2026-08-24T12:02:59Z https://yabu.me Skulls in the Stars https://yabu.me/npub1l0c9fs0uhecd7lcad5pfckeu8jhpyef5pwywz95k47dzq034l8gsfdkzlu https://files.mastodon.social/accounts/avatars/000/264/203/original/ce929e84a5693f27.gif https://files.mastodon.social/accounts/avatars/000/264/203/original/ce929e84a5693f27.gif https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsg0z96925axh07r7jnjdguzndkg2e2suhx7xfrufstvkfnstu0tfszyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuazgjw5q4 Hey let&#39;s do a #FakeBookTitleFriday in honor of JD&#39;s new book coming out!<br/> <img src="https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/341/771/970/809/956/original/76cdaa7d0ee56c64.jpg"> <br/> 2026-04-03T16:42:58Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsx36egh3y6u0z9x8eypp9lea2puk527kdn68se69l7tjafnzmeauszyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuazrdemga A new paper on falling cat science came out and I just have to draw people&#39;s attention to this image<br/> <img src="https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/116/166/417/841/989/310/original/3dfe0db914759dee.png"> <br/> 2026-03-03T17:28:18Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsfejnttr6vvehevprsr63jp23kay3wldpx60ql3f89ga4h778p6xgzyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuazjjv7qf The wild thing about all the public figures who declared they were gonna watch the TP halftime show instead of Bad Bunny is that it is rare for someone to declare that they’re a villain and agree to punish themselves in the same sentence 2026-02-10T14:42:08Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsgrfmztk5evq0040hgzn4gevgv9mya7r59x4q7myvsxlvgu2tr7wgzyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuazs044hc Merry Christmas, all. My view this morning. Visiting family in SC.<br/> <img src="https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/780/641/506/052/480/original/e8ad4fabedea0637.png"> <br/> 2025-12-25T14:20:03Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqs0zrncqhknudc95ngvav0madd5k0ugddnvg5twmzy8qkxed04ff4szyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuazazz36k It&#39;s a day early, but posting my #FakeBookTitleFriday now before I forget to! For once, the blurb for the book was perfect as is and didn&#39;t need to be changed.<br/> <img src="https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/115/386/684/223/306/511/original/1f51c025bcf26302.jpg"> <br/> 2025-10-17T00:32:06Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqs2cnphc7phm0zrsucn2w6xuqjvrvpapvdwjffv6v5vhrepp7kt9yczyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuazdxk7ec I felt like making this, in honor of the new movie.<br/> <img src="https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/832/258/136/210/223/original/f7fd51019d5034fe.png"> <br/> 2025-07-11T02:33:40Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsws7zvd4g5alndkv95qk7gcdu27vqvthwnkkc37f9tj6v6kxfwkrgzyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuazdzpffp Putting together a memorial post for Cookie and found my favorite photo of her. It shows so much about her while showing very little.<br/> <img src="https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/583/280/316/170/072/original/8c9be21403bb5ce3.jpeg"> <br/> 2025-05-28T03:15:18Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqspyy5a8jg2fyjc5a7qe9t9dqn0a3k2yulla7dpqjehrznkxatsldgzyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuazzaqx98 Saying goodbye to my kitty Cookie today. Her seizure disorder finally overcame her. 2025-05-27T14:25:26Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqs9v89vlt54xttvsuj6ayegynrxzev3zhe5demmp56rp5elm0n8maszyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuazjep66v In reply to <a href='/nevent1qqsp6mqtaa8ytqsvl85p82s79sf22aj0ttmc0c7ww8ft6009c05nf6gqhkkdg'>nevent1q…kkdg</a><br/>_________________________<br/><br/>&#34;In accepting this award, I would just like to say: fuck all of you.&#34; 2025-05-01T15:35:43Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsp6mqtaa8ytqsvl85p82s79sf22aj0ttmc0c7ww8ft6009c05nf6gzyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuaz30d8yv am upset that science has &#34;early career scientist&#34; awards but not &#34;jaded and bitter old scientist&#34; awards 2025-05-01T15:35:22Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsd553zmnhhgwa9xcjudmlkrr7g6ewhsf4rg4syd65hskepw5stf4gzyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuazfp47km Got my total internal refraction light guiding demo set up. Demonstrating how light can be guided by a falling stream of water. Repurposed an old cat water dish pump to recycle water so I don’t have to constantly refill.