Ray's Thought for the Day - The Extra Utlitarian Photographic Devices

Yesterday and the day before yesterday the new devices arrived, a happy occasion. Now we shall take pictures of all these devices without resorting to mirrors. But first, Crumby, had to load the Olympus Master and then update the firmware to the new version, 1.2. Here's some free advice from the Druids for those already owning one of the excellent C series cameras and also an E series dslr camera, recently acquired. Remember to hit the OK button after you have hooked up the camera to the computer and set the camera to storage. If you don't do that, the software won't recognize the camera and neither will the internet connection. That's what Crumby kept forgetting to do, hit the OK button.

So the CB had to suffer through a Crumby tantrum and three reinstalls before Crumby remembered to hit the OK button. Again, hit the OK button. Also, don't get tanked up on coffee and snuff before you decide to do the above.

We were going to have a camera lesson this morning, but that got put off pending the firmware upgrade. We are, consequently, behind schedule.

What did Crumby get us? Easy that, an E 330 with the two kit lenses from disparate vendors. That's the equipment Crumby and Rayetta decided on because the E 330 dslr is most like the C 5060WZ. There is a term I am looking for here that refuses to come to mind. Perhaps I shall recall that term, later. Ah, now I remember the term; cognitive dissonance.

Ray's Thought for the Day - Wilderness Gear - The Compass

During the day, or when it is cloudy, or when we are in a city, our friendly guide star, Polaris, is not visible to the naked human eye. During those times of darkness or light blindness and indecision we need some way of getting around in the wilderness or in the city in such and such a fashion that we know where we are, more or less. That's why we have the handy compass.

Let's say you have landed a job as Missionary to the Pygmys. Without you, the Pygmys will continue to run around doing Pygmy stuff so you need to help them, somehow. So you will need a compass to help you find the Pygmys expeditiously and also to keep track of yourself relative to the Pygmys'location after they have accepted you into their society.

Depicted here are two compasses. You have freedom of choice. Which one would you choose for your new job, Missionary to the Pygmys?

The compass depicted electrically on the left is a sturdy, no frills, reliable compass. But that's all it does, compass. The compass depicted electrically on the right is fairly reliable as a compass, maybe, but it also has an alcohol thermometer and a whistle. Er. Do you think the Pygmys would accept you into their society quicker, if you had a whistle? How about that thermometer? You could explain to the Pygmys about the Fahrenheit scale, and thus, win their friendship even more expeditiously than you would if you had to rely entirely on your friendly personality and optimism. Plus, just imagine how impressed the Pygmys would be when you, apparently by magic, converted Fahrenheit temperatures to Celsius or even Kelvin.

Ray's Thought for the Day - Stump Fungus

Apparently, those fungi that many name, shelf fungi, are also named by many, polypores. Lately the weather in these parts has been kind to the fungi. This one seems to be a Trametes, T. versicolor or a close relative, maybe.

Crumby on the Job

Dang it! I knew you'd distract me Rayetta. I'm supposed to be enumerating birds.

Stop whining Crumby. We almost have this free fertilizer to the truck. Keep pushing.

Ray's Thought for the Day - Rainfall Update

Hope Remains is a very busy season at the CB. Lest I forget, 14.55" + 1.29" = 15.84" to date, Day 96, DY 1.

Ray's Thought for the Day - Blessed is the Rain!

Yepper. The rain is falling, tremendously, for the nonce. I need to check the gauge anon, fer sure. Praise the Goddess!!!!

Yepper. So what's happening with Gestapo, Rover, the Kinglet, Chitlin & Associates? Beats me.

Yet out in nature, some prosper, some don't. Is this the same difference?

Cow Barn Buttercups

Hope Remains is the Season for Buttercups. We have two kinds of Buttercups at the CB. They are Ranunculus fascicularis and Ranunculus macranthus. The petals on the first one are waxy.

All righty then. Buttercups!

Onosmodium bejariense

Ray. Did you pick up a package at the post office.

Yepper.

All righty then. Let's try out the contents of that package.

All righty then.

Out the twain of us headed with our new high tech focusing rail securely mounted on our trusty tripod. Let's take some pictures of that marbleseed over yonder that has troubled us so much in the past, pictorially.

All righty then.

Yepper. This is lots easier. But now we need a shot of the flower orifices. Ray. Reverse the tripod center pole while I position myself on my backside so I can operate the camera.

All righty then. Hold the dang flowers still Ray.

I can't Crumby, the winds blowing too hard.

Well position yourself upwind. You need to block the wind.

All righty then.

Ray's Thought for the Day - Rainfall Update

Yessir. Our little planet is whipping along frenetically through the stygian darkness of space, lit up only by the fickle Ogma and a good many stars. It is Day 94 of our journey, DY 1. While the Republicans plot Republican conservation measures guaranteed to make US hotter, I portend the arrival of my delicious cinnamon bun, anon.

The rain gauge accumulated an additional 0.17 plus a small June bug since the last update. Fortunately, that June bug could swim, real well, for a long time. So the new total for DY 1 is 14.38" + 0.17" = 14.55". Uh, oh. Here's my sister.

Hello Ray.

Hey Rayetta, something for the venue?

Yes Ray. It so happens that I do have some butterfly documentation for the venue. These two are more Crumby's job butterflies.

Rayetta's Butterflies

Texan crecent (Anthanassa texana). Rather small and semi-tame. +3 - 2 on the Rayetta scales.

Vesta Crescent (Phyciodes graphica) Tiny and tame. That's 3 - 3 on the Rayetta scales. This one is a Menodora pollinator.

