Apparently for most people, creating mental images feels like part of the reading process itself. They don’t separate decoding words, understanding meaning, and mentally visualizing what they read - it all happens automatically. I can’t mentally visualize, but I can read and understand words.

I mentioned at Easter dinner party that I have aphantasia - I can’t mentally picture images in my head at all. The host’s husband immediately asked me if I can read. That was a question I totally did not expect. (I can definitely read!!)

Incredible footage from a United Airlines flight of the Artemis II launch.

I'm currently reading Rhapsody in Black, by Brian M. Stableford, book two of the Hooded Swan series. It's a science fiction novel, copyright 1973. I'm currently on page 90 out of 156. That's not much progress, but at least some progress. I'm also reading another book for a potential "book tasting".

Meanwhile, in southwest Colorado, it's currently snowing on Wolf Creek Pass. This wintry view from COtrip webcam.

Why would I use "AI," I actually know how to fucking write

I have aphantasia and can't mentally visualize anything at all. Because of this, when I read, I don't mentally visualize written scenes as I'm reading them. I never imagine characters beyond what an author explicitly states in their words.

I have aphantasia. I can't mentally visualize anything at all. It effects how I play Wordle. I can’t “see” letter patterns or shuffle word possibilities around in my head like many people do. Because I can’t visualize, I tend to narrow possibilities by eliminating letters and making logical guesses.

If you don't read, you may confuse plurals and possessives when you write, because they sound the same when spoken. Grammar matters. Cats is plural - more than one cat. Cat’s is possessive - something belonging to the cat, like its tail.

A reason for reading is to be able to understand writing. If you can't read well, written instructions and communications become a code of printed characters that you can't reliably decipher on your own. If you read well, you have access to a wealth of well-crafted stories and compiled information.

This morning I went to Black Rock Coffee in Highlands Ranch. It's a newish coffee shop that I'd noticed before when driving by, but I hadn't gone inside. I bought a blueberry scone and an Americano coffee and sat down in the shop for a while. I'd go there again.

Fiasco was making eleventy billion urgent noises and I finally followed him like "What? What is it? Is Timmy trapped in the well?" Anyway no he wanted to let me know that there were PEOPLE outside and they were walking a DOG

On Fantastic Reviews Blog, we post “book tastings.” We read only the first 25 pages of a book, then we write what happened in those opening pages and what we thought of the book so far. Those first pages usually tell us whether the book is one we’d want to keep reading. fantasticreviews.blogspot.com

A book published in 1973 is still the book it was in 1973. The author’s words remain unchanged, printed on paper like a time capsule. There are no updates, no edits, for a modern audience. And when a book is treated with even any care, it stays readable for many decades.

The book I'm reading now is Rhapsody in Black, by Brian M. Stableford, book two of the Hooded Swan series. It's a science fiction paperback from 1973. I'm currently on page 70 out of 156. That's not fast progress, I'll admit, but I am reading.

About Book Tastings: (posts on Fantastic Reviews Blog) In a book tasting, we read only the opening 25 pages of a book. We’ll tell how the book begins and then say whether those pages inspired us to continue reading the book. A book tasting is not a book review; it doesn’t evaluate the entire book.

I posted a new "Book Tasting" on Fantastic Reviews Blog. See what I thought of the first 25 pages of the fantasy book Shadow Prowler, by Alexey Pehov. fantasticreviews.blogspot.com/2026/03/book...

I found out, after getting a flat tire on my 1997 Saturn SC2, that a 29-year-old spare tire isn't particularly helpful. AAA roadside assistance really didn't like the look of my vintage spare tire, so the car ended up getting towed to a tire shop.

So far, reading the book Rhapsody in Black, the first chapter depicts the protagonist Grainger alone in dark, in alien world tunnels. The second chapter is backstory of how he got in that situation. The third chapter returns to the dark tunnels story. The fourth chapter continues the backstory.

The book I'm currently reading is Rhapsody in Black, by Brian M. Stableford, book two of the Hooded Swan series. It's a science fiction novel, copyright 1973. I'm reading a used DAW first edition paperback with the shown cover. I'm currently on page 45 out of 156.

the only way to test this is to lock him in a maximum security prison and see if he gets out

Sunset tonight, a few minutes ago. Fiery color above the mountains. Pinkish clouds, with a bit of a wave pattern, higher up in the sky.

I completed reading The Halcyon Drift by Brian M. Stableford, a 1972 science fiction novel. Book one of the Hooded Swan series. I guessed some of the ending after finding the spaceship the Lost Star, but definitely not all. Contains starship piloting that would impress Han Solo. Recommended!

Denver’s got a better chance of hitting 80° than getting snow over the next two weeks. Yikes. #COwx

I'm currently on page 154 out of 175 of my 1972 DAW paperback of The Halcyon Drift by Brian M. Stableford. It's surprisingly readable science fiction. Book 1 of the Hooded Swan series.

