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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Cock and Bull Stew! From the original Crock Pot Cook Book I got when I got my crock pot. It's been a favorite forever - good enough to serve to company.

Cock n' Bull Stew
1/4 cup favorite steak sauce
2 chicken bouillon cubes
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp sugar
1/2 cup hot water
2 to 3 lb chicken thighs
1 lb lean stewing beef cut into 1-1/2" cubes
1 md onion, chopped
2 md potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 md carrots, peeled and slice thin
16 oz can stewed tomatoes
1/4 cup flour
Combine steak sauce, bouillon cubes, salt, pepper, sugar and hot water in crock pot; stir well. Add remaining ingredients except flour; mix carefully. Cover and cook on LOW setting for 7 to 10 hours; on high setting for 4 hours. Before serving, remove chicken and debone and then return meat to crock pot and stir well.
To thicken gravy, make a smooth paste of flour and 1/4 cup of juices from stew. Add to crockpot. Cover and cook on HIGH setting until thickened.

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Ha ha ha... damn, I was mostly joking but oof, this is uncomfortably spot on! 😆

As part of the Dharma, Buddha taught about the Four Noble Truths. These are: 1. Life is suffering. 2. Suffering is caused by craving. 3. Suffering can have an end. 4 There is a path which leads to the end of suffering.

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

I had to laugh when I looked at the conference standings. Quite a singular position for the rams. 😆

Standings of NFL teams as of Sept 12, 2026, showing Seahawks and 49s tied in first place, 13 teams tied for third place, and the Rams in sole possession of last place.

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

This reminds me of something Jude Doyle wrote on this exact subject. Quote excerpted from article, "What went wrong at the New York Times?" - xtramagazine.com/power/what-w...

"Pure objectivity does not exist, and the pretense of objectivity - the newsroom ideal that all "sides" of an issue should be heard - often harms maginalized people more than it helps them. If you say "I want to live," and I say "No," what happens next isn't a debate; it's murder."

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

This is the resemblance that I see...

Dwier Brown as John Kinsella in Field of Dreams

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

The "all" option is more like the skyline here, with lots of people from lots of instances/servers. I think it's also possible to display it by selecting the globe icon. Also, I use the mastodon deck app with lots of columns, so I can follow writing exchange in one column and "all" in another.

Four icons from mastodon deck display, with hamburger options, a globe, a settings gear, and an exit icon.

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

And in case you need another dose of adorable, here she is waving hello. Oh, hai!

Oh hai! One-eyed kitten, Jubei, waving hello. The gray cat sleeping in the background is her brother, Christopher.

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

I will confess, I am biased about this adorable cat. Here is a pic from the day I first met her. I went back a few times and eventually recruited my daughter to talk me *out* of adopting her. That worked - my daughter adopted her instead!

Blurry close up picture of adorable one-eyed kitty who got adopted into the family shortly after this picture was taken.

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

One of my all time favorite bits of rugby from the @seawolves.rugby match vs the Freejacks on May 31, 2026. Seattle Seawolf Marno Redelinghuys, right, asking referee Robin Kaluzniak, left, "Sir, may I steal this ball?" to which Kaluzniak seems to be encouraging him to steal it. He did! Too funny!

Rugby players from the New England Freejacks and Seattle Seawolves. Seawolves player number 6 in green, Marno Redelinghuys, on the right side of the photo, asking permission of the referee, Robin Kaluzniak, in pink kit on the left side of the photo, to steal the available ball.

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

With everything else they're doing, it bugs me that google can't even get a folded American flag right. The stars on the actual flag are offset, not lined up as they are here. Come on, google, it's not that hard to get it right.

Image used on google search page on Memorial Day 2026 showing a blue triangle with 4 white stars in two rows with one on top and three below. It's probably supposed to be a folded American flag, except the stars are lined up and not offset as they are on the actual flag.

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

The caption for the video reads "Colt Emerson fields Miguel Vargas' ground ball and throws to second base for the forceout of Cole Young in the top of the 1st" Cole/Colt - yeah, we know, it's confusing. We feel for you, but they're on the same team!

MLB dot com video clip of Bryan Woo pitching for the Seattle Mariners. Miguel Vargas hits the ball down the third base line where it's fielded by new Mariners 3rd baseman, Colt Emerson, who throws the ball to Mariners 2nd baseman, Cole Young, to force White Sox player Murakami out at second. But the headline and caption say that Emerson got Young out. Nope, nope, nope!

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

As for JP, it says that he's challenged 3 times, of which he won 2 and lost 1. I'm not surprised - JP seems to have such a great sense of the zone. I screen capped a table for the Ms. It makes me laugh. Naylor has challenged the most and he's surprisingly not very good at it!

Table showing the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System success rate for Seattle Mariners players. Josh Naylor has challenged the most - 9 times - but has only won the ABS call 3 times.

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

What a great picture on the splash page of mlb dot com.

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

The lap blanket had uneven edges. Most of it was knit with 2 strands but she added stripes that only had one strand - so it didn't knit to the same scale. But I love it just the same!

