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speciousreasons.bsky.social
Specious Reasons
@speciousreasons.bsky.social
360 followers 490 following 140 posts
Picked this name to join a skeptics forum over 20 years ago and kept using it because I like a Dad joke. Unhealthy fascination with crap. Likely to post microscope, backyard nature, and pet photos, if infrequently.
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speciousreasons.bsky.social
This is not Cinnamon, but the pedestal for his food bowl is enough of a box for Ahsoka to claim. I had to kick her off to feed the poor dog. #catsinboxes #ragamuffin
A white, brown, and black Ragamuffin cat named Ahsoka is sitting in a small square wooden pedestal with raised sides. The box says "Cinnamon." This is where the dog named Cinnamon gets fed, but it's enough of a box for the cat to sit in when the food bowl isn't there.
November 21, 2025 at 5:36 AM
speciousreasons.bsky.social
I normally hang this from my rearview mirror during October, but I got distracted. I'm rectifying this now.
A decorative skull on a dark surface
October 25, 2025 at 10:02 PM
speciousreasons.bsky.social
Bumper crop of mushrooms in my backyard this weekend. #mushrooms
A mushroom sprouting between four larger rocks, with a scattering of orange and green cypress leaves. A mushroom sprouting next to a large rock. The head of the mushroom is conforming to the shape of the rock. Two clusters of mushrooms, one cluster is in the foreground, next to the base of a small concrete pagoda, another cluster is in the background, by a large blue flower pot.
October 12, 2025 at 6:41 PM
speciousreasons.bsky.social
Look at this wonderful little flatworm! #Planarian #flatworm
A flatworm of the Planarian class. Probably a Dugesia species. This is a darkfield photo, where the subject (the flatworm) is illuminated but the background is dark. The head is basically triangle shape, and its eyespots near the base of the head make the flatworm look cross-eyed. The worm's digestive system is refracting more light, so is readily visible as a branching structure behind the head.
October 9, 2025 at 3:07 AM
speciousreasons.bsky.social
Rotifer! I generally avoid taking rotifer pictures because they often don't wind up visually interesting. I think this is an exception. On the left side of the picture, there's the body of a worm with long bristles, probably a Stylaria species.
Rotifer in darkfield, approximately 200X. The rotifer looks a bit like a croissant, as it's bent in a C shape.
September 26, 2025 at 3:12 PM
speciousreasons.bsky.social
Testate amoebas are pretty common in lake water. I was having a lot of trouble capturing the full glory of this in brightfield, so I switched to darkfield and I'm so much happier with the results, even if the background detritus is noisier.
A testate amoeba, species unidentified. The "test" - a shell of particles - is dark and out of focus and some translucent tendrils reaching out of the test may be seen by their outline. This is a bright field microscope photo at approximately 100X. A testate amoeba, species unidentified. The "test" - a shell of particles - can be see as a greenish lightbulb shape. Some translucent tendrils reaching out of the test may be seen stretching out of the test. This is a dark field microscope photo at approximately 100X.
September 26, 2025 at 3:01 PM
speciousreasons.bsky.social
Calrissian sees you beneath her and is not impressed.
White, black, and brown ragamuffin cat resting her front paws on a loft railing looking down on the photographer.
September 21, 2025 at 9:48 PM
speciousreasons.bsky.social
Giant house spider. Trying with a handheld 150mm macro lens (manual focus), so the photos didn't come out as I wanted. It's welcome in my office, but don't tell the rest of the family it's here.
Giant house spider, roughly 5cm total length. It is on a light green wall next to a white ceiling. Giant house spider, roughly 5cm total length. It is on a light green wall next to a white ceiling. Giant house spider, roughly 5cm total length. It is on a light green wall next to a white ceiling. Giant house spider, roughly 5cm total length. It is on a light green wall next to a white ceiling.
June 29, 2025 at 5:23 AM
speciousreasons.bsky.social
This made sense to her at the time. #ragamuffin
Brown, white and black Ragamuffin kitten on a brown leather chair, jammed between the arm and a pillow.
June 21, 2025 at 1:42 AM
speciousreasons.bsky.social
Ahsoka is a photogenic cat when she’s willing to stay still. #caturday #ragamuffin
Ahsoka, a white, brown and black kitten rests sideways on a stool.
May 10, 2025 at 9:12 PM
speciousreasons.bsky.social
Even better, this one was probably worth the time and effort. #microscope #microphotography #lichen
Tip of a stalk of lichen (maybe Cladonia cariosa, but probably a Cladonia species). 27 image focus stack at approximately 100X. This is green lumpy surface and one red protuberances near the end.
March 18, 2025 at 6:21 AM
speciousreasons.bsky.social
Much better. Focus stack of 15 images, visible part of stalk is about 1-1.5mm long. #microscope #microphotography #lichen
Stalk of lichen (maybe Cladonia cariosa, but probably a Cladonia species) 15 image focus stack. This segment of the stalk is around 1 to 1.5mm long, with a green and brown lumpy surface and two red protuberances at the end.
