tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89669202024-03-07T18:13:44.452-08:00Tales of the HeliosphereEverything around the sun.tdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11062269542117552187noreply@blogger.comBlogger548125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966920.post-38751481867768184462009-09-30T00:15:00.000-07:002009-09-30T00:17:34.295-07:00If Only Iranian Nukes Had Removable Floor Mats.From a government press release.<br /><blockquote>"The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today alerted Lexus and Toyota owners about conditions that could cause the accelerator to get stuck open under certain conditions. The agency strongly recommends taking out removable floor mats on the driver’s side in certain models and not to replace them with any other mat, either from Toyota or any other brand. ... NHTSA said that Toyota has announced that it will soon launch a safety recall of various model year vehicles to redress the problem." (<a href="http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/template.MAXIMIZE/menuitem.f2217bee37fb302f6d7c121046108a0c/?javax.portlet.tpst=1e51531b2220b0f8ea14201046108a0c_ws_MX&javax.portlet.prp_1e51531b2220b0f8ea14201046108a0c_viewID=detail_view&javax.portlet.begCacheTok=token&javax.portlet.endCacheTok=token&itemID=279f2449f4604210VgnVCM1000002fd17898RCRD&overrideViewName=PressRelease">Here</a>.)</blockquote><br />-tdrtdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11062269542117552187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966920.post-24625953317829686222009-09-17T20:02:00.000-07:002009-09-17T20:08:45.705-07:00One Person's Uncivil Protester Is Another's Noble Activist.Has tea-party political incivility spread to California's state politics? A University of California Board of Regents meeting was held up yesterday by protesters holding signs and shouting. Board members had to leave the meeting until the protests were quieted down. Things were so bad, 12 people had to be detained. During the meeting, angry statements and question were hurled at the board members by people complaining about California's cuts to higher education. (<a href="http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/sep/17/demonstrators-disrupt-uc-board-session-12-detained/?uniontrib">Here</a>.)<br /><br />Wait a minute here. The angry and rude protesters were complaining about government spending cuts? They weren't angry, anti-government, conservatives? They were liberals? Never mind. Liberal protesters have always been uncivil jerks. It's how they are. No news here.<br /><br />-tdrtdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11062269542117552187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966920.post-83379404192340180952009-09-11T11:27:00.000-07:002009-09-11T11:28:04.739-07:00Until The Last Jihadist Is Burning In Hell.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlL1XXsQQFFNY8tRSmwnqh_gV3g8OfMYPhqDNbOS6Lv2bTfPCCKj3wu5FoHS84fjcbQ0YcnJF6V4V8MlSlw7Oy0jCCX_aHktvRVEwL4cDi4KeRwQ6FWaXl0N2YujWnasyg09_VQ/s1600-h/bastards.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 234px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlL1XXsQQFFNY8tRSmwnqh_gV3g8OfMYPhqDNbOS6Lv2bTfPCCKj3wu5FoHS84fjcbQ0YcnJF6V4V8MlSlw7Oy0jCCX_aHktvRVEwL4cDi4KeRwQ6FWaXl0N2YujWnasyg09_VQ/s400/bastards.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380278023122619234" /></a><br /><br /><br />Never forget, never forgive.<br /><br />-tdrtdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11062269542117552187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966920.post-16003267061084976652009-08-13T22:00:00.000-07:002009-08-13T22:00:03.570-07:00In The Macroverse: Spider Kills Bee.<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/0gwJ-0lcvOmYkXTc-fesUw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_sU8-4ehQyJA/SoJOaVR55zI/AAAAAAAACzs/K0fSUTVLaXY/s400/IMG_4338-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/tdavera/InTheMacroverse?feat=embedwebsite">In The Macroverse</a></td></tr></table><br />This spider worked non-stop for about 20 minutes wrapping a bee that had gotten stuck in its web. Once the bee was completely encased in webbing, the spider dragged it into the bottlebrush tree for dining later.<br /><br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/FRCGqG4quZPkrjrxr-4LdQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_sU8-4ehQyJA/SoJOYC_jkyI/AAAAAAAACzk/FKVTMzO4q1c/s400/IMG_4329-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/tdavera/InTheMacroverse?feat=embedwebsite">In The Macroverse</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />Meanwhile, in a nearby web off-camera another bee struggled for the duration and escaped. There is no mercy or justice in nature. Only survival or death contingent on circumstances.<br /><br />To see more photos of the bee wrapping the spider sequence, click the links above, which take you to the In The Macroverse album at picasaweb.google.com/tdavera. Scroll to the end of the album. And thank the gods you're at the top of the food chain. So say we all!<br /><br />-tdrtdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11062269542117552187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966920.post-31613374259800704132009-08-11T21:24:00.000-07:002009-08-11T21:30:06.970-07:00Infestation: A Sci-Fi Gem on SyFy Channel.Saturday night, SyFy Channel showed Kyle Rankin's (no relation, darn the luck) new monster-bug movie, <em>Infestation</em>. (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1020543/">Here</a>.) The movie has a lot of fun playing with monster, zombie, and alien invasion movie conventions. But it's far from being an exploitation of science fiction genres. There's good writing with real-live character development and good direction. The movie is also blessed by the lead acting of Chris Marquette and the supporting role played by Ray Wise, as Marquette's dad.