Peacock spiders are SO PRETTY. And they're smart, if I remember correctly. All those eyes up front mean they're predators, so they're definitely smarter than most spiders. And they've got lil' beards! 😍
"Children of Time is a 2015 science fiction novel by author Adrian Tchaikovsky. The novel has two plot strands, one of which follows the evolution of a civilization of genetically modified Portia labiata (arachnoid) on a terraformed exoplanet, guided by an artificial intelligence based on the personality of one of the human terraformers of the planet."
Hey Rebecca! Great TABS, as always. I'm working extra this week, so I'll be able to get a pizza kit, yayyyy! And thanks for the song today, it's fantastic! I was first introduced to Manu Chao from a mash-up by Pomplamoose, and was instantly enamored. Exploring new music is a great way to keep your mind sharp, so thank you again for sharing!
NPR Morning Edition, this a.m. (redacted for length):
INSKEEP: "This week, Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles said, quote, "Muslims don't belong in American society." House Speaker Mike Johnson defended what he characterized as the right of lawmakers to oppose, quote, "the imposition of sharia law," which would mean imposing Islamic law on everybody. Maya Berry is watching all of this. She is executive director of the Arab American Institute, and she came by our studios. Good morning.
INSKEEP: I just got to ask the question since somebody put it on the table, is anybody imposing sharia law in the United States at this time?
BERRY: No, Steve. That's not accurate.
INSKEEP: OK, so not happening. Sure plenty of people would be against it if it did, but not happening. So how are individuals being directly affected by these words?
BERRY: Well, I mean, look, the first thing I would say is that there's a complete lack of understanding of what sharia is, even. I - it's a talking point. It's something that regulates my own individual actions. I don't get to regulate Steve's individual actions with sharia laws. I don't even know what that means when they talk about it the way that they do.
This week, I saw a video that just made my skin crawl. A young person was on an airplane whose app went off. This is the month of Ramadan. So Muslims are fasting. He has an app that went off that declares the call to prayer when it's time to break your fast or pray.
INSKEEP: OK. So you hear that famous sound.
BERRY: It's on my app. It went off on an airplane. Literally, someone decided that was the reason to reroute an airplane. And you could see the footage with the flight attendants with their hands up saying, face down, hands up. And this young man gets removed from a plane by police with arms because an app went off.
steve inskeep and mara liassom and what they represent are - IMHO - the reason NPR is in such trouble. yeah yeah yeah republicans and MAGA and DOGE, but steve and mara gave us nothing to fight for.
harry littman's podcast calls on mara's desiccated takes every once in a while and i swear to god i'm back in 2012.
"Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon on Monday signed a ban on abortions after embryotic cardiac activity can be detected, generally at about six weeks’ gestation and often before women know they’re pregnant. Gordon, a Republican, said in a letter to lawmakers Monday that he has some misgivings about the law he signed because it does not include exceptions for pregnancies caused by rape or incest. The law does make an exception in cases to “preserve the woman from an imminent peril that substantially endangers her life or health, according to appropriate medical judgment.”" [HuffPost]
One part of the SAVE act really concerns me. "The bill not only requires proof of citizenship, but also proof of residence in order to register. Roughly 9 percent of the population has moved within a state in the past year, but many will not update their driver’s licenses until they expire."
This "proof of residence" thing was used against me once, when I needed to buy some Sudafed at a major pharmacy when I had a bad head cold. I had moved from Louisiana back to Missouri a year earlier, where I rented a house for 6 months before buying a different house. When I moved to Missouri I got a new driver's license, but it had the rental house address on it. When I tried to buy the Sudafed the pharmacy clerk asked me if the address on my driver's license was up to date, and I foolishly said "No." She refused to sell me the Sudafed saying that state law required that the address on my license had to be "current."
I then called the state office that oversees the state law requiring showing a driver's license to buy Sudafed. The official I talked to said "That's nonsense. State law does not require you to update your driver's license every time you move." I asked him to send me a copy of the actual legislation, which he did. I showed it to the pharmacy, who admitted it was a "corporate policy" and not a legal requirement, and they still wouldn't sell me a single box of Sudafed.
So I changed pharmacies and never had that problem again.
