Wrong about the end of the hummingbird show. The female is out there working the lower levels of the azalea. Those bloomed later than the uppers and seem to still have nectar on offer.
Hummingbird revue is probably done for the year -- azalea is dropping flowers and even the bumblebees are scarce. We've seen hummers in the crab-apple, but that's further out and higher up, and a much larger expanse of flowers that we can't see from inside. Also, catbird hasn't been hanging out on the inside of the bush this morning. Hummers may return when the hostas bloom, but that isn't as concentrated a lure.
Did get out for my full neighborhood walk, including a meet-up with Ms. Sasha. I told her I hadn't expected her, but she doesn't seem to mind damp fur. So that's a win.
Did get out for my full neighborhood walk, including a meet-up with Ms. Sasha. I told her I hadn't expected her, but she doesn't seem to mind damp fur. So that's a win.
There's a local cat, scruffy gray tabby with white paws, probably feral. Not at all friendly. Yesterday I saw it limping across the intersection, moving slow and with a front paw problem. Not a damned thing I can do to help it. Animal control officer is already working on neighborhood ferals, so this one is probably trap-shy. And we have a range of wild predators -- coyotes, foxes, bobcats, fishers, martens, even the eagles and large owls.
Keep your kitties inside, folks.
Keep your kitties inside, folks.
Air temperature 52 F, wind near calm, cloudy. Roads wet from overnight rain, which seems to be moving on. May have a gap big enough to fit in a walk.
Bringing this from writer Joseph Malik over from Bluesky. I think it's spot on.
"Subtext separates a novel from a novel-length story. Subtext is the part that AI can't--and never will--generate. It can't read for subtext. It can read Cliff's Notes to determine an existing novel's subtext, but there is no mathematical or logical process to create it. Subtext is uniquely human."
It's the conclusion to a 3-post thread. You can find that via my mentions over there if you're so inclined.
"Subtext separates a novel from a novel-length story. Subtext is the part that AI can't--and never will--generate. It can't read for subtext. It can read Cliff's Notes to determine an existing novel's subtext, but there is no mathematical or logical process to create it. Subtext is uniquely human."
It's the conclusion to a 3-post thread. You can find that via my mentions over there if you're so inclined.
Light mist, enough to justify a jacket but not enough to get me wet. Met up with Ms. Sasha, did our ritual of a greeting on the neighbor's walk and then stroll around the corner to her own front steps for further workout. Lilacs are starting to bloom, no aroma yet. Catbird twerdling from the top of our crab-apple when I got back, but I had just heard a full professional oratorio from a mocker so the catbird did not impress. But then, I'm not his audience.
Air temperature 54 F, wind southeast about 6 mph, cloudy with roads and lawns damp from overnight rain. City mower out at 5:30 in the park, throwing out clouds of mist along with the grass clippings. Catbird was up before that, singing from the azalea. Having his own Eurovision contest with his mirror image?
Just as I did last week, I stuffed this week's collage with color, as this is about the garden I put in this week. Each year I tell myself, "I'm going to scale it back!" and usually I don't.
Well, it is a little smaller. I did not plant my big City Picker planters. I will still put kale and Swiss chard in one. I limited myself on tomatoes to just two plants in smaller pots. I have about given up because the squirrels get so many of the tomatoes and the ones left are usually afflicted with blossom rot. But as I do every year, I have put geraniums by the front door, herb pots on the back porch, a hanging pot of lobelia by the back door, and petunias in the four planters on the back patio.
The lilacs are blooming (Rob planted that bush over thirty years ago), as well as the bleeding hearts, and bunnies sit in the yard every day.
It is a lot of work, and I always grumble about the work and the cost. But I am always so happy when I get it done.
Description: Background: a riot of colors from flowers. Lower left: a crouching bunny. Lower right: a terra cotta pot planted with basil and a tomato plant. Center: a row of herb pots. Upper third: a white planter planted with multicolored petunias
Garden
Click on the links to see the 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2021 52 Card Project galleries.
Well, it is a little smaller. I did not plant my big City Picker planters. I will still put kale and Swiss chard in one. I limited myself on tomatoes to just two plants in smaller pots. I have about given up because the squirrels get so many of the tomatoes and the ones left are usually afflicted with blossom rot. But as I do every year, I have put geraniums by the front door, herb pots on the back porch, a hanging pot of lobelia by the back door, and petunias in the four planters on the back patio.
The lilacs are blooming (Rob planted that bush over thirty years ago), as well as the bleeding hearts, and bunnies sit in the yard every day.
