The problem with Qubit

Given the general state of things, it's practically a civic duty to post pictures of cute animals, if you have them. We do have a cute animal, the qutest there is, and I've got this blog which is read by n>1 sad people, so where's all the photos? There are none. It's not that we don't take them, it's that Qubit, being all black, basically doesn't show up on film. Here's the very best I have:

We will keep trying, and maybe a new iPhone will eventually learn how to deal with Vantablack dogs. Until then, here's a movie which, while also failing to provide a good image of Qubit, does offer a view of her ferocious but adorable inner being:

 

Postscript: A helpful reader supplied this link, which takes you to a lengthy explanation (in Dutch) of how to take photographs of black dogs. No more excuses!

Murmuration

New Year's, normally a time of fireworks, was this year rung in, more or less, by a murmuration of starlings instead. If you're in the Bay Area, go see them, it's truly unmissable: 4:30 PM, anywhere with a view of Mt. Olivet Cemetery (their current roost). And if the cemetery is open, go inside and listen:

Cornmaze · Murmuration Murmuring