Network [Toby Atkin-Wright]

Saturday. The almost-full moon is casting tree-shadows over the snow in the Long Back Yard.

I wrote new words today! And did actual Brain Work on the WIP. And changed the bed, and did a load of laundry, and one's duty the cats; made lunch and was able to eat it, after.

Yes, we have reached the part of the whole pain thing where -- POOF! All gone. Just joking. You may now carry on with your life until I decide to randomly take five freaking days and fill them with pain and despair.

Sigh.

The cats were very happy that I joined them in Steve's office to work today. It really is the preferred space for serious endeavors, though the comfy chair in my office is, of course, very nice.

I made the Executive Decision to join Cook Unity, and have ordered in four meals, which will be delivered on Friday. This means I am guaranteed to have four (hopefully) good meals to eat, and will take the whole Cooking Angst off of my Angst Plate, which is currently overfull with Deadline Angst. I'm viewing this as a short-term thing to lower the overall anxiety in the household. Since they say I can cancel or put it on hold at my discretion, as soon as the book's turned in, I'll be doing that. Yes, I need Staff. Also, probably, a keeper.

Looking forward to next week -- we have Rookie's second birthday on Monday, March 2. All of Tuesday is reserved for errands, with needlework in the evening. Wednesday, Thursday, and most of Friday I am Free to Write, and on Saturday?

I'm going to a magic show.

So, I'm really, yanno, happy, that my back has decided to return to normal.

Yes, I've seen the news.

How's everybody doing?

Oh. Here's a picture of Rook helping me make the bed.

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At this point, I suspect that civil war in the US in inevitable, and may be the "best" of a series out truly terrible options, since if we don't have one, I fear that when our our side takes control of the US again, the politicians involved won't deliver the sort of serious consequences (long prison sentences and in some cases executions) to keep the fasc from trying again in less than a decade. Also, I remain haunted by a quote I saw on Facebook several weeks ago "When they write histories of this time, they'll say that the US civil war started on January 6, 2021", I have great difficulty saying this is incorrect.

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In years past, I've said that if the US attacked Iran I'd purchase and fly an Iranian flag, but after the Iranian government killed so many protesters, I can't. Instead, we have three nations at war, the US and Israel vs Iran, and the absolute best outcome for the entire planet would be all three of the leaders of these three nations to die in the war asap.

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I routinely use generative AI in my workplace, my employer encourages it and pays for it. It works well, it's a definite help. At least for the meantime, it requires my expert supervision, close monitoring, to do good work but it's actually rather clever at times even if often rather dumb too. Where my work strays beyond my expertise, it fills in for me.

I have probably mentioned that I like the description of computer programming as mathematical engineering, it captures what I enjoy most about it. It's rewarding to devise and express good solutions. I love to create systems that do well at behaving in desired ways.

So, sometimes, for those parts of my work tasks to which I was looking forward, I've typically been working with the AI enough that it has the context to say, hey, you still have this bit unfinished, shall I do it? and I'm like, no, let me!

For the moment, I can still capture some crumbs of what I love to do. However, I wonder how obsolete that's becoming, the future's arriving faster than I expected. You could drop me back into the 1980's and I could be very happy writing software but these days nobody wants programmers who could hit the ground running in that kind of environment. Given the speed at which coding assistance has become rather good, I can't help but wonder if the 2030's will largely have only jobs for people who can direct the constellation of artificial agents well. That's a thing I'm sure I can do competently to support my family but … how much do I want to?

I love to learn about what clients actually need, figure out how I can meet those needs by creating software, then to deliver something valuable to them. But what I love most is the part of the process that machines may soon do maybe not quite as well but far cheaper than I.

I find myself looking back to things I once did and appreciating that at least I had the chance. I loved doing simple things like driving a rusty pickup truck through the Ohio countryside in the sunshine. Or, in this case, the chance, repeatedly, to be paid to solve interesting problems by creating software by my own brain and hand. Of course, I can still do what I like as a hobby though it feels emptier if it just means that I am doing something the hard way. I also wonder how healthy it is for one's likes to be overly nostalgic. I have an elderly relative who probably feels as if the world has gone downhill since the 1950's. I don't want that to be me someday, I should find more ways to embrace the future.

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Having learned of exchanges of fire in the Middle East, I can't help but worry for the innocent people in the region. Further, I found myself quickly jumping to: what's the off-ramp for Iran? Whenever attacked, it responds. These exchanges typically fizzle out but if Trump welcomes distraction from Epstein then goodness knows how far this will go before he lauds himself for some paper victory.

Incidentally, it occurs to me that if Oriental is a rather Western-centric term for a region then Middle East is no less so.

