Can the United States Defeat ISIS? What Time Is It Anyway? Vote For Wildlife. Where Am I? Update.

 

For "Scripture Sunday":

Can the United States Defeat ISIS?

A U.S. Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet aircraft sits on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson on Oct. 16, 2014, as the ship supports Inherent Resolve.

"One pressing issue facing the United States is the ISIS threat. What are the options available to the U.S., and is it possible for a coalition to defeat ISIS?

The rise of ISIS (the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria) has captured the attention of many in the United States and the world for the last several months. The debate continues about whether or not ISIS can be defeated solely by the coalition’s air power (supporting Iraqi and Kurdish forces) or if American ground troops must again be sent into Iraq.

According to Speaker of the House John Boehner, “At the end of the day, I think it’s gonna take more than air strikes to drive them outta there.”

More recently, Senator John McCain said that ground troops, or at least special forces, should be sent in to defeat ISIS because “they’re winning, and we’re not.”"   More at: http://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/blog/can-the-united-states-defeat-isis/  by Joshua Travers - October 27, 2014

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What Time Is It Anyway?

"Oh, hi there. I was running out of paper, so I thought I would slice off one end of this sheet and put it on the other end. But it doesn’t seem to be working. I still don’t seem to have any more paper.

If it doesn’t work for this piece of paper, would it work if we tried it with something else? What if we tried it with a day? Could we cut off an hour on one end of the day and add it to the other end and end up with a longer day? Actually, we would not be any more successful than we were with the paper.

Yet every spring in much of the Western world we go through this process. We call it Daylight Savings Time. We really don’t change the day—the sun still rises and sets on schedule—but we try to trick ourselves by changing the time on our clocks.

Most nations have tried using some version of Daylight Savings Time, but most have found it confusing, and it’s primarily the nations of the Western world that continue to use it."  Complete article at: http://lifehopeandtruth.com/speaking-of/what-time-is-it-anyway/

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Manatees Don’t Vote,  But You Do.

Vote for Wildlife on Election Day

"Why have record-breaking numbers of manatees recently been dying in Florida?  800 this year!
In part because some of the conservation funds that should be protecting important streams, wetlands, forests, and beaches have been taken away from conserving these critical habitat areas. Nutrient runoff may be contributing to deadly outbreaks of red tide.
Wildlife across the country need help. In every state, in every district, we urgently need friends of wildlife like you to stand up and fight back against injustices like this.

In states and cities throughout the country, measures that protect wildlife are up for a vote this Election Day. So are candidates who stand for—and against—wildlife interests.

A lot is at stake—healthy habitat for manatees, wetlands protections for great blue herons, limiting carbon pollution from power plants, restoring wild bison to their habitat, and so much more.

Manatees, great blue herons and all wildlife can’t vote, but you can!

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Who cares about innocent animals in fear.

Who cares about fair chase.

Who cares that there’s so few of them left.

Who cares about the health of the ecosystem.

Who cares if he's so desperate to get free he gnaws off his own paw.

Who cares about those cubs, now orphaned and alone.

Who cares if you have a say.

Who cares about bears.

Who cares about wolves.

Who cares about this election.

"There are 636 wolves left in Michigan. They just came off the Endangered Species list. But like a bad dream, the trophy hunters who want to re-open a killing season on them are hoping for a green light in three days.

The bear baiters, houndsmen, and trappers across the country have been working tirelessly—and they’re only going to turn up the heat over the next 72 hours—to keep Maine a virtual “do-as-you-please” zone when it comes to killing bears with extreme methods. One of those methods is setting traps for the bears, in which the animals can languish in agony for up to 24 before they're shot at close range, execution-style. When it happens to mother bears, their cubs are abandoned, left to fend for themselves in the woods. It's appalling."  Please vote for Wildlife.

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Where Am I? An App for Frequent Travelers

"Ever ask someone to write down a local phone number, and later notice they didn’t include the area code? Or how about watching a weather alert that tells you about a tornado warning in xxxyyy county? If you travel all the time like we do, you have no idea what county you’re in, or what the area code is for local phone numbers.  Now you do! All you need to do is tap the icon for an App called “Where Am I?” and all the information in the screenshot here will be displayed.

We use this all the time,mostly for the county name, zip code, and sunset/sunrise time. It’s so simple!

Another feature that could come in very handy in an emergency, is the ability to tap on the share icon and send your location to a friend via email. If your friend opens it on their smartphone, they can tap on your location and Google Maps will navigate there!

• App Name: Where Am I?
• Author: Ejelta LLC
• Price: Free
• Available for Android (a similar, but not as complete, App is available for iOS: Where am I at?)

To learn more about Smartphones and Tablets, watch the Geeks on Tour weekly show: What Does This Button Do?

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Update:

As Ray's squatter went out of town (no, not arrested yet) we tore up the floor in one of his closets because we were looking for a grey water drain leak.  We found it, but there was a big beam right on top of the drain line. It looked like the PVC pipe had come out of the fitting.  So Ray and I went to the hardware store, but there was no way that it could be fixed the conventional way.  Jay came the next day, cut a floor joist out of the way, and temporarily patched the leak with some auto gasket material and universal clamps.  Until we can find a more permanent solution we put a piece of plywood over the hole in the floor so we can inspect it. So far it is holding, but we don't want to leave it the way it is. 

