Open Thread - Thurs 12 Sep 2024 - What is this?
What is This?
The title of this oped, 'The NYT publisher just wrote the most insulting editorial ever printed — inside the pages of the WaPo ', intrigued me, even though it was on Alternet. After reading the opinion piece, I don't really agree with everything the writer, D. Earl Stephens, is saying, even though it's true that the media often ignores Donald Trump's grossness, crimes, and so on. I do agree that the current media world is driven by money and only money: as the Stephens says,
Money is the impetus that drives too much of what we are being forced to consume in today’s polluted media landscape, and the American public is suffering mightily because of that.
But this problem isn't only about Trump or the right wing. Does the media really ignore Donald Trump? I mean, I don't think Donald Trump would be what he is without the non-stop incessant blathering of the media, blathering that has happened for years and years. That blathering may often ignore the failures of Trump, his crimes, his grossness. Although, I dunno, it seems like two out of three articles on, say, Alternet, are about Donald Trump. Isn't that giving him attention and fame even if it's negative? I mean, Trump was a close friend of the Clintons, once, right? Why not pay attention to that? And he was not always Republican https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_positions_of_Donald_Trump right (he's changed his party affliation 5 times)? And he supported abortion once (or twice, or whatever), https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/09/politics/trump-abortion-stances-timeline/... right?
And that's enough about Trump for me! 
Whatcha think about Stephen's opinion piece? Ohh, and I want to note that the coverage of Harris is just as nonsensical and stupid. This whole election is a farce.
I haven't paid much attention to the presidential debate that happened a day or two ago, although I've read a few articles and watched a Lee Camp (long show, it's 'live') piece about it.
I just can't bring myself to care. My local news had a poll that one could take, asking who we supported for President. There were only two choices. There was not even a third, 'none of the above', choice. How very American!
Now, onto something fun. What kind of bird is this? And does anyone know why it's got the yellow leg tag? It showed up at our farm a few days ago, and tried to make friends with Nikko! And yet, it is a 'wild' bird, near as we can tell.
Unknown Bird, Trying to Befriend Nikko
And one last fun but weird thing. This hornet/wasp like bug, which is about 1.5 inches long, showed up in our greenhouse. We leave the door open for beneficial bugs to come in and in came this guy, or girl as it seems to be. I think it's a horntail; it definitely had the two 'stingers' that the female horntails have. We have never seen one here before, ever. In fact, I've never seen one in my life, up until this one came by a few days ago! I took it out of the greenhouse and let it go, and it flew up into the sky and towards the sun. Go lady, go!
Horntail Wasp, Maybe?
Thanks for reading this post. Here's the open thread - remember, everything is interesting if you dive deep enough, so tell us about where you're diving!
Comments
Hey, good morning
.
sorry but couldn't help with the ID on bird and bug
anyway, Francine kicked the bayous of southern
Louisiana again. My old stomping grounds Lafourche
parish is probably flooded. Infrastructure damage across
the region has about 375,000 without power. Don't miss
those hurricanes. Beautiful day here though.
Thanks for the OT Sima!
question everything
I live in a small river basin/delta...
and our lower fields flood in the winter creating a lake I call lake Wintermere. But I could never, I think, take the flooding that the Bayous get. Gads. I hope your day is a good one!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Good morning, sima!
No time this morning to read the article, can't ID the critters, although that bird looks familiar.
Maybe after work I can do some snooping.
The morning trial involves a child who had been illegally removed from his home and school by his mom. The afternoon trial involved removing a child from his mom who allows her bf to beat the child.
I guess I didn't really have to have children to take care of them.
People are nuts.
Enjoy your day with student Nikko, and thanks for the OT.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
People are nuts...
Very true words! I've no children either, but I care for them too! I'm glad you are helping them in court. Have a good day, with successful court work, and good weekend!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
A great day for the kiddoes!
I won both cases!
Time for beer and pizza!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Yay!!
.
when it works
it comes in spades
question everything
I love getting the hugs from these kids!
They tell me I am cool!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Wonderful!
You rock! Of course
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Good judge,
well behaving clients. I spent lot of time coaching on how to act in court, how to dress, how to address the judge, how to properly respond to questioning, how to avoid being suckered into an argument with opposing counsel, and just having strong cases, good facts.
At any rate, the 4 yr old boy will stay with his wonderful Dad, the 12 yr old will now stay with his wonderful dad, neither will be beaten, neither will be abducted by a crazy mom, and they have a chance to thrive.
And, I managed this with a breakfast of a cookie and coffee, and a lunch of an energy bar. Must say, the evening with pizza and cold beer was great! I am pretty wiped out, now that the adrenaline rush has dissipated.
I think of retiring, then have days like this.
Not yet. Not yet.
Someday...
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Alternet article Paywalled :-P
There is no justice. There can be no peace.
Ack sorry about that...
I can't tell that it is, because it's not paywalled to me and it's under Alternet All-Access. I have never given alternet money. My apologies that is paywalled to you
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
not your fault
.
