Joe
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elusivethought.bsky.social
Joe
@elusivethought.bsky.social
280 followers 220 following 470 posts
Absurdist and deeply passionate student of the music of life. Fascinated by #deeptime, #mythology, #sciencefiction, #nature, and #craftbeer.

(He/him) | NB Cis Masc | Pagan ΘΔ 🐺🦊
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elusivethought.bsky.social
Decisions, decisions...
A Margarita flight of four 5oz glasses, made with house agua frescas. From left to right: piña, tamarindo, sandia, and jamaica.
December 21, 2025 at 6:50 PM
elusivethought.bsky.social
Traveling in Chicagoland with some good friends!
Two friends smiling, looking back from their seats, wearing winter apparel, riding on the upper level of a commuter rail train.
December 20, 2025 at 5:21 PM
elusivethought.bsky.social
High Score Saloon, Downtown Evansville, IN (2/2).

#photography #barcade
A row of a variety of pinball machines, their marquees a warm glow of illumination. A man in a tobaggon, a thick coat, and relatively new Nike sneakers is playing on the second closest to the camera. Overhead, a wrestling belt and a toy gremlin, from the movie Gremlin, line the back wall. Another look at the front wall of High Score Saloon, from further back. At left are the row of shooting and driving games, to the left is glass of the front windows, looking out on the street. Overhead is a vaunted ceiling, strung back and forth with braids of colorful Christmas lights in patterns of blue, red, gold, and green.
December 17, 2025 at 2:36 AM
elusivethought.bsky.social
High Score Saloon, Downtown Evansville, IN (1/2).

#photography #barcade
Looking down through the frontroom of High Score Saloon, a barcade in downtown Evansville, IN. On the left is a row of 90's vintage 2-player fighting game arcade cabinets, including Killer Instinct, Mortal Kombat I, II, and III, and Primal Rage. On the far left wall in the background is the arcade version of Guitar Hero. On the right wall is the unbroken long surface of the bar, with backlit bottles of liquor, slushie machines, and a string of multicolored Christmas lights. A bartender stands underneath two LED screens listing the current draughts, an array of taps behind them. A Fireball promo sign and a vintage diner clock with the stylized phrase EAT painted on it look in on an open kitchen. In the far center background is a neon sign in red modernist style typography that points the way to the bathrooms. A row of lounge chairs sit along the bar. A few recessed ceiling lights and square support columns give the room an overall Modernist feel. The floors are a diagonal checkerboard pattern of red and black. Looking towards the front left wall at High Score Saloon, a barcade in Downtown Evansville. Several different arcade cabinets are on display. Closest to the viewer are several shooting games, up front is Namco's Quick & Crash, an analog-style shooting gallery game, further back is the 2-player cooperative modern rail shooter, Terminator Salvation. Behind it is the late 90's horror shooter classic CarnEvil. Further back are two player side-by-side racing games. Hydro Thunder is the closer of the two, a speedboat racing game. Furthest back is the hyperrealistic street racing game, Initial D. Looking around a corner at High Score Saloon. At immediate left is the modern shoot 'em up, Enter the Gungeon. A hallway looks back on an NBA Jam cabinet and a row of tables and seating underneath decor made up of old pinball tables and arcade marquees. At center is an door with an "Employees Only" placard and the reflection of the bar in what's presumably a two-way mirror. In front of this room is an early 80's cocktail-style arcade game, which has jogwheel controls. The floor is an alternating red-and-black tile zigzag.
December 17, 2025 at 2:36 AM
elusivethought.bsky.social
"Could be lucrative" is really doing a lot of heavy lifting compared to the collapse of the foreign tourism sector.
Graph from Financial Times showing massive decreases in the number of European tourists as polled from the nations of Austria, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the UK.
December 12, 2025 at 4:40 PM
elusivethought.bsky.social
Today's brew day is a traditional ESB. I am utilizing some whole cone hops that my friend @mateovillarreal.bsky.social acquired off a neighbor ("Some kind of English varietal") so I am going to pretend they are East Kent Golding.

