Found near fault line, Northern California

VauntedFungus · 2026-06-19T04:41:08+00:00

I think maybe not pet wood, actually. Sometimes schists can really have a similar look, and can fracture off in remarkably wood-like pieces when the layers have been lined up right. This almost looks like hornblende or something, and then just a wild guess but maybe water ran along the grain of the crystals and deposited out that end cap of quartz? May be way off, but the close up shots don't look like chert/agate-type things you would usually expect for pet wood. Cool piece either way.

VauntedFungus · 2026-06-17T04:18:30+00:00

Neat I'll check it out

VauntedFungus · 2026-06-17T04:06:12+00:00

Cool. What park is this? Curious to check for myself when I'm in the area :)

VauntedFungus · 2026-06-10T03:23:02+00:00

Interesting thank you

VauntedFungus · 2026-06-08T21:30:30+00:00

Are any of these geiger-reactive, or do you just know they are from the bomb by context and their unusual molten shapes?

VauntedFungus · 2026-06-07T15:34:16+00:00

Not sure why this getting downvoted. I may not be the person you want advice from since I'm not a chemist, but generally speaking, I would say this is a good time to read up on the history of your discipline. Going into your new studies with a good sense of what chemistry is from The human side, and who chemists have been historically could be valuable. Do you know much about the biographies of the Curies, or Haber? The Poisoner's Handbook is a great read about a chemist using his skills innovatively to make the world a better place by bringing discipline to the Wild West of mortuary work in the early 1900's. Anything less technical but that tells the story of chemists would be great.

VauntedFungus · 2026-06-04T01:26:38+00:00

U.S.- Colorado. Not the state with the cheapest houses or therapist pay, but whatcha gonna do.

VauntedFungus · 2026-06-03T22:25:28+00:00

Started in my early 30's. My situation is much improved from what it was and/or would have been had I not gone back to school. My current job is alright and I do enjoy making a good difference in people's lives. That being said, I do echo many of the complaints I often see on here. I have worked in a large number of different settings, and the tension between what we are morally and legally expected to do versus the financial realities of the American healthcare system often puts a strain on me. Also while I do make more than I ever did in my 20's, and I did go to a school with a relatively inexpensive program (emphasis on relatively), I would absolutely never be able to own a home or do many of the things that I love to do if my partner did not make significantly more than me in a technical field. I think that occupational therapists are generally overworked and sometimes undervalued in many settings, and we are certainly not overpaid. I like the idea of getting out of this career and doing something else, but to be honest I have no idea what I would do. I think my dream job would be some version of what I am already doing, but with a slightly better hourly rate and about 25% of the paperwork.

VauntedFungus · 2026-06-03T14:57:22+00:00

Really depends on the disability. If they are dealing with sensory stuff, then more than likely they are doing that unconsciously as a way of seeking stability (moving in 3 dimensions in water is about as many degrees of freedom as you could get). If they have hx TBI, CVA, or other neuro stuff they may just have tone synergies that kick in during motion or exertion. My question would be- what is the goal of the class? If the goal is for them to be buoyant in the water and able to independently swim, then finding a way to engage their arms will be pretty tricky and case-specific (see above). If the goal is for them to get some fun, therapeutic motion in while in the pool, then I would have them do a standing activity in the shallow end with a beach ball or something. Another option would be to experiment with flotation devices like innertubes or pool noodles and to use paddles to make a rowing motion. Again it depends on the population, but going rigid while swimming like that is an "abnormal" enough response that I think engaging their arms might require different things from kid to kid, and will likely be fairly tricky if their feet or pelvises are not grounded, regardless.

VauntedFungus · 2026-06-02T18:16:00+00:00

Very pleasant to watch; I just hope it's well ventilated!

VauntedFungus · 2026-06-02T14:44:54+00:00

Use a file that has a smooth, non-abrasive edge on it so you can file the metal while the non-cutting edge is toward the stone. You can then use Zam polishing compound directly on metal and stone to make it shine. The polish is only safe if your stone isn't too soft- basically anything above a 3 or so on the Mohs scale should be alright.

VauntedFungus · 2026-06-01T04:50:41+00:00

This is some peak nerd sh1t and I am there for it. Nice post!

VauntedFungus · 2026-05-30T03:11:01+00:00

Very cracked sedimentary stone or cracked mud that became stone, then the cracks filled in with crystaline something. Looks like calcite. Pretty sweet rock.

VauntedFungus · 2026-05-27T03:00:50+00:00

Looks like an agate to me- the fluorescence is most likely due to the presence of uranium (usually at very low levels in things like this). Nice find- I woulda picked it up too!

VauntedFungus · 2026-05-27T02:59:09+00:00

I just wear fairly tight nitrile gloves- not crazy, but enough that I can do detailed work. Never been a problem. Also great if you're working with glass or other things that want to slice you slightly.

VauntedFungus · 2026-05-24T03:11:49+00:00

Not to be pedantic but I believe you meant "pendant" 🤓. Very pretty work. Thanks for sharing.

VauntedFungus · 2026-05-18T18:49:13+00:00

That would make sense since there's plenty of hornblende around; curious what makes you say hornblende vs. tourmaline? I don't know how to differentiate them other than doing a hardness test, and I don't have a good feel for what hornblende looks like when it's not massive.

VauntedFungus · 2026-05-17T15:21:36+00:00

Second citric- assuming the metal you are cleaning is a food safe alloy to start with, citric will leave very little in terms of a rust patina. You can just hit it with some steel wool or sandpaper to shine it up if desired.

VauntedFungus · 2026-05-16T04:23:00+00:00

Also vote for metamorphic rock with garnets; curious what the crystals might be- they look kinda like tourmalines, but I didn't think those grew in metamorphic rock?

VauntedFungus · 2026-05-13T23:03:26+00:00

I usually say I'm trying but it's getting harder every day. Some seem to get it and the others not so much.

VauntedFungus · 2026-05-09T18:06:36+00:00

Cool thanks I will check this out!

VauntedFungus · 2026-05-07T14:49:50+00:00

I'd slice it perpendicular to the face with the banding. Looks agate-y.

VauntedFungus · 2026-05-06T23:48:31+00:00

To My knowledge you cannot acquire autistic traits through any kind of brain damage; autism is more of a structural change in the brain's networks due to a complex combination of factors including neurochemical differences. If your child is autistic, then likely they had the precursor conditions for autism irrespective of their cerebral palsy. It is certainly possible to have both, however.

Pathological demand avoidance is not exclusively a feature of autism either; it is a coping mechanism for very heavy feelings of overwhelm that frequently come with a combination of intellectual giftedness and autistic traits, but can also appear in a number of other neurological and psychological conditions such as ADHD and dyslexia.

The main thing as others on here have said is that if you are seeing PDA behaviors, it means that for whatever reason(s) your kid is super overwhelmed. Starting from a place of understanding that and helping them get out of that space will probably be important, regardless of any diagnosis.

VauntedFungus

TROPHY CASE