aurroar.bsky.social

aurroar.bsky.social

@aurroar.bsky.social

119 followers18 following435 posts

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

Consider : Re-Use and Reclamation. Capitalism, which generates & enables consumerism, gestates persistent inequity, and depends on constant use of new materials. How can we continue to re-use, re-utilize, and reclaim to erode this unsustainable and inequitable approach to living?

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

With the campaigns in Texas senate race, it has been disturbing to observe so much slander & libel thrown at Talarico. Is this fear, from conservatives, that we're seeing? Is this a complete lack of actual, effective agenda in the state, from conservatives? Either way, it seems fear-based.

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

Continued appreciation for organizations that stick with facts, and PBS recent fact-checking of presidential speeches at mid-term rallies falls in-line with this: www.pbs.org/newshour/pol...

pbs.orgA fact-checked guide to Trump's talking points and falsehoods at midterm ralliesPresident Donald Trump is hitting the campaign trail to support Republican candidates in toss-up races that will determine which party controls Congress for the final two years of his presidency. Here...
aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

Culinary Competition - Category : Chocolate Chip Cookies Received Honorable Mention at the Washington State Fair! R is for Recognition! *feeling validated that complete strangers find my simple baking delicious* (also the only one, showcased, that used spices & cocoa powder)

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

PAX West'26 concluded on Labor Day, and with it my annual curation of the First Look sector. First Look are up-and-coming games & games that one might not be able to get in the U.S. It's a hoot to scout out options and showcase them for others (literally thousands) to enjoy. . .

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

Some of the ones I particularly enjoyed: --Camp Grizzly (Trick or Treat Games) --Marajoara (from Brazil) --Into the Machine (Alderac Entertainment Group) --Wildhavens (Huitzi Games) --Akara : Master the Elements (Mythworks) --Glimmerdeep (Winsmith Games) --Hell of a Deal (Smirk & Dagger)

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

Annually, BrickCon (WA) happens the weekend following Labor Day. . .for the past handful of years in Bellevue (WA) at the Meydenbauer Center. Here are two truly incredible entries (yes, they won awards) on exhibit at this year's BrickCon:

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

The relief of rain this weekend. We often presume that we will always have replenished, easily accessed water. Instead of practicing water conservation when reaching drastic conditions (Colorado River, Lake Powell, etc), practice such conservation ALL THE TIME.

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

vaguely, ambling the railroad tracks three cubs black bear mama forest surging green a grey dawn brought the persistent pitter patter and two days anticipating this 55min trail run

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

For those who might not be tracking Mike Lindell (aka My Pillow guy): --lost the Republican primary earlier this month --claimed 'anomalies in voting', without evidence --demands recount & states he'll pay the $825,000 --renegs on paying (8/24) because 'the state's recount isn't fair'

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

lawandcrime.com/high-profile... If these evasion tactics sound familiar, they're STRAIGHT from the conservative handbook--with copious insertions by current federal administration--of 'blame someone else rather than hold oneself accountable.'

lawandcrime.comFed-up FedEx's court demand may mean sleepless nights for Mike Lindell, as legal woes stack upFedEx asked a federal judge to issue an order forcing MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell to pay more than $2 million in damages in a lingering shipping debts dispute.
aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

For those who might not be tracking Mike Lindell (aka My Pillow guy): --lost the Republican primary earlier this month --claimed 'anomalies in voting', without evidence --demands recount & states he'll pay the $825,000 --renegs on paying (8/24) because 'the state's recount isn't fair'

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

--his MyPillow business is ALSO on the hook, in the same FedEx lawsuit, for $8.8 million (the actual charges for shipping, past due) --the amount he's personally responsible for: damages to FedEx --judge found in favor of FedEx, by default, as neither Lindell nor attorney showed in court.

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

For those who might not be tracking Mike Lindell (aka My Pillow guy): --lost the Republican primary earlier this month --claimed 'anomalies in voting', without evidence --demands recount & states he'll pay the $825,000 --renegs on paying (8/24) because 'the state's recount isn't fair'

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

Now, it's important to note: --Lindell does not have the money to pay for the recount --he was crowdsourcing through digital media to raise the $825k Especially important to note: --Lindell's on the hook for $2.67 _million_ to FedEx for unpaid shipping costs

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

Radical idea: Legislation that only allows fact-based media reporting. Any fictional information promoted/put forth, in any media reporting, immediately bars that media, group, or person from any access to distribution. The question would be: —how to tune this to avoid loopholes or side-effects?

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

In a post some months ago, I reflected on Christian commandments are a type of social guideline. . .and how sustainable social guidelines are beneficial. Recently, several islamophobic folk have been running with 'sharia compliant' and claiming its problematic. Here's a primer on it:

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

Investing in real economic activity: all investments must be tied to tangible assets or economic activity, ensuring that value creation is grounded in productivity and not speculation. Essentially, that 'markets' (like stock, futures, etc.) corrupt and are unsustainable.

