Nature
Dec. 30th, 2025 02:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithScientists stunned by a massive hydrothermal field off Greece
Scientists have uncovered an extensive underwater vent system near Milos, Greece, hidden along active fault lines beneath the seafloor. These geological fractures act as pathways for hot, gas-rich fluids to escape, forming clusters of vents with striking visual diversity. The discovery surprised researchers, who observed boiling fluids and vibrant microbial mats during deep-sea dives. Milos now stands out as one of the Mediterranean’s most important sites for studying Earth’s dynamic interior.
This is fascinating, but it is not surprising. Most seams leak. If you want to find vent systems, identify underwater faultlines and check them for leaks.
Scientists have uncovered an extensive underwater vent system near Milos, Greece, hidden along active fault lines beneath the seafloor. These geological fractures act as pathways for hot, gas-rich fluids to escape, forming clusters of vents with striking visual diversity. The discovery surprised researchers, who observed boiling fluids and vibrant microbial mats during deep-sea dives. Milos now stands out as one of the Mediterranean’s most important sites for studying Earth’s dynamic interior.
This is fascinating, but it is not surprising. Most seams leak. If you want to find vent systems, identify underwater faultlines and check them for leaks.
Birdfeeding
Dec. 30th, 2025 01:57 pmysabetwordsmithToday is cloudy and cool. It spit snow a bit yesterday but didn't amount to anything.
I fed the birds. There was a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches perched in the forest garden waiting to be fed. :D
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 12/30/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 12/30/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 12/30/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. There was a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches perched in the forest garden waiting to be fed. :D
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 12/30/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 12/30/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 12/30/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
Poem: "The Last Command"
Dec. 30th, 2025 01:19 pmysabetwordsmithThis poem was written outside the regular prompt calls. It fills "The Last Command" square in my 1-1-24 card for the Public Domain Bingo fest. It has been sponsored by a pool with fuzzyred. This is the third poem in the series Crystal Wood; it follows "Trees of Glass" and "Ghost Forests."
Warning: This poem is dark science fiction along the lines of ecological horror.
( Read more... )
fuzzyred. This is the third poem in the series Crystal Wood; it follows "Trees of Glass" and "Ghost Forests."Warning: This poem is dark science fiction along the lines of ecological horror.
( Read more... )
Bingo
Dec. 30th, 2025 04:17 amysabetwordsmithI have made bingo for Amnesty this month. Counting each 5 fills as a bingo, I have made two. \o/
5-1-25 B3 "In a Splash of Color"
11-1-25 B3 "The Sand of Celebration"
8-1-25 B2 "Until the Rain Comes"
5-1-25 O5 "A Palette of Appetizers"
11-1-25 O5 "User Interfaces"
2-1-25 B5 "Protect the Inner Core"
5-1-25 B5 "The Marvels of Brush and Ink"
11-1-25 I2 "The Car That Didn't Like Bullies"
11-1-25 B2 "Learning New Skills"
11-1-25 O4 "The Unicorn Door"
5-1-25 B3 "In a Splash of Color"
11-1-25 B3 "The Sand of Celebration"
8-1-25 B2 "Until the Rain Comes"
5-1-25 O5 "A Palette of Appetizers"
11-1-25 O5 "User Interfaces"
2-1-25 B5 "Protect the Inner Core"
5-1-25 B5 "The Marvels of Brush and Ink"
11-1-25 I2 "The Car That Didn't Like Bullies"
11-1-25 B2 "Learning New Skills"
11-1-25 O4 "The Unicorn Door"
Poem: "Ghost Forests"
Dec. 30th, 2025 02:02 amysabetwordsmithThis poem was written outside the regular prompt calls. It fills the "Accident" square in my 6-1-22 card for the Cottoncandy Bingo fest. It has been sponsored by a pool with fuzzyred. This is the second poem in the series Crystal Wood; it follows "Trees of Glass."
Warning: This poem is dark science fiction along the lines of ecological horror.
( Read more... )
fuzzyred. This is the second poem in the series Crystal Wood; it follows "Trees of Glass."Warning: This poem is dark science fiction along the lines of ecological horror.
( Read more... )
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Poetry Fishbowl on Tuesday, January 6, 2026
Dec. 30th, 2025 12:16 amysabetwordsmithThis is an advance announcement for the Tuesday, January 6, 2026 Poetry Fishbowl. This time the theme will be "short forms." I'll be soliciting poetic forms of 60 lines or less, so basically below my epic range rather than only the short-short length of 10 lines or less. Free verse below the length limit is also fine. Here are 15 short forms with descriptions. Among my favorite short forms not listed there: hexaduad, indriso, sestina, villanelle. This list of 168 forms is alphabetical. Poets Garrett has my favorite list of forms, including a list of repeating-interlocking forms. Their main page has links to poetic forms of 3-10 lines. Plus a few of my own: A darrow poem is a short, haiku-like musing by dark elves. A khazal is a Whispering Sands desert poem in couplets. A moose track is a repeating-interlocking form. A tweet wire is a tiny 10-line poem designed for Twitter. Some short forms, like haiku and tanka, work well as verses in a longer poem. I have The New Book of Forms by Lewis Turco so most forms should be in there. You can also prompt with a link to any exotic form you find; I collect these things.