Bright blue sky after yesterday's snowstorm, seen through the bare branches of my big catalpa tree.

I'm currently on page 95 out of 175 of my DAW paperback of The Halcyon Drift by Brian M. Stableford. Some progress.

The book I'm currently reading is The Halcyon Drift by Brian M. Stableford. It's a science fiction novel, copyright 1972. I'm reading a used DAW first edition paperback. I'm currently on page 49 out of 175.

I'm deeply concerned by reports that some military commanders are framing the Iran war as “God’s plan,” invoking Armageddon and the return of Jesus. Service members swear an oath to the Constitution — not to any religion. In a military context, that language is inappropriate and unconstitutional.

EXCLUSIVE: At more than 30 installations, U.S. commanders told troops the war on Iran is a Christian war. The Military Religious Freedom Foundation has been “inundated” with more than 110 complaints. One NCO said they were told the U.S. war is to bring about Armageddon and the return of Jesus…

Sunset tonight with orange clouds.

Today when leaving to meet a friend at Starbucks to do some writing, I locked myself out of the house. I took my car key with me but failed to take my house keys. When I exited to the garage, the door locked. Duh. Hours later, I needed to uncover the very well-hidden spare keys.

Just saw that Xing Zhilei, the Chinese DIY influencer, posted an update on his self-built cat town which went viral last year. youtu.be/i1savUPr-yU

One advantage for me of having global aphantasia is that if I watch a grisly or horrific scene in a TV show or movie, I can’t re‑imagine it or replay it in my mind afterward. #aphantasia

As someone with global aphantasia, I was totally dumbfounded when I learned that some people visualize actors in their minds as playing the characters in a book - like they’re casting a movie in their head. #aphantasia

People often say, ‘I picture this character as…’ when they read books. I can’t relate to that; I have global aphantasia. I’m unable to mentally imagine what characters might look like. For me, characters don’t have faces - they merely have motivations, actions, relationships, and traits.

As someone with global aphantasia, when I read a book I don’t ‘see’ the story. I completely lack the ability to mentally visualize scenes. I follow the meaning of the words and understand conceptually what’s happening without ever ‘seeing’ it. #aphantasia

As someone with global aphantasia, my mind works through facts, structure, meaning, relationships, and logic. I don’t mentally visualize images or mentally play sounds. I can’t recreate scenes, voices, spatial layouts, emotions, or sensory details in my mind. #aphantasia

Early this morning, I got a coffee at a Starbucks. I sat for a while at a table drinking my coffee. Instead of doing things on a phone or a laptop, I read a couple chapters of an older science fiction book. It was more relaxing and mentally stimulating than interacting with some online media screen.

Sunset this evening from Highlands Ranch.

Yesterday, I watched the movie Back to the Future in a theater. A re-release showing for its 40th anniversary. The movie, it still works. In my opinion, it remains watchable and entertaining.

I raked up another big bag full of fallen leaves. I wore myself out doing it. I plan to take the leaves to the leaf drop-off location in Castle Rock so they can be recycled. It keeps leaves out of my trash, and out of the landfill.

“Detonating warheads to see if they actually work hasn’t been necessary in a very long time.” — Tom Nichols @radiofreetom.bsky.social www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

Four pots of happily blooming geraniums, with orange or pink flowers. I transplanted them from the heavy planters on the front porch into smaller, moveable pots so that I can save them from the forecasted upcoming freeze. These geraniums are going to live inside my sunroom for the winter.

I took a walk this afternoon, around 2 miles roundtrip. The weather was pleasant and sunny, so it was relaxing to be outside. Plus, I also got myself some good exercise.

I loved One Battle After Another’s ending on first viewing, but the second time around I realized *how much* is going on in that scene beyond it being a really great car chase. So I had to write something about the brilliance of The River of Hills

View featuring yellow and orange aspen trees. Fall color along US 160 on Wolf Creek Pass in southwest Colorado. I took this photo on October 4.

Bright rainbow above town of Silverton, in southwest Colorado. I took this photo while it was lightly raining on October 3. There are yellow aspen leaves in the background. My photo shows the Triangle Motel on right side of the wet street.

The vet's office gave me the teeth they extracted from my cat Lysander's mouth. I saw the number of teeth they took out. I got a $$$ bill. I added the cat teeth to the red pill bottle containing his cat teeth from his previous major dental procedure. It's weird that I possess a bottle of cat teeth.

My black cat, Lysander, had a dental procedure with tooth extractions on Monday. He seems to be recovering ok. I'll give him another gabapentin this evening. Lysander walked around the house, visited the sunroom, and did some typical cat napping today.