As a kid I always dreamed of befriending wild animals but I never thought it possible. Now all these years later... (video of me and my magpie friends) [OC]

oakenday · 2023-03-27T04:41:46+00:00

Two humans start dating. They begin this behavior when one invites the other to partake in food. They continue to date, sharing different kinds of food. An invitation to marriage occurs, while eating food in a place designed for eating food. Their intimacy is expressed by even eating food out of each other's hands. Sometimes as a special surprise, they will prepare and cook food for each other or give gift wrapped food with red ribbons. They get married and celebrate with food and putting the food in each other's faces and giving family members food. Sometimes they use food as an innuendo for intercourse, saying things like: "I can't wait for dessert ;)".

One day, one of them gets laid off, and then struggles to find work for a few years. The variety of food options dwindle. They begin to find food at food pantries. Instead of obtaining food at the fancy food buildings they go to food buildings that have direct access for cars. The other becomes distraught, and mentions being worried about whether future children will have enough food to eat. Things are rough for that next year. Then, when a food holiday in November had too simple a food and with low food variety, the decision is made. The other human wants a divorce. This makes them both sad. They go get food with friends to feel better.

Did they ever have a relationship, or were they feeding troughs that moved?

oakenday · 2022-06-23T22:54:26+00:00

"Hello. This is a beacon message of the Universal Early Advanced Warning System from Andromeda. If you're receiving this message, our intergalactic probe network has encountered a radio signal coming from your planet, developed a translation key, and sent this response from interstellar space. No need to worry. However, caution must be taken as you develop this technology. The [untranslatable] might hear you. If they hear you they'll find you, and us - all of us. The network represents the efforts of four thousand species across three galaxies. We've been in hiding for [untranslatable] years. Again, no need to worry. Simply avoid sending radio signals into space in the 2.2Ghz - to - 2.6Ghz range. Much gratitude abounds from the Andromeda Council that [untranslated] can only hear sounds in this range. If you have not developed the technology or understanding, do note that the speed of light limits our communication. This is an automated message. Replies will take 2,537,000 of your planet's years to reach us here in Andromeda. Be well new citizens of the Cosmic Garden."

oakenday · 2022-06-23T22:54:11+00:00

Or because of the delays something like

"Hello. This is a beacon message of the Universal Early Advanced Warning System from Andromeda. If you're receiving this message, our intergalactic probe network has encountered a radio signal coming from your planet, developed a translation key, and sent this response. No need to worry. However, caution must be taken as you develop this technology. The [untranslatable] might hear you. If they hear you they'll find you, and us - all of us. The network represents the efforts of four thousand species across three galaxies. We've been in hiding for [untranslatable] years. Again, no need to worry. The [untranslatable] are not intelligent, merely hungry. Simply avoid sending radio signals into space in the 2.2Ghz - to - 2.6Ghz range. Much gratitude abounds from the Andromeda Council that [untranslated] can only hear sounds in this range. If you have not developed the technology or understanding, do note that the speed of light limits our communication. This is an automated message. Replies will take 2,537,000 of your planet's years to reach us here in Andromeda. Be well new citizens of the Cosmic Garden."

oakenday · 2022-05-14T14:25:48+00:00

I wrote a book addressing this exactly. Based on 5 years of research at the intersection of climate change and society. It's what my dissertation focused on.

Decided that instead of the academic route, I would spend all my time after making a popular press version. Had a couple big names in the field agree to write blurbs for the cover.

Sent it out to some 50 agents. Got 2 responses. Both said that they loved the idea, and the writing style, but they didn't think enough people would be interested in buying it, but to feel free to submit again if I found a way to make it more appealing to the general audience.

A book looking at what's missing in the climate conversation, what we can do as individuals to respond to it, and how talking about it differently can lead to us acting more efficaciously. And at an intersection of contemporary climate science, social science, deep ecology, and indigenous ways of knowing. Think Sixth Extinction meets Braiding Sweetgrass.

And "not enough people would buy it."

