Linguistics
Aug. 4th, 2025 08:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithprettygoodword is posting about the Uto-Aztecan language family, and today's word is saguaro. Apparently they have edible fruit.ysabetwordsmithprettygoodword is posting about the Uto-Aztecan language family, and today's word is saguaro. Apparently they have edible fruit.
Emergency Food
Aug. 4th, 2025 08:32 pmysabetwordsmithdialecticdreamer has expanded her comment under my first Emergency Food post into a separate post with more tips for people with special dietary needs. Many Things Happened
Aug. 4th, 2025 09:10 pmdandylover1Hello, Dear Readers. Let's start with some music, if one can call it that. I will elaborate a bit on part of the commentary between DB and me afterward.
( Thoughts on Ravel: La Valse )
Usually, I write what I call filler entries. They are entries for a specific day, written later, but with the perspective of the date shown. For example, I might post on 1 August, but at the top, you'll see "(Catchup - 4 August 2025)". But this week was quite extraordinary, so I'll just write it here. First, though, here is a bit of an announcement. I posted this to Blob.cat (Akkoma), tried to post to Friendica.world (it didn't work), and even to Facebook, which was a nightmare, as doing anything on that site is always headache-inducing. "After testing the features and accessibility for quite awhile, I have decided that my home on the Fediverse is at Mastodon. More specifically, it's at someplace.social. I mostly post there now, so if you wish to follow me, this is my address. You could also simply search fordandylover1. It is so difficult to post here from the main page that I must use a third party client and am considering deleting my account. This is not the case with Mastodon.
https://someplace.social/@dandylover1
I am also still on Dreamwidth and will be updating it with new entries today.
http://dandylover1.dreamwidth.org
Finally, if you use MSN/Windows Live Messenger via Escargot and wish to add me, I am dandylover1@escargot.chat. If you are curious about this wonderful revival of accessible software, go to the following site.
http://www.escargot.chat"
On Saturday, the 26th, my parents were on there way to see Joanie's sister when they were in a car accident. Fortunately, they were completely unharmed, other than being startled. Joanie banged her shoulder and Mom banged her leg. Both were in shock when they came home, and so was I! I was watching Alli, and I had gone downstairs to get an iced tea. Mom said she called me, but I never heard the phone ring. Alli was barking, but he always barks any time he's alone, so I ignored it. Mom also said she sent a text, but it never went through. The thing is this. I don't carry my phone with me. It's not a major part of my life. I could even go out and forget it. I certainly wouldn't take it with me when going to another part of the house. Usually, I would hear a ring, even if I miss a text. But in both cases, once I return to my phone, I have no way of knowing when I receive either. There isn't a persistant notification. If I miss the ring or don't hear the quick sound that indicates a message was sent, I simply don't know I received it, unless, for some reason, I think of checking for missed messages or calls. This is why I love MSN/Windows Live Messenger via Escargot. I always have it running on my computer, it always makes a notification if someone sends me a message, and more importantly, it opens a new window when a new conversation is started, so that I see it when tabbing through my currently open windows, even if I am away from my computer and miss the sound! Anyway, on Sunday, we all just relaxed and recovered from that crazy ordeal.
Early Wednesday morning, Joanie flew to Florida to see her brother. Mom and I spent more time than usual together, which was really nice. We laughed a lot and I helped her with a few things around the house. We even watched a Hallmark film at the same time! I say it that way because while she watched it on television, I watched it from a site for the blind with audio description. It was a lot of fun. Joanie returned on Saturday at one in the morning, much later than planned, because they kept delaying her plane. In the meantime, something very strange happened. I was in the little house, working at my computer. It was after eleven at night. Suddenly, a plane flew over the house and I heard and felt a strange sound. I figured it had just flown really low and while it was odd, I thought nothing of it after a few minutes. Later, I learned that we had a 3.0 magnetude earthquake! What was Joanie doing up there, I wonder.
I wish they had a test to determine what makes the blood of certain people so attractive to mosquitos! Maybe, it's all the lovely, sweet-voiced tenori di grazia I listen to. Perhaps I should try Otello with Melchior or Tamagno, just to balance things. Seriously, I have so many bites on me right now that it's utterly ridiculous! I desperately need to find a way of keeping these bugs away from me that doesn't involve putting harsh chemicals on my skin or dealing with visual things i.e. cartridges and mats that change colour when they need to be refilled.
On a much happier note, Joanie made absolutely delicious steak tonight! I asked her what she had done differently, and she said nothing. It was wonderful, though.
( Thoughts on Ravel: La Valse )
Usually, I write what I call filler entries. They are entries for a specific day, written later, but with the perspective of the date shown. For example, I might post on 1 August, but at the top, you'll see "(Catchup - 4 August 2025)". But this week was quite extraordinary, so I'll just write it here. First, though, here is a bit of an announcement. I posted this to Blob.cat (Akkoma), tried to post to Friendica.world (it didn't work), and even to Facebook, which was a nightmare, as doing anything on that site is always headache-inducing. "After testing the features and accessibility for quite awhile, I have decided that my home on the Fediverse is at Mastodon. More specifically, it's at someplace.social. I mostly post there now, so if you wish to follow me, this is my address. You could also simply search for
dandylover1. It is so difficult to post here from the main page that I must use a third party client and am considering deleting my account. This is not the case with Mastodon.https://someplace.social/@dandylover1
I am also still on Dreamwidth and will be updating it with new entries today.
http://dandylover1.dreamwidth.org
Finally, if you use MSN/Windows Live Messenger via Escargot and wish to add me, I am dandylover1@escargot.chat. If you are curious about this wonderful revival of accessible software, go to the following site.
http://www.escargot.chat"
On Saturday, the 26th, my parents were on there way to see Joanie's sister when they were in a car accident. Fortunately, they were completely unharmed, other than being startled. Joanie banged her shoulder and Mom banged her leg. Both were in shock when they came home, and so was I! I was watching Alli, and I had gone downstairs to get an iced tea. Mom said she called me, but I never heard the phone ring. Alli was barking, but he always barks any time he's alone, so I ignored it. Mom also said she sent a text, but it never went through. The thing is this. I don't carry my phone with me. It's not a major part of my life. I could even go out and forget it. I certainly wouldn't take it with me when going to another part of the house. Usually, I would hear a ring, even if I miss a text. But in both cases, once I return to my phone, I have no way of knowing when I receive either. There isn't a persistant notification. If I miss the ring or don't hear the quick sound that indicates a message was sent, I simply don't know I received it, unless, for some reason, I think of checking for missed messages or calls. This is why I love MSN/Windows Live Messenger via Escargot. I always have it running on my computer, it always makes a notification if someone sends me a message, and more importantly, it opens a new window when a new conversation is started, so that I see it when tabbing through my currently open windows, even if I am away from my computer and miss the sound! Anyway, on Sunday, we all just relaxed and recovered from that crazy ordeal.
Early Wednesday morning, Joanie flew to Florida to see her brother. Mom and I spent more time than usual together, which was really nice. We laughed a lot and I helped her with a few things around the house. We even watched a Hallmark film at the same time! I say it that way because while she watched it on television, I watched it from a site for the blind with audio description. It was a lot of fun. Joanie returned on Saturday at one in the morning, much later than planned, because they kept delaying her plane. In the meantime, something very strange happened. I was in the little house, working at my computer. It was after eleven at night. Suddenly, a plane flew over the house and I heard and felt a strange sound. I figured it had just flown really low and while it was odd, I thought nothing of it after a few minutes. Later, I learned that we had a 3.0 magnetude earthquake! What was Joanie doing up there, I wonder.
I wish they had a test to determine what makes the blood of certain people so attractive to mosquitos! Maybe, it's all the lovely, sweet-voiced tenori di grazia I listen to. Perhaps I should try Otello with Melchior or Tamagno, just to balance things. Seriously, I have so many bites on me right now that it's utterly ridiculous! I desperately need to find a way of keeping these bugs away from me that doesn't involve putting harsh chemicals on my skin or dealing with visual things i.e. cartridges and mats that change colour when they need to be refilled.
