Curly Spiral Galaxy M63
May. 23rd, 2025 05:28 am![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
apod_feed
A bright spiral galaxy of the northern sky,
apod_feedThursday 22 May 1662
May. 22nd, 2025 11:00 pmpepysdiary_feedThis morning comes an order from the Secretary of State, Nicholas, for me to let one Mr. Lee, a Councellor, to view what papers I have relating to passages of the late times, wherein Sir H. Vane’s hand is employed, in order to the drawing up his charge; which I did, and at noon he, with Sir W. Pen and his daughter, dined with me, and he to his work again, and we by coach to the Theatre and saw “Love in a Maze.” The play hath little in it but Lacy’s part of a country fellow, which he did to admiration. So home, and supped with Sir W. Pen, where Sir W. Batten and Captn. Cocke came to us, to whom I have lately been a great stranger. This night we had each of us a letter from Captain Teddiman from the Streights, of a peace made upon good terms, by Sir J. Lawson, with the Argier men, which is most excellent news. He hath also sent each of us some anchovies, olives, and muscatt; but I know not yet what that is, and am ashamed to ask.
After supper home, and to bed, resolving to make up this week in seeing plays and pleasure, and so fall to business next week again for a great while.
Counter-survival
May. 22nd, 2025 05:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jhetleyA relative of ours was a foreign grad student at Harvard. After he earned his PhD, he did not go back to his birth country. Driving out foreign students hurts the US.
In Frame with Flickr – Street Photography Review 5/22/2025
May. 22nd, 2025 02:20 pmflickr_blog_feed
It’s time for our monthly street photography appreciation post. We’re celebrating the views of our neighborhoods, the people in our communities, the real life moments that street photography authentically captures in this month’s In Frame with Flickr – Street Photography Review.
From the diverse and captivating images shared to our Flickr Social group, to those posted in other street photo-centric groups on Flickr, there is no lack of shots to enjoy from this photographic genre on Flickr. So check out some of our favorites over the last month. Then grab your cameras and get out there to snap some of your own!
Kingfisher by john.purvis
Simultaneous by _xs4all_
Street Photography Group Feature
Street Zen
Enjoy a moment of peace and street photography appreciation in the Street Zen Flickr group. Share your street photography in this group and find community with other photographers all over the world. Whether you’re looking for feedback and constructive critiques or just a place to enjoy other street photography captures, Street Zen is a great place to find your photography community.
Untitled by stefmtc
Untitled by Andrey x
Bliss by David Ingram
Looking for other Flickr groups to connect with? Visit our Discover page to find your match! If you’d like to have your own street photography featured in upcoming blog posts, make sure to join Flickr Social and start sharing your photos!
Not a Flickr member yet? Sign up today to join our community of photographers and find your inspi
Goose guards off duty
May. 22nd, 2025 10:34 amjhetleyNot raining or snowing, and the park looked clear, so I got out for my walk. Met up with Ms. Sasha and we performed the ritual of a session of scritches, a walk around the corner to her front steps, and another session. Mockingbird emphatic about ownership of one street-corner on our old block. Saw my first chipmunk of the year -- we think we have some efficient predators reducing the population.
The Seven Stages of Wrecks
May. 22nd, 2025 01:00 pmcakewrecks_feedRemember, my friends: recognizing the stages is the first step to healing.
Shock or Disbelief:
"No, seriously. Where's the hidden camera?"
Denial:
"That CAN'T be my cake. I ordered a turtle."
Anger:
"This is what you call cake decorating?!"
"And I'm not paying for that one, either."
Bargaining:
"Twenty four bucks, huh?
"I'll give you five."
Guilt:
"If ONLY I'd just learned to bake, my daughter wouldn't be in therapy for coulrophobia!"
Depression:
"I just... I just wanted a nice cake for the party..."
Acceptance and Hope:
"It's fine. I've just got a dirty mind. Maybe no one else will notice."
Huge thanks to Jane R., Jodi T., Maria E., Edmund, Cheryl, Allegra R., Marissa C., and Alexis V. I couldn't have gotten through this without you guys!
*****
P.S. In case your life was missing a set of cat butt magnets, I found you some:
Cat Butt Magnets
You're welcome.
*****
And from my other blog, Epbot:
The Judas Contract by Marv Wolfman & George Pérez
May. 22nd, 2025 08:56 amjames_davis_nicoll
Who is the secret traitor? The former boy wonder, the wonder girl, the alien princess, the cyborg, the shape-shifter, the spooky witch, the speedster, or the geokinetic who frequently brags about being evil and betraying the team?
