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focaccia with zucchini and potatoes
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smittenkitchen_feedEvery Full Moon from April 2024 Through March 2025
Jul. 11th, 2025 12:01 amepod_feedPhotographer: Hamza Khan
Summary Author: Hamza Khan
Featured above is every full Moon from April 2024 (upper left) to March 2025 (lower right) as viewed and photographed through my binoculars. The full Moons of August - November (so-called supermoons) occurred when the Moon happened to be at perigee in its orbit about the Earth. Note that the Pink Moon (April) was observed when the Moon was low in the sky and therefore more reddened than the other full Moons.
Jamrud Khyber Agency, Pakistan Coordinates: 34.0015, 71.3854
Related Links:
The Full Moons of 2020
Hamza's Facebook page
Ink Review: Akkerman 00-04
Jul. 10th, 2025 10:12 pmmountainofink_feed
Let’s take a look at five Akkerman standard inks: 00 Royal Akkermanblauw, 01 Passage Blauw, 02 Residentie Blauw, 03 Akkerman Blauw and 04 Nassaus Blauw. You can purchase these inks at a few retailers including Vanness Pens.
Swabs:
Left to right: 00 Royal Akkermanblauw, 01 Passage Blauw, 02 Residentie Blauw, 03 Akkerman Blauw and 04 Nassaus Blauw
Writing samples:
Let's take a look at how the ink behaves on fountain pen friendly papers: Rhodia, Tomoe River, and Leuchtturm.
Dry Time: 30-50 seconds
Water Resistance: Low-Medium
Feathering: None
Show through: Medium
Bleeding: None
Other properties: All five had low shading.
On Walmart Pen + Gear copy paper there was quite a bit of feathering and bleeding in all nib sizes.
Comparison Swabs:
00 Royal Akkerman Blauw is closest to Pelikan 4001 Royal Blue. 04 Nassaus Blauw is lighter than Kaweco Royal Blue. 02 Residentie Blauw is closest to Lamy Blue.
03 Akkerman Blauw is closest to Pilot Iroshizuku Tsuyu-kusa.
01 Passage Blauw is lighter and brighter than Rohrer and Klingner Sketch Marlene.
I used a Taroko Enigma notebook. All five inks had average flows.
Overall, I really enjoyed all five of these inks. They are good colors, flow well and even have some shading. I really love the fun shaped bottles as well.
Disclaimer: All photos and opinions are my own. This page does not contain affiliate links, and is not sponsored in any way.
The Big Idea: Sara Omer
Jul. 10th, 2025 03:30 pmscalziwhatever_feed
When you see a possibly terrifying mythical creature, is your first thought, I’m totally gonna pet that? If so, then Sara Omer, author of The Gryphon King, might have something in common with you.
SARA OMER:
At its core, The Gryphon King is about a horse girl on a quest for vengeance versus a man with cat-related PTSD. But before I can get into the infernal horse and lion biology at play, I have to gush about the monster-riding story more generally.
Just as children wish for puppies, children reading fantasy books wish for dragons. The unbreakable bonds between fire-breathing beasts and reluctant heroes populate epic fantasy stories, but if giant flying lizards aren’t your style, there’s any number of mythic monsters that might be mountable (monster romance implications of that statement aside). I love a dragonrider story as much as the next person, probably more than most people, but there’s a whole ecosystem of underutilized fantastic monsters out there that deserve some time in the spotlight. In the empire of Dumakra in The Gryphon King, there is at least one stable full of flying horses that didn’t ask to be ridden into battle or form lifelong bonds with power-hungry morally gray disaster princesses, but we can’t always fight the fate we’re dealt.
Growing up, having my own horse was as much a fantasy as having my own dragon, but I like to think I lived a tangential horse girl experience. I wasn’t yet in kindergarten when I learned to ride horses, taught by the grandfatherly carriage driver Mr. “Grandpa” Clint, who drove his carriage around the town square. After learning how to drive a carriage at an age that was definitely not road legal (to the chagrin of many other children), Grandpa Clint taught me how to ride a horse at his stable. The horse for the job was an ancient old white gelding living a life of comfort in retirement, and who I enthusiastically urged to a flying gallop my first time on the trail. I had a wonderful time as my mom and Mr. Clint raced after, concerned I would be terrified or die, probably. Surprise, I lived. I think everyone should experience that exhilaration, and a few hundred feet off the ground while you’re at it.
I had a formidable collection (army) of Breyer horses, although unlike Nohra in The Gryphon King, I didn’t grow up with an imperial stable. But some family friends had their own horses and boarded them nearby. Sometimes I would get to go ride or hang out at the stable and in the pastures. Rambo, their stubborn paint gelding, was barely tall enough to even be considered a horse rather than a pony, and I vividly remember a time he got kicked, presumably for being an asshole, and the bloody branding of the hoof that slowly healed. For this and other reasons, I’m convinced every horse is a little like a dragon.
There are multiple breeds of mythic horses I added to the bestiary that is The Gryphon King. Because why stop at sky horse when you can have water horse? And when I really got to thinking about the biology of pegasuses, I wanted to explore their avian side. What better way to celebrate the incredible Eurasian horses and the birds of prey in the region than combine them into one omnivorous monster that has an appetite for blood? As if horses weren’t already dangerous enough, now they really, really want to eat your fingers and the barn cats. And—oh, look—the battlefield became good grazing once the fighting’s quieted down. Really, pegasuses are a little terrifying, and they’re not even the most threatening strain of horse in Dumakra.
The moral is that if you make a bird big enough, humans begin to look like the small animals scurrying through the tall grass, evading tooth and talon. And what’s more terrifying than horse-eagle? Lion eagle.
I have utmost respect for anyone who can make a big cat with a massive wingspan seem docile and friendly; I just think, considering the injuries a falconer could incur and compounding those with what might befall your average lion tamer, you should have to sign a few release waivers to approach a gryphon.
Maybe I made all my animals ferocious because nature is ferocious and dangerous, and when people play at power, they don’t come close to the might of beasts. But their actions have often irreparable impacts on nature nonetheless.
Fear and respect can coexist. Add a little human curiosity, and I would never fault anyone who decided to ride a murder horse. The Gryphon King is for the readers who would go out of their way to pet a man-eating monster, who would risk it all to bond with a creature that could kill them a few different ways on purpose or by accident—I’m a little scared for your wellbeing, but I respect the drive and share the dream.
The Gryphon King: Amazon|Barnes & Noble|Bookshop|Powell’s
466: Turning Sentimental Clutter into Displays, To Do Lists, Step 2 Before Step 1?
Jul. 10th, 2025 12:00 pmaslobcomesclean_feedAs always, I’m taking time off during the summer. This year, though, we’re trying something new! We’re sharing the audio of previous live Q&As that I did on YouTube. If you only listen to the podcast, this will be all new to you! We’ll be back with our regular format mid-August. This episode includes my […]
The post 466: Turning Sentimental Clutter into Displays, To Do Lists, Step 2 Before Step 1? appeared first on Dana K. White: A Slob Comes Clean.
