Wednesday, August 13th, 2025 11:51 pm
Clearly a portmanteau of "side effects / consequences." I like it.
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Wednesday, August 13th, 2025 04:11 pm
Scientists confirm two new species of pika in the Himalayas after 20 years of research
Using data collected from 2003, 2023, and 2024, researchers Pan Xuan and Wang Xuming were able to delineate previously unidentified species as Ochotona galunglaensis and O. legbona.
“Our findings highlight the previously underestimated diversity within Conothoa and contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of pika diversity in the Himalayan region,” Xuan and Xuming observed in their study, which was published in Ecology and Evolution.
Pint-sized pikas, which resemble hamsters in appearance, are not rodents but lagomorphs, meaning that they are closely related to rabbits and hares.
Good news, but hardly a surprise. Pikas are currently alpine species. That means they are easily isolated and thus prone to speciation. Think of mountaintops as islands, in the sense that creatures dwelling there find it difficult or impossible to move from one to another.
Using data collected from 2003, 2023, and 2024, researchers Pan Xuan and Wang Xuming were able to delineate previously unidentified species as Ochotona galunglaensis and O. legbona.
“Our findings highlight the previously underestimated diversity within Conothoa and contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of pika diversity in the Himalayan region,” Xuan and Xuming observed in their study, which was published in Ecology and Evolution.
Pint-sized pikas, which resemble hamsters in appearance, are not rodents but lagomorphs, meaning that they are closely related to rabbits and hares.
Good news, but hardly a surprise. Pikas are currently alpine species. That means they are easily isolated and thus prone to speciation. Think of mountaintops as islands, in the sense that creatures dwelling there find it difficult or impossible to move from one to another.
Wednesday, August 13th, 2025 02:21 pm
Today is mostly sunny, humid, and hot.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.
EDIT 8/12/25 -- I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 8/12/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 8/12/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 8/12/25 -- I potted up 4 asparagus berries from the Charleston Food Forest.
EDIT 8/12/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 8/12/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 8/12/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 8/12/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.
EDIT 8/12/25 -- I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 8/12/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 8/12/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 8/12/25 -- I potted up 4 asparagus berries from the Charleston Food Forest.
EDIT 8/12/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 8/12/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 8/12/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 8/12/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
I am done for the night.
Wednesday, August 13th, 2025 01:13 pm
This poem came out of the August 5, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired and sponsored by ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
janetmiles. It also fills the "As If By Magic" square in my 8-1-25 card for the Crime Classics Bingo fest. This poem belongs to the series Monster House. It falls between "Secondhand Sight" and "Paper, Scissors, Stone" so reading in that order will make more sense.
( Read more... )
janetmiles. It also fills the "As If By Magic" square in my 8-1-25 card for the Crime Classics Bingo fest. This poem belongs to the series Monster House. It falls between "Secondhand Sight" and "Paper, Scissors, Stone" so reading in that order will make more sense.( Read more... )
Wednesday, August 13th, 2025 01:11 pm
Life is full of things which are hard or tedious or otherwise unpleasant that need doing anyhow. They help make the world go 'round, they improve skills, and they boost your sense of self-respect. But doing them still kinda sucks. It's all the more difficult to do those things when nobody appreciates it. Happily, blogging allows us to share our accomplishments and pat each other on the back.
What are some of the hard things you've done recently? What are some hard things you haven't gotten to yet, but need to do? Is there anything your online friends could do to make your hard things a little easier?
What are some of the hard things you've done recently? What are some hard things you haven't gotten to yet, but need to do? Is there anything your online friends could do to make your hard things a little easier?
