Poem: "Creativity, Ingenuity, Compassion, and Perseverance"
Dec. 20th, 2025 08:30 pmThis poem came out of the December 3, 2024 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by a prompt from
mama_kestrel. It also fills the "Window" square in my 11-1-24 card for the Sleepytime Bear fest. This poem has been sponsored by a pool with
fuzzyred. It belongs to the series Arts and Crafts America.
( Read more... )
( Read more... )
Space Exploration
Dec. 20th, 2025 08:23 pmAstronomers Find the First Compelling Evidence of "Monster Stars" in the Early Universe
Using the James Webb Space Telescope, a team of international researchers has discovered chemical fingerprints of gigantic primordial stars that were among the first to form after the Big Bang.
Using the James Webb Space Telescope, a team of international researchers has discovered chemical fingerprints of gigantic primordial stars that were among the first to form after the Big Bang.
Birdfeeding
Dec. 20th, 2025 11:53 amToday is mostly sunny and cool.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches, mostly on the suet feeder.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 12/20/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 12/20/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 12/20/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 12/20/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches, mostly on the suet feeder.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 12/20/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 12/20/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 12/20/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 12/20/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
Philosophical Questions:
Dec. 20th, 2025 01:15 amPeople have expressed interest in deep topics, so this list focuses on philosophical questions.
What would happen to a society in which no one had to work, and everyone was provided enough food/water/shelter/healthcare for free?
( Read more... )
What would happen to a society in which no one had to work, and everyone was provided enough food/water/shelter/healthcare for free?
( Read more... )
Poem: "The Community Couch"
Dec. 19th, 2025 10:25 pmThis poem came out of the April 1, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by prompts from
siliconshaman,
wyld_dandelyon, and
mama_kestrel. It also fills the "Bookstore Girl" square in my 4-1-25 card for the Aesthetics Bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by a pool with
fuzzyred. It belongs to the series Arts and Crafts America.
( Read more... )
( Read more... )
Climate Change
Dec. 19th, 2025 09:47 pmA stunning new forecast shows when thousands of glaciers will vanish
New research reveals when glaciers around the world will vanish and why every fraction of a degree of warming could decide their fate.
New research reveals when glaciers around the world will vanish and why every fraction of a degree of warming could decide their fate.
Poetry Fishbowl Report for December 2, 2025
Dec. 19th, 2025 09:36 pmOur theme this month was "Sentient and Self-Aware Machines." I wrote from 1 PM to 3:45 AM, so about 14 hours 45 minutes, accounting for breaks. I wrote 3 poems on Tuesday plus 2 later in the week.
Participation was down slightly, with 7 comments on LiveJournal and another 36 on Dreamwidth. A total of 9 people sent prompts. You have new donor
gs_silva to thank for the second freebie.
Read Some Poetry!
The following poems from the December 2, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl have been posted:
"Never -- Ever -- Quit"
"Protect the Inner Core"
"User Interfaces"
"Mamalokshen" (1-9-23, outside fishbowl)
Buy some poetry!
If you plan to sponsor some poetry but haven't made up your mind yet, see the unsold poetry list from December 2. That includes the title, length, price, and the original thumbnail description for the poems still available.
This month's donors include:
janetmiles,
gs_silva, and
fuzzyred. All sponsored poems from this fishbowl have been posted. There are 2 tallies toward a bonus fishbowl.
The Poetry Fishbowl has a landing page.
Participation was down slightly, with 7 comments on LiveJournal and another 36 on Dreamwidth. A total of 9 people sent prompts. You have new donor
Read Some Poetry!
The following poems from the December 2, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl have been posted:
"Never -- Ever -- Quit"
"Protect the Inner Core"
"User Interfaces"
"Mamalokshen" (1-9-23, outside fishbowl)
Buy some poetry!
If you plan to sponsor some poetry but haven't made up your mind yet, see the unsold poetry list from December 2. That includes the title, length, price, and the original thumbnail description for the poems still available.
This month's donors include:
The Poetry Fishbowl has a landing page.
Poem: "Mamalokshen"
Dec. 19th, 2025 09:11 pmThis is the freebie for the December Poetry Fishbowl reaching its $150 goal. It was inspired by a prompt from
jadelennox. It also fills the "Ancestors" square in my 10-1-22 card for the Fall Festival Bingo.