On a much happier note, Joanie made absolutely delicious steak tonight! I asked her what she had done differently, and she said nothing. It was wonderful, though.
Lake Lewisia #1286
Aug. 4th, 2025 04:44 pmscrubjayspeaksEveryone occasionally enjoys the pleasure of canceled plans, when a day that had been locked away behind the gates of obligation is opened up into a wide field of freedom, but we can’t always get out of our real schedules. A new service, Change of Plans, is available via phone or email, which allows you to create imaginary appointments, dates, and meetups, then cancel them after a time period of your choosing. Staff will even accept requests for levels of resistance--from cheerful agreement, to passive-aggressive undermining, to tearful pleading--to help you achieve a true sense of having gotten away with something.
---
LL#1286
---
LL#1286
Birdfeeding
Aug. 4th, 2025 12:24 pmysabetwordsmithToday is cloudy and mild.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches plus a male cardinal.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 8/4/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 8/4/25 -- I did a more work around the patio.
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches plus a male cardinal.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 8/4/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 8/4/25 -- I did a more work around the patio.
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
Monday Update 8-4-25
Aug. 4th, 2025 02:08 amysabetwordsmithThese are some posts from the later part of last week in case you missed them:
Space Exploration
Birdfeeding
Photos: Coles County Community Garden
Photos: Charleston Food Forest Part 2 Left Side
Photos: Charleston Food Forest Part 1 Right Side
Emergency Food
Physics
Birdfeeding
Philosophical Questions: Threats
Survival Skills
Today's Adventures
Lightning
Cyberspace Theory
Birdfeeding
Crime Classics Bingo Card 8-1-25
Follow Friday 8-1-25: House
Today's Adventures
Birdfeeding
New Year's Resolutions Check In
Bingo
Poem: "Maho Shoujo"
Conservation
Birdfeeding
Juggling
Shanidar 1
Conservation
Genocide
Politics
Cuddle Party
"Philosophical Questions: Looks" has 48 comments. "Incompetence, Sloppy Thinking, and Laziness" has 75 comments. "Not a Destination, But a Process" has 148 comments. "The Democratic Armada of the Caribbean" has 97 comments.
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
sunshine_revival has concluded. See you next July! Review the schedule, meet the moderators, and use the master post to navigate the event. Meet new folks in the friending meme. Make one last sweep through the community posts to catch anything you missed.
* Sunshine Revival Challenge 1: Light
Poem: "The Pleasure of Escaping the Responsibility"
* Sunshine Revival Challenge 2: Tunnel of Love
Poem: "Legs of Grass, Feet of Flowers"
* Sunshine Revival Challenge 3: Food
* Sunshine Revival Challenge 4: Fun House
Poem: "The Bee Tree's Gift"
* Sunshine Challenge 5: Carnival Barker
* Sunshine Revival Challenge 6: Game Night
Poem: "A New Twist"
* Sunshine Revival Challenge 7: The Ferris Wheel
Sunshine Revival: Sunset
summerofthe69 is open! You can see the calendar here and the current themes are 69 Accommodations and Alternate Sexy Parts 69.
There are no open epics at present.
The weather has been less hot and wet here. Seen at the birdfeeders this week: a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, a pair of mourning doves, a pair of house wrens, a male cardinal, a gray catbird, a fox squirrel, and a bat. Currently blooming: dandelions, pansies, violas, marigolds, petunias, red salvia, wild strawberries, verbena, lantana, sweet alyssum, zinnias, snapdragons, blue lobelia, perennial pinks, impatiens, oxalis, moss rose, yarrow, anise hyssop, firecracker plant, tomatoes, tomatillos, Asiatic lilies, cucumber, yellow squash, zucchini, morning glory, purple echinacea, black-eyed Susan, yellow coneflower, chicory, Queen Anne's lace, sunflowers, cup plant, gladioli, firewheel, orange butterfly weed. Tomatillo and pepper have green fruit. Wild strawberries, mulberries, tomatoes, and cucumbers are ripe. The second crop of blackberries is ripe. I think the ball carrots might be ripe, but haven't had time to uproot any.
Space Exploration
Birdfeeding
Photos: Coles County Community Garden
Photos: Charleston Food Forest Part 2 Left Side
Photos: Charleston Food Forest Part 1 Right Side
Emergency Food
Physics
Birdfeeding
Philosophical Questions: Threats
Survival Skills
Today's Adventures
Lightning
Cyberspace Theory
Birdfeeding
Crime Classics Bingo Card 8-1-25
Follow Friday 8-1-25: House
Today's Adventures
Birdfeeding
New Year's Resolutions Check In
Bingo
Poem: "Maho Shoujo"
Conservation
Birdfeeding
Juggling
Shanidar 1
Conservation
Genocide
Politics
Cuddle Party
"Philosophical Questions: Looks" has 48 comments. "Incompetence, Sloppy Thinking, and Laziness" has 75 comments. "Not a Destination, But a Process" has 148 comments. "The Democratic Armada of the Caribbean" has 97 comments.
sunshine_revival has concluded. See you next July! Review the schedule, meet the moderators, and use the master post to navigate the event. Meet new folks in the friending meme. Make one last sweep through the community posts to catch anything you missed.* Sunshine Revival Challenge 1: Light
Poem: "The Pleasure of Escaping the Responsibility"
* Sunshine Revival Challenge 2: Tunnel of Love
Poem: "Legs of Grass, Feet of Flowers"
* Sunshine Revival Challenge 3: Food
* Sunshine Revival Challenge 4: Fun House
Poem: "The Bee Tree's Gift"
* Sunshine Challenge 5: Carnival Barker
* Sunshine Revival Challenge 6: Game Night
Poem: "A New Twist"
* Sunshine Revival Challenge 7: The Ferris Wheel
Sunshine Revival: Sunset
summerofthe69 is open! You can see the calendar here and the current themes are 69 Accommodations and Alternate Sexy Parts 69.There are no open epics at present.
The weather has been less hot and wet here. Seen at the birdfeeders this week: a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, a pair of mourning doves, a pair of house wrens, a male cardinal, a gray catbird, a fox squirrel, and a bat. Currently blooming: dandelions, pansies, violas, marigolds, petunias, red salvia, wild strawberries, verbena, lantana, sweet alyssum, zinnias, snapdragons, blue lobelia, perennial pinks, impatiens, oxalis, moss rose, yarrow, anise hyssop, firecracker plant, tomatoes, tomatillos, Asiatic lilies, cucumber, yellow squash, zucchini, morning glory, purple echinacea, black-eyed Susan, yellow coneflower, chicory, Queen Anne's lace, sunflowers, cup plant, gladioli, firewheel, orange butterfly weed. Tomatillo and pepper have green fruit. Wild strawberries, mulberries, tomatoes, and cucumbers are ripe. The second crop of blackberries is ripe. I think the ball carrots might be ripe, but haven't had time to uproot any.
Space Exploration
Aug. 3rd, 2025 06:41 pmysabetwordsmithUnderground life on Mars? Cosmic rays could make it possible
Research challenges long-held assumptions about where life can exist in the solar system.
Cosmic rays from deep space might be the secret energy source that allows life to exist underground on Mars and icy moons like Enceladus and Europa. New research reveals that when these rays interact with water or ice below the surface, they release energy-carrying electrons that could feed microscopic life, a process known as radiolysis. This breakthrough suggests that life doesn't need sunlight or heat, just some buried water and radiation.
*laugh* Took them long enough. Earth has an ecosystem around the black smokers that runs on heat and chemistry instead of sunlight.
Research challenges long-held assumptions about where life can exist in the solar system.
