Ruth 🏳️🌈
@paintedpigeon.bsky.social
public library worker | writer | artist | neurodivergent | no AI, no NFTs | totally not three pigeons in a trenchcoat
https://hcommons.org/members/ruthcollardstayte/
https://hcommons.org/members/ruthcollardstayte/
Pinned
Ruth 🏳️🌈
@paintedpigeon.bsky.social
· Apr 6
![Resource key:
Academic article
Book / book chapter
Comic / webcomic
Course
Flyer
Podcast
Spreadsheet
Social media
TV show
Video
Video game
Webpage / single blog post
Website / blog
Zine
[Each resource name is accompanied by a corresponding icon in purple]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ryig6ad4p3hyi64mrz53pvf3/bafkreifjkfk7cxs3pyccpusqaq2fvdmnworqlc5nshlqbl6rknrtc5eyfi@jpeg)
As it's International Asexual Day, I'm promoting my resource guide to ace sci-fi again! Contents and resource key are below, come take a look at this link! And Happy Ace Day!
works.hcommons.org/records/xyap...
works.hcommons.org/records/xyap...
Reposted by Ruth 🏳️🌈
Are you looking for a stack of genre-convention defying Premee-ium speculative fiction?
Look no further!
Come get @premeemohamed.com 's military Pteranodons, REALLY messed up co-dependent friendships, searingly prescient examinations of war and pacifism, eldritch cosmic horrors and SO much more!
Look no further!
Come get @premeemohamed.com 's military Pteranodons, REALLY messed up co-dependent friendships, searingly prescient examinations of war and pacifism, eldritch cosmic horrors and SO much more!
December 9, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Are you looking for a stack of genre-convention defying Premee-ium speculative fiction?
Look no further!
Come get @premeemohamed.com 's military Pteranodons, REALLY messed up co-dependent friendships, searingly prescient examinations of war and pacifism, eldritch cosmic horrors and SO much more!
Look no further!
Come get @premeemohamed.com 's military Pteranodons, REALLY messed up co-dependent friendships, searingly prescient examinations of war and pacifism, eldritch cosmic horrors and SO much more!
Reposted by Ruth 🏳️🌈
Reminder that not only do library systems have physical media (& many also lend tools, electronics etc), your library card may give you access to streamers Kanopy and Hoopla. We just watched Francis Ford Coppola’s adaptation of The Rainmaker via a hoopla the other night. Pretty good!
“As prices for streaming subscriptions continue to soar and finding movies to watch, new and old, is becoming harder as the number of streaming services continues to grow, people are turning to the unexpected last stronghold of physical media: the public library.”
The Last Video Rental Store Is Your Public Library
Audio-visual librarians are quietly amassing large physical media collections amid the IP disputes threatening select availability.
www.404media.co
December 9, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Reminder that not only do library systems have physical media (& many also lend tools, electronics etc), your library card may give you access to streamers Kanopy and Hoopla. We just watched Francis Ford Coppola’s adaptation of The Rainmaker via a hoopla the other night. Pretty good!
Reposted by Ruth 🏳️🌈
When I tell you that I had my teenager sleep in bed with me while their father slept up on the couch because both of us were worried that the kiddo was so worked up they might hurt themself if left alone, I am not exaggerating.
So yeah, f*ck our education system.
It doesn't care about these kids.
So yeah, f*ck our education system.
It doesn't care about these kids.
December 9, 2025 at 2:29 PM
When I tell you that I had my teenager sleep in bed with me while their father slept up on the couch because both of us were worried that the kiddo was so worked up they might hurt themself if left alone, I am not exaggerating.
So yeah, f*ck our education system.
It doesn't care about these kids.
So yeah, f*ck our education system.
It doesn't care about these kids.
Reposted by Ruth 🏳️🌈
As an aside, we need to abolish this comment on report cards/progress reports:
"Has more ability than performance/grade indicates"
The system has no interest in my kiddo and doesn't take the time to learn. This teacher has NO IDEA what my child is or isn't able to do. GTFO w/this garbage.
"Has more ability than performance/grade indicates"
The system has no interest in my kiddo and doesn't take the time to learn. This teacher has NO IDEA what my child is or isn't able to do. GTFO w/this garbage.
