gwembel
@gwembel.com
Reader & puzzle game player. Interested in science, culture, math, music, art, education. Politically liberal work-within-system. Hobby-writer of Interactive Fiction IF text adventure (stories about time travel/magic/humor/mystery). Wife, mother, grandma.
So unfair that the cognitive tests are getting harder. I could still find the lion, the fish, and the hippopotamus, but they kept asking me which one was the giraffe.
(Maybe the giraffe is in the wardrobe with the witch and Jean-Luc Picard's fifth light.)
(Maybe the giraffe is in the wardrobe with the witch and Jean-Luc Picard's fifth light.)
December 21, 2025 at 7:09 PM
So unfair that the cognitive tests are getting harder. I could still find the lion, the fish, and the hippopotamus, but they kept asking me which one was the giraffe.
(Maybe the giraffe is in the wardrobe with the witch and Jean-Luc Picard's fifth light.)
(Maybe the giraffe is in the wardrobe with the witch and Jean-Luc Picard's fifth light.)
Today I heard about a great Hanukkah miracle that happened in reverse: An eight-day supply of Hanukkah doughnuts lasted for only one day. Here, there, and everywhere. #doughnuts
December 21, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Today I heard about a great Hanukkah miracle that happened in reverse: An eight-day supply of Hanukkah doughnuts lasted for only one day. Here, there, and everywhere. #doughnuts
Wishing everyone light, love, good health, and the warmth of being connected to friends and family. Good Yule, Hopeful Solstice, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Jubilant Kwanzaa, SuperCaliFragiListic Season's Greetings, Live Long and Prosper, and These Aren't the Droids You're Looking For.
December 21, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Wishing everyone light, love, good health, and the warmth of being connected to friends and family. Good Yule, Hopeful Solstice, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Jubilant Kwanzaa, SuperCaliFragiListic Season's Greetings, Live Long and Prosper, and These Aren't the Droids You're Looking For.
Since the true tradition is to always argue about origin stories, they all have gotten the tradition exactly right. 3/3
December 21, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Since the true tradition is to always argue about origin stories, they all have gotten the tradition exactly right. 3/3
When they argue about the origin of the dreidel game, half are convinced that the gambling game was invented as a "cover" for illegal Torah study, whereas the others keep rolling their eyes and saying "Ya, shoo-re" like skeptical bachelor farmers from Lake Wobegon, Minnesota. 2/3
December 21, 2025 at 8:19 AM
When they argue about the origin of the dreidel game, half are convinced that the gambling game was invented as a "cover" for illegal Torah study, whereas the others keep rolling their eyes and saying "Ya, shoo-re" like skeptical bachelor farmers from Lake Wobegon, Minnesota. 2/3
As our granddaughter lights Hanukkah candles, the mantle behind her contains quite a few Scandinavian gnomes, nisse, tomten, & tonttu (plus the longboat they were on when travelling here via the Panama Canal), but by now they all know the candle-lighting blessing. 1/3
December 21, 2025 at 8:19 AM
As our granddaughter lights Hanukkah candles, the mantle behind her contains quite a few Scandinavian gnomes, nisse, tomten, & tonttu (plus the longboat they were on when travelling here via the Panama Canal), but by now they all know the candle-lighting blessing. 1/3
I sent this meme to a friend. After laughing she mentioned that her husband sneezes in cat houses. She then referred to the term "cathouse" but didn't say any more about sneezing. Here's my article about cats, trees, & houses:
drive.google.com/file/d/1ADjk... #caturday #tree
drive.google.com/file/d/1ADjk... #caturday #tree
December 6, 2025 at 9:56 AM
I sent this meme to a friend. After laughing she mentioned that her husband sneezes in cat houses. She then referred to the term "cathouse" but didn't say any more about sneezing. Here's my article about cats, trees, & houses:
drive.google.com/file/d/1ADjk... #caturday #tree
drive.google.com/file/d/1ADjk... #caturday #tree
Today I learned about the Kiki-Bouba test, which demonstrates a cross-cultural sound-shape connection. When given the names "kiki" & "bouba," the pointy shape is usually assigned to "kiki" and the rounder gets "bouba."