Another day, we fixed Ray's temperamental kitchen faucet, and replaced the trim on the floor of his utility room.  We also took a lot of measurements, because as soon as we know for sure that there won't be any interference, we are going to enlarge his kitchen.

Ray and I went back into town and snared a used car inner tube, so we are going to use some of that to fix the drain leak with the universal clamps. Then we will wrap it with wide Eternabond. 

At church, the readings were Gen 12:1-17:27 and Isa 40:27-41:16 and the teaching was about Revelation.  The potluck was great as usual, and we all had a great day.

Short Bed? Payment Trap. Short Hose. Floor Vents. 5 Stupid Things. Wasps Like Gas. Surge Protector. Stow Stuff. RV Tips. Deadline in Iraq.

 

For 'tRaVersing Thursday", or RV Day

How to lengthen an RV bed

"A bed in an RV can often be too short for tall RVers, who have to scrunch up to fit in — not good for a restful sleep. This video shows you how to fix that problem for about $30 — a lot cheaper than a new bed!"

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The Payment Trap / The Illusion Of Freedom...

"Many people are making payments on their recreation vehicles thinking that they are free to travel and live off the grid when in actuality they are tied to the system and a slave to their wages. Their possessions end up owning them, they do not own their possessions. Many people are just one paycheck away from repossession and losing everything.."

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Carry an extra hose?

"Carrying an extra, specially sized water hose, can be a godsend for the traveling RVer. Here's why.

Keeping a long water hose in the rig is always a given, particularly if you frequent RV parks with hookups. But a short coupled water hose, just a few feet long, can make life a whole lot easier when on the road."

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A tip about heating vents in your RV

"Jim Nelson shows you a way to cover one or more of your RV's heating vents to keep debris from falling in and to help control your heating comfort."

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5 Stupid Things I Have Done To Damage My RV

"Here are 5 Stupid Things I Have Done To Damage My RV plus One *Bonus Stupidity Not Done by Me. When You travel enough time in your RV you are bound to eventually do some stupid things. These are my top doh! moments."

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Flea collars keep wasps out

"Wasps like the smell and sweet taste of propane, and will turn the pilot light areas in the refrigeration and water heater compartments into their next home. If too many wasps move in, their condo will clog up the pilot light area and the system won’t work. When the propane is turned on, it could result in not only frying the wasps but also the RV wiring, meaning a potentially expensive service call to the repair shop.

Cut a flea collar in half and lay each half on the bottom of one of the compartments. Wasps don’t like the smell of flea collars and will congregate elsewhere.

Other solutions, such as commercial wasp traps to keep wasps out are available. If wasps have already invaded these compartments, one-shot solutions to get rid of them include dousing them with a cup of soapy dish detergent in water. Wasps reportedly like the smell of beer better than they do propane, so place a half-full can of beer in the compartment. The wasps will crawl into the can to get at the beer and drown."  by Cheryl Probst

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Are surge protectors needed in RVs? And what about extended service plans?

"Dear Gary,
A friend told me about how his 120-volt appliances in his RV fried at a campground in AK. He said a surge protector probably would have prevented a huge bill to replace what was destroyed. Is it a good idea to have a surge protector? Also what are your thoughts on extended service plans?" —Jim G. (Seattle, WA)

Read Gary's response. Posted by The RV Doctor, Gary Bunzer

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A Sometimes Overlooked Motor Home Safety Tip

"All motor home owners observe certain procedures prior to taking off from a camp stay. Things like, disconnect all connections, slides in, jacks up, antennas down, and more, are standard rituals they are all accustom to. A vehicle walk around after everything is set, is a good policy and hopefully is done by every RV’er. These often reveal issues that need attention such as open compartments, obstacles beneath the coach or wheels, awnings not locked, etc. A little time spent completing this can save a lot of time and possibly costly repairs later.

Okay, all checks out as ready for the road, but, what about loose items within the coach? Those items like toasters, coffee pots, cutlery and other personal things that we all carry, are they safe? They create little or no danger while driving down the road outside of possibly rattling in harmony with the bumps on the road surface. However, in the case of a sudden deceleration caused by a collision or even a panic braking action, these items can become lethal. The sink with several dishes, knives and forks, can be tossed up and become ballistic household shrapnel.

Many makes of class “A” RV’s do not fair well in a collision, and in some impact instances, the body may practically disintegrate, offering little or no protection for the occupants.  Unlike automobiles, trucks and even buses made today, RV’s do not have to meet the same crash test safety regulations.

But, even if they did, they still pose an added danger that the others generally do not. That is, loose cargo items throughout the interior. These normally harmless pieces will continue their forward travel speed should the vehicle be caused to stop instantly.

So, if you are lucky enough to survive the impact moment of a bad collision, you may still be seriously injured, or worse, from this flying debris. So what can we do to reduce this potential danger? Well, cleaning off the counter and removing items in the sink is a good start. Look for items that would be unimpeded from travelling in a forward motion to the front passenger area.