Kiddo had a bad episode last night thanks to the ever-increasing pressure of schools on students (especially neurodivergent kiddos).
I hate it. I hate it so much.
I hate it. I hate it so much.
December 9, 2025 at 7:16 PM
As an aside, we need to abolish this comment on report cards/progress reports:
"Has more ability than performance/grade indicates"
The system has no interest in my kiddo and doesn't take the time to learn. This teacher has NO IDEA what my child is or isn't able to do. GTFO w/this garbage.
"Has more ability than performance/grade indicates"
The system has no interest in my kiddo and doesn't take the time to learn. This teacher has NO IDEA what my child is or isn't able to do. GTFO w/this garbage.
Reposted by Ruth 🏳️🌈
*kicks down the door like Big Bird in that one gif*
VISIT YOUR LIBRARY
WE'VE GOT DVDS
WE'VE GOT CDS
WE'VE GOT BOOKS ON CD
WE'VE GOT THAT TONIES THING FOR YOUR KID
YOUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS AT WORK
VISIT YOUR LIBRARY
WE'VE GOT DVDS
WE'VE GOT CDS
WE'VE GOT BOOKS ON CD
WE'VE GOT THAT TONIES THING FOR YOUR KID
YOUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS AT WORK
“As prices for streaming subscriptions continue to soar and finding movies to watch, new and old, is becoming harder as the number of streaming services continues to grow, people are turning to the unexpected last stronghold of physical media: the public library.”
The Last Video Rental Store Is Your Public Library
Audio-visual librarians are quietly amassing large physical media collections amid the IP disputes threatening select availability.
www.404media.co
December 9, 2025 at 6:56 PM
*kicks down the door like Big Bird in that one gif*
VISIT YOUR LIBRARY
WE'VE GOT DVDS
WE'VE GOT CDS
WE'VE GOT BOOKS ON CD
WE'VE GOT THAT TONIES THING FOR YOUR KID
YOUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS AT WORK
VISIT YOUR LIBRARY
WE'VE GOT DVDS
WE'VE GOT CDS
WE'VE GOT BOOKS ON CD
WE'VE GOT THAT TONIES THING FOR YOUR KID
YOUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS AT WORK
Reposted by Ruth 🏳️🌈
Turn on the TV. Doesn’t matter what channel.
December 8, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Turn on the TV. Doesn’t matter what channel.
Reposted by Ruth 🏳️🌈
December 9, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Reposted by Ruth 🏳️🌈
I'm starting to really believe that the only way to get a runaway success is for companies to fund like 20 new projects, 19 of them will either fail or make no impression, and then the 20th will resonate with audiences and create tons of merch opportunities like Bluey or KPop Demon Hunters
« KPop Demon Hunters Is TIME’s 2025 Breakthrough of the Year »
time.com/7338690/brea...
time.com/7338690/brea...
December 9, 2025 at 6:08 PM
I'm starting to really believe that the only way to get a runaway success is for companies to fund like 20 new projects, 19 of them will either fail or make no impression, and then the 20th will resonate with audiences and create tons of merch opportunities like Bluey or KPop Demon Hunters
Reposted by Ruth 🏳️🌈
This is it. This is why you can't manage creativity at a high level like it's an assembly line. It's why AI in art and entertainment is going to inevitably fail. It by its nature does not resonate. The business of storytelling does not thrive on randomness — it is the audience itself that is random.
I'm starting to really believe that the only way to get a runaway success is for companies to fund like 20 new projects, 19 of them will either fail or make no impression, and then the 20th will resonate with audiences and create tons of merch opportunities like Bluey or KPop Demon Hunters
« KPop Demon Hunters Is TIME’s 2025 Breakthrough of the Year »
time.com/7338690/brea...
time.com/7338690/brea...
December 9, 2025 at 6:37 PM
This is it. This is why you can't manage creativity at a high level like it's an assembly line. It's why AI in art and entertainment is going to inevitably fail. It by its nature does not resonate. The business of storytelling does not thrive on randomness — it is the audience itself that is random.