<br/> <img src="https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/114/371/951/521/603/877/original/45a09389760882de.png"> <br/> 2025-04-20T19:31:42Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsgkryy59kaqrqgywyyvl4qmwmy5akg30kze95c95zd7g85kw2dyqqzyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuazep6az2 It only takes two &#34;k&#34;s to spell &#34;kakistocracy,&#34; but somehow the Trump administration manages to fit in a third 2025-03-25T16:25:55Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqszxlgtthrmldrp0tr8zq94dfsl9sywfhe43ntjqh6lntmg6qnq6dqzyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuaz4alv35 Somehow I missed that Peter Weller, aka Robocop, completed his doctorate in Italian Renaissance Art History in 2014, and now has a scholarly book on his PhD subject coming out! <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/leon-battista-alberti-in-exile/CA506C81F7296D3DB63B1EDC7A136E9E">https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/leon-battista-alberti-in-exile/CA506C81F7296D3DB63B1EDC7A136E9E</a> 2025-02-23T03:32:50Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqstcv2fufpplw6sxxvv54lj639s8gml2uum7ag850vrlqnz8qt7naqzyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuazvdpfu3 My Electromagnetic Optics textbook is coming soon! Here&#39;s the link to the IOP Press page, with both hardback and e-book options: <a href="https://store.ioppublishing.org/page/detail/Electromagnetic-Optics/?K=9780750360623">https://store.ioppublishing.org/page/detail/Electromagnetic-Optics/?K=9780750360623</a> 2025-02-12T21:01:05Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqstjh4l984gv3zywz5u72p58rdg9sy5ffhlvrcl8uqe9stdlv69yhszyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuazcshnzd New sci-fi book blogging post: The Andromeda Anthology, by Fred Hoyle and John Elliot! <a href="https://skullsinthestars.com/2025/01/26/the-andromeda-anthology-by-fred-hoyle-and-john-elliot/">https://skullsinthestars.com/2025/01/26/the-andromeda-anthology-by-fred-hoyle-and-john-elliot/</a> 2025-01-26T16:28:01Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqst4c7hyz65a99w95gh9vac7rwp7eypmt03tmy7p9e3t253xmq497gzyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuaznycpmh Been getting new blog subscribers recently, which hasn&#39;t really happened for years. THE TECH BROS HAVE GONE TOO FAR AND THE ERA OF THE BLOG IS BACK UPON US 2025-01-16T01:45:09Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsw3kghl838rp6k48x9dfjtps2v4hfp4lyaz5vxpgtkx4yrsptw5zqzyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuazvvf3hd Every time I hear a techbro talk about how much they&#39;re gonna improve generative AI I think about how well they&#39;ve improved Twitter and Google 2025-01-07T02:27:41Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsgu85sjm5xy3qcg5au6upwj7w2yk948ywfuq3ljdaxxdckfr0f9aqzyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuazgg2lrh In reply to <a href='/nevent1qqsgm446th2um424n07jgw28a2zwuudsnsteqjvvnre4wnp9jxhjn3s2jxpjq'>nevent1q…xpjq</a><br/>_________________________<br/><br/>Nothing comes to mind. 2025-01-06T17:44:11Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsfyvmvc4gvt6xnptg6kflzxw8hx8xf0q3fzgwj4ur2vvgyxe7w4hszyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuazcy300m The Cybertruck is the vehicle of Viking warriors, by which I mean it will give you a fiery sendoff to the afterlife 2025-01-01T19:21:42Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsxna2tp8wh902luaarkjh42pda090a8jf2pmpqyx7frvc9ut2yl3czyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuazdjsnzv Sadly, Mitzi&#39;s cancer seems to have returned. Not sure whether there is any option for treatment right now, but will know more after a biopsy this week. 2024-11-17T04:10:13Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsvl9trvclhh9sauaw894c6a97v0zfklthygvhs9awcwrxuqrjetqszyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuazvhehuv Reminder that Stan Lee was on our side.<br/> <img src="https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/408/869/645/147/108/original/4c2831de4ac5871a.png"> <br/> 2024-11-01T17:27:50Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsp2zchael8uspejqdll72gnwc0ls8gmfpgs2xhclpzytyeuf6m7zszyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuaz3h9edv Random hello from China, everyone! 2024-10-30T02:48:58Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsd6nqlc8jszzj2l7ghcv7ak3w42h3jqjsznc9s8z9gntzyv5q0qugzyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuazpemnp7 Random photo of kitty Cookie I took yesterday.