1/13/2025 Dotson Family Marsh
Tuesday, January 13th, 2026 14:52![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mrkinchI got out to the Point Pinole Giant Hwy Staging Area (named for the dynamite company whose plant was there) before 10 and walked south towards Dotson Family Marsh. I wanted to see how much water there was (not much) and also to listen for gunfire. The Richmond Rod and Gun Club is just across Rheem Creek from the parking at the south end of Dotson, and their expansion a few years ago turned the southern half of the marsh from just barely tolerable to absolutely not, so I go in from the north. Supposedly they are closed Mon, Tues, Thurs, but last Thursday I could hear gunfire from Landfill Loop just down the road. I'm sure this is more than anyone wants to know about Richmond Rod and Gun Club, but I went partly for more data on what "closed" means. Anyway, it was a lovely morning and got surprisingly warm. Since there weren't many waterbirds I paid more attention east of the boardwalk and saw both Savannah Sparrow and Lincoln Sparrow. The latter actually popped up when I pished! I never have any luck pishing, but there they were. Also White-crowns, of course, and several American Pipits. ( The list: )
The Rod and Gun Club was definitely not closed as I understand "closed", but the gunfire was tolerable, though possibly not from the southern parking lot. I really want to visit the southern half of the marsh but I'd be too anxious to enjoy myself.
The Rod and Gun Club was definitely not closed as I understand "closed", but the gunfire was tolerable, though possibly not from the southern parking lot. I really want to visit the southern half of the marsh but I'd be too anxious to enjoy myself.
'Grim scene': BBC on site after crane collapses on train in Thailand
Wednesday, January 14th, 2026 13:24![[syndicated profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/feed.png){kind=small}
bbcnewsworld_feedCorrespondent Jonathan Head says the 'devastating' accident is an enormous setback for Thailand's efforts to modernise its infrastructure.
January Challenge (3 of 5)
Wednesday, January 14th, 2026 21:55fred_mouse posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
unclutterHow did the decluttering of the hobby spaces go? Did you spend time looking for things that could go, move a thing or two, or have a wildly successful week? Or did you work on a different space instead?
For the third week, we are moving on to a work space -- just the one. Unless you have all the energy and all the time, in which case don't let me hold you back. But this was meant to be a gentle challenge to get started on the year. What decluttering a work space might look like
- moving the cooking equipment you never use out of the kitchen
- sorting through stuff in a work from home space so you have more space for you
- looking in the laundry for things that have drifted into corners and become one with the wall.
- going through the cleaning rag stash and getting it down to Just! One! Bucket! worth (for whatever size of bucket you keep your rags in)
- throwing out old cleaning equipment--particularly if you have replaced it with one that you use!
Alternatively: keep going with the rest and / or hobby spaces. Get things out of the house!
The Man Who Died Seven Times by Yasuhiko Nishizawa
Wednesday, January 14th, 2026 08:54james_davis_nicoll
A teen subject to intermittent time-loops sets out to prevent the murder of his unlikable grandfather. This will be much harder than he expects.
The Man Who Died Seven Times by Yasuhiko Nishizawa
Just One Thing (14 January 2026)
Wednesday, January 14th, 2026 13:48nanila posting in awesomeersIt's challenge time!
Comment with Just One Thing you've accomplished in the last 24 hours or so. It doesn't have to be a hard thing, or even a thing that you think is particularly awesome. Just a thing that you did.
Feel free to share more than one thing if you're feeling particularly accomplished! Extra credit: find someone in the comments and give them props for what they achieved!
Nothing is too big, too small, too strange or too cryptic. And in case you'd rather do this in private, anonymous comments are screened. I will only unscreen if you ask me to.
Go!
Comment with Just One Thing you've accomplished in the last 24 hours or so. It doesn't have to be a hard thing, or even a thing that you think is particularly awesome. Just a thing that you did.
Feel free to share more than one thing if you're feeling particularly accomplished! Extra credit: find someone in the comments and give them props for what they achieved!
Nothing is too big, too small, too strange or too cryptic. And in case you'd rather do this in private, anonymous comments are screened. I will only unscreen if you ask me to.
Go!