The Judas Contract by Marv Wolfman & George Pérez
Feathered dinosaurs
May. 22nd, 2025 07:50 amjhetleyPair of geese grazing the park again, terrorizing the grackles. City crew mowed about 90% of the grass yesterday, and the geese are in the general area where one of the mowers bogged down and had to be dragged out by the other. Twice. Yes, our park is a bad neighborhood where the mowers patrol in pairs.
North-easter looming
May. 22nd, 2025 06:58 amjhetleyAir temperature 45 F, wind east about 9 mph gusting to 18, cloudy. Clouds and wind supposed to hang around all day, going to rain overnight and into tomorrow. May be snow back in the hills. Catbird pair still hanging around our area but not working on a nest in the azalea. They have many other bushes available that don't have nosy neighbors.
(no subject)
May. 22nd, 2025 04:47 amapod_feed
Typically, the International Space Station is visible only at night.
Wednesday 21 May 1662
May. 21st, 2025 11:00 pmpepysdiary_feedMy wife and I by water to Westminster, and after she had seen her father (of whom lately I have heard nothing at all what he does or her mother), she comes to me to my Lord’s lodgings, where she and I staid walking in White Hall garden. And in the Privy-garden saw the finest smocks and linnen petticoats of my Lady Castlemaine’s, laced with rich lace at the bottom, that ever I saw; and did me good to look upon them. So to Wilkinson’s, she and I and Sarah to dinner, where I had a good quarter of lamb and a salat. Here Sarah told me how the King dined at my Lady Castlemaine’s, and supped, every day and night the last week; and that the night that the bonfires were made for joy of the Queen’s arrivall, the King was there; but there was no fire at her door, though at all the rest of the doors almost in the street; which was much observed: and that the King and she did send for a pair of scales and weighed one another; and she, being with child, was said to be heaviest. But she is now a most disconsolate creature, and comes not out of doors, since the King’s going.
But we went to the Theatre to “The French Dancing Master,” and there with much pleasure gazed upon her (Lady Castlemaine); but it troubles us to see her look dejectedly and slighted by people already. The play pleased us very well; but Lacy’s part, the Dancing Master, the best in the world.
Thence to my brother Tom’s, in expectation to have met my father to-night come out of the country, but he is not yet come, but here we found my uncle Fenner and his old wife, whom I had not seen since the wedding dinner, nor care to see her. They being gone, my wife and I went and saw Mrs. Turner, whom we found not well, and her two boys Charles and Will come out of the country, grown very plain boys after three years being under their father’s care in Yorkshire. Thence to Tom’s again, and there supped well, my she cozen Scott being there and my father being not come, we walked home and to bed.
proposed restrictions on covid vaccines
May. 21st, 2025 05:07 pmredbirdThe clowns running the FDA have proposed restricting access to covid vaccines, to people over 65 or who have certain medical conditions. There's a public docket for comments on the proposal.
Your Local Epidemiologist has a good post about the proposal, including that the people suggesting this know that nobody is going to do the placebo-controlled tests of new boosters they want to require.
Possible talking points include:
Families and caregivers wouldn't be eligible for the vaccine, even if they share a household, unlike the current UK recommendations.
Doctors, dentists, and other medical staff wouldn't be eligible either.
My own comment included that the reason I'd still be eligible for the vaccine is a lung problem caused by covid.
(cross-posting from![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
thisfinecrew)
Your Local Epidemiologist has a good post about the proposal, including that the people suggesting this know that nobody is going to do the placebo-controlled tests of new boosters they want to require.
Possible talking points include:
Families and caregivers wouldn't be eligible for the vaccine, even if they share a household, unlike the current UK recommendations.
Doctors, dentists, and other medical staff wouldn't be eligible either.
My own comment included that the reason I'd still be eligible for the vaccine is a lung problem caused by covid.
(cross-posting from
thisfinecrew)Bundle of Holding: Awfully Cheerful Engine
May. 21st, 2025 02:17 pmjames_davis_nicoll
The complete Omnibus with the rules and eight settings for Awfully Cheerful Engine, the cinematic action-comedy tabletop roleplaying game.
Bundle of Holding: Awfully Cheerful Engine
16 Questions about 1 Photo with Jack Ledgerwood
May. 21st, 2025 03:40 pmflickr_blog_feed
1. Please introduce yourself. Who are you? What do you do?
Hi there, my name is Jack Ledgerwood. I am a retired software engineer, a techie, who has found my creative side that I never knew I had through my photography. I consider myself an amateur hobbyist who looks forward to seeing where my photography journey takes me, and I am proud of how far I have come. I have lived in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area for the majority of my life, and I have come to realize how many beautiful and wild places there are to visit, all within an easy day’s drive.
