Cally
@callys.bsky.social
SFF reader, model rocketeer, tabletop gamer. She/her.
If you're still worried that your knot might come undone, put a small dab of glue (elmers is fine) on the knot. This won't work on nylon, because it's too slippery; for nylon you really do need to lightly (LIGHTLY) melt the knot. Watch out for setting nylon on fire; it can be hard to see.
December 21, 2025 at 3:40 PM
If you're still worried that your knot might come undone, put a small dab of glue (elmers is fine) on the knot. This won't work on nylon, because it's too slippery; for nylon you really do need to lightly (LIGHTLY) melt the knot. Watch out for setting nylon on fire; it can be hard to see.
Cotton butcher's twine is reasonably soft on the skin as a lanyard, and since you're presumably making mass quantities of lanyards, cheap and easy is good. You can even tie the neck loops beforehand and loop the whistles through. Push a loop of string through the hole and around whistle & pull taut.
December 21, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Cotton butcher's twine is reasonably soft on the skin as a lanyard, and since you're presumably making mass quantities of lanyards, cheap and easy is good. You can even tie the neck loops beforehand and loop the whistles through. Push a loop of string through the hole and around whistle & pull taut.
If you don't want to lightly melt a knot in nylon cord (which I can't blame you; I've burned myself that way) you could always just use simple cotton butcher's twine. Cotton takes knots well, and any hardware store will carry it in 370' rolls for about $5, or you can buy 1000' for $20 online.
December 21, 2025 at 3:34 PM
If you don't want to lightly melt a knot in nylon cord (which I can't blame you; I've burned myself that way) you could always just use simple cotton butcher's twine. Cotton takes knots well, and any hardware store will carry it in 370' rolls for about $5, or you can buy 1000' for $20 online.
That same ancestor who was part of the Sullivan Expedition went on, in his old age, to build a bunker on his property specifically to take shots at Natives. He...was not a good man, though he seems to have been a good soldier. And absolutely a patriot since he stayed in the field for the whole war.
December 20, 2025 at 9:46 PM
That same ancestor who was part of the Sullivan Expedition went on, in his old age, to build a bunker on his property specifically to take shots at Natives. He...was not a good man, though he seems to have been a good soldier. And absolutely a patriot since he stayed in the field for the whole war.
Were any of them part of the Sullivan Expedition? It was what would now be considered a war crime; Gen. Washington ordered 40 Iroquois villages razed and food destroyed. GW wrote "But you will not by any means listen to overture of peace before the total ruin of their settlements is effected."
December 20, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Were any of them part of the Sullivan Expedition? It was what would now be considered a war crime; Gen. Washington ordered 40 Iroquois villages razed and food destroyed. GW wrote "But you will not by any means listen to overture of peace before the total ruin of their settlements is effected."
And I have a few Revolutionary War vets in my ancestry, one of whom fought from just after Lex and Concord right through to Yorktown. He was also a terrible person, who was part of the genocidal Sullivan Expedition and enjoyed taking potshots at Natives. So yeah, not unalloyed pride in ancestry!
December 20, 2025 at 9:15 PM
And I have a few Revolutionary War vets in my ancestry, one of whom fought from just after Lex and Concord right through to Yorktown. He was also a terrible person, who was part of the genocidal Sullivan Expedition and enjoyed taking potshots at Natives. So yeah, not unalloyed pride in ancestry!
Yeah, my most recent foreign-born ancestor arrived in the US in 1870 or so. None of my ancestors had to comply with any immigration paperwork. (If memory serves, I also have an ancestor who founded Hartford. What is it with Hartford? Not Mayflower, though; Winthrop Fleet.)
December 20, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Yeah, my most recent foreign-born ancestor arrived in the US in 1870 or so. None of my ancestors had to comply with any immigration paperwork. (If memory serves, I also have an ancestor who founded Hartford. What is it with Hartford? Not Mayflower, though; Winthrop Fleet.)
I have it on good authority that she'll be ON THE WATER in March. The good news is: there will be cake, and most of it won't even be a lie. The bad news....
December 20, 2025 at 5:32 PM
I have it on good authority that she'll be ON THE WATER in March. The good news is: there will be cake, and most of it won't even be a lie. The bad news....
I saw you filmed a Brown Creeper and a White-breasted Nuthatch (and a not-sapsucker, but at least another sort of woodpecker); was it a callback to this delightful @rosemarymosco.com comic?:
rosemarymosco.com/comics/bird-...
rosemarymosco.com/comics/bird-...
Foraging Patterns — Rosemary Mosco
The foraging patterns of woodpeckers, creepers, and nuthatches.
rosemarymosco.com
December 14, 2025 at 5:01 PM
I saw you filmed a Brown Creeper and a White-breasted Nuthatch (and a not-sapsucker, but at least another sort of woodpecker); was it a callback to this delightful @rosemarymosco.com comic?:
rosemarymosco.com/comics/bird-...
rosemarymosco.com/comics/bird-...
You joke (I hope), but I had something similar happen. I was driving home from an out of state convention, and was avoiding tollways because I had a rental car. I pulled into a McDs to use the restroom, the GPS recalculated, and suddenly there was no way home without a toll. Had to dead reckon.
December 14, 2025 at 4:22 PM
You joke (I hope), but I had something similar happen. I was driving home from an out of state convention, and was avoiding tollways because I had a rental car. I pulled into a McDs to use the restroom, the GPS recalculated, and suddenly there was no way home without a toll. Had to dead reckon.
20. I never myself used AOL but I did tech support for my dad's AOL dialup, so I think that counts.
December 14, 2025 at 3:35 PM
20. I never myself used AOL but I did tech support for my dad's AOL dialup, so I think that counts.
Mmmm, maple syrup. It may not be traditional, but it's tasty!
