Life In The Weeds

What's up with the Stink Bugs

Do you have a pre-historic looking bug hiding in the folds of your window treatments?  Or, under the lampshade down the hall?  And, when you kill said bug, the entire area stinks?  Well, that is a Stink Bug!

 

Where did they come from?  As it turns out, stink bugs are Chinese imports, first reported around Allentown, Pa., in 1996.  They were first identified in New Jersey in 1999 and are now found throughout the area. 

They probably arrived in packing material with shipped goods — isn’t everything we buy these days made in China? Since touching down in America, the Asian stink bug has made remarkable progress for an insect that can take half an afternoon to make its way across your living room.

The good news is that that are totally harmless...the bad news is that, like skunks, they are equipped with glands that squirt a foul-smelling liquid as a defense against predators. The smell, is released when they are crushed or disturbed.

You’ll be happy to know that your government is on the case. The USDA’s Agricultural Research Service is working on a pheromone trap, similar to those that attract Japanese beetles.

Unfortunately, I have not seen anything on the market yet...so, co-habitation with Mr. Stink Bug is the only solution.

mj

 

Rahm n Nancy ?

What exactly is Rahm Emanuel doing? 

 

Looks like he is dreamily sniffing Nancy Pelosi's hair or just finished uttering a sweet nothing into her ear.  She looks a bit content herself.

Where's Jon Stewart when you need him?

O.D.O.o.O.D.B.

Shamu gone Wild

Recently, an orca whale killed a Sea World trainer...a tragedy to be sure!

As it turns out, this is the third trainer related death involving this particular orca, named Tilikum. From what I have read, the whale grabbed the veteran trainer by her long pony-tail and dragged her into the water.  According to the medical examiner, she likely died of traumatic injuries and drowning.

So the questions have been swirling about what to do with the whale.  In a recent statement, by the President of Sea World, Tilikum will not be punished and will remain an "active, contributing member of the team."

What other choice do they really have?  Release it into the wild?  Keep the whale even more isolated?

Scary thing about orca whales...they are smart as hell.  I think Tilkum new exactly what it was doing when it grabbed this trainer. 

Take a look at this video showing a group of orca whales teaching a young calf how to hunt.  Or this clip sneaking up on it's pray...ON THE BEACH.  Or this one!

You tell me...you think these whales know what they are doing?  

mj

Enter Text from Image Below

Maybe it's just me...but when I am signing up for something on-line, registering or taking a survey - whatever the case may be - it really bothers me when you are asked to "enter text from image below" to complete your task.

Why, you ask?  

Because it takes me forever to figure out what the letter/number combination actually is!  It's usually blurry as hell, warped and distorted and printed in psychedelic colors.

Here are two examples...

My left brain just does not like working so hard!

mj

What's up with the Blue Bottles

If your are like me, you must wonder about why people have "blue bottle" displays decorating their yards.  If you are not familiar with this unusual form of yard art, here is a picture of what it might like...

 You see this around quite a bit as you drive around...and I never understood.  After a bit of research, here is what I found.

According to ancient African myth, bottles on trees could catch evil spirits and prevent them from entering a home. In the 18th century, Africans who came to the South as slaves adorned cedar trees with bottles for protection, according to Robert Farris Thompson, African and African American art historian at Yale University.

The color blue also signified healing powers.

There you go...mystery solved!

mj

Gas hits 2010 low!

Gas prices hit an all time low for 2010 this week.

Retail gasoline prices hit a nationwide average of $2.61 per gallon and fell below $2.40 in parts of the country.

Here is what I find interesting...prices are now 16 cents below the January 15th peak, but still 64.5 cents above year-ago levels. 

Were we really paying below $2.00 per gallon early last year?  Why does that seem impossibly low?  Ahh, the good old days of paying less than $100 to fill up my car!

Check out these numbers...according to some dude at OPIS (Oil Price Information Service), motorists spend about $953 million per day on fuel, down from about $1 billion per day last month.  ONE BILLION per day...

The typical motorist uses about 50 gallons of fuel per month, which would cost about $130 at current prices.  Are you a typical motorist?

