moon/Laura
Administrator
Forum Owner
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 15:05:36 GMT -5
Posts: 10,052
Mini-Profile Text Color: f8fb10
|
Post by moon/Laura on May 16, 2024 8:31:02 GMT -5
Thanks for sharing. I enjoyed looking at them. Showed them to my wife who really loves birds and she is still "wowing" her way slowly through all of them. I have a whole album that's all my birds, with thousands of pics in it. Also have albums for other wildlife, bugs, etc.
|
|
moon/Laura
Administrator
Forum Owner
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 15:05:36 GMT -5
Posts: 10,052
Mini-Profile Text Color: f8fb10
|
Post by moon/Laura on May 16, 2024 8:29:32 GMT -5
Moonie, those pictures are FABULOUS! I am very impressed. And jealous. I can't take a picture worth a crap, with or without an actual camera. It just takes practice! I'm still practicing, and always will be. The 'good' pics are maybe 10% of all I took. Thank goodness for digital or I couldn't do this. OTOH, I shoot high speed continuous so it does mean I have LOTS of basically identical photos to go through. But sometimes, you have that one good shot between 2 not so good so......
|
|
moon/Laura
Administrator
Forum Owner
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 15:05:36 GMT -5
Posts: 10,052
Mini-Profile Text Color: f8fb10
|
Post by moon/Laura on May 15, 2024 15:07:36 GMT -5
Thanks, busymom. I use a Nikon Z9 camera body, with a NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S Lens. I also shoot in RAW, so that I can bring the colors out of the shadows during post-editing. Shooting RAW makes the photos at least a little noisy/grainy most of the time, so every one of these has at been put through a denoise app. Otherwise, there may be cropping involved and then other basic exposure adjustments. One thing I really try to avoid is making them look unnatural.
|
|
moon/Laura
Administrator
Forum Owner
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 15:05:36 GMT -5
Posts: 10,052
Mini-Profile Text Color: f8fb10
|
Post by moon/Laura on May 15, 2024 13:44:24 GMT -5
Yes, the bad ones are in there. One is the Magnificent Frigatebird, and another (though not quite as bad) is the Black-billed Cuckoo. The Northern Waterthrush is kind of a noisy mess, too. I'm picky, what can I say.
I always shoot first, and about 60% of the time I know what it is at the time.
|
|
moon/Laura
Administrator
Forum Owner
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 15:05:36 GMT -5
Posts: 10,052
Mini-Profile Text Color: f8fb10
|
Post by moon/Laura on May 15, 2024 13:21:15 GMT -5
Those are fabulous! Many of those, particularly the water birds, were in FL where we lived. Most are new to me. You have some lucky shots, like the warbler with the caterpillar! This is true - a lot of commonality between TX and FL. I will probably get to Florida eventually, to try for better Magnificent Frigatebird pics.
|
|
moon/Laura
Administrator
Forum Owner
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 15:05:36 GMT -5
Posts: 10,052
Mini-Profile Text Color: f8fb10
|
Post by moon/Laura on May 15, 2024 13:19:03 GMT -5
Thanks everyone! I like to get action shots (like the caterpillar and warbler) when I can. They make for fun pics.
|
|
moon/Laura
Administrator
Forum Owner
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 15:05:36 GMT -5
Posts: 10,052
Mini-Profile Text Color: f8fb10
|
Post by moon/Laura on May 15, 2024 11:27:44 GMT -5
Ordinarily, TX is a state I wouldn't go to, between the weather and the politics. But, for photo ops, I had to. Spent 10 days feeling like I'd forgotten to dry off before getting dressed, and bathed in bug spray to no effect, but came back with 40 new species. I really don't know how people can stand it, lol. I started up near Houston, and ended up in the Brownsville/South Padre Island area. I thought I'd share the link to my Flickr album in case anyone cared to look at the pics I took.
Disclaimer - the weather while I was there was often overcast, and some birds would hang out deep in the trees. So, lighting was a challenge and to be honest, there are several photos that simply "suck out loud" (to coin a friend's phrase). They're good as 'proof' I saw the species and that's about it.
If you're on my FB, you may have already seen these. No need to look again, if so.
