Here are the timeline notes for "Along These Sympathetic Fibers." They compare divergences between local-Caribbean and Peculiar-Caribbean events in history.
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Poem: "Along These Sympathetic Fibers"
Dec. 22nd, 2025 05:11 pmThis poem is spillover from the June 3, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by a prompt from ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
see_also_friend. It also fills the "Rainbow" square in my 6-2-25 card for the Pride Fest Bingo. This poem has been sponsored by a pool with fuzzyred. It belongs to the series Peculiar Obligations.
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see_also_friend. It also fills the "Rainbow" square in my 6-2-25 card for the Pride Fest Bingo. This poem has been sponsored by a pool with fuzzyred. It belongs to the series Peculiar Obligations.( Read more... )
Poem: "Mamalokshen"
Dec. 19th, 2025 09:11 pmThis is the freebie for the December Poetry Fishbowl reaching its $150 goal. It was inspired by a prompt from jadelennox. It also fills the "Ancestors" square in my 10-1-22 card for the Fall Festival Bingo.
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jadelennox. It also fills the "Ancestors" square in my 10-1-22 card for the Fall Festival Bingo.( Read more... )
The western U.S. Tried to stop wildfires and it backfired
After a century of stopping fires, much of the West is now dangerously overdue for them.
Much of the western U.S. is overdue for wildfire, with decades of suppression allowing fuel to build up across millions of hectares. Researchers estimate that 74% of the region is in a fire deficit, meaning far more land needs to burn to restore healthy forest conditions. Catching up would require an unprecedented amount of controlled and managed fire.
I told you so.
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After a century of stopping fires, much of the West is now dangerously overdue for them.
Much of the western U.S. is overdue for wildfire, with decades of suppression allowing fuel to build up across millions of hectares. Researchers estimate that 74% of the region is in a fire deficit, meaning far more land needs to burn to restore healthy forest conditions. Catching up would require an unprecedented amount of controlled and managed fire.
I told you so.
( Read more... )
This 8,000-year-old art shows math before numbers existed
Over 8,000 years ago, early farming communities in northern Mesopotamia were already thinking mathematically—long before numbers were written down. By closely studying Halafian pottery, researchers uncovered floral and plant designs arranged with precise symmetry and numerical patterns, revealing a surprisingly advanced sense of geometry.
People learned to count and do math, sometimes rather sophisticated math, long before they got around to writing numerals or equations. As for geometry, it's very easy to obtain workable patterns that scale well by examining nature. Fibonacci sequence and fractals both yield very useful parameters.
Over 8,000 years ago, early farming communities in northern Mesopotamia were already thinking mathematically—long before numbers were written down. By closely studying Halafian pottery, researchers uncovered floral and plant designs arranged with precise symmetry and numerical patterns, revealing a surprisingly advanced sense of geometry.
People learned to count and do math, sometimes rather sophisticated math, long before they got around to writing numerals or equations. As for geometry, it's very easy to obtain workable patterns that scale well by examining nature. Fibonacci sequence and fractals both yield very useful parameters.
Early Humans
Dec. 12th, 2025 01:54 am'It is the most exciting discovery in my 40-year career': Archaeologists uncover evidence that Neanderthals made fire 400,000 years ago in England
Neanderthals were the world's first innovators of fire technology, tiny specks of evidence in England suggest. Flecks of pyrite found at a more than 400,000-year-old archaeological site in Suffolk, in eastern England, push back archaeologists' evidence for controlled fire-making and suggest that key human brain developments began far earlier than previously thought.
It's exciting to see such concrete evidence.
Neanderthals were the world's first innovators of fire technology, tiny specks of evidence in England suggest. Flecks of pyrite found at a more than 400,000-year-old archaeological site in Suffolk, in eastern England, push back archaeologists' evidence for controlled fire-making and suggest that key human brain developments began far earlier than previously thought.
It's exciting to see such concrete evidence.
Sustainability
Dec. 10th, 2025 07:50 pmHow Uruguay’s energy supply became 98% renewable
The fossil fuel industry likes to make out that it is a pipe dream to think that we can completely replace fossil fuels with alternative sustainable sources. But the example of Uruguay shows that it is not only possible but the transformation can be done in as short a time as five years.
Now that's impressive.
The fossil fuel industry likes to make out that it is a pipe dream to think that we can completely replace fossil fuels with alternative sustainable sources. But the example of Uruguay shows that it is not only possible but the transformation can be done in as short a time as five years.
