While moving some flower pots on my patio, a snake-like creature slithered out from beneath one of the pots and went off into the grass.
The creature was black, had a triangular head, no legs, and was about 4-5 cm long. Its sinuous movements were very snake-like. What could it have been?
(Sorry, no pics.)
American Independence Day ("Fourth of July") is this coming Saturday (2026-07-04).
Do you intend to celebrate? And if so, how?
Thank you.
EDIT +3 HOURS: In the 'States, Independence Day is usually observed with parades, picnics/cookouts, and fireworks in the evening. I feel curiosity over how other expats might be observing the day, and if they're even observing it at all.
NOTE: This is not part of a "disinformation campaign". It is one of many posts stating what is both known and proven about Atlantis -- a subject involving more speculation than the stock market, and more fiction than Æsop's Fables and Grimm's Fairy Tales put together.
• • •
The story of Atlantis has fascinated people for centuries. Many books, movies, and television programs have explored the idea of a lost city that disappeared beneath the ocean. Some people believe Atlantis was a real place, while others continue searching for evidence of its existence. However, most historians and scientists agree that Atlantis is a myth simply because there is no reliable proof that it ever existed, and its story likely began as a fictional tale.
• The Story Comes from a Single Source: The ancient Greek philosopher Plato wrote about Atlantis around 360 BC in his works "Timaeus" and "Critias". According to Plato, Atlantis was a powerful island civilization that sank into the sea after a great disaster. No earlier records mention Atlantis, and no other ancient writers provided independent evidence that such a place existed. Because the story appears only in Plato's writings, many scholars believe he invented it to illustrate his own philosophical ideas.
• The Lack of Archaeological Evidence: Researchers have explored many parts of the world, including the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, looking for traces of the (alleged) lost civilization. Despite these efforts, no ruins, artifacts, or other physical evidence have been found that prove Atlantis existed. In history, important civilizations usually leave behind clear signs of their presence. Since no such evidence has been discovered for Atlantis, the claim that it was real remains unsupported.
• The Theologic Symbolism: Many details of the Atlantis story seem more symbolic than historical. Plato described Atlantis as an advanced society that became corrupt and was punished "by the gods". This theme matches the moral lessons found in many myths and legends. Scholars often view Atlantis as a cautionary tale about pride, greed, and the misuse of power rather than a factual account of a real civilization.
: : Atlantis is widely regarded as a myth because: (1) its story comes only from Plato, (2) there is no valid archaeological evidence to support its existence, and (3) its message resembles that of a moral allegory about hubris. While the alleged mystery of Atlantis continues to capture the imagination of people around the world, all available valid evidence very strongly suggests that Atlantis is merely a fictional story rather than a real place from history.
I'm a relatively new mod to this sub, but an old hand at moderating in general. I don't mind bending the rules just a little to keep the conversations pleasant, like for maybe a couple of non-English words in a comment or post (please provide translations whenever possible).
One thing I will not tolerate is bigotry, especially the expression of cultural stereotypes. "What are those?", you may ask. Well, they are comments or posts expressing or implying that any one culture is intellectually or morally inferior or superior to another.
Bigotry also includes racist and sexist stereotypes too.
While there may be SOME examples that fit any given stereotype, those stereotypes are not true for everyone. Not only are stereotypes offensive, but a post or comment that expresses or implies such bigotry will very likely trigger a ban, which will also very likely be permanent.
(Of course, any ban can be appealed, but repeated offenses will likely diminish the effectiveness of each appeal.)
While I do not enjoy wielding the Banhammer, I will use it against bigotry no matter what form it takes.
So please, enjoy this sub, and do your part to make it enjoyable for others as well.
Thank you.
Actual Title: "She Ate It!"
The Setup
Back at uni, a group of us liked to dine together once a week along the "Miracle Mile" just off-campus. One girl would only order off the appetizer section, and then do the "That looks good! Can I have a bite?" routine until she had filled her plate. Everybody got tired of this, but she was otherwise kind and helpful so we let it ride, until one day . . .
The Revenge
At one meal, she placed her usual order last, grabbed her purse and said she'd be right back. Our food was brought while she was gone. By the time she got back, each of us had put something on her plate from our own. She thanked us, and we all started eating. When we were almost through, I nudged the guy next to me and said, "She ate it. Pay up." He said, "Later" and we both started laughing.
The girl turned pale. "What did you do to my food? What did you put in it? Omigawd, I think I'm gonna be sick!" Then she made quick time to the restroom and did not come out for several minutes.
The Spoiler
We had done nothing to her food. We only acted like we had. She was upset only because her imagination had gotten the better of her.
