Rachel K. (Tala)
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talaattanagra.bsky.social
Rachel K. (Tala)
@talaattanagra.bsky.social
910 followers 720 following 1.9K posts
Here for science, nature, philosophy, mycology, history, advocacy, Afroasiatic languages, linguistics in general.

Medically-retired analyst w/ MEcfs. Epicurean. Humanist. Existentialist. DMV-area forager. SCA, Atlantia. Harvard, GSE. Tinzouline ⵣ♡.
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talaattanagra.bsky.social
On my walk yesterday, I found some 𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗷𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗴𝘂𝘀 — which has been reclassified in North America from Exidia recisa to Exidia crenata.

More details from Adam Haritan: learnyourland.com/amber-jelly-...

#MushroomMonday #FungiFriends 🍄📸 #mushroom #fungi #nature #forage #DisabledForager
2 mid-brown gelatinous mushrooms on a branch, behind them is a tan sleeve of a coat and in the background is a bunch of dead dry leaves from the ground outside.
December 8, 2025 at 3:15 PM
talaattanagra.bsky.social
Found some pretty enokis (Flammulina velutipes) on my walk today.

#fungi #FungiFriends 🍄📸 #mushroom #nature #foraging #DisabledForager #Maryland
Cluster of bright orange mushrooms growing on the side of a decaying tree trunk, surrounded by dark soil, rocks, and bark textures. Close-up view from beneath orange mushrooms, showing their detailed gills and warm yellow-to-pink coloration against a bright sky background.
December 8, 2025 at 2:12 AM
talaattanagra.bsky.social
Had my birthday dinner at Wye Oak Tavern in Frederick MD last night.

Highly recommend it! Just know that it can get noisy, and you can ask for a table in a side room that's slightly quieter. The main room is a beautiful, desanctified church (hence why sound carries).
A restaurant table set with several dishes: a pan-seared fish fillet in a red sauce with two crispy potato-like spheres, a dish of roasted carrots and braised meat in dark sauce, and a plate of charred Brussels sprouts over a creamy base. A cocktail, water glasses, utensils, and a partially visible hand holding a phone appear around the dishes. A close-up of a gourmet dish featuring a seared, golden-brown cake or croquette topped with fresh herbs and charred green vegetables, all set in a shallow pool of bright green sauce and garnished with dark crispy elements. “A wooden platter holding an artfully arranged dessert of glossy white spheres, bright yellow oval-shaped sweets, and toasted meringue discs set atop small piles of crumbled crumbs. A single lit birthday candle sits on the right side of the plate, giving the scene a warm glow.” A drink menu with an amber drink and a rocks glass behind it.
December 5, 2025 at 6:12 PM
talaattanagra.bsky.social
Walked down to the creek after Thanksgiving dinner to check out "Sailing Through the Winter Solstice." There are a few new boats this year — looking good, Frederick!

www.visitfrederick.org/sailing-into...

#maryland #dmv #LittleThings
A small boat with an aquarium looking display on top of it in a creek. The boat aquarium display is full of neon fish, eels, coral, etc. It is emanating a bright blue and it is situated under a cement bridge.
November 28, 2025 at 4:47 PM
talaattanagra.bsky.social
Figured it out 🤘
A pocket sundial being used with a small pinprick of light projecting on one of the sides. The text says why yes, it is about 12:15 at my latitude in the northern hemisphere.
November 21, 2025 at 5:56 PM
talaattanagra.bsky.social
Good job, Maryland 👏

#vaccines #healthcare #truth #NortheastPublicHealthCollaborative #autism

Full statement: health.maryland.gov/newsroom/Pag...
STATEMENT HEALTH SECRETARY RESPONDS TO CDC CLAIMS November 20, 2025 "There is no credible body of scientific evidence that shows an association or link between vaccines and autism. People with autism deserve understanding, respect, inclusion and support. It does a disservice to them, the progress we have made in understanding autism, and public health as a whole when these types of unsubstantiated claims are made." ⁃ Maryland Department of Health Secretary Dr. Meena Seshamani Maryland DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
November 21, 2025 at 4:40 PM
talaattanagra.bsky.social
☀️ I LOVE my new pocket #sundial, and I can't wait for the clouds to clear so I can try it out!

#time #solar #timekeeping #mySCA
A hand wearing a silver ring holds a small brass sundial in front of a bookshelf. The books include titles on philosophy, Marcus Aurelius, Islamic thought, and other academic subjects. The astrolabe hangs by a black cord and is positioned against the spines of the books.
November 21, 2025 at 3:37 PM
talaattanagra.bsky.social
1/2 I still think about my beautiful friend who was sent home from a Baltimore ER with "You're fine, just manage your stress better."

She was the principal at an inner-city school, so when she didn't show up on Monday, they went to her house and found her dead.

