Neurodiverse Tea

Today my partner Doug asked me to remove a bunch of staples for him.  I first looked for my staple remover but couldn't find it.  Instead I grabbed the tiny screwdriver that I got from Power Plus at the Home and Garden Expo.  It actually worked better.  Because it's swag, the screwdriver tip is very thin and narrow.  That made it a lot easier to slide under the ends of the staples to open them, then slide under the wide part of the wire to twist it loose.  Staple removers typically have very thick teeth that can be difficult to get under the wire.  So this is now my staple remover of choice, and will live in my office drawer.  :D

What most people call luck or opportunity is, in my observation, largely situational awareness.  I needed a tool; I thought about what would work; I used what I had.  And then I noticed that it worked better than a dedicated tool from the past.  A small discovery, but it makes my primate brain very happy. 

Today is cloudy and cool with howling wind. It's up to 18mph. A beautiful day to stay indoors and write!

I fed the birds. Unsurprisingly, I haven't seen any. I expect they're all huddled in whatever shelter they can find.

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 3/15/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

I've seen a small mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.

EDIT 3/15/26 -- I did more work around the patio.

A tiny scilla is blooming white in the purple-and-white garden.

It's starting to rain.

I am done for the night.

Today we went to Middlefork at the Mall in Lincoln Square Mall in Urbana. This is a big flea market, although not quite as big as the last one we caught. We both found some great stuff.

( Read more... )

Scared of spiders? Scientists say the real nightmare is losing them

Scientists discovered that nearly 90% of North America’s insects and arachnids have no conservation status—revealing a huge blind spot in protecting the tiny creatures that keep ecosystems running.

Spiders and insects may not be fan favorites, but they are vital to the health of ecosystems—and scientists barely know how they’re doing. Researchers found that nearly 90% of North America’s insect and arachnid species have no conservation status, leaving their fate largely unknown. Even more striking, most states don’t protect a single arachnid species. The study warns that these overlooked creatures are essential to planetary health and urgently need better monitoring and protection.


Let me be blunt here: the insect (arthropod) apocalypse is going to pull the rug out from under the biosphere. Plants are the producers for most of the ecosystem; many essential plants rely on insects for pollination or other services. And the next layer is invertebrates, mostly arthropods -- they break down dead material to a size that fungi can deal with, they pollinate, they move seeds, they feed most of the next level up such as birds, amphibians, etc. Spiders in particular keep the rest of that arthropod mess in check so we're not buried alive in flies, mosquitoes, and so on. They're some of the tiniest predators and they're absolutely vital.

( Read more... )

Today is cloudy and chilly.

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

I put out water for the birds.

3/14/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

I am done for the night.

 

Today we went to the Home and Garden Expo at the Otto Center. The parking lot was so full, we had to go all the way in the back to find a space -- there's a whole extra lot back there that we'd never even seen before.

( Read more... )

Today is partly cloudy and chilly with blustery wind.

I fed the birds.  I've seen several sparrows and house finches plus a mourning dove.

I put out water for the birds.

3/13/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.

3/13/26 -- I moved the 16 water jug greenhouses from the parking lot to near the barrel garden.  Many of them have sprouts inside now!  :D

3/13/26 -- I trimmed brush along the north side of the house.

I am done for the night.

Today's theme is Love.

( Read more... )

There will be a bonus fishbowl on Tuesday, March 17. The theme will be "anything goes." If you want a continuation of an earlier piece, or something totally new, that doesn't fit the usual themes, then now's your chance. Brainstorm in advance and jot down ideas for later. You can also request any favorite series, character, setting, etc.