#Beermaking #HomeBrewing
A mash paddle on a countertop atop an array of brewing ingredients. From left to right, there are bags of Caramel and Dark Crystal crushed malts, three 3lb bags of Pale Ale DME (dry malt extract), three bags of pellet hops (Challenger, Target, and Northdown), a freezer bag of whole cone of hops ("Some kind of English varietal"), and a bag of Irish moss, which is used as a beer clarifier.
December 6, 2025 at 7:33 PM
elusivethought.bsky.social
Wound up watching "The Road to Wellville" because it was an Alan Parker film I hadn't seen.

Gotta say, Dana Carvey's performance is worth price of admission alone.
A stillframe of Dana Carvey, from Alan Parker's "THE ROAD TO WELLVILLE (1994)." Carvey is dressed in a slightly stained open collar shirt, a vivid face of chronic abuse; unkempt hair, a swarthy and besot pallor, deep furrows under his eyes, and a wattled chin. He holds aloft a roll of bills in an open fist as an adrift at sea might snag a lifeline.
December 5, 2025 at 1:52 AM
elusivethought.bsky.social
Dungeons & Dragons Park,
Carbondale, IL (3/3)
#photography
A side view of a few gargoyle statues, leading from a stone path onto a wooden walkway. The statues are painted a deep sea green, their membrane wings raised starkly. Their hyena-like faces are scowling in surprise, their eyes are painted electric yellow with small black pupils. Further back, a picnic bench sits in the left ground. Near center frame is a larger tree, and in the far right background is a griffin and a few powder blue wizard statues. A bright blue dragon statue is lounging, one eye looking at the viewer, as it smiles toothily with its underbite. The ground around it is covered in leaf litter. The dragon's mouth and nostrils are painted a fuschia color and its visible eye is a bright green. It sits with one paw folder under its head. We see a little of the bony horns coming off its head and its round body in the frame. Behind the dragon is a small canopy of evergreen trees. A small hill leading up to a stone bench, in a shady space. The hill is a semi-manicured space of ivies and tufted grasses, littered with the remnants of dead leaves. In the right foreground, a tree trunk is visible and a few more trees are scattered in the background behind it. A person in a purple shirt can be seen in the left background seated at another bench, and the sky in the background is a cloudy grey-blue with the bright line of contrast of orange of near sunset.
November 29, 2025 at 3:45 PM
elusivethought.bsky.social
Dungeons & Dragons Park, Carbondale, IL (2/3)
#photography
A castle wall, made up of slabs of sandstone, in alternating hues of tans and browns. A small vertical archery slit is visible near the top of the wall, and a gargoyle is posted in the far right corner. In the middle of the wall is a bronze plaque with a stylized medieval sun and the four seasons written on its four sides. A dragon statue is reclining on a cantaloupe colored stone, which has been carved with ornate Celtic knots and whorls. The dragon's front claws are folded, and its scales have been painted with a reflective green-gold, its underbody a similarly reflective orange-red. Its leathery black wings are draped around its body, and its head is looking to the side almost quizzically, its serpent eyes showing a thoughtful gaze. A corner gate of a castle playground. A stone walkway leads under an arched column, a small white lion statue flanking one side of the entrance. Overhead, two warrior statues are perched in dynamic poses, as though ready to strike with their weapons drawn. In front of the gate, a sea of blue playground mulch spills out, and behind it, a black fence and a fence and a few small trees denote the edge of the park, the deep greys of cloudy skies seen overhead.
November 29, 2025 at 3:45 PM
elusivethought.bsky.social
Dungeons & Dragons Park, Carbondale, IL (1/3)
#photography