She'd had a massive heart attack.
A collage of three photos showing the same woman in different settings. Top left: she takes a selfie outdoors among tall white columns, smiling and wearing a colorful patterned top. Top right: she sits indoors in warm lighting, resting her chin on her hand with a thoughtful expression. Bottom left: a side-profile portrait of her near a window, with short natural hair, long earrings, and soft light on her face.
November 17, 2025 at 4:02 PM
talaattanagra.bsky.social
I didn't like the graphics I saw online, so I made a new graphic of Maimonides' Ladder of Tzedakah to accompany a #philosophy project I'm doing.

Feel free to use it (CC BY SA) for your own purposes.

#charity #giving #MutualAid #TikkunOlam #Maimonides #medieval #alAndalus #alMaghreb #Fustat #mySCA
Maimonides' ladder of Charity, outlining the best types of charity from best to worst. Empowering Giving Mutual Anonymity Anonymous Giver Anonymous Recipient Proactive Giving Reactive Giving Small But Glad Giving Reluctant Giving
November 11, 2025 at 10:02 PM
talaattanagra.bsky.social
Happy #Halloween & early #Caturday from Tendi 🦇🎃
A gray cat with yellow eyes in a blue harness with blue bat wings attached to it. She is sitting next to an orange pumpkin and a terracotta pot with yellow mums A gray cat with blue construction paper bat wings standing in a doorway looking out at the street. Outside of the door is a bale of hay with a pumpkin on top of it and decorative corn resting against it.
October 31, 2025 at 3:18 PM
talaattanagra.bsky.social
Gillz for dayz! Found in central Maryland, USA.

#mushroom #fungi #nature #disabledForager #LittleThings #FungiFriends 🍄📸
The underside of a mushroom on a branch with pink gills. In the background there is a blue sky with green leaves
October 27, 2025 at 8:54 PM
talaattanagra.bsky.social
Happy #Caturday! 🐈‍⬛

Today, we took Tendi on a hike. #AdventureCat #cat #LittleThings #nature #hiking #outdoors
A gray cat in a blue harness with yellow eyes. She is looking attentively at the camera while sitting in green grass. A light-skinned man with dark hair and glasses and beard holding a pet backpack on the front with a gray cat's head sticking out. They are standing in front of an autumn season creek and trees and a blue sky. A gray cat with a little tongue sticking out. Her head is sticking out of a backpack and she is next to a tree with mushrooms on it The back of a gray cat's head as she watches a light-skinned woman with brown hair kneeling on the ground in front of a lock, taking photos of a mushroom in two odds.
October 25, 2025 at 7:02 PM
talaattanagra.bsky.social
"Autism didn't exist back then!"

Cut to me cataloging a portion of the 300+ toothpicks holders my grandpa collected when he returned from fighting on Normandy Beach in WW2.

#antiques #glass #autism #GreatestGeneration #MedicalGaslighting #science #patterns #collections
A collage of nine labeled collections of small vintage glassware and decorative pieces arranged on towels with a black Sharpie marker for scale.
October 22, 2025 at 8:50 PM
talaattanagra.bsky.social
Of course I find my FAVORITE mushroom today while out on the town protecting democracy — 1st lion's mane of the year! #HericiumErinaceus

#FungiFriends 🍄📸
A tree in front of a green field with other trees and a tall building in the background. There is a white blob (mushroom) on the tree high up. A lion's mane mushroom, a white blob on a trees bark
October 19, 2025 at 12:03 AM
talaattanagra.bsky.social
Another set from #FrederickMD today. 🚫👑🪧 #NoKings!

Thank you to @indivisiblefredmd.bsky.social for working to make this happen!
A black protest sign with a green smiling frog in the middle. There are flies around the frog with the following names on them: Miller, Trump, Vought, Thiel A white man with the white beard in a Uncle Sam outfit holding a protest to sign that says I am antifa Black lives matter LGBTQ anti-communist pro America We the people Anti-Trump no kings! A few protest signs being held at foot level. The one in the front says small dick-tator energy. Next to it is a drawing of Trump with a penis face. Lots of people at a protest with signs. The one in the front says healthcare is a human right. It is in black lettering on a quilt pattern.
October 18, 2025 at 11:33 PM
talaattanagra.bsky.social
I'd estimate about 2.5-3k people in attendance. Good job, #FrederickMD ✅

#NoKings 🚫👑🪧
Protest sign in front of lots of other people with protest signs. It says we're not being paid Donnie you just can't comprehend having moral and a spine. A guy in a space suit inflatable costing with a sign that says The only ice I'm interested in are the Martian ice caps. A guy in a black T-shirt at a protest holding an American flag and an open mouth with red lips inside of it says free speech save it Protest sign that says I like my country like my Scotch no ice
October 18, 2025 at 10:23 PM
talaattanagra.bsky.social
Just felt like putting yellow flowers in my hair 🌻 #NoKings
Back of the head of a light-skinned woman with brown hair, and yellow flowers all throughout her braid. She is wearing a white and yellow collared shirt.
October 18, 2025 at 4:59 PM
talaattanagra.bsky.social
Wishing a meaningful Indigenous Peoples Day to all!

