Commander-List Digest Archive

Fri 04/17/09


Total Messages Posted: 4



Today's Message Index:
----------------------
 
     1. 09:52 AM - Hummingbird Lane (from Brandon Thompson)  (Peter Bichier)
     2. 04:58 PM - Re: FW: Hummingbird Lane (from Brandon Thompson) (Steve W)
     3. 07:05 PM - Re: Hummingbird Lane (from Brandon Thompson)  (nico css)
     4. 11:10 PM - Pirates and Easter09 (nico css)
 
 
 


Message 1


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    Time: 09:52:27 AM PST US
    From: Peter Bichier <pbichie@UTNet.UToledo.Edu>
    Subject: Hummingbird Lane (from Brandon Thompson)
    Thanks Nico to pass those along, I was just conducting bird census on coffee plantations in Chiapas (So.Mex-Guatemala border) on the pacific slope a few weeks ago, and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds where all over that landscape. In the winter they get a few local flowers but they also hawk for insects and I've also seen them "stealing" insects caught on spider webs. Amazing little birds (2-6 grams) that hatch throughout NE America and winters mostly in Central America all the way to Panama. At least if you bump into those on your plane it won't be as bad as a Canada Geese that can weigh up to 30 lbs... They haven't made it yet to NW Ohio yet! waiting impatiently for spring and warmer weather, a tropical guy, p. On Apr 17, 2009, at 12:37 AM, nico css wrote: > > HUMMINGBIRD LANE > > This is something I have never seen before, or ever even heard of. > This woman lives in a Hummingbird fly zone. As they migrated, about > 20 of them were in her yard. She took the little red dish, filled > it with sugar water and this is the result. > The woman is Abagail Alfano of Pine, Louisiana - she has been > studying them daily and one morning put the cup from the feeder, > with water in it, in her hand; as they had gotten used to her > standing by the feeder they came over to her hand. She says in > touching they are as light as a feather. Abagail also said, 'if she > had known her husband was taking pictures she would have put on > makeup.' > > > > > > Windows Live=99: Keep your life in sync. Check it out.


    Message 2


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    Time: 04:58:59 PM PST US
    From: "Steve W" <steve2@sover.net>
    Subject: Re: FW: Hummingbird Lane (from Brandon Thompson)
    Nico, Most amazing is to see those little buggers all together at one time in that photo. They are hugely territorial around here and drive off others from a feeder. They are great fun to watch. I still don't understand how such a tiny high-strung critter can keep itself fed with enough energy to migrate. But someone Monarch butterflies make it to Mexico across the Gulf.... Steve ----- Original Message ----- From: nico css To: 'Johanna' ; 'nicolene' Sent: Friday, April 17, 2009 12:37 AM Subject: Commander-List: FW: Hummingbird Lane (from Brandon Thompson) -------------------------------------------------------------- HUMMINGBIRD LANE This is something I have never seen before, or ever even heard of. This woman lives in a Hummingbird fly zone. As they migrated, about 20 of them were in her yard. She took the little red dish, filled it with sugar water and this is the result. The woman is Abagail Alfano of Pine, Louisiana - she has been studying them daily and one morning put the cup from the feeder, with water in it, in her hand; as they had gotten used to her standing by the feeder they came over to her hand. She says in touching they are as light as a feather. Abagail also said, 'if she had known her husband was taking pictures she would have put on makeup.' Pretty neat, huh? These pictures are amazing. I do hope that the pictures travel through cyber space successfully! Send to your Friends and Family ...... = -------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- Windows LiveT: Keep your life in sync. Check it out.