Cosmic rays from deep space might be the secret energy source that allows life to exist underground on Mars and icy moons like Enceladus and Europa. New research reveals that when these rays interact with water or ice below the surface, they release energy-carrying electrons that could feed microscopic life, a process known as radiolysis. This breakthrough suggests that life doesn't need sunlight or heat, just some buried water and radiation.
*laugh* Took them long enough. Earth has an ecosystem around the black smokers that runs on heat and chemistry instead of sunlight.
Birdfeeding
Aug. 3rd, 2025 03:00 pmysabetwordsmithToday is mostly sunny and mild, a beautiful day. :D
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, plus a fox squirrel screaming at me from the top of a tree.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 8/3/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 8/3/25 -- My partner Doug mowed the house yard and paths to the fly-through feeder and new picnic table.
I picked up a branch in the house yard.
I did more work around the patio.
I've seen a pair of mourning doves foraging in the cut grass.
EDIT 8/3/25 -- I did ass-busting amounts of effort to haul the hose around, watering the septic garden, new picnic table garden, patio plants, old picnic table garden, and a few other things around the house yard.
EDIT 8/3/25 -- We did more ass-busting amounts of effort to remove the old stretchy hose from the reel, then get the new tape hose onto the reel.
EDIT 8/3/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 8/3/25 -- I watered the telephone pole garden and savanna seedlings with a watering can. Both of this year's pawpaw seedlings are still alive! :D
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, plus a fox squirrel screaming at me from the top of a tree.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 8/3/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 8/3/25 -- My partner Doug mowed the house yard and paths to the fly-through feeder and new picnic table.
I picked up a branch in the house yard.
I did more work around the patio.
I've seen a pair of mourning doves foraging in the cut grass.
EDIT 8/3/25 -- I did ass-busting amounts of effort to haul the hose around, watering the septic garden, new picnic table garden, patio plants, old picnic table garden, and a few other things around the house yard.
EDIT 8/3/25 -- We did more ass-busting amounts of effort to remove the old stretchy hose from the reel, then get the new tape hose onto the reel.
EDIT 8/3/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 8/3/25 -- I watered the telephone pole garden and savanna seedlings with a watering can. Both of this year's pawpaw seedlings are still alive! :D
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
Done This Week
Aug. 3rd, 2025 11:09 amscrubjayspeaksMan, come on…
Mum’s phone factory reset itself. While there is some small chance she managed to press the correct series of buttons with the right timing just by squashing it in her pocket, that seems...impressively unlikely. So we’re classifying it as a software issue and getting the service to replace it.
It wasn’t backed up, because we weren’t really interested in letting Google have access to everything we’ve ever done on the devices. So she’s got years of data and contacts lost (though not everything, because we wrote paper lists of contacts when we first got the phones because we couldn’t transfer data from the old ones). We’ll eventually manage to get most of the numbers back. It’s upsetting but not, I suppose, the end of the world.
All the same, I find myself wracked with guilt about it. It feels like, every time something goes wrong at home, there’s a voice in my head saying, why didn’t you keep this from happening? I’ve always had an overdeveloped sense of personal responsibility, but it seems to get worse year by year.
I am reminded of the passage from Restaurant at the End of the Universe:
Lewisia: 3 new pieces written, August posts queued
Day job: 42.75 hours
Reading: The Ice Princess by Camilla Läckberg (arbitrarily searched Libby for books set in Sweden, which of course means murder mysteries, there’s a lot of shitty “appearance=morality/worth” messages coming from all corners, but I am *reluctantly* invested enough to want to read the next in the series)
Watching: I’ve been doing a casual sort of liveblogging of weird moments from New Scandinavian Cooking on tumblr, which continues to be my obsession du jour
Listening: An Evening Wasted with Tom Lehrer (always a bit sad to learn about someone cool because they died, but I will enjoy the discovery nonetheless), Braiding the Stories by Gaahl’s WYRD (metal-ish, Nordic-ish, another rec I can’t remember the source of)--as a side note, it sucks that getting into folk music and metal both means navigating a minefield of Nazi shit from artists and/or their fanbase and always feeling reluctant to mention a new artist I’m listening to for fear that I’ve missed some incident or dogwhistle
Clock Mouse: 1431 words--wow, that added up rather nicely
Mum’s phone factory reset itself. While there is some small chance she managed to press the correct series of buttons with the right timing just by squashing it in her pocket, that seems...impressively unlikely. So we’re classifying it as a software issue and getting the service to replace it.
It wasn’t backed up, because we weren’t really interested in letting Google have access to everything we’ve ever done on the devices. So she’s got years of data and contacts lost (though not everything, because we wrote paper lists of contacts when we first got the phones because we couldn’t transfer data from the old ones). We’ll eventually manage to get most of the numbers back. It’s upsetting but not, I suppose, the end of the world.
All the same, I find myself wracked with guilt about it. It feels like, every time something goes wrong at home, there’s a voice in my head saying, why didn’t you keep this from happening? I’ve always had an overdeveloped sense of personal responsibility, but it seems to get worse year by year.
I am reminded of the passage from Restaurant at the End of the Universe:
“Did you know,” interrupting the ghostly figure, fixing Zaphod with a stern look, “that Betelgeuse Five has developed a very slight eccentricy in its orbit?”
Zaphod didn’t and found the information hard to concentrate on what with all the noise and the imminence of death and so on.
“Er, no… look,” he said.
“Me spinning in my grave!” barked the ancestor. He slammed the cup down and pointed a quivering, stick-like see-through finger at Zaphod.
“Your fault!” he screeched.
Lewisia: 3 new pieces written, August posts queued
Day job: 42.75 hours
Reading: The Ice Princess by Camilla Läckberg (arbitrarily searched Libby for books set in Sweden, which of course means murder mysteries, there’s a lot of shitty “appearance=morality/worth” messages coming from all corners, but I am *reluctantly* invested enough to want to read the next in the series)
Watching: I’ve been doing a casual sort of liveblogging of weird moments from New Scandinavian Cooking on tumblr, which continues to be my obsession du jour
Listening: An Evening Wasted with Tom Lehrer (always a bit sad to learn about someone cool because they died, but I will enjoy the discovery nonetheless), Braiding the Stories by Gaahl’s WYRD (metal-ish, Nordic-ish, another rec I can’t remember the source of)--as a side note, it sucks that getting into folk music and metal both means navigating a minefield of Nazi shit from artists and/or their fanbase and always feeling reluctant to mention a new artist I’m listening to for fear that I’ve missed some incident or dogwhistle
Clock Mouse: 1431 words--wow, that added up rather nicely
Photos: Coles County Community Garden
Aug. 3rd, 2025 02:47 amysabetwordsmithThese pictures show the Coles County Community Garden on Saturday, August 2. (Begin with Part 1: Right Side, Part 2: Left Side.)
( Walk with me ... )
( Walk with me ... )
Photos: Charleston Food Forest Part 2 Left Side
Aug. 3rd, 2025 12:50 amysabetwordsmithThese are pictures from the left side of the Charleston Food Forest on Saturday, August 2. (Begin with Part 1: Right Side. Continue with Coles County Food Forest.)
( Walk with me ... )
( Walk with me ... )
Photos: Charleston Food Forest Part 1 Right Side
Aug. 2nd, 2025 10:48 pmysabetwordsmithThese are pictures from the Charleston Food Forest. (Continue with Part 2: Left Side, Coles County Food Forest.)
( Walk with me ... )
( Walk with me ... )
Emergency Food
Aug. 2nd, 2025 10:25 pmysabetwordsmithThe Best Emergency Food Kits
Emergency food kits containing easy-to-prepare, shelf-stable meals can also give you peace of mind, especially if you live in a region where weather events may disrupt your access to fresh food. These meals last for years (sometimes up to 30), they are easy to prepare, and many come in lightweight, portable pouches. Sure, shelf-stable meals don’t provide a gourmet dining experience, but they’re often nutritionally dense and packed with protein. So they can keep you going during a time of great stress.