Wednesday Reading Meme
Wednesday, January 14th, 2026 08:37osprey_archerWhat I’ve Just Finished Reading
Elizabeth Enright’s Then There Were Five. That’s right, the Melendys are back! This time, they befriend a local boy with no friends or relations except his horrible uncle, and the Melendy children take him home and ask “Can we keep him???” They gather scrap metal for the war effort, plan a festival (children in books always throw the most satisfying festivals), and put up a truly astonishing amount of tomatoes.
What I’m Reading Now
Onward and upward in Solzhenitsyn’s In the First Circle! The blurb on the front of this novel praises it as “suspenseful,” which is fascinating because that’s probably the last adjective I’d use to describe it. Absorbing, yes. Full of meticulous portraits of a dizzying array of people, yes. We meet a deeply religious prisoner, a soft-hearted prison guard, Stalin, a prisoner who still believes fanatically in Communism, a prisoner’s wife whose devotion to her husband is cracking under the strain of separation, her friend in their grad student dorm who is trying to wriggle free of being recruited as an informer…
But suspenseful? I wouldn’t call it suspenseful. We’re halfway through the book and we’ve just now meandered back to Volodin, the guy who telephoned the American embassy on Christmas Eve to warn them that the Soviets are planning to steal their atomic bomb secrets. We are not urgently searching for Volodin (well, maybe the fanatically Communist prisoner Rubin is urgently searching for Volodin), we are gently bobbing around in a pool and occasionally bobbing a bit extra hard when we come across one of the ripples caused when Volodin tossed his pebble.
What I Plan to Read Next
National Velvet!
Elizabeth Enright’s Then There Were Five. That’s right, the Melendys are back! This time, they befriend a local boy with no friends or relations except his horrible uncle, and the Melendy children take him home and ask “Can we keep him???” They gather scrap metal for the war effort, plan a festival (children in books always throw the most satisfying festivals), and put up a truly astonishing amount of tomatoes.
What I’m Reading Now
Onward and upward in Solzhenitsyn’s In the First Circle! The blurb on the front of this novel praises it as “suspenseful,” which is fascinating because that’s probably the last adjective I’d use to describe it. Absorbing, yes. Full of meticulous portraits of a dizzying array of people, yes. We meet a deeply religious prisoner, a soft-hearted prison guard, Stalin, a prisoner who still believes fanatically in Communism, a prisoner’s wife whose devotion to her husband is cracking under the strain of separation, her friend in their grad student dorm who is trying to wriggle free of being recruited as an informer…
But suspenseful? I wouldn’t call it suspenseful. We’re halfway through the book and we’ve just now meandered back to Volodin, the guy who telephoned the American embassy on Christmas Eve to warn them that the Soviets are planning to steal their atomic bomb secrets. We are not urgently searching for Volodin (well, maybe the fanatically Communist prisoner Rubin is urgently searching for Volodin), we are gently bobbing around in a pool and occasionally bobbing a bit extra hard when we come across one of the ripples caused when Volodin tossed his pebble.
What I Plan to Read Next
National Velvet!
Russian doctors arrested after 9 babies die in maternity hospital
Wednesday, January 14th, 2026 12:20bbcnewsworld_feedThe newborns died during the long New Year holiday in a Siberian hospital.
LA opens ticket draw for 2028 Olympics - with seats starting at $28
Wednesday, January 14th, 2026 15:30bbcnewsworld_feedIf chosen via the draw, fans will be notified via email and will be given a time slot to purchase tickets in April.
Uganda election chief says he has had threats over results declaration
Wednesday, January 14th, 2026 12:04bbcnewsworld_feedThis follows comments by a presidential assistant that Bobi Wine would not be declared president, even if he wins.
Tennis player celebrates win after forgetting rules - then loses Australian Open qualifier
Wednesday, January 14th, 2026 07:28bbcnewsworld_feedAustria's Sebastian Ofner celebrated victory too early, forgetting he still needed another three points to win.
