Nostr notes by IcooIey

So in 5 hours, we’ve had 101 people come in. Have three more ...

2026-10-31T19:11:33Z

In reply to nevent1q…s99c
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So in 5 hours, we’ve had 101 people come in. Have three more hours of early voting today. So far it’s been steady. Have gotten some knitting done and written a letter to a friend. Saw my kids nursery school teacher and our scout master. Colleagues from the university. Turnout overall is slightly higher than normal as a % of those registered voting but this is the first midterm election CT has had early voting (started in 2024) so hard to compare.

Ok! About to go work at the polls today with my youngest. Come on ...

2026-10-31T12:00:00Z

Ok! About to go work at the polls today with my youngest. Come on out and vote! All over the country there are smiling little old ladies ready to help you, and you get a nice sticker as a reward. Sometimes even snacks! It’s Halloween and we’ve got candy. It’s the adult version of trick or treating! Vote: get a treat! Don’t vote: who knows what awful tricks They will have in store next.

Darmok and Jalad at Tamara! In honor of Sir Patrick Steward, ...

2026-10-30T00:27:44Z

Darmok and Jalad at Tamara!

In honor of Sir Patrick Steward, watching a tale of understanding and communication. I remember how much it moved me when I first saw it.

Just walked out to living room to find this still life in ...

2026-10-29T14:15:24Z

Just walked out to living room to find this still life in sunbeam.

#CatsOfMastodon

Just filled up the bird baths and wildlife water dishes again. ...

2026-10-28T20:50:26Z

Just filled up the bird baths and wildlife water dishes again. Can’t recall when it last rained and none forecast with highs into next week pushing 70 °F. In November. Really really wrong.

Sassafras leaves. ...

2026-10-28T16:09:21Z

Sassafras leaves.

OMG. At the bank. Branch manager handling transaction asked what ...

2026-10-21T14:44:47Z

OMG. At the bank. Branch manager handling transaction asked what offspring up to. I said archeology. Then he said he doesn’t believe the Egyptians built the pyramids. Said “I just can’t. I just can’t, I know that’s kind of tin foil hat but…”. I just forced myself to keep a bland smile on my face and not say anything. Do not get into it with the banker who has access to all of our accounts, but oh my God oh my God!! Like, what has education in this country become?? Still not sure he was serious.

Find myself standing on the street looking up with my mouth ...

2026-10-21T11:00:15Z

Find myself standing on the street looking up with my mouth hanging open a lot this week. What a cool weird planet this is.

I see her again in two weeks and she’ll have a short list for ...

2026-10-20T19:21:47Z

In reply to nevent1q…y4kt
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I see her again in two weeks and she’ll have a short list for me that I can then do my own research into, decide, then she’ll facilitate getting an appointment.

Like, what? Where do you hide your cape health care Wonder Woman?

Still a bit stunned. We chatted about a further referral and the ...

2026-10-20T19:21:46Z

In reply to nevent1q…y9ys
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Still a bit stunned. We chatted about a further referral and the therapist said they would look into other providers for me, asked a few questions about my preferences for gender, qualification, how far away, etc. She’ll do the work to sift through potential providers who would be a good fit for my needs, personality, make sure they take my insurance and even push to make sure I’m seen in a short time frame.

are those Ponderosas? Did you put your face to the trunk and ...

2026-10-20T19:05:10Z

In reply to nevent1q…g3yc
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are those Ponderosas? Did you put your face to the trunk and breathe deep?

Nostr event nevent1qqsxqe5z9nh8xrzpzm2ejwceuf82qyxtjn459ce9fgg3f98ksr3vdmczyrmtuh96rz60m644f3t6uh5dgmgn5mtc76uegx6geds8jy98k5vjyyfd0xh

2026-10-20T16:41:26Z

Time to go charm the therapist again. Sigh.

Always interesting to talk to people with ideas that lack some ...

2026-10-20T14:28:59Z

Always interesting to talk to people with ideas that lack some key piece of background knowledge to succeed. Expertise is valuable.

