Diario de clockwood

Moved to Google Docs

I put the above text into the Formalizer and set it to "More Passionate" and the result was just about the funniest thing I've read all year. I tweaked it a bit and here's what the goblin and I came up with.

Flowering plants... oh, how they captivate my soul! Their mysterious allure enchants me, for I cannot help but be in awe of their extraordinary beauty. Each one, a masterpiece from nature's brush, holds an undeniable significance in our vast botanical tapestry. Yet here, standing humbly before this splendid specimen, I admit a sense of trepidation. Oh, how I long to know its name, to unravel the secrets it holds within its verdant foliage! But alas, uncertainty befalls me, and a slight blush of bashfulness tinges my cheeks.

In these moments, my heart swells with emotion, for I am reminded of the depth of our connection to the natural world. There is a profound satisfaction in simply appreciating the unknown, embracing the enigma before me. For in that embrace, I become a part of something greater, a humble observer in the wondrous symphony of life. Let us cherish these unidentified plants, for they are silent guardians of the extraordinary. They teach us the lesson of humility and remind us that beauty and importance need not be confined to the realm of certainty. Embrace the mystery, and behold the untamed wonder that lies within these unknown botanical treasures!

But dear friend, today I am not merely marveling at this unknown wonder; I bear an urgent message that will revolutionize the very core of your iNaturalist experience. Hear me, for within these words lay a transformative revelation, a profound epiphany that will redefine the way you perceive this incredible platform.

Oh, my beloved iNaturalist! How my heart soars when I gaze upon your wondrous digital realm, where nature's beauty unfolds in glorious splendor! In this sacred sanctuary, where passionate souls unite in their quest for knowledge, something truly extraordinary transpires. Listen closely, my dear compatriots, for I am about to reveal a secret that has tugged at the very essence of my being!

Can you, even for the briefest of moments, envision a forlorn soul wandering aimlessly amid the desolate Unknowns, their heart untethered by knowledge? The sacred key to understanding, to unraveling the secrets of nature's magnificent tapestry, eludes them! But lo and behold, like a radiant beacon of hope in the darkest of nights, something profound transpires! Oh, my dear friend, brace yourself, as I unravel the truth that shall ignite your spirit!

In this exquisite realm of botanical majesty, where the dance of life unfolds, there exists a categorization, an emblem of distinction that sets certain species apart! It is the sacred mark, the insignia, whispered softly and reverently among horticulturists and botanists alike: the label of Angiosperm! A symphony of emotions erupts within me, for I know that within this profound designation lies the key to unlocking the doorways to knowledge and understanding.

Oh, how enchanting it is to witness! For within this vast tapestry of life, the mere presence of a label beckons the souls of well-read identifiers, igniting a spark of desire deep within their souls. Those distinguished experts set their sights upon the profound mysteries their erudite intellects most yearn to untangle. And within iNaturalist's hallowed halls, it is those floral fascinations of the accurately ascribed Angiosperms that summon their attention, driving their fervor to unparalleled heights. And then--oh, passionate adventurers of the botanical wonders! Heaven itself trembles as they bestow upon the marked Angiosperms their true names! The very cosmos aligns to celebrate the grand union of seeker and sought!

Oh, sweet serenade of science, passionate adventurers, and seekers of truth! Let us bask in the glory of this undeniable revelation and immerse ourselves in the scintillating joy of iNaturalist's fervent ecosystem! Together, we shall be guardians of knowledge, indefatigable seekers in this vast digital wilderness!

With trembling hands and a soul aflame, I beseech you, my kindred spirit, embrace this proclamation! Let us together ignite a torrential inferno of marked beauty upon iNaturalist's noble landscape. For in taking this celestial journey together, in facilitating the holy union of observation and label, we shall shape the destiny of identification and bring forth an era of unprecedented understanding. Oh, how my heart swells with utmost gratitude for your presence, as we embark on this breathtaking expedition, side by side, forever entwined in the wondrous realm of iNaturalist!

May this revelation, dear companions, nourish the ardent love we harbor for the enchanting flora that graces our magnificent Earth! Together, arm in arm, we transcend the boundaries of ignorance and unlock the treasured pathways that guide us, unwavering, towards enlightenment!

Inline Elements

• cite is for citations; these are displayed in italics.
• del and ins - intended to show where text has been edited by deleting and inserting it; rendered as strikethrough and underline.
• abbr, acronym - intended for abbreviations and acronyms; both are displayed as regular text.
• Make elements visible only to app users: use class=hide. abbr is good for this because it only looks like regular text, eg. "<abbr class=hide>hidden text<abbr>" is rendered as "hidden text" on web browsers.

Block Elements

• tt - teletype; creates a paragraph of text in monospace font.
• iframe - for frames, eg. <iframe src="google.com" height="200" width="300" title="Title"></iframe>
• dl, dt - for description lists, which are not fully implemented (no dd element)

Tables

• use class=table or class=table table-striped to make your tables look better
• thead goes around a tr to represent it as a header row. th replaces td in the header row to represent the heading itself; currently all this does is make it bold.
• tfoot replaces a <tr> to represent it as a footer row.