Now that's impressive.
Corpse Roads and Coffin Stones
Corpse roads are paths over which one carries a coffin to its final resting place. Like crossroads, corpse roads are physical places with metaphysical properties, according to folklore. Such pathways are found all over the world, but the origin of corpse roads in Great Britain is a little more political than you might expect.
The post also includes prompts for stories set in such places. I agree that it is an unparalleled location for family drama, but that is not my best topic.
Corpse roads are paths over which one carries a coffin to its final resting place. Like crossroads, corpse roads are physical places with metaphysical properties, according to folklore. Such pathways are found all over the world, but the origin of corpse roads in Great Britain is a little more political than you might expect.
The post also includes prompts for stories set in such places. I agree that it is an unparalleled location for family drama, but that is not my best topic.
Poem: "Protect the Inner Core"
Dec. 3rd, 2025 08:11 pmThis poem came out of the December 2, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by prompts from janetmiles, dialecticdreamer, readera, and see_also_friend. It also fills the "Set Boundaries" square in my 2-1-25 card for the Valentines Bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by janetmiles. It belongs to the Strange Family thread of the Polychrome Heroics series. "A Dangerous Thing to Be a Doll" happens earlier and will be helpful background.
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janetmiles, dialecticdreamer, readera, and see_also_friend. It also fills the "Set Boundaries" square in my 2-1-25 card for the Valentines Bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by janetmiles. It belongs to the Strange Family thread of the Polychrome Heroics series. "A Dangerous Thing to Be a Doll" happens earlier and will be helpful background.( Read more... )
Linguistics
Dec. 2nd, 2025 03:11 pmYet More on Ancient Greek Dildos
This is one of those delightful linguistic deep-dives so beloved of classical philologists. Nelson considers the use of classical Greek ὄλισβος (olisbos) as meaning “dildo” within the context of its other meanings and of other words for dildo and concludes that not only was “dildo” not the primary meaning for the word, but that it also wasn’t the standard/default term for such an instrument. Rather, the modern scholarly assumption that olisbos=dildo derives from the use of the word in Aristophanes and the tendency of the works of Aristophanes to dominate understandings of Greek usage of his time.
Just in case you want some words that modern censors are unlikely to recognize. :D Or you just like ancient sex toys.
This is one of those delightful linguistic deep-dives so beloved of classical philologists. Nelson considers the use of classical Greek ὄλισβος (olisbos) as meaning “dildo” within the context of its other meanings and of other words for dildo and concludes that not only was “dildo” not the primary meaning for the word, but that it also wasn’t the standard/default term for such an instrument. Rather, the modern scholarly assumption that olisbos=dildo derives from the use of the word in Aristophanes and the tendency of the works of Aristophanes to dominate understandings of Greek usage of his time.
Just in case you want some words that modern censors are unlikely to recognize. :D Or you just like ancient sex toys.
Signatures meant more in Mesopotamia than they do now − what cylinder seals say about ancient and modern life
In essence, a cylinder seal was a small sculpture that served a crucial utilitarian purpose: signing documents. It was generally made of a precious or semiprecious stone such as lapis lazuli, agate or chalcedony. Images and texts were engraved into the stone with a technique called intaglio. Notably, these engravings would need to be made in reverse of how the markings would look when it was used.
When rolled on a moist clay tablet, these engravings left low-relief markings, signifying that the object’s owner authorized the written document. In this respect, a cylinder seal’s impression is the ancestor of modern handwritten and digital signatures.
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In essence, a cylinder seal was a small sculpture that served a crucial utilitarian purpose: signing documents. It was generally made of a precious or semiprecious stone such as lapis lazuli, agate or chalcedony. Images and texts were engraved into the stone with a technique called intaglio. Notably, these engravings would need to be made in reverse of how the markings would look when it was used.
When rolled on a moist clay tablet, these engravings left low-relief markings, signifying that the object’s owner authorized the written document. In this respect, a cylinder seal’s impression is the ancestor of modern handwritten and digital signatures.
( Read more... )
Archaeologists uncover a 2,000-year-old crop in the Canary Islands
Millennia-old Canary Island lentils reveal a resilient genetic legacy with major potential for future climate-smart crops.
Scientists decoded DNA from millennia-old lentils preserved in volcanic rock silos on Gran Canaria. The findings show that today’s Canary Island lentils largely descend from varieties brought from North Africa around the 200s. These crops survived cultural upheavals because they were so well-suited to the islands’ harsh climate. Their long-standing resilience could make them valuable for future agriculture.
