So this looks like a typical 'Sunday-morning with the Sparrow Mafia' picture. But it ain't. Let me explain.
That morning as me (somewhat) and my stuffed guys (Chocolate Moose and Farty Hippo, to a vastly lesser extent) woke up, I looked down from the window to the back porch. I saw Chip nibbling up seeds and near him were what I thought typical residents of the Mafia- a male and female sparrow. I watched them seem to kiss, and thought, "Well, that's certainly one for the books"- but it wasn't QUITE what they were doing, as I found out later.
As you look at the picture above, you notice three "hogs at the trough" and the one sitting on the gate. That is the female in question. For whatever reason, she would not go to the feeder...
...even though, as you see here, other females did. But as I watched, there was one male fighting his way into the group...
Here's a shot of him landing on the fence...
But what he would do is, get a mouthful, fly away, and then land on the fence...
And when he landed, his mate would come up...
...and he was FEEDING her.
This was what they had been doing on the ground as well! I have no idea what it is that makes her in need of feeding, but I certainly saw that he was willing to fight for a spot on the feeder to get her some. After weeks of watching Chip, Red, and Stubby NOT getting along, this was a sweet story that makes it all worthwhile.
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UPDATE: More Sunday pics.
While having lunch on the patio, I heard scratching on the neighboring paper birch. Two little Woodys making a snack.
Meanwhile, during an ill-advised walk (though not as ill-advised as Saturday- a story for another time), Mr Monarch trailed me through the Swamp.
Beating the heat, taking a nap
Yep, scared another heron. Sorry, Heather...
Quite a bit of "foresting going on lately... But you HAD to take the 'secret' from the entrance to the ravine trail? Really?
New English drama- "Rabbits of Ground Hog Road"
And a quick snap of Stubby, so he don't get his wittle feelings hurt...
This morning, I was listening to a Creation Science show talking about a specific debate between the secular scientists that don't believe in the "young" earth" shown in the Bible, but in an "old earth" that says that life is millions of years old. I don't want to get into that debate, because, like the Creation scientists say, "We weren't there". What I do want to talk about is what it says in the one thing we can go by- the Bible.
Now on the one hand, you can use Psalm 90 and 2 Peter 3 to say, "Since to God a thousand years is like a day" to argue that the six days of creation are symbolic. But I'm going to go against that for two reasons. One, because in Genesis 1:4-5:
Gen 1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good, and God separated between the light and darkness. Gen 1:5 And God called the light, Day. And He called the darkness, Night. And there was evening, and there was morning the first day.
...God establishes time. Why bother if He's not going to use it as a measurement for man? And second, if we are going to accept the extreme ages of Adam's genealogy in Genesis 5, then we pretty much have to accept the Days of Genesis 1 as approximate days.
Which I do. So having established I accept these ages and why, I want to shift back for a second to the scientific argument. Most science chronology is based in radiocarbon dating. Basically, they count the amount of a certain radioactive form of carbon atoms in an ancient object. If you have a certain amount of this form (called an isotope) TODAY (note my emphasis), we know exactly how long it would take half of that amount to decay away, leaving inert material. That time is called a half-life. So scientists measure the isotope, make an estimate of how much of it there SHOULD HAVE been when it was new (ie living material), and then figure out how many times you'd have to cut that in half to get to where it is now. Add those times up, and you have your age, right?
But it's not that easy, and the Bible shows you why. First of all, everybody who's read the genealogies knows that ages dropped precipitously after the Flood. Noah lived to 950; by the time you go ten generations- something over 200 years, by the chronology in Genesis 11- Abraham lived 175 years, a drop of over 80%. Something FUNDAMENTALLY changed the conditions on earth after the Flood. Further evidence of that is that Noah no more got off the Ark and God told him that he and his would have to become meat eaters as well as plant eaters- there would be something missing in the nutrition gained from plants from here on.
But I'm going to show you that this wasn't the LAST fundamental change. I want you to stop and think a moment. Genesis 7 tells us that the Flood itself was a two pronged event. First, the "fountains of heaven were opened"- many believe that Genesis 1:7 involved the creation of a protective liquid canopy around the earth, and this canopy's collapse led to rain beyond anything we can see or imagine. The second prong of the Flood is that "the fountains of the deep were opened up"- that a great expanse of pressurized, underground water ( causing the mists that watered the earth in Genesis 2) then broke loose. After which two things had to happen- the waters had to gather in what became the ocean basins- which is IN the Bible- and the earth's crust, no longer supported by the pressurized water, would have to shift and collapse- which isn't in the Bible.
Or, isn't it?
One of my favorite verses is Genesis 10:25:
Gen 10:25 And two sons were born to Eber; the name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother's name was Joktan.
