We went birding this morning but got off to a late start, which is a recurring theme in our birdwatching chronicles. Whose fault is that, I wonder? Hmmm? Hmmmmmm? Anyway, here’s where we set off with our field glasses; it’s a park along the shores of Tampa Bay:
Looks nice, doesn’t it? But in fact it is a zika-skeeto-infested hellhole! We’re used to slathering ourselves in Deep Woods Off and sunscreen before even going out to check the mail, so of course we’d sprayed ourselves down thoroughly. But the mosquitoes were so thirsty for our blood that they dive-bombed our eyeballs and burrowed into our ear canals. Not pleasant.
We didn’t see many birds due to the aforementioned late start and because the tide wasn’t optimal for shorebirds. But we did see this antediluvian critter:
I believe it is a snapping turtle. It had just emerged from a weed-choked canal, hence the crap on its shell. We weren’t sure if it was a snapper or an alligator turtle, which looks very similar only with more ridges on the shell. But we decided it was a snapper.
We also saw this lovely pelican flying around hunting for fish:
You can always count on pelicans around here. Even if every other bird is hidden away from the heat, the hardy pelican will still be in evidence. Ibises too, but they are as common as pigeons around here, so I didn’t bother taking a picture of those goony birds.
We saw plenty of eagles and ospreys in their nests, but they nest so high up it’s not worth getting a shot unless you have a camera with a telephoto lens. All I had was my iPhone and field glasses, which I used in combination to get a shot of St. Pete across the bay:
Yeah, no. That didn’t work too well. Maybe someday I’ll get an actual camera. But with that, we beat a hasty retreat, down approximately a pint of blood each thanks to the relentless mosquitoes.
Now I’m figuring out the order in which I will run a bunch of errands and generally procrastinating on cleaning the house. I’ve got a houseful of people coming over tomorrow to celebrate three things at once: Father’s Day, our daughter’s graduation from high school and the annual summer departure of the snowbird relatives.
I’m planning to make ropa vieja and yellow rice since it’s the sort of thing that holds up well when people are showing up at unpredictable times, and it doesn’t require use of the oven — it’s too goddamned hot to use the oven!
I will also make a key lime pie since that is my hubby’s favorite dessert and perhaps roasted shrimp cocktail, plus a big old salad. What are you up to today?
gogol's wife
St. Pete was in the Times crossword this morning. I solved it before I saw this post.
Miss Bianca
I am gearing up for playing the Fool in King Lear tonight in our Shakespeare in the Park series. If that isn’t typecasting, I don’t know what is. Oh, and stopping by work to see how the Office Kitties are getting on.
ETA: One of the advantages of living so “high and dry” is that we have very few mozzies to worry about. Still, I was annoyed to discover that the bug spray that had been backstage the night before appeared to have gone missing by last night.
SiubhanDuinne
Congratulations to Chelsea Clinton and Marc Mezvinsky on the birth of their son Aidan Clinton Mezvinsky — and of course to both sets of grandparents and big sister Charlotte! Happy news.
trollhattan
Highly recommend insect-repellant clothing as standard garb in biting insect territory. Discovered it a few years ago primarily for camping but also spring and summer evenings at home. We don’t have Zika yet but have been a West Nile hotspot for years, and this year it arrived sooner than ever.
Mudge
Enjoying the relative quiet, the cicadas are dying off and I can hear the birds again. And hasn’t anyone built a camera inside binoculars yet? Focus and click, none of that telephoto lens crap.
the Conster, la Citoyenne
@SiubhanDuinne:
That’s great timing for Father’s Day!! Hopefully Bill’s role will be GFOTUS, and will show the world that he’s content to sit in a rocking chair with the babies while Hillz makes the world a safer place for her grandchildren, because she’s not Trump.
Propane Jane is killing it on twitter again, examining the 2nd amendment and its relationship to racism and slavery. Another reason to elect Hillz, who is the first candidate ever to actively campaign against the NRA – a terrorist organization that is holding our Congress hostage. We need to wash these corrupt assholes out.
germy
St. Pete across the bay looks like the hallucination of someone who has been stranded on a life raft for twenty days. “Land!! oh, wait…”
What is the best mosquito repellant? Isn’t there one with lemon that got good reviews?
Anything too perfumy gives me a migraine.
trollhattan
@Mudge:
Don’t know whether they’re any good, but they exist.
I have camera lenses going up to 12x magnification and my most powerful binos are only 8x, so distance is better handled by a camera. Spotting scopes are another ballgame entirely.
Cermet
Really like the picture of St. Pete; the refraction due to the water temp/air difference can really be seen. THat is a good shoot considering what you used.
Aleta
We used to kayak around sunset past a spot that was particularly mosquitoey. Nearly impossible not to wave them off, but if you did you’d go dead in the water and really fall into their clutches. Bloodthirsty pirates.
Kropadope
The Republicans aren’t sending their best people. They’re sending con artists and embezzlers and sexual predators and some, I assume, are good people.
germy
I keep finding food on my outside windowsill.
A few mornings ago I went outside and there was half a hamburger on the sill. A ceramic vase was knocked over, in pieces on the patio.
