matrixmann | Reading

These are some posts from the later part of last week in case you missed them:
Space Exploration
Climate Change
Birdfeeding
Fossils
Birdfeeding
National Native Plant Month
Social Media Design
Philosophical Questions: Miracles
Follow Friday 4-3-26: Marvel
Today's Adventures
Birdfeeding
History
Review: 12 Rivers
Community Thursdays
Website Updates
Cyberspace Theory
Birdfeeding
Today's Adventures
Flower Fest Bingo Card 4-1-26
Birdfeeding
Earth Month
Books

Linguistics has 46 comments. Philosophical Questions: Pregnancy has 65 comments. Safety has 77 comments.

It rained most of the past week, sometimes with howling wind. :/ Seen at the birdfeeders this week: a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, a male cardinal, a male goldfinch, a male pheasant, a turkey vulture, and a fox squirrel. Red-winged blackbirds have been singing overhead. Leafing out: mayapple, Dutchman's breeches, trillium, yellow trout lily, Solomon's seal, lily of the valley. Currently blooming: daffodils, violets, grape hyacinths, tulips, cherry, anemone, leucojum, yellow violet. Some of the peonies have buds.

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Baby stars 'sneeze' out giant rings of gas during formation

Researchers have found that a baby star in the Taurus constellation, a nearby star-forming region, is surrounded by a warm ring about 93 billion miles across – a structure earlier observations had not revealed.

The discovery recasts the first stages of star growth as a process that can fling magnetic energy into the surrounding cloud, reshaping the gas a young star must live inside.

This is so adorable. :D

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Study shows thawing permafrost releases much more greenhouse gas than expected

The study reveals that thawing permafrost can become 25 to 100 times more permeable, meaning gases can travel through it far more easily than when it’s frozen.

Current Mood: busy

disneydream06

ysabetwordsmith

Today is sunny and cool. It rained again yesterday.

I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 4/5/26 -- I planted a gold curly willow in the savanna.

EDIT 4/5/26 -- I planted a red curly willow in the savanna.

I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, a male cardinal, and a fox squirrel. I also spotted a turkey vulture soaring low over the yard, just above the treetops. :D

The honeybees are to-ing and fro-ing at the bee tree. \o/

EDIT 4/5/26 -- I planted the last of the gold curly willow in the savanna.

EDIT 4/5/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 4/5/26 -- I sowed 'Lovely Lettuce Mesclun Blend' lettuce, 'Choko Baby' pak choi, and 'Thumbelina Baby Ball' carrots in troughs on the new picnic table garden.

EDIT 4/5/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

I am done for the night.

Current Mood: busy

poliphilo

Either everything is sacred or nothing is. That's the Quaker view. And one of the consequences of this is we don't celebrate festivals.

This Easter we're rather rubbing it in by sheduling a business meeting after worship. No-one loves to attend a business meeting. They're necessary (I suppose) but they're rarely fun.

Not celebrating Easter suits me because I don't like being jolly to order and, anyway, I'm not a Christian. All the same, I think it's a little inhuman.

sallymn posting in

1word1day

hypothecate [hahy-poth-i-keyt]

verb:
1 pledge (personal property or a ship) as security for a debt without transferring possession or title
2 to allocate the revenue raised by a tax for a specified purpose

Examples:

The government dismissed calls to redirect existing revenues 'such as from the UK ETS or APD', arguing: "We generally do not hypothecate taxes to particular spending programmes as it can reduce flexibility in spending decisions and lead to a misallocation of resources with reduced value for money for taxpayers." (Ian Taylor, Levy to finance SAF revenue certainty will be passed on to carriers, Travel Weekly, May 2025)

People have always needed money for personal emergencies. If they had no property real or personal to hypothecate, they could borrow on their personal credit only from usurers, who charged 20% and more interest. (Tish Harrison Warren, Business: Loans, TIME, May 1928)

The defendant also undertook to hypothecate a piece of land measuring 5,000 square metres held under parent deed 3413/73, upon finalisation of the relevant paperwork by his legal practitioners, Zuze Law Chambers. (Suspected serial fraudster ordered to pay US$215k debt, The Zimbabwean, October 2024)

She would get Carmen to hypothecate her own interest in this new company, if necessary. (Charles Francis Stocking, Carmen Ariza)

He could buy certificates of city loan for the sinking-fund up to any reasonable amount, hypothecate them where he pleased, and draw his pay from the city without presenting a voucher. (Theodore Dreiser, The Financier)

Origin:
1680s, 'pledge (something) without giving up control of it; pawn; mortgage,' from hypothecat-, past-participle stem of Medieval Latin hypothecare, from Late Latin hypotheca 'a pledge,' from Greek hypothēkē 'a deposit, pledge, mortgage,' from hypo- 'beneath, under' + tithenai 'to put, to place,' from reduplicated form of PIE root dhe- 'to set, put.' (Online Etymology Dictionary)

ysabetwordsmith

Ancient bees found nesting inside fossil bones in rare cave discovery

Ancient bees pulled off a bizarre survival trick—turning fossilized bones in a cave into their own ready-made homes.

Thousands of years ago in a cave on Hispaniola, an unusual chain of events left behind a rare scientific treasure: bees nesting inside fossilized bones. After giant barn owls repeatedly brought prey like hutias into the cave, their remains accumulated in silt-rich chambers—creating a strange underground environment. Later, burrowing bees took advantage of the soft sediment and even reused tiny cavities in fossilized jaws and bones as ready-made nests, coating them with a smooth, waterproof lining.

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Today is cloudy, cool, breezy, and wet. It rained again this morning.

I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 4/4/26 -- I've seen a fox squirrel at the hopper feeder.

EDIT 4/4/26 -- I raked a section of the east path, so that I can sow grass seed later.

EDIT 4/4/26 -- I started sowing grass and clover seed along the east path.

EDIT 4/4/26 -- I finished sowing grass and clover seed along the east path. But the new grass seed is bad, so covered in chemicals that it's blue. >_< Local selection is poor, but we'll have to try to find something different when this runs out.

EDIT 4/4/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 4/4/26 -- I checked the new picnic table garden. Peas, carrots, bok choy, and lettuce are sprouting. I replaced a few peas that didn't show up.

I am done for the night.

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

April 2026 is National Native Plant Month

Please help to spread the word that the month of April is Native Plant Month and plan activities in your community to make a real difference by planting native plants, removing invasive plants, and teaching others about the importance of native plants as a source of food and habitat for wildlife.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

"Why people think I'm weird!"

Hey remember this? "Don't forget to like and subscribe and follow"

I wanted to share some thoughts on the current state of
social media and human connection.

People think I'm weird because I am weird -- that is, I differ in many ways from conventional people, and much of that is obvious very quickly. I was the kid who could read before kindergarten, learned anatomy by dissecting roadkill, talked about violent historical mayhem over the dinner table and didn't care about fashion, famous people, or other mundane trivia. Many of the things I like are rare interests; most common interests bore me. However, I learned to say "If you're normal, I'm glad I'm not" very young and this has remained true. It's the normies who are wrecking the world, not the weirdos.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

disneydream06

Boy Who Was Born Deaf Talks to Disney Character in ASL. What Happens Next Catches His Parents 'Completely Off Guard' (Exclusive)

"It was overwhelming in the best way," mom Callie Foster tells PEOPLE of the moment Jessie from 'Toy Story' used ASL to communicate with her son Luca

By Georgia Slater

https://people.com/boy-deaf-talks-disney-character-asl-parents-caught-off-guard-exclusive-11938137?hid=7f1109a25d2362f31854399df255b82ba78f015e&did=22826013-20260402&utm_source=ppl&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ppl-news_newsletter&utm_content=040226&utm_term=AM&lctg=7f1109a25d2362f31854399df255b82ba78f015e&lr_input=758ad690760192cf49795c3f52223721cac5324e3e862e41c5d4db73a4d43f32&campaign=17532277

computerghost posting in

addme

Name: I'm Nix/Nyx. (Either spelling is fine.) I also use "they/them" by default, but any pronouns are fine and good.

Age: 28.