Now, Peleg was the sixth generation from Noah, born 101 years after the Flood. By this time, it can be assumed (but since Ham's lineage was not given ages as Shem's was, we're just guessing) that this is around the time Nimrod started the Tower of Babel, and thus this "division" is merely the division of peoples after God divided the tongues. That is NOT what the Bible says.
Genesis specifically speaks in the Babel story of God dividing the tongues, and the people dispersing as a result. In the verse above, "earth" means "earth". And Peleg? Peleg means, "earthquake".
The earth was physically divided here- maybe the 'plate tectonics' that science believes happened over billions of years (because they cannot accept the 'young earth' or the worldwide Flood despite EVERY people having it in their mythologies), maybe not. But let me show you what else we CAN know from the Bible.
After the trauma of the Flood, ages went from the 950 years of Noah to the 500 of his son Shem- a drop of 52%. After Shem, there came Arphaxad (438 years), Salah (433), and Eber, the father of Peleg (464). Then came the earthquake, and Peleg... and Peleg lived to 239 years. A drop of 51%.
Just a fluke? Peleg's son Reu also lived 239 years, his grandson Serug 230, his great-grandson Nahor 148 (the anomaly that proves the rule) and Abraham's father Terah 205.
The earth was FUNDAMENTALLY changed by Peleg's "earthquake", and it is reflected in the SUDDEN drop in ages, as the change after the Flood was. What were these changes? I haven't a clue.
BUT... if these two events changed the world so fundamentally, how can we believe that the world's physical properties- like, say, the half-life of radioactive carbon- weren't changed as well? Answer- we can't, and neither can 'old earth' scientists. Whatever happened, you really have two choices- believe God's Word, which gives us dates that science can't disprove, or trust science, which gives us dates they can't prove.
Well, I would have to say that July 12th, 1977, is the most 'nothing happened' day in the HISTORY of Time Machine! I went through 12 pages of Google and the closest to a noteworthy event is that TOMORROW, Somalia declares war on Ethiopia. Wikipedia sagely adds to that, " starting the Ethio-Somali War." Which I'm sure none of us would have got without being told.
But speaking of history, our co-ordinates tell me this is the 550th overall post under the Time Machine aegis. That means almost a quarter of all my posts are under that banner- 21.79 %! And that means- well, it means nothing, but it makes for small talk until I figure out how to bring this lead in to a drizzling end...
Hey, doofus, just tell 'em about the chicks, man!
Right you are, EP! This week we have the Starland Vocal Band as our POTM-es, and that means the lovely Taffy Danoff and Margot Chapman will be here! Plus, this is the week that we do the top summer hits of the 60s, two new M10 debuts, King Leg makes the all-time top ten, and we take you on a trip to- Tannu Tuva! Is that a tropical island? Not exactly... But you'll see why we go there on the 6D, of all things! Let's have at it!
All right, let's bring out the Starland Vocal Band! We have Bill Danoff, Jon Carroll, and... uh, fellas, where are the girls?
B: They decided to skip to do the beauty parlor thing... J: Yeah, you know how that is...
Are you freaking kidding me? Last week I get Toni the Tiger and a manikin with a hat, and I look forward to these two beautiful women on my set ALL WEEK, and karma does me like this?
Damn, this is too funny, y'all!
Shut up! Ahem, my apologies, it's been a rough week...
B: I get ya. After a week like this, me 'n' Jon are kinda glad to shake 'em for a little bit... J: Yeah, all that Afternoon delight is good 'n' fine, but sometimes you'd RATHER just go fishin'!
Sigh... I guess... well, we better get on with this. Only 14 contestants from 38 stations. This week, your're gonna get 2 2-vote songs among the 1-vote wonders, and then the finalists. Here's your list.
B: Okay, so I see here we start off with Meri Wilson and her novelty song Telephone Man at #27... J: I can't say I ever really liked that one... B: From the look on Chris's face, I'm guessing we're all in agreement... Elvis: You sure he ain't still just steamed about the girls?
No, fathead, I don't like the song, either. Would you mind tending the concessions, please?
E: See, yer still sore... J: The next song on the list is the Commodores with Brick House. This was an ahead-of-release album cut, and the single wouldn't hit big till November. B: Now this here song is a first for the show, according to this. Two weeks ago, in 1975, this tune was in the Panel Picks at #1 in Australia. Last week, in 1976, it was charting in the USA, but not on the Panel. This week it's back, in 1977, because it's #1 in South Africa- John Paul Young and Yesterday's Hero. J: Wow, he sure gets around! Our first song with 2 votes is this week's Australian #1- Dr Hook covering the Rooftop Singers' hit Walk Right In. It's at #80 on the Cashbox chart. B: Johnny Rivers gets a vote at #53 with Swayin' To The Music. J:This next one is not only on the Panel, but it is a CB debut at #82 and is the UK's #1 song this week- Hot Chocolate and So You Win Again. B: The other 2-vote song is Rita Coolidge with (Your Love Lifted Me) Higher And Higher at #15- uh-oh, I see that look in Chris's eyes again...