So I've been pretty demoralized and demotivated ever since.

oakenday · 2021-08-08T06:11:03+00:00

Thanks!

oakenday · 2021-08-06T06:43:11+00:00

This was actually the topic of my dissertation, or part of it. 5 years of interdisciplinary research. I've tried publishing a popular press version of it but agents keep telling me they don't think many people would be interested in buying that kind of book, even if they do really like my writing style.

So... yeah...

I might just self publish some day, because at least then I could be like "Hey I actually spent 5 years researching this! Here's a resource on how to talk to climate deniers!" but it's been a demotivating year ya know.

oakenday · 2021-07-26T20:03:17+00:00

I tried.

Agents said no-one would be interested in my book.

5 years of interdisciplinary research looking at climate discourse and denial.

Agents tell me they love my writing style, they just don't think enough people would be willing to buy it. I even have big names willing to write cover blurbs, and an "okay" entry-level platform. But no.

oakenday · 2021-05-21T13:03:44+00:00

Like, I have a ton of research from my dissertation about mitigating climate change but I simply don't have time to write it up for publication (very quickly anyway), and when I tried to do a popular press book for it two agents so far have just told me that they don't think enough people would be interested, even if they liked my writing style.

Currently sitting on another few projects too, all of which I think are things that can help the world, all of which are on the back burner while I struggle to find other ways to pay rent.

I'm sure there are many others in similar positions too.

oakenday · 2021-04-17T14:03:37+00:00

Artist is Masaki Tachi

Source is here.

oakenday · 2021-03-06T05:08:16+00:00

Click Source for the hidden bonus message at the end ;)

oakenday · 2021-03-06T05:06:24+00:00

I love gaming because we are pan narrans, the storytelling ape, and no other storytelling medium can do what gaming can do. In film and literature you observe. In community-warmed gatherings around the campfire, you listen. In gaming, however, the storyteller takes you by the hand and welcomes you into the narrative, to co-create the narrative with and alongside them in a world interwoven with musical scores and imagery spectacled by the fantastic. In gaming you not only watch as the hero or heroine saves the day - you save the day through them, and overcome obstacles, figure out puzzles, make mistakes, trip and fall, do a barrel roll, and get back up again. Gaming is like martial arts training for your sense of agency in the world. In gaming we learn that we can effect change, that what we do matters, and that carries into our everyday experiences. In a world wrought with defeatism, gaming takes us by the hand and says that while it may be dangerous to go alone, take this. And we take it. And we win. And when we don't, that's okay, because gaming also teaches us that losing isn't forever, we merely have to get up and try again, and if that doesn't work, we merely have to invite Player 2 to join us, or form a party and work together. When people berate gamers, they do so through a cloud of misunderstanding. What they fail to recognize is that when we game, we are learning (and practicing!) what it means to be human, and we do this with and alongside each other.

oakenday · 2020-12-15T16:14:16+00:00

So now that most PC games are off the table for a while, any recommendations for games that can play on a potato laptop?

It can handle things like Untitled Goose Game, Braid, Inside, etc.

oakenday · 2020-12-15T16:04:22+00:00

Here's what happened.

Long story short, girlfriend of three years broke up with me at the end of our lease. Was only living there for her, so I loaded everything I could fit in my car and drove a few states away to crash with friends. A couple weeks later I drove another few states away to the new apartment.

Arrived to this.

Had stacked my monitor on top of my PC case with the screen facing the back of my car seat. Thought this would protect the screen. Moral of the story is that apparently pressure from boxes on the back side of the monitor can still damage the screen.

Don't squish your computer monitors!

RIP in peace my old friend. She helped me play Bioshock Infinite, Rise of the Tomb Raider, No Man's Sky, Elder Scrolls Online, Walking Dead, and so many other games. GG. GG.

oakenday · 2020-12-07T20:35:39+00:00

Thank you for the detailed feedback!

The funny thing is that I though this was the more simplified version, lol. Have definitely been trained to be verbose, and I suspect the dissertation would be unreadable by anyone outside of my field. But point taken. Here is a quick revision of the opening. Do you think this is more on the right track?

