FIVE SECOND STORIES

In the neighborhood: We're finally getting some milder weather with no snow. Business at the Diner has been variable. We had 2 Mourning Dove couples stop by for an early supper:

Slowly, the snow is beginning to melt:

The driveway and street are clear and dry:

Mr. Redbird having a bite:
 

As we near Valentine's Day, temps are close to 40° with rumors of 50's coming next week! Woot woot! The woodland gnomes basking in some sunshine:

This late week, we saw the return of our friends, some of whom are Winter sleepers. After dark, we've seen a couple of Rocky's, a Blossom and a small Stampy. Curiously, we have not seen any deerskis as of late.

~ 

We are sad to report that Lord Bertram Longfellow was wounded in action as a result of a skirmish on the nights of 2/9-10. He was bitten in his armpit (or axilla on a feline) during close-quarter fighting under one of the house foundation pines-one of his outposts-located by my bedroom. 

 

The sound of fighting woke both C and I in the middle of the night. His injury was not apparent until C came home in the late afternoon of the 10th-our vet did not have an opening until the following afternoon so we rushed him to MSU Animal Clinic. They could not find any wound and wanted to do x-rays and extensive blood work for...$1000-1500. Due to the late hour, we had them do just a basic blood draw and obtained pain meds. The next day, we took him to our vet. The wound had puffed up his left front leg and our vet found the scabs from the bite and began antibiotics. Friday, Buddy and I were hanging out-both under the weather and despite his limb, he badly wanted to go outside. Meowwwwrwww, Dad, I want to go outttttttttt!. He's better on 2/14 and his Mom gave clearance for him to go out. 45° and Sunny. His patrol was extensive. Here, he was by the shed, walking rather gingerly. 

Who was here?

He walked further and returned and rubbed his cheek glands:

Take that, you trespasser!

He went over to Benny's Diner which is part of his realm:

In the tree to his left was a very unhappy squirrel who was chattering and tail switching:

Look closely, that tree is showing the beginnings of red buds!

He was out on patrol for nearly 2 hours before coming back in. A nice, warmed meal of fishy shreds with sardines with a garnish of treats was awaiting him. Well done, old son! 

Who was the culprit? At first we thought it was the tailless black kitty we had seen a few times at night. Poor thing. But then on 2/12, I spotted this cat by the shed:

The next late afternoon, I was checking on Buddy who was snoozing on the couch and I happened to look out the garage-side door and this guy was lounging on the step! WTF! That takes some stones, pal. I banged on the door and he took off towards the West.
 

Today, when I let Bud out this door, I saw him sniffing intently around the step. In the early evening, when we were all gathered around the hearth celebrating V Day, C and I spotted the Black Kitty who had come out from one of the shed apartments. He hung out for a bit and went on patrol, going over to Benny's Diner. Oh boy, looks like we have a problem. He looks to be pretty healthy (has his tail). No collar but then Bud doesn't have one either. A new cat looking to expand his realm? Just passing through? We've had that happen in the past. I'm posting a lost cat query on the FB Delta Community page. Stay tuned.

Lord Bertram's well-deserved medal for his bravery and sacrifice.

This event reminded me of when Bin got trapped in a snowy canyon that I had shoveled to reach the Diner. I think it was the Winter of 2016-17. Anyway, he met up with another cat and got his ass kicked. He was bitten in his side and had part of his fur shaved. Poor guy.

 

 ~

Fun vids: 

The Sled and The Ant:

We've been watching Futurama-a sci-fi cartoon about a pizza delivery guy who is transported from 1999 to the year 3000 and a dramatically changed Earth. Made by Simpson's creator Matt Groening with David X. Cohen. One of the billboard ads seen in the show opening features Bachelor Chow:

Both the Simpson's and Futurama are noted for a number prescient ideas. Just this week in the Times:

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/09/style/boy-kibble-ground-beef-protein-dinner.html?searchResultPosition=1

 

Speaking of dinner, a new ad from Stouffer's where a woman is walking her dog and begins to hallucinate:

Gawd, what is implying? This anxious Mom is so suddenly  guilt-ridden about not thinking about dinner? Sheesh, give the lady a break. Hell, that kid of hers can use a friggin' microwave can't he? And let's guilt-trip down the wellness road. Just how healthy is Stouffer's for you and your child? 

