The Door 025
Jul. 6th, 2025 10:00 pm![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
gaia_feed[SPOILER] Click here to see my commentary for this page!
My comment for this page from Gaia: sic mundus creatus est:The sound you just heard was the piercing scream of the director of Heyselfall’s National Museum.
Geology
Jul. 6th, 2025 04:15 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithDefying physics: This rare crystal cools itself using pure magnetism
Research team identifies atacamite as a magnetocaloric material.
Deep in Chile’s Atacama Desert, scientists studied a green crystal called atacamite—and discovered it can cool itself dramatically when placed in a magnetic field. Unlike a regular fridge, this effect doesn’t rely on gases or compressors. Instead, it’s tied to the crystal’s unusual inner structure, where tiny magnetic forces get tangled in a kind of “frustration.” When those tangled forces are disrupted by magnetism, the crystal suddenly drops in temperature. It’s a strange, natural trick that could someday help us build greener, more efficient ways to cool things.
Research team identifies atacamite as a magnetocaloric material.
Deep in Chile’s Atacama Desert, scientists studied a green crystal called atacamite—and discovered it can cool itself dramatically when placed in a magnetic field. Unlike a regular fridge, this effect doesn’t rely on gases or compressors. Instead, it’s tied to the crystal’s unusual inner structure, where tiny magnetic forces get tangled in a kind of “frustration.” When those tangled forces are disrupted by magnetism, the crystal suddenly drops in temperature. It’s a strange, natural trick that could someday help us build greener, more efficient ways to cool things.
Birdfeeding
Jul. 6th, 2025 02:06 pmysabetwordsmithToday is mostly cloudy and sweltering.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds. Bees are visiting the small metal birdbath again.
EDIT 7/6/25 -- It's raining, so I won't have to water anything today. :D
.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds. Bees are visiting the small metal birdbath again.
EDIT 7/6/25 -- It's raining, so I won't have to water anything today. :D
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Oh, I like this word!
Jul. 8th, 2025 07:54 amconulyEirenicon: A proposal to resolve disputes and reconcile differences in order to advance peace, strengthen or establish unity, or foster solidarity.
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Done Since 2025-06-29
Jul. 6th, 2025 02:51 pmmdlbearIt doesn't feel like a very productive week, but I have gotten a few things done. Five (short) walks, four (short) guitar practice sessions, some patio furniture assembled (one Adirondack chair fully assembled, the other partly assembled, table unboxed).
The Adirondak chairs each have a curved, removable leg-rest. It's not exactly an ottoman, so I've decided it needs to be called a nottaman -- hence this post's music.
The weather has gone from unpleasantly hot to pleasantly cool (with a reverse or two) over the course of the week; we are now enjoying a light rain. Or at least I am -- I'm the one who sits closest to the sliding door in the living room. It opens to half the width of the house, and fortunately has a screen behind it. Because cats.
Between ADT and anemia, my body's temperature sensing has become very wonky; I feel like I'm freezing at temperatures that the rest of the household thinks are too hot, but if I put on something warm I quickly become overheated. It is not conducive to sleeping well. I don't so much mind having the cats wake me in the middle of the night, because my bladder is also wonky, but it would be nice to be able to get to (or back to) sleep in a reasonable amount of time. On the flip side, if all goes well I won't have to talk to a urologist until November.
Not much to say about what's going on in the US. But One Million Rising: Strategic Non-Cooperation to Fight Authoritarianism · No Kings looks like something you can do.
And go watch The FIRST images from the RUBIN observatory! - YouTube
July 6, 2025: Scott Haring
Jul. 6th, 2025 05:00 amdaily_illuminator_feedScott Haring, for many years a member of our staff (most notably as the Car Wars line editor in its most glorious days), passed away on July 1 from complications of pneumonia. He was 67.
Scott was always fun to be around. His desk was covered with toys and baseball paraphernalia (as Andrew was to football, so Scott was to baseball). He also had a great singing voice, a talent which rarely crossed over with game design. Too bad office karaoke was not a thing back then! But when he put on the editor hat, he was one of the few people I would trust, without checking, to write or edit good copy. He was a pro.
The memorial gathering and reception for Scott will be held on Saturday, July 12th, at 11:00 am at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church (12955 Memorial Dr. Houston, TX 77079) in the Friendship Court.
– Steve Jackson
Warehouse 23 News: The City Never Sleeps Because Of All The Action
There are a million stories in the city, and they're all exciting! GURPS Action 9: The City shows how you can add GURPS City Stats to your GURPS Action campaigns. It also features six sample cities to use with your own action-packed adventures. Download it today from Warehouse 23!
