two new humans
Category: time machine
new human
Slap
The Arch of Swords
Right after the ceremony, as the newly married couple exits the church, a group of fellow Navy officers line up in two facing rows outside the door. They draw their swords and raise them to form an arch or tunnel of crossed blades.
The couple walks through the arch. At the final pair of swords, the officers often lower the blades to briefly stop the couple so they can kiss. Then one officer gives the civilian spouse a light tap (hah!) on the backside with the flat of the sword and announces something like “Welcome to the Navy!” (or “Welcome aboard”).
This tradition, with roots in the Royal Navy, symbolizes the Navy family’s pledge of loyalty, protection, and welcome to the new couple. It is one of the most recognizable features of a U.S. Navy (and Marine Corps) officer’s wedding.
Commander (O-5), United States Navy.
The uniform is the U.S. Navy Full Dress White (or Service Dress White in a ceremonial context):
White combination cover with the standard Navy officer crest (eagle, shield, and anchors).
High-collar white tunic with hard shoulder boards.
Three ½-inch gold sleeve stripes (the hallmark of a Commander).
Naval Aviator wings on the left breast.–Grok
Corn slop
A data center uses about 166,700 gallons of water per acre per month.
In good times, corn grows rapidly. With warm temperatures (77–91°F) rain and fertilizer it commonly elongates 1–2 inches a day. During the rapid growth phase roughly V8–V12 (V8–V12 refers to vegetative growth stages of the corn plant. Corn stages are numbered by the number of leaves with visible collars (the thickened band where the leaf blade meets the leaf sheath), after the growing point is above ground), rates of 3–5 inches per day have been observed and documented in time-lapse and field measurements.
Thousands of U.S. patents have been granted specifically for corn hybrids.
Tracking data for field corn hybrids shows roughly:
– 1986–1995: 8
– 1996–2005: 167
– 2006–2015: 1,377
– 2016–2025:1,855
This totals on the order of 3,400–3,500 hybrid patents issued to date. Utility patents on hybrids became available after key 1980s rulings and have grown dramatically.
Corn grows around the clock. At night, and stem/height elongation is often notable. Classic observations (and modern work on the “evening complex” of proteins) show that many plants, including corn and related grasses, put on significant height growth in the hours after dusk and toward dawn when the internal clock and lower evaporative demand allow cell expansion.
A single corn stalk/plant typically transpires on the order of 10–15 gallons of water over its life. Older literature sometimes cited higher figures (up to ~50+ gallons under different assumptions or longer seasons).
(So sayeth grok)
rear view
What’s going through Sophia’s mind? (Grok says) As a classic chocolate Labrador, loyal, food-obsessed, water-loving goofball — her inner monologue is probably something like this:
First few hours (leaving VA area): “Car ride! YES! New smells out the window! My human is taking me on an adventure. Tail is wagging at 100 mph. This is the best day ever!”
Through WV & PA (the mountain part): “Whoa, the air smells different… trees, dirt roads, maybe some wildlife? My legs are getting a little stiff. Hope we stop soon for a sniff break. Also… snacks? I’m a Lab. Snacks are life.”
Into CT & RI (getting closer to the coast): “Okay this drive is LONG. But the views are changing… more water smells? Are we almost there? I wonder if there’s a beach at the end. Beaches mean sand, waves, and possibly swimming. My favorite things!”
Final stretch to south coast MA: “New place! New smells! New people to meet! I was born in Warsaw, Virginia but I’m ready for Massachusetts mode. As long as there’s food, belly rubs, and a spot to nap in the car, I’m good. Human looks happy, I did a good job being the best co-pilot.”
