@castle88.bsky.social
Author of science fiction and fantasy where characters find their families and their place in the world ... or the universe. Reader of same. Urbanist and environmentalist (the former stemming from the latter). She/her. Find me at reneastle.substack.com.
Also to *not* be cutting funding for active transportation and transit.
I've already written my MP about this. In building infrastructure we can also build things that are good for the future.
Beautiful photo!
Apparently 'mosquitero' means mosquito net (according to online translation tools). Although the Common Chiffchaff is an insectivore, that seems like a big job for this little bird.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_...
btw, flores del almendro means almond flowers (that I did know).
I hope so. I'm just waiting to finish a project before I move the laptop to Linux. It uses one of the 2 programs I still use that have no Linux support. Any others I've mostly swapped for other programs.
There are Huion drivers for Linux, at least for my display style on (I always forget the number). It worked on my test machine with Krita (the reason it's my test machine is it's very old and the battery is dying). I'll live boot on the other laptop soon and test out Huion with that.
This is going into the story fodder file for sure.
But also, who knows if we'll need to secret science messages in the future 😐
Imagine how much faster and less stressful the trip to the cottage would be if you could take a train! We never had a cottage but I visited other people's - hours in traffic.
Some amazing photos of this amazing country. I think my favourite is the river otters, though I am also partial to the stormy prairie skies.
Various writing news in the latest newsletter - mostly reminding people that Juniper Keys and the Cube of Stars is free to read on Armchair Alien and sharing the new release by @jeannettebedard.bsky.social (you should get a copy - it's great!)
reneastle.substack.com/p/alien-arte...
Are you ready to escape to a weird and wonderful world where mysteries await?
I have been in a torrential rain storm or two that seem like they'd be great electricity generators.
"Apocalyptic" was the word the guide in Costa Rica used.
What a cutie!
As someone who's recently gone to many public hearings, imo they don't actually make the process more democratic. They're exhausting, and the people most in need of housing are the least likely to be able to attend hearing after hearing after hearing after....
This seems out of this world! Gorgeous.
"Time Feels Different Without Traffic"
This is an underrated benefit. It *feels* like I'm progressing as long as I'm moving, as opposed to being stuck in traffic, even if riding takes a bit longer. There are many times when I take the car that I regret it; I almost never regret taking the bike.
This was an interesting piece that talks about some of the history of Iran. There's definitely a lot I don't know.
I don't curl but, damn, even I can tell that's phenomenal.
It's International Women's Day. The perfect day to share @whatshernamepod.bsky.social, one of my favourite podcasts (and they have books)!
I can't pick a favourite episode, but the bookend ones about Malintzin and Zazil-ha are as good a place to start as any.
whatshernamepodcast.com
Beautiful blooms from this morning
Hey, #yyj public transit and active transportation enthusiasts, I hadn't heard of these funding cuts; maybe you hadn't either. The article focuses on the impacts in Quebec, but it's not just Quebec that will be impacted.
theconcordian.com/2026/02/fede...
Looks great!
So many! I think my favourite that I didn't know is "boat-builder".
The article doesn't say, but I'm assuming our numbers in BC are similar to those in Ontario shown in the Rational National video, where we're paying way more for for-profit staffing than if we just gave permanent staff a raise. It's false economy.
youtu.be/an711iGhL1A
😐 Coffee? Maybe I shouldn't knock it until I try it. Regardless, neither. Waffles are the way.
I love the pill bug photo bomb - it really gives a sense of scale.
As a Saanich resident, I'm disappointed in this move. I'll be considering this in who I vote for in the fall.
I have NOT tried this: github.com/linux-surfac...
For me, my surface will be my Windows workstation for a while yet.
The other digital art/gaming laptop is getting switched once I finish a project I'm working on (in case I can't get that software running and it takes time to find an alternative).
I thought this was a painting until I read the description.
It's a wonder-filled world.
Escape into a new space archaeology story running on Armchair Alien.
Juniper Keys is working a site on a dusty, backwater planet in the Badlands when she discovers an unusual object.
#sci-fi #freefiction
armchairalien.substack.com/p/juniper-ke...
I had to look up what autonomía meant in Spanish - apparently both range and battery life. Either way this is great.
"Electric cars are great but they don't work here because we have winter"