Birds of a feather

The snowy owl has reappeared again this year in the Mid-Atlantic region down from its Arctic origins and bird watchers are notably excited. But in the Netherlands a different kind of owl - singular - has been preying on residents of a small town north of Amsterdam. With a six foot wingspread it has been attacking pedestrians after dark and their only defense is carrying umbrellas to ward off the claws. The experts feel it is either a bird raised in captivity seeking food from humans or a female protecting its nest. Either way she doesn't seem to give a HOOT!
tjs

Here Comes the Sun

Friday, March 20th, marks the Equinox - the first day of Spring. Thank you, groundhog! On that day there also will be a Solar Eclipse across Europe. Apparently, Europe is heavily dependent on Solar energy so that during the morning coffee/tea break they will see their power fade away to return two hours later. Sounds like a decent coffee break. The authorities are taking steps to mitigate the risks anticipated. Don't forget to recharge your smart phones and the like.
tjs

Pouring on the Coals

Yesterday, it was seven degrees fahrenheit in Philadelphia - another "ice in the birdbath day." I had the luxury of sleeping in. But it wasn't always that way. In the 1930s my father would rise at 0600 to rake the coal heater, stir up the embers and shovel some anthracite "pea coal" from the coal bin into the fire so that we youngsters had some heat from those old fashioned radiators upon arising an hour later. He then took two trolleys and a subway to his place of employment. His generation was the one before the "greatest generation." I think of him often during this kind of weather.
tjs

Live Free or Die

I recently read where a feathered hawk in New Hampshire attacked a drone and the hawk won. Now that's a pretty tough New England bird. Considering that a similar type drone penetrated the White House perimeter the Secret Service might consider housing American Eagles on the premises to repel such intrusions. Just a thought. But I don't think that the F.A.A. would want any birds around any airport.
tjs

Shipping Out

For fifty + years I told people that I was employed in the "shipping" business i.e. ocean transportation, cargo, containers and the like. So when I received my first copy of the new relaunched New York Times Sunday Magazine yesterday, it indexed an article called "shipping" and I hurried to page 56 thinking perhaps they were commenting on the current work stoppage at West Coast ports. Not so.
Their definition of "shipping" is short for "relationship-ing" - the term can also refer to rooting for romance between fictional couples. Little did I know. So next time you see me please do not inquire as to my line of work, career path, employment or business. I am currently working at being retired.
tjs

Jack Frost

Seeing the ice encrusted buildings during the current cold wave recalled the winters of 1976/78 and the following story: ....U.S. Lines had a vessel on a westbound voyage from Europe to New York which encountered strong head winds and ocean spray. Upon arrival at her Hudson River pier she was coated with ice - superstructure, containers and lashings and hosing or steaming was for naught. It was then decided to lift anchor and head south for the Gulf Stream where the crew was successful in melting the ice. Someone told me that we had dumped a pile of ice on Castro's doorstep.
tjs
(Above excerpt from Eagle Blue Vol. 3 No. 3  2/17/07)

Chinese New Year

Yesterday, February 18th, is the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year 4713. It is either the year of the goat or the sheep depending on how you interpret the word "yang". The celebration lasts for fifteen days by one sixth of the world's population. So just a "heads up" - if your Chinese take out is slow arriving or your shirts aren't ready - you can blame it on the New Year celebration. Baa - baa!
tjs

The Lenten Season

Being sated by Fat Tuesday and tired from celebrating both Carnival and Mardi Gras in several hemispheres, it is time for a long Lenten nap. Yes, the penitential season is upon us which reminds me of the fellow who was addicted to wine, women and song and when Lent arrived he gave up singing. But he was an off-key baritone anyway. Happy Easter!
tjs

Potpourri 2015-IV

Trend - Best Buy, the nation's largest consumer electronics chain, has started its first wedding registry. Tiffany, watch out!

I think I'll pass on the fish course. A woman dining in a high end restaurant on Central Park South found a fish hook in a portion of the fish she was eating and is suing the establishment. If this experience doesn't dissuade you, then may I recommend the Sancerre wine to complement your meal.

From the tech corner - they are making backpacks with batteries to enable you to recharge your smart phone on the run. For purists they have a backpack equipped with a solar panel that can charge a laptop.
Now you can spend all day in Starbucks and not have to run around like a Tesla owner looking for a charge.
tjs

Let's FACE It.

They always said you can't take it with you but Facebook now lets you choose who controls your account after you die. That person will be known as your "legacy contact" and you hope that he or she doesn't die before you which could complicate things. There is a possibility that Google might do something similar for Bloggers in which case you may "hear" from me in the "hereafter". Anyway, the whole concept is intriguing and I may have to file a codicil to my last will and testament.
tjs
http://www.theverge.com/2015/2/12/8025117/facebook-account-after-death

PARASKEVIDEKATRIAPHOBIA

The above "word" is not a line from The Jabberwocky - Wikipedia says it means a fear of Friday the Thirteenth - so beware of the black cat crossing your path and don't walk under any ladders. If there are any other Old Wives tales scaring you, you can always hide under the covers. Personally, I'm still smarting from the groundhog's verdict.
tjs

All Aboard!

Google Maps is celebrating its tenth anniversary. One of its features is to orient you when exiting a subway stairwell by the use of a compass on the screen. Another not well known feature is to alert you to the last train to your destination. Some have nicknamed it the "drunk train" which I find offensive as I have found myself on the 1:20 AM "milk train" from Grand Central Station to Hastings-on-Hudson on more than one occasion. On a late winter ride the car's heater lulled me to sleep and I rode past my station only awaking at Dobbs Ferry. The walk back thru the snow in the early morning air was "bracing" and you could also consider it "sobering" if that was what was required.
tjs

Potpourri 2015-III

Quote of the week: "Lust is no crime!" - uttered by the French attorney for that infamous French economist D.S.K. who admits to a libertine lifestyle but objected to being characterized as a "regular" attendee at those "parties" as he stated he was so busy with world affairs that he could only attend four times a year - sort of a quarterly rendezvous.

The maker of Red Bull energy drinks is challenging a Virginia craft brewery's use of the word "ox" in its brand name - arguing that an ox and a bull are "virtually indistinguishable to most consumers." And the Old Ox Brewery countered with "You are a big Red Bully." I guess it depends on whose ox is gored.

"Tell me a fact and I'll learn - tell me a truth and I'll believe - but tell me a story and it will live in my heart forever." The late Ed Sabol, founder of NFL films.
tjs

Respect the Talent

A society matron in New York once approached the famous Austrian violinist, Fritz Kreisler, to perform at an upcoming social she was hosting. He was able to clear his schedule and they proceeded to discuss particulars. He said his fee was $1000. This amount did not faze the hostess and she began to recite her conditions: He was to use the servants' entrance and he was not to mingle with the guests. His reply - "Madam, inasmuch as I am not required to mingle with your guests, my fee will be only $500."
tjs

Matchmaker! Matchmaker!

The Jewish folks had their Dolly Levi and I just read that that "position" still carries on in rural Ireland. This fellow inherited his father's "book" and professes to have arranged over 3000 "matches" to date. In an earlier time the men were working the fields and just wanted help with the farm. The women just wanted security. Now they want to see photos as well. In his "book" he will have footnotes next to the client's name e.g.."has twelve cows".Next to another he wrote LOL. Now you twitterers know the meaning of that but he had in mind "LOTS OF LAND". Just goes to show that one person's acronym is another person's dowry.
tjs

Potpourri 2015-II

Quote of the week: "I like to squeeze all the juice out of the orange."...Chris Christie. He also has a fondness for orange sweaters although he knows the Giants favor blue and the Eagles prefer green.

Buzzword of the season: SUSTAINABILITY - that's right, six syllables. It means using a resource without completely using it up or destroying it.

There seems to be a contest on to see which State is more corrupt. My favorite news source reads dateline Harrisburg, Pa. ....."a state where corruption in politics is as common as the housefly." While in the same edition dateline Albany, N.Y. we read of the Speaker of the New York Assembly resigning and facing corruption charges. Place your bets.
tjs

Car Talk

There were very few car owners in the neighborhood growing up. The man who built our houses owned a Pierce Arrow built in Buffalo N.Y. which was a luxury car of the day. President Taft bought two which became the first White House autos. Considering his girth he must have had them reinforced. The company was absorbed by Studebaker. The Greeks down the street owned a big green Marmon discontinued after 1933 but was credited with introducing the rear view mirror. Around the corner Mr. G. owned a Hudson Terraplane built until 1938  which company merged with Nash becoming American Motors which ushered in George Romney with the Rambler and Ambassador. And Henry Kaiser, after building ships for WWII, built the Kaiser and Frazer auto models which eventually morphed into Willys Jeep. Happy Motoring - watch the ice.
tjs

The Rumble Seat

As a child growing up in the 1930s there were not many autos on our block. But our neighbor next door owned a Ford Model A coupe with a "rumble seat" and one Sunday he piled me and my brother into the rumble seat for an afternoon spin. With the wind in your hair - and no communication with the driver - it was more fun than being at an amusement park. The Model A last built in 1932 was offered in four colors which contrasts with the earlier Model T which Henry Ford offered in one color - Black.
tjs

A Bowl of Beans

The following story is true tho somewhat indelicate. Two women of a certain age were conversing in the aisle of a local supermarket:
No. 1 - There are so many types of beans offered here. Do you know anything about the one I am choosing?
No. 2 - I believe they cause a great deal of gas.
No. 1 - Well, I'm not going anywhere - I can "f__t" the entire weekend.

As we used to say "What's a little flatulence among friends?" - unless you're in a crowded elevator.
tjs

Groundhog Day

Today is Groundhog Day when Punxsutawney Phil ventures out of his burrow and if he sees his shadow he will retreat inside and we will have six more weeks of winter. May it be overcast in that Pennsylvania town. In New York Mayor De Blasio will have his second encounter with the occupant of the Staten Island Zoo. Last year he dropped the furry fellow so this year it will be hands off. Might it be that after twelve years of seeing Mayor Bloomberg, the poor animal was startled to see this giant of a mayor wearing those big leather gloves. Scary!
tjs