@futurebird@sauropods.win
@futurebird@sauropods.win avatar

futurebird

@futurebird@sauropods.win

pro-ant propaganda, building electronics, writing sci-fi teaching mathematics & CS. I live in NYC.

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futurebird, (edited ) to random
@futurebird@sauropods.win avatar

I often brag on tumblr about how "on the fediverse I never have to ask people for image descriptions, why is tumblr so terrible at this?" etc.

But, I've made the mistake of re-sharing a few images without descriptions recently! I was lulled into thinking it was not a problem.

Just FYI I'm going to get strict again about not re-sharing undescribed images. (You should too, it keeps the feed readable.)

If you forget? If this is new? Don't feel bad, just stop doing that.

https://www.tumblr.com/aspirationatwork/750857131588304896

futurebird,
@futurebird@sauropods.win avatar

@promovicz

Entering alt text is miserable, I can't even see what I'm typing depending on what app I use. The text entry window often feels like an afterthought. And exception is the mastodon web app, which even has a "feature" (OCR!) to help you make the description.

promovicz,
@promovicz@chaos.social avatar

@futurebird better drafting features might help? I try to nearly always write/boost with alt text. on other accounts I’m less strict, because I don’t want to force everyone.

stefan,
@stefan@stefanbohacek.online avatar

@futurebird @promovicz It is definitely interesting to see how the presence of alt text varies based on the app used: https://stefanbohacek.com/blog/impact-of-fediverse-clients-on-the-use-of-alt-text/

futurebird,
@futurebird@sauropods.win avatar

@stefan @promovicz

This is super interesting... I wonder to what extent this reflects "culture" of different user groups... and to what extent it's the UI making things easier or harder...

stefan,
@stefan@stefanbohacek.online avatar

@futurebird @promovicz So I only looked at mastodon.social's local timeline, (see the Methodology section for an explanation), so that's kind of accounted for.

But yes, it is also very interesting to see the difference between communities, eg: https://mastodon.social/@AltTextHealthCheck/112467699732404812

A follow-up study could also compare some of the more prominent communities, see if the stats hold up.

dr2chase,
@dr2chase@ohai.social avatar

@futurebird @stefan @promovicz As a user, the UI makes a big difference. If you want something to happen, make it easy. Phanpy makes it obvious and pretty easy.

CaramelizedShallots,
@CaramelizedShallots@ohai.social avatar

@futurebird The one time I asked for helped with alt text, because I did not have the vocab necessary to describe a graph correctly, I got two amazing responses that probably took quite a bit of time to write. People here can be very generous of their knowledge and time.

john, to art
@john@sauropods.win avatar

A random artwork from my gallery:

"Hesperornis regalis" — 2015

Hepserornis regalis, the Late Cretaceous toothy marine bird, takes to the sea.

https://johnconway.art/hesperornis-regalis

futurebird,
@futurebird@sauropods.win avatar

@john

of cormorants I've said

They are masters of the sea!
Captains of the air!
And ... technically they can walk.

(I love diving birds, such funny companions when kayaking. They like to rest on your boat... but won't look at you as if that makes it OK.)

futurebird, to random
@futurebird@sauropods.win avatar

I bought some pink sand for my ants but it’s strangely hydrophobic? It is very fine sand and it will become saturated if stirred vigorously - but why does it trap air like this? isn’t this odd?

Piles of sparkling pink sand retains air at the bottom of the glass.
another view of strange sand.

futurebird,
@futurebird@sauropods.win avatar

@mickeymarse

And I'm one of only a few who uses these tags:

https://sauropods.win/tags/antvideo

https://sauropods.win/tags/namedants

art_history_animalia, to random
@art_history_animalia@historians.social avatar

:
Maurice Pillard Verneuil (French, 1869–1942)
Chauves-souris et pavots, tenture ( and poppies, hanging)
From Plate 33 of L'animal dans la Décoration, 1897
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chauves_souris_et_pavots_tenture_papillons_et_campanules_papier_peint_-_L%27animal_dans_la_decoration_(1897)_by_M._P._Verneuil_(New_York_Public_Library,_enhanced_by_Rawpixel)_506%27790171_o.jpg

futurebird, (edited ) to random
@futurebird@sauropods.win avatar

Trump has said FOUR times that he will withhold federal funding from schools that require vaccines. Not just COVID. ALL.

This is most schools. This is hitting me where I work. This will lead to children dead from measles. It's obvious, inevitable.

Someone on here said they just couldn't bear to vote for Biden to keep Trump from office since at least under Trump there were better masking rules.

I hope that person sees this.