( Read more... )
Emergency food kits containing easy-to-prepare, shelf-stable meals can also give you peace of mind, especially if you live in a region where weather events may disrupt your access to fresh food. These meals last for years (sometimes up to 30), they are easy to prepare, and many come in lightweight, portable pouches. Sure, shelf-stable meals don’t provide a gourmet dining experience, but they’re often nutritionally dense and packed with protein. So they can keep you going during a time of great stress.
( Read more... )
Physics
Aug. 2nd, 2025 04:36 pmysabetwordsmithRutgers physicists just discovered a strange new state of matter
The finding could lead to advanced technological applications and new quantum devices.
At the edge of two exotic materials, scientists have discovered a new state of matter called a "quantum liquid crystal" that behaves unlike anything we've seen before. When a conductive Weyl semimetal and a magnetic spin ice meet under a powerful magnetic field, strange and exciting quantum behavior emerges—electrons flow in odd directions and break traditional symmetry. These findings could open doors to creating ultra-sensitive quantum sensors and exploring exotic states of matter in extreme environments.
Yep, that's useful in many advanced technologies including supercomputers and rovers for space exploration.
The finding could lead to advanced technological applications and new quantum devices.
At the edge of two exotic materials, scientists have discovered a new state of matter called a "quantum liquid crystal" that behaves unlike anything we've seen before. When a conductive Weyl semimetal and a magnetic spin ice meet under a powerful magnetic field, strange and exciting quantum behavior emerges—electrons flow in odd directions and break traditional symmetry. These findings could open doors to creating ultra-sensitive quantum sensors and exploring exotic states of matter in extreme environments.
Yep, that's useful in many advanced technologies including supercomputers and rovers for space exploration.
Birdfeeding
Aug. 2nd, 2025 04:22 pmysabetwordsmithToday is mostly sunny and mild.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches plus a mourning dove. The thistle feeder was about half empty.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 8/2/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 8/2/25 -- I took some pictures of the metal tray birdfeeder.
EDIT 8/2/25 -- I watered the old picnic table plants.
EDIT 8/2/25 -- I visited the Charleston Food Forest. Grapes are ripe, which is why we went. These are tiny white grapes -- pea size or a little bigger -- seedless and very sweet. :D I picked 3 bunches and there are plenty left for other folks. I also got a few asparagus berries, a few white marigold heads, and quite a bit of wild indigo seedpods. Some wild indigo has tiny bluish seedpods, while others have thumb-sized brown seedpods.
One of the peach trees has completely overgrown the path behind the welcome sign and is covered in peaches. They are still hard and green. I hope that I can get some from that tree when they ripen, in hopes of sprouting the seeds.
EDIT 8/2/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 8/2/25 -- I trimmed around the goddess garden. One of the silver thyme plants is almost white now. :D
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches plus a mourning dove. The thistle feeder was about half empty.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 8/2/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 8/2/25 -- I took some pictures of the metal tray birdfeeder.
EDIT 8/2/25 -- I watered the old picnic table plants.
EDIT 8/2/25 -- I visited the Charleston Food Forest. Grapes are ripe, which is why we went. These are tiny white grapes -- pea size or a little bigger -- seedless and very sweet. :D I picked 3 bunches and there are plenty left for other folks. I also got a few asparagus berries, a few white marigold heads, and quite a bit of wild indigo seedpods. Some wild indigo has tiny bluish seedpods, while others have thumb-sized brown seedpods.
One of the peach trees has completely overgrown the path behind the welcome sign and is covered in peaches. They are still hard and green. I hope that I can get some from that tree when they ripen, in hopes of sprouting the seeds.
EDIT 8/2/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 8/2/25 -- I trimmed around the goddess garden. One of the silver thyme plants is almost white now. :D
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
Bunnies, in colour!
Aug. 2nd, 2025 11:01 ammoonhareI’ve posted this before, but when the included song came on in my Spotify favorites list I had to find it again!
Sony Bravia, commercial only.
Sony Bravia, commercial plus how it was made!
Sony Bravia, commercial only.
Sony Bravia, commercial plus how it was made!
Philosophical Questions: Threats
Aug. 2nd, 2025 12:40 amysabetwordsmithPeople have expressed interest in deep topics, so this list focuses on philosophical questions.
What is the biggest threat to the social contract in our country?
( Read more... )
What is the biggest threat to the social contract in our country?
( Read more... )
Survival Skills
Aug. 1st, 2025 11:36 pmysabetwordsmithI Built a House From Free Scrap Materials in the Forest
I built a beautiful and cozy house in the woods—using only leftover materials found in nature, and hand-crafted tools.No machinery. No noise. Just patience, precision, and the quiet companionship of nature. Each log, each joint, each decision—shaped by instinct, guided by simplicity.
( Read more... )
I built a beautiful and cozy house in the woods—using only leftover materials found in nature, and hand-crafted tools.No machinery. No noise. Just patience, precision, and the quiet companionship of nature. Each log, each joint, each decision—shaped by instinct, guided by simplicity.
( Read more... )
Humor
Aug. 1st, 2025 11:16 pmysabetwordsmithMy supervillains be like ...
Also, this is exactly what would happen if a church group said that Triton Teen Center kids should be going to church, not hanging out with supervillains. A poor life choice swiftly regretted by whomever thought it up.
Also, this is exactly what would happen if a church group said that Triton Teen Center kids should be going to church, not hanging out with supervillains. A poor life choice swiftly regretted by whomever thought it up.
Lake Lewisia #1285
Aug. 1st, 2025 05:24 pmscrubjayspeaksThey slipped glass bottles around the freshly pollinated pomegranate blossoms, secured them to the branches, and then waited for the fall to come. By harvest, the bottles contained a fully-formed fruit, which could be preserved in alcohol and corked up like the finest of wine-in-potentia. At last, the bottles were labeled for sale to adventurers, rescue workers, and the terminally unlucky who might find themselves in need of passage through an underworld: Break In Case of Untimely Death.
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LL#1285
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LL#1285
Lightning
Aug. 1st, 2025 03:27 pmysabetwordsmithScientists finally solve the mystery of what triggers lightning
A Penn State-led research team has unraveled the long-standing mystery of how lightning begins inside thunderclouds. Their findings offer the first quantitative, physics-based explanation for lightning initiation—and a glimpse into the stormy heart of Earth’s atmosphere.
A Penn State-led research team has unraveled the long-standing mystery of how lightning begins inside thunderclouds. Their findings offer the first quantitative, physics-based explanation for lightning initiation—and a glimpse into the stormy heart of Earth’s atmosphere.
Cyberspace Theory
Aug. 1st, 2025 03:18 pmysabetwordsmithYoutube's new 18+ restriction thing
If you haven't heard: Youtube's gonna be rolling out a thing where they use AI to analyze the types of videos you watch to determine whether or not you're 18. If they think you're under, they're probably gonna limit what kinds of videos you can watch, and if they think you're 18 or over, you're gonna have to provide your ID. And if at any point Youtube has your age wrong, you're gonna have to provide some sort of ID anyways to rectify it.
I hate it all. Some people have posited that this being put in place is to protect kids, which on it's face sounds like a good thing. But having to give your ID to some online company, and Google no less... Not too long ago there was already another incident where an app intended for women only had it's database leaked, resulting in the leakage of several IDs (because this app used IDs to prove that its users were indeed women, a practice I have my own thoughts about).
Evil, but hardly a surprise. So, think about how much you enjoy using YouTube, and if you start hitting barriers there, consider whether there is an alternative that would be less abusive.
If you haven't heard: Youtube's gonna be rolling out a thing where they use AI to analyze the types of videos you watch to determine whether or not you're 18. If they think you're under, they're probably gonna limit what kinds of videos you can watch, and if they think you're 18 or over, you're gonna have to provide your ID. And if at any point Youtube has your age wrong, you're gonna have to provide some sort of ID anyways to rectify it.
