our merit review docs were all due Nov 1. He sent the email on Dec 31

Thinko, right?

The "guy who always says 'yes'" has resigned. Now, we thought he wanted to stay long term. No doubt because someone asked him "Guy, do you want to stay long term?" However, when later left to start his own sentence, he was able to say "I don't want to stay long term." Transitioning off this project is going to be...ugh I don't want to think about the handover. I'm going to have to watch it extra closely.

It's actually the praying mantis in the computer lab(?) that would have scared the crap out of me as a kid, and up to my mid-thirties. I've realized only recently that I could probably downgrade it now from phobia to strong dislike, but... those things just ain't right.

I nearly planted our butterfly garden plants further from the house out of worry about the bees, but it's never been a problem. The bees love the plants, and aren't interested in us at all. It makes a lovely vibrant, active sound.

those things just ain't right.

True 'dat.

Now, we thought he wanted to stay long term. No doubt because someone asked him "Guy, do you want to stay long term?"

Would be funny except for the strong urge to punch him. Ugh. But better to have someone on the team that can give a straight answer.

those things just ain't right.

They're the most fabulous bugs ever! That aren't iridescent or gigantically rhino-horned or use other species to feed their larvae from the inside out.

Anyway, awesome.

The 1/2 Project, Bizarre Composite Face Portraits

More: [link]

Praying mantises are so right they are blowing your minds.

I don't find there are more bees in the yard since I got the hive than there were before. Well, within a foot of the hive, yes, many bees, but outside of that I rarely see more than one or two at a time.

I was pretty old before I realized that freezing was not the only possible reaction to bees. I was never overly afraid of them, but somehow got convinced that I would accidentally flail into one's way, and that's when I would get stung. So, freeze.

I had several weird rules as a kid that I mostly just made up, although they were based on something. I just took them a little far.

Oh dear.

Couple's nude photo shoot inside their dead horse

After Elizabeth Herrick and her boyfriend "euthanized" their 32-year-old horse with a rifle, they gutted it and Herrick climbed inside its carcass for a nude photo session. Then they posted the photos online resulting in some, er, "extreme emotional reactions" and a police investigation. I'll skip posting the photos, but you can see them on HuffPo. If you really want to. You don't. Trust me.

The couple's explanation for the photos -- and later eating the animal? According to authorities at the department, the pair wanted to feel "one with the horse" and nature.

"This is definitely number one on the oddity list," (Washington County Sgt. Dave) Thompson said. "It's like nothing I've ever seen before."

According to the incident report obtained by The Huffington Post, detectives ruled no charges would be filed against the pair since nothing they did is technically illegal in the state of Oregon.

I have not followed the link to see the photos. So if you do, you're on your own.

eta: OK, I did look at the pictures. Not sexy at all.