Empress of Mars: Undisputed @zebratron2084@awoo.space

@kelseyhusky (Note that one of the reasons I was so swift to reply to this is because I DO THIS TO MYSELF ALL THE TIME so I really sympathize. <3 )

@kelseyhusky I Am Not A Doctor(TM) of course, but I checked the back of my own skull immediately upon reading that, and found an indentation that I could VERY EASILY IMAGINE freaking me out if I discovered it without being prepared for it. I have a strong hunch that's standard skull design and is just where some plates meet. I did some cursory Googling as well, and the only mentions of "flat spots on skull" invariably pertained to infant development so I think you're probably in the clear. <3

@frameacloud Looks like it's mostly glaucoma and optical dryness. https://www.eyeworld.org/monitor-eyes-ocular-effects-antidepressants-anti-anxiety-medications

Watching the aftermath of a swiftly resolved tiff on Twitter, I just think it's hilarious that I got myself a reputation (maybe just an inner one?) for being ultra-confrontational.

I mean, I AM. To borrow a phrase: "🐯​." But I will cave SO FAST in the presence of any attempt at de-escalation, empathy, or humor. And so many of the people I've sparred with just... never tried petting the tiger or going "Nice kitty, no bite!"

C'est la guerre. More food for me, I guess. *shrug*

@xinjinmeng There's a REASON I call him St. Linus.

Don't worry, folks. The next generation has learned from our mistakes... and when called upon to do so, they should be able to repeat them quite skillfully.

I don't like people* anymore. I should probably try to do something about this. I could kind of stand to like people again. I have no idea where I would even start, and none of the methods I have seen suggested appeal to me in the slightest.

*You folks aren't people. Not even the humans. I'm talking about THE PEOPLE. It probably makes more sense in the original Procyonid/Feline terms. I hate the people. ❤️​

@Leucrotta I mean, I still want a fucking apology for those Iraqi WMDs never showing up. And for claiming cannabis legalization and gay marriage would make society collapse. >___<

@Leucrotta One possibly reassuring counterpoint: Trump's crisis bump was all of 5 percentage points and lasted for, what, a week?

It's terrifying to contemplate that even if "we" win, we'll still have a shitty, sketchy neoliberal in office and a nation full of rabid, radicalized conspiracy kooks.

But we've already passed the first hurdle of preserving a democracy in the face of a proto-fascist: the majority of us, however scant, just plain haven't bought into it. Whatever happens with Trump, there's going to be a pretty loud chorus of "What? No. Fuck you."

I was also fascinated to read today that roughly 30% of Republicans either want someone other than Trump as their candidate or are indifferent.

I am DEFINITELY not trying to be dismissive of your fears, I too am shit scared of what could happen in the next six months alone. It's horrifying that the following of such an amoral fuckbeast like Trump could even be TEN percent of America, let alone forty-five. But with COVID-19 about to hit the heartland (and me really torn on whether to cheer, smirk, or weep over it), I think the odds are at least good that it could get worse for him.

But then, how many times have we said that. Nobody knows how thick that bastard's teflon coating is. *sigh*

I wanna fight.

I wanna fight them.

I wanna win.

I think we might.

And if we can't, I'm ready to prepare for that world, too. Because all things crumble and break eventually.

That is all I have to say.

@hystericempress Good, because it's already SO MUCH FUN riffing on Artanis's sterling assholery.

@hystericempress *Artanis shrugs and goes back to drinking, in his closest known equivalent to patience* "Hey, you. God Lady. Not to rush you, but... we're all getting sabbatical pay for this. Right?" *chugs the rest of the bottle*

<3

@chimerror I love Sino-Japanese nomenclatural stuff. ^_____^ Just a couple of weeks ago I got to learn about the Heavenly Stem ordinals (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavenly_Stems)... because they're used in the Taiwanese highway numbering system, for crying out loud...

@chandra This is a REAL tiny one, too, barely a paper cut. If Shemp were an indoor cat or had regular vet visits (sigh, we really gotta take care of that as soon as the epidemic's manageable), I wouldn't worry at all. He seems pretty tidy for a semi-stray that we're just buddies with, though. I checked under his claws, and for the feline equivalent of a 16-year-old boy, they look immaculate. Which is to say, he hasn't tracked through anything too gross lately. :3 Thanks for the tip!

@hystericempress augh i love you so much sis and this is why

Artist's conception: me in queer furry fandom, 2002-2020.

#EggWithNoBirdInside
#ThisISMyFinalForm

@frameacloud At this point I'm just grateful nobody can yet measure their wealth in up-arrow notation. *sigh*

On the other hand... now you've given me a great idea for a one-off transhumanist SF satire.

Yikes. Horde Prime might be the one who finally puts my mind-control/assimilation kink down for good. Kudos to Noelle for making the most genuinely chilling, empty, soul-smothering sort of hive mind and inflicting it so skillfully on people that I actually liked BETTER as people (for once)... It's going to be a good while before I can have fun with this notion again. *shudder*

As some of you might have seen on Peg's account, we had to boot Shemp out in the pouring rain and scary thunder last night because we were just not equipped to shelter a kitty for the night. :(

Our debt to Bast was lavishly repaid this morning--we invited Shemp and his sisters in for like an hour and gave them lavish petting, food, and entertainment. They seem pretty happy.

But in the process, Shemp gave me a tiny little scratch across the pinky, and now I can't get the prospect of cat scratch fever -- and the 7-14 day incubation period to leave me in suspense.

Cat folks? How concerned should I *actually* be, given Shemp's an outdoor cat but his paws and claws look fairly clean? It's really *not* a deep scratch at all, and I dressed it as soon as I noticed it.

@Phorm I'm sorry. I just don't know what else to say at this point. Giving up on either the world or you is just not an option.