I learn a lot whenever I ask my son about his tee-shirts. (@drwhen)
I learn a lot whenever I ask my son about his tee-shirts. (@drwhen)
November 26, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Today I learned about the Kiki-Bouba test, which demonstrates a cross-cultural sound-shape connection. When given the names "kiki" & "bouba," the pointy shape is usually assigned to "kiki" and the rounder gets "bouba."
I learn a lot whenever I ask my son about his tee-shirts. (@drwhen)
I learn a lot whenever I ask my son about his tee-shirts. (@drwhen)
🪐📚 💙
Recently enjoyed listening to the fantasy audiobook "Drumindor," which is an extension of The Riyria Chronicles by Michael J. Sullivan. I'm reminded of how much I like ALL of his books. For books connected to the Riyria stories, maybe start with "The Crown Tower" or "Age of Myth."
Recently enjoyed listening to the fantasy audiobook "Drumindor," which is an extension of The Riyria Chronicles by Michael J. Sullivan. I'm reminded of how much I like ALL of his books. For books connected to the Riyria stories, maybe start with "The Crown Tower" or "Age of Myth."
November 1, 2025 at 12:35 PM
🪐📚 💙
Recently enjoyed listening to the fantasy audiobook "Drumindor," which is an extension of The Riyria Chronicles by Michael J. Sullivan. I'm reminded of how much I like ALL of his books. For books connected to the Riyria stories, maybe start with "The Crown Tower" or "Age of Myth."
Recently enjoyed listening to the fantasy audiobook "Drumindor," which is an extension of The Riyria Chronicles by Michael J. Sullivan. I'm reminded of how much I like ALL of his books. For books connected to the Riyria stories, maybe start with "The Crown Tower" or "Age of Myth."
WHY VOTE? (for President, Congress, & more)
Because there’s a chance to make things better. And a CERTAINTY that NOT voting will make things worse.
Empathy lights the path. Cooperation moves us forward.
#Vote
Because there’s a chance to make things better. And a CERTAINTY that NOT voting will make things worse.
Empathy lights the path. Cooperation moves us forward.
#Vote
October 25, 2025 at 8:32 PM
WHY VOTE? (for President, Congress, & more)
Because there’s a chance to make things better. And a CERTAINTY that NOT voting will make things worse.
Empathy lights the path. Cooperation moves us forward.
#Vote
Because there’s a chance to make things better. And a CERTAINTY that NOT voting will make things worse.
Empathy lights the path. Cooperation moves us forward.
#Vote
My daughter-in-law asked me /why/ these porcupines crossed the road. Perhaps the answer to that question is
a) 42
b) not 42
c) both 42 and not 42
d) neither 42 nor not 42
e) turtles all the way down
f) all of the above
g) none of the below
a) 42
b) not 42
c) both 42 and not 42
d) neither 42 nor not 42
e) turtles all the way down
f) all of the above
g) none of the below
August 29, 2025 at 8:18 AM
My daughter-in-law asked me /why/ these porcupines crossed the road. Perhaps the answer to that question is
a) 42
b) not 42
c) both 42 and not 42
d) neither 42 nor not 42
e) turtles all the way down
f) all of the above
g) none of the below
a) 42
b) not 42
c) both 42 and not 42
d) neither 42 nor not 42
e) turtles all the way down
f) all of the above
g) none of the below
📚💙🪐
I really like the Murderbot series of books/audiobooks. Funny, thoughtful, suspenseful, clever action, and sort of contrary to what one might expect after seeing "murderbot" in the series title. The Murderbot TV series on AppleTV also seems good so far.
I really like the Murderbot series of books/audiobooks. Funny, thoughtful, suspenseful, clever action, and sort of contrary to what one might expect after seeing "murderbot" in the series title. The Murderbot TV series on AppleTV also seems good so far.
June 15, 2025 at 8:10 PM
📚💙🪐
I really like the Murderbot series of books/audiobooks. Funny, thoughtful, suspenseful, clever action, and sort of contrary to what one might expect after seeing "murderbot" in the series title. The Murderbot TV series on AppleTV also seems good so far.
