Tom Swanson
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swansontea.bsky.social
Tom Swanson
@swansontea.bsky.social
260 followers 120 following 5.2K posts
Retired clockmaker of the atomic persuasion. Formerly at the US Naval Observatory.
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swansontea.bsky.social
The Penguin’s boss
A nun, looking very disappointed in Jake and Elwood. Sister Mary Stigmata, aka the Penguin, from The Blues Brothers
November 13, 2025 at 5:14 PM
swansontea.bsky.social
Ha! Got a break in the clouds. Couldn’t see what looks like an oscilloscope trace with my naked eyes; just the green glow, which was quite eerie
Night sky long exposure showing a yard, tree line and cloudy sky. In an oval-ish break in the clouds the sky is green with some filaments, looking like an oscilloscope trace of a noisy signal. A small patch of the clouds is red
November 12, 2025 at 12:25 PM
swansontea.bsky.social
Astronaut “always has been” meme. One astronaut, looking at earth, saying “ Wait, the Trump GOP is a crime syndicate?” and the one behind him, gun drawn, says “Always has been”
November 5, 2025 at 11:22 PM
swansontea.bsky.social
Found this in my yard. After conferring, referees have ruled that I was outside the pocket and the ball made it past the line of scrimmage, so it’s not intentional grounding.
Small yellow towel on green grass, with some leaves and a small strip of pavement.
November 3, 2025 at 4:39 PM
swansontea.bsky.social
It was robbed recently. Jewelry. Not a high-tech Pierce Brosnan heist.
A room covered with blood with a small lamp, a television and a painting
October 27, 2025 at 12:48 AM
swansontea.bsky.social
But in related news, I finished my (first) chess set. The blacks were done a while ago, but the last ~half-dozen white pieces finished up this year. (my dad made the board long ago)
White chess set pieces on a chessboard. All are D&D miniatures, most are ~25mm scale. Pawns are fighters of some stripe, all different, the knights are unicorns. Queen is a wizard and king is a standard-bearer. Bishops are clerics and castles are actual castles.
October 21, 2025 at 4:39 PM
swansontea.bsky.social
No, his henchmen are clearly marked
The Penguin from the Adam West Batman TV show, flanked by men in bowler hats and black t-shirts that say “henchman”
October 20, 2025 at 2:41 AM
swansontea.bsky.social
Far Side cartoon w/ detective among a city scene with burning buildings and crashed cars, and a giant handkerchief monogrammed with “KK”. “Take this handkerchief back to the lab, Stevens. I want some answers on which monster did this — Godzilla? Gargantua? Who?”
October 20, 2025 at 12:51 AM
swansontea.bsky.social
Who robbed the Louvre? Right answers only
B/W photon of some 70’s looking gentlemen standing in front of a hotel or apartment building Ron Leibman, George Segal, Robert Redford and Paul Sand from “The Hot Rock”
October 19, 2025 at 10:06 PM
swansontea.bsky.social
The investigation has stalled
Crime board organization tree with multiple rectangles and lines connecting to the top. All have question marks in them
October 13, 2025 at 9:05 PM
swansontea.bsky.social
WFLI’s fine, honey
T1000 as foster mom Janelle in Terminator 2, on the phone in the “Wolfie’s fine” scene
October 10, 2025 at 7:44 PM
swansontea.bsky.social
Miller argues he has not violated the restraining order and looks this small because he is clearly 50 yards away
Stephen Miller walking next to a woman who is literally head-and-shoulders taller than he is
October 8, 2025 at 3:22 PM
swansontea.bsky.social
The Penguin from the Adam West Batman TV show, flanked by men in bowler hats and black t-shirts that say “henchman” Biffs, Pows and Oofs can’t be too far away
October 7, 2025 at 5:18 PM
swansontea.bsky.social
Post someone who looks good in black
Agents J and K from Men in Black
October 4, 2025 at 10:04 PM
swansontea.bsky.social
Elon’s version
Arnold, eyes bulging and gasping for air, from Total Recall
October 4, 2025 at 8:39 PM
swansontea.bsky.social
Google AI is getting too stodgy
AI overview Putting lime in coconut (water or milk) primarily causes health benefits, such as aiding hydration, boosting the immune system, and promoting healthy skin, and does not cause health problems for most people, though excessive consumption of either, or an allergy to either, can lead to stomach upset. The famous song about this combination is humorous, not a literal medical instruction for a bellyache.
September 29, 2025 at 9:01 PM
swansontea.bsky.social
The “this is fine” meme dog, sitting at a table, surrounded by flames. The caption is “I’m focusing on healthcare”
September 28, 2025 at 2:15 AM
swansontea.bsky.social
Quite content to be retired. I’ve returned to painting miniatures, a hobby that went on hold when I had no room for a hobby table.
Three miniature bearded frost giants with blue skin, in horned helmets and armor, wielding various medieval weapons.
September 11, 2025 at 10:26 PM
swansontea.bsky.social
Wonderful image of King Doofus I
Donald Fucking Trump with a smarmy tight-lipped grin on his face, looking like the doofus he is
September 4, 2025 at 1:23 PM
swansontea.bsky.social
Nothing visible naked eye, but some faint northern light activity on my iphone camera
night exposure with a tree line and a few stars. Two faint purplish pillars are visible. Moonlight is illuminating some of the trees
September 3, 2025 at 1:17 AM
swansontea.bsky.social
case in point: sizing up the security at Fort Knox
A downy woodpecker on a railing, looking up at a cage-in-cage suet feeder, contemplating the alarm system, wondering if there are pressure plates and checking for laser beams, as it plots getting to the food inside.
August 14, 2025 at 8:01 PM
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Don’t know how compression will affect this. There were no clouds
August 13, 2025 at 2:48 AM
swansontea.bsky.social
3 sec exposure, so it’s blurred a bid because it was moving
bright light in night sky with tree silhouettes below and some background stars
August 13, 2025 at 2:44 AM
swansontea.bsky.social
Two pair
Two pileated woodpeckers dining at suet feeders on a deck railing, while two downy woodpeckers patiently observe
August 10, 2025 at 10:45 PM
swansontea.bsky.social
According to Google AI, Pagliacci is not a mammal

Also, this
Google inquiry: are clowns mammals No, clowns are not mammals. Clowns are human beings who dress up in costumes and makeup to entertain people, typically in a circus or other performance setting. Mammals are a class of vertebrate animals characterized by having mammary glands that produce milk for feeding their young. Clowns are not animals and therefore cannot be classified as mammals, according to the Child Mind Institute. They are human performers, according to Wikipedia
August 7, 2025 at 8:31 PM