Okie Dokie. Here's one more. Remember, the name of the game here is documentation photography. This is a tiny little nervous one taking off from the Nothoscordum bivalve. It's 3 - 1 on the Rayetta scales. Whut it is, bro?

Rayetta's Butterflies - Horace's Duskywing (Erynnis horatius)

Horatio, Horatio, wherefore art thou, Horatio.

Hmmm. Maybe I shouldn't go to work with Crumby. Now I'm spelling like Crumby. But anyway, we saw this skipper on Crumby's job. 2 - 3 on the Rayetta scales, medium sized and tame.

Ray's Thought for the Day - Surprise!

Yepper. Some new technology arrived at the CB today. I had to go to the Post Office and pick it up. Nobody was here to answer the door when it was delivered. Only Red and Raymone were home. Well, Lomo was here too, but he was brachiating in the pecan orchard so he couldn't answer the door. Red and Raymone never answer the door. Red will shoot somebody maybe if he has to answer the door.

By accident, I was the one who found the message from the post office announcing a delivery attempt gone awry. Off I sped to pick up the package. Wait a minute. This packet comes all the way from Shanghai, China. Yet whoever printed Crumby's name on the package prints just like Crumby. Crumby must have a Chinese twin. But never mind that.

I opened the package and it contained a beautiful precision instrument, a macro focusing rail, no less. Nobody told we had this coming. Ha!

Also, I shall need to update the rain output again, anon. The rain is desultory since the last entry.

Ray's Thought for the Day - Rainfall Update

14.36" + 0.02" = 14.38". .02 is the accumulation from drizzle landing in the gauge over the last two days.

Meantime, common names are common. Depicted is another red bud - artsy fartsy. This red bud, (Menodora heterophylla)is a very short plant, 5-10 cm, full grown. It grows in harsh environments such as regularly cleared fire lanes along fencerows. So there's no point in growing tall if the grader is going to get you anyway. It likes limestone soils.

The photo is taken with the camera sitting on the ground, approximating how red bud would look to a mouse.

Rayetta's Butterflies - Crumby on the Job

Crumby, I am going to the job with you today.

No way Rayetta.

Yes Crumby, I am.

No yer not Rayetta. You'd distract me too much.

Please Crumby. Please I want to go. You won't even notice me.

Yes I will notice you and you will distract me from my job. There are already too many distractions on that job. I don't need any more.

All righty then, Crumby, if you don't let me go, I shall make your life a living hell.

Er. OK. You can go Rayetta.

Yippee! Thanks Crumby. You will not regret taking me along.

Later.

Ha! Here's why I wanted to go with Crumby. I knew there would be juniper hairstreaks (Callophrys gryneus). Tiny and tame. That's 3 - 3 on the Rayetta scales.

Ray's Thought for the Day - Day 90

Our little planet, that many call, Earth, has now completed almost 1/4th of its annual trip around Ogma. Too soon, the very short season, Hope Remains, shall give way to the misery of Beelzebubberiffic. But right now, and for the next short span of days, the winter weeds are rushing to get all their fornicating in before the great heat saps their vital juices.

The bluebonnets started last week. I won't put up any bluebonnet pictures up in the venue unless an interesting fly lands on a bluebonnet. Please White Goddess, no more bluebonnet photos, electric or otherwise. Unless of course, some nice ample bosoms or a fly is also in the picture. Better yet, how about an interesting fly on the ample bosoms in the bluebonnet patch. Uh, oh, it's my twain beautiful girlfriends arrived at the venue.

Ray, what are you twaddling about here.

Nothing Olwen.

Look at this, Hope. Ray's backsliding. Now he is plotting all these non-family style images for the venue.

Goodness gracious Ray. Couldn't you think up something better than flies on bosoms. Go fix supper. We're hungry. Right Olwen.

Yeah Ray. Hurry up and fix supper. I have to go to work.

Ray’s Thought for the Day - Living with Imperialism

Imperialism is when a big country, like US, takes over a little country like miserable Iraq. Big countries take over little countries to assure low prices paid out for commodities and labor emanating from the little countries. So now it would appear that segments of both our US political parties, probably the only segments that matter, politically, are for an imperial presence in miserable Iraq. Yepper. Mrs. Clinton says she’s in favor of keeping the miserable Iraqi colony forever, or until the oil plays out, whichever. Yep. Mrs. Clinton has finally got those bosoms of hers past the narrow space where she has been stuck in Mammon’s sphincter. Yepper. She has gone on up.

Some of US are embarrassed that the US, that we think of, or once thought of, as a great experiment in democracy, is now become an imperialist state. Too bad. Well, you can only have so much economic inequality in a democracy. Something had to go. And democracy went. Interestingly, though great growing disparities of income exist right here among US, those disparities are as nothing compared to the plight of the miserable downtrodden in the colonies. Goodness, millions of them, maybe a billion environmental refugees are on the move, desperate environmental refugees, trudging along in the desert, or chained to benches, or lined up outside a migration office. Mercy! Where shall they go to get some economic quality?

Ah, but here arrives my bosom companion at the venue.

Why so sad Ray?

I am living with imperialism, Crumby. Plus, the sphingids evaded me. Plus, when Rayetta went out to take pictures of those sphingids, there were no sphingids. Cheer me up, my bosom companion.

All righty then. Here's what I espied at work today. It's a pipevine swallowtail (Battus philenor) pollinating on a pipevine.

Then I also espied this piece of quartz with moss around it so that it looks like a cracked egg.

Er. Did you enumerate any birds, Crumby?

Noper.

Rayetta's Butterflies - New Documentation

Ah ha. At last I have photographic evidence that the Monarchs(Danaus plexippus)actually visit the CB as opposed to just flying over with the hawks. Well, one visited anyway. This pale individual may be old, as Monarchs go. Yep. More documentation for the Ovates.