2. How long have you been into photography, and what drew you to it?
In the 1980s, I purchased my first 35mm SLR film camera, a Minolta X-370. It was mostly used for capturing travel and family memories. By the early 2000s, the cost for film and processing saw me using the camera less and less. Then the digital transition occurred, and I resumed my photography journey in 2015 with my first digital camera, a Nikon P610, a fully featured point- and-shoot. A few years later after I had taken an early retirement, my better half suggested that I find something to do with my free time.
I thought photography would be something fun, and I sought out local photography clubs. Little did I know at that time how significant of a decision that would be on my photography journey. Through all of the club’s activities, mentorships, and friendships, I have learned so much that my pictures have evolved from snapshots towards art. In 2019, I upgraded to a Nikon D7500 DSLR and I haven’t looked back on my photography journey.
3. In one sentence, please describe what you captured in this shot.
In this image is a tiny but beautiful male Indigo Bunting standing on an unopened sunflower in the midst of a huge early blooming sunflower field, probably wondering where all the sunflower seeds are.
4. What style of photography would you describe this as and do you typically take photographs in this style?
This is bird/nature photography, and it is my preferred style of photography. Throughout the various seasons, though, I do find myself participating in other genres such as sports with whitewater kayak racing, high wheel bike racing, and show horse jumping. One could make the case that sports photography is “wildlife” photography, right??? One benefit of my local photography club is the variety of organized field trips that get me out photographing subjects that I would not normally seek out. Whether that is for architecture, long-exposure at night, or blooming gardens for some close-up macro-opportunities, they help me expand my photography into new genres and subjects.
5. When and where was this photo taken?
This image was taken in early July, at one of the several large sunflower fields within a wildlife management area operated by the State of Maryland. Of course, as with most bird and wildlife photography, the early hours after sunrise usually provide you with the best opportunities. So the alarm clock was probably set for 4:45am, with an hour’s drive to the sunflower fields to make it for sunrise, just before 6:00am. This photo was taken a few hours later.
The early alarm clock is definitely one of the drawbacks to this genre of photography, as I am always chasing the sunrise. I set up on the edge of the sunflower fields as there’s no going into the fields, rightfully so. This protects the flowers from damage and doesn’t disturb the wildlife, as this is their home. Of course, like many photographers, I‘m a little camera shy and I like to stay out of pictures of others enjoying the view. So I made sure I used my BIG lens with lots of reach, as the little birds are not close.
6. Was anyone with you when you took this photo?
I find that photography is more fun when you experience it with a friend. And it’s useful to have their extra eyes and ears when you’re looking for the birds and wildlife. Now with that said, I was by myself when I took this image. All of my usual partners were out of town, and this particular trip to the sunflower fields was more of a scouting trip to determine the bird activity level (which was low) and how far along each of the sunflower fields were (which was not very far along). I returned with a friend a few weeks later, always chasing the perfect picture.
7. What equipment (hardware and software) did you use?
I used a Nikon D7500 crop-sensor DSLR with a Tamron 150-600mm G2 ultra-zoom lens. Since the camera and lens is a tad heavy to hold while waiting and watching for the birds, I placed it onto my Gitzo Tripod with a gimbal head. I also had to use a 2-step step ladder as I’m just too dang short to see over the sunflowers without it! I capture all of my images in raw format which requires me to post-process this image, and all of my images, in Adobe Lightroom Classic.
8. What drew you to take this photo?
When I’m out looking for and photographing birds, I’m always looking for the motion to attract my eyes and then the camera. Generally, if you’re looking for a specific bird or situation, the birds never cooperate. So, I’m taking pictures of most of the birds that I can place in my viewfinder (which is easier said than done most of the time), and then filtering through all of them when I get home to find the few gems.
I’m always amazed at the variety of birds that I have seen in these sunflower fields, but I do admit that the combination of the Indigo Bunting on the sunflowers offers such compelling complimentary colors. This photo is similar to one I had taken in a prior year where the Indigo Bunting was facing away from the camera, but I find this photo more inviting and compelling. I guess that I always seem to be chasing the “perfect” photo.
9. How many attempts did it take to get this shot? How long did it take you to get one that you were satisfied with?
Burst mode and digital are a bird photographer’s best friend! On this morning, the bird activity was really slow, so I came home with only about 100 images to wade through, and most of those I deleted. On days with more activity, coming home with 1500 images would be normal. Since it’s so sunny and the little LCD screen is so hard to see, I generally don’t know if I’ve captured any great shots until I’m home and load them into Lightroom. Then it’s like unwrapping a present when you find the keepers.
