INSIDIOUS GAMBLING ADVERTISING

Charles Krupa

I've been seeing a lot of a particular ad to entice folks to gamble online on sports. It points out, truthfully, that in our lives everyday, we make choices. Healthy oatmeal or an Egg Mcmuffin for breakfast; turning right or left at a busy intersection; have a few drinks with pals after work and drive. Well, the ad cuts to the chase with this thought: since you make choices all the time (and presumably, since you're still above ground, you've been pretty successful) why not make some choices (ahem, bet) and make some cash while you're at it. C'mon bunky, you do this all the time. And who couldn't use some extra heft in the wallet? (yeah with Christmas approaching and inflation is killing everyone, it would help).

Places like this have been a bane to poorer neighborhoods for many years often being the only grocery store in urban food deserts. But now, the gambling industry is going after big bucks: white folks. Betting on sports is now legal in MI and the industry has signed huge ad contracts with Big 10 schools. Gee, just what college kids need on top of thousands of dollar debt for a degree-a gambling problem. Not to mention the adults whose paycheck isn't keeping up with inflation. And it's sooo easy, just use that iphone that many have velcroed to their body. The habits of so many including the young have not gone unnoticed.
 

HORNED LIZARD

 

Mr. Horned Lizard aka Horny Toad whose ancestry dates back several million years. From Wiki:

The Texas horned lizard, along with at least three other species of the genus Phrynosoma, also has the ability to squirt an aimed stream of blood  from the corners of the eyes and sometimes from its mouth at a distance up to 5 ft (1.5 m). They do this by restricting the blood flow leaving the head, thereby increasing blood pressure and rupturing tiny vessels around the eyelids. This not only confuses would-be predators, but also the blood is mixed with a chemical that is foul-tasting to canine predators such as wolves, coyotes, and domestic dogs. This novel behavior is generally observed to be very effective in defense; however, it appears to have no effect against predatory birds.

THANKSGIVING

I had done most of the prep work/cooking on Wednesday. With temps pushing into the low-50's and most of the snow gone except in deep shade, I decided to work outside. The sun was out for awhile until the clouds came later in the afternoon. Two things needed to be done: another pass at the blanket of my neighbor's oak leaves and run the gas out of the mower.      Got 'er dun.

The feast: my take on a Wellington. Inside C's was a mixture of roasted mushrooms, garlic, onion, shallots, vegan apple/sage sausage, panko crumbs, thyme, sage. The original called for one egg as a binder, my egg replacement Just, didn't work so well. Inside my Welly was the same mushroom/roasted veggie base with turkey from a frozen turkey leg found at Horrocks (small quantities of turkey cannot be found). I tried using a liquid egg (that comes in a milk carton-like container) as a binder and that didn't work either. Accompanying the main course was homemade seeded rye bread/mushroom dressing and fresh steamed whole green beans. The homemade mushroom gravy is in the upper right covered with a napkin. Dessert for both of us was a delicious cupcake from Sweet Encounters located in the Knapps Building in downtown Lansing. Their vegan frosting is the best we have found-not too sweet with plenty of flavor. C added a side of Ben & Jerry's  Fudge Brownie non-dairy ice cream. All was yummers! And we prepared a special meal for Madame as well served earlier in the day. Based on her cleaned plate, it was up to her exacting standards.

We had a nice fire going and C suggested we watch Planes, Trains and Automobiles which she had not seen. I made her a take on a Cosmopolitan cocktail, using a Seedlip distilled non-alcoholic spirit, cranberry juice and lime juice without the simple syrup. With the sun gone, Molls joined us and received some premium scritches and belly rubs that Mom is well-known for.

FIVE SECOND STORIES

We were watching a show about octopuses and their relatives. It was clear that one of everyone's favorite food were crabs and we wondered if the crabs were bitter:

 "All we are is somebody's meal!" For our crabby friends:

The couple found that every time they encountered any of the squirrel siblings out in the yard, they talked to them.

