Why Science Fiction Can’t Predict the Future (And Why That’s a Good Thing) - Reactor Ken Liu discusses the project of science fiction and the creation of modern mythology

Doing some archeology on my saved tabs, and this was a great read: reactormag.com/why-science-...

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That can be a kink, I guess?

A collection of six ominous bird valentines set against a background of pink hearts. In the first one, a Canada Goose looks angry and hisses and the text says "Baby, I'll make you fall head over heels if you approach within 10m of my nest." In the second, an American white pelican opens its mouth to eat the reader and the text says "There are plenty of fish in the sea, but I want this one." In the third valentine, a Black Vulture looks suspiciously at the reader and the text says "I will love you until you die. And after that, I'll love you even more." A Southern Cassowary stands proudly against the heart-covered background. The text says "My wattles are red. My head is blue. My deadly reputation has been somewhat overblown, but I'd kill for you." In the fifth valentine, a Northern Giant-Petrel stands open-billed next to a large brown furry object, and the text says "Let's seal the deal by sharing a 3000 kg elephant seal carcass." In panel 6, a happy-looking Bearded Vulture holds a bone in its beak, and the text says "I love every part of you, especially your bones."

Ominous bird valentines.

Kinky

Today's alternative #birdoftheday theme is #birds with long necks. Any excuse for a #vulture pic! Long necks are always handy when delving deep in a carcass...
@alan678.bsky.social @robcrank68.bsky.social @vulturecat.bsky.social 🪶

Today's #birdoftheday theme of two species in one shot was crying out for a #vulture one!
European Black Vulture (what an eye!) with supporting cast of two Griffon Vultures. #birds #wildlife 🪶 @alan678.bsky.social @robcrank68.bsky.social @vulturecat.bsky.social @laffingkat.bsky.social

Falkland Islands were final stronghold of domesticated fox species | The Zoological Society of London Friendly Falkland Islands wolf described by Darwin may have been last remnants of once-tame South American fox

www.zsl.org/news-and-eve...

What's this? The #birdoftheday theme is #Raptors and you haven't posted a #vulture yet Ian...
Ok, if you insist.
@alan678.bsky.social @robcrank68.bsky.social @iand777.bsky.social @vulturecat.bsky.social @laffingkat.bsky.social @iancarter67.bsky.social
#birds #nature 🪶

An ibis carries a feather - depicted in part of a hieroglyphic inlay. Photographed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Divine Egypt exhibition.

Thoth hopes the good in your heart for 2026 weighs up favorably against Maat's ostrich feather. 🏺 #archaeobirds #DivineEgypt

The #birdoftheday theme is #birds with food in their bills. How could I not put #Vultures up?! The not very decorous feeding frenzy of Old World Black & Griffon Vultures on video. @alan678.bsky.social @markavery.bsky.social @vulturecat.bsky.social @iand777.bsky.social @carlbergstrom.com #wildlife

Portrait of a California Condor from neck up, drawn with markers. The condor is looking left.

#ArtAdventCalendar Day 18, my California Condor from Birdtober this year!

I got to see condors during my Monterey trip about 2 weeks after I drew this. Definitely one of my favorite lifers of the trip!

#BirdArt #SciArt #Copic #AnimalArt #ArtYear

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#BirdOfTheDay alternate #OpenWings bearded vulture showing off his impressive 2.5 metre wing span. Took this in the Spanish Pyrenees #birds #birdphotography #pyrenees

Today's #birdoftheday theme is groups. So here's a group of Vultures out on the plain.
#birds 🪶
@robcrank68.bsky.social @alan678.bsky.social @vulturecat.bsky.social @iand777.bsky.social @drtonygillie.bsky.social

Another group for today's #birdoftheday theme. I could post a lot of Vulture photos for this theme... 😆
@robcrank68.bsky.social @alan678.bsky.social @drtonygillie.bsky.social @vulturecat.bsky.social @laffingkat.bsky.social
#birds #nature #wildlife

Nestflix BeardedVulture 17 December-1 YouTube video by Nestflix

If you also love vultures, check out the Nestflix live cam! You can check in on this (now quite big) baby Bearded Vulture, Arari! They're getting ready to fledge from the nest any day now! www.youtube.com/watch?v=yc2g...