Spring has sprung and a few butterflies are around. In addition to this old Monarch we have a great many female black swallowtails, red admirals, funeral skippers and orange skipperlings.

Later this one appeared on the Prunus cultivar. Great Purple Hairstreak (Atlides halesus).

Ray and the Sphingids

Dang it! They're too fast fer me. Plus they never land where I have the camera pointed. Why won't they land on these flowers? Dang it. Raymone. See if you can shoo some sphingids onto these flowers.

Later.

Dang it.

Later.

Mercy!

Later.

These moths don't want their pictures took. Mercy!

Later, the next morning.

Ray, I see that there are no sphingids in this picture.

That is correct, my merciful sister, Lovely Druidess Rayetta, Dr. Pistrum.

Why?

Those sphingids are highly evasive. Dang it. I was out there for hours. Darkness fell upon the land. Only the porch light allowed me to get enough light for focus. Yet those sphingids zipped about everywhere, but where I had the camera pointed.

All righty then, Ray. You can try again tonight.

Nooooooooo! Please Rayetta. Make somebody else do it. I don't want to. Please. Make Raymone or somebody do it.

Hmmm. Maybe Ray. Maybe I shall do it.

Thank ye sister. Oh, thank ye, thank ye, thank ye. Praise the Goddess!!!!

Ant Day!!!!

Yessireebob. Today is an official holiday in these parts, Ant Day. Trouble is, Ant Day, since it is a secular holiday, did not make it onto the official Druid calendar. So by the time I remembered it was Ant Day I had missed the festivities. Dang it. What we are supposed to do on Ant Day is buy ant poison. Then everyone in these parts puts the poison out for the ants on the same day, Ant Day. But by the time I got over to where the festivities were, they had closed up shop, so I couldn't get any ant poison. Dang it.

But despite missing out on Ant Day, life goes on at the CB. Here we see black aphids enjoying an invasive plant species (Vicia sativa)that even the Druids have no idea how to control. Trouble is, there are way too few of these black aphids on the Vicia sativa. Plus, these aphids like to bunch up so they have little impact on the Vicia sativa, most of whom are aphid free. I wonder if the ants, (Solenopsis invicta) that are the main inspiration for Ant Day, eat these aphids. Maybe I shall put these aphids onto an ant bed and see if the ants eat them.

Druid Radar

Here's what we use for radar at the CB (Tradescantia humilis). What do Druids need radar for? Easy that, air borne panic attacks. The spiderworts warn us if any panic attacks are headed our way.

Ray's Thought for the Day - I Could Use a Delicious Cinnamon Bun

Yepper. After several days of werkin' in the sun I am generally ready for my delicious cinnamon bun. Here it is Day 87 of DY 1, a cinnamon bun day. Hold it. Here's my very smart sister come in to visit her admiring brother. What's happenin' Rayetta?

Last night Ray, around dusk, after I got you and Crumby sorted out, I chanced to visit the Carolina Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens) bower. Busy at the bower were several sphingids. So tonight, somebody needs to camp out at the bower. I want a picture of those sphingids of sufficient quality to determine the species of those sphingids on my desk by 9 AM, golfer time, tomorrow morning, Day 88. Savvy!

All righty then, er, maybe.

No maybe, Ray.

All righty then. Hold it. Here's Crumby, my bosom companion, come to visit the venue, also. What's happenin' bosom companion?

Surprisingly Ray, I am feeling frisky as a young donkey and shall accompany you on the promenade for produce. Though cruelly overworked and tormented by my cruel taskmasters lately, I have plenty of pack mule energy left for produce packing.

All righty then. We shall depart, anon, so soon as I can get these lead boots laced up. You coming too, Rayetta.

Yes Ray. But later. Later, I shall descend upon the jewelry vendors, accompanied by your twain beautiful girlfriends. We may need some more jewelry. Here's the produce to be acquired list. If they don't have all that, substitute this or that.

All righty then, Rayetta.

Ray's Thought for the Day - US Too Stupid!

Yessir. The US is too stupid to worry about. Time to party. Boo! Ha! A terrorist is driving your child's school bus. Jeez Louise! All righty then. Here's Crumby, returned from his job. Did you find us another camera yet, Crumby?

Huh!

Ray! I heard that. Stop taunting Crumby about the extra utilitarian photography device. If you taunt him again, I shall spell you. Then once you are spelled and unable to defend yourself, I shall allow Crumby to work you over. How about that, little brother?

Er. OK Rayetta. Did everyone know that spring, sprung yesterday? Yessir, Hope Remains the Season has returned. There are insufficient insects for the blossoms, but one can not have everything. Can one? Say Crumby, my bosom companion. How is the job going?

Ray, the torment is excessive. The cruel taskmaskers whip me up hill and down with little or no respite. However, I did find some time to sneak off and visit with a (Corollarhiza wisteriana)habitating on the Edwards cap under a Texas, Mexican or Spanish oak, whatever. Here's part of it. I had to take several pictures in subsections because I did not have all my equipment.

This part of my job for today was very exciting because this is the first time I have found this orchid on my own, without help, and only the second time I have espied this particular species.

Interesting Crumby. What else did you accomplish at work? Aren't you supposed to be enumerating birds.

That is correct Ray, enumerating birds. But if you can't see them or hear them, you can't count them. And if you can't count them, there's no point in GPSing them. It's like fishing. If you don't catch any, you don't have to clean any. That's why most of US fish on full stomachs.

Er. Crumby, what exactly do you do at work?