    Message 3


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    Time: 07:05:39 PM PST US
    From: "nico css" <nico@cybersuperstore.com>
    Subject: Hummingbird Lane (from Brandon Thompson)
    I sent these pictures to the folks because they are such a wonder (not that a part of nature is not), almost impossible that they could fly, but yet, they are making up for their odd construction by flapping their wings faster. I believe it's up to 80 beats per second. Not to start a fight, but how did they evolve from a single cell? Male and female, different in a precise manner coming forth from the same pool, yet perfectly compatible and arriving on the scene at the same moment in time to procreate. If they missed each other by a few weeks, they wouldn't have survived. It boggles the mind. Thanks for sharing, Peter. _____ From: owner-commander-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-commander-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Peter Bichier Sent: Friday, April 17, 2009 9:52 AM Subject: Commander-List: Hummingbird Lane (from Brandon Thompson) Thanks Nico to pass those along, I was just conducting bird census on coffee plantations in Chiapas (So.Mex-Guatemala border) on the pacific slope a few weeks ago, and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds where all over that landscape. In the winter they get a few local flowers but they also hawk for insects and I've also seen them "stealing" insects caught on spider webs. Amazing little birds (2-6 grams) that hatch throughout NE America and winters mostly in Central America all the way to Panama. At least if you bump into those on your plane it won't be as bad as a Canada Geese that can weigh up to 30 lbs... They haven't made it yet to NW Ohio yet! waiting impatiently for spring and warmer weather, a tropical guy, p. On Apr 17, 2009, at 12:37 AM, nico css wrote: HUMMINGBIRD LANE This is something I have never seen before, or ever even heard of. This woman lives in a Hummingbird fly zone. As they migrated, about 20 of them were in her yard. She took the little red dish, filled it with sugar water and this is the result. The woman is Abagail Alfano of Pine, Louisiana - she has been studying them daily and one morning put the cup from the feeder, with water in it, in her hand; as they had gotten used to her standing by the feeder they came over to her hand. She says in touching they are as light as a feather. Abagail also said, 'if she had known her husband was taking pictures she would have put on makeup.' _____ _____ _____ _____ Windows LiveT: Keep your life in sync. Check it out. <http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_allup_1a_explore_042009>