Cap Clouds Atop Monte Viso in the Cottian Alps
Jul. 10th, 2025 12:01 amepod_feed
Photographer: Piero Armando
Summary Author: Piero Armando
As shown above, for three consecutive years, roughly around the spring equinox, I observed this same type of peculiar cloud formation on the summit of Monte Viso (12,602 ft or 3,841 m), in the northwestern Alps (Cottian Alps). These are all cap clouds, which form if moist air is available at the base of a mountain, then is forced up its flanks, where it cools and condenses at the level of the summit.
Monte Viso Peak, Italy Coordinates: 44.6675, 7.091667
Related Links:
Monte Visto Cap Cloud
Cap Cloud over Mt. Blanc, France
Into the Woods
Jul. 9th, 2025 09:11 pmscalziwhatever_feed
Krissy is off visiting friends for a couple of days, and so it falls to me to take the dog for her daily walk through the local nature preserve. I mean, I could not do it, but then I would disappoint Charlie, and, look, you just do not want to disappoint a dog. She will look at you all mopey and sad for the whole rest of the day. No thank you. A walk is vastly preferable. Plus, you know. I need the exercise too.
How has your Wednesday been?
— JS
Black Crowned Crane
Jul. 9th, 2025 12:01 amepod_feed
Photographer: Michela Meda
Summary Author: Michela Meda
Balearica pavonina is the scientific name of the crane better known as the Black Crowned Crane. It's native to central-southern Africa and is distinguished from other cranes by its typical crown of yellow, long and stiff feathers. Standing about one meter in height, it has a wingspan of almost two meters. The crowned crane's coloration goes from the red and white on the cheeks to the white wings to end in a reddish-brown tail. It lives in freshwater marshes, humid meadows or dry land near waterways, feeding on seeds, cereals, grains or even small aquatic animals.
The African Black Crowned Crane is considered to be an endangered species. This specimen was photographed at the Schiranna Beach on Lake Varese, Italy, and is pictured here next to a native swan. It escaped from a nearby zoo and has now become the darling of tourists and passers-by at the beach. It cannot be captured, and so we limit ourselves to continuously monitoring it. Actually, it's in no danger since, despite being an African species, it was born and raised in captivity and is therefore perfectly accustomed to the climate of northern Italy. Even its food supply isn't an issue: It accepts food from tourists and residents alike but is also able to live on its own if not fed. Photos taken on March 17, 2025.
Lake Varese, Italy Coordinates: 45.80235956, 8.779291506
Related Links:
Sandhill Cranes at Colorado's Monte Vista Refuge
Crane Bird Facts
How to win a debate against a transphobe.
Jul. 8th, 2025 10:48 pmpervocracy_feedAs a former competitive debater and a veteran of many, many Internet debates, I want to share some of my favorite clever comebacks against transphobic talking points. These are just suggestions, of course; feel free to rephrase them in your own words.
They say: “What is a woman?”
Best response: Give a trans woman that makeup you bought and never used. Teach her how to use it if she doesn’t know. Tell her she looks beautiful. Mean it.
They say: “Aren’t you just reinforcing gender stereotypes?”
Best response: Buy gender-affirming clothing and hygiene products for trans people in need via the Transhealth wish list. (Or you can send them items directly, but ask first, they have limited storage space.)
They say: “Why are you letting children make irreversible decisions that they’ll regret later?”
Best response: Send a message of hope and affirmation to trans youth via the Southern Equality Project.
They say: “God made you to be a man/woman.”
Best response: Participate in an online or in-person support group hosted by Keshet (Jewish) or MASGD (Muslim) or Transmission Ministry Collective (Christian) or IQBC (Buddhist).
They say: “LGB people will lose all the progress they made if they don’t drop the T.”
Best response: Organize a day in the park or a movie night with your gay, bi, trans, and otherwise queer friends. Bring snacks.
They say: “There’s only two genders. It’s science.”
Best response: Enroll in the PRIDE study, the first long-term national health study of LGBTQIA+ people. It’s produced a huge amount of science supporting LGBTQIA+ health, and guidelines for healthcare providers to better care for us. They take privacy seriously and have a Certificate of Confidentiality and an organizational commitment to shield their data from legal demands, including from the federal government.
They say: “You’re mentally ill.”
Best response: “If you ever need to talk about serious stuff or just vent, I’m here and I’ll listen and I won’t judge,” to a trans friend who’s not quite close enough to know if that’s something they could ask of you.
They say: “This new social media trend has gotten out of hand.”
Best response: Browse the Digital Transgender Archive and educate yourself about the long and rich history of gender diversity.
They say: “Thank God Trump is finally doing something about this madness.”
Best response: Get into local politics. I mean yeah, sure, call your reps if there’s a chance in hell of them listening, but the places you really can make yourself heard are the town hall, the school board session, the city council meeting. Here’s some important advice on how to more effectively advocate for trans people in these settings.
They say: “It’s not surgery, it’s mutilation.”
Best response: “Do you need a ride home from the hospital? I can come check on you and bring you meals while you’re recovering,” to a trans person planning surgery.
They say: “I hate trans people.”
Best response: “I respect and support trans people.” Not to them. To everyone else. To your coworkers and your classmates and your neighbors and your friends and your Internet friends and anyone you can safely say it to.
They say: “You’re ruining your body.”
Best response: Log off for the night, eat, drink, stretch, read a chapter you love in a book you love, and go to bed on time for once. Caring for the community includes caring for yourself.
you say: hey cliff this post sure sounds all wise and noble but I caught you yelling “well it’s not my problem you go poopie in your pants if everyone on earth doesn’t perform pink and blue at your fucking pleasure, poopiepants” at some rando republican on another site like twenty minutes ago
my response: personal growth is a process
Wait…is this going to work?
Jul. 8th, 2025 07:38 pmthebloggess_feedI have not been ignoring you but my blog has been broken and giving error messages every time I try to write, but I think maybe it’s fixed? I guess we’ll see if this goes through. I’m too tired to be entirely cohesive or funny but I wanted you to know that Hailey is homeContinue reading "Wait…is this going to work?"
Northern Lights and Nocturnal Rainbow
Jul. 8th, 2025 12:01 amepod_feedPhotographer: Alessandro Scalas
Summary Authors: Alessandro Scalas; Jim Foster
It's always a treat to observe the northern lights and also to see a rainbow or moonbow. But to see them both at the same time is quite astonishing! This photo was captured from Uttakleiv Beach in the Lofoten Islands of Norway (north of the Arctic Circle) on February 12, 2025. At cloud level, the air temperature was just warm enough for any precipitation that fell to be in the form of rain.
The Full Moon (Snow Moon) is in the opposite direction that the camera is facing, as it must be to observe either a rainbow or a moonbow. Note that since the Moon's light is feeble compared to the Sun's, a long exposure was required to make the bow a bit more conspicuous. Moonbows, even seen when the Moon is in the full phase, aren't really bright enough to activate the cone receptors in our eyes.