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В 1820 году в Смоленской губернии случился повсеместный неурожай. К борьбе с голодом подключились многие. Эта общественная деятельность императором Александром приписывалась пугавшим его тайным обществам. Назвав Пассека, Якушкина, Фонвизина, Михаила Муравьева и Левашева, он сказал «Они имеют огромные средства; в прошлом году <…> они кормили целые уезды». (ru.wiki)

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ICE

St. Paul church protest over ICE draws charges against 30 more
Attorney General Pam Bondi accused the group of civil rights violations in the January church protest during Operation Metro Surge.
By Sarah Raza, AP
https://www.minnpost.com/metro/2026/02/st-paul-church-protest-over-ice-draws-charges-against-30-more/

‘Liberty Vans’ appear across US to help immigrants – and document ICE raids
Volunteers offer moral and legal support, and document ICE actions with the aim of holding people accountable
Victoria Namkung in Los Angeles
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/28/liberty-vans-ice-immigrants ( Read more... )

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20 (!) works new to me: almost all fantasy. It's striking how little prose SF here is in the mix and how what there is is confined to the older works I acquired.

Books Received, February 21 — February 27

Poll #34301 Books Received, February 21 — February 27

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 27

View Respondents

Which of these look interesting?

View Answers

Mirrorwoven by Bori Cser (July 2026)
3 (11.1%)

Bodies of Magic by Marske Freya (September 2026)
10 (37.0%)

The Wretched Divine by Adalyn Grace (September 2026)
2 (7.4%)

Hawk & Sparrow by Ayana Gray (September 2026)
2 (7.4%)

When Shadows Burn by Vanessa Le (December 2026)
2 (7.4%)

Call Me Traitor by Everina Maxwell (October 2026)
9 (33.3%)

Trunk No. 3 by Allie Millington (October 2026)
5 (18.5%)

Lightning and Thunder by Sara Raasch (December 2026)
2 (7.4%)

East of Envy by Nikki Saint Crowe (November 2026)
4 (14.8%)

Outgunned — Action Flicks Vol. 3 by by Riccardo “Rico” Sirignano and Simone Formicola with art by Daniela Giubellini (February 2026)
4 (14.8%)

Outgunned Superheroes by Riccardo “Rico” Sirignano and Simone Formicola with art by Daniela Giubellini (February 2026)
4 (14.8%)

The Harrow Home for Wayward Girls by Jessica Spotswood (August 2026)
3 (11.1%)

Antilia: Sword And Song by Kate Story (June 2018)
2 (7.4%)

Antilia: Seer and Sacrifice by Kate Story (May 2019)
2 (7.4%)

Blasted by Kate Story (August 2008)
5 (18.5%)

Ferry Back the Gifts by Kate Story (November 2022)
2 (7.4%)

This Insubstantial Pageant by Kate Story (October 2017)
6 (22.2%)

Nightjars by Michael Wehunt (September 2026)
2 (7.4%)

The Dreamless by Jen Williams (May 2026)
6 (22.2%)

It Looks Like You in the Dark by Mathilda Zeller (October 2026)
9 (33.3%)

Some other option (see comments)
0 (0.0%)

Cats!
22 (81.5%)

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It's almost March 2026, somehow. I hope March 2026 to January 21, 2029 goes by as quickly...

20 works reviewed. 10 by women (50%), 8 by men (40%), 1 by non-binary authors (5%), 1 by authors whose gender is unknown (5%), and 8 by POC (40%).

More details here.

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https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260227.html

Normally faint and elusive, the Jellyfish Nebula is caught in

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260227.html

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Seen on the Watsfic discord, qwp

Hey everyone,

**It is with great pride that I announce WATSFIC's 50ᵗʰ Anniversary!** On January 13th, 1976, we were officially recognized by the Federation of Students as a student club. For 50-years since then we have been nerding out to all facets of Sci-Fi and Fantasy. From the original release of Star Wars and the animated Lord of the Rings films, to Dungeons and Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, and Wargaming.

To celebrate our first half-century as a club at UW, **we are hosting our 50ᵗʰ Anniversary Event on March 7ᵗʰ. Join us from 11 AM to 11 PM in MC 4041 and 4042** as we take a walk down memory lane. With stops along Ravenloft and the White Plume Mountain, glimpses of the wonders and horrors of space with Mothership and Warhammer, casual pitstops with Board Games and Magic: The Gathering, and some nice R&R complete with classic films and painting.

**Please Sign-Up using this form :**
Walk-Ins are welcome, however, we cannot guarantee space for everyone at every activity.

**We'd like to thank everyone** for helping keep this club going strong for 50 years, **and invite you all, first-year to alumni, to join us in this once in a 50-year celebration** of nerdom at the University of Waterloo!

( Read more... )

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https://xkcd.com/3213/

I mean, half of these are undefined. And your multiplication dots are too low; they look like decimal points.

https://xkcd.com/3213/

There are no comments on this entry. (Reply.)

Posted by jwz

https://www.jwz.org/blog/2026/02/let-friction-ring/

https://jwz.org/b/yk33

Dear Lazyweb,

I have this pulley wheel, 50mm inside diameter, 4mm groove. I need a rubber traction ring to go inside it. I cannot find anyone who will sell this to me.

The ring must be flat or concave, not round like a typical gasket seal O-ring, or the string its pulling will just slide off the track.

Alternately, any similar-sized metal pulley wheel that comes with a friction surface pre-attached, 8mm axis hole with set screw.

I have tried coating it with sugru, but that is too soft and wears off after not-very-long.

Update: If you're going to say "why don't you just" or "have you searched for" without a purchase link to a product of the correct size, please know that you are not helping.