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Wednesday, August 13th, 2025 08:57 am
we didn’t plan to go to worldcon
like, at all
even though it was fucken here, right downtown
because until a few months ago it was going to be utterly impossible, economically (we’ve only really dug out of a two-year financial crisis just now, just the last month or so)
and also because of the pandemic and how that’s never fully ended (check out how people who study long-term covid do conferences and tell me again it’s over)
and also because I have some ambivalence about it anyway, despite all the work I’ve done on cons including a couple of worldcon bids, a NASFiC, a couple of v-cons, and arguably way, way too many norwescons (because of the way the latter fell out when i was finally done there)
and also because, well, look the fuck around you, fascism everywhere and month to month reanalysis of whether we have to leave the fucking country (and the depression which inevitably falls out from that)
and so on
but it starts today, and we didn’t plan to go because we literally couldn’t
and yeah
i’m pretty sad about that.
i have work today, anna has work today, tomorrow, and friday. sunday’s the last day and probably a half day like they usually are. i guess that leaves saturday for… something? anything? i don’t even know. i was gonna do the tesla takedown protest, like usual. maybe i still will. but after that…
anybody gonna be around?
Posted via Solarbird{y|z|yz}, Collected.
Tuesday, August 12th, 2025 05:58 pm
This is an online magazine that is anti-capitalist and degrowth. It's something you can read when you get disgusted with enshittification and planned obsolescence and all that crap.
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Tuesday, August 12th, 2025 03:03 pm
Today is partly sunny and sweltering.
I fed the birds. I've seen a flock of sparrows and house finches.
EDIT 8/12/25 -- I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 8/12/25 -- I potted up 12 sweet cherry seeds.
EDIT 8/12/25 -- I did some work around the patio.
EDIT 8/12/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 8/12/25 -- I watered some plants on the old and new picnic tables that were wilting, then did the telephone pole garden and a few of the savanna seedlings. I'm annoyed that some plants are wilting so soon after copious watering, because I can't haul that hose around every day, or even every few days. >_<
I've seen a skunk on the patio.
I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a flock of sparrows and house finches.
EDIT 8/12/25 -- I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 8/12/25 -- I potted up 12 sweet cherry seeds.
EDIT 8/12/25 -- I did some work around the patio.
EDIT 8/12/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 8/12/25 -- I watered some plants on the old and new picnic tables that were wilting, then did the telephone pole garden and a few of the savanna seedlings. I'm annoyed that some plants are wilting so soon after copious watering, because I can't haul that hose around every day, or even every few days. >_<
I've seen a skunk on the patio.
I am done for the night.
Tuesday, August 12th, 2025 12:55 pm
I came across this post on Dreamwidth discussing a rant from John Scalzi. I'd like to say a few things about reading and writing. To establish my credentials for the below remarks:
* I have a degree in Rhetoric, that is, writing.
* I'm a professional writer across multiple fields and types of writing.
* I'm a professional editor.
* I have read many tens of thousands of books over the decades. I have inhaled whole libraries. Our house is lined with books; we counted once, it was well over 10,000 then and that was many years ago.
* I am an activist.
( Read more... )
* I have a degree in Rhetoric, that is, writing.
* I'm a professional writer across multiple fields and types of writing.
* I'm a professional editor.
* I have read many tens of thousands of books over the decades. I have inhaled whole libraries. Our house is lined with books; we counted once, it was well over 10,000 then and that was many years ago.
* I am an activist.
( Read more... )
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Monday, August 11th, 2025 04:47 pm
In a new pilot program, this city will give homeless young adults $1,200 in cash every month for two years
According to the Stanford Basic Income Lab, universal basic income is a periodic cash payment that is given to individuals unconditionally, requiring no work requirement or sanctions to access.
And as various nonprofits and cities across the country experiment with basic income programs, most have found that the money received is largely used to pay for the basic essentials many Americans struggle to afford.
A new pilot program in Boston, Massachusetts wants to find out if the same trend applies for a specific demographic: young adults facing homelessness.
( Read more... )
According to the Stanford Basic Income Lab, universal basic income is a periodic cash payment that is given to individuals unconditionally, requiring no work requirement or sanctions to access.
And as various nonprofits and cities across the country experiment with basic income programs, most have found that the money received is largely used to pay for the basic essentials many Americans struggle to afford.
A new pilot program in Boston, Massachusetts wants to find out if the same trend applies for a specific demographic: young adults facing homelessness.