Bearded vulture watercolor painting in sketchbook

For day 15 of #artadventcalendar - a study of a bearded vulture. These birds are not actually tan, they roll around in mud to get just the right shade.

#watercolor #birdart

Whittled a great grey owl, because apparently I've been dipping into my cryochamber of crafting hobbies and dragging some out of hibernation.

I love birds so much. Look at this face.

#birds 🪶

Calendar Sales Promotions! There's a picture of the November page, which has a magnificent cinereous vulture in flight. A big star saying "Free UK shipping!" All profits go towards vulture conservation in Central Asia! Shop at https://forms.gle/pimXihA6jX2ohaZW7

Calendar Sales Promotions! A photo of the April page, with a pair of Egyptian vultures. A big star with "2 for £25, saving £5" All profits go towards vulture conservation in Central Asia! Shop at https://forms.gle/pimXihA6jX2ohaZW7

Calendar Sales Promotions! A photo of the May page, with a pair of Himalayan vultures on the high-altitude meadows of Kyrgyzstan. A big star with "календарь на русском языке £14" All profits go towards vulture conservation in Central Asia! Shop at https://forms.gle/pimXihA6jX2ohaZW7

Hey, remember those exciting vulture calendars I've been pushing? There are now discounts! Tell all your friends!
All proceeds go to the research and conservation of #vultures in Central Asia. They are understudied, threatened, and very awesome creatures.

forms.gle/pimXihA6jX2o...

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Lovely stamp and cover artwork depicting threatened bearded vulture. Spain.2019. One of my favourite birds, the Spanish/Catalan names quebrantahuesos/trencalòs tell you it drops bones to shatter on rocks before swallowing to get marrow - armed by strongest stomach acid in nature.

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Today, December 12 is International Iberian Lynx Day. A good day to celebrate the recovery of the species. In 'Critical danger of Extinction' 25 years ago, there are now over 2400 Iberian #Lynx. #rewilding

'AI is coming' I tell the museum stakeholders as I proudly cut the ribbon of our new Artificial Insemination exhibition

3 days!!

forms.gle/pimXihA6jX2o...

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Digital illustration of a Turkey Vulture in warm late afternoon sunlight. This vulture's head feathers are tugged up against the evening chill, making it look like it's wearing a cute, snuggly, feathery hoodie. It has an unfeathered pink face, white beak, and purple-copper body feathers. Waymakers 2024 for cassalalia

For #ArtAdventCalendar day 8, this Turkey Vulture who is beautiful and charming. Everyone should love Turkey Vultures more than they already do, and for some of you that's quite a lot, I know!

🪶 #BirdArt #SciArt

California condor painting

Day 8, of #artadventcalendar seems like a good day for a California Condor portrait.

Did you know in the late 1980s, there were no wild condors? Now you can see them soar in California and Arizona, with over 300 of them in the wild.

Mixed media on canvas
#birdart #extincttowild

2026 Calendar Sales now open! Calendars are available for £15 per calendar + shipping costs. Pictures of the front and back covers All profits go towards vulture conservation in Central Asia! Shop at https://forms.gle/pimXihA6jX2ohaZW7

You have one week to place your order for the #CentralAsianVulturesProject 2026 charity calendar!
forms.gle/pimXihA6jX2o...
12 stunning full page photos of #vultures, fun vulture facts every month, and your money goes towards vulture research and conservation! Shipping worldwide.
🪶 #Raptors 🦤

An exciting opportunity to join the team behind one of the world's major zoological libraries 📚
We are currently recruiting for two roles, an Archivist and a Reading Room Assistant, to join ZSL's Library and Archives team. Find out more & apply before 19th December: careers.zsl.org/vacancies/va...