Lentils in general comprise a climate-resilient crop.
Allow me to recommend our family recipe for Lentil Dal from the Vegetarian Epicure Vol. 2. It is warm, aromatic, delicious comfort food. :D If you like seasoned but not picante food, either skip the tadka (simmering spices in ghee) that goes on the top -- which is what I do, taking my portion before that goes on -- or just omit the peppers from it. If you like food that commands respect, use your favorite hot peppers. This dal is lovely by itself, with rice, or over other things like hot dogs or baked potatoes (anywhere you'd use a chili topping).
Millennia-old Canary Island lentils reveal a resilient genetic legacy with major potential for future climate-smart crops.
Scientists decoded DNA from millennia-old lentils preserved in volcanic rock silos on Gran Canaria. The findings show that today’s Canary Island lentils largely descend from varieties brought from North Africa around the 200s. These crops survived cultural upheavals because they were so well-suited to the islands’ harsh climate. Their long-standing resilience could make them valuable for future agriculture.
Lentils in general comprise a climate-resilient crop.
Allow me to recommend our family recipe for Lentil Dal from the Vegetarian Epicure Vol. 2. It is warm, aromatic, delicious comfort food. :D If you like seasoned but not picante food, either skip the tadka (simmering spices in ghee) that goes on the top -- which is what I do, taking my portion before that goes on -- or just omit the peppers from it. If you like food that commands respect, use your favorite hot peppers. This dal is lovely by itself, with rice, or over other things like hot dogs or baked potatoes (anywhere you'd use a chili topping).
This poem is spillover from the May 7, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by prompts from fuzzyred and dialecticdreamer. It also fills the "Power(ful)" square in my 5-1-24 card for the Superpower Bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by a pool with fuzzyred and librarygeek. It belongs to the Finn Family thread of the Polychrome Heroics series.
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fuzzyred and dialecticdreamer. It also fills the "Power(ful)" square in my 5-1-24 card for the Superpower Bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by a pool with fuzzyred and librarygeek. It belongs to the Finn Family thread of the Polychrome Heroics series.( Read more... )
Early Humans
Nov. 24th, 2025 04:29 pmWhy did ancient people build massive, mysterious mounds in Louisiana?
Hunter-gatherers at Poverty Point may have built its massive earthworks not under the command of chiefs, but as part of a vast, temporary gathering of egalitarian communities seeking spiritual harmony in a volatile world. New radiocarbon data and reexamined artifacts suggest far-flung travelers met to trade, worship, and participate in rituals designed to appease the forces of nature.
Note that we already have extensive evidence that the trade network of Turtle Island spanned all four coasts. This makes large trading posts / events highly plausible.
Hunter-gatherers at Poverty Point may have built its massive earthworks not under the command of chiefs, but as part of a vast, temporary gathering of egalitarian communities seeking spiritual harmony in a volatile world. New radiocarbon data and reexamined artifacts suggest far-flung travelers met to trade, worship, and participate in rituals designed to appease the forces of nature.
Note that we already have extensive evidence that the trade network of Turtle Island spanned all four coasts. This makes large trading posts / events highly plausible.
Poem: "Indicative of the Extent"
Nov. 23rd, 2025 07:49 pmThis poem is spillover from the July 15, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by a prompt from librarygeek. It also fills the "WILD CARD: Clean Up the Town" square in my 7-1-25 card for the Western Bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by a pool with fuzzyred and librarygeek. It belongs to the Big One thread of the Polychrome Heroics series. It follows "The Choices Humans Make" so read that first or this won't make much sense.
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librarygeek. It also fills the "WILD CARD: Clean Up the Town" square in my 7-1-25 card for the Western Bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by a pool with fuzzyred and librarygeek. It belongs to the Big One thread of the Polychrome Heroics series. It follows "The Choices Humans Make" so read that first or this won't make much sense.( Read more... )
Communities
Nov. 9th, 2025 12:06 am![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
displacementdiaries -- Displacement DiariesA reflective space for journaling life abroad, family complexity, grief, and personal growth.
Displacement Diaries is a reflective space for journaling life transitions, grief, family complexity, and experiences abroad. This community is for those who write about survival, emotional upheaval, and the slow work of rebuilding one’s life. Longform personal narratives, introspective essays, and memory-based storytelling are welcome.
For my friends who are from afar, or forced away from home, or may become so.