I hate it all. Some people have posited that this being put in place is to protect kids, which on it's face sounds like a good thing. But having to give your ID to some online company, and Google no less... Not too long ago there was already another incident where an app intended for women only had it's database leaked, resulting in the leakage of several IDs (because this app used IDs to prove that its users were indeed women, a practice I have my own thoughts about).
Evil, but hardly a surprise. So, think about how much you enjoy using YouTube, and if you start hitting barriers there, consider whether there is an alternative that would be less abusive.
Birdfeeding
Aug. 1st, 2025 03:14 pmysabetwordsmithToday is sunny and mild, a beautiful day. :D
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
I took a few pictures around the yard.
EDIT 8/1/25 -- I did a bunch of work on the patio and around the house yard.
EDIT 8/1/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 8/1/25 -- I watered the new picnic table garden.
I picked a couple of cucumbers and herbs so I can make a chop salad later.
Crickets and cicadas are singing.
As it is now dark, I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
I took a few pictures around the yard.
EDIT 8/1/25 -- I did a bunch of work on the patio and around the house yard.
EDIT 8/1/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 8/1/25 -- I watered the new picnic table garden.
I picked a couple of cucumbers and herbs so I can make a chop salad later.
Crickets and cicadas are singing.
As it is now dark, I am done for the night.
Crime Classics Bingo Card 8-1-25
Aug. 1st, 2025 01:30 pmysabetwordsmithHere is my card for the Crime Classics Bingo fest over in allbingo. The fest runs from August 1-31. (See all my 2025 bingo cards.)
If you'd like to sponsor a particular square, especially if you have an idea for what character, series, or situation it would fit -- talk to me and we'll work something out. I've had a few requests for this and the results have been awesome so far. This is a good opportunity for those of you with favorites that don't always mesh well with the themes of my monthly projects. I may still post some of the fills for free, because I'm using this to attract new readers; but if it brings in money, that means I can do more of it. That's part of why I'm crossing some of the bingo prompts with other projects, such as the Poetry Fishbowl.
Underlined prompts have been filled.
CRIME CLASSICS BINGO CARD
allbingo. The fest runs from August 1-31. (See all my 2025 bingo cards.) If you'd like to sponsor a particular square, especially if you have an idea for what character, series, or situation it would fit -- talk to me and we'll work something out. I've had a few requests for this and the results have been awesome so far. This is a good opportunity for those of you with favorites that don't always mesh well with the themes of my monthly projects. I may still post some of the fills for free, because I'm using this to attract new readers; but if it brings in money, that means I can do more of it. That's part of why I'm crossing some of the bingo prompts with other projects, such as the Poetry Fishbowl.
Underlined prompts have been filled.
CRIME CLASSICS BINGO CARD
| Excellent Intentions | Somebody at the Door | Still Waters | In Captivity | My Aunt |
| Underground | A Bookseller | On the Riviera | Family Matters | Not to Be Taken |
| In White | As If By Magic | WILD CARD | Before the Fact | The Village |
| A Lady | Settling Scores | He Who Whispers | Deep Waters | Silent Nights |
| The Black Spectacles | Someone from the Past | In the Basement | The Man Who Didn’t Fly | A Busybody |
Sunshine Revival: Sunset
Aug. 1st, 2025 03:09 amysabetwordsmithSunshine Revival: Sunset
You might also choose to write your own wrap-up post for the Sunshine Revival. It's not an official challenge, but consider it a bit of a bonus prompt:
Which challenges did you participate in? Did you find any new journals to follow? Did you learn anything, either about yourself or someone else? How did you feel this month? Maybe leave a note for your future self reminding them of the little, everyday memories that sometimes get blurred out with the passage of time
( Read more... )
You might also choose to write your own wrap-up post for the Sunshine Revival. It's not an official challenge, but consider it a bit of a bonus prompt:
Which challenges did you participate in? Did you find any new journals to follow? Did you learn anything, either about yourself or someone else? How did you feel this month? Maybe leave a note for your future self reminding them of the little, everyday memories that sometimes get blurred out with the passage of time
( Read more... )
Birdfeeding
Jul. 31st, 2025 01:13 pmysabetwordsmithToday is cloudy and mild.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches plus a pair of house wrens.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 7/31/25 -- I did some work around the patio.
EDIT 7/31/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 7/31/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
A few fireflies are out. I saw a bat.
As it is now dark, I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches plus a pair of house wrens.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 7/31/25 -- I did some work around the patio.
EDIT 7/31/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 7/31/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
A few fireflies are out. I saw a bat.
As it is now dark, I am done for the night.
New Year's Resolutions Check In
Jul. 31st, 2025 12:55 amysabetwordsmithWe made it to the end of July! \o/ If you have completed some of your medium-term goals or subgoals, and/or you're still chugging away at your ongoing goals, then pat yourself on the back. You worked hard for that. We're now most of the way through summer. If you're doing seasonal goals, hopefully you have made good progress on the summer batch.
This year I'm trying something new, continuing to track goals at the end of each month. So far it seems to be helping, so that's encouraging. I'm looking at my goal list more often and trying to keep ticking off more of them. The main drawback is that this update becomes more of a chore each month.
These are the previous check in posts:
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 4
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 10
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 17
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 24
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 31
New Year's Resolutions Check In February 28
New Year's Resolutions Check In March 31
New Year's Resolutions Check In April 30
New Year's Resolutions Check In May 31
New Year's Resolutions Check In June 30
( Read more... )
This year I'm trying something new, continuing to track goals at the end of each month. So far it seems to be helping, so that's encouraging. I'm looking at my goal list more often and trying to keep ticking off more of them. The main drawback is that this update becomes more of a chore each month.
