Nostr notes by David Michael Self

After weeks of distrust, the #birds have finally accepted my bird ...

2025-05-06T17:19:40Z

After weeks of distrust, the #birds have finally accepted my bird bath. (Carolina #Wren).

#birds #birdPhotography #birdsOfMastodon

In my back yard, there are very few #birds that can hold an adult ...

2025-03-17T22:22:34Z

In my back yard, there are very few #birds that can hold an adult #cardinal at bay. Six #goldfinches is one of those birds.

(Canon R7, 400mm, f/9.1, cropped)

#birdPhotography #birdsOfMastodon

I would not mind the #Mockingbird eating worms from the Bluebird ...

2025-01-09T19:02:32Z

I would not mind the #Mockingbird eating worms from the Bluebird feeder, but why does he have to *throw* them so hard?

(Canon EOS R7, 400mm, f/8, 1/1000s)

#birds #birdPhotography #birdsOfMastodon

It's a rainy day, and a bit dreary, but I was visited by ...

2024-12-17T20:22:32Z

It's a rainy day, and a bit dreary, but I was visited by several White-Throated #Sparrows.

#birds #birdsOfMastodon

Carolina #Chickadee tries to use a plastic coated wire to break ...

2024-12-16T00:30:51Z

Carolina #Chickadee tries to use a plastic coated wire to break the shell of a sunflower seed that has no shell. Poor guy.

#birds #chickadees

They were fantastic at their peak. I planted them without ...

2024-12-15T22:21:37Z

In reply to nevent1q…87zc
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They were fantastic at their peak. I planted them without realizing that they were African Marigolds. They were easily 5 times bigger than i expected.

Ok, I haven't been on youtube for a couple of days, so if THG ...

2024-12-15T17:56:03Z

In reply to nevent1q…g94f
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Ok, I haven't been on youtube for a couple of days, so if THG or somebody has already covered this, I didn't see it.

Now that a former governor has called for the feds to investigate ...

2024-12-15T17:48:37Z

Now that a former governor has called for the feds to investigate a *constellation* as a dangerous formation of drones, perhaps it is time for some historical reflection.

Washington State 1954: A wave of pitted windshields begins near Seattle, spreads through the city and beyond. Is it caused by H-bombs? flood lights? radio towers? sand fleas? Will President Eisenhower save us from the dreaded "glasspox"?

Read here to learn the (un)surprising answer:

https://www.historylink.org/File/5136

(I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, ...

2024-12-15T16:59:02Z

In reply to nevent1q…dvm6
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(I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, "Isn't that a Canon L-Series macro lens in the background? Why did I use my phone to take the picture?"

I tried the macro lens first, but the photos were grim. They were *too* accurate. It's better to remember the last marigold like this.)

Winter has killed almost everything in my #garden, but here is ...

2024-12-15T16:55:59Z

Winter has killed almost everything in my #garden, but here is the last #marigold. It has been frozen several times, yet still it managed to create this last tiny #flower.

When it wilts, I will return it to the garden. It's unlikely to produce any seeds, but maybe the soil will absorb its determination.

#flowers #marigolds

Is it Christmas yet? No. ...

2024-12-14T05:52:03Z

Is it Christmas yet?

No.

Sooo... the Mystery Drones are aliens now? Did aliens just now ...

2024-12-12T16:59:54Z

Sooo... the Mystery Drones are aliens now?

Did aliens just now invent drones? It's weird how their technology is always approximately the same as our TV shows. Back in the 19th century, "mystery airships" were made of wood, gears, and wires, and they abducted cattle with ropes.

It's like how ghosts have been around for thousands of years, but they didn't invent ectoplasm until the 1890s. What were they doing all this time?

Science at Home (stupid edition): Step 1: Put your #Galileo ...

2024-12-10T19:15:13Z

Science at Home (stupid edition):

Step 1: Put your #Galileo #thermometer in front of your #infrared heater so you can watch all the globes sink to the bottom.

Step 2: Forget that glass is opaque to infrared, then burn yourself trying to pick up the Galileo thermometer, because you've accidentally heated it to medium-well. (145.8 F is 63 C)

Step 3:Remember the Fundamental Rule of Chemistry Lab, "Hot glass is visually indistinguishable from cold glass."

#ScienceAtHome #MadScience

The Carolina #Wren sleeping on my front porch does not appreciate ...

