the birdhaus---posts from the aviary

Spring is definitely coming . . . .

2012-02-15T15:38:00.000-08:00

When the happenings of the world of humans gets to be too stressful, a walk around the backyard has what it takes to sooth my soul. This time of year has so many indications that Spring is just around the corner that it's hard to stay down for long.

The daffodils are holding forth.

This spider has caught lunch.

During a particularly strong wind a couple of days ago, this tree was uprooted.

It doesn't get much redder . . . .

Spiders do love the calla lilies!

The water lilies in the pond near our house are starting to surface.

What a fucking mess!

2012-02-15T13:54:00.000-08:00

Watching the clown show that has become the current political scene is more nauseatingly awful all the time. And, like clowns can be to kids, it is increasingly scary. That Rick Santorum (or Newt Gingrich, or Ron Paul) are considered serious candidates is just unbelievable. And the the best that the Republicans could come up with is Mittens is pretty pathetic.

I have to say that Obama's presidency has been majorly disappointing to me (remember closing Guantanamo? Single payer health care? etc., etc., etc. . . . .), as he has compromised to the radical fringes of the Republicans time and time again, with the compromises looking an awful lot like capitulation.

That being said, there appears to be no alternative on the horizon. Will Obama go "gangsta" in a second term, as Chris Rock has predicted? I don't know. Hell, I don't know if he has it in him to hold the moderate ground. But god help us all if Romney (or worse yet, Santorum) winds up in the Oval office.

Citizens United and their ilk are doing their best to ensure that America becomes an oligarchy, paid for by the only folks who are benefiting from the rigged pyramid scheme that masquerades as Capitalism. Free Market, my ass---it's goddamn expensive, and those in the 1% who are raking in their ill-gotten gains are utterly invested (pun intended) in seeing that power always flows upwards.

This is why I haven't been writing as much in this blog lately. It's freaking depressing, and I am not such what actions are available to the citizens of our country anymore. Maybe this is just a downer rant, but it is where I'm at today.

Anyone out there see something I'm missing?

Anne and Pete Sibley at Little River Inn 2/8/12

2012-02-08T23:04:00.001-08:00

Anne and Pete Sibley at Little River Inn 2/8/12, a set on Flickr.

Anne and Pete Sibley played in concert at Little River Inn this evening, and what a glorious night of music it was. Their bluegrass picking and gorgeous harmonies held a packed room in their thrall, and their songs painted pictures of love, family, and nature that affirmed life and all its facets. Besides being great performers, they were warm and friendly people, chatting easily with audience members who were moved by their tunes.

They are out touring the country in their minivan with their two young children, having made a decision to follow their dreams and share their music. Pete encouraged the audience to "say 'yes' to yourself", and the message found a receptive group in Abalone Hall tonight. If they are examples of the results of such actions, it speaks volumes about how positive a move that could be.

If you get the chance, go see this wonderful duo.

Quote for the Day (Political Comedy is Not Funny Division)

2012-01-27T10:38:00.000-08:00

(Via Classic George Carlin)

Forget the politicians. They are irrelevant. The politicians are put there to give you the idea that you have freedom of choice. You don't. You have no choice! You have OWNERS! They OWN YOU. They own everything. They own all the important land. They own and control the corporations. They’ve long since bought, and paid for the Senate, the Congress, the state houses, the city halls, they got the judges in their back pockets and they own all the big media companies, so they control just about all of the news and information you get to hear. They got you by the balls.

They spend billions of dollars every year lobbying, lobbying, to get what they want. Well, we know what they want. They want more for themselves and less for everybody else, but I'll tell you what they don’t want:

They don’t want a population of citizens capable of critical thinking. They don’t want well informed, well educated people capable of critical thinking. They’re not interested in that. That doesn’t help them. Thats against their interests. - George Carlin

Robert Reich and the Seven Lies

2012-01-27T10:16:00.001-08:00

Insanity in the Republican Party: The Santorum Exhibit

2012-01-26T10:44:00.000-08:00

(Via Huffington Post)

GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum explained his opposition to abortion even in cases of rape during an interview Friday, saying that women who face such circumstances should "make the best out of a bad situation."
Asked by CNN's Piers Morgan what he would do if his own daughter approached him, begging for an abortion after having been raped, Santorum explained that he would counsel her to "accept this horribly created" baby, because it was still a gift from God, even if given in a "broken" way.
"Well, you can make the argument that if she doesn't have this baby, if she kills her child, that that, too, could ruin her life. And this is not an easy choice, I understand that. As horrible as the way that that son or daughter and son was created, it still is her child. And whether she has that child or she doesn't, it will always be her child, and she will always know that," Santorum said.
"And so to embrace her and to love her and to support her and get her through this very difficult time, I've always, you know, I believe and I think the right approach is to accept this horribly created -- in the sense of rape -- but nevertheless a gift in a very broken way, the gift of human life, and accept what God has given to you. As you know, we have to, in lots of different aspects of our life we have horrible things happen. I can't think of anything more horrible, but nevertheless, we have to make the best out of a bad situation and I would make the argument that that is making the best."

I still have to reread this to understand that Rick is actually calling babies conceived by forcible rape "gifts from God". This is so beyond the pale is cries out for refutation and begs one to call it what it is: deluded and sick.

This is more evidence that the Republican Party was gone utterly nuts since the Obama election. Women who have suffered the trauma and heartache of rape should see a resulting pregnancy as a "gift from God"??? That this man is even considered seriously as a candidate for the highest office in our land is a travesty.

(Picture via MadMikesAmerica)

That he also presumes to say how a woman in this situation would feel also speaks volumes about his condescending paternalistic attitude to women. He's gone from being a bad Google joke to being a freakin' nightmare.

Shut the fuck up and go home, Rick.

Still the birdhaus

2012-01-09T22:52:00.000-08:00

With all the posting about cats and ravens you might think we don't have our birds any more. Not true! Here's my guy Boomer getting sleepy while enjoying the sun of one of our extraordinarily warm January days:

Raven and ranting

2012-01-05T10:20:00.000-08:00

A ritual we have lately is putting out the unused seed from our cockatiels, and watching the outside birds gather to chow down. The ravens come frequently in droves, and they can be quite dramatic. They are also very skittish, and getting photos of them is quite a challenge.