Reposted by Ruth 🏳️🌈
So I saw a comment on Reddit and had to write an essay about it
"You can be a girl if you want to" is useless if you don't know what wanting to be a girl looks like.
If lesbians make you sad, read this one
"You can be a girl if you want to" is useless if you don't know what wanting to be a girl looks like.
If lesbians make you sad, read this one
It's Miserable In The Egg | Ela Bambust
Get more from Ela Bambust on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 8, 2025 at 8:09 PM
So I saw a comment on Reddit and had to write an essay about it
"You can be a girl if you want to" is useless if you don't know what wanting to be a girl looks like.
If lesbians make you sad, read this one
"You can be a girl if you want to" is useless if you don't know what wanting to be a girl looks like.
If lesbians make you sad, read this one
Reposted by Ruth 🏳️🌈
also, this is a world class "god dammit, Terry" moment because you get the "rebel without a cause" joke and then you think about it for a minute and you're like, wait a minute, this joke is about a movie starring James... Dean
god DAMMIT, Terry
god DAMMIT, Terry
December 9, 2025 at 7:16 PM
also, this is a world class "god dammit, Terry" moment because you get the "rebel without a cause" joke and then you think about it for a minute and you're like, wait a minute, this joke is about a movie starring James... Dean
god DAMMIT, Terry
god DAMMIT, Terry
Reposted by Ruth 🏳️🌈
many Discworld books have an overarching point to make, and the point of Soul Music is "I have so many stupid jokes about music and pop culture that need somewhere to go so I'm putting them all in one book"
December 9, 2025 at 7:14 PM
many Discworld books have an overarching point to make, and the point of Soul Music is "I have so many stupid jokes about music and pop culture that need somewhere to go so I'm putting them all in one book"
Reposted by Ruth 🏳️🌈
Discworld QOTD, from Pyramids
"He envied his fellow students who believed in gods that were intangible and lived a long way away on top of some mountain. A fellow could really believe in gods like that. But it was extremely hard to believe in a god when you saw him at breakfast every day."
"He envied his fellow students who believed in gods that were intangible and lived a long way away on top of some mountain. A fellow could really believe in gods like that. But it was extremely hard to believe in a god when you saw him at breakfast every day."
Discworld QOTD, from A Hat Full of Sky
“I am no’ deid! I’m trying to have a moment o’ existential dreed here, right? Crivens, it’s a puir lookout if a man cannae feel the chilly winds o’ Fate lashing aroound his nethers wi’out folks telling him he’s deid, eh?”
“I am no’ deid! I’m trying to have a moment o’ existential dreed here, right? Crivens, it’s a puir lookout if a man cannae feel the chilly winds o’ Fate lashing aroound his nethers wi’out folks telling him he’s deid, eh?”
Discworld QOTD, from Night Watch
“He didn’t look around, and watch and learn, and then say, ‘This is how people are, how do we deal with it?’ No, he sat and thought: ‘This is how the people ought to be, how can we change them?’ And that was a good enough thought for a priest but not for a copper…”
“He didn’t look around, and watch and learn, and then say, ‘This is how people are, how do we deal with it?’ No, he sat and thought: ‘This is how the people ought to be, how can we change them?’ And that was a good enough thought for a priest but not for a copper…”
December 8, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Discworld QOTD, from Pyramids
"He envied his fellow students who believed in gods that were intangible and lived a long way away on top of some mountain. A fellow could really believe in gods like that. But it was extremely hard to believe in a god when you saw him at breakfast every day."
"He envied his fellow students who believed in gods that were intangible and lived a long way away on top of some mountain. A fellow could really believe in gods like that. But it was extremely hard to believe in a god when you saw him at breakfast every day."
Reposted by Ruth 🏳️🌈
Discworld QOTD, from Soul Music
"‘mumblemumblemumble,’ said the Dean defiantly, a rebel without a pause."
"‘mumblemumblemumble,’ said the Dean defiantly, a rebel without a pause."
Discworld QOTD, from Pyramids
"He envied his fellow students who believed in gods that were intangible and lived a long way away on top of some mountain. A fellow could really believe in gods like that. But it was extremely hard to believe in a god when you saw him at breakfast every day."
