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High Desert Otter

@ottermd37.bsky.social
3.2K followers 1.3K following 6.6K posts

Gardener, cook, writer, physician, rescuer of old dogs. Aspiring shitposter. Lover of the ironic, the sardonic, and the generally unserious. I have faith in dogs and in soil biota. At this point, that's about it.

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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
This one is by far the best alt text. All the cats are of course superb.
Mr. Cox's photo shows a black-and-white cat feeling its way up a stone cliff. The old text reads "a cat who wants had a big suburban house and a hugely stressful prestigious job and now lives on a cliff instead, free of the trappings of modern life, to the admiration of its friends, who, as they idealized its life, never imagine the terrible Lohnes it feels during cold winners, 6 miles from the nearest shop, cinema, and pub."
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
😆 Probably true. I've never pretended that I was as attractive as a selky-wife, but do be careful. Under those exquisite velvety lips, they have canines as long and sharp as any otter's. So please watch your step.
The image shows the skull of a leopard seal, displaying the rather remarkable canine teeth which indicate clearly why you should never try to climb over the marina's fence and pet them. Yes, they look as if they would enjoy a hug, but regrettably, they would not.
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 20/06/2026
Sorry, not necessarily. Please forgive my taxonomy obsession, but...it's complicated.
Screenshot from a website specifically devoted to information about algae and seaweeds. It explains:

"To what kingdom(s) do algae belong?
Algae are not a single taxonomic entity. Molecular phylogeny (gene sequencing) and other characters show they belong to four kingdoms:

Kingdom Plantae (e.g. chlorophytes and rhodophytes - green and red algae), the Kingdom Chromista (e.g. phaeophytes - brown algae - dinoflagellates, and diatoms), the Kingdom Protozoa (e.g. Euglenozoa), and the Kingdom Bacteria (Blue-green algae).
Get a PowerPoint File for this image (click here)
To what kingdom(s) to seaweeds belong?
The term "Seaweed" does not represent a single taxnomic entity.
Molecular phylogeny (gene sequencing) and other characters show they belong to three kingdoms: Kingdom Plantae (chlorophytes and rhodophytes), the Kingdom Chromista (phaeophytes), and the Kingdom Bacteria (cyanophytes).
Prokaryota
Algae
Cramorina
Blue-green alpse
Protosca
Chromista
Euglenold flagellates
toms and
Freshwater green
ATaH
Are algae plants?
Those that belong to the Kingdom Plantae (mostly green and red algae) are, by definition, plants; the others, strictly speaking, are not. However, most people think of "plants" as organisms with roots, stems and leaves and include liverworts, mosses, ferns, flowering plants (including trees).
Are algae "protists" or "protoctists"?
Neither of these terms are applicable to all algae in a phylogenetic sense.
Mostly used in general textbooks without much thought.
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
Trump will certainly try. Either we will defend our democracy en masse, or we will find it lost or curtailed.
The original post shows Steve Bannon at a presser saying, "We're working on 5 or 6 different alternatives for how Trump could run again and be president...l continue to say that on the afternoon of January 20th, 2029, Donald Trump is going to be president for his third term."

It was reposted by Joe Walsh, who says, "And all I will continue to say is...imagine the worst, and be ready to defeat it. Is Trump gonna fuck with/try to cancel the midterms? Believe it, defeat it. Will Trump try to run for a 3rd term?
Believe it, defeat it. We didn't imagine the worst after the 2020 election, and Jan 6 happened.
Not again."
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
He said it, all right, and Alsobrooks has the proof. But RFK Jr, who wanted to shunt Black kids toward farm work, is still HHS Sec.
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 15/03/2026
Never let America forget that soldiers are dying to procure (checks notes) exactly the deal we had before Trump abolished it.
In this cartoon, Trump and a figure labeled EU look at a torn-up document labeled "Iran nuclear deal" while Putin and Xi watch.

EU: What was so bad in that Iran deal?