Reader and Advisor
The field is largely unregulated, belief-based, and entrepreneurial. Practitioners self-select, learn informally or through paid courses, and may claim natural gifts, lineage, or scholarship. Results depend on the individual’s skill at interpretation, client rapport, and the client’s openness—scientific validation for the divinatory claims is absent, though symbolic tools can provide psychological reflection or comfort for some people.
smoke break-site dog
Grok says: The dog’s inner monologue (as Canis familiaris, the goodest boy on the job site): These three humans? They’re my pack. Not the fancy kind with leashes and kibble in bowls — the real kind. We show up together, we sweat together, we sit on the same ledge when the sun’s high and the bricks are waiting.
The one with the hard hat is the steady one. The bandana guy’s got the jokes. The other one… he’s the quiet thinker.
Me? I’m the supervisor. I don’t lay bricks, but I make sure nobody slacks off too hard. I keep the vibes right. One bark and they know I’ve got eyes on the perimeter.
Dog is the unofficial fourth member of the crew. In the era this photo feels like (mid-20th-century job site, film borders and all), dogs were common companions on construction and masonry crews. He’s not just “someone’s dog” — he’s the site dog. He belongs here as much as the mortar and the trowels. He gets the rhythm of the work: long stretches of laying brick, then the blessed pause. He’s there for the smoke, the stories, the quiet moments. He fits because he doesn’t need to be useful every second — his presence is the usefulness. Loyalty, calm, and the occasional tail wag that says “we’re doing okay, boys.”
What’s in the bag? Specifically, a bag of dry pre-mixed masonry mortar (portland cement + hydrated lime + mason’s sand). When water gets added, it becomes the sticky, durable paste that holds bricks and blocks together. That bag is the lifeblood of whatever wall or structure they’re building. The dog knows the smell: earthy, dusty, a little chemical. Not food, but important.
How long is the average smoke break? In real-world data on working smokers, the average individual smoke break lasts roughly 5–10 minutes (one solid study put it at about 7.2 minutes). On a construction site like this, it’s usually tied to the official rest periods — a quick step away, light up, shoot the breeze, stub it out, back to the trowel. Some guys stretch it, some keep it tight. Either way, it’s sacred time: the moment the physical labor pauses and the pack just exists together.
The dog is patient through all of it. He knows the drill. Break ends when the humans stand up. Then it’s back to supervising the most important project of all: whatever wall they’re building today, and the bond between the four of them that no mortar could ever replace. 🐶
To a smoker, it’s a Kent
Grok says:
The photo captures a candid, layered moment of urban public transit life in 1979, viewed through the windows of a city bus (with the large Kent cigarette advertisement on the exterior side panel). It’s a black-and-white street photography style shot that freezes a slice of everyday humanity in motion—or rather, in a brief pause at a stop or in traffic, amid reflections of buildings and other passengers.
Here’s a breakdown of the visible passengers and their facial expressions, followed by speculation on the inner worlds and dynamics at play. Because expressions in a single still frame are ambiguous and context-dependent (especially in black-and-white), much of this is interpretive based on gaze direction, posture, mouth position, eye openness, and body orientation.
Visible Passengers and Expressions: The young man in the foreground (lower left, short dark hair, facing the camera directly): His expression is the most engaged with the viewer. Neutral but alert—eyes wide and direct, mouth closed in a straight or slightly firm line, head slightly forward. He appears to have noticed the photographer outside. This reads as mild curiosity, surprise, or a subtle “caught in the act” awareness rather than hostility or joy. It’s one of the few faces oriented outward toward the external world.
The woman in the striped sleeveless top (center-right of the window area): Neutral to slightly pensive. Her gaze is directed off to her right (possibly out the window or toward another passenger), mouth relaxed or slightly parted. No strong smile or frown. She projects a calm, everyday attentiveness—perhaps observing the passing city or lost in thought.
The person with curly/dark hair (partially visible near the center): Head tilted downward or turned away. This suggests introspection, fatigue, or focus on something in their lap (a book, bag, or hands). Classic “withdrawn into self” commuter pose.