2024-12-08T00:17:58Z

The Carolina #Wren sleeping on my front porch does not appreciate being woken up at the ungodly hour of 6 PM.

#birds #wrens

Hold on... did I just see an emoji in the title of an academic ...

2024-12-04T17:17:04Z

Hold on... did I just see an emoji in the title of an academic paper? Or is this where I was when the acid kicked in?

The Dark-Eyed #Juncos asking me the put the seed on the ground, ...

2024-12-04T16:54:03Z

The Dark-Eyed #Juncos asking me the put the seed on the ground, "where it's SUPPOSED to be". They seem much happier.

(Mastodon made me reduce the quality of this photo. Apparently the full GLORY of Juncos is too much for the fediverse to handle.)

#birds #junco

Unexpected visit from a white-tailed #deer. #wildlife ...

2024-12-03T22:52:59Z

Unexpected visit from a white-tailed #deer.

#wildlife #urbanWildlife

Photo 1: JUNCO! Photo 2: JUNCO-JUNCO! Photo 3: JUNCO-JUNCO-JUNCO! ...

2024-12-03T18:08:24Z

Photo 1: JUNCO!
Photo 2: JUNCO-JUNCO!
Photo 3: JUNCO-JUNCO-JUNCO!
Photo 4: JUUUUNCO!

#birds #junco #juncos #birdsOfMastodon

JUNCO! (Canon R7, 400mm, 1/400s, Southeastern USA) #birds #junco ...

2024-12-03T00:47:43Z

JUNCO!

(Canon R7, 400mm, 1/400s, Southeastern USA)

#birds #junco #birdPhotography

Northern #Mockingbird Photo 1: Hey, get away from there. Those ...

2024-12-01T17:20:46Z

Northern #Mockingbird

Photo 1: Hey, get away from there. Those worms are for the bluebirds, not for you.

Photo 2: "What are YOU going to do about it?"

Photo 3: "Yeah. That's what I thought."

Photo 4: "Later, loser."

#birds #birdsOfMastodon

American #Robin: This is not a particularly rare #bird. In fact, ...

2024-11-30T21:15:56Z

American #Robin: This is not a particularly rare #bird. In fact, it is one of the most common in North America. What is odd is that he sat here for 5 full minutes, and let me get plenty of photos.

Normally they are ground feeding birds, never ever sit still. and won't tolerate my presence for more than a few seconds.

#birds #birdsOfMastodon #birdPhotography

Nostr event nevent1qqs8jnw4whhckexwev68mc33t8n93hhdl2xfd30pmej3q8u37crcueqzyrq6ta5gq9pwfqctteszzanvd8gdvylv99qe4d5099exyrsmnae826kzym6

2024-11-30T18:07:56Z

In reply to nevent1q…s435
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JUNCO!

P.s. American Capitalist Rampage Day is actually an excellent day ...

2024-11-29T17:01:12Z

In reply to nevent1q…92cx
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P.s. American Capitalist Rampage Day is actually an excellent day to go grocery shopping. They're usually restocking and there's NOBODY there.

Today in the USA, it is American Capitalist Rampage Day. I am ...

2024-11-29T16:59:20Z

Today in the USA, it is American Capitalist Rampage Day. I am spending the day here in my bunker, where I believe I am well prepared to not be stabbed, trampled, or bludgeoned with a discount blender.

To all of you outside the walls: May God may mercy on your souls.

I found out why my Eastern #Bluebird has been acting so much ...

2024-11-29T14:27:42Z

I found out why my Eastern #Bluebird has been acting so much differently. There are actually several #bluebirds, each with its own preferences.

(Canon R7 400mm 1/400s, 1/500s, 1/250s, 1/400s)

(Alt-tags incoming...)

#birds #birdsOfMastodon #birdPhotography

Central Arkansas, USA. They are here year round, but they only ...

2024-11-28T21:53:55Z

In reply to nevent1q…xnlv
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Central Arkansas, USA. They are here year round, but they only eat at feeders in the winter and early spring.

Eastern #Bluebird Photo 1: Hey, I'm here. Where are my worms? ...

2024-11-28T17:57:01Z

Eastern #Bluebird

Photo 1: Hey, I'm here. Where are my worms?
Photo 2: Oh, they're over there...
Photo 3: WHAT? DRIED WORMS??!! Are you kidding me?
Photo 4: Fine. I'm going to eat sunflower seeds instead. Also, I hate you.