( Read more... )
Monday, August 11th, 2025 03:03 pm
These are some posts from the later part of last week in case you missed them:
Spider Apocalypse
Activism
Fossils
Birdfeeding
Safety
Birdfeeding
Philosophical Questions: Thinking
Safety
Moment of Silence: Jim Lovell
Birdfeeding
Follow Friday 8-8-25: Icons
Today's Adventures
Inventions
Fossils
Birdfeeding
Bigotry
Birdfeeding
Good News
Food has 34 comments. "Philosophical Questions: Looks" has 48 comments. "Incompetence, Sloppy Thinking, and Laziness" has 75 comments. "Not a Destination, But a Process" has 148 comments.
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
summerofthe69 is open! You can see the calendar here and the current themes are Alternate Sexy Parts 69 and Kinky 69.
There are no open epics at present.
The weather has been sweltering agan. Seen at the birdfeeders this week: a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, a mourning dove, a house wren, a male cardinal, and a fox squirrel. Currently blooming: dandelions, pansies, violas, marigolds, petunias, red salvia, wild strawberries, verbena, lantana, sweet alyssum, zinnias, snapdragons, blue lobelia, perennial pinks, 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 and the ball carrots are ripe.
Spider Apocalypse
Activism
Fossils
Birdfeeding
Safety
Birdfeeding
Philosophical Questions: Thinking
Safety
Moment of Silence: Jim Lovell
Birdfeeding
Follow Friday 8-8-25: Icons
Today's Adventures
Inventions
Fossils
Birdfeeding
Bigotry
Birdfeeding
Good News
Food has 34 comments. "Philosophical Questions: Looks" has 48 comments. "Incompetence, Sloppy Thinking, and Laziness" has 75 comments. "Not a Destination, But a Process" has 148 comments.
summerofthe69 is open! You can see the calendar here and the current themes are Alternate Sexy Parts 69 and Kinky 69.There are no open epics at present.
The weather has been sweltering agan. Seen at the birdfeeders this week: a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, a mourning dove, a house wren, a male cardinal, and a fox squirrel. Currently blooming: dandelions, pansies, violas, marigolds, petunias, red salvia, wild strawberries, verbena, lantana, sweet alyssum, zinnias, snapdragons, blue lobelia, perennial pinks, 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 and the ball carrots are ripe.
Monday, August 11th, 2025 02:49 pm
dialecticdreamer is hosting Magpie Monday with a theme of "Change." Leave prompts, get ficlets!Change is an immutable element of the universe.
Today, let’s make change our goal. Call it the theme. Big or small, quiet and subtle or dramatic and incontrovertible, what change do you want to see? In the world? In a story with an unsatisfying moment (or worse, ending)?
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Monday, August 11th, 2025 02:10 pm
Today is mostly sunny, humid, and hot. The sky is blue with fluffy white clouds.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.
EDIT 8/11/25 -- I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 8/11/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 8/11/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 8/11/25 -- We reeled up the garden hose. Yay. Yay.
I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.
EDIT 8/11/25 -- I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 8/11/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 8/11/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 8/11/25 -- We reeled up the garden hose. Yay. Yay.
I am done for the night.
Monday, August 11th, 2025 09:31 am
Holy hell. The Tesla Truck is such a complete fucking sales disaster that he’s getting a corrupt deal with the military to buy them as targets.
I repeat:
Only a couple at first. Still, no doubt it’ll be at full price or some shit. Gotta claw those losses back somehow, right? Try this, see who complains.
Regardless, “OFFICIAL US MILITARY TARGET” stickers for Teslas, y/y?
Also, I may need to make yet another new sign for the Tesla Takedown protests because holy shit xD
Posted via Solarbird{y|z|yz}, Collected.
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Sunday, August 10th, 2025 11:38 pm
This made me laugh.
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Sunday, August 10th, 2025 10:45 pm
This article mentions seeing no grass spiders in a place that typically has them.
Then I realized that I haven't seen any this year either. Usually we have one every couple of feet here, so many it's hard not to step on the webs. They're barely visible most of the time, unless covered in dust or rain or dew. I may simply not have noticed them. But with the ongoing insect apocalypse, it is concerning. I have have seen other spiders spinning webs, though.
