Maggie's FarmWe 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. |
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Monday, June 6. 2022More on Poison Ivy (and Poison Oak)
Love that sign. The poison ivy is the credible deterrent. I react to Poison Ivy, but manageably. Mrs. BD reacts with hives if she gets near it. (Poison Oak is a southeastern US thing and I don't think I have seen it.) Cape Cod is full of Poison Ivy the second you get off a trail. We found a solution for her. After a hike, wash her legs with Dawn or some other dish detergent. Then use this magic stuff. It saves a trip to the ER to get steroids.
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Monday morning links
Scientists accidentally create super-vicious HAMSTERS in a lab after gene editing experiment goes wrong Plastic Recycling Doesn’t Work and Will Never Work Female swimmers at the University of Pennsylvania say school officials told them their lives would be completely ruined if they spoke out against Thomas joining their swim team The Top 10 Creepiest & Most Dystopian Things Pushed By The World Economic Forum Scouts sell off camps under strain from sex abuse suits Liberal media blames Trump, capitalism, and toxic business culture amidst Sheryl Sandberg's Facebook departure Biden administration raises amount ofethanol that must be blended with gas New York loses $19.5 billion in population exodus, IRS confirms The political class is shrinking NY on purpose LIFE IN THE CITY [UPDATED]. The City of Minneapolis, that is Largest ever migrant caravan begins walk across entire length of Mexico to U.S. border Like the US, England is being buried under illegal aliens and economic migrants Overdoses Up 700% After Oregon Decriminalizes Hard Street Drugs. Officials Mystified. A Wake-Up Call for Public Education. Falling enrollment in America’s schools is a sign of a system in crisis. Michael Bloomberg says America's public school system is FAILING and blames teachers' unions for resisting return to in-classroom instruction 'long after it was clear they were safe’ Canadian College Requires Students, Faculty To Agree They’ve Benefited From White Privilege, Commit To ‘Decolonization’ Sunday, June 5. 2022Can you ID this flowering shrub?What is this June-blooming garden shrub with yellow flowers? (My terrible photo)
Asphalt
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From today's LectionaryJohn 14:8-17, (25-27) 14:8 Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." 14:9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 14:10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. 14:12 Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 14:13 I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14:14 If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it. 14:15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 14:17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. 14:25 "I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 14:26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. Saturday, June 4. 2022Clam NationSpent a glorious week on the Cape for our 100th Anniversary. Hiking and biking -rain, Atlantic fog, some sunshine), using Merlin for a lot of our birding, and living on clams, oysters, mussels, and some Cod. No internet. Read 4 books. Lost 5 lbs. I did not need to lose. Love Cape Cod. This boat in Wellfleet Harbor drags for Sea Clams, not regular Quahogs. Happened to catch the Osprey nest in the same photo. They are everywhere, and that is wonderful.
The old inner harbor, with terrapinsThe old inner harbor, Wellfleet, now silted up but once filled with tall ships, coastal schooners, and fishing vessels. The railroad dike - and the railroad itself -ended all that in the later 1800s. Congo Church steeple in distance. I usually find turtle eggshells around these marshes. Diamondback Terrapin eggshells dug up by skunks and raccoons. This is the northernmost limit of their range. Rarely seen, wary, but they are around. Wonderful critters of the salt- and brackish marshes. They enjoy the edges of the spartina. Plenty of food for them. Problem is that they lay their eggs on the beaches. Despite predators of their eggs (fox, skunks) and of their babies (egrets), their species seems to survive.
Thursday, June 2. 2022Outer Cape Cod upland flora, repostedCape Cod may have had a little bit of topsoil long ago, but now the Outer Cape (aka the Lower Cape - north of Chatham) is pretty much all sand (which is why the Indians needed to throw a herring into each hill of corn), and the dominant tree is the Pitch Pine. Where it's subject to wind, it doesn't get much higher than a 6' scrub form. Here's the path to our not-too-secret wild Blackberry patch, where it's not unusual to see a cheerful Eastern Box Turtle, to hear Bob Whites calling during the day, and Whip-Poor-Wills calling in the evening. Shrubs on front left, Beach Plum. Tree on right, Black Oak. Trees in background, Pitch Pine.
