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The Non-Conforming Robin

In late May just when I thought that I would never see or hear him again, there he was on the power line above my truck, the Rogue Sigma Robin. Arriving in late spring near early summer, fashionably late to the migration party after everyone is all settled in on their second brood!

All summer, I heard him moving through our neighborhood, never spending more than a few days in a single location. I’ve never seen him with a partner , mate or a nest. I’m not sure if he’s louder because he’s hard of hearing, confident or exuberant of his role; but the Yank and Dixie nesting pairs all seem to chat with him on arrival, getting louder and more emphatic when they do. It’s almost as if he’s the “Clan Cryer” who spreads the news, current conditions and trends. The Yank and Dixie robins both report to him.

Most robins are gone now. I’m not sure when Sigma left but the others left in two batches on the two nor’easters’ southerly winds in August and less than a month ago. The only Robins who stayed until September hatched late bumper broods, then fledged and taught them to fly.

There is one lone yank spotted robin left that I see and hear, from time to time, who likes to watch me reset my planters. His spots are nearly gone and he can fly quite well. He always seems to be looking for other robins, never finding any that I can see, always alone. Although being a Yank, he may stay around all winter once he finds the Yank Clan. He’s the only one I see eating some late cherries and berries.

I edited and shortened this old parable to honor him, adapted from “The Defiant Young Sparrow.”


The Non-Conforming Robin

Once upon a time, there was a defiant young robin who decided not to fly south for the winter, despite his family and  friends’ reasoning and pleas.

He had fun for a while socializing with other birds, their families and friends who never migrate south. But, unable to stay warm soon after the weather turned cold, the young robin changed his mind and reluctantly started to fly south.

After a short time flying, ice began to form on his wings and he fell to earth in a barnyard almost frozen. Numb and fearing the end, he lay his head down accepting his consequences. Just then, a cow passed by and crapped on the discouraged little bird.

Now certain of his fate, he choked on his last stinking breaths. To his surprise, the manure quickly warmed him and defrosted his wings. Warm and happy, feeling saved, the little robin began to sing exuberantly! Hearing the chirping, a hungry Tom cat came by and cleared away the manure, then promptly ate him.

There are three morals to this parable:

1. Everyone who shits on you is not necessarily your enemy.
2. Everyone who gets you out of a pile of shit is not necessarily your friend.
3. If you are warm and happy in a pile of shit, keep your mouth shut.

and possibly;
4. Sometimes, traditions can save you trouble and be good advice. Learn vicariously, listen to your Elders.
5. There can be safety in numbers.
6. Avoid celebrating too soon, stay focused on the goal. Never give up !

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Perpetual Spring

Phil failed to see his shadow yesterday and the Robins agree; EARLY Spring ! In fact we now have local, Summer and Winter Robins. Two weeks after the Summer Robins left mid August, the Winter Robins arrived.

Winter Robins flock together, are darker, slimmer and elongated when compared to Summer Robins. Northern Winter Robins’ songs are similar to their human Yanky neighbors, shorter, faster and don’t repeat as often. The Summer Robins sing slower, longer drawn out chirps, and repeat more often longer. Akin to their human dixie neighbors.

Now, I see a mix of Dixie and Yank robins and some in flight “coupling” but while driving its hard to tell if its Yank on Yank or Yank Dixie mix. We’ll probably have a bumper brood of robins this year, I’ve never seen coupling this early in the season.

The Robins agree with Phil, the flowering daffodils, crocuses and other bulbs. Perpetual Spring is here !

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Turf Wars

The Sigma is down the street louder more confident than ever that Spring is here, and it would seem that he was NOT being sarcastic.

SPRING IS HERE ! Earlier than most folks I’ve talked to can remember.

A few local Robins are back and the initial Turf Wars have begun. Juniper pollen is flying. Crocuses, Daffodils, Tulips and Hyacinth are alive and budding.