March 16, 2025 at 11:44 PM
speciousreasons.bsky.social
I fumbled these lichen (maybe Cladonia cariosa, but probably a Cladonia species) and got a bunch of detritus on the cover glass, ruining a whole bunch of photos, but I may be able to fix some of it. In the meantime, these picture didn't suck. #microscope #microphotography #lichen
Part of a stalk of lichen (maybe Cladonia cariosa, but probably a Cladonia species) wholemount approximately 40X magnification. The stalk is light green and bumpy, with brown spots. Part of a stalk of lichen (maybe Cladonia cariosa, but probably a Cladonia species) wholemount approximately 100X magnification. The stalk is light green and bumpy, with brown spots. There a two small white unidentified objects buried in the folds of the stalk's surface next to a hole. Part of a stalk of lichen (maybe Cladonia cariosa, but probably a Cladonia species) wholemount approximately 100X magnification. The stalk is light green and bumpy, with brown spots and a prominent red spot.
March 15, 2025 at 8:47 PM
speciousreasons.bsky.social
Posting this picture for no particular reason:
High magnification picture of the word "liberty" from a penny, but the penny is old and very corroded.
February 19, 2025 at 5:52 PM
speciousreasons.bsky.social
How I planned it, how it really looks:
The top 2 cyanotype prints are from @whalefern.bsky.social, the lower 2 prints are from Crystal Worl and Hallie Packard, and the centerpiece is from Stephanie Krimmel.
Digital composition of a wall with various works of art superimposed on it. Picture of a wall with 5 works of art on the wall. In the center of the wall is a tall and narrow mixed media work consisting of multicolor prints assembled into pyramid shapes and arranged by color to look like a 3D image. The top left and top right pictures are landscape cyanotype prints of wildlife. The bottom left is an orca print and the bottom right is a surrealist painting of a forest.
January 24, 2025 at 12:54 AM
speciousreasons.bsky.social
I should post a #caturday picture of the other kitten, to be fair.
White, black and brown ragamuffin kitten, almost fully grown is lying paws up on the floor in a slightly twisted position with the top of her head on the ground and back paws pointing at the camera.
November 30, 2024 at 4:47 PM
speciousreasons.bsky.social
Realized I actually have a #caturday photo today.
White, brown and black ragamuffin kitten with a Halloween bow tie has wedged herself between the blue back of a couch and two white and orange flower print pillows.
November 30, 2024 at 4:36 PM
speciousreasons.bsky.social
Selenite layers in black and white.
A chunk of selenite under the microscope. This is a composite of 19 photos combined by converting each photo to black and white preserving only the most high contrast areas. Looks like a drawing of an unknown canyon.
November 21, 2024 at 4:34 PM
speciousreasons.bsky.social
Important news from yesterday:
#dogs #cats #livingtogethermasshysteria
Two dogs and a kitten resting close together on a carpeted floor. From right to left: Cinnamon is a white and brown Mini Aussie, Cookie is a black and white (blue merle) Sheltie, and Ahsoka is a white black and orange Ragamuffin. Ashoka and Cookie are sleeping, but Cinnamon is staring at me because he's always watching me and wakes up if I move. A white, black and orange kitten is resting her head against a dog's back leg.
November 19, 2024 at 3:24 AM
speciousreasons.bsky.social
Small and medium sized mushrooms in my side yard. #mushroom #mushrooms
On the left side of the picture, a mushroom with a mostly flat white cap and white stalk is mostly in focus. The same kind of mushroom which has a broken stalk is upside down and is slightly out of focus back and to the right. the background is mostly dark with some cypress leaf and twig litter. A mushroom with a flat white top, grey gills and white stalk lies upside down on the ground, the stalk is sheared off at an angle. A messy wedge shaped cut has been taken out of the cap. I don't know how this was damaged, because it was fine when I first found it the previous night. A cluster of small brown mushrooms. The ground is dark with some orange cypress leaf litter around it. A cluster of small brown mushrooms. The ground is dark with some orange cypress leaf litter around it.
November 17, 2024 at 9:38 PM
speciousreasons.bsky.social
@whmpodcast.bsky.social live in Seattle, it was a great show!
Hosts of the We Hate Movies podcast on stage.
November 16, 2024 at 3:30 PM
speciousreasons.bsky.social
Big mushrooms in my front yard. #mushrooms
Six large white mushrooms, 5 in a tight group, 1 in the background. On the ground are a scattering of yellow leaves and orange cypress leaves. Six large white mushrooms, 5 in a tight group, 1 in the background. On the ground are a scattering of yellow leaves and orange cypress leaves. Six large white mushrooms, only 3 in front are visible. On the ground are a scattering of yellow leaves and orange cypress leaves.
October 27, 2024 at 7:55 PM
speciousreasons.bsky.social
Selenite has layers. Feels like a microscopic Grand Canyon
#selenite #microscope #microphotography
A microscopic picture of the surface of a selenite block. The mineral is translucent, so the picture is mostly neutrally colored, with the layers outlined by dark lines. The picture is intended to remind the viewer of an overhead picture of a canyon.
September 29, 2024 at 4:12 AM
speciousreasons.bsky.social
Seals on the Snohomish River.
A seal lying on its side on a mostly submerged log on the water. Two seals lying tail to tail on a submerged log, one black with white spots facing left, and one tan seal facing right. Black seal with white spot lying on a submerged log.
September 25, 2024 at 11:48 PM
speciousreasons.bsky.social
Slugs like mushrooms #slugs #mushrooms
Brown slug, roughly 3-4 inches (8-10 cm) long, with black tentacles and orange skirt is stretched across 3 mushrooms (best guess: Gem-Studded Puffballs), with the 3 mushrooms having clear signs of being partially eaten.
September 15, 2024 at 5:30 AM