Example, a friend asked me to collect acorns from our oaks because they are so tall and straight, they wanted to strew them about in their woods “for the next generation”. But, I said, our trees are thus because 100 years ago, everything was cut down. These trees grew up together, and weren’t competing for light with an overstory canopy, waiting for a light gap.

My intern has been preparing to present a research project at our ...

2026-10-20T01:50:25Z

My intern has been preparing to present a research project at our organization for three weeks but the (usually very consistent) meeting keeps getting changed to odd times/days. Today at our small meeting he said, “Well, I guess I could change my Dr.’s appointment and attend.”

Both me and my assistant said, “ No! Absolutely not!” At the same time.

He just emailed me at 9:30 pm to thank me for saying that since it was a hard to get appointment.

WTH? Your life is more import than your job.

Reading about heavy voter turnout across the state today on the ...

2026-10-20T01:16:51Z

In reply to nevent1q…qam5
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Reading about heavy voter turnout across the state today on the first day of early voting. Also, first I’ve heard of suspicious powder filled envelopes sent to CT Sec. of State’s office, both CT US Senator’s offices and other state level officials. What is wrong with people?

https://connecticut.news12.com/vote-2026-heavy-turnout-across-ct-on-first-day-of-early-voting

Morning at the pond. ...

2026-10-19T17:53:51Z

Morning at the pond.

Connecticut is fired up.

2026-10-19T15:12:58Z

In reply to nevent1q…m8h6
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Connecticut is fired up.

Stopped in to voting on my way home thinking I’d just get this ...

2026-10-19T14:47:24Z

Stopped in to voting on my way home thinking I’d just get this done quick. There’s a LINE. Out the door, down the hall. On the first day of a two week early voting period. Mid morning. I’ve never seen anything like it. People feeling VERY. Strongly about this election, even where every single democrat on the ballot will make a double digit win in this town and state.

Last of the dahlias. Thanks for the colors this year! ...

2026-10-18T14:26:43Z

Last of the dahlias. Thanks for the colors this year!

#Bloomscrolling

Middle child just got an 800£ water bill from Thames Water for a ...

2026-10-17T16:30:37Z

Middle child just got an 800£ water bill from Thames Water for a flat they’ve lived in for two weeks. 🙄

It’s a mistake (previous tenant hadn’t paid bill since January), but didn’t stop TW from trying to collect, then knocking down bill to 300£ and denying there is an electronic meter in the flat even when they sent a photo of it. Amazing.

Fun fact, the new water main pipe is iron, the old one, the one ...

2026-10-09T11:11:07Z

In reply to nevent1q…frvh
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Fun fact, the new water main pipe is iron, the old one, the one we are no longer on, that cracked and required fixing yesterday, is asbestos transite pipe, a cement mixed with up to 20% asbestos, manufactured and used from the 1940-70’s. US EPA shut down the use of asbestos after the early 1980’s, but the legacy persists in millions* of miles of water pipes throughout the country. And yes, it can crack, degrade and release asbestos into your drinking water which is linked to cancer.
*edit 600K

Got even deeper! They found the leak, the old water main, a ...

2026-10-08T17:25:34Z

In reply to nevent1q…qylj
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Got even deeper! They found the leak, the old water main, a concrete pipe had cracked about six feet down. Likely from all the vibrations. They put a collar on it and are now filling the hole. It only has to hold for about two more weeks till they connect the last seven houses then decommission the old line.

Hole getting bigger wider and deeper. At least they are saving ...

2026-10-08T14:53:29Z

In reply to nevent1q…dpna
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Hole getting bigger wider and deeper. At least they are saving our stones.

Luis, in the hole, is very sick of this project. They’ve ...

2026-10-08T14:03:07Z

In reply to nevent1q…5w5u
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Luis, in the hole, is very sick of this project. They’ve determined the old water main pipe has likely cracked. Spouse thinks from all the jack hammering required to get through the ledge* running through the neighborhood. Old main till in use until they connect the last seven houses to the new system. We are on new main so unaffected.

*local term for the granitic gneiss bedrock that’s exposed or close to surface here.

