Ticks are challenging mosquitos for the title of "most dangerous critter out there".

Lyme disease.  Babesiosis.  Colorado tick fever.  Rocky Mountain tick fever (for those not living in Colorado, presumably).  Ehrlichiosis.  Powassan disease.  Bourbon virus (love to know the story behind the name).  Tick-borne relapsing fever (because why stop when you've got a good thing going).  And many more.

A recently published study reported that ticks can transmit the prions that cause a fatal brain-wasting disease in deer and other cervids.

But wait, there's more!  Now comes word of something called Alpha-gal syndrome, which has nothing to do with domineering females but instead is named for alpha-gal (galactose-α-1,3-galactose), a sugar found in tick spit and in most mammals.  Especially mammals we humans like to eat.  Once bitten by a tick, a human can become allergic to this sugar and then react with hives, rash, or even anaphylaxis when eating red meat and products made from mammals (eg. dairy products, gelatin, and even some medications).

I assume that I'd know if I caught this after being bitten by a tick last summer since I eat cheese all the time.  On the other hand, some people have reported being allergic to red meat but not to dairy, so who knows.

I'm pretty much live-and-let-live when it comes to my fellow creatures on this planet. but I despise ticks and would cheerfully yeet them all into the sun if I could.

Up at 5:00 AM to open the windows and cool off the place.  Temperature outside in the upper 70s and the air smells less than fresh.  Does ozone smell?  Wildfire smoke certainly does.  The airnow.gov website says that particulate matter levels are moderate and ozone is good, so who knows why the air is smelling funky.

The Tree Frog Orchestra from last night was done performing, but a surprising number of fireflies were still out looking for some action.  You have to admire their optimism.

Around 5:15 a single bird tried a few tentative chirps, after which he gave up.  No point in announcing that you'll defend your territory against all comers when there aren't any comers.  About half an hour later, after trying his song in a few different trees, he was joined by a lone morning dove.  In the late 90s, by 5:15 the dawn chorus was loud enough to drown out traffic noise from the nearby interstate.  But this morning there was mostly silence and the faint rustle of tree leaves.  Silence seems the appropriate response to the current state of the world.

Speaking of silence (ha!), I note that the "it's just normal weather!" crowd hasn't got much to say lately.  Even the most obdurate and obtuse can tell that something out of the ordinary is going on.  Either that, or they're just aware enough to realize that after weeks of daily temperatures in the 100s, people's tempers have frayed and they're no longer willing to ignore willful blindness.

... To the Next Ice Age We Go!

Our friends at Weather Underground have this gem on their website: Key Ocean Current Is Close To Collapse, Study Suggests.

A study published recently in the journal Nature reports that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Current  could collapse around the middle of the century, or even as early as 2025.  This current is responsible for circulating water throughout the Atlantic and is what keeps Europe temperate despite its latitude.

Climate scientists have long predicted that the collapse of this system would usher in the next ice age.  I personally have long predicted that this would happen in my lifetime, since I have no faith in our ability to shift course on climate change.

So no worries, right?  Mother Nature will have the last word when a blockheaded species goes out of control.  As I loll around on a 94 degree summer afternoon, I contemplate thoughts of snow.  (I hate snow.)

Just received an email from the condo board president announcing the date and time of the next board meeting.  The email contained a lovely photo of two elderly board members wielding a chain saw.  Yes, they are taking down trees.

​Off to review my insurance policies...

While parts of the country (and world) have been sweltering in excessive heat, other parts such as mine have been experiencing a cooler and wetter summer.  Those of us who feel that it's not summer unless we're stewing in our own juices have been somewhat miffed.

But miffed no longer: the heat dome is about to arrive.  From barely making it into the 80s we're heading straight for the mid- to upper-90s, and I celebrated this morning by hitting the grocery store's ice cream aisle.  Later I'll scrub out a large water dish that will sit in the large planter out front and provide water for the birds who like to hang out around there, since the forecast isn't calling for much of a chance of rain.  

Speaking of birds, there appears to be a small family of hawks hanging around in the trees where I like to walk.  This is unusual - I've never known hawks to nest that close to humans and definitely not in an area where there are houses, walking trails, and a school.  Raptors like to keep us guessing, I s'pose...

I also passed more than two dozen geese moseying along toward a nearby pond, with a few smaller groups flying in to join them.  I haven't heard much recent news about Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, but I assume it's not gone - and since the geese and ducks are wandering around now in large numbers, I'll have to be extra vigilant about disinfecting my walking shoes.

Or just throw them out.  These shoes have been doing extra duty all through the pandemic, and after nearly four years of regular use they've about had it.  Of course I'll have to replace them, which means either taking my life into my own hands and visiting DSW in person or else taking a chance on buying shoes online.  Shoes are among the few items that I want to really fit, so 'tis a dilemma.

"I have Thoughts and Opinions which I am happy to share with you just as soon as I figure out what they are.  Or possibly sooner."  -- the cockatiel

​

Yes, it's that time of the year.  The babies haven't learned to fly yet, and large groups of earthbound geese are wandering around and doing what geese do.  We had a real gully washer of a storm yesterday evening and it barely dislodged any of the "doings".  I love the geese, but man do you gotta watch where you're stepping, 

While I was treading carefully this morning, a bunch of red-winged blackbirds took advantage of my inattention and tried to dive bomb me.  This is a bit unusual: they're usually feisty when babies are on the nest, and the nesting season should just about be done.  But these guys are nature's assholes, so nothing surprises me.  With most birds, if you stand your ground and refuse to be intimidated, they'll give up.  Not red-winged blackbirds.  On the other hand, they seem to avoid a hand that's stuck into the air and trying to catch them - because on occasion I too am nature's asshole, and two can play at that game.

Not sure what I would do if I actually caught a red-winged blackbird other than visit the nearest Urgent Care afterwards.

I note that the quail were laying low and avoiding everyone.  A wise choice.

Started the morning with a severe thunderstorm, followed by flooding, and now we have another air quality alert thanks to the wildfires in Canada.  Perhaps, Mother Nature, you would consider sending some of this water up to Canada?

And on top of everything, it's impossible to find Dove peanut butter filled chocolates anywhere.  It's an outrage!

Spotted on the Interwebs:

"Birds are dinosaurs who shrugged off a couple apocalypses.  Some eat bone marrow.  Some drink nectar.  They outswim fish in the sea.  They smile politely at gravity's demands.  I am grateful to see them.  I am grateful to feed them.  I am grateful to know them."

​Rosie the Cockatiel: "Cool! Got any millet?"