LG enjoying some thanksgiving peanuts-he's really bulked up:
Inside, we had a simple meal featuring a savory strudel as the main course:
The filling was a mushroom/leek base flavored with tarragon. C's had vegan boursin cheese added, mine had chicken and mozzarella cheese. Served with dressing, roasted asparagus and a tarragon/garlic gravy flavored with garam masala. Dessert was vegan dark chocolate/hazelnut bites.
11/29-before the snow arrived: it was pretty busy at the Diner. A young nutkin:
Once the snow came, only the avians were dining-everyone else went home to hunker down. It was curious how slow and gradual this storm was in these parts. A mellow storm.
11/30: we ended up with 5-6" of snow-wet and heavy as it was 32° at 5 am.
The Diner was busy:
The Turkey Bros. were out and about:
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11/28: 100th anniversary of the founding of the Grand Ole Opry, a weekly, live radio broadcast in Nashville, TN.
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End of a giant: it was reported in the LSJ that Sears only has 5 stores left in the US.
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12/1: 70th anniversary of Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger.
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A well-done cookie:
Every once and a while, one comes across a good baker who creates a chocolate chip cookie that hits all the four corners of flavor, in this order:
-brown butter
-sweet
-chocolate
-dough
C finds these at the ELFCO located at the Allen Street Market. One helluva cookie-rich and satisfying-you really don't need more than one. It's like a fine spirit, consumed in small quantities.
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Earliest known depiction of human and animal found in Israel from 12,000 years ago:
I've been noticing a new Coca-Cola ad campaign reviving Mr. Pibb in the classic "new and improved" path "centering on its return with a "revived taste,: 30% more caffeine, and a bold new look and brand identity." Mr. Pibb entered the soda market in 1972 as a competitor to Dr. Pepper.
Frankly, I had no idea Pibb was still around. But then, I never cared for Dr. Pepper to begin with.
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Surreal vid: In The Death Car from the soundtrack from the 1993 film Arizona Dream. Music by Goran Bregović featuring vocals and lyrics by Iggy Pop, channeling his inner Tom Waits.
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mADmen: Conquering First World problems by putting a sheet on it, will take care of that little static monster that your basic fabric softener sheet can't handle:
Clever, though my morbid imagination immediately went here with the tagline pun:
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The problem with ChatGPT: I've been working on illustrations using this program and have learned a lot about its capabilities. In particular, one must be very precise when giving a command but even so, robot hallucinations will happen. Case in point: I was working on an image featuring a number of woodland creatures, both feather and fur, gathered together under a tree. Two problems: the robot's work was fairly accurate except for a bizarre cardinal hybrid who had a squirrel's tail! (red circle) Also, the critters were not in correct proportion in size with each other-the squirrel (blue circle) is huge, larger than the raccoon. This was my fault as I did not include this in my order although one would have thought that this would be a given. The image:
After seeing this, I shudder when I read that government, businesses, schools and lawyers (oh boy) are using ChatGPT. They better proofread carefully!
We had graupel (ice pellets), we could hear it hitting the skylights:
Buddy has been grumpy lately-he does not like this transition to cold weather. Not only the cold but I suspect he's upset that he hasn't killed anything for awhile. He's restless and pesky about food and treats-poor lad is bored.
5.30 and on: very little business at the Diner as folks are hunkering down.
11/25: We've had several days in the low-50's that begin sunny turning cloudy by late afternoon:
Neighbor Johnny's oak leaves are the dominant feature this time of year. Oaks are notorious for hanging on to their leaves at the end of the season which leaves one with a dubious choice: either go out and rake/mow several times or wait to do it once but risk having early snow burying them til Spring. Johnny is quite fastidious about his yard so he is out there nearly every day...and he just turned 80. Me, nearly a decade younger, meh. I'm lazy these days.
We're entering the season of lights, commemorating the long darkness and cold of Winter and the coming of light, warmth and rebirth of Spring.
Old Man Winter, in the form of a polar vortex, is paying us an early visit for Thanksgiving. This weekend will feature cold and potentially several inches of snow. Hopefully, no freezing rain, thank you very much!
