#365ways2025 — Public Fediverse posts

Brighter Days Ahead

It’s that time again! 

Winter solstice is nearly upon the Northern Hemisphere. Here’s what to know about the shortest day of the year

Yes, the darkest day of the year is here, but that means brighter days are ahead.

Sunday is the shortest day of the year north of the equator, where the solstice marks the start of astronomical winter.

That’s right, if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere, today is the shortest day of the year. (And if you’d like a quick reminder of the astronomy of it all, this one’s helpful: December Solstice 2025.)

So light a candle (physical or metaphorical, your choice!), and look ahead to a brighter future.

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#365Ways #365Ways2025 #astronomy #science #solstice #Thoughts

He Went to 11

Rob Reiner, Actor Who Went on to Direct Classic Films, Dies at 78

“People take a look at ‘Princess Bride,’ and exclaim, ‘God, this is such an odd conglomeration!’” Mr. Reiner told The New York Times shortly after the movie was released in 1987. “‘How could you balance all those things?’”

“But it didn’t seem all that strange to me,” he went on, “because those are all parts of my personality. I’ve definitely got this satirical side to me, and this romantic side, and this more realistic way of looking at things.”

I don’t know about you, but Reiner’s eclectic approach to storytelling was one of the things I loved about his work. That and the clever humor, the touching moments, and the personal stories. 

My favorite quote from this statement, Close friends of Rob and Michele Reiner release statement on their lives and work, is a reminder that we all make an impact.

“Each man’s life touches so many other lives, and when he isn’t around, he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?” — from It’s a Wonderful Life

Maybe we’ll watch The Princess Bride this weekend. Or Stand by Me. Or Spinal Tap. Or When Harry Met Sally. Or A Few Good Men. Or or or.

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#365Ways #365Ways2025 #storytellers #Thoughts #Writers

All the Pain and Joy

The flood of AI art has led to a lot of commentary, some thoughtful, some otherwise, by pundits, tech gurus, and artists themselves.

Here’s cartoonist Matthew Inman sharing his perspective on why he finds AI art problematic.

A cartoonist’s review of AI art – The Oatmeal

…I need you to know from one artist to another, that every mark you make on a page even a squiggly, imperfect one is still beautiful.

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#365ways #365ways2025 #ai #art #artists #creativity #persistence #thoughts

A Mysterious Case

Today, a free fiction short from Colby Devitt and the Grist Climate collection:

The Case of the Missing Lake

On the morning of April 8, 2200, Lake Ballona went missing. A pair of hikers ventured down from the Hollywood Hills on a day excursion into the Tongva Wetlands. Where the area’s largest body of freshwater met seawater to create a brackish habitat, they discovered an empty crater. Lake Ballona was gone. Vanished overnight. Only muddy puddles remained where the lake had swelled the day before. There were no signs of violence. 

Excellent opener. I hope you enjoy the rest!

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#365ways #365ways2025 #climateFiction #freeFiction #writers #writing2

Herding Cats Today

Today is officially a crazy day. By that I mean a mad scramble to get day job work done, including the projects I expected and the three others I did not expect. Lots to juggle, and while I may have bobbled one tiny little thing, it all worked out fine in the end.

I also managed to get up early and write a very (very) short story before all the craziness began, so I’m calling it a win!

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#365ways #365ways2025 #takeTheWin #work #writers #writing2

Chocolate Buttercreamcheese Frosting

Today, an addition to my recipe collection so I know where to find this next time I need a light, perfectly sweet, flavorful chocolate frosting.

This is my new go-to frosting recipe. 

Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting – Sally’s Baking

• 339g (12 oz.) full-fat brick cream cheese, softened
• 170g (12 Tbsp; 3/4 C.) butter, softened
• 420g (3 1/2 C.) confectioners’ sugar
• 55g (2/3 C.) unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 t. pure vanilla extract
• 1–2 T. milk or heavy cream
• pinch salt

For full instructions and more, head over to Sally’s.

Mr Man’s rating: “Yes, please and thank you!”

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#365ways #365ways2025 #baking #food2 #recipes #rememberThis

How to Think

“It’s the questions we can’t answer that teach us the most. They teach us how to think. If you give a man an answer, all he gains is a little fact. But give him a question and he’ll look for his own answers.”

― Patrick Rothfuss, The Wise Man’s Fear

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#365ways #365ways2025 #thoughts #writers

Still Progress

I wrote a drabble yesterday but decided not to share it. Why not? Because it’s dark and it’s sad. I like to keep things largely upbeat here, for my readers and for myself. 

That doesn’t mean I’m all unicorns and rainbows, obviously, but I want you to come away from this site feeling at least a little hopeful. I try to focus on the future, and I hope that it’s a good one. 

Sometimes that means facing down darkness, and I’ve done that before even in a 100-word format. Not this time, though, so I’ll keep it in my files for now.

Still, progress is progress, and I’m happy to be writing!

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#365ways #365ways2025 #drabble #fiction #writers #writing2

Say Hello!

We Earthlings are in the middle of the Leonid meteor shower. It takes place this year from November 6th through the 30th, but will peak overnight tonight. Even better, the moon is only 9% full, so the only competition will be from human light sources. 

Leonid meteor shower: All you need to know in 2025

The Leonid meteor shower is back! Leonid meteors are already flying. The peak is on the morning of November 17.

Love this animation!

Meteor Showers 2025 – 2026 – American Meteor Society

So tonight, if you find yourself in a place with clear skies, look up. 

The Universe is saying hello.

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#365Ways #365Ways2025 #astronomy #inspiration #meteorShower #space

To the Light and Beauty

“To become the shadow to defeat the shadow only extends the shadow’s reach and its reign. In one of the great ironies of our international moment, it appears that many of the people who’ve read “The Lord of the Rings” the most understand it the least. They perceive an emergency – a world in crisis – and grasp for the ring.

But Tolkien’s message is profoundly different. You must demonstrate courage to defend against evil, but to defeat it, you cannot rely on your own strength. It is to the “light and high beauty” that we must turn, even when we cannot see a way through.”

— David French

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#365Ways #365Ways2025 #BeFrodo #conviction #courage #ethics #JRRTolkien #morality #Thoughts

Writing Time

“The right time is any time that one is still so lucky as to have.”

— Henry James

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#365Ways #365Ways2025 #creativity #Thoughts #Writers #writing

Yours in Syzygy

Tonight, friends, we have yet another supermoon, the brightest of the year. This month is the Beaver Moon. 

The biggest, brightest Supermoon of 2025 rises Tuesday night – The Weather Network

Overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, November 4-5, the Sun, Earth, and Moon will align in syzygy, with the Earth-facing side of the Moon fully illuminated by the Sun.

So last night, tonight, and tomorrow all showcase the moon at its best. I don’t know about you, but I do not get tired of that big bright ball in the sky getting even bigger and brighter.

If you don’t either, look up!

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#365Ways #365Ways2025 #space #supermoon