It is a lot of work, and I always grumble about the work and the cost. But I am always so happy when I get it done.
Description: Background: a riot of colors from flowers. Lower left: a crouching bunny. Lower right: a terra cotta pot planted with basil and a tomato plant. Center: a row of herb pots. Upper third: a white planter planted with multicolored petunias
Click on the links to see the 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2021 52 Card Project galleries.
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thewayne May. 16th, 2025 09:58 am)
thewayne May. 16th, 2025 09:58 am)The jet that Our Beloved Leader is so keen on accepting? Let's ignore the accepting gifts from foreign kings and all that for the moment.
He never stopped to wonder why they're so eager to get rid of it.
If he'd looked around, he would have seen that pretty much none of the Arab countries are flying the 747-8 jets. Why?
1. COST. $23,000 PER HOUR. It's a big effing plane, consumes a huge amount of fuel and requires a lot of maintenance. That plane has logged a little over 1,000 flight hours over the last five years - it's a yard bird! And yet it still costs money because it has to be stored and maintained and insured or it'll fall apart!
2. Size. Monster big heavy jets are very limited in where they can go. Monster big heavy jets require very long and wide runways to take off and land on. The royals are going to Gulfstream 5s and narrow-body jets that have a lot more options as to where they can travel to.
3. This particular jet is coming up on major maintenance. Currently it is due to have its front landing gear taken apart for major maintenance and inspection. The engines are also coming up on their complete tear-down and inspection. These are VERY costly procedures.
4. They can't sell it. There is no market for selling planes like this, it is described as "illiquid". The only use for 747-8s is for cargo, and this one cannot economically be converted for freight: you'd have to rip-out all that bling, reinforce the entire fuselage, cut a monster big hole in the side, recertify the fuselage as airworthy, and then you'd be able to use it for cargo transport. Probably cheaper to buy a used 747-8 that was built for that purpose.
I'm pretty certain he'll accept thebribegift. After all, his Attorney General said it's okay! And she should know, she was a paid lobbyist for Qatar, earning over $100,000 A MONTH for doing that. And he may refuse to let the military/Boeing modify it to bring it closer to the standards needed to be a proper Air Force One plane, because doing so would cost tens/hundreds of millions of dollars and take a lot more time than He would have patience for, and would also delay the two new AF1 jets further. He's going to want it NOW NOW NOW like the toddler that he is.
The Qataris fund Hammas. And the Huthis. And are pretty much allies with Iran. And now they're building a multi-billion dollar Trump golf course/resort in their country.
Qatar gets rid of a boondoggle that costs them money. They get to curry favor with the "Leader of the Free World". It is an absolute win/win situation for them.
Yep. No conflicts of interest to be seen here.
The NJ.com article excerpts from the Forbes article, which may be paywalled.
https://www.nj.com/politics/2025/05/turns-out-the-jokes-on-trump-when-it-comes-to-that-qatari-jumbo-jet.html
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeremybogaisky/2025/05/14/qatar-747-trump/
He never stopped to wonder why they're so eager to get rid of it.
If he'd looked around, he would have seen that pretty much none of the Arab countries are flying the 747-8 jets. Why?
1. COST. $23,000 PER HOUR. It's a big effing plane, consumes a huge amount of fuel and requires a lot of maintenance. That plane has logged a little over 1,000 flight hours over the last five years - it's a yard bird! And yet it still costs money because it has to be stored and maintained and insured or it'll fall apart!
2. Size. Monster big heavy jets are very limited in where they can go. Monster big heavy jets require very long and wide runways to take off and land on. The royals are going to Gulfstream 5s and narrow-body jets that have a lot more options as to where they can travel to.
3. This particular jet is coming up on major maintenance. Currently it is due to have its front landing gear taken apart for major maintenance and inspection. The engines are also coming up on their complete tear-down and inspection. These are VERY costly procedures.
4. They can't sell it. There is no market for selling planes like this, it is described as "illiquid". The only use for 747-8s is for cargo, and this one cannot economically be converted for freight: you'd have to rip-out all that bling, reinforce the entire fuselage, cut a monster big hole in the side, recertify the fuselage as airworthy, and then you'd be able to use it for cargo transport. Probably cheaper to buy a used 747-8 that was built for that purpose.
I'm pretty certain he'll accept the
The Qataris fund Hammas. And the Huthis. And are pretty much allies with Iran. And now they're building a multi-billion dollar Trump golf course/resort in their country.
Qatar gets rid of a boondoggle that costs them money. They get to curry favor with the "Leader of the Free World". It is an absolute win/win situation for them.
