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Fossils

These 545-million-year-old fossil trails just rewrote the story of evolution

A groundbreaking study suggests that the famous Cambrian explosion—the dramatic burst of diverse animal life—might have actually started millions of years earlier than we thought. By analyzing ancient trace fossils, researchers uncovered evidence of complex, mobile organisms thriving 545 million years ago, well before the traditionally accepted timeline. These early creatures likely had segmented bodies, muscle systems, and even directional movement, signaling a surprising level of biological sophistication. Their behavior and mobility, preserved in fossil trails, offer new insight into how complex life evolved, potentially rewriting one of the most important chapters in Earth’s evolutionary history.

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Trick or Treat MJV Week [Oct 3rd - Oct 9th 2025]

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#Lysiclaude2025Bingo starts this week! (7/17~24)

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Magpie Monday

dialecticdreamer is hosting Magpie Monday with a theme of "Surprises and Celebrations."

I write mostly gentle fiction (with warnings when I skirt more aggressive elements, of course) which doesn’t exclude drama. With the theme of “surprises and celebrations,” readers can offer negative surprises. The range for prompt ideas is as wide as the readers can explain. “Cold Cash is surprised when he is brought in for questioning by the Feds after the attempt to kidnap the Cort twins,” is a legitimate prompt idea. It is not, however, planned for the story arc.

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Admin Post: [#266 | A Walk in the Park] Amnesty

Since we only have two entries this week, I'm once again opening up posting amnesty through Wednesday, July 16th at 9pm EST. Have fun! Your new challenge will be up at the usual time.

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Poem: "Meeting in the Middle"

Based on an audience poll, this is the free epic for the July 1, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl. It was spillover from the April 5, 2022 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by a prompt from

rix_scaedu. It also fills the "communication" square in my 4-4-22 "Aspects" card for the Genderplay Bingo fest. This poem belongs to the series Arts and Crafts America.

( Read more... )

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, Vol. 2

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, Vol. 2 by Kanehito Yamada

Spoilers ahead for the first volume.

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Libraries

Wellington Library trials new shelving system based on Māori deities

Under Tangaroa, atua of the oceans, lakes and rivers - and all life within them, and the guardian of knowledge of carving - you can find books on bodies of water, fish, art/the arts and carving.

Rongomatāne, atua of peace, the kūmara and cultivated food is where you find te ao Māori books on peace, agriculture, gardening, food and cooking.

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Today's five second mini-rant:

Nonstandard and informal are not synonyms. Dialectal and informal are not synonyms. Regional and informal are not synonyms. You can speak formally even if you're speaking a nonstandard regional dialect.

Everybody needs to stop saying that dialect words are, ipso facto, informal.

Edit: On a different note, omfg this dude.

*************************

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Birdfeeding

Today is partly sunny and mild. It drizzled for much of yesterday.

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

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 7/14/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 7/14/25 -- I picked a chocolate cherry tomato from the new picnic table.

EDIT 7/14/25 -- I picked a few blackberries. The first crop is done, the second is not ripe yet.

EDIT 7/14/25 -- I watered both picnic table gardens.

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blogging,
personal

Monday Update 7-14-25

These are some posts from the later part of last week in case you missed them:
Poetry Fishbowl Report for July 1, 2025
Unsold Poems for the July 1, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl
Poem: "Provoking Change by Bringing Nature"
Space Exploration
Placemaking: How to Connect the Dots
Birdfeeding
Marketplace Books
Climate Change
Today's Smoothie
Superhero on Call
Birdfeeding
Philosophical Questions: Poverty
Extinct Birds
Today's Adventures
Art
Birdfeeding
Follow Friday 7-11-25: History
Communities
Focus
Climate Change
Sandwich Alignment Chart
Mushrooms
Artificial Intelligence
Birdfeeding
Roadside America
Activism
Birdfeeding
Cuddle Party

"Philosophical Questions: Looks" has 42 comments. "Not a Destination, But a Process" has 146 comments. "The Democratic Armada of the Caribbean" has 95 comments.

There will be a bonus Poetry Fishbowl on Tuesday, July 15 with a theme of "anything goes."

sunshine_revival is running through July. See the schedule, meet the moderators, and use the master post to navigate the event. Meet new folks in the friending meme. Spread the word!

* Sunshine Revival Challenge 1: Light
Poem: "The Pleasure of Escaping the Responsibility"

* Sunshine Revival Challenge 2: Tunnel of Love
Poem: "Legs of Grass, Feet of Flowers"

* Sunshine Revival Challenge 3: Food

* Sunshine Revival Challenge 4: Fun House
Poem: "The Bee Tree's Gift"

summerofthe69 is now open! You can see the calendar here and the current themes are Body Worship 69 and Greater Than 69.

"In the Heart of the Hidden Garden" is now complete! Lawrence shows Stan more of his favorite places.

The weather has been variable here. It drizzled most of yesterday. Seen at the birdfeeders this week: a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, a pair of mourning doves, a pair of cardinals, a gray catbird, a house wren, a fox squirrel, and at least 2 bats. Currently blooming: dandelions, pansies, violas, marigolds, petunias, red salvia, wild strawberries, verbena, lantana, sweet alyssum, zinnias, snapdragons, blue lobelia, perennial pinks, impatiens, oxalis, moss rose, yarrow, anise hyssop, firecracker plant, tomatoes, tomatillos, Asiatic lilies, cucumber, snowball bush, yellow squash, zucchini, morning glory, purple echinacea, narrow-leaf mountain mint, black-eyed Susan, yellow coneflower, wild bergamot, chicory, Queen Anne's lace, sunflowers, cup plant. Tomatillo and pepper have green fruit. Wild strawberries, mulberries, peas, tomatoes, blackberries, and cucumbers are ripe.

BEWARE THE CON RATS

Posted by Jen

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/beware-the-con-rats-2025

Summer is the reward students get for successfully completing another year of educational excellence. Or for partying all year and flunking out. (Nobody said life was fair, kids.)

So while graduation season may be over, I think it's time our bakers had a little summer schoolin'.

Bakers? Welcome to "How-To-Spell-'Congratulations'-101."

I can see it's going to be a long day.

Alright, let's practice: C-O-N-G-R-A-T-U-L-A-T-I-O-N-S. See? Now you try.

I dare you to read that aloud.

("Comgratatum?")

Try again.

G, you shouldn't have.

No, really.

And don't think I'm not on to your latest scheme, bakers. You know, the one where you just pipe a heap of scribbles halfway through the word and hope no one notices?

Cheater.

The best part is how you can still clearly see those last two are misspelled. Next time just chuck some High School Musical flotsam on there.

At this point, even I have forgotten how to spell it. I would "COHGRADULITTE" you, bakers, but I don't think I can handle that level of irony.

Let's try a new approach: just shorten it to "Congrats!" That's easy enough, right?

*sigh*

What is wrong with you people?

For a wild, hopeful second there I thought this had something to do with comic conventions starting up week:

"Watch out for those Con Rats!"

...but then I realized I it was a different kind of "con." Rats.

Well, you've all failed the course, bakers. So, hey, get out there and continue collecting a paycheck for brutalizing the English language! Woo! Yeah!

Oh, and kids? Stay in school. Or don't.
Honestly, your bakery manager probably won't give a con rat's @ss.

Thanks to Nancy H., Jessica E., Julia L., Michelle W., Meghan H., Amanda N., Julie D., Elizabeth B., & Bailey for the pep talk!

*****

P.S. Here's a (hilarious) reminder that English is almost as confusing as these cakes:

P Is for Pterodactyl: The Worst Alphabet Book Ever

*****

And from my other blog, Epbot:

https://www.cakewrecks.com/home/beware-the-con-rats-2025

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Free Epic Poll

The July 1, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl made its $200 goal, so you get a free epic. Everyone is eligible to vote in this poll. I will keep it open at least until Monday night. If there's a clear answer then, I'll close it. Otherwise I may leave it open a little longer.

