I'm on holiday this week, hence nothing much from me. So far have seen about 15 new species of bird as well as some old favourites. It's been hard work but someone has to do it.
My computer played up, then an update from Microsoft coincided with my router doing strange things, only it took a day or two to work out what the problem was. Couple that with severe shoulder pain and consequent lack of sleep, a visit to the dentist on Friday the 13th, an impending deadline for my latest assignment and you can see I've had a great time.
A man I greatly admire for his ability to cope with his motor neuron disease for so many years and to continue to work on his science despite his body barely functioning. Notwithstanding his illness he still managed to become a celebrity featuring in many documentaries and even the Simpsons as the 'wheelchair guy'. I can't think of any current larger than life scientists, who are really needed in this age of false news, to declaim the liars and bigots who seem to be in control. May he rest in peace.
Sadly it isn't loading the text, just the titles and the end piece, so it would be a very short read. I have asked Erin for some advice, I'm probably doing something wrong. If it can be sorted I'll post it tomorrow, just means you'll have your Christmas present a bit late.
...are a trifle premature. Admittedly, a shoulder injury is making life tougher than it might otherwise be, but I'm still alive and brain boggled with my university studies. I've spent much of the day doing computer graphs on excel, which should be really easy to a normal human, but somehow whenever I go near excel it does weird things unlike the tutorials on you tube. The most used button - the 'undo' one.
I know most readers here see me as a nature nut and always harping on about some crisis or other in the weather or the environment, but this latest report, upon which this very readable article is based is frightening. I suspect the worldwide picture is that insects are declining at an increasing rate due to the over use and abuse of pesticides primarily, and then loss of habitat. One cause human activity, especially industrial farming.
I know I don't come here as often due to other activities but I haven't noticed Gwen on site for some while and she didn't respond to my PM. Has anyone heard from her recently and is she all right?
Apart from mosquito bites, which are heading towards twenty, I'm having a good time. Saturday had to be the most successful day, when we managed to get into the back of the El Hondo reserve (near Elche) and met up with some birders we saw last year. I doubt we would have seen some of the species without the extra eyes and expertise.
I was just installing a few bookmarks on a new computer (refurbished variety) as I'll be putting my regular one in for repair - tipped a cuppa over the keyboard and have been running it on a plug in kepboard - when I discovered that according to wiki, today, September 13th is the anniversary of the death of Lili Elbe, the Danish transsexual woman who died from complications arising from surgery in 1931.
As she was a real pioneer in the world of gender realisation, I think it fitting we remember her as a real person not just the subject of the Danish Girl. May she rest in peace.
Have survived the storm with themselves and their properties intact. It can be a very frightening experience when nature unleashes its power and we're reminded how insignificant we really are.
This is where all the confiscated wildlife items go in the US, the importers of which are rarely prosecuted. It should be an item of shame in any civilised country.
I am 60 credits richer than I was this time last year, just need the other 300 to finish the job.Sadly this means I have to pay my fees for next year which compared to most uni fees is modest, but then the Open University is the place for autodidacts, so we get much less in return in regard to teaching. Oh well, only 5 more years to go, good job I'm such a youngster.
I can't believe that it was thirty one years ago today that I turned up in work in a two piece skirt outfit feeling incredibly nervous but also very committed to dealing with anything that happened that or subsequent days. the official grapevine had informed people what was going to happen and I must admit most of the comments I received were encouraging. I wasn't the first in the NHS to have transitioned, but in sleepy West Dorset, I was a bit of a novelty for a while.
Sorry folks, but I seem to befalling apart physically. The other night I awoke to a strange pain in my mouth only to find I'd chewed the side of my tongue--I don't recommend it. Then, on Thursday evening, Whizz took exception to me rubbing one of her feet and attacked me, or more precisely my right hand. I think she caught a tendon and it's swollen and sore but I don't think infected, however, typing isn't very easy. Finally, just to take my mind off my hand I seem to have sinusitis which is causing the whole side of my face to be very tender with occasional jabs of pain in my ear.
Who is Philippa York? Only one of the greatest British cyclists of all time in her previous life as Robert Millar, who has announced her new identity. I attach a link from the Guardian (where else?) with a supportive article for those who want to read it. My only comment, I hope you're as successful in your new life as you were in the old.
Either the site has had a sudden attack of good taste or it's still not quite right. I've tried twice to post the next thrilling installment but all I get is a notice saying the form is outdated and to refresh the page. Life is too short to piss about with puters, so I'll post it tomorrow.
In terms of longevity, it seems my series on the trials and tribulations and occasional triumph of Cathy Watts, other wise known as Lady Cameron or the Dormouse Lady, has become something of a feature on BC, which I think readers only give kudos or make comments out of sympathy for the poor deluded author and her two cats - the fact that she talks to them (the cats--who else?) demonstrates beyond doubt that she's either barmy or a witch or even a barmy witch. In real life she's neither, or so deluded she doesn't notice.
Checks can be made out & sent to:
Joyce Melton
1001 Third St.
Space 80
Calimesa, CA 92320
USA
Note: $6000 is the operating, maintenance and upgrade budget. Amounts received in excess of the $6000 will be applied to long term debt accrued over the last 19 years.