Previously.

https://www.jwz.org/blog/2026/02/let-friction-ring/

https://jwz.org/b/yk33

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Noted author, bigot Dan Simmons reported dead of stroke.

There are 7 comments on this entry. (Reply.)

ICE

ICE won’t be at polling places in 2026 election, Trump administration official says
Election officials had feared that federal agents would interfere with the 2026 midterms, even though federal law prohibits armed troops at polling places.
By Nathaniel Rakich, Votebeat
https://www.minnpost.com/elections/2026/02/ice-wont-be-at-polling-places-in-2026-election-trump-administration-official-says/

Will Trump try to seize voting machines to disrupt the midterm elections?
State election leaders have been raising concerns about the intent behind Trump’s recent moves on elections
George Chidi in Atlanta
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/27/trump-voting-machines-midterm-election

Minnesota nonprofits are in a race to distribute millions in mutual aid to tenants facing eviction
State lawmakers are considering a bill to expand which nonprofits can issue eviction-blocking letters assuring landlords that money is on the way.
by Shadi Bushra
https://www.minnpost.com/state-government/2026/02/minnesota-nonprofits-are-in-a-race-to-distribute-millions-in-mutual-aid-to-tenants-facing-eviction/ ( Read more... )

There are 2 comments on this entry. (Reply.)

The Sicilian debacle leaves Syracuse with seven thousand Athenian prisoners slowly starving in a quarry. What better time to stage a play?

Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon

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The problem with Mozart's Requiem is that he didn't live to finish it (ironically, since it's a requiem), and the substitute composers drafted in to complete the commission were not, frankly, very good. As a result a complete performance trails off awkwardly in the last few movements.

Various ideas have been tried to rescue the work from this problem. Today we had Manfred Honeck, music director from Pittsburgh, in to conduct his version. His plan is simply to cut out the parts Mozart had nothing to do with, and beef up the work by inserting other material. Sticking Ave Verum Corpus, a brief motet Mozart had written not much earlier, at the end was the conventional part of the plan; I've heard that done before, and it's a fine motet, so that works well. Also stuck in here, mostly as prelude but some as interludes, were other appropriate Mozart pieces, a movement from a Vespers and the Masonic Funeral Music, some Gregorian chants sung offstage by an almost inaudible male chorus, and some spoken readings, including the bit from Revelations about the Dies Irae, instantly followed by the music plunging into that movement of the Requiem.

The intent was to frame the work as a memorial for Mozart himself (highlighted by one of the readings being his letter to his dying father on the consolations of death), which was abruptly turned into a memorial for Joshua Robison, former SFS music director Michael Tilson Thomas's husband, who died last week. What it meant musically is that this was a very heavy, almost dragging, performance especially of the slow portions. I didn't find it very compelling artistically. That's a pity, because the performers (at least the ones onstage) were excellent, notably the Symphony Chorus which was as strong and rich as it's always been since Jenny Wong took over direction, and the soloists who don't get a lot, but of the four of them, all vivid with fine voices, the great Sasha Cooke stood out most.

Also on the program (the rebuilt Requiem took about an hour), works by Mozart's fellow Vienna classicists: Haydn's lively and quirky Symphony No. 93, and Beethoven's imposing Coriolan Overture, both more effectively put across than the main event.

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In which we find out the writers of this show must really like both Thornton Wilder and the last two seasons of Angel: The Series while having issues with one particular Voyager episode, or rather its aftermath. Also, at last, at last, SOMEONE is back an my screen!

( Spoilers take back a key nitpick from last week and are an Angel fan anyway )

location: Bamberg

Mood::

contemplative

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https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260226.html

What does the universe look like through

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260226.html

There are no comments on this entry. (Reply.)

Posted by jwz

https://www.jwz.org/blog/2026/02/amanda-seyfrieds-prosthetic-butthole/

https://jwz.org/b/yk31

"This movie needed to be graphic, so I had a prosthetic butthole," Seyfried explained.

Yes, naturally, you would need a prosthetic butthole for this movie about a celibate religious sect, Amanda. I completely agree.
"I was pregnant and naked, but I wasn't naked at all, and at the end of the movie, I'm standing in front of a burning building with just a merkin," she explained. "I felt so free."
Unfortunately, she did clarify: "You cannot see my butthole in the scene, but I swear there is a prosthetic butthole there." Release the butthole cut.

Previously, previously, previously.

https://www.jwz.org/blog/2026/02/amanda-seyfrieds-prosthetic-butthole/

https://jwz.org/b/yk31

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Toby Atkin-Wright

Same as it ever was...

Civil War Musings

War Again

Learning to live with generative AI

News from the Middle East

ещё одна вечная тема

2026.02.28

Books Received, February 21 — February 27

February 2026 in Review

Sharpless 249 and the Jellyfish Nebula

Watsfic's 50th

Dental Formulas

Let Friction Ring

Dan Simmons (April 4, 1948 – February 21, 2026)

2026.02.27

Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon

concert review: San Francisco Symphony

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy 1.08

Webb and Hubble: IC 5332

Amanda Seyfried's Prosthetic Butthole

Links

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