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Isn't it weird how they never have summer, fall, or winter water?

I was reading this nice little article about venomous snakes. https://snakesarelong.blogspot.com/2013/09/basics-of-snake-fangs.html?m=1

I loved the little side comments in the captions.

For lots more about Sssindy, pick up Better Angels: Tour de Force, only at the Truck Stop at the Center of the Galaxy (and other places fine books are sold.) https://truckstop.waterdragonpublishing.com/product/better-angels-tour-de-force/

"Quiet down, children!" the principal said. "We have a special guest coming to the assembly today."
Two boys in the front row rolled their eyes.
"I'll bet it's that fire safety bear again," one whispered to the other.
Once it was quiet, a teacher opened the door. An enormous pink #snake slithered through.
Screams erupted from the children. "It's Sssindy! It's Sssindy!"
She reared up in front.
"Let'sss talk physssical fitnesss!" she said. "Isss everyone ready for sssome calisssthenicsss?" #wss366

I wonder if anyone noticed the initials of the characters…

"You know… He… He just…"
"You're about to say something really offensive, aren't you?"
"Hey, guys!" Bruce called. He walked up with another young man. "I'd like to you meet my friend, Tony. Is it OK if he comes with us?"
Greg and Larry looked at each and mouthed, "Gay" at one another. (2/2) #wss366

"Do you think Bruce is #gay?" Greg asked.
They were waiting for Bruce to go to a movie together.
"Wow!" Larry said. "Where did that come from?"
"No, seriously. What do you think?"
"Does it matter?"
"No. Not to me," Greg said. "But doesn't he seem gay to you?"
"Like how?" (1/2) #wss366

When countries are at war, there are places where one can express views that are unpopular in the warring country. But, with "peace," authoritarian regimes can bring pressure to bear on other countries to censor unpopular points of view. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/24/world/asia/bangkok-museum-censorship-china.html?unlocked_article_code=1.oU8.Iayy.Z0rG9b-RK6KA&smid=url-share

Latest Cretaceous megaraptorid theropod dinosaur sheds light on megaraptoran evolution and palaeobiology. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-63793-5

It reminds me of that old joke: Would you rather fight one megaraptorid theropod, or 100 microraptorid theropods?

It's hard to get non-blurry photos of Tanuki-chan with her fightin' ball. #DogsOfMastodon

Everyone keeps talking about the #rapture… Didn't it already happen? In Waco? In 1993?

"I really like me!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEylKLWr4_0 Pretzelle, a t-pop group.

The couple stood on a street corner, looking at a map.
"How do you even #pronounce that?" he said, gesturing at the screen.
She moved her mouth, experimentally, trying to sound out the letters.
"I think it needs a vowel," she said.
"It needs more than one!"
"Dsfddysknk?" she said, finally.
"Excuse me," he said to a passerby. "We're trying to go here…" He pointed at the screen.
"Darbyshore." He pointed. "It's that way."
After he walked away, they looked at one another.
"Darbyshore?" #wss366

"I brought you your dinner, Milady," Kasseh said, eyes downcast.
"Kasseh, why…" Cecelia began.
"Ssst!" hissed Kasseh, her eyes flashing through her bangs. Lord Kenderback followed close behind her.
"Your maid, I told, that you would likely be ready to dine this eve' and some light food for you, I directed her to prepare."
"Thank you, Milord," Cecelia said. She looked curiously at Kasseh but her eyes warned her to keep quiet and not ask questions. #wss366 (from *Lady Cecelia's Choice*)

I was puzzled that my calendar said the equinox is tomorrow. Eventually realized that it's because the equinox is a public holiday in Japan and my calendar is subscribed to Japanese holidays. And when the equinox happens, it will already be tomorrow in Japan. The more you know…

A few minutes later, wagons rolled up with the rest of the lager. Revin trotted downstairs and then opened the hatch into the cellar. Porters rolled barrels of beer and crates of supplies down the steep steps. Revin noticed one wagon with burly men unloading a very long crate. After they left, he cut the bands around the crate, and opened it revealing a dozen spears. Colonel Sparks might be a #jerk, Revin thought, but he was good at his job. #wss366 from *Devishire!*

I did learn a lot about composing pictures: getting the horizon level, choosing portrait versus landscape, using the rule of thirds, having the subject face into the middle, positioning the shot so action is moving into the middle, positioning people correctly in the frame, etc, etc, etc.

What really astonished me was to discover how poorly this prepared me for shooting video, which requires not just framing the shot, but thinking through how to capture an entire scene, from beginning to end.

#ScribesAndMakers Do you feel you have a good eye for composing photos?

I got a 35mm SLR back in the day and did a lot of photography as a young man. I dreamed of being a serious photographer until I saw the difference between what I was doing (taking carefully-composed pictures) and a serious photographer (returning to a location year after year to get time-of-year, time-of-day, weather, and everything else utterly perfect, which is what's required to take the award winning picture.)

As I approach retirement, I keep looking at things and thinking, "I'm sure glad I don't have to do *that* as a career anymore." Like sysadmin shit. I dread updating my linux box for fear it will break something and I will have to play sysadmin to make it work again. It's not enough to make me switch to a Mac, but the fear is real.

My wife wanted to see some ponies, so we came to Carr's Cidery. #WesternMass