Astri Bryde

Going a-Viking! Or at least, going to a Viking market...
Dressing the part, being the nerd.

Brilliant! It looks great.

I guess that would be fair. Why pay taxes if all they go to is lining some grifter's pocket?

I'm refusing to give Kitty more wet feed tonight.
She's shocked, and very verbal about it.

I've heard stories from a couple cisgender female friends of mine about this kind of harassment. One encounter was fairly mild, having someone intentionally misgendering her, while the other friend now tries to avoid using public restrooms at all.

That portrait is even uglier than the original -which is somewhat surprising. A reverse Dorian Gray effect?

I'm here, if you want me on the list? I finished my Master’s thesis last year, on the subject of the textile tools from the Oseberg ship burial and their interpretations and possible uses. I've also researched Viking Age textiles and garments since 2009.

I just signed up for your newsletter! I can definitely relate to the 2025 doldrums you describe so well. It's been one hit after another, this year!

Now *there's* a nice coffee break!

Uten tvil!
Det var egentlig et fotoshoot i forbindelse med den danske utgaven av "Auðr", og underveis dukket dette motivet opp.

Takk! Det er moro når Espen tar bilder.

I see that there is a message feature here, but that all followers/ friends can't be messaged. It could be an alternative to Messenger, though?

Now also on Mastodon!
The handle there is TheBryde. Short and modest,wouldn't you say?
And it's a sad photo, because I'm sad.
Photo by Espen Winther.

I had a very short trip to York this time, but managed to catch the great VALHAll:A conference in the company of Hilde Thunem. The subject was "Home in the Viking Age". I enjoyed every talk!

Today: Sewing a Viborg shirt and thinking about the world and the fact that I love my family and friends.

I think they believe that the fact that they support the current regime will make it loyal to them.
They forget that traitors will always be traitors to everyone but themselves.

Yep. Pretty obvious. I wonder if it's AI?

MAGAbot... 🙄

It seems the whole world is going to Hell (or is it Florida?) in a handbasket.

My names for *that one* is "the orange one" and "no.666". He's not a president, but a thief and a scoundrel.

I doubt I'd ever amass that sort of (mis)fortune in the first place, as "sharing is caring". I do care.

Yeah. It stinks.

The Sociopathy of Elon Musk Imagine being the richest man on the planet, with more wealth than any other human has ever had before. What would you do with that much wealth?

What would YOU do with $400 billion? My latest blog post asks the question.
freelansing.blog/2025/02/11/t...

It provides comfort only if you yourself comply with the rules. Rules set out by a 2000 year old patriarchy, then "interpreted" by other old men in need of total control. Also, it gives you the right to sneer at the "heathens".

It worries me that it snowed in Florida this winter. "When Hell freezes over", "A snowball's chance in Hell" and so on suddenly takes on a sinister meaning...
Then again, I guess they thawed out quickly.

It certainly is strange to believe in a "heavenly" entity at this point in time. I can understand people in olden times, trying to explain the inexplicable that's now well known scientific facts, but for presumably educated people in modern times...?

I've begun to abhor any incarnation of religion. Their followers all find excuses to look down on anyone not like them.

It's absolutely mind-boggling how things have turned out over there. I've watched it happen, step by step, but still! I'm aghast. "Not surprised; disgusted!", as was uttered by a well-known US pilot.

For women in the States, there's now that added thing of losing fundamental rights as soon as that name change hits, as well as relinquishing parts of your identity. I'm very happy I decided to return my permanent residence card and move back home those many years ago. Dodged a bullet there!

Like I said, things DO change. I've seen unmarried couples who've been fine for years, suddenly split after a short time being married. As for taking the other spouse's name... I'm grateful to myself that I spared myself what would've been the double hassle of changing my last name twice.