evoque

have love, will travel

[kleefkruid]

My cats have this meow that means "please come with me to fix this" after which they'll lead me to the problem in question, usually a empty (or 'empty') food bowl or a closed door they want open. They look at the 'problem', they look back at me, clear message.

What fascinates me is how this illustrates what they percieve as being in the realm of my 'power.' I control the food, I control the door, sure, but my cats love to sit on the balcony in the sun, and it has happened plenty of times that on a rainy day they come get me, go to the balcony and show me... the rain. "Please fix this" they say. "Please get rid of the wet"

"Silly kitty," I say, "I can't control the rain." I then walk into the shower and turn on the rain.

[kiwi-the-gh0st]

Just a Filipino meme my dad sent me

[popculturebrain]

Taika Waititi Knows Baby Yoda’s Real Name But He’s Not Telling

Baby Yoda may have stolen the spotlight from the title hero of Disney+’s The Mandalorian, but now that Season 1 of the streaming series has concluded, fans are wondering just how the pint-sized character fits into the greater Star Wars universe.

[aiweirdness]

Neural networks + Kittens = !!!

It was inevitable that the neural network, having named all kinds of internet datasets, should turn its talents to naming cats.

And what an occasion! The AFK Cat Rescue of Huntsville, Alabama contacted me because they had an exceptionally adorable bunch of kittens (plus one magnificent Persian) who need names and homes. June is kitten season here in the USA, so shelters are inundated with new kittens right now, and AFK takes the very high-risk cases, kittens who are too small to survive in regular shelters, or who are sick or injured, or have neurological disorders.

To be sure, the AFK Cat Rescue’s kitten-naming game is strong. They’ve got a black and orange kitten pair named Shere Khan and Bagheera, and they have another pair of cats named Grindylow and Pooka. With their full list of the several hundred cat names they’ve used over the years, plus the list of several thousand cats registered in Toronto (thanks to Tumblr user @maverick-ornithography), I had comfortably enough to train a neural network with.

I fired up my trusty karpathy-char-rnn neural network framework, and sat down to watch it learn.

Colzyy Mumhan Tygrar Juolb Ggonooo Byn Malgacor Gatbewl Mrror Rglslwelph Aarla Teaw Mos Tilypsronvynkor

“Very good,” I said. “Coming right along. Nice work on Aarla, maybe not try so hard on Teaw Mos Tilypsronvynkor.” I said all this to myself, of course, because the neural network operates entirely without my input once training starts. I can shout “No, you fool!” at it all day if I like and it ignores me perfectly.

Soon, however, I began to notice that quite a few of these cats had last names, and sounded actually rather grand.

Jarlag Argon Mankith Cuttim Aeggerooy Jozga Andend of Karlans Irtenda of Tiyra Sittrobt Torg? Arten Sword Lord Magian Welu-the Manwys Parihen the Thawk Haldir of the Saleword Barga Mr. Yetheract Belfine Bracken Belis Goodbrook Bentone Ballywood Grim Wyyne Gorihand Molgo

I had, as it turned out, accidentally trained the neural network on another dataset, a list of character names from Tolkien, George R. R. Martin, C. S. Lewis, Robert E Howard, and Terry Pratchett (sent in by reader Thomas Pugh).

AFK Cat Rescue, however, decided to roll with it. First neural network kitten: Parihen the Thawk!

Parihen the Thawk: This guy was surrendered to an animal shelter after he hitched a ride in the engine of a car. He had a dislocated leg but it’s healing well with rest. He’s shy, tiny and misses his bff who is in the hospital right now for her much worse injuries. He’s got a lot of energy and loves to show off his belly.

I finally got the neural network training on the proper dataset, but I was worried when, by the time I went to bed it was producing literally the following names over and over:

Hurter Hurler Hunty Hurty Hunter Hurker

Some who are not so fond of cats may argue that these are in fact the best cat names. Fortunately for the AFK Cat Rescue, the names did eventually become more suitable. I present to you:

Jexley Pickle - This little girl is a hoot and a half. She’s full of energy, bounce and comedy. She loves to nurse on ear lobes and finger tips. She’s about 6 weeks old and was found after being chased up a tree by a dog. 