"He envied his fellow students who believed in gods that were intangible and lived a long way away on top of some mountain. A fellow could really believe in gods like that. But it was extremely hard to believe in a god when you saw him at breakfast every day."
Discworld QOTD, from A Hat Full of Sky
“I am no’ deid! I’m trying to have a moment o’ existential dreed here, right? Crivens, it’s a puir lookout if a man cannae feel the chilly winds o’ Fate lashing aroound his nethers wi’out folks telling him he’s deid, eh?”
“I am no’ deid! I’m trying to have a moment o’ existential dreed here, right? Crivens, it’s a puir lookout if a man cannae feel the chilly winds o’ Fate lashing aroound his nethers wi’out folks telling him he’s deid, eh?”
December 9, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Discworld QOTD, from Soul Music
"‘mumblemumblemumble,’ said the Dean defiantly, a rebel without a pause."
"‘mumblemumblemumble,’ said the Dean defiantly, a rebel without a pause."
Reposted by Ruth 🏳️🌈
as a cosmologist who is also a musician, I really do appreciate that Pratchett had the universe begin with "one, two, one two three four"
many Discworld books have an overarching point to make, and the point of Soul Music is "I have so many stupid jokes about music and pop culture that need somewhere to go so I'm putting them all in one book"
December 9, 2025 at 7:17 PM
as a cosmologist who is also a musician, I really do appreciate that Pratchett had the universe begin with "one, two, one two three four"
Reposted by Ruth 🏳️🌈
Folks might not know a lot of people are getting *very* upset that the materials they request are not available in the libraries/archives they're requesting from.
We're getting lots here at the Library of Virginia: requests of documents likely surfaced by large language models that *do not exist*.
We're getting lots here at the Library of Virginia: requests of documents likely surfaced by large language models that *do not exist*.
I wish a notice like this wasn't necessary.
www.icrc.org/en/article/i...
www.icrc.org/en/article/i...
Important notice: AI-generated archival references
www.icrc.org
December 8, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Folks might not know a lot of people are getting *very* upset that the materials they request are not available in the libraries/archives they're requesting from.
We're getting lots here at the Library of Virginia: requests of documents likely surfaced by large language models that *do not exist*.
We're getting lots here at the Library of Virginia: requests of documents likely surfaced by large language models that *do not exist*.
Reposted by Ruth 🏳️🌈
What book feels like your brain? 🧠
We’re preparing a new theme for the Weston Library’s Space for Reading: Neurodiversity.
Do you have a book that helps others understand different ways of thinking?
Share your recommendation here: https://forms.office.com/e/bRHBxTXBSY
We’re preparing a new theme for the Weston Library’s Space for Reading: Neurodiversity.
Do you have a book that helps others understand different ways of thinking?
Share your recommendation here: https://forms.office.com/e/bRHBxTXBSY
December 9, 2025 at 3:54 PM
What book feels like your brain? 🧠
We’re preparing a new theme for the Weston Library’s Space for Reading: Neurodiversity.
Do you have a book that helps others understand different ways of thinking?
Share your recommendation here: https://forms.office.com/e/bRHBxTXBSY
We’re preparing a new theme for the Weston Library’s Space for Reading: Neurodiversity.
Do you have a book that helps others understand different ways of thinking?
Share your recommendation here: https://forms.office.com/e/bRHBxTXBSY
Reposted by Ruth 🏳️🌈
this might be helpful in illustrating the difference between looking at buying subscriptions as “buying content” vs. seeing it as “investing in writers” or even “building new media orgs to last”
Running any media organization is expensive, especially when we pay freelancers industry-standard rates. We were running at a loss until our subscription drive in October, and we're looking at around $33,000 in expenses for 2025.
That is before we pay ourselves.
That is before we pay ourselves.
Yes, it is paywalled! And every time y'all point this out, we will reiterate that writers and artists deserve to be paid for their work. We are an independent publication run and owned by workers. Also A LOT OF OUR CONTENT IS FREE.
Plus, you can read single articles for $2. Including this one.
Plus, you can read single articles for $2. Including this one.