One digger. Four lookers. ...

2026-10-08T13:48:18Z

In reply to nevent1q…u009
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One digger. Four lookers.

Of course, this means they’ll they’ll be digging up my front ...

2026-10-08T11:47:56Z

In reply to nevent1q…esav
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Of course, this means they’ll they’ll be digging up my front garden again. Yay! Good thing I procrastinated in putting the plants back and now will likely get some more free topsoil. If of course, everything doesn’t freeze before they get to it. Also told us, as we suspected, they won’t be repaving the road until spring. But of course the town has said they would be paving the road for the last three years, so who knows?

Continuation of the water main replacement saga. Spouse went ...

2026-10-08T11:47:55Z

Continuation of the water main replacement saga. Spouse went outside to find water, gushing down our driveway! Appears to be coming from under the sidewalk patch. Because this project has been so delayed, the crew is still working on the other side of the block. They came right over, did a lot of head scratching. The thing is, we still have water and normal water pressure. They think that the old water main, which is still active and still in under the street has broken somehow.

A friend of mine’s church is celebrating its 300th anniversary ...

2026-10-05T09:55:21Z

A friend of mine’s church is celebrating its 300th anniversary and they plan to recreate a “typical Sunday service” from the time. They told me, “All the women will not be allowed to attend because they weren’t then.”
“I’m going to stop you right there- cosplaying historic oppression and misogyny do not have historic value in this context.”
“But the women are into it!”

No. You think this is a good in 2026 America? Just make everyone read The Witch of Blackbird Pond and move on.

This fig from 1995 got too big for our house a few years ago and ...

2026-10-04T18:07:21Z

This fig from 1995 got too big for our house a few years ago and now spends summers on the back patio and winters in the spouse’s lab. Except it’s now too big to fit in any vehicle we have. Giving it a trim later today. A botanist friend said these figs were popular house plants in the 1990’s, but you hardly see them anymore.

Had fun at a community Scout Day our troop put on. Scouts made ...

2026-10-03T23:28:56Z

Had fun at a community Scout Day our troop put on. Scouts made displays, taught fire building and s’more making, made a model campsite and showed how fast and well they can set up a tent. A lovely afternoon to be outside.

Nostr event nevent1qqsfgzckwwk4ld6gspyyw62hxw5fct29dg08x0mshtjep3l5x0lj2fgzyrmtuh96rz60m644f3t6uh5dgmgn5mtc76uegx6geds8jy98k5vjykv984k

2026-10-02T11:28:31Z

#footpathfriday

Finally had a few hours to be in #Area51. It’s gone quite ...

2026-10-01T16:56:36Z

Finally had a few hours to be in #Area51. It’s gone quite feral, but the beauty continues.

#Bloomscrolling

A large moth appeared in our kitchen, circling the overhead ...

2026-09-27T22:46:05Z

A large moth appeared in our kitchen, circling the overhead light. I held up my hand, said “Let’s get you outside!” It circled once, landed in my palm, and I gently closed my hand, brought it to my face, whispered a message to take to the eagles, then let it go outside.

Cape Cod nor’easter report: Rain. Wind, gusty. But not actually ...

2026-09-26T14:03:14Z

Cape Cod nor’easter report: Rain. Wind, gusty. But not actually too cold or too terrible. Excellent knitting with tea weather. Terns, gulls, herons, cormorants, ducks unaffected.

Signed up to be an election official again. Got the youngest to ...

2026-09-25T09:55:42Z

Signed up to be an election official again. Got the youngest to do it too. And one of my Eagle Scouts. Let’s go!

But seriously, that poor guy working in the dark and cold this ...

2026-09-25T00:54:50Z

In reply to nevent1q…57wy
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But seriously, that poor guy working in the dark and cold this late. Bet he was glad I was there to say don’t bother with this one.

Yes, I just had to run outside and stop the contractor for the ...

2026-09-25T00:24:44Z

Yes, I just had to run outside and stop the contractor for the water main project from hydro seeding my garden at 8:20PM. After how many different people did I tell Do Not Spray Grass Seed in my flower bed?

