@ around 8:00-10:30 is the piece in what I’m interested in here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRtsnJhHEfk Mr. Tillerson’s speech to the VMI cadets was an exercise in confusion I think. He missed an opportunity here. He quotes scripture (John) and says that our founders were divinely inspired and believed in divine intervention and then talks about facts and…… Continue reading Tillerson missed an opportunity.
Author: dispatchesfromalowlybiologist
I'm a professional wildlife biologist. I work with a research wildlife biologist on birds, deer, coyotes, wild pigs, and coarse woody debris. I've always been interested in nature, I would explore my neighborhood when I was boy looking for deer tracks and secluded fishing holes. I decided to get serious about pursuing a wildlife career when I discovered I had a good ear for identifying bird calls and songs to species when I was about 24 years old. My interests are traveling the world, bird-watching, photography, and just being outdoors. My wife, who is also a professional biologist, and I take vacations where we mostly bird and make lists of things we see. We almost always try to hire a local guide when traveling in a foreign country. I'm also interested in the latest politics, church-state issues, evolution, science vs. religion, nature, books, and American history.
Hurricane Irma and its effects on birds
This is a photograph I took of a Sooty Tern on 12 September 2017 at Lake Strom Thurmond, SC, the day after Hurricane Irma (actually a tropical storm by then) passed through our area. Sooty Terns have no business being this far inland like this. They are a pelagic bird which means they spend their…… Continue reading Hurricane Irma and its effects on birds
Trump wants FEMA to reimburse churches for helping victims of Hurricane Harvey
This tweet by the Donald is a reaction to the breaking story in which some churches in Texas are suing FEMA. The Beckett Fund for Religious Liberty is representing Harvest Family, Rockport First Assembly of God, and the Hi-Way Tabernacle. Here’s the statement that the Beckett Fund for Religious Liberty put out. Here’s an excerpt…… Continue reading Trump wants FEMA to reimburse churches for helping victims of Hurricane Harvey
Raptors from our Peru trips
Here’s a compilation of the raptors from our two tours of Peru. We went on two trips to Peru, the first one in 2016 and the second one this past July. My wife and I enjoy traveling and going on birding and wildlife adventures. My wife has a real knack for planning and finding places…… Continue reading Raptors from our Peru trips
Theocracy alert: Amy Coney Barrett and Jeff Mateer
As we know, a president gets to nominate judges and so naturally Trump, elected as a Republican, has nominated two people with severe cases of religion-on-the-brain. Obviously Trump isn’t religious, you can tell that right away, he couldn’t care less about gods or religion, he’s only concerned about himself. However, Trump is being guided…… Continue reading Theocracy alert: Amy Coney Barrett and Jeff Mateer
The Scarlet-banded Barbet quest: Plataforma, Peru.
Here’s another installment from our recent tour of Peru which happened to be the first leg of our tour. When my wife was communicating with Saturnino, our guide, prior to our tour, Satu suggested adding Plataforma to go see the Scarlet-banded Barbet, an endemic barbet. The Scarlet-banded Barbet was only just recently discovered and officially…… Continue reading The Scarlet-banded Barbet quest: Plataforma, Peru.
Today is National Prayer Day!
I can think of a lot more substantial measures that could help more than praying. A disaster of this magnitude needs boots on the ground, helicopters, medical supplies, food, and water. Quebec offered supplies and the Texas Secretary of State declined the offer and said, “just send prayers.” Trump is apparently back in Texas too in…… Continue reading Today is National Prayer Day!
Trump calls for National Day of Prayer on 9/3/17.
President Trump is calling for a National Day of Prayer tomorrow, Sunday, 3 September 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVv0Z9fTawU I don’t see one Muslim, Hindu, or anyone besides a Christian there at his announcement. I had to chuckle when I heard Ralph Reed say, “we all come together and we all bow to almighty God.” Ralph Reed,…… Continue reading Trump calls for National Day of Prayer on 9/3/17.
Parrots of the Collpa Guacamayo de Blanquillo (Clay Lick) in Peru.
Here’s another installment from our recent tour from Peru. We booked through Amazon Birding Peru and went with Saturnino Llactahuaman, a superb guide and owner of the Manu Birding Lodge. The Manu Birding Lodge is located on the Rio Madre de Dios and is only about a 30 minute boat-ride to the clay lick. I recently…… Continue reading Parrots of the Collpa Guacamayo de Blanquillo (Clay Lick) in Peru.
Hurricane Harvey: Blame the gays.
The evangelical Christians and Trump supporters are making their rounds with the same old sickening reaction from a natural disaster: just blame the gays. This type of reaction by religious people is the ‘poison’ that Christopher Hitchens referred to when he famously stated, “Religion poisons everything.” For all the moderate religious people that stick to…… Continue reading Hurricane Harvey: Blame the gays.
Dispatches from a lowly biologist. 