They definitely like having their picture taken somewhat less than Sean Penn.

A cat and a laser---endless amusement

2012-01-03T19:51:00.000-08:00

Here's a movie from the holidays: my Grand Daughter playing with her new kitty, Bender, and a laser pointer. The fun speaks for itself.

So it seems

2012-01-02T21:58:00.000-08:00

As we come down to the actual voting in the Iowa Caucuses (which seem fairly meaningless except to media types), the Republican candidates seem to be trying to out loon each other. Not that they've been all that rational up to this point, but MAN, the crazy is getting fierce!

Pepsi Says Mountain Dew Can Dissolve Mouse Carcasses

2012-01-02T17:53:00.000-08:00

Via The Atlantic Wire

Pepsi Co., facing a lawsuit from a man who claims to have found a mouse in his Mountain Dew can, has an especially creative, if disgusting, defense: their soda would have dissolved a dead mouse before the man could have found it. An Illinois man sued Pepsi in 2009 after he claims he "spat out the soda to reveal a dead mouse," the Madison County Record reports. He claims he sent the mouse to Pepsi, which then "destroyed" the remains after he allowed them to test it, according to his complaint. Most shudder-worthy, however, is that Pepsi's lawyers also found experts to testify, based on the state of the remains sent to them, that "the mouse would have dissolved in the soda had it been in the can from the time of its bottling until the day the plaintiff drank it," according to the Record. (It would have become a "jelly-like substance," according to Pepsi, addsLegalNewsline.)

Makes me want to do a Dew . . . . NOT!

Quote for the Day (Where Have I Heard This Lately? Division)

2012-01-01T12:56:00.000-08:00

We must reduce workers’ salaries and take away their right to strike. ~Adolf Hitler, May 2, 1933 (Via Laughing Liberal)

Happy Xmas . . . .

2011-12-24T23:17:00.000-08:00

We're visiting our Grand Daughter and her Mom for Xmas. There's nothing that puts the "X" back in "Xmas" like getting milk and cookies ready for Santa:

She even put some carrots out for the reindeer, keeping all the participants covered. Of course, we tracked Santa via the NORAD site, and she had to hit the sack to avoid getting skipped by the big guy.

It's such a wonderful time for children. I wish it would never end. Happy Holidays, everyone!

Newt's Gone Wild...and so has lots of other things:

2011-12-10T21:30:00.000-08:00

The lady is right on . . . and quite funny!

Rob Ickes and Jim Hurst play at the Little River Inn

2011-12-09T16:36:00.001-08:00

Award winning dobro player Rob Ickes (Founding member of the bluegrass masters Blue Highway) and award winning guitarist Jim Hurst (who has played with Claire Lynch's Grammy-nominated band) joined forces for a concert at the Little River Inn last night, and the results were a fiery evening of jazz tinged bluegrass---or was it country tinged blues? The enthusiastic crowd didn't seemed to care, as it was a solid concert of awesome music from these two greats.

The contrast in these two gentlemen's appearances doesn't hint at the complimentary nature of their musical styles. Ickes dobro playing is fiercely bold and yet richly melodic, and Hurst's fretboard work can go from lightning fast to subtly delicate.

Hurst also sang in a clear tenor/baritone voice that could wrap itself around ballads as easily as blues. He sang a smokin', soulful version of "Mustang Sally", showing his Detroit roots.

Ickes dobro sounds as pretty as it looks. He definitely can make this instrument sing. In a chat at intermission he spoke of his debt to Mike Auldridge, the former dobro player for "new grass" pioneers The Seldom Scene. He proudly showed me a picture of Auldridge on his cell phone from a visit they had a week or so ago, and said they will be recording together at some point in the future. THAT will be a treat to hear!

Rob's brother, Patrick, who lives over the hill in Lake County, joined the duo with his banjo for some family style pickin'. The concert series at the Little River Inn is a real blessing for us music aficionados, and this was but one of the gems this venue yields up for us. The North Coast definitely was rocking this night!

The perfect gift for the alcoholic on your Xmas list:

2011-12-04T09:48:00.000-08:00

(via Stumbleupon)

Are you a parent? Do you have a child who is old enough to drive? Let's face it, when our kids are first out on their own, they are exposed on a refular basis to things they have never seen before and have to make choices they have never had to make before. We can't go everywhere with them and help them make those choices, but we can equip them to make the best decisions possible when they are out on their own. How much better woudl you feel if you not only educated your kids about alcohol, but gave them a tool like a breathalyzer to help them deal with it?

That is just one scenario, but you get the idea. A breathalyzer makes a great gift for all the right reasons for any adult in your life, on any occassion that calls for a gift. The only question you have to ask is, "which breathalyzer is right for this gift"? Our feedback has shown that this is the hardest part of the buying decision for most people. The question is not IF to ourchase a breathalyzer, but rather which one?

*SNIP*

On the other hand, you might want to give that important person in your life a tool to use to make decisions that involve things like driving after having a couple of drinks. This is where having a large margin of error simply will not do. A professional grade breathalyzer gives the security you are looking for in this situation. BACtrack offers 3 different professional grade breathalyzer choices. Once again, there are trade offs within that class. The BACtrack S80 is the most accurate breathalyzer offered, and is used by law enforcement and medical professionals across the nation. For a few dollars less you can purchase the BACtrack S75. The S75 is a little more compact, but has a slightly larger plus or minus range for the readings it will provide. Finally, the BACtrack Element is made to be more sleek and compact than the other 2 choices, but still has a fuel cell sensor that provides professional grade results. The overall accuracy of this model is about the same as the S75.

Hey, I'm all for anything that will keep drunks off the road, but if someone is wasted, the chances of them deciding not to drive because a keychain device says they shouldn't are between slim and none. Hell, the chances they will be able to figure out how to use it are low.

Zach Wahls Speaks About Family

2011-12-03T17:02:00.000-08:00

This puts a human face on an issue that has been flogged mercilessly by the religious right. All I can add is: who would Jesus hate?