Possibly the most overplayed song of my lifetime. I never liked it, and our local stations made sure every day to remind me how good and sick of it I was...
J: Now, Chris, one man's trash, another man's treasure! Kenny Nolan had Love's Grown Deep at #32... B: Black Betty by Ram Jam was at #31... J: ...and I Just Wanna Be Your Everything by Andy Gibb was at #8. That's it for the loser's bracket.
So that leaves us with a 4-song final- and it wasn't really close. Guys?
B: Yeah, pick from Alan O'Day's Undercover Angel at #2... J: ...Shaun Cassidy's Da Doo Ron Run at #1... there's that eyeroll again...
Yep. Never really cared for it when the Crystals did it, but SC's version was an affront to my ears...
B: I get the feeling you're just not in a very good mood today! Anyway, also we have Fleetwood Mac with Dreams, falling this week to #34- that MIGHT just be a clue... J: ...and Peter Frampton with I'm In You at #6.
Thanks, fellas, give my best to the ladies...
...'Cause HE sure couldn't, hee hee...
Didn't I run you outta here once?? Anyway, so Alan, Shaun, The Mac, and Peter are your choices, see how you do at the end. Because right now, its time for the first slice of the top summer hits of the 60!
18 (tie), It's Now Or Never, Elvis Presley, 1960
(tie), I Get Around, Beach Boys, 1964
(tie), Honky Tonk Women, Rolling Stones, 1969
17- A Hard Day's Night, Beatles, 1964
And finally, half of a 6-way tie for 11th...
11 (tie), Quarter To 3, Gary US Bonds, 1961
(tie), I'm Sorry, Brenda Lee, 1960
and (tie), Cathy's Clown, Everly Brothers, 1960.
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Our two newbies on the M10 are a bit up in the countdown. The first comes in at #7- and it's brand new from Russia with love, Alkonost:
Up until 1911, this remote place on the map was a part of Imperial China, but became part of Mongolia when it broke away during the first revolution. The Tuvan people, though, tried to get their own independence, but Russia claimed a protectorate during WWI from 1914 until their own revolution in 1917. It basically became independent then, first as the name I remember from my old Colliers Atlas, and then from 1926 on as the Tuvan People's Republic. As you might guess, the new Soviet Union had a lot of influence at that time, and in 1944, the were finally absorbed as a constituent republic of the USSR.
And we care why? Because Tuva is the home of something called Tuvan throat singing- a skill I don't quite grasp, where you can sing two separate notes simultaneously! Not many non-Tuvans had even heard of it, let alone do it. But in 1984, a dude by the name of Paul Pena was exposed to it- and was so fascinated, not only did he learn how to do it, he taught himself Tuvan so he could go there himself and compete for a prize in their 1995 symposium, winning an award and becoming a fan favorite, earning the nickname "Cher Shimjer" (which means "earthquake") because he naturally singer lower than most Tuvans.
Still don't get what the deal is? Well, Paul Pena (who was blind by the age of 20) on his 2nd lp, titled New Train (which was recorded in 1973 but wasn't released until 2000 because his record company was stupid) recorded the original version of the song that is at #3 this week in 1977 without a Panel vote- Steve Miller Band's Jet Airliner. A lot of different lyrics, same essential story. Kind of a Joe Cocker without all the gravel. The throat singing... well, that'll be an acquired taste.
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Let's have the next chunk of the top summer hits of the 60's, starting with the other half of the 11th-place tie...
11 (tie), Sukiyaki, Kyu Sakamoto, 1963.
(tie), Fingertips, Pt 2, Little Stevie Wonder, 1963
(tie), I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch), the Four Tops, 1965
and (tie), Mrs, Robinson, Simon and Garfunkel, 1968.
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If you thought new entrant into the M10 all-time top ten King Leg channeled Roy Orbison on the big hit Seeing You Tonight, wait until you hear this... at #6 this week...
Let's swing through the Stat Pack for this week, starting with the song I HAD at #1. You see, I was keeping a top ten at this point, and in Cashbox's top ten there were not one, not two, but three songs that I had at the top on my list at one point or another- Barry Manilow's Looks Like We Made it at #5, I'm In You at #6, and I Just Wanna Be Your Everything at #8. I'm going to guess that Barry, who was at my top for a considerable length of time, was probably at his last of 3 or 4 weeks at the top, with Frampton sneaking a week afterwards and before Andy Gibb took over for a month or so.