Trump: Obama's signature.
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
The Onion has made a foray into theology, and somehow I suspect that they might've gotten it right.
The image shows an article from The Onion. A painting of God is shown, and he is saying, "News:
God Admits He No
Longer Loves Humanity But Is Too Afraid To Leave

Published: February 23, 2026

THE HEAVENS-Admitting He felt torn between His true feelings and His fear of the unknown, the Lord God Almighty announced Monday that He no longer loved humanity but was too afraid to leave. "Any affection I ever had for the human race is long gone, but I'm just terrified at the thought of walking away and being alone," said Our Heavenly Father, adding while He has felt "stuck" for millennia in the company of the species He adored long ago, He still worries He would have no real identity without them and starting over at His age was terrifying.
"Sometimes I imagine myself ending
it, striking out on my own, and discovering who I really am as God. But then reality comes crashing down. I've been with humanity since the sixth day of creation. What am I supposed to do, start over with bonobos?" At press time, The Almighty acknowledged that He would face little resistance if He left, as humanity has also been growing increasingly distant for some time now."
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
What? It was available with a Carla paw print? Is the current edition available with a Lily paw print? And I hope that all on this thread will report the ill-reasoned reply at the very end as targeted harassment. This gentleman is making no effort to be a good citizen.
A user called Aceman22 says in response to Tom's advice about being a good citizen, "Die in a grease fire, Tom Nichols, before the eyes of your whore wife and those of your bastard kid."
This is eminently reportable as targeted harassment. I have reported it and hope you will too.
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
Now suppose that the hypothetical person below were mentioned in the file Chronicles of Goat Fucking over one million times. Maybe, just maybe, he's a goat fucker.
"Hypothetically if someone was accused of having sex with goats by over 30 different people and regularly denied it, but also dropped very public hints about how much he liked to have sex with goats for decades, and ran a goat pageant to find the best looking goats, and was best friends with someone who got convicted of fucking goats and trafficking goats to friends all over the world who also liked to fuck goats, and his name was in the classified goat fucker chronicles 5,000 times, and he wished other goat fuckers well in prison, what do you think the odds are that person is also a goat fucker?"
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
We need Michael de Adder. Today and always.
Trump, shown as Dracula, cowers shrieking as a hand holds out toward him a child's toy rabbit labeled Bad Bunny.
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
Nothing more to say.
Cartoon shows Jeff Bezos in profile, blowing out a candle labeled WAPO.
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
I've had fantasies about escape to Canada, but now it's definitely Scotland.
Image of a Scottish 10-pound note showing two sinuous otters playing in the water.
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
The cartoon shows a movie theater showing "Melania" with no line, while next door to it people are lining up for a business called "root canals."
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 31/01/2026
Keep at it, reporters.
"We need a free press. We must have it. It's vital...if you want to preserve democracy as we know it, you have to have a free and many times adversarial press. And without it, 1 am afraid that we would lose so much of our individual liberties over time.
That's how dictators get started.
They get started by suppressing free press."
- John McCain, former U.S. Senator
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
Best short lesson out there in how for-profit health insurance works.
The text reads:
"Imagine paying for Netflix every month, and then paying when you watch the movie, and then getting another bill three months later because one of the actors isn't signed with Netflix so you have to pay him directly.
That'd be STUPID right???

This is a post about health insurance.
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
This one needs to be re-upped regularly.
OP asks Tom Nichols:
Do they teach this kind of dilemma at the War College? I would hope the senior commanders would understand by now that their oath is to the constitution, not the orange guy.

Tom Nichols replies:
No, we did not teach cases at the Naval War College where the president loses his last grip on reality and wants plans to start wars against our own allies. Amazingly, we did not think we had to design cases about a POTUS in a de facto alliance with the Kremlin to destroy NATO.
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 18/01/2026
But I thought this was how real men did it.
Two men engaged in the extreme sport of ice swimming, swimming in channels cut into frozen water.
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
I want it clear, I do not look like this when attacking the recycle bin. Only my dog does that. The bin is a fairly new one, because she bit a large hole out of the side of the last one. Evidently, she is violently opposed to recycling although I'm not clear why.
Gold cattle dog cross furiously attacking my recycle bin.
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 06/12/2025
Had to post this from that other place.
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 06/12/2025
I think I'm in love with Newsom's press group. I might vote for them for president.
Picture shows Trump standing on the stage with the head of FIFA, who is saying to Trump "This is your peace prize. It is also a beautiful medal that you can wear anywhere you want to go."