In addition to forms, I also need topical prompts. One-word or short-phrase framing will assist in keeping them small enough to fit within the theme. Here is a huge list of common themes. This page of idioms has alphabetical and topical listings. I love writing poems about an individual word; see The Phrontistery (WARNING! Black hole caliber time sink ahead!) for glossaries. Have an orientation that is not well represented in literature? Ask for a sexual, romantic, or other orientation! If it's not on any of my lists, just include a description or link to one. I also list gender identities and my characters with disabilities. Want to help me play with my bookshelf? :D I have The Conflict Thesaurus, The Conflict Thesaurus Volume 2, The Occupation Thesaurus, The Emotional Wound Thesaurus, The Urban Setting Thesaurus, The Rural Setting Thesaurus, The Emotion Thesaurus, The Positive Trait Thesaurus, The Negative Trait Thesaurus, and The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus. Simply click "Read Sample" and view the table of contents for a list of cool ideas. You can prompt a sestina with six end words; I usually pick 5 short flexible words and one long exotic word, but I'll work with whatever I get. Favorite characters, threads, series, settings, etc. are also fair game but this is NOT the time for long plotty prompts. Consider combining a name or title with a short form, theme, or idiom. If you like to prompt with photos, this is a great opportunity for that. Just type in a topic (see above for possibilities) and click the Image link in your favorite search engine.
Among my more relevant series for the main theme:
Arts and Crafts America is ideal for picture prompts, or just name a craft.
Clay of Life suits words from Yiddish, Ladino, or Hebrew.
Fiorenza the Wisewoman suits Italian forms, most of which are short; also Italian words or phrases.
Hart's Farm suits Old Norse poetry or words.
Kung Fu Robots goes with Chinese forms.
Lacquerware suits Japanese forms.
Or you can ask for something new.
Linkbacks reveal a verse of any open linkback poem.
If you're interested, mark the date on your calendar, and please hold actual prompts until the "Poetry Fishbowl Open" post next week. (If you're not available that day, or you live in a time zone that makes it hard to reach me, you can leave advance prompts. I am now.) Meanwhile, if you want to help with promotion, please feel free to link back here or repost this on your blog.
( New to the fishbowl? Read all about it! )
In addition to forms, I also need topical prompts. One-word or short-phrase framing will assist in keeping them small enough to fit within the theme. Here is a huge list of common themes. This page of idioms has alphabetical and topical listings. I love writing poems about an individual word; see The Phrontistery (WARNING! Black hole caliber time sink ahead!) for glossaries. Have an orientation that is not well represented in literature? Ask for a sexual, romantic, or other orientation! If it's not on any of my lists, just include a description or link to one. I also list gender identities and my characters with disabilities. Want to help me play with my bookshelf? :D I have The Conflict Thesaurus, The Conflict Thesaurus Volume 2, The Occupation Thesaurus, The Emotional Wound Thesaurus, The Urban Setting Thesaurus, The Rural Setting Thesaurus, The Emotion Thesaurus, The Positive Trait Thesaurus, The Negative Trait Thesaurus, and The Emotion Amplifier Thesaurus. Simply click "Read Sample" and view the table of contents for a list of cool ideas. You can prompt a sestina with six end words; I usually pick 5 short flexible words and one long exotic word, but I'll work with whatever I get. Favorite characters, threads, series, settings, etc. are also fair game but this is NOT the time for long plotty prompts. Consider combining a name or title with a short form, theme, or idiom. If you like to prompt with photos, this is a great opportunity for that. Just type in a topic (see above for possibilities) and click the Image link in your favorite search engine.
Among my more relevant series for the main theme:
Arts and Crafts America is ideal for picture prompts, or just name a craft.
Clay of Life suits words from Yiddish, Ladino, or Hebrew.
Fiorenza the Wisewoman suits Italian forms, most of which are short; also Italian words or phrases.
Hart's Farm suits Old Norse poetry or words.
Kung Fu Robots goes with Chinese forms.
Lacquerware suits Japanese forms.
Or you can ask for something new.
Linkbacks reveal a verse of any open linkback poem.
If you're interested, mark the date on your calendar, and please hold actual prompts until the "Poetry Fishbowl Open" post next week. (If you're not available that day, or you live in a time zone that makes it hard to reach me, you can leave advance prompts. I am now.) Meanwhile, if you want to help with promotion, please feel free to link back here or repost this on your blog.
( New to the fishbowl? Read all about it! )
Poem: "Trees of Glass"
Dec. 29th, 2025 10:44 pmysabetwordsmithThis poem was written outside the regular prompt calls. It fills the "Genes" square in my 11-1-23 card for the Drabble Fest Bingo. It has been sponsored by a pool with fuzzyred. This is the first poem in the series Crystal Wood.
Warning: This poem is dark science fiction along the lines of ecological horror.
( Read more... )
fuzzyred. This is the first poem in the series Crystal Wood.Warning: This poem is dark science fiction along the lines of ecological horror.
( Read more... )
Activism
Dec. 29th, 2025 09:41 pmysabetwordsmithBe careful with each other
How activist groups can build trust, care, and sustainability in a world of capitalism and oppression.
( Read more... )
How activist groups can build trust, care, and sustainability in a world of capitalism and oppression.
( Read more... )