Going to the Cape this weekend for an annual birding weekend but ...

2026-09-23T21:33:16Z

Going to the Cape this weekend for an annual birding weekend but it will be a nor'easter so more Wingspan than looking at fall warblers. Hard to get a read on just how much rain/ wind there will be, but next week will be my week to create content for our work socials so maybe a video with 20 ft waves behind me (from a safe distance) will be a good way to talk about climate change and coastal erosion.

the two youngest scouts were in a canoe together. They’ve been ...

2026-09-20T15:35:22Z

In reply to nevent1q…z934
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the two youngest scouts were in a canoe together. They’ve been friends since infancy but bicker constantly. The adult (with decades of paddling experience) who was teaching them said later “Yeah, that boat had two bow paddlers who both think they are stern paddlers.” But they are getting there!

perfect day on the reservoir for teaching canoeing and kayaking ...

2026-09-19T22:11:39Z

In reply to nevent1q…cpfp
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perfect day on the reservoir for teaching canoeing and kayaking merit badge basic paddling skills.

A really nice paddling and exploring day with the troop. ...

2026-09-19T21:46:43Z

A really nice paddling and exploring day with the troop.

September campouts are the best. Bats high above, cool, but not ...

2026-09-19T09:34:31Z

September campouts are the best. Bats high above, cool, but not cold, guitar by the fire, marshmallows. Tomorrow is paddling instruction and messing around in boats.

I love this time of year. S brought a box of Asian pears, I gave ...

2026-09-18T00:10:12Z

I love this time of year. S brought a box of Asian pears, I gave her 5lb of grapes. A took another 5 lb of grapes, and some broccorabe. D came to pick another 5 lb of grapes and took some chard too. Gave another friend a load of dahlias. Dropped off a kayak at C’s farm and she gave me a watermelon. It’s in the middle of the living room rug - no where to put it. Makes a good footstool. L stopped in the middle of the street to hand me a pumpkin, a zucchini and 2 tomatoes. She’ll pick grapes too.

For those following along, grape jelly making was a success! Six ...

2026-09-17T22:34:14Z

For those following along, grape jelly making was a success! Six jars plus a tester. It jelled! Only got to 218 °F before a cold plate test looked like it was boiled enough. I was hesitant to take it further since friend’s jelly with these grapes went to hard candy (they boiled by time, not temp).
It’s so dense, its almost black. It’s not completely clear either. The twice filtered and settled juice had an almost satiny appearance. But wow! I tense flavor! Calling this a win!

before I went to bed, I took the 3 cups off and put in the ...

2026-09-17T10:42:15Z

In reply to nevent1q…x2xu
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before I went to bed, I took the 3 cups off and put in the refrigerator. I was very surprised the find this AM almost nothing came through overnight. But the bag is full of goopy liquidy stuff. I suspect I didn’t mash it well enough to begin with. I poured a half cup of boiled water in to see what would happen and stirred gently. Got some more liquid through. Then gently scraped the inside of the bag which let through a lot more. This is fascinating

@npub1mmc…suj7 @npub1j47…9cdk The rule is don’t squeeze the ...

2026-09-17T10:28:38Z

Sue Archer (npub1mmc…suj7) Janet (npub1j47…9cdk)

The rule is don’t squeeze the jelly bag. But, is there any reason other than it takes more time/ effort that I can’t squeeze the bag to get out more liquid and then filter the cloudy juice a second time? I’ve let it drip overnight and there is still so much liquid not coming through on this first pass.

Or, should I dump the boiled grape mess in the jelly bag back into the pot and mash and boil more?

I just bought a small bottle of ginger juice (a condiment) and ...

2026-09-16T22:41:44Z

I just bought a small bottle of ginger juice (a condiment) and noticed a 0.10 cent bottle deposit charge at the register. The bottle has no marking that this is a deposit bottle.
Did I spend five minutes politely arguing for my ten cents back? You bet I did. Got it, too.

