Outdoor Sex

Hah! Got your attention with that headline.

Yep, its true. Even here in the northern range of the Southern Bible Belt. Right outdoors in broad daylight. Sex. Happening now.

Where o where are the morality police?

What is becoming of our neighborhood?

Will our children be scared for life if they see the naughty?

In the best tradition of the paparazzi, caught on camera for you to see, Sex in the Outdoors.

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Don't know what these critters are, but I'm guessing there will be lots more next year.

Update 07/08/2010 - These guys are Boxelder Bugs. From Wikipedia: Boisea trivittata is an American species of true bug, commonly known as the Box Elder Bug, or Maple Bug. It is found primarily on boxelder trees, as well as maple and ash trees [1] . The adults are about 12½ mm (½ in) long with a dark brown or black coloration, relieved by red wing veins and markings on the abdomen. Nymphs and immature bugs are bright red.

The boxelder bug is sometimes known as a garage beetle; the unscientific name "stink bug," more regularly applied to the family Pentatomidae, is sometimes used to refer to Boisea trivittata.

And now, a word from our sponsor.

#include not_what_you_expected.h

Sigh! Loose the beast.

Well, I do believe the time has come.

"Pour qui?", askth thou.

Maybe this requires an explanation.

For many years, it did not lurk in any of my abodes. We grew used to not having it and managed. The sounds, the aromas, the pollen, the dust were free to circulate throughout the abode. But we grew used to them. Drapes were puled, curtains shut, and sash lowered when the sun rose much above the Eastern horizon.

The oscillating fans were turned on and in the afternoon we stayed inside, 'til the sun was in its downward arc. Only then would the fading light once again stream into our abode.

But further into the season, it became more difficult to stretch out in nightly repose. Hunter brand ceiling fans once again became mainstream and many other brands were born.

Ahhhhhhh! Now the nightly repose was more pleasant, providing clothes were minimal and the twirling blades were spinning on medium or high speed.

Then came the summer of 1999 and the trip to Indianapolis. Upon returning, the abode was more like the oven the witch was planning to use on Hansel. So finally breaking down, I took a trip to the Orange Box and returned with the magical box.

After a bit of "Hummmmm?", I realized, this was not going to be a standard installation. Drafting modifications I labored mightily and it was done. Now it lurked in the window waiting to pounce on all within.

A flick of the switch and it pounced. Filling the abode with the sound of a high speed squirrel cage fan and cool air. Took a while for the oven to cool but at last, a summer's repose was not fraught with tossing, turning, and trying to find a pillow's cools side.

So, back to "Pour qui?"

Yep its time. Weather.com shows the 10 day forecast to be like this:

Today
Jun 20         Mostly Sunny          92°/78°     10 %
Mon    
Jun 21         Partly Cloudy         92°/76°     10 %
Tue
Jun 22         Partly Cloudy         94°/79°     20 %
Wed
Jun 23         Isolated T-Storms     96°/79°     30 %   
Thu
Jun 24         Isolated T-Storms     94°/78°     30 %   
Fri
Jun 25         Isolated T-Storms     92°/78°     30 %   
Sat
Jun 26         Isolated T-Storms     92°/78°     30 %   
Sun
Jun 27         Mostly Sunny          94°/80°     20 %
Mon
Jun 28         Isolated T-Storms     90°/78°     30 %   
Tue
Jun 29         Partly Cloudy         92°/77°     20 %

Yep, you guessed it.

Time to turn the air conditioning unit on.

May Dominion Virginia Power have mercy on our bank accounts.

C     Start in column 7 
      INCLUDE '/home/jdavis/disclaimer.f'
C

The Sand Trap of Telephone Services: Call Waiting

I've always felt that call waiting was like a sand trap. Its a hazard to phone etiquette and traps a person into never ending, "Hold on. I've got another call." hell.

Suppose you were in a store discussing a purchase with a sales person. Suddenly, another person interrupts with a "Can you tell me about this widget? Does it come in black? How much is it?" Your sales person says to you, "Wait while I sell this person a widget."

What would you do? How would you feel?

Me? I'd be pissed and walk out of the store without making a purchase. In all candor, I'd probably not frequent that business again.

That's how I feel about call waiting. If the current call is interrupted because of call waiting and I'm put on hold, then am I second best? Chopped liver?

To me the current conversation is the most important. That other incoming call can wait, use voice mail, or simply call back. I'm not going to interrupt my call with you merely because someone is trying to "bleep in."

#include justCallAgain.h