A unicorn statue, made of wicker, stands at a side angle, perched atop a hillside, its long horn pointing rightward. The hill is a patchwork of shrubs, a mottled mix of vibrant greens, vivid yellows, and fiery reds. A few trees spill out behind the unicorn statue, their leaves have been shed as winter approaches. The sky is a light blue, heavily dotted with stratus clouds. A gryphon statue, looking at the viewer with regal-like appearance. Its hawklike eyes are painted blue with yellow sclera. Its beak is a deep charcoal which fades to lighter Grey, and its feathers are an earthy brown. Its lion-like tan arms are folded, ending in hawk-like talons. It sits on a slab of sandstone. A few cars are parked behind a fence, under a magnolia tree in the background. A lion statue stands at attention at the entrance at a wall next to a flight of stairs leading to a castle playground. The ground is covered in a litter of navy blue rubber playground mulch, leading to a festive gazebo, and a playground area, meant to look like a medieval castle, and adorned with suns, shields, and plaques. A green trash dumpster near the playground is stenciled with the phrase NO SMOKING in white letters. Pillowy whites of innumerable fluffy clouds mark the skies overhead.
November 29, 2025 at 3:45 PM
elusivethought.bsky.social
Evening walk. Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center, Makanda, IL (2/2).
#photography
A road through the forest, curving towards the left, a loose litter of leaves spread out to the right. The deep red hues of the late sun pouring out amidst a long patchwork of skeletal trees in the near distance. A waxing half moon peering out, a marble of bone white amongst of an ocean of pure blue sky in late afternoon. A fractal patchwork of branches seems to be reaching up, appearing to radiate towards it.
November 27, 2025 at 10:37 PM
elusivethought.bsky.social
Evening walk. Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center, Makanda, IL (1/2).
#photography
A thick grove of trees in late fall, a bed of leaves underneath them with a few green thickets of brush. Dappled sunlight is trickling out in bright orange in contrast to the powder blue sky. Looking out amidst a forest in late fall. The sun is visible low through the tree line. The forest is thick with dried undergrowth, a few patches of green still remain of plants clinging to life amidst the shortening days. Looking away from the sun along a road in the forest, a few trees bathing in rays of late afternoon sunlight, the road on the right running towards the center horizon.
November 27, 2025 at 10:37 PM
elusivethought.bsky.social
Thanksgiving dinner, Carbondale, IL. Hope you folks have a lovely holiday as well!
#Thanksgiving #HappyThanksgiving #TurkeyDay
A close up image of a plate of Thanksgiving food, lined with a little bit of everything. Counterclockwise from center - a little turkey with brown gravy, a colorful slaw is a festive array of orange and pink, mashed potatoes and skins, a biscuit, a little sweet potato casserole, stuffing, green bean casserole (with french fried onions). The vivid colors of the food sit atop a deep navy blue porcelain plate, which itself sits on a deep walnut table. A fork sits on top, ready to scoop forkfulls of generous helpings. A few casserole dishes sit behind it, and a few seltzers sit off to the side. Looking down a table at a row of entrees and a row of chairs. A cellphone is on the table at near left, further back are a few cans and a coffee mug. A plate of food is at near right. In the far background, a grandfather is playing with a small child. A tablespread full of full of Thanksgiving entrees, served and ready to eat. From left to right: a bowl full of sesame ginger slaw, green bean casserole, stuffing, mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, biscuits, and sweet potatoes. The entrees are flanked by a gravy boat and stick of butter. There are a few glasses, a coffee mug, and several seltzer waters as well.
November 27, 2025 at 7:44 PM
elusivethought.bsky.social
Holiday shopping, Fountain Square, Bloomington, IN (11/22).