#VerySmallWins

The lush scent of ripe grapes fills the air as you move closer to ...

2026-09-16T14:01:49Z

The lush scent of ripe grapes fills the air as you move closer to the vine. Intoxicating. Easy to understand how wine was invented, anything to capture this fragrance. Fall is in the air too, filling the cool air with insect sound and the chirps of those birds about to make the long trek south. But the grapes will stay here. A few jars in my pantry of jelly that hold at least a hint of this moment, this fragrance, this gift.

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2026-09-15T11:09:08Z

In reply to nevent1q…dazy
_________________________

Well look at that! A giant swallowtail, Papilio cresphontes, the ...

2026-09-15T10:34:04Z

Well look at that! A giant swallowtail, Papilio cresphontes, the largest butterfly in North America. I’ve never even seen one before and today saw two. One at my house and one out at #Area51 (2+ miles away). A 747 of a butterfly, an albatross. This one has been through the wars and is missing most of its right hind wing and a significant chunk of the left. Still, graceful and very good and finding flowers to feed on.

#insects

Annnddd we are all connected to the new water main! Tada! now ...

2026-09-14T15:27:41Z

In reply to nevent1q…lxl7
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Annnddd we are all connected to the new water main! Tada! now they just need to fix in the six foot deep hole in my garden and repave the sidewalk/ road and we are all set. Then I need to rebuild my garden wall, replace the topsoil and and replant. It will look so much nicer next year!

Luis just rang the door to let me know they will be turning off ...

2026-09-14T15:06:46Z

In reply to nevent1q…2gxe
_________________________

Luis just rang the door to let me know they will be turning off the water for a while and Nick asked about a plant I had in my garden that he really liked. I wrote down what it was and told him three places that I knew had it earlier in the year. Nice to think more pollinator plants will soon be planted in the area!

Today my front garden is being dug up to connect us to the new ...

2026-09-14T12:13:50Z

Today my front garden is being dug up to connect us to the new water main. It’s annoying. But also, fresh safe water right to my house! A water company proactively replacing aging lines before failure! Wild. They offered to replace all my plants that are being dug up. I said no thank you as I have plenty of plants, dug up much myself and potted to put back later and I have better topsoil to put down. Jose the excavator operator was interested in a ground cover I had so potted some for him too.

#area51 in the rain. So many grapes! And the fall greens are ...

2026-09-13T13:47:53Z

#area51 in the rain. So many grapes! And the fall greens are exploding, may be able to get another batch in before frost.

Good news, the kid and friends found a different (so far) rat ...

2026-09-13T11:30:18Z

Good news, the kid and friends found a different (so far) rat free flat and managed to get their money back from the previous rat infested place (saw four rats, including toilet swimming rat in six hours). Now they just need jobs. Anyone in greater London in need of a short term archeologist?

Utterly geeking out over how much I love the Barbican. ...

2026-09-09T19:17:19Z

Utterly geeking out over how much I love the Barbican.

Happy #StarTrekDay! ...

2026-09-08T06:12:38Z

Happy #StarTrekDay!

We’ve had a lot of rain and #Area51 is lush, flower full, but ...

2026-09-03T12:11:55Z

We’ve had a lot of rain and #Area51 is lush, flower full, but sadly weed choked and full of fall greens. Was so stunned at the greens bed forgot to take a picture. Mustard, pac choi, orange chard, kales, lettuce, peas and carrots. Harvested much of the mustard and pac choi and replanted.

#gardening #Bloomscrolling

“The problem is our constitution is designed to protect ...

2026-09-02T16:25:27Z

“The problem is our constitution is designed to protect property, not people. You have to remember when it was written, people WERE property, legally. If we had a human rights centered constitution, this would be a different nation.” - Things I say to interns that leave them a bit stunned.

It’s a long, very dumb story (involving a kid who just guessed ...

2026-09-01T23:49:01Z

It’s a long, very dumb story (involving a kid who just guessed when their graduation ceremony actually occurs then asked their parent to come, the parent who then bought non refundable tickets without verifying the date), but I’m heading to London on Friday for several days with no plans except sitting in a flat working. What are your best ideas for intersting inexpensive things to do outside the standard tourist stuff?

