Welcome
- June 24, 2021
- Sometimes Hummingbirds are a Priority
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Each year I have a couple of 32 ounce hummingbird feeders I dutifully clean thoroughly then fill repeating this process every week to week and a half or so.
This ritual stems from long ago when I began to notice the decline of my dear old late daddy and wanted to try and bring a little enjoyment into his life. I got a couple of these same feeders which we suspended from a large oak tree in his front yard. I must say there were times when hundreds of hummingbirds circled the feeders immediately prior to most rain showers.
I remember him telling me how hummingbirds would sit there on the porch rail looking at him for hours on end ... and how he never thought he would ever see a hummingbird at a distance, much less up close and personal on a daily basis for years. It was a very gratifying experience for me personally and is one of those fond memories that sometimes make me cry because he's gone these long years.
I try to keep a fresh, clean hummingbird feeder with ample fresh clean colorless 25% nectar for these neighborhood birds and even in the presence of poor soil and less in the way of attractive natural vegetation I have hungry birds showing up throughout the day. I lost the need for adding food coloring long ago opting for as few additives as possible.
I now have a few hummingbirds which I recognize from years past and indeed, to my surprise the skiddishness has diminished among some of the younger ones.
I place each feeder in front of one of the webcams I have positioned in most of the windows of my home so that I may check things out remotely on demand. Sometimes I catch a hummer feeding. I was glad to note that some of them don't fly away just because they see me through the window as they did in the beginning.
Individuals among those feeding at my house will sit there and look at me on occasion then continue their meal flitting away at their leisure.
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- June 23, 2021
- Spam blocklists and company due diligence
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I have an episode with Spamhaus listing me in a list of spammers.
They are collectively listing class C subnets instead of the offending IP addresses and they are using their clout to cast aspersions on my mail server.
My IP address is contained within that group but I neither use nor have any association with it from a standpoint of mail servers and email in particular.
I simply exist within a larger list of Spectrum customers containing an offender ON ANOTHER EMBEDDED SUBNET which isn't me.
They simply must feel that it's a convenient break down regardless of that travesty of the false listing it includes.
A person who sends less than 50 or so emails a year can hardly be a spammer, serious or otherwise.
I noticed the problem when yahoo.com returned an email to me and I decided to do a reputation check.
All I can say for yahoo-hole is they should clean up their own act before involving themselves in mine.
Now I am all for spam block lists. HOWEVER, they should not be including the innocent just because of some arbitrary unit of measurement put into place as a matter of convenience.
I removed Spamhaus from my mail server configuration. After all, with friends like Spamhaus (and yahoo.com) I don't need any enemies.
Irresponsible and lacking due diligence has become the name of the internet game anymore.
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- June 22, 2021
- PHP Morons Unite
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We have a bunch of people on the internet thinking they're all that programming in php.
PHP is an HTML-embedded Web scripting language.
This indicates PHP code can be inserted into the HTML of a Web page.
When a PHP page is accessed, the PHP code is read and separated or "parsed" by the server the page resides within.
Output from the PHP functions on the page are typically returned as HTML code, which can be read by the browser.
My problem with this approach is the fact that those involved in php are usually some fat smelly faggot with poor hygiene whose breath smells like it could use a urinal cake, a bottle of clorox, or both.
To add insult to injury they typically name their businesses after existing software packages.
Given the fact that these people also believe themselves to be God's gift to web technology makes them the perfect pariah and therefore I treat them accordingly.
I don't permit php scripting on my servers because with very few exceptions I don't like the ilk that utilize them by and large.
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- June 21, 2021
- Go Skateboarding Day 2021
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I remember my skateboarding heyday. I was in the third grade at Aragona Elementary School in Virginia Beach, Virginia. I had devised my own board constructed from a section of plank to which I had nailed a skate.
My repetoire consisted of riding down the driveway of a neighbor while standing without falling off.
It was a very popular diversion in the neighborhood.
Go Skateboarding Day is one of those yearly promotions of an activity we see so often in society.
The aim of this promotion is to help make skateboarding more accessible through events held in major cities internationally.
Held under the auspices of the International Association of Skateboard Companies it's roots are in the All Star City Skate Jam held by one Kerel "SriKala" Roach and Bryan Chin in 2002 in New York City.
It was renamed Go Skate Day in 2004.
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- June 20, 2021
- Summer Solstice 2021
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One of those things which has intrigued me over the years is the progression of the seasons.
Spring to Summer, Summer to Autumn, Autumn to Winter then over again.
Another of the seasonal hallmarks marking the progression of time has arrived.
Sunday, June 20 marks the first day of Summer. Summer solstice is the phenomenon which marks the advent of summer.
At the time of the longest day, about June 21 in the northern hemisphere and December 22 in the southern hemisphere.