A few mornings later, I found a breaded chicken cutlet on the window sill next to it. My wife blames the squirrels. Is it possible a stray cat is wooing our indoor girl with offerings of meat?
germy
@Aleta: This is why I love bats and I’m always happy to see them on the wing. They eat mosquitoes.
raven
Incredibly cool here so we’ve been in the gardens/yard most of the day. I may have to send yet another bunch of pics of the flowers the girl has. She informed me that I had agreed to hist the annual garden club party here in August AND they want me to make fish tacos out of my great pre-memorial day trip. They say they will “compensate” be for the fish. What do I charge? The boat trips were $180 and $240 and I probably have 15 lbs of filets.
Elmo
@trollhattan: That’s never made sense to me. All clothing is insect repellent, in the sense that most gnats and mosquitos don’t bite through clothing. When it’s hot enough for bugs, I don’t want my whole body covered. Does the treated stuff keep bugs away from exposed skin as well?
dmsilev
@Kropadope: Nicely done, though if I were to nit-pick, I’d point out that the con artists and embezzlers probably _are_ their best people.
germy
@raven: “Give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day. Give him a tortilla and he’ll make fish tacos.”
Kropadope
@dmsilev: Differences of opinion, my friend, because I’m pretty sure they elected a sexual predator their best person.
bemused
I love this. The Obama family is visiting national parks highlighting our natural wonders and national park system turning 100 in August. Carlsbad Caverns yesterday and Yosemite this weekend. Obama is also using the opportunity to warn about climate change and the need to protect places like this.
dmsilev
@Kropadope: Fair point.
germy
@Elmo:
I don’t think so. And I’m always getting bitten through my socks. Zika has me sort of worried because I remember reading Joe Heller’s memoir of his paralyzing illness. I’m enough of a hypochondriac to imagine myself in the ICU on a ventilator after a bite.
raven
@germy: oh yea
patrick II
Pelicans are beautiful in the air. I did not know that until I lived in Florida for a short while. They are graceful and powerful flyers. My favorite pelican sight was when they would fly in a one-sided V formation over the ocean, equally spaced and each bird making flying look so easy. They they would fly over what I presume to be a school of fish and then it looked for all the world like those dive bombers in WWII, each one peeling off and following the other in a dive towards the target. They would tuck in their wings not long before they hit the water for last moment acceleration and streamlining for hitting the water and make their catch. One of my top three bird-watching memories.
germy
@bemused:
Further proof that he hates America.
trollhattan
@Elmo:
Mosquitoes bite through most summer-weight clothing and treated clothing stops them in their tracks. Long pants tucked at the ankles will fend off ticks and chiggers, they just drop off. I was skeptical but the stuff works, better than DEET.
ETA exposed skin is still vulnerable and may need repellent. I even take a headnet backpacking in case we hit the clouds that emerge after meltoff.
Richard Mayhew
Whoever told me to use the back entrance to the AMNH…. thank you. My daughter is having a blast
I'mNotSureWhoIWantToBeYet
@germy: The Bay picture looks kinda scary to me.
“Isn’t that sign kinda low in the water? Tampa Bay isn’t Fundy. Did Greenland’s melting suddenly accelerate?!?”
Cheers,
Scott.
Hal
Has anyone perused the leaked dnc docs from the hacker guccifer 2? A Bernie supporting friend had a link to an article at the Observer which was all about dnc collusion to make Hillary the candidate but the article itself was links to other observer stories. I did enjoy the Observer articles impartial reporting though, for example:
germy
@I’mNotSureWhoIWantToBeYet: You’re right; it looks like an ancient sunken city.
trollhattan
@Richard Mayhew:
Dino fossils are The Best! Have a wonderful visit.
I'mNotSureWhoIWantToBeYet
@Hal: Ars has the skinny along with links to the stolen document(s).
Cheers,
Scott.
the Conster, la Citoyenne
@Hal:
Give it up, bro. The DNC didn’t pay everyone to overwhelmingly vote for her. Bernie lost because he’s a mediocre man who ran a shitty campaign that deliberately dismissed the voters that gave Hillary landslides, in open primaries, closed primaries, north, south east and west. The Democrats didn’t want what he was selling. If she skinned and ate kittens on live TV tomorrow, I would still crawl over glass to vote for her, and you should too.
Bobby Thomson
@Elmo: Mosquitos go under untreated clothing. Also, too, the treated clothing provides some peripheral protection.
trollhattan
@I’mNotSureWhoIWantToBeYet:
Oh man, no wonder BiP’s been so scarce lately.
PaulWartenberg2016
I see the Trop.
Has is been four years already since the Republicans raided downtown Tampa and left behind an empty husk of a party?
germy
https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/bye-bye-bravewell/
PaulWartenberg2016
@Hal:
Just remember, Old Glory Insurance will protect you from those robots, when they come for you and your medicine.
gene108
@Miss Bianca:
Biggest skeeters I ever saw were outside Gunnison, Colorado.
*******************************************
I had my first surgical procedure yesterday. I had an AV Fistula done to my left arm.
