I come across these golfball-sized nodules frequently in the interbedded sandstone of the Bearpaw shale, and almost all of them have small fossils inside. Splitting them with a chisel usually only reveals a bunch of nondescript black material, so a friend and I decided that cutting them with a tablesaw is the better way to do it.

Any ideas about what these might be? The photo shows both sides of a thin slice, and my best guess is that they're some sort of fish vertebrae.

https://preview.redd.it/odhv8huecpa21.jpg?width=3416&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=600d2a37bf7e9c7e3a104ce27887a60f853689d1

I know that trip reports are posted for this a few times a year, but I figured I'd post this anyways to get feedback. Roast me peeps.

Where: High Sierra Trail, Sequoia National Park and Inyo National Forest. East bound from the Crescent Meadow TH, exit at Whitney Portal.

When: July 24, 2021 through July 29, 2021.

Photos: Small imgur album here.

Conditions: Highs in the low 80s, lows in the upper 30s. Rain showers were experienced nearly every day of the trip. Thunderstorms were a possibility every single day, but fortunately only experienced one close storm at Guitar Lake. Almost no bug pressure - some mosquitoes in your typical buggy locations. River/stream crossings were all doable without getting one's feet even slightly wet. No bears were seen, no major rodent problems, but loads of cute adorable Pikas in the usual areas. Pee-ka, or Pie-ka? I hear both all the time.

Lighterpack: https://lighterpack.com/r/1pkwbk

I'm easily under a ten pound base weight on most trips, however! Between the larger bear can and my desire to use a framed pack for said bear can, I went with my HMG Junction 3400. I bought this pack originally for trips just like this, for winter, and for when I start taking my toddler on trips. I do feel that this pack is overkill for my starting weight of around 27 pounds, and am somewhat considering getting a Zimmerbuilt framed pack or a KS40, even with a full Bearikade Weekender. I climbed Whitney (and descended) mostly with the hipbelt unbuckled. Some other changes are needed for certain - I fully intend on taking some of /u/deputysean's advice to continue trimming things down.

Useful Pre-Trip Information or Overview: This trail isn't that hard to get permits for if you check a few times a day. I initially had passes, canceled them, and secured permits for the same exact day for my planned June HST hike (Thanks Inyo Creek Fire for cancelling that one). I snagged these just 2 weeks before the trip. Walk-ups seem easy if you go the day before, even for weekend starts.

Gear Notes:

Tarptent Protrail Li: First long trip with this new to me tent. Bought used from reddit. I only had the chance to take it out once before this trip, and felt confident that it would do just fine. It did. I had some concerns about how fast condensation built up in it, but in reality, that's just what you have to deal with if you get a tent while slightly wet, it's hot out, and you ha

Do your worst!

While exploring around the market dimension, you come across a shop called the Artium Domus Aurea selling unique items that vary in style, technology and function.

You enter the shop and see various items in unique displays from glass storages, shelves, hangers and more. The interior has this Steampunk and Greco-Roman style to it with a tall ceiling with an oculus at the center revealing the stars from outer space. The store is lit with electric lightbulbs and some living vines with white flowers growing at the walls.

After you look around the shop, the shopkeeper raised her voice from the checkout.

"Take as much time to shop here because our products are great in quality!"

- Swords -

Linked Sword

Description: A standard one-handed shortsword that consists of a short iron blade, bronze hilt with an indigo leather gripping over it and a bronze pommel. They're the default weapons in Sky High obstacle gladiatorial arenas and it was used by ancient merchants for self defense.

Price: 1,500 Gold

Stock: 40

Light Cavalry Sabre

Description: A one-handed Napoleonic-era cavalry sabre long enough to reach the side of your enemies below on Horseback. It consists of a long, curved and narrow steel blade and a brass hilt and fingerguard with black leather gripping.

Price: 2,500 Gold

Stock: 30

Arming Sword

Description: A 12th Century one-handed sword that consists of a 2-feet long and sturdy steel blade, a short oak hilt and a circular pommel. It's well-known for it's use by late medieval infantry and knights.

Price: 2,500 Gold

Stock: 30

Estoc

Description: A 16th Century thrust-based longsword that can also function like a polearm when in proper use. The Estoc consists of a 6-feet long steel blade that's narrow and sturdy enough to pierce through light armor when thrusted hard enough alongside lunge-based attacks. It also have a steel hilt long enough for both hands thrust with.

Price: 6,000 Gold

Stock: 25

[Onidachi](https://tr.rbxcdn.com/4e7f9ad969858d03bd71

For context I'm a Refuse Driver (Garbage man) & today I was on food waste. After I'd tipped I was checking the wagon for any defects when I spotted a lone pea balanced on the lifts.

I said "hey look, an escaPEA"

No one near me but it didn't half make me laugh for a good hour or so!

Edit: I can't believe how much this has blown up. Thank you everyone I've had a blast reading through the replies 😂

It really does, I swear!

They’re on standbi

Pilot on me!!

Dad jokes are supposed to be jokes you can tell a kid and they will understand it and find it funny.

This sub is mostly just NSFW puns now.

If it needs a NSFW tag it's not a dad joke. There should just be a NSFW puns subreddit for that.

Edit* I'm not replying any longer and turning off notifications but to all those that say "no one cares", there sure are a lot of you arguing about it. Maybe I'm wrong but you people don't need to be rude about it. If you really don't care, don't comment.

What did 0 say to 8 ?

" Nice Belt "

So What did 3 say to 8 ?

" Hey, you two stop making out "

When I got home, they were still there.

I won't be doing that today!

You take away their little brooms

There hasn't been a post all year!

It’s pronounced “Noel.”

After all his first name is No-vac

What, then, is Chinese rap?

Edit:

Notable mentions from the comments:

• Spanish/Swedish/Swiss/Serbian hits

• French/Finnish art

• Country/Canadian rap

• Chinese/Country/Canadian rock

• Turkish/Tunisian/Taiwanese rap

Bob

So that I could frequently say, "I am going to walk 5 miles now."

Edit: My most popular post on Reddit! 😀 Thank you for the awards.

Just to clarify, 12345678

Me grabbing a soda from my (what I thought was) half full 12pk...

Notices there's only 2;

Me: "Awe man... This is a damn bird box!" Her: "What the hell does that mean?!" Me: (Pulls both cans out & shows them to her) "It's only got Toucans."

I'm not ashamed to admit the look on her face was glorious.

I was just sitting there doing nothing.

This morning, my 4 year old daughter.

Daughter: I'm hungry

Me: nerves building, smile widening

Me: Hi hungry, I'm dad.

She had no idea what was going on but I finally did it.

Thank you all for listening.

There hasn't been a single post this year!

(Happy 2022 from New Zealand)