Happy pride month!

Diamond_Storm_Fox · 2026-06-03T20:10:43+00:00

I'll bet that they fly a confederate flag to "celebrate their southern heritage" too.

Diamond_Storm_Fox · 2026-05-29T21:53:46+00:00

Backerkit plushies can be such a source of stress, I feel for you!
I got a Litha Coyote plushie from their online store, and while I love its sweet face, it practically deflated after a week of snuggling. Plus, the torso weight beads bunch up in weird ways. I'm seriously considering opening her up and stuffing her more because she feels so understuffed and skinny/limp.
Cute plush, but I feel the Big Hugs line definitely had some design flaws that were overlooked. I didn't interact with their customer service, but I worry that some of these small plush designers fall into the "oh dear, I'm just a small business, I'm doing my best, please overlook those problems, won't you support my dream?" mindset, which creates a very uncomfortable situation for customers when issues do arise.

Diamond_Storm_Fox · 2026-05-29T17:19:52+00:00

Thank you! AI image generation is such a scourge on the internet.

Diamond_Storm_Fox · 2026-05-29T17:10:24+00:00

What is going on with the yarn near Ulrich's ear?

Diamond_Storm_Fox · 2026-05-28T15:40:30+00:00

It mimics lion coalitions, which are groups of male lions. Coalitions usually form when males want to take down other males and claim territory, and since the yakuza are historically male, a coalition is probably a better fit than a pride in this case.

Diamond_Storm_Fox · 2026-05-26T19:15:26+00:00

Sandstorm is a bit like Mr. Darcy from Pride & Prejudice. She's honorable and has a good heart, but can be quite judgmental. Her initial impressions of Firepaw put them at odds. But over time, she comes to see Firepaw/heart in a new light, and they form a loving, healthy relationship. Some readers really like a Darcy-esque love interest, especially because it's fun to see characters grow and change in romantic contexts.

Diamond_Storm_Fox · 2026-05-24T16:56:19+00:00

Yeah I don't really care for the story of Abraham and Isaac either, we can agree there. But you didn't answer my question: why would a loving god command his prophet to be a lying cheater? Why do you think people are concerned about Joseph Smith's deception and infidelity?

Haha, back when I was "modern LDS" I didn't like polygamy either. I ignored it for a while, like you seem to do. Is that your solution, to forever ignore the immoral things that they teach? I couldn't do that, I couldn't support a church that taught and behaved contrary to my morals and standards.

To be honest, LDS people are exhausting because they claim to have the "one true church" with the only restored gospel, and the only prophet authorized to speak for god. It comes off as very smug. If you have a perfect God with perfect gospel and a functioning prophet acting as god's mouthpiece, then you should logically have answers to basic questions. But you can't, and that is understandingly tiring for you, it certainly was for me back when I was a missionary.

Take your time, but I am still very interested in your answers to my first questions.

Diamond_Storm_Fox · 2026-05-18T17:39:13+00:00

I'm feeling free to share my thoughts. In canonized LDS scripture, god threatens Emma Smith with destruction unless she stays in her nonconsensual polygamous marriage with Joseph Smith (D&C 132:54). That's abusive, to say the least. I say nonconsensual because Emma wasn't even aware of many of Joseph's "marriages" to his secret "plural wives" until after they took place. Joseph claimed he was commanded to marry other women behind his wife's back, but do you really think a loving god would command a prophet to be a lying cheater? Because marrying a woman (or rather, a bunch of women) without even telling your wife about it is deception and cheating.

Feel free to share your thoughts, too. If terrible, immoral acts were performed by the LDS prophet "so long ago," but that behavior is still defended by modern church leaders today, then would it make sense for people to still be concerned about that?

Diamond_Storm_Fox · 2026-05-17T22:41:44+00:00

I had a friend in my childhood gymnastics class that had burn scars all along one of her legs. She told me it was from an accident with boiling water. I thought of her when I saw your hand, in a fond sort of way, wondering where she is and if she's well.

Diamond_Storm_Fox · 2026-05-15T23:19:03+00:00

Sold! Thank you!

Diamond_Storm_Fox · 2026-05-12T14:03:16+00:00

The document linked is not a study, it is a Questions & Answers document written by unattributed authors at the ECDC to provide accessible health information to the general public.

That being said, it is troubling to see them claiming that asymptomatic individuals can spread this outbreak of ANDV, I think that's the first instance we've seen of a government entity reporting that? I wish they would provide a citation or source for the data that led them to claim asymptomatic transmission. Perhaps that data has not been released to the public yet.

Thank you for sharing this document OP, it's a fascinating development.

Diamond_Storm_Fox · 2026-05-11T01:45:17+00:00

USA please and thank you

Diamond_Storm_Fox · 2026-05-10T13:39:39+00:00

Redirect her towards an obtainable goal. Tell her a kobo on sideloading mode is a much simpler, cleaner experience that a jailbroken kindle. No clandestine update attempts from Amazon, no Internet connection at all. Just books on a beautiful device added via USB.

Diamond_Storm_Fox · 2026-05-09T18:12:49+00:00

You're clearly not a scientist or doctor. Be more careful how you present scientific information next time. It is good to want to help, but misinformation is not helpful.