The anesthesia worked fast. I got wheeled into the OR. The anesthesiologist said she was adding the anesthesia to the IV. Someone put an oxygen mask on me. I fiddled with the mask once. They did not like what I did, so they readjusted it. Than I was out. Next thing I know I am waking up in the recovery room. Surgery completed.
I felt really dehydrated yesterday and early today, and somewhat groggy.
But I seem to be getting better today.
Iowa Old Lady
Favor request: Is anyone willing and able to do an informal proofread of the YA novel I have coming out in the late fall? My new publisher asked that I get as many eyes on the page as possible. 83K words. YA fantasy. If you can, click on my nym and email me there. Thanks.
hitchhiker
Turning 64 today. I need a new song to look forward to!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bs2aMiyT6es
? Martin
@gene108: Maine has some monster mosquitoes as well – I’m familiar with those high altitude ones in CO. You know they’re big when they wake you from sleeping in your tent, the slow whoosh, whoosh of their wings, growing steadily louder until the top of the tent suddenly lifts up and then shoves back down as the air pressure drops then rises as they pass directly overhead. You know they can smell you, but frustrated by your nylon armor they move on for bigger prey…
CaseyL
A beautiful gently rainy day here in Seattle, and I have no plans whatsoever, other than picking up a couple books waiting for me at the Library.
germy
@Iowa Old Lady: http://accrispin.blogspot.com
StringOnAStick
@gene108: what is an AV fistula?
Gunnison has some huge blood suckers. We went to a June wedding in a barely dry field outside Crested Butte a few years ago; you could tell who was from out of town by (1) how unprepared they were for the bugs and(2) how they didn’t bring any warm clothes for after sundown, when it goes from 80 degrees to 55 in a matter of minutes. Another big Colorado bug spot is the Mummy range – first time I’ve ever gone into the tent hours before sundown.
Thanks to everyone about the repellent clothing rec’s. It is dry enough in most of Colo to not need it, but we’re contemplating some tropical trips and I hate drowning in DEET.
hovercraft
@Hal:
Isn’t the Observer owned by Ivanka’s husband ?
germy
@StringOnAStick: Is DEET bad? I googled. Some sites claim it’s the worst thing in the world, a hazard to humans. Other sites say it’s safe for humans. One site said a natural, lemon-based repellant was better than DEET sprays. Who to believe?
trollhattan
@? Martin:
Heh. We have something like a dozen species endemic to the metroplex, something for every season and time of day, including midday sun when the rulebook says they should be hiding. The big ones are the most annoying but easiest to swat but the tiny fast ones account for most bites. Stealthy bastards.
Blackflies make mosquitoes seem like a basket of kittens but are just in the mountains.
Kropadope
@StringOnAStick: It’s an arteriovenous fistula, basically where an artery and a vein are connected in a way they aren’t supposed to be and blood will flow between them.
gene108
@StringOnAStick:
Mayo clinic explains http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/arteriovenous-fistula/basics/definition/con-20034876
Basically it is to get ready for dialysis.
trollhattan
@germy:
DEET has the longest track record and has never been proven harmful but doesn’t work equally well for everyone and will dissolve certain paints and plastics so needs care. I prefer the time-release version.
IIUC the alternatives work better for some folks and certain species, so no harm in trying. Citronella does bupkis for me but the spouse likes it.
TKinNC
Betty – I just want to thank you for these FL posts. I was born in Polk County and lived there until I left for university. My family camped in many of the state parks so I really enjoy your photos and stories. Manatee Springs was my favorite. I hope gov lizard-man has not ruined it.
BD of MN
It’s been a big week for major appliances at casa BD. Got a new furnace and AC installed finally yesterday, got a new pool heater that I’m taking a break from installing right now, and in the middle of all this fun, earlier in the week our dishwasher threw an “I have a leak” error code and found water in the basement light fixture right below the kitchen, so that’s gotta come apart sometime this weekend as well. I know this is definitely a first world problem, but dang I hate doing dishes by hand…
gene108
@Kropadope:
@StringOnAStick:
Kropadope explained it.
I have tried posting a link to the Mayo Clinic but it got me into moderation.
eclare
@germy: I got some 95% DEET at a hunting supply store for a trip to Peru. Was absolutely no good, and I finally decided if I’m going to get bit anyway, I’m not going to take the time to grease up. But I have yet to find anything that really works. Doctors on the trip used it liberally, though, so that might be some comfort.
trollhattan
@StringOnAStick:
Was tentbound in Rainier NP because of the mosquito clouds and we amused ourselves pulling the little bastards through the netting with tweezers as they pushed their snouts through in search of a meal. Little wonder moose spend summer in the water, they’ll drive you mad.
germy
@trollhattan:
I remember buying those outdoor citronella candles and then one day consumer reports magazine told me they were worthless. All that money I spent for nothing…
germy
@eclare: What’s your opinion of using simple rubbing alcohol or purell against mosquitoes?
? Martin
But I would encourage everyone to protect themselves from mosquitos. I committed two months to my aunts recovery from West Nile – something which pushed her much closer to death than I would have thought. It’s rare, but with Zika also out there and a number of other mosquito borne diseases, your odds of getting one of these is low, but the consequence of getting one is quite high. These are not diseases to fuck around with.