Report: Shoppers unfazed as man dies at Target

2011-11-26T10:04:00.000-08:00

Report: Shoppers unfazed as man dies at Target

Family and friends were stunned by the loss of a West Virginia man who died while shopping on Black Friday as fellow bargain hunters reportedly walked around — and even over — the man’s body.
Family members told WSAZ-TV that 61-year-old Walter Vance of Logan County, W. Va., had become ill and collapsed while shopping for Christmas decorations inside Target in South Charleston. He later died after being taken to the hospital, family said.
Witnesses told the NBC News affiliate in Charleston, W. Wa., that shoppers walked around and even over Vance’s body.

Okay, this is getting really scary. Is this what we are becoming? A people who ignore people in distress or pepper spray each other to save a buck? Has utter greed replaced empathy and compassion? What the fuck?If this is the best we can do, I'd hate to see the worst. But, we probably will see that eventually.

The Soul of Patience

2011-11-24T19:07:00.000-08:00

My grand daughter exhibits great patience here, waiting for me to record the moment before chowing down on Thanksgiving dinner:

And here she defers taking the first bite of grandma's homemade pumpkin pie so I can snap a shot. What a cooperative subject!

Once again, Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T11:06:00.000-08:00

This Thanksgiving, I'm giving thanks for my family, my friends, and my sobriety. Oh, and thaks for the 99%ers who are finally standing up for their rights. Now THAT is the true American spirit!

Robert Reich: "The REAL Public Nuisance"

2011-11-22T07:07:00.000-08:00

Robert Reich lays out the simple truth. As usual, he is right on:

It is time we stand up to say enough to the corporate and monied interests who have already taken over (occupied?) our government, and make the government a servant of the people.

Makes it seem more real, eh?

2011-11-10T21:29:00.000-08:00

imgur: the simple image sharer

Quote for the Day (Deceased Fascist Division)

2011-10-26T13:22:00.000-07:00

Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power. - Benito Mussolini

Why Occupy Wall Street?

2011-10-25T16:32:00.000-07:00

(Via D.C. Douglas)

Sunny Autumn day:

2011-10-23T20:06:00.000-07:00

We're getting our Indian summer now, with sunny days and temperatures in the 80s. Here's what our backyard looked like today:

Our backyard, bathed in fall's sunshine.

The small island in our little pond has become rife with spiders this year, like this one.

This guy is probably so fat from gorging himself to keep our mosquito population down.

There are still quite a few roses around, like this one enjoying the sunny day.

Yes, this is true:

2011-10-20T09:13:00.000-07:00

(via Mark Morford)

Your terrifying word of the day is "microtasking" and it comes by way of a relatively humble, ostensibly helpful article I read via one of those perky little DIY blogs that exist to tell you a million ways to tweak and hack your entire existence to gain maximum productivity, efficiency and improved overall time management, because, well, if that's not the true meaning of this manic American life, what is?The advice was horrifyingly simple: When you find yourself pausing in between normal projects and work tasks for anything more than, say, 30 seconds, why not take those tiny moments and, well, do more things? I mean, you're just sort of sitting there, right?

What sort of things? Fast things, little things, otherwise inconsequential things you don't care about otherwise, like clearing your junk mail, refilling the stapler, changing your voicemail message, retweeting someone's Twitter blip or giving a momentary damn about something you need not give a damn about otherwise but hey, what else are you gonna do, breathe? Feel? Merely... exist? What are you, a hippie?

This is so right on. We have become a nation that seems to abhor leisure or even relaxation, where people have to be able to go online wherever they go and work on their time off at every moment.

Ain't it a shame? Don't ideas like microtasking speak directly to the toxic, Puritanical American work ethic that tells us if you're not spending pretty much every waking moment in some manner of chore, well, your value as a human is more than a little bit diminished? Is it not the idea that a given month, week, day or hour is nothing more than a giant, blank To Do list in need of a some items?

Yes, we're Americans. We are, by and large, utterly terrified of silence, stillness, spaciousness, the doing of nothing so as to feel the totality of everything. Meditation, for most, is disquieting and strange. Deep quiet feels weird and dangerous, a void aching to be filled. The Internet has us convinced that the world is a roaring fire hose of urgent information, and if you can't swallow it all, well, something must be wrong with you.

Warren Zevon sang "I'll sleep when I'm dead" many years ago, but I'll relax when I'm dead seems to be the new philosophy of our culture.

And which is more important? Microtasking or macromeaning?

Quote for the Day (Gonzo Division)

2011-10-18T07:32:00.000-07:00

Life has become immeasurably better since I have been forced to stop taking it seriously. ― Hunter S. Thompson

Gay Marriage, Straight Marriage—What Difference Does It Make?

2011-10-17T21:50:00.000-07:00

Via MoveOn.org

Still the birdhaus . . . .

2011-10-17T08:41:00.000-07:00

And good morning!

What could possibly go wrong?

2011-10-13T11:53:00.000-07:00

Curry's newest campaign poster?

The Onion has nothing on the real news any more (via Nashville Scene):

Rep. Curry Todd, the champion of Tennessee's guns-in-bars law, was jailed last night and charged with drunken driving and possession of a handgun while under the influence.Todd, R-Collierville, was stopped in his GMC Envoy at around 11:15 last night near Hillsboro Village. He was going 60 mph in a 40 mph zone and swerving in and out of his lane, police say. He failed a roadside sobriety test and refused to take a breathalyzer. Police say they detected a strong odor of alcohol on the legislator and found a loaded Smith & Wesson 38 Special in a holster in his car.

A police affidavit says Todd was unsteady on his feet, "almost falling down at times," his speech was slurred and he had watery and bloodshot eyes. Todd was "obviously very impaired and not in any condition to be carrying a loaded handgun," police say.

Possession of a weapon while under the influence is a Class A misdemeanor and carries a sentence of up to one year and a $2,500 fine. Todd had a handgun carry permit. That could be suspended for up to three years.

At the website forum of the Tennessee Firearms Association, one of the main groups that lobbied for guns-in-bars, members have been understandably quiet so far today. But someone did post, "THANKS CURRY FOR THE BAD PUBLICITY."

We can only assume Todd, 63, had been drinking in a restaurant or bar. Did he bring his handgun with him? Drinking with your gun—that's something the lawmaker told us repeatedly during the guns-in-bars debate that no responsible handgun owner ever would do. In fact, it's prohibited under the guns-in-bars law. According to Todd, that law was only to let law-abiding (sober) citizens carry their licensed weapons into family restaurants to protect all the patrons against any would-be robbers or other armed assailants.

Yeah, this is a huge surprise! Even given the unlikely scenario of a robber in a restaurant, how safe would you feel with a drunken idiot like Curry blasting away to "protect" the place?

The difference is one of perception:

2011-10-09T21:55:00.000-07:00

How the media views different demonstrators:

Weird, unfocused hippie.

Serious challenger of the status quo.

Quote for the Day (Recently Deceased Visionary Division)

2011-10-06T21:43:00.000-07:00

"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything -- all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart. ... Stay hungry. Stay foolish." - Steve Jobs, Stanford University commencement address, June 2005.

Created on a Mac. R.I.P., Steve.

Quote for the Day (Internet Critique Division)

2011-10-05T11:16:00.000-07:00

"'Look at this beautiful kitten.' 'Fuck you, that kitten's a socialist.' 'You're a fag.' Basically, that's the crux of all Internet discussion." - Jeff Tweedy

(Via Pitchfork)

Chicken Consumers

2011-10-04T07:24:00.000-07:00

(Via Savage Chickens)

Friday Random 10 + 1

2011-09-30T06:38:00.000-07:00

Once again, a random sampling of my iMac's music files, picking by the robot who does the iTunes DJ selections. Enjoy the list:

Dirty Looks/Electric Six/I Shall Exterminate Everything Around Me That Restricts Me From Being The Master
Play Your Part (Pt. 1)/Girl Talk/Feed The Animals
World Keeps Turning/Tom Waits/Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards
Clawhammer Medley/Steve Martin/The Crow: New Songs For The 5 String Banjo
Morning Dew/Jeff Beck/Truth
Play In The Sunshine/Prince/Sign O The Times
The Warning/Nine Inch Nails/Year Zero
White Rabbit (Mono Single Version)/Jefferson Airplane/Surrealistic Pillow [Bonus Tracks]
The Needle And The Damage Done/Duran, Duran/So Good They Named Them Twice
All the Way to Louisville/Ronny Elliot/Hep
Door Number Three/Steve Goodman/Jessie's JIG & Other Favorites

California Dreaming---or nightmares

2011-09-29T08:21:00.000-07:00

The rest of the country often thinks of California as a bastion of progressive thought, but we seem to cover all extremes. On our way back from a visit to Redding in the North Central part of the state, my wife snapped these pictures:

This was on Interstate 5, and shows a truck trailer that I have passed there many times over the years. I don't mind people who have differing religious beliefs from mine, but the way this image revels in the gorinesss of its topic is---well, disturbing. I think of the many children exposed to this message, and can't help but feel it has spawned a few nightmares.

For those of you who think of California as hippies, medical cannabis, and liberals, here's the other, darker side.

D. C. Douglas's "Vagina Rules"

2011-09-26T09:01:00.000-07:00

(Via the Super Hero of Voiceover, D. C. Douglas)

So True:

2011-09-25T08:49:00.000-07:00

(Via Savage Chickens)

Fall is Here 2011

2011-09-24T22:03:00.001-07:00

Fall is Here 2011, a set on Flickr.

Fall has arrived on the north Coast of California. Here are some scenes from around our house.

Astute Political Commentary

2011-09-24T17:14:00.000-07:00

(Via Lee Camp)

Quote for the Day (Hardcore Troubador Division)

2011-09-22T17:41:00.000-07:00

It's not about any of the guys on death row; it's about me trying to keep me from going to Hell. If this is a democracy, then if the government kills somebody, I'm killing somebody. And I object to the damage that does to my spirit. - Steve Earle

Not in my name

2011-09-22T09:28:00.000-07:00

Why is it that when people are acquitted by trial, such as O. J. Simpson or Casey Anthony, certain people refuse to believe it and see it as a "failure of the system," but when a possibly innocent person is put to death like Troy Davis, the same folks think that is just great? Our country can't fix infrastructure or get people back to work, but we can still kill people real good.

Quote for the Day (Former President, Now Deceased Division)

2011-09-20T21:18:00.000-07:00

It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit. ~ Harry S Truman

Sam Seder does it against:

2011-09-16T09:44:00.000-07:00

So true! The so-called Libertarians (actually oligarchs in sheep's clothing) rail against government interference, when it is the government that has given this country it's (now crumbling, second-to-third rate) infrastructure. "Born on third base" is right!

Eeeeewwwww!!!

2011-09-15T10:00:00.000-07:00

Just the facts, ma'am:

2011-09-14T22:55:00.000-07:00

(Via jobsanger)

It has been a mantra of the Republican Party for decades now that private contractors can do the business of government cheaper and more efficiently. This has led to the federal government contracting out work to private companies for everything from computer services and human resources to war and prison services. That sounds great on the surface. The only problem is that it just hasn't worked out that way.

A non-profit Washington-based group, the Project on Government Oversight (POGO), did a study on the private contracting of government services and found that it is almost always more expensive -- and usually as much as twice as expensive. Out of the 35 programs they studied, at least 33 of them cost the government more money than if the work had been done by federal employees.

For example, the government was billed by a private contractor $268,653 for computer engineering services. Government employees (at current salary and benefits) could have done the same work for $136,456. A human resources private contract cost the government $228,488, while government workers could have performed the same services for only $111,711.

POGO general counsel Scott Amey said, "That's a big difference. We compared the full compensation paid to federal government and private sector employees to the billable rates in federal service contracts. Across the board you see that it cost government more to pay for contractors."

This is not big news, and it also will never make headlines in our mainstream media. Private contracting is one more way of transferring money from taxpayers to corporations, and no one seems to give a shit. Your tax dollars at work, eh?

Blood lust

2011-09-12T21:56:00.000-07:00

(Via Talking Points Memo)

In Tampa, Florida at the CNN/Tea Party Express debate Monday night, the tea party-filled audience literally cheered aloud for the uninsured to be allowed to die.

The moment came during an exchange between moderator Wolf Blitzer and Ron Paul, whose libertarian views often make for good theater at Republican debates.

Blitzer asked if under Paul’s libertarian philosophy, a sick man without insurance should be allowed to die in the hospital rather than have the state pay his medical bills. Before Paul could answer that question, shouts of “yes!” and cheering bubbled up from the audience.

Aren't these the folks who accused Obama of planning to set up "death panels" with a government run health care program? Apparently, they don't mind death panels if they get to say who dies. And Ron Paul, a doctor who supposedly took an oath to help those in need is a lousy hypocrite.

Who would Jesus let die?

Thumper?

2011-09-02T20:16:00.000-07:00

I had no idea a remake of Bambi was going on in our backyard . . . .

Thursday Random 10 plus 1

2011-09-01T13:17:00.000-07:00

Here's a random sampling of the musical collection (ever expanding) on my iMac, chosen by the iTunes DJ function:

Let's Go/Ministry/The Last Sucker (From their last album. Sure do miss Al and the boys!)

Honey Bee/Lucinda Williams/Little Honey

Hey Tonight/Creedence Clearwater Revival/Pendulum 40th Anniversary Edition

Great Purification/Corrosion Of Conformity/Blind

Tin Roof/Steve Martin/The Crow: New Songs For The 5 String Banjo

Nobody Listens/Bad Religion/The Grey Race

Radio Ga Ga/Electric Six/Senor Smoke

Fly...Night Bird/Roy Buchanan/Sweet Dreams: The Anthology (2 Of 2)

Haruspices/Hammers of Misfortune/Fields

Suite: Judy Blue Eyes/Crosby, Stills & Nash/Woodstock:Three Days of Peace and Music

Niteliner/Urge Overkill/Rock & Roll Submarine

Here's E6 live with Radio Gaga:

Quote for the Day (Obvious Truths Division)

2011-08-29T06:32:00.000-07:00

A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death-- Martin Luther King, Jr.

The owner of the web

2011-08-28T08:26:00.000-07:00

As I went out to get some wood for our wood stove last night, I saw a silhouette in the waning evening light on the reconstructed web I took pictures of the other morning:

With the help of my wife holding a flashlight, I was able to get these pictures of it:

From what we could determine, it is an orb-weaver spider. While it is quite imposing, it apparently is not particularly dangerous, although some sources ascribed some nasty bites to it. On the plus side, they consume a lot of pesky insects, including mosquitoes. We'll just call it a good neighbor and leave it right where it is.

On the web

2011-08-26T10:26:00.000-07:00

Years ago a photographer friend told me that to get good pictures of spider webs you should mist them with a handy spray bottle. Well, this morning nature obliged, and a misty fog set me up for these dramatic shots.

Emu on the Loose!

2011-08-23T21:39:00.000-07:00

I was at work today, and before I went home I called my wife to tell her a strange tale I'd heard via email about an emu that had been seen wandering around nearby. She revealed she had encountered the large avian interloper, and even managed to catch some pictures of it, though she felt somewhat intimidated by the large fowl.

Here the large avian visitor checks out our inside birds, causing them to raise quite a ruckus.

When I got home from work I had an email (emu email?) from one of our neighbors saying a young girl had lost her pet emu, which had been seen wandering around the neighborhood. There was a number to call if you saw it, so I checked and found the bird had made it home unscathed.

This is definitely still the birdhaus.

"You have to be asleep to believe it."

2011-08-20T15:01:00.000-07:00

This was six years ago, and every word is still true, or even MORE true than it was then. I miss ya, George!

2011-08-16T07:55:00.000-07:00

I hope you're having a juicy day!

Warren Buffett talks sense about people like him:

2011-08-15T08:23:00.000-07:00

(via the NYT)

OUR leaders have asked for “shared sacrifice.” But when they did the asking, they spared me. I checked with my mega-rich friends to learn what pain they were expecting. They, too, were left untouched.

While the poor and middle class fight for us in Afghanistan, and while most Americans struggle to make ends meet, we mega-rich continue to get our extraordinary tax breaks. Some of us are investment managers who earn billions from our daily labors but are allowed to classify our income as “carried interest,” thereby getting a bargain 15 percent tax rate. Others own stock index futures for 10 minutes and have 60 percent of their gain taxed at 15 percent, as if they’d been long-term investors.

[SNIP]

. . . for those making more than $1 million — there were 236,883 such households in 2009 — I would raise rates immediately on taxable income in excess of $1 million, including, of course, dividends and capital gains. And for those who make $10 million or more — there were 8,274 in 2009 — I would suggest an additional increase in rate.

My friends and I have been coddled long enough by a billionaire-friendly Congress. It’s time for our government to get serious about shared sacrifice.

How refreshing to hear one of the uber-rich speak so eloquently about the need to pay their fair share. And how rare.

Quote for the Day (Our New Corporate Overlords Division)

2011-08-13T11:06:00.000-07:00

"Slavery is the legal fiction that a person is property. Corporate personhood is the legal fiction that property is a person." - David Korten, When Corporations Rule the World (former Professor of the Harvard University Graduate School of Business)

Trying to get good

2011-08-13T10:58:00.000-07:00

It is hard to observe the state of governance in America right now for me without becoming full of rage and disgust. There seems to be such an utter disconnect between the focus of our politicians and the effect it is having on the majority of our people. The whole debacle around the debt ceiling debate, and the lesser known but just as maddening FAA mess, these point to the new reality that it seems that Republicans for the most part DON'T GIVE A SHIT about the chaos they are creating. There is no sense of being of service to our society---the main goals of these folks is to bash the other side and to get re-elected.

I am no fan of the false equivalence that seems so popular in the media right now, but where is the outrage from the Democrats over what the Republicans are doing. Sure, some Dems like Al Franken or Sherrod Brown occasionally get to speak out about the idiots on the right, but where are people like Obama about this? Since when did it become impolite to point out when your opponents are bat shit wrong? Or that the policies they are espousing are pushing us closer to crashing and burning?

As our country is being cut into saleable pieces and people are dismissed as just another natural resource to be fracked by the highest bidder, I find myself needing to step back from the discourse and take a break from time to time to keep from going nuts.

Our country is like an addict in denial about his disease. At this point, unless it is willing to admit it has a problem, it is heading for disaster.

My sense of humor

2011-08-12T11:21:00.000-07:00

(Via meme-meme)

A little too tame?

2011-08-11T10:24:00.001-07:00

When I put some seed out for the birds, this deer came running right up:

Peek a boo!

She wasn't really too concerned about how close I was.

Chewing on a nice mouthful.

Here she seems to be sticking her tongue out at me.

Finally, when I moved a bit, she tensed.

Not enough for her to run with all that seed around, though.

Someone nearby must be feeding this one for it to behave so tamely. Frankly, I don't feel that that is a good idea, and it may even be against some of the wildlife protection laws. We put the seed out for birds, but then these guys show up. I guess all a hunter has to do is throw some bird seed out and wait a bit.

August bees

2011-08-10T16:54:00.000-07:00

On a warm August day. the local bees are actively exploring the range of pollen in our backyard:

Why fly when you can climb?

Hang in there, baby!

A gust of wind ruffles this daisy as the bee hangs on . . . .

Caught in mid flight.

Quote for the Day (Economic Common Sense Division)

2011-08-08T08:36:00.000-07:00

If there’s a single word that best describes the rating agency’s decision to downgrade America, it’s chutzpah — traditionally defined by the example of the young man who kills his parents, then pleads for mercy because he’s an orphan. - Paul Krugman

D. C. Douglas thanks the Tea Party

2011-08-05T21:35:00.000-07:00

. . . . and yes, the folks who manufactured a crisis that is now causing havoc in the financial markets are blaming President Obama for the whole thing. How's that compromise strategy working out, Mr. President?

(Via D. C. Douglas)

Quote for the Day (Least Likely to Be a Republican Republican Division)

2011-08-04T20:39:00.000-07:00

"Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes that you can do these things. Among them are a few Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or businessman from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid." -Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1952

Getting ready for winter

2011-08-01T07:53:00.000-07:00

A cord of wood---

Before

After

That's some hard work there!

A summer day in July

2011-07-22T17:28:00.000-07:00

Beautiful scarlet begonia

The moles are busy this year . . . .

Here there be dragonflies!

Borowitz Report - GOP Propose Replacing Social Security with Letting People Eat Cake

2011-07-21T10:08:00.000-07:00

Borowitz Report - GOP Propose Replacing Social Security with Letting People Eat Cake

– A group of GOP congressmen calling themselves The Mob of Nine have added a new wrinkle to the ongoing budget negotiations as they put forth a proposal today that would replace Social Security with letting people eat cake.
Their proposal, contained in a bill called the National Cake-Eating Act of 2011, would substitute seniors’ monthly Social Security check with what they called “an easy-to-follow cake recipe.”
“Right now, it’s hard to find a consensus about how to cut the national debt,” said Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis). “But one thing’s clear: everybody enjoys a good piece of cake.”
But even as the group put forth their proposal, their was dissension among The Mob of Nine about how large the pieces of cake that people were to eat should be, with Rep. Ryan leading the faction who favors a sliver rather than a slice.
“When we say piece of cake, we mean a very, very small piece of cake,” Mr. Ryan said. “We’re not talking about a Newt Gingrich piece of cake.”
Rep. Ryan also warned fellow GOP House members against supporting the so-called Gang of Six bipartisan budget proposal: “If you support that, I must warn you, you are flirting with reasonableness.”
He said that to pass muster with Tea Party members in the House, any budget proposal would have to pass the Tea Party litmus test: “That means it must be 100% free of logic or math.”

The hawk is on the wing

2011-07-09T22:28:00.000-07:00

Lately there has been a piercing call ringing out around our house, which I figured was a hawk announcing its territory. Today I was fortunate enough to catch it with my camera.

Another of the wonderful things which are part of life on the North Coast of California.

Justice in America

2011-07-07T08:11:00.000-07:00

I didn't follow the Casey Anthony trial, as I find such media frenzies too gruelingly disgusting over the length of time they cover. But what Chris Hayes says here rises above that storm to cut through to the truth:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Our media will focus on this type of trial, which has so little to do with most people except for their purient interest, and ignore cases that are much more relevant and pertinent to what is important in this country. It says more about what is wrong with our country that we focus so closely on this kind of sensationalism than what the verdict was.

And then there's this: In jury trials like this, the jury is presented with weeks of evidence, and is given the task of gleaning through that to make a decision. Why is it then that so many people who are not privy to any more than what they digest through the media filter think they are better qualified to say what should happen here? I feel sorry for Ms. Anthony when she is released, in that not only must she deal with the loss of her her child, but the judgements of the self righteous folks who would condemn her mostly to feel better about themselves.

A sunny June Friday

2011-06-24T15:21:00.000-07:00

Another sunny June day here on the Northern California coast. And all I have to do to get some beautiful photos is walk out my door:

The mama deer and her twins are still hanging around.

The pond near our cabin is filling with water lilies.

This dragonfly was very interested in what I was up to.


The calla lilies serve as homes to many insects, particularly spiders.

So it is a place to enjoy, and also to share. I hope you like it.

Remember?

2011-06-23T09:25:00.000-07:00

RIP Clarence Clemons

2011-06-18T22:52:00.000-07:00

I saw Springsteen many times over the years, and the Big Man was always like peanut butter to The Boss' jelly. Rest easy, Mr. C.

Friday Random 10 plus 1

2011-06-17T16:46:00.000-07:00

Once more, a random sampling from my iMac picked by the iTune DJ function, with no editing by me:

Shadowland/Chris Whitley/Live at The Cafe Du Nord, San Francisco, CA 7/24/2005
These Hills/Iris DeMent/Infamous Angel
When Worlds Collide/Neil Young/Fork In The Road
Race Of Doom/Devo/New Traditionalists
Just Got Paid/Ministry/Cover Up
Ladders/Califone/Roots & Crowns
Time Bomb!/The Ramones
Desert Island/Magnetic Fields/Holiday
My Little Brother/Art Brut/Bang Bang Rock & Roll
Easier/The Heavy Circles/The Heavy Circles
Particle Mo (Raleigh)/They Might Be Giants/Almanac Live 2004

Ministry does ZZ Top:

And here's Art Brut:

Sunny June Day

2011-06-17T15:46:00.000-07:00

The sun is bright and vibrant today, lifting my spirits and making me glad to be alive.

A cut round near our house speaks of cooler weather, and shows its age.

This blossum seems to be on fire.

A water lily calls forth a fountain at its center

A poppy is open for the next pollinator . . .

. . . while this one seems a bit shy.

Sunlight illuminates these petals from behind.

This spider has more than enough food for its bulk . . .

. . . while this one waits for a meal.

Mama deer and twins

2011-06-09T09:23:00.000-07:00

I just shot these (raw) pictures of a mama deer and her twin fawns outside our living room window. It must be that time of year . . . .

Quote for the Day (Lower Case Initialed Poet Division)

2011-06-08T06:54:00.000-07:00

"Unless you love someone, nothing else makes any sense." - ee cummings

Still the birdhaus

2011-06-03T21:35:00.000-07:00

Gimpy and Boomer rarely interact, but the other day they had a bit of a confab in front of Davy's cage. Boomer serenades Gimpy for a while. but these things rarely end well . . . .

Koch Classic

2011-05-21T07:42:00.000-07:00

16 years is a long time without a drink (or drug) for a drunk

2011-05-15T08:53:00.000-07:00

Sixteen years ago today I committed myself to living a clean and sober life, and I have to say it has been a time full of ups and downs, but I don't regret a moment of it. I have learned and continue to learn that this life is a "dark ride" as John Larroquette might say, but it is also full of incredible light and joy. Sixteen years ago I had no idea where I would be today, BUT, here I am.

I have immense gratitude that I have been able to make it this far. And I have immense faith that the future holds more blessings and wonder ahead. I give thanks to all the people who have been there along the way to offer help or just a friendly ear, and I hope that if you are in need, I can be there for you.

The gift I have is so precious, and yet I must give it away if I wish to keep it. Ain't that amazing?

Here's a little song from the late great SRV that is relevant, to say the least:

Call It Democracy

2011-05-15T08:30:00.000-07:00

This one's been around for a while, but every word is as relevant today as it was where Bruce first wrote them:

Quote for the Day (Former President, Now Deceased Division)

2011-05-12T07:48:00.000-07:00

We have come to a clear realization of the fact that true individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. "Necessitous men are not free men." People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made. - Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Happy Mother's Day from John Lennon

2011-05-08T08:39:00.000-07:00

Just about right:

2011-05-07T17:40:00.000-07:00

(Via Daily Kos)

Friday Random 10 plus 1

2011-05-05T09:26:00.000-07:00

It has been a while, but here's a random sampling of what's on my computer's hard drive auditorially, chosen by the iTunes DJ.

Let's Take A Trip Together/Morphine/Cure For Pain

That's Not My Name/Ting Tings/We Started Nothing

Ahead Of The Curve/Monsters Of Folk/Monsters Of Folk

This Is My Second Show/Bill Hicks/I'm Sorry, Folks

Winterness/Pousette-Dart Band/Amnesia

Never The Same Again/Moonlight Towers/Veronica Mars Unofficial Soundtrack Season 3

Cool Vee/The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion/Controversial Negro

Echoes In The Well/Corrosion Of Conformity/Blind

I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man/Prince/Sign O The Times

Jetstream/Doves/Kingdom Of Rust

Someday/Neil Young/Freedom

Don't know who Bill hicks was? There's a documentary coming:

The last day of April, 2011

2011-05-01T08:30:00.000-07:00

I seem to return to similar images in my photos I post here quite a bit, which is not strictly intentional. I do return to my immediate surroundings frequently, as that is the most accessible subject for me. But I do find comfort in the returning cycles of renewal and decay.

Straight Talk

2011-04-21T09:36:00.000-07:00

The same shit is the same shit, bubba:

I'm still here! Have some birds:

2011-04-19T07:24:00.000-07:00

I know posting has been sparse recently, and that may not change soon, but I'm still around. Since it's still the birdhaus, here are some of our birds:

This is one of the numerous ravens that have been very active (and vocal) around our property lately.

This, of course, is my guy, Boomer. As you can see on the underside of his wings he's been picking at himself lately. He seems to go through phases of this behavior. Don't know why . . . .

Karen and Pete deliver the goods

2011-04-05T22:26:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday we got to see Karen Savoca and Pete Heitzman perform at an intimate concert at Little River Inn, near our home. We've seen them a couple of time before, and this was like a visit with old friends---if the old friends are extremely musically talented. Karen voice is soulful and earthy, with a rich emotional range and a knack for sly humor. And Pete's guitar playing is a perfect compliment for her, popping notes out sometimes like a pistol, and sometimes like a gentle wind.

They have a new CD out, called "Promise", and I have to say it is one that you should buy IMMEDIATELY! Take my word for it, it is a special treat.

And if you need more convincing, here's a little sample of the Heitzman style:

Tasty, eh?

Department of Obviousness

2011-04-05T08:32:00.000-07:00

Headline in the New York Times:

F.A.A. to Order Airlines to Inspect 737s for Cracks

Uh, I'm sorry, but this isn't something that is regularly done?

Safety first, or at least SOMEWHERE on the list . . . .

2011-04-03T08:37:00.000-07:00

(Via Huffington Post)

SAN FRANCISCO — Transocean Ltd. gave its top executives bonuses for achieving the "best year in safety performance in our company's history" – despite the explosion of its oil rig that killed 11 people and spilled 200 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

The company said in a regulatory filing that its most senior managers were given two thirds of their total possible safety bonus.

Transocean noted "the tragic loss of life" in the Gulf when the rig operated by BP PLC exploded last April. But it said the company still had an "exemplary" safety record because it met or exceeded certain internal safety targets concerning the frequency and severity of its accidents, according to the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday.