    Message 4


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    Time: 11:10:47 PM PST US
    From: "nico css" <nico@cybersuperstore.com>
    Subject: Pirates and Easter09
    I cannot vouch for this story's veracity. I didn't edit it either, it's as received. This is the first-hand account from a good friend's son onboard the USS Boxer. Subject: How did YOU spend Easter!? I spent mine watching some pirates get spattered off the coast of Somalia! Jargon key located at the bottom. I've been taking notes on facts and (well noted) speculation and rumors. What I know is on the eleventh of April, 2009 at 1600 two C17 cargo planes flew over Boxer and out of the back four parachutes emerged. Then came the boats! Four very fast 1300 hp SWCC boats with radar and guns! After those were safely extracted th e personnel and SEALs jumped. About 95 people in all arrived in the water near Boxer, Swam to the ship and entered the well-deck. I spoke with some of the SEALs in the hangar bay where the are staging their gear for the time being. He was rearranging his gear and talking to a younger looking Ops guy with shoulder-length hair and a feeble semblance of a beard. I struck up a conversation with them and they're really friendly the older SEAL finished with his bag and reached for a rifle case casually unzipped it and pulled out a Mark 416 a highly specialized carbine and as he explained "it's basically an M -4, but made by H&K so it's better!" "visible and non-visible lasers, colapsable stock. It's nice." "And is that an advanced armament suppressor?" I asked. "yeah that just makes it sound better, and the ladies love it!" I asked him if it's the coolest job in the navy. "well I haven't ever flown an F-18 off a carrier, but yeah, pretty much!" "you guys don't wear any insignia." "We don't wear it, but we're still in the Navy." "I know that but what's with that?" "Well I'm a Chief, and he is a second-class" "oh, ok" "So, Chief, did you come in as a SEAL?" "yep, you don't have to be formal, tha t's why we don't wear it. It gets in the way and besides, we know who's in charge." "well I have to get back to watch." "OK, any time you see us over hear and just want to chat and shoot the shit, feel free!" "Cool, thanks" "any time" I also found out from the CPO that the guys flew in from VB on C17's and that took 18 hours! They parachuted into the ocean! That's' cool as hell! At 2100 on Saturday we were headed for the area where the USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) was already in position several hundred miles east off of Somalia's coast. And on Sunday there were so many parts of our engine that were broken from traveling at flank speed (full Bendix) that we stopped the shaft engaged the jacking gear, pinned the gear and tagged out the m----------r! I spent three watches fabricating parts, helping replace sight-flow indicators on journal bearings and running around the ship. On Easter Sunday night, at around 1530 I was making my hourly rounds through the hangar bay and heard four distant rifle reports and knew exactly what happened. There was an orange capsule being towed by Bainbridge. Two SEAL snipers laying prone on the fantail with Barrett .50 cal rifles pointed at the small craft. CAPT. Richard Phillips of Vermont was swim ming toward the RHIB sitting close to the lifeboat. When the Navy said that we want to see proof of life the good captain jumped into the water and started to draw fire from the pirates. The Snipers fired. I had to return to my watch station and at close of business I assumed my next watch: CNN's Live broa dcast of speculation and grievous b------t! I have t decipher all of this crap for you. At 2300 Africa time the Maersk Alabama safely docked in Mombasa, Kenya and the crew was debriefed by the FBI for some reason. Captain Phillips was Logged onboard Boxer at 1836 and one skinny, short, pitiful-looking (and never in a million year is he sixteen) pirate, who was escorted, handcuffed despite the wounds, wearing blacked out ski goggles, through the hangar bay by like 20 marines and MA's. He has asked for amnesty. He'll probably get a UN Trial for international piracy. ( I witness all of this and have to wonder: hasn't copyright protection gone just a little too far? I mean, why are we killing folks over some illegal DVDs?) "We always laugh and joke about pirates onboard and don't realize that this is one of the world's most serious crimes!" -Me, four hours ago. Monday, APR 13, 2009. At 0930 USS Boxer sits of the coast of Somalia and the Bainbridge is at her stern on the port side in tow, the life boat containing three lifeless pirates dispatched into oblivion by the best sharpshooters the world around. The corpses are transferred unde r the heaviest morgue security I've seen since President Ford's funeral to the USS Boxer's chilled holding facility. At 1000 the lifeboat from Alabama is hoisted onto Boxer's flight deck by the local crane. I was there when the boat arrived onboard. Standing next to some chopper refueling buddies and joking about the incident. "Hey, what's orange, full of blood and hanging from a crane?" "What?" "That boat that some pirates got smoked in." Probably the most interesting Easter I've ever spent! Looking closely at the boat, I see four large bullet holes on the STB side where "justice" entered the pirate's mind's, some brain matter sloshed around in the boat. I was told before I left San Diego that I would hate the Boxer, I tell you now, I wouldn't rather be on any other ship. Broken parts and all I like it. 1025 "Maersk Alabama, Departing." is heard over the 1MC. The name of the ship is used to describe the Captain as he is at the top of the command. Personal speculation and trusted brass scuttlebutt says that our AOR has shifted from the gulf of Aden where there aren't any pirates, to where we sit now. 16 ships and 200 hostages from various countries still remain stranded. Not for long, I predict. As always, kee ping it real on the high seas with the US Navy, MMFN McCaskey, Will (MP-Aft) USS Boxer, Somalia KEY: SWCC, special warfare combatant crewman, brown water H&K, Heckler and Koch, famous german weapon's designer's world renound for their popular .45 cal USP (universal service pistol) And other highly precise firearms. CPO, Chief Petty Officer, USN, E7 VB, Virginia Beach, Virginia, East coast headquarters of Special Warfare. DDG, Guided Missile Destroyer Flank, the fastest speed the ship can travel, equal to about 35 knots RHIB, (rib) Rigid-hulled inflatable boat STB, Starboard (right) 1MC, numeric designation for the main announcing circuit used on U.S. Navy vessels. AOR, Area Of Responsibily, the confines within which we roam.




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