Richard Derus > Recent Status Updates

Happy Incoming 2026!

https://expendablemudge.blogspot.com/...

To all who celebrate:

Fröhlicher Festivus! Roll the tumbrils through to the Mall...no namby-pamby nooses this time.
Year-end thoughts: https://expendablemudge.blogspot.com/...

AUGUST 2025 was #WITMonth! My goal was writing at least 30 reviews of works translated/written by women the world around sourced from the DRC aggregators. Final report: thirty-two (32) written, with the last one scheduled to be blogged tomorrow. I finished up ahead of my goal. The link will take you to a listing of them all on my blog:
https://expendablemudge.blogspot.com/...

If anyone would like to know why pseudoscience is identifiable, avoidable, and harmful:
https://youtu.be/iPSOg7SZDBw?feature=...

I got a nastygram and was tempted to go back at the sender full-bore...instead the goddesses showed me this on Tumblr:

For the first time in what feels like forever, I've had two clear COVID tests in a row. One week without the filthy effing thing! Yay!

April is, as I know y'all know, National Poetry Month. I am sure each of you has already put up your shrine to Wordsworth and bedecked your bookshelves with daffodils.

I will spend April reviewing every poetry book I have on my Kindle. Here is the list:

I'm still battling my fifth COVID infection's lingering consequences. Little energy, poor focus, much sleeping. I'm giving in to it so it will go away sooner.

Okay...done reviewing until Friday, 27 December 2024. I'll wish all y'all happy holidays.

It was "data set to private" night! Four blocked users. Do not follow Mr if you're a "data set to private" person. Either send a friend request or get blocked. I do not care a whit why you set your data to private.

It's #Booksgiving again...a version of the Jólabókaflóð Iceland loves!
Find out more on my blog:
https://expendablemudge.blogspot.com/...

If my account disappears, it's because Goodreads nuked it. I asked for my data file and, just now, got an email saying all my data was erased!

Great deal alert! FOR THE BEES, and all other University of Texas Press books, are on sale. Use code UTXGIFTS at checkout for 40% off print books and 50% off e-books through the end of the year (2024)!

Starting on the 29th, I'm beginning my annual #Booksgiving blogging. Like Jolabokaflod, I'm always encouraging people to use the holiday season as a reason to give a special book to read with the whole friend-group/family to read all together. Lots of gift books, kids' books...stay tuned!

ANNOUNCEMENT.

If you have noticed that you are not receiving notifications of posts on your group threads, that is a new design by Goodreads. It applies to all of your groups, and all of your reviews. To get these notifications or to still get them, check the "notify me when people comment" box under *every*thing you want to follow. Otherwise you won't be sure of being notified of comments.

Sauce for the goose....

Today's NY Times morning newsletter:
"Trump has signaled that he wants use the military for domestic law enforcement. It could have implications for civil liberties."
Unfollow/unsubscribe from these happy collaborators with the coup across all platforms.

***THREE*** MONTHS ON, Goodreads has done nothing about my "help ticket" at all. As a result my inability to post, or reply to, comments continues. I can not believe anyone is working on it. There's certainly no evidence anyone at Goodreads is doing anything about it.

I'm sure this won't increase y'all's joy. Neither would this jackanapes enacting #Project2025.

Nothing much from me this week. I don't feel like reviewing any book I've recently read in any detail.

Why is this not a much bigger deal in the media?

Periodically I say again, to those with "data set to private," Do Not Follow Me. I will block you.

TWO MONTHS ON, Goodreads has done nothing about my "help ticket" at all. As a result my inability to post, or reply to, comments continues. I can not believe anyone is working on it.

All y'all go look at Wikipedia's featured article for today, 28 June, here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
Heh.
"Well he would, wouldn't he?" is an aphorism that is commonly used as a retort to a self-interested denial.

THERE'S A (polite) WORD FOR ME!

Brad of NeglectedBooks.com speaketh sooth:
O God, give us the serenity to accept what we're never going to read, the courage to read what we know we should read, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Only ten more days before you won't see us everywhere!

...that you know of...

Remember...this is always a lie. ALWAYS. Promises, vague hints, suggestions of change are lies. Until the narcissist/sociopath has what they want, any lie, manipulation, misdirection will come out and then, WHAM the unchanged reality crushes you.

I need all of this.