The strange part of this story is that I lived in a college town where about 30,000 college students lived, most of whom had permanent residence somewhere else, and their licenses showed their permanent residence and not their short-term college residence address. There was no law requiring them to get a new license every time they moved. I guess no college students in that town could buy Sudafed at Gerbes Pharmacy when they had a cold??????
My current license shows my address in the town I moved away from 18 months ago. It doesn't expire until later this year, so I have no reason to get a new one. Fortunately it expires BEFORE the Midterms, and I will have a new, current one by then. How many people won't think to do that if their current license expires AFTER the Midterms????
Major stopped clock right twice a day vibes in that Open the Books link. Looking at their other reporting I feel like they would be equally pissed about using that money instead for enlisted housing improvements given how the mention cable TV expenses (and yes dumping access to Fox News on base wouldn't suck) and how we're supposed to be pissed about buying ice cream machines. Also too seems their major desire is that lobster and crab money be spent on rearming, so not actually moved out of the Pentagon.
Thanks for the interview, that was…what is this feeling, hope? I remember hope.
Lately I’ve been calling my congressfolk. Mark Wayne (there, fixed it) is not my congressperson, but I’ve been throwing him into the mix at the end just because it’s fun to ask for Mer’Kwane and then listen to them angrily correct my pronunciation.
It’s like I finally get to be in the Key & Peele sketch!
Democrats Flip GOP Seat In District Trump Won By 9 Points
The Democratic Party in New Hampshire is celebrating after an upset special election win that is a worrying sign for Republicans ahead of the 2026 midterms. On Tuesday, Democrat Bobbi Boudman defeated Republican Dale Fincher in the fight for Carroll County District 7, according to the New Hampshire Journal.
The victory is impressive since President Donald Trump carried the district by 9 points in 2024, The Downballot reported. The seat became vacant after Republican Glenn Cordelli resigned late last year. In 2024, Boudman challenged Cordelli but lost by almost 14 points, and Democrats in the state are reveling in the size of the reversal. [HuffPost]
Voter Confidence In Supreme Court Hits New Low In NBC Poll
"An NBC News poll has found that voter confidence in the Supreme Court has dropped to its lowest point since the poll started surveying voters 26 years ago. Less than a quarter, or 22%, of registered voters said they have either a “great deal” or “quite a bit” of confidence in the justices. The remaining 40% said they had “some” confidence and 38% said “very little” or “no” confidence. This 22% approval is 5 points lower than the previous record low of 27% confidence back in 2022, when the court overturned Roe v. Wade. The court scored its highest points among voters back in 2000, when the poll first started, when 52% of voters expressed a “great deal” or “quite a bit” of confidence." [HuffPost]
Teeny little colorful guys, teen-y enthusiast: https://martiniambassador.substack.com/p/michael-luns-peacock-jumping-spiders
And your meme-y place to post your memes: https://open.substack.com/chat/posts/17169ae8-c10f-4157-bcd8-4fc8731b3acf?utm_source=share
To us they seem to say "Boo!". What they are really saying is "Hey babe! Like my moves?".
I want a soundtrack to that GIF where a hyper-enthusiastic sports announcer shouts "TOUCHDOWN!" in sync with the raised arms.
The Peacock Jumping Spider
likes to show off his abdomen
it's a psychedelic display
to attract a female friend
Damn Nature--you're scary!
They wouldn't harm a fly. They mostly hunt prey rather than lurk in webs.
Peacock spiders are SO PRETTY. And they're smart, if I remember correctly. All those eyes up front mean they're predators, so they're definitely smarter than most spiders. And they've got lil' beards! 😍
Amazing. Made my day.
"Children of Time is a 2015 science fiction novel by author Adrian Tchaikovsky. The novel has two plot strands, one of which follows the evolution of a civilization of genetically modified Portia labiata (arachnoid) on a terraformed exoplanet, guided by an artificial intelligence based on the personality of one of the human terraformers of the planet."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children_of_Time_(novel)
That sounds good, ima read that! Thanks!
Jumping Jack Flash!
Jumping Flasher?
Wait! These peacock spiders are also DRUMMERS?
