Lori Alpert

Screenshot of a book cover showing an illustration of a crow perched on an "ICE" jacket lying in the middle of a snow-lined road under the light of a full moon. The cover reads "ICE Out " by Charles de Lint. Text to the right of the cover reads "ICE came to Newford. Big mistake." and "Download for free!"

Urban fantasy author Charles de Lint just published a new "novelet" and released it for free, his stories of myth and magic and community and found family are full of so much love and hope and we could all use some of that right now

www.charlesdelint.com/IceOut.html

We need old-fashioned email lists.

Octavia E. Butler said, “These novels are not prophetic. These novels are cautionary tales… The problems that I write about are problems that we can do something about. That's why I write about them.”

And “I hope they're not prophecy because I don't want to live in that world.”

For Mahmoud Khalll, this past year has been marked by profound hardship-and by profound courage. A year ago, Mahmoud was walking home through our city after sharing an iftar with his wife Noor when he was detained by federal agents, flown to Louisiana, and then held in an ICE facility for months. In that time, he was forced to miss the birth of his first child. All of this for exercising his First Amendment rights in protesting the ongoing genocide in Palestine. And yet, even in the face of that cruelty, there has also been beauty. New Yorkers raising their voices in solidarity. A city refusing to look away. Mahmoud won his freedom, and a father was finally reunited with his child. Last night, as we marked the one year anniversary of his detention, Rama and I were honored to welcome Mahmoud, Noor, and their son Deen to Gracie Mansion to break our fast together. Mahmoud is a New Yorker, and he belongs in New York City.

In a dining room, five people eat, chat and smile around a table of food.

Iftar, Day 19

There are a couple of others that probably have items I’m looking for, but they aren’t quite within walking distance, at least not these days. I really do need to get out and walk more.

Can we impeach him for that?

I should probably add that I haven’t yet figured out where to get everything I want to find. At least, not in one place.

I went to my closest grocery store today. It was really nice out, and the store is not too big with enough selection. But there are always at least one or two items I still need.

Which is great, unless there’s something you need that requires you to go elsewhere.

No, that’s 86.

Maybe you need to bring a thermos down with you?

I somehow didn’t think they were stocked by horse or bicycle.

I can walk to grocery stores, but they are stocked by truck deliveries.

I also grew up in NY. I can see NJ from here. ;)

They are unique. I grew up near NJ, but spent some summers there.

I hadn’t heard about that proposal!

I think it’s also depends on location. It gets light very early in the summer here, so I think if they left it at standard time, it would throw people off. Very few would need to get up at 4:30 am. 5:30 is early enough.

Mine isn’t super rigid, but some days I have less flexibility.

I prefer DST, but I agree we need to pick one.

No thank you.

I’ve had more trouble adjusting to the time change in recent years.

I went to college in a different time zone. Back then, changing clocks and time zones seemed easier.

Did anybody else have to memorize the prologue to the Canterbury Tales? I was annoyed at the time, but darn if I don't think about it every springtime.
For anybody who hasn't read it, it basically says that when sweet spring showers come and the birds start singing, people want to travel (1/2)

*Or, as a friend and I used to say, funny peculiar or funny ha ha?

When I was a kid, the time changed in April (and six months later, in October).

Are you talking about DST or the time change itself?

If you ask me about DST, I like it. If you ask me about the time change, that’s a different matter.

Problematic, yes.
leavesubstack.com

THREAD: I got laid off from NYMag/Vulture after 14 years. The family lost 75% of income + medical. Now mzs.press bookstore, once a side project. is do-or-die for Judith & I. I feel weird telling you this because others are doing much worse. But if you could like or share this, we'd be so grateful!

Six yoked sweaters variously featuring birds, grapes, dragons and an octopus.

Four yoked sweaters featuring krampus, a dragon, celtic hares and an owl.

I love designing sweaters, so when #showmeyourknits chose #sweaters for this week's feature, I was spoilt for choice.
All the #patterns are available on my #ravelry store if anyone sees something they fancy #knitting. 🧶
www.ravelry.com/designers/ca...

I have no idea. My niece and nephew don’t have a problem, as far as I know.

Trying to remember some of the little things I need to do. Like try to figure out why my printer is printing blanks.

And then I realized I am probably going to Costco that morning, and will be tired that afternoon, so planning to bake might not be the best idea. Plus, fridge will be stuffed.