December 9, 2025 at 3:24 PM
this might be helpful in illustrating the difference between looking at buying subscriptions as “buying content” vs. seeing it as “investing in writers” or even “building new media orgs to last”
Reposted by Ruth 🏳️🌈
Working on Saturn V engines
December 9, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Working on Saturn V engines
Reposted by Ruth 🏳️🌈
a little psa about cutting boards: if you want your knives to retain their edges longer only use hardwood boards. Bamboo boards contain silica which is ruinous to your knife's cutting edge
December 9, 2025 at 3:52 PM
a little psa about cutting boards: if you want your knives to retain their edges longer only use hardwood boards. Bamboo boards contain silica which is ruinous to your knife's cutting edge
Reposted by Ruth 🏳️🌈
The pre-order shop for The Lucky Machine is open NOW! If you missed the campaign, you can still scoop the backerkit exclusive pricing and goodies via the pre-order store. It'll be open until I finish shipping orders. :)
the-lucky-machine.backerkit.com/hosted_preor...
the-lucky-machine.backerkit.com/hosted_preor...
Pre-order The Lucky Machine on BackerKit
A sci-fi story from the POV of a plucky robot who escapes her life of servitude to help a down-on-his-luck cyborg with his dream of becoming a fashion designer.
the-lucky-machine.backerkit.com
December 9, 2025 at 3:47 PM
The pre-order shop for The Lucky Machine is open NOW! If you missed the campaign, you can still scoop the backerkit exclusive pricing and goodies via the pre-order store. It'll be open until I finish shipping orders. :)
the-lucky-machine.backerkit.com/hosted_preor...
the-lucky-machine.backerkit.com/hosted_preor...
Reposted by Ruth 🏳️🌈
I also think society is intertwined. "High earners" need delivery drivers, their convenience store, their takeaway, a receptionist at the dentist, litter pickers, their dustbins emptied, etc. etc. etc. Unless there are locals ready, willing, and not working, you'll create a shortage and inflation.
December 9, 2025 at 12:25 PM
I also think society is intertwined. "High earners" need delivery drivers, their convenience store, their takeaway, a receptionist at the dentist, litter pickers, their dustbins emptied, etc. etc. etc. Unless there are locals ready, willing, and not working, you'll create a shortage and inflation.
Reposted by Ruth 🏳️🌈
With this there would have been no Mo Farah. No Freddie Mercury. No Lenny Henry. No George Michael. No Meera Syal. No Sadiq Khan. No Sajid Javid. No Salman Rushdie. No Hanif Kureishi.
December 9, 2025 at 12:12 PM
With this there would have been no Mo Farah. No Freddie Mercury. No Lenny Henry. No George Michael. No Meera Syal. No Sadiq Khan. No Sajid Javid. No Salman Rushdie. No Hanif Kureishi.
Reposted by Ruth 🏳️🌈
If Isaac Asimov's family had tried to flee Russia only eighteen months later than they did, the Johnson-Reed Act would have kept them out of the USA.
So here's the thing: If you hate refugees, you don't get to read Asimov. That's the rule.
So here's the thing: If you hate refugees, you don't get to read Asimov. That's the rule.
With this there would have been no Mo Farah. No Freddie Mercury. No Lenny Henry. No George Michael. No Meera Syal. No Sadiq Khan. No Sajid Javid. No Salman Rushdie. No Hanif Kureishi.
December 9, 2025 at 3:20 PM
If Isaac Asimov's family had tried to flee Russia only eighteen months later than they did, the Johnson-Reed Act would have kept them out of the USA.
So here's the thing: If you hate refugees, you don't get to read Asimov. That's the rule.
So here's the thing: If you hate refugees, you don't get to read Asimov. That's the rule.
Reposted by Ruth 🏳️🌈
Hey, I'm in this! 3 of my recs are in this cover image.
reactormag.com/reviewers-ch...
reactormag.com/reviewers-ch...
Reviewers' Choice: The Best Books of 2025 - Reactor
Reactor’s regular book reviewers talk about notable titles they read in 2025
reactormag.com
December 9, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Hey, I'm in this! 3 of my recs are in this cover image.
reactormag.com/reviewers-ch...
reactormag.com/reviewers-ch...