Brian Greiner 🇨🇦🍁

How to create a "dead man's switch" on your Android phone (and why you should) Build this easy automation that sends out texts, triggers alarms, wipes data, makes emergency calls, and more if you don't reset it.

How to create a "dead man's switch" on your Android phone (and why you should)

U.S. Troops Were Told Iran War Is for “Armageddon,” Return of Jesus Advocacy group reports commanders giving similar messages at more than 30 installations in every branch of the military

"This morning our commander...urged us to tell our troops that this was 'all part of God's divine plan' and he specifically referenced numerous citations out of the Book of Revelation referring to Armageddon and the imminent return of Jesus Christ."

Yes, indeed!
They are small, and cool quickly.
I had one with lunch, and just finished another as a snack.
They also freeze well, which is handy. The recipe makes two trays (14 per tray), so I keep one tray's lot out for nibbling on, and freeze the rest.

Cookies cooling on a wire rack

Today's #baking is oatmeal cookies with cranberries added for a touch of fun.
They are still cooling, but patience is a virtue.
Or so I have been told.
Not sure I believe that, but I will give it a try.

"Last House on the East Side" sounds like the title for either a horror or political thriller story.

Bunny standing on snow, eating birdseed.

We had another bunny visit us this morning, despite the bright sunshine and -16C temperature.

Brown bunny, sitting like a loaf, on top of snow.

I spotted this healthy-looking bunny this noontime.
They usually come out either very late or very early, but I guess this one wanted a walk in the sunshine.
It seems quite content to have a rest after munching on birdseed.

For some reason my mind began changing the words of the song "Pink Pony Club" to "Bad Bunny Club".

Three sparrows amongst branches. Two are sitting close together, while the third, far off to the right, looks at them.

Phil is alone on Valentine's Day this year.
He tries to cheer himself up by watching others having fun as a couple.

#sparrows
#birds

solitary sparrow seen in profile while sitting amongst branches

Eugene is alone on Valentine's Day.
Again.
But that's OK.
He says he's fine. No, really, totally fine.

#sparrows

Just got my Public Lending Right money from Canada Council. And for the firs time ever, it's pretty good money ($1500). This is thanks to you taking my books out at the library. Keep doing it! And do it for your favourite authors! Even if you don't read the books!!

Two sparrows sitting in a frost-coated leafless bush.

The chilly temperature has coated the bush with a sheen of frost that glitters in the sunlight.
The #sparrows have accepted the bejeweled surroundings as suitable to their station in life.

#birds

Grey squirrel standing upright on snow.

On sunny, cold mornings the squirrels will often pause to enjoy a bit of warmth from the sun.

My Cartoon for Thursday's Toronto Star

"Disturb not the raptor at its meal, lest it use your for dessert."

Also, it is a juvenile hawk. And you know how surly and nasty teenagers can get.

I have that, but was only using it to identify birdsong.
Most of the birds in my yard are pretty easy to identify by sight : sparrows, robins, cardinals, and such.

Thank you!
I used iNaturalist, and it didn't mention any colouring differences.
Hmm, I have the Merlin app, too, but have only used it for sound identification! And, yes, it does mention the difference between adult and immature. Thank you for the hint!

Thank you for the clarification! I used the iNaturalist app, and it didn't mention the colouring difference.

Thank you!

Yes, it does seem to be a Cooper's Hawk. But why do you suggest it is immature?

I think its prey was a squirrel...we have lots of those in my yard.

Thank you!

What makes you suggest immature rather than full adult?

Hawk on post, staring into camera.

Glanced outside and saw this hawk on my deck eating "something" it had caught.

Not sure what kind of hawk, but damn is it gorgeous!

#birds

Some are born to be heroes.

Some are forged into heroes.

Some of us bake and eat goodies.

We all have our part to play.

Hmm, don't think cross-border baked goods are allowed.
But I will certainly sacrifice a muffin or three in your honour!

Mini chocolate chip muffins cooling on a wire rack

It's a snowy day, so a good time to bake some mini chocolate chip muffins.
The hard part is waiting for them to cool!

#baking

Yes!
I've actually printed out such things a couple of times as DIY cards. Nothing too outrageous, mind you, but certainly different from regular cards.
Thanks for the link to the article.

Were grim-dark illustrations such as these common advertising tools in those days?

Dear Mr. Nadeau: As long as there is one upright man, as long as there is one compassionate woman, the contagion may spread and the scene is not desolate. Hope is the thing that is left to us, in a bad time. I shall get up Sunday morning and wind the clock, as a contribution to order and steadfastness. Sailors have an expression about the weather: they say, the weather is a great bluffer. I guess the same is true of our human society — things can look dark, then a break shows in the clouds, and all is changed, sometimes rather suddenly. It is quite obvious that the human race has made a queer mess of life on this planet. But as a people we probably harbor seeds of goodness that have lain for a long time waiting to sprout when the conditions are right. Man’s curiosity, his relentlessness, his inventiveness, his ingenuity have led him into deep trouble. We can only hope that these same traits will enable him to claw his way out. Hang on to your hat. Hang on to your hope. And wind the clock, for tomorrow is another day. Sincerely, E. B. White

I just stumbled across this and thought some of you might like to see it. A letter from E.B. White to a man who'd written he'd lost all hope:

This is a bit random and yet quite specific: do I know any un- or under-employed (current or former) freelance book review assigning editors?? Do you??

If so, respond or tag someone.

I have a dream, an impossible dream maybe, but a dream no less.

Bluesky Map Interactive map of 3.4 million Bluesky users, visualised by their follower pattern.

I made a map of 3.4 million Bluesky users - see if you can find yourself!

bluesky-map.theo.io

I've seen some similar projects, but IMO this seems to better capture some of the fine-grained detail

Bruce Fanjoy has launched a petition to require all federal party leaders to obtain and maintain top security clearance.

It's open for a couple of months.
www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en...