These are the previous check in posts:
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 4
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 10
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 17
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 24
New Year's Resolutions Check In January 31
New Year's Resolutions Check In February 28
New Year's Resolutions Check In March 31
New Year's Resolutions Check In April 30
New Year's Resolutions Check In May 31
New Year's Resolutions Check In June 30
( Read more... )
Bingo
Jul. 30th, 2025 11:51 pmysabetwordsmithI made blackout on my 7-1-25 card for the Western Bingo Fest. \o/
B1 (Bad Girls) -- "Provoking Change by Bringing Nature" (standalone)
B2 (Close-knit Community) -- "Incompetence, Sloppy Thinking, and Laziness" (Frankenstein's Family)
B3 ("Put me down!") -- "A Stronger Woman" (Polychrome Heroics: Fortressa)
B4 ("I tried being reasonable. I didn't like it.") -- "The Pleasure of Escaping the Responsibility" (One God's Story of Mid-Life Crisis)
B5 (Black Hats / White Hats) -- "Upholding It, Wherever Found" (Polychrome Heroics)
I1 (Resist Oppression) -- "Happy Instruments of Salvation" (Peculiar Obligations)
I2 ("He's all hat and no cattle") -- "No Such Thing as Finished" (Polychrome Heroics)
I3 (Dodge) -- "A New Twist" (LIFC)
I4 (Firefly) -- "Something Elusive and Mysterious" (standalone)
I5 (I'll Get My Revenge) -- "The Well-being of All Our People" (Clay of Life)
N1 ("The Wayward Wind") -- "Maho Shoujo" (standalone)
N2 (Buffalo) -- "Legs of Grass, Feet of Flowers" (standalone)
N3 (WILD CARD: Clean Up the Town) -- "Indicative of the Extent" (Polychrome Heroics: The Big One)
N4 (Defenestration) -- "In Effigy" (Frankenstein's Family)
N5 (Independent Woman) -- "But an Empty Shell" (Polychrome Heroics)
G1 (The Harder They Fall) -- "Always Surprised by Consequences" (Polychrome Heroics)
G2 ("Cool Water") -- "Beautiful, Damn Hard, Increasingly Useful" (Polychrome Heroics: Kraken)
G3 (Redemption Story) -- "The Future by Consequence, the Past by Redemption" (Frankenstein's Family)
G4 (Immigrant) -- "Fed from So Many Sources" (Frankenstein's Family)
G5 (Sunrise / Sunset) -- "Strong, Competent, Capable" (Frankenstein's Family)
O1 (Captive / Slave) -- "Four Marks of True Repentence" (Polychrome Heroics)
O2 (Gambling) -- "Finding the Gold in the Spirit" (Polychrome Heroics: Shiv)
O3 (Silver / Gold) -- "The Bee Tree's Gift" (standalone)
O4 (Horse) -- "Nuwneek" (The Bear Tunnels)
O5 (Emotionally Constipated Man) -- "New and Innovative Approaches" (Polychrome Heroics: The Big One)
B1 (Bad Girls) -- "Provoking Change by Bringing Nature" (standalone)
B2 (Close-knit Community) -- "Incompetence, Sloppy Thinking, and Laziness" (Frankenstein's Family)
B3 ("Put me down!") -- "A Stronger Woman" (Polychrome Heroics: Fortressa)
B4 ("I tried being reasonable. I didn't like it.") -- "The Pleasure of Escaping the Responsibility" (One God's Story of Mid-Life Crisis)
B5 (Black Hats / White Hats) -- "Upholding It, Wherever Found" (Polychrome Heroics)
I1 (Resist Oppression) -- "Happy Instruments of Salvation" (Peculiar Obligations)
I2 ("He's all hat and no cattle") -- "No Such Thing as Finished" (Polychrome Heroics)
I3 (Dodge) -- "A New Twist" (LIFC)
I4 (Firefly) -- "Something Elusive and Mysterious" (standalone)
I5 (I'll Get My Revenge) -- "The Well-being of All Our People" (Clay of Life)
N1 ("The Wayward Wind") -- "Maho Shoujo" (standalone)
N2 (Buffalo) -- "Legs of Grass, Feet of Flowers" (standalone)
N3 (WILD CARD: Clean Up the Town) -- "Indicative of the Extent" (Polychrome Heroics: The Big One)
N4 (Defenestration) -- "In Effigy" (Frankenstein's Family)
N5 (Independent Woman) -- "But an Empty Shell" (Polychrome Heroics)
G1 (The Harder They Fall) -- "Always Surprised by Consequences" (Polychrome Heroics)
G2 ("Cool Water") -- "Beautiful, Damn Hard, Increasingly Useful" (Polychrome Heroics: Kraken)
G3 (Redemption Story) -- "The Future by Consequence, the Past by Redemption" (Frankenstein's Family)
G4 (Immigrant) -- "Fed from So Many Sources" (Frankenstein's Family)
G5 (Sunrise / Sunset) -- "Strong, Competent, Capable" (Frankenstein's Family)
O1 (Captive / Slave) -- "Four Marks of True Repentence" (Polychrome Heroics)
O2 (Gambling) -- "Finding the Gold in the Spirit" (Polychrome Heroics: Shiv)
O3 (Silver / Gold) -- "The Bee Tree's Gift" (standalone)
O4 (Horse) -- "Nuwneek" (The Bear Tunnels)
O5 (Emotionally Constipated Man) -- "New and Innovative Approaches" (Polychrome Heroics: The Big One)
Poem: "Maho Shoujo"
Jul. 30th, 2025 08:37 pmysabetwordsmithThis poem is the freebie for the July crowdfunding Creative Jam. It was inspired by himejoshiheart. It also fills "The Wayward Wind" square in my 7-1-25 card for the Western Bingo Fest.
( Read more... )
crowdfunding Creative Jam. It was inspired by himejoshiheart. It also fills "The Wayward Wind" square in my 7-1-25 card for the Western Bingo Fest.( Read more... )
Tags:
Lake Lewisia #1284
Jul. 30th, 2025 04:51 pmscrubjayspeaks“The farther I get away from him,” they said, voice wistful as it floated away on a mountaintop breeze, “the easier it becomes to forgive all the ways he hurt me.” Their companions, having never met the father in question, could only offer quiet support and the welcome distractions that came with wrangling flying islands as they drifted past the camp. “Now that I’ve left his dimension entirely,” they said as they lassoed one and started hauling it into the archipelago being formed, “I can almost imagine going back to see him some day.”
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LL#1284
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LL#1284
Conservation
Jul. 30th, 2025 04:35 pmysabetwordsmithAspen trees are flourishing again in Yellowstone for the first time in 80 years, thanks to gray wolf’s return
“The reintroduction of large carnivores has initiated a recovery process that had been shut down for decades,” Luke Painter, the study’s lead author, told Oregon State University.
“About a third of the 87 aspen stands we examined had large numbers of tall saplings throughout, a remarkable change from the 1990s when surveys found none at all.”
( Read more... )
“The reintroduction of large carnivores has initiated a recovery process that had been shut down for decades,” Luke Painter, the study’s lead author, told Oregon State University.
“About a third of the 87 aspen stands we examined had large numbers of tall saplings throughout, a remarkable change from the 1990s when surveys found none at all.”
( Read more... )
Birdfeeding
Jul. 30th, 2025 01:55 pmysabetwordsmithToday is partly cloudy, humid, and hot.
I fed the birds. I haven't seen much activity yet.
EDIT 7/30/25 -- I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 7/30/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 7/30/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 7/30/25 -- I picked 2 red cherry tomatoes and a Cherokee Purple tomato.
Some of the goldenberries and ground cherries have little fruit lanterns on them. :D
EDIT 7/30/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 7/30/25 -- I potted up 2 white peach and 2 white nectarine seeds.
EDIT 7/30/25 -- I took a few pictures around the yard.
Cicadas are singing.
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I haven't seen much activity yet.
EDIT 7/30/25 -- I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 7/30/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 7/30/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 7/30/25 -- I picked 2 red cherry tomatoes and a Cherokee Purple tomato.
Some of the goldenberries and ground cherries have little fruit lanterns on them. :D
EDIT 7/30/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 7/30/25 -- I potted up 2 white peach and 2 white nectarine seeds.
EDIT 7/30/25 -- I took a few pictures around the yard.
Cicadas are singing.
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
Juggling
Jul. 30th, 2025 02:59 amysabetwordsmithI'm a fan of juggling. This video includes moves from very old Vaudeville routines, circus clowning, modern juggling, and more. Impressive.
Shanidar 1
Jul. 30th, 2025 02:44 amysabetwordsmithShanidar 1 is probably the most famous disabled person in history: missing an arm, blind in one eye, hard of hearing or deaf, mobility impaired, and more. He belonged to a Neanderthal family who exerted maximum effort to keep him alive, far beyond the typical lifespan of the time. Because he strove to survive, and they helped, his story lives on through his bones -- concrete proof that compassion, not brute force, is part of what made us human from the very beginning. The ability to care for each other, and to value people for themselves, not just for what they could contribute, made a difference in our survival.
( Read more... )
( Read more... )
Conservation
Jul. 30th, 2025 01:00 amysabetwordsmithMunmuni Payeng Is Planting a Million Trees in Flood-Hit Assam
Munmuni Payeng, the 'Forest Queen of Assam,' stands resilient against the floods that have long tormented her homeland, Majuli Island. Inspired by her father, the legendary 'Forest Man' of India, Munmuni's mission is clear: plant a million native trees to combat the ceaseless erosion and displacement her community faces. Her efforts are marked not by grand gestures but by a steadfast commitment to reinvigorating the land and fostering a collective resilience. She enlists local communities, particularly children, in her crusade to transform despair into hope, believing deeply that "when you plant with a child, you plant for a lifetime." Munmuni's journey is a profound testament to the power of quiet revolutions, where environmental restoration becomes a tapestry woven with shared stories and seeds of solidarity.
Trees are a tremendous help against flooding. Some trees, such as mangroves, are actually ecosystem engineers.
