Open thread 10/29/21
This is pretty wonderful.
But the video doesn’t answer one question I have: when inside, where does Chibi poop?
The New Neo
A blog about political change, among other things
This is pretty wonderful.
But the video doesn’t answer one question I have: when inside, where does Chibi poop?
There is such a thing as bird litter, and one pet supply company offers a natural grass bird hut just for sparrows (other versions for other bird species):
https://www.chewy.com/b/litter-nesting-962
Chibi better watch out for raptors and cats.
Everywhere.
“watch out for raptors and cats”
I am constantly seeing a claim that cats are a major threat to the bird population, that some insane number of birds, not just millions but tens or even hundreds of millions are killed by cats every year. What is the actual evidence for this?
Disclaimer: I like cats so admittedly I have a dog in this fight.
I think wind turbines and solar panel farms kill lots more birds than cats do.
FOAF–
Here is a table from the Fish & Wildlife Service with 2017 data regarding threats to migratory birds (I’m not sure what the figures might be for non-migratory birds):
https://www.fws.gov/birds/bird-enthusiasts/threats-to-birds.php
It’s obvious why cats get a bad rap, but a lot of damage is human-caused too. In addition, domestic cats are not apex predators– millions get killed every year by raptors, big cats, dogs, and coyotes. There are coyotes in every U.S. state now except for Alaska and Hawaii– and they kill pet dogs as well as cats. The local Nextdoor app for my area has a post about coyote sightings about twice a week to warn people to be careful about their pets.
And just when you thought it’s safe to care about birds again, look what’s coming out of China: Bird flu!
https://nypost.com/2021/10/26/uptick-in-bird-flu-cases-in-china-this-year-alarms-experts/
FWIW, I like cats too (Neo is generous in putting up with my cat videos)– I have two, and I keep them strictly indoors not only to keep them away from birds, but also to protect them from speeding drivers, parasites, and infections spread by squirrels and other wildlife.
“The image is a dream. The beauty is real. Can you see the difference?”
Wherever Chibi wants to…
No sacrifice too small
See:
Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah
Here’s a wonderful example of mind change: James Lovelock has climbed down off the ledge of alarmist climate change.
Lovelock with Lynn Margulis (prominent evolutionary biologist and once wife of Carl Sagan) came up with the Gaia Hypothesis, which meant considering the Earth, between its organic and inorganic processes. as a self-regulating complex system.
Well, maybe you had to read “CoEvolution Quarterly” to be excited.
Anyway. In the 2000s Lovelock was one of the worst of the doomsayers when it came to climate change. He said that billions would die and the only hope for humanity was for enough breeding pairs to survive in the high arctic.
Lovelock was convinced that lethal feedback was already inescapably in motion. He had given up and said so in print. I liked Lovelock and was disappointed.
However, Lovelock has climbed down.
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“The problem is we don’t know what the climate is doing. We thought we knew 20 years ago. That led to some alarmist books – mine included – because it looked clear-cut, but it hasn’t happened,” Lovelock said.
“The climate is doing its usual tricks. There’s nothing much really happening yet. We were supposed to be halfway toward a frying world now,” he said.
“The world has not warmed up very much since the millennium. Twelve years is a reasonable time… it (the temperature) has stayed almost constant, whereas it should have been rising — carbon dioxide is rising, no question about that,” he added.
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2021/10/29/gaia-scientist-james-lovelock-i-was-alarmist-about-climate-change/
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Bravo Dr. Lovelock!
Stewart Brand, founder of the “Whole Earth Catalog” and the “CoEvolution Quarterly,” has also moderated his climate alarmism and is now in favor of nuclear power.
Another eco-alarmist changed his mind, although not for the same reason.
https://www.thenewneo.com/2021/06/28/open-thread-6-28-21/#comment-2561788
h/t Zaphod
Sign me up for the nearest franchise.
https://babylonbee.com/news/wildly-popular-new-hair-salon-for-introverts-guarantees-no-small-talk-from-your-stylist