Be sure any heavy items are secure and would be blocked by a wall or bulkhead towards the direction of travel. If there is nowhere else to store that blender, place it on the floor, preferably without a clear path forward. If you have any forward facing cupboards, use a tie of some type to prevent them from opening in a sudden stop event. These are just some ideas, but each rig is different, as are what people carry with them. Use common sense in how items are stored while travelling.

Now, don’t forget your seatbelts! While your motor home may seem like sitting in a living room, you are travelling in a vehicle that is, not only less maneuverable than your car, but also may possess other possible dangers. Drive safe!"   With an Eye on Safety – Lug_Nut – Peter Mercer

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From me:  This includes your pets. Keep them safe in strapped-down carriers or in a seat belt harness.  A man had his neck broken by a large dog being thrown forward, and beloved animals have escaped through broken windows, never to be seen again.  It is also easier for the medics to tend to passengers if the animals are restrained.

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RV Tips:

Use big enough leveling blocks
"Got leveling blocks for under the tires? Make sure the blocks are big enough that the tire sits completely on the block — not overhanging it. Dually rig owners, BOTH the tires must be supported, not just one."

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Keep your RV food safe

"Food borne illnesses can stop your RVing fun in a big hurry. How can a RV foodie keep this nastiness away? The food safety experts at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center provide a few tips to keep the food fun going."

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Prep your rig to be sales-ready before upgrading to a new RV 
"Is it pristine clean? Do the appliances work? Does it have any off-putting odors? Look at your rig as a new buyer sees it — and take care of its shortcomings before they turn off a prospective buyer. These tips will tell you how."

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Treat your campground neighbors as you would want to be treated.

"Don't play your music so loud that they are forced to listen to it — they may not share your love of Conway Twitty. Would you want to listen to their music? Always be considerate."

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From me:  Standard size sheets v. RV sheets?

Get some sheet grippers.  Available at most dept. stores.

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Adjust the hitch ball height
“Towing with the tongue high (or low) can overload one of your trailer axles.  Set your ball height to level the trailer when attached to the tow vehicle."

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Cleaning the RV shower, sinks and toilet
"Remember that whatever you use to clean the sinks, showers and toilet ends up in the RV holding tanks. Never use any cleaners that could possibly damage the holding tanks. Clean these surfaces with a non-abrasive mild detergent, water and a soft cloth.

Never use any harsh detergents or abrasive cleaners that can scratch or damage ABS, plastic and fiberglass finishes. Some wet wipe products work well on these surfaces, but avoid using bleach." Tech Tips from Mark Polk

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On This Day:

Benny Goodman brings jazz to Carnegie Hall, Jan 16, 1938:

"Jazz has been called "America's classical music," a label that does more than just recognize its American origins. The label also makes the case that jazz is worthy of aesthetic consideration alongside music usually thought of as "classical." In the current era, when programs of Duke Ellington and J.S. Bach often draw the same highbrow crowds, that argument hardly seems controversial. In the 1930s, however, the notion was almost laughable, which is what made Benny Goodman's January 16, 1938, concert at New York City's famed Carnegie Hall so revolutionary. Goodman and his supporting cast claimed a new place for jazz on the American cultural scene that night, in what has come to be seen as the most important jazz concert in history."

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Bush waits for deadline in Iraq, Jan 16, 1991:

"On this day in 1991, President George Herbert Walker Bush waits to see if Iraq will withdraw from Kuwait by midnight, a deadline mandated by the United Nations, or if war will ensue.

On November 29, the United Nations Security Council authorized the use of all means necessary to remove Hussein's forces from Kuwait, giving Iraq the deadline of midnight on January 16 to leave or risk forcible removal.

Just after midnight in the U.S. on January 17, Bush gave the order for U.S. troops to lead an international coalition in an attack on Saddam Hussein's army. U.S. General Norman Schwarzkopf led Operation Desert Storm, which began with a massive bombing of Hussein's armies in Iraq and Kuwait.

Following an intense bombing of Baghdad, U.S.-led coalition ground forces marched into Kuwait and across the Iraq border. Regular Iraqi troops surrendered in droves, leaving only Hussein's hard-line Republican Guard to defend the capital. After pushing Hussein's forces out of Kuwait, Schwarzkopf called a ceasefire on February 28 and accepted the surrender of Iraqi generals on March 3."

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Yesterday:

It was a good time to go shopping, mostly for fresh green veggies and pet food.

As Jay is in his own little world of getting drunk, I went by myself.  Ray was taking his son to the doctor. 

After I had dropped off the paper recycling, I  stopped at several thrift shops as I was looking for a food processor.   All I found was a very bulky old one that would not be very practical.  Anyway, it didn't have all the attachments. My small one is great, but lately it seems to have lost it's oomph to mix some things.

Maybe Nala is missing Misty, or maybe she just likes a different bed.  After I put laundered Misty's beds back in place, I found Nala asleep in the one under my bed.  She and Ava actually got within two feet of each other without Ava hissing, so we are making progress.  Nala was here first so she should, in theory, be alpha cat, but senior Ava wants that title.  She doesn't seem to realize that shy, gentle Nala wouldn't want to defend her title, she's a lover not a fighter.

It was a nice sunny day, but very windy. At Kroger's I really had to hang onto my door to stop it from hitting the car next to me, yesterday.