I'mNotSureWhoIWantToBeYet
@eclare: Skeeters seem to have strange preferences in which humans they’ll bite. My MIL Ann was a huge mosquito magnet while my FIL would almost never get bitten. There’s a story that when he did get bitten once he complained for hours about how horrible it was while Ann would just suffer in silence and roll her eyes. ;-)
My wife J seems to get bitten much more than I do and I generally avoid using bug spray while she is a dedicated user.
It looks like mosquitoes use CO2, temperature and visual clues to figure out that a meal is nearby.
Cheers,
Scott.
Hal
@the Conster, la Citoyenne: I’m guessing my intended sarcasm didn’t come through in my post?
trollhattan
@? Martin:
Word. West Nile can range from asymptomatic to encephalitis and death. Some years our area has led the nation in fatalities, which is galling considering it’s from a humble big bite.
Keith G
@germy: There have been studies showing some bad effect of long term usage, but I can’t recall how that was quantified. It seemed to me to not be a substance easily or often proved harmful, fwiw.
I use DEET-containing applications here in the bayous of coastal Texas and find them effective and I have no indication of harm, though such a attribution might be a bit difficult.
Major Major Major Major
Wow, you really managed to order the shots from most to least attractive. Quite remarkable. That’s what you were going for, right?
It does look nice though, especially in that first shot.
trollhattan
@I’mNotSureWhoIWantToBeYet:
I’m very popular on group camping trips for my role as human sacrifice. They lurve me.
the Conster, la Citoyenne
@Hal:
I wasn’t sure, but after months of listening to whining and every conspiracy theory under the sky about how poor pure Bernie wuz robbed!, I’ve become reflexively defensive. We need a sarcasm font now more than ever!
Hal
@hovercraft: He does! Interesting. Every link in the article I read links to another observer article, and all are how terrible Hillary is as a candidate. I’ve always wondered about Kushner’s political leanings, but I realize I’m unfairly assuming a younger, NYC Jewish person would be more likely to find someone like Trump terrible.
germy
@Keith G: My google-fu is weak today. I seem to recall a mosquito repellant containing lemon extract was found to be just as effective as DEET. I wish I could find the exact brand because I’d buy a ton of it. They’re biting in my neighborhood and my wife wants me to sit outside with her more. Of course her favorite time is the early evening. (peak mosquito time)
Kropadope
@the Conster, la Citoyenne: Italics?
Adam L Silverman
@hovercraft: Why yes, yes it is. Why do you ask?
bemused
@germy:
Right. Who is commie Obama to celebrate 100 years of preventing decent, hard working folks from making a God given living/killing logging, mining, fracking the hell out of parks and/or building luxury condos there?
Adam L Silverman
@germy: Go with this stuff.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002CMQJYU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
bemused
@germy:
Repel Lemon Eucalyptus? That’s one brand, pretty sure there are a few others with those ingredients.
the Conster, la Citoyenne
Berniebots are unhinged, and need psychiatric help to find the plot. I really think they’re going to go Jonestown or Heaven’s Gate when he has to concede.
Adam L Silverman
@germy: It works wonders if you want your mosquitos to be clean and antiseptic.
germy
okay. found this on Consumer Reports:
Kay (not the front-pager)
Oh come on. Admit it. You made this with driftwood and wine bottle foil. ;-) Seriously, sometimes your diaries make me miss my 2 years in mid-Fl (Vero Beach). This diary, not so much.
But the ropa vieja sounds delish! I hope you have a great time tomorrow.
Fair Economist
@the Conster, la Citoyenne:
No, Bernie lost because Hillary ran a great campaign, demonstrating she cares about and has excellent plans for addressing a host of chronic problems, including wage inequality, shadow banking, child safety, racism, police brutality, and opiate abuse. Plus, Democrats know they can count on her. She’s always in your corner.
germy
@Adam L Silverman: Thanks… I see it made the Consumer Reports top rating.
Jim Parente
You got a photo of Gamera! BTW, I’m a newbie resident to the area and I’m digging on the wildlife! I’m also a fam of the seafood and managed to get to the Middle Grounds for my limit of American Red Snapper. Yum!
Glaukopis
@hitchhiker: happy birthday! As for me, I’m getting out my summer clothes and sorting books. Only 8 working days until retirement!
Adam L Silverman
@Hal: Here’s one rundown:
http://www.haaretz.com/world-news/u-s-election-2016/.premium-1.706420
Here’s another:
http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2016/02/26/donald_trump_chris_christie_charles_kushner_and_the_george_washington_bridge.html
And here’s a third:
http://gawker.com/in-keeping-with-landlord-custom-donald-trumps-son-in-l-1774869782
Lovely family…
germy
@bemused:
Thanks, I see it also got a good CR rating…
Adam L Silverman
@germy: That’s what I linked to for you in comment # 71:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002CMQJYU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I use it and it works very well. The pumps on the bottles are kind of meh, but the stuff itself works very, very well.
Adam L Silverman
@germy: I use it. Like I just wrote the pumps to get the stuff sprayed out are kind of meh, but the formula itself seems to work really well.
