Wildlife Photos-Not Just for the Birds!

It's amazing to what I see while I'm out in the meadows, woods, marshes and shorelines. Not just birds, but other creatures as well. Winged, furry, slimy, scaled, cute and creepy-they all have passed in front of my lenses from time to time....

Always still an impressive sight to see, even though the the DNR claims there are about 1.4 million White Tailed Deer in the state. Quite honestly, I'm not surprised at the number. I do see deer on a regular basis around the county including the one pictured here at Shoop Park on 5 23 2013. I'm sure that many of you have seen a deer before, my question is when is the latest one you have seen one and where?

I had just wrapped up a birding trek at Shoop Park on 4 20 2013 and was heading home. Satisfied with quality pictures of Willets, when I came across what appeared at first to be a dog. It looked at me for a second. A coyote!  It was digging in the golf course for what, I don't know. Perhaps a ground squirrel or a chipmunk. As I watched it for a few minutes digging away. It would occasionally stand there and seemingly pose for pictures, then it took off into the woods. Talk about a lucky day!

Slinking away among the rocks along the lake shore, snaking away like a ninja, stalking every crack and crevice in search of food-the American Mink. Many people have never seen a mink. Imagine my surprise to see this little furball skulking around the rocks by Myer's Park! The darn things are hyper active fast! All the photos that I took came out were blurry blobs. Tender Heart and I got lucky.... We saw one skulking around the rocks by the Festival Hall on 4 16 2013. We first saw it from the boat landing. Tried a few shots and failed. We then drove around the block to the Causeway and relocated it scurrying on the piers. That's were I got it! On the pipeline between the pier and the rocks-a place where it couldn't hide!

 
Being there at the right place and the right time is essential in finding wildlife. Gotta play with Lady Luck sometimes. Such case is the truth when Tender Heart and I seen a North American Porcupine crossing a road in Langlade  Co.on 6 17 2012 Yep, just wandering across the road on Hwy 55 by the great big potato field between Langlade and Lily. Tender Heart thought I was crazy for getting out of the car to snap the picture. Why? I wasn't in any danger. Porcupines can NOT shoot quills. These docile creatures spend most of their time in the trees and are rarely seen.

Anyways, this is not all I have taken. I've gotten picture of more mammals, reptiles, amphibians, butterflies and of course, birds, birds, and more birds! More to come!

"Happy ending for kitten stuck on top of electric pole"

From RacineUncovered:

09/13/2013 | Filed under: Local News | Posted by: racineuncovered

"Earlier today residents living in the 600 block of Echo lane heard funny noises, upon investigating they found a kitten stuck approximately 45 feet up in the air on top of an electric pole with live wires surrounding it. They contacted Racine Police and an officer did respond but was unable to do anything.

"Upon hearing this I posted on my facebook page the situation. Residents stepped up and there are a few everyday hero’s to thank. Suanne Hutchinson was so concerned she went to the location, took a few pictures to confirm and posted back on facebook. The story was shared on facebook also asking for assistance to save this kittens life. Suanne wasn’t doing to let anything get in her way of helping this little one. She contacted We Energies this afternoon and to the rescue they came!

"A 20+ year employee of We Energies-Tim responded (we have also been told, but not confirmed that he is also the volunteer Fire Chief for Yorkville/Union Grove). We stood there while he assessed the situation, put on his gloves, up the ladder he went in between all the wires and rescued the cat.

"Not knowing if the cat was feral or someone’s pet we weren’t sure how this kitten would react to someone trying to save it. As soon as Tim reached the top of the pole the kitten came to him brushing up against him and jumped into his arms. Unsure of how to safely get the cat (yet alone himself down) the kitten was put into a small We Energies bag and lowered down to waiting arms of residents. The cat probably used up one of it’s lives today sitting atop of that pole, but thankfully for people like Suanne and Tim along with Melissa, it will meow yet another day. The cat was picked up with RPD CSO officer and taken to Wisconsin Human Society in Racine. (here are the pictures of the kittens saviors, Melissa a neighbor helped out also by bringing a carrier and food and water over for the kitten)"

More pictures:  http://racineuncovered.org/2013/09/happy-ending-for-kitten-stuck-on-top-of-electric-pole/


Good news.  I'll take it.

Open Blog - Weekend

Enjoy yourselves.

A Smart Blonde Joke

A blonde walks into a bank in New York City and asks for the Loan officer.

She says she's going to Europe on business for two weeks and needs to borrow $5,000.

The bank officer says the bank will need some kind of security for the loan, so the blonde hands over the keys to a new Mercedes Benz SL 500.

The car is parked on the street in front of the bank, she has the title and everything checks out. The bank agrees to accept the car collateral for the loan.

