#lastnormalphoto

Via Kottke’s Quick Links with more to explore on social media under the titular hashtag, BBC asked readers to submit the last image on their phones taken before their world was radically changed with lockdown, teleworking and social distancing measures imposed to stop the spread of COVID-19 and save lives and to share the stories behind them, scenes that seem nearly inconceivable and unconscionable just a few months later. One of the last normal activities I took part in was on 1 March, going to a local flea market—I miss those—and showing off a couple of finds in this stoneware pitcher and brass relief etched sculpture of a sailboat. I remember the virus being discussed among vendors and visitors at the multipurpose hall where the sale was being held. What is your last documented moment before this upheaval and pause?

idahot

Originally in deference to a subsection of German Basic Law and penal code § 175 with colloquially homosexuals sometimes referred to as einhundredfunfundsiebsiegers (twice the fun, see previously) and the association reinforced by the decision of the World Health Organisation to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder on this same date in 1990, since 2005 and expanded in 2009, a human rights coalition has commemorated this 17 May as the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia to mobilise and raise awareness of discrimination and repression of individuals in that community.

In solidarity, many national celebrations and legislative reforms are observed and enacted around this day, with Massachusetts holding the first lawful same-sex ceremonies in the United States in 2004, France in 2009 to normalise transgender identification and Taiwan in 2019 to legalise gay marriages.

typatune

From the venerable bon viveur Card House, we are presented with another novel approach to teaching those aspiring touch typists in the form of this melodious marvel from 1945 whose notes correspond to keystrokes (see previously) which surely must have resulted in a discordant cacophony with the prescribed exercises. No font specimen is available as the contraption instead operated like an accordion and though it seems rather counter-productive to play a QWERTY keyboard like that of a clavier, perhaps there was some method to this music box.

marginal adventure

Via Art of Darkness, here is a fun little arcade game with role playing elements for one’s hand-held devices wherein one battles the strange, fantastic beasts (previously) that medieval scribes embellished in the white spaces of the manuscripts that they faithfully copied.  It seems challenging and quite well put together and nicely scored, as well as appealing to the fan of scholasticism during the Middle Ages and worth giving it a try.

unfriended

The post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and associated co-morbidities suffered by social media moderators paid very little to weed and tend a walled-garden that represents and manipulates one of the largest polities on Earth has been ruled compensable with the rather lenient ruling of a judge that results in a class-action settlement rather than the social media giant providing for job retraining, therapy, counselling or long-term treatment. Current and former moderators are to receive a thousand dollars—which could balloon up to six-thousand should the plaintiff be able to demonstrate more serious mental distress—which comes as a significant bargain to one of the richest and most disruptive companies in the world.

ranch style

We are enjoying these inspiring Mid-Century Modern backyard and balcony roosts for our avian friends crafted by Douglas Barnhard (see also here and here). Besides the standard accoutrements of feed, seed, pitch, perch and shelter there are water elements and landscaped succulent gardens for some models. See more at the link up top and at Barnhard’s shop.

ferenginar

Ahead of the United States Armed Forces Day, falling on the third Saturday in May, Trump used the occasion to unveil the standard for their new branch, the Space Force (previously here and here) with calls to bring him a super-duper rocket, presumably to position the country first for the land grab and claims jumping when it comes to prospecting in space.
This flagging ceremony occurs with approaching ninety thousand deaths in America from COVID-19, many of which can be attributed directly to his negligence and mismanagement with some forty million jobless for a country that can budget for a knock-off Star Fleet that’s an anathema to everything Star Trek stands for but can’t deliver healthcare or job security nor foster the imagination.  We truly are in the dumbest timeline.

it happened on the way to baker street

Though he’s not quite yet there and it’s all I can do to not play the song back to him and encourage him in the right direction, our neighbour’s rooster wails throughout the day with a crow that close awfully close to the timeless opening saxophone riff from Gerry Rafferty’s 1977 recording which anyone in the horn section should cut their chops on. I’ll update you if his pitch and timing improve or at least manage to capture a recording of this very audible but demurring bird.