TX birding trip photo album
|
|
moon/Laura
Administrator
Forum Owner
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 15:05:36 GMT -5
Posts: 10,052
Mini-Profile Text Color: f8fb10
|
Post by moon/Laura on May 15, 2024 11:12:48 GMT -5
Tennesseer - so, just to be clear here, you are saying that if i type something as a question in google, and it responds in a way that does not link to any article or source, i am required to track that source down? that seems burdensome to me. but maybe that is the policy. laura/moon- care to comment? if you don't know what i am talking about, we can set up a 1:1 discussion, so i can send you screen shots. Well, that's somewhat of a unique situation. Perhaps in that case it could just be noted as such? I know you do usually cite your sources.
|
|
moon/Laura
Administrator
Forum Owner
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 15:05:36 GMT -5
Posts: 10,052
Mini-Profile Text Color: f8fb10
|
Post by moon/Laura on May 9, 2024 16:48:52 GMT -5
can he rescind it? probably not. but that would be funny. I think that should be a contempt charge. Day off under false pretenses. And we all know he wasn't going to go to poor Barron's graduation anyway. He's not nearly important enough for his sperm donor to bother with. Feel bad for him, honestly.
|
|
moon/Laura
Administrator
Forum Owner
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 15:05:36 GMT -5
Posts: 10,052
Mini-Profile Text Color: f8fb10
|
Post by moon/Laura on Apr 26, 2024 11:12:44 GMT -5
Remember the saying "takes one to know one"? Seems applicable. Also, I don't have an arts degree but per your morally superior, selfish, elitist attitude, I'm also a worthless shitbag. Of course, anyone who's not conservative is probably a worthless shitbag to you.... No not all Dems we can just start with the crap of my body my choice fucktards that have their selfish attitudes and kill babies. It's none of your fucking business what another woman does with her body. Period. End of.
|
|
moon/Laura
Administrator
Forum Owner
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 15:05:36 GMT -5
Posts: 10,052
Mini-Profile Text Color: f8fb10
|
Post by moon/Laura on Apr 26, 2024 10:24:37 GMT -5
given how culturally vapid this country is, i could hardly disagree. let's just finish killing off the arts here, once and for all. Sounds good to me. Want an arts degree go overseas. Maybe it will decrease all the worthless shitbags wandering around Remember the saying "takes one to know one"? Seems applicable. Also, I don't have an arts degree but per your morally superior, selfish, elitist attitude, I'm also a worthless shitbag. Of course, anyone who's not conservative is probably a worthless shitbag to you....
|
|
moon/Laura
Administrator
Forum Owner
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 15:05:36 GMT -5
Posts: 10,052
Mini-Profile Text Color: f8fb10
|
Post by moon/Laura on Apr 25, 2024 17:33:10 GMT -5
So what? That doesn't make art degrees worthless. Some people want a career doing what they love and have a passion for, and not just how much money they can make. I'm sure that makes no sense to you because all conservatives care about is money, keeping the poor and minorities down, and controlling what women do with their bodies.
PS. Maybe you can look up the difference between thou and though (which is the right word). You failed English in school, didn't you? Its great that people want to get a degree in what they are passionate about as long as they pay their way and if they do get student loans they pay it back and not bitch because of oh how little they earn. Can't have it both ways. No I didn't fail English I just don't give a damn on boards like this. I also could look thru all the posts and pick out several others on here with misspelling and "bad grammar" yet nothing is ever said to those just shows how bias, petty, ugly certain poster can be. I don't want to hear shit about people paying their way when your lord and savior trump hasn't done that a day in his life.
|
|
moon/Laura
Administrator
Forum Owner
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 15:05:36 GMT -5
Posts: 10,052
Mini-Profile Text Color: f8fb10
|
Post by moon/Laura on Apr 25, 2024 15:19:43 GMT -5
My sister has an art degree and makes more than me with a STEM degree doing interior design. That is great she found a way for it to pay well for her, as I am sure she worked very hard to get to that point. In the end thou art degrees on the most part have a very low salary compared to other fields. So what? That doesn't make art degrees worthless. Some people want a career doing what they love and have a passion for, and not just how much money they can make. I'm sure that makes no sense to you because all conservatives care about is money, keeping the poor and minorities down, and controlling what women do with their bodies.
PS. Maybe you can look up the difference between thou and though (which is the right word). You failed English in school, didn't you?
|
|
moon/Laura
Administrator
Forum Owner
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 15:05:36 GMT -5
Posts: 10,052
Mini-Profile Text Color: f8fb10
|
Post by moon/Laura on Apr 25, 2024 11:54:15 GMT -5
I read the article and the last paragraph but it didn't change my mind and I found this paragraph the most telling. "It's wishful thinking to expect Trump to "get a trial most people will accept as fair," said Henry Olsen in The Telegraph. Manhattan is "one of the most Democratic and liberal counties in the country," so the jury pool was polluted. Bragg has made "repeated statements" making it clear he was out to get Trump any way he could. And Merchan refused to recuse himself even though he "donated to Biden's 2020 campaign and his daughter is a Democratic political consultant." No wonder "Trump supporters view this prosecution as grounded in politics, not law."
This trial should have been moved to another venue. Another Judge.
If you are so concerned about the political contribution, take a look at this: Maybe Merchan is just smart, and an intelligent person.... Do as he says, not as he does??
|
|
moon/Laura
Administrator
Forum Owner
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 15:05:36 GMT -5
Posts: 10,052
Mini-Profile Text Color: f8fb10
|
Post by moon/Laura on Apr 25, 2024 9:35:01 GMT -5
So when the guy was 18 he picked a major thinking a four year degree would allow him to support himself and pay back the loan - not realizing that a music degree doesn’t always equal a high paying job. He’s probably paid what he could for years, maybe decades, and probably has nearly as much debt now as he did when he started. I figure if he gets his loans erased, he can put that money back into the economy - buy a house, a new car, clothes, eat out, whatever. If all the lower earning people struggling with that kind of debt suddenly had the freedom to buy things, imagine what a bump it would be to our economy. But no - you want this guy to struggle the rest of his life, hacking away bit by bit at his student loans, until he finally dies and they get erased that way. I think it’s stupid we don’t provide more information to young adults trying to decide whether or not they should take out student loans - they need help calculating what their earning potential might be, and how long it might take to pay those debts off. I bet a lot of them would decide, instead, to go with a trade program, or pick a different major, if they had all the facts. But now that we have a bunch of adults several decades out of college who aren’t earning enough to put a dent in their student loan debt, I have no problem helping them get out from under that particular load. Helps the economy in the long run. Or maybe you should only be getting student loans for decent income generating fields like medical, law, engineering. Teaching degrees can get student loans with a 20 year payback with a forgiveness at the end of they did alot of continuing education. Stuff like the arts and bullshit degrees they should get no loans for. That would help elevate some of this. The whole system needs to have an overhaul Elevate? hahah.. I think word you're looking for is "alleviate". But way to show how elitist you are!! I'm just shocked - SHOCKED, I say- that you think the people who curate the art pieces displayed in museums should have to pay for their degrees without loans. Do you think the knowledge of what's valuable and authentic isn't important enough? That it's a "bullshit degree"? Wow. Just one example.
|
|
moon/Laura
Administrator
Forum Owner
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 15:05:36 GMT -5
Posts: 10,052
Mini-Profile Text Color: f8fb10
|
Post by moon/Laura on Apr 24, 2024 15:26:16 GMT -5
Omg. This one really got me laughing. Is farting part of praying? I heard he did that a couple of times, too. What an embarrassment.
|
|
moon/Laura
Administrator
Forum Owner
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 15:05:36 GMT -5
Posts: 10,052
Mini-Profile Text Color: f8fb10
|
Post by moon/Laura on Apr 22, 2024 11:15:59 GMT -5
I think people think black bears aren’t dangerous like grizzly bears. They are. There are unfortunate encounters between black bears and people in the Great Smoky National parks all the time. It’s the same with elk and moose - they are not farm animals or Disney characters. Stop trying to take selfies with wild animals. Or even the idiots trying to get selfies with bison in Yellowstone in spite of plenty of signage warning of the danger of the animals. Some of those idiots paid a price. And I laugh at every single one of them who got tossed or gored. I recently saw a video of an absolute loser who thought it would be cool to go pet a moose. He got his ass stomped good. People have lost their minds and all common sense.
Edit - found the video.
|
|
moon/Laura
Administrator
Forum Owner
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 15:05:36 GMT -5
Posts: 10,052
Mini-Profile Text Color: f8fb10
|
Post by moon/Laura on Apr 20, 2024 15:34:09 GMT -5
Gonna need more nails to hold *that* up there...
|
|
moon/Laura
Administrator
Forum Owner
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 15:05:36 GMT -5
Posts: 10,052
Mini-Profile Text Color: f8fb10
|
Post by moon/Laura on Apr 19, 2024 9:53:40 GMT -5
I served on a murder trial in my city. I honestly have no idea if our personal information was made public or not. It was quite a few years ago and I likely wouldn't have even given it any thought at the time. We found the defendant guilty.
|
|
moon/Laura
Administrator
Forum Owner
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 15:05:36 GMT -5
Posts: 10,052
Mini-Profile Text Color: f8fb10
|
Post by moon/Laura on Apr 18, 2024 12:04:41 GMT -5
I question whether there's ever a good reason for jurors' names (or any other info that could potentially identify them) to be made public. Seems like it could be really dangerous, depending on the case. Never know when some whackjob is gonna come after you for retribution when they lose.
|
|
moon/Laura
Administrator
Forum Owner
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 15:05:36 GMT -5
Posts: 10,052
Mini-Profile Text Color: f8fb10
|
Post by moon/Laura on Apr 13, 2024 9:48:50 GMT -5
I'm not sure what my parent company (I'm a contractor) has done as far as the space we used to work from (meaning I have no idea if it was owned or leased to begin with), but I hope we never have to go back onsite. I save 1.5 hrs of commute time a day, plus gas and wear and tear on the car by being able to WFH. The extra sleep is nice, too, of course. And I'm no less productive here than there. Do I sometimes miss the human interaction? Yes, but not enough to want to work that way again. Fortunately, there haven't been any rumblings about returning.
|
|
moon/Laura
Administrator
Forum Owner
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 15:05:36 GMT -5
Posts: 10,052
Mini-Profile Text Color: f8fb10
|
Post by moon/Laura on Apr 12, 2024 12:27:47 GMT -5
Was that said on "Opposite Day"? I mean, even if that weren't a satire site, who would believe that? Oh, wait.......
|
|
moon/Laura
Administrator
Forum Owner
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 15:05:36 GMT -5
Posts: 10,052
Mini-Profile Text Color: f8fb10
|
Post by moon/Laura on Apr 11, 2024 12:40:40 GMT -5
Meh is kinda how I feel. Well, more like karma finally caught up with him, but not wanting to gloat. My gloating is saved for someone else.
|
|
moon/Laura
Administrator
Forum Owner
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 15:05:36 GMT -5
Posts: 10,052
Mini-Profile Text Color: f8fb10
|
Post by moon/Laura on Apr 11, 2024 11:03:28 GMT -5
|
|
moon/Laura
Administrator
Forum Owner
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 15:05:36 GMT -5
Posts: 10,052
Mini-Profile Text Color: f8fb10
|
Post by moon/Laura on Feb 22, 2024 9:52:21 GMT -5
|
|
moon/Laura
Administrator
Forum Owner
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 15:05:36 GMT -5
Posts: 10,052
Mini-Profile Text Color: f8fb10
|
Post by moon/Laura on Feb 21, 2024 16:50:32 GMT -5
I will agree that if they don't have any documentation, they are illegal. But, it's NOT ok to just use the term illegal unless you know for sure they are. There are a bunch of other terms that could be used that aren't nearly so inflammatory, but Rip likes to act like he's morally superior or.. whatever his problem is.
And I would 100% argue that using the term is, in fact, inherently racist - because it does apply to people of color almost exclusively. The fact that you don't understand why that is just shows all the rest of us that you're as racist as Rip is. Not that we didn't already know. they are not though. unless they are NOT part of the amnesty program. when a US Citizen shows up at a polling place without ID, are they "illegal"? some US Citizens have NO BIRTH RECORD. are they illegal? there are far too many exceptions to make the blanket statement that scgal is making. but that was not even my point. my point is that if ripvanwinkle can't think of a reason that "illegals" would come over the NORTHERN border, then he is conflating "illegal" with "latino". that has pretty overt racist overtones, even if you don't care to admit it. a valid point, and my thought process was referring anyone trying to "sneak in" completely under the radar. Regarding your voting scenario, I would not assume illegal. I would hope that they have some means to prove they're citizens, however.
As for moving this tangent to the border thread... well, that's easier said than done because the post that started it fits in this thread.
|
|
moon/Laura
Administrator
Forum Owner
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 15:05:36 GMT -5
Posts: 10,052
Mini-Profile Text Color: f8fb10
|
Post by moon/Laura on Feb 21, 2024 14:03:24 GMT -5
But the thing is, Rip uses the word "illegal" all the time when he couldn't *possibly* know whether those individuals declared themselves at the border (as they should) or not. He just assumes that they didn't. Or doesn't care if they did - they're just 'not US citizens' and therefore "illegal" in his mind.
And given that really everyone he is referring to IS a person of (brown) color, it is indeed racist. I mean... do you really hear about undocumented Caucasians coming across the border? Because I sure as fuck don't. Let me get this straight just because it is mainly brown people crossing the border if not all you cannot use the term illegal? That is either silly, stupid or both. Everyone who doesn't have papers or has some sort of documentation they are in progress is an illegal. It is not up to him to know who does or does not have papers it is perfectly ok to use the term illegal it is not racist. I will agree that if they don't have any documentation, they are illegal. But, it's NOT ok to just use the term illegal unless you know for sure they are. There are a bunch of other terms that could be used that aren't nearly so inflammatory, but Rip likes to act like he's morally superior or.. whatever his problem is.
And I would 100% argue that using the term is, in fact, inherently racist - because it does apply to people of color almost exclusively. The fact that you don't understand why that is just shows all the rest of us that you're as racist as Rip is. Not that we didn't already know.
|
|
moon/Laura
Administrator
Forum Owner
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 15:05:36 GMT -5
Posts: 10,052
Mini-Profile Text Color: f8fb10
|
Post by moon/Laura on Feb 21, 2024 10:14:35 GMT -5
He could have also said homeless, and it would have no negative racial connotations, but he seems to be unable to avoid appearing racist. No an illegal is an illegal period. Doesn't matter what color white, brown, yellow, purple. People who want to make it a racist thing are nothing more than ignorant assholes But the thing is, Rip uses the word "illegal" all the time when he couldn't *possibly* know whether those individuals declared themselves at the border (as they should) or not. He just assumes that they didn't. Or doesn't care if they did - they're just 'not US citizens' and therefore "illegal" in his mind.
And given that really everyone he is referring to IS a person of (brown) color, it is indeed racist. I mean... do you really hear about undocumented Caucasians coming across the border? Because I sure as fuck don't.
|
|
moon/Laura
Administrator
Forum Owner
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 15:05:36 GMT -5
Posts: 10,052
Mini-Profile Text Color: f8fb10
|
Post by moon/Laura on Feb 21, 2024 9:18:14 GMT -5
Here's a way Trump could pay off the $350 million judgement. Since NYC has a shortage of housing for the illegals he could offer his properties for housing for free and take it as a charity deduction on his taxes. Say he donates 1000 rooms @ $300 per day = $300,000 x 365 days = $10,950,000. And any damages that happen he can take those off his taxes too.
You misspelled "migrants" and "refugees" - again. Seriously, the racism is so old.
|
|
moon/Laura
Administrator
Forum Owner
Joined: Dec 17, 2010 15:05:36 GMT -5
Posts: 10,052
Mini-Profile Text Color: f8fb10
|
Post by moon/Laura on Feb 20, 2024 15:22:57 GMT -5
A heartbreaking story, but one that most republicans couldn't care less about. The gray areas that many of us see don't exist to them. They don't care if she dies, or that the baby has conditions incompatible with life. All they care about is 'abortion is wrong 100% of the time'. It's shameful.
|
|