Photo Details: Nikon Z7II camera; Nikon Z 14-30 lens; f/4; 6.0 seconds exposure; ISO 3200.
Uttakleiv Beach, Lofoten Islands, Norway Coordinates: 68.211213, 13.504985
Related Links:
Moonbow and Green Aurora
Alessandro's Instagram site
Dead Rats Don’t Fly: Finally! Out In the World!
Jul. 7th, 2025 04:03 pmscalziwhatever_feed
It’s 1987 and my friend Tommy Kim has an idea to make his college applications stand out from the crowd: In addition to the usual essays, grades and test scores, he’s going to include a cassette of songs he’s written, performed by a band he put together, and professionally produced in an actual studio. The band he put together included a bunch of friends and schoolmates, including me on drums and my pal Kevin Stampfl on bass. Our name: Dead Rats Don’t Fly, or “DRDF” for short. Why did we call ourselves that? Look, pal, it was the 80s, okay. Lots of things didn’t make sense. The four-song EP we cranked out in two days of studio time was called 327, named after Tommy’s room number in the Holt dormitory at Webb.
So, how was 327 as musical statement? Well, it is exactly the music that you’d expect from a bunch of rock-loving 80s teenage dudes of varying musical abilities hastily tossed together into a band with only two days of studio time at their disposal. Are the songs… good? With all love: No. In the performances, can you sense primordial musical talent waiting for its moment to arrive? Also no. Could the drummer keep a beat without speeding up? I mean, sometimes? Tommy did get into college at least one place, so it did what it was supposed to do. Otherwise, it’s a kind of a mess.
But I think it’s an endearing mess, and at the time, waaaaay back in 1987, when we got our band copies of the EP (on cassette! It was the 80s!), we thought it was pretty damn cool. Kevin and I drove around in his Mustang, listening to the thing, kind of dazed that we had actually been in a studio, and that music we made had been committed to a permanent medium. 327 isn’t exactly good, but 17-year-old me was still proud of it, and I had a blast playing songs with my friends. And that was a good thing.
(It also allowed me to play a great prank: when Steve Shenbaum, one of the singers — yes, we had two — arrived at Northwestern for his freshman orientation and met his dorm’s resident assistant, the RA said “Steve Shenbaum? Of DRDF? Dude, that’s my favorite band!” and all the upperclassmen in the dorm were able to recite the EP’s lyrics to him. He was amazed, as he recounted to me a couple days later when I called him to see how his college experience was shaping up, and eventually it was my giggling into the phone as he told me about it that revealed that I had called his RA a day before he showed up to set the bait for him. It was delightful. I believe Steve has forgiven me. Probably.)
I misplaced my 327 tape years ago, and of course these days I don’t have a cassette player anyway, and for years the EP passed into myth, and then into legend (for, like, the extremely limited number of people who know the band members and/or ever heard the cassette or heard DRDF play live at our single concert). Then a few years ago Steve sent me an MP3 rip of his cassette of 327 (see? I told you he’s forgiven me!) and I had it again. I listened to it! It was still terrible! Nevertheless I took one of the songs from it, called “It’s a New Reality” (I wrote the lyrics for it, you see), cleaned it up slightly with Logic Pro, and put it up on YouTube. A fun, or at least nostalgic, time was had by the 1.6k people who listened to it since I posted it.
But what of the rest of 327? Well, it’s a few years later now, I’m somewhat more proficient at musical production, and music recovery tools are better these days, so you know what? Fuck it, I’ve gone back and rehabbed the entire EP now. I went in, stemmed out the vocals, drums and other instruments, cleaned and brightened them, moved around some of the bum notes to get them (mostly) on key, sonically painted over the clicks where I hit my drumsticks together, and in one place patched a place in the recording where a tape head clearly jammed up, leaving a blank space in a song, pasting in the keyboards and adding a bridge vocal.
The cleanup has reveal 327 as a minor classi — no, actually it hasn’t, it’s still a bunch of 80s kids bashing together tunes on a tight schedule with more enthusiasm than actual talent (well, the guitarist, a ringer Tommy brought in named George Huang, was actually talented; he was our age but had clearly been playing for years. The rest of us? Hey, we tried!). Also, it wouldn’t have done to try to erase every artifact of its 80s amateurishness, and I’m not that good an engineer anyway, so there’s still tape hiss (and lossy MP3 simmerwarble), compressed dynamics, variable tempos and other evidence that what you’re hearing was hauled up from the subterranean depths of four decades ago. Don’t kid yourself. If you’re listening to this, it’s out of curiosity more than anything else.
Which is fine! And better than fine! 327 (now named 327/38 to note that it’s been 38 years since we got together to make this — actually maybe 39, since I’m a little fuzzy on the exact dates, but it hardly matters now, so I’m sticking with 38) is an artifact of another time and place, when hair bands ruled the earth and teenagers made their music fast and dirty in studios rather than on their laptops. It wasn’t a better time (I like making music on my laptop, thank you!), but it was a different time, and it shows. We had fun, and that was its own excuse. Plus Tommy got into college!
Enough with the liner notes, here are tunes. Note that on the original 327 some of these songs may have had different titles, but I can’t remember what they were. It’s been a while, okay?
One Hit (To the Body): If memory serves correctly, this is a song Tommy wrote about being nostalgic for a bunch of friends at… summer camp, I think? There’s a tape warble in the middle of the song that I left in because I don’t how to fix it, and also it adds a sort of verisimilitude to the 80s experience, that horrifying moment when you wonder if your tape player is going to eat your cassette. 80s kids know this pain.
It’s a New Reality: Our hit single! I wrote the lyrics imagining David Lee Roth singing it (the arrangement in my brain was different than it is here). Tommy wrote the bridge about rock and roll being in our blood, because we needed a bridge. There are some very 80s guitar solos in here. Thank you George, wherever you are! You’re probably a doctor now or something. But you could rock back in the day.
Tears Go Rolling: The album’s “epic,” with two lead singers, different parts in entirely different tempos and soaring guitar solos designed to wrench the lighters out your pocket to wave in the air. Yeah, the 80s were all about the epic. This is the song where there was blank spot in file and I had to patch it. I nailed the instrumental patch but you’ll probably be able to tell where I dubbed in my voice. Which is okay! It doesn’t have to be seamless! I do enjoy the idea that 56-year-old me is collaborating with 17-year-old me. Hello, 17-year-old me! Enjoy your hair!
Pauline: The opening guitar riff feels kind of Red Hot Chili Peppers (in contemplative mode), and then the middle the guitars go a little Johnny Marr. However, don’t actually expect either RHCP or Smiths! The guitar is leading down you a path! The song itself is going somewhere else entirely!