.
somethings' work and others do not
depending somewhat on your operating
theater -- when I get a slow-down or refusal
on this site, I would get concerned
other places require hidden handshakes?
cheers
question everything
Good morning, Sima
I don't know what type of bug you got, but the bird looks like a nonbreeding adult/immature European Starling. But I'm no expert, so I could be wrong on that.
As for the election, I don't pay to much attention since nothing of any significance will change no matter who wins.
I'm great at multi-tasking. I can waste time, be unproductive, and procrastinate all at the same time.
It could definitely be a starling...
Huge flocks of them have started to appear around here in the last few years. They weren't here before that, although they were, obviously 'here'. Hubby says one of those flocks was around when that bird tried to befriend Nikko...
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
MSM election interference...
It's not Russia. We have plenty of internal interference. MSM is just one example.
https://newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/rich-noyes/2024/08/19/study-networks-de...
It is pretty obvious the dark state is after Trump, to the point of trying to assassinate him. I think Trump will win a true vote, but TPTB will prevent him really winning by cheating in some way or other.
Either way we get a genocidal president like Biden.
Sorry can't help with the bird or insect.
We're getting some much needed rain off of Francine today.
They're calling for 3 inches or so. That'll help.
Got in winter ryegrass cover yesterday, and planted cabbages and so on Monday. So seems like good timing. Hope all is well on the homestead. Thanks for the OT!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Exactly
'Either way we get a genocidal president like Biden.'.
Three inches of rain at once would do us in, however, over a week? Great! Hope it's helping out there.
Cabbage planting is done? Awesome. Here, not so much, but then I am not doing any overwintering cabbages this year. We'll be planting garlic, onions, and a few other things soon. Thanks for stopping by!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Hola Sima. First impression is Hermit Thrush. Band could
be from a rehabber or a researcher, probably the latter, and probably a female bird (left leg). No clue on the bug. Dysto would know, and likely correct my bird id too (I'm way out of practice).
Thanks for the link to Lee Camp, I'll give it a listen, time permitting.
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
I didn't know the bands went on different legs..
of the bird depending upon sex. Good to know!
Could be a hermit thrush, I am not sure. I was thinking starling... who knows?
Hope you enjoy the Lee Camp video. I did
Have a great weekend!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
I forgot all about starlings - the joker in the deck.
The head movement makes it hard, but that is certainly more of a starling bill
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
News Item
In short, Iran is & has been claiming that they did not ship missiles to the Rus and should not be sanctioned for so doing since there is no evidence that they did. Somebody posted pics of the ship that allegedly carried them and Iran mockingly offered a reward for anybody who can find any missiles in the pictures.
Since this whole story comes from Blinkin, the natural presumption should be that it is a bald faced lie, but the US' client states will no doubt run with it any way.
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Blinkin...
yea, I trust what he says! Sure! Winkin, Blinkin and Nod! Always trustworthy!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
musical interlude
.
glad w/ traffic
course I only drive on local roads anymore
now that the summer people are gone
traffic is light so I'm glad
fewer snarls
question everything
Good Music!
Thanks!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Howdy all,
Hi all, Hey Sima,
Hope it's good all over out there!
The bird is a Eurasian Starling (Sturnis vulgaris). It is molting from the brown juvenile or immature plumage (upperparts) to its first-winter plumage (underparts). Once I saw them for sale as pets in a cage, with a label calling them American Mynah. Only in Chicago!
I do not have experience with Horntails. So can't make a positive ID, but it does look like one, there are several types I think. The PNW loggers in particular call them "Tree-F'rs", due to the females egg-laying in trees with its long ovipositor. This concludes my knowledge about them.
Thanks for the OT Sima!
happy trails all!
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
Hello!
I was thinking the bird might have been a Starling, ohh, err, an American Mynah,
The horntail was so strange. It was so big, unlike any other wasp I've ever seen. And those two 'stingers'. Yikes. Calling them 'Tree-F'ers' makes sense. It's strange I've not seen them before, since I've lived in logging areas much of my life.
Have a great weekend!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
that band...
HI again Sima,
Forgot to mention the band...
I cannot imagine some bander doing a color-band study on Starlings here. Color-banding requires a special additional rider on your banding permit. That does not look like a real color band to me. I can't see the other leg to be sure but I do not see a standard band. A bander would lose their permit if they put a color band on a bird without first putting the standard numbered silver aluminum USFW band on it. So, I think that is a homemade band. It looks too lose, and seems dangerous to me. They fit snugly against leg to not get snagged. And which means the bird had people contact and could explain its tame behavior.
Insect populations are often intensely boom or bust. I see things in good years that I go many years without seeing. It is almost the norm. They are nowhere near as stable as say most bird populations. Here the organic gardners love the Red Wasp Polistes carolina as it is crazy about 'worms' on plants. I do not know if Horntails provide such services.
Thanks again for the OT!
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
the depth of lore
.
.
with your birds and bugs is truly amazing
so many things I would never imagine
thanks!
question everything
Thanks for the very good info about the band..
Hubby and I were wondering, the band was loose as you say. And there was nothing on the other leg at all. So we were a bit worried that someone's
'tame' starling got free, or something. It hasn't reappeared. Hopefully it went home, or is moving/migrating with the large starling flock that came by recently.
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so