Jason (he/him)
@meleager.bsky.social
Chicagoan, Progressive, Geek. Way too excited by my cats' completely typical feline behavior.
Gods, this is exquisitely heartbreaking.
Today's Love Letter is a stunning meditation on birdwatching and the loss of a friendship, from the one and only @amalelmohtar.com
stone-soup.ghost.io/love-letter-...
stone-soup.ghost.io/love-letter-...
Why I Need the Birds
A Love Letters Feature by Amal El-Mohtar - November 2025
stone-soup.ghost.io
November 26, 2025 at 3:50 AM
Gods, this is exquisitely heartbreaking.
Doctors I trust more than RFK Jr
September 7, 2025 at 5:45 AM
Doctors I trust more than RFK Jr
This Love Letter is kind of witchy, exquisitely open, gently reflects on the difference between active and still beauty, and uses capitalization in the best sort of way (Making Use Of It speaks to my soul). It's perfect, is what I'm saying, and I'll be pestering all of my loved ones to read it.
Today's Love Letter is to a tiny clay bowl; to stability and fragility; to the pursuit of using one good thing to make another good thing.
A Little Clay Bowl
A Love Letters Feature by Sarah Gailey - August 2025
stone-soup.ghost.io
August 22, 2025 at 3:09 PM
This Love Letter is kind of witchy, exquisitely open, gently reflects on the difference between active and still beauty, and uses capitalization in the best sort of way (Making Use Of It speaks to my soul). It's perfect, is what I'm saying, and I'll be pestering all of my loved ones to read it.
Maybe my favorite thing about this series is that they all strike such an aspirational note for me, even if I haven't thought to aspire to that particular thing before. I can't put my finger on exactly *what* I aspire to be or do after reading this one, but I know I feel it, and it's just lovely.
Today's Love Letter comes from the luminous Gillian Morshedi, who brings California Poppies to life in one of the most gorgeous pieces of prose I've ever read.
This Love Letter also introduces our gorgeous Q3 cover, from the one and only @lubellwoo.bsky.social.
This Love Letter also introduces our gorgeous Q3 cover, from the one and only @lubellwoo.bsky.social.
Mmm Pop
A Love Letters Feature by Gillian Morshedi - August 2025
stone-soup.ghost.io
August 10, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Maybe my favorite thing about this series is that they all strike such an aspirational note for me, even if I haven't thought to aspire to that particular thing before. I can't put my finger on exactly *what* I aspire to be or do after reading this one, but I know I feel it, and it's just lovely.
"...in that moment my annoyance evaporates, because I remember what they think is happening."
I mean, damn. May I learn to receive help that I didn't ask for with that same generosity of spirit and thinking well of the other person.
I mean, damn. May I learn to receive help that I didn't ask for with that same generosity of spirit and thinking well of the other person.
Today's Love Letter is to the act of changing a tire -- or, more accurately, changing a tire together.
Changing a tire or: An invitation to knowing
A Love Letters Feature by Sarah Gailey - June 2025
stone-soup.ghost.io
June 4, 2025 at 9:02 PM
"...in that moment my annoyance evaporates, because I remember what they think is happening."
I mean, damn. May I learn to receive help that I didn't ask for with that same generosity of spirit and thinking well of the other person.
I mean, damn. May I learn to receive help that I didn't ask for with that same generosity of spirit and thinking well of the other person.
Reposted by Jason (he/him)
Time to post it again.
May 28, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Time to post it again.
Today I made the probably unwise decision to buy Balatro on my tablet. Did I already have it on my laptop? Of course. Is having easy access to this delightful and addictive game going to help my productivity or sleep? Obviously not.
May 17, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Today I made the probably unwise decision to buy Balatro on my tablet. Did I already have it on my laptop? Of course. Is having easy access to this delightful and addictive game going to help my productivity or sleep? Obviously not.
This is absolutely something I needed to hear today. Thank you, @alwayscoffee.bsky.social!
What's buried
rarely stays in the dark,
the earth is so easy
to upend, barely countered
by the sky,
but you know
what needs to be blessed
and released,
you know
what needs to be named
and then let go,
you know
what should happen here,
so take a breath,
and pull it all out
root by root.
#TinyPoem
rarely stays in the dark,
the earth is so easy
to upend, barely countered
by the sky,
but you know
what needs to be blessed
and released,
you know
what needs to be named
and then let go,
you know
what should happen here,
so take a breath,
and pull it all out
root by root.
#TinyPoem
Yes please (if and only if you have the bandwidth for more words after so many of them today)!
April 8, 2025 at 7:07 PM
This is absolutely something I needed to hear today. Thank you, @alwayscoffee.bsky.social!