No wonder all the ladies love them!
yrs,
Ringo Starr
Still Alive and Drumming
Definitely radioactive.
yrs,
Peter Parker
Friendly Neighborhood Arachnophile
"a male continues dancing after he’s been signaled off, the female will often attack him"
I feel seen
Amazing little creatures in all respects
"Even after mating, females may engage in sexual cannibalism, so it’s best for the male not to linger too long afterwards."
Ooh, touchy!
"It must be one of those creatures that devours its mate after sex."
"Like a praying mantis?"
"No thanks, I'm trying to cut down."
Wanderer, don't press your luck.
(runs off giggling maniacally)
Gah!
They all look like alien parasites are popping out of their bodies.
A perfect opportunity to post this ZeFrank video on the Mating Dance of the Peacock Spider! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxM_cag99nU
I needed that this morning. Thanks for posting. It was so much fun!
Same here!
Love that Ze guy
I emailed Michael for shipping costs etc. My bug, butterfly, bird, artist brother would love Michael's story.
Thanks for the delightful post!
Thanks for that Rebecca Solnit article. She's awesome!
PS I ordered the personal pizza kit to be delivered. I imagine the fundraiser will throw you a party when it's over.
Hey Rebecca! Great TABS, as always. I'm working extra this week, so I'll be able to get a pizza kit, yayyyy! And thanks for the song today, it's fantastic! I was first introduced to Manu Chao from a mash-up by Pomplamoose, and was instantly enamored. Exploring new music is a great way to keep your mind sharp, so thank you again for sharing!
https://youtu.be/6LACHm_xd80?si=tyUvY9-sXsKdZeI4
NPR Morning Edition, this a.m. (redacted for length):
INSKEEP: "This week, Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles said, quote, "Muslims don't belong in American society." House Speaker Mike Johnson defended what he characterized as the right of lawmakers to oppose, quote, "the imposition of sharia law," which would mean imposing Islamic law on everybody. Maya Berry is watching all of this. She is executive director of the Arab American Institute, and she came by our studios. Good morning.
INSKEEP: I just got to ask the question since somebody put it on the table, is anybody imposing sharia law in the United States at this time?
BERRY: No, Steve. That's not accurate.
INSKEEP: OK, so not happening. Sure plenty of people would be against it if it did, but not happening. So how are individuals being directly affected by these words?
BERRY: Well, I mean, look, the first thing I would say is that there's a complete lack of understanding of what sharia is, even. I - it's a talking point. It's something that regulates my own individual actions. I don't get to regulate Steve's individual actions with sharia laws. I don't even know what that means when they talk about it the way that they do.
This week, I saw a video that just made my skin crawl. A young person was on an airplane whose app went off. This is the month of Ramadan. So Muslims are fasting. He has an app that went off that declares the call to prayer when it's time to break your fast or pray.
INSKEEP: OK. So you hear that famous sound.
BERRY: It's on my app. It went off on an airplane. Literally, someone decided that was the reason to reroute an airplane. And you could see the footage with the flight attendants with their hands up saying, face down, hands up. And this young man gets removed from a plane by police with arms because an app went off.
https://www.npr.org/2026/03/11/nx-s1-5742639/what-role-do-politics-play-in-increased-anti-muslim-rhetoric
steve inskeep and mara liassom and what they represent are - IMHO - the reason NPR is in such trouble. yeah yeah yeah republicans and MAGA and DOGE, but steve and mara gave us nothing to fight for.
harry littman's podcast calls on mara's desiccated takes every once in a while and i swear to god i'm back in 2012.
Gotta have my Tab's and Coffee in the Morning ☕💯👍
It's pronounced Mar 'Kwayne
up first for Manu Chau
'The Emancipation State':
"Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon on Monday signed a ban on abortions after embryotic cardiac activity can be detected, generally at about six weeks’ gestation and often before women know they’re pregnant. Gordon, a Republican, said in a letter to lawmakers Monday that he has some misgivings about the law he signed because it does not include exceptions for pregnancies caused by rape or incest. The law does make an exception in cases to “preserve the woman from an imminent peril that substantially endangers her life or health, according to appropriate medical judgment.”" [HuffPost]
LOVE Manu Chao! Thanks for including the beautiful song.