Mag Jeggles - When you touch him he rattles from head to tail with purrs. He’s so sweet. He was simply too young to be made available for adoption, and was rescued from a shelter that could not care for him.

Snox Boops - He was in a room with a lot of kittens that were too small to place up for adoption and even much smaller than the others in the room. When you pick him up he capsizes in your hands and starts purring. He’s got a huge voice and a huge demand for love and attention. 

Mumcake - She was brought into a shelter as a stray, but she was too young for adoption and if she wasn’t pulled by rescue she would have been subject for euthanasia. She’s adorable, loving, outgoing and shoots sunshine right out of her butt. (Sunshine ejection not shown; you have AFK’s word for it.)

Tilly Mapper - This little girl also took a ride in a car engine and her rear leg was nearly completely severed as a result. She’s been stitched up but she’s had an infection set in. She is only around 8 weeks old and she’s in very poor body condition from having tried to make it on the streets. We hospitalized her yesterday and she’s doing much better. We hope to have her back to foster home by Friday.

Big Wiggy Bool - He is a doll-faced persian that was surrendered to a kill shelter when his family could not take him on their cross country move. He’s five years old and has obviously been doted on. He’s super affectionate, very easy going and a talker!  He’s been recently groomed and trimmed up by Robyn Warner with Goin to the Dogs and Cats Mobile Grooming Service. And he loves belly rubs. Rubbing that fluffy, soft belly is an experience so wonderful it can only be discussed in breathless whispers.

Photos of the above cats by volunteer Amy Harrell.

And, since it IS kitten season, the neural network is happy to provide a list of cat names (some more usable than others), for use in naming cats, computer servers, firstborn, etc.

Jeckle Elbent Jenderina Roober Snorp Snox Boops Cylon Sookabear Frere Sonney Mrow Jexley Pickle Marper Foppin Toby Booch Snowpie Big Wiggy Bool Macha Boo Mr Whinkles Timble Macfallon Machaka Licky Cat Mr Bincheh Macnaw Maxy Fay Tim Hike Mr Gruffles Grips Liony Oli Lingo Lingley Conkie Lasley Goo Mr Took Linky Marvish Mag Jeggles Corko Maggin Mcguntton Mara Tatters Mr Tiggie Mr. Skuffles Mr. Hinkles Mush Jam Tilly-Mapper Mr. Jubble Mumcake Muppin Mr O

Perhaps backup choices:

Cutzerinda Galorub Pans Sofa Shotkie Ouiho Pope Kogon Ro Larky Rorka Bot leperaONtiea Malool Scagkaleoru Clagmlh Mice iiia Ha LuoleryPlogalasnfalon Hubla Ssrerosti Negflun Mery Booii Balllucidoux

Definitely backup choices:

Trickles Poot Moosh Papper Clotter Moan Toot Cloobie Slarkbir Jenky Pissy Schitty Retchion Pappy Dopia Pilly Scabbys Pish Mesladewench Souffungy Mr Tinkles

[clutterandkindle-deactivated201]

This is my friend @evoque’s cat Nigel (full name Nigel J. Ruckacat, after @ruckawriter). They’ve moved to a new house and he’s set up a little neighborhood watch in the front window. Whatever shenanigans the neighbors get into, Nigel is on the scene.

[permanentalien]

PERMANENT ALIEN: An Asian American Comics Anthology |  Pre-Orders Open Now! 

We are so excited to release the pre-orders of Permanent Alien to the public! This anthology features short comics and illustrations of stories from Asian Americans across the diaspora, and many personal stories from the artists as well.  We hope you enjoy this labor of love.

You can order the digital pdf of PERMANENT ALIEN or pre-order the physical copies here!  Physical copies are $15 dollars (not incl. shipping), and digital copies are $6.

Pre-orders for physical copies are open until the second week of January.  Feel free to message us if you have any questions.

