Argonaut Skipper Mike Nelson
LightNews LightNews
banner
argonautskipper.bsky.social
Argonaut Skipper Mike Nelson
@argonautskipper.bsky.social
370 followers 360 following 830 posts
Mike Nelson, ex-Navy frogman and Coast Guard Auxiliary member, now a freelance diver on his boat Argonaut. A renowned expert, he takes on perilous jobs—rescuing lives, salvaging treasures, and outsmarting villains in thrilling underwater adventures.
Posts Replies Media Videos
argonautskipper.bsky.social
My 20 year old Ultra Magnus and his four new Missing Link friends, Arcee, Cordon, Sunstreaker, and Prototype Arcee.

#transformers
A lineup of Transformers figures posed on a wooden surface against a plain wall. Towering in the back is Ultra Magnus, the red, blue, and white Autobot leader with missile launchers on his shoulders and arms raised in command. In front of him stand Cordon, the white police-themed Lamborghini with black accents and chrome weapon, and Sunstreaker, his bright yellow twin, both in confident stances. On either side are two versions of Arcee — one in her familiar pink and white colors, and the other in pink and orange prototype deco.
November 11, 2025 at 12:55 AM
argonautskipper.bsky.social
I've reached nine years without alcohol.
9-year sobriety milestone badge from the I Am Sober app, glowing with celebration and achievement.
November 9, 2025 at 3:49 PM
argonautskipper.bsky.social
A 2006 20th Anniversary of Transformers: The Movie re-release of Ultra Magnus carrying Missing Link Arcees in movie and prototype colors, Sunstreaker, and Cordon.

#transformers
A detailed display of Transformers figures features Ultra Magnus, the large blue, red, and white Autobot car carrier, loaded with smaller vehicles. On the upper deck sit two versions of Arcee — one in her standard pink and white colors, and another in pink and orange prototype deco. Below them, the lower level holds Sunstreaker, the bright yellow sports car, and Cordon, the white police-themed Lamborghini variant. Ultra Magnus’s twin red missile launchers extend forward, and the Autobot insignia gleams on the blue support arm. The setup rests neatly on a wooden surface against a plain wall, the vibrant figures arranged with collector precision.
November 9, 2025 at 2:09 AM
argonautskipper.bsky.social
Our child will be an Augustana Viking next year!
A smiling young woman poses outdoors beside a costumed mascot dressed as a medieval warrior. She flashes a peace sign with one hand and wears a white sweatshirt featuring a colorful cartoon print, dark pants, and glasses. The mascot stands confidently next to her, clad in a bright yellow and blue suit of armor with a furry yellow beard, a hornless helmet, and a round shield painted in matching colors. They’re on a sunny campus plaza surrounded by trees in early autumn and rows of blue folding chairs, with chalk drawings scattered across the pavement, creating a cheerful college event atmosphere.
November 6, 2025 at 4:34 AM
argonautskipper.bsky.social
I enjoyed rolling back our box of watches this morning. I love mechanical timepieces.
A Timex wristwatch with a red fabric strap and a playful design featuring Snoopy from Peanuts dressed as a baseball player. Snoopy stands at the center of the white watch face, wearing a red cap and holding a yellow bat, which doubles as the second hand. The black hour and minute hands and bold Arabic numerals make the design both whimsical and functional. The silver bezel gleams softly under indoor light, while a stack of books and a blue armchair blur in the background, giving the image a cozy, homey feel.
November 2, 2025 at 6:05 PM
argonautskipper.bsky.social
Zoë's not stressed about the World Series.

#cats
Zoë, a tuxedo cat, rests comfortably on a blue couch, half dozing in a warm and cozy living room.
November 2, 2025 at 2:50 AM
argonautskipper.bsky.social
Ian wishes you a Happy Halloween.

