I have uploaded some neat but unfinished notes from 16 years of reading about the human uses of the asclepiads. From delicious vegetables to blue dyes to rival indigo, deadly poisons to medicines traded world-wide. And string. 1/2 archive.org/search?query...

I have seen that camera valued at $9,000. The information it contains is priceless.

The Terry Pratchett Estate have announced: The Roundworld year for 2026 shall be known as [FX Drum Roll]: The Year of the Curious Squid. Artwork by Discworld artist Paul Kidby. www.tumblr.com/terrypratche...

Ai slop got me like:

Hell of a thing to put next to a statue of Joan of Arc. (h/t David Pilling)

The BBC have libelled Guillermo del Toro with the allegation that his previous film credits included Prometheus. They have edited out the heinous lie but given no apology. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

#Dionysia odora subsp. odora #Primulaceae Kermanshah, Iran April 2025 | Elevation: 1850 m This species looks like a natural bonsai.

The Met Office is currently looking for people to suggest up to 5 names for storms... It would be great if thousands all suggested the same 5 names (in alphabetical order as that's how storm names appear): BigOil, BP, Equinor, Exxon, Shell. www.metoffice.gov.uk/forms/name-o...

eBay have changed their terms of service and you're automatically opted-in for your personal data to be used for AI development and training. To turn this off, sign into your account click on the Hi (your name)! > My eBay > Account > AI training preferences and you can toggle off the permission.

Seen on Tumblr www.tumblr.com/depsidase/77...

The usual forensic comedy from John Oliver. Lost among the massive promotion of anti-trans dogwhistling from the new fascists. www.youtube.com/watch?v=flSS...

ネコ飛出し注意 (neko tobidashi chūi) Means “watch for cats darting out” and I love this sign.

Everyone in the past was neurotypical, which is how we got things like this single-author, eight-volume encyclopedia of ferns

If you use the Biodivisity Heritage Library (I use it almost daily), you'll be saddened (and maybe angered😡) to learn that DOGE+Musk+Trump have eliminated its funding. BHL is looking for a new home. #ILoveBHL So much f***ing winning.🤬 blog.biodiversitylibrary.org/2025/04/new-...

Seen on Tumblr.

I don't normally share petitions but I have bought plants from this place and love their ridiculous range of unusual useful plants. chng.it/46C2bWtq6y

Seems fair. www.rte.ie/news/world/2...

Gulf of Cuba

@rebeccawatson.bsky.social Have you seen this hilarious/sad story of a French mayor and a fortune-teller who is good at impressions? It is worth embezzling public funds for a really good necromancer, I suppose. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Kewa salsoloides (Kewaceae) grown under lights in Manchester, UK. Anybody else grown these (apart from Kew Gardens obviously)? 2½ petals, very odd. Seed from Ladysmith, South Africa. More photos and info (and Kewa bowkeriana) in my blog article: pattheplants.blogspot.com/2024/01/kewa... #flower