Reposted by Jason (he/him)
financial advice in a weird time:
-- develop a plan
-- find friends who support you
-- preferably 10 of them
-- steal $160 million from the Bellagio, the Mirage, and the MGM Grand
-- yes those are Terry Benedict's casinos
-- get your wife back
-- one of the friends should be Don Cheadle btw
simple
-- develop a plan
-- find friends who support you
-- preferably 10 of them
-- steal $160 million from the Bellagio, the Mirage, and the MGM Grand
-- yes those are Terry Benedict's casinos
-- get your wife back
-- one of the friends should be Don Cheadle btw
simple
April 3, 2025 at 9:23 PM
financial advice in a weird time:
-- develop a plan
-- find friends who support you
-- preferably 10 of them
-- steal $160 million from the Bellagio, the Mirage, and the MGM Grand
-- yes those are Terry Benedict's casinos
-- get your wife back
-- one of the friends should be Don Cheadle btw
simple
-- develop a plan
-- find friends who support you
-- preferably 10 of them
-- steal $160 million from the Bellagio, the Mirage, and the MGM Grand
-- yes those are Terry Benedict's casinos
-- get your wife back
-- one of the friends should be Don Cheadle btw
simple
I have more than enough t-shirts in my closet, but this one was way too good to resist.
March 22, 2025 at 8:33 PM
I have more than enough t-shirts in my closet, but this one was way too good to resist.
Good gods, this one wrecked me in the best possible way. Just a brilliant addition to this fantastic series.
Today's Love Letter is from the always-brilliant @annaleen.bsky.social, who writes about espresso, hospitality, and incredibly complicated grief.
stone-soup.ghost.io/love-letter-...
stone-soup.ghost.io/love-letter-...
Mourning Espresso
A Love Letters Feature by Annalee Newitz - March 2025
stone-soup.ghost.io
March 19, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Good gods, this one wrecked me in the best possible way. Just a brilliant addition to this fantastic series.
Reposted by Jason (he/him)
Chuck Schumer Helps Pull Democrats Back From Brink Of Courage
March 14, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Chuck Schumer Helps Pull Democrats Back From Brink Of Courage
Oh, FFS.
BREAKING: Walgreens to be acquired by private equity firm for $10 billion
Walgreens to be acquired by private equity firm for $10 billion
The company will continue to operate under the names Walgreens, and Boots in the U.K., and its headquarters will remain in the Chicago area, according to a news release.
www.chicagotribune.com
March 7, 2025 at 2:33 AM
Oh, FFS.
Reposted by Jason (he/him)
old Soviet joke for our times:
Guy stops by the newsstand every day, scans the front page, doesn’t buy the paper. One day the vendor asks what he’s up to.
Guy says: “looking for an obituary.”
Vendor says “those are towards the back of the paper, comrade.”
Guy says: “not the one I’m looking for.”
Guy stops by the newsstand every day, scans the front page, doesn’t buy the paper. One day the vendor asks what he’s up to.
Guy says: “looking for an obituary.”
Vendor says “those are towards the back of the paper, comrade.”
Guy says: “not the one I’m looking for.”
March 3, 2025 at 12:54 AM
old Soviet joke for our times:
Guy stops by the newsstand every day, scans the front page, doesn’t buy the paper. One day the vendor asks what he’s up to.
Guy says: “looking for an obituary.”
Vendor says “those are towards the back of the paper, comrade.”
Guy says: “not the one I’m looking for.”
Guy stops by the newsstand every day, scans the front page, doesn’t buy the paper. One day the vendor asks what he’s up to.
Guy says: “looking for an obituary.”
Vendor says “those are towards the back of the paper, comrade.”
Guy says: “not the one I’m looking for.”
Reposted by Jason (he/him)
don’t know who needs to hear this but empathy doesn’t require eagerness. you don’t have to be excited about helping other people, you do it because it’s right and because the alternatives are worse
February 23, 2025 at 3:23 PM
don’t know who needs to hear this but empathy doesn’t require eagerness. you don’t have to be excited about helping other people, you do it because it’s right and because the alternatives are worse
Has anyone else turned down a vendor meeting because the company's name was too dumb? I mean, they also have "Powered by AI!" plastered all over their site, which is admittedly a better reason to say no, but if I'm honest the name was a dealbreaker even before I looked at the website.
February 21, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Has anyone else turned down a vendor meeting because the company's name was too dumb? I mean, they also have "Powered by AI!" plastered all over their site, which is admittedly a better reason to say no, but if I'm honest the name was a dealbreaker even before I looked at the website.
Reposted by Jason (he/him)
“After we’ve discriminated against, deported, or disparaged all the immigrants, the gay and lesbian and transgender people, the developmentally disabled, the women, and minorities. Once we’ve ostracized our neighbors and betrayed our friends… what comes next?” - Gov. JB Pritzker
February 20, 2025 at 12:40 AM
“After we’ve discriminated against, deported, or disparaged all the immigrants, the gay and lesbian and transgender people, the developmentally disabled, the women, and minorities. Once we’ve ostracized our neighbors and betrayed our friends… what comes next?” - Gov. JB Pritzker
I have a feeling that my favorite installment from this essay series will just be whichever one I've read most recently. So it is here, with these gorgeous words from Peter S. Beagle.
I am so moved to get to share this with you all: the fourth installment in the Love Letters essay series.
