The World is Not a Scary Place Says the Rubber Duck Part III

Posted on by paultmorrison

In part I and II the Rubber Duck has pointed out that the world today in 2015 in the United States and for most parts of the world is a safer place than it has ever been in the totality of the history of the world. Crime, disease, food to eat, clean water to drink, clean air to breath, are all increasingly getting better. Some of these bad things had a peak in the 60s and the 80s but the Clean Water Act, and a hundred other small changes have made this world the most habitable place ever.

Now if you happen to hang out in social media you might think the Rubber Duck is insane. That nasty chemicals, autism, cancer, disease, viruses, are all increasing. Or that Big Pharma, Big Medicine, Big Agriculture are all run by the dude in the Monopoly game with the monocle and all they want is your money and he does not care if you die a miserable death.

But it’s all bullshit. So part III is a slight change in direction:

THE BIG SCARY OUTDOORS FILLED WITH STUFF THAT WILL KILL YOU!

If you don't leave food that I love near your house especially poodles staked out in the backyard I will never bother you.
If you don’t leave food that I love near your house especially poodles staked out in the backyard I will never bother you.

Bullshit again. Take for instance the wolf coyote hybrids that are moving into New England filling the niche the wolf used to fill before our forefathers drove them west. Are we all waiting for the first instance of a child being attacked and eaten like Little Red Riding Hood’s Grandma?

Read the following article by a sane person who seems to have spent a lot of time outdoors running into all sorts of deadly animals that lurk in that scary place called the outdoors. With a little common sense we may never hear of a grandmother being eaten. And with just a little due diligence you might keep your pets out of trouble too.

Which Animals Are A Threat Outdoors And What You Can Do About Them

Dog walking etiquette 101 : #gloucesterma

Posted on by Craig Kimberley

I’m betting this is not what they meant.

Folks, whether your at Ravenswood, the dog park, Good Harbor, or your own hood, pick up your dog’s shit! Keep is classy Glosta!

14 works by Eileen Patten Oliver at Island Art and Hobby

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

“We are pleased to announce the opening of an exhibit of 14 works by our own Eileen Patten Oliver here at Island Art and Hobby, now through the month of March. Please come in and see her paintings, and while you’re here, see what else the store has to offer and ask about our Artist discount card program.”

Community Photos 3/3/15

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

The birds are: l.to r. – Red Bellied Woodpecker, Towhee and a Cardinal.

Picture was taken through a window during a snow flurry.  Poor quality photo but a unique sighting.

Thanks,  Jim Groves

image

Hi Joe,

Betty Lou Schlemm took these in the Good Harbor Beach parking lot and asked me to send them to you. Lots of snow over there,

Hope all is well with you,

Kathleen

Kathleen Valentine

Hi Joey,

I’ve been enjoying all the photos on your blog and thought you might have a use for these photos of the Unitarian Cemetery after the first storm and the last storm. It is the oldest Unitarian Cemetery in the United States.

download

download

Why Did I Wait So Long?

Posted on by Nichole S.

Sadly, Christmas morning came and went and Santa had not left me a Suzy Kuzy. So, I became resolute to order one for myself.

But, I forgot.

An exceptionally cold day at the hockey rink was all it took for me to come home one day last week and order one up!

It is even better than I imagined it would be.

So, now, the only question is…  Why in the world did I wait so long?

Hockey moms, I suggest you order yours NOW for next season!

Pick your color here…..  pick your refreshment later.  #SuzyKuzy

Image

 

 

No Lifeguard On Duty…

Posted on by Joey Ciaramitaro

Alice Gardner forwards this photo taken while Cross Country Skiing At Gordon College

Funny Signs

THE FROZEN : Sunset at Good Harbor Beach #gloucesterma, #craigshoots

Posted on by Craig Kimberley

Click image for full size

The Frozen

 

Kim Smith Event for Essex County Greenbelt, Thursday March 5th: Planting An Essex County Pollinator Garden

Posted on by Kimsmithdesigns

Catbird eating Pagoda dogwwod fruits ©Kim Smith 2014. Catbird Eating Dogwood Fruits

Please join me at the Essex County Greenbelt’s Cox Reservation headquarters on Thursday, March 5th, from 6:30 to 8:30. I will be presenting my pollinator garden program. The event is free.

RSVP to alice@ecga.org.

I look forward to seeing you!

American Lady Butterfly New York Ironweed ©Kim Smith 2014

 Painted Lady Butterfly and New York Ironweed, Gloucester HarborWalk Butterfly Garden

From the ECGA website:

Our second session to our pollinator film/lecture series will feature local designer, writer, filmmaker and gardening expert Kim Smith. Kim specializes in creating pollinator gardens, as well as filming the butterflies that her plants attract. She will present a 90-minute slide show and lecture about how to create a welcoming haven for bees, birds, butterflies, and other wildlife. Native plants and examples of organic and architectural features will be discussed based on their value to particular vertebrates and invertebrates. Kim will also discuss specific ways to be sure your gardening practices are not harming pollinators. There will be time for questions from the audience about particular problems and quandaries they may have with pollinators and their gardens.

To learn more about Kim Smith’s work, visit her website here. This lecture will take place at our headquarters on the Cox Reservation in Essex, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Light refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to alice@ecga.org.

monarch-butterfly-c2a9kim-smith-2012-1Monarch Butterfly Nectaring at New England Asters

Harbor Walk Butterfly Garden ©Kim Smith 2012Gloucester HarborWalk Butterfly Garden

To date or not to date? That is the question.

Posted on by Alicia Unleashed

date

Kids do not come with an instruction manual and it does not get any easier when they are teenagers! Teenagers who want to date! I would like to say to my daughter, you can date when you are 30! (actually I do) I guess it’s a part of growing up, the whole dating and crush thing in high school. We’ve all been there but when it comes to your own kids frankly it just sucks.

It’s no secret that the world we live in today is NOT the same world from even 15 years ago.
Social media and texting just came into play when I graduated high school so I cannot imagine having the outlets these kids have today. Texting, Facebook, Instagram, email etc. the list goes on and on. Have you read what these kids are texting each other when they are dating? Have you seen the pictures these kids are posting when they are dating? Trust me I’ve seen my fair share and more than I want.

What I have seen in my time as a mother is the kids who are dating have parents that are older, as in 50’s and 60’s with a teenager.  It’s the younger parents I see that are more hesitant to let their kids date. Why do you think that is? Is it because the older parents are out of touch with social media as opposed to the younger parents who are also on social media and can monitor their kids? There may be no real answer as to what age you should let your teenager date but there are definitely some factors we have today that were not there some time ago.