Doug R
A pair of robins appears to have abandoned a nest with one egg in it on our balcony. They seem to come and check on it about twice a week, but it’s been there about a month. The hummingbirds like to visit our feeder every hour or so, looks like I’m going to have to refill it again.
We have a pair of cats and the powerwashing this week probably didn’t help.
Shelley
First time I went on vacation in Maine, it was late August. Everybody congratulated me on missing mosquito season.
Adam L Silverman
@Jim Parente: Where abouts? And welcome to the neighborhood.
Kay (not the front-pager)
@trollhattan: You can make your own repellent clothing by soaking them in Sawyer Premium Insect Repellent Clothing (odorless permethrin). I got it at Cabella’s (sp?), but I’m sure it’s available elsewhere. You probably can click tha Amazon link above and get it there. We discovered this after both my husband and I were infected with Lyme disease and found out our area is a prime deer tick hotspot. I’ve mostly used it on socks and jeans, but now that mosquito-borne diseases are becoming such a problem I guess I will need to soak some shirts and neckerchiefs also.
trollhattan
@germy:
Good stuff, thanks! Need to try the picaridin option.
eclare
@germy: Have never tried either of those. I think what works depends on the individual, but I’ve tried all of the typical ones, and none work. Then again, I can sit out with others who get one or two bites, but the next day I’m drawing blood scratching 20 bites. Have never tried the lemon or “natural” ones. So at this point I just get bit without the goo, but we’ve had two Zika cases in my county. So far. Sounds like someone is volunteering for an experiment…
ETA: if certain smells give you migraines, I wouldn’t waste money on DEET. Also I see now I should be worried, maybe I’ll try the lemon one.
trollhattan
@Kay (not the front-pager):
Good point. When my kid was a pre-teen and had a dozen sleepovers a year they passed headlice back and forth so much I started treating her bedding and even favorite stuffed critters with it. Saved a LOT of laundry and quarantining stuff in plastic bags.
MomSense
@Richard Mayhew:
Hooray!! Say hello to Teddy for me.
JPL
@Glaukopis: Wahoo!!!!!
germy
@eclare:
I’m the same way, a magnet for them. Not sure if it’s hormonal or a CO2 thing or what. But they trip over other people to get at me.
germy
amygdala
Saw the Strandbeest exhibit last night. It was very cool, and a nice night for a walk along the Embarcadero to and from the BART station.
Thanks to the good Professor Levenson for the Strandbeests post the other day, and to trollhattan for advising that it was at Exploratorium. I probably would never had seen the show without both of those.
Mike J
@germy: If you want to use your back yard, have you tried traps? There was a thing all over the web a few years ago about kids in developing countries making mosquito traps out of soda bottles. Added water and baking soda (for the co2) to draw them in, they couldn’t get out. Put it in the far corner of your yard away from deck/bbq/etc.
germy
@Mike J: Interesting. We’ve got seltzer bottles, we’ve got baking soda.
I suspect they’d just laugh at me while biting me. “You thought we’d fall for the vinegar and baking soda bottle trick?”
Gelfling545
@Hal: So you say the Democrats wanted to elect a Democrat? Shocking.
gwangung
@Fair Economist:
I dunno…the lack of follow through seems to be a mark of a poor campaigner….Granted, it’s hard to follow through for the losing side, but if you’re committed to change, you should commit…..
eclare
@germy: My sympathies. Not a great club to be in, mosquito magnet. Also, FYI, none of the topical anti-itch lotions work to stop the itching, but oral Benadryl does.
Bex
@germy: Apple won’t be attending either. They’re not going to provide money or technology.
catclub
@germy: Teach him to fish and he will destroy the entire resource.
Shelley
We only had the three main network channels when I was a kid, so the summers when the conventions rolled around I was majorly pissed. Nothing on TV but these boring grown ups making endless incomprehensible speeches. May as well go out and catch fireflies.
So strange that now these same conventions are now shaping up to be the most entertaining shows of the season.
germy
@catclub: this is true.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
a year ago (or not much more) she was a Clinton surrogate
MomSense
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
Wow, that is really upsetting.
hovercraft
@Hal:
He comes from a family that has traditionally been big donors to the NJ democratic party. But I guess being that close to the possibility of that much power, and wanting to support your father-in-law Trumps family history. I do wonder how awkward it gets when Christie is around, as he was the one who sent his dad to jail.
hovercraft
To remove any doubt about his motive, MP Jo Cox’s assassin made his first court appearance, when asked his name he replied
“death to traitors, freedom for Britain”.
Inflammatory right wing rhetoric is dangerous. Unfortunately this assassin may motivate more people to vote in bigger numbers against the UKIP, Britain First crowd.
Tripod
@bemused:
I stopped at Mammoth Cave and did a bit of the Blue Ridge Parkway while tooling around Asheville. The young underground ranger certainly knew her facts. But lets hate on the NPS because they won’t let you bring heat or SUVs on to the property.
@I’mNotSureWhoIWantToBeYet:
For sure. Could be a spring tide as well, makes for good fishing.
