The Victorian Archivist
@victorianarchivist.bsky.social
Librarian, historical costumer, tea addict
fancymiscellany.wordpress.com
fancymiscellany.wordpress.com
When I worked as a barista we learned a dropped shot glass has no lid--we'd sometimes pull espresso shots into a shot glass, & sometimes the vibration of the machine would shake that half full glass right off the tray. Trying to catch it meant 1st or 2nd degree burns. You let that thing fall & break
As many of us begin Christmas meal prep, allow me to share the advice that my ER nurse sister puts in the chat every year:
A dropped knife has no handle. Jump away. Let it fall. You can pick it up and wash it.
A dropped knife has no handle. Jump away. Let it fall. You can pick it up and wash it.
December 24, 2025 at 7:06 PM
When I worked as a barista we learned a dropped shot glass has no lid--we'd sometimes pull espresso shots into a shot glass, & sometimes the vibration of the machine would shake that half full glass right off the tray. Trying to catch it meant 1st or 2nd degree burns. You let that thing fall & break
I've been watching a lot of TV while home with the flu, and the ad where the guy describes his girlfriend to an AI so it can tell him what to get her for Christmas is killing my last shred of hope for humanity.
Some of you have forgotten that only three years ago you were perfectly capable of writing a text, writing an email, telling a bedtime story to a child, and it should worry you that powerful companies have convinced us we can’t do things we’ve been doing since the dawn of time.
December 24, 2025 at 2:34 AM
I've been watching a lot of TV while home with the flu, and the ad where the guy describes his girlfriend to an AI so it can tell him what to get her for Christmas is killing my last shred of hope for humanity.
I am two books and one sewing project away from completing my 2025 goals, but now I have the flu and cannot concentrate or sit up for long periods. 😫
December 22, 2025 at 10:38 PM
I am two books and one sewing project away from completing my 2025 goals, but now I have the flu and cannot concentrate or sit up for long periods. 😫
Me, but replace the word "novel" with "sewing project."
Me: (working on novel)
Brain: Hey, got a great idea for a novel. Not this novel.
Me: (typing) Not now, brain.
Brain: Don't you wanna know what it is?
Me: NOT NOW, BRAIN
Brain: I'm not gonna lie, it's SUPER cool
Me: LET ME FINISH THE NOVEL IN FRONT OF ME, BRAIN
Brain: Okay, I'm gonna tell you
Brain: Hey, got a great idea for a novel. Not this novel.
Me: (typing) Not now, brain.
Brain: Don't you wanna know what it is?
Me: NOT NOW, BRAIN
Brain: I'm not gonna lie, it's SUPER cool
Me: LET ME FINISH THE NOVEL IN FRONT OF ME, BRAIN
Brain: Okay, I'm gonna tell you
December 19, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Me, but replace the word "novel" with "sewing project."
If you see this, we IMPLORE you to post a picture from whatever device you're using without explanation.
December 17, 2025 at 1:10 PM
If you see this, we IMPLORE you to post a picture from whatever device you're using without explanation.
It took me 3 months to get an appointment with a neurologist.
December 14, 2025 at 11:55 PM
It took me 3 months to get an appointment with a neurologist.
"I use AI as a shortcut to reading the whole book."
Yeah, well, I guess we all might as well pack it up and ask AI to shortcut our lives, because wtaf
Yeah, well, I guess we all might as well pack it up and ask AI to shortcut our lives, because wtaf
December 12, 2025 at 5:19 PM
"I use AI as a shortcut to reading the whole book."
Yeah, well, I guess we all might as well pack it up and ask AI to shortcut our lives, because wtaf
Yeah, well, I guess we all might as well pack it up and ask AI to shortcut our lives, because wtaf
Just ask them "hug, handshake, or high five" and then you still get to engage with them while allowing them agency? Plus their little face is so cute as they very seriously consider which one they'd prefer (at least my nephew's is).
Many parents are teaching their children that they don’t have to hug anyone they don’t want to—but not all relatives are understanding. Rheana Murray on the new rules of family affection: theatln.tc/oc7W069l
🎨: Liana Finck
🎨: Liana Finck
December 11, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Just ask them "hug, handshake, or high five" and then you still get to engage with them while allowing them agency? Plus their little face is so cute as they very seriously consider which one they'd prefer (at least my nephew's is).
This morning's cringe, "okay, Milennial" thought:
Fuck these companies trying to make me/my eyeballs/my attention span a customer; I just wanna go be a costumer.
Fuck these companies trying to make me/my eyeballs/my attention span a customer; I just wanna go be a costumer.
December 10, 2025 at 12:26 PM
This morning's cringe, "okay, Milennial" thought:
Fuck these companies trying to make me/my eyeballs/my attention span a customer; I just wanna go be a costumer.
Fuck these companies trying to make me/my eyeballs/my attention span a customer; I just wanna go be a costumer.
You will be visited by three spirits
December 9, 2025 at 12:51 PM
You will be visited by three spirits
Me in December: "you can do things after 6pm, you know."
Also me:
Also me:
December 5, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Me in December: "you can do things after 6pm, you know."
Also me:
Also me:
Anyway, time to share some art. Finished this after letting it languish in the UFO pile on and off for 2 years. Mid-1890s, made in silk taffeta and cotton velveteen.
December 1, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Anyway, time to share some art. Finished this after letting it languish in the UFO pile on and off for 2 years. Mid-1890s, made in silk taffeta and cotton velveteen.
I'm re-reading @georgetakei.bsky.social 's They Called Us Enemy for book group and I want to scream? Why aren't we all screaming??