I really like the Murderbot series of books/audiobooks. Funny, thoughtful, suspenseful, clever action, and sort of contrary to what one might expect after seeing "murderbot" in the series title. The Murderbot TV series on AppleTV also seems good so far.
Not my photo, just my eyes seeing hope in youngsters who'll try to repair the world. May empathy guide them to resist the reflex of collective blame, to seek truth from evidence, to plan creatively, to cooperate w/o prejudice, and to persist in trying alternatives to simplistic cynical violence.
May 3, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Not my photo, just my eyes seeing hope in youngsters who'll try to repair the world. May empathy guide them to resist the reflex of collective blame, to seek truth from evidence, to plan creatively, to cooperate w/o prejudice, and to persist in trying alternatives to simplistic cynical violence.
"We've already tried everything else. Time for violins."
"Couldn't we try a crwth?"
"Too little, too late, too hard to spell."
"Maybe we could buy a vowel from Euan."
"Euan?!?# You can't trust him not to syncopate."
(1/4)
"Couldn't we try a crwth?"
"Too little, too late, too hard to spell."
"Maybe we could buy a vowel from Euan."
"Euan?!?# You can't trust him not to syncopate."
(1/4)
April 13, 2025 at 6:06 AM
"We've already tried everything else. Time for violins."
"Couldn't we try a crwth?"
"Too little, too late, too hard to spell."
"Maybe we could buy a vowel from Euan."
"Euan?!?# You can't trust him not to syncopate."
(1/4)
"Couldn't we try a crwth?"
"Too little, too late, too hard to spell."
"Maybe we could buy a vowel from Euan."
"Euan?!?# You can't trust him not to syncopate."
(1/4)
If the world is in a handbasket with an ETA of (let's say June or so) and someone asks where are we going, and if you can't decide which of your inner wolves to feed (Hopeful-Fixer vs. Cynical-Quitter vs. Burn-Everything-Monster vs. Distraction-Survivor) but you would prefer that the wolves (1/2)
April 9, 2025 at 9:18 PM
If the world is in a handbasket with an ETA of (let's say June or so) and someone asks where are we going, and if you can't decide which of your inner wolves to feed (Hopeful-Fixer vs. Cynical-Quitter vs. Burn-Everything-Monster vs. Distraction-Survivor) but you would prefer that the wolves (1/2)
Seascape Storm 1 by Robyn Drake
2024 painting, oil on canvas, 40in x 60in
Painter Robyn Drake, after having been raised on an Iowa farm and educated in Chicago, is based in Moon Bay California.
2024 painting, oil on canvas, 40in x 60in
Painter Robyn Drake, after having been raised on an Iowa farm and educated in Chicago, is based in Moon Bay California.
February 25, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Seascape Storm 1 by Robyn Drake
2024 painting, oil on canvas, 40in x 60in
Painter Robyn Drake, after having been raised on an Iowa farm and educated in Chicago, is based in Moon Bay California.
2024 painting, oil on canvas, 40in x 60in
Painter Robyn Drake, after having been raised on an Iowa farm and educated in Chicago, is based in Moon Bay California.
Jane Morris Pack
Olive Tree, 2023
Gold leaf, oil, and shellac on masonite panel, 8 x 11 inches
Jane Morris Pack is a contemporary American painter living in Greece.
Olive Tree, 2023
Gold leaf, oil, and shellac on masonite panel, 8 x 11 inches
Jane Morris Pack is a contemporary American painter living in Greece.
February 23, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Jane Morris Pack
Olive Tree, 2023
Gold leaf, oil, and shellac on masonite panel, 8 x 11 inches
Jane Morris Pack is a contemporary American painter living in Greece.
Olive Tree, 2023
Gold leaf, oil, and shellac on masonite panel, 8 x 11 inches
Jane Morris Pack is a contemporary American painter living in Greece.