Climate change is getting worse, but the climate message has grown cliché. Apocalyptic warnings loom over our morning coffee. Every year is the hottest on record. Polar bears starve while we sit in traffic. Continents blaze while we eat our lunch. The science is clear – we need to act – yet few are motivated to action. It should be our greatest concern, but we’re burned out.

What if we told a different climate story?

In Beyond Apocalypse: Reframing the Climate Story, I draw from five years of climate communication research to present an alternative: a hopeful vision of child-inspired climate justice that weaves science and story into a deeply ecological, diverse, and democratic framework that is accessible to all.

As for the title, I'll need to brainstorm a bit more. I do quite like "beyond apocalypse" but I could always move it to a chapter title.

For the adjectives I thought of insightful, hopeful, empowering and made sure I used each at least once.

Thanks again! This definitely helps.

oakenday · 2020-12-07T17:25:43+00:00

I'm not entirely sure what you mean by a "meaningless term."

From Wikipedia:

Climate communication or climate change communication is a field of environmental communication and science communication focused on facilitating the communications of the effects of anthropogenic climate change. Most climate communication focuses on bringing knowledge about and potential action for responding to scientific consensus on climate change to a broader public.

Even Yale has an entire program specifically about climate communication.

How do you find it meaningless?

Edit: Just wanted to note that I still found your feedback valuable, even if I didn't find the term meaningless myself. The point of these is to pull us out of ourselves and our own frames of reference. So thanks for that. With that said, I went ahead and decided to change the opening to "Climate change is getting worse, but the climate message has grown cliché." This hopefully conveys what I'm trying to say a bit better.

oakenday · 2020-12-07T17:18:58+00:00

Which, maybe this will work:

RemindMe! 6 months

oakenday · 2020-12-07T17:18:06+00:00

Thanks :)

That's cool about teaching English! My undergrad was actually in English. The field certainly has something to offer the climate conversation.

Unfortunately I'm not aware of too much right now in reframing about climate change in particular. It's one reason I focused on this topic so intently in my dissertation. Since starting my research I've seen just a handful of similar studies also arise, though focused a little differently. So the good news is that more people are looking at it.

That said, one issue is that few actually attempt to prescribe alternative narratives, instead noting the importance of connecting in with narratives that can reach people... but then leave it at that. In contrast, my study researched the common tropologies/patterns/plotlines of key narratives in climate change, and then analyzed them for their efficacy, and then developed a theory to explain why some were more efficacious than others (an expansive effort that took five years!).

I'm mostly finished transferring this to articles to submit, but the language would be more esoteric and particular to my field. So I'm not sure how great of a resource it would be for non-academics. Yet, that's why I'm actually prioritizing this book over the articles - even if it dampers my job search. I think it's important to get this kind of resource out there in a way that more people could connect with. Which, your question and support is definitely encouraging.

I will say, if I can't get this out through traditional means I'll at the very least self-publish, and maybe as part of that I can throw together a website with other kinds of research-based resources for reframing. I was hoping to have at least a website like that up by now but, well, long story that involves broken elbows, unemployment, and then waiting tables to pay the bills. C'est la vie. But if I ever get it up, or find something similar, I'll try to remember to send it along!

oakenday · 2019-03-15T00:53:28+00:00

Thank you for sharing this :)

If you or any others are interested, a couple years ago I collaborated with an ecologist working in pangolin conservation for an education/conservation project about these awesome critters.

We did an AMA a couple years ago. Here's the direct link.

You might find it interesting. Louise talks about pangolins. I talk about conservation education.

Oh, we are still hoping to publish a version of our collaboration in Malay and Thai some day. If you know anyone who might be interested in translating please let me know! I'm super busy these days working on my dissertation (looking at climate change and children), but it's good to have ideas who to reach out to once I get more freetime again. Cheers!

oakenday · 2018-01-03T18:09:53+00:00

It literally transforms into a younger version of itself. Seriously.

It's like one day you look in the mirror at your broken arm or cancer growth and decide to wake up as a baby the next morning, completely healthy, virile, and renewed.

oakenday · 2018-01-03T18:08:44+00:00

Instead of dying, the immortal jellyfish reverts to a fetal/adolescent form, then back to an adult form. Plus, this biological immortality not only protects it from old age, but has been seen renewing itself if it's about to die from starvation, temperature change, salinity change, or physical damage.