<br /><br /><em>Infestation</em> takes place in the first days after animal-sized bugs have conquered the world. All humans had been instantaneously knocked unconscious only to awaken some days later wrapped in webbing. Marquette's character is part of a small band of humans who try to survive and decide to launch an attack on the bugs' nest, to rescue the girl and blow up the queen.<br /><br />The plot will probably surprise nobody but the writing might; for instance, when Rankin has Marquette's character talk disappointingly of having fantasized that the end of the world would come some day leaving him and his own beautiful Eve to repopulate the Earth. The reality is not exactly what he'd imagined.<br /><br />When SyFy shows the movie again, as they no doubt will, give it a look.<br /><br />-tdrtdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11062269542117552187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966920.post-86913032434311370032009-08-11T12:41:00.000-07:002009-08-11T20:26:55.599-07:00Paid Grassroots Organizing.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzpUPUoVTsbPRmofOFJ05YlE2GHV5l9tjs4BhuqCiT0hNWDvnxEWyI_a7XpvM5ChDtPpdO4LGHgMsA9h-Qaq2CPpfsa16kLRqlVTORVK3Ev-w0h76KGm_cvZ8RIv1m5oOfnNCQw/s1600-h/Astrturf+Recruitment+Entire.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzpUPUoVTsbPRmofOFJ05YlE2GHV5l9tjs4BhuqCiT0hNWDvnxEWyI_a7XpvM5ChDtPpdO4LGHgMsA9h-Qaq2CPpfsa16kLRqlVTORVK3Ev-w0h76KGm_cvZ8RIv1m5oOfnNCQw/s320/Astrturf+Recruitment+Entire.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368792491555858978" /></a><br />This flyer in the neighborhood is a timely reminder that when liberals organize using paid workers of an <a href="http://www.eqca.org">advocacy group</a>, it's still a grassroots campaign. No astroturfing here. Move along now.<br /><br />-tdr<br /><br /><em>Update: Even better, <a href="http://grassrootscampaigns.com/index.php">Grassroots Campaigns</a> is a paid political consulting, fundraising, and field organizing organization. Welcome to Wonderland, Alice, where words mean what we say they mean.</em>tdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11062269542117552187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966920.post-66221404936450027432009-07-29T22:04:00.000-07:002009-07-29T22:05:16.759-07:00Taxifornia Interruptus.Tax-happy Californians --- those few, those unhappy few --- are beside themselves with frustration over the revised state budget.<br /><br />After the recent special election, in which California's voters overwhelmingly said "no, no, no, no, no" to more taxes and spending, Arnold Schwarzenegger recovered from his political amnesia and remembered why we elected him the Governator in the first place. He forced the Legislature to cut expenditures, reform social programs, and hold the line on taxes. Thanks, Governor!<br /><br />Not everybody is as grateful. For instance, Dean Calbreath, business columnist for <em>The San Diego Union-Tribune</em>, wrote this after passage of California's revised budget:<blockquote>"Nor did the Legislature slap a tax on the Big Oil companies, which have been taking petroleum out of the ground in California since 1861 without paying royalties. Every other oil-producing state imposes royalties, but heaven forbid that we should follow the lead of Alaska, Wyoming and Texas.<br /><br />"Thanks to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's pledge to cut services instead of raising taxes, Occidental Petroleum – which generated $6.9 billion in profits last year – won't have to pay royalties on that new, 150 million-to 250 million-barrel field it discovered in Kern County." (<a href="http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jul/26/1b26dean19238-services-cut-no-new-taxes-8211-calif/">Here</a>.)</blockquote><br />Calbreath may be on to something. Perhaps California should follow the lead of Alaska, Wyoming, and Texas. California has one of the highest income taxes of all the United States. Alaska, Wyoming, and Texas don't tax personal income at all. (<a href="http://www.retirementliving.com/RLtaxes.html">Here</a>.) Now that's the kind of tax policy California needs.<br /><br />-tdrtdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11062269542117552187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966920.post-65201330599211820112009-07-11T11:04:00.000-07:002009-07-11T11:05:29.966-07:00Wild In The Urbs: Saga Of The Zebra FinchTwo weeks since he first made an appearance in the backyard, the escaped Zebra Finch is still coming around. He seems to be acclimating to the outdoors.<br /><br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/gfTnhRMy0F4FryGSHqY3Iw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_sU8-4ehQyJA/SljGjAkKEvI/AAAAAAAACmg/rh_TrwYQQJ4/s400/IMG_4119-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/tdavera/SagaOfTheZebraFinch?feat=embedwebsite">Saga of the Zebra Finch</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />Not sure how long he'll survive, what with this neighborhood cat stalking the feeders every day. "That's right, cat, you'd better keep walking away, you damn furry little serial killer!"<br /><br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/PCPOnHnvMBjIs-UaknLdFg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_sU8-4ehQyJA/SljTO_iT2EI/AAAAAAAACpY/YERgG-IW9dc/s400/IMG_4099-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/tdavera/Cats?feat=embedwebsite">Cats</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />But he's doing fine for now.<br /><br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/-26Z-mtGOb6QGNZ7li3eLg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_sU8-4ehQyJA/SljGhdgO-YI/AAAAAAAACmQ/2LJ4eVFtYFg/s400/IMG_4140-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/tdavera/SagaOfTheZebraFinch?feat=embedwebsite">Saga of the Zebra Finch</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />-tdrtdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11062269542117552187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966920.post-90344001491375057382009-07-11T10:27:00.000-07:002009-07-11T10:28:48.443-07:00Wild In The Urbs: Pigeon Sumo<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/pTdY4_AvdSTiLf41w3BrFQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_sU8-4ehQyJA/SljGQ3ZRdnI/AAAAAAAACl0/YiciEgnfqcA/s400/IMG_4162-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/tdavera/PigeonSumo?feat=embedwebsite">Pigeon Sumo</a></td></tr></table><br /><br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/uLSvujq_ZEQqIxZ2acYzJA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_sU8-4ehQyJA/SljGNCCgyUI/AAAAAAAAClk/UMCY-DYaYNg/s400/IMG_4157-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/tdavera/PigeonSumo?feat=embedwebsite">Pigeon Sumo</a></td></tr></table><br /><br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/5dkTM5nTjIDdY5RN08CMmQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_sU8-4ehQyJA/SljGPOCmbtI/AAAAAAAACls/aaEH4mMAFXk/s400/IMG_4160-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/tdavera/PigeonSumo?feat=embedwebsite">Pigeon Sumo</a></td></tr></table><br /><br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/XWUlyxHW0kalzpztrK5Xfw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_sU8-4ehQyJA/SljGSa2pvSI/AAAAAAAACl8/nKhiWnEZLrc/s400/IMG_4165-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/tdavera/PigeonSumo?feat=embedwebsite">Pigeon Sumo</a></td></tr></table><br /><br /><table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/bDyLcC3xvs2mUXYn-1c0aA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_sU8-4ehQyJA/SljGQfR_uFI/AAAAAAAAClw/Z_9XAEwwRVg/s400/IMG_4161-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/tdavera/PigeonSumo?feat=embedwebsite">Pigeon Sumo</a></td></tr></table><br />-tdrtdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11062269542117552187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966920.post-67489398977614974002009-07-07T21:13:00.000-07:002009-07-07T21:13:30.002-07:00Wild In The Urbs: Mockingbirds vs. Crow.Competition among birds isn't only over food. Sometimes, birds fight it out for territory. Here two mockingbirds harass a crow to drive it off the top of their telephone pole. <table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/QDw77zFssbG8ESu7-w20Kw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_sU8-4ehQyJA/SlQX6QbZd_I/AAAAAAAACWI/pZExsSEoAxs/s400/IMG_4055-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/tdavera/Birds02?feat=embedwebsite">Birds</a></td></tr></table> <table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/TlichDBpJuA0a0YccuGGzg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_sU8-4ehQyJA/SlQX7QXuygI/AAAAAAAACWM/fFU2Hd0cX3M/s400/IMG_4057-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/tdavera/Birds02?feat=embedwebsite">Birds</a></td></tr></table><br /><br />-tdrtdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11062269542117552187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966920.post-42907438498194478832009-07-07T21:06:00.000-07:002009-07-07T21:15:59.440-07:00Wild In The Urbs: Ultimate Pigeon Fighting.What do you get when too many pigeons try to fit in the same food bowl? Here it is. As always click on the photos to zoom in. <table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/xjgw8wmSqf1cAbtajJIl5A?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_sU8-4ehQyJA/SlQX9Tppi0I/AAAAAAAACWU/oM4AIT6pl14/s400/IMG_4069-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/tdavera/Birds02?feat=embedwebsite">Birds</a></td></tr></table> <table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/6TA5AXy1SQ2AAONkT4pxFA?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_sU8-4ehQyJA/SlQX_gNSB-I/AAAAAAAACWg/N23iSSR-BAo/s400/IMG_4073-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/tdavera/Birds02?feat=embedwebsite">Birds</a></td></tr></table> <table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ukLJSTAQy4P0LrAleCXp_Q?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_sU8-4ehQyJA/SlQYAyO9ZAI/AAAAAAAACWk/sBQlIWjRwp0/s400/IMG_4074-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/tdavera/Birds02?feat=embedwebsite">Birds</a></td></tr></table> <table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/U-uziBX3sweoj7LeCUVscQ?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_sU8-4ehQyJA/SlQYB2k6PmI/AAAAAAAACWo/v1bQJaxYDVQ/s400/IMG_4077-1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/tdavera/Birds02?feat=embedwebsite">Birds</a></td></tr></table><br />-tdr<br /><br /><em>Republished to change images size.</em>tdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11062269542117552187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966920.post-47734757380838126002009-06-27T10:52:00.000-07:002009-06-27T10:52:46.362-07:00Wild In The Urbs<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihmVFBKRhXU0idn56fUTaX_S1dVXb1VBJbeKBXjrk0msGZOIjLlHSqyTNiR3OxeNEMMdQwX-Q91b_wCY6mkUoau71mkNZKOIKpS0aXVXSuBzC56QU9Ea95ZODoJFefYOpHBZPDFg/s1600-h/IMG_3830-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihmVFBKRhXU0idn56fUTaX_S1dVXb1VBJbeKBXjrk0msGZOIjLlHSqyTNiR3OxeNEMMdQwX-Q91b_wCY6mkUoau71mkNZKOIKpS0aXVXSuBzC56QU9Ea95ZODoJFefYOpHBZPDFg/s320/IMG_3830-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352062781426458034" /></a><br />Somebody's cage is missing a Zebra Finch. (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Taeniopygia_guttata_-_front_view_-_dundee_wildlife_park.jpg">Here</a>.) The bird is not native to Southern California. Fortunately for it, it found a backyard feeder; and for me: it's got a sweet call and beautiful coloring.<br /><br />Meanwhile, a native bird feeds on a San Diego Sunflower in the front yard.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdevQxFdRG4prPBXuj9coHb2lz_7DbnKp5zV2w7D16xtBlbK7jCkmi5lJPBvocbQcoNhHJ2lKJHG8gp1gVWJ8Bo3zY7VtsgqE1MQ9B8-UXBend1hqGpF_rWsbvPgSclg4RAck5g/s1600-h/IMG_3840-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdevQxFdRG4prPBXuj9coHb2lz_7DbnKp5zV2w7D16xtBlbK7jCkmi5lJPBvocbQcoNhHJ2lKJHG8gp1gVWJ8Bo3zY7VtsgqE1MQ9B8-UXBend1hqGpF_rWsbvPgSclg4RAck5g/s320/IMG_3840-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352063205746375314" /></a> The sunflower plant still blooms but it's losing flowers in anticipation of summer. The blooming flowers continue to feed hummingbirds and insects. The dying flowers feed other birds. Nice!<br /><br />-tdrtdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11062269542117552187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966920.post-447946383043253042009-06-23T21:04:00.000-07:002009-06-23T21:04:47.504-07:00Stories On Film From IranWe sit riveted to our TV screens and computer monitors by the images coming from Iran. We see people putting their lives on the line in the streets, marching into harm's way, rising up against tyranny, fighting on behalf of freedom. Or is something else happening?<br /><br />The demonstrators have gone into the streets protesting the election that appears to have been stolen from their favored candidate. Yet this candidate comes from the theocracy that rules Iran. He is a founding father of the Islamic revolution that replaced one dictatorship with another. Are his supporters in the streets merely pawns in a power struggle among the clerics who rule Iran?<br /><br />Perhaps the images lie to us. Certainly the images depict events that are truly happening. But whether those events depict an evident truth or mask a lie is not yet clear. So, we read and watch the news out of Iran and wonder whether what we are seeing is true or a lie.<br /><br />Fiction is truth masquerading as lies. We read and watch fiction knowing full well we are being told a pack of lies, but we also know that truth lies hidden in those lies. (<a href="http://theliterarylink.com/leguinintro.html">Here</a>.) Iran is blessed with storytellers who tell truthful lies on film. Here's a sampling, in no particular order of personal preference.<br /><br /><em>Crimson Gold</em>: A tragedy about the last days of a pizza delivery man in Tehran, doomed by shame and lack of opportunity.<br /><br /><em>Offside</em>: The misadventures of young women who, motivated by love of country and the game, must disguise themselves as men in order to attend Iran's World Cup Soccer match.<br /><br /><em>Baran</em>: Another story of disguised gender, but this time a love story, and a story of Afghan refugees surviving in Iran.<br /><br /><em>The Mirror</em>: It's not uncommon for Iranian movies to have a naturalistic feel to them. This film goes further than most and breaks the Fourth Wall. Midway through the film, the preteen actress playing the young girl making her way home alone through Tehran, suddenly decides she's had enough of acting and storms off. The rest of the movie follows the actress as she continues to make her way home across Tehran, but now the action is unscripted. Or is it?<br /><br /><em>Secret Ballot</em>: Iran has elections. This comical movie tells the story of a female elections worker and a male soldier collecting ballots from far-flung polling places in a remote rural province<br /><br /><em>Children of Heaven</em>: A young brother and sister hide the loss of a pair of tennis shoes from their parents. It's a family movie that culminates in a foot race across the city.<br /><br /><em>Color of Paradise</em>: The saddest but most beautifully filmed story of a father and his blind child. It will haunt your memory for a long time. It still haunts mine, 10 years on.<br /><br /><em>Marooned In Iraq</em>: One of Iran's naturalistic movies. The plot involves a Kurdish singer from Iran who travels to Iraq in the wake of the first US-Iraq war to find his former wife. Not a musical by any means but there's lots of singing performances by the main character and others he meets along the way.<br /><br /><em>Ten</em>: Women in Iran struggle to live under the oppression of the Islamic Republic. Their stories are told in conversations during car rides across Tehran.<br /><br />-tdrtdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11062269542117552187noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966920.post-60290466904325970962009-06-22T20:25:00.000-07:002009-06-22T20:27:50.557-07:00There Is No God But Obama, And Obama Is His Prophet.<em>Newsweek's</em> Evan Thomas stirred controversy and debate after he said about President Barack Obama's Cairo speech, "In a way, Obama’s standing above the country, above-above the world, a sort of god." Thomas sort of complains that he is being taken out of context, which prompted Peter Wehner to write on <em>Commentary</em> magazine's <em>Contentions</em> blog: "So I would ask: Mr. Thomas, in what context can you call Barack Obama a 'sort of God'?" (<a href="http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/wehner/70941">Here</a>.)<br /><br />The correct context would be when Mr. Thomas is describing how President Obama's followers view his place in the world.