Assorted Links and Notes

Notes:

  • We've gotten a lot of rain this spring and summer. It's led to mushrooms sprouting up in a few spots in our yard.
  • One day last week I looked out the window and saw a squirrel eating a mushroom. He'd picked it up off the ground, and was nibbling all along the edges. I'd never seen a squirrel eat a mushroom before; it was somewhat comical.
  • One evening during the spring we saw a raccoon eating a squirrel. Sort of. We heard a strange cry from the front yard that repeated several more times. Wendy looked out the door and saw a raccoon walking headfirst down a tree, with a squirrel in its mouth. We were hearing the last cries of a desperate squirrel. That led to us learning (via Wikipedia) that raccoons can rotate their hind legs 180 degrees, which allows them to descend trees headfirst.

Links:

  • China and the new Transformers movie. I had no idea the target demographic for the new Transformers movie was basically China. It was co-produced by a Chinese company, has Chinese product placements, and is intentionally flattering towards the Chinese government.
  • Alaskan bear cams are surprisingly dramatic.
  • An overview of studies that show when the homeless are given money, they spend it wisely.
  • The Politics of Housework. A 1970 essay arguing men should help with household chores. "He's losing some leisure and you're gaining it. The measure of your oppression is his resistance."