Evening, all. The Envirothon group went to a farm this afternoon. There were cows. The farmer, who is the son-in-law of the owner, is doing regenerative agriculture stuff with some cows. The cows seemed fine. There were also two horses, and Daughter D and I brushed them most of the afternoon, after admiring the cows.
Well, I'm now at 16 days without having had the dogs escape! I'm doing well. This weekend when katie goes morel hunting, I'll be put to the test.
Saturday all the kids came over for dinner with Godparents. Towards the end of the meal, the Godparents announced they are moving to the Isle of Man in June. One will work remote, the other is looking for a job over there. If no job, then they have to come back in 180 days, but they hope to stay a few years. Why go? They love to travel, but cannot afford it so much. But by moving to Europe, they can do more long weekend trips, which they can afford.
We of course have been invited to come visit. We might.
My son brought a homemade bread to the meal featuring a chocolate swirl. It was good. He begins his new job at NASIC today (National Air & Space Intelligence Center).
Good one, Marque! I was talking to my husband about “global warming” recently, wondering just how much we think we can actually change anything. (I wonder what those fields of solar panels do to temperatures?)
People are fixated on things they don’t have much control over in the first place. Some days, for me, it’s about getting old! Ugh.
Today’s special animal friend is the Vervet Monkey, Chlorocebus pygerythrus. This primate is found on the eastern side of southern Africa, and Chobe National Park is at the western edge of its range. Their taxonomy is in disarray, as some argue that they are a subspecies of C. aethiops, the “grivet,” and the malbrouck (Chlorocebus cynosuros) might be a subspecies of either one or its own thing. Vervet monkeys are a species of Least Concern, and they are not, in my opinion, particularly cute. I just felt like it was time to include a primate.
Vervet monkeys have a head-body length about 20” and a tail about 2/3 of that. They weigh up to 10 lbs. Males are bigger than females. They have mostly gray fur, with a black face surrounded by white fur on both the head and the chest. Vervet monkeys are omnivorous, but fruit is their staple. Their consumption of figs and subsequent excretion of the seeds is essential for the growth of new fig trees. They also eat some flowers, seeds, insects, and birds’ eggs and chicks.
Vervet monkeys live in family-based bands. Females are the stable participants; males may come and go. Siblings have long-term, mostly cooperative relationships, although there can be competition for attention and resources from the mother. A young vervet can identify its grandmother and will seek her out for food or grooming. The whole group helps to care for infants, with sexually immature females, in particular, serving as “allomothers” who provide a great deal of child care.
Vervet monkeys are used as proxies for humans in scientific research. Features of interest include alcoholism, anxiety, and high blood pressure. Their genetic code is considered sufficiently similar to ours to be useful for study.
Vervet monkeys easily adapt to new habitat, including forests, savannah, agricultural land, and urban areas. They have been introduced to islands in the Atlantic and the Caribbean as well as to Florida.
Good morning. My husband and I took Thor the Son uptown last night for dinner and a concert. After hearing the plan - park, walk to restaurant, walk to theater, walk back to garage, in the rain - I decided to wear my hiking boots, and I didn't regret it.
The dinner was nice - Thai - and the concert was excellent.
The opening band was Okan, an "Afro-Caribbean Canadian" duo who are very successful in the "world music" scene in Canada, which is part of the world. They were very energetic and had excellent vocals.
The headliner was Rodrigo y Gabriela, a Mexican duo, who did a lot of electronic stuff although they are best known for acoustic guitar. It was very impressive.
Evening, all. The Envirothon group went to a farm this afternoon. There were cows. The farmer, who is the son-in-law of the owner, is doing regenerative agriculture stuff with some cows. The cows seemed fine. There were also two horses, and Daughter D and I brushed them most of the afternoon, after admiring the cows.
Well, I'm now at 16 days without having had the dogs escape! I'm doing well. This weekend when katie goes morel hunting, I'll be put to the test.
