Ally Lester
@cogenthippo.bsky.social
Writer and reader of fiction -- history, sff, romance, thrillers. Interested in sustainability, rewilding, growing things. Knitter, early tech adopter, parent, spouse, disabled.
They/them. Also writes as Frances Fox. https://lnk.bio/gjD5 🏳️🌈 ✒️ 🏳️⚧️
They/them. Also writes as Frances Fox. https://lnk.bio/gjD5 🏳️🌈 ✒️ 🏳️⚧️
Reposted by Ally Lester
oh to be that one monk at the monastery with 50 anatomically accurate native bird species on lock....
January 26, 2026 at 4:02 PM
oh to be that one monk at the monastery with 50 anatomically accurate native bird species on lock....
Reposted by Ally Lester
the "medieval people didn't know how to draw animals" crowd has been real quiet ever since john siferwas dropped the Perfect Woodcock
January 26, 2026 at 3:53 PM
the "medieval people didn't know how to draw animals" crowd has been real quiet ever since john siferwas dropped the Perfect Woodcock
Reposted by Ally Lester
For Holocaust Memorial Day, the extraordinary story of Peter Kien, the Jewish artist who depicted life in the Theresienstadt Ghetto and the 55 year-long battle to retrieve them.
His artworks will now be held by the @wienerlibrary.bsky.social
www.thetimes.com/article/517f...
His artworks will now be held by the @wienerlibrary.bsky.social
www.thetimes.com/article/517f...
Holocaust victim’s rescued artwork captures life in a Jewish ghetto
The works of Peter Kien, a Jewish painter and writer who died in Auschwitz, have been reunited after more than 80 years thanks to a love passed down generations
www.thetimes.com
January 26, 2026 at 4:12 PM
For Holocaust Memorial Day, the extraordinary story of Peter Kien, the Jewish artist who depicted life in the Theresienstadt Ghetto and the 55 year-long battle to retrieve them.
His artworks will now be held by the @wienerlibrary.bsky.social
www.thetimes.com/article/517f...
His artworks will now be held by the @wienerlibrary.bsky.social
www.thetimes.com/article/517f...
Reposted by Ally Lester
This is correct but it still doesn’t make sense until you understand just how tiny the in-group of “everyone important enough to have an opinion” really is, and that it has shrunk to a fraction of what it was even at the start of this century, when it wasn’t exactly broad.
January 26, 2026 at 2:24 PM
This is correct but it still doesn’t make sense until you understand just how tiny the in-group of “everyone important enough to have an opinion” really is, and that it has shrunk to a fraction of what it was even at the start of this century, when it wasn’t exactly broad.
Reposted by Ally Lester
This reminds of a quote I saw online, that the reason ADHD appeared to disappear in adulthood is that men outsourced their executive function issues to their secretaries and wives, and ouch
(and ADHD women were either undiagnosed or burnt out by trying to compensate without support)
(and ADHD women were either undiagnosed or burnt out by trying to compensate without support)
There are a lot of men out there who do not see any of the logistics happening around them and they're like "wait, where the fuck did these hand warmers come from?"
Look at every kid wearing mittens, and that's your answer. From the people who have been silently keeping hands warm for centuries.
Look at every kid wearing mittens, and that's your answer. From the people who have been silently keeping hands warm for centuries.
January 26, 2026 at 11:56 AM
This reminds of a quote I saw online, that the reason ADHD appeared to disappear in adulthood is that men outsourced their executive function issues to their secretaries and wives, and ouch
(and ADHD women were either undiagnosed or burnt out by trying to compensate without support)
(and ADHD women were either undiagnosed or burnt out by trying to compensate without support)
Reposted by Ally Lester
On NPR on Friday, there was a story of a 4-year-old--an American citizen--who hasn't left her house since early December, not even to play in the yard. And her 8-year-old brother recently stopped going to school, too. Their father is undocumented, and the family doesn't want to risk him being taken.
January 26, 2026 at 3:47 AM
On NPR on Friday, there was a story of a 4-year-old--an American citizen--who hasn't left her house since early December, not even to play in the yard. And her 8-year-old brother recently stopped going to school, too. Their father is undocumented, and the family doesn't want to risk him being taken.
Reposted by Ally Lester
January 26, 2026 at 12:23 AM
Reposted by Ally Lester
I read this with megalithic monuments in mind:
"[Barn] raisings are a model for examining the entirety of building as a relational practice, and the ways architectural work is embedded in, dependent on, and facilitated by structures of the economy, family, labor, and risk."