꩜ 

What a relief that the elections went the way they did. A dark cloud that had plagued and weighed heavily on his mind especially during this cycle had lifted. He realized that part of the underlying depression had its source from his lifelong interest in reading history. He knew what happened to people like himself and his wife in authoritarian regimes. Either the camps or being "disappeared" are common outcomes and he did not think he was being overly dramatic. MAGAs had shown themselves both egregiously callous and cruel towards immigrants and it would not be much of a pivot for this to be directed towards Americans who disagreed with MAGA theology.

꩜ 

While out and about during the season's first snow, he came across several robins in a small tree that were probably freezing their tail feathers and wondering why they hadn't migrated yet. Down the road he saw four Sandhill Cranes who hadn't left yet for their winter homes in Florida. Generally they leave by the end of November. 

꩜ 

The Arctic air and snow have moved past us and the day was sunny and the melt has begun as if it were early February. The giving stone and feeder were busy, even the Crow Bros had stopped in for a snack.

Juncos eating at the giving stone.

 

 

MODERN FABLE: THE TREE AND THE CAT

When the new humans moved into the house, the Locust tree aged 62 years, wondered if they would have pets. The last ones had a dog and the owners drilled a spiked ring into his trunk to attach a leash. His healing cells went to work on the wound to protect him from invading insects. He didn't mind all that much, the dog was pretty well behaved and he enjoyed a different species to hang out with. He liked all his avian and mammal neighbors and chatted with them as they perched or ran up and down his trunk. The humans kept him trimmed up, taking out the limbs that inevitably succumb to age. Just like the dog about 10 years after he arrived. The locust was sad and for several years, no one new appeared.

He was quite happy when it was revealed that the new humans had brought with them three cats. He had experience with cats passing through the property on patrol, occasionally marking his trunk or stropping their claws on the bark. Neither activity bothered him. Within a few days, all three cats had visited him and one in particular, the grey, enjoyed stropping her claws on him. This activity did no damage and he rather enjoyed the sensation. And usually, the little grey would hang out with him, partially concealed in the day lilies.

Her language was different than the neighborhood cats. While he could understand the gist of what she was saying (all creatures can understand one another, except for humans) there were times he was perplexed. The little grey had traveled from far, far away, across a big ocean where he was surprised that his kind live as well. He contacted them through the mycelium network and picked up language pointers which helped a lot. A routine had been established: the side door would open and the little grey would run out and go directly to his trunk for a bit of stropping. Then, she would patrol and return back to the lilies that grew around his base, lie down and they would chat. 

A decade passed and all were getting older. Generations of squirrels and rabbits had come and gone. Two out of the three cats had passed leaving the little grey by herself. She didn't mind though, she confided to him. The other two got on her nerves and besides, she now has her humans to herself for great treats and lots of scritches. But, she was getting elderly and losing weight. Her time on patrol was shorter than in past years and she slept more. The locust was feeling his age too, there were several major limbs that were dying or dead. He wished the humans would trim them off as losing them in a windstorm usually meant a jagged wound as the limb tore off unlike a nice smooth cut the human's saws created. 

He was feeling melancholy as Fall lead into Winter. His friend was not be out everyday. His leaves had dropped and it was time for a long nap until it warmed again. He looked forward to seeing his little grey again and feeling her claws on his bark. And then a good chin wag to get caught up. This was something he valued about Spring, feeling the life energy of the planet surging through his veins, the warmth of the sun and meeting up again with all his friends in the neighborhood.