Yep. No conflicts of interest to be seen here.
The NJ.com article excerpts from the Forbes article, which may be paywalled.
https://www.nj.com/politics/2025/05/turns-out-the-jokes-on-trump-when-it-comes-to-that-qatari-jumbo-jet.html
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeremybogaisky/2025/05/14/qatar-747-trump/
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Tiny speedwell and chickweed blooming in lawns that haven't been sprayed with weedkiller. Plain grass lawns are so boring. And that fool catbird continues trying to scare off the bird in the window. He doesn't actually hit the window, just flares at it, and he can't pick up much speed because he perches about 2' away from the glass.
Air temperature 57 F, wind south at 8 mph, fog. Nearest rain on the weather radar is up at the rooftop of Maine and moving away. Back yard crab-apple blooms are opening, attracting warblers and finches for the bugs. Should be able to get a walk in. Continue spreading chaos.
We have a catbird arguing with his reflection in the window that looks into the heart of that bush. Catbirds nested there last year, with success. Maybe nostalgia?
Early cress blooming, first bunchberry and wood anemone, and the wild cherries have started in. No geese or ducks at the cemetery pond.
Decided I'd had enough recovery from my bike oopsie and started back in on spring conditioning. We'll see what my legs have to say about this tomorrow. Did not die.
7.45 miles, 45:51
Decided I'd had enough recovery from my bike oopsie and started back in on spring conditioning. We'll see what my legs have to say about this tomorrow. Did not die.
7.45 miles, 45:51
Air temperature 55 F, wind south about 5 mph, airport weather says mostly cloudy but we just have high haze. Scattered showers in the forecast, should still be able to get my walk in.
Image: white lilac
I'm at least always reminded on a Wednesday that maybe I should go on over to DW and at least drop a line about what I've been reading. As has become typical of me, I will also attempt to catch you up on the rest of my life. But first, since it's probably the least interesting, I'll start with my reading.
This has been a banger week for me.
I finished Nghi Vo's The Chosen & The Beautiful, which I probably would have appreciated more if I were a fan of The Great Gatsby, which I am not. I didn't hate Vo's book, however? I liked the magic far better than any of the people, but I'm pretty sure, given what I know about The Great Gatsby, that was likely by design. Then, I have been absolutely CRANKING through The Singing Hills Cycle, which is Nghi Vo's loosely connected series of novellas about the wandering scholar-priest Chih, whom I adore. This week I listened to The Empress of Salt and Fortune, When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain, and Into the Riverlands. I have Mammoths at the Gates queued up and ready to listen to! I don't even know how to explain how awesome these novellas are, but if you are at all a fan of C-Dramas I guarantee you will *love* these. I could not be happier to see that another in this series is up for a Hugo this year. Thank all the gods my friend
naomikritzer is up in a different catagory or I'd have a real connundrum on my hands.Also, because there was a day when I could not get the next Singing Hills novella, I listened to Remote Control. another novella, this one by Nnedi Okorafor. I have to say? These two hour audio versions of stories are amazing--like popcorn for the brain!
The rest of my week has been a lot. Much of it fun stuff, but a goodly chunk of it being preparation for heading East to watch Mason graduate from college. (I know! It doesn't seem possible to me, either!) To be fair, Shawn is doing most of the actual planning. But my job is often to do much of the fetching, as it were. Plus, with this crazy heat (it's been all the way up to 90 F / 32 C), I've been trying to keep the ground moist for my baby seedlings that are coming up in the boulevard garden. My bouelvard, like anywhere that I attempt to "grow" grass, is an absolute nightmare. I would be summarily kicked out of any gated community for my inability to keep grass of any sort alive. However, I am attempting to make up for that this year by having a stunning boulevard garden. So in amongst the perrenials, I dumped a literal ton of "butterfly garden" seeds. Things seem to be emerging? Of course, we are also poised to be out of town for a week and a half. So, I may come back to a lot of dead things.
Which I guess also goes with the grass aesthetic, I guess.
Sigh.
At any rate, the fun thing I did this week was spontaneously go on a "Midwestern hanami" with the above-mentioned Naomi. I have long told her how jealous I am that the Japanese actually make a holiday out of flower viewing (which is what hanami translates to--actually technically it's just "flower" and "to see.") In Japan, of course, what people go out to look at are cherry blossoms. We could do that here, but cherry blossoms bloom when it's still a bit "nippy," as we say here in Minnesota, plus there just aren't a ton of cherry trees to be had. Lilacs--even though lots of other things are in bloom--are really to the Midwest what cherry blossoms are to Japan. Like in Japan, lilacs are not native... but you wouldn't know it. Also, people plant them EVERYWHERE and when they bloom, you can smell them on the air. Just like in Japan, you can, if you know where to find them (and I do,) walk through a kind of tunnel of lilacs in bloom.