I mostly post about: my personal life, which often means things that have happened recently or my mental or physical health. Sometimes I'll also post about hobbies and interests. I do want to post about my interests more, but sadly my health can take over my life quite a bit.

My hobbies and interests are: Music (particularly singing and learning bass right now), streaming (particularly VTubing), and playing video games are some of my main hobbies. I also try to read (mostly nonfiction) and want to get into writing again. I really like alt fashion and doing fun makeup, but sadly haven't been dressing up or touching makeup much lately. Oh, and I occasionally delve deep into researching psychology every now and then, so you might see something related to that. It's hard to name more specific interests right now, but I'm currently attempting to watch One Piece up to where I took a break from reading the manga, which is no small task. I've also been playing Arknights: Endfield, old MMORPGs, and Overwatch lately.

I'm looking to meet people who: have similar interests or also live with chronic illness, disability, mental health conditions, and/or are neurodivergent.

My posting schedule tends to be: very sporatic. I tend to use this site very sporatically in general.

When I add people, my dealbreakers are: At the very least, I would only like to add people who lean politically left. No right-wingers or centrists, please. I don't have the brain power to name all of my stances right now, but a few of them people might have problems with are being pro Palestine (and anti genocide in general) and rights for marginalized people in general. We don't have to agree on everything politically if you're comfortable with that. (It really depends on the specific things and the cirumstances.) I guess my main dealbreaker is not being left-leaning. Oh, and I don't want to add anyone under 18. Generally I'd prefer to add people who are 20 and up.

Before adding me, you should know: I post a lot about my life and health, which understandably isn't for everyone. I'm also very shy and often have trouble getting back to DMs or comments. While I try my best to comment, I can't always think of something to say or might be low on energy, so if it's okay with you, I might comment "❤︎" (or something similar) on posts I've read.

Edit: One more thing. I prefer to mutually subscribe before giving full access to my journal!

That's it I think! Thanks for reading. ❤︎

Current Mood: awake

spiralsheep posting in

endings

Asked about his sloppy appearance, Pollard responded simply that he had become engrossed in a 'gorgeous edition of the Arabian Nights' and 'just couldn't find time to undress and go to sleep'.

poliphilo

It was raining, not pelting but drizzling- and there was a cold wind- so the kids shelved their outdoor plans and instead we went to the Towner, which had laid on some fun kiddy activities- and took in some art.

It feels heretical- against my own instincts even- but I can't look at paintings these days without thinking, "Yeah, beautiful- exquisite craftsmanship and all that- but I could go home and in five minutes or less- with a few keystrokes- knock out something very similar, using AI."

What is Art anyway? I don't believe there's ever been a satisfactory answer.

ysabetwordsmith

People have expressed interest in deep topics, so this list focuses on philosophical questions.

What is a miracle that happens every day?

Sunrise. Every morning, massive amounts of free energy fall from the sky. The sun gives everything, and asks for nothing in return.

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith posting in

followfriday

Got any Follow Friday-related posts to share this week? Comment here with the link(s).

Here's the plan: every Friday, let's recommend some people and/or communities to follow on Dreamwidth. That's it. No complicated rules, no "pass this on to 7.328 friends or your cat will die".

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Today's theme is Marvel.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Today we went up to Kankakee to visit with relatives for a mutual birthday.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

pauamma posting in

free_speech

It's that time of the fortnight again. If you have a link related to free speech but no time or energy to write an entry around it, or if you want or need to remain anonymous, this is the entry to do it for the next 2 weeks. Or, if a comment sparks a thought, feel free to jump in and reply or join the conversation.

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matrixmann

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March 2026

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Wartime

"History repeats itself, the war will soon begin"

Reading

Monday Update 4-6-26

Space Exploration

Climate Change

Be Kind.....

Birdfeeding

Happy Easter. Not.

Sunday Word: Hypothecate

Fossils

Birdfeeding

National Native Plant Month

Social Media Design

A Little Good News.....

(Hopefully) Returning to Dreamwidth

(no subject)

What Is Art?

Philosophical Questions: Miracles

Follow Friday 4-3-26

Follow Friday 4-3-26: Marvel

Today's Adventures

Fortnightly links collection entry #238

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March 2026

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