theater, natural history and conservation, the utterly mundane, and Etruscan 8-tracks
Today in counterfactual history, NPR sells off cultural programming, new network dubbed ‘NPR Music & Entertainment’, by Wes Horner.
In all the excitement about celebrating NPR’s 50th, we’ve managed to lose sight of some of the network’s original aspirations in the arts arena, and some crazy, risk-taking frontier women and men who, like me, had a somewhat different vision for NPR than its present, near-total news identity.
Coffee drinkers are indeed willing to pay more for socially responsible coffee, according to a new meta-analysis.
They’re coming! It’s the summer of glacier ice worms (Mesenchytraeus spp.).
Martin R. Kalfatovic says so long to Brood X with some detailed materials from the Biodiversity Heritage Library.
Stanley Allan Sherman, artisan mask-maker.
…his best-known mask appeared on the professional wrestler Mick Foley, in his character of Mankind, a wounded psychopath.
“They basically wanted Arlecchino but didn’t know it,” Mr. Sherman said. “I knew it.”
After my annual scuffling with the Google chart API, I can post the summary graph of nesting activity for 2021. There’s a gray vertical bar for 2020’s missing data.
The true Wood Duck numbers (blue track) are higher, because I did not include two boxes of uncertain disposition: one for which we never got a good egg count, and one dump nest of 25 eggs that didn’t show sufficient evidence that 24 of the eggs had hatched. I found one dead duckling and not much else.
I made the acquaintance of several new odonates during Saturday’s inaugural count organized by The Clifton Institute, as well as a warmup walk with executive director Bert Harris a couple of weeks prior.
I walked with Larry Meade, Kurt Gaskill, and others at Leopold’s Preserve (near Thoroughfare Gap) and Silver Lake Park.
Top photo observations include a nice up close Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis ), an Elegant Spreadwing (Lestes inaequalis) that we mis-ID’d at first, and an Eastern Amberwing (Perithemis tenera) that I got to sit down for me. Slaty Skimmers (Libellula incesta) were common; making an early appearance were a few Autumn Meadowhawks (Sympetrum vicinum). I might have to start keeping a list.
What to do when cicadas crash your outdoor wedding? Embrace the buzz:
And remember: At the very least, cicadas make for a memorable wedding. “It was actually quite fun to lean into the cicada theme,” [Lauren] Migaki said. “My little brother wore a cicada bolo tie; our favors were cicada-shaped chocolates with caramel pop rocks; and I donned a pair of gold cicada earrings for the reception in our backyard.”
“I loved hearing the noise of them in the trees above us,” she added, “feeling like we had hundreds of wedding guests.”
A wrap-up message to the team:
We had a good year. 12 clutches, with hatches in all but 1 — a late clutch of only 2 eggs. A conservative estimate is 47 Wood Duck fledglings and 63 Hooded Merganser fledglings.
That estimate does not include the nest in box #13: we did not get a good estimate of the number of eggs.
And it does not count box #3: I counted 25 Wood Duck eggs on 11 April, and when I checked on 23 May, I found 1 unfledged duckling but not enough evidence that 24 eggs had hatched. I also didn’t see evidence of predation, so I’m not sure what went on in that box….
Monitors and box installers, thank you for all your help!
More recordkeeping and summarizing to do.
Brood X has peaked, the little red-eyed guys have done what they set out to do, and they are passing away.
“When animals die they have a pretty distinct BAD smell,” wrote Paula Shrewsbury, also a professor of entomology at the University of Maryland, in an email. “As part of the decay process there are a number of interactions between enzymes and microbes that result in the ‘smell of death.’ Cicadas are no different than other animals; when they die they smell bad.”
Again with the medical settings: in my new GP’s offices, Britney Spears, [Hit Me] “… Baby One More Time.” Srsly?
Tasty word salad spam. The cherry on top is “…try and dance on the rule and regulations given to you here.”
Apparently, I have been cautioned against dealing with scammers, and if I don’t pay the processing fee, the money I am expecting from the scammers… will be delivered?
Federal Bureau of Investigation Department
FBI Headquarters, Washington, D.C.
Federal Bureau Of Investigation
J.Edgar Hoover Building
935 Pennsylvania Avenue, Nw
Washington, D.C. 20535-0001URGENT ATTENTION: ORDER FROM FBI WASHINGTON D.C
Urgent Attention:
We the entire federal bureau of investigation department Washington,
D.C. have instructed you to stop further contact and communication you
have with any Bank, Courier or Diplomat in Africa, because we realize
today that you are still dealing with those fraudsters after we have
warned you last year, even few months ago to stop complying with those
internet hackers/scammers but you insist, ignored our instruction.Thus, mind you that your ignorance might lead you into serious problem
because we just receive a second report letter today from Bank of
America, World Bank Group, UBA Bank Benin Republic, Interpol Police,
Central Intelligent Agency (CIA) and United Nation Organization
stating that you haven’t secured your Authorization Release Permit
Certificate which we advised you few months ago to obtain before the
shipment of your consignments worth $15.8 million united state dollars
will be completed, but till now you still remain silent simply because
you think that you can do otherwise or mess around with Federal Bureau
of Investigation.Moreover since your negative thought will not allow you to believe on
them, now you are hereby advised again with the power of this Custody
(FBI) to use this information listed below and send the required fee
of $1,750 usd to United State Consignment department Agency Florida
today, to enable them work faster on the paperwork before it will
become too late because delaying this shipment again might lead you to
jail simple because we have warned you severally to stop every
communication you have with any Bank, Courier, Diplomatic or
individual, but you refuse to accept our instruction. Furthermore,
sending the fee today will be your best option because we have
concluded to track you down if you fails to comply with the
instruction given to you here, so get back to us with the payment
information immediately you receive this email, again don’t forget to
reconfirm your personal information as soon as you send the fee of
$1,750 usd today to avoid wrong delivery, Use the information of the
United State Consignment department Agency Florida as listed below and
send the money via Western Union, Money Gram or Ria ONLY.Receiver: Mrs. Sandra Jean Wright
Country: United State
City: Jacksonville Florida USA
Test Question :…… Very
Answer:…….. urgent
Amount:………… $1,750.00
Mtcn number and sender’s name ………Therefore you have to try as much as you can and make this payment
today so that your consignment will be delivered to you today.
Remember that you are warn to stop every transaction you have with any
body or office in Africa, to avoid delay during the registration of
your Consignment. Again mind you that your ignorance or delay, may
force us by urgent arrest to your home address, so try and dance on
the rule and regulations given to you here.Thank For Your Understanding while patiently waiting for your
immediate feedback together with the payment details.Yours In Service
Dr. Christopher A. Wray
Secretary Of Federal Bureau of Investigation
FBI Headquarters, Washington, D.C
Key sentences from my textbook, p. 197:
すしに わさびお いれないでください。
“Please don’t put any wasabi in the sushi.”
I’m Washingtonian-famous, for the month at least, recommending Mucca Pazza’s Tiny Desk Concert. Spelled my name right and everything.