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I just had the most interesting idea: a Star Trek alternate timeline fanfic story where Lt. Cmdr. Data decides to join Worf on Deep Space 9, for the experience of it. Honestly, I would read or watch an entire series about that timeline, it would be fascinating.

ysabetwordsmith

This 8,000-year-old art shows math before numbers existed

Over 8,000 years ago, early farming communities in northern Mesopotamia were already thinking mathematically—long before numbers were written down. By closely studying Halafian pottery, researchers uncovered floral and plant designs arranged with precise symmetry and numerical patterns, revealing a surprisingly advanced sense of geometry.

People learned to count and do math, sometimes rather sophisticated math, long before they got around to writing numerals or equations. As for geometry, it's very easy to obtain workable patterns that scale well by examining nature. Fibonacci sequence and fractals both yield very useful parameters.

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Today is partly sunny and chilly.

I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches plus a male cardinal.

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Today we went shopping in Mattoon.

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

threeforthememories 2025 session will be open for posts on January 3, 2026 and will run for 3 weeks until January 24. Do let others know about us, as anyone can participate by just joining the community.

Just a reminder of how the event runs:

1) Three photos only per person during each annual session. Members are encouraged to discuss the reason for their choices.

2) Photos can be hosted at Dreamwidth or elsewhere, and should not be larger than 800 px width or height.

3) All three photos should be in the same post. Cut tags should be placed after the first photo.

Three For the Memories banner

Current Mood: busy

fayanora

"Good morning and welcome back to 103.3 MM 'The Wand', your number one magical radio station covering the Portland metro area. I'm your host, Joshua Alderman; and in case you missed it, our special guest today is Doctor Aldric Johannessen, world-renowned expert in faery sociology.

"Earlier in our broadcast, Dr. Johannessen was telling us all about the various faery species who have been gracing Fae Springs these last few years, with special attention on the Fir Baite and Fir Ghobhar, since two of the new kids this year are outcasts from Fomor. But if you missed that, I'm so sorry to inform you we're doing general faery questions now. If you want to hear what you missed, you'll have to download the podcast version from our website, which is available for free at GTN://www.1033MMTheWand.com/podcast.html

"And with that out of the way, we can get ready to take your calls. Are you ready, Dr. Johannessen?"

"Yes, that I am," said a man with a low and soothing voice.

"Excellent. So let's hear from our callers." (click) "Hello there, you're first. Name and question?"

"Hi Joshua, I'm Ethel. Long time listener, occasional caller.”

“Welcome back, Ethel. What’s your question for the good doctor?”

“Well, I'm calling because I was in the Goblin Market last Saturday, and there was an incident with a Gremlin chasing some Goblins around with an iron skillet nearly as big as she was. I'm still confused about that. I thought faeries are allergic to iron? But the security that handled the situation didn't seem surprised by any of this. Can you explain?"

( Answer under the cut, as it's rather lengthy. )

tozka

I decided to tweak how I engage with online life for 2026, and have been busy the last couple weeks trying to get it ready so I can test it before the new year actually starts.

So:
1. Switch back to posting on DW as my main journal (external blog will close)
2. Move website from pixietails.club to tozka.fyi (partly to save money on the domain renewal cost lol)
2b. Website will be more for evergreen content and not so much tracking content. So pages like a list of what I read this year will be deleted from public and kept private instead, but all my tutorials and fanlistings will still be there.
3. Self-host RSS feed reader (done), link collector (done)
4. Set up Obsidian as my personal hub (done). This'll be where I keep my tracking stuff, personal data, whatever.

So basically be a little more private with my info, be more proactive with keeping my own data, and settle back in to the communities I want to engage with.

I liked having my own little blog domain but it felt very exposed, which made me not want to post. Dreamwidth is more cozy! Even if I post in public here, I don't feel like the eyes of the entire internet are on me. Also tbh when I posted from my blog first it didn't give me an incentive to come over here and actually read my friends page, so I've gotten very behind on my correspondence.

Further changes: I want to get away from AI intrusions a bit more, so I've installed Linux on my main computer (Manjaro) and deleted Windows entirely.

And while I've stopped using most social media besides Mastodon, I still visit Facebook a lot for the groups. I'm going to make it a priority to join and engage in forums instead.

Current Mood: energetic
Current Music: Blanche - The World I Used to Be Afraid Of

ysabetwordsmith

Scientists reveal a 1.5-million-year-old human face

A 1.5-million-year-old face is forcing scientists to rethink the origins and diversity of early humans.

Scientists have digitally reconstructed the face of a 1.5-million-year-old Homo erectus fossil from Ethiopia, uncovering an unexpectedly primitive appearance. While its braincase fits with classic Homo erectus, the face and teeth resemble much older human ancestors. This discovery challenges long-held ideas about where and how Homo erectus evolved. It also hints at a complex web of migrations and possible mixing between early human species.

The actual image shows a reconstruction of the skull, rather than a paleoforensic art rendering of the face when alive. But it's still cool.

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Life is full of things which are hard or tedious or otherwise unpleasant that need doing anyhow. They help make the world go 'round, they improve skills, and they boost your sense of self-respect. But doing them still kinda sucks. It's all the more difficult to do those things when nobody appreciates it. Happily, blogging allows us to share our accomplishments and pat each other on the back.

What are some of the hard things you've done recently? What are some hard things you haven't gotten to yet, but need to do? Is there anything your online friends could do to make your hard things a little easier?

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

This year I've been running an experiment to see which type of pen lasts the longest for labeling plants outdoors. I have compiled links to the previous posts and added pictures from each month where I hadn't already posted them. Results: Sharpie Oil Pen lasted longest, Craft Smart Oil Pen was still legible at the end of the year, and Sharpie Permanent Marker faded very fast. If you're labeling plants outdoors, buy an oil paint pen, preferably Sharpie.