#photography
A silver car is parked in the foreground of a city square. A road sits behind it with a monument standing near the center of frame, with a few more parked cars parked alongside it. A row of buildings looks back on a vivid sunset, a spectrum of deep oranges, violets, and pale blues. Looking up a hill at a courthouse building at dusk. Its marbled frame is lit from below with bright green footlights, a few skeletal trees on either side of it. The sky nearby is dotted with deepening hues of sunset and a few patchy pink clouds. Looking along a sidewalk at a row of parked cars. A few streetlights and parking meters line it and a divider of concrete leads up a hill of grass to the right side. A brown historical sign points out a few nearby sights to see in the vicinity. A row of stores looms off to one side, a few vivid salmon and tangerine clouds in a darkening twilight sky. A crosswalk looking out at street with a few passerbys, walking under an awning and a few string lights. A stop sign is glaring red with a Do Not Walk light to one side, the street sign for a College Ave hanging from its beam. An avenue to the left side looks out on the glass windows of a modernist building, reflecting the glow of bright orange late sun, hanging low beneath a spotty patchwork of light clouds.
November 25, 2025 at 4:13 AM
elusivethought.bsky.social
Press X to Doubt screen, a meme from Rockstar Games' "L.A. Noire," in which the detective could doubt the witness' story to elicit the underlying truth.
November 16, 2025 at 4:50 AM
elusivethought.bsky.social
Pam from The Office meme: "They're the same picture."
November 14, 2025 at 4:12 AM
elusivethought.bsky.social
New essay on my blog.

I wanted to write about AI, and in particular, the misuse of AI as a teaching tool in classroom education.

elusivethought.beehiiv.com/p/signal-to-...

#AI #currentevents #philosophy
The first chapter of the essay, "Signal to Noise," by Joseph M. Pence: I will never forget how, as a child, my mother took me to a natural history museum. One of the exhibits was a diorama of animals that might be seen in the Texas desert at night. I sat in awe as the lights dimmed, and we were presented with the evening sky; spotlights highlighted coyotes, voles, bobcats, jackrabbits, and owls while a voiceover guided us through their ecological role in that nocturnal world.
November 10, 2025 at 11:11 PM
elusivethought.bsky.social
Today's brew day is an American IPA, brewed with Simcoe, Amarillo, and Mosaic hops. Adding dried blueberry and culinary lavender to the boil and ferment.
Various brewing ingredients laid out on a table. From left to right, there are bags of Pale Ale and Pilsen-style DME (dry malt extract), Acidulated Malts and Caramel Malts steep grains, Irish Moss, bags of culinary-grade lavender buds, dried blueberries, and Simcoe, Amarillo, and Mosaic hops.
November 1, 2025 at 6:21 PM
elusivethought.bsky.social
All Hallows' Eve's Eve, Haynie's Corner, Evansville, IN. #photography #halloween #spookyseason
A giant skeleton, its skull lit with glowing eyes, its bony arms outstretched, lit from underneath in an eery violet glow. It stands on a column. At its feet are a multitude of Jack O'Lanterns, their carven faces filled with small candlelight. The pumpkins sit on slabs of sandstone, at varying heights, encircling it. Behind the skeleton is a mature tree and a small hedge line, further back are several small bungalows that serve as storefronts, a line of rope lines hung towards the sidewalk, running parallel to the skeleton. Another view of the skeleton, from the side, seemingly grasping outward, the deep blues of the lights at its feet highlighting it in a midnight tone. The sandstone pillars surrounding it are lined with lit Jack O'Lanterns. To the left is the tree, with the rows of storefronts behind it. A triangle of bright yellow string lights seemingly frames the skeleton from behind, reaching from above a store to a streetlight draped with festive banners to the right of the skeleton, standing on the sidewalk. A smaller, almost shrublike tree and the back of a signpost are visible along the right background as well.
October 31, 2025 at 2:27 AM
elusivethought.bsky.social
I wrote a new essay, which you can read here.

elusivethought.beehiiv.com/p/outside-th...
The first two paragraphs of the essay, "Outside the Wall," by Joseph M. Pence: A little over a week ago, I took to the streets alongside millions of other Americans. And like those same millions of other Americans, I reflect to myself, "What comes next?" The answer is invariably, "We keep finding ways to connect with real people." It will not be easy and it is an answer we must each answer for ourselves.
October 30, 2025 at 1:20 AM
elusivethought.bsky.social
Was rewatching John Carpenter's scifi classic THEY LIVE (1989) the other night.