There, I hope this musical experience has been everything you’ve hoped for and more. Also, surprise! 327/38 is also available on streaming. The long-lost EP absolutely no one was asking for is now everywhere! So now you never have to be without it. Ever. And thank goodness for that.
Now, for the sake of completeness: Credits!
327/38
Originally produced by Tommy Kim, additional engineering by John Scalzi
All songs Tommy Kim except “It’s a New Reality” by Tommy Kim and John Scalzi
Chris Godfrey: Keyboards
John Herpel: Guitar
George Huang: Guitar
Scott Moore: Vocals
John Scalzi: Drums
Steve Shenbaum: Vocals
Kevin Stampfl: Bass
You may ask: Will we ever get the band back together? Well, if Spinal Tap can do it after 41 years, it’s not out of the question. Maybe Tommy needs tenure.
— JS
TRIGGERED - Page 342
Jul. 7th, 2025 04:14 amkhalemchurst_comics_feed
TRIGGERED - Page 342
You can see how these things just build on each other to trigger a traumatised person more. Those ladies and their loud conversation reminded me how many people associate queer people (or even just acknowledging the existence of queer people) with harm to children. I was queer, and I HAD been around children that weekend - even one who had done a nudie run! Didn’t that mean it was possible that friends at that gathering might have thought something terrible about me? Shouldn’t I be ASHAMED??
My wife was quick to comfort me. She always had a much more balanced view of things than I did (the luxury of not being deeply traumatised!) and would talk me down when I had shame spirals like this.
TRIGGERED is supported by my generous Patrons. To become a patron and gain access to hundreds of additional comic pages, head on over here.
Total Lunar Eclipse of March 14, 2025
Jul. 7th, 2025 12:01 amepod_feed
Photographer: Philippe Moussette
Summary Author: Philippe Moussette
Featured above is a photo montage of the total lunar eclipse of March 14, 2025, as viewed from Cap-Rouge, Quebec, Canada. Totality (the reddish images) began at 2:26 am and ended at 3:32 am local time.
Photo Details: Canon R3 camera; RF 600mm F4 lens; 1/250 second to 1/4 second exposures; ISO 200 to 800.
Cap-Rouge, Quebec, Canada Coordinates: 46.7660, -71.3554
Related Links:
Total Lunar Eclipse of May 15/15, 2022
Astronomy Club VÉGA de Cap-Rouge
New Cover: “Everyday”
Jul. 5th, 2025 10:16 pmscalziwhatever_feedIt’s a short and sweet oldy but a goody this time out, from Buddy Holly. Why this one? Why not? It’s been covered by just about everyone, from James Taylor to Erasure, and I really like the song, and I had free time this weekend, so here we are. If you like it, fabulous, if you don’t, well, it’s two minutes long, it’ll be over quickly enough.
And for those of you who have somehow never heard the original, here you go:
— JS
It’s the Nation’s Birthday
Jul. 4th, 2025 03:57 pmscalziwhatever_feedAnd we have a lot to think about.
— JS
Independence Rock on the Emigrant Trail
Jul. 4th, 2025 12:02 amepod_feedPhotographer: Ray Boren
Summary Author: Ray Boren
Almost two centuries ago, on July 4, 1830, a brigade of about 80 fur trappers and traders led by William Sublette, headed toward the Wind River region just to the west, paused to celebrate the Fourth of July — Independence Day in the young United States of America. They camped beside a massive, free-standing mound of bald granite along central Wyoming’s Sweetwater River. Sublette is generally credited with giving the monolith its name: Independence Rock, shown here in a photograph taken on June 19, 2025.
During the mid-19th century, this emigrant route over the Continental Divide and through North America’s Rocky Mountains was traveled by an estimated half-million explorers, adventurers, would-be gold miners, farmers, tradesmen and other settlers — men, women and children. All were walking, riding horses or seated on often oxen-powered wagons, and some were even pulling handcarts. The Oregon, Mormon Pioneer and California National Historic Trails and the route of the Pony Express all passed by this impressive outcrop. Independence Rock and the Fourth of July became goals for pioneers because the landmark was about halfway between their trek’s beginnings, near the Missouri River, and their Far West and Pacific Coast destinations, which they hoped to reach before snow started to fall in the Sierra Nevadas and other ranges later in the year.
In diaries and letters, emigrants variously wrote that the great mound looked like “a huge whale,” “a giant bowl turned upside down,” or “a big elephant mired up to its sides in the mud.” And on cliffs, in alcoves and caves, and on the rock’s rounded top, thousands of them scratched, chiseled or wrote with paint, axle grease, or tar their names, initials and dates onto the granite. Time, weather, erosion and rock-covering lichen have erased or obscured most of the inscriptions, but scores remain, as shown in the bottom photo (also taken on June 19). One of the earliest known signatures, made by “M.K. Hugh” in 1824, has vanished. But others, even from the 1840s and 1850s, can be found by determined searchers, especially along a path that encircles the rock.
The emigrants, as an informational sign at Independence Rock observes, probably did not realize they were beneficiaries of millions of years of geologic activity. The monolith — roughly 1,900 feet (580 meters) long, 850 feet (260 m) wide, and 130 feet (40 m) high — and other, more-jagged peaks nearby are composed of Archean granite, a hard, coarse-grained igneous rock that slowly cooled under the Earth’s surface. The rise and fall of the land and erosion eventually exposed the summits we see today. A highway rest stop along Wyoming 220 now provides viewpoints and pathways to the steep-sided mount, which was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961, and which is managed today by the State of Wyoming as the Independence Rock State Historic Site.
Independence Rock, Wyoming Coordinates: 42.4935, -107.1318
Related Links:
Crossroads on the Upper Green River
Idaho’s Granitic City of Rocks
Northeastern Nevada’s Pilot Peak
The Big Idea: E. L. Starling
Jul. 3rd, 2025 03:57 pmscalziwhatever_feed
We do so love the big blue marble we call home, don’t we? But what if humans had another home, and what if it was our red and dusty space neighbor? Author E.L. Starling poses this question in the Big Idea for newest novel, Bound By Stars, thinking up possibilities about the future that are certainly dystopian, but also realistic. Follow along on a journey through the stars, and try to keep afloat as the (space)ship goes down.
E. L. STARLING:
My family rewatches Interstellar together every year, which sometimes (read: always) devolves into a heated debate about complex theories, space time, and whether “they” really were aliens or just an unfathomable combination of future human technology and a natural anomaly splicing through the multiverse. (Probably the aliens, right?)
In spring of 2022, as the credits rolled, my oldest veered off our usual set of topics and brought up a certain billionaire’s desire to terraform Mars. We all responded with eye rolls and a version of the same sentiment, “How about putting that effort into combating climate change on this planet where we already have oxygen, water, and atmosphere?”
Plus, if I’m being completely honest, even if Mars was a viable option for everyone, you can still leave me here. Reading in a car going 25 mph flips my stomach inside out. And, the vastness of the unknown is a fear I would rather not face.