Timothy Barr (American Artist, born 1957)
"Evening Glow", 2024
Oil on Panel, 40.6 × 30.5 cm (16 × 12 in)
"Evening Glow", 2024
Oil on Panel, 40.6 × 30.5 cm (16 × 12 in)
February 22, 2025 at 5:25 AM
Timothy Barr (American Artist, born 1957)
"Evening Glow", 2024
Oil on Panel, 40.6 × 30.5 cm (16 × 12 in)
"Evening Glow", 2024
Oil on Panel, 40.6 × 30.5 cm (16 × 12 in)
Elon Musk sues Lego because of pulled advertising on X. Inside story: Musk pouted when his Lego minifigure was mocked. "Those curled fingers do a ridiculous Zieg Heil," fellow Nazi-philes scoffed. "Looks like a Roman soldier on Special K trying to grab Greenland."
#Musk #Lego #Greenland
#Musk #Lego #Greenland
February 2, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Elon Musk sues Lego because of pulled advertising on X. Inside story: Musk pouted when his Lego minifigure was mocked. "Those curled fingers do a ridiculous Zieg Heil," fellow Nazi-philes scoffed. "Looks like a Roman soldier on Special K trying to grab Greenland."
#Musk #Lego #Greenland
#Musk #Lego #Greenland
(2/3) ...their translucent feet. "Surprisingly, the blood rushing in before 'toe off' appears to help salamanders detach rather than attach. By slightly inflating the toe tip, the salamanders reduce the surface area in contact with the surface they are on, minimizing the energy required to let go."
February 2, 2025 at 1:18 PM
(2/3) ...their translucent feet. "Surprisingly, the blood rushing in before 'toe off' appears to help salamanders detach rather than attach. By slightly inflating the toe tip, the salamanders reduce the surface area in contact with the surface they are on, minimizing the energy required to let go."
I'd love to hear about time-travel stories that you recommend or that influenced you (with or without pics, thumbnails, reviews): books, short-stories, films, tv, radio, interactive fiction, games. Yay cross-genre! 💙📚 #TimeTravel #BookSky #FilmSky #sff #sciencefiction #fantasy #sci-fi #romantasy
January 21, 2025 at 9:31 PM
I'd love to hear about time-travel stories that you recommend or that influenced you (with or without pics, thumbnails, reviews): books, short-stories, films, tv, radio, interactive fiction, games. Yay cross-genre! 💙📚 #TimeTravel #BookSky #FilmSky #sff #sciencefiction #fantasy #sci-fi #romantasy
Recommended: In Barbara Hambly's Sun-Cross series (2 books, "The Rainbow Abyss" & "Magicians of the Night"), wizards use a portal to connect to our own world. Sorcery-adventure-romance, good guys vs. the Third Reich.
💙📚 #fantasybooks #romantasy #bookrecs
💙📚 #fantasybooks #romantasy #bookrecs
January 19, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Recommended: In Barbara Hambly's Sun-Cross series (2 books, "The Rainbow Abyss" & "Magicians of the Night"), wizards use a portal to connect to our own world. Sorcery-adventure-romance, good guys vs. the Third Reich.
💙📚 #fantasybooks #romantasy #bookrecs
💙📚 #fantasybooks #romantasy #bookrecs
"City of Dark Magic" by Magnus Flyte: While working in a Prague castle, musicologist Sarah Weston meets a 400-yr-old dwarf, intriguing Prince Max, Ludwig van Beethoven himself, & a senator with CIA secrets. Mystery-conspiracy-spy-thriller-magic-realism-romcom.
💙📚 #fantasybooks #romantasy #bookrecs
💙📚 #fantasybooks #romantasy #bookrecs
January 19, 2025 at 11:27 PM
"City of Dark Magic" by Magnus Flyte: While working in a Prague castle, musicologist Sarah Weston meets a 400-yr-old dwarf, intriguing Prince Max, Ludwig van Beethoven himself, & a senator with CIA secrets. Mystery-conspiracy-spy-thriller-magic-realism-romcom.
💙📚 #fantasybooks #romantasy #bookrecs
💙📚 #fantasybooks #romantasy #bookrecs