BIG GRETCH SAYS NO

 

In a November 15 interview with the Detroit Free Press, Governor Gretchen Whitmer said that she has no interest in running for president in the 2024 election. "The lure of Washington, D.C., has not been something that has ever drawn my interest or attention. What I love about state government is that you can do things right now and see the impact that it has on people's lives." While disappointing, her move to quickly squash speculation for a 2024 run is both gracious and courageous. After the harrowing experience of a kidnapping plot that she and her family endured, who can blame anyone for not wanting to potentially go through it again in the high stakes arena of the presidency. Good on her to quickly step aside so the party can move on to others interested in the job. And, emphasizing what her priority is: to help the people of Michigan who elected her as governor. Such a rarity these days in American politics. We are so lucky.

FIRST SNOW

We had a nice Indian Summer for a couple of weeks before the Arctic air began to filter into MI. Monday was in the low 40's with little wind. I joined my neighbors in the early afternoon taking another pass at raking the oak leaves. 

Madame enjoyed several days of nice sunny patches in the library.

 

A red-bellied woodpecker hunting for something.

One of the siblings enjoying a bit of stale pita.

The snow started in earnest 8.30 am on Tuesday.

Two hours later. More to come middle-late week.

64 EIRE

I was watching a drone vid featuring Ireland when I spotted this:

Nick TMV

This is located in County Mayo in the Republic of Ireland at Downpatrick Head. During WWII, the Irish government declared neutrality and set up 80 lookout posts around the coastline, connected by telephone, to monitor and report all sea traffic to the Irish Coast Guard. There were also these markings either cut into the turf or simply an arrangement of rocks as a warning to American aircraft that they had reached neutral Ireland having crossed the Atlantic Ocean.

Nearby is a longtime tourist attraction: Dún Briste Sea Stack.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE STALWART OAK LEAVES

After the two day wind storm took down all the maple and birch leaves only the tough oak leaves remain. The oak gave up maybe a third of its foliage but what remains now will take its damn time to depart the branches. This happens every year: you get the majority of leaves out of the way but then the stubborn oak becomes the gift that keeps giving, sometimes until early Spring. And boy, who doesn't like a mess of brown leaves littering newly fallen snow?

MODERN LIFE: AI ANGELS

The other day the cell phone rang and I picked it up to see who the caller was. The screen read:

 SCAM LIKELY

Thanks AI angel, this might have been Pillow Guy with more MAGA bullshit. After all, AI is connected throughout our devices and certainly based on use, searches etc, AI would have a good idea what my leanings are. I wonder if one of those smart doorbell cameras could give me a Jehovah, Mormon, 7th Day Adventist alarm if they are on my porch. "Alexa, who is at the front door?" "Crazy Jesus people, Jeff. Stay hidden until the coast is clear." "You're the best, Alexa!"

RED WAVE FAILS TO MATERIALIZE, MANY DISAPPOINTED, OTHERS RELIEVED

 

These crows thought that Wednesday morning breakfast buffet would be chock full of defeated Democrats and ballot initiatives. Instead, the menu featured assorted entrees of dashed MAGA hopes, a side of unpalatable creamed delusions topped with Donald's special bat shit crazy sauce and an abundance of sour grapes for dessert.

 

 

Whew! What a relief especially here in Michigan. Big Gretch and her stalwart ladies Nessel, Benson and Slotkin preservered and all three ballot initiatives passed. Sure, it looks like the House is going over to the Opposition, which is often the case during mid-term elections. But if the Democrats can hang on to the Senate, then Biden will have to take a page out of Obama's playbook and in the face of a intransigent House, try and stuff done via executive action. There'll be a lot of noise from the GOP, investigations galore but the Democrats need to finally, aggressively push back and call out their Jr. High antics. They also have to stop, something I have hollered about for years, bringing a goddamn rolled newspaper to a knife fight. You wanna save democracy, well, you're gonna have to get down where they are in the gutter and get dirty. Fucking flowered signs proclaiming "Be Kind" ain't gonna cut it. 

Now, the Joe problem. Joe shouldn't run in '24. In fact, the facelift needed for the party should start quietly start handing out the gold watches to the gerontocracy, thank you for your service, and get some young blood into leadership. The bench right now is pretty thin. I'd back Gretch but I think her time might come in '28. She's a proven winner, can effectively work with nutjobs and has experience, maturity and relatively young (she would be 57). 