#birds #bluebirds #birdsOfMastodon

Five #Goldfinches. (Canon R7 400mm 1/640s) #birds #finches ...

2024-11-27T20:22:07Z

Five #Goldfinches.

(Canon R7 400mm 1/640s)

#birds #finches #birdsOfMastodon #birdPhotography

The collective noun for a group of Canadian Satan Birds is a ...

2024-11-15T21:09:13Z

The collective noun for a group of Canadian Satan Birds is a "Legion": A Legion of Canadian Satan Birds.

#birds #waterbirds #geese

The Pumpkin That Lives in a Bucket is a madman! Even though ...

2024-11-13T03:26:50Z

The Pumpkin That Lives in a Bucket is a madman! Even though it's half dead, it is still trying to create a new #pumpkin in November.

Godspeed, little pumpkin plant. Godspeed.

#garden #containerGardening

I get the impression that the #squirrels aren't scared of me ...

2024-11-12T14:06:49Z

I get the impression that the #squirrels aren't scared of me any more.

#squirrel

In fact I used to use a 1980s FD macro lens on my M50. It was a ...

2024-11-12T02:33:00Z

In reply to nevent1q…9r30
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In fact I used to use a 1980s FD macro lens on my M50. It was a bit fiddly, but I got some really good shots that way.

Yes, that's a good point. It is a telescope. I also own an ...

2024-11-12T00:57:24Z

In reply to nevent1q…m7dv
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Yes, that's a good point. It is a telescope.

I also own an M50 and a 250mm lens. I got a lot of good bird pictures with it. I still use it with a macro lens for plants and insects. It's a good camera.

I don't own a telescope, so my #astrophotography ability is ...

2024-11-11T22:55:10Z

I don't own a telescope, so my #astrophotography ability is limited. Nevertheless, I liked this one.

(Canon R7, 400mm, 1/1000s)

#moon

Tufted #Titmouse (Canon R7, 400mm, 1/500s) #bird #birds ...

2024-11-09T23:15:23Z

Tufted #Titmouse

(Canon R7, 400mm, 1/500s)

#bird #birds #BirdPhotogaphy

This Tufted #Titmouse is trying to crack the shell of a peanut ...

2024-11-09T18:28:38Z

This Tufted #Titmouse is trying to crack the shell of a peanut that has no shell. It did this all morning.

#birds #bird

My #bluebird has come back. He spent months knocking on my back ...

2024-11-08T19:20:30Z

My #bluebird has come back.

He spent months knocking on my back door, begging for worms. That was back when he had kids to raise. I haven't seen him since July. He probably found better food in nature, but now that winter is coming, he's back to begging.

It's ok, bluebird, I won't judge you.

#birds #bird #bluebirds

I've got too much dried #basil, so I let the plants go to ...

2024-11-07T20:59:49Z

I've got too much dried #basil, so I let the plants go to seed. The #bees love the #flowers.
(Shooting with the macro lens today.)

#bee #flower #garden

Someone''s been sleeping in my #cactuses, and she's ...

2024-11-03T22:00:51Z

Someone''s been sleeping in my #cactuses, and she's still there!.

#cactus #cacti #squirrel

Yup. That's 1990s OBU culture updated to the modern age. We ...

2024-10-31T14:00:43Z

In reply to nevent1q…en3n
_________________________

Yup. That's 1990s OBU culture updated to the modern age. We had the Jesus license plates, and the fake rock band t-shirts, like "White Sabbath" and "Megalife", and the commercial logos turned into low effort Jesus memes.

I always hated that stuff. I used to call it "microwavable Christianity" (bc individual serving microwave meals had recently become popular). Today I would probably call it "McChristianity".

It cheapens the faith and tends to be smug and victim blaming.

A device that large could easily contain a step-up converter, a ...

2024-10-31T05:14:14Z

In reply to nevent1q…dmyt
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A device that large could easily contain a step-up converter, a large capacitor, and a circuit that dumps the fully charged cap through the data lines.

If you don't own a hardened device tester, I'd at least take it apart, and examine the guts before you plug it in.

Urban #Archaeology part 7: Two new fossils discovered at site BY1 ...