#cats
Ian, a black cat with striking yellow-green eyes, sits calmly on a blue couch in a warmly lit living room.
October 31, 2025 at 10:24 PM
argonautskipper.bsky.social
Can Supersonic Man save our toasters? Only Rifftrax knows.
A television screen shows a scene featuring a retro-style robot with a boxy silver body, red indicator lights, and flexible tube-like arms. The robot stands between two louvered closet doors in a dimly lit room. The subtitles on the screen read: “[Kevin] (robot voice) Boring. I’m gonna go dry hump your toaster.” The crude humor and lo-fi robot design evoke a tongue-in-cheek, vintage sci-fi or parody film atmosphere.
October 27, 2025 at 3:49 AM
argonautskipper.bsky.social
I am priced out of console video games and LEGO, but I am not giving up on books. Here is today's pickup from Bookie's Chicago in Beverly:

*1984* by George Orwell
*Reluctant Immortals* by Gwendolyn Kiste
*The Shoemaker’s Magician*,
*Children of Chicago*, and
*Forgotten Sisters* by Cynthia
Pelayo
A neatly stacked pile of paperback books rests on a teal and white patterned blanket, softly lit by warm indoor light. From top to bottom, the titles are: 1984 by George Orwell (a red 75th Anniversary Signet Classics edition with a minimalist eye design), Reluctant Immortals by Gwendolyn Kiste (purple spine), and three novels by Cynthia Pelayo — The Shoemaker’s Magician, Children of Chicago, and Forgotten Sisters (each with dark, moody covers and small Gothic-style icons). The cozy scene blends literary classics with contemporary dark fiction and horror, evoking the quiet anticipation of an evening spent reading.
October 25, 2025 at 2:21 AM
argonautskipper.bsky.social
If you read this as good news, you are not a person I wish to know.
A screenshot of a Chicago Tribune Daywatch newsletter dated Thursday, October 23, 2025, bearing the familiar blackletter Tribune masthead. The article begins with the greeting “Good morning, Chicago” and reports that federal immigration agents, accompanied by Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino, conducted a large-scale raid in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood. The report notes that at least seven people were arrested—including U.S. citizens—and that clashes broke out with residents filming the event. The piece describes the chaos in the community, nicknamed “Mexico of the Midwest,” and mentions a confrontation at local businesses including El Milagro restaurant. The newsletter cites community outrage and a quote from Marcela Rodriguez, executive director of Enlace, saying, “Our communities are not a war zone… This is our home.”
October 23, 2025 at 1:28 PM
argonautskipper.bsky.social
I enjoy the engravings in "A Tale of Two Cities".
A detailed 19th-century color engraving titled “The Sharp Figure Called La Guillotine” depicts a dramatic execution scene from the French Revolution. At the center, a guillotine rises tall against the backdrop of a neoclassical building. On the scaffold, revolutionary guards in red caps and blue-and-white sashes oversee the grisly proceedings — one man grips the next prisoner’s shirt, urging him forward, while another lifts a freshly severed head to display before the crowd. Below the platform, anxious onlookers and soldiers in ornate uniforms gather, their faces a mix of dread and fascination. The image captures the chaos and theatricality of the Reign of Terror, rendered in stark lines and vivid color.
October 23, 2025 at 1:42 AM
argonautskipper.bsky.social
Chameleon.
A chameleon in its native green with its back to the camera holding onto a horizontal branch. It's tail is curly queued underneath the branch.
October 22, 2025 at 12:03 AM
argonautskipper.bsky.social
Tree frog.
A green tree frog looking into the camera, sitting on a horizontal branch.
October 20, 2025 at 10:58 PM
argonautskipper.bsky.social
Today would have been my Dad's 80th birthday. I miss you, Pop.
A smiling older man with white hair and glasses sits at an outdoor café table on a brick patio, surrounded by flowerbeds and iron fencing. He wears a white short-sleeved polo shirt and a dark wristwatch, resting his arms casually on the table. A white paper cup and a few small items, including a green baby bottle, sit in front of him. The setting feels warm and peaceful, with sunlight filtering through trees and colorful flowers blooming in the background.
October 15, 2025 at 7:49 PM
argonautskipper.bsky.social
ICE is a White nationalist terrorist organization.
A news article from the Chicago Sun-Times, dated October 14, 2025, features the headline “Feds ram SUV in chase down residential street in Chicago, then tear-gas crowd.” The subhead explains that the crash occurred late Tuesday morning near 105th Street and Avenue N on Chicago’s East Side, drawing dozens of residents who protested against federal immigration agents. The byline credits Mary Norkol, Anthony Vazquez, and one additional reporter. Below the text is a tense photograph showing heavily armed federal officers in camouflage and tactical gear confronting civilians on a tree-lined neighborhood street. One officer aims a weapon toward a young man raising his hands defensively, while others in riot gear and “POLICE BORTAC” vests form a line behind him. Protesters appear alarmed and shouting as the scene unfolds under bright daylight.
October 14, 2025 at 11:40 PM
argonautskipper.bsky.social
I miss the days of cars not needing software updates.
The touchscreen display of a car’s dashboard shows a software update in progress. The central screen reads “Software Update — Installing update… Please do not turn off the engine during installation.” A progress bar is visible near the bottom, partially filled. The surrounding interface displays car controls, including temperature (67°F), time (6:16 p.m.), compass direction (E), and calendar date (Tuesday the 14th). The dashboard lights softly glow against the dark interior, with reflections of trees faintly visible outside the windshield — a quiet, paused moment while the vehicle’s system refreshes itself.
October 14, 2025 at 11:29 PM
argonautskipper.bsky.social
Kira is resting up before dance class.