Here are your options:

"Meeting in the Middle"
Kan Ying sees through the lies of the Parthians and makes his way to Rome.
76 lines

"Once the Avalanche Has Begun"
A foolish choice in a neighboring town makes life challenging for Shaeth's followers.
70 lines

Poll #33354 Free Epic for the July 1, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl

This poll is closed.
Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 7

View Respondents

Which of these should be the free epic?

View Answers

"Meeting in the Middle"
5 (71.4%)

"Once the Avalanche Has Begun"
2 (28.6%)

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Sunshine Revival Challenge 4: Fun House

Sunshine Revival Challenge 4: Fun House

Journaling: What is making you smile these days? Create a top 10 list of anything you want to talk about.

Creative: Write from the perspective of a house or other location.

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!

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Poem: "The Bee Tree's Gift"

This poem was written for the Sunshine Revival Challenge 4: Fun House. It also fills the "silver / gold" square in my 7-1-25 card for the Western Bingo Fest.

( Read more... )

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Poetry Fishbowl Report for July 1, 2025

This session's theme was "Weaponized Incompetence and Malicious Compliance." I wrote from 12:30 PM to 4:30 AM, so about 14 hours, accounting for breaks. I wrote 3 poems on Tuesday and another 6 later in the week.

Participation was variable, with 10 comments on LiveJournal and another 32 on Dreamwidth. A total of 12 people sent prompts.

Read Some Poetry!
The following poems from the July 1, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl have been posted:
"Always Surprised by Consequences"
"Incompetence, Sloppy Thinking, and Laziness"
"No Such Thing as Finished"
"The Pleasure of Escaping the Responsibility"
"Provoking Change by Bringing Nature"

"An Interest in the Affairs of Your Government" (Polychrome Heroics March 4, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl)
"Tomato Seedlings in Tin Cans" (Daughters of the Apocalypse, June 3, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl)

Buy some poetry!
If you plan to sponsor some poetry but haven't made up your mind yet, see the unsold poetry list from July 1. That includes the title, length, price, and the original thumbnail description for the poems still available.

This session's donors include:

janetmiles,

fuzzyred, and Anthony Barrette. All sponsored poems from this fishbowl have been posted. There are 4 tallies, so there will be a bonus fishbowl on Tuesday, July 15.

The Poetry Fishbowl has a landing page.

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books,
read25

2025/106: Moira's Pen — Megan Whalen Turner

2025/106: Moira's Pen — Megan Whalen Turner

He should have recognised the danger when the king insisted on a formal introduction every time they met, forcing his sullen attendants to recite the diplomatic courtesies again and again, always with the pretense of never having heard them before, always with that same look of gleeful idiocy on his face. Beyond petty, beyond tedious, it was ridiculous. What kind of a king makes a mockery of himself? Melheret wished he'd seen the answer sooner... Only a king who was very sure of himself could afford to be laughed at. ['Melheret's Earrings, p.124]

A collection of short stories woven in and around the canon of the Queen's Thief series (which I have recently devoured and fallen in love with) plus maps, essays on archaeology and historical inspirations, and some beautiful illustrations. I'd read some of the stories and essays before, appended to the novels, but it is nice to have them all in one place. Even if that place is a hardcover book...

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Unsold Poems for the July 1, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl

The following poems from the July 1, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl are currently available. Poems may be sponsored via PayPal -- there's a permanent donation button on my Dreamwidth profile page -- or you can write to me and discuss other methods. There are still verses left in the linkback poems "Delight in Another," "A Sense of Weather Changes," "Ouroboros Insects," "The Loving Embrace of Night," "Generations of Cooks Past," "Homefree and Clear, " "One Bite at a Time," "Stars and Diamonds," "Mishpocha," "Changing Your Nature," and "Besa."

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