@mren.bsky.social
Not to go too far off the "old man yells at clouds" cliff but, at 67 I already have plenty of trouble remembering proper names of things, but the idea of un-remembering and then learning the new name? These changes must all be made by young people.
December 4, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Not to go too far off the "old man yells at clouds" cliff but, at 67 I already have plenty of trouble remembering proper names of things, but the idea of un-remembering and then learning the new name? These changes must all be made by young people.
I'm still stumbling over Marsh Hawk/Northern Harrier...
I think the problem is Water Ouzel/Marsh Hawk are much more evocative names than American dipper or northern harrier. Those names say something about that bird's habits, likely area to see etc. Oh yeah -Sparrow Hawk/ Northern Kestrel...smh.
I think the problem is Water Ouzel/Marsh Hawk are much more evocative names than American dipper or northern harrier. Those names say something about that bird's habits, likely area to see etc. Oh yeah -Sparrow Hawk/ Northern Kestrel...smh.
December 4, 2025 at 5:12 PM
I'm still stumbling over Marsh Hawk/Northern Harrier...
I think the problem is Water Ouzel/Marsh Hawk are much more evocative names than American dipper or northern harrier. Those names say something about that bird's habits, likely area to see etc. Oh yeah -Sparrow Hawk/ Northern Kestrel...smh.
I think the problem is Water Ouzel/Marsh Hawk are much more evocative names than American dipper or northern harrier. Those names say something about that bird's habits, likely area to see etc. Oh yeah -Sparrow Hawk/ Northern Kestrel...smh.
Thank you for this! I play an online game called "Birdie" which challenges the player to identify North American birds from a snippet of sound and a part of a picture of the bird. I was sure it was an Ouzel, but that wasn't an available guess. Very frustrating. Now I know why.
December 4, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Thank you for this! I play an online game called "Birdie" which challenges the player to identify North American birds from a snippet of sound and a part of a picture of the bird. I was sure it was an Ouzel, but that wasn't an available guess. Very frustrating. Now I know why.
That guy is wearing a Groucho Marx costume!
October 21, 2025 at 1:19 PM
That guy is wearing a Groucho Marx costume!
And often that interest is just being part of the cool kids in your tribe, without the foggiest idea what it's all about.
October 18, 2025 at 7:35 PM
And often that interest is just being part of the cool kids in your tribe, without the foggiest idea what it's all about.
And our school systems and these private voucher schemes suck for the greater good. They are just escaping the problem rather than working to fix it...(Shrugs)
October 18, 2025 at 7:33 PM
And our school systems and these private voucher schemes suck for the greater good. They are just escaping the problem rather than working to fix it...(Shrugs)
We dont have children but when I watch one of the school board meetings around here....I fear for our next generation. So you can call "special interests" too simple, but in fact its an all inclusive moniker for only advocating for your own interests rather than the greater good.
October 18, 2025 at 7:31 PM
We dont have children but when I watch one of the school board meetings around here....I fear for our next generation. So you can call "special interests" too simple, but in fact its an all inclusive moniker for only advocating for your own interests rather than the greater good.
Just a thought here but I am all for listening to broad constituencies to understand and learn, but not for soliciting ideas...that's my "too many cooks" point. But I would assume all lawmakers say they listen and learn today, but they are corrupted by all the special interests, including themselves
October 18, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Just a thought here but I am all for listening to broad constituencies to understand and learn, but not for soliciting ideas...that's my "too many cooks" point. But I would assume all lawmakers say they listen and learn today, but they are corrupted by all the special interests, including themselves
Good example, I'm liberal and I would have a very hard time voting to increase the federal deficit for a Fed Govt run program. One size does not fit all. But oversight and minimum standards to be federally recognized? Yes. Then tax relief for those state specific facilities and/or privatization. Yes
October 18, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Good example, I'm liberal and I would have a very hard time voting to increase the federal deficit for a Fed Govt run program. One size does not fit all. But oversight and minimum standards to be federally recognized? Yes. Then tax relief for those state specific facilities and/or privatization. Yes
And, I dont have time or interest to get up to speed on it. we have to depend on experts and advisors...but we have to get the money out of that system. Lobbyist masquerading as consultants for example.
October 18, 2025 at 5:57 PM
And, I dont have time or interest to get up to speed on it. we have to depend on experts and advisors...but we have to get the money out of that system. Lobbyist masquerading as consultants for example.
It's a flaw in democracy...the idea that you can suss out a majority opinion and act on it in good faith, ie "serve your constituency". I cant vote on Pete's view of air traffic control with anything other than blind faith for example. I know nothing about the subject. (Shrugs).
October 18, 2025 at 5:55 PM
It's a flaw in democracy...the idea that you can suss out a majority opinion and act on it in good faith, ie "serve your constituency". I cant vote on Pete's view of air traffic control with anything other than blind faith for example. I know nothing about the subject. (Shrugs).