Gavin Newsom's Press Office quote-posted it, saying "I WANT TO CONGRATULATE DONALD J. TRUMP FOR WINNING THE "YOU DIDN'T WIN THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE BECAUSE YOU'RE A WARMONGER AND A CLOWN BUT WE STILL NEED YOU SO HERE'S A HAPPY MEAL AWARD YOU CAN WEAR TO YOUR CABINET CONCUBINE MEETINGS SO YOUR HAREM CAN CLAP LIKE CIRCUS SEALS" MEDAL."
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 21/11/2025
Don't worry, the wound is quite small and neat… Just big enough to get the pathogens inside… and then, well, ever seen a necrotizing infection?
Neat round wound on an eel made by a lamprey. Looks like no big deal. But the blood supplier gets injected with an interestingly wide variety of pathogens.Necrotizing soft tissue infection on a human leg. No indication that this one was created by a lamprey, but better safe than sorry.
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 09/11/2025
Onion headline abt Speaker Mike Johnson:
"My Christian faith is more about not jerking off than feeding the poor."
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
Yup. "She's so corrupt!" some young women I know proclaimed in 2016, only to howl in horror when they lost their reproductive rights courtesy of the Trump Supreme Court. But they did it again in 2024 because Harris was a former prosecutor and all like that. Purity above all.🙄
A rapt-looking young man lies in bed next to a young woman. The text reads, "My
vote is imbued with the spirits of magic, honesty, loyalty, laughter, kindness, and generosity. I can't just give it away to someone who doesn't make me feel special."
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 04/11/2025
There is an economy version. I do not intend to explain how I come to know this. The alt text contains a solution.
A naked young man, lying on his back, is staring intently at the tight roll of bubble wrap coiled inside a large cut-short soda bottle which he is fucking. His expression suggests that he is utterly enthralled. This seems to confirm my cherished belief that young men should be forced to work on farms from age 16 until they're at least 27, and when they grow more civilized, they can rejoin the rest of us. Except, out on farms, they might sexually assault sheep instead of bubble wrap, so perhaps there is no really good solution to the problem of young men.
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 01/11/2025
@bellmore.bsky.social I picture this as the pickle-begging expression:
Stephen Miller looks petulant but also longing, and the meme says "are you going to eat the rest of that mouse?
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
As I navigated to the Eelfacts website I found this and was distracted. The website loreolympians.com adds, perhaps unnecessarily, that these interpretations are the author's alone.
What could the eels symbolize? 

In Oceanic folklore, eels often symbolize fertility and tricksters in the same way snakes do in other cultures. In Tonga, an eel seduces the virgin goddess Hina. In Samoa, a king disguises himself as an eel to befriend the beauty, Sina. Similar stories are found in Bali, Micronesia, and even New Zealand, home of Rachel Smythe. 

In Māori mythology (New Zealand), taniwha often take the form of eels. These beings live in deep pools, dark caves, and places with dangerous currents. They are often highly respected as guardians of specific people or places. However, in other traditions, they are predatory figures who kidnap women to have as wives.
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
Just found out this Halloween season that humans do that too.
Glow in the dark lace bodysuitYoung woman under black light, wearing a long line bra, tank panties, and full length gloves printed with parts of the skeleton appropriate to the part of the body they go over, and glowing green to violet colors.
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
I'm outright bewitched by the reasoning of the manufacturers: "Our product is safe because the potentially dangerous extract listed on the label and attested to in the COA isn't actually in our product."
Excerpt of a legal case:
"30. Jacobo Geissler was unable to find the extract itself that he wanted for sale in
China, so he agreed that the Chinese supplier would send pulverized roots of cynanchum auriculatum instead. He agreed that the ingredient would be mislabeled upon import as
"cynanchum auriculatum root extract" for use in the product. The cynanchum auriculatum powder that USP Labs imported was not only much cheaper than an actual extract, but it also contained only minuscule amounts, if any, of the compounds that USP Labs believed might have weight-loss effects.
31. While evaluating cynanchum auriculatum as an ingredient, USP Labs recognized that the substance could potentially cause "liver toxicity," but Jacobo Geissler and Cyril Willson believed that because they were not actually using an extract of the root, there
was not enough potentially toxic material in the product to hurt people, even though they had not done a single test to determine whether cynanchum auriculatum-as an extract,
as ground-up roots, or otherwise—was safe or effective."
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 24/10/2025
The image shows a stone plaque reading "I never forget that I live in a house owned by all the American people and that I have been given their trust."