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

In a post some months ago, I reflected on Christian commandments are a type of social guideline. . .and how sustainable social guidelines are beneficial. Recently, several islamophobic folk have been running with 'sharia compliant' and claiming its problematic. Here's a primer on it:

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

Sharing risk: investment returns be earned by sharing risk, not just by the passage of time, favoring sharing of realized profit and loss, not interest. Seeking to maintain business practices that are solvent & well-managed rather than expecting an operations tax (like interest).

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

In a post some months ago, I reflected on Christian commandments are a type of social guideline. . .and how sustainable social guidelines are beneficial. Recently, several islamophobic folk have been running with 'sharia compliant' and claiming its problematic. Here's a primer on it:

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

Engaging in charitable giving: 'Zakat', the social obligation to donate some wealth each year to those in need in order to improve social harmony and economic justice. While we don't need religion to contribute to communities, this reinforces social sustainability (and fights greed/hoarding).

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

In a post some months ago, I reflected on Christian commandments are a type of social guideline. . .and how sustainable social guidelines are beneficial. Recently, several islamophobic folk have been running with 'sharia compliant' and claiming its problematic. Here's a primer on it:

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

Avoiding haram investments: activities or industries that are considered haram include trade in commodities such as alcohol, tobacco or pork, should be avoided. Essentially, avoiding what we know to be toxic (although pork is not. . .byproduct methane is problematic).

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

In a post some months ago, I reflected on Christian commandments are a type of social guideline. . .and how sustainable social guidelines are beneficial. Recently, several islamophobic folk have been running with 'sharia compliant' and claiming its problematic. Here's a primer on it:

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

Minimizing uncertainty: 'gharar' - highly speculative investments, such as options, futures & other derivatives, run contrary to the Shariah ideals of certainty and transparency. Can't help but interpret this as: 'investments need to be sustainable & transparent in their expectations & agreement.'

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

In a post some months ago, I reflected on Christian commandments are a type of social guideline. . .and how sustainable social guidelines are beneficial. Recently, several islamophobic folk have been running with 'sharia compliant' and claiming its problematic. Here's a primer on it:

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

Prohibiting interest: As emphasized in the Qur’an, earning or charging interest, known as riba, is considered exploitative because it creates an unequal relationship between the lender and the borrower. Given how many of us are adversely affected by interest rates, this approach is excellent.

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

Washington State Fair : 2026 Wanted to enter the miniature painting division, but registration & drop off dates are ridiculously early. Instead, we'll be jammin', ciderin', apple dessertin', salsa-in', and choco-chip cookie-in'.

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

Washington State Fair : 2026 Wanted to enter the miniature painting division, but registration & drop off dates are ridiculously early. Instead, we'll be jammin', ciderin', apple dessertin', salsa-in', and choco-chip cookie-in'.

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

Motive for entering these competitions : purely curiosity. To have folk that don't know me, share what they think about culinary goods that I'm proud of. I don't want my quilting, sewing skills, or large-scale art judged: I'm self-content in these pursuits.

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

Having recently read 'Careless People' (Facebook whistleblower account), today's news about Meta (what Facebook's parent company renamed itself in the 2010s) is very, very welcome (and unsurprising): www.npr.org/2026/08/07/n...

npr.orgCourt orders Instagram and Facebook's Meta to pay $567M to address kids' mental health onlineJudge Bryan Biedscheid said in a ruling late Thursday that the bulk of the money will be used for treatment services for young people.
aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

Part of the current federal administration's push has been 'to lower spending'. So much of their actions, however, have been the exact (and severe) opposite : radical increases in wasteful spending. This NPR reporting sums up some of those: www.npr.org/2026/08/03/n...

npr.orgBedbugs, bad Wi-Fi: Federal workers say forced summer relocations have been chaosFederal agencies are rushing to move hundreds of workers into new buildings. Employees say the moves are significantly disrupting their work.
aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

"Nationalism always begins with the claim that [oneself] is on the principled, moral, righteous side of things." Summarized so succinctly, and so accurately. For the record, I have minimal--if any--nationalism. . . .and I am not virtue-signalling.

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

Some thoughts on The Odyssey movie (2026): --it is not a spectacle : so many movies, both in & out of theaters, have emphasized spectacle. . .the bigness, the shock, the enormity. . .purely for the sake of pulling our attention by the simplest of pulleys (cont'd. . .)

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

--full theater : parallels between Don Bluth's approach to animation & this production's approach to movie. Each seeks to evoke the essential relevance/importance of the art form, when others dilute the form's substance in an effort at populism. Audience showed up for substance, not populism.

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

Some thoughts on The Odyssey movie (2026): --it is not a spectacle : so many movies, both in & out of theaters, have emphasized spectacle. . .the bigness, the shock, the enormity. . .purely for the sake of pulling our attention by the simplest of pulleys (cont'd. . .)