Easy that Ray, they give me new camera money at work. Gee whillikers. But I had the wrong equipment with me today. No macro lens. Dang it! Plus, the City of Bee Caves is the vortex of immortal sphincters. I ought to get a full day's salary just for the time it takes to drive through that calamity. We are talking immortal butt ugly. Then going north from that eyesore we come to Lakeway. The Indian name for Lakeway is Ughway. These Texicans sure know how to ugly up the human environment. I'll give them that. Spectacularly ugly.

Crumby. Do you like your job?

Yepper.

Mr. Red Ears - On Gestapo Gonzalez

The following is translated into standard English by Dr.Rayetta Pistrum. Hmmm. This is not family style so only big strong men should read this.

Crumby! Give Ray the camera. It's Ray's turn to use the camera. Jeez Louise!

Yes, we do have a candy-ass fascist as attorney general of US. That particular candy-ass fascist should never have gotten that job. But hey, look who gave him that job. So all that makes sense. Under the Kinglet, candy-ass fascist attorney generals make sense.

Anyhow, all this Gestapo Gonzalez business is exactly why Druids do not give the Democrats any money. If we gave them money, they would fritter it away. Look, dumbass democrats. Look at the money trail. If you want to gut these Republican Mammonites look at the money trail in the Justice Department. If you follow the money trail, instead of the bullshit trail, the Druids might give ye a dollar or two.

Crumby, on the Job

Cruelly used was I, by my cruel taskmasters as they whipped me up hill and down hill. Yet sometimes I would sneak off and rest my weary bones and maybe have a nice drink of water. So here I sat, out of harms way and what do I espy but this poor wild hyacinth (Camassia scilloides) also cruelly afflicted. Nearly every one of them on the whole place where I worked today is eaten up like this, by the deer. Those deer are eating themsleves out of house and home. Even the Yuccas are guzzled right down to ground level. Mercy! The deer have pooped everywhere. One can scarcely see the ground in some spots for all the deer poop.

Androstephium coeruleum again

I finally realized why these little lilies are hard to get a nice picture of. They are sort of ugly. But, they are rare. This year, however, a good many of them have survived herbivory to the flowering stage of their lives at one of their locations. This one just got a good soaking from the rain. So it is bedraggled, in addition to being sort of ugly.

One might wonder about the coeruleum. Sometimes, as they fade, just before they are eaten, they turn bluish.

OK. I have post processed the image that was here formerly to lighten it up. Here that is. Now it looks better.

Ray's Thought for the Day - Rainfall Update

Yepper. There's more to report from the gauge. Let us see the arithmetic. 13.07" + 1.29" = 14.36" for DY 1 to date, Day 84. Uh, oh something's coming in from the DNS. Yet both my twain beatiful girlfriends, including the Ace Reporter, are ensconced at the CB. What does this portend?

Druid News Service - Special Commentary from the Wickerman!!!!

Duh! I am an environmentalist, but people come first.

Duh! I love freedom, but money and security come first.

Duh! Labor is a commodity, just like any other commodity.

Thus the common sense view of the world, sewn in semi-fertile minds sets fruit. You reap, what you sew, though, maybe. You reap what you sew is the same difference as, you get what you deserve. Did you know that?

What are the richly deserve reapings? Easy that:

The only nature is human nature.

The only freedom is the freedom to be afraid, all the time.

Work, for which you get paid, is probably, slavery.
_____

The Wickerman

Anemone Heterophylla at the CB

The color vars. this year are various. Course most of them are white, but in one particular area off in the east pasture, the colored ones are more numerous than the white ones. Er. An observant person has noted that the white one is upside down. Oh well.

Ray's Thought for the Day - Keep on the Money Trail

Always on the money trail,
Keep on the money trail of life.
It will help you on your way,
It will brighten up your day,
If you keep on the money trail of life.

Yessir. One of the key aspects of Druid patterning is the money trail. Basically, Mammonites are always on the money trail, which makes following their patterns, simple. They are locked in, socked in, on the money trail, and will not stray even a smidgin from the money trail, unless they are taken off to jail.

Hallelujah! The Kinglet, Chitlin & Associates have paved the money trail. Now, the money trail is a 14-lane superhighway. Plus, the Kinglet, Chitlin & Associates have issued Get Out of Jail Free Cards to all the speeders and drunk drivers. No wonder many holler, "I support the Kinglet, Chitlin & Associates."

Extending the metaphor, a tad more, the "supporters" of the Kinglet, Chitlin & Associates are ripping along the superhighway, their great vehicles hurtling along at supersonic speed. Suddenly an off ramp appears with a sign that reads, "Happy motorist, exit here for trickle down." The happy motorist exits and winds up in a long line of similar vehicles. Soon a pretty, yet semi-efficient car hop, hops up to the window of the great vehicle. The happy motorist rolls the window down electrically.

Here's your trickle down, sir.

And there, sure enough, is an envelope stuffed full of trickle down.

Red Bud - Artsy Fartsy

So Crumby, when are ye headed off to get us another camera?

Shut yer trap, Ray.

Yepper, that new camera shall sure come in handy. And won't my sister be proud of ye.

Ray! Dang it! Smack!!!!

Owwwwww! What did ye do that fer, Crumby?

That was fer General Principle, the greatest of all the mythological generals.
He don't like sarcasm, Ray.

Ray's Thought for the Day - Rainfall Update

All righty then. The WG had mercy on the CB. The rain fell into the gauge to the tune of 2.6". So, 10.47" + 2.6" = 13.07". Through 81 days of DY 1 we have been blessed with that much rain. Last night's rain was very much needed, too. We have completed about 22% of the current ellipse around Ogma, that we call DY 1, and already have that much rain in the gauge. Mercy!

