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Early Humans

3,500-year-old graves reveal secrets that rewrite bronze age history

Around 1500 BC, radical changes occurred in people's lives: they ate and lived differently, and the social system was also reorganized.
Bronze Age life changed radically around 1500 BC in Central Europe. New research reveals diets narrowed, millet was introduced, migration slowed, and social systems became looser challenging old ideas about nomadic Tumulus culture herders.

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Today's Adventures

Today we went to the Fairy Market in Effingham. :D

( Read more... )

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Location, Location, Location (part 1 of 3)

Location, Location, Location
By Sarah Williams
Part 1 of 3
Word count (story only): 1073
[Landing #7, day 3, 2 p.m. local time]

:: Thalassian representatives arrive to offer options to the Asher family, and Backstep recovers under their watchful eyes. Part of the Sidestep Travelers universe. ::

Backstep sat up on the same sofa where she’d been sleeping. A salad bowl sitting beside her right foot held three empty packets of energy gels, while the teen squeezed an inch of gel into her mouth. Even the act of masticating and swallowing could not muffle the heavy growl of her stomach.

Everest giggled, reaching one pointing finger toward Backstep’s stomach. “Mons’er!” he declared, giggling even more loudly.
( Read more... )

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Birdfeeding

Today is cloudy, mild, and damp. It rained yesterday, and probably more last night.

I fed the birds. I haven't seen much activity though.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 6/7/25 -- I did a bit of work on the patio.

It's been spitting or drizzling for much of the day, and is picking up again now.

EDIT 6/7/25 -- I put out more food for the birds.

I've seen several sparrows and house finches, a catbird, and at least one mourning dove.

The 'Mr. Stripey' tomato has green fruit. :D

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recurring posts

Philosophical Questions: Looks

People have expressed interest in deep topics, so this list focuses on philosophical questions.

Would the world be a better or worse place if everyone looked the same?

Much worse. It would be difficult to tell people apart. That would require doing something to make artificial distinctions, which has a lot of drawbacks. We know that problems occur when people are difficult or impossible to distinguish, because those things happen under conditions where people's normal distinctions are obscured. One of the most common is that it runs up the crime rate, because people are more likely to misbehave when they can't be punished because nobody can tell for sure who did it.

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Today's Adventures

Today we ran errands and went to a flea market at the local mall.

( Read more... )

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Wishful Thinking (part 15 of 15, complete)

Wishful Thinking
By Sarah Williams
Part 15 of 15, complete
Word count (story only): 1103
[Landing #7, day 3, a bit before six a.m. local time]

:: After a long day, the Ashton family, and Backstep, are sitting down to dinner. Conversation turns to longer term plans. Part of the Sidestep Travelers universe. ::

Rubin eased onto the floor, putting a milkshake into Zipper’s hand with a warning, expectant look. The younger man rolled his eyes, grumbling through a grin. “I’m eating,” Zipper declared. He made a point of slurping through the straw noisily.

Sitting on a footstool, his legs crossed at the ankles and guitar balanced on his leg, Smashup didn’t bother to hide his smirk. “Come on, Backstep, you’re going to miss Rubin hauling out the ‘Dad voice’ on Zipper!” the teen crowed. Worry knotted in the creases of his foreheads.

Across the living room, Anita held up a strangely subdued paperback book with a dull, olive green cover printed with glossy black ink and a simple line design. “I could read for a while, Zipper, and give your voice a rest.”
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Poem: "The Result of Your Own Bad Behavior"

This poem came out of the June 3, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired and sponsored by

janetmiles. It also fills the "activism" square in my 6-2-25 card for the Pride Fest Bingo. This poem belongs to the series Monster House.

( Read more... )

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Poem: "When Warmth and Gentleness Are Needed"

This poem came out of the June 3, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired and sponsored by

janetmiles. It also fills the "community" square in my 6-2-25 card for the Pride Fest Bingo. This poem belongs to the series Clay of Life.

( Read more... )

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Poem: "Emodox"

This poem came out of the June 3, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by the "unlabeled" square in my 6-2-25 card for the Pride Fest Bingo. It has been sponsored by

janetmiles. This poem belongs to the series A Poesy of Obscure Sorrows.

