised me. I've read a few other books by Ms. Kuang, and aside from the first two-thirds of Babel did not find them to my taste.
But Yellowface is entirely different from anything that she has written before.
1/6
December 4, 2025 at 1:50 AM
💬📚 #bookskychat
To conclude, R. F. Kuang writes in the acknowledgements,
"YELLOWFACE IS, IN LARGE PART, A HORROR STORY ABOUT LONELINESS in a fiercely competitive industry."
It is certainly that. It is also a meditation on guilt, delusion, paranoia, vindictiveness, and motivated thinking,
1/4
To conclude, R. F. Kuang writes in the acknowledgements,
"YELLOWFACE IS, IN LARGE PART, A HORROR STORY ABOUT LONELINESS in a fiercely competitive industry."
It is certainly that. It is also a meditation on guilt, delusion, paranoia, vindictiveness, and motivated thinking,
1/4
💬📚 #bookskychat
Rincewind is annoying because he is incompetent, and a coward, and he only survives because the author cheats.
But what about a wizard who is so competent that he choses to appear incompetent because they know the backlash will be worse than doing nothing
1/2
Rincewind is annoying because he is incompetent, and a coward, and he only survives because the author cheats.
But what about a wizard who is so competent that he choses to appear incompetent because they know the backlash will be worse than doing nothing
1/2
December 3, 2025 at 6:13 PM
💬📚 #bookskychat
Rincewind is annoying because he is incompetent, and a coward, and he only survives because the author cheats.
But what about a wizard who is so competent that he choses to appear incompetent because they know the backlash will be worse than doing nothing
1/2
Rincewind is annoying because he is incompetent, and a coward, and he only survives because the author cheats.
But what about a wizard who is so competent that he choses to appear incompetent because they know the backlash will be worse than doing nothing
1/2
I see five versions of the apocalypse.
1. The Revelation of John (and related Biblical texts)
2. The Revolution
3. The arrival of aliens/supernatural beings
4. Understanding the sky is always present even if obscured by clouds
5. Understanding the path is just another mental construct.
1. The Revelation of John (and related Biblical texts)
2. The Revolution
3. The arrival of aliens/supernatural beings
4. Understanding the sky is always present even if obscured by clouds
5. Understanding the path is just another mental construct.
December 3, 2025 at 2:23 AM
I see five versions of the apocalypse.
1. The Revelation of John (and related Biblical texts)
2. The Revolution
3. The arrival of aliens/supernatural beings
4. Understanding the sky is always present even if obscured by clouds
5. Understanding the path is just another mental construct.
1. The Revelation of John (and related Biblical texts)
2. The Revolution
3. The arrival of aliens/supernatural beings
4. Understanding the sky is always present even if obscured by clouds
5. Understanding the path is just another mental construct.
Reposted by Ralph Snyder
The tiny nonprofit I’m on the board of (all volunteer) organizes and runs a free summer music program for rural kids. If you’re looking for a hyper local nonprofit to donate to: plumas-performing-arts.square.site
December 2, 2025 at 3:37 PM
The tiny nonprofit I’m on the board of (all volunteer) organizes and runs a free summer music program for rural kids. If you’re looking for a hyper local nonprofit to donate to: plumas-performing-arts.square.site
So, we finally did it: served a,(mostly) traditional Thanksgiving feast to our French relatives.
There were certainly bumps along the way. The biggest one is that fresh cranberries are not available and you cannot make a decent cranberry sauce with dried ones.
1/3
There were certainly bumps along the way. The biggest one is that fresh cranberries are not available and you cannot make a decent cranberry sauce with dried ones.
1/3
December 3, 2025 at 1:16 AM
So, we finally did it: served a,(mostly) traditional Thanksgiving feast to our French relatives.
There were certainly bumps along the way. The biggest one is that fresh cranberries are not available and you cannot make a decent cranberry sauce with dried ones.
1/3
There were certainly bumps along the way. The biggest one is that fresh cranberries are not available and you cannot make a decent cranberry sauce with dried ones.
1/3
Reposted by Ralph Snyder
Flee from discussions of dogma as from an unruly lion; and never embark upon them yourself, either with those raised in the Church, or with strangers. — St. Isaac the Syrian
December 3, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Flee from discussions of dogma as from an unruly lion; and never embark upon them yourself, either with those raised in the Church, or with strangers. — St. Isaac the Syrian
She'll have fun, fun, fun
'Till her dad takes her X-wing away
'Till her dad takes her X-wing away
December 1, 2025 at 9:44 PM
She'll have fun, fun, fun
'Till her dad takes her X-wing away
'Till her dad takes her X-wing away
Reposted by Ralph Snyder
Men may use what mechanical instruments they please and be none the worse for their use. What kills their souls is when they allow their instruments to use them. — R.H. Tawney
December 1, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Men may use what mechanical instruments they please and be none the worse for their use. What kills their souls is when they allow their instruments to use them. — R.H. Tawney
Hey space marine
Man, zap a foe for me.
