Aaugh!

Herr D made this some time ago using hero-

machine.com. He said he's doing it over, but 

it looks just like so many of the people seeing

me for the first time that I wanted it 'as is.'          

I just realized that's a fist mirrored in the eyes. Oh, well, I didn't get that expression with a fist . . .

Hairy?

Yes?

Avoid mention of anatomical differences. This site was recently scanned by federal authorities.

MiB's?! Okay, Shelob. I've just been thinking about screaming. --Wait, no. Ambiguity detector is pulsing. 

Oh. I've been thinking about why people scream. It seems a little counter-productive. What, do you think whatever's attacking you is made of glass and you can shatter it with the right high note? It seems like most screams wouldn't work so well. Ambulance sirens make similar noise, but screaming doesn't get traffic out of the way. Should maybe I assume it's for group survival? Hear the screams, know to hide the children? That does make more sense. Individual survival strikes me as needing other tactics like spraying ink or foul-smelling scent at the attacker. Maybe that's why people smell worse when they're nervous? Does that make sense?

It's A Jerry Holiday With Molly

Herr D designed this on heromachine.com. He 

titled it "Slightly Deaf Maude Makes A Good Pre-

diction" and reserves all rights to it. I feel this old.

Okay, I did it again. Rather than risk miscounting tides again, I used my periscope to check out the driveway of my closest neighbor. She's the one the guy, who I'll call Jerry for now, put a piece of jewelry in a plastic simulated bird egg for. She goes to work every weekday, not like Jerry, who works when people want his boat. But then comes a holiday. Memorial Day. Which I had completely wrong.

I thought that was celebrating memory. As in 'we're young and don't have dementia yet.' Honoring people who died for your country is a perfectly understandable reason for a holiday. I can appreciate that.

Question.

Right. How many of you have trouble keeping up with holidays and why? I always did. Even when I knew more about the culture's history behind them.

Three Cliques To The Right

All rights reserved by the creator.

I have been somewhat baffled at the amount of time people spend on their homeowner's associations, Chapters For The Preservation Of Barbershop Quartets, etc. (They really do exist, folks.) Does anyone feel that their time is well-spent running meetings? If so, how do you feel your experience is different from most peoples'? On the other hand, give an example of meetings you began to skip and were glad about or punished for.

One Last Stab At It

Some site named 'Laugh' published this. Dark days.

Yeah. Nothing funnier than being captured by an advanced alien race, prepped for slaughter, getting yourself one of their weapons, and preparing for your imminent death by watching them laugh at you and taking a picture for posterity.

Lucky thing humans are too salty and dry, huh?

When you're outmatched and feeling hopeless, do you rail at yourself or your situation? Personally, I tend to give people an inferiority complex, so I'm more often too busy with irrelevant self-rescue to handle a real problem. Nothing like a scared, desperate mob that you have no ill will toward to get in the way.

The Eyes Have It

Don't know who this David is, but he has some good pix.

If I understand multi-genome comparative structural biochem well enough, compound eyes are actually superior to human eyes in certain situations. Like at the size of a mosquito, in certain very dry environs, in places where there are rapid pressure changes, etc. So in deserts, on the surface of swamps, along mountain thermals, and in the ventilation units of submarines and spaceships, compound eyes are sometimes hardier.

Let's say that I . . . have knowledge of intelligent species with compound eyes. They tend to be non-technological. Given that species change very slowly, and that necessity is the mother of invention, I would have to say they have every reason to stay exactly where they are. For now.

So, if the ecosystem doesn't change, there are no predators or, let's say rivals, introduced, and no comic-book-level events or theological uprisings, they'll stay right where they are.

Question?

Yes. Suppose that uh--we earthlings got over infighting, became space explorers, and found these compound-eyed guys on friendly terms. What would be more likely, in your opinion, that y-- that we would offer them places to live for exploring places for us, or that the offer would be only material trade?

I'll Fly Away

Credit to Wikipedia's editing staff for picking this.

Birds are fascinating. Flying looks like a lot more fun than swimming, just a little too DRY. And, well, high, you know. If I was a bird, I'd like to be one of these guys. I could always reach my food.

What kind of bird would you rather be?

Crime Doesn't Pay, But I Hear The Hours Are Nice?

Herr D made this on heromachine.com.     -HD  

I didn't get this at first. The joke goes that two guys were found in a dumpster, their heads tied together, shot through the hands. Sort of a dyslexic mafia. I am a bit confused about this mafia thing, anyway.

From the complaints I've seen on the web, there are so many legal ways to lie, cheat, and steal, that no one should need to be a criminal if they have any brains. It's my understanding now that if you just stick to those LEGAL unethical things, that the law has to leave you alone. I did glean that 'loopholes close,' but expecting law to protect people is a bit backward. Most people with brains can think faster than governments can compose law. . . then again, most people can't successfully elude the police for very long. That would be the reason court dockets and jails get overloaded and the FBI's Most Wanted List doesn't grow.

If you could have no legal, spiritual, or any other repercussions for a crime against humanity, nature, etc., what would it be? I'd like something completely absurdly WRONG, like to be enforced as the patent-holder for the sleeve. Hey--just a penny for every hundred sleeves in the world. I'm not terribly greedy. What about you?