( Read more... )

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Birdfeeding

Today is cloudy, warm, and damp. It drizzled a little last night.

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

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 6/6/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

EDIT 6/6/25 -- It rained off and on today.

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Skate Park

Blind skateboarder creates 'world-first' adaptive skatepark: 'I've never had a place where I can skate with full confidence'

About seven years ago, he started dreaming of creating the world’s first adaptive skatepark right in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan.

Finally, the park is a reality.

Called “The Ranch,” the 5,000-square-foot skatepark is completely accessible, allowing both seasoned low-vision boarders to take it for a spin and newcomers to the sport to feel welcome.

Everyone should have access to opportunities for physical activity and creativity.

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Follow Friday 6-6-25: Active Communities on Dreamwidth Spring 2025 J-Z

These are active communities in Dreamwidth from Spring 2025 . They include things I've posted, but only the active ones; the thematic posts also list dormant communities of interest. This list includes some communities that I've found and saved but haven't made it into thematic posts yet. This post covers J-Z.

See my Follow Friday Master Post for more topics.

( Read more... )

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Recipes

Someone mentioned efforts to increase use of offal. The much simpler way to get more people to eat organ meat is to present delicious recipes using it. This is easily accomplished by scouting cuisines that already use a lot of organ meat, such as soul food or some Asian cuisines. Use everything but the squeal!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_soul_foods_and_dishes

https://www.butterforall.com/traditional-cooking-traditional-living/category/nutrient-dense/

https://foragerchef.com/category/carnivore/offal/

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Wishful Thinking (part 14 of 15)

Wishful Thinking
By Sarah Williams
Part 14 of 15
Word count (story only): 1368
[Landing #7, day 3, a bit before six a.m. local time]

:: After a long day, the Ashton family, and Backstep, are sitting down to dinner. Conversation turns to longer term plans. Part of the Sidestep Travelers universe. ::

Smashup had just finished the bridge of “House of the Rising Sun when a curly-haired preteen stepped into the living room, carrying a tall tumbler full of lemonade. “Hi. I brought you something to drink.” He brought the tumbler to the end table near Backstep’s head and eased it onto a leaf-shaped cork coaster. “I’m Derek.”

“I’m Smashup.” He grinned slyly. “Has Zipper fallen asleep sitting up yet?”
( Read more... )

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New Crowdfunding Project: "Aces and Aros"

Aces and Aros: An Asexual and Aromantic Comic Book Anthology
A 100-page graphic novel anthology about Asexual and Aromantic experiences across a wide range of genres.

$40,513 pledged of $30,000 goal
854 backers
21 days to go

Aces & Aros Vol. 1 is a 100-page GRAPHIC NOVEL that collects twenty-one (21) brand new short stories about Asexual- and Aromantic-spectrum experiences!

( Read more... )

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Poem: "All It Takes to Be Invulnerable"

This poem came out of the June 3, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by a prompt from

siliconshaman. It also fills the "comfort" square in my 6-2-25 card for the Pride Fest Bingo. This poem has been sponsored by

librarygeek. It belongs to the Cuoio and Chiara / Marionettes threads of the Polychrome Heroics series.

( Read more... )

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Poem: "The Bond with a Dog"

This poem came out of the June 3, 2025 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired and sponsored by

librarygeek. It also fills the "I'd rather eat cake." square in my 6-2-25 card for the Pride Fest Bingo. This poem belongs to the series Polychrome Heroics. It follows "A Reflection of Your Energy" and "Tomato Pie and Ice Cream," so read those first or this won't make much sense.

( Read more... )

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Poetry Fishbowl Update

librarygeek has sponsored "The Bond With a Dog" and "All It Takes to Be Invulnerable." I'll get those up as soon as I can.

EDIT 6/5/25 -- Done!

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Birdfeeding

Today is cloudy, warm, and damp. It rained off and on yesterday and last night.

I fed the birds. I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 6/5/25 -- I put out more food for the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, a mourning dove, and a fox squirrel.

EDIT 6/5/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio. This included putting a piece of mosquito dunk into the red birdbath.

EDIT 6/5/25 -- I walked around the yard a bit. Everything is still pretty wet.

The 'Lemon Boy' tomato has green fruit. :D

EDIT 6/5/25 -- I pulled weeds along the strip garden.

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