~ 

FUBARland: 

For those of you who missed it, here is Bad Bunny's half-time show:

Hats off to him and to his set designers: an inventive and joyous show filled with symbols of his homeland and people. He single-handedly has brought more attention to the island and its people than anyone in ages. Puerto Rico, a commonwealth and its people considered American citizens, has been for years the red-headed, left-handed stepchild of the US. It was criminally ignored after their devastating hurricane in 2017. Our government didn't want to spend much money there (for the record, joining other hurricane hit areas-New Orleans, Asheville etal), sent businessmen (investors) in to rip them off (especially in the electricity sector) while leaving the island with Third World conditions to this day.

 

I was very happy to see that the "alternative" half-time show featuring numbskull Kid Rock was a fucking shambles, although at least in English which pleased Roach and MAGA.

 

Meanwhile:  

What a fucking insane week in Fubarland. Gawd, the Pam Bondi hearing: ahh yes, performative political theatre that ranks up there with Watergate as well as the McCarthy hearings during the Red Scare in the 50's. 

Donnie Demento can barely put a sentence together. He continues to dismantle and shit on everything. This week, it was EPA rules especially those mandated during the Obama years. Oh, fuck the rules. Learn to love the beauty of coal. I don't care if pollution kills-there's money to be made!

 

El Paso airport was shut down briefly due to some crazy shit with laser beam weaponry depending on which BS version one wants to accept from the govt.  I wondered if it was a twofer: the weapon and let's see how the air traffic system reacts to a sudden shutdown. In case we need to close certain major hubs for whatever reason. Keep people from leaving, facilitate troops being deployed etc.

 

Not related but still damn strange-the "kidnapping" of news host Savannah Guthrie's elderly Mom from her home in Tucson. I guess someone is try to get a bitcoin payment but it all sounds nebulous. The poor woman has been gone since 2/1 and the authorities seem not to be making much progress. Her home is just a few miles north of where my brother and wife live: across the Santa Cruz River and up in the foothills.

 

There is good news though: evidently it finally dawned on the Roach (or his handlers) how bad the optics and public reaction to the ICE gestapo actions in Minneapolis have been. He replaced that murderous asshole, little dick Greg Bovino and had ICE acting director Homan end the Surge. 

 

A grand jury declined to indict our Senator Elissa Slotkin, Arizona's Mark Kelly and 4 other senators for seditious conspiracy for the vid they made pointing out that military personnel are required, under military law, to disobey unlawful orders.

 

And yet, polling continues to show that 1/3 of the population still say that they support the Orange Cockroach. Gee MAGA kool-aid drinkers, how did things work out in Jonestown?

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

 Much love to my favorite valentines in the whole wide world:

 

FUBARland

Dangerous days ahead as the Roach, feeling trapped, takes the usual authoritarian route and lashes out, going all in and attempts to do as much damage as possible on his way out. Buckle up and...

A word from a married cat lady poet, who is letting her freak flag fly, to Roach, Vance etal:

 FUCK YOU!

FIVE SECOND STORIES

In the Neighborhood:

1/31: A MamaDoe at John's Diner late in the afternoon:

Our Diner was deserted during the day. MamaDoe with a twin child stopped by as we were calling it a night around the hearth.

2/1: -4° Early Sunday patrons-Ms. Redbird and Finches, BigTail Squirrel:

 His shadow on the shed:

Temps are finally going to warm up...into the hi-20's...next week.

This unusual blast of cold air met up with a low pressure deep in the South and brought snow to Pensacola, FL as seen in this drone footage:

2/5-According to the Lansing State Journal, this has been the 4th coldest Winter in 20 years.

~

Greenland in actual proportion to other countries:

~

 Old Jeff Hollers: I do get weary of click-bait titles such as this: YOU'RE BEING LIED TO, which seem to be rampant these days over a wide range of topics. And gawd, YT is filled with quack "doctors", wannabe influencers of endless varieties for wellness, history, UFOs, Amelia Earhart, and plain BS. One recent site, exploring ancient geographical and archaeological mysteries of the state of Illinois, begins its intro with pics of snow covered mountain ranges. Yep, in a state whose highest point is at 1,235 feet. Caveat emptor.