ANOTHER FRONTIER CROSSED: COULD AI BEGIN TO REPLACE HUMAN GRAPHIC DESIGNERS?

 

via Collin Waldoch

This image was created via powerful AI programs that are beginning to surface in the Design business. Carrot Parrot was typed into the program and a few seconds later, AI produced this image. Now, the industry is already trying to assuage fears of human job losses, optimistically suggesting that AI would be great in the beginning, kicking around ideas stage of a project. But what will push this into widespread use is the quickness of the turnaround. Seconds vs days or weeks while humans come up with images. And that there is what it's all about: cost effectiveness. Better! Faster! More production! Look at all the money saved! And AI doesn't need pesky 401K or health insurance. More money for shareholders and management! For a fuller article:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/21/technology/ai-generated-art-jobs-dall-e-2.html 

About the same time I read this article, I came across several AI music vids on YouTube. Here's one that the developers had instructed to use Surrealism as a style basis.

 

OBITUARY: ELIZABETH (BETTY) HELEN WILSON

 

My father's last remaining sibling has died at age 91, the last blood relative of that generation. My godmother Reva, who married Dad's youngest brother Pete, is still alive aged 94.

BEAVER FULL MOON AND TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE

Glowy sky during wind storm evening November 6

 

Beaver Full Moon November 7

Eclipse 4.50am EST

Totality 5.20am EST (click to enlarge)

ANOTHER SIGN ABOUT THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS

Stan Honda

We've been relentlessly inundated with pollsters and pundits for months and now another has thrown their opinion into the ring: the Universe. There will be a total lunar eclipse visible to much of the US on Tuesday morning, election day. Eclipses throughout history have been regarded by many as an omen of change and often of the negative variety. I've been pretty bummed out about the apparent direction of things and this is just icing on the giant Debbie Downer cake. Not to mention the inevitability that some religious groups will seize this as a sign from the Invisible and tailor its message to whatever whackado agenda they are pushing. It's just another weight thrown on the scale of bad things heading our way and it does not look good for the home team.

POST HALLOWEEN MUSIC: OINGO BOINGO "DON'T GO IN THE BASEMENT"

 Animation from the fabulous Sally Cruikshank. 1987 

 

Halloween
 

FROM SPITTING IMAGE...THE LIZ & RISHI SHOW

 

In the first minute or so, watch Liz conjure up Satan for help only to get Ole Vlady instead (His master is off taking refresher courses). Well worth the price of admission. Meanwhile, Rishi can only explain his brand of bullshit plans for the UK with the help of an interpreter.

THE MENACE OF TWITTER

 

From Pawel Kuczynski, this illustration from 2021 takes on a new meaning with Elon (a genius in his own mind, just ask) Musk taking control of Twitter.

SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHT NIGHT: GIVING STONE #3

 

Like in an old western on a Saturday night when various groups intersect at the local saloon, there was a kerfuffle around the giving stone with an unexpected trio of characters, never seen together in these here parts, showing up for an evening meal.

The three: Young Rocky, mature Stampy and a Blossom, perhaps from this year or a very small female.

C had done some refrigerator emptying in her Department and  put the food out on the giving stone. We had just finishing watching a show and it was dark out, 8.30 pm perhaps and we wondered if anyone was having a meal. Turning on the nearest light, we could make out 3 shapes in the vicinity. Young Rocky was sideways to us on the East side of the food. To his right, facing us was Blossom probably a couple of nose lengths away. Emerging from the North, out of the shadows, strode the Stampy who we recognized as Big Mama. She has big white/ivory stripes on either side of her body and a luxurious tail. Her 2 kits, however, both have a nice V on their foreheads, black bodies with white tail tips.