Not to worry, prices could move higher as the spring driving season approaches!

mj

Thoughts from the Road

I'm in San Francisco this week...flew out yesterday!  There was a monstrous head-wind, so we were in flight for 6.5 hours...man, that's long!

Here are some thoughts:

Why is it that people in wheel chairs do not have to wait in line at security?  They get wheeled right up front, accompanied by all their companions and skip ahead of everyone!  Why?  Why can't they just wait in line like everyone else.

Why don't they show movies anymore.  I flew US Air...6.5 hours in the air and NOTHING.  Could this possibly be a cost savings?  Impossible, right.  Get a movie on NetFlix for crying out loud and throw it in the DVD player!

Why do people yell at the ticket agents at the gate when there is a delay?  We were delayed two hours because they had to change the tires...major bummer, but I'd rather have new rubber, as opposed to skidding off the runway.  Many folks were convinced this delay was somehow the agent fault!  I'm all for great customer service, but some folks feel a little too privileged these days!

Arrived safely!

mj

Keep It Simple Stupid

Everyone knows the KISS principle, right?  It applies to many things...and, you could probably argue that "keeping things simple" would be a great way to get through life.  In fact, I use it when coaching soccer, though I end the term with the word Sweetie...the girls love it when I remind them to KISS out on the soccer field!

I read an article yesterday that says "simple" is all the rave these days.  This article outlines how marketers of packaged goods are striving to re-brand themselves...in 2010, products that tout simplified labels will be more sought after than those clinging to the formerly hot buzzwords "organic" or "natural".

It states that from 2005 to 2008, there's been a 64.7% increase in new products using the words "simple" or "simply" in the product or brand name."

I find it ironic that we are getting back to the basics...less, is now back to being, well, more!  Back in the "old" days...like way back...when they made bread, for example, they just used what they had...no fancy ingredients, coloring, flavoring...the pioneers applied the KISS principle...both in the kitchen and in their everyday life.

It's funny...we are now back to buying whole milk in our house.  I grew up drinking gallons and gallons of Vitamin D Whole Milk...but as parents we went to 2% milk, then 1%, then skim...NOW, we are back to whole.

If "simple" sells, I'm all for it.

mj

Reading is FUNdamental

Over the last 5 years or so, I have discovered reading!  Go figure...

No, I did not just discover how to read, rather, I discovered that I actually like reading.  I challenged myself to read one book a month and, while it has not quite worked out that way exactly, I have been reading lots of books.

I ONLY read non-fiction...I love true stories about survival (extreme conditions) and I love early American History (which really was survival)...I read other genres, but these are my fav!  I have been buying up USED books on Amazon (the deals are laughably low!) and I really love to buy hardcover books.  Something about that HARDcover that inspires and allows me to really get into a story.  I would love to have a library full of books on display at some point in my life.

I really enjoy the concept of lending out a good book as well.  I always sign and date the inside front cover and ask the same of the recipient...it logs a cool little history of the book.

I just finished 1776, David McCullough and am now reading The Unforgiving Minute, Craig Mullaney.

What's strange is that I NEVER read as a kid or student...never, ever!  Cliff's notes were my ticket.  Lame, I know, but sadly, true!

Thankfully, my kids really enjoy reading.  In fact, I have encouraged my oldest to read some of the inspiring true stories I have collected over the years...

I am a reading convert and I am doing my best to spread the word that reading is fundamental!

mj

Back in the Saddle!

Last week, under very little fanfare, US Airways Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger and First Officer Jeffrey Skiles were reunited in the cockpit Thursday for the first time since Sullenberger safely landed a plane in the Hudson River in January.

 
When "Sully" made his announcement, the folks on board must have been going crazy with excitement! I am a USAir frequent flier and I can only hope all those pilots have been trained like "Sully"...

I am still blown away at what these guys accomplished - THEY LANDED A FRIGGIN' PLANE IN THE HUDSON RIVER.  No injuries, no deaths!

I'm glad they are back in the saddle!

mj