#cats
Kira, a long-haired tortoiseshell cat, is curled up in a tight, contented ball, fast asleep atop a light blue duffel bag. Her thick, multicolored fur—rich with deep black, amber, and cocoa streaks—spills softly over the edges of the bag. Overhead, an orange Barnes & Noble tote bag with the words “of BOOKS” hangs like a little shelter, turning the spot into her own private nook. The scene feels peaceful and homey, as if Kira has claimed the perfect quiet corner for her nap.
October 13, 2025 at 5:53 PM
argonautskipper.bsky.social
It's been that kind of day, hasn't it, Kira?

#caturday
A long-haired tortoiseshell cat lounges belly-up on a blue quilted blanket, nestled between a gray cushion and a blue couch arm. Her thick fur fans out in a wild halo of black, brown, and caramel tones, with her fluffy tail curled dramatically along the cushion. One paw is lifted slightly as if mid-stretch, and her bright eyes peek out lazily from the cascade of fur — the very picture of feline comfort and quiet mischief.
October 5, 2025 at 2:34 AM
argonautskipper.bsky.social
This is a picture from the Chicago Sun-Times this afternoon. ICE shot another Chicagoan today. Trump is activating our state national guard against us. Living under military occupation is not fun.
A heavily armed officer in an armored vehicle is photographed by a crowd waving flags and holding up phones.
October 4, 2025 at 11:47 PM
argonautskipper.bsky.social
In the words of the best Captain, from the best Star Trek, "I am tired of being calm. Calm never got me a damn thing."
October 4, 2025 at 9:40 PM
argonautskipper.bsky.social
Surgery done. Time to feed her!
A smiling woman with gray-streaked hair pulled back and glasses sits at a wooden table in a cozy, rustic-style restaurant. She wears a yellow Mickey and Minnie T-shirt and holds up her left hand, which is wrapped in a supportive bandage around the wrist and palm. The casual atmosphere of the restaurant is decorated with vintage signs, framed pictures, and warm lighting, giving the scene a welcoming, homey feel. Despite the bandaged hand, her cheerful smile radiates positivity.
September 29, 2025 at 7:29 PM
argonautskipper.bsky.social
I think these dairy cow isopods like carrots.
A lively group of Dairy Cow isopods (Porcellio laevis ‘Dairy Cow’ morph) crowd onto a bright orange baby carrot inside a terrarium. Their pale segmented bodies are marked with bold black spots, resembling miniature cows grazing together. The carrot slice stands out against the dark soil and tangled moss, while the isopods cluster tightly, antennae twitching as they feed in unison.
September 28, 2025 at 11:24 PM
argonautskipper.bsky.social
My daughter brought home some new dairy cows today.
A dairy cow isopod, pale white and segmented, presses against the soil inside a small habitat container. The view is through a clear plastic lid patterned with neat rows of air holes, which frame the tiny creature like a specimen on display. The dark, earthy substrate beneath contrasts with the isopod’s light body, making it stand out clearly in its miniature enclosure.
September 27, 2025 at 8:47 PM
argonautskipper.bsky.social
"From the Earth to the Moon's" episode "Spider" is one of my favorite hours of television.
Actor Matt Craven, portraying NASA engineer Tom Kelly, leans in close to examine the interior of a spacecraft mock-up, his sharp gaze framed by the capsule’s control panels. His intense expression dominates the view, as though he’s probing every flaw. Behind him, three suited colleagues stand watch, their serious faces and rigid posture amplifying the gravity of the moment. The perspective places the viewer inside the capsule, staring back at the engineers’ scrutiny from From the Earth to the Moon, episode Spider.
September 27, 2025 at 2:01 AM
argonautskipper.bsky.social
My watch approves!
A Pac-Man–themed Timex watch on a wrist, blending arcade charm with classic design.
September 25, 2025 at 10:29 PM