The Epilogue
It took a long time to convince her that everything was fine, and that we were only pulling a prank. We even apologized and offered to buy her dinner, which she declined. After that, however, she would order her own meals and only mooch off our desserts. We could live with that.
Atlantis is widely regarded as a myth because its story comes only from Plato, there is no archaeological evidence to support its existence, and its message resembles that of a moral legend.
~10,000 BC: Runoff from glacial melting begins to raise sea levels over a period of hundreds of years. Villages and settlements close to the ocean shore were likely inundated and lost under hundreds of meters of sea water. The collective human memory of this event may have been the origin of "Great Flood" stories in nearly every human civilization, and may have eventually inspired the myth of Atlantis.
~9660 BC: Plato wrote in "Timeus" that the island continent of Atlantis existed about this time, "... situated in front of the straits which are by you called the Pillars of Heracles".
~6100 BC: About this time, the land area known as "Doggerland", between England and Denmark, is devastated by a sudden sea level rise due to a tsunami from the Storegga Slide. This is one of the many possible explanations for the origin of Plato's "Atlantis" myth.
~5600 BC: Approximated date of possible Black Sea inundation; this alleged event is one of the many possible explanations for the origin of Plato's "Atlantis" myth. The Mediterranean Sea, swollen by melted glaciers, breached a natural dam that separated it from the fresh water lake later known as the Black Sea. Sea water from the Mediterranean poured in for as long as 2 years.
~1650 to ~1625 BC: The volcano Thera (now known as Santorini) in the Aegean Sea, erupted. The explosion of Thera about this time released energy equal to 200,000 H-bombs. One of the many possible explanations for the origin of Plato's "Atlantis" myth.
~0630 BC: Birth of Solon, in Athens, Greece. Modern knowledge of Solon is limited by the fact that his works only survive in fragments and appear to feature interpolations by later authors and by the general paucity of documentary and archaeological evidence covering Athens in the early 6th century BC.
~0564 BC: A character in two of Plato's dialogues, "Timaeus" and "Critias", claims Solon visited Neith's temple at Sais about this time and received from the priests there an account of the history of Atlantis.
~0560 BC: Death of Solon, in Cyprus, Greece. The few spurious pages that have turned out to be the very words of Solon -- The Memoirs of Solon -- made no mention of Atlantis.
0427 BC: Birth of Plato, a Classical Greek philosopher, mathematician, student of Socrates, writer of philosophical dialogues, and founder of the Academy in Athens -- the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. Along with his mentor, Socrates, and his student, Aristotle, Plato helped to lay the foundations of Western philosophy and science.
0373 BC: Destruction of Helike; one of the many possible explanations for the origin of Plato's "Atlantis" myth.
~0360 BC: Plato writes "Timeus" and "Criteus", mentioning the alleged destruction of mythical Atlantis. He claimed that an Egyptian priest confided information about Atlantis to Solon, the Athenian legislator, whose memoirs Plato claimed to have read.
0347 BC: Plato (b.0427 BC), the most distinguished student of Socrates, dies at the age of 80. His real name was Aristocles. "Plato" meant "broad" and he was known to have broad shoulders. He was a prolific writer and considered by some as the most important of all Greek philosophers. His works were all in dialogue form and include: the "Apology", the "Symposium", the "Phaedo", the "Phaedrus", and the "Republic".
~0800 AD: Heracleion was submerged by the sea and sands. Heracleion, also known as Thonis, was an ancient Egyptian city near Alexandria. It was known as early as the 12th century BC but its importance grew during the waning days of the pharaohs, the late period. Herakleion was Egypt's main port in the time of the pharaohs. It was famous because it was believed that Helen of Troy and Hercules had visited the city, and that the city had even gained its name from Hercules. There was also a large temple dedicated to the Greek hero at the city center. Pharaoh Nectanebo I made many additions to the temple in the 4th century BC The city sank in the 6th or 7th century A.D., probably due to major earthquakes and floods. Some believers in the Atlantis myth have claimed that Plato actually [i]predicted[/i] this event in his books "Timeus" and "Criteus". The ruins submerged in the sea were finally located and rediscovered by the French underwater archaeologist Franck Goddio in 2000.
• • •
Since about 800 AD, much speculation concerning the Atlantis Myth has occurred, with no valid physical evidence to 'prove' the existence of Atlantis.
Note: This was an act of revenge against those people who see nothing wrong with calling someone any time of the day or night to harass them. This was before the commercial "Phone-Zapper" was available. Had I known then how popular the technology could be, I would have made a small fortune, but I missed out on that. Bummer.