[permanentalien]

Bump for predorders!  They close in ONE WEEK, so get ur copies while they’re hot!

[catsbeaversandducks]

“I regret NOTHING!”

Photo by @Leah Lyman

[continuity-rupture]

[eroscestlavie]

THIS IS ANISH KAPOOR’S INSTAGRAM I AM SCREAMING AT HOW PETTY THIS IS

[quinoaphoenicks]

God

[frankenfemme]

Who’s the narc that gave him the pink

[veryfemmeandantifascist]

I’m screaming

[ofmanynames]

But the statement is the best:

Kapoor or one of his agents has, it’s worth noting, violated the terms of service put forth on Semple’s website, and Semple isn’t happy. He expressed his deep concern over the situation in an email to artnet News:

We are all extremely disappointed to see that Anish Kapoor has illegally acquired the world’s pinkest pink. He’s walked into this paint war with a gesture that cannot be misconstrued. He’s given the art community a bright pink middle finger. He is still very much at large. Not only has he refused to share the black, he’s now stolen our pink. Rest assured, we will get to the bottom of who has purchased this on Anish Kapoor’s behalf and broken their contractual agreement with culturehustle.com, and we will instruct our lawyers to take appropriate action against such breaches. We are pleased to note that he has not managed to get his hands on the World’s Glitteriest Glitter—yet—and we urge purchasers not to share the product with Kapoor or his associates.

[hisunlikelyvalentine]

I don’t get it?

[cyberneticbanshee-deactivated20]

Basically this guy, Anish Kapoor, had made a deal with NanoSystem, the people producing Vantablack, or the blackest black paint pigment in the world, so that he would have exclusive rights to use it for art purposes.

This naturally upset a great number of people in the art world, to say the least, as many other people were excited to experiment with using the Vantablack pigment in their art. Therefore, as an act of retaliation, artist Stuart Semple released PINK, the world’s pink pigment under the stipulation that anyone in the world could buy it, except for Anish Kapoor. At the time of purchase, the purchaser has to agree to a legal statement saying that they are not Anish Kapoor and will not willing or knowingly give the pigment to Anish Kapoor. 

By this image, it indicates that someone violated that agreement and provided the pigment to Kapoor. Thus why Semple is pursing legal action. I hope this helps clear some things up.

[monopolizers]

[squidwardchat-deactivated202205]

stuart semple got his hands on the black

[mythiquebitch]

@africanaquarian update on the art hoe drama

[africanaquarian]

OH MY  G OD

[evoque]

Episode 6 : Chag Sameach, Louis. Chag Sameach.

--------: 11:13 AM

LouisTheCat: rick

LouisTheCat: rick

RickDickens77: what

LouisTheCat: so i was talking to mittens next door

RickDickens77: I don't even want to know.

LouisTheCat: did you know theyre jewish

RickDickens77: Yes, the Blums are Jewish.

LouisTheCat: wtf are the blums

RickDickens77: The people next door, their last name is Blum.

LouisTheCat: mittens blum

RickDickens77: I suppose so.

LouisTheCat: ok well im never gonna let that one die

LouisTheCat: but anyway

LouisTheCat: did you know if youre jewish you celebrate christmas for like two whole weeks

RickDickens77: First of all it's called Hanukkah.

RickDickens77: And it's like eight days or nights or something.

LouisTheCat: so its like three weeks god thats awesome

RickDickens77: Sure, it's cool, that's just the Jewish winter holiday.

LouisTheCat: im gonna be jewish then

RickDickens77: It's not that simple, Lou, it's a religion.

LouisTheCat: ok so can you do that for me

RickDickens77: I don't know where to begin explaining how it doesn't work like that.

LouisTheCat: rick

LouisTheCat: i dont think youre listening to me

LouisTheCat: christmas rick

LouisTheCat: eight of them

LouisTheCat: mittens says hes gonna get something every day

RickDickens77: Lou, it's not really like Christmas, I mean they give some gifts but it's not really the same. There's no tree, they just light some candles.