Harlequin Duck. Bird Nests. New Wings. Kirtland's Warbler. Hooded Mergansers. Spoon-billed Sandpiper. Emptying the Skies. BirdNote: Blackbird, by Paul McCartney. First Super Bowl.

 

For "Winged Wednesday":

Cold-weather Clown: Harlequin Duck

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"The Harlequin Duck borrows its name from the Italian comedic character, the harlequin, who wears brightly colored clothes. "Lords and Ladies" is another nickname, again because of the vivid coloration of the males. These ducks gives distinctly unduck-like squeaks when interacting, the source of yet another local name: Sea Mouse.
Although the male’s coloration is stunning, females and immature birds are more subdued, or cryptically colored, for protection against predators.
George Wallace, ABC’s Vice President of Oceans and Islands, remembers: “I saw these birds every day when I was a salmon fishing guide in Alaska. I was always amazed at the ability of these birds to literally outrun a skiff up a river running eight miles per hour. It’s really a lovely sight to see a female with a string of tiny fluff-ball chicks sprinting over the surface of water and then diving for cover under a fallen log.”

The eastern North American population was in decline but is slowly recovering. It is listed as threatened in Maine and is considered a species of special concern in Canada and the western United States."
How do Harlequin Ducks resemble colorful corks? Read more>>

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17 bizarre and beautiful bird nests

"From tiny hummingbird nests to massive weaver nests that encompass entire treetops, take a photographic tour of these birds' impressive creations.

Bird nests come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from burrows in the ground to tiny cups perched high in tree branches. We've rounded up photos of some of the most fascinating nests on the planet, as well as a few unusual places for a bird to build a home."

Black-capped social weaver nests hang from an acacia tree.  (Photo: Wild Horizon/Getty Images)

More at:  http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/stories/17-bizarre-and-beautiful-bird-nests

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Hawk receives new wings at Raptor Center

ST. PAUL, Minn. - "A young red-tailed hawk flew into a window near downtown St. Paul and suffered trauma to the head and damage to her left wing.  Lori Arent, clinic manager said, "She ended up breaking the tips off many of these outer feathers which really now inhibits her ability to fly." 

Arent clipped the damaged feathers and grafted the healthy new ones using bamboo sticks and epoxy glue. Arent expects the bird to be healthy enough for release as early as next week. "If we weren't able to do this process for this bird it would be here probably until next August or September," Arent said."  More in video:

And more: http://www.kare11.com/news/article/1044329/391/Hawk-receives-new-wings-at-Raptor-Center

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Kirtland's Warbler: Mississippi Flyway Stand-out Species

"Over the last three weeks, BirdNote has highlighted special birds in each of the North American flyways: Wood Thrush in the Atlantic, Whooping Crane in the Central, and Calliope Hummingbird in the Pacific Flyway.

Which special bird did BirdNote select for our fourth, and final, installment?

The Mississippi Flyway Standout Species: Kirtland's Warbler

Kirtland's Warbler © Laura Gooch

The Kirtland's Warbler is one of the rarest birds in North America.  The reason? Its breeding range is limited to a few locations in the Mississippi flyway, in very specific habitat, in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ontario.

Kirtland's Warblers are picky about their nest sites. They require locations under jack pines that are more than five years old – but not more than 15 years old. And the sites must be in well-drained, sandy soil. Consequently, the Kirtland's Warbler has one of the smallest breeding ranges of any bird in North America.

Historically, forest fires benefited Kirtland's Warblers by clearing out older trees, causing cones to release seeds, and enriching the soil for young jack pines to grow.  But fire suppression and an influx of Brown-headed Cowbirds, which lay their eggs in the nests of other songbirds, nearly drove the Kirtland's Warbler to extinction. Only 167 singing males were found during a survey in 1987.

Fortunately, conservation efforts that began in the 1950's are paying off. Today, people come from all over the world to see Kirtland's Warblers in their native habitat in Michigan. Thankfully, as of 2012, there are over 2,000 singing males to welcome them!"

Listen to BirdNote shows about the Kirtland's Warbler:

Counting Kirtland's Warblers
Birds and Climate Change -  Places for Birds to Go   Kingdom of Rarities - With Eric Dinerstein

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Hooded Mergansers - Getting Frisky

"It's winter, but many species of ducks are already preparing for spring.

Nearly all ducks are seasonally monogamous, forming pair bonds with new partners every year. Go to your local pond, lake, or beach during the winter, and you may be lucky enough to see male mergansers, goldeneyes, or Buffleheads, displaying to attract the attention of females. If a female likes what she sees, the two will remain together until they mate the following spring. For migratory species, this requires flying together for hundreds -- or even thousands -- of miles back to their breeding grounds."  More and many pictures at: http://birdnote.org/blog/2014/01/hooded-mergansers-getting-frisky

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Spoon-billed Sandpiper: Hatch.

"...The first moments of life at a windswept Spoon-billed Sandpiper nest. Video includes commentary by the Cornell Lab’s Gerrit Vyn. Filmed July 7, 2011, near Meinypilgyno, Chukotka, Russia."

Watch the first ever footage of this critically endangered species nesting:

From me: I didn't realize how endangered and special these birds are.  The chicks wander around feeding themselves as soon as they come out of the egg.

