These are just some of the posts that I’m most pleased with, for a variety of reasons – perhaps because I thought the content was most helpful, maybe because I just liked how the writing came together – whatever. They’re in all categories, and sorted only chronologically.
Flashback – A story from my past work in an animal shelter.
Category: Random
Almost made history – Adventures of an intrepid nature photographer.
Categories: Humor, Nature, Photography
Communicating science – Some thoughts on improving the appeal and acceptance of science among kids (and adults.)
Categories: Critical Thinking, Science & Evolution
On composition, part six – Recognizing what camera and shooting position can do for composing images.
Categories: Composition, Nature, Photography
Changing the rules – The curious standards, and double-standards, often found tied to religion, and why they’re of no use.
Categories: Critical Thinking, Reference
Dealing with the real world – Rebutting an article on the “war” between science and religion.
Categories: Continued From Other Blogs, Critical Thinking, Reference, Science & Evolution
The most important thing you’ll ever read – The title is a little tongue-in-cheek, since it deals with suggestibility and objectivity.
Categories: Critical Thinking, Reference
Hooray! I scored a “Not Negative!” – Examining the peculiar concept of null evidence.
Categories: Critical Thinking, Reference, Science & Evolution
Respect – An attempt to stop the horrible abuse of this word.
Categories: Critical Thinking, Rants, Reference
Odd memories, part five – You think starting religious education early is a benefit?
Categories: Humor, Random
Full of sound and fury – I’m not sure if this is wielding sarcasm as a razor or a bludgeon. But it was still necessary.
Categories: Critical Thinking, Humor, Reference
Too cool, part 10: Bang! – The wonderful evolved mechanism of the pistol shrimp.
Categories: Nature, Photography, Science & Evolution, Too Cool
Does science lead to atheism? – A loaded question, and a fully-loaded answer.
Categories: Critical Thinking, Reference, Science & Evolution
Odd memories, part six – Pointless reminiscing about being a destructive little boy.
Categories: Humor, Random
Cultural blind spot – What the hell is it about alcohol, anyway?
Categories: Critical Thinking, Rants
The exception proves to rule – Reason, rationality, and why these should never be factors in an argument.
Categories: Critical Thinking, Reference
But how? Part five: Life! – Sometimes we accept perspectives without examining them too closely.
Categories: But How?, Critical Thinking, Reference, Science & Evolution
To make magic – disappear! – I’m proud to be a big meanie.
Categories: Critical Thinking, Reference, Science & Evolution
Good morning! – Just pics I like.
Categories: Nature, Photography
One good reason – Just a pic I like
Categories: Nature, Photography
The road’s longer than it looks – A critical examination of artificial intelligence.
Categories: Critical Thinking, Science & Evolution
What can you add? – Why eco-tourism isn’t.
Categories: Critical Thinking, Nature, Science & Evolution
All right, am I redeemed slightly? – Just pics I like (but c’mon, it’s a teeny little cute frog…)
Categories: Nature, Photography
Odd memories, part seven – Even Paranoia won’t help.
Categories: Humor, Random
Too smart to be intelligent – One of many reasons why I find philosophy to be of extremely limited usefulness.
Categories: Critical Thinking, Reference, Science & Evolution
Just because, part six – Just pics I like.
Categories: Nature, Photography, Random
…and part eight – Just a pic I like.
Categories: Nature, Photography
Chasing megapixels – Underachieving cameras… or are they? There’s more to it than image size.
Categories: Astronomy, Photography, Science & Evolution
Know your own way – Don’t fall for misdirection.
Categories: Critical Thinking, Reference
Much ado about “fucking” – We have strange ideas about what constitutes ‘bad’ language.
Categories: Critical Thinking, Random, Rants
To the rescue! Or, not… – Intentions don’t hold a candle to effectiveness.
Categories: Continued from other blogs, Critical Thinking, Reference, Science & Evolution
Drama – Just pics I like (with some impressions thrown in.)
Categories: Nature, Photography
Bigger stakes than that – Reflecting on the narrow perspective of Pascal’s Wager
Categories: Critical Thinking, Rants, Reference
Getting there – Just pics I like (but in my defense, some of them were serious accomplishments for me.)
Categories: Nature, Photography
You don’t look a day over eighty – What secular humanism is and why no one ever argues against it.
Categories: Critical Thinking, Reference, Science & Evolution
I had to – Watching a cooperative praying mantis eat.
Categories: Nature, Photography
All the answers – If that’s so, then I’m still waiting for the replies to these.
Categories: Humor, Random
Booger nights – Absolutely shameless. You have been warned.
Categories: Humor, Nature, Photography
Doing the fartsy thing – Since I don’t do art…
Categories: Composition, Nature, Photography
None of this looks familiar – So, how would life evolve on other planets? Well, probably not like ours at least…
Categories: Reference, Science & Evolution
Succinct – There’s no other word for it. No effort on my part, but definitely something to check out.
Categories: Critical Thinking, Science & Evolution
But how? Part 14: Atheology – Considering how much effort is expended on the opposing topic, this is not nearly enough, but I consider it a good start.