January 26, 2026 at 7:35 AM
I read this with megalithic monuments in mind:
Reposted by Ally Lester
Looking for the Spring.
January 26, 2026 at 7:38 AM
Looking for the Spring.
We've had a good weekend, visiting a dear friend who has been not too long bereaved, helping with her house.
January 25, 2026 at 11:53 PM
We've had a good weekend, visiting a dear friend who has been not too long bereaved, helping with her house.
Reposted by Ally Lester
“Starlings are flying in converging flocks towards their roosting place”
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe
(What to Look for in Winter, 1959)
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe
(What to Look for in Winter, 1959)
January 25, 2026 at 8:36 AM
“Starlings are flying in converging flocks towards their roosting place”
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe
(What to Look for in Winter, 1959)
Artist: CF Tunnicliffe
(What to Look for in Winter, 1959)
Reposted by Ally Lester
New Review - a trip to nonfiction today but this is a biography of one of SF’s greatest writers Positive Obsession - The Life And Times of Octavia E Butler by Susana M Morris highly recommended
www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2026/1/...
www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2026/1/...
Positive Obsession - The Life And Times of Octavia E Butler by Susana M Morris — Runalong The Shelves
Publisher – Amistad Published – Out Now Price – £22 hardback £11.99 ebook As the first Black woman to consistently write and publish in the field of science fiction, Octavia Butler was a tra...
www.runalongtheshelves.net
January 25, 2026 at 9:49 AM
New Review - a trip to nonfiction today but this is a biography of one of SF’s greatest writers Positive Obsession - The Life And Times of Octavia E Butler by Susana M Morris highly recommended
www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2026/1/...
www.runalongtheshelves.net/blog/2026/1/...
Reposted by Ally Lester
The task for political leadership now is not just to tell the truth, but to make people care about what is true and what is not.
January 24, 2026 at 11:28 PM
The task for political leadership now is not just to tell the truth, but to make people care about what is true and what is not.
Reposted by Ally Lester
Too often, a loud minority claims to speak for women. But women are diverse - and most of us reject the idea that feminism means exclusion.
This campaign gives women a platform to show that we will not be misrepresented.
✍️ Sign the letter at notinourname.org.uk
#WhyWeSigned #Feminism #WithTheT
This campaign gives women a platform to show that we will not be misrepresented.
✍️ Sign the letter at notinourname.org.uk
#WhyWeSigned #Feminism #WithTheT
January 25, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Too often, a loud minority claims to speak for women. But women are diverse - and most of us reject the idea that feminism means exclusion.
This campaign gives women a platform to show that we will not be misrepresented.
✍️ Sign the letter at notinourname.org.uk
#WhyWeSigned #Feminism #WithTheT
This campaign gives women a platform to show that we will not be misrepresented.
✍️ Sign the letter at notinourname.org.uk
#WhyWeSigned #Feminism #WithTheT
This whole thread, but in particular, this:
January 24, 2026 at 11:51 PM
This whole thread, but in particular, this:
Reposted by Ally Lester
stop calling them "immigration enforcement" (or for that matter "incidents"). That's not what's happening here.
If you work for a media organization, call for a review of the style guide or call a meeting of the editorial board. this language is not accurate or acceptable.
If you work for a media organization, call for a review of the style guide or call a meeting of the editorial board. this language is not accurate or acceptable.
Footage, documents at odds with DHS accounts of immigration enforcement incidents | via Amanda Watford #ksleg
Footage, documents at odds with DHS accounts of immigration enforcement incidents • Kansas Reflector
As a growing number of encounters between civilians and Department of Homeland Security agents — including the widely scrutinized fatal shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis — are scrutinized in court...
kansasreflector.com
January 24, 2026 at 10:38 PM
stop calling them "immigration enforcement" (or for that matter "incidents"). That's not what's happening here.
If you work for a media organization, call for a review of the style guide or call a meeting of the editorial board. this language is not accurate or acceptable.
If you work for a media organization, call for a review of the style guide or call a meeting of the editorial board. this language is not accurate or acceptable.
Reposted by Ally Lester
If you’re outside of Minnesota and you’re wondering how to help, this guide is excellent.
And seriously. Take down your Ring doorbell TODAY.