Hold it. Something's coming in from the Druid News Service.
_____

Ray Sugar,

Jeez Louise! This Kinglet is such a redundant jerkoff. Now he's blathering about compassion to the miserable Guatemalans. This whole trip has been really boring. Plus, everybody already knows this Kinglet's routine because he is such a redundant jerkoff. Where's the news in that?

Goodness gracious sakes alive! Sending this Kinglet on tour in the guise of the Imperial Wizard of Imperialism is just too funny. But such is not newsworthy. I am really bored so I shall come home early, like tomorrow.

See ya,

Hope

Hope Remains
Ace Reporter
Druid News Service
_____

Uh, oh. Sounds like my beautiful girl friend is bored with covering the Kinglet. I can see that.

What else is happening? Halliburton is moving their Mammonite CEO to Dubai. That makes sense. Dubai has a world class golf course.

Ray’s Thought for the Day - The Duffer Environment

Yesterday, my cinnamon bun was delicious. The truth is, I prefer the slightly burnt ones. Yesterday, as I espied the tray of delicious cinnamon buns, my delicious cinnamon bun stood out, because it was on top of the rest of the cinnamon buns. Yepper, the tray was full of cinnamon buns. There sat mine on the top of the rest of them, a reject from another tray, maybe.

Which one would you like, sir?

I’ll take that burnt one on top. Mmmm. It was delicious.

Our US Congress represents the interests of the ruling class, mostly. That’s why our US Congress often seems confused and inept, a reflection of the confusion and ineptitude of the rulers. The confusion and ineptitude of the rulers, considered as a class, devolves from the desire of each individual ruler to have it his way, totally. But that is almost impossible, even considering the great strides monopolies have made toward socking down, locking down power and money among the few. So confusion reigns among the remaining rulers, those not squeezed out by the on-going process of monopolization, yet.

However, the surviving rulers are in general agreement on a hobby of choice, golf. This ruling class attitude and opinion is reflected in US Congressional legislation as, “Let’s move daylight savings time up three weeks. That way, all the duffers shall enjoy more time on the links earlier in the year than ever before.”

Yepper. Not only shall the duffers enjoy the energy and water rich turf grass environment, they shall have time to finish up their drives, puts, backslaps and butt grabs ere darkness falls upon the duffer environment.

Rayetta's Butterflies - Papilio polyxenes

Today is hot, very hot. Hope Remains, the season, not Ray's globe trotting girlfriend, may not occur this year. Instead, due to the paucity of rainfall, we may hurtle into Beelzebubberiffic. Possibly, the rainfall shortfall also accounts for the sparse insect populations even on these warm, sunny days. That and the paving frenzy on-going, all about. Nonetheless, (Gelsemium sempervirens) is doing its part for the upcoming season, Hope Remains. Here we see photographic evidence of a female black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)supping in the Gelsemium bower. This butterfly is largish -1 and sort of wild, -1, on the Rayetta scales. Hmmm. That makes 30 butterfly species photographed at the CB during the off butterfly seasons, Polaris, plus Olwen White Track, the season, not Ray's Moon Goddess girlfriend.

Crumby's Telescope Tomfoolery Notes - The Carnival is Back!

Yepper, the carnival is back. These parts are too lit up for telescope tomfoolery. So off I went to the carnival.

Where's the dancing hermaphrodites? Carnivals in rural Oklahoma always had some dancing hermaphrodites. This carnvial apparently lacks that interesting feature.

But this carnival does feature Dizzy Dragons.

Cleopatra or King Tut, maybe?

And, Cobra. Whoa!

Ray's Thought for the Day - Good Stewards

The Republic of Tejas is well known for good stewards. A good steward in these parts is a hardy soul that manages to hold on to the family real estate so long that eventually one of these shops gets put on their real estate. Then that particular hardy soul can finally relax on the proceeds of the real estate sale and move off to Colorado or France.

What might a bad steward of the land be, then? Easy that, one that messes up the land so badly that the family real estate can not be off loaded for a relaxing sum. But coming up with an example of a bad steward is a brain wracking effort, here, in the Republic of Tejas. That is because the definition of good stewards as defined, see above, focuses on the welfare of the good steward and his retirement plans. So a bad steward, maybe, is one that does not eventually retire to France.

Large property rights of good stewards in the Republic of Tejas are sanctified. Small property rights are also sanctified, but less so. In other words, the more land a good steward has, the more his property rights are sanctified. If the good steward only has a vacant lot, then his property rights are sanctified a little bit. This process of sanctification is fair and flat. Right?

But sanctified property rights enjoyed by the good stewards aside, that leaves the rest of US enjoying the landscape long after the good stewards have set sail for France. So let’s go shoppin’!!!!

Yepper, our latest mom and pop store has arrived and is fixing to open on up. Just look at that beautiful new store. See how they already have it electrified. What shall they vend? Do you think that store is making it hotter in these parts? Never mind that. Inside, once that store opens, conditions shall be nice and cool. We shall all shop in air conditioned comfort. Plus, everyone that shops in that particular air conditioned store, helps pay Red’s taxes.

"Shoppin' Song"

Woodah, woodah, woodah,
air conditioned comfort
woodah, woodah, woodah
let's go shoppin'
woodah, woodah, woodah!
pays Red's taxes
woodah, woodah, woodah.
woodah, woodah, woodah

Ray's Thought for the Day - The Bats

Among the orders of Mammals habitating on this tiny globe, the bats are the second largest for number of species, only exceeded in this statistic by the rodents.

All righty then. This thought should be today's thought. The preceeding one should be yesterday's thought. So now, on this early morning of Day 78 of DY 1, I am squared away, thoughtways.