Categories: But How?, Critical Thinking, Reference, Science & Evolution
Mass challenged – Some of my best friends are tiny.
Categories: Nature, Photography
It’s all good for something – A fun day down at the pond.
Categories: Nature, Photography
But what if the third time is the charm? – Pascal’s Wager part three, or, Fine – let’s play by your rules then.
Categories: Critical Thinking, Reference
Life is not all spiders and mantids – Getting fartsy again. I’ll never learn.
Categories: Nature, Photography, Random
I know better – A mixed message about the hazards of lightning photography.
Categories: Nature, Photography
Grading on a curve – A close look at the cultural labels and manipulations that are far too prevalent when it comes to religion.
Categories: Critical Thinking, Reference
The struggle for an appropriate title – It’s a true story, I’m just the shameless messenger.
Categories: Humor, Random
On the horizon – More on artificial intelligence, including the kneejerk reactions to it.
Categories: Critical Thinking, Reference, Science & Evolution
But how? Part 16: Revelation – Originally, I had But how? Part 17: god’s plan in here – they’re back-to-back and I didn’t want to put two in – but I realize now that I should have gone with the earlier post. This is the way I’d like to always write.
Categories: But How?, Critical Thinking, Reference
You telling me or asking me? – It’s startling how many people could benefit from recognizing false assumptions.
Categories: Critical Thinking, Reference
She has a great personality – Probably my favorite photo of the year, and what this says about me is best left unexamined.
Categories: Nature, Photography
A god in every pot – A personal observation about the nature of religious belief, plus I happen to like the writing.
Category: Critical Thinking
Too cool, part 28: Wholly molty! – A lot of photos from The Night of the Molting Arthropods.
Categories: Nature, Photography, Too Cool
Keep coming back to ’em – A return to a favored and curious subject, this time with video!
Categories: Nature, Photography
Some time later – Jim Kramer’s excellent photos of the lunar eclipse of September 27-28th, 2015.
Categories: Astronomy, Frustrations, Photography
The myth of “live and let live” – I think the tag of “prideful cowardice” describes the attitude that’s addressed within this post.
Categories: Critical Thinking, Reference
Cry, “Sexism!” and let loose… – There’s so little sense in the article that it makes the whole movement look stupid.
Categories: Continued from other blogs, Critical Thinking, Reference
If you have to ask… – Asking questions for information, or self-affirmation? These are often two entirely different things.
Categories: Critical Thinking, Rants
I have regrets – There are things that can eat away at your soul, so I suppose it’s a good thing atheists don’t have one.
Categories: Humor, Random
The winter of our blogcontent – Not just photos I like, but examinations and speculation to boot.
Categories: Nature, Photography, Science & Evolution
A tiny bit of diversity – Going in very close to the newborn mantids.
Categories: Nature, Photography
The snakes are taking a beating – Following a nest of red-shouldered hawks.
Categories: Nature, Photography
Too cool, part 30: Not even halfway yet – Sure, more mantids, but a neat comparison so it’s okay.
Categories: Nature, Photography, Too Cool
That’s racist! I think… – More useful, perhaps, to pin down a few specifics before making judgments.
Categories: Critical Thinking, Reference
Podcast: The mindset of a nature photographer – Talking about the habits and attitudes of approaching nature photography seriously. With cool pics of course.
Categories: Nature, Photography
Too cool, part 32… and maybe 33 – The animated gif is pretty slick, but there’s something else in there…
Categories: Astronomy, Nature, Photography, Science & Evolution, Too Cool
Been saving this abstract – Just a pic I like.
Categories: Because it’s a blog, Nature, Photography
Of matters big and small – Sure, it’s opinion, and a rant, but perhaps still capable of stirring some consideration.
Categories: Critical Thinking, Rants, Reference
Too cool, part 35: A modicum of success – Somewhat reaching one of my goals… plus video!
Categories: Nature, Photography, Science & Evolution, Too Cool
And I’d like to thank the Academy – This is my idea of fun, so you’ve been warned.
Categories: Nature, Photography
Doctor Domoore – Evolution of my attitude towards animals and wildlife; I’d like to think my current perspective is the most beneficial now…
Categories: Amateur Naturalist, Critical Thinking, Random
The week of mellow – This is actually part one of three posts regarding a beach trip that was quite satisfying, and productive from a photography standpoint; parts two and three follow almost immediately thereafter (or go here and here.)
Categories: Nature, Photography, Video
Plague me not, amphibian! – Then there came a breeking, steady creaking, squeaking ‘yond my window pane.
Categories: Nature, Photography, Random
About time to get out of the water – A sampling of the critters in, and out of, the little backyard pond.
Categories: Nature, Photography
Podcast: Yeah, me too – The total solar eclipse of 2017 did not escape my attention…
Categories: Astronomy, Nature, Photography, Random, Too Cool
They are if I say so – Reptiles and amphibians are not technically related categories, but…
Categories: Nature, Photography
The measure of humankind – What’s actually beneficial to us, as individuals and as a species?
Categories: Critical Thinking, Rants, Reference, Science & Evolution
The color of the day is “white” – This and the post that follows it, really. We don’t get many heavy winter storms here in North Carolina.