What are your spider populations like?
Then I realized that I haven't seen any this year either. Usually we have one every couple of feet here, so many it's hard not to step on the webs. They're barely visible most of the time, unless covered in dust or rain or dew. I may simply not have noticed them. But with the ongoing insect apocalypse, it is concerning. I have have seen other spiders spinning webs, though.
What are your spider populations like?
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Sunday, August 10th, 2025 09:10 pm
How To Make Your City Stronger With 4 Hours and a Shovel
Last month, members of Livable Lynchburg, a Strong Towns Local Conversation group, joined a walk audit alongside city staff, regional planners, and transit officials. At the corner of 12th and Polk, they noticed two stretches of sidewalk that were so overgrown they were nearly impassable.
( Read more... )
Last month, members of Livable Lynchburg, a Strong Towns Local Conversation group, joined a walk audit alongside city staff, regional planners, and transit officials. At the corner of 12th and Polk, they noticed two stretches of sidewalk that were so overgrown they were nearly impassable.
( Read more... )
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Sunday, August 10th, 2025 04:40 pm
Stunning “wonder reptile” discovery rewrites the origins of feathers
An international team of researchers has published a breakthrough study in the journal Nature showing that early reptiles from the Triassic period had unique structures growing from its skin that formed an alternative to feathers.
The newly described Mirasaura grauvogeli from the Middle Triassic had a striking feather-like crest, hinting that complex skin appendages arose far earlier than previously believed. Its bird-like skull, tree-climbing adaptations, and pigment structures linked to feathers deepen the mystery of reptile evolution.
An international team of researchers has published a breakthrough study in the journal Nature showing that early reptiles from the Triassic period had unique structures growing from its skin that formed an alternative to feathers.
The newly described Mirasaura grauvogeli from the Middle Triassic had a striking feather-like crest, hinting that complex skin appendages arose far earlier than previously believed. Its bird-like skull, tree-climbing adaptations, and pigment structures linked to feathers deepen the mystery of reptile evolution.
Sunday, August 10th, 2025 03:16 pm
Today is partly sunny, humid, and hot.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.
EDIT 8/10/25 -- I put out water for the birds. They had drained the small metal birdbath.
EDIT 8/10/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 8/10/25 -- I watered the old picnic table, house yard, and patio plants.
EDIT 8/10/25 -- I watered the new picnic table and septic gardens. I didn't have energy or daylight to pick up the hose, though; I had to turn it off and just leave it out. :/ I'll try to reel it up tomorrow. It's exhausting to maneuver.
I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.
EDIT 8/10/25 -- I put out water for the birds. They had drained the small metal birdbath.
EDIT 8/10/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 8/10/25 -- I watered the old picnic table, house yard, and patio plants.
EDIT 8/10/25 -- I watered the new picnic table and septic gardens. I didn't have energy or daylight to pick up the hose, though; I had to turn it off and just leave it out. :/ I'll try to reel it up tomorrow. It's exhausting to maneuver.
I am done for the night.
Sunday, August 10th, 2025 03:18 am
I stumbled across this today, while researching hormone use on livestock:
Causing trauma to the reproductive tract can induce bleeding, and since blood is toxic to sperm, this may result in reduced conception rates, permanently infertile animals, or animal death.
It makes me wonder if that's a cause undermining conception from rape, which often features internal injuries from microabrasions up to serious tears. If so, an interesting example of self-sabotage.
And then, what about the handful of species where rough sex is normal or even required? A tomcat's barbed penis, for example. Is their sperm different somehow? Or is there some other protective mechanism in play?
Causing trauma to the reproductive tract can induce bleeding, and since blood is toxic to sperm, this may result in reduced conception rates, permanently infertile animals, or animal death.
It makes me wonder if that's a cause undermining conception from rape, which often features internal injuries from microabrasions up to serious tears. If so, an interesting example of self-sabotage.
And then, what about the handful of species where rough sex is normal or even required? A tomcat's barbed penis, for example. Is their sperm different somehow? Or is there some other protective mechanism in play?
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