Oh crap! Being considered for (another!) position that I probably ...

2026-09-01T20:37:41Z

Oh crap! Being considered for (another!) position that I probably don’t want but should if I had an iota of ambition (which I don’t). Weird to suddenly be a desired commodity.

Except injured my Achilles tendon in the last hour at the lake ...

2026-08-30T12:40:48Z

In reply to nevent1q…v5ry
_________________________

Except injured my Achilles tendon in the last hour at the lake which swelled up and now I can’t walk.

Spent a few days with an old college friend and their partner at ...

2026-08-30T11:23:45Z

Spent a few days with an old college friend and their partner at a cottage on an island in a northern lake. Utterly delightful. Laughter, deep, thoughtful conversation about books, music, how we move through the world. Great food, fabulous bird watching (fall warblers moving through that none of us could ID, causing more laughter). Giant moon, stars, loon song. Refreshing and restoring.

When your buddy is a botanist with a corpse flower blooming, ...

2026-08-29T20:55:17Z

When your buddy is a botanist with a corpse flower blooming, these are the texts you get!

#Bloomscrolling

Squam Lake, New Hampshire, US ...

2026-08-28T22:09:08Z

Squam Lake, New Hampshire, US

Moon, clouds, lake. ...

2026-08-28T01:26:48Z

Moon, clouds, lake.

Picking up child and cast with the Calder Stegosaurus in Hartford ...

2026-08-26T19:25:02Z

Picking up child and cast with the Calder Stegosaurus in Hartford CT US for a minute.

Last night as I was going to bed, I noticed a small plane ...

2026-08-26T12:27:36Z

Last night as I was going to bed, I noticed a small plane circling overhead. Very annoying. Over and over and over.
Mentioned it to oldest who figured out who it was, where from and likely was an infrared imaging survey for deer. There are so many deer! But, supporting bobcat and coyote populations too. So ok?

Ok! Figured out what the does were on about. Went out to hang out ...

2026-08-24T15:33:38Z

In reply to nevent1q…hm7z
_________________________

Ok! Figured out what the does were on about. Went out to hang out laundry and when I came back in, looked out to see a fawn walking near where I’d been. It must have decided I’d been too close. Watched it cross the back yard farther back from where doe was in AM. Then something else caught my eye. Tracking the fawn stealthily was a big bobcat. Not the one we saw in winter. Very tawny and from a distance I see why they get mistaken for puma. Got ok shots through the window+ screen. This is cool!

Big white tailed deer doe quite upset in the back yard this ...

2026-08-24T12:24:05Z

Big white tailed deer doe quite upset in the back yard this morning. A second doe was about 50 meters away also snorting and upset. But not at me. I scanned the woods but didn’t see anything. Could be coyotes, not sure they’d be alerting on bobcat or fox. Had to walk through the two of them, carefully, putting trees between us, to get to blood draw this morning. This didn’t bother them at all. They had gone when I returned.

Nostr event nevent1qqsz8vl4hjzgj25fctzk8xnnc5q7zqp58tp7d2zjju0y0xsqpxr62xszyrmtuh96rz60m644f3t6uh5dgmgn5mtc76uegx6geds8jy98k5vjy5349dn

2026-08-23T15:05:33Z

It is raining. Again. Very wet. Very green. Un-August.

Virtually no beans this year, very few squash and no peas. But ...

2026-08-22T16:39:24Z

Virtually no beans this year, very few squash and no peas. But what the hell am I going to do with 10,000 pounds of grapes?!

I let the edges go at #Area51 if something interesting comes up. ...

2026-08-22T16:28:24Z

I let the edges go at #Area51 if something interesting comes up. Glad I left this jewelweed, had no idea Rudy throated humming birds would feed from it.

I wake up to this. #caturday ...

2026-08-22T09:47:25Z

I wake up to this.

