Category Archives: The Evidentialism Files

The Stealth Tree

Two frogmouth birds

A few factslaps about frogmouth birds:

  • Masters of Camouflage: Frogmouths are experts at blending into their surroundings. Their mottled feathers resemble tree bark, which helps them avoid predators by making them nearly indistinguishable from branches.
  • Not Owls, But Close Relatives: Though often mistaken for owls due to their nocturnal habits and similar appearance, frogmouths belong to a different family called Podargidae. They are more closely related to nightjars.
  • Wide, Frog-like Mouths: Their name comes from their wide, flattened beaks, which resemble a frog’s mouth. This adaptation helps them catch insects in flight or snap up prey on the ground.
  • Diet: While some species focus on insects, larger frogmouths can catch small vertebrates, such as mice or frogs.
  • Daytime Masters of Stillness: During the day, frogmouths often adopt a motionless posture that makes them look like a broken branch. They even stretch their bodies and align themselves with the tree’s texture to enhance the effect.
  • Silent Hunters: Unlike owls, frogmouths don’t rely on acute hearing to catch prey. Instead, they use their sharp vision at night and snatch insects with their wide beaks.
  • Monogamous Birds: Frogmouths are generally monogamous and share parental duties. Both parents take turns incubating the eggs, and after hatching, they continue to care for the young together.
  • Geographical Range: Frogmouths are found primarily in Australia, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent, thriving in various habitats from forests to urban areas.
  • Call: Their vocalizations are quite soft and often sound like a low, humming noise or soft growls, very different from the hoots of owls.
  • Not Agile Flyers: While they are strong hunters, frogmouths are not particularly adept at flying. They tend to sit still and wait for prey to come near, using short bursts of flight when necessary.

Broke The Looking Glass


I was admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with Type I diabetes on a Friday the 13th. But the rest of the world finds it jinxy for other reasons:

  1. Religious associations: In Christian tradition, Friday is considered unlucky as it’s believed to be the day of Jesus’ crucifixion. The number 13 is associated with Judas, the 13th guest at the Last Supper who betrayed Jesus.
  2. Norse mythology: A legend tells of 12 gods dining in Valhalla when Loki, the trickster god, arrived uninvited as the 13th guest, causing chaos.
  3. Historical events: The arrest of the Knights Templar on Friday, October 13, 1307, is often cited. King Philip IV of France ordered this mass arrest, leading to the order’s eventual dissolution. The Templars were accused of heresy and other crimes, though many historians believe these charges were fabricated. This event added to the day’s ominous reputation.
  4. Cultural reinforcement: Literature, films, and media have perpetuated the superstition, sometimes making it a self-fulfilling prophecy.
  5. Triskaidekaphobia: The general fear of the number 13 contributes to the day’s negative associations. The top of the clinical “number phobias,” which include 4 and 666.

I Believe In Live And Let Live


Some factslaps about Mercury:

  1. Smallest Planet: Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system, even smaller than some moons, like Ganymede and Titan.
  2. Closest to the Sun: Mercury orbits closest to the Sun, at an average distance of 36 million miles, but it’s not the hottest planet—that title goes to Venus.
  3. Extreme Temperatures: The temperature on Mercury swings dramatically, ranging from 800°F (427°C) during the day to -330°F (-201°C) at night.
  4. Long Days, Short Years: A single day (sunrise to sunrise) on Mercury takes 176 Earth days, while a year lasts just 88 Earth days.
  5. No Atmosphere: Mercury has almost no atmosphere to trap heat or protect it from meteoroid impacts, which is why its surface is heavily cratered.
  6. Large Iron Core: Mercury’s core makes up about 85% of its radius, the largest proportion of any planet in the solar system, contributing to its high density.
  7. No Moons or Rings: Unlike most planets in the solar system, Mercury has no moons or rings orbiting around it.