Take a bite out of crime

click to enlarge

  Here's a story from Singapore, where alcohol is prohibited.  People complained of a man who was drunk, in public, and the police responded.  When the officer tried to arrest the man the officer was bitten.
  The man who was finally subdued is of Chinese ancestry like many of the people in Singapore.  His name is Bai Ting, pronounced Bi Ting.  If the name fits, do the time.  Bai Ting was sentenced to a one thousand dollar fine and one month in jail on the drunkenness charge, and fined one hundred dollars for the bite.

Trying to do nothing is not working

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  It was going to be a "lazy" day.  No it wasn't.  But I really don't remember doing much except for a one hour meeting.  It was one of "those" days.  I think I stayed reasonably busy doing nothing.  That seems to be, for me, fairly common; run like hell and don't get caught.
  If I really didn't do much how come I think I did?  Answers please.  I do know I made one mistake.
I went to the Post Office to collect mail from our box, there wasn't any.  When I left the PO for the very short ride home I turned right and into the wrong lane of the two lane road.  Why did I do that, no explanation I can think of, maybe I thought I was still in town where there are four lanes of traffic.

Photo by Shelly Brown via Bangor Daily News

  This piebald deer has been spotted two years in a row by Ms. Brown, it's not an albino as some folks think because it still has some color in spots on the front shoulders and on it's tail and rump.  Interesting.

Thar's money in them thar dumps!

Trash is sorted at an ecomaine landfill, the electromagnet in the
background is loading metals into the truck body.
Photo: ecomaine

  Travis Wagner, a professor at the University of Southern Maine cites a study that 114 Billion dollars worth of metals lie buried in the nations landfills.  He believes the landfills, or dumps, should be mined to retrieve the metals. I agree.  Since 2011 ecomaine has mined it's landfills in South Portland, Westbrook and Scarborough and recovered 27,000 tons of metal worth 2.4 Million dollars.  Would you bury a 20 dollar bill in your backyard?
  I noticed that the City of Brewer while tearing down one of the old schools have sorted the debris into three piles, metal, brick and cinderblock and wood and other building materials.  The toilets and sinks had already been removed (they make good material to include in paving), the glass was also removed for recycling.

Maine cartoonist death a huge loss

A Jeff Pert cartoon - click to enlarge

  Jeff Pert a very popular Maine cartoonist has died at age 55, Maine born and raised, he did complete his education out of state.  He described himself as a "born and bearded (like a clam) Mainer".  Jeff has been published in books, magazines and newspapers all over the world.  His works brought a human side to some of Maine's well known wildlife as well as other subjects.
  To view more of his work just image search in Google as "jeff pert cartoons", and be amused.

A Jeff Pert cartoon

A Jeff Pert cartoon, this may be his most famous

Oligarchy takes over the Republic

  This will be the new United States of America, that right up there.  With the U S Supreme Court ruling the day after April Fools Day more elections can be bought by the highest bidder.  Look it up!  The Grand Republic has failed and there will be, someday in the not too distant future, a two class system wealthy and peasant.
  We voted for leadership and got sold down the river.  I don't even know if this is reversible.

Chickadees don't travel too far. Or do they?

Illustration by the geezer hisself

  In about 1999 a science Professor in Philadelphia wanted to know more about Chickadee's and the weather, and travel by the little birds.  Here's what we know now.
  There are two species of the bird.  The Carolina Chickadee lived in the Southern U. S. as far west as Texas.  The Black Capped Chickadee lives in the northeastern US, into Canada and all the way west to Alaska.  There is a narrow "ribbon" of area where the two cousins mix, Philadelphia was not in the mix region in 1999.
  To learn more the Professor and his students live trapped a lot of birds, banded them and kept track of when, where and with whom they interacted.  That was the way we now know how the weather affects the little birds.
  In a few years after starting the study both species showed up in Philadelphia, now they both live further and further north in Pennsylvania.  The warm weather version is becoming more common in areas they never lived in before.  Global Warming has come to the bird world, at least that's what I gather from reading about it.
  Follow this link: http://www.pressherald.com/news/What_chickadees_are_telling_us_about_climate_change.html

   

Sometimes I can't believe my eyes

Illustration by the geezer hisself

  All along the interstate, here in Maine, you see these signs.  There were always some weigh stations here.  Most products from Maine are heavy lumber, gravel, paper even lobsters are shipped in large tubs (maybe 1000 gal.) filled with cold seawater and live lobsters.  That means weighing is important to hold down damage on already damaged roads.
  Now most rest areas have been closed to save money for more important things like trips to Russia, you know stuff like that so I can't drink coffee while driving.  Those rest areas are now weigh stations too, and busses are checked for illegals as well as weight - the Border Patrol helps with those.
  But the signs say "busses and trucks must stop when flashing".  Now, you and I both know that that means the light on top of the sign right?  Nope, not me I think trucks are flashing.  Look.

Original artwork by the geezer hisself

  See that big rig up on end with that very large raincoat open?  That's what I'm talking about!