Scott was always fun to be around. His desk was covered with toys and baseball paraphernalia (as Andrew was to football, so Scott was to baseball). He also had a great singing voice, a talent which rarely crossed over with game design. Too bad office karaoke was not a thing back then! But when he put on the editor hat, he was one of the few people I would trust, without checking, to write or edit good copy. He was a pro.
The memorial gathering and reception for Scott will be held on Saturday, July 12th, at 11:00 am at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church (12955 Memorial Dr. Houston, TX 77079) in the Friendship Court.
– Steve Jackson
Warehouse 23 News: The City Never Sleeps Because Of All The Action
There are a million stories in the city, and they're all exciting! GURPS Action 9: The City shows how you can add GURPS City Stats to your GURPS Action campaigns. It also features six sample cities to use with your own action-packed adventures. Download it today from Warehouse 23!
Today's Smoothie
Jul. 5th, 2025 10:39 pmysabetwordsmithToday we made a smoothie with:
1 cup orange juice
1 cup Brown Cow vanilla yogurt
1 banana
1/2 cup frozen strawberries
1/2 cup ice
The result is bright pink and on the thin side. It tastes mostly of orange. It's okay, but not as good as the tropical version from earlier.
1 cup orange juice
1 cup Brown Cow vanilla yogurt
1 banana
1/2 cup frozen strawberries
1/2 cup ice
The result is bright pink and on the thin side. It tastes mostly of orange. It's okay, but not as good as the tropical version from earlier.
Dinner, Interrupted (part 1 of 1, complete)
Jul. 5th, 2025 10:19 pmdialecticdreamerDinner, Interrupted
By Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
Part 1 of 1, complete
Word count (story only): 1126
[Wednesday, 2 August, 2017, 7 p.m]
:: LaQuinta’s day has been long and unproductive. An interruption in the middle of her scrounged dinner may be the start of something better. Part of the Unfair Trades arc in Mercedes, within the Polychrome Heroics universe. ::
The modified motel room held a double bed, a long dresser opposite with a large mirror, an arch which led to an open closet with rod and shelf on the left and the entrance to the bathroom on the right. A different style dresser, with thick drawers that looked more like modified fruit crates, held a single induction hob hot plate, a dorm-sized microwave, and an electric kettle. In the corner, a purple dorm size fridge sat beside the dresser. The dent in the door was off-center, and descended into a harsh white scrape where the enamel had been gouged away.
LaQuinta marched along the narrow strip of visible carpet between the long side of the bed and the newly provided “kitchenette” materials. Her stomach rumbled. The cheap white plastic basket, sized to fit in the bottom of a high schooler’s locker, held a single hamburger bun in its clear bag printed with cartoonishly bright colors. She sighed as she peeked into the small refrigerator. Inside, three packets of yellow mustard and two of catsup relaxed in the six well egg holder in the top section of the door. In the butter compartment, a one-ounce plastic cup and lid held minced green onions.
The rest of the fridge was empty.
LaQuinta sighed, reaching for the recyclable bamboo silverware in the top drawer.
( Read more... )
By Dialecticdreamer/Sarah Williams
Part 1 of 1, complete
Word count (story only): 1126
[Wednesday, 2 August, 2017, 7 p.m]
:: LaQuinta’s day has been long and unproductive. An interruption in the middle of her scrounged dinner may be the start of something better. Part of the Unfair Trades arc in Mercedes, within the Polychrome Heroics universe. ::
The modified motel room held a double bed, a long dresser opposite with a large mirror, an arch which led to an open closet with rod and shelf on the left and the entrance to the bathroom on the right. A different style dresser, with thick drawers that looked more like modified fruit crates, held a single induction hob hot plate, a dorm-sized microwave, and an electric kettle. In the corner, a purple dorm size fridge sat beside the dresser. The dent in the door was off-center, and descended into a harsh white scrape where the enamel had been gouged away.
LaQuinta marched along the narrow strip of visible carpet between the long side of the bed and the newly provided “kitchenette” materials. Her stomach rumbled. The cheap white plastic basket, sized to fit in the bottom of a high schooler’s locker, held a single hamburger bun in its clear bag printed with cartoonishly bright colors. She sighed as she peeked into the small refrigerator. Inside, three packets of yellow mustard and two of catsup relaxed in the six well egg holder in the top section of the door. In the butter compartment, a one-ounce plastic cup and lid held minced green onions.