2024-10-17T19:26:06Z

Urban #Archaeology part 7:

Two new fossils discovered at site BY1 near a 1960s Dynasty settlement of the Usa people of North America.

Plate 1: fossilized skeleton of /Orbus wilsonii/, seen here next to a modern living specimen

Plate 2: intact skull of extinct primate /Homo hobocheapginis/, lower jawbone still in place, very rare for this species

#urbanArchaeology

Not a coin, but a roulette wheel. August 18, 1913 in Monte-Carlo, ...

2024-10-17T14:12:47Z

In reply to nevent1q…0h4h
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Not a coin, but a roulette wheel.

August 18, 1913 in Monte-Carlo, a roulette wheel landed on black 26 times in a row, leading to people losing vast sums of money betting on red because they believed it was "due".

This incident led to the Gambler's Fallacy often being called the Monte-Carlo Fallacy.

When I was an undergrad, we once calculated the probability of this event, given that the game was played daily for many years, and I don't remember the answer, but it was much > 0.

This used to be a hangout for the House Finch. I would often see ...

2024-10-17T13:59:30Z

This used to be a hangout for the House Finch. I would often see 7 or more feeding here. Now, it belongs to the Carolina #Chickadees.

#birds #bird

Remember my advice to leave your #hummingbird feeders out as long ...

2024-10-16T16:05:05Z

Remember my advice to leave your #hummingbird feeders out as long as possible? My regular #hummingbirds have long since left, but this rather spherical #bird came by today.

It's a straggler. Probably got stuck in traffic on its way south.

Feeders don't keep hummingbirds from migrating, but they do help the ones left behind.

#birds

Finally, clear evidence that the rogue #woodpecker has accepted ...

2024-10-16T15:55:28Z

In reply to nevent1q…znjy
_________________________

Finally, clear evidence that the rogue #woodpecker has accepted the peace treaty. There has been no pecking on my house for the last 2 days.

Now, I will slowly move this feeder away from the house until the woodpecker learns to eat from the main suet feeders.

#birds #woodpecker

Ok, I was going to do some more of these, finally ending with ...

2024-10-16T03:31:54Z

In reply to nevent1q…sn0d
_________________________

Ok, I was going to do some more of these, finally ending with sharpening my lawnmower, but... I can't make it funny anymore, and I can't find any alcohol worse than the pickle infused moonshine.

I have to confess, at this point, that most of the alcohol was fake. The homemade cherry bounce was real, and the pickle moonshine was also real.

Anyway, happy sharpening. Drink responsibly. Sharpen responsibly. And always... Always, sharpen like a gentleman.

Note to US Fish & Wildlife: I am aware of the Migratory Bird ...

2024-10-15T16:29:23Z

In reply to nevent1q…nsze
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Note to US Fish & Wildlife: I am aware of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and I definitely put this back after I took the picture. I did not keep it. Thank you for your attention.

I just found this. I cannot tell species from one #feather, but ...

2024-10-15T16:19:06Z

In reply to nevent1q…znjy
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I just found this. I cannot tell species from one #feather, but it is consistent with a Downy #Woodpecker, so I am going to assume that the new woodpecker left it as a token to indicate that she has accepted the peace treaty.

At first, I thought the #woodpecker had decided to accept the ...

2024-10-15T15:41:03Z

In reply to nevent1q…luh5
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At first, I thought the #woodpecker had decided to accept the treaty, but the last picture is a different bird altogether. Still, it looks like we are making progress.

Photos 1-3: Downy Woodpecker (not 100% sure due to poor picture quality)
Photo 4: Tufted Titmouse

#birds

Monday Night: (sorry for the delay, but a proper gentleman does ...

2024-10-14T22:49:07Z

In reply to nevent1q…5sf8
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Monday Night: (sorry for the delay, but a proper gentleman does not sharpen blades on the weekend, for he has other activities to persue)

Axes and machetes need only a rough edge, and are best accompanied by Tennessee moonshine infused with pickles. Anything more delicate could not be appreciated.

Shocking News: The #woodpeckers have violated our long standing ...

2024-10-14T14:51:44Z

Shocking News: The #woodpeckers have violated our long standing treaty, whereby I provide them food in exchange for not banging on my house.

I have spoken to the Council of Woodpeckers, and they denied all knowledge (except the Ivory Billed Woodpecker who didn't even bother to show up).

