Not Lost

(via bsky)

In case anyone hasn't heard, the cyclospora outbreak affecting tons of people in the US right now is coming from Taylor Farms produce. Best to stay away from bagged lettuce and prepared salads completely right now, but especially the ones mentioned in the screenshot:

Taylor Farms Earthbound Farms Little Salad Bar (Aldi) Marketside (Walmart) Kroger House Brand Target private label greens Costco salads and greens etc Trader Joe's chopped salad kits and fresh produce Fast food: McDonalds, Taco Bell, (Yum! Brands), Chipotle, Subway, Pizza Hut, KFC, Olive Garden, Top Golf, Red Lobster, Burger King, etc.

This is not the first time I've heard about a Taylor Farms foodborne illness outbreak. I stopped eating their salads after reading a description of the conditions in their facilities. Doesn't sound like they've improved anything.

Sophia, the ghost from 1875 who haunts a lamp I got at Brimfield: I wasn't wondering. why would I be?

me: ...but climate change is making it worse even since I was a child. and I had to explain climate change to you last week

Sophia: yes but haze and smoke in the city is normal, isn't it? coal fires for cooking (even in summer), gaslights burning, and so forth

me:

Sophia: the nature is different, but I'm quite accustomed to the concept. and this will last how long?

me: until tomorrow probably

Sophia: after which the air quality will be...?

me: excellent, I imagine. it's really good here 98% of the year, and good the rest of the time barring a few days like this one

Sophia:

Chapter 9: Roadtrip

Bolaire had never been so relieved to see a roadside inn. The place was swarming with travelers and locals alike, the crowd so thick he seized Aurelia's upper arm with one hand, their luggage with the other, and began making liberal use of hips and elbows to create a path. Leaving Aurelia on a few inches of empty bench, he elbowed past the milling crowd of local drinkers, travelers, and employees to the counter. He attempted to book two rooms, but was told there was only one left. Aurelia was too miserable to comment, barely able to remain on her feet. Rather than argue, Bolaire paid and all but carried her up the stairs, depositing her on the bed.

"The whole of the room is yours," he told her. "I don't need to sleep. I'll amuse myself downstairs."

"Don't be ridiculous," she'd told him, to his lasting surprise. "We're both adults. You were a soldier once. It's no different from sleeping side by side in the field."

"Well," he'd said somewhat blankly, "if you're sure."

Character has 2 PhDs: either they did a dual degree program and are braggy about it, had a life-changing experience after their first degree and pivoted their whole career, or they find the structure of being a PhD student, despite all its stress, more comfortable and familiar than the stress of finding a Real Job and have a very indulgent advisor.

Character has 3 PhDs: who keeps accepting them to PhD programs. Either this person needs psychological help or their department needs to be investigated for its academic standards. Probably both

Injustice and hatred are eating from the inside.