jimthompson.org

God’s number is 20

Jim — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:25:35 +0000

Every position of Rubik’s Cube™ can be solved in twenty moves or less

On their way to see Lady Antebellum at the rodeo

Jim — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 14:00:11 +0000

Five rule changes to improve sport in America

Jim — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 16:11:22 +0000

1. Ban the DH in major and minor league baseball. Don’t give me excuses – real pitchers hit for themselves.

2. Ditch the possession arrow in NCAA basketball and bring back the jump ball.

3. Learn something from hockey and add the penalty box to college and NFL football. If you commit a penalty you sit out one, two, or three snaps – depending on severity – and your team plays shorthanded.

4. Take away the home-run line, ground-rule doubles, and the like in baseball. If the outfielder can get to the ball, then it’s still in play. That includes going up into the stands to take the ball away from fans. If the ball hits the foul pole, but the outfielder can still catch it, it’s an out!

5. Ban cheerleaders, dance teams, costumed mascots, and all that fluff (does anybody really miss Chief Noc-a-Homa?) Bands, however, should be required; NFL teams should have marching bands and NBA teams should have pep bands. And no piped-in music. If you can’t hear your band, get a bigger band.

Baseball season

Jim — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 20:37:28 +0000

“If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving infant’s life, she will choose to save the infant’s life without even considering if there is a man on base.” – Dave Barry

Trololo Cat

Jim — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:24:38 +0000

Life is short. Take pictures.

Jim — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 21:15:46 +0000

Baby dove update: growth rate slows, but city still in peril

Jim — Fri, 15 May 2009 20:21:17 +0000

The baby doves aren’t growing as fast as the past few days, but they could have another growth spurt at any time, so the Giant Dove Threat Level remains at Orange, or “Almost Time for Panic”.

Yesterday I came home to find that Momma Dove was off shopping for bugs or worms or whatever it is baby birds eat. That gave me a great chance to get close for this photo.

Today I found that Momma was back, and positioned as if for a family portrait. When she’s around, I can’t get too close, so I have to stand back, hold the camera over my head with the viewscreen extended, and try to frame a decent shot. That can be hard when it’s sunny like today, because the viewscreen isn’t bright enough to compete with full daylight.

Still Life With Cats

Jim — Wed, 13 May 2009 21:30:56 +0000

Baby doves again

Jim — Wed, 13 May 2009 20:53:34 +0000

Yesterday I found Momma dove sitting off to the side, keeping a close watch on her young’uns (and on me).

Today I found her back in place more or less on top of them again. But note how the feathers are really filling out on the chicks. Soon they’ll be fledging. I hope I can be there to see them leave the nest… but the odds are against it.

Another baby dove update

Jim — Mon, 11 May 2009 23:08:54 +0000

The chicks have grown so large that Momma Dove isn’t trying to sit on them any more. Today I found them all sitting nose-to-nose. At the rate these chicks are growing, in two weeks they will be the size of Houston.

I was very close, and the click of my shutter scared away Momma Dove (sorry, Momma), but that gave me the chance to step even closer to get this photo.

For context, here’s the hose reel where the nest is built. It’s behind some bushes, but right at the front corner by the driveway (that’s the headlamp on my Mustang you can see through a gap in the leaves).