But, what would that be like? What if the wealthy abandoned Earth to create a utopia 140 million miles away and left the rest of the world’s population behind? Would they really leave Earth for good? Terraforming is a long game. They would still need resources. Would they use Earth like their new planet’s remote farm and factory? There was so much to consider.
This discussion sparked an idea. Two worlds. Separated by space and socioeconomic classes.
As my family members scattered, I was building the dystopia in my mind: After the Earth is ravaged by climate change, the population decimated, and society reshaped, the wealthy still control the resources, but they’ve drilled for water, built infrastructure, and established a safe haven in luxurious habitat cities on Mars.
The dynamics of the world set up the perfect main characters: two people from different classes and different planets. And what if they were teenagers in this world— still required to manage school, bullies, love, homework, and their impending futures? What if I upped the stakes further and put them on a doomed starliner between their two worlds? There was The Big Idea: YA Titanic-in-space.
Enter Jupiter Dalloway and Weslie Fleet. Jupiter is from Mars. Born at the top of society. The heir to a multi-trillion-dollar company. Unsatisfied with his predetermined future. Weslie’s from Earth. Hardened by a life of struggle and injustice. Full of confidence and armed with the attitude to call out Jupiter’s alarming privilege. Both of them seventeen, on the tailend of adolescence. Two people who learn to appreciate and celebrate each other’s differences despite the backdrop of a complex and oppressive world.
Choosing to write Bound by Stars as a YA novel was a conscious endeavor for me. At that age, you’re near adulthood, but still not fully in control of your own life. There are people who dictate the basics of your day to day, but you’re the one expected to make decisions about your future. High school graduation, college, the rest of your life is just around the bend in the road ahead. You’re shaped by every heartbreak, moment of triumph, cruel word, and act of kindness. And all the emotions inside you are bigger, stronger, more passionate. The future feels open. Possible. Big. Scary.
I love celebrating this multitude for joy, hope, injustice, and even sadness. In my opinion, this is great insight into why we often throw teenager characters into dystopian stories. While sometimes labeled as “overly emotional” or “out of control,” that “too much-ness” of adolescence is human emotion at its absolute fullest capacity. I can’t help but respect someone who can experience heartbreak like a life-ending blow and still care about their friends, show up for band practice, sing their heart out in a theater production, and write that 5-page essay due at the end of the week.
And on top of it all—today’s youth are growing up with a true fear of climate change and developing an understanding of the dangers of unfettered capitalism in real time, while being asked “What do you want to do with your life after high school?”
Of course, the compelling lightbulb of “Titanic-in-space” was fun and romantic: a chance to create parallels to an epic love story in a high-stake situation. But there was a level deeper. Underneath the outrageous opulence of the ship headed for Mars, sharp banter between characters from different worlds, slow-burn romance, and an action-packed, “there aren’t enough lifeboats (or escape pods in this case)” climax, Bound by Stars is a story about relatable, young characters navigating life in bleak future landscape. After all, dystopian novels can reflect the complexities of existing in this stage of life, while—hopefully—offering a bit of hope and inspiration.
Bound By Stars: Amazon|Barnes & Noble|Bookshop
465: Extra Bedding, Things That Need Repairs, and Extra Bins
Jul. 3rd, 2025 12:00 pmaslobcomesclean_feedAs always, I’m taking time off during the summer. This year, though, we’re trying something new! We’re sharing the audio of previous live Q&As that I did on YouTube. If you only listen to the podcast, this will be all new to you! We’ll be back with our regular format mid-August. This episode includes my […]
The post 465: Extra Bedding, Things That Need Repairs, and Extra Bins appeared first on Dana K. White: A Slob Comes Clean.
burrata with crushed cherries and pistachios
Jul. 3rd, 2025 11:42 amsmittenkitchen_feed
The ISS and Space X Dragon Capsule: Capturing a Little Bit of History
Jul. 3rd, 2025 12:01 amepod_feed
Photographer: Greg Parker
Summary Author: Greg Parker
On March 16, 2025, probably around 8:00 pm local time, I stepped outside to have a look at the sky. It was fairly clear with only a few patches of clouds. As I looked almost overhead there was the International Space Station (ISS) passing over, a nice long pass of at least six minutes, I would guess. But then as the ISS was about to disappear towards the east there was another bright object following in its path, maybe just a minute or two behind. I couldn't believe it - it was the Space X Dragon capsule about to relieve Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore from their extended ISS stay! I had no idea that this was going on and it was pure fluke I was outside at this time to witness it. Both passes were however on NASA's Spot the Station website with the time in agreement with what I'd seen. I was furious at missing this superb photo-opportunity because at 8:00 pm the sky was nice and dark, and I could have held the shutter open for the duration of both passes.
Two days later, on March 18, the SpaceX capsule was in the news once more as it was about to detach from the ISS and return home. I wondered, could I save the situation and actually get images of the ISS and the SpaceX capsule on the night of the 18th? I should say at this point that there was no entry for the SpaceX capsule's return when I looked at the NASA website on the 16th. But when I checked the site again on the 18th, there it was! The only problem was that the SpaceX capsule pass would occur shortly before 7:00 pm, with the ISS pass coming along some 15 minutes later, and the sky was still fairly bright that early in the evening. This is a nuisance for a photographer as it means I'd have to grab the passes in short exposures as a long exposure would wipe them out due to too much skyglow. In addition, to make things worse, SpaceX pass was fairly low in the sky, in the murk, which combined with the much dimmer appearance of SpaceX (compared to the ISS) and the skyglow would make this a VERY difficult capture -- much more so than the capture two days earlier.
Anyway, I set up my Canon 5D camera in bulb mode with a 15mm fisheye lens ready to capture SpaceX first. In the SpaceX image (top photo) west is to the right and you can see the 11 exposures capturing the SpaceX pass -- at left (east) in the lower half of the frame. Note that the tree you see on the right in this image is the same tree you see on the right in the ISS pass (bottom photo), which gives you some idea of the huge difference in elevation between the two passes. From memory, I believe the SpaceX pass was around 12 degrees, whereas the ISS pass was around 78 degrees. Some 15 minutes later, the ISS came over and you can see the six (longer) exposures I took on the bottom photo. So, at least I captured both the ISS and SpaceX and was thus a little less furious about losing the more ideal passes two days earlier.
But then there was a further setback. When I looked at the SpaceX data, the capsule was incredibly dim, and I couldn't create even a half decent image of the pass. I was down in the dumps again. Had I missed the photo-opportunity of a lifetime for a second time? Fortunately, not! My friend Noel Carboni, Photoshop practitioner extraordinaire came to the rescue and created the top image (of the two) that you see above.
Photo Details: Canon 5D MkII camera, in bulb mode; ISO 100; f#2.8; a Canon 15mm fisheye lens; processed in Photoshop.
