Bryan Wright

I'm the IT manager for the UVa Physics Department. I have a PhD in physics, and used to do research in nuclear physics. I teach introductory programming to undergrads. Also, flies are underrated.

Public Key

npub18p7c0mamknhwsdlt334ndmlawkyet8s5s2w85ahydcxnv8pasyxsa7txpu

NIP-05 Address

catselbow_at_fosstodon.org@mostr.pub

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsrslv8a7amfmhgxl4cc6ekal7htzv4nc2g98r6wmjxurfkrs7czrgpz4mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumt0wd68ytnsw43qzxrhwden5te0wfjkccte9ehx7umhdpjhyefwvdhk6rz3pym

Publishing to

relay.mostr.pub

relay.noswhere.com

Author Public Key

npub18p7c0mamknhwsdlt334ndmlawkyet8s5s2w85ahydcxnv8pasyxsa7txpu

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Last Notes

2024-06-21 11:24:41

A little Condylostylus taking a break from hunting, casually blowing bubbles from both ends. Notice the translucent part of the abdomen. Are those eggs in there?
#fly #flies #FlyFriday #dolichopodidae #diptera #insects #arthropods #photography
https://cdn.fosstodon.org/media_attachments/files/112/654/242/921/131/437/original/fc84181e52754c79.jpg

2024-05-24 11:31:24

A bagworm moth cocoon, now abandoned.
#moths #mothstodon #lepidoptera #insects #photography
https://cdn.fosstodon.org/media_attachments/files/112/495/732/655/470/058/original/05dfbdd4f33585df.jpg

2024-05-05 14:16:43

I love this little bee's hypnotic eyes. What is she thinking?
#bees #hymenoptera #flowers #pollinators #photography
https://cdn.fosstodon.org/media_attachments/files/112/388/867/630/928/725/original/f2eac7932aa1f931.jpg

2024-03-12 11:19:43

Rattlesnake plantain (Goodyera) on the forest floor. These are little orchids with intricately patterned leaves. Like partridge berry, these pop up between the fallen leaves.
#plants #orchids #photography
https://cdn.fosstodon.org/media_attachments/files/112/082/341/846/054/585/original/64018c9e1e39994a.jpg
https://cdn.fosstodon.org/media_attachments/files/112/082/341/854/240/131/original/391799049e048d52.jpg

2023-09-15 11:14:19

Inaturalist tells me that both of these are quadrate snipe flies (Chrysopilus quadratus), but their coloration is very different. Does anyone know why? They both look like males, with their head-encompassing (holoptic) eyes. Is there just this much color variation, or have I mis-identified them?
#fly #flies #FlyFriday #rhagionidae #diptera #insects #arthropods #photography
https://cdn.fosstodon.org/media_attachments/files/111/068/812/059/045/815/original/13ef5a3b65cd56cc.jpg
https://cdn.fosstodon.org/media_attachments/files/111/068/812/446/979/692/original/7226ced02cec1f49.jpg

2023-09-14 15:55:49

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@npub1wj8…s5yh @npub1hx0…0hpe
Hmm. Somehow, I picture the anoles singing Trololo:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oavMtUWDBTM

2023-09-14 10:22:50

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@npub1hx0…0hpe
In my mind I hear Tuvan throat-singing.

2023-09-07 16:43:17

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@npub1hx0…0hpe
Im my case, we had a regrettable tendency to weaponise plant matter. I remember folding sand inside catalpa leaves to make "hand grenades" that could be thrown against a tree trunk, where they'd explode in a cloud of dust.

2023-08-23 10:17:12

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@npub1w7a…egqy
Maybe a whitefly:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitefly

2023-08-15 16:22:08

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@npub1k0f…yhgq
Thanks for the suggestion!

2023-08-15 16:20:00

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@npub1cyp…z0fv
Yes! That's exactly the theme I had in mind.

2023-08-15 14:03:29

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@npub1ztq…r2j6
Many people have suggested that. I'll have to see it someday.

2023-08-15 10:25:39

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@npub19t8…yud8
Ahh, but maybe you didn't have magical abilities until you'd accumulated the life experience and wisdom to use them.

2023-08-15 02:26:50

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@npub1z6r…kt5a
Oooh, good call! I need to re-read that.

2023-08-14 23:40:17

There are lots of books about schools for magical kids: Hogwarts, Camp Half-Blood, Unseen University, Strange Academy, and on and on.
But what about a retirement home for magical grownups? Imagine reaching a ripe old age, children and grandchildren grown and gone, and one day you find a gold-embossed letter in your mailbox:
"Greetings!
You have been selected for residence at the Moonfrost Home for Exceptional Elders."
Somebody write a novel about a magical retirement home. I want to read it.

2023-08-14 17:15:15

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@npub1hx0…0hpe
I was thinking of Brian Aldiss' Hothouse:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hothouse_(novel)

2023-08-14 16:54:41

Building a web from Earth to moon? A spider suspended in a dark void.
#spider #arachnid #arthropods #photography #sunlight
https://cdn.fosstodon.org/media_attachments/files/110/888/893/619/120/641/original/3fd2c0de028ad45f.jpg

2023-08-14 00:19:52

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@npub1kj7…qvw4
"Surprise Ahead."

2023-08-13 10:28:14

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@npub1ks7…eg5u @npub1kvn…hm73
Thanks for this! I just started reading The Land of Little Rain and I'm really enjoying it.

2023-08-09 23:13:40

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@npub1hx0…0hpe
I've tried to become a meteor, but seem to remain a turtle.

2023-08-09 20:42:09

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@npub1hx0…0hpe
Sometimes I just want to shout "WAIT!". Years whiz by like meteors.

2023-08-09 10:31:39

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@npub1hzh…3ezg
If you choose "Irrelevant" do you start getting junk mail addressed to "Irrelevant Valerie Aurora"?

2023-08-06 13:18:11

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@npub1zdp…vqv8
Thanks!

2023-08-06 13:16:48

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@npub1hx0…0hpe
Newly discovered unpublished Oz book: The Clockwork Diptera of Oz.

2023-08-06 11:42:23

A beautiful little Condylostylus: a fearsome jewel.
#fly #flies #dolichopodidae #diptera #insects #arthropods #photography
https://cdn.fosstodon.org/media_attachments/files/110/842/436/761/130/201/original/a6824d51c1c50977.jpg

2023-08-06 11:12:00

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@npub1zdp…vqv8
Do you know which fly species this is?

2023-08-05 21:42:03

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@npub15u0…zzt9
People who are at universities might have free access to this book online through the "sign in through your institution" link on this page:
https://academic.oup.com/california-scholarship-online/book/19562

2023-07-02 20:01:56

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@npub1zdp…vqv8
People who drive for Uber in Vermont?