Joefish From California
@joefish.bsky.social
Professor, arachnologist, worker, guy, basic cable gameshow champion
He/him
He/him
I learned today, that the word "topiary" from the Latin "Topo opera" (shortened) which means "worked landscape" (opera = work, topo = place, like "topological"). Because apparently the Romans carved their shrubberies into animals and whatnot.
April 22, 2024 at 7:17 PM
I learned today, that the word "topiary" from the Latin "Topo opera" (shortened) which means "worked landscape" (opera = work, topo = place, like "topological"). Because apparently the Romans carved their shrubberies into animals and whatnot.
Anybody else get hammered on their taxes by the reduction in child tax credits? Yowch.
April 14, 2024 at 5:22 PM
Anybody else get hammered on their taxes by the reduction in child tax credits? Yowch.
Routine, happy things: the day when I send out invites for Biology Honor Society to deserving students, and hear back about how excited they are to be honored.
April 11, 2024 at 3:50 PM
Routine, happy things: the day when I send out invites for Biology Honor Society to deserving students, and hear back about how excited they are to be honored.
My post quality on social media peaked around 2015, and has been decilining ever since. Is this true for others?
April 7, 2024 at 2:28 PM
My post quality on social media peaked around 2015, and has been decilining ever since. Is this true for others?
Ever think about why nobody ever calls a guitar a "six-string" except in song lyrics?
April 6, 2024 at 2:15 PM
Ever think about why nobody ever calls a guitar a "six-string" except in song lyrics?
I got tagged for a mandatory online training at work today, designed to take "about 3 minutes." And so it did! Dear G-d, let this be a trend.
March 28, 2024 at 11:54 PM
I got tagged for a mandatory online training at work today, designed to take "about 3 minutes." And so it did! Dear G-d, let this be a trend.
Whatever gig economy hustler brings this College Flashback, Vintage 1992 to my home is getting a hell of a tip
March 28, 2024 at 11:46 PM
Whatever gig economy hustler brings this College Flashback, Vintage 1992 to my home is getting a hell of a tip
Here's your periodic reminder that Brown Recluse spiders only live in the Midwest and South.
March 27, 2024 at 2:56 PM
Here's your periodic reminder that Brown Recluse spiders only live in the Midwest and South.
Happy St. Joseph's Day, for all the people who work hard for their families but don't take a ton of credit for it.
March 19, 2024 at 3:35 PM
Happy St. Joseph's Day, for all the people who work hard for their families but don't take a ton of credit for it.
Never leave food within reach of your 17-year-old nephew. Entire jar of cocktail cherries gone in a mere snacktime.
March 1, 2024 at 7:13 AM
Never leave food within reach of your 17-year-old nephew. Entire jar of cocktail cherries gone in a mere snacktime.
Reposted by Joefish From California
while the only part of a spider's exoskeleton that can actually stretch/skew is their abdomen (& I guess the bendy bits between their joints), these 100% capture the vibes of many jumping spider behaviors/postures
bonus points for keeping the eyes spider-y by not adding pupils!
🕷️🌿🧪 #invert
bonus points for keeping the eyes spider-y by not adding pupils!
🕷️🌿🧪 #invert
February 15, 2024 at 4:06 PM
while the only part of a spider's exoskeleton that can actually stretch/skew is their abdomen (& I guess the bendy bits between their joints), these 100% capture the vibes of many jumping spider behaviors/postures
bonus points for keeping the eyes spider-y by not adding pupils!
🕷️🌿🧪 #invert
bonus points for keeping the eyes spider-y by not adding pupils!
🕷️🌿🧪 #invert
I finished a book this week. Yes, this is an accomplishment. Finding time to read off not-a-screen is a challenge for me.
February 14, 2024 at 12:31 PM
I finished a book this week. Yes, this is an accomplishment. Finding time to read off not-a-screen is a challenge for me.
Ooh, not even mid-February and my resident house sparrow couple is moving back into their hole-nest on my back deck.
Yes I know they are invasive but um, so was whoever created this house with perfect bird-habitats as built-ins. I don't mind sharing.
Yes I know they are invasive but um, so was whoever created this house with perfect bird-habitats as built-ins. I don't mind sharing.
February 3, 2024 at 3:18 PM
Ooh, not even mid-February and my resident house sparrow couple is moving back into their hole-nest on my back deck.
Yes I know they are invasive but um, so was whoever created this house with perfect bird-habitats as built-ins. I don't mind sharing.