<br/> <img src="https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/296/475/349/764/451/original/2f8861fc7fbbdffe.png"> <br/> 2024-10-12T21:03:58Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsrdgke5etj8geweqqjk3nwea3q8ly552mlmg337mwv6qllszna7xqzyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuaze6p8fr With Marjorie Taylor Greene apparently believing that the government controls the weather, I was reminded of a case where a mob converged on the house of a mirror maker, convinced his big mirror was making it rain excessively... in 1713. <a href="https://skullsinthestars.com/2013/02/15/the-mirror-that-didnt-really-make-it-rain-1713/">https://skullsinthestars.com/2013/02/15/the-mirror-that-didnt-really-make-it-rain-1713/</a> 2024-10-04T19:36:00Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsv69ee9l0kyrluspwnhhh3kw6kue323h93xqtudrdd68r948qzhvczyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuazsgystv Me, to JD Vance: &#34;Son, you fucked up. Big time.&#34;<br/> <img src="https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/116/756/496/994/864/original/9319d9b15a9433df.png"> <br/> 2024-09-11T03:19:08Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqs83fu7z7xzhjtm722xgce9r5gm7fclxch3gashkp3tjhchffsc0lczyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuaz9ls73w Had a crank weigh in on an old blog post I wrote titled &#34;How much does a photon weigh?&#34; and that&#39;s as good an excuse as any to share it again: <a href="https://skullsinthestars.com/2016/10/01/how-much-does-a-photon-weigh/">https://skullsinthestars.com/2016/10/01/how-much-does-a-photon-weigh/</a> 2024-09-07T02:30:11Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqs2fw9e8cjkpu8alzsuf5khtxq3p6aqu9du3zz4klxp8w224qk99mqzyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuazdllu5p In reply to <a href='/nevent1qqsp27yc22ldjdcnwnuglt8dhnlee3nz55kr4yphasjqj8zrduktlxgk74fc3'>nevent1q…4fc3</a><br/>_________________________<br/><br/>In returning to investigate strange activity at the volcano, adventurers find themselves caught in a war between the four false Keraptis factions and a group that represents the true wizard and seeks to bring him back. Along the way, a few characters will probably be infected by a K-imprint.<br/> <img src="https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/069/521/523/139/755/original/f85beb00736a8d60.jpeg"> <br/> 2024-09-02T19:06:47Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsp27yc22ldjdcnwnuglt8dhnlee3nz55kr4yphasjqj8zrduktlxgzyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuazpejt7s In reply to <a href='/nevent1qqsr6kwf9mt7lvnetj3eraapal5jz0z4drmr7kmp5v6yc8lzsffldrqunakpm'>nevent1q…akpm</a><br/>_________________________<br/><br/>These scrolls acts as a KERAPTIS VIRUS, that can infect anyone who unsuspectingly learns from them. And it is tempting to do so, because they act as unique and powerful spell scrolls. As the adventure starts, 20 years after WPM, four beings have been infected and believe themselves Keraptis! 2024-09-02T19:04:19Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsr6kwf9mt7lvnetj3eraapal5jz0z4drmr7kmp5v6yc8lzsffldrqzyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuaz0tcsz3 In reply to <a href='/nevent1qqsvppnd7a3lhx2fkacvt32ud6fcgzmm0972prv4vffg097alrvrmjsa3f6us'>nevent1q…f6us</a><br/>_________________________<br/><br/>... and was using the powerful items as a focus for his magic. But Keraptis himself was trapped exploring other dimensions when the weapons were stolen! However, one of his experiments involved trying to encode his very intellect into magical scrolls... 2024-09-02T19:02:57Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsvppnd7a3lhx2fkacvt32ud6fcgzmm0972prv4vffg097alrvrmjszyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuaz4xexw8 In reply to <a href='/nevent1qqsw3xfsk90ulqunjmq9wp854jy4lnyj3e0ejhe38kse00xxgk7msrsmgnym4'>nevent1q…nym4</a><br/>_________________________<br/><br/>Keraptis remained unseen in the original WPM, and only taunted the characters remotely. He had stolen three powerful magical items, Wave, Whelm and Blackrazor, and the adventurers had to get them back. The new backstory reveals that Keraptis was obsessed with achieving immortality... 2024-09-02T19:01:29Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsw3xfsk90ulqunjmq9wp854jy4lnyj3e0ejhe38kse00xxgk7msrszyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuazl9cx3u In reply to <a href='/nevent1qqs20r2pnv95yclvcy8m7hlf3gkfjqawd44saju3c8v85tzjzy456ss2s6c5d'>nevent1q…6c5d</a><br/>_________________________<br/><br/>He got significant assistance from two significant Greyhawk fans, Erik Mona and Steve Wilson, who worked to make the original WPM make sense and fit into the history of the fantasy world. The result is a conflict that is possibly unique in the history of D&amp;D! 2024-09-02T18:59:47Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqs20r2pnv95yclvcy8m7hlf3gkfjqawd44saju3c8v85tzjzy456sszyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuaz4j5krc In reply to <a href='/nevent1qqsrnhm5sklfgyasseehyja93e3m7ttp59akvmtxd4a2hd9wa4y8xxqcygfcw'>nevent1q…gfcw</a><br/>_________________________<br/><br/>In both Tomb of Horrors and White Plume Mountain, the adventurers directly or indirectly face off against an ancient wizard: Acererak in ToH and Keraptis in WPM. In RttToH, the players fight Acererak directly in the end, so Cordell needed a different angle and conflict for RtWPM... 