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matthewdickerson.bsky.social @matthewdickerson.bsky.social · 4d

For those folks who appreciate the wisdom of #jrrtolkien and #middle-earth here is a new piece I had published just this morning on Tolkien’s insights gleaned in the 20th century and how he portrayed fascism and tyranny and capitalism in his writings: washingtoninst.org/capitalism-f...

Capitalism, Fascism, and the Wisdom of J.R.R. Tolkien | The Washington Institute

As last century wound to a close, author and scholar Tom Shippey published J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century, one of the most important works in the field of Tolkien studies. In the book, Shippey ...

washingtoninst.org

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matthewdickerson.bsky.social @matthewdickerson.bsky.social · 14d

The next day’s harvest of Lawyers Wig from the same patch also proved very good both in eggs and sautéed on the side. I have died since eating either meal. They keep coming up. When they do, we have 1 day to pick and eat them. The others are being used to make ink. (Seriously.)

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matthewdickerson.bsky.social @matthewdickerson.bsky.social · 15d

They turn ugly very fast. Window for harvesting is small. Once harvested they need to be eaten quickly or they turn to ink. But they are quite tasty when white and are good for souping because they release their water very quickly. The evil corn dogs also come up in great abundance in our yard.

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matthewdickerson.bsky.social @matthewdickerson.bsky.social · 16d

I didn’t even have to steal these from Farmer Maggot!

#mushrooms #hobbits #foraging

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matthewdickerson.bsky.social @matthewdickerson.bsky.social · 16d

I am not a mushroom forager. I don’t know enough & don’t want to die or fry my brain. But these were in our backyard — 2 lbs! — and are considered one of four varieties safest to eat in terms of trustworthy ID. So #mushroom soup for dinner. I think Frodo, Merry, and Pippin would approve. #hobbits

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matthewdickerson.bsky.social @matthewdickerson.bsky.social · 16d

I’m still at 0 times

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matthewdickerson.bsky.social @matthewdickerson.bsky.social · 16d

Those trees!!!

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matthewdickerson.bsky.social @matthewdickerson.bsky.social · 18d

Camping at the Parc de la Gorge de Coaticook, Quebec. A very beautiful place with some wonderful local food. The Foresta Lumina display after dark was delightful.
#easterntownships #coaticook #quebec

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matthewdickerson.bsky.social @matthewdickerson.bsky.social · 18d

I love being at a scene like this

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matthewdickerson.bsky.social @matthewdickerson.bsky.social · 29d

The local goldenrod has seemed not only especially abundant this year, but also very bright in its namesake color. The pollinators — including northern paper wasps, common eastern bumblebees, and honeybees (all shown) — have been abundant and busy among them. It’s quite delightful and encouraging.

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matthewdickerson.bsky.social @matthewdickerson.bsky.social · Jul 28

“Birds in the Sky, Fish in the Sea”.
Sometimes they come together along the shore. It often ends badly for the fish, but as a fellow fisher I enjoyed watching these snow egrets foraging along the beach in Santa Barbara. #beaches #birds #snowegret #santabarbara

www.squarehalobooks.com/birds-fish

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matthewdickerson.bsky.social @matthewdickerson.bsky.social · Jul 13

I love my #vermont #backyard plopped down as it is near the edge of the green and often #mistymountains.

I had a nice visit from #Beorn yesterday. Obviously, in his other skin at the time. He must have known I’ve been brewing mead — thus making my house a sort of mead hall or Meduseld.

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matthewdickerson.bsky.social @matthewdickerson.bsky.social · Jul 5

My favorite two bird sightings of the summer (so far) … just minutes apart. Though the former of these is not as pleased with the presence of the latter.

#maine #baldeagle #loon

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matthewdickerson.bsky.social @matthewdickerson.bsky.social · Jun 26

I’m fortunate to live across the street from a large National Forest. It’s profoundly sad but not surprising that the corrupt fascist oligarchy taking over the country wants to continue selling land we all share to the wealthy so they can exploit and exclude.

matthewdickerson.bsky.social @matthewdickerson.bsky.social · Jun 25

A wild brook trout caught this AM in a Green Mountain National Forest stream with winter wrens singing in the background to complement the symphony of the brook itself. A beautiful morning in a gorgeous place with a good friend standing on cold water on a hot day. #flyfishing @davoh.bsky.social

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matthewdickerson.bsky.social @matthewdickerson.bsky.social · Jun 24

A delightful day of small stream fishing for wild #brooktrout (char) with a good friend. We were in the shade almost the whole time and the water stayed cold even when air the got hot. State fish of Vermont. #flyfishing

@davoh.bsky.social

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matthewdickerson.bsky.social @matthewdickerson.bsky.social · Jun 24

Indigo bunting on a post in the garden. Although its song has been showing up on my Merlin app for two months, this was my first clear view -- and first chance to get a #birdphotograph that gives even a hint of the beauty of this bird.

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matthewdickerson.bsky.social @matthewdickerson.bsky.social · Jun 19

More #backyard #birdphotos. My 1st sighting of a beautiful ( aptly named) chestnut-sided warbler (a little deeper in the woods beyond the yard's edge). A chipping sparrow (in the cedar) and song sparrow (on the hammock) for comparison of two LBBs. And a gray catbird hunting worms in my garden.

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matthewdickerson.bsky.social @matthewdickerson.bsky.social · Jun 18

They were demonic beings—quite literally in the mythology. Beings of shadow. I loved the Hildebrandt Bros JRRT art of the 1970s but they got this one wrong also.

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matthewdickerson.bsky.social @matthewdickerson.bsky.social · Jun 12

A recent essay I wrote about compassion in #TheHobbit (& also sympathy & empathy, none of which are toxic, and which are beautifully portrayed by #jrrtolkien ) for The Washington Institute — which was just published here: washingtoninst.org/the-hobbit-a...

Warning: there is some theology in it.

"The Hobbit" and Compassion (in an Increasingly Compassionless World) | The Washington Institute

“A sudden understanding, a pity mixed with horror, welled up in Bilbo’s heart: a glimpse of endless unmarked days without light or hope of betterment, hard stone, cold fish, sneaking and whispering.” ...

washingtoninst.org

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matthewdickerson.bsky.social @matthewdickerson.bsky.social · Jun 6

Absolutely.

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matthewdickerson.bsky.social @matthewdickerson.bsky.social · Jun 6

I hope it wasn’t one of those many varieties of highly venomous species you state is famous for.

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matthewdickerson.bsky.social @matthewdickerson.bsky.social · Jun 4

It was in mint condition

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matthewdickerson.bsky.social @matthewdickerson.bsky.social · Jun 2

Common yellowthroat, mourning warbler, veery, and ovenbird.

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matthewdickerson.bsky.social @matthewdickerson.bsky.social · Jun 2

It's been a fun summer getting to know birds in our forest--especially passerines whose songs I've heard for years, but never knew about. Much enjoyment just sitting outside listening, but Merlin & a 400mm lens have been great tools. Here are a 4 favorite photos of newly identified birds. ID below.

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