Nevertheless, the culprit has been found, and she show not one glimmer of remorse.

I don't want war, young lady, but I have decades of experience fighting woodpeckers. Ignore this at your peril.

#birds

Ya nevah know when ya might needa cut sumthin.

2024-10-11T02:13:02Z

In reply to nevent1q…22ah
_________________________

Ya nevah know when ya might needa cut sumthin.

Thursday Night: Kitchen Knives You might expect that I had more ...

2024-10-11T01:23:02Z

In reply to nevent1q…cl5p
_________________________

Thursday Night: Kitchen Knives

You might expect that I had more knives than this, but in fact, these are the only ones I use. I've paired them with a rather disappointing brandy*.

My best knives are German, so I thought I'd add a nice kirschwasser, but I couldn't find any, so I substituted this homemade cherry bounce (a favorite drink of George Washington).

(* "what's the matter with it?"
-- "I'd say it's an old fine, indifferently blended, sir, with an overdose of bon-bois").

The only exception is the Jarosz, which I have NEVER sharpened, ...

2024-10-10T03:16:14Z

In reply to nevent1q…9t7s
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The only exception is the Jarosz, which I have NEVER sharpened, because even though I have used it to chop wood, it is still sharp enough to shave with.

The countertop stone is three sided: 600, 320, and a white ...

2024-10-10T03:14:56Z

In reply to nevent1q…8mv7
_________________________

The countertop stone is three sided: 600, 320, and a white ceramic simply labeled as "fine". I usually sharpen my pocket knives up to the white ceramic stone and stop.

The one with the red handle is also just labeled "fine", but I think it's around 600. The folding husky brand stone is 600 and 400. These two I mostly use on axes and chisels, but also for quick touch-ups of pocket knives away from home.

I do have water stones 800 and 1000 that I sometimes use on my kitchen knives.

I have adopted your method, although most of my knives are trash ...

2024-10-10T02:24:56Z

In reply to nevent1q…6rte
_________________________

I have adopted your method, although most of my knives are trash knives, except for the ka-bar (by jarosz), the kershaws, and the victorinox SWAs.

I'm not usually one to criticize another's sharpening ...

2024-10-08T05:58:46Z

In reply to nevent1q…qkz5
_________________________

I'm not usually one to criticize another's sharpening technique, but... while whiskey is correct for the pocket knives, a proper gentleman pairs brandy with the kitchen knives, and gin with the bayonets.

The cutlass can be sharpened on any day of the week, but only with the darkest rum, and never--as the youths are wont to do--with Madeira.

The Bowie knife and the Arkansas Toothpick, however should be paired with nothing more delicate than corn squeezins from a jug marked "XXX".

Chef Ee-Man Kant's Deontoli-Os. "Mmm, mmm, Good in ...

2024-10-07T23:17:12Z

In reply to nevent1q…6pmg
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Chef Ee-Man Kant's Deontoli-Os.
"Mmm, mmm, Good in Themselves." "They're categorically delicious."

From Bentham Bakeries, toaster ready Ulititari-Tarts have 25% of ...

2024-10-07T23:16:34Z

In reply to nevent1q…e9yc
_________________________

From Bentham Bakeries, toaster ready Ulititari-Tarts have 25% of your daily vitamins, minerals, and the Greater Good.
Enjoy several appropriately hedonic flavors, including Strawberry, Blueberry, and new Omelas Crunch (too tasty to walk away from!)
Fun Trolley Problems on the back of each box!

Neccomachean Wafers: Courageous Cocoa, Honest Orange, Kind Kiwi, ...

2024-10-07T23:15:52Z

In reply to nevent1q…7qu5
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Neccomachean Wafers:
Courageous Cocoa, Honest Orange, Kind Kiwi, and Compassionate Coconut. 100% vice free!
(Proudly made in Eudaimonia by Aristotle Confections.)

Gulf Fritillary (/Agraulis vanillae/) on an African #Marigold. ...

2024-10-07T01:34:52Z

Gulf Fritillary (/Agraulis vanillae/) on an African #Marigold.

#butterflies #flowers

[USA politics: State of #Arkansas] Tomorrow, Monday, October 7 is ...

2024-10-07T00:59:52Z

[USA politics: State of #Arkansas]

Tomorrow, Monday, October 7 is the LAST day to register to vote.