LouisTheCat: i dont like candles

RickDickens77: See? You don't really know what it's all about, and I'm not going to help you become Jewish.

LouisTheCat: oh i get it

LouisTheCat: you dont want me to be one of the chosen

LouisTheCat: theres a name for people like you rick

RickDickens77: Uh huh. You're being silly now, I'm done with this.

LouisTheCat: youre a putz

RickDickens77: That's enough, Lou.

--------: 2:54 PM

LouisTheCat: rick

RickDickens77: What

LouisTheCat: if you help me be jewish i will take back one thing i said about you for every day of christmas

RickDickens77: It's called Hanukkah.

LouisTheCat: right that

LouisTheCat: so we have a deal

RickDickens77: NO!

--------: 3:04 PM

LouisTheCat: rick

RickDickens77: WHAT

LouisTheCat: what are you getting me for christmas

RickDickens77: I don't know yet. I wouldn't tell you anyway.

LouisTheCat: can i make a suggestion

RickDickens77: sure

LouisTheCat: i want one of those little hats our people wear

RickDickens77: Lou, you are not Jewish, you can't just say you're Jewish, and I am not going to make that happen for you. So stop it.

LouisTheCat: rick i didnt want to play this card but i think you probably are aware that our people are extremely powerful and can make things difficult for you

RickDickens77: Ok, let's suppose for a second you could become Jewish. What if I told you I'd only give you one gift anyway?

LouisTheCat: well isnt that like a goy

RickDickens77: Now you're just being offensive. This is the end of this discussion, are we clear?

--------: 4:51 PM

RickDickens77: I'm heading out soon, do we need anything for the weekend?

LouisTheCat: not that i can think of

LouisTheCat: do you have any plans

RickDickens77: Emily is coming over tomorrow, and I'm hoping she'll hang out for the whole weekend so I want you to BE NICE THIS TIME.

LouisTheCat: being nice sounds like work rick

LouisTheCat: tomorrow is our peoples day of rest

RickDickens77: I told you we were done with that. See you in a while.

--------: 5:04 PM

LouisTheCat: rick

LouisTheCat: rick

RickDickens77: ...WHAT

LouisTheCat: oy vey

--------: RickDickens77 has gone offline

[bubblxgumbitch-deactivated20171]

Reblog this if your blog is a safe haven for ALL non-white, disabled, trans, queer, and/or women, and your ask box is open to anyone who needs it tonight, or anytime, for the next few years.

[evoque]

You are safe with me

[bedeliadumaurier]

i hope the clintons get a cat again when (god willing) hillary wins it’s been TOO long since there’s been a cat in the white house:

[noamchimpsky]

i

love

socks!!!

[bedeliadumaurier]

she did a good job:

[galesofnovember]

Yesterday at the foster clinic there was a woman with a litter of tiny, tiny kittens, one of whom was a beautiful orange and white creamsicle.  I told her, “I love orange boy cats, they are all so stupid.” and the foster mom said to me, with tears of love in her eyes, face glowing with maternal pride, “He is only 6 days old and I can already tell that he’s going to be so stupid!”

[startorialist]

Rounding out the Valentino fun is a huge selection of the Pre-Fall 2016 runway looks! I confess I saved the best for last :) 

We got a teaser of this pattern back in January, but I’m dying over all these different styles. Needless to say, it’s hard to beat Valentino’s Pre-Fall 2015 collection but this is a very close second. And also, I desperately NEED that bomber jacket. 

Available via @farfetch:

Biker jacket

Bomber jacket

Sweater

Knit dress

Long sleeve dress

Short sleeve dress

Shift dress

Mini dress

Shorts

And with that, Happy Friday Startorialists. May you dream of Valentino all weekend long (as I surely will). 

- Summer

[arstechnica]

In #NOLA, a third party candidate we can all believe in arises.

#election #pikachu #GetOutThePokeVote

[evoque]

The early driver gets the road all to themselves #CarsTechnica #McLaren #570S #McLaren570S (at Tidal Basin)

[evoque]

If I fit, I sit (at Bloomingdale Neighborhood, Washington, DC)