I think it is far more useful to assess others by their actions versus any assumptions regarding their morality or motives. I’m the husband of Phil’s Executive Assistant. Hi, everyone.
I want to read that book, too! It made me think of relationships I’ve had with a number of people who often seemed *helpless,* but when left to their own devices, usually managed quite well.
It made me think that too often we want to help, and we jump in too quickly. Sometimes we have the unintended consequence of making that other person dependent on us. It feels good to help, at least for awhile.
I recently ended a friendship because my friend was draining me. (This has happened before, so it’s partly my own problem.) She’s a nice person, but her problems are endless. Her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and it’s definitely been rough, and I’m sympathetic. However, it had reached a point where the drama was endless, and no one seemed to have made any plans (especially her parents) for old age. They are completely dependent on her, and I know a big part of her really wants to help them, and another part seems to be hooked into the drama.
However, I’m the one who ended up hearing about it. At first (and for a long time) I was very supportive, empathizing, and trying to provide what I hoped was helpful advice. And finally I wore out. I realized that nothing I sad or did was going to make a real difference, and she is better off finding her own way.
We do the same thing in society, don’t we? We want to help people who definitely need help, but then they become dependent. They stop helping themselves, or do a lot less, because they know that somehow they’ll be cared for. Now, I know there are plenty of people who really, really need help, and they can’t take care of themselves, but I also think there are plenty who would be better off if they had more of a stake in their own lives, although I’m not claiming to know what that would be or who it would apply to. Just a thought.
I’d like to know how you sign up to receive this Substack email. I don’t know how I did it, and because I’ve laughed so much, and told my husband he’d love the puns, he would like to join. We share the email, and therefore the sign in, for TD, this, and a couple of other things, so he needs to use another email account to keep our comments separate.
He created another Substack account, but there doesn’t seem to be a way to receive your morning email, Marque.
Today is the 17th birthday of the clever but disingenuous Son E. My mother sent him a check and a card that said, "Get a job," which is something I tell him at least once a day, along with specific suggestions regarding where to apply.
Mom isn't speaking to me since I told her, about three weeks ago, that Son B got a job, which was somehow proof of my worthlessness and doing every thing wrong for 35 years. I keep thinking about sending her an email of the, "All fine here, hope you are the same," sort, but I'm afraid of the response. Maybe I'll send a card, instead.
"The Russian prosecutor-general’s office banned Meduza last week, cutting off the largest remaining independent Russian news site for allegedly “posing a threat to the foundations of the Russian Federation’s constitutional order and national security.”"
Who knew that Putin's Russia still had independent news sites?
Today’s special animal friend is the jumping pitviper, Atropoides picadoi. This venomous snake is native to Central America and is most commonly observed in Costa Rica and Panama. A species of Least Concern, the jumping viper is typically about 3 feet long. Their bodies are described as “extremely stout” and have a tasteful pattern of triangles in several shades of brown. Pictures:
The jumping viper has mildly toxic venom compared to many other vipers. This means it has to work harder to catch food. They follow the trails of rodents and other small animals who are active at night. Then they pounce, so to speak, on the prey animal, bite, and hold on until the animal loses consciousness and can be swallowed. They eat insects, lizards, rodents, and some crustaceans such as crabs.
Predators of the sluggish and rather vulnerable jumping viper include all the local wild cats, including jaguars and ocelots. Juveniles can be eaten by birds or other reptiles. The snake’s defense is to open its mouth really, really wide and present its gaping jaws to the predator while wriggling its tail in a threatening manner.
Jumping pit vipers are said to be able to leap off the ground and bite a predator, or you, on the neck. First, there’s no reason a venomous snake would go for the neck when they could bite your lower leg, and second, it’s a myth. However, they can strike very quickly, and the “extremely stout” body means they can hit an attacker hard. Their venom is a hemotoxin, which aids in digestion but kills prey more slowly than neurotoxins. People who are bitten will experience pain, swelling, and bruising. No human deaths are known.
Atropoides picadoi is named for the Costa Rican scientist Clodomiro Picado Twight. Known in his day as Clorito Picado, he was born in Nicaragua in 1887 to Costa Rican parents. After attending Jesuit high school in Costa Rica, Picado studied science in France at the Sorbonne, where he earned degrees in zoology and botany. A pioneer in the study of snake venom, Dr. Picado developed some of the first antivenins. He also studied molds and is reported to have used a form of penicillin before Alexander Fleming “discovered” it. He died in 1944 from “an illness” or “an ailment,” depending on the source.
The Instituto Clodomiro Picado is a center for the study of microbiology at the National University of Costa Rica. This institute studies endemic animals and their toxins and develops more effective treatments. They also conduct education programs in the communities most exposed to venomous animals and train professionals such as firefighters in the treatment of snakebite.
I think it is far more useful to assess others by their actions versus any assumptions regarding their morality or motives. I’m the husband of Phil’s Executive Assistant. Hi, everyone.
Hmmm, I was always taught there were 10 types of people: those who can code in binary and those who cannot.
Re today's open. Proposition rejected. We are all both.