Background and reflected figures: Several more people are visible, mostly in profile or from behind via window reflections. One older man is seen from the back in reflection; others show partial faces or heads. Most gazes are averted—looking out windows, downward, or sideways. This creates a sense of parallel, non-intersecting inner worlds. Hands near faces or windows on the left side hint at possible gesturing, resting, or adjusting something (e.g., hair, glasses, or holding a strap).
Overall composition notes: The multiple layers of glass create reflections that superimpose outside buildings onto inside faces, adding visual complexity. No one is obviously laughing, crying, arguing, or in animated conversation. Body language is compact and contained—typical of shared public space where people protect personal bubbles.
Speculation on Thoughts, Emotions, and Interactions: This single frame hints at a wide but understated spectrum of human experience typical of city bus rides in the late 1970s (pre-smartphones, when people had fewer digital distractions and more unmediated time with their own minds and surroundings).Emotions (mostly low-to-moderate intensity) Neutrality/stoic detachment dominates. Most faces suggest emotional “idling”—neither particularly happy nor distressed. This is common on commutes: a protective mask for the daily grind.
Subtle fatigue or resignation: Downward or averted gazes often correlate with mental exhaustion after work, school, or errands.
Mild curiosity or alertness: Mainly from the young man staring back at the camera. Others might feel a quiet awareness of their fellow passengers or the urban environment.
Possible underlying currents: Quiet contentment (routine feels safe), low-level anxiety (about lateness, finances, or personal matters), or simple boredom. The era’s visible cigarette branding evokes a time when smoking was normalized in public spaces, perhaps adding a layer of casual habit or stress relief for some riders.
Thoughts and inner monologues (highly speculative but grounded in context):“When’s my stop?” or “Did I miss it?”
Daydreaming about dinner, relationships, weekend plans, or replaying the day’s events.
People-watching: silently observing others (the reflections amplify this meta-layer—“I see them seeing the city”).
The young man’s direct gaze might reflect: “Who’s that guy with the camera? Is this for a newspaper?” or simply the novelty of being noticed in an anonymous crowd.
Broader existential notes: In 1979 urban America, thoughts could touch on economic pressures (inflation, job markets), social changes, or just the sensory overload of city life filtered through the bus window.
Interactions and social dynamics: Mostly parallel solitude in proximity. Passengers share physical space but maintain psychological distance—averted eyes, closed postures. This is classic public transit etiquette: respectful non-engagement that allows everyone their inner privacy.
Minimal visible verbal or overt interaction. No clear conversations or group dynamics; it feels like a collection of individuals rather than a community moment.
Non-verbal cues: The young man’s eye contact breaks the norm slightly, creating a fleeting potential connection (with the photographer or, indirectly, with us viewing the photo decades later).
Regality/Desolation
Grok says: “Overall scene: This is clearly the entrance to a fish/seafood market or shop. The combination of the “FISH” sign, tuna/salmon references, and the Shanghai Aquatic Products Company notice all point to that. The cat sleeping right there makes perfect sense! Some text is faded, angled, or partially obscured by wear on the posters, so I can’t read every single character perfectly, but the main ones are clear. I examined the image closely (including the posters on the wall/door area). Here’s what the visible text says: Right-side posters (on the dark wall/door frame): Top poster/ad: “Great Low tar Vantage”
This is a vintage Vantage cigarettes advertisement. Vantage was known in the 1970s–80s for its “low tar” marketing with slogans like “Where Great Taste & Low Tar Meet.” The circular target-like logo next to it is typical for their ads.
White paper/poster below it:
上海水产公司 (Shànghǎi Shuǐchǎn Gōngsī)
→ Shanghai Aquatic Products Company (a real fisheries/aquatic products company).
经营 (jīngyíng) → “operating,” “managing,” or “for business/sale.” There are additional Chinese characters below that are partially faded or angled, but it appears to be an official notice or business sign related to seafood/aquatics.
On the glass door: Large sign: FISH
Lower section (partially visible): Mentions of Tuna and Salmon (or similar seafood items — looks like a shop menu or product list).
Virginia incarnation
