Phiala

Sleepy stripey cat nestled into an outstretched human leg.

Stuck. Again.

These are injection molded, but I don’t see why not.

There are hints of snowdrops!

Three new weaving shuttles. One white Sami band shuttle with a curved end, and two plastic boat shuttles, one green and one yellow.

I also believe in string. :)

Array of seed packets, some with art instead of photos. Peas, calendula, hot peppers, dill, marsh mallow, poppies, indigo, dahlias, lettuce, tomatoes, ground cherries, borage, dahlias, miniature cucumbers.

The windows are open and my seeds arrived today. I believe in very little, but I have faith in spring.

We hadn’t been above freezing since mid-January, and all of a sudden it was 50f.
Mini-glaciers are the worst.

It’s not actually spring, but a couple of warmer days is enough to get the first annoying invasive insect of the year.

The first stinkbug of spring is buzzing around the room. The cats are fascinated, at least until/unless they catch it. I will try to dispose of it before that happens.

Oh, I have PLENTY of benign neglect. It’s the great idea, awful execution of the previous owners that is the problem. Problems.
Looms! Looms are the best! I am not doing enough weaving but am thinking and writing about weaving, which is also good.

My house is about thirty years newer than that but omg some choices were made.

Human legs stretched out and covered in a dark blue fleece blanket. Gray cat is sitting loaf-style with her head up and back to camera. Stripey cat is farther down the legs, also loaf style but with her head bent down and resting face-first on a human knee.

Sometimes they forget to fight.

Gray cat curled up on blanket-covered human legs. Her sleepy blinking face, one paw, and her tail fill most of the image.

More cat pictures can never hurt, right?

Human legs stretched out on a recliner. A gray cat is lying along the legs with her tail towards the camera. The cat is sound asleep and snoring softly and endearingly.

The cats and I are fine! Or as fine as possible in this winter of 2025-2026… so, y’know, maybe not that fine.

Not that one specifically, thanks! I know of others focusing on particular kinds of data. So much going on…

I should be asleep and ditto.

I honestly thought I saw you in the lobby, and was very excited until I got a better look.

Aw, sad to miss you!

Science Guest of Honor con badge with Panelist and Science is Real ribbons. A pile of Science is Real ribbons is next to it.

Eeeee! Anyone at @confusionmi.bsky.social please say hi and get a ribbon!

Smug large stripey cat in an open suitcase.

Heading out to @confusionmi.bsky.social ! So excited to be science GOH!
Not actually bringing cat.

Packing, yeah I’ll get to that eventually.

My small science agency is down 23%.

I haven’t had the opportunity. Maybe someday, but there are lots of resources available even without visiting.

Manuscript Tradition - Reactor Dr. Feyrouz Hanafusa is a curator at Yale in the 23rd century. Space exploration is still ongoing, and signs of life have been discovered on a planet near TRAPPIST-1. Signs, Dr. Hanafusa realizes, tha...

Working on my Voynich manuscript talk for @confusionmi.bsky.social (mainly, I have TOO MUCH TO SAY and need to trim way back BUT IT’S ALL TOO INTERESTING) and was delighted to find a relevant story by @hntdove.bsky.social that Is missed. reactormag.com/manuscript-t...

Large stripey cat resting along a reclining lap.

Why I didn’t get anything else done tonight.

I am a collection of rabbitholes in a trenchcoat.

Cleaning up my Renaissance cryptography research database. I don’t have as much time to dig in as I want: there’s so much fascinating material!

Large stripey cat bent over a mug sticking her paw in. At least it’s just water.

I need a new drink.

Beautiful gray lap cat looking sleepy and smug.

Nora says it is time to quit puttering and sit down.

Space Weather Message Code: WARK04 Serial Number: 5201 Issue Time: 2026 Jan 01 1444 UTC WARNING: Geomagnetic K-index of 4 expected Valid From: 2026 Jan 01 1444 UTC Valid To: 2026 Jan 01 2359 UTC Warning Condition: Onset NOAA Space Weather Scale descriptions can be found at www.swpc.noaa.gov/noaa-scales-explanation Potential Impacts: Area of impact primarily poleward of 65 degrees Geomagnetic Latitude. Induced Currents - Weak power grid fluctuations can occur. Aurora - Aurora may be visible at high latitudes such as Canada and Alaska.

:Product: 3-Day Forecast :Issued: 2026 Jan 01 1230 UTC # Prepared by the U.S. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, Space Weather Prediction Center # A. NOAA Geomagnetic Activity Observation and Forecast The greatest observed 3 hr Kp over the past 24 hours was 3 (below NOAA Scale levels). The greatest expected 3 hr Kp for Jan 01-Jan 03 2026 is 6.00 (NOAA Scale G2). NOAA Kp index breakdown Jan 01-Jan 03 2026 Jan 01 Jan 02 Jan 03 00-03UT 2.00 3.67 5.00 (G1) 03-06UT 3.00 3.00 6.00 (G2) 06-09UT 2.67 2.67 6.00 (G2) 09-12UT 3.00 2.67 4.67 (G1) 12-15UT 3.00 2.33 4.00 15-18UT 4.33 2.00 3.00 18-21UT 5.00 (G1) 2.33 3.00 21-00UT 3.33 4.67 (G1) 4.33 Rationale: G1-G2 (Minor-Moderate) geomagnetic storming conditions are possible late 02 Jan into 03 Jan due to the anticipated arrivals of several CMEs and their potential interaction with a coronal hole high speed stream. B. NOAA Solar Radiation Activity Observation and Forecast Solar radiation, as observed by NOAA GOES-18 over the past 24 hours, was below S-scale storm level thresholds. Solar Radiation Storm Forecast for Jan 01-Jan 03 2026 Jan 01 Jan 02 Jan 03 S1 or greater 20% 30% 10% Rationale: A S1 (Minor) or greater solar radiation storm is possible over 01-03 Jan 2026 due to an M7.1 flare from 31 Dec 2025 and its associated CME. C. NOAA Radio Blackout Activity and Forecast Radio blackouts reaching the R2 levels were observed over the past 24 hours. The largest was at Dec 31 2025 1351 UTC. Radio Blackout Forecast for Jan 01-Jan 03 2026 Jan 01 Jan 02 Jan 03 R1-R2 55% 55% 55% R3 or greater 20% 20% 20% Rationale: R1-R2 (Minor-Moderate) radio blackout events are likely, with a slight chance for R3 (Strong) or greater, over 01-03 Jan.

Map from NOAA titled showing North America and the North Pole with a color gradient overlay of aurora likelihood.

Map from NOAA titled showing North America and the North Pole with a color gradient overlay of aurora likelihood.

Aurora Forecast Update for 2026-01-01T14:50:03Z

WARNING: Geomagnetic K-index of 4 expected
Valid From: 2026 Jan 01 1444 UTC
Valid To: 2026 Jan 01 2359 UTC
Warning Condition: Onset
Additional Details Here.

Whew! Keep an eye out for quicksand though.