@enhydra lutris Vinnie's flock had a committee meeting, flew away, and have not returned. They seem to have assessed he was not gonna be a helpful member. His mate stopped feeding him after that meeting.
He didn't show up for his meal this morning, but he has appeared to be perched on a fallen tree truck. He's still here.
Those turkey vultures can eat his food if we just put in the pan and leave. At night, a coon or possum or fox would eat it. We worried the turkey vultures would see the pattern and make feeding Vinnie impossible. So far, they have moved on down the road.
Well, given our WWII weapons and strategies, anybody is a near-peer. The Ukie deputy said being drafted made him a man and instilled in him patriotism and that it would be good for Americans. I countered that our wars were to make weapons manufacturers wealthy. It is notable I asked him where he came from. He said the USSR. It was only after I asked him which country that he mentioned Ukraine. Oh, I would love to pick his brain!
I read a funny meme: Don't ruin Trick or Treat by handing out chocolate covered Brussel sprouts.
Take good care of your guests this evening!

column. Good luck to Vinnie, glad he's doing more of less ok, but where is his flock. Black vultures do sometimes hang out together and feed together it is still best if Vinnie has his own flock. Black vultures have a mediocre sense or smell, they watch turkey vultures, who have a fantastic one, to find out where the chow is and then join them at the feast. They are more aggressive, though smaller, so this generally works out fine for them, but Vinnie needs some other black vultures to socialize with.

The Draft isn't coming back any time soon. Back in the "Good Old Days"™ you had to personally go register with the "not so selective service" who would issue you a paper draft card suitable for burning at the time and place of your choosing with such ceremony as you saw fit. Come December, they will automatically enroll potential cannon fodder and add them to the database. I don't know whether or not physical cards will be issued or not. BUT, there can be no draft without Congress passing some sort of act reinstating it and getting the then sitting warmonger in chief to sign it. It is alleged that the military brass oppose making any attempt in that direction until such time as extreme conditions such as an ongoing war with a "Near peer adversary" exist. This raises the question of how and by whom near-peer adversary is defined:
1) Self image version; Russia, China, possibly come coalitions of lesser powers
2) Reality version; Somali-war lords, Iran, the Houthis, Afghanistan, and any state with any kind of military that cannot safely, easily, and readily be carpet bombed sufficient to destroy all life within its borders.

Farmers' market today, also candy distribution day, need to make jack-o-lantern which I envision as something out of Picasso-Chagall-Miro-Dali and Duchamp.

be well and have a good one

@Linda Wood Yeah, he was shocked to learn I had been to so many of the former Soviet bloc countries.
I know what you mean about discussing Ukraine with a Ukrainian. I'd prefer if he disclosed his position on the conflict and history of the Ukraine before I stated mine.
Keep us informed if you ever get your Ukraine acquaintance to open up about his experiences. I'll do the same on my new friend.
Meanwhile, rumors fly that the Spain train crash was due to sabotage. Maybe I can post something later today.
I think I may get into the kitchen and cook up a pot of purple hull peas with some pork, and enjoy it for some lunches this week. It's the little things in life, ain't it, chica?
Have a great weekend!

from Ukraine goes well. It's sounds like it might because of his positive reaction to your viewpoint. Meeting a person in Texas who has actually been to Eastern Europe, including Russia, is also a kazillion to 1.

But I have wondered about this. My husband and I have chanced to meet a young guy from Ukraine in the past year, and I wanted so much to share with him our point of view. But I held back. We only let him know that we think about Ukraine and the people of Ukraine every day and that it's extremely important to us. He held back too, saying only that, "it's complicated."

What held me back was realizing that the chances of our government letting anyone into this country from the Donbas were nonexistent, and that refugees from western Ukraine could be of any perspective, politically. It's complicated for sure.