A male rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) in winter plumage.

Ptarmigan is from Gaelic 'tarmachan' meaning "croaker". The p- was added when people mistakenly assumed it was a Greek word.

A bird forever warning people: "A werewolf!" (just in case of werewolves).

Anyone else notice that the “find my iPhone” tune is the iconic bass riff from Midnight Rider?

My daughter gifted me this subscription last Christmas, and getting the print edition is a highlight of my month. I love irreverent humor, and I still laugh about the "soldier jumps on a grenade just makes it worse" story. Thanks, Tim.

bsky.app/profile/benc...

One more picture from our Roan Mountain excursion. This flaming azalea was in full bloom on the Appalachian Trail near Carvers Gap. If you look closely, you’ll see a rainstorm on the mountain behind.

We went to Roan Mountain yesterday at the height of the rhododendron bloom, and it did not disappoint. But the Helene damaged areas were a striking contrast. Storm microbursts destroyed certain areas but left neighboring spots untouched.

Spell it "doughnought" (meaning a zero or "nought" made from dough) or modernize it altogether to "donut," but I can see no case at all for going only halfway to "doughnut."

I'm looking to hire a thermal-hydraulic analyst to work with me supporting the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, so I decided to make a thread about why you should be interested if that's you!
jobs.ornl.gov/job/Oak-Ridg...

#NukeSky 🧵1/6

This was shared with us and made us smile! 😊

I filled my bird feeders for the first time in a couple of weeks due to travel. This cardinal was the first to find it, and he’s sitting on his personal hoard, unbothered, like a dragon laying on his gold.

My wife and I honeymooned in Highlands NC 30 years ago (plus a few days). We’re here again for a short weekend trip. It’s a pretty little tourist town with nice restaurants and some of the best waterfalls you’ve ever seen.

Leaving the American Nuclear Society’s winter meeting today. It was great to see a lot of old friends once again and to make a few new ones.

Looking forward to the ANS winter meeting this week. I’ll be hanging out mostly in ATH. #ANSMeeting #ANSWinter

Here are a couple of my favorite pictures. I’m the one hamming it up on the nose of the raft. This is on the Ocoee River from a couple years ago.

This was a couple of weeks ago in Cades Cove, GSMNP. We’ve been fortunate to see bears several times this year.

Debord falls in Frozen Head State Park from a couple weeks ago vs last fall. Amazing difference! Tennessee has fantastic state parks.