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Early Birds

Six more weeks of Winter according to Phil, but Robins are here now. I saw a hand full flying to the tree tops in my neighborhood this morning. At work walking across the parking lot, I heard a few singing a nonlocal version of “the Day Song,” and managed to see a half dozen flying to the treetops.

These aren’t our locals, and they’re not singing “the Spring Song” but, they’re here! It’s only a matter of time until our locals are back.

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Spring 2023 is here, WHAT ?!

After a week long cold snap two weeks ago in late December, I didn’t expect any Robins around still or yet, but they’re here for 2 weeks now. While walking many times recently since the cold snap, I’ve seen 30+ fly into a tree and heard at least 3 singing distinctly different morning songs in different parts of my neighborhood.

One Sigma Robin sings the Spring Rain Morning Worm song as if crocuses are in full bloom.

These are surely a rogue northern clique avoiding the cold up north right now or southern scouts and not the locals. Maybe the exuberant Sigma is being sarcastic or perhaps rallying the Scouts who will report back on the next southern tailwind like the northern wind that brought them?

Is robin sarcasm possible? I say yes as I’ve witnessed dozens of robin widowers through the years, sitting shiva, mourning their monogamous partner’s remains until scattered. Usually at least 3 days solid eating very little, ignoring weather, personal safety and eventually coming back over the next few weeks in remembrance. Robins are monogamous, a rare trait in the animal kingdom.

If robins care for generations of young realizing the benefits of monogamy, mourn as we do, show fear, exhaustion, surprise, excitement and affections; Then I’d venture to say sarcasm is an emotion they feel too. It’s the expression of ambivalence that we all feel wishing for Spring because it feels like it with longer days, knowing the time is not right now, but just around the corner. Ambivalence, the good and the bad all rolled into one all at the same time. Ebb and flow, Yin and Yang, bittersweet balance.

Robin widowers eventually move forward, take on new partners and raise broods with their new partner just like we do. I’ve seen it, so maybe they are at least wishing for Spring if not being sarcastic or reporting it on their way back to the collective flocks.

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Scared to Cut Phone and TV ?

For any one considering “internet only” and cutting their phone and TV services to save money, DO IT! I cut the cord around 1995 ish.

I’m a long time Geek and Technician who worked for a small National ISP (Internet Service Provider) based in VA who also provided TV, phone and media services.

My parents have Comcast and abhor the high price to get the discounted triple play package, internet, phone and TV with basic HD.

I almost have them convinced to get Citizens Fiber, internet only. We all have cell phones and smart devices. These are the variables if you are considering switching. Don’t take my word for it. Do your own research.

As some of you already know, you can definitely save money having internet only service, no matter your provider. Internet INCLUDES phone and TV if you know how, and know your likes. You do need to be slightly electronic savvy or know someone who can help you get started, but it’s not difficult if you already surf the web.

  1. Fiber uses laser light. Light is 10 times faster than electricity. Most providers have fiber now. Choose fiber to your home given the choice.
  2. Get a cell phone already. If no cell service at your house, Google provides free phone and long distance within the US using an app or browser on most wifi devices and offers other free life changing products. A Gmail account provides business level phone integration and features for anyone interested in learning. Gmail and Google Voice are a good first step in any online venture, especially phone and entertainment. Mom and I just had a conversation today about all of the amazing, fresh, tailored content on YouTube. It learns what you like and suggests similar.
  3. Choosing channels individually and only paying for what you want is now possible with plus +apps, as well as many free options available for oldies/classic TV content such as Pluto. Many bigbox “plus or +” app providers offer unbeatable packages. Pick and choose to your taste, most are priced competitively.
  4. Local providers often offer competitive pricing and also local content that Big Box providers can not, such as your local school event and club channels.
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Curses !