And seriously. Take down your Ring doorbell TODAY.
How To Help if You are Outside Minnesota
Last edited January 22, 2026 I’m going to assume that if you’re reading this, you more or less understand the situation in Minnesota and I don’t have to explain it to you! That sa…
naomikritzer.com
January 24, 2026 at 5:47 PM
If you’re outside of Minnesota and you’re wondering how to help, this guide is excellent.
And seriously. Take down your Ring doorbell TODAY.
And seriously. Take down your Ring doorbell TODAY.
Reposted by Ally Lester
You don't need to watch the video of someone being killed to know that someone was killed.
On an emotional level, your amygdala can't really tell the difference between the video and being there.
Depending on your personal history, this could be mildly shocking or enduring trauma.
Why bother?
On an emotional level, your amygdala can't really tell the difference between the video and being there.
Depending on your personal history, this could be mildly shocking or enduring trauma.
Why bother?
January 24, 2026 at 7:52 PM
You don't need to watch the video of someone being killed to know that someone was killed.
On an emotional level, your amygdala can't really tell the difference between the video and being there.
Depending on your personal history, this could be mildly shocking or enduring trauma.
Why bother?
On an emotional level, your amygdala can't really tell the difference between the video and being there.
Depending on your personal history, this could be mildly shocking or enduring trauma.
Why bother?
Reposted by Ally Lester
Latte art class, just up the road. #smalljoys @cogenthippo.bsky.social
January 24, 2026 at 7:51 PM
Latte art class, just up the road. #smalljoys @cogenthippo.bsky.social
Reposted by Ally Lester
#Booksky Welcome back! We were on strike yesterday, but we’re back today and we have 2 Pride tables and a local book festival table to pay for. In short, it’s a great day to buy a terrific queer read from a a small press in Minneapolis! queenofswordspress.com
January 24, 2026 at 12:58 PM
#Booksky Welcome back! We were on strike yesterday, but we’re back today and we have 2 Pride tables and a local book festival table to pay for. In short, it’s a great day to buy a terrific queer read from a a small press in Minneapolis! queenofswordspress.com
Reposted by Ally Lester
Board of Peace - Season 1
January 24, 2026 at 7:45 AM
Board of Peace - Season 1
January 24, 2026 at 10:51 AM
Reposted by Ally Lester
On Isherwood posts:
Cabaret is a great film and an outstanding play, but to get a real feel about early 1930s read the Isherwood source material: the Berlin stories and diaries.
Like Zone of Interest the menace and horror is what you can sense off-page/off-screen.
And it was written at the time.
Cabaret is a great film and an outstanding play, but to get a real feel about early 1930s read the Isherwood source material: the Berlin stories and diaries.
Like Zone of Interest the menace and horror is what you can sense off-page/off-screen.
And it was written at the time.
January 23, 2026 at 8:28 AM
On Isherwood posts:
Cabaret is a great film and an outstanding play, but to get a real feel about early 1930s read the Isherwood source material: the Berlin stories and diaries.
Like Zone of Interest the menace and horror is what you can sense off-page/off-screen.
And it was written at the time.
Cabaret is a great film and an outstanding play, but to get a real feel about early 1930s read the Isherwood source material: the Berlin stories and diaries.
Like Zone of Interest the menace and horror is what you can sense off-page/off-screen.
And it was written at the time.
Reposted by Ally Lester
When you are admiring the media cut through that the Greens have made in the last 6 months, remember that we've done it on a shoestring.
The huge flood of new members has brought more funds, but we don't do corporate backing and big donors.
This is on passion, creativity and commitment.
The huge flood of new members has brought more funds, but we don't do corporate backing and big donors.
This is on passion, creativity and commitment.
Help us make hope normal again.
Join the Green Party now.
Join the Green Party now.
January 23, 2026 at 8:51 AM
When you are admiring the media cut through that the Greens have made in the last 6 months, remember that we've done it on a shoestring.
The huge flood of new members has brought more funds, but we don't do corporate backing and big donors.
This is on passion, creativity and commitment.
The huge flood of new members has brought more funds, but we don't do corporate backing and big donors.
This is on passion, creativity and commitment.
Reposted by Ally Lester
Timeline cleanse: ten-day-old Clydesdale foal goes berserk.
January 21, 2026 at 2:14 PM
Timeline cleanse: ten-day-old Clydesdale foal goes berserk.