Category Archives: The Life and Times of …

‘A reasoned arsenalization’

Seriously, France? You’re planning to put machine guns and laser weapons on your new satellites by 2030, and you’re calling it ‘reasoned arsenalization’? You know, just in case any of those uppity ‘foreign’ satellites start to invade.

According to an article today, on Space.com, this insanity is actually a thing. A thing that is obviously in ‘response’ to the US plans to create a ‘Space Force’ of its very own. (not that anyone would ever admit that, of course)

Given the ‘civilized’ nature of the modern human, I suppose it was inevitable, but calling it ‘reasoned arsenalization’ is just apathetic. Where’s the zealous acronymization of M.A.D. I ask you?

M.A.D. stands for Mutually Assured Destruction. One of the many insanities to come out of the ‘cold war’ between the US and the Soviet Union.

Please note: sarcasm mode has been engaged for most of this post.

It’s ‘Lucas’ Time Again!!!

Overshoot Day on the Eve of Lughnasadh/Lammas

Overshoot day: The date by which we’ve consumed more resources in a calendar year than the Earth can regenerate. This year it’s 29th July, on the eve of Lughnasadh. (seen as the beginning of Autumn/Fall in the Celtic, and other, spiritual traditions)

Here’s a little graph to put it into perspective … 

 I find it interesting, or perhaps ironic, that Lughnasadh is known as a harvest celebration … we certainly are harvesting what we’ve sown.

(If you’re interested in how Lughnasadh/Lammas fits into the grand scheme of things, click HERE for my post on the Wheel of the Year on my Shaman blog)

-oOo-

One final thought about the ‘save the planet’ catchphrase. It’s not our job to save her. She doesn’t need saving, and not from the likes of us. She got along without us very well in the past and She’ll get along without us very well in the future. It’s ourselves we have to save.

 

It’s all perfect, and it’s all terrible, and it’s alright

Some thoughts on Life, and Death, and how they’re so intimately connected … from a man called Tim, who lives in Ireland and recently lost his son.

I Confess Myself Disappointed, and Other Nonsense on a Sleepy Sunday Afternoon

Yes, in the immortal words of the almost immortal L. Voldemort, the quality of today’s scammers has left me disappointed.

I received an email today wherein I was informed that my Facebook account has won a million (US) dollars. Not me, myself, mind you, but my account.

I don’t have a facebook account.

Shocking, I know!

Shocking, I know!

They requested all the usual things, name, telephone number, where I work, how old I am, but what obviously tagged them for crass amateurs was that they also wanted my marital status.

In my day, no self-respecting scammer would’ve needed my marital status to fulfill their scammerly responsibilities to their nefarious overlords. Derelict dilettantes, all of ’em!

Where are the halcyon days of Nigerian princes and impoverished  European royalty who just needed a kind and understanding helping hand?

On the other hand, they did sign off politely… and I quote: ‘Office of the President, CEO of Facebook, Mr Mark Zukerberg’ … calling him, ‘Mr’ was a nice respectful touch, I thought.

-oOo-

Lets talk about ‘dark matter’. Scientists have weighed and measured the universe and they can’t find enough ‘stuff’ (that reflects light so they call it ‘light’ matter) to account for how big it is and why it hasn’t collapsed back in on itself like one of those bouncing castles that’s sprung a leak. So they decided there was a whole of ‘stuff’ out there they called ‘dark matter’ because they couldn’t see it, measure it, etc.

As is the way of scientists when faced with such dilemmas they did Experiments … and slowly discovered a great many things that dark matter wasn’t … but nothing that could tell them what it was.

The answer is simple, of course, all that dark matter is simply unused magic. Think about it, if all the light matter is recognized by science to obey (love that word in this context) scientific principles, then it stands to reason that something that completely ignores all their instruments and experiments, (which I’m sure pisses them off no end) would be … magic!

It's magic!

It’s magic!

-oOo-

Did you know that irises have seeds?

We have a wild stand of them along the back fence that dutifully flower every spring …

Rampant

Rampant

… and keel over in autumn.

I thought they did the whole expanding bulb thing to be fruitful and multiply, but no … well they do, but they also have seeds.

Once the flowers die they leave behind pods that look like this …

Gorgeously green

Gorgeously green

And when the pods dry out, they shower forth seeds that look like this …

Fascinating little greeblies, aren't they?