<br /><br />The apotheosis of Barack Obama to god-President begins with his name. Obama: the name's first letter is an "O," a circle, the perfect shape in nature, symbolic of unity. O-ba-ma is three syllables long, a magical and divine number, powerful in rhetoric. (See "the rule of three" <a href="http://nutsandbolts.washcoll.edu/rhetoric.html">here</a>.) Say his name: Obama. To Western ears his name is exotic. A magic word, chantable: Obama, Obama, Obama. Don't think for a moment his marketers don't know it.<br /><br />The apotheosis continued with his campaign. There were the creepy YouTube videos by will.i.am and others, the iconic posters, the proliferation of news photos with strange halo effects around Obama’s head, the Obama speeches attended by swooning and crying listeners, the campaign's instructions to volunteers to steer away from policy talk and testify about their own "come to Obama" moments, the thrill running up Chris Matthews’s leg, the cable news hype leading up to the inauguration. Need we go on? <br /><br />An aspect of Barack Obama’s appeal is that he seems a sort of god or prophet. He has been sent to America to redeem its past sins and transform the country into something better than it’s ever been. He isn't just a messenger of hope and change, he is the very personification of hope and change. A man of humble means born from the union of an American white woman and an immigrant black African man who grows up to become President. In crisis he is calm, unflappable, cool. He stands above it all. He is a font of wisdom who sees the flaws in both sides of any issue or dispute and is able to show us the perfect middle way. His mere words are believed to have the power to effect miraculous change: Obama speaks in Cairo; an electoral miracle happens in Lebanon.<br /><br />There is rhetorical exaggeration in all this, of course. But not much. There is no god but Obama, and Obama is his prophet. Peace be upon his name.<br /><br />-tdr<br /><br /><em>First published in slightly different form as a comment to the Contentions blog on Commentary.org.</em>tdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11062269542117552187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966920.post-19432002156868968212009-06-16T13:21:00.000-07:002009-06-16T13:22:34.496-07:00Taken (with Jack Bauer)Like Jack Bauer in <em>24</em>, Liam Neeson's character in <em>Taken</em> is a super competent gunman with a daughter. Instead of the 24 hours Jack Bauer has to work with, Neeson's character has 96 hours to rescue his daughter from the clutches of white slavers in France.<br /><br />The movie's plot is guided by the question: What Would Jack Bauer Do? So, when Neeson's character finds his daughter's French kidnapper he beats him to try and make him talk. When he finds the Albanian thugs who held her, he kills all but one with knife and gun, and then tortures the survivor for information. So on and so on until the body count climbs into double digits and the property damage to six figures, maybe seven. <em>Taken</em> is a fix for Jack Bauer fans who can't wait for the next season of <em>24</em>.<br /><br />Neeson's character would make Jack Bauer proud, except for one bad habit. Jack knows how to hold a handgun. Neeson's character doesn't. Get that finger off the trigger guard, Liam!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuL6twsmpVU4cJ_41DJMrKsYQghdZ8wsW10z_apMzpjDX-_vvvTmO1U4lDUjV7lMyskYsAtLg49teuUq5D3O8zTrNzVhAuKQWlNuuSXIOIBXOQ0aTZy7bsWZx2Bw98QWpFYiGkwg/s1600-h/TakenTaurusMilleniumProTutone-4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 138px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuL6twsmpVU4cJ_41DJMrKsYQghdZ8wsW10z_apMzpjDX-_vvvTmO1U4lDUjV7lMyskYsAtLg49teuUq5D3O8zTrNzVhAuKQWlNuuSXIOIBXOQ0aTZy7bsWZx2Bw98QWpFYiGkwg/s320/TakenTaurusMilleniumProTutone-4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348021572199256274" /></a><br /><br />-tdrtdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11062269542117552187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966920.post-13606549265897312792009-06-16T13:07:00.000-07:002009-06-16T13:10:22.207-07:00Paul Blart: Mall Cop aka Die Hard With A Belly<em>Paul Blart: Mall Cop</em>, Kevin James' new DVD is a not very funny action comedy about an unarmed security guard trying to rescue hostages held by a criminal gang at the shopping mall. Call it <em>Die Hard With A Belly</em>, but without any belly laughs. It's got a few comic moments but nothing that will make you LOLROTFLYAO. (<em>The Hangover</em>, playing now at local theaters is the movie to see for those laughs.)<br /><br />The special features on the <em>Blart</em> DVD are more entertaining than the movie. The actors who played the minions in the team of criminals who take over the shopping mall are extreme sport athletes: skateboarders, bicyclists, free runners. The DVD's special features profile these athletes and show how the stunts were performed. All very interesting and fun.<br /><br />The stunts in the movie include something called "free running" or "parkour." Parkour "is an activity with the aim of moving from one point to another as smoothly, efficiently and quickly as possible, using principally the abilities of the human body.[2] It is meant to help one overcome obstacles, which can be anything in the surrounding environment—from branches and rocks to rails and concrete walls—and can be practiced in both rural and urban areas." (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkour">Here</a>.)<br /><br />Youtube has short videos of parkour in action. Also, the DVD <em>District 13</em> (aka <em>District B13</em>) has some great parkour action, with noted athlete David Belle doing some amazing things. But perhaps the best free running movie I've seen, although I didn't know what it was at the time, is <em>Run Lola Run</em>. That movie not only has great running stunts throughout, it's a quality movie. Time to put <em>Lola</em> back in the rental queue for a second look.<br /><br />-tdr<br /><br /><em>Republished once to correct typo.</em>tdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11062269542117552187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966920.post-37470065782505278542009-06-13T22:45:00.000-07:002009-06-13T22:46:23.327-07:00Remember, Size Doesn't Matter.The universe is a large place full of really big objects. Some people like to see some significance in humanity's small size in comparison. Whoever posted the really cool video showing the sizes of planets and stars on Youtube seems to think so. (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEheh1BH34Q">Here</a>.) After showing larger and larger images of planets and stars and then comparing them to the enormously larger size of the universe, the video ends with the statement, "No, you are not the center of the universe."<br /><br />Well, yes. But does the universe even have a center?<br /><br />I have to say, I don't quite understand the need of some people to diminish the significance of humanity. The fact that we're small and not located in the center of the universe means nothing really. Stars might be big but they're just giant flaming balls of gas. Big deal. The universe might be enormous but it's mostly large expanses of space. Again, big deal.<br /><br />It is cool to think about how truly large the universe is and how truly beautiful it can be. Does the universe know how big it is or how beautiful? Do stars? It's doubtful. But we know. And that makes all the difference.<br /><br />-tdrtdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11062269542117552187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966920.post-5292060303127396852009-06-07T21:15:00.000-07:002009-06-07T21:16:47.315-07:00Terminator Salvation.It's better than you've heard. The movie is a worthy sequel in the franchise, and certainly better than <em>T3: Judgment Day.</em> T3 was a hopeless movie about fate being in control of us. <em>Terminator Salvation</em> has a more life affirming theme, delivered with lots of cool chases, gun battles, giant robots, and unbelievably realistic computer animation. What's not to like about that?<br /><br />-tdrtdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11062269542117552187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966920.post-27029160947895888452009-04-30T07:34:00.000-07:002009-04-30T11:28:51.567-07:00The First 100 Days Down ...Only 1381 days to go. January 20, 2013, cannot come too soon.<br /><br />-tdr<br /><br /><em>Update: Okay, I added wrong. That's 1361 days to go. Even better.</em>tdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11062269542117552187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966920.post-68792252177496150452009-04-13T21:19:00.000-07:002009-04-17T20:46:24.564-07:00In The Macroverse: Beauty And Grace.While some of us spent Sunday morning relaxing in the yard, at the insect level it was just another day of working to survive. Here's a pollen-laden bee hovering among the branches of a San Diego Sunflower. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5QUHM7joPkZOTkMpc6Qtn8qKys89bYQajG_GWV5FFpTW815YIw61OBMSe3Z7qyUBeBjapVPQnABcgTMFLIw-Xo2udjohZqY1C1394jStXzBc5B8hvmrsUYT7x2o5uMO3PxgzJQ/s1600-h/IMG_2867-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5QUHM7joPkZOTkMpc6Qtn8qKys89bYQajG_GWV5FFpTW815YIw61OBMSe3Z7qyUBeBjapVPQnABcgTMFLIw-Xo2udjohZqY1C1394jStXzBc5B8hvmrsUYT7x2o5uMO3PxgzJQ/s320/IMG_2867-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324385182513362354" /></a> This fierce-looking spider sits on another San Diego Sunflower bush nearby. Click the photo for a closeup of the spider's face. Its fu manchu mustache-like markings alone are worth the look. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJXBVePKtjRZGZ27w01PPc1TlvEdbMtyHVAl4OlLX3qDKMf0E3mnBos6lR8t5fZLd9CSMhQknybUw5QntUun331jhmw8Vb4N3s29rriXc12UbsQkRLMTJyvbdQedRJ6kvL-4Oo4g/s1600-h/IMG_2878-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJXBVePKtjRZGZ27w01PPc1TlvEdbMtyHVAl4OlLX3qDKMf0E3mnBos6lR8t5fZLd9CSMhQknybUw5QntUun331jhmw8Vb4N3s29rriXc12UbsQkRLMTJyvbdQedRJ6kvL-4Oo4g/s320/IMG_2878-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324386530554634850" /></a> <br />I have no idea what this flying insect is or the flower it's resting on but they're both strikingly beautiful. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo445AVtS57yWYQQIPS_d19VrBa26wP5FtT-voiFcqmthJGlOZxjSF7_Njh1Jk4hBlnyjMKQatdiDSwvkmdWgeOSLVdn3jtn11dr5zFxDRpb41E_IsDRjx6n8oGdHKsweNnWEwxw/s1600-h/IMG_2909-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo445AVtS57yWYQQIPS_d19VrBa26wP5FtT-voiFcqmthJGlOZxjSF7_Njh1Jk4hBlnyjMKQatdiDSwvkmdWgeOSLVdn3jtn11dr5zFxDRpb41E_IsDRjx6n8oGdHKsweNnWEwxw/s320/IMG_2909-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324390926472561666" /></a> The flower's beauty is obvious to the naked eye. The insect is so small that to the naked eye it appears to be nothing much. Only under magnification is its beauty revealed to the human eye. Do other insects notice? Who can say? As far as we know, the aesthetics of a thing is appreciated only by human beings. These creatures live lives of unobserved grace and beauty.<br /><br />To see more, go to my photos page at picasaweb.google.com/tdavera/InTheMacroverse and scroll to the end for the most recent additions. (<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/tdavera/InTheMacroverse#">Here</a>.)<br /><br />-tdr<br /><br /><em>Update: The flower in the bottom photo is a Tidy Tips and the insect is a hover fly.</em>tdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11062269542117552187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966920.post-66577933606950618422009-04-03T22:25:00.000-07:002009-04-03T22:27:24.693-07:00First Treasury Secretary From Metaluna.Could Treasury secretary Timothy Geithner be an alien? Here's Geithner.