A pair of ospreys in a nest they built on a power pole in Sarasota, Florida.

Ospreys in their nest atop a power pole, Sarasota, Florida

Light pole planted in the middle of the sidewalk, no bike lane, presents a real hazard to people with vision or mobility issues. Sarasota, Florida.

Bike lane ends, so I’m on the sidewalk. Lightpole planted here why? Because &@“* you, that’s why.

Much better than it used to be, but still a long way to go.

An American 18 sailboat. This is a generic image, it’s not me. But it’s the same boat.

Got to sail an American 18 on Sarasota Bay today. I am inordinately happy to have sailed on salt water for the first time. Thank you, Sarasota Sailing Squadron, and my instructor, Jay.

Sunset over Whittaker Bayou, with boats.

I am a temporary Florida Man! How do I get used to this view?

This is pretty cool, and good news. Heart disease was how every man died when I was growing up in the 60s.

bsky.app/profile/scie...

Those of us wishing America would return to its “golden age” in the 50s and 60s (conveniently or ignorantly) forget that the top marginal tax rate at the time was pushing 80%. Tax the rich and we can afford to have nice things again.

Weather service map of a giant winter storm forecast to plow through the American south.

Right across MAGA- land. Let’s see how FEMA* responds to all those outstretched hands on Monday.

* Oh wait, I forgot, the official Trump administration posture toward disaster relief is: “fuck all y’all.”

Finally traded in my steam-powered iPhone 8-plus for a new 17 Pro Transcendent Max Ultra Extreme. I feel so rizz, so happening … you know, “with it.”

My first act with this bleeding-edge, ultra-sophisticated, communications device was to essentially disable the phone. We live in a very weird time.

Flagstaff Mountain peak, at deer Valley resort, Utah. I’m getting to ready to ski the Ontario run.

Two days ago, I was there. Now I am here. Sigh.

Two HO-scale locomotives lined up and ready to roll.

This heretofore O-scale model train guy is digging the HO, thanks to a beginner-set Xmas gift from my son.

I guess I’m *that* guy now.

Chicago seems to have a professional football team. Like with touchdowns & stuff. Huh.

A pan of turkey sloppy joe, slightly over-toasted buns, salad and a candle.

Sunday dinner: sloppy joes by candlelight.

4-5” of snow so far in SW Chicago suburb of Naperville. Snowblower got an actual workout — 1st time in two or three seasons!

My wife’s sure-fire cure: close your eyes and think of seven bald men.

At Christmas I no more desire a rose
Than wish a snow in May's new-fangled mirth;
But like of each thing that in season grows.

LLL 1,1

ya beat me to it

Pretty common in SW Wisconsin. Cool to see ‘em in this area.

Systematic Continental Scale Monitoring by Weather Surveillance Radar Shows Fewer Insects Above Warming Landscapes in the United States Systematic remote sensed monitoring of insect density in the air shows fewer insects above warming landscapes in the United States. We estimate insect density at continental scales for the first time....

That’s a lotta bugs.

“[Over the contiguous United States] on a typical summer day approximately a hundred trillion (10exp14) flying insects are present in the airspace, representing millions of tons of aerial biomass.”

doi.org/10.1111/gcb....

Fun times at Wrigley today. Gophers played us tough, but my Cats won!

“Let none admire / That riches grow in hell – that soil may best /
Deserve the precious bane.”

Yep, I’m rereading Paradise Lost for the first time in many years. I think I’m finally old enough, and patient enough, to reap its rewards.

Be sure to visit the Giant Wall O’ Beef Jerky.

Jeez, Monday Night Football. Opening song could have been Nazareth’s “Love Hurts.” It was *right there*.

Idiots.

Also, President Trump will have a great medical insurance program ready for you in a matter of weeks. As long as you buy your life-saving drugs through Trump RX. And your Sun-God Trump will not skim most of profits off of all of this, no he won’t.

Good news, everybody! We’re going to improve your health insurance by doubling your payments!