The Orville Fic: so black & blue for you
Wednesday, January 14th, 2026 07:25toothpastepancake posting in beagoldfishTitle: so black & blue for you
Fandom: The Orville
Ship: Kelly Grayson/Alara Kitan
Medium: Fic
Rating: T
Length: 507 W
Notes: Also for100femslash prompt "beat" & femslashfete prompt yield
Summary:
Kelly teaches Alara about the human sport of wrestling.
Sunset // AO3
Fandom: The Orville
Ship: Kelly Grayson/Alara Kitan
Medium: Fic
Rating: T
Length: 507 W
Notes: Also for
100femslash prompt "beat" & femslashfete prompt yieldSummary:
Kelly teaches Alara about the human sport of wrestling.
Sunset // AO3
At least 32 killed after crane collapses on train in Thailand
Wednesday, January 14th, 2026 13:30bbcnewsworld_feedSixty-four people were left injured, including a one-year-old and an 85-year-old.
Tennis player celebrates early - then loses Australian Open qualifier
Wednesday, January 14th, 2026 07:28bbcnewsworld_feedAustralia's Sebastian Ofner forgot the rules and celebrated victory prematurely, before going on to lose eight of the next nine points.
Interesting Links for 14-01-2026
Wednesday, January 14th, 2026 12:00andrewducker- 1. Trump v BBC - a guide to the case
- (tags:usa uk bbc politics law )
- 2. Iranian-linked Scottish accounts fall silent again with Iran's internet blackout
- (tags:iran scotland propaganda )
- 3. Adelaide Writers' Week cancelled amid controversy over disinvitation of author Randa Abdel-Fattah
- (tags:Australia Palestine Israel writing festival )
- 4. New Tesla feature to automatically create explicit images of pedestrians it passes on the street
- (tags:satire funny Tesla nudity )
- 5. Zoe Saldaña Becomes Highest-Grossing Actor of All Time With 'Avatar: Fire and Ash'
- (tags:movies money )
- 6. Government drops plans for mandatory digital ID to work in UK
- (tags:IDCards Labour )
- 7. Warhammer Maker Games Workshop Bans Its Staff From Using AI in Its Content or Designs, Says None of Its Senior Managers Are Currently Excited About the Tech
- (tags:AI GamesWorkshop Warhammer )
- 8. Making a natural freezer
- (tags:temperature video ice )
- 9. A divorce lawyer on the concept of "soulmates"
- (tags:love relationships video )
- 10. The polls in Wales are, frankly, unprecedented
- (tags:Wales polls )
- 11. Contract secured for one of world's largest offshore wind farms Berwick Bank (off the coast of Scotland)
- (tags:scotland electricity windpower )
- 12. Scientists confirm 2025 was the third hottest year on record
- (tags:globalwarming doom )
- 13. What's the stick in *your* stream?
- (tags:advice life )
Tags:
- advice,
- ai,
- australia,
- bbc,
- doom,
- electricity,
- festival,
- funny,
- gamesworkshop,
- globalwarming,
- ice,
- idcards,
- iran,
- israel,
- labour,
- law,
- life,
- links,
- love,
- money,
- movies,
- nudity,
- palestine,
- politics,
- polls,
- propaganda,
- relationships,
- satire,
- scotland,
- temperature,
- tesla,
- uk,
- usa,
- video,
- wales,
- warhammer,
- windpower,
- writing
LA to open ticket draw for 2028 Olympics - with seats starting at $28
Wednesday, January 14th, 2026 10:11bbcnewsworld_feedIf chosen via the draw, fans will be notified via email and will be given a time slot to purchase tickets in April.
No power or water and -19C: Kyiv seeks relief from Russian strikes and cold
Wednesday, January 14th, 2026 07:43bbcnewsworld_feedResidents of Ukraine's capital talk about their difficulties keeping warm and enduring power outages, as Russian attacks deepen the energy crisis.
China announces record $1tn trade surplus despite Trump tariffs
Wednesday, January 14th, 2026 07:30bbcnewsworld_feedBeijing reported the largest-ever trade surplus at $1.19tn as China diversified its trade.
K-pop drum duet between Japan and South Korea's leaders caps off summit talks
Wednesday, January 14th, 2026 06:57bbcnewsworld_feedLeaders of the two East Asian nations played drums to hits from BTS and KPop Demon Hunters.