Munmuni Payeng, the 'Forest Queen of Assam,' stands resilient against the floods that have long tormented her homeland, Majuli Island. Inspired by her father, the legendary 'Forest Man' of India, Munmuni's mission is clear: plant a million native trees to combat the ceaseless erosion and displacement her community faces. Her efforts are marked not by grand gestures but by a steadfast commitment to reinvigorating the land and fostering a collective resilience. She enlists local communities, particularly children, in her crusade to transform despair into hope, believing deeply that "when you plant with a child, you plant for a lifetime." Munmuni's journey is a profound testament to the power of quiet revolutions, where environmental restoration becomes a tapestry woven with shared stories and seeds of solidarity.
Trees are a tremendous help against flooding. Some trees, such as mangroves, are actually ecosystem engineers.
Genocide
Jul. 30th, 2025 12:52 amysabetwordsmithIsrael is not a lawful state
Heartbreaking testimonies gathered from medical staff, parents of children hospitalized for malnutrition and displaced Palestinians struggling to survive paint a horrifying picture of acute levels of starvation and desperation in Gaza. Their accounts provide further evidence of the catastrophic suffering caused by Israel’s ongoing restrictions on life-saving aid and its deadly militarized aid scheme coupled with mass forced displacement, relentless bombardment and destruction of life-sustaining infrastructure.
Even worse, the food aid stations are set up as bait, drawing out parents of starving children to be gunned down by Israeli snipers.
( Read more... )
Heartbreaking testimonies gathered from medical staff, parents of children hospitalized for malnutrition and displaced Palestinians struggling to survive paint a horrifying picture of acute levels of starvation and desperation in Gaza. Their accounts provide further evidence of the catastrophic suffering caused by Israel’s ongoing restrictions on life-saving aid and its deadly militarized aid scheme coupled with mass forced displacement, relentless bombardment and destruction of life-sustaining infrastructure.
Even worse, the food aid stations are set up as bait, drawing out parents of starving children to be gunned down by Israeli snipers.
( Read more... )
Politics
Jul. 30th, 2025 12:47 amysabetwordsmithThe enshittification of American power
There is no question that the last century, and particularly since the end of the Cold War, the world has been characterized by US hegemony exercised through its military and economic power, and control over financial institutions. But in a long article in Wired with the above title, Henry Farrell and Abraham L. Newman argue that under the Trump regime, the US is starting to follow the pattern of big tech entities like Google and Facebook and that this is eventually going to lead to a decline in US power and influence in the world.
This makes a disturbing amount of sense.
There is no question that the last century, and particularly since the end of the Cold War, the world has been characterized by US hegemony exercised through its military and economic power, and control over financial institutions. But in a long article in Wired with the above title, Henry Farrell and Abraham L. Newman argue that under the Trump regime, the US is starting to follow the pattern of big tech entities like Google and Facebook and that this is eventually going to lead to a decline in US power and influence in the world.
This makes a disturbing amount of sense.
Cuddle Party
Jul. 30th, 2025 12:35 amysabetwordsmithEveryone needs contact comfort sometimes. Not everyone has ample opportunities for this in facetime. So here is a chance for a cuddle party in cyberspace. Virtual cuddling can help people feel better.
We have a cuddle room that comes with fort cushions, fort frames, sheets for draping, and a weighted blanket. A nest full of colorful egg pillows sits in one corner. There is a basket of grooming brushes, hairbrushes, and styling combs. A bin holds textured pillows. There is a big basket of craft supplies along with art markers, coloring pages, and blank paper. The kitchen has a popcorn machine. Labels are available to mark dietary needs, recipe ingredients, and level of spiciness. Here is the bathroom, open to everyone. There is a lawn tent and an outdoor hot tub. Bathers should post a sign for nude or clothed activity. Come snuggle up!
We have a cuddle room that comes with fort cushions, fort frames, sheets for draping, and a weighted blanket. A nest full of colorful egg pillows sits in one corner. There is a basket of grooming brushes, hairbrushes, and styling combs. A bin holds textured pillows. There is a big basket of craft supplies along with art markers, coloring pages, and blank paper. The kitchen has a popcorn machine. Labels are available to mark dietary needs, recipe ingredients, and level of spiciness. Here is the bathroom, open to everyone. There is a lawn tent and an outdoor hot tub. Bathers should post a sign for nude or clothed activity. Come snuggle up!
Earthquakes
Jul. 29th, 2025 10:45 pmysabetwordsmith8.8 magnitude earthquake 133 km from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Kamtsjatka, Russia
4 hours ago
Tsunami alerts have gone out to Japan, Alaska, and various other places.
4 hours ago
Tsunami alerts have gone out to Japan, Alaska, and various other places.
Conservation
Jul. 29th, 2025 04:01 pmysabetwordsmithTwo new species of 'paintbrush-tailed' marsupials discovered in Australia: 'They are ferocious predators'
In a study, published in Ecology and Evolution, the research team released findings on two new species of kultarr (“cool-tar”), a carnivorous marsupial.
“Prior to this study, Antechinomys was considered to contain two species: A. laniger and A. longicaudatus,” wrote Cameron Dodd, lead author and a PhD student from UWA’s School of Biological sciences.
“With the description of A. auritus and resurrection of A. spenceri, A. laniger is now recognized as a species complex comprising three distinct taxa.”
In a study, published in Ecology and Evolution, the research team released findings on two new species of kultarr (“cool-tar”), a carnivorous marsupial.
“Prior to this study, Antechinomys was considered to contain two species: A. laniger and A. longicaudatus,” wrote Cameron Dodd, lead author and a PhD student from UWA’s School of Biological sciences.
“With the description of A. auritus and resurrection of A. spenceri, A. laniger is now recognized as a species complex comprising three distinct taxa.”
Birdfeeding
Jul. 29th, 2025 02:52 pmysabetwordsmithToday is mostly sunny and sweltering.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.
EDIT 7/29/25 -- I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 7/29/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
I found a cinnamon fern sprouting in the forest garden. :D I never know what will suddenly spring up from things I planted earlier.
EDIT 7/29/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
I've seen a pair of mourning doves.
EDIT 7/29/25 -- I checked the garden but nothing was ripe.
However, I think I've got a good start on my landrace zinnias. There is a nice cluster of purple and red ones where I planted the seeds gathered from the Charleston Food Forest last fall. :D Now I just have to hope that these do a good job of setting seed.
EDIT 7/29/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 7/29/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 7/29/25 -- I walked out to the north end of the yard today. The telephone pole garden has balsam, gladioli, sunflowers, and zinnias blooming. :D Naked ladies are putting up flower stalks nearby, but none have opened yet.
I picked a couple of blackberries from the late-fruiting bush. Wildflowers are blooming all over the prairie garden.
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.
EDIT 7/29/25 -- I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 7/29/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
I found a cinnamon fern sprouting in the forest garden. :D I never know what will suddenly spring up from things I planted earlier.
EDIT 7/29/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
I've seen a pair of mourning doves.
EDIT 7/29/25 -- I checked the garden but nothing was ripe.
However, I think I've got a good start on my landrace zinnias. There is a nice cluster of purple and red ones where I planted the seeds gathered from the Charleston Food Forest last fall. :D Now I just have to hope that these do a good job of setting seed.
EDIT 7/29/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 7/29/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 7/29/25 -- I walked out to the north end of the yard today. The telephone pole garden has balsam, gladioli, sunflowers, and zinnias blooming. :D Naked ladies are putting up flower stalks nearby, but none have opened yet.
I picked a couple of blackberries from the late-fruiting bush. Wildflowers are blooming all over the prairie garden.
