I stopped by this morning to unlock the door and turn on the lights, but I can’t stay long. I’m on the road for a couple of days. No, I am not at the beach as are Arlo and Janis in the above oldie from 2010. I wish! However, speaking of leisure, et al, I have not forgotten our discussion about the work status of our friends. In fact, I have enjoyed thinking about it and look forward to sharing my thoughts with you. That’s why I’m not going to rush into it now. In a day or two, I’ll have more time to spend on the subject. See you then! And please, try not to break anything.
157 responses to “She Buys Sea Shells…”
Smigz, I wonder how much plastic it had to spit out to get to that sought for nutty goodness. Long way to go, but what a payoff.
Smigz: http://www.disaster-area.org/weis/sqpmug.jpg
Nice find, Mark!
Our typical squirrel doesn’t eat any amount like our typical “chipmunk” does. A squirrel may take a peanut or a sunflower seed or whatever, and then runs off to hide or eat same. A chipmunk loads in as many nuts/seeds as it can manage before leaving, and then comes back in less than a minute for more! The squirrels are missing out on a large part of the food provided.
I’d prefer to feed the squirrels solely, but haven’t found any foods which the chipmunks won’t snarf up first….
TR:
I’ve read quite a bit about the power and water consumption of the intelligence-gathering facility.
The place has me concerned – far more than Podesta allegedly giving some Russians access to Mrs. Clinton’s email files.
Rick, while I do still believe the mission intent is to protect USAmericans, our allies, and other innocents abroad; I can also see the possibility of going wrong. Should I rewrite that as probability? History does not show intrusive governments changing direction without bad things happening first. I am amused and troubled when I read doublespeak statements like this one from the Wikipedia article, first paragraph under purpose:
In response to claims that the data center would be used to illegally monitor email of U.S. citizens, in April 2013 an NSA spokesperson said, “Many unfounded allegations have been made about the planned activities of the Utah Data Center, … one of the biggest misconceptions about NSA is that we are unlawfully listening in on, or reading emails of, U.S. citizens. This is simply not the case.” — Shalal-Esa, Andrea (15 April 2013). “U.S. agency denies data center to monitor citizens’ emails”. Reuters. Retrieved 16 April 2013. [not tried today, copypasted to avoid misquoting]
When you read that, do you question whether or not ‘listening’ and/or ‘reading’ occurs? Or whether the speaker believes it is not illegal to do so under laws current at the time? Go ahead, read it again. That’s Bill Clinton level parsing right there. Sure would feel friendlier without the ‘unlawfully’ qualifier.
Mark: That ‘Wanted’ sign is a splendid [and delightful] picture of Sciurus niger rufiventer, our local [and America’s most widespread] ssp. of Fox Squirrel. Prompted me to search; found this:
http://mars.gmu.edu/bitstream/handle/1920/2928/bryant_katherine.pdf?sequence=1
Scroll down to p. 23 of that 2007 thesis for a map of the distribution of all sspp. of Sciurus niger. For extra credit, read the whole thesis.
Capital R is the range of S. n. rufiventer. Pelage and body size are different in other sspp. The largest fox squirrels live in SE US pine forests where body size helps them survive through seasons of food shortage. Critters lead rough lives, one of the things zoologists have to get used to.
Peace,
Should have added that listening and reading are specifically action verbs that presuppose a human’s direct oversight of the process. It makes no statement on wholesale collection and archiving performed by algorithm. The logic then is information would not be accessed without the appropriate writ.
Why do I keep hearing Axle Foley saying, “Trust me! :snorting laughter:”
Oh, apologies on cross-posting.
Read book, The Puzzle Palace, by James Bamford for more insight into the activities of the NSA, No Such Agency. I found it very interesting. I also think he wrote a sequel, but I have not read that one. One of the biggest problems for the NSA is that their collection volume is much greater than any human’s ability to keep up with. Thus the focus on certain key words that direct intercepts for human reading. There is simply too much material for it all to be examined.
Happy Mother ‘s Day
1. Why?
2. Today’s [Sun.] Doonesbury. It’s verbatim, no editorializing.
Peace,
Whoops: http://www.gocomics.com/doonesbury Peace,
EMB
You asked why I would wish anyone a Happy Mother’s Day. I want to acknowledge a segment of the population that does a really challenging endeavor. Many do it alone . No partner. Every day should be mother’s day. My own mother has been dead for twenty years, but I still think of her, especially today.
Lots of my friends wish others happy Mothers Day. One I know who has never married just posted the most beautiful song by Clapton and Pavarotti. I will find it and post. It is about mothers.
And yes, happy Mothers Day. Remember your mother as I do if she is gone.
Scrolled through Today’s posts in record time. Happy Mother’s Day to all. Everyone has a Mother, either imperfect or Saint. My mom was a Saint because of her imperfections. Traveling by train from Chicago to Detroit. Yesterday’s graduation was perfect, weather was 80• and we capped it with dinner on top of the Hancock building.
I can’t wish my mother a Happy Mother’s Day, but I can wish all of you in the Village who are mothers a happy and fun day with your families.
Mark, I’m going to laugh about your squirrel post for days! Thank you!
cep, from the quantity of sunflower hulls she left in the shed, momma squirrel just parked herself there and ate…not much coming and going this time. I once spent an enjoyable afternoon on a second-story porch watching chipmunks strip the maple in front of me of its seeds. They took them down to their stash and probably had a good winter on them.
And happy Mother’s Day to all who are or have moms!
Smigz, you’re welcome. I had seen a version of that before and when I read your post, I wanted to share it with you. Do a search for squirrel wanted poster and you will find many variations. Some are on shirts or coffee mugs.
Clapton and PAVAROTTI singing Holy Mother written by Clapton. Not version I searched for but beautiful.
https://youtu.be/5_OHAkzfT_U
Had never heard it before.
I was surprised in this day of social media that I had not heard Clapton and Pavarotti singing that. I’m a big believer that I can wish my mom a Happy Mother’s Day even though she’s been gone 33 years. I TRY to honor her every day because she will always be a part of me. I think she would have loved listening to Clapton and Pavarotti as it combined the best of 2 musical world’s singing about prayer.
A new variation on a timeless classic: https://scontent-dft4-3.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18423787_10155228244258764_2186792132557022941_n.jpg?oh=bb15cc90ad5a807642fd9885963675c7&oe=59C23C21
Not even new. Slappy Squirrel and her nephew Skippy did basically the same routine on their way to Woodstock on an episode of Animaniacs, decades ago.
Steve I had not heard Holy Mother either and I love both Clapton and Pavarotti and listen to both a lot, including lots of Pavarotti duets with pop singers. I think the words are beautiful.
My friend who posted it often surprises me with his sensitivity.
Laura: Sorry, that ‘Why?’ was not a response to you.
Wished HMD to many at BUMC this morning, also watched confirmation, which included one confirmation first, and got the straight info on an upcoming wedding of a brand new DPT, and no, the bride-to-be is not preggers.
Peace,