Nell, or: This Is Practically The Way It All Happened (give or bloody take), Peter S. Beagle's reflections on a thirty-five year romance with the woman he still calls "my one love".
Nell, or: This Is Practically The Way It All Happened (give or bloody take), Peter S. Beagle's reflections on a thirty-five year romance with the woman he still calls "my one love".
Nell, or: This Is Practically The Way It All Happened (give or bloody take)
A Love Letters Feature by Peter S. Beagle - February 2025
stone-soup.ghost.io
February 19, 2025 at 2:59 AM
I have a feeling that my favorite installment from this essay series will just be whichever one I've read most recently. So it is here, with these gorgeous words from Peter S. Beagle.
Learned some disheartening things about my employer this week, so much of the past 2 days has been spent making a few people much higher on the org chart than me squirm. Seeking accountability from those in power is an important muscle to exercise, so I'm glad to do it. I'm real tired, though.
February 7, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Learned some disheartening things about my employer this week, so much of the past 2 days has been spent making a few people much higher on the org chart than me squirm. Seeking accountability from those in power is an important muscle to exercise, so I'm glad to do it. I'm real tired, though.
Reposted by Jason (he/him)
This.
People care. So many folks are trying. And holding up a light to the darkness.
So many are encouraging each other to do the same. You don't see all the activism, all the care. But it's there.
People care. So many folks are trying. And holding up a light to the darkness.
So many are encouraging each other to do the same. You don't see all the activism, all the care. But it's there.
People care. People are fighting. Please don't think that no one cares. Please fight back where you can.
Maybe you can't march. Call your reps. Reach out to local orgs to volunteer, or donate what you have. Build ties in your community. There is something you are good at. Use it to fight for good.
Maybe you can't march. Call your reps. Reach out to local orgs to volunteer, or donate what you have. Build ties in your community. There is something you are good at. Use it to fight for good.
Hundreds of protesters gather outside Children’s Hospital Los Angeles to demand it roll back restrictions on transgender care for youth:
February 7, 2025 at 1:21 PM
This.
People care. So many folks are trying. And holding up a light to the darkness.
So many are encouraging each other to do the same. You don't see all the activism, all the care. But it's there.
People care. So many folks are trying. And holding up a light to the darkness.
So many are encouraging each other to do the same. You don't see all the activism, all the care. But it's there.
Began the day with some supportive work and then a lovely little Imbolc ritual with a handful of friends. Among other things, it was a useful reminder that community is at the center of how we survive hard times. Reaching out and asking for help is a powerful act of magic in itself.
February 2, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Began the day with some supportive work and then a lovely little Imbolc ritual with a handful of friends. Among other things, it was a useful reminder that community is at the center of how we survive hard times. Reaching out and asking for help is a powerful act of magic in itself.
Reposted by Jason (he/him)
The first Senators to actually do anything about the Trump admin
NEW - Ottawa Senators fans booed the American national anthem at the beginning of tonight’s hockey game.
February 2, 2025 at 1:07 AM
The first Senators to actually do anything about the Trump admin
Reposted by Jason (he/him)
We fight much harder for someone or something we still care about & believe in, than something we already gave up on.
The most vital thing to do in the face of a deluge designed to overwhelm is to -not- give up. We must persistently care about & protect what we cherish & know is worth fighting for.
The most vital thing to do in the face of a deluge designed to overwhelm is to -not- give up. We must persistently care about & protect what we cherish & know is worth fighting for.
January 31, 2025 at 9:13 PM
We fight much harder for someone or something we still care about & believe in, than something we already gave up on.
The most vital thing to do in the face of a deluge designed to overwhelm is to -not- give up. We must persistently care about & protect what we cherish & know is worth fighting for.
The most vital thing to do in the face of a deluge designed to overwhelm is to -not- give up. We must persistently care about & protect what we cherish & know is worth fighting for.
Awfully short calls to my senators today, since both of them have disabled their voicemail. Really feeling the love of representative democracy today!
January 31, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Awfully short calls to my senators today, since both of them have disabled their voicemail. Really feeling the love of representative democracy today!
Reposted by Jason (he/him)
OK, I'm going to take the like as a yes.
So, to be clear, this thread hits on three things - dealing with worry, dealing with feeling helpless, and focusing on limited available paths to productively help. Maybe some of this stuff will work for you - all I can say for sure is that it has helped me.
So, to be clear, this thread hits on three things - dealing with worry, dealing with feeling helpless, and focusing on limited available paths to productively help. Maybe some of this stuff will work for you - all I can say for sure is that it has helped me.
You open to suggestions/advice? Based on how I got through the three times my wife was out playing in combat zones?
January 28, 2025 at 6:38 AM
OK, I'm going to take the like as a yes.
So, to be clear, this thread hits on three things - dealing with worry, dealing with feeling helpless, and focusing on limited available paths to productively help. Maybe some of this stuff will work for you - all I can say for sure is that it has helped me.
So, to be clear, this thread hits on three things - dealing with worry, dealing with feeling helpless, and focusing on limited available paths to productively help. Maybe some of this stuff will work for you - all I can say for sure is that it has helped me.