Happy Summer to you. Break out the sunblock and keep well hydrated.
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- June 19, 2021
- I remember Koko the Gorilla
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In my reading I would sometimes encounter stories about Koko the conversant gorilla. I would marvel at these stories because they caused me to rethink my interpretation of the 'dumb animal' and compare that place where I believed intelligence existed in the world and just how it might exist and be possessed by whom ...
Hanabiko "Koko" the female western lowland gorilla was born July 4, 1971 at the San Francisco Zoo. She lived primarily in The Gorilla Foundation's preserve in the Santa Cruz Mountains at Woodside, California. Her name, "Hanabiko" means "fireworks child" and refers to her July 4th birthdate.
She became famous after adopting a kitten as a pet and naming him All Ball.
She was cared for by one Francine Patterson who instructed her in "gorilla sign language" for which she gained a 1000 word vocabulary attaining the same level as that of most 3 year old human children. Ms Patterson also immersed Koko in English from an early age and Koko subsequently understood some 2000 words of spoken English in addition to the signing.
Koko the gorilla became the stuff of legend in the scientific and animal loving communities and indeed had her own web site.
Koko lived with two males, first Michael who used sign language and passed in 2000. Then there was Ndume with whom she cohabitated until her death in her sleep the morning of June 19, 2018.
My most poignant memories of Koko include the visits by Robin Williams and her subsequent mourning of his passing.
Regardless of where you stand regarding the cognitive abilities of gorillas and other apes in general this particular animal was popular and skilled in communicating with people and even showed a love for conversation.
This is the crossing of boundaries some other gorillas might not traverse regardless of any nurturing they might receive.
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- June 18, 2021
- When the bad guys win ...
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I had removed a lot of firewall rules in the hope that the internet had somehow become this 'kinder, gentler' place — in my imagination.
No such luck.
Just as soon as the sniffers got wind that I had lowered my guard ...
BOOM there were the exploit attempts in full force once again.
So, I quickly ascertained that my wish of good will toward the rest of the internet was a wasted effort and I restored those rules I had removed in my misguided attempt to trust more internet denizens.
Thusly, the exploit attempts plummeted to a usual and customary (and managable) level and I am left wondering just why I want a web presence anyway.
Who wants to be in a place accompanied by exploitive individuals such as those so obviously populating certain networks like 1an1, 4vendeta, ovh, ali anything, hinet, asianet, dreamhost, gd amazon, digitalocean, censys, tencent, chinacom, chinanet, all the permutations of 'colo' (colocation) and anything with dns or cloud in it.
So here I sit, iron fisted once again ready to bitch slap the exploiter's bitch ass at the drop of a hat.
So in those parallels which mimic the leftist libtard democrat party exploits of The Republic, even those who occupy your own environmental element will try to get over on you as much as you will permit such activity ...
So I said let there be firewall. And there was firewall. And it was good.
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- June 17, 2021
- Happy Birthday Mama 2021
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- June 16, 2021
- Remembering Stan Laurel on his birthday
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Stan Laurel was one of those early comic characters I encountered primarily on black and white television on Saturday mornings during my childhood.
My unsophisticated lack of understanding placed much of what he presented far above my level of comprehension, but I still watched his antics with Oliver Hardy as a matter of handiness ...
Or more specifically a lack of choices. I chose to watch what was on and he was one of those things which graced the early morning television frequently at that time.
He was born Arthur Stanley Jefferson on June 16, 1890 a Brit comic actor, entertainer, writer, and film director famous primarily for being part of the comedy duo Laurel and Hardy.
He appeared with Oliver Hardy in 107 short subjects, feature films, and cameo roles.
Beginning in music hall he developed a number of those standard comic devices for which he became known, including the bowler hat, the deep comic gravity, and understatement devoid of sense and substance.
He was well practiced in pantomime and music hall sketches and retired after the passing of his comedy partner Mr Hardy in 1957.
In 1960, Laurel was given an Academy Honorary Award for his pioneering work in comedy back when it meant something. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7021 Hollywood Boulevard.
Laurel and Hardy were ranked among the top among best acts in several polls.
Oliver Hardy died on August 7 1957. Stan Laurel was too ill to attend his funeral and said he felt his partner would understand. People known to Mr Laurel said that the devastation brought on by Mr Hardy's death sent him into a tailspin of grief from which he never recovered. He refused to perform on stage or act in another film without Mr Hardy but continued socialization and interacting with various fans.
A heavy smoker, Mr Laurel quit the habit in 1960. In January 1965, he underwent x-rays for an infection on the roof of his mouth — which in retrospect was the portend of the end. He passed on February 23, 1965 at aged 74, four days after suffering a heart attack.
His funeral was held at Church of the Hills and he was interred in Forest Lawn–Hollywood Hills Cemetery.
Today is the 131st anniversary of his birth.
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- June 15, 2021
- Global Wind Day 2021
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Today is Global Wind Day aka World Wind Day aka break wind day for you earthy types.
This international event goes down each June 15 for over 50 years now. It is held under the auspices of WindEurope and GWEC (Global Wind Energy Council).
The day is set aside for celebrating wind energy, information exchange, and involves national wind energy associations and companies involved in wind energy production.
Anyway ...
It is my personal opinion that Brad Pitt should be the official spokesman for Global Wind Day due to his astute observations of the relevance of wind to interpersonal relationships and marriage in particular.
Being married means I can break wind and eat ice cream in bed.
Brad Pitt
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- June 14, 2021
- Flag Day 2021
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Today is Flag Day in the United States. The day commemorates the adoption of the US Flag by the Second Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. Though National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress, it is not a federal holiday.
There are those among us who make their disdain for the flag known in no uncertain terms. These same people seek entitlements and generally want to reek havoc and cause destruction to The Republic because of their indoctrination by the left as the results of attending public schools.
These persons should beware for there are those of us who will not tolerate such stupidity in our midst.
This is Flag Day. Respect the flag or cart your unappreciative unpatriotic self somewhere else to live. See how far your hatred gets you there.
God Bless America.
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- June 13, 2021
- Revisiting Paul Lynde
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In my childhood there was Paul Lynde. He was rather ubiquitous and appeared in many of those television programs which populated my viewing habits during that kinder, gentler, more fantasy prone time in my life.
He was born June 13, 1926 in Mount Vernon, Ohio and became a comedian, television personality, actor, and voice artist behind the scenes of animation for a long period of time and was known for comedic improvisation skills second to none.
My favorite role he portrayed was Uncle Arthur on Bewitched ... mainly because of that personality and schtick which permeated each and every appearance. He was also quite enjoyable as a Hollywood Square where he was regularly positioned in the 'center square'.
Most of all I liked Paul Lynde because he made me laugh in times where that emotional outburst was far and few between for me personally.
He passed at 55 years old on January 10, 1982 at his home in Beverly Hills and was found when a concerned friend investigated a missed birthday party.
So like all things which come to an end too soon, we add Paul Lynde who was as funny as people get.
Rest in peace.
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- June 12, 2021
- Remembering Gregory Peck
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I wasn't a movie buff as a child. My interests fell in and about the SCIFI and horror genres and of course fantasy flicks like The Wizard of Oz and so forth and so on.
Every so often a drama would catch my interest for one reason or another and the Gregory Peck portrayal of Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockinbird was one of those exceptions to my rather narrow interest spectrum at that time in my life. I might say it is one of my favorite performances of all time ... perhaps.
Sigourney Weaver's portrayal of Ellen Ripley in Aliens is really difficult to surpass in that 'favorite of all times' category, however ! But I digress ...
Eldred Gregory Peck was a star of film in the United States. His popularity was second to none spanning a 20 year period from the 1940s through the 1960s.
He was born April 5, 1916 and died June 12, 2003.
He has received accolades from multiple institutions as one of the finest film stars ever.
My aforementioned favorite performance by him is that of Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird for which he won an Academy Award for best actor back when it actually meant something.
He was a politically active democrat before the libtard left took over and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969 by President Lyndon B Johnson.
He passed in his sleep from bronchopneumonia at the age of 87.
Rest in peace.
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- June 11, 2021
- Someone in China Sniffing Around
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The system logs have been showing a slight upswing in the number of visitations from Chinese IP addresses. Experience reveals that access from those addresses are typically up to no good and of an exploit nature.
They are always entering some errant URL in an attempt to circumvent the web protocols in effect ...
Further attempting to exploit structures they have found elsewhere to gain entry to what I may have to offer their thieving whim.
The first thing you need to do in the course of being firewalled from my network in perpetuity is let me determine you're a feline and canine eating punk ass Chinese national or some dirtbag domestic ISP leasing IPs to China which is even worse.
You're banished in a heartbeat. It's a pleasure to deprive you of my resources opportunistic Wuhan disease laden thieving chinese bastards.
This is the beauty of a separate firewall independent of your upstream provider. Traffic they may permit doesn't necessarily have to become my problem.
One thing dealing with the Chinese has taught me is they will smile in your face and steal your intellectual property at the drop of a hat. It is my personal opinion that all chinese nationals should be deported along with the Biden family criminal organization and all those who do business with them.
Though I'm sure murdering your own people and harvesting their organs for resale becomes insufferably tedious over time, China — a single thing to remember is:
Don't Tread on Me China.
I'm that fed up. I hate china. I hate the chinese. I don't eat chinese take out anymore.
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