The rest of the fridge was empty.
LaQuinta sighed, reaching for the recyclable bamboo silverware in the top drawer.
( Read more... )
The Door 024
Jul. 5th, 2025 10:00 pmgaia_feed[SPOILER] Click here to see my commentary for this page!
My comment for this page from Gaia: sic mundus creatus est:How often have you encountered complicated mechanisms in other stories that the heroes ultimately did not have to solve? It’s surprising elements like these that make Gaia stand out despite the more or less conventional overall plot.
Custodial Setting
Jul. 6th, 2025 12:01 amunspeakablevault_feed
Last strip before summer break. I'll reopen the Vault by mid august, if possible.
Early Humans
Jul. 5th, 2025 05:19 pmysabetwordsmith125,000-year-old ‘fat factory’ run by Neanderthals discovered in Germany
Stone Age humans living by a lake in what’s now Germany systematically processed animal carcasses for fatty nutrients — essentially running what scientists describe as a “fat factory” to boil bones on a vast scale, according to new research.
Note that another thing you can make with animal fat is pemmican: a stable, high-energy trail food made with fat, powdered meat, and a carbohydrate such as berries. Since it's not something you'd make in a hot climate like Africa (where humans evolved) but rather in a cold climate (such as northern Europe), I'm suddenly wondering if it is in fact a Neanderthal or Denisovan recipe.
Stone Age humans living by a lake in what’s now Germany systematically processed animal carcasses for fatty nutrients — essentially running what scientists describe as a “fat factory” to boil bones on a vast scale, according to new research.
Note that another thing you can make with animal fat is pemmican: a stable, high-energy trail food made with fat, powdered meat, and a carbohydrate such as berries. Since it's not something you'd make in a hot climate like Africa (where humans evolved) but rather in a cold climate (such as northern Europe), I'm suddenly wondering if it is in fact a Neanderthal or Denisovan recipe.
Birdfeeding
Jul. 5th, 2025 03:12 pmysabetwordsmithToday is partly sunny and hot.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, plus some brown birds that might be female blackbirds.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 4/5/25 -- I refilled the thistle feeder.
I picked up the concrete paver that we used for fireworks last night, along with scraps of paper and cardboard left behind.
Volunteer sunflowers are blooming under the fly-through feeder.
EDIT 4/5/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 4/5/25 -- I picked a handful of blackberries in the prairie garden.
EDIT 4/5/25 -- I watered the telephone pole garden and some of the savanna seedlings. A sunflower in the telephone pole garden is close to blooming. :D
EDIT 4/5/25 -- I pulled some weeds from the septic garden.
Fireflies are out. Cicadas are singing.
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, plus some brown birds that might be female blackbirds.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 4/5/25 -- I refilled the thistle feeder.
I picked up the concrete paver that we used for fireworks last night, along with scraps of paper and cardboard left behind.
Volunteer sunflowers are blooming under the fly-through feeder.
EDIT 4/5/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 4/5/25 -- I picked a handful of blackberries in the prairie garden.
EDIT 4/5/25 -- I watered the telephone pole garden and some of the savanna seedlings. A sunflower in the telephone pole garden is close to blooming. :D
EDIT 4/5/25 -- I pulled some weeds from the septic garden.
Fireflies are out. Cicadas are singing.
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
Poem: "Legs of Grass, Feet of Flowers"
Jul. 5th, 2025 02:21 pmysabetwordsmithThis poem was written for the Sunshine Revival Challenge 2: Tunnel of Love. It also fills the "buffalo" square in my 7-1-25 card for the Western Bingo Fest.
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Their Only Duet?
Jul. 5th, 2025 03:22 pmstickmakerPerhaps the greatest duet in the history of TV:
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGUs_aE6uJs)
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGUs_aE6uJs)
Sunshine Revival Challenge 2: Tunnel of Love
Jul. 5th, 2025 12:56 pmysabetwordsmithSunshine Revival Challenge 2: Tunnel of Love
Journaling: The romance of summer! What do you love? Write about anything you feel sentimental about or that gets your heart pumping.
Creative: Write a love poem to anyone or anything you like
See "Poem: Legs of Grass, Feet of Flowers."
Post your answer to today’s challenge in your own space and leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.
( Read more... )
Journaling: The romance of summer! What do you love? Write about anything you feel sentimental about or that gets your heart pumping.
Creative: Write a love poem to anyone or anything you like
See "Poem: Legs of Grass, Feet of Flowers."
Post your answer to today’s challenge in your own space and leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.
( Read more... )