#caturday

Nostr event nevent1qqs8zx9znh7f5er0shwd34tuuw50jfrzaf5jujwlpxdpjzqng6keh7szyrmtuh96rz60m644f3t6uh5dgmgn5mtc76uegx6geds8jy98k5vjyr7g7um

2026-08-20T14:23:49Z

RE: https://flipboard.com/@naturenewsteam/latest-science-news-d3hg9j0hz/-/a-McoWrmkuTUaBCpwwbetaJQ%3Aa%3A166866041-%2F0

“Ozone forms when volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by some vegetation, vehicles and chemical industries react with nitrogen oxides (NOx), which are emitted mostly by traffic and industry.”

So how about getting rid traffic and industry instead of getting rid of trees??
🌳🌲🌳
nostr:note18aj0ff7f30jvplqmnmz638cld7pwtfwwuf8wcauas4jedhtjfpmqu5rnxg

Slime molds and flowers and fungus. ...

2026-08-18T15:37:15Z

Slime molds and flowers and fungus.

#catsofmastodon #caturday ...

2026-08-15T21:44:20Z

#catsofmastodon #caturday

There is a peregrine falcon nest on the chemistry building at the ...

2026-08-12T19:26:51Z

There is a peregrine falcon nest on the chemistry building at the UConn campus and they are fairly easy to find here about if you look, but I’d never spotted them until the other day when we were out on a walk in the dusk and a loud pair landed on these tiny ledges on the side of a building on campus.

My poor mailman came by and I excitedly said, “Quick! Put on ...

2026-08-12T17:51:44Z

In reply to nevent1q…0pzs
_________________________

My poor mailman came by and I excitedly said,
“Quick! Put on these glasses and look at the sun!”
“At the SUN?!”
“Yes! YES! It’s a partial eclipse!!”
“WOW! How did you know that was happening!”

I told him I follow astronomers and scientists and weather people and lots of Europeans and... He could not wrap his head around this being a Known Thing That People Knew About. Actually, not sure he got it that it’s predictable in advance and has been for 1000’s of years!

Just glad I got to share it!

A poor iPhone photo of a partial solar eclipse 12 Aug. 2026. ...

2026-08-12T17:40:28Z

In reply to nevent1q…8tv9
_________________________

A poor iPhone photo of a partial solar eclipse 12 Aug. 2026.

So super weird!

2026-08-12T17:36:36Z

In reply to nevent1q…zjxx
_________________________

So super weird!

Eclipse happening! We’ve only got 13% here, but it’s enough ...

2026-08-12T17:32:51Z

Eclipse happening! We’ve only got 13% here, but it’s enough to see a divot out of the top of the sun! With eclipse safe glasses of course from 2024.

In the town of Shelborne Falls MA, there is a dam on the ...

2026-08-10T18:32:22Z

In the town of Shelborne Falls MA, there is a dam on the Deerfield River. Above the dam, is a long still pooled part of the river, see earlier post about the bridge of flowers. But! Just below the dam, where the river had a steep drop and falls, is a now exposed part of the riverbed where you can see where the swirling currents and rocks of different hardness combined with time to create potholes in the rocky riverbed: circular depressions where a swirling harder rock wore away the softer bed.

Nostr event nevent1qqsgssyc93k6c8f4nx2fw708mhfdwsdsq5p7r5dhvaff3yug90flglczyrmtuh96rz60m644f3t6uh5dgmgn5mtc76uegx6geds8jy98k5vjykd0f2j

2026-08-09T14:12:59Z

#silentsunday

We have rafted to celebrate our anniversary. ...

2026-08-08T22:40:18Z

We have rafted to celebrate our anniversary.

I do love my CT Library Association t-shirt. ...

2026-08-07T19:01:30Z

I do love my CT Library Association t-shirt.

Wut? This is the second emergency alert we’ve gotten, the first ...

2026-08-07T16:21:20Z

Wut?

This is the second emergency alert we’ve gotten, the first saying the building will be closed and anyone who works there should not report in to work today.

Somewhere, there’s a post doc in deep shit.

For the last three years, my youngest has worked at a Scout camp ...