New Forest Observatory, Hampshire, U. K. Coordinates: 50.819, -1.590
Related Links:
Your Wednesday Watermelon Report
Jul. 2nd, 2025 07:50 pmscalziwhatever_feedWhilst I was perusing the produce section at Kroger last week, I came across a watermelon. Not just any watermelon, though. Private Selection’s “Black Diamond” watermelons. I figured since y’all seemed to enjoy my orange review, you might want the skinny on this here watermelon, as well:
Unlike the Sugar Gem oranges, this watermelon was sweeter than a regular ol’ watermelon. Not only that, but the label boasts a rich, red flesh. I thought it may have been all talk, but lo and behold it was indeed very red! I bought this one for six dollars, which is pretty much the exact same cost as a regular watermelon, and it’s roughly the same size, so I’d say you should go ahead and buy this one over the regular ones if you are someone who prefers a juicier, sweeter watermelon.
I served this watermelon to my parents, both of whom do not particularly care for watermelon, and they made a point of telling me how good this particular watermelon was and ended up eating a good bit of it when normally they probably wouldn’t have opted for any watermelon at all.
With the 4th approaching this weekend, I assume many of y’all will want to pick up a watermelon, and I think if your Kroger has these ones lying around you should give it a try! I’ve been meaning to buy another one because it’s the perfect refreshing snack during this recent heat wave.
It’s nice to try something new and actually have a good experience with it. Those Sugar Gem oranges may have been a bust, but this Black Diamond Watermelon is definitely a winner in my book.
Do you like watermelon? If you don’t, would you be willing to give this one a try based on my parents’ reaction to it? Do you have fun plans for the 4th? Let me know in the comments, and have a great day!
-AMS
Reset Your Nervous System Super Conference
Jul. 2nd, 2025 02:31 pmrewritingtherules_feedNow that my new book with Alex Iantaffi, How to Understand Your Relationships, is out in the world (the last book in our How to Understand Your… series), I’m stocked that my interview about trauma and relationships is being included in the Reset Your Nervous System Super Conference.
The interview covers:
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How developmental and cultural trauma impact our relationships
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How to interrupt trauma cycles and have healthier relationships
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The importance of honesty and kindness
The conference airs on July 21st to 27th. You can sign up for the conference from today, using this link.
The book is out now and you can order it here.
And this zine also covers some of these ideas around relationship struggles.
The post Reset Your Nervous System Super Conference appeared first on Rewriting The Rules.
Icarus and the Equinox Sun
Jul. 2nd, 2025 12:01 amepod_feed
Photographer: Anthony Ayiomamitis
Summary Author: Anthony Ayiomamitis
One of the most beloved myths from Ancient Greece involves the father-son duo of Daedalus and Icarus who were jailed by King Minos in Crete after the latter had asked for the construction of a complex labyrinth by the crafty Daedalus for the jailing of the Minotaur (illegitimate son of the King's wife).
The older Daedalus came up with the ingenious idea to construct wings made of wax and bird feathers so that he and his son could fly their way out of prison and away from Crete. Prior to their dramatic escape, Daedalus advised the younger Icarus not to fly too close to the Sun since the heat would melt the wax and lead them to their demise. Similarly, he advised Icarus not to fly too close to the sea since the moisture would dampen their wings, thus making them heavier and which would also lead to a destructive ending.
Although the escape went as planned, the younger Icarus was so excited by their ability to fly that he soon forgot his father's advice by flying higher and higher and which eventually led to the melting of the wax and his ultimate demise where he tragically fell into the Aegean Sea. Daedalus located his son's body and buried Icarus in the immediate vicinity of his tragic drowning and named the nearby island Icaria in honor of his cherished son.
Featured above (at top) is a stunning stainless steel statue depicting Icarus with the spring equinox Sun setting in the immediate background. The bottom photo required seven trips to Cyprus to get the alignment just right because of the greater distance from the statue than the top photo as well as various nuances due to the weather and a broken tripod connection. Top photo taken on April 9, 2002; bottom photo taken on March 15, 2025.
Photo Details: Top photo - Canon EOS 6D camera; Baader BCF2 filter; Baader ND5 filter; Canon EOS EF 50mm/f1.8USM lens; f8.0; 47 x 1/320 second exposures; ISO 200; Digital Photo Pro V4.6.30.0; Photoshop CS5. Bottom photo - Canon EOS 6D camera; Baader BCF2 filter; Baader ND5 filter; Canon EOS EF 70-200mm f/4 L; 200 mm/f14.0; 11 x 1/60 second exposures; ISO 640; Digital Photo Pro V4.6.30.0; Photoshop CS5.
Boardwalk, Ayia Napa, Cyprus Coordinates: 34.981898, 34.001602
Related Links:
Equinox Sun at Pegasus of Corinth
Anthony's Website
The Big Idea: Matthew Kressel
Jul. 1st, 2025 01:50 pmscalziwhatever_feed
Hop on board for author Matthew Kressel’s newest ride through the galaxy, Space Trucker Jess. In this Big Idea as he takes you through not only his writing process for this particular story, but on a journey through a high-concept sci-fi world viewed through the eyes of a teenage girl.
MATTHEW KRESSEL:
I was a feral kid. Both my parents worked full-time jobs, and I’d come home to an empty house. I had no supervision. I went off with friends and we, ahem, did things. Stupid things. Really fucking stupid things. And when I look back on those days I’m like, How the hell did I make it out alive?
But that freedom was glorious. You could do whatever you wanted. Go anywhere. You had the feeling that anything could happen. And it often did. The good and the bad.
That’s the kind of feeling I hope to evoke in Space Trucker Jess. The joy and spontaneity of discovery. In my childhood, we got into trouble all around the neighborhood. In my novel, Jess gets into hijinx across the galaxy.
Like Jess herself, I began the book with a simple premise: Screw the “rules.”
In my past stories and novels, I labored over every paragraph, sentence, word, and punctuation mark until I’d wound myself into a Gordian knot a million words long. In Jess, I felt the need to loosen the bridles, to let my idea run wild, like that feral kid who got into trouble around the neighborhood. What emerged was Jess, a take-no-shit foul-mouthed kick-ass teenaged girl who’s smart as hell, caring and empathetic, who solves problems not with violence but with brains and determination. Though too often for her own good, Jess’s curiosity gets her into trouble. Big trouble.
Think Natasha Lyonne narrating 2001: A Space Odyssey.
There’s lots of high-concept SF, and, yeah, Space Trucker Jess has all the tropes: starships and FTL travel, alien gods, missing planets, galactic secrets. But I wanted to tell the story a different way. Not from an omniscient or a dry and distant third person, but from deep in the point of view of a sensitive and expressive girl who’s journeyed across the Milk and back a thousand times and who knows more about starships than most people know their own nose.
And so you get high philosophy and fart jokes. Orthodox religion and irreverent sacrilege. Weird inscrutable aliens and deadbeat dads. All told from a foul-mouthed over-confident, wicked-smart and sometimes willfully naive girl who just wants, at the end of the day, to be left the hell alone.
