The pollen counts are 9,369. The usual amount is like 800 or some ridiculous number. It is a record breaker. The pollen count is more than 35 percent higher than the previous record. The previous record was 13 years ago and the then-record pollen count was 6013. It's taking a toll on people and animals, for sure. We stayed inside from recess today, and that is a first, I think. Not too hot. Just too much pollen. The high counts are not from the unusual heat we've been having, but the mild winter. With every upside there's a downside, I guess.
Rain will take care of the problem. Now, a good, cool, rainy Saturday would be just the thing!
Showing posts with label Pollen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pollen. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
More backyard stuff
Taking a walk the other day out my backyard yielded surprises. I inspected microscopically, down, beneath my feet at the blades of grass hiding tiny mushrooms, as well as macroscopically, up, at the leaf patterns of the towering trees above my head.
Living here cracks me up, actually. I am a mile from town, yet folks have large yards, hayfields even. It is quite rural. One person has free range chickens and a rooster walking around on the lawn. They are pretty to look at, the rooster is a rust color and contrasts with the green grass and the pale hayfield behind him. As I return from the Post Office, I drive by the farm stand with pink neon cardboard posters announcing the latest produce for sale. Yesterday it was "Turnip greens," next to signs announcing "Open" and "Check it out!"
At night, as the windows are open and the little traffic we get during the day dies down, I hear dogs, chickens, roosters, the train, owls, birds and an occasional car. Sometimes someone laughing in the distance.
So the spring has progressed and I wandered out to the back corner of my yard and drifted near the hedge. I was interested in the part of the yard between the stand of apple and pecan trees and the mowed line where the hayfield begins. There is a line of birdhouses on posts, and standing on tiptoe I saw that they were all occupied with chicks. Well, I'll be dogged! I could not see them but I heard teeny little peeps and was completely charmed.
I could not get the blue jay to turn around for me. A zoomed picture taken dark at dusk was the closest I could get. He is a fat boy, isn't he!
Ah, the culprits of the pollen explosion. Spring is great, but the resulting yellow dust that grits everywhere is not.
The regularity of this pattern reminds me of the Fibonacci sequence. There is mathematical harmony in growth. In my opinion of course, it is Designed.
I love wood. In this case, the differing colors caught my eye, from gentle tan to slate gray to green mossy lichen. The tree was still stately despite losing a branch.
Later dusk now, it was this little guy who got me outside to see what the ruckus was. He is standing about 15 feet from my bedroom window cawing up a storm. When I got out there and saw it was just a baby cardinal tweeting as the sun went down, I laughed and chided him gently. He paid me no mind and went right on calling. Such a huge sound from a little guy! I dubbed him my Sundowner Bird.
Living here cracks me up, actually. I am a mile from town, yet folks have large yards, hayfields even. It is quite rural. One person has free range chickens and a rooster walking around on the lawn. They are pretty to look at, the rooster is a rust color and contrasts with the green grass and the pale hayfield behind him. As I return from the Post Office, I drive by the farm stand with pink neon cardboard posters announcing the latest produce for sale. Yesterday it was "Turnip greens," next to signs announcing "Open" and "Check it out!"
At night, as the windows are open and the little traffic we get during the day dies down, I hear dogs, chickens, roosters, the train, owls, birds and an occasional car. Sometimes someone laughing in the distance.
So the spring has progressed and I wandered out to the back corner of my yard and drifted near the hedge. I was interested in the part of the yard between the stand of apple and pecan trees and the mowed line where the hayfield begins. There is a line of birdhouses on posts, and standing on tiptoe I saw that they were all occupied with chicks. Well, I'll be dogged! I could not see them but I heard teeny little peeps and was completely charmed.
I could not get the blue jay to turn around for me. A zoomed picture taken dark at dusk was the closest I could get. He is a fat boy, isn't he!
Ah, the culprits of the pollen explosion. Spring is great, but the resulting yellow dust that grits everywhere is not.
The regularity of this pattern reminds me of the Fibonacci sequence. There is mathematical harmony in growth. In my opinion of course, it is Designed.
I love wood. In this case, the differing colors caught my eye, from gentle tan to slate gray to green mossy lichen. The tree was still stately despite losing a branch.
Later dusk now, it was this little guy who got me outside to see what the ruckus was. He is standing about 15 feet from my bedroom window cawing up a storm. When I got out there and saw it was just a baby cardinal tweeting as the sun went down, I laughed and chided him gently. He paid me no mind and went right on calling. Such a huge sound from a little guy! I dubbed him my Sundowner Bird.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Now THAT'S funny!
George Bush worst President in recorded history. A new poll just out asking Americans how they think Pres. Bush is handling his job, records just 19% think he is going OK. This is a percentage lower than Nixon at the height of the Watergate scandal, worse than Jimmy Carter just after the Iran hostage taking, and way worse than Clinton during the impeachment movement.
Granted, the poll contacted only 1,100 people and extrapolated the rest...but you get the idea.
Two years ago, Rolling Stone said Bush was in contention for worst president ever. The Washington Post did the same. But those are liberal print media outlets. Aren't there any neutral outlets we can balance this sad perspective against? Gary North on Lew Rockwell.com explained "Why Bush Will Become the Textbooks' Worst President." These last three are from 2006, before the crash or the dollar and the collapse of the housing industry. Before the fractional reserve banking system ran out of fractional reserves. Before the worst of it.