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9_GawVQ-14reECsPi8dQRZxjartMeVOkksUfFNrgK8d20vS6XxKlsb_xfMrYE6oq-ZqpJJsIoFCLswWIMabkRNisjhzA1qhTbmx3hVod1Grp1cnuuhR-_EN47xsXlGz5D8WJDg/s1600-h/Timothy_Geithner_Treasury.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 254px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX9_GawVQ-14reECsPi8dQRZxjartMeVOkksUfFNrgK8d20vS6XxKlsb_xfMrYE6oq-ZqpJJsIoFCLswWIMabkRNisjhzA1qhTbmx3hVod1Grp1cnuuhR-_EN47xsXlGz5D8WJDg/s320/Timothy_Geithner_Treasury.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320702220861470658" /></a><br /><br />And here's Metalunan scientist, Exeter, from the classic 1955 scifi movie, <em>This Island Earth</em>. (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Island_Earth">Here</a>.)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTXZDEEVPI7P1_2khSwRAMbwgLGJ6IDJ40NVEjiVrENDAVBDL9u6fbGB66V8fptv6eOszzLZit01Mhky_yOEbAs4CTEr5W8DLTvBJpBDFwtDgpI0JaRlMZvRe-Klz76Vzwv3fSTw/s1600-h/Exeter.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTXZDEEVPI7P1_2khSwRAMbwgLGJ6IDJ40NVEjiVrENDAVBDL9u6fbGB66V8fptv6eOszzLZit01Mhky_yOEbAs4CTEr5W8DLTvBJpBDFwtDgpI0JaRlMZvRe-Klz76Vzwv3fSTw/s320/Exeter.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320701433423305186" /></a><br /><br />It's a forehead thing. We report, you decide.<br /><br />-tdrtdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11062269542117552187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966920.post-32753466479074323072009-03-31T10:07:00.000-07:002009-03-31T10:08:17.353-07:00Wild In The Urbs: Cesar Chavez DayToday's a holiday at my office. We get all the holidays California state judges get, and they get a lot. So, this idle morning was spent in the backyard along with these visitors:<br /><br />A Black-headed Grosbeak.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1tag0NtNQGH989ca3qyYH9XR3kN_zLkp1WNr7cis3T3QWOiQ_Rfo2nK3z2ZOVA8ZiP6W3ImIHor6kujRll6rCbpjt7OOTGR4cZuiCZyGw5bwjgIfKX86AhzwhBFJpRClu0HFd3Q/s1600-h/IMG_2632-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1tag0NtNQGH989ca3qyYH9XR3kN_zLkp1WNr7cis3T3QWOiQ_Rfo2nK3z2ZOVA8ZiP6W3ImIHor6kujRll6rCbpjt7OOTGR4cZuiCZyGw5bwjgIfKX86AhzwhBFJpRClu0HFd3Q/s320/IMG_2632-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319396026819921698" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4haM2gexMRPMJZKI1hRdjlMLB26AXl36Ieii37HVCJfUU1tPutSnuXt6YK_E0TUiHA9YaVdeAXOpEuwt0UONPBNbQSQH_XZ5CvXhUE8Jh96jsX6VM9QMsFRlMybARhGvhjczSnw/s1600-h/IMG_2637-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4haM2gexMRPMJZKI1hRdjlMLB26AXl36Ieii37HVCJfUU1tPutSnuXt6YK_E0TUiHA9YaVdeAXOpEuwt0UONPBNbQSQH_XZ5CvXhUE8Jh96jsX6VM9QMsFRlMybARhGvhjczSnw/s320/IMG_2637-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319396019187071954" /></a><br /><br />A House Sparrow, I think, came along.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNdqP7-Djqo5jhR9RVFO-hd_9g3q1EsxQ1Od8_gFcEf-7yvoysKZIVMFtoZS703RsvUS8d2qS7lumgVzRInZOdnVsthAl2VzN95RhBH6UWSC_wUp3IoJC4GW9xIF2IOZuIaMVMg/s1600-h/IMG_2623-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNdqP7-Djqo5jhR9RVFO-hd_9g3q1EsxQ1Od8_gFcEf-7yvoysKZIVMFtoZS703RsvUS8d2qS7lumgVzRInZOdnVsthAl2VzN95RhBH6UWSC_wUp3IoJC4GW9xIF2IOZuIaMVMg/s320/IMG_2623-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319397230302419618" /></a><br /><br />Pigeons, too, of course, flew in from the nearby grocery store.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTsU9Thbho8HpB2hxIR-qzPwloim0nS29ozIqTIeWNrFWe6rsTOr9gGGyVoq6H1s8sYbT9UlYZ5_1we9kjozOhEdGeq1t-Be7ZMeU18h_mzYOXrLovlj2eJTb2xAcrvd91Wplikg/s1600-h/IMG_2641-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTsU9Thbho8HpB2hxIR-qzPwloim0nS29ozIqTIeWNrFWe6rsTOr9gGGyVoq6H1s8sYbT9UlYZ5_1we9kjozOhEdGeq1t-Be7ZMeU18h_mzYOXrLovlj2eJTb2xAcrvd91Wplikg/s320/IMG_2641-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319397657256685314" /></a><br /><br />Meanwhile, the cat roamed the yard blissfully unaware of her appointment for vaccinations later today.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEA3fSn_om4NQISBE_K4PLHY1GpujiHBVxn6VPmJPwmi0mSbaSIwryz7RCpAKmwCRYPim0etcNwaDIz3ylDXXOlqcDSawvoEErZyEZWeMe6aAosqmY_q7o2cCO0LjVvIDmemgAMw/s1600-h/IMG_2646.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEA3fSn_om4NQISBE_K4PLHY1GpujiHBVxn6VPmJPwmi0mSbaSIwryz7RCpAKmwCRYPim0etcNwaDIz3ylDXXOlqcDSawvoEErZyEZWeMe6aAosqmY_q7o2cCO0LjVvIDmemgAMw/s320/IMG_2646.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319398358974796098" /></a><br /><br />Have a day, everybody.<br /><br />-tdrtdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11062269542117552187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966920.post-44031444537889871752009-03-16T19:26:00.000-07:002009-03-16T19:26:38.726-07:00In The Macroverse: Woodpeckers versus Pine Tree.The woodpeckers at Mount Laguna this weekend worked nonstop pounding on the pine trees and storing their nuts in the bark. The trees didn't seem to complain but nobody would blame them if they did. Here's an example of the woodpeckers' work.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBzqKX9Twr6NWDith_RhwpGRODhyphenhyphencPgXiadwTd8Mh5srTP7vDrffDDT8UDmV-b0UayMk5GB5MU8yvxz4crCywjpIV-DOjOsNFPl0FThWkPx9pNFBrOyAltJKDZmgwn3n5kluh4w/s1600-h/IMG_2093-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWBzqKX9Twr6NWDith_RhwpGRODhyphenhyphencPgXiadwTd8Mh5srTP7vDrffDDT8UDmV-b0UayMk5GB5MU8yvxz4crCywjpIV-DOjOsNFPl0FThWkPx9pNFBrOyAltJKDZmgwn3n5kluh4w/s320/IMG_2093-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313975004752579842" /></a> And here's an oozing wound in the bark from all that pecking. That's gotta hurt.