The original poster, Patrick S. Tomlinson, says
"This plaque in the East Wing of the White House has been torn down by Donald Trump, a convicted felon and adjudicated rapist."
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 11/10/2025
Good summation of where we are legally, neatly wrapped up in one cartoon and one reply.
A group of large masked ice officers surrounds the figure of lady justice, who is labeled "due process." She is blindfolded and reaches out blindly with her hand pressing against a masked ice officers's face, and he is screaming "she's assaulting an officer!"
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Nature is not averse to gruesome death in the name of procreation, although fortunately it's not the norm either.
New Yorker cartoon shows praying mantises playing baseball and a crowd of mantises watching in the stadium seats. The kiss cam shows a smiling female who has just eaten her lover's head.
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Once again, I'm made to feel naïve. Never knew that sock-on-the-cock was a thing. In the course of the search I also learned about cock sheath underwear, and now I really need to know, are men OK?
The image shows the junk of a man wearing cock sheets underwear, a shimmery thong that has a tube sticking out that fits his cock. So, assuming that he walks around with an erection all day, his underwear will fit.
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
Latest Cole cartoon in the New Yorker:

Hegseth is shown posturing on a stage in front of assembled generals. He is telling them, "...and then Randy Quaid yells, 'Hello, boys, I'm back!,' and flies his jet right into the alien ship, blowing it up, and I think you all just need to be more like that."
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
Note
JoJoFromJerz:
The last person on the planet who should be holding our military to the
"highest possible standards", is the guy who shared classified war plans with a reporter in a Signal chat.


Doreen Del Rosario:
The same guy who showed us that he can't do a single chin up without swinging his legs for a little momentum. The guy covered in his strongman tats. Yeah, that ass licker.
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 23/09/2025
This post and selected replies are peak Bluesky. And I say that as an elder.
Image shows a female police officer lying on the ground, and text explains "Florida cop treated for autism after exposure to Tylenol during traffic stop."Responders to the post about "Florida cop treated for autism after Tylenol Exposure:"

"get her a train set stat."

"I've started a GoFundMe to buy a full HOTAS setup and Microsoft flight simulator to aid her recovery."

"Cop A: You OK? What happened?
Cop B: this guy was stealing Mail. Looking for money, I guess. When I tried to stop him he threw this white dust in my face.
Cop A: You hurt?
Cop B: no, nothing hurts… Anymore. But…(stares at stolen mail)… These stamps… I have to collect them. In a book.
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 18/09/2025
Our current administration is trying everything possible to suppress, silence, and discredit actual experts in nearly every field. Fortunately, some of them are still talking.
Truth Social post from Trump: 
"I am pleased to inform our many U.S.A. Patriots that I am designating ANTIFA, A SICK, DANGEROUS, RADICAL LEFT DISASTER, AS A MAJOR TERRORIST ORGANIZATION. I will also be strongly recommending that those funding ANTIFA be thoroughly investigated in accordance with the highest legal standards and practices. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

Response from actual expert on terrorism Malcolm Nance:
 TERRORISM EXPERT HERE: You cannot designate an idea as a terrorist group.
There is no organization called ANTIFA. There is no leadership or funding path. There is no membership. Also there is no law in American to charge terrorism. Ask Luigi.
What he is doing is setting the stage to designate ANY American as a terrorist. That's Fascism.
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
Eat unknown berries at random for science!!
Wording on the meme says "
First man to eat poisonous berry: dies. 
Man who was with him :

Image shows a studious young man in glasses making a note in his notebook.
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 30/08/2025
He will be at least somewhat alive tomorrow, as he is every day. But I post this picture in fond remembrance of the 2025 Night of Joyous Speculation.
Tim Onion ©@bencollins.bsky.social • 22m

I will delete this, but can somebody tell me why everybody thinks he croaked? Is it just the many days off and the weird playlist on the lawn earlier today, plus the references to heaven and the hand bruising that we already knew about?
Or is there something else?

Prince Caspian @nysea.bsky.social
Because we deserve good things, Mr. Onion and we want to believe they're still possible.
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 25/08/2025
Text of Washington's letter, if you don't want to go through the article and link.
Gentlemen:
While I received with much satisfaction your address replete with expressions of esteem, I rejoice in the opportunity of assuring you that I shall always retain grateful remembrance of the cordial welcome I experienced on my visit to Newport from all classes of citizens.

