Lisa Clarke

I started the switch from subscription Adobe Lightroom, to ON1 Photo Raw, which I paid $50 for once, and could choose to never upgrade if I want to. In theory, great move! In practice? Keyword migration is a nightmare. Hundreds of hierarchical keywords imported as a flat list. So much manual work 😭

Headline in today's Guardian that reads "Reading and writing can lower dementia risk by almost 40 percent, study finds. Cognitive health in later life is 'strongly influenced' by lifelong exposure to intellectually stimulating environments, say researchers."

This is why you need to be reading books and writing your own emails, by the way. When you outsource your thinking abilities, you risk turning your brain into soup. Heavy dependence on AI has already been linked with severe cognitive decline. What you don’t use, you will lose.

hey let's do that over here now

What does going to war with Iran get you? Does it make you safer? Does it make it easier to pay your bills? Does it make you more optimistic about your future?

Trump is bringing our country to the brink of war with no reason, no plan, and no regard for you.

#CD7 Your task today:
#Roxbury is in Kean's district.
Call and ask what he is doing (specifically) to keep the ICE facility, which the infrastructure can't handle, out of his district.

Kean (202) 225-5361 908-547-3307

I kind of want to make these for dinner tonight. Not dessert. Dinner. Maybe with a dollop of peanut butter as the filling. "For protein." 😁

I find it bleak how many people seem to have given up on having any kind of intellectual life. Depression is rampant because we’ve abandoned books & hobbies in favor of joyless amusements. The single most attractive thing a person can do is read often & delight in learning.

I don't know why it doesn't get much press around the world, but there is SO MUCH resistance here in the US. And it's growing. Love to see stories like this making the news!

So gross.

Up until 30 seconds ago when I saw this, I would have said "with" but I am definitely going to try it "without" going forward. Thanks for the demonstration!

we need to talk about that Ring Super Bowl ad

MSNOW We do care about Nancy Guthrie but your coverage is way too much. Meanwhile, Minnesotans are at the Anne Frank level - warning us that NOTHING has changed since Tom Homan showed up last week. Neighbors as sheltering their immigrant neighbors. This is not the time to drop the coverage!

Auspicious Omens and Excellent Insubordination I started this out as a letter to a friend who's feeling down about where we as a nation are at in this moment, and I am still learning how this newsletter thing works so thought I could use the newsl...

Need a bit of encouragement? This essay by @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social might help 💙
www.meditationsinanemergency.com/auspicious-o...

That's the dream

The Passaic

Weekend Favorites... at Polka Dot Cottage: a 4x4 mosaic of brightly colored beautiful photos, many of which feature pink peonies, colorful crochet, and people relaxing with a mug of something hot.

I just stumbled upon my old Weekend Favorites category on my blog and was reminded how wonderful Instagram used to be. So much beautiful imagery. No wonder it used to be my happy place. It has changed so much :-/ www.lisaclarke.net/category/wee...

Oh, I hope so! Gotta say I am having my doubts with what I've seen so far, though, lol!

2025 Clarkesworld Readers' Poll - Nomination Phase You have until January 22nd 3pm EST to nominate!

Help us select the 2025 finalists for our annual Clarkesworld Readers' Poll.
Nominate your favorite Clarkesworld stories and cover art at:
www.surveymonkey.com/r/clarkeswor...

POLL CLOSES THURSDAY, JANUARY 22th at 3PM EST

Guster - Ooh La La [Full Album] YouTube video by Guster

My calendar says it's @guster.bsky.social Day 🤩
youtu.be/CrNnyxsqj24?...

5 ways to feel a tiny bit better about the short, cold, dark days ⋆ Polka Dot Cottage If you are dreading the next three months of cold and darkness, take a look at these strategies for reframing the winter season. I have gone from being a winter hater to a kind-of-looking-forward-to-w...

Dreading the next three months of cold and darkness? Take a look at these strategies for reframing the winter season. I have gone from being a winter hater to a kind-of-looking-forward-to-winter-in-some-ways person. Maybe my coping strategies can help you, too!
www.lisaclarke.net/2026/01/04/5...

There are no others as far as I know. I'll be sure to take pictures 🙂

I am! Are you?

Should be easy enough to spackle over someday. Hopefully soon

Oh, that's a good idea.

I've never tried steam blocking before. I'll have took into that 🙂

I should have said they're perfect, fit-wise. They really could use a good soak to even up the stitching. They're not superwash. Some are 100% wool, and some have a strand of mohair held with the wool.

A stack of nine knit hats, from baby size on top to adult on the bottom. Three of the hats have faux fur pom-poms on top.

I've got nine wool hats to block before Christmas, but I am hesitating because every time I block a hat, it grows. These are perfect as is. Any tips for keeping the stitches from stretching out? (P.S. the pom-poms snap on, and I will remove them before blocking.) #knitting 🧶

Thanksgiving or Perimenopause? 1. There’s a turkey neck situation. 2. Is it four thousand degrees in the kitchen, or is it just you? 3. You love your family, but you also wish th...

"You’ve been obsessively trying to prepare for it, but who knows what will actually happen."

Polka Dot Cottage In person! Holiday Market @ SCAHC Nov 28 Two weeks through Dec 16th | Newton, NJ Small Business Saturday @ Do Ewe Knit Nov 29 Saturday | 10:00 AM -- 4:00 PM | Basking Ridge, NJ Makers Market @ Urban Sewciely Dec 6 Saturday | 10:00 AM — 4:00 PM | Westfield, NJ Holiday Market @ SCAHC Dec 18 Two weeks through Jan 1st | Newton, NJ

Here are some upcoming events where you can find me and my #polkadotcottage #polymerclay creations! There are more details on my website: www.lisaclarke.net/buy-my-work-...