Register or check your status here:

https://www.voterview.ar-nova.org/voterview

It did not actually happen. I do have a mild allergy to wasp ...

2024-10-06T05:21:00Z

In reply to nevent1q…9urq
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It did not actually happen.

I do have a mild allergy to wasp stings, but I do not carry an epipen. The doctor says a fistful of benadryl should be enough for now.

Friend, Bee? -- Yes, friend Wasp? Our host is a splendid fellow. ...

2024-10-06T04:21:12Z

In reply to nevent1q…efu3
_________________________

Friend, Bee?

-- Yes, friend Wasp?

Our host is a splendid fellow. Did you know that we wasps show our gratitude by stinging him as much as possible.

-- He likes that?

Oh my, yes. Every time we do it, he shouts in joy, and then he even stings himself.

-- Humans have stings?

He keeps an artificial stinger in his pocket. He calls it an "eepy pin". Then a white party van with flashing red lights comes, and plays a jolly song: "wee-ooo-wee-ooo."

-- What fun! I love that song! So catchy.

Bee: American Bumblebee //Bombus pennsylvanicus// Wasp: ...

2024-10-05T17:04:04Z

In reply to nevent1q…efu3
_________________________

Bee: American Bumblebee //Bombus pennsylvanicus//

Wasp: Gold-marked Thread-waisted Wasp //Eremnophila aureonotata// (i'm not 100% sure on this one)

Good morning, friend #Bee. -- Oh, hello, friend #Wasp. This ...

2024-10-05T16:56:34Z

Good morning, friend #Bee.

-- Oh, hello, friend #Wasp. This #Goldenrod is great, isn't it.

Yes, very fine. David M. Self is a brave and honorable gentleman who should be commended for defying the HOA.

-- I love that guy. The HOA stinks.

Perhaps our benefactor should use this photo to mock them on social media.

-- That's a bit childish, don't you think?

Oh my, yes. I forgot myself. David M. Self is far too mature to do a thing like that.

#bees #wasps #flowers #insects

Warning: Stick men are bulletproof ...

2024-10-04T04:40:33Z

Warning: Stick men are bulletproof

Summer #Tanager (female) visits the bird bath. #birds ...

2024-10-01T23:11:43Z

Summer #Tanager (female) visits the bird bath.

#birds

No matter how late in the season, these #tomato plants keep ...

2024-09-28T16:46:21Z

No matter how late in the season, these #tomato plants keep trying

#tomatoes #garden #gardening

I have one of these as well. She is known for two things: 1. ...

2024-09-25T15:29:28Z

In reply to nevent1q…sgfn
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I have one of these as well. She is known for two things:

1. Digging up my tomato garden, and

2. Choosing incredibly poor hiding places

#wildlife #chipmunks

The #Pumpkin that lives in a bucket has succeeded where all my ...

2024-09-25T15:04:59Z

The #Pumpkin that lives in a bucket has succeeded where all my other #pumpkins have failed. It has created pumpkins.

Normally plants are recycled when they've finished producing, but I have decided to let the Pumpkin in a Bucket live out it's retirement months in the bucket, secure in the knowledge that it has fulfilled it's evolutionary purpose.

Godspeed, Pumpkin in a Bucket!

(Alt tags pending)

#gardening #containerGardening

Pink Easter Lily #Cactus //#Echinopsis oxygona//. Double bloom ...

2024-09-23T13:56:54Z

Pink Easter Lily #Cactus //#Echinopsis oxygona//.

Double bloom this time.

#cacti #flower #flowers #FlowersOfMastodon

Gulf Fritillary aka Passion #Butterfly aka //Dione vanillae// ...

2024-09-22T15:03:38Z

Gulf Fritillary aka Passion #Butterfly aka //Dione vanillae// feeding from a small sunflower.

(No, I did not intend to become a butterfly photographer. It just keeps happening.)

#insects #butterflies #flowers

I gave a sample to a local expert, and he identified it as /G. ...

2024-09-21T20:07:00Z

In reply to nevent1q…fnvh
_________________________

I gave a sample to a local expert, and he identified it as /G. curtisii/. I know there's been some recent taxonomic shuffling and concomitant disagreements in /Ganoderma/, and some authors even have /G. lucidum/ and /G. curtisii/ as synonyms. So I think you got it.