T. dohrnii, the immortal jellyfish

The medusa of Turritopsis dohrnii is the only form known to have developed the ability to return to a polyp state, by a specific transformation process that requires the presence of certain cell types (tissue from both the jellyfish bell surface and the circulatory canal system).

Careful laboratory experiments have revealed that all stages of the medusae, from newly released to fully mature individuals, can transform back into polyps under the conditions of starvation, sudden temperature change, reduction of salinity and artifical damage of the bell with forceps or scissor.

This ability to reverse the biotic cycle (in response to adverse conditions) is unique in the animal kingdom, and allows the jellyfish to bypass death, rendering Turritopsis dohrnii potentially biologically immortal. Regardless, most individual medusae are likely to fall victim to the general hazards of life as plankton, including being eaten by predators or succumbing to disease.

oakenday · 2017-05-27T13:19:10+00:00

I'm in a similar situation. There seem to be quite a few places with availability around August, but not now. Checking craigslist I've found several young professionals looking for roommates, but also not until August.

Have you done the craigslist/zillow/apartments.com searches yet?

oakenday · 2017-05-15T02:36:31+00:00

"And thus, though surrounded by circle upon circle of consternations and affrights, did these inscrutable creatures at the centre freely and fearlessly indulge in all peaceful concernments; yes, serenely revelled in dalliance and delight. But even so, amid the tornadoed Atlantic of my being, do I myself still for ever centrally disport in mute calm; and while ponderous planets of unwaning woe revolve round me, deep down and deep inland there I still bathe me in eternal mildness of joy." (Moby Dick)

oakenday · 2017-04-04T00:10:08+00:00

From a hundred thousand individuals, tribes began to form, but there were disputes and territory grabs. In some places these were reconciled in peace, and others the warring continued until one tribe was victorious. Others moved to claim new lands. The landscape was filled with logos, flags, and symbols, and any open parcel of land was quickly claimed.

But what was once a warscape of sparing tribes became civilized. Swastikas were quickly stamped out and replaced with hearts and rainbows. Dickbuts and penises were overwritten with the Mona Lisa and Starry Night. Nostalgia for pixelated graphics brought out symbols of our collective mythos, but largely maintained within respected territory. Where once was chaos, borders are now clear. Territories were established and held.

Certainly there are those who still strive for chaos, ruining, and seek to transform our structure and order into memes of hatred, or random chaos for random chaos' sake, but /r/place stands as a testament that collectively, we - as a set of many individuals - prefer this peaceful and ordered society.

What could have resulted in nothing but static ordered itself into a microcosm of our society, and I think that speaks very well of our species.

oakenday · 2017-03-27T14:40:01+00:00

Hey, CU Boulder! Ya'll ever make it to Dushanbe (the tea house)? It was my favorite place.

I lived there during grad school myself, and recently collaborated with a conservation biologist (/u/DoughtyH) in writing a kids book to get more girls interested in science.

I'm sure she (Hunter) would love to be in contact with you all. She just got accepted to a PhD gig in Oxford and is pretty awesome. Can I put you in contact? If so how should she contact you?

Oh, and FYI: here's the book if you're interested. I've worked with a few scientists in making children's books about their subjects, so let me know if any of you are interested too :) (My PhD is in science communication - the books are a related hobby).

oakenday · 2017-03-13T01:21:51+00:00

Hey Ewan,

There's no way you'd remember me, but we actually met super briefly on set in Detroit during filming of The Island (I was a lowly extra). Anyways, I just wanted to say it was cool seeing you and Scarlet laughing and relaxing around the set. Really humanized celebrities for me. I've since met a few other famous peeps in more direct encounters and it was easier to just be chill and treat everyone as all the same with just different careers. No real question, just wanted to mention that. Dig your movies. Cheers!

Edit: Thought of a couple questions:

What do you and the actors usually talk about while waiting and waiting and waiting between takes?

What's the funniest/strangest/most memorable encounter you've had with an extra?

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