This spooky season Porta-Bella danced in the streets for ZooBoo & Halloween. PLUS! any Burqueños can head down to the South Valley to join our puppet crew in the Marigold Parade this Sunday for the Dia de los Muertos (12-4).
Reupping: you don't get scared when you're a giant mushroom. <3
I know next to nothing about mushrooms but I do know that amanita muscaria has a neat history in illustration and animation, as well as for tripping. The Hamilton's Pharmacopeia episode that focused on its use was, well, trippy!
I'm in the habit of sending sending mushroom photos to my mycologist nephew and asking if they are edible/trippy, being curious about both.
When I sent him some pics of an enormous Aminita I saw growing in a roadside ditch, the said, "Oh, yeah. Those will give you some AMAZING hallucinations. And reduce your liver function by about 20% each trip you take."
We have a couple really nice varieties of psilocybin shrooms around these parts (and especially this time of year) which I haven't the time to harvest or ingest. And the only really nice "straight" mushrooms found in any quantity around here are chanterelles, for which I have no time to forage. I'm at work pretty much always.
I do have five acres of soggy woods, so I'm thinking of getting some of those ready-to-plant mushroom starters, knock down a spare alder tree next to my house and start a mushroom pantry right outside my back door. That's something I could do in an hour two on my one day off per week.
One of my favorite profs in college was a bryologist (study of mosses and liverworts) who dabbled in mycology (study of fungi). She took us on a field trip to an actual peat fen where we got to catalogue carnivorous plants.
I learned that they are changing the way they plan on classifying fungi, using a DNA barcode. Clever and necessitated by the sheer volume of data. I linked to the Kew report over on my page if you want a deeper dive.
JFC, trigger warning. It looks like plenty of refugees were gunned down in Gaza, and of course, one side claims "it was IDF", the other side blames it on Hamas.
(second tweet on that thread has a video, as said, trigger warning, for real)
"Breaking News: Just now, #Hamas snipers have reportedly killed dozens of children and women on the streets, targeting those attempting to travel from north to south #Gaza and those displaying white flags as a sign of peace. Similar acts have previously been attributed to Palestinian and #Hezbollah terrorists in Syria. They do not want civilians to leave; they want to use them as human shields and kill anyone who attempts to leave. Hamas terrorists in Gaza will, as usual, blame #Israel because it is easy and there is media that accepts this propaganda."
If anyone is looking for something new to worry about, good news, people! We are apparently over-salting not only our pasta, but also our sources of fresh water.
"CHIP’s not permanent. We need to make CHIP permanent" yes, Clinton Care the initiative endlessly championed by HRC while M4A Sanders sat on his ass until her ran a Russian-funding Rovian primary to keep her out of the White House. By attacking her on *health care*.
Bookfinity knows what people want after a mass shooting in Maine, and that thing that people want after a mass shooting in Maine is a chance to win a free trip to Maine! Okay, maybe I will give it a shot, Bookfinity, especially since the anchor text in the simple HTML version of your eMail spells Maine "Puerto Rico."
Sweepstakes entries make me feel like a hero. Sisyphus, specifically. One of these times I'm going to win, I just know it! After all, I did once win a $50 prize from the National Poetry Foundation with a poem I never wrote, and never submitted.
You know, I believe Dumbass Jr when he says he didn’t know anything about the company’s finances. If there’s one thing that’s been made perfectly clear, it’s that none of the Trumps know the first thing about running a business.
TINO 'Trustee in name only', maybe he thought "Trustee" meant you can trust thee and thee is everybody? Also please, with everything seemingly on the internet, I cannot find a single image of Eric pouring concrete, so maybe that was a lie too? Did Ivanka get out of her school commitments okay? She suggested the trial be cancelled because of them, she must be an important consultant or maybe it was bring your Goya to school day, doesn't pass the smell test.
Good luck with that Bigfoot thing -- he's been a bit of a commitment-phobe ever since getting catfished by an oak tree full of dryads. And by a catfish named Steve.