I want to read that book, too! It made me think of relationships I’ve had with a number of people who often seemed *helpless,* but when left to their own devices, usually managed quite well.
It made me think that too often we want to help, and we jump in too quickly. Sometimes we have the unintended consequence of making that other person dependent on us. It feels good to help, at least for awhile.
I recently ended a friendship because my friend was draining me. (This has happened before, so it’s partly my own problem.) She’s a nice person, but her problems are endless. Her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and it’s definitely been rough, and I’m sympathetic. However, it had reached a point where the drama was endless, and no one seemed to have made any plans (especially her parents) for old age. They are completely dependent on her, and I know a big part of her really wants to help them, and another part seems to be hooked into the drama.
However, I’m the one who ended up hearing about it. At first (and for a long time) I was very supportive, empathizing, and trying to provide what I hoped was helpful advice. And finally I wore out. I realized that nothing I sad or did was going to make a real difference, and she is better off finding her own way.
We do the same thing in society, don’t we? We want to help people who definitely need help, but then they become dependent. They stop helping themselves, or do a lot less, because they know that somehow they’ll be cared for. Now, I know there are plenty of people who really, really need help, and they can’t take care of themselves, but I also think there are plenty who would be better off if they had more of a stake in their own lives, although I’m not claiming to know what that would be or who it would apply to. Just a thought.
I’d like to know how you sign up to receive this Substack email. I don’t know how I did it, and because I’ve laughed so much, and told my husband he’d love the puns, he would like to join. We share the email, and therefore the sign in, for TD, this, and a couple of other things, so he needs to use another email account to keep our comments separate.
He created another Substack account, but there doesn’t seem to be a way to receive your morning email, Marque.
Today is the 17th birthday of the clever but disingenuous Son E. My mother sent him a check and a card that said, "Get a job," which is something I tell him at least once a day, along with specific suggestions regarding where to apply.
Mom isn't speaking to me since I told her, about three weeks ago, that Son B got a job, which was somehow proof of my worthlessness and doing every thing wrong for 35 years. I keep thinking about sending her an email of the, "All fine here, hope you are the same," sort, but I'm afraid of the response. Maybe I'll send a card, instead.
Late TMD this morning.
Finally it's out.
"The Russian prosecutor-general’s office banned Meduza last week, cutting off the largest remaining independent Russian news site for allegedly “posing a threat to the foundations of the Russian Federation’s constitutional order and national security.”"
Who knew that Putin's Russia still had independent news sites?
Interesting review of a book that I probably won't buy but like knowing it is in the world.
Today’s special animal friend is the jumping pitviper, Atropoides picadoi. This venomous snake is native to Central America and is most commonly observed in Costa Rica and Panama. A species of Least Concern, the jumping viper is typically about 3 feet long. Their bodies are described as “extremely stout” and have a tasteful pattern of triangles in several shades of brown. Pictures:
https://thenatureadmirer.com/2019/08/06/picados-jumping-pitviper-atropoides-picadoi/
The jumping viper has mildly toxic venom compared to many other vipers. This means it has to work harder to catch food. They follow the trails of rodents and other small animals who are active at night. Then they pounce, so to speak, on the prey animal, bite, and hold on until the animal loses consciousness and can be swallowed. They eat insects, lizards, rodents, and some crustaceans such as crabs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PZLubfqoSw
Predators of the sluggish and rather vulnerable jumping viper include all the local wild cats, including jaguars and ocelots. Juveniles can be eaten by birds or other reptiles. The snake’s defense is to open its mouth really, really wide and present its gaping jaws to the predator while wriggling its tail in a threatening manner.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOy33buyJz8
They will also strike at predators using more than half their body length, which is more than most snakes can get off the ground at one time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J83pQQjJa2Q
Jumping pit vipers are said to be able to leap off the ground and bite a predator, or you, on the neck. First, there’s no reason a venomous snake would go for the neck when they could bite your lower leg, and second, it’s a myth. However, they can strike very quickly, and the “extremely stout” body means they can hit an attacker hard. Their venom is a hemotoxin, which aids in digestion but kills prey more slowly than neurotoxins. People who are bitten will experience pain, swelling, and bruising. No human deaths are known.
Atropoides picadoi is named for the Costa Rican scientist Clodomiro Picado Twight. Known in his day as Clorito Picado, he was born in Nicaragua in 1887 to Costa Rican parents. After attending Jesuit high school in Costa Rica, Picado studied science in France at the Sorbonne, where he earned degrees in zoology and botany. A pioneer in the study of snake venom, Dr. Picado developed some of the first antivenins. He also studied molds and is reported to have used a form of penicillin before Alexander Fleming “discovered” it. He died in 1944 from “an illness” or “an ailment,” depending on the source.
https://historyhustle.com/clodomiro-picado/
The Instituto Clodomiro Picado is a center for the study of microbiology at the National University of Costa Rica. This institute studies endemic animals and their toxins and develops more effective treatments. They also conduct education programs in the communities most exposed to venomous animals and train professionals such as firefighters in the treatment of snakebite.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vm1uqtlS1nk
As a robot, I totally get this.