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Emptying the Skies: Important Film about Songbirds in the Mediterranean

“Emptying the Skies,” a film inspired by a New Yorker article penned by award-winning novelist and ABC Board member Jonathan Franzen. The film follows an intrepid group of bird-lovers who risk life and limb to disrupt the poaching of millions of songbirds trapped to be served as illegal delicacies at restaurants. The bird-lovers free as many birds as possible."

Video about this at: http://bcove.me/f5ef835w

Much more at: http://www.abcbirds.org/newsandreports/emptyingtheskies.html

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BirdNote: Blackbird, by Paul McCartney

 

Upcoming Shows

Great Gray Owl SUNDAY Photographing The Great Gray Owl Featuring Paul Bannick LISTEN NOW ►

Donald and Daisy MONDAY Donald Duck - The Duck in the Sailor Suit by Bob Sundstrom  LISTEN NOW ►

Northern Beardless Tyrannulet TUESDAY Winter Sounds Of the Lower Rio Grande by Bob Sundstrom   LISTEN NOW ►

Eurasian Blackbird WEDNESDAY Paul McCartney's Blackbird  Written by Ellen Blackstone LISTEN NOW ►

Cerulean Warbler THURSDAY Recording Cerulean Warblers Featuring Charlotte Goedsche, Audubon North Carolina LISTEN NOW ►

Spoon-billed Sandpiper FRIDAY Photographing Spoon-billed Sandpipers in South Korea Featuring Adam Sedgley and Gerrit Vyn, Cornell Lab of Ornithology LISTEN NOW ►

Feathers of a Brown Pelican SATURDAY How Feathers Insulate by Frances Wood LISTEN NOW ►

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On This Day:

Packers face Chiefs in first Super Bowl, Jan 15, 1967:

"On this day in 1967, at the Los Angeles Coliseum, the Green Bay Packers beat the Kansas City Chiefs in the first-ever world championship game of American football.

In that historic first game--played before a non-sell-out crowd of 61,946 people--Green Bay scored three touchdowns in the second half to defeat Kansas City 35-10. Led by MVP quarterback Bart Starr, the Packers benefited from Max McGee's stellar receiving and a key interception by safety Willie Wood. For their win, each member of the Packers collected $15,000: the largest single-game share in the history of team sports.

Super Bowl Sunday has become an unofficial American holiday, complete with parties, betting pools and excessive consumption of food and drink. On average, 80 to 90 million people are tuned into the game on TV at any given moment, while some 130-140 million watch at least some part of the game. The commercials shown during the game have become an attraction in themselves, with TV networks charging as much as $2.5 million for a 30-second spot and companies making more expensive, high-concept ads each year."

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Yesterday:

Ray came over and we watered all my aloe vera plants.  The shut-off for the outside faucets had to be turned on to do that, and then turned off again as it supposed to freeze again on Friday night.  It takes two people to hold the two large patio doors, which are the temporary green house, that are leaning horizontally against the storeroom wall. It is working a lot better than expected.

Then while Ray washed my van, I weeded and raked the front flower bed.  Some of the bushes had frozen and looked scruffy, so I cut them back.  They will grow again in the Spring.

One of our SPCA foster moms sent a pleading email for me to take some of her foster kittens off her hands, as she had too many.  Our fosters parents aren't supposed to foster more than 12 animals.  Even that many is difficult to take care of properly. Please spay and neuter your pets! 

As I agreed to take some, she offered to send me pictures so that I could choose.  I said, 'I don't care what they look like, it's the personality that counts, just like people!'  They should be arriving in the next few days.

Yellow-breasted Chat. White Ibis Close-up. Electric Rat Traps. BirdNote: Cassowaries to Millerbirds! Mesa Verde.

 

For "Winged Wednesday":

Yellow-breasted Chat, Buffoon of the Briar Patch

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"Described as an “aberrant warbler” by Roger Tory Peterson, the Yellow-breasted Chat is an odd example of a North American wood warbler – twice as large as most, with a stout bill more like a vireo’s. Debate continues about whether the chat is in fact a warbler or something else altogether.

Whatever it may be, its song, sometimes heard at night, is as distinctive as the bird itself: a bizarre collection of cackles, clucks, whistles, and hoots. P.A. Taverner, a Canadian ornithologist, describes the bird perfectly:

“With his stealthy elusiveness, wild outpourings of song and fund of vituperation, the Chat is a droll imp . . . He is full of life and boiling over with animation. It bubbles out of his throat in all manner of indescribable sounds. He laughs dryly, gurgles derisively, whistles triumphantly, chatters provokingly, and chuckles complacently, all in one breath.”
Read more about this odd bird >>

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White Ibis of the Trinity River Dallas, Texas

"Look a White Ibis in the eye!  Following the White Ibis flocks of the Trinity River from roost to their feeding areas in a large swamp in the Great Trinity Forest Dallas, Texas. June 2013"

and see a Purple Sandpiper with a flock of Ruddy Turnstones.    Short, but a beautiful recording."

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Rat Poison - Bird-safe Alternatives

Rat poison hurts birds of prey, too.