( Read more... )
( Read more... )
Unsold Poems for the December 2, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl
Dec. 19th, 2025 07:53 pmThe following poems from the December 2, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl are currently available. Poems may be sponsored via PayPal -- there's a permanent donation button on my Dreamwidth profile page -- or you can write to me and discuss other methods. There are still verses left in the linkback poems "Delight in Another," "A Sense of Weather Changes," "Ouroboros Insects," "The Loving Embrace of Night," "Generations of Cooks Past," "Homefree and Clear, " "One Bite at a Time," "Stars and Diamonds," "Mishpocha," "Changing Your Nature," and "Besa."
( Read more... )
( Read more... )
Crafts
Dec. 19th, 2025 07:51 pmToday I remade the holiday potpourri bowl. It needs to be redone every other year or so, because the potpourri and lights wear out. This year I couldn't find any damn potpourri so I wound up deconstructing a cinnamon-scented pinecone.
Pool Update
Dec. 19th, 2025 07:36 pmThe Holiday Poetry Sale itself is still open through the end of Friday.
EDIT 12/19/25 -- Below is the list of poems sponsored by the pool. I will post them as I have time. Links will appear in the sale page.
( Read more... )
Safety
Dec. 19th, 2025 07:18 pmThe western U.S. Tried to stop wildfires and it backfired
After a century of stopping fires, much of the West is now dangerously overdue for them.
Much of the western U.S. is overdue for wildfire, with decades of suppression allowing fuel to build up across millions of hectares. Researchers estimate that 74% of the region is in a fire deficit, meaning far more land needs to burn to restore healthy forest conditions. Catching up would require an unprecedented amount of controlled and managed fire.
I told you so.
( Read more... )
After a century of stopping fires, much of the West is now dangerously overdue for them.
Much of the western U.S. is overdue for wildfire, with decades of suppression allowing fuel to build up across millions of hectares. Researchers estimate that 74% of the region is in a fire deficit, meaning far more land needs to burn to restore healthy forest conditions. Catching up would require an unprecedented amount of controlled and managed fire.
I told you so.
( Read more... )
Today's Cooking
Dec. 19th, 2025 07:15 pmToday I made crockpot shrimp boil with potatoes, onion, baby corncobs, and shrimp. It was okay but not exciting. The Old Bay seasoning was more heat than flavor, so I used a little of that then added a bay leaf, oregano, and thyme. An interesting experiment but not worth repeating.
Wildlife
Dec. 19th, 2025 03:21 pmAncient oceans were ruled by super predators unlike anything today
Long before whales and sharks, enormous marine reptiles dominated the oceans with unmatched power. Scientists have reconstructed a 130-million-year-old marine ecosystem from Colombia and found predators operating at a food-chain level higher than any seen today. The ancient seas were bursting with life, from giant reptiles to rich invertebrate communities. This extreme complexity reveals how intense competition helped drive the evolution of modern marine ecosystems. Interestingly, a warm climate with high, shallow seas is exactly where Earth is headed via climate change. After the Anthropocene extinction, many niches will lie open, waiting for new species to claim them.
Long before whales and sharks, enormous marine reptiles dominated the oceans with unmatched power. Scientists have reconstructed a 130-million-year-old marine ecosystem from Colombia and found predators operating at a food-chain level higher than any seen today. The ancient seas were bursting with life, from giant reptiles to rich invertebrate communities. This extreme complexity reveals how intense competition helped drive the evolution of modern marine ecosystems. Interestingly, a warm climate with high, shallow seas is exactly where Earth is headed via climate change. After the Anthropocene extinction, many niches will lie open, waiting for new species to claim them.
Birdfeeding
Dec. 19th, 2025 03:19 pmToday is mostly sunny and chilly. It rained off and on all yesterday but has stopped now.
I fed the birds. I've seen a large mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 12/19/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 12/19/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 12/19/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
I carried 4 logs from the driveway pile to the patio rack.
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a large mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 12/19/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 12/19/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 12/19/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
I carried 4 logs from the driveway pile to the patio rack.
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
Follow Friday 12-19-25: Languages and Linguistics
Dec. 19th, 2025 03:33 amToday's theme is Languages and Linguistics. There are many posts on Dreamwidth in different languages, but it doesn't have a sort function for them, and communities rarely list it in their Interests. If you know any more communities or bloggers relevant to this topic, please share them in a comment.
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( Read more... )