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
Poetry Fishbowl on Tuesday, August 5
Jul. 29th, 2025 03:28 amysabetwordsmithThis is an advance announcement for the Tuesday, August 5, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl. This time the theme will be "Books and Learning." I'll be soliciting ideas for readers, writers, storytellers, scribes, editors, publishers, students, teachers, caregivers, children, parents, bookworms, nerds, bookstore owners, librarians, an anonymous benefactor, activists, volunteers, superheroes, supervillains, other bookish people, reading, writing, delighting the reader, editing, publishing, bookbinding, shopping for books, telling stories, teaching, inviting students to a lesson, demonstrating tools, educating the whole child, learning, studying, parenting, lending a hand, cooperating, concentrating on a current task, volunteering, supporting people in hard times, respecting people, modeling manners and skills, learning to trust others, observing the environment, engaging all the senses, cultivating a full life, creating intimacy, making friends, getting to know each other, cooking together, choosing your own goals, discovering things, improvising, adapting, cooperating, bartering, sharing, making mistakes, fixing what's broke, changing the world, accomplishing the impossible, other educational activities, books, scrolls, magical tomes, printing presses, pens and pencils, bookstores, libraries, Little Free Libraries, book nooks, windowseats, Montessori schools, other alternative schools, preschools or daycares, Montessori homeschool, prepared environment, colleges and universities, beautiful places, craft centers, community centers, coffeehouses, outdoor classrooms, parks, nature centers, other spaces designed for learning, Triton Teen Centers, mentor circles, intentional communities, clubs, quiet rooms, inclusive workplaces, Thalassia, the Maldives, the Lacuna, the Aqademy of the Qrossroads, Waldorf toys, Montessori materials, intrinsic motivation, child independence, respect for the child, freedom to choose, freedom of time and uninterrupted work periods, absorbent mind, post-traumatic growth, individualized education, three-part cards, language lessons, mathematics, diverse ages and abilities, self-correcting toys and lessons, natural consequences, freedom of movement, intentional neighboring, diversity, inclusivity, emotional closeness, nonsexual intimacies, first contact, rescue, interspecies relationships, trial and error, trust issues, teamwork, found family, complementary strengths and weaknesses, personal growth, and poetic forms in particular.
Among my more relevant series for the main theme:
An Army of One involves education and reading in the Lacuna.
Arts and Crafts America focuses on fine arts and practical crafts, sometimes education. Bookbinding would be a logical craft.
The Bear Tunnels has future books in a past culture.
Daughters of the Apocalypse have to rediscover many historic skills for survival, including earlier methods of sharing knowledge.
Frankenstein's Family has two scientists teaching villagers to be thoughtful instead of stupid, and after a few years, several more people keenly interested in books and education.
Not Quite Kansas started with mishandling a book of spells, and involves trying to learn about a whole new world.
Path of the Paladins includes the Canticle of Thorns and other books.
Peculiar Obligations has Quakers in organized crime. The Religious Society of Friends has been greatly involved in education, including abolitionist and natural science publications.
Polychrome Heroics is largely about people learning things. Threads particularly focused on this include Antimatter and Stalwart Stan, Aquariana, the Big One, Danso and Family, Dr. Infanta, Iron Horses, Officer Pink, Rutledge, and Trichromatic Attachments.
Quixotic Ideas is set in a world with plenty of magic and a positive tone, where people often help each other and solve challenges peacefully. It includes a healthy magical school.
Schrodinger's Heroes save the world from alternate dimensions, and they learn a lot along the way.
Or you can ask for something new.
Linkbacks reveal a verse of any open linkback poem.
If you're interested, mark the date on your calendar, and please hold actual prompts until the "Poetry Fishbowl Open" post next week. (If you're not available that day, or you live in a time zone that makes it hard to reach me, you can leave advance prompts. I am now.) Meanwhile, if you want to help with promotion, please feel free to link back here or repost this on your blog.
( New to the fishbowl? Read all about it! )
Among my more relevant series for the main theme:
An Army of One involves education and reading in the Lacuna.
Arts and Crafts America focuses on fine arts and practical crafts, sometimes education. Bookbinding would be a logical craft.
The Bear Tunnels has future books in a past culture.
Daughters of the Apocalypse have to rediscover many historic skills for survival, including earlier methods of sharing knowledge.
Frankenstein's Family has two scientists teaching villagers to be thoughtful instead of stupid, and after a few years, several more people keenly interested in books and education.
Not Quite Kansas started with mishandling a book of spells, and involves trying to learn about a whole new world.
Path of the Paladins includes the Canticle of Thorns and other books.
Peculiar Obligations has Quakers in organized crime. The Religious Society of Friends has been greatly involved in education, including abolitionist and natural science publications.
Polychrome Heroics is largely about people learning things. Threads particularly focused on this include Antimatter and Stalwart Stan, Aquariana, the Big One, Danso and Family, Dr. Infanta, Iron Horses, Officer Pink, Rutledge, and Trichromatic Attachments.
Quixotic Ideas is set in a world with plenty of magic and a positive tone, where people often help each other and solve challenges peacefully. It includes a healthy magical school.
Schrodinger's Heroes save the world from alternate dimensions, and they learn a lot along the way.
Or you can ask for something new.
Linkbacks reveal a verse of any open linkback poem.
If you're interested, mark the date on your calendar, and please hold actual prompts until the "Poetry Fishbowl Open" post next week. (If you're not available that day, or you live in a time zone that makes it hard to reach me, you can leave advance prompts. I am now.) Meanwhile, if you want to help with promotion, please feel free to link back here or repost this on your blog.
( New to the fishbowl? Read all about it! )
Feathering the Nest
Jul. 29th, 2025 02:45 amysabetwordsmithdialecticdreamer is hosting Feathering the Nest, which always has a theme of "fluff and comfort." The process is simple and familiar: reply to this post with an idea (or more than one), and for each person, I’ll write at least a thousand words (a short scene or a short story, depending upon how much plot creeps in!), send a reading copy to the prompter, and post a short summary as a reply to their comment. Rinse and repeat.
Don't Be a Dick Day
Jul. 29th, 2025 01:14 amysabetwordsmithToday is Don't Be a Dick Day. Pass the word and celebrate with your friends. Here are some more resources...
GG's Op-Ed Articles, Part 1: Trash Talking and Good Sportsmanship in Competitive Video Games
How to Be Polite
RuneScape:Don't be a dick
The Ultimate Game Night: 31 Ideas & How to Host One
Wheaton's Law: Don't be a dick. (video)
WHY SPORTSMANSHIP MATTERS
GG's Op-Ed Articles, Part 1: Trash Talking and Good Sportsmanship in Competitive Video Games
How to Be Polite
RuneScape:Don't be a dick
The Ultimate Game Night: 31 Ideas & How to Host One
Wheaton's Law: Don't be a dick. (video)
WHY SPORTSMANSHIP MATTERS
Activism
Jul. 28th, 2025 08:35 pmysabetwordsmithNonprofit hosts 'ghost trap' rodeo: A fishing tournament for cleaning abandoned fishing gear out of the water
Ghost traps are fishing traps that have been swept away in storms and currents or simply abandoned over time.
Once lost, these rusted traps often pose risks to coral reefs below and passing boats above — all while trapping and killing marine life that die long before they are pulled to the surface.
[---8<---]
“We started in October of 2018 through a grant from NOAA, which enabled us to hold seven tournament-style marine debris events around Tampa Bay,” Holland told the Port Charlotte Sun in mid-July.
“In that first year, our target was 15,000 pounds of marine debris. We ended up collecting 27,000 pounds, and had fabulous numbers of community members coming out to participate,” he said.
( Read more... )
Ghost traps are fishing traps that have been swept away in storms and currents or simply abandoned over time.
Once lost, these rusted traps often pose risks to coral reefs below and passing boats above — all while trapping and killing marine life that die long before they are pulled to the surface.
[---8<---]
“We started in October of 2018 through a grant from NOAA, which enabled us to hold seven tournament-style marine debris events around Tampa Bay,” Holland told the Port Charlotte Sun in mid-July.
“In that first year, our target was 15,000 pounds of marine debris. We ended up collecting 27,000 pounds, and had fabulous numbers of community members coming out to participate,” he said.
( Read more... )