This scene, *damn.*
October 21, 2025 at 9:00 PM
elusivethought.bsky.social
Shi - 死, performing outside in Haynie's Corner, Evansville, IN. (10/17/2025)
The metal band, Shi - 死, performing outside in Evansville, IN, under a neon marquee of lights on a stage outside an older theater. They are at roughly 3 feet height above the crowd, their bassist lunging into a chord as the drummer pounds on the drums in ferocious energy. Behind them is a wall of large amp cabinets. They are a four person band, with one guitarist on an SG style guitar, the other on a Les Paul, with their bassist flanked in the middle on a Fender P-bass. Their drummer is directly behind him on a silver Tama kit. The metal band, Shi - 死, performing outside in Evansville, IN, under a neon marquee of lights on a stage outside an older theater. They are at roughly 3 feet height above the crowd, the guitarist throwing a fist in the sky as their singer launches into a song. Behind them is a wall of large amp cabinets. They are a four person band, with one guitarist on an SG style guitar, the other on a Les Paul, with their bassist flanked in the middle on a Fender P-bass. Their drummer is directly behind him on a silver Tama kit. The metal band, Shi - 死, performing outside in Evansville, IN, under a neon marquee of lights on a stage outside an older theater. They are at roughly 3 feet height above the crowd, thrashing in the midst a song. Behind them is a wall of large amp cabinets. They are a four person band, with one guitarist on an SG style guitar, the other on a Les Paul, with their bassist flanked in the middle on a Fender P-bass. Their drummer is directly behind him on a silver Tama kit.
October 20, 2025 at 5:49 PM
elusivethought.bsky.social
Watching Prince of Darkness for spooky season with Dad. I do feel a little like John Carpenter demanded Jameson Parker grow this specific type of mustache for his lead role and insisted it was "real sexy with the ladies."
Jameson Parker as Brian Marsh in John Carpenter's "Prince of Darkness" (1987). Parker is dressed in an unbuttoned blue polo shirt and is sporting a low hanging mustache, which is suspiciously Mary Sue to one that John Carpenter also has.
October 9, 2025 at 12:33 AM
elusivethought.bsky.social
Pomona Natural Bridge, Shawnee National Forest. 2/2 #photography #hiking #wilderness
Looking back at a natural bridge from a trail walking underneath it. Its face is a patchwork of deep green moss and light blue-grey license. A few small trees (possibly poplar?) sit on either side of the trail. The trail appears to be shaded, but over the bridge, bright sunlight shines along the treeline. A near vertical rock wall of sandstone, at roughly eye level. The top of the wall is overgrown with a forest of smaller trees, while the wall itself is nearly barren, save a few smaller plants and moss clinging tenaciously to its face. A few dusty boulders have schismed from it and sit at its base. A man in a red shirt in jeans, walking up a rocky trail nearly overrun with smaller plants through a thick woodland glen. There is a steep drop-off to the right side, looking out over a cliff, a few medium sized trees growing up from it. Late afternoon sunlight shines down on him, alternating the shady landscape with warm hues and long shadows.
October 6, 2025 at 3:47 PM
elusivethought.bsky.social
Pomona Natural Bridge, Shawnee National Forest. 1/2 #photography #hiking #wilderness
Looking out over a woodland thicket and a natural bridge of sandstone. A small bright golden beam of sunlight shines on its lower face, a trail running up over the top, while a clearing underneath marks what appears to be a rocky stream bed that is currently dry, but possibly active a few months a year. A few small understory trees and shrubs cover the hilly landscape. A cliff face looms overhead, covered in craggy gaps and vibrant green patches of moss. The wall of rock spreads along the left into the near distance at just above one's head. A rocky ground is lined with dead leaves and small limbs covering a small walking trail, a few smaller trees leaning from the right, covered in vivid green leaves. A man in a red shirt and jeans standing underneath a rocky bridge of stone, which looms maybe twenty feet overhead. He is standing amidst a field of large rocks and boulder. Smaller understory trees lean into the frame from either side in what appears to be a young growth forest.
October 6, 2025 at 3:47 PM