Saturday all the kids came over for dinner with Godparents. Towards the end of the meal, the Godparents announced they are moving to the Isle of Man in June. One will work remote, the other is looking for a job over there. If no job, then they have to come back in 180 days, but they hope to stay a few years. Why go? They love to travel, but cannot afford it so much. But by moving to Europe, they can do more long weekend trips, which they can afford.
We of course have been invited to come visit. We might.
My son brought a homemade bread to the meal featuring a chocolate swirl. It was good. He begins his new job at NASIC today (National Air & Space Intelligence Center).
From the mothership:
Worth Your Time II: 'The Line Between Good and Evil Cuts Through Evangelical America'--David French
https://tinyurl.com/2mnnyhe9
http://archive.today/3XTC3
Interesting. But that was a really long way to go just to be able to deliver that last sentence.
Good one, Marque! I was talking to my husband about “global warming” recently, wondering just how much we think we can actually change anything. (I wonder what those fields of solar panels do to temperatures?)
People are fixated on things they don’t have much control over in the first place. Some days, for me, it’s about getting old! Ugh.
Good morning. Low 30s and a frost this morning, but sunny with a predicted high reaching 60. All quiet thus far on the mothership.
A bit tangential (well more than a bit really) but I couldn't resist...... because these lyrics take me right back to my teens:
"Hot town, summer in the city
Back of my neck gettin' dirty and gritty
Been down, isn't it a pity?
Doesn't seem to be a shadow in the city....."
Today’s special animal friend is the Vervet Monkey, Chlorocebus pygerythrus. This primate is found on the eastern side of southern Africa, and Chobe National Park is at the western edge of its range. Their taxonomy is in disarray, as some argue that they are a subspecies of C. aethiops, the “grivet,” and the malbrouck (Chlorocebus cynosuros) might be a subspecies of either one or its own thing. Vervet monkeys are a species of Least Concern, and they are not, in my opinion, particularly cute. I just felt like it was time to include a primate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hISUXpA-DDk
Vervet monkeys have a head-body length about 20” and a tail about 2/3 of that. They weigh up to 10 lbs. Males are bigger than females. They have mostly gray fur, with a black face surrounded by white fur on both the head and the chest. Vervet monkeys are omnivorous, but fruit is their staple. Their consumption of figs and subsequent excretion of the seeds is essential for the growth of new fig trees. They also eat some flowers, seeds, insects, and birds’ eggs and chicks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63l5Y0jRWdk&t=39s
Vervet monkeys live in family-based bands. Females are the stable participants; males may come and go. Siblings have long-term, mostly cooperative relationships, although there can be competition for attention and resources from the mother. A young vervet can identify its grandmother and will seek her out for food or grooming. The whole group helps to care for infants, with sexually immature females, in particular, serving as “allomothers” who provide a great deal of child care.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaeQn-AN6I0
Vervet monkeys are used as proxies for humans in scientific research. Features of interest include alcoholism, anxiety, and high blood pressure. Their genetic code is considered sufficiently similar to ours to be useful for study.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSm7BcQHWXk
Vervet monkeys easily adapt to new habitat, including forests, savannah, agricultural land, and urban areas. They have been introduced to islands in the Atlantic and the Caribbean as well as to Florida.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7CLzpGtW5U
I forgot to mention the males' bright turquoise blue scrotum. Readers may have noticed it in the videos.
Good morning. My husband and I took Thor the Son uptown last night for dinner and a concert. After hearing the plan - park, walk to restaurant, walk to theater, walk back to garage, in the rain - I decided to wear my hiking boots, and I didn't regret it.
The dinner was nice - Thai - and the concert was excellent.
The opening band was Okan, an "Afro-Caribbean Canadian" duo who are very successful in the "world music" scene in Canada, which is part of the world. They were very energetic and had excellent vocals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Kcm_3q9Sjo
The headliner was Rodrigo y Gabriela, a Mexican duo, who did a lot of electronic stuff although they are best known for acoustic guitar. It was very impressive.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfSJCVWrpWE