How does someone come to a point where they are so unhappy with the world that it seems like a good idea to drop tear gas in a crowded theatre and then randomly open fire on the crowd? Obviously, this will reopen the argument for gun control. I'm not a gun-toting type, but that's not the real issue. What is it about modern society that is leading young (and sometimes not so young) people to the brink of such action? I don't remember this kind of random mass murder happening when I was growing up, until a rifleman climbed the bell tower at the University of Texas (I think) and killing about 15 people. Was that a tipping point in our society? Should we have paid more attention back then to society's mental health? How does this fit with Columbine and Virginia Tech, or is it all just random craziness? Shouldn't someone, somewhere in these people's lives notice that they are getting to a point of no return have said something, or have we gotten so insular in our lives that nobody even notices the crazies anymore? I don't have any answers to any of this, but I sure have a lot of new questions about life in the 21st Century.
I live not far from the airport, and I can tell you from experience of living in the approach path on one end of the runway that traffic from the airport is neither so frequent nor so loud that your arguments in that regard hold much water. Most of the traffic is small aircraft, with a few 12-14 seaters coming in a day. It's not a big deal.
The other two chicks hatched that afternoon and left our yard yesterday. The hen lured the chicks away into an area with more cover. It was something special to watch.
Thus far, she is still on the nest and the eggs are still intact. That's despite a gang of crows that seem interested in harassing her each morning. No babies yet.
Last night during the intense storm, I couldn't help but worry about them out there. Sure enough, this morning, there she was dutifully in her place, apparently none the worse for the experience.
The reason I think it is an anhinga, and not a comorant is that it has a light brown patch on its throat, which is in keeping with the female anhinga. It's hard to see that from the photos but we haven't been able to get very close to it with the camera. These photos are blown up from the original, so we're losing the detail. You can plainly see the marking through higher powered field glasses, but we have only a 200 mm lens on the camera. I assumed it was a comorant at first, and it may be, but I have watched it a lot over the past couple of weeks. They are very similar in size and look, to be sure, and I'm not an expert, but am a birder of sorts and I'll continue to believe it's an anhinga until an expert sees it in person and says otherwise. PT
You can control only your own thoughts. You can't control the thoughts of others, no matter what kind of jerk they may be. The good news is you don't have around them, because they will be that way tomorrow, too.
PatTaylor 10 months ago
PatTaylor
How does someone come to a point where they are so unhappy with the world that it seems like a good idea to drop tear gas in a crowded theatre and then randomly open fire on the crowd? Obviously, this will reopen the argument for gun control. I'm not a gun-toting type, but that's not the real issue. What is it about modern society that is leading young (and sometimes not so young) people to the brink of such action? I don't remember this kind of random mass murder happening when I was growing up, until a rifleman climbed the bell tower at the University of Texas (I think) and killing about 15 people. Was that a tipping point in our society? Should we have paid more attention back then to society's mental health? How does this fit with Columbine and Virginia Tech, or is it all just random craziness? Shouldn't someone, somewhere in these people's lives notice that they are getting to a point of no return have said something, or have we gotten so insular in our lives that nobody even notices the crazies anymore? I don't have any answers to any of this, but I sure have a lot of new questions about life in the 21st Century.
PatTaylor 10 months, 3 weeks ago
Born on the Fourth of July
test
PatTaylor 1 year, 10 months ago
The Southern Pines Town Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed Tyler's Ridge project on July 14. Eventually it will vote to approve or deny the conditional use application. Should the council approve or deny the request?
I live not far from the airport, and I can tell you from experience of living in the approach path on one end of the runway that traffic from the airport is neither so frequent nor so loud that your arguments in that regard hold much water. Most of the traffic is small aircraft, with a few 12-14 seaters coming in a day. It's not a big deal.
PatTaylor 1 year, 10 months ago
New life at Whisper Lake
The other two chicks hatched that afternoon and left our yard yesterday. The hen lured the chicks away into an area with more cover. It was something special to watch.
PatTaylor 1 year, 10 months ago
A saga of life and birth
The parent birds continue to sit on the four eggs. They should hatch sometime this week, if we have our timing right. It's usually 24-28 days.
PatTaylor 1 year, 10 months ago
A saga of life and birth
Thus far, she is still on the nest and the eggs are still intact. That's despite a gang of crows that seem interested in harassing her each morning. No babies yet.
PatTaylor 1 year, 11 months ago
A saga of life and birth
Last night during the intense storm, I couldn't help but worry about them out there. Sure enough, this morning, there she was dutifully in her place, apparently none the worse for the experience.
PatTaylor 1 year, 11 months ago
Rude Attitude Here Is Growing Worse
I agree that what you "put out there" is going to "come right back at you".
PatTaylor 1 year, 12 months ago
Unusual Bird Sighting in Whispering Pines
The reason I think it is an anhinga, and not a comorant is that it has a light brown patch on its throat, which is in keeping with the female anhinga. It's hard to see that from the photos but we haven't been able to get very close to it with the camera. These photos are blown up from the original, so we're losing the detail. You can plainly see the marking through higher powered field glasses, but we have only a 200 mm lens on the camera. I assumed it was a comorant at first, and it may be, but I have watched it a lot over the past couple of weeks. They are very similar in size and look, to be sure, and I'm not an expert, but am a birder of sorts and I'll continue to believe it's an anhinga until an expert sees it in person and says otherwise. PT
PatTaylor 2 years ago
Dear Sir, let me in!
You can control only your own thoughts. You can't control the thoughts of others, no matter what kind of jerk they may be. The good news is you don't have around them, because they will be that way tomorrow, too.