 

 

FUBARland

 Los Tres Amigos

The Roach will be immortalized all right, but not in the way he craves. No, he'll be forever known as the most corrupt president in our country's history, who was deeply involved with a sex trafficking ring, most likely connected with Putin.

Was it a Epstein/Putin classic KGB kompromat scheme? Was Donnie caught with his pants down with an underage girl and threatened? Did he decide to put his art of the deal theories to the test and proposed to Vladdy: let's get rich together and realize our deepest dreams? 

Well, here we are.

~ 

Hitler rant parodies-scenes taken from the film Downfall (2004). In this episode, Adolf finds out he's in the Epstein Files:

 

Meanwhile, the President of the United States, during one of his overnight online frenzies, posted this:
 

We deserve better. 

Update: the post stayed up for 12 hours until widespread outrage forced the White House to take it down, saying it was posted by mistake by a staffer.

Uh huh, a STAFFER who was up posting shit at 3 am? Give us a break, you lying sacks of shit. 

History repeats itself:

 

 

SNOW MOON

February's full moon is called the Snow Moon. Jupiter is hanging out to its lower right.

 

Fun vid: From 1996 Cows with Guns by Dana Lyons:

 

 

FIVE SECOND STORIES

In The Neighborhood:

1/14-The day began in the 40's with some sun but the temps began to drop:

Lake effect snow began. The Diner was busy as I had refilled the feeder and put seed on the ground. The patrons, realizing that major cold was coming, spent the afternoon fueling up:

One of the young Nutkins was storing seed, running back and forth between hiding places:
 

The Sparrow raucous caucus were in full attendance as were the Juncos, big Woody, and M/M Cardinal:

 

1/16-Snow squall 

 

1/19-With temps only in the teens, only the chickadees and juncos were at the Diner:

Late in the afternoon, the nearly buried woodland gnomes received some wane sunlight:

 

 

1/23: snow squall

1/24: -15° this morning. Mama doe and her triplets visited the Diner:

We haven't seen cold like this since January 2019 when we experienced 3 nights of -14°.

1/27-very cold days, only in the teens with single digits at night. Periodic snow squalls depending on how strong the lake effect winds were-we got another couple of inches. In the late afternoon, the sun came out. The birds were busy at the Diner-Lil' Woody:

M/M Redbird, Senor Junco and a Sparrow:

Long blue shadows:

With the icy temps, the snow is sparkly even at night-click on photo for better viewing:

~ 

Fun stuff: 

 A chihuahua wearing an anti-hawk vest:

~ 

Japanese Raccoon Dog:

Miroslav Hlavko

Also known as Tanuki, it is endemic to Japan and considered a subspecies to those canids found on the Asian continent. Genetically, they are closely related to foxes. In Japan, raccoon dogs have had a significant role in Japanese folklore since ancient times. They are reputedly mischievous and jolly, masters of disguise and shapeshifting, but somewhat gullible and absent-minded. 

~ 

Wild burros hang out under a tree in a Moreno Valley, CA neighborhood SE of Riverside during the 2022 drought.

~ 

In 2015, wildlife photographer Christophe Courteau found himself face-to-face with a 6ft 6, 400 lbs silverback gorilla and took photographs just moments before it punched him in the face. 

Actually, Mr. Gorilla had spotted a rival behind the photographer and brushed him aside, rushing to confront the offender.

~ 

If animals posted memes on FB:

~

Pareidolia: cricket with lion's head wearing sunglasses on its belly:

 Ya mon!

~ 

Petrified Opal tree trunk - 225 million-year-old fossilized tree trunk from the Triassic Period in The Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona.

Formation Process: The trees were buried by volcanic ash and, over millions of years, the organic material was replaced by silica, resulting in fossilized wood (sometimes called "wood opal").

Appearance: These trunks often show vibrant colors, including red, yellow, green, and blue,, depending on the mineral impurities present.

Structure Retention: The crystallization process is so precise that it preserves the original cellular structure, including growth rings and bark.  