Hand knit lap blanket made with pink, purple, and orange yarn. It's very warm and cozy!

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

Ok, weird. Your post has the "translate" tag attached. ?! So I hit it. It translated your post word for word back to the same text in English. Then I went to reply to you with a screen shot, and got this in the reply window. And It won't let me click "x". Weird. Guess I need to learn Japanese.

Screen capture of an attempt to post a reply to Solomon. It seems bsky thinks his post is written in Japanese. The bsky text says "The post you're replying to was marked as being written in Japanese by its author. Would you like to reply in Japanese?"

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Sure enough. He's 7 for 7 now. Now that's a great skill to have! Oops, wait, he got another one while I was adding alt text. Now he's 8 for 8! #Mariners 🔱

Table with ABS record for the most successful overturns using the ABS system in which Mitch Garver of the Seattle Mariners has a record of 6 for 6 - best in the league!

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

Eating one at this very moment!

Nummy, half eaten sausage and egg biscuit. I mean sandwich. Brekkie sandwich.

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 29/03/2026

Local gas prices yesterday got my attention.

Sign for Circle K gas station showing gas prices: 4.94 for unleaded and 6.66 for diesel.

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

I liked the Kraken win tonight, but I felt for the Panthers goalie here after Berkley Catton scored the second goal for the Kraken. It was a tough night for Tarasov! #SeaKraken 🦑

The Florida Panthers goaltender, Danil Tarasov, wearing sweater number 40 is laying flat on his back in the net after having given up a score to the Seattle Kraken.

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

There's a wee chance I'm spending too much time immersed in a video game. I keep seeing my pack of black micro line pens and thinking to myself, "Oh, cool! A lockpick kit!" IYKYK

A plastic package of nine black micro-line pens on a wood-and-tile table.

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

Another chapter in the ongoing saga of "why does anyone use AI?" Googled to see if the Seahawks had in fact turned down an invitation to the White House. Forgot to turn off the ai summary. This is what I got. Man, I'm disappointed to learn that the Seahawks have not won a recent Super Bowl. 🤣

Reports indicating the Seattle Seahawks declined a White House visit following a recent Super Bowl victory appear to be based on inaccurate, viral social media information. The Seahawks have not won a recent Super Bowl, and no official announcement confirms they rejected such an invitation. The team previously visited the White House in 2014.

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 12/02/2026

And another example of just how crap ass grok ai is. This was posted after that (excellent, btw) video. Wait... *Lock* had how may passing yards? And 2 TDs? And poor NE, at least they got 1 sack but not according to grok. Seriously why does anyone trust grok/ai?!

Grok ai analysis of the Super Bowl game stats:
Super Bowl LX: Seahawks 29, Patriots 13

Key stats:
- Total Yards: SEA 335, NE 331
- Turnovers: SEA 0, NE 3
- 1st Downs: SEA 20, NE 18
- 3rd Down: SEA 4/16, NE 6/15
- Sacks: SEA 6
- Rushing: SEA 142 yds (Walker III: 102 yds, TD)
- Passing: Lock 193 yds, 2 TDs; Maye 212 yds, 1 TD, 2 INTs

Defense dominated!

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

"An examination of their history by The New York Times has found no evidence implicating Mr. Trump in Mr. Epstein’s abuse and trafficking of minors." Sounds a lot like this classic:

NYT headline published just before the 2016 election saying FBI saw no link between Trump and Russian election interference; with a picture of Putinat a podium in front of a Russian flag.

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

This is one of my favorites, "Cock and Bull Stew" from the original 1975 Crock Pot Cookbook. A1 steak sauce makes it. I've served it when entertaining and people always ask for more.

Recipe for Cock n' Bull Stew

1/4 cup favorite steak sauce
2 chicken bouillon cubes
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp sugar
1/2 cup hot water
2 to 3 lb chicken thighs
1 lb lean stewing beef cut into 1-1/2" cubes
1 md onion, chopped
2 md potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 md carrots, peeled and slice thin
16 oz can stewed tomatoes
1/4 cup flour

Combine steak sauce, bouillon cubes, salt, pepper, sugar and hot water in crock pot; stir well. Add remaining ingredients except flour; mix carefully. Cover and cook on LOW setting for 7 to 10 hours; on high setting for 4 hours. Before serving, remove chicken and debone and then return meat to crock pot and stir well.

To thicken gravy, make a smooth paste of flour and 1/4 cup of juices from stew. Add to crockpot. Cover and cook on HIGH setting until thickened.

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 03/11/2025

Here's some screencaps of it if it'll help as you're looking for it. I think what I especially like about it is how the blue and green make a heather color. Good luck!

Three views of the beanie worn by Jaxon Smith Njigba of the Seattle Seahawks in a blue green heather.

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 19/10/2025

The mlb webpage says the game starts at 5 pm pdt?

Screenshot of mlb dot com app showing Mariners gametime at 5:03 pm pdt.