2026-08-06T23:37:19Z

For the last three years, my youngest has worked at a Scout camp and each year, this week, has had a strange accident and needed to go to urgent care. In 2024, while dismantling a portable axe yard, she dropped a wall on her foot and was in a boot for two weeks. In 2025, a 200 lb kayak instructor stepped on her head in the dark while they were hiding in the woods resulting in a concussion.

This week, she had a bad fall and her leg (no bruising where it ...

2026-08-06T23:37:19Z

In reply to nevent1q…9p44
_________________________

This week, she had a bad fall and her leg (no bruising where it hurts, but lots elsewhere) has gotten increasingly painful for the last few days, now limping. The camp nurse suspects a hairline fracture or possibly blood clotting and I get to take her to the ER, but not till 9. She’s the camp store manager and she won’t leave until after the store closes and she counts out the register. 🙄

Just sitting here before dinner watching the deer graze in the ...

2026-08-06T21:29:22Z

Just sitting here before dinner watching the deer graze in the salad that is our yard. This might be the pair that were near the woodpile earlier when I was repotting plants but not the three crossing the road when I left this morning. We have a lot of deer right now hanging out.

RE: https://mamot.fr/@pluralistic/117048015415336821 I’ve ...

2026-08-06T10:46:17Z

RE: https://mamot.fr/@pluralistic/117048015415336821

I’ve caught a lot of flack from folks for ditching FB, Insta, etc., “You don’t care enough about us to be connected on FB ?!”

The exact opposite, friend, the exact opposite.

quoting
note1vj5…v8y3

I'm sure that working in social media - dealing with people as mass statistical abstractions - is a cognitohazard, the sort of thing that could make anyone a little solipsistic, convinced that everyone else is a kind of stimulus-responding automaton lacking the interiority that you yourself experience.

-

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this thread to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2026/08/06/sin-is-when/#you-treat-people-as-things

1/

Found out today our kids friend’s are low key obsessed that we, ...

2026-08-05T15:02:24Z

Found out today our kids friend’s are low key obsessed that we, the parents, are in bed asleep every night by 9 pm.

Working at the polls for the state primary. ...

2026-08-04T20:27:44Z

Working at the polls for the state primary.

Rescued a dragonfly today that I found upside down in a wet ...

2026-08-04T16:57:26Z

Rescued a dragonfly today that I found upside down in a wet flower pot beside the shed in the shade. I think it got knocked down in the rain yesterday. Held it in the sun for a while it dried out, warmed up, tested the wings, wiped the headlights and off it went!

Holy crow! We just watch a coyote run through our yard! 27 years ...

2026-08-04T13:09:29Z

Holy crow! We just watch a coyote run through our yard! 27 years here and never seen one in our neighborhood, though there a several packs around.

very fungusy out there. Also these cool purple jobs and the one ...

2026-08-04T12:57:18Z

In reply to nevent1q…5ks0
_________________________

very fungusy out there. Also these cool purple jobs and the one that looks like a pancake.

on our morning walk today! Just returned. Yes we seem to be ...

2026-08-04T12:52:08Z

In reply to nevent1q…nhc2
_________________________

on our morning walk today! Just returned. Yes we seem to be quantum entangled somehow!

For Val, sans slug @npub1tpt…kvpg ...

2026-08-04T11:45:58Z

For Val, sans slug dillyd (npub1tpt…kvpg)

Wish I’d read this earlier! I’ve not had much success with ...

2026-08-02T12:38:23Z

In reply to nevent1q…ttcf
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Wish I’d read this earlier! I’ve not had much success with onions but this year they are amazing. For timing management reasons, decided to pull them this morning. Maybe should have waited a week. Still, fairly pleased and learned a lot.

There is one nice riffle that’s filled with freshwater sponges! ...

2026-08-01T20:37:44Z

In reply to nevent1q…8wus
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There is one nice riffle that’s filled with freshwater sponges! This is the only place they are found on the few miles of river we regularly paddle. This isn’t a great way to see them (they are the bright neon green patches), but it’s kind of nice with sound up.