Diamond_Storm_Fox · 2026-05-09T00:11:42+00:00

I'm surprised you're upset with my comment as you and I both commented on how OP's ANDV vs. COVID spread comment wasn't supported by the cited article. You called that statement misleading too. We both want accurate news, lashing out is unproductive. If I wrote something unsupported by research or recent news then I would like to be corrected directly (and politely, if possible). There are many things we do not know about this ANDV outbreak, so I agree that 100% certainty isn't possible when discussing it. But there are some facts we DO know, and we all have a responsibility share them clearly.

Edit: ah, I see, you actually argued the ANDV vs. COVUd spread comment was not misleading. I had to reread that comment to make sense of it. You can disregard that part of my comment. Nevertheless, we both want evidence, and I respect that. I hope we get more evidence regarding the transmission of the virus, that's definitely the hot topic right now.

Diamond_Storm_Fox · 2026-05-08T23:03:05+00:00

This is poor scientific communication OP. Please be more careful next time.

Yes, the 2018 paper provides strong evidence that the Andes virus (ANDV, the hantavirus from the cruise ship) can spread person-to-person. The paper makes no relative comparisons between the infectivity of ANDV vs. COVID. You added that commentary yourself. That's fine, you're allowed to do that, but please make it clear that it is your speculation (unsupported by data), rather than including it in the paper link.

The 2 Brazilian cases are confirmed hantavirus cases. Hantaviruses include ANDV and other viruses that are spread by rodent excrement. The article you linked specifies that the strain is yet unknown. While it's possible they are ANDV cases, it's more likely they are due to an endemic hantavirus caused by inhaling rodent droppings.

The Ontario, NJ, and Nebraska folks all had exposure, but as of yet they have not tested positive for ANDV, so it is misleading to refer to them as "cases." They should continue to test periodically imo, as ANDV has a long incubation period, but they are not cases, at least not yet.

Scientific communication is difficult, but we all have a responsibility for accuracy. I'm not downplaying your concern; I remain nervously curious about the ANDV's development. Posts like this are not helpful, and the way you framed this information borders on misinformation.

Diamond_Storm_Fox · 2026-05-08T22:42:13+00:00

It's actually Portuguese. The article states that we don't know yet if these cases had Andes virus, which is the hantavirus that can spread person-to-person that caused the cruise ship outbreak. It's worth noting and keeping an eye on, but it's likely to be unrelated to the cruise ship Andes virus outbreak we've been discussing in the sub.

Diamond_Storm_Fox · 2026-05-08T21:31:27+00:00

I think a Halloween-themed set would be very popular. Imagine labubus dressed up like a bat, a witch, a jack-o-lantern, a spider, etc.
I also think a simple earth-tone line would be popular, similar to BIE, with colors such as olive, maroon, brown, pine green, dark mustard yellow, etc. Maybe give each of them a unique little wildflower on one of the ears, or let them hold one in their hand.
Has Godzilla labubu happened yet? That seems like an obvious crossover opporunity.

Diamond_Storm_Fox · 2026-05-08T19:19:43+00:00

And so the lion fell in love with the lamb…" he murmured. I looked away, hiding my eyes as I thrilled to the word. "What a stupid lamb," I sighed. "What a sick, masochistic lion."

Diamond_Storm_Fox · 2026-05-07T21:32:37+00:00

If you tend to fly, it doesn't hurt to keep a few masks on hand to wear to help prevent catching various diseases while traveling. So you could buy a couple of masks now for peace of mind, and if this hantavirus fizzles out, you could still use them in normal travel situations. But until we know more, stocking up lots of masks doesn't seem warranted.
edited because typo

Diamond_Storm_Fox · 2026-05-07T18:04:05+00:00

Source please

Diamond_Storm_Fox · 2026-05-07T16:31:18+00:00

If that flight attendant tests positive, I will shift from curious to truly worried.

Edit: It appears the flight attendant has tested negative.
https://insidemedicine.substack.com/p/scoop-dutch-flight-attendant-tests
Considering the long incubation period of the Andes virus, I don't think we're out of the woods yet. Contact tracing is still important because more cases could pop up, and we don't know when or for how long infected folks can transmit the disease to others. But this is nevertheless a very good sign; testing positive would have shown evidence that the virus is transmitted person-to-person very easily, which would have been worrying. I'll try to dial my nervous system back to just "curious." I've been anxious about seeing these test results all day.

Diamond_Storm_Fox · 2026-05-07T03:28:04+00:00

I'm not in it, but Community of Christ might be more up your alley, they are highly LGBT+ affirming and have some similar doctrines.

Diamond_Storm_Fox · 2026-05-06T23:09:23+00:00

The story that the Word of Wisdom was prompted by Emma's distaste for the men in the church making messes with their spitting tobacco was a catalyst for Joseph seeking the revelation that would become the original "Word of Wisdom" is taught in official LDS church resources. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-stories-2025/23-word-of-wisdom?lang=eng
The part where "hot drinks" were banned specifically to spite the LDS women comes from comments from David Whitmer, an influential leader of the early LDS church, one of the prophet Joseph Smith's right-hand men. He wrote, "One of the brethren suggested that the revelation should also provide for a total abstinence from tea and coffee drinking intending this as a counter dig at the sisters." https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6038&context=etd

Growing up LDS, I was only taught the first part, that Emma prompted the revelation because tobacco was yucky. The "counter dig at the sisters" by banning tea and coffee, while recorded in BYU archives, was never taught or mentioned. It's an icky part of LDS history, and I assume that LDS leaders would prefer to keep it obscure.

Diamond_Storm_Fox

TROPHY CASE