Fascinating little greeblies, aren’t they?

Last year I collected a few pods-worth of the seeds and promptly forgot about them until I was looking for the seeds to go in the bean pyramid/tipi.

I tossed a few of these into a couple of paper cups with some of the soil from the pyramid garden and waited … and waited … and waited … and gave up on them … and then …

Life ... always finds a way

Life … always finds a way

I love Mother Nature

Never predictable, never defeated

Never predictable, never defeated

(This is a given, but I do like to toss a disclaimer out there every now and then … all the pictures are either from Microsoft Word’s clipart collection, or my own trusty little i4 phone)

I Found Lucas Again

Last year, about this time, I posted a short video of Lucas, the Spider, thoroughly watching adored it, and promptly forgot all about him.

Yesterday, I was researching some stuff on YouTube for a big project Mrs Widds and I are planning for next year, and I’m sure you know about that dastardly sidebar that leads down all sorts of rabbit holes. Well, there he was looking out at me with those adorable shiny eyes, (all eight of ’em) and I decided to share his latest adventure with you.

Just in case you want to investigate his adventures further, here’s his Youtube channel.

Here we go …. Boop!

Once Upon A Time …

… there were three very, very, little raccoons …

… who, with their mum, firmly herding them, scooted across our back garden, where Mrs Widds and I were having an afternoon cuppa, before the mosquitoes and drizzle drove us inside, yet again.

I’ll be honest, I’m loving these cooler temperatures and wildfire-smoke-free skies, but I’d like to see the sun and some blue sky, more than once a week.

Anyway there we were, peacefully sipping our beverages, coffee for Mrs Widds and tea for me, when Mrs Widds quietly squeaked, she seldom squeaks, quietly or otherwise, so I looked in the direction she was squeaking toward.

The three little brown fluffballs accompanied by Mdme Raccoon completely ignored us as they traversed the scruffy lawn, which was in dire need of mowing, but the deal was when the sun decided to shine for two consecutive days then, and only then, would I haul out our ancient lawnmower and do the deed.

I was so enamoured of this raccoonish close encounter that I simply beamed at them and raised my cuppa in salute to what was obviously one of their first outings into the wide world.

They soon disappeared behind the neighbour’s shed to further their adventures elsewhere, or so I thought.

Mrs Widds squeaked again, and I had presence of mind, this time to dash inside and get my trusty cellphone/camera, while Mrs Widds kept me informed of the little darling’s peregrinations.

It turned out that the day’s adventures were over and the three baby raccoons were on their way to bed in … well, you’ll see.

(these are the best of the shaky and blurry shots I managed to get without having my glasses on)

Mdme Raccoon - "This way children." #1 - "I wanna go this way" #2 - "Ooooh, what's that over there?" #3 - "I think I trod in something disgusting ... and tasty."

Mdme Raccoon – “This way children.”
#1 – “I wanna go this way”
#2 – “Ooooh, what’s that over there?”
#3 – “I think I trod in something disgusting … and tasty.”

Mdme R - "Well, alright, you can stay up for five more minutes." #1 - "I think I heard a ghost. I'll come in now."

Mdme R – “Well, alright, you can stay up for five more minutes.”
#1 – “I think I heard a ghost. I’ll come in now.”

#2 - "Me too." #3 - "Well, I'm not staying out here all by myself, even though I'm not scared or anything." Mdme R - "Follow me then, and no dawdling."

#2 – “Me too.”
#3 – “Well, I’m not staying out here all by myself, even though I’m not scared or anything.”
Mdme R – “Follow me then, and no dawdling.”

#2 - "Do you believe in ghosts?" #3 - "Nah."

#2 – “Do you believe in ghosts?”
#3 – “Nah.”

#2 - I think I'll go in anyway. It's getting a bit chilly."

#2 – I think I’ll go in anyway. It’s getting a bit chilly.”

#3 - "Wuss."

#3 – “Wuss.”

#3 – “Um, well, I guess I’ll go in too.”

All quiet, up on the roof

All quiet, up on the roof

In the grand scheme of things three little babies might not be important, but given the state of the grand scheme of these days, the adventures of three little babies just might be the most important thing ever.

Cue ‘Up On The Roof’ made famous by The Drifters, and of course, written by Carole King