Bright overcast evening sky:
Komfykatter-Buddy's newest favorite way to hang out with his Mum:
He's been pesky about treats with a level of determination rivaling any K Street lobbyist in Washington, DC. The other evening while persuading C, he emphasized his wish with his tail. The result is 2025's seasonal tagline:
This holiday, more twitching for treats!
~
Water ice crater found in the far northern latitudes on Mars:
ESA/DLR/Freie Universitat Berlin (G. Neukum)
Flying peacock:
Tropical islands appear to be floating:
A rare cat-meet the Andean Mountain cat (Leopardus jacobita), a small feline found in the
high Andes of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, as well as the
northern portion of the Patagonian steppe in Argentina. It is considered
the most threatened feline in the Americas and is counted among the
five most endangered cats in the world with less than 1,500 individuals thought to exist. It is a monotypic species, meaning that there are no subspecies in its group.
J. Reppucci
Meet the Diatoms: Diatoms are microscopic aquatic plants found in all fresh, brackish, and
salt waters on the globe. Diatoms, after the bacteria, are the most
common forms of life on earth. Living diatoms make up a significant portion of Earth's biomass and generate about 20 to 50 percent of the oxygen produced on the planet each year. They are generally of a golden-brown
color, and many are able to move about. Each diatom, in addition to its
vegetable structure, is formed of a beautiful siliceous box, having a
lid over the bottom part, and an ornamented rim (girdle). Throughout the
world there are thousands of kinds of diatoms with thousands of shapes
assumed by their respective boxes. Some are round, like a pill-box, some
are triangular, and others are boat-shaped; all are marvelously
decorated.
A pink grasshopper: A rare pink grasshopper is a result of a genetic mutation called erythrism causes an overproduction of red pigment and the lack of the usual green or brown pigments. While it can happen in various species, pink grasshoppers have recently
been spotted in places like New Zealand and Wales.
Teeth of a Crabeater seal: these are highly specialized for filtering, with a unique lattic-like shape that allows them to eat large quantities of krill.
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Fun vids:
Bald Eagle mating ritual:
The bald eagle mating dance, called the"cartwheel courtship flight" or "death spiral" involves two eagles flying high into the sky, locking their talons, and
tumbling downward in a cartwheel-like freefall. They release from each
other just before hitting the ground. This spectacular aerial display
tests their compatibility, coordination, and trust, and helps them form a
strong, lifelong bond.
~
Ringing rocks in SW Montana:
When you don't invite your neighbor to your dinner party:
Smallest monkey in world-pygmy marmoset baby:
Ad for new male fragrance from Giorgio Armani —"Acqua di Giò Profondo"—The name evokes the fragrance's marine and mineral notes, capturing the mysterious depths of the ocean:
Ok, splash on this cologne and before you know it, you run and jump off a cliff and swim with a whale. Only in your wet dreams, Pete Hegseth.
Michigan meteorite! This shot was captured in Allegan.
Flying Draco or flying lizard
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Fun fact: Anjelica Huston, Larry David and Bernie Sanders are distant cousins according to DNA from the show Finding Your Roots.
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FUBARland:
Visual metaphor of Roach's regime: destroy or denigrate everything that makes America great-a exemplary example of the constant use of irony by his administration.
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Marjorie Taylor Greene has announced that she is resigning January 2026 after splitting from the Roach over the Epstein Files. As a result, Roach labeled her a traitor to the cause.
From the NYT: ...Ms. Greene said she had made the
decision to leave because she did not want to endure a “hurtful and
hateful primary against me by the president we all fought for, only to
fight and win my election while Republicans will likely lose the
midterms.” She added: “I refuse to be a ‘battered wife’ hoping it all goes away and gets better.”
One wonders what pushed her into this come to Jesus moment? Abreak from a fever-dream? Realization that she was in a cult? Was it truly a reaction to how Roach/Epstein etal treated girls and women?
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Roach merch: A latest entry by gun manufacturers to use the Roach as a marketing point is from Bond Arms: the DT47 Living Legend pistol.