Safety accounts for a quarter of the executives' total cash bonuses. The total bonus for CEO Steve Newman last year was $374,062.

According to calculations by The Associated Press, the total value the company assigned to Newman's compensation package was $5.8 million.

That figure includes an $850,000 base salary – a 34 percent increase from the prior year; perquisites of $622,057, which includes housing and vacation allowances, among other things; and the $374,062 bonus. Also included in the figure are stock options valued at $1.9 million and deferred shares valued at $2 million when those awards were granted in March 2010.

Transocean's Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion on April 20 in the Gulf of Mexico killed 11 workers and set off the largest offshore oil spill in U.S. history.

These people don't even care anymore what the rest of us think of this kind of thing. It's basically an upraised middle finger to the families of those who died and the residents of the gulf. If this was the best year in safety performance, what would the worst look like?

At last, some balance to the Maine labor Department mural

2011-03-31T07:56:00.000-07:00

It's good to see the balance that has been added to the one-sided Maine Labor Mural, which was removed because it was "offensive" to business leaders. (Via Rachel Maddow)

The Northern Lights

2011-03-28T23:04:00.000-07:00

Quite lovely. (Via zefrank)

The Aurora from Terje Sorgjerd on Vimeo.

The early evening light of March in Northern California

2011-03-20T21:23:00.000-07:00

Daylight Savings Time began just a couple of weeks ago, but the change is dramatic. Here's a look at our backyard around 6:30 PM this evening. It would have been dark by 5:00 PM just a little while back. And raining? Oh yes, it has been raining!

This wheelbarrow is full of the yield from the last week alone. The flowers are lovin' it!

While Spring is just here, life is springing forth all around us. And during times like these, that is just wonderful to see!

Small World

2011-03-16T22:47:00.000-07:00

I live right down the road from the little Northern California town of Fort Bragg. A small former fishing and timber town on the coast, it seems a world away from the devastation that was visited on Japan over the last week, but when I saw this email from the Mayor, it suddenly seemed much closer:

Help Otsuchi

Our sister city, Otsuchi, has been destroyed. Out of a population of 17,000 people, over 10,000 people are missing in Otsuchi town. Last night on the news it was called The Lost City. The Mayor and the 20-member Assembly were making emergency response plans when the tsunami swept though the two-story city hall, taking windows, doors and people with it. Only the Deputy Mayor and 20 staff that the Mayor sent to the roof survived.

Ten years ago, the folks in the township of Otsuchi looked straight out across the Pacific on the 39th parallel and, there was Fort Bragg, small remote town like Otsuchi with a salmon fishing heritage. They sent a delegation to California and our sister city relationship began. The next year students from both cities visited the other and our cultural exchange program began. The next visit from Otsuchi students and adults was to have been in July this year. In 2005, I went to Otsuchi to sign our Sister City Agreement.

Our hearts are breaking and we wonder what can we do? We have started a fund to directly assist the survivors in Otsuchi. I have ordered that our flags be flown at half mast until the end of March to honor the lost souls in our sister city.

Information about Otsuchi can be found at our Otsuchi-Fort Bragg Cultural Exchange Program which is linked from our city website:http://city.fortbragg.com

Dave Turner
Mayor
City of Fort Bragg

I know there are those who would make fun of what has happened in Japan (as some already have done), but this just brings it even into clearer focus for me. We are all part of one world, and if you can't see that you are doomed to live a lonely life.

Any of the few folks who stumble across this this humble little blog and feel so moved can contribute to help these people here:

Mail your donation to:

Otsuchi Relief Fund

PO Box 1017

Fort Bragg, CA 95437

Tell it Sam!

2011-03-14T21:54:00.000-07:00

Sam Seder calls bullshit on the latest anti-worker talking points:

Quote for the Day (Cartoonista Division)

2011-03-13T09:04:00.000-07:00

Careful. We don't want to learn from this. - Bill Watterson

Farmer Humor

2011-03-12T10:32:00.000-08:00

(Via Michael Moore)

Hell in a handbasket

2011-03-10T22:09:00.000-08:00

The Republican definition of freedom seems to be pretty simple: if you are a corporation or rich, you can do whatever you want. Fracking for fun and profit? Go right ahead. Spending ungodly amounts of money to sway elections in favor of the people who will kiss your ass regardless of how that affects the rest of the country? Be our guest. Perpetrating fraud and Ponzi schemes to enrich yourself even more than you have already done? Hey, that's just fine.

But if you are NOT rich, you're fucked. Freedom of choice when it comes to abortion or contraception? Not for you. Freedom to get healthcare without going bankrupt to do it? I don't think so. Freedom to join a union so you have protection from the whims of capricious employers? Not the Amerikan way, Jack.

This is one of the most disgusting times I can ever recall. These hypocritical monsters aren't even pretending to care about the middle class as it shrinks, or the increasing number of impoverished people as the struggle to get by. Nope, their masters are the wealthy corporate cannibals who wish to consume all in their path. I only wish the Democrats would stand up and fight the battle more strongly on the side of the people who need it most.

I guess we're all on our own.

Bargain Daffodils

2011-03-09T22:18:00.000-08:00

Around Christmas last year, my wife bought some daffodils on sale for about $10. She referred to it as an "indulgence", but she figured it would be worth it. Well, those bulbs are springing up, and I'd say she got her money's worth.

John Reischman and the Jaybirds Return to the North Coast

2011-02-28T23:53:00.000-08:00

John Reischman and the Jaybirds have played numerous times at the Little River Inn on the North coast of California. They are always delightful and entertaining, and tonight proved no different. Both individually and as band members, they are gifted performers. They take bluegrass back to its roots, bring it into the present, and give it a future.

The Jaybirds

John Reischman and Greg Spatz.

Reischman, Nick Hornbuckle, and Jim Nunally

Hornbuckle, Reischman, Trisha Gagnon, and Nunally

Happy Birthday, John!

As you can see, this was a memorable evening of music. Their new CD is just out, entitled "Vintage and Unique", and is well worth having, as are any of their releases. But go see this remarkable band live if you can. The Jaybirds are a force to be reckoned with!