The Setup
Soon after a divorce, I was able to pick myself back up and set out on my own. One source of irritation was the seemingly constant phone calls from collections agents and telemarketers. Day or night, it didn't matter. Some would call back as soon as I hung up on them, insisting that I either pay debts I didn't owe, or that I set up a home visit for sales demos or religious recruiting.
Changing my number would work for only about a week. Leaving my phone off the hook meant possibly missing important calls at night.
Finally, I broke down and installed an answering machine (remember those?). Screening calls was a daily chore, and I might have dozens of harassment calls to one call from a friend or relative. Finally, I hit on a solution that worked . . .
The TechRevenge
Back in the day on landline phones, your local telco used three tones -- Special Information Tones or SITs -- to indicate that your number had been disconnected. The sequence for a "Vacant" line was as follows:
This sequence was followed by a female voice announcing, "We're sorry, the number you have reached is no longer in service. Please check the number and try again." The message varied from one provider to another, but it was all basically the same.
I wrote a program in BASIC (remember that?) to generated the tones as closely as possible, then asked a female coworker to help with the rest. We recorded the three tones and then her voice saying, "We're sorry." <pause> "The person you are trying to reach is unavailable. Please leave a message after the beep. Thank you."
The Resolution & Revenge
The first week was almost the same as before; people calling at all hours. However, most of them didn't leave a message -- they were likely the ones using auto-dialers. These rapidly tapered off to practically nothing within a month.
Those who did leave a message were obviously confused. If they were family or friends, I called them back and told them what was going on. If they were not family or friends -- ex-wife and people on "her side", for example -- they got bupkiss.
The phone situation settled down to normal after about 2 months.
Okay, here's one from way back before the Internet was a thing.
The Setup
We were less than 30 full-timers at a family-owned R&D shop near an auto manufacturer in Michigan. Owner is never around, and the shop manager ("Daddy") is a chill dude for someone born before the Great Depression. My direct super ("Super") is mostly cool most of the time. The boss's son ("Sonny"), however, could be a nice guy one minute, and a terror the next. There was no middle ground.
One fine Friday, Sonny rose up during a sit-down meeting and complained about everybody always falling asleep as soon as they sat down, so he instituted a new rule; people will stand during staff meetings lasting less than 15 minutes. No exceptions ... (Okay, cool. I can handle that.) ... specially YOU, Lumi!
The Malicious Compliance
Game on.
I came in the following Monday on crutches and with my leg wrapped in an elastic bandage. I said there was no need for a doctors note because I don't do any lifting at my tech writing/drafting desk. Super says no worries.
(No injuries, either. I had a plan, and I was faking all along.)
Sonny calls a meeting to discuss something he saw in the parking lot. Someone had backed into a space, and he said it was as if that person was in a hurry to leave and that it showed disloyalty to the company and couldn't we all park the same way?
I was leaning on the table with my crutches against the wall behind me and one foot off the ground. Sonny institutes another new rule. No leaning against the table. So I stand, stumble, and fall over. The others help me up and hand me my crutches.
Sonny says something about too clumsy to stand is too clumsy to work. This did not go over well with anyone, especially Daddy when he heard about it.
I get back to my work-station and start in on another manual for a product about to be shipped. Daddy invites me to a meeting in his office. He has three chairs, his and two others and he invite me to take a seat. In walks Sonny and he sits down. A few minutes later, Owner comes in and has no place to sit. Daddy tells Sonny to stand. Sonny asks why can't Lumi do it. Daddy tells Sonny to stand up NOW.
(This is the first time I had ever heard Daddy use his dad-voice.)
Owner sits, thanks Daddy, and asks me to tell my story. Then he asks Sonny to tell his. Then he asks for witnesses and Super comes in and tells his story, too.
By this time Sonny is red in the face and getting all a-twitchy with his hands. Owner thanks Super, Daddy, and me. Then he tells Sonny exactly what he thinks of his management skills (iirc, "dictatorial" and "autocratic" were mentioned). Then he says that I am to have the next two weeks off with pay to recover. He also said that chairs would be returned to the meeting room. Then the meeting was over.
I stood, grabbed my crutches, shook Owner's hand, shook Daddy's hand, shook Super's hand, and . . . Sonny had already left, presumably to put the chairs back.
The Fallout
I spent the next two weeks on a staycation in my apartment, playing AD&D with friends, watching TV, and eating too much take-out pizza.
Sonny also took a vacation, a full month. I guess Daddy had a few words with him that they should have had years earlier. Sonny never bothered me after that, and only Super ever gave me my assignments and checked on my progress.
I left about a year later, after Sonny "forgot" to depressurize a hydraulic system I was about to test. That's another story.
(Owner sold the business to Super about ten years later.)
