Web Log for 10.25.23

Some nice links came in yesterday...

Animals 

Local lurkers: This dog just recently celebrated his tenth birthday. Though bred to be a hunting dog he's said to be more of a lap dog, a rather jealous cuddler who does not want to share his humans with other pets. Well, obviously he's not for me, although I received an e-mail about him. Therefore he must be for you, or someone you know, who might not want to make a longer-term commitment to a younger dog. He's described as well trained, housebroken, polite and friendly, and he answers to the name of "Gucci."

Meet him in Blountville: https://www.petfinder.com/dog/gucci-59203596/tn/blountville/the-bridge-home-no-kill-animal-rescue-tn95/

Cybersecurity 

The hacking continues. I didn't want to link to SARK's alleged blog posts, in Russian, about casinos, but...what Scalzi says. I have noticed that the extra page views from Singapore stopped, finally, to be replaced within the week by page views showing as "Other." 

https://whatever.scalzi.com/2023/10/24/hey-noticing-weird-ads-from-me-on-facebook-and-instagram/

Ministry of Encouragement 

Nonviolent political prisoner vows to use 60 days in Oakdale to improve himself. He's a writer, so he's not rich. His family will miss his income. Encourage an independent reporter who was in the wrong place by following the instructions at

https://open.substack.com/pub/karenkingston/p/infowars-owen-shroyer-began-60-day

Phenology 

When I was growing up my front yard was dominated by a big Norway Maple tree. 

Mother reported it was dying and dangerous, and she was having it cut down, some time between 2000 and 2005. It was only about fifty years old. Did someone help it die? I saw someone from what's left of the Professional Bad Neighbor's family spraying glyphosate on the hedge below where the maple tree used to be, yesterday afternoon. I couldn't see the person through the hedge, but could recognize the vehicle. So of course, although there are Band-Aid-type home remedies for glyphosate poisoning and I've used them, I am sick today. I've been deliberately made sick. Deliberate poisoning of human beings is legal in the United States, although nobody has claimed any "right to spray" poison on other people's property, and this poison was definitely sprayed on my property. In broad daylight. I don't think the person knew I was at home.

Anyway, the professional-quality image of a Norway Maple, new young leaves turning bright red and leaves on older growth turning bright yellow, came from Barkley's Human, who has some more books out by now, about humans

Norway Maples are considered invasive these days. Red Maples are cooler. You can tap any maple tree, even a box elder (if they grew big enough to support or fill a sap bucket, which they don't), and get sap that will boil down to Real Maple Syrup. Sugar Maples are only a little sweeter; you have to boil out about 39 gallons of water to arrive :at a pint of syrup. The difference between making maple syrup in Vermont or Canada, and making it further south, is that the sap rises earlier in warmer climates. We used to tap a tree in January and, sure enough, the sap would start to run during the January Thaw, then stop. In Virginia maple syrup is best made during the February Thaw.

https://thebookofbarkley.blogspot.com/2023/10/autumn-around-neighborhood.html