#Butterfly on a #sunflower: This is an American Painted Lady, ...

2024-09-21T16:18:29Z

#Butterfly on a #sunflower: This is an American Painted Lady, /Vanessa virginiensis/.

There are other butterflies in the same genus that share the common name, "Painted Lady", but the key identifying marks for /V. virginiensis/ are two large eyespots on the dorsal side of the wing (circled green in photo 4), and less reliably, a white dot in the orange part of the wing (circled blue in Photo 4).

#insects #flowers #butterflies

#MinCup24 Quartz vs. Rhodochrosite I am a big fan of ...

2024-09-21T12:55:27Z

#MinCup24 Quartz vs. Rhodochrosite

I am a big fan of rhodochrosite, but I am still going to show you this #quartz that I dug up in Arkansas (USA), some time in the late 1970s.

They are all down here in central arkansas fueling up on their ...

2024-09-20T20:19:21Z

In reply to nevent1q…7l50
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They are all down here in central arkansas fueling up on their way south. The last stranglers usually leave arkansas in early november.

(This picture taken 02-Sep).

Thanks. My Botany class didn't teach fungi, because I took it ...

2024-09-20T19:34:04Z

In reply to nevent1q…fnvh
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Thanks.

My Botany class didn't teach fungi, because I took it in the summer. My Plant Physiology class didn't teach fungi at all. Neither did my Plant Ecology or Plants and Human Nutrition classes. And my tomato genetics project was all about tomatoes.

It's become clear, though, that if I'm going to keep pretending to be an expert on stuff-growing-in-the-ground, I'm going to have to actually learn about the *other* stuff growing in the ground.

So this is pretty embarrassing for me. I talk like I'm an ...

2024-09-20T17:25:16Z

In reply to nevent1q…adn7
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So this is pretty embarrassing for me. I talk like I'm an expert in botany, but I'm really not, and I never learned #fungus at all. Even so, confusing a fungus for a plant... maximum shame.

Anyway, these seem to be the fruiting bodies of a fungus that is decomposing a nearby oak tree stump.

#fungi #maximumShame

ID Request: (Central Arkansas, USA) I realize this is a longshot, ...

2024-09-20T16:10:45Z

ID Request: (Central Arkansas, USA)

I realize this is a longshot, but I found these #corms in my front planting bed, and I don't know what they are. Likely landscaping plants, not native. I know that Crocus, Gladiolus, Crocosmia will produce corms, but I have never seen those here (for 27 years).

Any ideas what they are? Or suggestions on how I could grow them to discover what they are? (leaving them in place was not an option)

Thanks.

#plants #flowers #botany #plantID #request

Remember when I disassembled my old tomato planting beds to build ...

2024-09-19T22:35:00Z

Remember when I disassembled my old tomato planting beds to build the new tomato planting beds, and I was worried about the Fence #Lizards who had moved into them?

Today, I found baby lizards in the new planting beds. So it looks like they're doing ok.

#lizard #herps #urbanWildlife

Ok, it's recently been discovered that I am a citizen of the ...

2024-09-19T16:06:00Z

Ok, it's recently been discovered that I am a citizen of the United States of America. I wasn't really trying to hide this, but I guess some people were surprised.

Anyway, I know you're all wondering: Do all us "Americans" own guns? Well, no, but I actually do.

I'm a bit hesitant to show this picture, but for educational purposes, I will.

Most of these are chambered in foam 12 mm. (For those unfamiliar with our wEiRD measurement system, that would be caliber .43)

Fair point. I am not an expert in this subject. I will edit my ...

2024-09-18T17:16:24Z

In reply to nevent1q…ftvd
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Fair point. I am not an expert in this subject. I will edit my comment.

Sorry, I don't know. My father gave it to me 40 years ago. I ...

2024-09-18T17:10:33Z

In reply to nevent1q…v7cn
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Sorry, I don't know. My father gave it to me 40 years ago. I asked him, but he doesn't remember.

Actually, I meant Celsius, as in 2000 C. Even in the United ...

2024-09-18T16:48:09Z

In reply to nevent1q…8dzg
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Actually, I meant Celsius, as in 2000 C. Even in the United States, we do science in metric.

One of my local #squirrels has lost its tail! I promise it's ...