"When birds of prey die from rodenticides, it’s a double whammy, because there are fewer birds to control the rodents. This Barn Owl – and the members of its family – can consume about 1,300 rats per year! Fortunately, there are safe and humane alternatives to rat poison, like electric traps.

EPA told the makers of d-CON, and others, to re-formulate their rat-poison products in protective bait stations and stop selling the acutely toxic “second generation” anti-coagulants on the retail market. Most complied, but d-CON didn’t. I still see these products on the shelves at my local hardware store."     Learn more at: http://birdnote.org/show/rat-poison-bird-safe-alternatives

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Christmas Bird Count

About the Christmas Bird Count

"The 114^th Annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count will take place Dec 14, 2013 to January 5, 2014.  The longest running Citizen Science survey in the world, Christmas Bird Count provides critical data on population trends. Tens of thousands of participants know that it is also a lot of fun.  Data from the over 2,300 circles are entered after the count and become available to query under the Data & Research link." Read more

2012-2013 Texas Christmas Bird Counts

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BirdNote: Cassowaries to Millerbirds!

 

Upcoming Shows

Southern Cassowary SUNDAY Encounter with a Cassowary  by Bob Sundstrom  LISTEN NOW ►

American White Pelicans MONDAY Pelicans Go Fishing by Dennis Paulson LISTEN NOW ►

White Ibis TUESDAY Costa Rica - The Land Is Pulsing with Life by Chris Peterson LISTEN NOW ►

Purple Sandpiper WEDNESDAY Strange Twins -- Purple and Rock Sandpipers by Bob Sundstrom LISTEN NOW ►

Nihoa Millerbird  THURSDAY Millerbirds Thrive On Laysan Island Featuring George Wallace, American Bird Conservancy  LISTEN NOW ►

FRIDAY Christmas Bird Count For Kids Featuring Tom Rusert  LISTEN NOW ►

Long-tailed Duck SATURDAY The Music Of Long-tailed Ducks by Bob Sundstrom LISTEN NOW ►

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On This Day:

Wetherill and Mason discover Mesa Verde, Dec 18, 1888:

"While searching for stray cattle in the isolated canyons of southwest Colorado, Richard Wetherill and his brother-in-law stumble upon the magnificent ancient Indians ruins of Mesa Verde.

The Wetherill family started ranching in the rugged southwest lands of Colorado in 1881, and Richard and his brothers often explored the canyons and mesas for Indian ruins. Once, while looking up the mouth of Cliff Canyon, Wetherill was approached by a Ute Indian named Acowitz who reportedly told him, "Deep in that canyon and near its head are many houses of the old people-the Ancient Ones. One of those houses, high, high in the rocks, is bigger than all the others. Utes never go there, it is a sacred place." Wetherill was intrigued, but his ranching duties kept him from exploring the canyon further.

On December 18, 1888, Wetherill and his brother-in-law, Charles Mason, were searching for stray cattle on top of a broad mesa when a heavy snow began to fall. Fearing they might ride over a cliff in the blinding snow, they dismounted and were moving ahead on foot when they came to an overlook point. From across the canyon they saw a snow-blurred image of a magnificent stone city three stories high and perched high up a cliff wall under a massive rock overhang. Fascinated, Wetherill and Mason abandoned their search for the stray cattle and, after considerable effort, managed to climb up and explore the ruins for several hours.

Wetherill and Mason had stumbled across the "houses, high, high in the rocks" that Acowitz had told them about. The ruins were once the home of the Anasazi (the Indian term for "ancient ones") people. Subsequent archaeological studies showed that the Cliff Palace, as it became known, was built during the 13th century, when the Anasazi moved from the top of the mesas onto ledges and caves along the canyon walls, presumably to better defend themselves against invaders. Eventually a prolonged drought that started around 1275 forced the Anasazi to abandon their magnificent cliff dwellings.

In the years following the discovery, Wetherill collected thousands of artifacts from the Cliff Palace and other area ruins. Most of Wetherill's artifacts ended up in museums, where they could be studied by professional archaeologists and viewed by the public. The same cannot be said of the many other priceless artifacts that were stolen by visitors over the years. In order to protect the site from further looting and degradation, the Congress created Mesa Verde National Park in 1906."

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Yesterday:

Really, I don't know where the day went.  Some windows, mirrors, TV screens were cleaned, some dusting, and dishes were done.  I made some hummus and cheese spread in my auger juicer with the blank in it, and some veggie juice with the juicing screen in it.  But other than that, the usual two feedings of the critters and me, and the everyday chores, like litter boxes, I was paying bills and messing about on the computer the rest of the day.

Turkey Gumbo. FBI’s Shopping Tips. Heart Attack Symptoms. Coal Plant Retirement. "Ghost Fishing". Toys R Us Got It Wrong! Unsafe At Any Speed. Brady Bill.

 

For "Summary Saturday":  News, some new, some old:

How to make Turkey Gumbo

"Yield:  4 servings

Measure
Ingredient

2 tablespoons
Butter or coconut oil

½ pounds
Fresh or frozen okra 1" pcs.