The bank's president and its officers all enjoy a good laugh at the blond for using a $110,000 Benz as collateral against a $5,000 loan.

An employee of the bank then proceeds to drive the Benz into the bank's underground garage and parks it there. Two weeks later, the blonde returns, repays the $5,000 and the interest, which comes to $15.41.

The loan officer says, "Miss, we are very happy to have had your business, and this transaction has worked out very nicely, but we are a little puzzled. While you were away, we checked you out and found that you are a multimillionaire.

What puzzles us is, why would you bother to borrow $5,000?"

The blonde replies, "Where else in New York City can I park my car for two weeks for only $15.41 and expect it to be there when I return?"

Finally... a smart blonde joke.

"iDoctor - Could a smartphone be the future of medicine?"

Technology grows in quantum leaps. I can't keep up.

Four for Fridays

Hello everyone! Welcome back to Four for Fridays! It has been a busy week, at times very hectic. Overtime crept in and is making me tired. Thank God, I sleep in tomorrow. Anyways, your questions....

1) If a movie were to be made about you, what actor/actress do you think should play the role of you?

2) How about what actor/actress should play the role of others in the JTI?

3) What do you think it takes to be a good boss?

4) Do you utilize any forms of meditation? If so, what?

Enjoy your weekend!

Open Blog - Friday

Be very careful out there.

"R.I.P. Space Frog"

"NASA has released an image from last week's LADEE rocket launch and it is chilling. In the image, you can see a frog flying through the air. This is Donald Reginold Williams II and he is now dead.

"Some are calling him 'Space Frog,' which is a pretty cool nickname even though he is super dead now. Space Frog was born June 9, 2010 to Donald Reginold Williams and Kathy Baker and was one of 146 siblings. Space Frog graduated high school in 2011 and earned his PhD in Astrophysics from Pond University at the beginning of 2013.
 
"Always a dreamer, Space Frog wanted to go to the moon and the LADEE rocket was his ticket. The Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer is a robot mission on its way to the moon to gather information about its surface and dust.

 

 

 

Space Frog with his kids shortly after their birth.

"Space Frog's wife, Barbara Williams, didn't want him to go due to 'being a f**king frog.' Space Frog told her that it was his dream and how could he look at his kids in the eyes and tell them to follow their dreams if he doesn't follow his?
 
"Space Frog is survived by 176 children.
 
"The moral of the story is to follow your dreams, but don't be stupid about it.
- Mark (follow my wisdom on Twitter)"

Read more:  http://www.break.com/article/rip-space-frog-2516553

"LONG TIME RACINE BUSINESS MAIN MARINE & SKI GOES OUT OF BUSINESS!!!!"

From Racine Community Media:

"Racine- Main Marine & Ski has closed it’s doors on Main St in Racine for good. They could no longer survive the harsh business conditions in Racine. After 46 years in business next to the Main Street bridge, the economic conditions in Racine proved to be to much for the long standing business. The store and it’s services are now offically closed, and the building has gone into foreclosure."

Read more:  http://racinecommunitymedia.tumblr.com/post/61027670460/long-time-racine-business-main-marine-ski-goes


Another one bites the dust.

"Secret to Odorless Pooping in Public - PooPourri.com"

http://www2.poopourri.com/

Yes, they're serious.  It's a real product.  Whatever happend to just striking a match?

"How Americans Ski Jump Japanese Version"

WTF?

Some of the videos said that the Japanese were mocking American football.  They should talk.  Have you ever seen one of their game shows?  Those are like WTF².

Open Blog - Thursday

Woot! Woot!

"'Corruptstitution' by 'WithinbetweeN' New 2013 Hard Rock Political Corruption Protest Videos Songs"

Posted per request by legal stranger.

Falcon Nesting In A Tree

I’ve received many remarkable nature photographs over the years but this photo of a nesting Falcon is perhaps the most remarkable Nature shot that I’ve ever seen. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Nature is truly breath-taking!

 

Dear Madame Zoltar

Hello, my hot, hot dogs!  How are you?  This kind of weather can be dangerous.  One nice thing, though, is the low humidity.  It’s not too often that we get dry heat.  It reminds me of the southwest, where Mr. hale-bopp lives.  It’s like living in an Easy-Bake oven or a toaster.  I guess that makes me a Pop-Tart.  Oh my.

As the weeping and gnashing of teeth indicates, our illustrious Green Bay Packers lost their season opener to the hated San Francisco 49ers.  Oh my.  Oh dear.  Oh well.  On this Sunday, the Pack will meet the Washington Redskins at noon on Lambeau Field.  Please, my dearest, most wonderful Packers, kill them!  By the way, Native Americans objecting to the use of the name ‘Chiefs’ are scheduled  to protest at Lambeau Field Sunday.   