Yes I know they are invasive but um, so was whoever created this house with perfect bird-habitats as built-ins. I don't mind sharing.
My second kid earned their varsity letter in cross-country running! I'm proud of the achievement, but perhaps equally proud that the executive function level of "getting it 2 months late from the school secretary, and bringing it home" kicked in. Go kid, go.
February 1, 2024 at 5:25 AM
My second kid earned their varsity letter in cross-country running! I'm proud of the achievement, but perhaps equally proud that the executive function level of "getting it 2 months late from the school secretary, and bringing it home" kicked in. Go kid, go.
I stopped on the way home from work and got a 12-pack.
Of mousetraps.
Of mousetraps.
January 30, 2024 at 11:47 PM
I stopped on the way home from work and got a 12-pack.
Of mousetraps.
Of mousetraps.
For some reason, we have this extended winter break. The "extra" week of prep means my 2nd semester students are getting a lot of extra-detailed "Welcome to Spring Semester" messages from me, which they will probably extra-ignore. But hey, I'm tryin'!
January 23, 2024 at 9:04 PM
For some reason, we have this extended winter break. The "extra" week of prep means my 2nd semester students are getting a lot of extra-detailed "Welcome to Spring Semester" messages from me, which they will probably extra-ignore. But hey, I'm tryin'!
I set up the outgoing message on my mom's voicemail. Now I have to listen to me every time I call and she doesn't pick up. It's terrible.
January 23, 2024 at 3:14 AM
I set up the outgoing message on my mom's voicemail. Now I have to listen to me every time I call and she doesn't pick up. It's terrible.
Need a home repair? Be careful how you send your request out- thought I was requesting a quote from a single company, got my phone blown up by like six contractors plus "Angi" ex. Angie's List
"Thanks for contacting us!"
- I didn't, now go away. (repeat)
Guess I gave my digits to an info-seller.
"Thanks for contacting us!"
- I didn't, now go away. (repeat)
Guess I gave my digits to an info-seller.
January 19, 2024 at 2:27 AM
Need a home repair? Be careful how you send your request out- thought I was requesting a quote from a single company, got my phone blown up by like six contractors plus "Angi" ex. Angie's List
"Thanks for contacting us!"
- I didn't, now go away. (repeat)
Guess I gave my digits to an info-seller.
"Thanks for contacting us!"
- I didn't, now go away. (repeat)
Guess I gave my digits to an info-seller.
Visiting relatives in California... wondering why so many ads- billboards, radio, teevee- for personal injury lawyers?
January 18, 2024 at 8:37 PM
Visiting relatives in California... wondering why so many ads- billboards, radio, teevee- for personal injury lawyers?
It's seed, which is Dees spelled backward. Dees Nutz.
January 15, 2024 at 8:23 AM
It's seed, which is Dees spelled backward. Dees Nutz.
The Iron Claw is probably in the Top 10 of sports tearjerkers. Especially if you were a wrestling fan in the 80's and 90's, or if you've watched families- yours or anybody else's- go thru some things... damn.
January 7, 2024 at 8:50 AM
The Iron Claw is probably in the Top 10 of sports tearjerkers. Especially if you were a wrestling fan in the 80's and 90's, or if you've watched families- yours or anybody else's- go thru some things... damn.
A fun ego-booster is when you go to an in-person scientific meeting for the first time in a couple years, and in the first talk they *cite your work*
Aw yeah, tell me how influential I am, I am here for it!
Aw yeah, tell me how influential I am, I am here for it!
January 4, 2024 at 10:36 PM
A fun ego-booster is when you go to an in-person scientific meeting for the first time in a couple years, and in the first talk they *cite your work*
Aw yeah, tell me how influential I am, I am here for it!
Aw yeah, tell me how influential I am, I am here for it!
Did a quick count: there are 33 states I can't live or work in. In those 33 states either my family members or my job (most likely, both) would be under legal and economic attack from the State.
December 17, 2023 at 5:36 AM
Did a quick count: there are 33 states I can't live or work in. In those 33 states either my family members or my job (most likely, both) would be under legal and economic attack from the State.
Some of my students' grades are so doped with extra credit they can't feel their hands or feet.
December 17, 2023 at 1:04 AM
Some of my students' grades are so doped with extra credit they can't feel their hands or feet.
"Pop-up" study carrel found in hallway 50 feet from my lab. Complete with academic and pleasure reading. Must be finals season.
December 12, 2023 at 4:39 PM
"Pop-up" study carrel found in hallway 50 feet from my lab. Complete with academic and pleasure reading. Must be finals season.