Moscow and Beijing rejoice at looming death of Radio Free Europe, VOA

The enemy of my enemy is (checks notes) a free press.

NASA’s Webb Images Young, Giant Exoplanets, Detects Carbon Dioxide

I’m a child of the Space Age (grew up in 1960’s SoCal) so to me PICTURES OF PLANETS OUTSIDE OUR SOLAR SYSTEM is pretty darned exciting.

Update: the Newegg seller refunded the excessive markup. On the one hand, this makes me happier. On the other, I wonder how often they get away with this. Not naming them, on the off chance that this really was an honest mistake.

I ordered a new laptop ethernet adapter from a Newegg seller because I’m trying to discontinue doing business with Amazon. So I was miffed when it arrived shipped from Amazon, and much more annoyed to discover a 300% markup (!). I guess the lesson is to not use Newegg marketplace sellers.

“Droplets”

Olympus TG6, f/4.9, 1/400s, ISO 640. Along the Ridgeline Trail.

Didn’t finish reading: Destiny’s Road 📚

Usually I like Niven’s work, but this one just never seemed to get anywhere, and I gave up at the halfway point. At my age, I’m never going to finish reading all the books I like, so there’s no point in slogging through ones I’m not enjoying.

“Rainy Day Flower”

Olympus TG6, f/4.9, 1/400s, ISO 250. Along the Ridgeline Trail.

“Rainbow Rays”

Olympus TG6, f/4.9, 1/180s, ISO 125. Along the Ridgeline Trail.

Really hard to capture what this really looked like, even with heavy post-processing in Darktable. But it was sure pretty!

Just upgraded 6 ethernet switches from 1 gigabit to 2.5 gigabit.

Discussion of the absurdity of living in a house with six ethernet switches will be postponed for another day.