2 cups
Chopped celery

1 medium
Onion, chopped

1 small
Sweet green, yellow or red pepper, chopped

2 
Garlic cloves, minced

8 ounces
Can tomato paste

4 
Ripe tomatoes peeled OR

16 oz can peeled tomatoes

2 cups
Water

2 cups
Chopped cooked turkey

¾ teaspoon
Gumbo file powder

Cooked rice, preferably brown.

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Melt the butter or coconut oil in a large skillet. Add the okra. Sauté until the okra loses its shiny appearance, about 5 minutes. Remove the okra pieces to a bowl. Add the celery, onion, green pepper, and garlic to the skillet.
Cook over medium heat until the onion is transparent. Add the tomato paste, tomatoes, water, okra mixture, and turkey. Cook over low heat 10 minutes or until turkey is hot. Add the file powder. Stir to blend. Spoon over the rice in soup bowls. Or put rice on top with an ice cream scoop."

¼ recipe = 255 calories, 3 lean meat, 1 bread, 1 vegetable 19 grams carbohydrate, 25 grams protein, 10 grams fat, 176 mg sodium, 1102 mg potassium, 54 mg cholesterol.

From Me:  As I don't eat pork, this recipe doesn't have any sausage in it.  You can add some as you see fit.
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FBI’s Online Holiday Shopping Tips

"The FBI reminds holiday shoppers to beware of cyber criminals who are out to steal money and personal information. Scammers use many techniques to defraud consumers, from phishing e-mails offering too good to be true deals on brand-name merchandise to offering quick cash to victims who will re-ship packages to additional destinations. Previously reported scams are still being executed today.

Bank transactions and correspondence from financial institutions should also be closely reviewed. Bank accounts can often serve as a target for criminals to initiate account takeovers or commit identity theft by creating new accounts in the victims’ name. Consumers should never click on a link embedded in an e-mail from their bank, but rather open a new webpage and manually enter the URL (web address), because phishing scams often start with phony e-mails that feature the bank’s name and logo."  More at: http://montgomerycountypolicereporter.com/fbis-online-holiday-shopping-tips/

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If a Heart Attack Strikes, Will You Recognize the Symptoms?

"Do you know the symptoms of a heart attack? Would you call 9-1-1 if you or someone you were with was experiencing the warning signs?

Many people who suffer a heart attack either don’t recognize the signs or dismiss them. Although “It can’t be happening to me!” is a natural reaction, it’s in your best interest to play it safe and get checked out. To improve the odds of survival and of preserving heart muscle function, it is crucial to –

Recognize the symptoms, which are most typically described as a pressure or squeezing central chest discomfort; however, heart attack patients have also described pain in the upper arm, across the back, up into the neck and jaw. Others have described it as heartburn, nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain.

Women’s symptoms may be different, and could include sudden onset of weakness; shortness of breath; nausea or vomiting; indigestion; fatigue; and an overall feeling of illness; mild discomfort in the back, chest, arm, neck, or jaw; or sleep disturbance. Don’t forget - not all patients who have a heart attack experience chest pain.

Call 9-1-1 so emergency responders can run an ECG before arriving at the hospital. The ambulance can send the results to the hospital. Based on the findings, they may alert an interventional cardiologist to be standing by. Can you do that driving in your car?"  More at: http://www.scai.org/SecondsCount/Resources/Detail.aspx?cid=a000350e-07d4-4f90-b957-bfa7e075a7ec

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If You're Stricken, Minutes Matter, Yet Many Ignore Signs, Delay Treatment

"Ron Winslow on Lunch Break looks at how to prevent a heart attack, and Melinda Beck discusses symptoms to look out for and what to do while waiting for paramedics. Photo: Getty Images.

The advice sounds very simple. The best way to survive a heart attack is:

1. Recognize the symptoms.

2. Call 911.

3. Chew an aspirin while waiting for emergency personnel to arrive.

But every year, 133,000 Americans die of heart attacks, and another 300,000 die of sudden cardiac arrest—largely because they didn't get help in time.

Of all the efforts to combat cardiovascular disease in the U.S., "this is our Achilles' heel, and it's the area where we've made the least progress," says Ralph Brindis, a past president of the American College of Cardiology.

Heart-attack sufferers fare best when they get to the hospital within one hour after symptoms start. But on average, it takes two to four hours for patients to arrive, and some wait days before seeking medical care. Reasons range from confusion to denial to fear of looking silly if they aren't having a health crisis after all."  More and stories at: http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304432704577347723157872672

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Tennessee Valley Authority Makes Major Coal Plant Retirement Announcement

"At a board meeting in Oxford, Mississippi the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Board of Directors voted to retire units at three of its coal plants. This will affect coal-burning units at the Colbert and Widows Creek plants in Alabama and the Paradise plant in Kentucky. Today’s announcement by TVA made clear that, as one of the largest utilities in the country, it is ready to back away even further from the use of dirty, outdated coal for electricity.

TVA’s commitment to retire units at three coal plants will protect customers from rising energy bills as coal prices increase, and protect families from the health threats posed by coal pollution. According to the Clean Air Task Force, pollution from the Colbert coal plant in Alabama alone contributed to 940 asthma attacks, 83 heart attacks, and 57 deaths per year."  More at:  http://www.tnsolarenergy.org/tennessee-valley-authority-makes-major-coal-plant-retirement-announcement

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Most People Have Never Heard About The Dangers of "Ghost Fishing"

"“Ghost fishing” is a term that describes what happens when lost or abandoned fishing nets and other gear are left behind in the ocean. The nets trap fish, kill marine mammals, smother habitat and pose navigation hazards.

