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.
Trump administration deports hundreds of migrants, despite judge’s order stopping removal
I’m sad but not surprised about this. I have no particular liking for criminals (if that’s who these migrants were), but I am in favor of the rule of law. Due process means due process for everyone.
“Red Mushrooms”
I’m honestly not sure how I got this shot - flash misfire maybe. But I like the way it turned out, noise and all.
Olympus TG6, Ultimaxx .43x Wide Angle Lens, f/14, 1/100s, ISO 1600. Along the Eula Ridge Trail.
This gaming mouse has a striking skeletonized design and hot-swap batteries
Trimming grams from a mouse struck me as silly. And then I thought about how often I’d backpacked with a quilt and tarp to save the weight of a sleeping bag and tent.
Finished reading: Rogues in Hell 📚
14th book in a complex shared-world series featuring (mostly) historical figures in a bizarre & funny conglomeration of hells from across various cultures and faiths. I enjoy the series, but if you start at this point you’ll be completely lost.
Life in the tower: Who controls Seattle’s drawbridges?
Who knew that drawbridge operators need to check their blind spot before raising the bridge? Not me.
Federal judge halts deportations after Trump invokes Alien Enemies Act
He also ordered planes in the air heading for Venezuela to turn around and come back. I fear this will be the order the administration chooses to ignore.
Trump invokes wartime law to target Venezuelan gang and speed up deportations
This appears to be not even remotely legal: we’re not at war with Venezuela, and we can’t be at war with a gang. That’s not how anything works. Analysis from the Brennan Center.
And speaking of Amazon idiocy…they sent me an email telling me my deleted seller account was reactivated at my request (no such request was sent) followed by another email demanding copies of my government-issued ID and a new credit card. Further evidence it’s time to get unamazoned.
“Walking into Spring”
Olympus E-M10 IV, M.Zuiko 14-42 kit lens @ 14mm, f/9, 1/30s, ISO 400. Hardesty Trail, the same day there was a foot of snow 3000 feet higher.
Software Development Job Postings on Indeed in the United States
Absolutely cratered since the post-pandemic highs. So much for any stray thought I might have had about unretiring.
Donald Trump, In DOJ Speech, Calls CNN And MSNBC “Illegal” For Reporting Negatively On Him
I need to start figuring out which non-US news sources to follow. It seems pretty clear that the intent is to stamp out free press in the US. Of course, once we get the “Great Wall of the US” internet blocks, it won’t be possible to get independent news anyhow.
Finished reading: Rough Sleepers 📚
Tracy Kidder digs into the work of Dr. Jim O’Connell with the unhoused community in Boston. A scary look at the mostly-ignored people in America. And I fear this group is going to grow and be worse off in the next few years.