The #77 in'77 was a dude named Bruce Foster, who wrote a Beatles tribute called Platinum Heroes while sitting in a laundromat. I gave it a bit of a listen, a little too Shaun Cassidy for my taste.
The big mover was the Zodiac dating service extravaganza known as Float On by the Floaters, up 17 from 90 to 73.
The #101- and it was at its peak- was Johnny Taylor with something called Your Love Is Rated X.
And the major debuts this week included BJ Thomas's nice cover of the Beach Boys' Don't Worry Baby at 100, Heatwave and Boogie Nights at 98, Bob Seger and the boys with Rock 'N'Roll Never Forgets at 83, Fleetwood Mac's Don't Stop at #75, and Leo Sayer with another of my eyerolls for this week, How Much Love at 70.
Piroshka falls from 5 to 10 with Everlastingly Yours.
Last week's 2 debuts each up one spot- Frankie Cosmos and Windows to 9, Silversun Pickups and Simpatico at 8.
Foster The People and Imagination up a pair to #5.
And with the 7 points that come with spending its tenth week on the M10 at #4, King Leg's Seeing You Tonight, not only knocks Moonlight Baby out of the all time top ten, but knocks a bunch of others out of the way, climbing into the #4 all time position. Anything better than 7th next week will put it into 2nd.
Maybird moves into the third spot with Keep In Line, but they may need dynamite to get any farther! With its 4th week at #2- with a week at the top thrown in as well- Agnes Obel and Riverside.
And a third week at the top for...
ELO and Mama!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And the tops of the 60s summer songs?
...Ray Charles and I Can't Stop Loving You!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And the Panel? Well, Da Doo Ron Ron, Fleetwood Mac, and Peter Frampton combined totaled 31.57%... but the winner, with 36.84%....
...Alan O'Day and Undercover Angel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So next week is our time change, as we go back to 1955, and bring Alan O'Day and the biggest summer hits of the 70's with us!
For the first time, I went to Shoaff without Scrappy Tuesday afternoon. A lot of it was memories...
Our slime mold returned last weekend...
Check it out! No, not the mattresses- we're getting a crosswalk!
The river, not quite 3/4 of a mile in...
Here's the one-mile mark- just past the St Joe Ctr boardwalk
I interrupted a blue jay party. Four of them flew out of a bush on my left into higher perches on my right. Sorry, dudes!
The stairs into Shoaff park. How many doggies we met there, how many stories started...
This speeding chip was the first of many...
This might have been the longest I traveled into the park before seeing a squirrel. I was getting concerned...
...because the chips heavily outnumbered them.
Hey, Woody!
And yes, stumbled into another blue jay party...
Our favorite tiny waterfall is having an erosion problem...
...nothing pretty ever stays the same...
The boat landing. Not the same without someone to wade in and get a drink...
...but I got my toes wet in his honor.
But you know, it's all right. A beautiful day, friendly people, animals- see? I'm smiling... kinda...
2 mile mark- just think what a nice picnic spot that'll be once these trees get big.
Here, let me try that smile again... oops! #photobombedbythesun
Next, I scared a heron at the wetland pond. Sorry, dude!
I thought I saw a deer's ass back there... photographic evidence shows not only a rear, but a front!
Then, moments later, I scared THIS one from his siesta in a big bush at the edge of the pond...
Sorry, dude!
Ah, no need to worry for the squirrels...
They are all on the far side of the golf course digging up acorns!
This gentlerodent is mad because I scared him and a buddy up that tree- and it was HIS tree, and he just tossed his buddy back out of it. Sorry, dude!
I think this was mile 3. The heat was getting to me a bit.
If you click to expand this, you'll see Mr Blacksquirrel was munching on a twig of some sort... I was literally 5 feet away before he noticed me.
First step onto the trail back out, I see this guy... I thought for a second he was taking a crap on the trail! He would have, if Scrappy were with me...
And what would a picture post be without a bunny! Caught in mid lift off, Clark 'Bugs' Kent within instants donned his red cape and flew away.
Here's mile 4- mere steps from mile 1! Note: That is most definitely NOT me on a bike.
Little snapper having a sun
Me and Scrappy used to always 'cheat' by slipping down the hill to the lower course on the way home... just didn't want to do it without him.
By this time I was pretty pooped, so you didn't get pictures of "Duck IHOP all dried up", "The old footbridge facing the wrong way to help when I crossed the canal", "The narrow path through thistles crossing the canal", or "Squirrel looking at me like I'm nuts because I just came up out of the canal." That crossing, though, left me about 2/10th of a mile short of getting mile #5. But hey, I figure the temperature was worth a few hundred yards.
A lone man looking for means of expression in a tsunami of information. Seeking truth justice and the American way in the perspective of a Nixon conservative. And the Commissioner of the free world's smallest and best fantasy football league.
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