Ray's Thought for the Day - The Cranes

The sandhill cranes are flying over these parts. As they fly over, they holler melodically. Both today and yesterday I heard them. Bent over, gnome like, with busy hands, nary a one could I espy.

Look up Ray!!!!

Ray's Thought for the Day - My Poor Bosom Companion

Crumby, barely recovered from his water pipe tantrum, has really gotten himself in trouble now. Yes he has. Crumby may have a job. Mercy!

The reason Crumby may have a job is because Rayetta has failed to convince Red that the CB needs two cameras. But Rayetta has convinced Crumby that if Crumby had a job, Crumby could make some money and buy an extra camera. So Crumby may have a job. Moreover, a job that shall require Crumby to go off to work outside the relatively safe CB perimeter. Mercy! How is that going to work out?

Personally, I am pretty sure my bosom companion, Crumby, can hack it long enough to save up for a camera, maybe. Plus, Crumby already has a plan ready. Crumby's plan is to send Lleu Llaw off to the job. That way, Lleu Llaw, also known as the Lion of the Steady Hand, shall actually go to the job and Crumby can stay home in an advisory capacity.

Hold it. Here's my bosom companion now. Howdy do, Crumby.

OK Ray. I am not sending Lleu Llaw to the job, maybe. I have changed my mind on that after discussing that possibility with Rayetta. Rayetta says I have to go off to the job, myself. Mercy! I may be too old and feeble for gainful employment, Ray.

No, no, no Crumby. Don't think of yourself just as old and feeble. Consider also that you may be too crazy for gainful employment. But then also consider the camera you shall eventually acquire. Balance the acquisition of the camera versus all your personal attributes and disinclinations that you might bring to your job, maybe, if you did not want that camera so much. See Crumby, you must focus on the camera and all your personal attributes and disinclinations shall seem as nought, next to the wonderful camera you shall soon proudly bring home to the CB. Won't my sister, Rayetta, be proud of you for getting us a new camera with your own money? Think how much fun we shall have with the new camera. Why, we shall at last be able to take pictures of the extant camera without using the mirror. Think of that!

You are correct Ray. I must focus on the goal. I must train myself to visualize the new camera every time I sense a temper tantrum or itchy trigger finger coming on. Yep. That's what I'll do on the job when I get aggravated. I shall consider the camera.

Crumby, do you have a specific camera in mind for us?

Noper Ray, but Rayetta and I have been doing lotsa research. Er. That means initially, during the early phases of my maybe job, I must visualize a hypothetical camera for a while. Nevertheless, the options are narrowing so that soon I may visualize an actual camera.

I hope so Crumby. My Sun God Training indicates that you need an actual camera to visualize to balance out the temper tantrum propensity and itchy trigger finger.

Yepper.

Ray's Thought for the Day - Scooter, Dude!

Yes, Scooter is now a convicted liar. Many might opine, just look how good and innocent we are. Even when the state is controlled by Mammonite Republicans, and the prosecutor is also a Republican, albeit perhaps not a Mammonite Republcian, a tip-top Mammonite can be convicted for lying. This is a good thing maybe, a sign of progress towards what passes for the restoration of democracy among US.

The Druids told everyone long ago, Fitzgerald has had some training. So Fitzgerald convicted a liar. But even more pleasing to the Druidry is this. Many Mammonites contributed money to the defense. Those Mammonite liars and gluttons should contribute lots more to the Scooter's appeal. Mercy! Contribute all your ill-gotten money to the appeal. Scooter must go free. Then, once you have given lots of money to Scooter's appeal, invest the remainder of your ill-gotten income in miserable Iraqi Kurdistan.

Ha! This situation, reminds the Druids of a few moons ago, when many among the downtrodden were always donating money to defense funds. In those days, every time the downtrodden hollered they got busted. So we had to raise money for defense. So many of US got busted, that soon our meager loose change for defense was exhausted.

The Mammonites have lots of ill-gotten spare change though. Way more than the downtrodden. However, with inflation, even the Mammonites may get stretched. Especially considering the sheer numbers of Mammonites that may, hopefully, need lawyers, anon. But Mammonites, do not donate all your ill-gotten gains and all your war profiteering profits to defense of your compatriot, reckless, criminal, war profiteering Mammonite brothers and sisters. Save some of it for your retirement in miserable Iraqi Kurdistan.

Bossy and Rascal

The CB welcomes two new ungulates, Bossy and Rascal, pygmy bison (Bison pygmianus). Here we see Satanetta showing them around.

Say Rayetta, do you surmise these twain pygmy bison have as much potential for good versus evil as our cows?

That remains to be seen, Crumby. Certainly, they need some monitoring for just that, potential for good versus evil. I, the Lovely Druidess Rayetta, shall get a paper out of just that. Then, I shall be an authority on that topic, Good versus Evil Potential among the Bison pygmianus, also.

Say Rayetta, which one is Bossy and which one is Rascal?

Hmmm. Crumby, that also remains to be seen.

Ray's Thought for the Day - Draba, Draba, Draba

While it is true, like Rayetta said, that we lost our only mustard, (Streptanthus bracteatus), we have plenty of these little bitty mustards (Draba cuneifolia) around. Remember, this particular Draba's rosette was featured earlier in the venue. The very same rosette that these buds and flowers are attached to. Actual lateral dimension of the depicted is about a centimeter plus a millimeter or two.

The CB underwent a frost this morning. But Drabas are tough little sobs. They receive no moisture, get frozen, and bloom anyway. That's because they have stored up water and nutrients earlier when better living conditions afforded them more opportunity to store up. Now they can use the stored up water and nutrients for fornication, irrespective of the horrible environmental conditions they are enduring out in the wilderness. That's called planning ahead.

