Empress of Mars: Undisputed @zebratron2084@awoo.space

@kara_dreamer@plural.cafe And... and... and it's by the author of Mommie Dearest. THAT Mommie Dearest. Christina Crawford. And it has 4.5 stars on Amazon.

I am having a major Philip K. Dick moment right here. This can not be reality. ;____;

@kara_dreamer@plural.cafe Oh, I'm fine with ritual and such being "made-up nonsense" -- it's in the symbolic world, so there's really no alternative to that whatsoever in worldview. :) My problem with this source is that it's terrible *history*...

Specifically, in case you're curious... they've hatched this monumental apophenic conspiracy theory that the missing "Law #13" in the Code of Hammurabi was specific, clear, and reliable evidence of Hammurabi's Vile Patriarchal Suppression Of Purest Utopian Matriarchal Goddess Culture, because 13 is... you guessed it... "a Great Goddess number."

But there's one problem with that, and as a classicist you've probably already guessed. Yup. The earliest sources for the Hammurabic Code are NOT EVEN NUMBERED, and I'm finding multiple sources making a good case that the missing #13 was probably a clerical error.

@kara_dreamer@plural.cafe I am now hip-deep in pseudo-Wiccan nonsense about numerology and the Code of Hammurabi and I am so pissed off at these people and having such a wonderful time. XD

Today I really wish there were such a thing as sinus floss. >_<

@kara_dreamer@plural.cafe Wait, what?! I mean, obviously, Freyja is associated with Friday, which is associated with 13, but... yeah, I can't find ANY support for a connection between Freyja and the number 13 at all. A Google search for "Freyja number 13" that excludes the term "Friday" brings up approximately jekk and dritt. O:) I think your skepticism is correct!

Ask not what the cosmos can do for your gender.

Ask what your gender can do for the cosmos.

That was a real nice parting gift for Washington State:

I left local asswipe pundit Dori Monson a thorough, sourced, multi-comment debunking of a BS climate-denialist factoid he parroted about polar bear populations.

I won't link to it, but I mean, it ain't that hard to find, and it REALLY ain't hard to tell which commenter is me. O:)

o/` It's a beautiful morning... o/` =^____^=

(TL:DR, in case you're curious: he quoted an anti-green rabblerouser's claim that polar bear populations are 4x larger than recorded in the 20th century. Turns out, oops, not only were all the 20th c. stats a wild guesstimate... but the whole population recovery can be easily explained by other things like hunting bans. And real arctic wildlife experts HATE this dumbass talking point.)

@001zlnv I know, right? It's even sadder that the most recent update is the final one, so unless they release a mod kit, there never will be. Which is... almost a little surprising, since a Dig Dug gun would've been right up EtG's alley. Like, maybe 50% of the game's lore is retrogame homage. (So. Much. Metal. Gear.)

"In any case, it is always artificial to talk about 'reality' in regard to a fictional character." -- Ethan Coen

@001zlnv You RADICALLY underestimate the Gungeon.

https://enterthegungeon.gamepedia.com/Compressed_Air_Tank

@001zlnv But not nearly as satisfying as the Bait Launcher gun, which causes the target to be mauled by tigers. I'M NOT JOKING. =^______^=

@001zlnv Nope! However, there are other mechanics that will let you turn enemies into chickens. And you can't eat them either, but you can run right through them and make them explode in a cloud of feathers, and that is exceptionally satisfying.

I have a slingshot, a watch that gives me the powers of the protagonist from Super Hot, and a magic flute that summons attack chickens.

Fuck, I love the Gungeon.

Also we are DONE SHIPPING OUR STUFF. Only minor FedExing and checked baggage from here on out. Again... Amtrak Express could NOT have been more helpful. So much less stress, and we get to have a relatively chill weekend.

KITTY ALERT STATUS:

VERY YES <3 <3 <3

(Apparently his name is Alfie, and both he and his owner are damned good-looking specimens *blush*...)

ACABET99P

(all cops are bastards except the 99th precinct)

#NINENINE!
#WatchLiberalCopFantasyThursdaysOnNBC

@LeDiva (Humph, thanks Awoo. That was SUPPOSED to come out "No Shit Sherlock," but it's more like "No Shit MiB." :p

@LeDiva 🚫​💩​🕵

Speaking the Stranger and being pissed off... did anyone else kinda want to knee the Anonymous letter guy in this week's edition in the groin? The one sputtering about how it's Just Plain Mean to subject a whole category of people to any criticism whatsoever, and how any of us could have exactly what every tech bros has if only we applied ourselves? And apparently accidentally forgot that women and queer people exist and ALREADY have KNOWN problems getting into tech that he just blew off completely?

Oh, well. You're the ones who are going to have to deal with him and his Bad Haircut Bros, not me. ;p

​After yesterday's shameful failure of temper control, I decided to take positive pre-emptive action.

Taking a hint from an episode of the Mighty Boosh, I tore a corner off this week's Stranger and had Peg draw an cute tiger and dragon snoozing on it.

Then I asked her to put it in her pocket, and wave it in front of me every time I start to redline.

Today's actually been great so far, so it hasn't been necessary except as a fun running gag (and I mean, they are fucking adorable, aren't they?) but it's comforting to know it's there. :)

Fig. 1: