The brown pelican was removed from the endangered species list yesterday, after reaching the brink of extinction in 1970, a combination of DDT poisoning and feather hunters. In fact, along the Texas Coast, the Eastern Brown Pelican had dropped to only a few dozen mated pairs.
I have often had an affinity for this majestic bird, watching the graceful lines as they fly in formation along the coast and occasionally dive-bomb the surf for a meal. To me, they are absolutely beautiful, and I have long awaited this good news. Over the past decade, especially, I have noticed their numbers increase so that flocks in flight are now a dozen individuals or more rather than only a few, as during my childhood.
And now, they are recovered. I couldn't be happier.
The pelican is a symbol for self-sacrifice, devotion, and philanthropy, and has been used throughout Christendom as a symbol of Christ's Passion and the Eucharist.
Euphemism of the day: "faith-inspired violence"
Not even Fox News is willing to call a spade a spade.
Some days the office is just work, and some days it's fun. Today is one of the latter.
Everyone is sharing their favorite unusual cover bands. Some fun ones:
Reel Big Fish, jamming ska-punk covers of rock bands like Duran Duran and Poison
Dread Zeppelin, chilling out with reggae versions of (you guessed it) Led Zeppelin
Hayseed Dixie, rocking out AC/DC (and others) bluegrass style
What about you? Got any cover bands that make you happy? Share the love!
As anyone who watches or reads the news can attest, all eyes have been focused on Fort Hood the past several days. Fort Hood is one of the largest military installations in the world with more than 35,000 individuals residing on or near the base, and it's only an hour from my home north of Austin.
What I find most shocking about the debate surrounding the mass murder that occurred is that military and intelligence individuals KNEW the danger and did nothing. The army will kick you out for your sexual behavior, but sedition and treason are blatantly ignored in the name of political correctness. Heaven forbid we should offend anyone.
The men and women in our armed services deserve better than this, to die at the hands of a jihadi masquerading as a "brother in arms."
Our prayers are with the families of the fallen and the recovering victims and the defenders who brought down a madman. We are thankful for their service, and their bravery in a war that has come to our front yard.
It should never have come to this.
Had a cavity filled this morning. For the first time in nearly ten years. I thought I was done with this stuff already. Gah!
pleasant
greet
pleased
beneath
strange
false
logic
dimension
twilight
beyond
unlock
dreams
creation
imagination
collide
Bonus:
surreal
My Lead Role is Influencer. "You begin by asking: 'How can I move you to act?' In virtually every situation your eye goes to the outcome."
My Supporting Role is Weaver. "You begin by asking: 'Who can I connect?' You see the world as a web of relationships, and you are always excited by the prospect of connecting two new people within your web."
What about you? Take the test and share you results!