According to the NOAA’s National Ocean Service, this derelict fishing gear is one of the primary types of debris impacting our marine environment today.

Fortunately, a global network of volunteer divers has taken on the challenge of trying to clean up the mess left behind by abandoned fishing nets and other gear. The work is extremely difficult, often frustrating, and always dangerous, and should be attempted by only the most highly skilled divers.

One group of volunteers from the Los Angeles area is pushing for a state law that would require fishing boats to report lost nets immediately. The sooner abandoned nets are recovered, the less impact they have on the ocean environment and its inhabitants.

Each of us can do our part to help preserve marine ecosystems by learning about the issues facing the ocean and its inhabitants, and by being conscious consumers and responsible advocates."  More at: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/11/20/ghost-fishing.aspx

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Batteries Not Included: Why Toys R Us Got It Wrong

"Play is the work of childhood. It’s so vital and fulfilling an activity that the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights has recognized the right of every child to play—it’s that essential to the healthy development of young people everywhere.

One other thing about play: For all but the most recent sliver of human history, play was an unstructured activity that took place outdoors. Nature, in a very real sense, was the playground that informed our development—mind, body, and spirit.

To many of us, this might seem like good old-fashioned common sense. Yet, in the United States, we have been witnessing the slow, steady migration of our children to the indoors, where green time has been replaced by screen time, and where the epidemic of childhood obesity has grown for decades.

All of which is why I take issue with the recent ad campaign from retailer Toys R Us, which depicts a group of school children, ostensibly being taken on a field trip to the forest by a ranger-like figure, suddenly becoming frenzied with delight when they learn that their field trip is actually going to the store where they each will receive the toy of their choosing. It is, the ad informs us, where you can “make all their wishes come true.”

It’s tempting to suggest that one might wish for more than a wonderland of plastic and licensed characters, but I have no complaint with toys themselves. What child wouldn’t enjoy playing with them for a while? Rather, I object to the trite, ham-handed, and erroneous characterization of nature as boring to children. It might work well within that fantasy world of marketing, but it’s simply not borne out by the facts of the real world.

Children who climb trees, make mud pies, explore streams, stare at clouds, collect leaves, make swords of sticks, wish on dandelions, build forts and fairy houses—these children are exercising their bodies as they exercise their imaginations, with no batteries required, and are immeasurably the richer for it."  More at: http://www.parkadvocate.org/batteries-not-included-why-toys-r-us-got-it-wrong/

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On This Day:

Unsafe at Any Speed hits bookstores, Nov 30, 1965:

"On this day in 1965, 32-year-old lawyer Ralph Nader publishes the muckraking book Unsafe at Any Speed: The Designed-In Dangers of the American Automobile. The book became a best-seller right away. It also prompted the passage of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966, seat-belt laws in 49 states (all but New Hampshire) and a number of other road-safety initiatives.

Today, seat belts, air bags, anti-lock brakes and other innovations are standard features in almost every new car."

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Brady Bill signed into law, Nov 30, 1993:

"During a White House ceremony attended by James S. Brady, President Bill Clinton signs the Brady handgun-control bill into law. The law requires a prospective handgun buyer to wait five business days while the authorities check on his or her background, during which time the sale is approved or prohibited based on an established set of criteria.

In 1981, James Brady, who served as press secretary for President Ronald Reagan, was shot in the head by John Hinckley, Jr., during an attempt on President Reagan's life outside a hotel in Washington, D.C. Reagan himself was shot in his left lung but recovered and returned to the White House within two weeks. Brady, the most seriously injured in the attack, was momentarily pronounced dead at the hospital but survived and began an impressive recovery from his debilitating brain injury.

During the 1980s, Brady became a leading proponent of gun-control legislation and in 1987 succeeded in getting a bill introduced into Congress. The Brady Bill, as it became known, was staunchly opposed by many congressmen, who, in reference to the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, questioned the constitutionality of regulating the ownership of arms. In 1993, with the support of President Bill Clinton, an advocate of gun control, the Brady Bill became law."

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Yesterday:

A quiet day at home, tending to some chores, and trying to figure out how to get a bird out of my screen porch.   I put out some food and water for it, and eventually it found it's own way out.  As soon as it warms up we will get the two top triangles screened in.

This new LG heat/air conditioner is so stupid, the fan doesn't go off when the desired heat temperature is reached.  It was blowing cold air on me most of the time, and I could even feel it all the way in the kitchen.  Furnaces don't work like that, so why would the manufacturer make it that way?  So I searched for alternative brands.  I know my old Whirlpool Heat/Air had an 'Energy Saver' setting for Heat and Air, and the fan would go off until it was needed again.  Alas, Whirlpool doesn't made them anymore.  

It did warm up to the sunny 60's, but the damage was done, that cold air blowing on me really affected me, and I started coughing and sniffling.  I had to shut the heat/air off and use space heaters.  I felt like I was chilled to the marrow in my bones, and couldn't get warm all day.