Every time I survive another medical checkup, I find I always want to “treat myself” with something mildly naughty afterwards, like a milkshake, as a reward for being such a good boy. Milkshakes, burgers, banana splits… it occurs to me that the unhealthiest thing I do these days is visit the doctor

ZEBRA SWALLOWTAILS only feed on pawpaw trees. The caterpillars eat a chemical in the leaves so that they (and their butterflies) taste bad to potential predators.

CHASTE PLANTS attract butterflies. They’re also known as “monk’s pepper” because monks supposedly used them to reduce their libido.

The fires in Los Angeles are horrific and tragic, with homes and treasured memories reduced to smoldering rubble.

Those fires are unprecedented, but they aren’t alone. This is the world we are creating with global warming, a world in flames.

The question is what are we going to do about it.

The Gulf of Mexico isn’t named for the country of Mexico. The name is about 400 years old and relates to the ancient Aztecs. Compared to the Aztecs, we’re all immigrants.

What kind of nation decides to try to set pudding on fire?

Most people cook eggs with the stove too hot.

Well, we got the tree decorated

If mystery drones are the problem, let’s ask the aliens in the flying saucers to shoot them down

Why isn’t there a Bluesky app configured for an iPad? Santa?

Our bird feeder feeds the birds, including, eventually, the neighborhood’s red-shouldered hawk. Circle of life in the backyard

People’s Bluesky names take me back to the days of CB radio. My handle then was the Silver Bullet. Catch you on the flip side, good buddies.

The “Skeleton Crew” Star Wars episodes on Disney+ look like a million Old Republic credits! Great stuff. And the series has that kiddie matinee feel of the original.

Yes, we have sent a spacecraft to Europa. But we also have homemade chicken soup and cornbread. It’s the perfect point in history.

I’ve barely been on Bluesky, and I’ve already been followed by lots of beautiful women. Sorry, ladies — he’s taken!

Santy Claus came early this year, stuffing my stocking with this gorgeous-sounding Bluetooth speaker. It’s a B&O Beosound A1, second generation. Cast aluminum, not plastic. Waterproof. A battery that will crank full-bore for 18 hours. I’m glad that Santy Claus is a personal friend!

Well, I've just wandered into Bluesky. It's a little like when you walk into an escape room — everything's potentially important, but you don't know what anything is. Interested to find out.