there are stones called tiger eye . . . but really I think they’re frog eye
(Rana temporaria temporaria I believe)

and bees have smaller fleas that bite ’em?

it is hard to escape the impression that these mites are parasitical; but proportionally, if I had a dozen rats nestled into my fur I might do something about it unless they were paying their way somehow; but I am not a bee (in case you wonder)

Ammpol recently made a comment about unemployment and the “Protestant Work Ethic”, which set me thinking . . . I probably have only a vague grasp of the concept — but I assume it has to do with (or descends from) a salvation-by-something-or-other angle on religion as distinct from a supposed earlier (Roman) Catholic salvation-by-something-else. It’s always puzzled me as I had the impression that Catholicism allowed for salvation-by-good-works whereas most varieties of Protestantism seem to be more about salvation-by-grace. But that’s a whole other boring topic, and not one I’m qualified to speculate about. I doubt it’s really germane to economics, or more to the point, it’s not the actual “work ethic” we appear to have in contemporary society.

more →

Whatever else will happen in the Chelsea Manning trial, it is apparent that the prosecution will be careful to present anything that could possibly be seen as out of order when it comes to her use of equipment — at least, based on this report in The Guardian:

Military computer experts told the hearing that they had found a computer programme called Wget that is used to speed up the transfer of files, and another called Roxio for burning CDs.

So, this may not be news, but possession of standard operating system utilities or the most commonly distributed applications may be regarded as incriminating evidence. And be reported as such. I commented on this recently in another place, to which the entirely valid response was made that use of Roxio may have been illicit on a military computer. Even that may be too broad — it could be that Chelsea Manning’s unit were not allowed to use Roxio or wget on specific computers, or perhaps she was personally banned from using them at all. But none of these seem likely — or at least, not very sensible.

more →

on a spray of willow catkins, two bees pushing and shoving to get the most nectar; the one on the left seemed unwell, and stayed trying to feed till late evening, unable to just fly to a different twig, and so often in conflict with others; that on the right was normally strong in spite of its load of mites; there is some debate around how parasitic, or how symbiotic these might be; but all the strong bees that day had mites clinging on

One day passing through, with low water and time to crawl around the rocks. Getting a different angle on things . . .