November 30, 2025 at 11:50 PM
I'm re-reading @georgetakei.bsky.social 's They Called Us Enemy for book group and I want to scream? Why aren't we all screaming??
Everything I am learning about trouble shooting and fixing up cheap sewing machines I am learning against my will. Apparently wanting to run sewing classes means you WILL be a sewing machine mechanic.
Librarians ye be warned.
Librarians ye be warned.
November 24, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Everything I am learning about trouble shooting and fixing up cheap sewing machines I am learning against my will. Apparently wanting to run sewing classes means you WILL be a sewing machine mechanic.
Librarians ye be warned.
Librarians ye be warned.
Dog emerged from under his blanket just to growl at the dark, empty hallway. After staring at it nervously for a minute he went and checked the bathroom & bedroom, returned like nothing happened, but I had to check the whole house with our biggest knife in one hand & phone ready to 911 in the other.
November 24, 2025 at 3:18 AM
Dog emerged from under his blanket just to growl at the dark, empty hallway. After staring at it nervously for a minute he went and checked the bathroom & bedroom, returned like nothing happened, but I had to check the whole house with our biggest knife in one hand & phone ready to 911 in the other.
When I'm watching myself start to spiral as the SSRI wears off because it's almost time for the next dose.
November 20, 2025 at 2:27 AM
When I'm watching myself start to spiral as the SSRI wears off because it's almost time for the next dose.
I am increasingly of the opinion that people who change the UX interfaces to make them look new should have their library taxes increased each time in order to compensate for me & my coworkers wasting time (which = tax payer dollars) learning the new interface & having to guide patrons through it.
I am increasingly of the opinion that people who change menus and look and feel of computer software just so that you know it's a new version should be personally forced to play tech support to my mother for five months.
November 19, 2025 at 11:25 AM
I am increasingly of the opinion that people who change the UX interfaces to make them look new should have their library taxes increased each time in order to compensate for me & my coworkers wasting time (which = tax payer dollars) learning the new interface & having to guide patrons through it.
I AM ONCE AGAIN. STATING. I CANNOT SEE THIS ENDING IN ANYTHING OTHER THAN A SEVERE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.
The app Text With Jesus uses artificial intelligence and chatbots to offer spiritual guidance to users who are looking to connect with a higher power: on.nbc10.com/7XM8xrf
People can text with Jesus on a controversial new app. How does it work?
Artificial intelligence app Text With Jesus lets users chat with biblical figures and it is raising debate over faith and technology.
on.nbc10.com
November 15, 2025 at 11:27 AM
I AM ONCE AGAIN. STATING. I CANNOT SEE THIS ENDING IN ANYTHING OTHER THAN A SEVERE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.
I'm not an expert, but it's very hard for me to see how stuff like this could result in anything other than a mental health disaster...
November 14, 2025 at 5:45 PM
I'm not an expert, but it's very hard for me to see how stuff like this could result in anything other than a mental health disaster...
My usual toothpaste was discontinued earlier this year & since then I've dealt w/varying degrees of little lesions/vesicles in my mouth & I think I finally figured out my old paste used sodium fluoride & all the new ones use stannous fluoride & I'm so excited to see if that's the cause that
November 14, 2025 at 3:06 AM
My usual toothpaste was discontinued earlier this year & since then I've dealt w/varying degrees of little lesions/vesicles in my mouth & I think I finally figured out my old paste used sodium fluoride & all the new ones use stannous fluoride & I'm so excited to see if that's the cause that
The Access Hollywood interview, to borrow a term from the interwebs, is what radicalized me. That was what made me start posting about politics on social media. Before that I kept quiet bc I didn't think I knew enough & didn't want to make waves. The AH tape is what changed that.
It all would have been much easier if, as would have happened if we were remotely a serious country, it all ended with the Access Hollywood interview.
November 13, 2025 at 12:19 PM
The Access Hollywood interview, to borrow a term from the interwebs, is what radicalized me. That was what made me start posting about politics on social media. Before that I kept quiet bc I didn't think I knew enough & didn't want to make waves. The AH tape is what changed that.
Make billiinaires fear being visited by three ghosts in the night again.
Sam Altman says the one-person billion-dollar company is coming. Maybe I could be that person—if only I could get my colleagues to shut up and stop lying. www.wired.com/story/all-my...
All of My Employees Are AI Agents, and So Are My Executives
Sam Altman says the one-person billion-dollar company is coming. Maybe I could be that person—if only I could get my colleagues to shut up and stop lying.
www.wired.com
November 12, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Make billiinaires fear being visited by three ghosts in the night again.
They just "updated" the look of the WorldShare interface and it's another one of those "optimized to look like an app" updates, and my eyes literally cannot parse what I'm seeing. If I wanted to use an app I'd use an app. I want to use a web browser. On a PC. The PC on my desk.
November 10, 2025 at 6:06 PM
They just "updated" the look of the WorldShare interface and it's another one of those "optimized to look like an app" updates, and my eyes literally cannot parse what I'm seeing. If I wanted to use an app I'd use an app. I want to use a web browser. On a PC. The PC on my desk.
It has become very clear to me in the last hour that I now have severe election night anxiety. My county isn't even reporting yet.
November 5, 2025 at 2:59 AM
It has become very clear to me in the last hour that I now have severe election night anxiety. My county isn't even reporting yet.
Anyway, palate cleanser post. Go do something with your hands today. I'm hand sewing button holes onto this:
November 3, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Anyway, palate cleanser post. Go do something with your hands today. I'm hand sewing button holes onto this: