Saturday, 10 May 2025

Cuz We's Tasty?

 


No, not according to the latest study out of Florida.

The study out of Florida looked at causes for alligator attacks/encounters/bites going through records from the 1730s to the present day (these guys must have way too much time on their hands).


The results:  96% of the attacks are result of human behavior.  Improper human behaviour.  I'm guessing probably because there are a lot of Florida men living in Florida.

The majority of bites occurred following what they call moderate risk behaviors, swimming or wading in areas known to be alligator infested. 


[This Florida Man is using an inflatable crocodile to swim with the gators, I guess to blend in.]


The highest proportion of fatal bites occurred after high risk behaviors such as deliberately entering alligator infested areas and waters. 

[Somebody else must be holding this Florida Man's beer.]

Low risk behaviors rarely result in gator attacks.

Of course, 100 years ago, gators were so much nicer.


Little girls back then had a different wish than  "And I want a pony."






Saturday, 19 April 2025

Gotta Love Mother Nature

 There was an earthquake recently in San Diego.  And it was felt at the local zoo.



Although the elephants didn't know what it was - likely lots of people didn't either - they instinctively knew something was wrong.

They all came out of their enclosure and gathered into a circle.


Although they didn't know what the threat was, they placed the youngest members in the centre of the circle to protect them.  This is called an "Alert Circle".

Once the threat (earthquake) had passed, they dispersed back to their original positions.

Pretty amazing.....


 

Tuesday, 15 April 2025

I Did Not Know That

 


But all the Original Six Canadian teams did the playoffs!

Okay, that's 2, but still......

And don't know if this is also a first - but looks like 5 of the 7 Canadian teams will be going to the big dance.

And could be 6 if the Flames can win their last two games and catch the St. Louis Blues.


Sweet......


Sunday, 13 April 2025

Short, But Not Sweet


Found this guy all dried up in my car the other day.


I guess he ran around for a while, and then he didn't.

But perfectly preserved.

And he was just a tiny little guy.



Poor little fella.  Not much of a life.....




Tuesday, 1 April 2025

Everybody Be Happy

Well, not everybody.

Just the 25 Toronto City Councillors.



They just voted themselves a whopping 24% pay increase.



The "Be Brave" reference is in response to the budget chief, Shelley Carroll, pictured above, saying to councillors, they must be brave and pass this huge pay increase.

BTW Toronto City councillors will now be getting paid $170,558.

And that's no April Fools joke either.

Nice work if you can get it.  




Sunday, 30 March 2025

Thursday, 27 March 2025

Everybody, Be Happy

So they just came out with the 2025 World Happiness Report. 

[It's only March, how can they do that, a lot of bad stuff can still happen.]



Anyway, not surprising the Nordic countries, again, take the top rankings. 

And Costa Rica is #6.  

And surprisingly, Israel is #8!  Boy, they are resilient.  

At a, I guess, somewhat respectable 18th place, is Canada.

And the UK and the US are at 23 & 24, respectively. 


As a comparison, here are the 2024 rankings.

Usual suspects at the top.


Canada has slipped from 15th then to 18th now.

And the US stayed about the same,  going from 23 to 24.

Okay, on to 2026.....



Tuesday, 25 March 2025

Undressing The USA

 So here is a traditional view of the USA.




But here is a view with all the man made names stipped away.




Almost two different worlds.




Some Appalachians in the East, then noting, then the Rockies.

Sunday, 23 March 2025

What A Difference.....A Hour....Makes

(With apologies to Dinah Washington)... 

...but on my way to a local watering hole, I wasn't expecting to have to step in a hole of water.



This is under a bridge where a river runs through it.  

It is a tidal river.....


...so rises and falls on the tides.

And it looked like it was right at its upper limit.  But I wasn't sure.

I didn't know if the tide was still coming in or going out.

But an hour, and a couple wobbly pops, later.....


Whew...high and dry.




Of course, really, what was the downside?

Waiting six or so more hours at the watering hole?

I'll be back.