The basic outer Cape upland habitat is now Pitch Pine with an understory of Scrub Oak, with scatterings of Black Oak and feral Black Locust, with grasses below. In sunny spots, Bayberry, Blackberry, Poison Ivy, and Beach Plum. An occasional patch of wild blueberry filled with greedy Robins and Catbirds. This is officially known as Pitch Pine/Scrub Oak Barrens, but, for me, it's heaven. I hope that heaven, if I get there (doubtful) smells like hot sand, Pitch Pine, and Bayberry. The ground cover in the photo below is the dwarf shrub Common Bearberry with its small red berries in August. This was a foggy early morning:
Wednesday, June 1. 2022The evolution of whalesSquats vs. Deadifts
Each one is useful for general studiness, and especially for women. Tuesday, May 31. 2022No morning links this weekFor a number of good, non-serious reasons, I need a week-long sabbatical from morning links about all the the crazy stuff. Nobody seems to want to take over the duty.
Do my job this weekPut your links in the comments. I am AWOL this week. Salt water - gotta get some.
Monday, May 30. 2022Memorial Day Parade Photos, reposted from years ago Re-posted - Villages in Yankeeland - and surely everywhere in America - know how to have a parade on Memorial Day. All you need are some Boy Scouts and Brownies, some firemen and an antique fire truck, the Volunteer Fire Department Marching Band, and anybody else who feels like joining in. Including people with their dogs, adorned with flags. (And yes, in Yankeeland, we are big on Volunteer Fire Departments, and volunteer everything including volunteer Town Meetings as a form of local government.) What a great country. How fortunate, optimistic, well-intentioned, and patriotic we are! Photos from a neighbor, today. Thanks!
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Sunday, May 29. 2022The Ark of the CovenantThe meaning of the Ark of the Covenant. This 7-minute piece is a stunning summary of the metaphysics of Christianity (via American Digest)
From today's Lectionary: The slave girlActs 16:16-34 16:16 One day, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling. 16:17 While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, "These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation." 16:18 She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out that very hour. 16:19 But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities. 16:20 When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, "These men are disturbing our city; they are Jews 16:21 and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or observe." 16:22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods. 16:23 After they had given them a severe flogging, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to keep them securely. 16:24 Following these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. 16:25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 16:26 Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened. 16:27 When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. 16:28 But Paul shouted in a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." 16:29 The jailer called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 16:30 Then he brought them outside and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 16:31 They answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." 16:32 They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 16:33 At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay. 16:34 He brought them up into the house and set food before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God. Cape CodSaturday, May 28. 2022Walking and Hiking
When does walking become a form of endurance (light-moderate "cardio") exercise? That depends on speed and incline. However challenging hiking might be (hills, rocks, etc.) it is still mostly a recreational and visual experience. Even for mountain hiking, most of us need to slow down. As a rule of thumb, walking is not exercise unless there is sweat and a little shortness of breath. Some people say that if you can have a conversation, it is not exercise. Makes sense. Here's a good synopsis about walking as exercise.
Saturday morning linksThe Alchemist Emperor of Prague. As the Holy Roman Empire descended into religious conflicts, its Habsburg ruler surrounded himself with magicians, astrologers, and scryers. Former Vermont governor, a prominent Middlebury alum, skips 50th reunion over college’s cancel culture A Bachelor’s in Diversity. Northern Arizona University requires its students to take four “diversity perspective” courses and loads such courses with ideological propaganda. Prager U Video: Should Schools Teach Kids about LGBTQ? Elite High School Ended Merit-Based Admissions. It Was A Complete Disaster I Criticized BLM. Then I Was Fired. The data about police shootings just didn't add up, but no one at Thomson Reuters wanted to hear it. Florida’s Covid numbers were obviously right all along. Who saw this coming? I did MIT Weighs In On Energy Storage Ethanol: a Dumb idea or a Crime — or Both Moderna Throwing Away 30 Million Doses of COVID Vaccine Because 'Nobody Wants Them' Bill Barr Says Hillary Clinton Guilty Of 'Sedition' Biden Wants Taxpayers to Write a $10,000 Check to Every College Grad Making $300,000 Friday, May 27. 2022Let's celebrate Poison IvyPoison Ivy is a native vine to North America. Apparently humans are the creatures for whom it is an annoying weed. Animals seem to like it. When your dog runs through a patch, be careful about hugging your dog. I've had plenty of unpleasant experiences of it in my life. Now I know that Dawn detergent after contact is a miracle. Sometimes it is difficult to avoid.
