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If you behave, I'll let you buy oil from me. Otherwise, freeze and die in a ditch. хорошего дня! (have a nice day!) |
Since July of 2021, residents of South Lake Tahoe, Ca have been terrorized by a 500 lb black bear known as Hank the Tank. Nearly 30 homes have been broken into by Hank in his relentless hunt for food. Local officials from the California Fish and Wildlife have tried to deter him with paintballs, bean bags, sirens and Tasers with no avail. His mama didn't raise no fool: why forage when you can muscle your way through fences and doors and access dumpsters for scraps of Big Macs, fries and pizza? CFW spokesperson noted that such bears usually weigh 100-300 lbs and his size is directly due to consumption of food that contributes to American human obesity.
I am surprised that the townsfolk have been so tolerant for so long. Considering the climate of incivility that has infected the country, I wonder when the public will turn up with torches and pitchforks at a town council meeting to demand the demise of Hank. Let's hope the town wisely has him relocated rather than killing him. He is just doing what we all do: trying to survive.
UPDATE: Based on DNA tests, it has been determined that there are actually three bears involved with the string of property damage events. I guess the blog title should now read "We own you bitches!".
My rheumatologist suggested I try tart cherry capsules as I was finding the liquid version either too expensive or hard to find thanks to our continuing supply chain problems. I had prescriptions waiting so I went into my usual Rite Aid. An older clerk helped me find the capsules and as a fellow sufferer, we exchanged anecdotes. While I have osteoarthritis mainly in the hands, this poor woman has it throughout her body. She said she had been on large doses of percocet prescribed by her primary for some time until he left. According to her tale, he announced his retirement and told her to wean off the meds. Good luck and so long. This incident seemed to be a bit off. Really? This guy just split? No referral, no pamphlet on how to safely diminish the use of your pain killers? My reckoning is that this is a cover story, a spin on what actually happened. Perhaps the doctor wanted her to wean because she had been on them too long but she refused. He may have escalated in turn by refusing to prescribe in the future. Who knows. It’s a human trait that we create myths about events, for ourselves and others, to portray us in the best light. Folks don’t like admitting their faults whether they were addicts or that they support The Roach.
Coming out of Menards, I witnessed this incident. This happened a couple of rows away in the parking lot so I could not hear what was said. Just the body language of those involved. Three young black men, dressed in hoodies were dragging several 30 gallon trash cans to a van. They were messing around as young guys often do. Out of the store, coming towards them at speed was a coatless male employee. The group did not see him but a tall, older African American man did. This gentleman must have stood a good 6’6”. I saw him say something to the white clerk who replied and the older man held up a very long sales receipt. The clerk retreated and the man joined what I then perceived to be his employees back at the van which, with because of all the writing and imagery, obviously was a company vehicle. So, what did I see? A classic micro-aggression by the white employee? Hell, there was a white guy dragging a cart containing a toilet in the same area. I didn’t see him interrogated. Or was it the clowning behavior by the hooded black young men which will immediately draw the attention of security in any retail store?
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| Big Bun | |
We have three cottontail rabbits in residence here: one mature buck aka Big Bun and two smaller ones that we thought were siblings as we often see them hanging out together. Last evening, on a break from our film and a fire night, we saw the two younger rabbits engaged in a courtship dance in front of the big birch. About five feet from the Giving Stone, they were facing each other with maybe a foot and a half separating them. Either individually or in unison, they were jumping straight up and down. Now from what I have read, this often leads to jumping over each other and later the female rearing up on her hind legs and boxing the males ears and face. Often, coitus follows.
Alas, it was not to be. As they were gazing into each other's eyes, our young lovers were interrupted by the unwanted presence of our giant resident Racoon, Goliath. He lives under the deck and had come out to see what was left on the Giving Stone buffet. The spell was broken and the younguns dashed off to safety.
Another sign of the oncoming Spring and perhaps we'll see a new crop of kittens. Yep, that's what baby bunnies are called. I did not know this!
Crazy times, my friends.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/23/us/politics/michigan-litter-box-school.html
