IcedRaktajino

The younger one is very energetic and difficult to photograph without being a blur. Most of the pictures I have of her are sleeping, being held, or extremely blurry.

I actually did a post a while back asking for recommendations since, yeah, there's a lot of them and I really only have time for the "must reads".

https://startrek.website/post/28030285

So far, I've read two and 2/3 (one single, one trilogy, and 2/3 of another trilogy). I can recommend them all as "must reads" (unless Millennium falls apart in the 3rd book; just started it last night).

• A Stitch in Time
• ST: Destiny
• DS9: Millennium

Probably next up is the first in the "Titan" series (as recommended by someone in that post). I only bought the first one in that series. If it's good, I'll buy the rest of them.

I’m not seeing any mainstream media coverage.

• https://www.kbtx.com/2025/09/16/students-body-found-hanging-tree-mississippi-university-authorities-say/
• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/black-student-demartravion-%E2%80%9Ctrey%E2%80%9D-reed-21-found-hanging-from-tree-on-delta-state-university-campus/ar-AA1MCbF3
• https://www.newsweek.com/trey-reed-college-student-death-mississippi-2130545
• https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/2025/09/16/students-body-found-hanging-tree-mississippi-university-authorities-say/
• https://www.13abc.com/2025/09/16/students-body-found-hanging-tree-mississippi-university-authorities-say/
• https://www.fox13memphis.com/education/delta-state-university-student-found-hanging-from-tree-no-foul-play-suspected-officials-say/article_f5278a0a-0b0f-47c6-b829-a8cffc78a75e.html
• https://mississippitoday.org/2025/09/15/delta-state-university-is-investigating-a-students-death/
• https://www.wdbj7.com/2025/09/16/students-body-found-hanging-tree-mississippi-university-authorities-say/
• https://www.wbls.com/news/deceased-black-student-found-hung-at-delta-state-university/

It really irks me when people use "mainstream media" as a pejorative like there's some kind of conspiracy. There are way more sources covering it than that, but I think that's more than enough to make my point.

Still deeply down the TrekLit rabbit hole.

Finished the Star Trek: Destiny trilogy early last week (amazing, BTW) and am now through the first two books of the DS9: Millennium trilogy.

Yes, but I'd have to crop myself out of them and I just don't feel like it.

Have to settle for this dog tax. She's the one on the left.

Absolutely! I still laugh at that even knowing what's coming.

I can't speak for your situation, but I do know of too many examples of marriages "just because" that made both partners completely miserable for decades. And their disgust at each other definitely was not good for the kid to grow up around.

If she's someone you could see spending your life with, just not right now, then it's worth considering. But either way, I would advise against agreeing to a shotgun wedding and leave that decision between you and her.

Sounds like her parents are trying to force you into a shotgun wedding.

Ultimately, it's up to you if you want to go into a marriage that is very much going to be unhappy (I know currently and grew up around lots of terible pregnancy / stay together for the kids marriages) Personally, I'd just setup child support arrangements and discuss with her what role, if any, I would have in the child's life and politely, but firmly, tell her parents to fuck off (you're both adults).

Edit: And if she doesn't want to have a baby, I would also support and assist with that.

He's got so many good movies under his belt, but if you haven't watched Sneakers, I highly recommend it. Probably my favorite movie of his.

I never do Halloween costumes myself, but last year my dog went as "Doctor Pepper" (little white lab coat + children's toy stethoscope + her name is Pepper).

If I was a cartoonist....

I'd draw European countries smugly eating popcorn and watching the US while authoritarianism, dressed as a house robber, sneaks in behind them and starts taking their stuff. Maybe with the caption that says "I'm so glad that never has and never will happen here!".

The rise in authoritarianism isn't exclusive to the US. So I recommend, instead of shitting all over the US at every opportunity, they apply some of that effort to keeping that from happening at home.

I have "hoarder" in my blood, and every day is a struggle to just throw things away and fight the urge of "that might be useful one day".