Roll up, Ladies and Gentlecreatures, the Bluestocking has been redecorated

[DeanElderberry]

Here for your delight and delectation is the hostelry by, for, and about wise, intelligent, creative and kind women, their assorted avatars including (but not limited to) a remarkable beetle, an astute android, a wise cake, and an assembly of companion creatures and animal assistants.

Food and drink available in abundance, all with remarkable non-damaging qualities.

Males may congregate in the nearby Staunch Ally and sometimes visit the stableyard to view outdoor performances by the gerbil waitstaff (who need to be distracted after the moment after that terrible 'misunderstanding' about the meaning of safe sex).

last thread here if you need to know why the Quokkas need some extra cuddles, and why the Cabybaras are being particularly efficient just now

www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5273255-the-bluestocking-all-gerbils-welcome-must-have-own-frou-frou-skirt?

I guess Swashy wasn't here for the images of the men. So I nipped into the Staunch Ally to snap a few pix for her. It's French Night tonight over there, apparently.

I can knit and watch TV at the same time but only if it’s no more complicated than stocking stitch. I do like audiobooks but I have to be doing something else with my hands, usually making dinner.

I also knit and watch TV at the same time - but only stocking or garter stitch if the programme is not in English and I have to read the subtitles.

Astrid - Murder in Paris is worth the lack of knitting time, though, and makes up for it by revising my French.

Apologies for the intrusion of reality for a moment. I thought this infographic was interesting. When reading it, it is important to note that these figures are per 1000 instances.
Source is https://nature.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2c6057c528fdc6f73fa196d9d&id=67cf75834a&e=c4a17a5bc8

This is the biggest issue with AI. Microsoft are actively seeking to build a nuclear power station to produce enough power. The Cloud now generates enough emissions to exceed the emissions from air travel. So we might be better off reducing our smartphone, streaming and computer use than reducing flying.

In some respects the biggest danger to humankind from AI might be that it could direct energy to itself rather than for other purposes as it would determine that was the best use.

But as it can't render text in images properly, we're probably safe for a bit.

Aside from that, someone equated using AI as a choice between 80% of an answer now or 90% in six months' time. The additional processing time and energy is just not worth it for such a small gain.

This is one of my pet peeves, Magpie, for me it started with the graphical user interface, where onscreen images of instructions replaced instructions. Then more and more images on more and more high resolution screens...
And then there was video - moving images need masses more data than static images, and AI is worse still.

The data centres that handle all this increasingly intensive computing work soak up so much electricity - in Ireland in 2023, it was 21% of electricity on the national grid.

I could go on.. and on... and on... as my friends know, poor things!

I'd like a 'slow food' movement for tech - sure, 5g can handle more data, but 4g was doing just fine, without all the extra base stations etc that 5g needs.

5g is ridiculously needy, even trees blocking line of sight [yes like bonfires on hilltops!] can bother it. It's only 'better' because it can carry more data, it's less 'better' in other ways. Tech progress in one way, but two steps back in others. e.g. cost and resilience.

Guess who defines what 'progress' is? It's not the person stuck in their home during a prolonged power cut with only the latest expensive top-end blingy smartphone ... which ran out of juice on day 2 leaving them totally cut off from the outside world.... It's the techbro version of 'progress' that rules.😠

See, this is what happens.... any other posts re tech should carry a warning
MARIEDEGOURNAY IS NOT TO RESPOND TO THIS, WE HAVE OTHER THINGS TO DO TODAY AND HAVEN'T TIME FOR HER PROLONGED RANTS ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRIES. NOW CAN A GERBIL PLEASE BRING HER A HOT CHOCOLAT WITH A SLEEPING DRAUGHT TO CALM HER DOWN

You need photos to follow if you struggle to start crochet. It's how I worked it out. Nice guides that show you exactly where the hook should go, and now and again give you a pic of what you're (attempting) to make with a caption like, 'Now you should have a diddy little circle like this...'

As Requested

As requested.

Latest model is a roller coaster made from metal. The three squares contain all the pieces.

Connecting the first two pieces took 8 minutes.

This might defeat me...

I always recommend Bella Coco's YouTube tutorials for learning to crochet - it's how I learned.

That looks like a nice cup of cocoa and marshmallows, @MyrtleLion - just about big enough!

My coffee mug holds over a pint of coffee - which does normally last me most of the day, because I like cold coffee as much as hot coffee. I have two, slightly smaller mugs which only hold a pint, and I am worried about what will happen when my current mug finally bites the dust. Every so often, I go down the Amazon rabbit hole, looking for the perfect mug - it has to be big enough, but it also has to look nice, otherwise the coffee will taste wrong.

Oh - and we are keeping our fingers crossed that DDIL and the twins will be discharged today!

I’ve found it’s possible to do very complicated-looking crochet work with very little experience. I agree with Woley about watching videos, or looking at step-by-step picture guides.

However, I can’t crochet and watch TV, although I can listen to radio while crocheting.

Fingers crossed for your DDIL and the twins, @SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius.

Can't knit.
Can't crochet.
Don't do AI.
Don't drink alcohol.
Don't like Tunnocks.

Bluestocking failure puffin?

Nooooo! The Bluey needs a puffin in it, & you puffin so well.

I'd stay & discuss crochet, Astrid & AI and the end of humanity, but DH has invited me to set fire to things in the garden with him & I can't resist that.

I thought that was me burning in hell, til i read your post!
Now I've got " Burn baby, burn, disco inferno" as an earworm. 😀

I can only manage 1 ½ of those, Fuzzy. I still feel welcome and I’m not nearly such an encouraging and helpful Bluestocking member as you.

If I were, and was better with words, then I’d write a LONG list of things you Can do which are valued here, starting with Can be FuzzyPuffling.

I can knit, but only in a straight line - scarf, anyone?
I'm with you on all the other things, can't crochet, don't drink alcohol [except of course Bluestocking alcohol] and have never tasted a Tunnocks.

But you're not a failure, you are a great success as a puffin, you're the fuzziest, pufflingest little puffin we've ever had here

Aw bless you, stockingers.
I didn't mean it to come across as a whinge or self pitying, more just a note of wonderment and being impressed at others!

Sorry the pic comes with a " Thank-you Captain Obvious" statement.

Bestest puffling ever!

I bet you're musical though, Fuzzy.

I can knit, crochet, drink like a fish if the right opportunity presents itself and like a Tunnocks now and then (esp a caramel wafer). But I don't do AI, and am the most unmusical person on the planet.

I am deeply envious of all musical people.

Yep, I do sing and play a few things. As best a puffin can! Squawk!

Oh yeah, I remember you at the Bluestocking Music Festival in 2024 & 2023. The pix are in the corridor of the Music Wing. Looking forward to this year's festival.

I'm back from a bit of pyromania (getting rid of documents, not pampas grass - no swingers here). Just call me Smokey.

Spring has sprung, it's 15°C here now and I've seen my first butterfly of the year, a brimstone.
DH is planning on giving the lawn its first cut.