Emma
@Mudge: Try a megazoom camera. I had to stop using my SRL because of the weight. A friend put me on to the megazooms.. Currently I have a Nikon Coolpix P510, with a 42X lens, but Nikon is currently offering a P900 which goes up to 83x. I wouldn’t expect professional level detail but some of Coolpixes have advanced controls. Most of he pictures in this album were taken with Coolpixes, starting with the P100 up to the most current.
bemused
@Tripod:
Traveled several times Blue Ridge and Asheville area visiting family in Raleigh. Like those areas a lot but other areas in NC, not so much.
Iowa Old Lady
Assuming you’re not pregnant, how big a deal is Zika?
Ruckus
@trollhattan:
Avoid that encephalitis thing if you can. I had that as a kid, most likely from measles. Obviously got over it, sort of, but I was on a first name basis with a number of Docs when I was 7-12 yrs old.
cope
Mrs. cope and I just finished up an impromptu 3 day visit to Sanibel. This morning, before we reluctantly left, I took the drive through Ding Darling and shot a bunch of bird pictures including:
a spoonbill (my favorite bird) and some friends: https://photos.google.com/search/_tra_/photo/AF1QipNjNViBe81cYhhPWtOtVQzSEE5ITL5W5dOblBgn
and a yellow crowned night heron: https://photos.google.com/search/_tra_/photo/AF1QipN7h8Dh_UsBVlenvgn11OYOQheqRyk31fnaE6Uo
Our first day there I took this shot from the deck in front of our room: https://photos.google.com/search/_tra_/photo/AF1QipOPw2dd7JjY2ORdv_85xs5kgrs1Yiv5jqKZ9Xbp
amygdala
@Iowa Old Lady: The risk of Guillian-Barre seems low, but can mean a long and painful recovery.
It’s the fact that it can be sexually transmitted that makes this different from most other flavivirus infections, such as West Nile. A woman can assiduously avoid Zika-endemic areas, but pick up the infection from a sexual partner. It’s looking like the first trimester is the time of highest risk, but less clear how long a person infected with Zika can transmit the infection sexually.
SiubhanDuinne
@Iowa Old Lady:
Fever, rash, joint pain, red eyes. Symptoms usually last less than a week. The biggest danger, you’re right, is to pregnant or potentially pregnant couples (infected men can pass the disease to their partners through sexual contact, and I assume vice versa). With the CDC located here in Atlanta, we tend to hear about it as almost a local news story.
eclare
@Iowa Old Lady: I think it’s like a lot of mosquito born viruses, usually not a big deal, but in the small number of cases where it is, it can be very, very bad.
ETA: I’d go to the CDC website to see if they have more info, that is just my observation, which is pretty worthless. Also, Zika continues to mutate.
Anoniminous
@Iowa Old Lady:
WHO factsheet:
Guillain-Barré syndrome is when your immune system goes berserk and starts attacking your peripheral nervous system.
trollhattan
@amygdala:
Wonderful! Working the family on making a visit but will solo it if I have to.
Iowa Old Lady
@amygdala: Yeah, I just remembered I knew how to google and went to look at Wikipedia. It looks like the real risk is to pregnant women.
Once again, congress fails.
Iowa Old Lady
@Anoniminous: Isn’t that Mad Cow Disease?
Kathleen
Betty – did your daughter graduate at the Fairgrounds? I was in Tampa last week for my grandson’s graduation.
My daughter’s back yard includes a lake with turtles, ducks and birds (mostly herons). During his graduation party, as we were eating, we watched a bird eating a snake that was dangling from its bill. It was a freakin’ Wild Kingdom out there, I tell ya!
trollhattan
@Ruckus:
Can’t imagine how devastating it must be on a growing child.
amygdala
@trollhattan: They have a few scheduled demonstrations of one of the works every day, so check the website when you’re close to picking a day. And also the folks at the ticket desk when you get there, since I guess the times are subject to change.
The daytime demonstrations evidently get pretty crowded, but Exploratorium staying open late on Fridays is new, so had a good view. There’s also a half-hour film which was interesting. Jansen is an interesting guy.
eclare
@Iowa Old Lady: No, that is Cruetzfeld-Jacob, I probably spelled that wrong. Was in UK during the height of it. Reason twenty years later I still can’t give blood.
JPL
@Iowa Old Lady: Family values.
Anoniminous
@Iowa Old Lady:
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease or Mad Cow is a spongiform encephalopathy prion disease. Microcephaly (= small head) is a failure of the brain and head to develop normally.
trollhattan
@Anoniminous:
The ability of viruses to go dormant and hide should be a caution we don’t know all the impacts nor how large a population may harbor it. I wonder whether this is a standard disclaimer or an implication they suspect more.
Leto
@Adam L Silverman: Adam: could I get your email address? I have a MOAA article I’d like to send you regarding the proposed Basic Allowance for Housing cuts in the Senate passed FY 2017 Defense Authorization Act (S. 2943). Gratzile!
Also if you could get one of the FP’ers to add you to the blogroll, if you want, that would be nice.
