Half bugged

D4rw1n: Zombie cicada (top) showing fungal growth. Non-zombie cicada for comparison 

b1-66er: Are they loud where you are?

D4: At peak last week they were loud enough you had to raise your voice to have a normal conversation outdoors 

Now they're mostly done and the loudest sound is the constant dropping onto the ground as they die 

b1: CRAZY!

did it ever feel 'creepy infestation' to you, or was it always just a weird thing?

Does the 'outbreak' create a smell?

What do you reckon it's like to be a 17 year bug, F-I-N-A-L-L-Y crawl out of the ground only to get zombiefied at your moment of glory?

D4: Raking up magnolia leaves in the front lawn and having a good 20% of the bulk be a mix of live cicadas, dead cicadas and molted exoskeletons felt a tiny bit creepy infestation. And seeing them in their thousands on the street in the same mix also gives that feeling, a bit 

They do have a slight dead flesh odor as they die and decay. Subtle but distinct 

The zombie ending is just the worst. It is such a triumph for the selfish fungus DNA and such a loss for the poor bastard just minding his cicada business of getting it on with other cicadas 

Shot ©2021 D4rp1x

Used by permission

For lunch? A lucky bean!

Radioactive Dave: Your ability to jump to ridiculous conclusions astounds me...

Although KTXT standard format would include an add-on here, there is no follow-up comment to expound on RD's initial astonishment.

The lure of double masking

Special K: "Addison Rae Just Wore Two Bikini Bottoms At Once and Now I Want to Wear Two Bikini Bottoms At Once"

That's not: a pin, a tail, nor a donkey

b1-66er: "Las Vegas man arrested after stabbing dog at bus stop on Las Vegas Strip"

Special K: Originality counts.

Any Flavor you like

b1-66er: "You Should Absolutely Freeze a Baked Sweet Potato Into a Popsicle"

Special K: And now I won't. 

b1: Rabble rouser!

Special K: Fight the power•

<ed: with that we have the second, and most violent appearance yet, of a stance from Special K's 'punctuation arsenal.'>

Sunset

LV, NV

©2021 the Accomplice

used by permission

4 men almost catch bad colds after extreme TXTing

b1-66er: "Woman Who Didn't Exercise for a Year 'Nearly Dies' After Intense Spin Class"

The Instigator: You've turned into a click bait bot

b1: That's what happens when you're unemployed.

What's the closing line from American Beauty?

"You have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm sure; but don't worry...You will, someday."

I love me a good headline.

'Nearly dies' in quotes. Meaning what? She broke down crying while describing the ordeal...

... Or because she'd be electrocuted if she stopped pedaling?

BUT... As you know ALL TOO WELL... I'll cast bell ringers your way... With impunity... Because I'm that kind of guy.

DPRUSA: I nearly died on my spin bike today. Like if my heart rate was another 10 or 20 I'd be a goner. Then realized it was getting hard. 

I stopped pedaling. 

Finished workout. 

Got my coffee.

Showered

Started work.

Viral, I'm telling you.

b1: EXACTLY•

Thank you for playing. 

Full marks.

•••

The Great and Mighty Richardo: I can easily see that happening.  Would it be different than a headline Man Who Races Car Not Driven for Years Nearly Blows Engine?