~  

Interesting POV of a building with a thunderstorm bearing down behind on it:

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South Kensington Townhouse in London with wisteria:

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Larry, chief mouser at 10 Downing Street, celebrates his 18th or 19th birthday this month. Well done, old son!  

 

#cutebuddypix: 

Buddy loves the space heaters and also loves to drape himself over edges. I swear, it's some kind of game/challenge to see how far he can push it.

He's been grumpy about the weather-you know how cats dislike changes to their routines-and we're having the worst Winter since he came to live with us 3 years ago. His patrol activities are severely truncated and he hasn't killed anything in quite awhile. I think he will be a terror come warmer weather.

~ 

Fun vids: 

From 2023, Impossible Maladies short

 AI short: I Leave My Worries With the Hive:

 Space Reggae-Sand and Sway:

 

~ 

Crazy marketing: The recent Liberty Mutual insurance scheme featuring Lemu the Emu and Doug:

Doug-sporting his Ted Lasso mustache and '70's/80's aviator glasses, generally clueless in his relentless pursuit of hawking (pun intended) the value of his insurance company. 

Screaming child in market:

I thought the father had more than a passing resemblance to the actor Gary Horton from the Thirtysomething series: 

~ 

Fun TV series:

We've been enjoying Freaks and Geeks from 1999, a sweet/funny/sad look at the 1980-81 school year for a group of freshman and seniors at a mythical high school located in the western suburbs of Detroit, MI.  Produced and created by Paul Geig and Judd Apatow, the show launched the careers of James Franco, Seth Rogan and Jason Segal who worked in other Apatow series/films. The show only aired one season and was cancelled due to erratic scheduling, poor time slots and continuing conflict between the creators and the network. It later became a cult classic. 

Nice escapism and for us, bringing back memories of such times-school, parents, first dabblings with the opposite sex and cannabis. It takes place at the intersection of the cusp of Reaganism, Disco/Punk music and lingering effects of Hippie ethos and 60's rebellion especially against societal/parental expectations. We thought the writing was decent and enjoyed the creative use of music and lyrics in particular scenes.

Highly recommended. Watch on Prime. 

FUBARland: 

From 1956-The Bad Seed 

Could sweet, blonde-haired 8 year old Rhoda be a psychopath? 

Curious film especially since it was made in 1956-one part PSA for parents of the exploding Boomer generation. The kids born at the end of WW2 are growing up and with such a large cohort, doctors are beginning to see some disturbing behavioral anomalies. A huge discussion in the medical community: how a child turns out is due to environment or genes or a bit of both? Now, the double helix structure of DNA had only been discovered a few years earlier so at the time, environment was the generally accepted cause. This story goes after this concept as this child came from a wealthy, loving family. How could she become evil under such circumstances? Well, one explanation goes biblical: the offspring of Seth's line marrying Cain's line, creating wicked descendants (Nephilim)-hence The Bad Seed. 

This was a hugely successful film, no doubt creating a lot of discussion amongst parents, teachers and doctors. They already were dealing with rebellious young adults aka juvenile delinquents as shown in films like The Wild One (1953) with Marlon Brando and biker gangs and The Blackboard Jungle (1955) intercity school chaos. And, gasp, rock and roll music!

The Bad Seed provides a fun drinking game in reference to modern times: when the 8 year old's narcissistic behavior reminds one of the Roach-take a shot! 

Paula Poundstone is back.  

Gavin Newsom at Davos compared the Roach to T Rex:

"Either you mate with him or he devours you."

1/24: Another Minneapolis martyr: Alex Pretti, 37, American citizen and ICU RN was shot multiple times by ICE.

We are displaying a LED candle in the window each night, in memory of Mr. Pretti and in solidarity with Minneapolis residents. The candle will remain until ICE leaves the city.

~

It's time for impeachment, not just Roach but his entire cabinet of clowns and incompetents. They are a clear and present danger not only to us, but the entire planet,

Congress, get a spine. Otherwise, this is the beginning of what's to come. You only have to see what happened recently in Iran where the regime slaughtered thousands of protesters to grasp how this can go. This has to be nipped in the bud NOW before it's too late.