10. Did you edit (or do any post-processing/production on) this photo?
This image was captured in raw format, which requires some level of post-processing which I do in Adobe Lightroom Classic. I do not add or replace any elements in my photos, although very minor distractions such as dust spots may be removed.
11. What encouraged you to share this photo online and with others?
I get so much inspiration from other photographers’ work on Flickr, and I’d like to think that one day someone might be inspired by my images. Flickr is such a great site for virtually traveling and seeing the beauty of our world, and I like to share the beauty that I encounter in my little part of it. When I photograph events such as a kayak race, I’ll create an album on Flickr and share a link to the album with the race organizers so that they can share it with their participants. The participants are always thrilled to see themselves in action.
12. Did you learn anything in the process of taking, editing, or sharing this photo?
I don’t think there’s anything in particular that I learned from this one. It just reinforced the fact that for a good shot, sometimes you need a bit of luck to be in the right place at the right time.
13. Do you remember what you had for breakfast (or lunch or dinner) the day you took this photo?
I can’t remember what I was doing a week ago, but I am positive of what I had for breakfast that morning. Since the alarm clock went off way too early before the long drive and arriving by the 6:00 am sunrise, I had a belVita Sandwich Breakfast Biscuits with Dark Chocolate Creme, which I ate while standing on the step-ladder watching for the birds. That’s my go-to packable food item; since it’s not chocolate covered, it won’t melt in the heat.
14. What would you like people to take away from this photo?
I hope to draw attention to the beauty of this world that is all around us if one is willing to just look and be awed. I want to emphasize the importance of preserving these natural landscapes so that everyone can enjoy them for generations to come. It’s crucial that we respect nature and be mindful of our impact on the environment, fostering a deeper connection with the world around us.
15. Is there any feedback that you’d like to get on this shot?
One thing that I’ve learned through my years with my photography club is how everyone views the same image differently. It’s always great to receive feedback; that’s how I can refine my skills and, ultimately, improve my images.
16. How can anyone reading this support your work?
I would be thrilled for anyone who wants to support my work to follow me on Flickr, where I share all of my public photos and you can provide valuable feedback and comments. I can also be found on Instagram where I share a select few of my photos. I’d love to hear your thoughts on my work and how I can improve it, or how it touches you.
Jack Ledgerwood is an amateur photographer, based in Virginia, with a special interest in bird and wildlife photography. Jack has been concentrating on growing his photography skills since joining the Northern Virginia Photographic Society (NVPS) in 2019, and he is now capturing these stunning images of birds and a wide variety of other subjects. Make sure to check out his Flickr site for a captivating view of all his photos celebrating the avian world around us.
Hump Day Hoedown
May. 21st, 2025 01:00 pmcakewrecks_feedWhen your mom's a proud Texan celebrating her 64th birthday, you might think ordering a cake that says, "Happy Birthday, Cowgirl!" is a good idea.
And maybe it is, IF your baker writes it down right:
Oops.
Thanks to Cat D. for reminding us that you can never put a price on a mother's love. Especially hers.
*****
I realize that after today's cake this product link is going to look... questionable.
All I can say is, NOT LIKE THAT. :p
Hold Your Horses
The cover illustration isn't helping, is it.
*****
And from my other blog, Epbot:
Five SFF Works About Meddling, Mystery-Solving Kids
May. 21st, 2025 10:09 amjames_davis_nicoll
Darn kids, always battling ghosts and exposing conspiracies and making a mess...
Five SFF Works About Meddling, Mystery-Solving Kids
Bundle of Holding: OSE Treasures 2
May. 21st, 2025 09:14 amjames_davis_nicoll
Recent third-party tabletop roleplaying adventures for Old-School Essentials.
Bundle of Holding: OSE Treasures 2
Ryuu no Gakkou wa Yama no Ue Kui Ryouko Works By Ryōko Kui
May. 21st, 2025 09:06 amjames_davis_nicoll
An assortment of short pieces from the author of Delicious in Dungeon.
Ryuu no Gakkou wa Yama no Ue Kui Ryouko Works By Ryōko Kui
I'm not the one you need
May. 21st, 2025 06:58 amjhetleyAir temperature 45 F, wind north 9 mph gusting to 19, partly cloudy. Brief interlude of sun before the rains return for the end of the week. City crew has returned to mowing our park, two machines in echelon left. No plans beyond some bird-watching and a walk.