Also, the Irregular Fantasy Football League has started a new season.  Last week, my Screaming Psychics met Mr. OrbsCorbs’ Orbliterators in our season opener.  It ended in a tie.  This week, my team will match up against The Mighty Bears; a team which I believe is run by Ms. Tender Heart Bear.  Sorry, Ms. THB, but I predict that your team will be history.  The Screaming Psychics have looked into the future and it is ours.

The future of Racine is much more in doubt.  The ongoing political machinations in City Hall don’t bode well for us.  This administration has done more damage to Racine than any of our criminals.  Businesses and other employers are shunning our city because of the problems.  We seem to be able to attract only paid consultants.  People are hurting very much.  Change must come, or Racine will perish.  Oh dear.

On a completely different topic, did you know that the size of a man’s testicles correlates to how active a role he will take in bringing up a child?  The smaller the testes, the more involved a man will be.  Who comes up with this stuff?  Researchers at Emory University, that’s who: “Testicular volume is inversely correlated with nurturing-related brain activity in human fathers,” http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2013/09/04/1305579110.   How do these people decide what they will study?  Are they sitting around in the break room one day when someone asks, “Hey, I wonder if testicle size is related to nurturing?”  They get paid for this.  I think I could come up with any number of odd things to research.  Why can’t I get paid for it, too?

Thank you for stopping by my blog this week.  I love friends and visitors.  You are my raison d'être.  May the Lord bless you all.

What else is related to your genitals' size?  Find out: madamezoltar@jtirregulars.com

Keep cool and hydrated, my honeys.  Find some shade and relax if you can.  Before we know it, winter will be upon us.  Brr.  Keep an eye out for the school buses and kids.  Hydromancy!

"Chevy True Stories - My Dad's Car Impala Chevrolet"

http://www.chevrolet.com/truestories

What a wonderful gift.  And what a wonderful gift to be able to give something like that to your father.

This must be the week for tearjerkers.  

Open Blog - Wednesday

Those cats are having some fun.

Never fails to bring chills......

ok.. someone feel free to fix this because I can't seem to do it right......

Can't say much more.....

Benefit Post

The Moon, Saturn and Venus

Monday was cloudy here so I missed the very close conjunction of the Moon andVenus. Tuesday was cloudy most of the day but I got a gap in the clouds right after sunset and was treated to the Moon next to Saturn. Venus was below and to the right of  Saturn. Here are a couple of quick pics from last night. 

One thing I enjoy about these pics is the way the clouds are illuminated. Notice the clouds near the Moon have a different color due to the nearby Moon illuminating them. The other clouds are illuminated by the last light of the setting Sun and (unfortunately) the lights of Tucson.

This second shot is slightly wider. Below Venus and right next to the tree you can see the bright star Spica.

Tonight the Moon will be higher in the sky and the Moon, Saturn and Venus will lie roughly along the same large, sweeping arc.

Reprinted with permission from the Half-Astrophysicist Blog.

"Worst Twerk Fail EVER - Girl Catches Fire!"

Have you seen that video? A lor of people have. Well, it's a fake, which is not uncommon on the internet, except that this fake was perpetrated by Jimmy Kimmel:



Ha-ha on us!

Open Blog - Tuesday

Whew, I almost thought it wasn't.

"An Open Letter To The City Of Racine"

From The Journal Times:

Everything that Dickert touches turns into shit.  His only concern is lining the pockets of his lying pals.

Party on, lying John!

Open Blog - Monday

I hope that your Monday goes as smooth as silk.

A Sad Day

BEARS - 1 -- PACKERS - 0

 

 

belleTV: "Rapcine All Ages Show"

From Racine Community Media:

"BREAKING NEWS: CITY OF RACINE’S TAX DOLLARS ON DISPLAY!!!"

"Racine- The City Of Racine is funding, via tax dollars, this new hip hop/rap vison for Racine. Pay attention to the lyrical content on display here, referring to women as 'bitches' is not exactly considered respectful to women, and being endorsed by the City Of Racine nonetheless. What an incredible use of city resources, maybe the Racine Common Council will have an encore showing at their next Common Council Meeting? It’s really time that the City Of Racine officials start paying attention and taking action, the City Of Racine is broke and suffers over a 2 million dollar shortfall in the 2014 budget, but yet we have money to spend on this garbage? Someone please explain?"

Read more:  http://racinecommunitymedia.tumblr.com/post/60474069256/breaking-news-city-of-racines-tax-dollars-on

I watched only a few seconds of that video because I consider rap, even when done "well," to be repulsive.  Bad rap is twice as repulsive.

Useless Information

 

Did you Know:

 

The “F-Word” was used 271 times in the movie Pulp Fiction?