These are the other posts regarding the labels.
1/3/25 Photos: Testing Pens on Plant Labels
2/3/25 Photos: House Yard and South Lot
3/3/25 Photos: House Yard and South Lot
4/4/25 Photos: South Lot
5/6/25 Photos: South Lot
6/2/25 Photos: House Yard
11/3/25 Photos: Lantern Terrarium Assembly Part 2 Testing the Fit (labels at bottom)
Photos: House Yard 12-16-25

( Let's do science to it... )

Current Mood: accomplished

ysabetwordsmith

Tonight I'm making the Candy Cane Cookies with cherry flavored candy canes. Watch for your favorite flavors this time of year and grab them while you can. This recipe should work with any candy cane flavor you like -- they are basically just a big piece of flavored sugar that you can turn back into sugar grains by bashing them in a bag.

EDIT 12/16/25 -- These turned out okay, but nowhere near as good at the original peppermint or the cinnamon. They looked pretty though, as the cherry candy canes had both red and green stripes. So it might be worth a try if you're a fan of "birthday cake" with sprinkles baking.

Current Mood: accomplished

ysabetwordsmith

Today I took pictures of the labels I'm testing, plus a few of the snowy yard as well.

These are the other posts regarding the labels. I need to make a post that shows them all in sequence; not everything has been posted yet.
1/3/25 Photos: Testing Pens on Plant Labels
2/3/25 Photos: House Yard and South Lot
3/3/25 Photos: House Yard and South Lot
4/4/25 Photos: South Lot
5/6/25 Photos: South Lot
6/2/25 Photos: House Yard
11/3/25 Photos: Lantern Terrarium Assembly Part 2 Testing the Fit (labels at bottom)

( Walk with me ... )

Current Mood: accomplished

ysabetwordsmith

Parents find Health Star Ratings confusing and unhelpful. We need a better food labelling system (Australia)

Food labels are intended to support healthy choices. But not all labelling schemes are equal.

Australia currently uses a voluntary Health Star Rating system. Food manufacturers can choose to add a star label to their packaging to indicate how it compares to other similar products. Or they can choose not to show a star rating on a product at all.

How satisfied are you with the food labeling option(s) available where you live? If you also buy imported foods, what do you think about labels from other countries?

What kind of traits do you pay attention to in food shopping? Are they easy to find on labels, harder to find, not listed, or actually forbidden to list?

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Today is sunny and considerably less cold -- ice is melting in places.

I fed the birds. I've seen a large mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, a pair of cardinals, and two mourning doves.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 12/16/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 12/16/25 -- I took a few pictures around the yard, including the plant labels I'm tracking.

EDIT 12/16/25 -- I potted 4 Granny Smith apple seeds that already split open, and stored 3 more in a baggie of damp sand in the fridge.

One of the Pink apple sprouts that I planted earlier has surfaced and opened tiny leaves. \o/ (Note that this will not make a Pink apple, since it is a seedling not a clone, but if it lives then it should produce decent dessert apples of some sort.)

EDIT 12/16/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 12/16/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

fuzzyred is hosting a pool for the Holiday Poetry Sale. There are no individual poem targets yet, just a general discussion of some favorite areas. If you're shopping for poetry, dive in!

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

The Holiday Poetry Sale is now open on LiveJournal. Sponsors, start your engines! It runs Monday, December 15-Friday, December 19. All listed poems are half-price. If you spend $100 or more, you get the quarter-price rate. Watch to see if someone opens a pool; there is usually one for this event.

Current Mood: busy

azurelunatic

I lost the beads I was going to use for the two crocheted necklaces. (I think it's safe to say in *this* venue that I got commissioned to make a second one, and the second one is going more smoothly than the first one in all respects so far.)

Since the replacement beads included ones shipped from Czechoslovakia, I've been nervous that I won't be able to finish on time. (Which I still probably won't, but I can make An Effort now.)

The last of the replacement beads arrived today, and I am very happy with this. Will I get cracking on it? Well, probably not today.

Additionally, it's been a not as terrible as usual leg day. Hooray for physical therapy (and remembering to do it), and hooray for pain meds. (Yesterday I completely spaced my pain meds until bedtime. Surprised Pikachu was surprised at how horrible a leg day it was.)

ysabetwordsmith

Coffee-driven deforestation is making it harder to grow coffee, watchdog group says

Scientists have shown how deforestation leads to less rainfall in tropical rainforests. That's because the trees there soak up and release moisture, which rises to create clouds and more rain. Cutting down trees disrupts the cycle, reducing rainfall and leading to drought.

Drought, of course, makes it harder to grow coffee.

"When you kill the forest, you're actually also killing the rains, which is exactly what your crop needs to thrive in the long run," Higonnet says. "Even for people who don't much care about climate change and mass extinction, if they drink coffee and care about having coffee in the long run, this should be very scary for them."

( Read more... )

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Hidden dimensions could explain where mass comes from

A new theory proposes that the universe’s fundamental forces and particle properties may arise from the geometry of hidden extra dimensions. These dimensions could twist and evolve over time, forming stable structures that generate mass and symmetry breaking on their own. The approach may even explain cosmic expansion and predict a new particle. It hints at a universe built entirely from geometry.

Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith

Today is sunny and cold, but less frigid than yesterday. It got down to 8 below last night.

I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches. I put out a new block of peanut suet.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 12/15/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

I've seen a female cardinal.

EDIT 12/15/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

EDIT 12/15/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

I've seen a male cardinal.

EDIT 12/15/25 -- I did more work around the patio.

I've seen one female and two male cardinals, plus two mourning doves.

As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.

Current Mood: busy

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