Now, several companies have created such things, apparently without direct links to the Roach. However, it is hard to believe that he or his people don't know about them. You can bet your Mama's last nickel (no pennies anymore) that Roach's reps have been in contact with their palm out for a cut, under threat of a lawsuit. It has been wryly noted that as a convicted felon, Roach is banned from owning one. Nevertheless, it's a twofor: make some cash and enjoy the fact one of his nutty supporters will use one of these weapons in an act of violence against enemies of the MAGA state. It's a J6 microcosm.
~
A nice op ed from the Guardian concerning the shift in the Right's view of Jesus:
Ode for the Epstein files from Leonard Cohen: Everybody Knows from 1988:
Everybody knows that the dice are loaded
Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed
Everybody knows that the war is over
Everybody knows the good guys lost
Everybody knows the fight was fixed
The poor stay poor, the rich get rich
That's how it goes
Everybody knows
Everybody knows that the boat is leaking
Everybody knows that the captain lied
Everybody got this broken feeling
Like their father or their dog just died Everybody talking to their pockets
Everybody wants a box of chocolates
And a long stem rose
Everybody knows
Everybody knows that you love me baby
Everybody knows that you really do
Everybody knows that you've been faithful
Ah give or take a night or two
Everybody knows you've been discreet
But there were so many people you just had to meet
Without your clothes
And everybody knows
Everybody knows, everybody knows
That's how it goes
Everybody knows
Everybody knows, everybody knows
That's how it goes
Everybody knows
And everybody knows that it's now or never
Everybody knows that it's me or you
And everybody knows that you live forever
Ah when you've done a line or two
Everybody knows the deal is rotten
Old Black Joe's still pickin' cotton
For your ribbons and bows
And everybody knows
And everybody knows that the Plague is coming
Everybody knows that it's moving fast
Everybody knows that the naked man and woman
Are just a shining artifact of the past
Everybody knows the scene is dead
But there's gonna be a meter on your bed
That will disclose
What everybody knows
And everybody knows that you're in trouble
Everybody knows what you've been through
From the bloody cross on top of Calvary
To the beach of Malibu
Everybody knows it's coming apart
Take one last look at this Sacred Heart
Before it blows
And everybody knows
Everybody knows, everybody knows
That's how it goes
Everybody knows
Oh everybody knows, everybody knows
That's how it goes
Everybody knows
Everybody knows
11/12: Bright and sunny, with blue skies late in the day, reminiscent of what we often see in January:
Slowly it warmed up. Late in the afternoon, we had a new visitor at the Diner:
BigMama had stopped by last week. We reckon this is one of her younguns. Large white head and a non-fluffy tail like a kittykat:
We've named her Bernadette.
11/13-14: The weather warmed up to the mid-50s with some sun. It was time to tackle the leaves as the snow had caused most trees to drop them.
11/15: It was in the low-60's before noon and overcast. I finished up the leaves in the East Garden and the final work in the garden, taking down the echinacea.
Our mature burning bush is looking magnificent, standing out as all the younger ones in the area have dropped their leaves.
The drastic cold then warm-up has given some folks the wrong idea that Spring was nigh:
Dandelions:
Forsythia:
The Diner and Back 40:
11/15:
C drove for the first time in nearly a month!
11/16: A gorgeous day with a brisky wind with sun and clouds mixed. It was a busy afternoon at the Diner with practically everybody who is anybody stopping by. Tis that time of the year.
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Nice cat drawing by Japanese artist Misato:
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Fun vids:
Hilarious and cheesy send up of heavy metal bands with a feline twist:
Country artists love their cold beer:
Dune, in the style of '40s noir:
Classic Monty Python: Hell's Grannies
World's Oldest Tree:
Ancient Maize from Mexico:
Abandoned Mansions in China:
Pigeon mesmerized: You're traveling through another dimension -- a dimension not only of sight and
sound but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of
imagination...
Bizarre ad for FanDuel casino featuring "Calling all Thrillionaires":
So, you may ask, what's with the arch that these people are so inspired to go through together like a bunch of gambling addicted lemmings? Is this the evangelical rapture? Nirvana?
Naw, nothing so mystical. The portal represents membership in the FanDuel rewards club (eye roll).
FUBARland:
Time to invoke the 25th amendment. We deserve better than this mess.
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Check out the latest South Park episode featuring the Roach cheating on the impregnated Satan with his Vice President. Yikes!