Once they have fornicated themselves silly, they shall produce baby siliques with baby presumptive Drabas, that some call seeds, inside the siliques.

The Druid Calendar

All righty then. The calendar is completed and ready to go. Here it is, diagrammatically represented. Note: I had to make some minor revisions to the mock up calendar first presented in this venue on the 12th of DY 1 under the title, A Druid Calendar for These Parts. But the inverted three gallon bucket still represents the stygian darkness between Earth and Ogma.

All righty then. Here we go on our annual trip around old Ogma Sunface. It is Day 73 of this very dangerous journey, plagued as we are by rising temperatures and fatter babies. The season Polar Bear, also known as Polaris, is almost at an end. Anon, our brief spring, Hope Remains, shall briefly invigorate these parts, ending far too, anon. Then we ride along through the long hot misery of Beelzebubberiffic. Many shall succumb to the warm embrace of the Wickerman during this upcoming Beelzebubberiffic. Only the air conditioned and irrigated shall prosper. Those of us that are still here after Beelzebubberiffic shall enjoy a brief time with Olwen White Track. Then it is Polaris, that some call Polar Bear, again. Hark! Druid Year 2 shall have begun for the survivors, on the day of the the Polar Bear or Polaris Solstice, even after Polaris or Polar Bear, the season, has already commenced for the survivors.

For those still using the Julian, here are the corresponding dates.


Day 1 - Polaris or Polar Bear Solstice - December 21 or maybe 22.
Day 43 - Imbolc - February 1
Day 85 - Last Day of Polar Bear - March 15
Day 86 - First Day of Hope Remains - March 16
Day 132 - Beltane, Last Day of Hope Remains - May 1
Day 133 - First Day of Beelzebubberiffic - May 2
Day 183 - Beelzebubberiffic Solstice - June 22
Day 223 - Lugnasad - August 2
Day 298 - Last Day of Beelzebubberiffic - October 15
Day 299 - First Day of Olwen White Track - October 16
Day 314 - Samuin - October 31
Day 344 - Last Day of Olwen White Track - November 30
Day 345 - First Day of Polaris or Polar Bear - December 1
Day 1 of Druid Year 2, The Polar Bear or Polaris Solstice - December 21 or maybe 22.

See dudes and dudettes. Full Circle!!!!

Crumby's Telescope Tomfoolery Notes - The Lunar Eclipse

By the time the moon came up over these parts, the eclipse was just about done for. Plus, it was cloudy off east. Nevertheless Lleu Llaw and I caught the tail end of it through the clouds.

Come on Red

Back when it sleeted and we all went out to play in the sleet, except for me, Ray, I wound up having to help Red around outside so he could enjoy the sleet safely, like everyone else. Here we are, taking a walk in the sleet.

Ray's Thought for the Day - Good Goddess!!!!

Hope returned to the CB last night just as she foretold. So now I have both my beautiful girlfriends and my sister available in case I need some Sun God Trainee tutoring this weekend. Then too, I am fixing to get a delicious cinnamon bun. These are pleasurable patterns, oft repeated and fairly trusty.

But let us see if we may discern another pattern. Today, the general public of the Republic of Tejas learned about insider trading of Texas Utilities (TXU) which company (TXU) just got sold. Not long ago our well-coifed Jeffe, I mean governor, put TXU's request to build 14 coal fired power plants on a fast track, meaning the red tape needed to be cut, and their approval, expedited.

Also, the sexual abuse and torture scandal at the Texas Youth Commission story finally broke. Our Jeffe moved expeditiously to handle the sex crime and torture situation personally, by cutting through some more of that red tape, some call the law.

As you may see from the above, potential immigrants, there are lots of opportunities for those of you with a talent for interphasing with what passes for government in the Republic of Tejas. When you get off the bus, first thing, find the nearest Republican Party office you can easily locate. Then tell the responsible party at the Republican Party office that you are a Christian patriot, small game hunter/duffer desiring to consult or contract with the government and wish to get connected in one of those capacities. If you check out, soon you may find yourself with a lucrative deal or two and living off the fat of the land.

Crumby - Ah, Just Smell that Cherokee Sedge

Annually, the White Goddess tests her Druids. The test determines whether the testees are worthy to continue. The unworthy discontinue, acquiring a whole new set of concerns. The worthy continue in their same old iteration with the same general concerns, mostly. But sometimes the White Goddess heaves Her Ample Bosoms pleasurably. She heaves those Ample Bosoms because She is very pleased with a particular testee. She then grants it, the testee, a wish. In this example, it is me, Crumby Ovate, that got a wish granted. Praise the Goddess!!!!

Nasal impairment, also known as the inability to catch a scent is not the worst affliction that may afflict one’s iteration. However, nasal impairment is a disability, annoying and potentially dangerous. Plus, not catching a scent may lead to social discomfiture.

For many moons I have wished I could enjoy a sense of smell. So when I at last emerged from my annual worthiness test in continuance mode, I discovered that the Bountiful Triplicate Goddess had granted my wish. Lo and behold, I could smell. Land sakes alive, I have been smelling lots of smells ever since, catching up on all the smells. Smells are very interesting.

This week I smelled an exceptionally interesting smell. I happened to be digging up mass quantities of Cherokee sedges with a trusty billdukey. Soon huge piles of ripe Cherokee sedges were piled up around me, the knotty rhizomes exposed to the air, their aromatic molecules dispersing from greater to lesser concentration and right up my nostrils. The wonderful aroma of those prodigious rhizomes reminded me not only of RC Cola, but also of an aroma that RC Cola reminds me of. However, I won’t get into any more specifics about that additional aroma reminder type smell since this is a family style venue.