The reflection on the days of difficulty and danger which are past is rendered the more sweet from a consciousness that they are succeeded by days of uncommon prosperity and security.

If we have wisdom to make the best use of the advantages with which we are now favored, we cannot fail, under the just administration of a good government, to become a great and happy people.

The citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy — a policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship.

It is now no more that toleration is spoken of as if it were the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights, for, happily, the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.

It would be inconsistent with the frankness of my character not to avow that I am pleased with your favorable opinion of my administration and fervent wishes for my felicity.

May the children of the stock of Abraham who dwell in this land continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other inhabitants — while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree and there shall be none to make him afraid.

May the father of all mercies scatter light, and not darkness, upon our paths, and make us all in our several vocations useful here, and in His own due time and way everlastingly happy.

G. Washington
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 25/08/2025
Oh my, @radiofreetom.bsky.social took a minute to larn me somethin'! I didn't know that letter and all Americans should know it, especially now. Religious freedom was all laid out for us back when our nation began. tourosynagogue.org/history/geor...
An image of George Washington is superimposed on a faint image of George Washington's letter to the Touro Synagogue. In large readable type his a brief quotation from the letter: "To bigotry no sanction… To persecution no assistance…"

The link in my post is to the letter itself. And in less than 350 words it lays out religious freedom in America.
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 30/07/2025
1. As a Corvid fanatic, I argue that those are hooded crows, not ravens. 2. As a lover of all the beautiful Corvids, I want that print. Also a better shot of your serpent coffee mug. That needs looking into.
Excellent shot of a hooded crow, being used here to make an obscure point that is only of interest to the poster and some other Corvid fanatics.
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 17/07/2025
World snake day! I see lots of snakes around my property, but this unexpected viewing is still my favorite. #WorldSnakeDay
In a nesting box, a gopher snake coils around two eggs.
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 14/06/2025
Albuquerque turned out in huge numbers. No official count yet, but I can say it was a helluva lot.
Mother and son at the Albuquerque protest. Mother's sign shows Whoopi Goldberg and says "America, you in danger, girl." Son's sign says "I would be a better president and I am seven!"
There is a sticker over the child's face. The photo was taken with the permission of both mother and son.
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
Silence, a man is informing us that it isn't anger, it's good phallocentric communication!
 & @JackPosobiec

"Some of y'all cant handle 2 high agency males going at it and it really shows
This is direct communication (phallocentric) vs indirect communication (gynocentric)
I understand you aren't used to it."
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
I passed this by in puzzlement until, further down my feed, I came across the Posobiec phallocentricity that inspired it.
Jack Posobiec tweets:

 @JackPosobiec
"Some of y'all cant handle 2 high agency males going at it and it really shows
This is direct communication (phallocentric) vs indirect communication (gynocentric)
I understand you aren't used to it."
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
@votevets.org please note that according to US Navy records, Milk was forced to accept an other-than-honorable discharge under threat of court-martial for his homosexuality. Naming a ship after him was the overdue righting of a past wrong, and I hope that the name will be restored in future.
Image reads:
Early career
After graduation, Milk joined the United States Navy during the Korean War. He served aboard the submarine rescue ship USS Kittiwake (ASR-13) as a diving officer. Milk later transferred to Naval Station, San Diego to serve as a diving instructor. 51 In 1955, he resigned from the Navy at the rank of lieutenant, junior grade, forced to accept an "other than honorable" discharge and leave the service rather than be court-martialed because of his homosexuality. 10][11][note 2]
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 24/05/2025
Me, standing out in front of Jeremy on his birthday:
A snarling wolf, warning you to quit being an asshole to my friends.
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 24/05/2025
I don't think that a woman who, in four terms as a senator, had introduced a lot of bills but gotten exactly 3 of them passed, two of which were about the naming of local post offices, would be seen as a leader.
The image shows that of the many pieces of legislation introduced by Senator Sanders, exactly 3 have passed into law, two of which regarded the naming of local post offices in Vermont. The most recent bill introduced by him that was passed, occurred in 2013.
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
Let's also honor this living fossil:
A snapping turtle with a dirt-crusted shell gives the viewer a baleful look.
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High Desert Otter @ottermd37.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
I welcome our new overlords.
A penguin wearing headphones pilots a plane.
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