Yom Kippur

Yesterday, I went to services for Yom Kippur.  The services were meaningful, as was the fast which I made through without issue or complaint.

After services at the mid-day I took a break and did a hike at Haven Hill in Highland Recreational Area.

The weather was absolutely perfect for a hike.

 Saw a swan on the pond there:

And then by the parking lot some Sandhill Cranes were wandering around the field.

Rather ungainly looking birds, and they seemed to be clowning around for the people watching them.

It was a nice couple mile hike under gorgeous conditions and rather meditative to be out in nature in between services.

Then had a very pleasant light break the fast meal.  It was a meaningful Yom Kippur.

Florida Bird Is The Word

After surviving lousy drivers in many states on the way down, we reached Florida and finally got through to our destination.

When we were in Florida in December, the weather was warm but a front had moved in that made the sky typically overcast, and the ocean much too rough to swim in for anyone. Sadly, that meant no shark tooth diving for me as all charters cancelled their trips due to the big waves and lousy visibility brought on by the front. Ah, well.

This was on the gulf side, later we drove over to Ft. Lauderdale area to visit the family.

On the positive side, it was warmer than Michigan and was a time to just relax with family, so no complaints there.

On the beach we relaxed, we also on occasion would wade into the water and get smacked by the waves which was fun. No swimming though.

Quite a few people were on the beach on December 25 as well as some feathered visitors.

This crane Great Blue Heron had no feathers to give for all the people on the beach.

He'd just stand there within arms reach of people, move through crowds as he wished, and then when he got where he wanted to go, he would stand still and glare at everyone and on occasion flex his wings to demand some space.

He didn't mind posing for pictures either.

Then he'd takeoff and stand near the next bunch of people fishing from the shore, hoping to cadge a snack.

A very close encounter of a feathered kind.

Then a very pleasing sunset on the beach.

Basically we spent our time on the Gulf side at the beach, just relaxing and unwinding. Then we headed to Ft. Lauderdale.

Obama's Picking of Winners and Losers

We know that Obama likes to pick winners and losers.

This penchant for picking winners and losers and for favored groups against those out of favor now extends to wildlife:

Les Jones notes a Washington Post article that the EPA is now favoring shooting Barred Owls in order to save the more greenie-favored Spotted Owl. Jones wonders what could possibly go wrong with such a policy.

The Spotted Owl, which allegedly tastes like chicken, has the amazing ability of stopping logging anywhere in its habitat. Therefore, as the ne plus ultra specimen of a job-killing Democratic bird species, it must be preserved at all costs.

The Barred Owls should have known better. After all, they were rumored to have contributed to the Republicans in the last election....