Friday morning linksA Promising Treatment for Mental Disorders: Fecal Matter Transplants Gotta be a joke Is the Stock Market Still Dangerous? Kevin Spacey Charged With 'Penetrative Sexual Activity Without Consent' in England…Isn't That Rape? Such a talented actor. Why does he do these things? The Surveillance Solution - a dangerous way to address crazed shooters Does Anyone Really Believe in This Transgender Stuff? Bummer: Renewable Energy Is A Threat To Biodiversity Or Something ESG’s power grows as banker is canceled for talking sense on climate change Democracy Dies Without Disagreement Don't laugh off the left's attempts to change history Thomas Sowell was Right As Usual Thursday, May 26. 2022Thursday morning links‘Mind blowing’ ancient settlements uncovered in the Amazon. The urban centres are the first to be discovered in the region, challenging archaeological dogma. Woman who wrote ‘How to Murder Your Husband’ essay is convicted of murdering husband The NHS Just Edited Their Monkeypox Page... To Make It Scarier What Princeton Did to My Husband. My alma mater is not the school I once loved. But Joshua Katz is exactly the man I knew I married. Gov. Newsom asks Biden administration to help him preserve California's last nuclear power plant When woke=broke State Farm Exec Apologizes to Angry Agents, Says 'We Made a Mistake With Our Involvement' With GenderCool Expect more flight delays this summer — thanks to the government-driven pilot shortage The Davis crowd has the sads The Situation at the Border Is Far More Dire Than We're Being Told Obama Tweets Unbelievably Coarse and Cruel Reaction to School Shooting It’s clear Salvador Ramos was mentally sick, so why wasn’t he stopped? How do you "stop" every wierd kid in the world? Assessing Joe Biden Wednesday, May 25. 2022Wednesday morning linksBreaking: Princeton University Fires Professor Joshua Katz. “Katz’s real offense was running afoul of the woke pieties that now dominate American campuses.” CT Democrats Compare Black Republicans To Monkey… AMA Will Use "Equity" to Fight "Anti-Fat" Bias Among Doctors White House Frenzy Over Karine Jean-Pierre's White Straight Male Backup Before they can learn ‘antiracism,’ kids need to be literate Larry Summers slams Biden over inflation, ‘hipster antitrust’ policies Biden Confirms High Gas Prices Are Part of Plan Where’s The Promised Transparency In Drug Pricing? TOP FBI BRASS WERE “FIRED UP” ABOUT DESTROYING TRUMP What's Next for Russia's War in Ukraine? There’s no endpoint in sight to a war that threatens widespread consequences. Twenty-Two House Republicans Demand Accountability on Biden's $40b War Spending Looks Like CNN and Rest of The American Media Are Growing Weary of the War in Ukraine White House Scrambles to Roll Back Biden’s Vow to Defend Taiwan Tuesday, May 24. 2022Happy 81st Birthday, BobStill working hard and touring constantly. I did see him live earlier this year and it was one heck of a good time. Powerline celebrates it: Not Dark Yet I'll offer this: Tuesday morning linksHow Everclear Became a Pandemic Favorite. Long the stuff of fraternity parties, the 190-proof grain alcohol wants to go from D.I.Y. germ killer to cocktail ingredient. Canadian university pulls LGBTQ poster after Muslim community complains Graduation Week With Common Sense. What happens on campus doesn’t stay on campus. HSBC Suspends Head Of Responsible Investing Over 'Nut Job' Climate-Alarmist Comments Woke Capitalism’s Tragedy of the Commons - Woke capitalism is rational, but it is also unsustainable. Secretary Hillary Clinton and the Deep State: A RICO Criminal Conspiracy Monday, May 23. 2022Monday morning linksHere comes the Monkeypox hysteria The liberals’ underlying assumption is that women can never be adults Woke Mob Wants To Cancel The Word “Obesity” Because It’s “Racist”… What does hate get you? How Dare They! The left's attitude problem when it comes to democracy. Bill Maher: Why are we giving puberty blockers to children? Want to Visit America? Forget Getting a Visa. Just Walk Across the Border. On Friday, President Joe Biden reached a unique milestone by not conducting a sit-down interview with any media outlet for 100 consecutive days. Did Hillary's campaign pitch Alfa Bank lie to the CIA, too? Hillary Clinton’s sordid legacy of lies MOOK SPOOKED: After Outing Hillary Clinton as Being Behind the Trump-Russia Lie, Some Fear Robby Mook’s Days Are Numbered PETER HITCHENS: Can anyone explain to me why this was called evacuation and not surrender?
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