Categories: Nature, Photography
“No kill” is a myth that needs to fucking die already – The curious attitudes towards animal shelters and pet overpopulation, from someone that’s been deep within it all.
Categories: Critical Thinking, Rants, Reference
It’s been a bit turtley lately – Go ahead, say that causally to someone at work, see if they just nod knowingly.
Categories: Nature, Photography
Let’s play catchup – More wet mantid photos, and others.
Categories: Nature, Photography
Right place, right time – A sequence I’ve long been after.
Categories: Nature, Photography
Hey, man, got any change? – A logical (perhaps) approach to causation.
Categories: Critical Thinking, Science & Evolution
The unwanted and uncalled-for sequel – Because I can. No, really, it’s just nature observation, and has nothing to do with being sadistic at all.
Categories: Humor, Nature, Photography, Video
Podcast: Yet again – Okay, a hybridcast, but it was the easiest way to present a lot of stuff from a beach trip.
Categories: Nature, Photography, Video
Red light, green light! – A spring beach trip this time, to a new location in South Carolina.
Categories: Nature, Photography
Order! Order! – Mostly for the osprey sequence, but overall, just pics I like.
Categories: Nature, Photography
Yeah boidy – Same SC beach trip, but only bird photos – a lot of bird photos.
Categories: Nature, Photography
Nectar and pollen and all that jazz – Just pics I like – you can guess the subject matter.
Categories: Nature, Photography
Too cool, part 40: Red sprites in incredible detail – Not my photo, and I’m jealous.
Categories: Astronomy, Continued from other blogs, Photography, Science & Evolution, Too Cool
Finger Lakes: The scenery – Pics from the region where I grew up – well, taller, anyway.
Categories: Nature, Photography, Science & Evolution
Not half – A fall beach trip this time: Oak Island, NC.
Categories: Nature, Photography
Brand Spanking – A bit of an accomplishment for me, and a pic I like.
Categories: Astronomy, Nature, Photography
Avian anecdotes – A good day for birds.
Categories: Nature, Photography
Drawn to scale – Reptilian hijinks, with video!
Categories: Nature, Photography, Video
Big honkin’ bug post – More video (and photos of course) during a good spring for the arthropods.
Categories: Nature, Photography, Video
Some quick closeups – Just pics I like – macro, of course.
Categories: Nature, Photography
The golden hour – This is what it means, and why it’s useful.
Categories: Nature, Photography
Right, let’s get to this – Every once in a while, you get some really cooperative subjects, like these Cooper’s hawks.
Categories: Nature, Photography
Building slowly – Quite a bit less cooperative, but patience and perseverance pays off.
Categories: Nature, Photography
Some more experiments – Equipment tests with a lucky capture on video.
Categories: Astronomy, Photography, Video
Came through in the end – It started out slow, but…
Categories: Nature, Photography, Video
But still, ‘snot art – Just a picture I like.
Categories: Nature, Photography
New York: The non-raptors – Busy times in Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, with video.
Categories: Nature, Photography, Video
New York: The raptors II (On the Move) – This time, birds of prey in central NY, with more video.
Categories: Nature, Photography, Video
Can’t leave ’em alone – You can’t blame me.
Categories: Nature, Photography
Here be dragons. Tiny ones. And bugs – A productive day at the botanical garden, with one of my favorite subjects to boot.
Categories: Nature, Photography
Going critical – Holy shit, do we need more critical-thinking role models.
Categories: Critical Thinking, Rants, Reference, Science & Evolution
Dew cute – A capture I was delighted with.
Categories: Nature, Photography
Too cool, part 49: Genetics and Human Evolution – An excellent video about our ancestry, or at least what we know so far.
Categories: Continued from other blogs, Science & Evolution, Too Cool, Video
I am not an American – Not according to the loudest claimants of the label, anyway…
Categories: Critical Thinking, Rants, Reference
But how? Part 30: Responsibility – So, what if complacency is as bad as it sounds?
Categories: But How?, Critical Thinking, Reference
I’m pleased – The total lunar eclipse of May 2022.
Categories: Astronomy, Photography
So far, so good – A casual blog comment turned productive quest; also see Nature photographer’s lottery as the follow-up.
Categories: Nature, Photography, Video
You guys are late – First day out of the nest? could be…
Categories: Nature, Photography, Video
Visibly different, part 30 – Another successful challenge, and more expansion into video.
Categories: Nature, Photography, Video
Just because, part 50 – Just a pic I like.
Categories: Nature, Photography
Those ugly signs – This is, like, nature photographer dementia.
Categories: Frustrations, Nature, Photography, Rants
Visibly different, part 53 – An experimental photo restoration.
Categories: Photography
You think you have it hard? – Uphill both ways; this is what it used to be like.
Categories: Humor, Random
Lizard licks – Spring in overlapping anole territories, great video if I do say so.
Categories: Nature, Photography, Video
A lot of bird photos – What it says – the lake was active this day.
Categories: Nature, Photography
Last minute success – One particular photo to recognize World Migratory Bird Day.
Categories: Nature, Photography
Just three – Technically, just three birds – so why are there 25 photos?
Categories: Nature, Photography