Existential Anxiety in the Age of Digital Communication
by Primus Illuminatus, MCMLVII
2026-05-14
• • •
One level below a crisis is a rising anxiety level, where individuals experience heightened stress and confusion but are still somewhat in control of their emotions and behavior. This stage is characterized by symptoms like rapid heart rate and nervous habits. One nervous habit is checking one's device for messages over and over again.
• • •
Human beings have always searched for connection, meaning, and understanding. In earlier times, these needs were mostly fulfilled through direct contact with other people: conversations, shared experiences, and physical presence. Today, however, digital communication has placed itself between people in almost every aspect of life. Social media, messaging apps, video calls, and online platforms have changed the way individuals interact. While these technologies offer convenience and speed, they also create a new form of existential anxiety. Many people feel lonely, uncertain, and disconnected despite being constantly connected online.
Existential anxiety refers to the deep fear or uneasiness people experience when thinking about isolation, freedom, identity, and the meaning of life. In the digital age, this anxiety often grows because communication is no longer fully human or direct. Instead of face-to-face interaction, people communicate through screens, texts, emojis, and carefully edited images. As a result, relationships can become less authentic. People may wonder whether others truly know them or whether they are only reacting to a digital version of themselves.
Social media especially increases this problem. Many individuals feel pressure to present perfect lives online. They post attractive photos, successful moments, and happy experiences while hiding sadness, failure, or confusion. This creates unrealistic standards and encourages comparison. A person scrolling through endless images of achievement and happiness may begin to question their own value or purpose. Even though they know that online content is often filtered or exaggerated, the emotional effect remains powerful. They may feel left behind, invisible, or meaningless.
Digital communication also changes the experience of loneliness. In the past, loneliness usually meant physical isolation. Today, someone can receive hundreds of messages and notifications yet still feel emotionally empty. Online interactions are often brief and shallow. A "like", an "upvote", or a short comment cannot fully replace eye contact, physical presence, or sincere conversation. Because of this, many people experience a strange contradiction: they are surrounded by digital communication but starved of genuine human connection.
Another source of existential anxiety comes from the constant demand for attention. Smartphones and online platforms encourage people to remain available at all times. Silence has become uncomfortable. Many individuals fear missing out, being ignored, or disappearing from the online world. Their sense of identity becomes linked to digital recognition. If a post or comment receives little attention, they may feel rejected or unimportant. This dependence on online validation weakens inner confidence and increases anxiety about self-worth.
At the same time, digital communication affects how people understand reality itself. Algorithms decide what news, opinions, and information users see every day. This creates confusion and uncertainty. People struggle to know what is true, whom to trust, and where they belong. Such uncertainty deepens existential fear because human beings naturally seek stability and meaning.
However, digital communication is not entirely negative. It allows people separated by distance to remain connected, gives marginalized individuals a voice, and creates opportunities for learning and creativity. The problem begins when technology replaces rather than supports real human relationships.
: : Digital communication has transformed modern life, but it has also intensified existential anxiety. By placing screens between individuals, it can weaken authentic connection, increase loneliness, and create uncertainty about identity and meaning. The challenge of the modern world is not to reject technology completely, but to use it in ways that preserve genuine human presence and emotional truth.
But it may already be too late.
- Ω -
In an earlier post, someone mentioned a 14-year old drinking coffee, and others responded with mild outrage, which I had to laugh at, because I started drinking coffee before age 10!
Speaking of coffee, me and a coupla co-workers decided to drop by the new "More-Bucks" coffee shop across the street from our office during lunch. We ordered our lattés, our mochas, and our cappuccinos too. One guy, a new hire who epitomize redneck culture and who thought himself a real macho dude, ordered a "Plain old cuppa joe". Then he started making fun of our "girlie" drinks, even calling mine an "ethpretho" while flipping his wrist back and forth.
I said he couldn't handle it. He said he could, and then some. I told him to prove it. He came back with, "Okay, I'll show you! Gimme a double!"
Game on! (Cue the MalComp)
So I ordered one "2x-presso" for our new hire. Straight up, no sugar, no foam, nothing to buffer.
"Here, hold my coffee and watch this!" (Famous last words, redneck style.) He blew on it a few times, and then took a mighty chug.
It was fun watching his face turn red, his eyes get buggy, and his cheeks puff out. He couldn't swallow, he couldn't spit in the store, so he ran outside and practically barfed it all out in the parking lot.
He came back in, still somehow not having let go of his 2x-presso.
I held out his "Cuppa Joe" and offered to trade. He quietly accepted, then watched as I poured what was left of my drink into his, drank my own mighty chug, and announced, "Now that hiths the thpot, thweetheart!"
We never heard him make fun of our "ladies' drinks". We never heard him lisp again, either.