2024-09-18T14:31:56Z

One of my local #squirrels has lost its tail!

I promise it's not from anything I did. This is a very debilitating injury for a squirrel. It will make climbing and jumping much harder.

#squirrels #wildlife #urbanWildlife

Hi, I just re-posted my posts from last year, and I added some ...

2024-09-18T14:21:25Z

In reply to nevent1q…lv3z
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Hi, I just re-posted my posts from last year, and I added some words to make it clear that most cuvettes are not corundum. The ones I used in school were actually *plastic*.

And yeah, for some reason synthetic corundum is always called "industrial sapphire" despite the fact that it's pure Al2O3.

#MinCup24 #Corundum Corundum (as industrial sapphire) is not only ...

2024-09-18T14:11:03Z

In reply to nevent1q…edky
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#MinCup24 #Corundum

Corundum (as industrial sapphire) is not only scratch resistant, heat resistant, and acid proof; It can be a rod, tube, lens, or bearing. The only material that even comes close is diamond, but diamond is too brittle to make tubes.

You can even make tiny square vials called "cuvettes", which allow your sample to be heated to 1000s of degrees for spectral analysis.

(Most cuvettes are made of quartz, glass, or plastic, but for the most extreme tests, only sapphire will do.)

#MinCup24 #corundum I posted this last year, but here it is ...

2024-09-18T14:06:02Z

#MinCup24 #corundum

I posted this last year, but here it is again:

This is a synthetic corundum rod from a hospital laboratory. These are called "industrial sapphire" despite the fact that they are pure Al2O3. Scratch resistant and non-reactive, a sapphire rod only a few cm long can be 2000C at one end and 20 C at the other, so you can test a wide temperature range with just one part.

#Hummingbird fight! Hummingbird combat is vicious, but also ...

2024-09-06T16:39:52Z

#Hummingbird fight!

Hummingbird combat is vicious, but also hilarious. They can't actually hurt one another, so mostly they fight to annoy. Sometimes they charge together like jousters, and you'll hear a little *pft* when they hit, but most of time, they try to get above their opponent so they can bop him on the head.

#bird #birds #hummingbirds

//#Echinopsis//, Pink Easter Lily #Cactus: First bloom of the ...

2024-08-28T12:55:28Z

//#Echinopsis//, Pink Easter Lily #Cactus: First bloom of the year.

#flower #flowers #FlowersOfMastodon #bloomScrolling

The #Pumpkin That Lives in a Bucket has achieved the important ...

2024-08-27T21:18:37Z

The #Pumpkin That Lives in a Bucket has achieved the important milestone of orange-ness.

Meanwhile in the #garden, the #pumpkins are just now blooming.

#gardening #containerGardening

In 1996, when I was still in graduate school, I was teaching at a ...

2024-08-26T15:49:20Z

In 1996, when I was still in graduate school, I was teaching at a community college. The dry erase markers never got replaced. The students got frustrated when the writing became too faint to read.

A student brought me two new dry erase markers. I kept them for myself and taught with them for years.

It is now 2024. I still have those markers, and, 28 years later, they still work.

The labels are completely worn away, so I don't know who made them. Why don't new markers last?

An #okra #flower. These last for only a short time: 6-8 hours at ...

2024-08-21T20:37:29Z

An #okra #flower. These last for only a short time: 6-8 hours at most.

#vegetable #gardening

Previously, I said that the #Pumpkin that Grows in a Bucket had ...

2024-08-21T20:32:41Z

Previously, I said that the #Pumpkin that Grows in a Bucket had achieved #pumpkins. This was a false alarm.

This time, however, I think it has ACTUALLY achieved pumpkins.

#garden #containerGardening

"Wow! That was you? You were great in that movie, and The ...

2024-08-10T04:03:34Z

In reply to nevent1q…5efn
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"Wow! That was you? You were great in that movie, and The Exorcist too-- shame about the sequel."

PARDON ME, WHAT?

"Oh, and when you were Ming the Merciless, and Ernst Stavo Blofeld, and the king in Conan... Hey, what was it like working with Robin Williams in that trippy Vincent Ward movie."

I THINK, PERHAPS--

"Minority Report, Needful Things, Star Wars, Game of Thrones even. I'm a huge fan. Can I get your autograph?"

FORGET IT. I'M JUST GOING TO LEAVE.