2024-09-02T18:58:17Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsrnhm5sklfgyasseehyja93e3m7ttp59akvmtxd4a2hd9wa4y8xxqzyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuazrke4vv In reply to <a href='/nevent1qqspe4q5595yh8fntja0cwu70t87j0egcvxhjlqucmru35e7c3snp6gjpkazt'>nevent1q…kazt</a><br/>_________________________<br/><br/>Warning: I&#39;m going to give some significant spoilers for Return to White Plume Mountain, so look away if you don&#39;t want this 25 year-old adventure spoiled! 2024-09-02T18:55:37Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqspe4q5595yh8fntja0cwu70t87j0egcvxhjlqucmru35e7c3snp6gzyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuazjsntzc In reply to <a href='/nevent1qqsvg9lzmsx8v3q6kaq6syvq8d24q6lszcrysuh9kwkprvx93nx23zsls8alq'>nevent1q…8alq</a><br/>_________________________<br/><br/>Return to White Plume Mountain was one of a series of adventures commissioned for the 25th anniversary of D&amp;D in 1999. (They also probably represented an attempt to revive the company&#39;s flagging fortunes.) Another example is Return to the Tomb of Horrors (1998), also by Cordell.<br/> <img src="https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/069/473/894/946/812/original/9ec9bda7e90adb93.jpg"> <br/> 2024-09-02T18:54:29Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsvg9lzmsx8v3q6kaq6syvq8d24q6lszcrysuh9kwkprvx93nx23zszyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuazj9hdfz In reply to <a href='/nevent1qqsp4fnka0nrz3qc44d3cp4h2g8crv046dxmptpenu30z7sr7sykv9g6qs9du'>nevent1q…s9du</a><br/>_________________________<br/><br/>This adventure is a nostalgia-driven callback to the original classic adventure White Plume Mountain, published in 1979 and written by Lawrence Schick. It is the original &#34;funhouse dungeon,&#34; which Schick got published by merging all the most entertaining dungeon ideas he ever had!<br/> <img src="https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/069/463/659/473/338/original/d3e9ea202b0d2239.jpeg"> <br/> 2024-09-02T18:52:03Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsp4fnka0nrz3qc44d3cp4h2g8crv046dxmptpenu30z7sr7sykv9gzyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuazks0d7e Hey, lets do an #OldSchoolDungeonsAndDragons thread, featuring one of the last TSR-era adventures: Return to White Plume Mountain (1999), by Bruce R. Cordell!<br/> <img src="https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/113/069/442/380/730/247/original/6443e8c91669b998.jpeg"> <br/> 2024-09-02T18:46:43Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqszwp2rf8qy66s67xkgsqletjv0ptamutujryrh0swyvxn5g0p2ymczyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuazfxzeuc You know, I wasn&#39;t sure about JD Vance being weird until I saw his campaign bus<br/> <img src="https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/973/956/188/005/443/original/6401c292738f3a91.png"> <br/> 2024-08-16T22:03:42Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqs0keuklgs8kdlmf3p4v3ugvjtjam3we05f9h4mw32hq552cv0pjfszyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuazl8w765 For the next Olympics I am proposing a new exhibition event for Imposter Syndrome and I am proud to represent my country 2024-08-12T13:30:59Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsypxg3zmg3ty0k6nadynhnerte72gds9epjqquj2gvmyn47j8ydyszyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuaz9vjm0n You know what I haven&#39;t done in a while? #FakeBookTitleFriday!<br/> <img src="https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/934/597/908/764/686/original/fc6687dfd70a6846.jpg"> <br/> 2024-08-09T23:13:36Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqsyc3ntux5sz5vyxl6fz6qc7zjvwsh723u27qle8txzk6nr5kt4edgzyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuazwtw9gj In the spirit of Elon Musk, I am suing everyone on Mastodon who is not following me 2024-08-08T01:25:15Z https://yabu.me/nevent1qqs2qwud4qtk69472stvwxl23z9ka5lwdz8dg4m8yjk29m2zk4nzu5szyralq4xpljl8phmlr4ks98zm8s72uyn9xs9c3cgkj6he5gp7xhuazmwwfme “A pizza that is half one ingredient and another half THAT IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT INGREDIENT? I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SOMETHING SO PREPOSTEROUS.” - Republicans ordering delivery 2024-07-31T23:36:44Z