I was fortunate to attend a commitment ceremony honoring the everlasting union of a LOCAL BIGFOOT and his LIFETIME WENDIGO here in the northwoods several years ago! Was a forest party that is hard to describe! No reports of any offspring so far though! PARTY ON!
I gather that Eric Trump's daughter was in tears yesterday because Daddy had to be in court and missed her school play. And that Ivanka Trump pleaded with the judge to excuse her from testifying because next week is school week.
These poor people can't get out of their obligations and are having trouble finding child care. They're just like us!
That she made that plea given the number of mothers actually in jail for not only for non-violent offenses but because they just can not afford bail is particularly odious.
No making fun of her. If Ivanka leaves the governess unsupervised, she might use the bathroom like those icky Secret Service guys used to before she had to put a stop to it because Jared has imperforate anus & hates it when anyone uses the bathroom.
It turns out the drainage problem in our garden is much worse than initially thought. They'd pumped out all the standing water, laid the screed for the patio extension, and by the time they'd had their lunch Loki was once again gazing longingly at the new pond on the garden.
They're currently puzzling out a way to fix it that doesn't involve digging 20ft down through the layer of clay these houses are built on top of (completely unfeasible) and isn't going to take us massively over budget. If they manage to figure this out it'll be one for them to brag about.
We had a problem like that in the house where I grew up-- low spot in the back of the yard + clay which does not drain = permanent mosquito farm. As I recall, the solution was "French drains and a pipe all the way to the street at the front of the house."
Whoever bought that house after we moved never knew how good they had it!
Today’s hed had me writing about fun guys. And laughing at Rebecca’s caption. https://open.substack.com/pub/martiniambassador/p/happy-shroom
Not a tuffle, nor a trifle
A mushroom it seems plain
Is a sort of life'll
Not be easy to explain
They pop up in the garden
And spread across the grass
And if you eat the wrong'un
It just might kill yer ass
In Italan cooking
They are tasty on the lip
And if you're fond of travel
Some can take you on a trip.
That was to have been truffle.
Bad fingers.
I like "tuffle." How about everyone find a good use for that word?
Like a snuggle, but way rowdier?
You are on fire! LOL!
You make a fine poetic muse.
Fungis have the MOST fun!
This spooky season Porta-Bella danced in the streets for ZooBoo & Halloween. PLUS! any Burqueños can head down to the South Valley to join our puppet crew in the Marigold Parade this Sunday for the Dia de los Muertos (12-4).
Reupping: you don't get scared when you're a giant mushroom. <3
https://open.substack.com/pub/queenellen/p/you-dont-get-scared-when-youre-a?r=b2vrq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
I know next to nothing about mushrooms but I do know that amanita muscaria has a neat history in illustration and animation, as well as for tripping. The Hamilton's Pharmacopeia episode that focused on its use was, well, trippy!
I'm in the habit of sending sending mushroom photos to my mycologist nephew and asking if they are edible/trippy, being curious about both.
When I sent him some pics of an enormous Aminita I saw growing in a roadside ditch, the said, "Oh, yeah. Those will give you some AMAZING hallucinations. And reduce your liver function by about 20% each trip you take."
Best to remain on good terms with your nephew.
We have a couple really nice varieties of psilocybin shrooms around these parts (and especially this time of year) which I haven't the time to harvest or ingest. And the only really nice "straight" mushrooms found in any quantity around here are chanterelles, for which I have no time to forage. I'm at work pretty much always.
I do have five acres of soggy woods, so I'm thinking of getting some of those ready-to-plant mushroom starters, knock down a spare alder tree next to my house and start a mushroom pantry right outside my back door. That's something I could do in an hour two on my one day off per week.
Love me some soma. Ancient peoples would feed the Amanita to their reindeer and drink the urine which apparently enhanced the psychedelic experience.
Oh! That's commitment! Thank you for sharing.
