I'm talking about mosquitoes, of course. :/
On Tuesday, I noticed some mosquito larvae swimming around in an outdoor container--a saucer thingie for a potted plant to sit in--that had some water in it. So I did what any reasonable person would do. I dumped the water on the ground and washed out the container thoroughly. I put it back dry.
Three days later, I looked again. The saucer once again sported a crop of larvae. Even more this time!
I couldn't believe it. Just three days, folks. That's all it takes. These things reproduce fast.
If you've got any standing water outside, check it for mosquito larvae. And then check it again three days later, because they like to come back.
They like to come back.
Friday, July 31, 2020
Tuesday, July 21, 2020
Comet Neowise
I think I saw Comet Neowise the other day.
It was a hazy night, thanks to someone in the area who did some burning and filled the air with smoke. Not sure who it was or what was being burned, but as soon I opened the door, the stink hit me. A bit of an annoyance. In spite of the haze, I decided to try to spot the comet anyway, because it was an otherwise clear night.
And I think I did.
It sort of follows the Big Dipper across the sky. It's on the "cup" side opposite the "handle." Find the Big Dipper, then move away from it in the opposite direction of the handle. The comet is a faint smudge. I couldn't see it with the naked eye at all. I needed my binoculars, and even then it was hard to find. And I'm still not sure that what I saw was actually it. I think it was, though. It was in the right place, and it was a "star" that I couldn't bring into focus the way I could the other stars. (I.e., it was fuzzy as a comet would be.) And there looked to be a barely perceptible streak leading away from it.
The comet is best visible after dark and before sunrise. I think it was around 10:30 P.M. when I saw it.
You still have a few more days to see it before it moves on. If you miss it, though, then you'll never get another chance, because it won't be back for over 6,000 years.
It rained today, and the sky is cloudy and foggy right now, so no stargazing tonight. I'm going to try to spot it again, though, if the opportunity presents itself.
It was a hazy night, thanks to someone in the area who did some burning and filled the air with smoke. Not sure who it was or what was being burned, but as soon I opened the door, the stink hit me. A bit of an annoyance. In spite of the haze, I decided to try to spot the comet anyway, because it was an otherwise clear night.
And I think I did.
It sort of follows the Big Dipper across the sky. It's on the "cup" side opposite the "handle." Find the Big Dipper, then move away from it in the opposite direction of the handle. The comet is a faint smudge. I couldn't see it with the naked eye at all. I needed my binoculars, and even then it was hard to find. And I'm still not sure that what I saw was actually it. I think it was, though. It was in the right place, and it was a "star" that I couldn't bring into focus the way I could the other stars. (I.e., it was fuzzy as a comet would be.) And there looked to be a barely perceptible streak leading away from it.
The comet is best visible after dark and before sunrise. I think it was around 10:30 P.M. when I saw it.
You still have a few more days to see it before it moves on. If you miss it, though, then you'll never get another chance, because it won't be back for over 6,000 years.
It rained today, and the sky is cloudy and foggy right now, so no stargazing tonight. I'm going to try to spot it again, though, if the opportunity presents itself.
Wednesday, July 15, 2020
Dipping my toe in the Kobo Plus waters
Kobo announced that they've added Canada to their list of nations eligible for the Kobo Plus subscription reading program. They've also abandoned the minimum enrollment period (which was two months, I think). So I've decided to give it a try.
I've enrolled my short stories and my trilogy box set in the program. I have not enrolled the individual Free Space books or the Wheel of Fire books. Like I said, I'm just dipping my toe in for now. I may add the rest of the books to the program later. We'll just have to see.
In the meantime, if you or anyone you know is a Kobo Plus subscriber, then you or that other person can now read some of my stuff for free as part of your subscription.
I've enrolled my short stories and my trilogy box set in the program. I have not enrolled the individual Free Space books or the Wheel of Fire books. Like I said, I'm just dipping my toe in for now. I may add the rest of the books to the program later. We'll just have to see.
In the meantime, if you or anyone you know is a Kobo Plus subscriber, then you or that other person can now read some of my stuff for free as part of your subscription.
Tuesday, July 14, 2020
Finally feels like summer
Most of the summers of this century--in this area, I mean--have been cooler and wetter than the summers of my youth. The past few days, though, have been hot and sunny, and the grass is starting to dry out. It actually feels like summer now. It's a bit nostalgic.
The good news is that the lack of rain means more time to do things outdoors. The bad news is the potential for increased stress on plants. But that's the way of things. Everything in life involves a trade-off of some sort. Each of us has to weigh our options as best we can and make the choices that seem to provide the lowest cost-to-benefit ratio.
2020 sucks so far, but the suckitude won't last forever. Hang in there, folks! This too shall pass.
The good news is that the lack of rain means more time to do things outdoors. The bad news is the potential for increased stress on plants. But that's the way of things. Everything in life involves a trade-off of some sort. Each of us has to weigh our options as best we can and make the choices that seem to provide the lowest cost-to-benefit ratio.
2020 sucks so far, but the suckitude won't last forever. Hang in there, folks! This too shall pass.
Thursday, July 9, 2020
You're never too young
Mary Shelley was only twenty when Frankenstein was published. She started writing it two years earlier at the age of eighteen.
Kids, if you've got a story in you... don't hold back from writing it just because you think you're too young. Give it a shot. You never know what might happen.
Kids, if you've got a story in you... don't hold back from writing it just because you think you're too young. Give it a shot. You never know what might happen.
Saturday, July 4, 2020
Trilogy box set is on sale
My Free Space trilogy box set is on sale at Kobo. Regularly $5.99, it's only $2.99 this weekend. It's part of their Independence Day sale. Sale ends July 6.
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