pickles, contemplating life

still life from our sill to start off the week

punchy Swansea Sound (with 3/5 of heavenly and bob collins from the Dentists on guitar!), a slew of 1min gems with Jeanines (+ a turn in front on bass by jed), and a heavenly set from Heavenly!! a mix of the new album and classics from the 90s (or as amelia put it, those tedious old songs). ooooh!

Photos: In this part of the world, nearly every chile pepper farmer is a woman Chile peppers are a traditional part of Indian cuisine — and a key crop for women farmers. They say it's too demanding for men. "In spite of the challenges," says one, "we've found freedom."

Freedom and chile peppers - I would never use another dried one in my cooking (which is almost daily) without thinking about the women farmers! An eye-opening piece from @kamal-t.bsky.social

www.npr.org/2026/04/19/g...

Child: I know your name. Mamdani.

Obama: What’s his first name?

Child: Mayor.

Black-and-white photograph of Jenny Pike standing beside a large studio camera mounted on a tripod. She wears a dark coat with a tie and has a cloth draped over her head, partially covering her hair. She looks downward at a small object held in her hands. Behind her are large circular studio lights with reflective metal shades, and another light fixture mounted on a stand to the right. The scene is set indoors against a plain backdrop, with lighting equipment arranged around her.

Jenny Pike began her photography career at Eaton's, and her skill eventually took her to London, England where she developed some of the first images of D-Day in 1944.
She then became a police darkroom technician and even did some film work.
This is her story.

🧵 1/7

hey, it's me and Claudia Gonson (of the Magnetic Fields) in matching marine research t-shirts and shoulder straps. didn't you get the memo? waiting for Heavenly...

i was on the opposing train so it was fine, happy i could frame the shot.

there is a show tonight!

please enjoy my new york moment

sparkling fresh paint friday, as predicted, dingy and dirty by saturday

no, it was at new casbah after they moved down kettner. however, did you catch the polvo/superchunk tour? i saw it in boston (1992?), and pretty sure sebadoh was also on the bill. were @notquitehydepark.bsky.social @nstop.com possibly there? epic!!

On April 18, 1905, William Bateson introduced the term “genetics,” giving identity to the study of heredity and variation. 🔗 Learn more: buff.ly/Yuqq3aC

Democracy will not come Today, this year Nor ever Through compromise and fear. I have as much right As the other fellow has To stand On my two feet And own the land. I tire so of hearing people say, Let things take their course. Tomorrow is another day. I do not need my freedom when I'm dead. I cannot live on tomorrow's bread. Freedom Is a strong seed Planted In a great need. I live here, too. I want freedom Just as you. Langston Hughes

random fact: hilken went to my high school

i'm somewhat disoriented+delighted to realize that my tickets to see Heavenly tonight are the same time as my tickets to see Superchunk. i mean, exactly what decade/century are we currently in?!?

dug out some mid-90s pix of @heavenlyamelia.bsky.social @superchunk.bsky.social from the Casbah SD

beautiful reflections and tribute to heavenly from @notquitehydepark.bsky.social. in college, stephanie wrote brief, insightful reviews stickered to 1000s of records and 7"s at the radio station. i learned a lot about indie music from those. can't wait to hear @heavenlyamelia.bsky.social tomorrow!

auspicious start to the weekend. played galaga after a year off and in first game ... personal high score !!!!! 🚀

there are still a number of ❤️ balloons stranded on the ceiling of grand central terminal.

today's discussion with resident English PhD: names of various diacritics.

Here they are (Zygothrica sp) going at it to defend their mushroom kingdom.

El Refugio, Intag, Ecuador

convo with resident English Ph.D. at home: "what is the word for that thing that redbud trees do when they make flowers on their trunk and branches?"

"cauliflory"

reminds me of another story. freshman year we thought itd be funny to "brick" up someone's dorm door with single-serving cereal boxes as a morning prank. the next year, the dining hall stopped offering single-serving cereal boxes. i don't think it was related, but i always had this guilty complex.

damn straight. and my childhood work ethic paid off! i can now afford to directly buy cheap plastic trinkets any time i want, without having to get sick on sugar cereal first.

quick anecdote. a few times growing up, we were very interested in the cereal box prize, so we gorged on bowl after sugary bowl, til we could reach the bottom and pluck out the treasure. later in life i recounted this, and was stunned to find others just dumped out the cereal and fish out the prize.

somehow, our little girl suddenly turned 15...

hi! my name is petey, and i have a light bulb for a right hand. 💡

fun recap of the latest fly research #Dros26 in Chicago by @gnemeth.bsky.social for GSA! i think it's the first conference review (although hopefully not the last) to start with a description of me playing music! 🪰🎸

genestogenomes.org/dont-bug-me-...

pleasing fungus beetles

peanut butter & bacon is the best flavor to freshen my breath. 🥜🥓