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1KnZzv7eazFp7HNlY3Trb1gQEkykrjbgJbicPyjOKZXfDFQsAbiDNWSv36l2QmdFvReDKOfy01TjE7SXFcDpUlpjAfipO85G2yaGxNUd5OI_QN8pPgip2ZwmP3zs6T5eUYtNqDQ/s1600-h/IMG_2122-3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1KnZzv7eazFp7HNlY3Trb1gQEkykrjbgJbicPyjOKZXfDFQsAbiDNWSv36l2QmdFvReDKOfy01TjE7SXFcDpUlpjAfipO85G2yaGxNUd5OI_QN8pPgip2ZwmP3zs6T5eUYtNqDQ/s320/IMG_2122-3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313975524129938034" /></a> But it's not all pain and destruction. Here's a pretty sapfall hanging from the bark.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXYnLb8NdebQtrnyo4ZtBSuePpbRDVB8bgdmZAIqcKX3uZOyTwpIxPznorLJ20XRZeyiT5mKg9yV8vzWxM9B_4FB1wjPw51i97xTQkgpJvd2LvbTtBYbs-Gamm0bhD7OUVWe8ug/s1600-h/IMG_2101-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGXYnLb8NdebQtrnyo4ZtBSuePpbRDVB8bgdmZAIqcKX3uZOyTwpIxPznorLJ20XRZeyiT5mKg9yV8vzWxM9B_4FB1wjPw51i97xTQkgpJvd2LvbTtBYbs-Gamm0bhD7OUVWe8ug/s320/IMG_2101-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313976294141326530" /></a> For more closeup photos of a pine tree's skin, go to my picasaweb photos page at picasaweb.google.com/tdavera, open the folder labeled In The Macroverse, and scroll to the end. (<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/tdavera/InTheMacroverse#">Here</a>.)<br /><br />-tdrtdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11062269542117552187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966920.post-28182139186580926852009-03-16T19:13:00.000-07:002009-03-16T19:13:08.239-07:00Wild In The Wild: Mount Laguna Edition.This weekend's shots of birds were taken at Mount Laguna about 50 miles east of San Diego. Saw 14 different types of birds. If I were a real birder I'd give you a list. But I'm not. So, here's a picture of a Steller's Jay, instead.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVIUfYJTOWFrC-saA0ZvYQ6S-VmhmTElucoctr1bwSR3hwo0GKuOQFNWWghY4ow0wqqS-xy1u14HRFKLTfYfAMR1Wk36UgEAXbz6uGdnHul8snNBs0VmvtU99gXGgU96aUuGGmkw/s1600-h/IMG_1658-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVIUfYJTOWFrC-saA0ZvYQ6S-VmhmTElucoctr1bwSR3hwo0GKuOQFNWWghY4ow0wqqS-xy1u14HRFKLTfYfAMR1Wk36UgEAXbz6uGdnHul8snNBs0VmvtU99gXGgU96aUuGGmkw/s320/IMG_1658-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313972436080813634" /></a> For more pictures of this and other birds go to my picasaweb photos page at picasaweb.google.com/tdavera and open the 2009 Laguna Mountain Folder. (<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/tdavera/2009LagunaMountain#">Here</a>)<br /><br />-tdrtdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11062269542117552187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8966920.post-50992443264501443482009-03-08T21:55:00.000-07:002009-03-08T21:58:43.846-07:00California: The Fools-Gold State.California's government irresponsibly spent too much money during the housing and stock market bubbles. This year, when the economy tanked, California's tax revenues fell but government spending didn't. Instead of passing pro-growth measures to revive the economy and making adjustments to this year's spending in order to close the relatively small deficit this year, government officials ginned up a crisis. They inflated the size of the deficit by combining the real deficit from this year with the projected deficit for next year.<br /><br />The state controller stopped paying California's bills, the governor declared an emergency, and legislators were locked in the capitol building until they passed a budget. The governor conspired with the Democratic majorities in the legislature to push a budget loaded with tax increases, a few token spending cuts, and not much else. Three Republican legislators in each chamber gave the votes necessary to secure passage. Declaring victory, the governor and legislative leaders claimed this budget would solve California's fiscal crisis through the 2010 fiscal year. The new budget would spare Californians from the legislature's annual budget fiasco this summer.<br /><br />Not so fast. It doesn't take a genius to realize that increasing taxes in a recession will not increase revenues much and will slow the economy's recovery. The solution to California's budget crisis will involve real and significant cuts in state spending. California's politicians won't do that because real spending cuts will mean laying off state workers and taking on the most powerful political force in this state: the government employees unions.<br /><br />Nice try, Sacramento, but no cigar. The day of reckoning has been delayed not avoided.<br /><br />The state controller just issued a press release announcing that California will begin paying its bills again and refunding income tax payments. Buried at the end of the press release is this ominous warning. <blockquote>"'While progress was made, this recent budget deal does not put California’s fiscal house in order. Revenue erosion of nearly $900 million in the month of February alone, coupled with numerous indicators that California’s economy has not yet turned the corner, demands vigilance over the State finances during the months ahead,' [Controller John] Chiang said. 'While current-year cash flow problems appear to be manageable, early projections indicate the recently-enacted budget did little to guarantee there would be sufficient cash solutions to meet the State’s payment obligations for the coming fiscal year. If the Governor and lawmakers do not take action before July, we could be accelerating towards the very cliff that we just stopped short of falling over.'" (PDF <a href="http://sco.ca.gov/eo/pressbox/2009/02/pr09014.pdf">here</a>.)</blockquote> What kind of action do you think he has in mind? California's taxpayers had better hold on to their wallets.<br /><br />-tdrtdrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11062269542117552187noreply@blogger.com0