Worse is worse.

edit: because I don't know measles from smallpox

futurebird,
@futurebird@sauropods.win avatar

@notsoloud

Yeah you are correct. I was just so shocked by this story:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/ontario-child-under-5-dies-112917222.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall

futurebird, to random
@futurebird@sauropods.win avatar

A benefit of giving my Camponotus nicobarensis colony a room with dirt to play in has been finding out that they will quickly bury large food items. I gave them a huge dubia this morning... which normally would keep them busy for about two days, in an hour it disappeared it into the ground.

I'm glad I can feed them in a space with a hard surface too... since if they bury food it will be hard to know when they have eaten it all. (which can make the tank too dirty)

Still I'm amazed!

futurebird,
@futurebird@sauropods.win avatar

They dug a pit under it, then it sunk down... then they tugged it off into a side tunnel.

I want my funeral to work like that. It was awesome.

In a few days I'll try to get a time-lapse of them doing this... if I can just keep them from sticking dirt on the the front glass... this is why I didn't want to give them dirt. They are very creative and have made all sorts of abstract mud sculptures and curvilinear forms tufted with moss. Who knows what lurks in the ant mind!

futurebird, (edited ) to random
@futurebird@sauropods.win avatar

Which best describes you?

("records" in this context are shellac, vinyl or resin etc. recorded sound discs played using needle)

If you have some records you can play and others you can't choose the third option.

If you have a player but it's broken choose the first option.

You "own" a player if one is in your home and you can use it when you want.

You "own" records if you are one of the people who must be asked if they were sold or thrown away.

futurebird,
@futurebird@sauropods.win avatar

@mhoye

I have just accepted that I like to look at the art and have them. I don't have space for a player and I don't want to not have the six records I've found.

One is music based on the sounds that ants make!

I hope every day to be asked to a record playing party where everyone brings their records from home and you listen to them.

ponderingpothos, to animals
@ponderingpothos@hachyderm.io avatar

Tif helping out with environment testing

sugar, to random
@sugar@goblin.camp avatar

actual question my friend (also looking for work) is getting when they apply to work at a local cofe shop

sugar,
@sugar@goblin.camp avatar

this one defies explanation but it's from a job app for a hotel front desk position

alanevans, to random
@alanevans@androiddev.social avatar

Making his #Caturday debut, introducing 3 month old Wellington!

#TuxedoCats

Black and White Tuxedo kitten sitting next to a can of drink for scale. He's about twice as tall.

alanevans,
@alanevans@androiddev.social avatar

Wow he's popular, so here's some more of Wellington! #CatsOfMastodon #TuxedoCats

A black and white Tuxedo kitten mid-yawn
A black and white Tuxedo kitten laying in a bed
A black and white Tuxedo kitten upside down on my chest looking at the camera

cmconseils, to random French
@cmconseils@mastodon.social avatar

“Let me in, there’s a man in the forest”

dailymedievalcats, to medievodons German
@dailymedievalcats@troet.cafe avatar

Looking up.

Ms: BL, Add 42130, f. 13r (14th c.). #medievalcat #medieval @medievodons

BlueWaver22, to random
@BlueWaver22@genomic.social avatar

So wants to control millions of women's bodies and reproductive choices - which he does now😡 -

but is trying to tell us he has "no control" over a flag that went up at his own home. Rich, I tell you. Rich and BS!

We actually have 2 confirmed insurrectionists on the GD highest court in the land .

The is ludicrous.

Nonilex, to Law
@Nonilex@masto.ai avatar

ICYMI

At Justice ’s House, a ‘Stop the Steal’ Symbol on Display

An , adopted by supporters contesting the victory, flew over the justice’s front lawn as was considering a case.


https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/16/us/justice-alito-upside-down-flag.html?unlocked_article_code=1.sk0.NM3b.9Gc8HUUYCZRs&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&sgrp=c-cb

futurebird, to HashtagGames
@futurebird@sauropods.win avatar

Riches and Wonders is a song by The Mountain Goats that's secretly about being in ant in an colony.


my fav cover:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gdLDLlFc3M

futurebird,
@futurebird@sauropods.win avatar

Lest you think ants don't get drunk... well they do. Though Dorymyrmex always seems drunk and out of their minds ... that's just how they are.

bruno_j_navarro, to random
@bruno_j_navarro@mastodon.social avatar

The Big Apple should prepare for an orange hazy blanket of smoke from Canadian wildfires to return again this summer, climate experts tell Gothamist.

https://gothamist.com/news/canadian-wildfire-smoke-likely-to-return-to-nyc-and-become-a-new-norm-experts-say

JugglingWithEggs, to random
@JugglingWithEggs@mstdn.social avatar

It’s been another of those weeks where I don’t know how I’ve made it to Friday evening…bedtime is still in progress and I’m sure I’ve discussed every one of these constructs over the past few weeks with the kids: gender, society and money.

But there are glimpses of hope…

Seeing them empathise with each other, want to protest against something other than me and taking evening walks in the park.

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