I just signed up and there's no place in space that I won't be
Hey space marine
Man, zap a foe for me
In the zippitty zap morning I'll come following you.
Man, zap a foe for me.
I just signed up and there's no place in space that I won't be
Hey space marine
Man, zap a foe for me
In the zippitty zap morning I'll come following you.
December 1, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Hey space marine
Man, zap a foe for me.
I just signed up and there's no place in space that I won't be
Hey space marine
Man, zap a foe for me
In the zippitty zap morning I'll come following you.
Man, zap a foe for me.
I just signed up and there's no place in space that I won't be
Hey space marine
Man, zap a foe for me
In the zippitty zap morning I'll come following you.
Pumpkin pie very tasty
And the pumpkin flower is sweet
But the flesh of the pumpkin
Has too many seeds to eat
And the pumpkin flower is sweet
But the flesh of the pumpkin
Has too many seeds to eat
December 1, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Pumpkin pie very tasty
And the pumpkin flower is sweet
But the flesh of the pumpkin
Has too many seeds to eat
And the pumpkin flower is sweet
But the flesh of the pumpkin
Has too many seeds to eat
I don't understand why I keep getting ads for novels featuring square-jawed, super space marines fighting for the fate of the galaxy.
I haven't read anything remotely like that in fifty-five years.
I haven't read anything remotely like that in fifty-five years.
December 1, 2025 at 8:50 PM
I don't understand why I keep getting ads for novels featuring square-jawed, super space marines fighting for the fate of the galaxy.
I haven't read anything remotely like that in fifty-five years.
I haven't read anything remotely like that in fifty-five years.
This is the decade of the ostrich.
November 30, 2025 at 7:31 PM
This is the decade of the ostrich.
La mort de la vie
Est la vie de la mort.
Bonne soirée
Est la vie de la mort.
Bonne soirée
November 30, 2025 at 7:11 PM
La mort de la vie
Est la vie de la mort.
Bonne soirée
Est la vie de la mort.
Bonne soirée
💬📚
#bookskychat
@rfkuang.bsky.social
R. F. Kuang: Yellowface.
Frankly, this surprised me. I've read a few other books by Ms. Kuang, and aside from the first two-thirds of Babel did not find them to my taste.
But Yellowface is entirely different from anything that she has written before.
1/6
#bookskychat
@rfkuang.bsky.social
R. F. Kuang: Yellowface.
Frankly, this surprised me. I've read a few other books by Ms. Kuang, and aside from the first two-thirds of Babel did not find them to my taste.
But Yellowface is entirely different from anything that she has written before.
1/6
November 30, 2025 at 6:47 PM
💬📚
#bookskychat
@rfkuang.bsky.social
R. F. Kuang: Yellowface.
Frankly, this surprised me. I've read a few other books by Ms. Kuang, and aside from the first two-thirds of Babel did not find them to my taste.
But Yellowface is entirely different from anything that she has written before.
1/6
#bookskychat
@rfkuang.bsky.social
R. F. Kuang: Yellowface.
Frankly, this surprised me. I've read a few other books by Ms. Kuang, and aside from the first two-thirds of Babel did not find them to my taste.
But Yellowface is entirely different from anything that she has written before.
1/6
Reposted by Ralph Snyder
I love the idea of “Buy Nothing Day.”
But for those with little, Black Friday/Cyber Monday etc is a time when they can afford things at a more reasonable price.
A strong no to greed & excess. But always room for compassion for those who are just trying to make do &
But for those with little, Black Friday/Cyber Monday etc is a time when they can afford things at a more reasonable price.
A strong no to greed & excess. But always room for compassion for those who are just trying to make do &
November 28, 2025 at 3:06 PM
I love the idea of “Buy Nothing Day.”
But for those with little, Black Friday/Cyber Monday etc is a time when they can afford things at a more reasonable price.
A strong no to greed & excess. But always room for compassion for those who are just trying to make do &
But for those with little, Black Friday/Cyber Monday etc is a time when they can afford things at a more reasonable price.
A strong no to greed & excess. But always room for compassion for those who are just trying to make do &
Reposted by Ralph Snyder
I've been on a 2 day conference on preserving our Darkskys. It's given me renewed vigour and enthusiasm about protecting our nocturnal landscape. I took this picture a few years ago from just outside my office in North Yorkshire...
#Astronomy #astrophotography #darkskies #stars #milkyway
#Astronomy #astrophotography #darkskies #stars #milkyway
November 27, 2025 at 1:07 PM
I've been on a 2 day conference on preserving our Darkskys. It's given me renewed vigour and enthusiasm about protecting our nocturnal landscape. I took this picture a few years ago from just outside my office in North Yorkshire...
#Astronomy #astrophotography #darkskies #stars #milkyway
#Astronomy #astrophotography #darkskies #stars #milkyway
Reposted by Ralph Snyder
Do not steal books, I beg. Borrow from a library. Libraries lend e-books!
November 24, 2025 at 5:31 AM
Do not steal books, I beg. Borrow from a library. Libraries lend e-books!