Space Trucker Jess is also about identity. I wrote a good chunk of the book during the first Covid lockdowns. Cut off from friends and family, from work and all the many inter-personal relationships I took for granted, I felt my sense of self drifting. Without those external interactions reflecting my identity back to me, I didn’t know who I was anymore. It was very disconcerting.
A lot of that experience makes its way into the book. Jess’s worldview expands enormously throughout the novel, sometimes suddenly and violently, and she is forced to reckon with a new sense of self and a greater awareness.
Also, Space Trucker Jess is about family. Jess loves her deadbeat dad, and she and him have been grifting their way across the galaxy for years. But she knows he’s an asshole, he knows he’s an asshole, but she just can’t let him go. The relationship is, from the start, highly dysfunctional. Jess just wants stability, away from him. But getting away is harder than it sounds. Without getting too personal, I had a lot of turbulence in my childhood home, and I wanted to explore the contrasts between the family we’re born with and the family we choose, and how those dynamics can alter the course of our entire lives, for better or worse.
So if you want to go on a fun adventure alongside a bad-ass genius girl head-firsting her way through the galaxy who’s just looking for some peace in an uncaring universe, while encountering alien gods, missing planets, galactic secrets, and more, well then, Space Trucker Jess might just be your ride.
Space Trucker Jess: Amazon|Barnes & Noble|Bookshop|Powell’s
The Moon that Never Sets
Jul. 1st, 2025 12:01 amepod_feed
Photographer: Meiying Lee
Summary Author: Meiying Lee
It turns out that those of us living in the mid and low latitudes have only been seeing half of the Moon's trajectory! We're used to the Moon rising in the east and setting in the west. If we observe closely, we'll notice that its path shifts north and south every month, while the Sun only shifts north and south once a year. From February 22 to March 7, 2025, I traveled to northern Norway, around 69 degrees north latitude. The first few days I was there, I found that I couldn't see the Moon at all, day or night. It then dawned on me that because of how far north I was, the Moon's path was too far south for me to see.
However, in the latter half of the trip, on March 4 and 5, I discovered that the waxing crescent Moon stayed in the sky all day and night! In fact, if the weather was clear enough, we could observe this waxing crescent remaining near the level of the horizon for five to six days, much like the phenomenon of the Midnight Sun during the summer solstice, where in the vicinity of the Arctic Circle the Sun stays on the horizon continuously.
Unfortunately, due to the weather and my travel schedule, I couldn’t capture the entire trajectory of the Moon across the sky. But during the early hours of March 5, while photographing an aurora, I managed to capture two segments of the Moon's path. The left image shows the time from 12:30 to 1:52 am (local time) on March 5, and the right image is from 2:48 to 4:07 am. In the left image, the Moon is still descending, while in the right image, it appears to be moving horizontally just above the horizon. From the position of the North Star (at the center of the concentric circles), we can see that the Moon has reached its lowest point and is beginning to rise again, though the movement is so subtle it’s almost imperceptible.
Additionally, the Moon that appeared in the northern low sky at this late hour was a waxing crescent Moon, which shouldn't have been visible at this time and direction. This phenomenon, where the Moon never sets, is actually the other half of the Moon's trajectory below the horizon. It's a sight that people living in the mid to low latitudes have never imagined and is truly fascinating! Photos taken on March 3, 2025.
Senja Island, Norway Coordinates: 69.2965, 17.6459
Related Links:
Perspective of the Moon from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres
Meiying's Facebook page
Close To Home: Grist
Jun. 30th, 2025 08:47 pmscalziwhatever_feedHave you ever had one of those places you want to go to, but never get around to checking out, and suddenly a year has passed and you’ve still never been? That’s how it was for me and Grist, a restaurant in downtown Dayton that I had heard about from so many people and had been meaning to get out to for literal months. Well, I finally made it happen, and I’m so glad I did.
Bryant and I were going out to dinner, and I asked him what kind of food he wanted. He picked Italian, which, in my opinion, is the hardest cuisine to get around this area. At least, good Italian, that is. There’s always Fazoli’s, and TripAdvisor has the audacity to label Marion’s Pizza as the number one Italian spot in the area, so pickings are slim for Italian ’round these parts. But I wanted something nicer than Spaghetti Warehouse.
Eventually my searching led me to Grist, which was labeled as Italian, and looked pretty dang amazing from the photos provided. Plus, I’d heard from numerous Daytonians in the past that they liked Grist, and I trust my sources. So, I made us a reservation for that evening, excited to try somewhere new.
Located on Fifth Street, it’s just down the street from the Oregon District, and close to the Dayton Convention Center. There’s a parking garage right across the street from it, and some street parking, too.
Upon walking in, the first thing I noticed was how bright and open it is. The large wall of windows let in so much natural light, and you immediately get to see all the baked goods in their glass display case.
I immediately loved the decor and vibe in Grist. It was like sort of rustic but nice at the same time. Like fancy Italian farmhouse vibes? It was really cute.
And there was even a selection of wine for purchase:
I didn’t get a shot of their other indoor dining area or their little patio, but it does have a super cute patio.
Grist has casual service, so you can either place your order at the counter or order at your table using your phone, and they bring the food out to your table. I chose to use my phone because there was a pretty steady flow of people ordering to-go stuff from the register.
Here’s what they were offering on their dinner menu:
It’s basically a law that you have to try a restaurant’s bread. The bread a restaurant offers is a window into all the rest of their food, and also into their soul. So we split the half loaf of rosemary and parmesan focaccia:
Bryant and I both loved the focaccia, and there was more than enough for both of us. The outside was just a little bit crispy and the bread inside was soft and chewy. It wasn’t overwhelmingly herbaceous, and was definitely worth the six dollars in my opinion. The only acceptable reason to not try this bread if you visit is if you’re gluten intolerant.
We also shared the house-made meatballs:
I can’t say I’m like, a huge meatball fan. I don’t really eat them that often and they’re not something I crave regularly or think about all that much. However, these meatballs were really yummy! I was impressed that there were five of them, and they were quite sizeable. I think the portion size is honestly pretty good. They definitely tasted like they were made fresh in-house, and had just the right amount of sauce on them. I would be more than happy to have a meatball marinara sub made with these meatballs.
And our final appetizer was the mushroom pate:
First off, I love how toasty the ciabatta was, it’s like the perfect shade for toast. The mushroom pate was packed to the brim with mushroomy, umami flavor. Total flavor bomb, and a little goes a long way. The pickled shallots added a wild contrast, and there was a lot of interesting textures. It was seriously delish.
To accompany the starters, I decided to try their sweet wine flight, which came with three wines for fourteen dollars:
I can’t remember what the red one was, but the two whites are a Riesling and a sparkling Moscato. I did not care for the red at all, in my opinion it wasn’t even remotely sweet, but I generally prefer white anyway so maybe it just wasn’t my cup of tea (or wine, I suppose). Normally I like Rieslings but this one was kind of a miss for me, too. The Moscato was the bomb dot com though. I loved the bubbles and the sweetness level was perfect. It was so smooth and delish, I ended up polishing that one off but didn’t really drink the other two.