Yes, there were these great huge bunches of fresh Cherokee sedge dug up for the smelling. Here’s what I did. Sitting on the ground in the Cherokee sedge patch I gathered up as many of the dug up ones that I could gather together in my twain arms. Then I rubbed them all over my head. Then I lay down and buried myself under them. They smelled very interesting.

Ray's thought for the Day - If We Don’t Fight Them, Over There!!!!

Imperialists like to spread the imperial lifestyle around. By spreading the imperial lifestyle around, the average imperialist may enjoy an imperial lifestyle, anywhere. Historically, considered, after the ancient Romans, the most successful imperialists were the English. In the British Isles plus Eire, The English fought the Welsh, Scotch and Irish over there, to keep from having to fight the Welsh, Scotch and Irish in Pickaninny Square, or wherever. Once the English imperial lifestyle was fairly safely established in Wales, Scotland and Ireland, and Pickaninny Square was secure, the English cast about for imperial lifestyle opportunities further afield.

Soon the English, ably employing lots or recently acquired, handy, surplus cannon fodder, created a world in which the average English imperialist could enjoy a safe imperial lifestyle almost anywhere except Germany. But somehow they forgot to introduce their safe imperial lifestyle to the Germans. That was their undoing. The Germans messed up their safe imperial lifestyle. The English have been trying to restore their safe imperial lifestyle, everywhere, ever since, that the Germans messed up. Interestingly, the Germans also messed up Rome’s safe imperial life style. Funny, I never thought of that before just now. The Germans messed up the two greatest empires and the imperial lifestyles of those empires.

These days, the English imperialists and US clones are bent on throwing up a third great empire. Yep. Imperialists must be safe everywhere, or imperialists won’t even be safe in England, or even in downtown Ames, Iowa . Yep. The imperialists call US to arms. Off we go, cluster bombing the bejesus out of the third world, again. Interesting how big chunks of the Third World leave themselves susceptible to becoming our colonies, isn’t it. One would think, they would learn. But they do not learn. Well, in fairness, some of them learn. Some of the east Asian former colonies seem to have learned, maybe.

Through the magic of Druid Vision, a top secret mystery the Druids employ to expose the innermost attitudes and opinions of the ruling class and ruling class, tip-top minions, we can provide this synopsis of:
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Imperial Attitudes and High-Level Opinions of Imperialists

Following in the grand tradition of the immortal regimental bhestie, Gunga Din, all you miserable paynims need to listen up. We need you to assemble for Cannon Fodder Day. Here’s the deal. You will get swell new uniforms. Then we shall teach you how to march along swinging your arms just so. After you learn how to march, you shall march out to the potential cluster bombing range. If anyone habitating in the potential cluster bomb bombing range shoots at you, while you are marching along, we shall cluster bomb the bejesus out of them, and you, of course, could also get yourselves accidentally cluster bombed, maybe. Won't that be fun!

Yepper. You paynims and other various heathens shall have swell new uniforms and US shall be fighting the evil, seriously darkie, really evil paynims over there, together, with you, where it is safe, instead of, God Forbid, over here, where we might get hurt. Good God, US imperialists might get hurt instead of you paynims. God forbid, maybe a tiny smattering of US may get accidentally hit by the cluster bombs over there, but that’s way better than US getting hit over here.

Ask yourselves, miserable paynims, What would happen to the free market global economy if US imperialists got hurt? Think about that, ingrate paynims who may have doubts about US. You rely on the free market global economy for everything. Think what might happen to you if US imperialists got hurt. The free market global economy would then collapse and you would all starve and go to hell. You may starve and go to hell anyway, but such is a reality of the free market. We can’t help that. That’s not our fault. That’s human nature’s fault, or God’s fault, or common sense. Anyway, keep all that in mind, paynims and associated lower orders. Keep that in mind, even though that, is beyond your comprehension. Ha, ha!

Yes, US imperialists have lots of good advice for you paynims and assorted lower orders. Yes, we must lift you up, and not just with cluster bombs. Any of you that survive the cluster bombs have all sorts of options deriving from the global imperial economy. You can work for US, for example. Then once you are working for US, you get to pay a fair, flat tax. Won’t that be nice, You will have a dangerous, dirty job, at very low wages, maybe, but you will enjoy a simple, fair, flat tax on your wages. Plus, your meager salary shall allow you to purchase an AC. Some day, that AC may get hooked up to the grid. Some day after that, that AC may get some electricity.

Paynims and various lowlifes of the world, these are not the only benefits you may potentially derive from US. Consider this. By behaving yourselves, you are helping to protect US. That means we get to enjoy ourselves, free from worry on your account. So we are less likely to cluster bomb you again. Unless we need to practice cluster bombing. So join our team and maybe someday you heathen paynims shall realize all the benefits or our imperial lifestyle and culture.
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Yessir. The empires come and the empires go, but the imperial attitudes and opinions never change. Those attitudes and opinions are locked in, socked in, and easily detected by Druid Vision.

Ray's Thought for the Day - Rainfall Update

10.38" + 0.09" = 10.47" inclusive of the period, Winter Solstice Day through DY 71, Season of the Polar Bear, or Polaris, our friendly, sometimes visible, guide star. Day 71. Holy Smoke! Our little globe is wobbling through time and space at a frenetic pace. The seasons come and go. This season, Polar Bear is about to go. Mercy! I have 14 days left. Where's my magical bucket that serves the Druids in these parts much like Stonehenge served the ancient swineherds? Where's my dang magical bucket?