I live on land between/shared by(?): Piscataway, Susquehannock, Massawomeck, and Mannahoac nations.

Check whose land you inhabit ➡️ native-land.ca. Consider supporting that group, or getting to know them by attending any of their public events.
A scene from the TV show *The Good Place*. In the first frame, Janet is smiling and raising her finger while saying, “Fun fact: Columbus is in the Bad Place.” In the second frame, she continues smiling and says, “because of all the raping, slave trade, and genocide.” Michael looks surprised beside her, and Chidi is facing them, seen from behind.
October 13, 2025 at 3:14 PM
talaattanagra.bsky.social
Did I mention how much I'm looking forward to this introductory #Haketia class? I'm grateful to the Oxford School of Rare Jewish Languages for providing this free opportunity!

#language #Langsky #morocco #ladino #spanish #hebrew #Arabic #NorthAfrica #Balkan #semitic #afroasiatic #romance
A screenshot saying: You are here: Home / Language Classes / Oxford School of Rare Jewish Languages / Haketia HAKETIA Teacher: Dr Carlos Yebra López, Cal State Fullerton Class Level: Beginners Class Schedule 2025-26: Thursdays from 17:30- 18:30 UK Time (you can check time-zone comparisons on sites such as this one) Class Length: 2-term class (Michaelmas Term 025-Hilary Term 2026) (Oxford dates of term are available on the University website) Class Description: This course will introduce students to Haketia (Western Judeo-Spanish, Haquetia, Jaquetia), the language of the Western (North African) Sephardic Jews which survives in post-vernacular fashion mainly in Morocco, Spanish Africa (Ceuta, Melilla), Venezuela and Israel. Students Will acquire basic <nowledge of the grammar, syntax and lexicon of the language through reading and listening to selections from the rich culture of Western Sephardic Jews across Morocco, Spanish Africa and beyond.
October 7, 2025 at 3:52 PM
talaattanagra.bsky.social
Happy #caturday from Tendi!

She found her place in the sun on top of my new mushroom blanket. #LittleThings #cat
A gray cat with yellow eyes sitting in a Sunbeam on top of a gray blanket with mushroom patterns all over it.
October 4, 2025 at 4:05 PM
talaattanagra.bsky.social
Went out for a quick hike today, and found these beautiful mycena.

#FungiFriends 🍄📸 #DisabledForager #fungi #nature #mushroom #LittleThings
The underside of four mushrooms, showing the light streaming through their gills. They are attached to a brown gray log and in the background is a light sky and sparse tree canopy.
September 30, 2025 at 10:26 PM
talaattanagra.bsky.social
Last cukes of the season, but the mint & chard is still going strong.

#UrbanGarden #ContainerGarden #DisablefGardener #nature #garden #veggies
A brown wooden round table with a pile of green mint, two cucumbers, some basil leaves, and a bunch of Swiss chard on top of it.
September 30, 2025 at 2:41 PM
talaattanagra.bsky.social
Happy Autumn Equinox, and L’shana tova u'metuka! 🍂🍎🍯

#Fall #equinox #seasons #abundance #LettingGo #preparing #life #cycles #abundance #NewYear #RoshHashanah
A glass white pumpkin with a green stem next to a red pomegranate. They are nestled into a bed of turkey tail mushrooms and yellow and brown acorns.
September 22, 2025 at 10:43 PM
talaattanagra.bsky.social
I feel very fortunate to be in a state that's joined the Northeast Public Health Collaborative.

Bc we deserve more than the unscientific, dangerous bullshit being peddled by Secretary Brainworm and his Fascist CDC.

marylandmatters.org/2025/09/18/m...

#maryland #healthcare #vaccines #science
Map of the United States highlighting two regional health alliances. Ten Northeast states in blue form the "Northeast Public Health Collaborative," and four West Coast states in green form the "West Coast Health Alliance." The text at the top reads, "10 Northeast States Launch Regional Public Health Alliance." A caption at the bottom says, "The new coalition will develop evidence-based vaccine recommendations and coordinate on disease surveillance and epidemic preparedness."
September 22, 2025 at 12:52 AM
talaattanagra.bsky.social
Found a Dyer's Polypore today in Frederick MD. I'm letting it get bigger before I go back to harvest it. Then, it'll be my next dyeing experiment!

🍄📸 #FungiFriends #fungi #nature #dyeing #ArtsAndCrafts #ArtsAndSciences #foraging #DisabledForager
A collage of two photos. On the right is a brown fuzzy, fan shaped mushroom with a white rim sitting on dead wood. On the left is a white page from a book. It is directions for how to prepare the mushroom for dyeing. The colors range from olive green to orange to coral to yellow to goldenrod.
September 22, 2025 at 12:13 AM