Choosing an entree was pretty dang tough, but Bryant ended up picking the Cacio e Pepe Orecchiette:
I absolutely loved the presentation of this dish, and I’m a huge risotto fan, but I honestly didn’t care for this dish. It just really didn’t taste like much to me, but then again I only had one bite and Bryant said he really liked it, so maybe it was a me issue. I’m glad he enjoyed it!
I opted for the Sweet Corn Agnolotti:
I actually wasn’t sure what type of pasta agnolotti was, but it’s basically just a stuffed pasta, kind of like a ravioli. These little dudes were stuffed with a delicious, creamy filling that I totally burned the frick frack out of my tongue on. They had a great corn flavor, you could definitely tell it was sweet corn. I noticed on the menu it also said it had black truffle in it but I actually didn’t notice any truffle flavor at all, so that’s kind of odd. I really enjoyed my entree, and I think next time I’d like to try the squid ink pasta since I still have yet to try squid ink.
Of course, we had to save room for dessert, and you can’t eat an Italian dinner without ending it with tiramisu:
Funny enough, Bryant’s favorite dessert is tiramisu, so he definitely wasn’t gonna pass this up. He was kind enough to let me try a bite, and I feel confident saying it’s a pretty good tiramisu! It was creamy and rich, and honestly didn’t have any sort of alcohol-y boozy type flavor. No complaints, solid tiramisu.
I went with the apricot and passionfruit tart with pepita crust:
Oh my DAYS! This bloody thing was loaded with flavor. Holy cannoli this thing literally punched my tastebuds into next week! The passionfruit flavor is absolutely bonkers on this sucker. Don’t get me wrong, it was delicious. It was sweet and tart and the crust was awesome and the meringue on top was fantastic and wow. Seriously wow. It took me three separate tries to eat this after I took it home, because I would take one bite and be like, okay that’s plenty for now. But don’t misunderstand me, it is very good!
Before leaving, I simply had to get one of their incredible looking cookies to take home, and I picked the white chocolate pineapple one:
This cookie was dense, chewy, perfectly sweet with pieces of pineapple throughout, and the flaky sea salt on top really was the cherry on top, or I guess it was the flaky sea salt on top (I know, it’s not a funny joke). Definitely pick up a cookie on your way out, you won’t regret it!
Grist is open Tuesday-Saturday for lunch and dinner, with a break in between the two. You can make reservations for dinner but not for lunch, and you can order online for lunch but not for dinner. While I was there I learned that Grist also hosts cooking classes on Sundays, so that’s neat! I’d love to check one out sometime.
All in all, Grist was a great experience. Though we didn’t have waiters and whatnot, the service we got from the people at the counter and from the chefs that brought our plates out was extremely friendly, and also the food came out really quickly. We both really loved the food and the vibes, and I also like the prices. I definitely want to come back and try pretty much everything I didn’t get to this first time around.
Have you tried Grist before? Which dish looks the best to you? Do you have any recommendations for nice Italian places in Dayton? Let me know in the comments, and have a great day! And be sure to follow Grist on Instagram.
-AMS
TRIGGERED - Page 341
Jun. 30th, 2025 03:11 amkhalemchurst_comics_feed
TRIGGERED - Page 341
My coworker could see that I was upset by the conversation we overheard, but tried to assure me that it was ‘nothing personal’. How could it not be personal? When queer people were under attack for seeking protection for kids? When we were so often the subject of political debate that led to people loudly expressing opinions about us? It felt like the plebiscite all over again.
TRIGGERED is supported by my generous Patrons. To become a patron and gain access to hundreds of additional comic pages, head on over here.
Archive - Driftwood in Iceland
Jun. 30th, 2025 12:01 amepod_feedThis EPOD was first published May 16, 2012
Photographer: Rebecca Roush
Summary Author: Stu Witmer
The photo above shows a stack of driftwood on the beach of the bay of Hunafloi near Drangsnes, in the Westfjords district of Iceland. This is no casual bonfire in the making. Trees are few in Iceland. So much so that a popular joke for tourists is “What should you do if you’re lost in the forest? Stand up.” Most of the native trees were cut down in the early days of settlement and a reforestation program is underway to help bring the forests back. Meanwhile, driftwood fills the gap. There’s more driftwood than you might expect. Primarily spruce (Picea), pine (Pinus) and larch (Larix sibirica) the majority of these trees originally stood along Siberian rivers such as the Ob and the Lena where they may have eroded from the shores or escaped from logging operations. Once at sea, the trees drift with the Arctic Ocean currents. Studies have shown that it takes about five years for these trees to travel to Iceland. Driftwood can only stay afloat for about ten months indicating that these trees are primarily carried by sea ice. Along the way, the wood becomes impregnated with so much salt from the seawater that it is hardened thus making it excellent for use in construction. These days it is mainly used for fence posts. Since the wood belongs to whoever owns the land it washes up on, it makes a cost-effective building material and sometimes a cash crop. Photo taken September 13, 2011.
Photo Details: Camera: Canon Powershot SD 1300 IS; Focal Length: 5 mm; F Number: f/8; ISO Speed Ratings: 160; Flash: off.
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Rough week
Jun. 30th, 2025 04:17 amthebloggess_feedIt’s been a very rough week and I’m lightly exhausted so instead of writing a real post I’m just sharing the letter I sent everyone on my art substack. Sorry. Any week with spinal taps in it doesn’t count as a real week. Hi friend, I’m writing this from the hospital where I’ve been withContinue reading "Rough week"
Things I Was Not Expecting Outside My Hotel Window Last Night, Fireworks Edition
Jun. 30th, 2025 12:15 amscalziwhatever_feed
July 4 is most of a week away, so I was not anticipating that outside my hotel window last night would be a full-fledged professional fireworks display. But it turns out the hotel I was at, was next door to a Masonic Temple compound, and I guess they had some premature patriotic fervor. Inasmuch as I got a free fireworks show I didn’t even need to leave my hotel room for (and it ended early enough that I didn’t lose any sleep over it), I suppose I can’t complain.
Back at home now. Not anticipating a fireworks display tonight. We’ll see if that prediction holds.
— JS
View From a Hotel Window, 6/28/25: Medina, OH
Jun. 28th, 2025 08:50 pmscalziwhatever_feed
Very different from the last View From a Hotel Window I posted, seeing that one was from Venice, Italy. This one is greener, though. And has a parking lot! Very few of those in Venice, I have to say.
Why am I here? Because of the Big Ohio Book Con, where Tochi Onyebuchi and I are in conversation tomorrow at 12:30, followed by us both signing books. If you are in the vicinity of Medina, OH tomorrow, come down and see us (the book festival is also happening today! Right now! As I write this!). If you’re not in the vicinity of Medina, Ohio today or tomorrow, well, try to have a good time anyway.
— JS