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

There was a counter protest. I almost feel sorry for them since they were outnumbered about 300 to 1 and no one was honking for them!

Apparently a counter protest in opposition to No Kings protest in Kennewick, Washington? Picture shows a very short line of half a dozen cars and trucks with a couple of trump signs and flags along with maybe ten to 12 people standing around.

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

Small victories! I was happy to see I benefitted from a dispute resolution and got 14 of 15 on the Thrice Geeks Who Drink trivia game on Sept 29. Whoo hoo! This was definitely fun, esp since I've been pulling a lot of lower than average scores lately.

Score summary for Thrice GeeksWhoDrink trivia contest for Sept 29, 2025 for a score of 14 of 15 possible points. Summary shows threes scored for questions whose answers were Cheerios, 9, Gulag, and Forever Young and one score of two for a question whose answer was Romeo and Juliet.

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 09/09/2025

Here ya go. The blurs are the Cracker Jacks. :D I was really disappointed - the one Ms game I went to, I was in the concourse when they threw the Hot Dogs from Heaven. Bummer!

Angie Mentink and her broadcast partner throws Cracker Jacks from the broadcast booth at the Mariners vs Braves game at Truist Park on Sept 8, 2025.

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 07/09/2025

Everybody else is faster than me! And I missed the part about the cigarette.

Klint Kubiak with Jorge Polanco's Oakley sunglasses and a diamond studded chain added

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

This definition of "thug" from the Merriam Webster dictionary - hmmm, who does it remind me of? If it's good enough for MW, it's good enough for me.

Merriam Webster definition of the word "thug": a violent or brutish criminal or bully

a brutal thug
a gang of thugs
… in American History X, Norton … plays a vicious young Venice Beach thug, a racist skinhead with … a thick black swastika tattooed over one bulging pec, and a gleam of murder in his eye.
—Owen Gleiberman
An authoritarian government willing to use the most brutal means to hold on to power; a dictator whose thugs have murdered, tortured, imprisoned or intimidated tens of thousands of civilians …
—Michiko Kakutani

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 13/08/2025

It's been years since I've been there, but Narita airport in Japan was charming with banks of lovely orchids.

A bank of pink and white orchids at the Narita airport in Japan.

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

There were 2 balls called strikes in that at bat. None of the pitches were actually in the strike zone. So frustrating. I admire Julio's restraint - I'd be chirping!

At bat graphic for Julio Rodriguez with two balls that were called strikes.

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

Wait... my favorite reliever is up!

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

Seeing the way doge left the offices in the GSA makes me sad. Years ago, when I was working at State, my daughter went to the first federal government day care center at GSA. She was, in fact, the poster child for GSA day care. They took better care of their toys than doge did.

A large format poster describing creation of day care in federal agency buildings, with the first one provided in the main GSA building. The poster shows a little blond girl holding hands with two little boys, with a third little boy sitting in front of them. The little girl who is featured in the poster is shown in the lower left of the photo and a GSA employee is smiling at her on the right side of the photo.

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

This is my favorite picture of Isabel, RIP, who liked to sop up the dregs of my vodka rocks.

Tabby kitty, Isabel, looking thoughtfully at her paw in a glass while sopping up the dregs of a vodka rocks cocktail.

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 24/05/2025

Also, Starfire is such a fun venue!

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

Seems about right for tonight's game.

Sad face cartoon baseball from MLB Gameday with a caption that says "Sorry there was a problem loading this content."

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

James Carville recently called David Hogg a "contemptible little twerp" for calling out established Democratic politicians to raise their game. Here is an excerpt from an email from the group David helps run, Leaders We Deserve. Seems pretty thoughtful and strategic to me.

Excerpt from David Hogg and Leaders We Deserve reads: While we need to continue to pressure our current leaders to do more, part of the pathway forward requires us to start mounting primary challenges to Democrats in solidly blue districts who are failing to deliver for the people.

With all its flaws, the Democratic Party has played a critical role for progress in this country. Revitalizing and rebuilding it is important work. This party is worth fighting for, and not just for the sake of opposing Trump. What that looks like right now is electing younger leaders who have the energy, passion, and vision to meet this moment with the urgency our country deserves.

Through all of this, some incumbents will rise to the challenge and emerge stronger. Others will demonstrate why they should be replaced

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

Just re-watched the last two innings of the Mariners win over the Astros earlier today. I had missed this young prince during the broadcast, but I'm thinking we owe him a debt of gratitude for helping secure the win!

Young Mariners fan, wearing a teal jersey with sunglasses draped on the front, a Mariners bucket hat on his head, and a rally shoe in fluorescent colors perched on his head.

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Can we please get the automated balls and strikes system in the majors?

Graphic showing balls and strikes for Luis F Castillo of the Mariners pitching to Caratini of the Astros. The third pitch is inside the strike zone and was called a ball.

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Eigen Spiders @eigenseide.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

Went to look for something myself. Pulled up the "shop" page. Yeah, I'm a sucker, but this splash page made an impression. Shop now? Ok, thank you, I will!

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