We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.
It's not about "climate change", it's about the loss of farm fields in the Northeast. Raggedy pasture is not much of a thing anymore. Pastures are back to woods, or to suburban sprawl, so these species are dropping in population.
When I was a kid, I would hear Bobolinks singing all the time during their migration from Argentina to the north. Spink spank spink.
Another pasture bird is the Eastern Meadowlark. Neither of these like lawns, but prefer 1000s of acres of hayfields and pastures.
It has never been a confusing issue for me, but I am an expert. In my education I majored in it.
One thing had me wondering. If the nominated Justice Jackson is not sure what a woman is, how can she be comfortable being the first black woman Justice? Is she sure what she is?
32:1 Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
32:2 Happy are those to whom the LORD imputes no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
32:3 While I kept silence, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long.
32:4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah
32:5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
32:6 Therefore let all who are faithful offer prayer to you; at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters shall not reach them.
32:7 You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with glad cries of deliverance. Selah
32:8 I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
32:9 Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding, whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle, else it will not stay near you.
32:10 Many are the torments of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the LORD.
32:11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.
When former President Donald Trump got elected in 2016, marquee journalists announced partisan reporting would have to displace the old, supposedly disinterested approach to the news. There is a common theme here.
The family is the most exclusive private association known to man, and, as Plato knew, it is the single greatest obstacle to collectivism. Families are inward looking units that resist government-imposed homogenization, and they are an inherently conservative cultural force that seek to preserve the private manners and mores of each and every particular family. Worse: families are the origin of private property, the division of labor, inequality, and gender roles. The family is a naturally occurring social unit that has always stood against the State in its attempt to collectivize the community for either reactionary or progressive ends. Figuratively speaking, every family is protected by a virtual “No Trespassing” sign barring entry.
The success of government schooling and its ultimate goals therefore require the families ties between parent and child be weakened if not broken...
Leg Tucks with Pullups are full-body exertions. Calisthenics. Some people swear by calisthenics, some by weights, and even some by cardio. We believe in them all.
Of course I feel badly for all victims of this stupid war - Ukrainian citizens, Ukrainian fighters, Russian soldiers, etc. Bad for all involved. We all like narratives of good vs bad.
Let's look at every reason but the expansion of a hostile and aggressive military alliance to Russia's border, because if we look at Putin's stated reasons, which every foreign policy expert who wasn't a neocon took for granted since we promised Gorbachov not to expand NATO east, that makes us the baddies, therefore we do these Putin mind-reading exercises to avoid dealing with our own culpability in this matter.
Russia's border is NATO's manifest destiny, right? My country, right or wrong, right? Ignorance is strength! We have been here before and it is not a proud chapter in our history.
Why did the Ukrainians undertake an offensive operation into Donbass (Where they have been committing war crimes like using white phosphorus artillery on civilian populations, BTW, for 8 years) , striking a match in the tinderbox, when Russian troops were massed on Ukraine's border, except to instigate a war?
Now the US strategy, cheered on here, is to drag out the war to maximize Russia's losses, no matter the cost in Ukrainian lives. We will see who comes out of this beloved by the victims in this war.
I like Black Beans. Goya, from the can. I always add jalapenos to any Black Bean recipe.
Black Bean soup is traditionally served with a scoop of mashed taters, but I like it on top of a pile of white rice. I hate brown rice. To my mind, rice, like pasta, is supposed to be a vehicle for flavor and not a source.
The post is at Chronicle (of Higher Ed). It is annoying to me that so many links are through paywalls or "register to read the whole thing." I understand why they do it, but it would make me happier if they did not. For another example, Epoch is an excellent news source. If I had to pay for every news source just for myself, it would cost plenty of money. Besides that, I would be linking things our readers could not read.
We are returning to something resembling the “Great Game” of the 19th century, which saw Britain and Tsarist Russia struggle over the resources of central Asia, while others in Europe—France, Germany, Belgium—strove to expand their empires into commodity-rich Africa. Following a lull after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Great Game has now been renewed, with the US and China now occupying critical roles. The humiliating retreat of the US from Afghanistan, a country central to the old Game, has emboldened China and Russia to win the new one. The players have changed and today’s Great Game sets the stage for a new conflict—the “duopoly” of Russia and China, with their associated allies like Iran and Venezuela, against America and the democratic West.
The Eagle chicks I have been watching grow quickly. At this point, each chick eats about two fish daily. The parent drops the fish on the nest and the youth feed themselves. They seem to digest bones, fins, everything.
It is interesting to try to identify the species of fish. Some of the Catfish must be stolen from a fish farm.
Also interesting is that eagles are larger, when fledged, than mature adults. As they mature, their feathers shorten and the bird becomes thinner, sleeker.
What does their future hold? About half of eagles do not survive their first year. By maturity (about 5 years), only 1 out of 10 make it. It looks like a nice life, but it is hard.
While cleaning out some piles of paper, I found a menu from a nice place where we had lunch a couple of years ago in Modica, Sicily. Go there sometime. I know two couples who have done biking tours of Sicily but, for me, a nice car.
I had their Gorgonzola pizza (gorgonzola, pears, and honey), but I like the look of this one with sliced eggs, pancetta, and olives:
UK: 
It's not about "climate change", it's about the loss of farm fields in the Northeast. Raggedy pasture is not much of a thing anymore. Pastures are back to woods, or to suburban sprawl, so these species are dropping in population.
Ace