What has he said or done lately to make us think he is either the best ever or the worst ever? Read some things he has said. You be The Decider:
On Criticism: “There ought to be limits to freedom. We’re aware of this [web] site, and this guy is just a garbage man, that’s all he is.” George Jr., discussing a web site that parodies him.
Bi-Partisanship: “I’m a uniter not a divider. That means when it comes time to sew up your chest cavity, we use stitches as opposed to opening it up.” Bush, on David Letterman (who had just had open heart surgery), March 2, 2000. (the audience booed)
Education: “Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?” George W Bush, Florence, S.C., Jan. 11, 2000
Domestic Policy: “I don’t feel like I’ve got all that much too important to say on the kind of big national issues.” George W Bush, 20/20 ABC, 15th September 2000
Natural Resources: “Natural gas is hemispheric. I like to call it hemispheric in nature because it is a product that we can find in our neighborhoods.” George W Bush, Austin, Texas, Dec. 20, 2000
But wait! Those are all from 8 years ago, when Bush was a shoehorn. Um, greenhorn. How about lately?
“I’m the decider, and I decide what is best. And what’s best is for Don Rumsfeld to remain as the Secretary of Defense.” –George W. Bush, Washington, D.C. April 18, 2006
"There is no doubt in my mind when history was written, the final page will say: Victory was achieved by the United States of America for the good of the world." --George W. Bush, addressing U.S. troops at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait, Jan. 12, 2008
CHRIS WALLACE (FOX): Mr. President, what are the chances that we're either in a recession or headed for one?
PRESIDENT: I think the experts will tell you we're not in a recession, and they will tell you that there's a lot of uncertainty. And therefore, the question is what do you do about it. (White House, Feb. 10, 2008)
“I like my buddies from west Texas. I liked them when I was young, I liked them then I was middle-age, I liked them before I was president, and I like them during president, and I like them after president.” –George W. Bush, Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 1, 2006
Yes, George. We're all waiting for after president.
More quotes here. And here. And...here. So many GW dumb quotes websites, so little time. And Google "worst president" and see what you get.
Granted, the poll contacted only 1,100 people and extrapolated the rest...but you get the idea.
Two years ago, Rolling Stone said Bush was in contention for worst president ever. The Washington Post did the same. But those are liberal print media outlets. Aren't there any neutral outlets we can balance this sad perspective against? Gary North on Lew Rockwell.com explained "Why Bush Will Become the Textbooks' Worst President." These last three are from 2006, before the crash or the dollar and the collapse of the housing industry. Before the fractional reserve banking system ran out of fractional reserves. Before the worst of it.
What has he said or done lately to make us think he is either the best ever or the worst ever? Read some things he has said. You be The Decider:
On Criticism: “There ought to be limits to freedom. We’re aware of this [web] site, and this guy is just a garbage man, that’s all he is.” George Jr., discussing a web site that parodies him.
Bi-Partisanship: “I’m a uniter not a divider. That means when it comes time to sew up your chest cavity, we use stitches as opposed to opening it up.” Bush, on David Letterman (who had just had open heart surgery), March 2, 2000. (the audience booed)
Education: “Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?” George W Bush, Florence, S.C., Jan. 11, 2000
Domestic Policy: “I don’t feel like I’ve got all that much too important to say on the kind of big national issues.” George W Bush, 20/20 ABC, 15th September 2000
Natural Resources: “Natural gas is hemispheric. I like to call it hemispheric in nature because it is a product that we can find in our neighborhoods.” George W Bush, Austin, Texas, Dec. 20, 2000
But wait! Those are all from 8 years ago, when Bush was a shoehorn. Um, greenhorn. How about lately?
“I’m the decider, and I decide what is best. And what’s best is for Don Rumsfeld to remain as the Secretary of Defense.” –George W. Bush, Washington, D.C. April 18, 2006
"There is no doubt in my mind when history was written, the final page will say: Victory was achieved by the United States of America for the good of the world." --George W. Bush, addressing U.S. troops at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait, Jan. 12, 2008
CHRIS WALLACE (FOX): Mr. President, what are the chances that we're either in a recession or headed for one?
PRESIDENT: I think the experts will tell you we're not in a recession, and they will tell you that there's a lot of uncertainty. And therefore, the question is what do you do about it. (White House, Feb. 10, 2008)
“I like my buddies from west Texas. I liked them when I was young, I liked them then I was middle-age, I liked them before I was president, and I like them during president, and I like them after president.” –George W. Bush, Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 1, 2006
Yes, George. We're all waiting for after president.
More quotes here. And here. And...here. So many GW dumb quotes websites, so little time. And Google "worst president" and see what you get.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Holy astronomical pollen, Batman!
The Washington Post says: "Atlanta's pollen count hit 5,499 particles per cubic meter of air Monday, the highest this season and the fourth-highest in the 12 years that the Atlanta Allergy and Asthma Clinic has kept records. In South Carolina, the pollen count hit 4,862, according to the Allergic Disease and Asthma Center in Greenville. A reading of 120 is considered extremely high in the Southeast. A lack of rain, which scrubs pollen from the air, is blamed for the high count."Do a rain dance for us, would you?
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