But the topics and issues are so complex these days that even our lawmakers dont read the bills nor do they understand them. Asking the citizenry to grasp the basics, forget the nuances, isn't a reasonable path. Add in all the misinformation and you'll never get there imo.
October 18, 2025 at 5:51 PM
But the topics and issues are so complex these days that even our lawmakers dont read the bills nor do they understand them. Asking the citizenry to grasp the basics, forget the nuances, isn't a reasonable path. Add in all the misinformation and you'll never get there imo.
And also, we're now operating in a Oligarchy/Dictator era with massive govt corruption at the highest levels. It calls for aggressive action to unwind that quickly to get back to real governance. And real governance requires real leadership but, the bulk of our lawmakers arent trying to provide that
October 18, 2025 at 3:23 PM
And also, we're now operating in a Oligarchy/Dictator era with massive govt corruption at the highest levels. It calls for aggressive action to unwind that quickly to get back to real governance. And real governance requires real leadership but, the bulk of our lawmakers arent trying to provide that
Oh, and thanks for the link I hadn't seen that. But that's a style that fits the government dysfunction to a T. The reason why Trump hasn't been burned at the stake is because he is getting so much done that its appealing to a lot of people. Not the actual result, but the level of activity.
October 18, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Oh, and thanks for the link I hadn't seen that. But that's a style that fits the government dysfunction to a T. The reason why Trump hasn't been burned at the stake is because he is getting so much done that its appealing to a lot of people. Not the actual result, but the level of activity.
That's interesting, but sound governance requires leadership. Take Obama and Obama care. That's sound leadership but it took a huge lift to get to a consensus on a problem that had been brewing and unsolved for many years. Just like immigration. But, If you let too many cooks in the kitchen...
October 18, 2025 at 3:10 PM
That's interesting, but sound governance requires leadership. Take Obama and Obama care. That's sound leadership but it took a huge lift to get to a consensus on a problem that had been brewing and unsolved for many years. Just like immigration. But, If you let too many cooks in the kitchen...
I mention the minorities because they had the most to lose with this administration yet economic issues "trumped" all that.
October 18, 2025 at 2:36 PM
I mention the minorities because they had the most to lose with this administration yet economic issues "trumped" all that.
And as an aside...the "VS" thing? That's a construct built by politicians. The intent is to divide the populace for vote getting. We have to move on from that.
October 18, 2025 at 2:33 PM
And as an aside...the "VS" thing? That's a construct built by politicians. The intent is to divide the populace for vote getting. We have to move on from that.
Well I may be missing your point but I dont thinks so. If we look at voter issues in the last election we saw a number of minorities vote red on economic issues. The things your mentioning are state and local government issues. They just need money...and the citizens support locally.
October 18, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Well I may be missing your point but I dont thinks so. If we look at voter issues in the last election we saw a number of minorities vote red on economic issues. The things your mentioning are state and local government issues. They just need money...and the citizens support locally.
Politicians want you to think its a zero sum game..."if you get that then we cant have this". But we're America, the richest nation in the world, we can afford both. Politicians set the bar low, we're better than that.
October 18, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Politicians want you to think its a zero sum game..."if you get that then we cant have this". But we're America, the richest nation in the world, we can afford both. Politicians set the bar low, we're better than that.
But it is, the government can't do everything, but what it can do is make as much economic opportunity as possible, across the spectrum. And then protect that with a strong military. If that rising tide produced enough we can then afford to fix the wealth disparity and get everyone out of poverty.
October 18, 2025 at 12:58 PM
But it is, the government can't do everything, but what it can do is make as much economic opportunity as possible, across the spectrum. And then protect that with a strong military. If that rising tide produced enough we can then afford to fix the wealth disparity and get everyone out of poverty.
Economics isn't an ideology and it isn't about "telling" them, its about doing for them what makes economic sense and shows up in the data and their pocketbooks. But that does not mean more free stuff btw. (Look how quickly tech jumped in bed with Trump and they have vastly different ideologies.)
October 17, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Economics isn't an ideology and it isn't about "telling" them, its about doing for them what makes economic sense and shows up in the data and their pocketbooks. But that does not mean more free stuff btw. (Look how quickly tech jumped in bed with Trump and they have vastly different ideologies.)
Too many cooks in the pot imo. When I say bottom up I mean the economic pyramid. A plan that benefits the largest number of people economically (base). And those economics are based on a sound and non-corrupt democracy which means job one is to overturn or amend to remove Citizen's United.
October 17, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Too many cooks in the pot imo. When I say bottom up I mean the economic pyramid. A plan that benefits the largest number of people economically (base). And those economics are based on a sound and non-corrupt democracy which means job one is to overturn or amend to remove Citizen's United.
Hey Pete, I have been a big supporter and I like where this is going but...doesn't this country need a project 2027? Or whatever year, that does what you describe...rebuild our union from the bottom up, rather than the top down?
October 15, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Hey Pete, I have been a big supporter and I like where this is going but...doesn't this country need a project 2027? Or whatever year, that does what you describe...rebuild our union from the bottom up, rather than the top down?