Big Mama swung around to Blossom's right and began to nibble. The other two barely acknowledged her presence. It was chow time. Now, like people, some skunks are just ornery, and since they possess a feared weapon, well, sometimes that goes to their head. Big Mama falls into this category and she decided to intimidate the young Blossom by squaring off, face to face while still having a nibble. Blossom showed no reaction and continued eating but didn't take her eyes off Big Mama. Big Mama evidently did not feel like wasting too much time with this kid so she escalated through DefComs 5,4,3 like going through the gears on a sports car. First, she raised and fanned her tail, like a peacock. Then she quickly stamped her front paws and charged Blossom who immediately pivoted left and fled to the shadows under the pool deck.

Young Rocky just kept eating. His Mama said that you could fire off a shotgun next to that boy when he was having his grub and that kid wouldn't move an inch. 

Big Mama having secured one half of the spread for herself, she settled in for a good feed. It was not to be.

Within minutes of her seeking safety in the shadows, Blossom began moving Westward, behind Big Mama and creating an  ellipse back to the stone. At first it seemed Big Mama didn't notice the return of the young possum, who was eating not more than two feet away. Perhaps she was blissed out from the food. Suddenly, she realized who was next to her and she immediately fanned her tail. This time, Blossom didn't budge and shifted slightly for a better angle. As Big Mama began to stamp, Blossom charged. Big Mama pivoted and quickly waddled off back to the North as fast as her fanned tail would let her. Blossom arranged so her nose was directly towards where the skunk had left into the shadows and started to eat. 

Suddenly, Big Mama came charging up and started stamping. Blossom pivoted left, retracing her ellipse. As she passed to the North of Big Mama, the skunk charged and stamped again. Then she return to the stone, this time with her raised tail pointing towards the only access point Blossom would have if she wanted to eat. 

Young Rocky ate through it all.

We finally turned off the light and went to bed. Somehow, they must have worked things out for there was no olfactory evidence the next morning that the nuclear option had been used.

OUT AND ABOUT TALES

 

On the way in yesterday morning, we passed a dead young buck in the grassy median, under the highway on Michigan Avenue near Frandor. He had probably been dragged off the street and placed there.

Returning on the same route in the afternoon, I noticed that someone had tied 2 long-stringed balloons to one of his antlers. The balloons read "Get Well Soon!" This was just odd. Understandably, the nearby Kroger does not carry a "Sorry You Died!" balloon in stock but geez, "Get Well Soon?" Either the work of some well meaning folk or a stoner being ironic. I guess I am getting old in my ways but I figure if you are going to commemorate a life, generally flowers are the most acceptable and easy choice, for us. Who knows how any species mourn their own?

GONE LEAVES

As predicted in my post from 10/25, the rain and the wind brought down most of Mr. Birch's leaves the following day and evening. Despite a steady breeze, his leaves hung on until an occasional burst of wind would jettison them into a swirl and cascade of gold.

Now, Mr. Birch and Mr. Maple out front are almost completely denuded as are large swaths of trees in woods in the area. What is left are the few leaves who in the wind, tremble.

ASPERITAS CLOUDS

 

Josh Carson

From Wiki:

Asperitas (formerly known as Undulatus asperatus) is a cloud formation first popularized and proposed as a type of cloud in 2009 by Gavin Pretor-Pinney of the Cloud Appreciation Society.  Added to the International Cloud Atlas as a supplementary feature in March 2017, it is the first cloud formation added since cirrus intortus in 1951. The name translates approximately as "roughness".

The clouds are closely related to undulatus clouds. Although they appear dark and storm-like, they almost always dissipate without a storm forming. The ominous-looking clouds have been particularly common in the Plains states of the United States, often during the morning or midday hours following convective thunderstorm activity.

Well, who knew there was a Cloud Appreciation Society? And as for the International Cloud Atlas, there is no connection with the novel and subsequent film. From Wiki:

The author (David Mitchell) has said that the book is about reincarnation and the universality of human nature, and that the title references a changing landscape (a "cloud") over manifestations of fixed human nature (the "atlas"). It is not a direct reference to a cloud atlas.