Ruckus
@trollhattan:
I don’t remember it as being all that bad except for the headaches and I missed a bunch of school, and I liked school, even if I was bored shitless, but the big problem, and I’m not sure they are related, was that I pretty much stopped growing for a while. 4th grade I was one of the bigger kids, 9th grade, one of the smallest. Grew about 5-6 inches in the last 2 yrs of HS and 3 inches between graduation and about 23-24 yrs old. I did get to read a lot of books however. So growing child? Yeah not so much. Socially, HS was a bust, but then that’s not that uncommon and probably had little to do with it.
amygdala
@Iowa Old Lady: This is in my wheelhouse, part of the work I did before I retired. It’s unbelievable and unconscionable that Congress is stalling. In the past week or so there have been reports of several infants in the US born with problems likely due to Zika.
It’s not like it wasn’t known that this would hit over the summer. Congress’ delays mean precious time to prepare was lost. We’ll never get that back.
trollhattan
@Leto:
Adam’s in the pulldown list on the Contract Balloon Juice page in case that helps.
trollhattan
@amygdala:
Appreciate the intel, thanks.
Adam L Silverman
@Leto: I’m on the blogroll. But I’ll send you a test message in just a sec.
trollhattan
@amygdala:
Without straying into Mahew’s territory each of these unfortunate infants will cost untold millions in health care. Some may live decades. Humanitarian aspect aside (since we’re discussing Republicans) pinching R&D pennies is raising medical expenses by hundreds of millions.
Anoniminous
@trollhattan:
We should always expect more with virus caused neurological diseases until proven otherwise. I haven’t studied Zika (no time) but according to Wikipedia it is a member of the Flaviviridae family and Flavivirus genus – there’s some nasty company.
Anoniminous
@amygdala:
It’s the GOP in Congress who have stomped all over funds for basic and applied science research and squeezed the CDC’s budget. Dems have tried to reinstate and got zip for their efforts.
SuperHrefna
@Kay (not the front-pager): That’s good to know! I live in a Lyme hotspot, my mother got it last year, and I worry about these things. As far as mosquitos go I’m a happy Sawyer Picaridin 20% customer, plus I love these head nets from LL Bean when there are masses of the little beasties around: they are sturdy and easy to see through
rikyrah
I had my first Key Lime Pie of the season today. Delicious ?
rikyrah
@bemused:
I love the pictures of the First Family on this getaway. Highlighting the beauty of nature and our National Park System.
eclare
@Anoniminous: Wow, that is scary. Thanks for the info. Republicans have blood on their hands for so many things these days.
amygdala
@trollhattan:
There was a recent case-report published in the New England Journal of meningoencephalitis associated with Zika in an elderly man. Flaviviruses do this, so it isn’t unexpected. The issue is whether it occurs frequently (usually not) or is severe. In West Nile, for example, most infections cause few or mild symptoms (flu-like illness). It’s estimated that 5-10% of patients develop meningitis, encephalitis, or a polio-like syndrome, singly or in various combinations. Meningitis is typically painful but resolves with time; the other disorders can be acutely lethal or permanently disabling.
Similarly, Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) has been reported after many viral infections, although some are more prone to association than others. The best data comes from some very good work out of French Polynesia. There were a number of unusual features of Zika-associated GBS, but it at least doesn’t seem to be especially severe or common (thank goodness). Problem is that it’s possible that different viral strains or host factors could apply as the epidemic spreads to the Americas.
The picture coming together for infants born of infected mothers is that the first trimester is the time of most risk. There are data suggesting the virus goes after fetal neural progenitor cells, and research ongoing about how the virus gets from maternal bloodstream to the fetus. Part of what the placenta does is keeping a fetus safe from microbes and toxins, but Zika seems to have a way around that. A major concern is whether there may be milder (but still bad) brain syndromes than microcephaly.
There scientists who have the training and interest to attack the myriad questions that need to be answered, which is why Congress needs to get its act together and fund it.
rikyrah
@gene108:
Glad that it went well. Get better
Mnemosyne
I hate doing laundry, so I put it off for as long as possible, which now means I have about six loads to do today.
There’s probably a lesson in there somewhere, but I’m hoping that it’s that I need a maid.
amygdala
@Anoniminous: I hear you. You’ve probably heard the saying that social conservatives, which pretty much means Republicans these days, believe life begins at conception and ends at birth. My corollary is that at that point, the non-uber-wealthy get a highly visible finger from the otherwise invisible hand of the market.
trollhattan
@Mnemosyne:
You need a German washer with a 2-hour wash cycle, that’ll put the kibosh on any six-load days.
Leto
@Adam L Silverman: Message sent!
Ruckus
@trollhattan:
That probably wouldn’t mean the clothes get washed in any more regular fashion, just that it becomes an even less appealing task.
Feathers
@gwangung: I read on Giordano’s feed that one of the reasons Bernie may be staying in is so that his delegates actually come to the convention. Apparently, being newbies, they did not realize that delegates have to pay their own way to the convention – airfare, hotels (4-5 nights and 4-500 per) and hotel food ain’t cheap either. And they aren’t interested in the experience or working on shaping the future Democratic Party – just getting to vote for Bernie.
