Finished: Ghost Fleet, by P.W. Singer and August Cole 📚 - “A novel of the next world war,” in this case a non-nuclear limited engagement between the US and China. Written a decade ago, but some of it anticipates the rise of drone and electronic warfare. I doubt things could actually remain non-nuclear if China really did take Hawaii, but a good summer read anyhow.
Finished: The Last Defender of Camelot, by Roger Zelazny 📚 - A collection of Zelazny’s short fiction. Standouts include the original (shorter) version of “Damnation Alley” and “For a Breath I Tarry.” Enjoyable, as is all Zelazny.
“Bugged”
Olympus E-M10 IV with M.Zuiko 60mm f/2.8 macro lens @ f/5.6, 1/250s, ISO 250. Shot along the Middle Fork Trail.
“Timpanogas Lake”
Olympus E-M10 IV with 7Artisans 7.5mm f/2.8 fisheye lens @ f/5.6, 1/50s, ISO 200.
“Mystery Bird”
Olympus E-M10 IV with 14-42mm kit lens @ 23mm, f/5, 1/80s, ISO 2500. Shot along the Middle Fork Trail.
“Reach for the Sky”
Olympus E-M10 IV with 14-42mm kit lens @ 38mm, f/5.4, 1/200s, ISO 100. Shot along the Middle Fork Trail.
“Mini Niagara”
Olympus E-M10 IV with 14-42mm kit lens @ 17mm, f/8, 1/4s, ISO 160. Shot along the Middle Fork Trail.
“Bowing Candystick”
Olympus E-M10 IV with 14-42mm kit lens @ 37mm, f/5.6, 1/30s, ISO 2500. Shot along the Middle Fork Trail.
Joey Chestnut reclaims title in Nathan’s hot dog eating contest
I really hope the USA is the only country deranged enough to class eating seventy hot dogs as a sport.
Body art shops begin to offer tattoos powered by AI
Once again, what could possibly go wrong?
Supreme Court clears way for deportation to South Sudan of several immigrants with no ties there
A decision on the shadow docket, leading into a holiday weekend, when the Justices are about to leave town for the summer. It’s almost like they don’t want people to notice that the majority is a bunch of spineless bootlicking fascist-enabling clowns.
“Pinesap”
Olympus E-M10 IV with 14-42mm kit lens @ 33mm, f/5.6, 1/30s, ISO 2000. Shot along the Middle Fork Trail. One of the strange forest saprophytes we get around here.
“Cascadia Revolt!”
Olympus E-M10 IV with 14-42mm kit lens @ 14mm, f/8, 1/13s, ISO 3200. Shot along the Middle Fork Trail.
“Water from Nowhere”
Olympus E-M10 IV with 14-42mm kit lens @ 14mm, f/8, 1/30s, ISO 5000. Chuckle Springs near the Middle Fork Trail.
The American system of democracy has crashed
I’m turning 66 this year. At this point, I’m starting to question whether I will actually outlive the fascist wave in this country to see a return of things like caring and courage and intelligence in our government. I am not optimistic.
Didn’t finish: Black Wave, by Jean Silverwood 📚. The story of a family sea voyage cut short by a shipwreck on a hidden reef and a horrendous injury. The adventure story is interesting enough, but I gave up about two-thirds of the way through when it seemed that the wife & husband co-authors were just looking for more life lessons to pad the page count.
Record-Breaking Results Bring Fusion Power Closer to Reality
A literal bright spot on the horizon. I do hope to see utility-scale fusion power in my lifetime, though I’m not super-optimistic about that.
Donald Trump says he wants to stage UFC fight on White House grounds
Only because he doesn’t think he can get away with full-on gladiatorial combat to the death yet.
Congress Gives ICE More Money Than It Could Have Ever Imagined
ICE will now be flushed with more cash than the Federal Bureau of Investigations; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; and Bureau of Prisons combined.
Fuck the Republicans in this Congress. I hope every single one of them loses their seat in 2026. And then gets deported to an El Salvadoran prison.