This is the bi?-weekly open thread. Post about anything you want, ask random questions, whatever. Also:

1. Comment of the week is this discussion on the calendar and the solstices, although everyone eventually agreed it was on the wrong track.

2. A while back, everyone donated some money for Multiheaded to be able to get a Canadian visa and escape Russia. Canada refused to grant such a visa and this plan has fallen through. If anybody else has any ideas for how a transgender person might get to a country that tolerates transgender people, please mention them in the comments so Multi can find them.

3. The first chapter of my book Unsong is now online here. New chapters every Sunday, new interludes some Wednesday, subscribe on right hand column of that site if you’re interested.