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

--set & prop design : this (presumably) enormous team outdid themselves. They made ancient Greece so tangibly real and _practical_, more than any depiction I've been exposed to. They truly grounded the movie, allowing camera & lighting a literal stage to work upon.

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

Some thoughts on The Odyssey movie (2026): --it is not a spectacle : so many movies, both in & out of theaters, have emphasized spectacle. . .the bigness, the shock, the enormity. . .purely for the sake of pulling our attention by the simplest of pulleys (cont'd. . .)

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

--practical effects : Circe's sequence is just incredible, stunning work by the team that made that all happen (writers, actress, soldier-actors, makeup, sculptors, set designers). Learning that the vast majority were non-digital. . .breathtaking and visceral.

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

Some thoughts on The Odyssey movie (2026): --it is not a spectacle : so many movies, both in & out of theaters, have emphasized spectacle. . .the bigness, the shock, the enormity. . .purely for the sake of pulling our attention by the simplest of pulleys (cont'd. . .)

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

--whitewashing : this movie still feels whitewashed, & unfortunately signals who the studio thinks this movie is for. So much else is anchored within the 'world of the Aegean Sea', yet the casting grossly pulls us out of that and forces suspension of disbelief.

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

Some thoughts on The Odyssey movie (2026): --it is not a spectacle : so many movies, both in & out of theaters, have emphasized spectacle. . .the bigness, the shock, the enormity. . .purely for the sake of pulling our attention by the simplest of pulleys (cont'd. . .)

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

--what if : how would this movie feel _without_ the high-recognition acting names inserted within it? Were they necessary to draw in the audience, or were they excess? I think about how many lesser-known stage actors would have made an excellent Odysseus, a more potent Ptolemachus, etc.

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

Some thoughts on The Odyssey movie (2026): --it is not a spectacle : so many movies, both in & out of theaters, have emphasized spectacle. . .the bigness, the shock, the enormity. . .purely for the sake of pulling our attention by the simplest of pulleys (cont'd. . .)

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

--camera direction : some odd choices on elements to focus in on. Some rather excellent choices in lighting methods (and production made significant demands on lighting & camera teams, especially the Trojan horse interior scene and the sacking of Troy sequence).

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

Some thoughts on The Odyssey movie (2026): --it is not a spectacle : so many movies, both in & out of theaters, have emphasized spectacle. . .the bigness, the shock, the enormity. . .purely for the sake of pulling our attention by the simplest of pulleys (cont'd. . .)

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

--audience came for the story: it seems far less have _read_ the Odyssey than those viewing this movie, which says a lot about the motive to view. Viewers seemed to seek something of substance, something intellectually provocative, and engaged with one of the longer movies of the 21st century.

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

Some thoughts on The Odyssey movie (2026): --it is not a spectacle : so many movies, both in & out of theaters, have emphasized spectacle. . .the bigness, the shock, the enormity. . .purely for the sake of pulling our attention by the simplest of pulleys (cont'd. . .)

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

--production succeeded at selectivity : to quote Amy Nicholson (LA Times movie critic), "if they had tried to include everything, it would be impossible." There are so many versions of Homer's epic, that production selected what they wanted to focus on. . and delivered.

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

To have seen & read so many instances of--especially conservatives--trumpeting 'freedom of speech' as well as angrily against 'government overreach' over the years. Yet here we are, with federal agents targeting folk who are protected by such Constitutional tenets: www.npr.org/2026/07/01/n...

npr.orgHe sent a harsh email to ICE's top official. 6 months later, federal agents tracked him downFederal agents went to a Rochester man's home to warn him that an email he sent five months ago could be an illegal threat. He was on vacation but another agent found his hotel hundreds of miles away.
aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

Where is the conservative outcry at these acts? One tends to think: if there is none, then it was never about _actual_ freedom of speech. . .and it only makes conservatives appear fickle. Bare minimum, it reeks of government-directed intimidation.

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

Excellent article via ProPublica on ongoing insanity around consuming raw milk & using raw milk in food production: An excellent case study in how humans will believe what we want to believe, avoid accountability, despite contrary evidence. . .and illness.

propublica.orgHe Profits Off Raw Milk That’s Making People Sick. The Government Isn’t Stopping Him.With Raw Farm, the largest raw-milk dairy in the country, Mark McAfee has capitalized on a once-fringe product that’s been thrust into the mainstream in recent years and backed by Health Secretary Rob...
aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

The Art Biennale, in Venezia, is in full swing. . .and the incredible artists who assemble (literally) these installations remains awesome. The theme, this year, is 'In Minor Keys'. An excerpt from the India segment of the Arsenale section of the Biennale. . .

aurroar.bsky.social
@aurroar.bsky.social

How much of human hubris is forcing orthogonal systems upon an organic world? How much of human duress derives from labor to sustain such orthoganality in the face of organic pseudo-entropy?