Just cute, not poison - then again, that’s what you would say, isn’t it?
https://substack.com/@brawlatthepoetscafe/note/c-42990236?r=insr
😂
One of my favorite profs in college was a bryologist (study of mosses and liverworts) who dabbled in mycology (study of fungi). She took us on a field trip to an actual peat fen where we got to catalogue carnivorous plants.
Ooh, fun! Would love.
I learned that they are changing the way they plan on classifying fungi, using a DNA barcode. Clever and necessitated by the sheer volume of data. I linked to the Kew report over on my page if you want a deeper dive.
well, I know what I'm doing for the next hour or so now.... :)
That's one cute 'shroom! : D
Thank you! 🥰🍄
I’m afraid Trump has forever ruined mushrooms for me…
cuz you know what they say about big feet...(Big Foot)
Seanan McGuire's InCryptid series is made of awesome.
Seconded. Toby Daye and Parasitology (as Mira Grant) likewise.
To clarify, October (Toby) Daye is a Seanan McGuire series, not another author
Let no good deed go unpunished.
I got my vaccination, my body is now punishing me.
I want a refund, the human body is rubbish.
Hope you’re over it soon. I got flu and COVID jabs yesterday and I’m tired and achy, but able to function.
Every COVID jab so far has left me feeling like garbage for almost exactly 24 hours. So I'll be ok by dinner time.
Confession, I am a lifelong amateur cryptozoologist. Creepiest thing on my radar ever, phantom clowns. Okay, shadow people are way up there.
JFC, trigger warning. It looks like plenty of refugees were gunned down in Gaza, and of course, one side claims "it was IDF", the other side blames it on Hamas.
(second tweet on that thread has a video, as said, trigger warning, for real)
"Breaking News: Just now, #Hamas snipers have reportedly killed dozens of children and women on the streets, targeting those attempting to travel from north to south #Gaza and those displaying white flags as a sign of peace. Similar acts have previously been attributed to Palestinian and #Hezbollah terrorists in Syria. They do not want civilians to leave; they want to use them as human shields and kill anyone who attempts to leave. Hamas terrorists in Gaza will, as usual, blame #Israel because it is easy and there is media that accepts this propaganda."
https://twitter.com/amjadt25/status/1720425819305070821
If anyone is looking for something new to worry about, good news, people! We are apparently over-salting not only our pasta, but also our sources of fresh water.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/10/31/salt-contamination-pollution-water/
"CHIP’s not permanent. We need to make CHIP permanent" yes, Clinton Care the initiative endlessly championed by HRC while M4A Sanders sat on his ass until her ran a Russian-funding Rovian primary to keep her out of the White House. By attacking her on *health care*.
Fuck Bernie.
I too have never forgiven him. He didn't even help himself...but he did help someone.
And we are still dealing with the consequences of that idiotic decision to shoot holes in Ms. Clinton's boat.
Bookfinity knows what people want after a mass shooting in Maine, and that thing that people want after a mass shooting in Maine is a chance to win a free trip to Maine! Okay, maybe I will give it a shot, Bookfinity, especially since the anchor text in the simple HTML version of your eMail spells Maine "Puerto Rico."
https://substack.com/profile/156971334-satanic-pancake/note/c-42997896
I already entered that one. I like to chill out at night by entering sweepstakes. It can't hurt my inbox more than it's hurt already.
I used to have a separate email address for that sort of thing. I should do that again.
I'm down to 6 dozen e-mails a day, what do you want?
Sweepstakes entries make me feel like a hero. Sisyphus, specifically. One of these times I'm going to win, I just know it! After all, I did once win a $50 prize from the National Poetry Foundation with a poem I never wrote, and never submitted.
I entered the Publishers' Clearinghouse Sweepstakes once and won two 1 carat cubic zirconiums. We put them in our wedding rings.
On reading the Wiki on "The Myth of Sisyphus", I'm not sure one could consider Sisyphus a "hero"
Okay, fine -- Prometheus. Hell, I'll even take Tityus.