Image: On Summit Avenue, there exists a secret tunnel of lilacs two blocks long....
Naomi and I have long talked about doing a lilac hanami, so we finally did. On Tuesday, we set off to Summit Avenue just east of Lexington where exists a lovely, two-block long tunnel of lilacs. It was a perfect spot, actually. Public, but still a little private.
Image: A silly otaku (me) enjoying a picnic under the lilacs.
We spent the time snacking on sushi and fantasing about a Minnesota where everyone has the week off when the lilacs come into bloom. We imagined all sorts of lilac "flavored" treats people could sell, including some "Minnesota State Fair"-inspired things like a corndog with lavender/lilac-colored mustard artistically droozled to look like a lilac. It could be a thing!
Minnesotas could all wander around with phones and camera out, trying to get the perfect quintessential lilac shot.
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Have now seen a definite female hummingbird at the azalea flowers. She even perched facing me for definitive viewing of the lack of a bib. For all we know, she's just taking a juice break from nest duties, as the male does nothing about that.
And, in other important local news, we have an outstanding crop of dandelions livening up our yard.
Air temperature 51 F, wind south 9 mph gusting to 18, sunny. Couple of geese over in the park this morning, wandering around and providing avian contrast to the hummingbird working our azalea. I wonder what they are doing about a nest and goslings.
Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world
Like a Colossus, and we petty men
Walk under his huge legs and peep about
To find ourselves dishonorable graves.
Men at some time are masters of their fates.
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
But in ourselves, that we are underlings.
Like a Colossus, and we petty men
Walk under his huge legs and peep about
To find ourselves dishonorable graves.
Men at some time are masters of their fates.
The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
But in ourselves, that we are underlings.
Case in point, late April I mailed out a double DVD, The Curse and The Curse 2, a flippy DVD. I doubt it's a very good movie, but whatever. If someone wants it and I have it, it gets mailed.
Now, we initially cataloged this movie in 2013, so that's when we acquired it. Since then, and I don't know exactly when, we changed cataloging systems and lending history prior to that change was lost. It was, I'd guess, a decade ago. Since that 'decade'-ago conversion, it has had one in-house use plus me mailing it out once.
Very high-traffic item. :-)
Since I sent it out three weeks ago or so?
I've received two or three requests for it! I'm guessing it was featured/mentioned in a podcast or something.
Unfortunately I can't pull up cancelled requests in WorldShare. I could in our previous ILL program, ILLiad, but that cost a fair chunk of money annually whereas WorldShare is free because we already pay a goodly amount of change to OCLC for other programs that we need.
It'll be interesting to see if there's still demand for it once it's returned from the borrowing library.
After digging into IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes, IMDB gives it a 5.1 out of a 1-10 scale and RT gives it a 27% score. I also found out that it's based on a HP Lovecraft story. So definitely sounds like a very bad movie. I didn't bother looking up Curse 2.
And IMDB had a footnote comment that Wil Wheaton, teen star of the film, noted that he and his sister were horribly abused during the production of this film and he talked about it on his blog in 2022(?).
Now, we initially cataloged this movie in 2013, so that's when we acquired it. Since then, and I don't know exactly when, we changed cataloging systems and lending history prior to that change was lost. It was, I'd guess, a decade ago. Since that 'decade'-ago conversion, it has had one in-house use plus me mailing it out once.
Very high-traffic item. :-)
Since I sent it out three weeks ago or so?
I've received two or three requests for it! I'm guessing it was featured/mentioned in a podcast or something.
Unfortunately I can't pull up cancelled requests in WorldShare. I could in our previous ILL program, ILLiad, but that cost a fair chunk of money annually whereas WorldShare is free because we already pay a goodly amount of change to OCLC for other programs that we need.
It'll be interesting to see if there's still demand for it once it's returned from the borrowing library.
After digging into IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes, IMDB gives it a 5.1 out of a 1-10 scale and RT gives it a 27% score. I also found out that it's based on a HP Lovecraft story. So definitely sounds like a very bad movie. I didn't bother looking up Curse 2.
And IMDB had a footnote comment that Wil Wheaton, teen star of the film, noted that he and his sister were horribly abused during the production of this film and he talked about it on his blog in 2022(?).
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