 

 

 

 

GOING FAST

 

The birch leaves are thinning fast changing the shadows on the shed to more and more of dappling effect. Just from yesterday to today, the loss is remarkable in the neighborhood: Benny's maples next door are just about done as is our small birch. The big maple out front is about half bare. Continued breezy conditions today followed by rain tonight and into tomorrow will empty a lot of trees by the weekend.

VISITOR FROM THE NORTH

Gary Soper

Yesterday I was moving leaves in the Back 40 when movement in the honeysuckle branches caught my eye. The little bird was nervous, constantly flitting around but it did so in the same area long enough for me to spot its most prominent feature: a red forehead patch. Research confirms identity: a Common Redpoll. They breed in the Arctic and migrate South for the Winter. If you are staying, Welcome! If not, safe journey!

GOINGS ON IN THE GARDENS

Out back, yellow is the predominant color with the birches, hostas and lily of the valley all turned.

Twilight-note the islands of yellow.

Molls and twilight.

        

Minn's marker in the lily of valley

Meanwhile out front, Mr. Maple is glowing even in twilight:

Around the buffet:

Crow Bros are beginning to stop by.

One of the squirrel siblings, Slick red bird and a newly arrived Senor Junco.

Lil Woody hard at work

Out in the East Garden:

The monarchs left 2-3 weeks ago. At first I thought this might be a late-birthed straggler but then I looked up monarch- looking butterflies in MI and found there are several. This is a Painted Lady.

The birch this afternoon:

Practically a Maxfield Parrish scene.

 

Just in a couple of days, Mr. Birch has turned completely golden yellow. C put forth an idea that Indigenous folk believe that trees like the birch and maple contain some sort of spirit for they can change their appearance on a regular basis. I broadened this to all peoples on the planet and to all living things that all undergo change over their lifetimes. Anything live has spirit became the basis for early belief systems.

An elder teaching young ones this concept would often encounter a challenge: what about rocks? They're not alive like us. The elder's response would suggest that rocks have a different kind of spirit than those "living". "I've seen what a boulder can do to a mountainside or to a man. Even the smallest stone can cause trouble, for example, if it got caught in the hoof of a pony. They deserve respect, like everything else."

FIVE SECOND STORIES

 

Sky, always looking up

One of the Buns appearing to taking on his Winter coat

Glowy tree and Mr. Redbird and Mr. Nuthatch

 

Winter's first breath: in Michigan, you know what's coming when you experience 2 rain mixed with ice events in a day. It's pretty cold aloft and often it's a precursor to the S word arriving shortly.

꩜

The birch is turning in stages. The first wave of leaf loss has been completed and the second has yet to ramp up. For now Mr. Birch is fairly green with pale yellow-green highlights. 

꩜

Saturday, C and her pal Chana were hanging out at the inaugural ReoTown Book Fair when they encountered a woman pushing a baby buggy. Inside was some critter that turned out to be an ancient, obese skunk-so old that its black fur had begun to gray. We generally don't see this out in the wild-they don't survive that long. The skunk, named Lulu, tolerated attention and scritches from onlookers.

꩜

The past couple of days, I've been hearing Red-Winged Black Birds off to the eastern marshes. They've been absent for awhile and I thought they had migrated. Perhaps they're gathering up for the move now.

꩜

During transition seasons such as this, we'll have a few days of 70's in a row. One dresses in layers as the days start cool. As the day warms, layers are removed if you are moving outside. But soon, as the day wans, it cools off in a hurry and the layers go back on.

꩜

It was a curious thing that the house that he and his new wife chose to begin their life together in turned out to be practically in sight of the office where his late wife worked.

꩜

In regards to Madame, while he jokes about "Daddy's girl" the truth about the relationship is much more mature than that.