(Beavis voice) You said titty. Huh huh huh.
Zen poetry.
Here one second.
Gone the next.
You know, I believe Dumbass Jr when he says he didn’t know anything about the company’s finances. If there’s one thing that’s been made perfectly clear, it’s that none of the Trumps know the first thing about running a business.
TINO 'Trustee in name only', maybe he thought "Trustee" meant you can trust thee and thee is everybody? Also please, with everything seemingly on the internet, I cannot find a single image of Eric pouring concrete, so maybe that was a lie too? Did Ivanka get out of her school commitments okay? She suggested the trial be cancelled because of them, she must be an important consultant or maybe it was bring your Goya to school day, doesn't pass the smell test.
Just in case you run into those ... yeeah, it's peace time, and German army is cutting down on fruit for soldiers.
https://twitter.com/MilitaryBanter/status/1720443784603873494
Bad cats are going to be bad cats. All day long.
https://substack.com/profile/156971334-satanic-pancake/note/c-42997180
Bad cats bad cats... whatcha gonna do? watcha gonna do when they come for you?
{obviously a "and then the murders began" song)
Good luck with that Bigfoot thing -- he's been a bit of a commitment-phobe ever since getting catfished by an oak tree full of dryads. And by a catfish named Steve.
I was fortunate to attend a commitment ceremony honoring the everlasting union of a LOCAL BIGFOOT and his LIFETIME WENDIGO here in the northwoods several years ago! Was a forest party that is hard to describe! No reports of any offspring so far though! PARTY ON!
A brief diversion. The great Canadian jazz pianist Oscar Peterson doing an ad for Coffee Mate, circa 1982.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Weq96gFosoY
I don't drink coffee, so I have idea what that stuff is like.
Coffeemate is one of the better fake creamers, but it's still Not Cream.
Oscar Peterson? Amazing all the way around.
I gather that Eric Trump's daughter was in tears yesterday because Daddy had to be in court and missed her school play. And that Ivanka Trump pleaded with the judge to excuse her from testifying because next week is school week.
These poor people can't get out of their obligations and are having trouble finding child care. They're just like us!
WTF is Jared doing that day?
They can't find child care because the better schools won't have them.
And they wouldn't want to leave their kids at someplace that would do business with them.
(tip of the hat to Groucho Marx)
That she made that plea given the number of mothers actually in jail for not only for non-violent offenses but because they just can not afford bail is particularly odious.
No making fun of her. If Ivanka leaves the governess unsupervised, she might use the bathroom like those icky Secret Service guys used to before she had to put a stop to it because Jared has imperforate anus & hates it when anyone uses the bathroom.
It turns out the drainage problem in our garden is much worse than initially thought. They'd pumped out all the standing water, laid the screed for the patio extension, and by the time they'd had their lunch Loki was once again gazing longingly at the new pond on the garden.
They're currently puzzling out a way to fix it that doesn't involve digging 20ft down through the layer of clay these houses are built on top of (completely unfeasible) and isn't going to take us massively over budget. If they manage to figure this out it'll be one for them to brag about.
I built a little 6" garden wall around mine and planted a willow and cat tails.
How are those tailless cats doing?
Our garden is too tiny for that kind of planting. Our landscapers are thinking outside of the box for potential solutions.
I am sorry it did not help. French drains are crazy expensive.
It's OK, the landscapers are working on different options for drainage. I have faith they'll come up with something.
We had a problem like that in the house where I grew up-- low spot in the back of the yard + clay which does not drain = permanent mosquito farm. As I recall, the solution was "French drains and a pipe all the way to the street at the front of the house."
Whoever bought that house after we moved never knew how good they had it!
The expense on that is way beyond what we can afford. We're only able afford the work we're having done thanks to the generosity of a certain Wonker.
Luckily, the landscapers have come up with a plan, we'll know by tomorrow afternoon if it's likely to work.
I was joking about putting in a pond. Sadly, this is more of a marsh garden, which is not what we were looking for.