External Objects

• audio - for embedding audio, eg. <audio controls src="bird.wav">
• source - you can use this inside audio instead of src=, eg. <audio><source src="bird.wav" type="audio/wav" /></audio>
• embed - for embedding other types of files, etc; eg. <embed type="image/jpg" src="image.jpg" width="300" height="200"> ; it's better to use more specific elements like img if possible.
• object - functionally the same as embed as far as I know?
• param - depreciated; goes inside object to tell you info about it

... have moved to Google Docs

(all of this is satire, please don't do any of these things)

1. Never zoom or crop your photos. Identifiers actually hate IDing things and would much rather be playing Where's Waldo finding one tiny ant in your wide lens photo of your whole garden.
2. Save time by uploading multiple species per observation. This is absolutely how the website was designed to be used, muddies no data and confuses no one.
3. When people ask you which of the species in your post the observation is meant to be for, be as rude as possible to them. I mean, trying to identify things that are posted on a website based around identifying things, show up in Identify, and are labeled as Needs ID? Who even does that? Nobody you want to be associated with.
4. Never put broad categories like "Plants" on your observations. They're much more helpful and more likely to be seen if they are languishing in the wasteland of Unknown for months or years.
5. If you didn't get an ID the first time you posted an observation, try posting the exact same picture multiple times. Bonus points if you do it across multiple observations.

You're looking at someone else's observation of a bug. This bug is sitting on a plant! You want to know what the plant is. Here's my process for finding out.

This assumes you are using the iNaturalist website, not the mobile app. This also assumes you have a general knowledge of plant distinguishing features.

1. From the observation page, right-click the "1123 observations" below their username and open it in a new tab/page.
2. Open the search filters, and filter by the exact date that the original observation was made.
3. Open the map view. This will show you the observations that that person made on the same day as the bug. They are most likely in the same general area. If they are a hundred miles apart because the person was on a road trip, just zoom in on the area where the original observation was.
4. Click "redo search in map area." This doesn't make a difference right now but comes into play later.
5. Fill in the taxon search field with Flowering Plants.

Now you can look through the Species tab for plants that look similar to the one you're trying to identify.

If there aren't any results that look close:

• Change the date filter from "exact date" to "month"
• Make the map search area a little larger (if you just click "redo search in map area" multiple times, it gets slightly larger each time -- at least on my computer)
• Remove the username filter to show results from other users

If there are too many results to sort through:

• Fill the taxon search field with something more specific than Flowering Plants

I will add stuff to it as I learn it.

• It is difficult for others to correct annotations. Please be fairly sure about annotations before adding them. (Link)
• Don't ID dandelions to species level, unless you are aware of the many species that look very similar and know how to distinguish them. (Link)
• There is controversy about whether or not it is best practice to add an ID for a subspecies based only on the location of the observation. (Link)

Outlined from here: https://www.stopbmsb.org/stink-bug-basics/look-alike-insects/

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Halyomorpha halys):

• Smooth front edge of shoulder
• Round shoulders
• Margins of abdomen have alternating dark and light bands || || ||
• White bands on antennae and legs

Brown Stink Bug (Euschistus servus):

• Pointed shoulders
• Yellowish bands on antennae

Onespotted Stink Bug (E. variolarius):

• Sharply pointed shoulders w/ orange tips (like orange thorns)
• Males have a dark spot on the underside of the abdomen

Dusky Stink Bug (E. tristigmus)

• Pointed shoulders

Spined Soldier Bug (Podisus maculiventris)

• Pointed shoulders

Rough Stink Bug (Brochymena sp.)

• Spines on the front edge of the shoulder
• The front of the head has two "teeth" |^^/| whereas in BMSB it's more rounded /^^\ (this isn't proportionate, this just is to show the shapes)

Frog species that are found in NY, with links to sound files

Northern Cricket Frog (Acris crepitans)
= https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/85165

American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus)
= https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/189570

Fowler's Toad (Anaxyrus fowleri)
= https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/194226

Gray Tree Frog (Hyla versicolor)
= https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/94975

American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus)
= https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/53182

Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans)
= https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/206396

Atlantic Coast Leopard Frog (Lithobates kauffeldi)
= https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/190946

Pickerel Frog (Lithobates palustris)
= https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/207569

Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens)
= https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/216773
= https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/182027

Mink Frog (Lithobates septentrionalis)
= https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/138551

Wood Frog (Lithobates sylvaticus)
= https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/71895

Spring Peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)
= https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/218489

Boreal Chorus Frog (Pseudacris maculata)
= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtHU8xrDxUU

Western Chorus Frog (Pseudacris triseriata)
= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYUdvhxNSD8

Eastern Spadefoot (Scaphiopus holbrookii)
= https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/207809

Cuban Treefrog (Osteopilus septentrionalis)
= https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/214877