December 13, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Mmmm, maple syrup. It may not be traditional, but it's tasty!
Oh, man, now I really miss aebleskivvers. I'd buy an aebleskivver pan, but realistically I'd probably never use it. But still....
December 13, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Oh, man, now I really miss aebleskivvers. I'd buy an aebleskivver pan, but realistically I'd probably never use it. But still....
Oh, that's an excellent idea! I usually end up scotch taping the straw to the cup lid if the lid's hole is too big....
December 13, 2025 at 3:30 AM
Oh, that's an excellent idea! I usually end up scotch taping the straw to the cup lid if the lid's hole is too big....
(I probably wouldn't boil the washer part, though. Don't know what plastic it's made of.)
5/3
5/3
December 13, 2025 at 3:28 AM
(I probably wouldn't boil the washer part, though. Don't know what plastic it's made of.)
5/3
5/3
I forgot to mention that when you have to get rid of the old mask you've installed the Sip valve in, you can simply remove the valve and install it in a new mask. And if you're worried about cleanliness, it's silicone, so you can boil it to sterilize it if you want. 4/3
December 13, 2025 at 3:25 AM
I forgot to mention that when you have to get rid of the old mask you've installed the Sip valve in, you can simply remove the valve and install it in a new mask. And if you're worried about cleanliness, it's silicone, so you can boil it to sterilize it if you want. 4/3
You can use pretty much any straw narrower than a McDonalds straw (which are too big) with the Sip valve, but I tend to use the narrowest I can find on the assumption it's less strain on the valve so it'll last longer.
Anyway, here's a link to their website. 3/3
Anyway, here's a link to their website. 3/3
SIP Airtight Drinking Valve: Safely drink through a mask with a straw
A safer way to drink through a mask with a straw! SIP is an AIRTIGHT VALVE that grips around the straw and automatically SEALS after each sip, allowing you to drink while keeping your mask on. SIP's a...
sipmask.com
December 13, 2025 at 3:21 AM
You can use pretty much any straw narrower than a McDonalds straw (which are too big) with the Sip valve, but I tend to use the narrowest I can find on the assumption it's less strain on the valve so it'll last longer.
Anyway, here's a link to their website. 3/3
Anyway, here's a link to their website. 3/3
Sip Valves currently go for $15 each, but unless you abuse them they should last for weeks or months. It looks like the current version comes with compostable straws. If they're like the plastic straws I got when I ordered mine a few years back, they'll be very skinny and rather short. 2/3
December 13, 2025 at 3:20 AM
Sip Valves currently go for $15 each, but unless you abuse them they should last for weeks or months. It looks like the current version comes with compostable straws. If they're like the plastic straws I got when I ordered mine a few years back, they'll be very skinny and rather short. 2/3
The Sip Valve is an aftermarket silicone valve you can buy to install in any disposable mask and make it possible to drink with a straw without taking off the mask or losing any mask integrity to speak of. I'm not affiliated with them, just a long-time user. 1/3
December 13, 2025 at 3:20 AM
The Sip Valve is an aftermarket silicone valve you can buy to install in any disposable mask and make it possible to drink with a straw without taking off the mask or losing any mask integrity to speak of. I'm not affiliated with them, just a long-time user. 1/3
Didn't you know? All medical procedures are always both optional and non-urgent! And all medical providers are fully transparent about costs! And nothing ever goes wrong and gets more expensive!
December 11, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Didn't you know? All medical procedures are always both optional and non-urgent! And all medical providers are fully transparent about costs! And nothing ever goes wrong and gets more expensive!
I was pitched a health savings account plan back a couple decades ago, & the rep kept saying "you can call & get prices & shop around" like there was a way to call and get a price, and like you have time to do that when having a stroke. He seemed to think all health care was voluntary & non-urgent.
December 11, 2025 at 6:10 PM
I was pitched a health savings account plan back a couple decades ago, & the rep kept saying "you can call & get prices & shop around" like there was a way to call and get a price, and like you have time to do that when having a stroke. He seemed to think all health care was voluntary & non-urgent.
Kevin and Bernadette, I am so very, very sorry for your loss. I wish there was something more I could do than to say that I remember him fondly, and hope his memory will be a comfort to you in time.
December 11, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Kevin and Bernadette, I am so very, very sorry for your loss. I wish there was something more I could do than to say that I remember him fondly, and hope his memory will be a comfort to you in time.
I love learning all the different linguistic quirks. Here in the Midwest US, a cellar door is one of these. Now I'm curious how wine tasting rooms got the name!
December 9, 2025 at 9:51 PM
I love learning all the different linguistic quirks. Here in the Midwest US, a cellar door is one of these. Now I'm curious how wine tasting rooms got the name!
Decades ago my church choir went to various places in Europe. I think it was the place we stayed in Rome (though I could be wrong) that had pink toilet paper. Pink crepe paper toilet paper. Which was NOT colorfast. I wonder how colorfast that red TP is?
December 7, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Decades ago my church choir went to various places in Europe. I think it was the place we stayed in Rome (though I could be wrong) that had pink toilet paper. Pink crepe paper toilet paper. Which was NOT colorfast. I wonder how colorfast that red TP is?
She got the which of the what-she-did
Hid the bell with a blot, she did
But she fell in love with a hominid
Where is the which of the what-she did?
Hid the bell with a blot, she did
But she fell in love with a hominid
Where is the which of the what-she did?
December 7, 2025 at 3:54 PM
She got the which of the what-she-did
Hid the bell with a blot, she did
But she fell in love with a hominid
Where is the which of the what-she did?
Hid the bell with a blot, she did
But she fell in love with a hominid
Where is the which of the what-she did?