What's In The Air?

Sniff.  Sniff.

Do you smell what I smell?

It's not smoke from Canadian wildfires.

Nope.  It's cognitive dissonance and confirmation bias...

Prognosticating

If current polling is to be believed it's looking more and more like the former President has the GOP primary locked-down for a win.

Polling early last week from the New York Times and Siena College informs us that:

Trump leads DeSantis 54 to 17 with nobody else above 3 percent.

Among self-identified Trump supporters, 52 percent consider Trump to be the only choice.

Among those considering other candidates more than a third are still considering Trump.

In a head-to-head match-up Trump leads DeSantis 62-31.

In a head-to-head match-up Biden and Trump are tied at 43 percent.  

Of course, 43 plus 43 does not add-up to 100 percent.  So the question is:  does the 14 percent difference stay home?  I think not.

Consider this:  the 14% is the None of the Above voting block.  And in the end they're likely to hold their nose and vote for one or the other.  One of the most notable characteristics of this block of registered voters is while they are unenthusiastic about Biden they are less happy with Trump

It's still a long way to November of 2024 and the polling will change along the way.  

And can get it wrong.

Wildflower Show

Twelve weeks following our prescribed burn the seven acres of pollinator habitat out behind the house is thriving.  An extended dry spell hasn't been welcome news for the local farmers but the hot season grasses and forbs are thriving in the dry conditions.  Exceptionally deep root systems are the key to their success.

They are showing-off and making a valuable contribution to the food web of the local Eco-system.

Cardinal flower in the dry creek bed

 Blue vervain

Prairie blazing star (Liatris) 

Bee Balm (Bergamot)

Nodding pink onion

An incredible "forest" of compass plant

And Joe Pye weed

Now that the migratory and year-round primary nesting season is coming to a close all of these blooms are attracting insects which serve as a food source for the young fledglings.  Providing them with a high-protein diet to bulk-up before the late summer and fall migration begins.

Friday Music

I think this might just be my new addiction.

I stumbled across this on YouTube and it is a perfect bookend to my trip to the former East Germany earlier this year.

The band arranger is Florian Rein (drums) and front woman and vocalist is Connie Kreitmeier. Additional band members include Max Grasmuller (clarinet), Martin Schnitzer (trombone), Dominik Globl (trumpet), Benedict Waldman (tuba) and Markus Orterer (accordion).  

 As a cover band, The Heimatdamisch (translation: The Native), covers works by AC/DC, Guns n' Roses, Lady Gaga and more.

Special guest is Alex Wesselsky.

Turn-up the volume for White Wedding...

Brown Velvet

From the trail camera are some nice shots and a video short of a few of the local bucks sporting their antlers as they grow.

Velvet bucks they are called.

 

I've started brushing-out our three and a half miles of trails so that at least two more deer stands can be assembled and placed in strategic locations.

Got deer hunting on my mind.

Super Sturgeon Moon

The Full Moon appearing this evening is named after North America's largest fish - the sturgeon.  Other names for this Full Moon include Green Corn Moon, Grain Moon, Barley Moon and Fruit Moon. 

The Full Moon in August is called the Sturgeon Moon as a consequence of the great number of sturgeon that were once found in the lakes and rivers in North America.  It’s likely that with the arrival of European settlement the name was taken from native-American usage.  While there are fewer of this spectacular fish today the name remains.

08.15.19 Sturgeon Moon

This month's moon is a bonus; the second of four super moons on schedule for 2023.  Super moons take their name from their appearance of 30% brighter and 14% larger.  This is a consequence of the moon's closer approach (called perigee) to the earth. 

There's more to the month of August.  In four weeks, August 30, the moon will be at perigee again making it a super moon.  Because it is the second full moon to fall in a calendar month it is also a Blue Moon.  Blue moons are rare;  occurring about every two and a half years.

Imagine that; an exceedingly rare Super Blue Moon

Fingers-crossed for good viewing conditions this evening.

A Medium Rare Treat

We don't eat beef very often and when we do it's generally 1/3 pound ground chuck burgers from our local butcher (very yummy).   Nevertheless, sometime in the past several weeks I picked-up a package of steaks from said butcher and when it appeared we weren't going to eat them Immediately I put them in the kitchen freezer.  Strategically I knew they would remain in my grilling mindset because if I put them in one of the basement chest freezers they might disappear for years.

Anyway, in short order I thawed them, seasoned them and grilled them.  A reverse sear to be exact to a perfect medium rare.

Served them-up with a side salad and a big chunk of baked yam.

 They were very good.  I''ll do it again next year maybe.

This evening we're having a couple of The Team from the former Day Job over to review our stuff and I'm going to grill-up some venison loin along with a big salad and homemade french bread.

You are what you eat.