Robins, please leave my onion sets alone. I’m sure that you are eager to find tasty onion maggots, but there are none, trust me. If I have anything to do with it, there will be none. I like the fertilizer you leave behind on take off to lighten your flight load, but it’s not worth the price of you pulling my onion sets out and pecking holes in to my bulbs to check.

Thank you in advance.

That is all.

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2021 Spring is here!

I heard a Robin today while getting the mail. I might have heard a bird imitating a Robin. I’m told by a few different Bird Watchers that some birds imitate Robins. Sometimes when they are expected or wished to return in the late winter, early spring months especially when there is lots of snow and ice.

Perhaps it was just an imitator commiserating with his buddies about the recent snow. I wonder how soon until I actually see a Robin? Since we just had a few winter storms bring some moisture up from the Mexico Gulf area, it’s possible that some of the early Northern Robins decided to ride ahead of the winds like a surfer. They usually pass through here first.

Phil did see his shadow and we are getting a fair amount of ice and snow, true to his prediction. It actually feels like winter and an old fashioned one at that.

Tightened security and CSS in place. We’ll see how long the security holds. I’d brag on my security methods, but security through obscurity! It seems to be working as Tor traffic keeps falling and dropping off. No more unverified users signing up and staying logged in.

Once I looked at the CSS and saw how many different browsers and formats I’d have to dynamically re-code then test, I decided on a Yellow Pencil CSS editor that made it quick, simple and WYSIWYG. What You See, Is What You Get!

I tried many other CSS editing plugins, but Yellow Pencil simply worked and had the most suitable free options for my needs. It’s well documented, intuitive and easy enough to use that you can learn most of it by just poking at it.

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Fall Migration

For the last week or so, the Northern Robins have been passing through on their way south. Our local Robins dipped out, in early August before the big hurricanes. There were no birds for awhile, not even a Finch, Blue Jay or Cardinal until a few weeks ago.

A Dove couple moved into an old Robins’ nest in the front plum tree. I heard their mating calls for awhile and noticed the couple sitting like rocks in the deserted nest. They wouldn’t even move for a noisy mower or weed wacker. I’m guessing that they’re tending eggs. My research says that Doves build flimsy nests. Nothing about them taking over seasonal nests, but it makes sense. I see them taking turns, but no shells on the ground or screeching noises yet. It seems a little late in the season to raise young, but it’s a new young couple.

While trimming back the crawling thyme in my strawberry pot, about a dozen yearling, native Praying Mantises flushed out. I saved their Mom from a hard frost one night last year by putting her on my mature catnip plants next to a warm brick wall, Oasis 1. I watched her pray on pollinators late last fall. She liked my oasis so much that she left an egg brood on one of the stems.

They hatched out in mid July and we observed them on our patio window screens, TINY little things about 2 to 3mm or so. I expected them to hatch out sooner in spring, but there isn’t much e-info on mantises. It’s hard to get pictures because they are so small. Definitely natives as they and Mom are a few shades darker and smaller than the imported larger, lighter green Chinese mantises that I’ve seen.

I hope I didn’t ruin their sanctuary and that they continue to inhabit my Oasis. I don’t know if it was the Thyme or the shelter of the undergrowth that it provided that attracted them. Maybe the wealth of prey? I wish they would eat the tomato caterpillars.

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ReHL yeah!

CentOs, where have you been all of my LINUX life, and why am I just finding you now !? All work, all the time, just work and; it just works. You talk Open, Cloud, Servers, Distributed Computing with your Cross Platform Business Class core. Your dark, crisp polished GUI contrasting a warm clean experience, smooth install and; can serve, cloud or virtualize like no other out of the box! The quickest split screen app gesture ever, drag a window to any side it splits in half vertically or horizontally, then sticks to that side. Ready to share the screen with another app , work area or display while giving you other hovering options, until you drop to choose. Yum looks like an apt clone, or apt-get for you depreciated types. The Gnome Chrome integration is sweet where it’s maintained and when it all plays nice. Overall, simply stunning in every respect!