Sigh.
trollhattan
@Ruckus:
Maybe if she just washes the clothes she likes and tosses the leftovers, after a few weeks the accumulation problem fixes itself?
I can still think like a bachelor when the need arises.
Gimlet
Another bigot eruption
ORLANDO, Fla. —Assistant State Attorney Kenneth Lewis was suspended Friday for violating the State Attorney’s Office’s social media policy. He will undergo sensitivity training and has been reassigned until an internal investigation is done
Lewis posted the following statement to his Facebook page:
“Downtown Orlando has no bottom. The entire city should be leveled. It is void of a single redeeming quality. It is a melting pot of 3rd world miscreants and ghetto thugs. It is void of culture. If you live down there you do it at your own risk and at your own peril. If you go down there after dark there is seriously something wrong with you.
Disney does everything in its power to shield visitors of Disney from its northern blight. That doesn’t change reality. Disney may be the happiest place on earth but Orlando is a national embarrassment. If this is an act of domestic terrorist it is so important that we don’t publish the religion, name, or motive of the terrorist as not to offend anyone.”
Iowa Old Lady
We just got a phone call from Sherry, who is part of the security team for the World Wide Web. She has a big job.
Baud
Is $300 for a 16 GB iPad mini 4 a worthwhile expense?
Baud
@Iowa Old Lady: What’s she doing about that whole Balloon Juice scam?
Iowa Old Lady
@Baud: She didn’t have time to say before Mr IOL hung up on her. I did hear her squawking something about Baud before the phone clicked off.
Miss Bianca
@gene108: best of wishes for your recovery!
Yes, Gunnison mozzies (and Crested Butte) are huge and plentiful by comparison with here. I think we;re even drier here than there!
@hitchhiker: Happy birthday!
SuperHrefna
@Iowa Old Lady: I got your manuscript! Looking forward to reading it.
Suzanne
My weather station indicates that it is currently 109 degrees outside. Projected to hit 120 by Monday.
If you hear exhausted whimpering from the southwest corner of the country, you’ll know why.
BillinGlendaleCA
@Baud: No, you could get a really good Android for that.
BillinGlendaleCA
@Suzanne: Got up to 102 here, now it’s 98. I’ve got the A/C on.
Kay (not the front-pager)
@SuperHrefna: Excellent! It’s been so wet here this spring that we’re courting anemia just walking out to get the mail.
Iowa Old Lady
@SuperHrefna: I appreciate the favor.
BillinGlendaleCA
@BillinGlendaleCA: Like this 8″ Tab S2.
Betty Cracker
@TKinNC: Manatee Springs! Haven’t seen it in a while, but it’s a lovely spot. Will have to check it out next time I’m heading north on Hwy 19.
@Kathleen: My daughter flatly refused to do the walk, so no fairground for us. She’s not much for ceremonies. Congrats to your grandson!
@Gimlet: Saw that story earlier on a local Orlando site, and the comments below were just un-fucking-real — that asshole isn’t alone in that sentiment. Meanwhile, some evangelical cretin who works for the county government in Tampa got the vapors because the county building flew a rainbow flag at half staff. Claimed it created a “hostile work environment.” People are such jerks sometimes.
@cope: Stupid Google won’t let me look! We were at Ding Darling a couple of weeks ago and saw a mangrove cuckoo!
cope
Glarg, ohwhatanidiotiam.
This was the first time I ever tried to share images from my Google photos. It seems that those without a Google account won’t be able to see my linked photos (not that they are missing much). Maybe the Photobucket thing will work so I will foist my efforts on the un-Googled thusly.
spoonbill and friends: http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg629/copelag/spoonbill%20and%20friend_zpsqsthfzba.jpg
yellow crested night heron: http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg629/copelag/yellow%20crowned%20night%20heron_zpshfswj8iq.jpg
sea oats and sea: http://i1247.photobucket.com/albums/gg629/copelag/sea%20oats%20and%20sea_zpswv94zb9u.jpg
I’ll be back to see it this works for all as I endeavor to be a totally inclusive entity. If this doesn’t work, I’m giving up (until the next time).
rikyrah
@Richard Mayhew:
Yeah Mayhew and Daughter Mayhew ?
Ferd of the Nort
@trollhattan: my spousal unit uses a mosquito attractant. Me.
She don’t got no problems. I need a DEET bath. Or netting.
J R in WV
Hi Betty:
Here’s a link to Best Buy’s list of lenses for phone cameras. They start at $9.99 and run up to about $99. Several in the mid-range run from $14.99 up. Check it outHERE!
There is an infrared camera attachment that runs just over $200.00, which is useful for engineering and scientific purposes, as well as art photography. Not so much for nature shots, but that’s more than an actual camera. So ignore the FLIR attachment for now.
You can get good chicken and kitteh shots, too.
ETA: So proud of Orlando’s response to the homophobic murders there. Who knew Florida could act so 21st century? Congratulations!
J R in WV
@raven:
Lessee here, total of two trips for $420 by 15 lbs, why, that’s $28.00/lb. That’s what our local fish shop charges for grouper, or Canadian Sockeye. Shrimp and scallops are a little cheaper.
Go for it!!