One part of the SAVE act really concerns me. "The bill not only requires proof of citizenship, but also proof of residence in order to register. Roughly 9 percent of the population has moved within a state in the past year, but many will not update their driver’s licenses until they expire."
https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/new-save-act-bills-would-still-block-millions-americans-voting
This "proof of residence" thing was used against me once, when I needed to buy some Sudafed at a major pharmacy when I had a bad head cold. I had moved from Louisiana back to Missouri a year earlier, where I rented a house for 6 months before buying a different house. When I moved to Missouri I got a new driver's license, but it had the rental house address on it. When I tried to buy the Sudafed the pharmacy clerk asked me if the address on my driver's license was up to date, and I foolishly said "No." She refused to sell me the Sudafed saying that state law required that the address on my license had to be "current."
I then called the state office that oversees the state law requiring showing a driver's license to buy Sudafed. The official I talked to said "That's nonsense. State law does not require you to update your driver's license every time you move." I asked him to send me a copy of the actual legislation, which he did. I showed it to the pharmacy, who admitted it was a "corporate policy" and not a legal requirement, and they still wouldn't sell me a single box of Sudafed.
So I changed pharmacies and never had that problem again.
The strange part of this story is that I lived in a college town where about 30,000 college students lived, most of whom had permanent residence somewhere else, and their licenses showed their permanent residence and not their short-term college residence address. There was no law requiring them to get a new license every time they moved. I guess no college students in that town could buy Sudafed at Gerbes Pharmacy when they had a cold??????
My current license shows my address in the town I moved away from 18 months ago. It doesn't expire until later this year, so I have no reason to get a new one. Fortunately it expires BEFORE the Midterms, and I will have a new, current one by then. How many people won't think to do that if their current license expires AFTER the Midterms????
"corporate policy" = "I'm going to be a dick, and won't accept complaints"
Major stopped clock right twice a day vibes in that Open the Books link. Looking at their other reporting I feel like they would be equally pissed about using that money instead for enlisted housing improvements given how the mention cable TV expenses (and yes dumping access to Fox News on base wouldn't suck) and how we're supposed to be pissed about buying ice cream machines. Also too seems their major desire is that lobster and crab money be spent on rearming, so not actually moved out of the Pentagon.
Spider Bro has been hat shopping, hooray! Ses chapeaux sont fabuleux!!! Ooh, la, la!! Merci bien, Monsieur Frère Araignée!
Morning! También nos gusta usted.
Thanks for the interview, that was…what is this feeling, hope? I remember hope.
Lately I’ve been calling my congressfolk. Mark Wayne (there, fixed it) is not my congressperson, but I’ve been throwing him into the mix at the end just because it’s fun to ask for Mer’Kwane and then listen to them angrily correct my pronunciation.
It’s like I finally get to be in the Key & Peele sketch!
Okay, I’ll stop.
‘Sfun though.
Hilarious. I'M IN!
Democrats Flip GOP Seat In District Trump Won By 9 Points
The Democratic Party in New Hampshire is celebrating after an upset special election win that is a worrying sign for Republicans ahead of the 2026 midterms. On Tuesday, Democrat Bobbi Boudman defeated Republican Dale Fincher in the fight for Carroll County District 7, according to the New Hampshire Journal.
The victory is impressive since President Donald Trump carried the district by 9 points in 2024, The Downballot reported. The seat became vacant after Republican Glenn Cordelli resigned late last year. In 2024, Boudman challenged Cordelli but lost by almost 14 points, and Democrats in the state are reveling in the size of the reversal. [HuffPost]
Voter Confidence In Supreme Court Hits New Low In NBC Poll
"An NBC News poll has found that voter confidence in the Supreme Court has dropped to its lowest point since the poll started surveying voters 26 years ago. Less than a quarter, or 22%, of registered voters said they have either a “great deal” or “quite a bit” of confidence in the justices. The remaining 40% said they had “some” confidence and 38% said “very little” or “no” confidence. This 22% approval is 5 points lower than the previous record low of 27% confidence back in 2022, when the court overturned Roe v. Wade. The court scored its highest points among voters back in 2000, when the poll first started, when 52% of voters expressed a “great deal” or “quite a bit” of confidence." [HuffPost]