20070605 Daily Photoblog

Daily Photoblog – 2^nd Amendment Drive

Photo Credit: Mrs. Owl

June 5, 2007

20070321 The secret life of baby spiders

The secret life of baby spiders

Photo caption: “Fired spiders and gum” from the web site, “Photography by Ewen Bell.” Neat site – check it out.

March 21, 2007

This post is for my wife. Read it quickly before it is prevailed upon me to amend it or take the post down.

Me: spiders gotta live somewhere. I just Zen them. As long as they don’t change the settings on my computer or eat my ice cream – I’m good. Whatever.

My wife: Spiders seem to make my normally unfazed, calm, and sedate wife go from zero to animated in a nanosecond. I know of nothing else that bothers my wife (except liberals… fortunately she doesn’t feel the need to squish them… .)

It is somewhat the source of amusement with me. Trust me, my amusement is not shared by my wife, and I have long since learned to adjust my approach. [Soccer Dad doesn’t wear paisley (My goodness that was an ugly tie.) - - I take spiders seriously – when they are the source of my wife’s undivided attention…]

Me to wife: Wife, I just saw on Nancy Grace that Anna Nicole Smith is still dead and the world is going to come to an end. Could ya please help me grab my computer before we go to the bomb shelter?

Wife: I don’t care - - There’s a spider in the house! Get it.

Over the years we have come to a sorta agreement. Found spiders in the house are not to be killed. They are to be invited to go outside… This seems to work as long as the spider is cooperative.

For the safety of spiders, I have posted a sign at the back door that our house is not safe for spiders. It seems to have worked.

Sooo, it was with some amusement that I saw that “Spiders Love to Snuggle.”

Perhaps Jeremy Bruno up at Voltage Gate (Besides, Mr. Bruno has not one article about spiders on his blog. What gives”) may have to interpret some of this for us, but according to Jeanna Bryner LiveScience Staff Writer LiveScience.com Wed Mar 21, 8:45 AM ET :

While not usually considered paragons of tender, familial love, some spiders do have a touchy-feely side. Scientists have discovered two arachnids that caress their young and snuggle together.

Social behavior is extremely rare in arachnids, a group of critters typically defined by their aggression, clever hunting methods and even predatory cannibalism.

"This was the best example I had ever seen of friendly behavior in an arachnid," said lead study author Linda Rayor, a Cornell University entomologist.

[…]

Video: Spider Baby Rub

Video: Spider Tickle

For (Phrynus) marginemaculatus, the stroking was mutual, with the three-week-olds also whip-caressing their moms and one another.

Video: Spider Siblings

[…]

Video: Spiders' Psychedelic Courtship Dance

Images: Creepy Spiders

Original Story: Creepy: Spiders Love to Snuggle

Since this is a family blog – we may wanna have Attila pick up the story here and here… . He goes places I can’t.

Read the rest of the article here: “Spiders Love to Snuggle.”

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20061127 The US Census Bureau breaks society down into five core generational segmentations

The US Census Bureau breaks society down into five core generational segmentations

Hat Tip: Mrs. Owl

I’ve always been fascinated with some of the communication dysfunction that occurs between men and women, different races and cultures and between generations.

Mrs. Owl was kind enough to e-mail this brief overview as to communication between generations. I enjoy speaking to young adults in the Carroll County Public Schools… and with that and in my role as an uncle, I have always liked to think that I do a fairly good job at reaching the youngest generation; however, I never-the-less worry that I need much improvement.

Anyway, I hope that you agree that the following is an informative introduction to the subject of intergenerational communication…


Listening – Generational!
By Dr. Jeffrey Magee, PDM, CSP, CMC

Executive Summary: Listening to individuals from the generational footprint they bring to the conversation can drastically change the outcome – connect with them at their level and attain success, insist upon communicating from your level solely and your guaranteed failure!

With the diverse environments you live and work today, there is something more important than just gender and race when it comes to really communicating and listening to others for success. Consider the five diverse generational segmentations (COACHING for IMPACT ©2003 by Dr. Jay Kent-Ferraro and Dr. Jeffrey Magee, www.JeffreyMagee.com/library.asp) in the work place today, and some of the similarities and more importantly the enormous difference between how each one operates and processes.

Effective leaders merely make observations, not judgments of right versus wrong or good versus bad, in reflecting upon the differing age segmentations in an organization and thus ways to better connect with each.

The United States Census Bureau breaks society down into five core generational segmentations (birth through death) and if we are to simply use these same five segmentations in the work place, we could segment individuals (yes we are making generalizations here, and there can always be an exception!) into categories with unique traits or characteristics, which could serve as guide posts of how to frame your communication exchange to solicit greater listening and awareness.

Consider the five generational segmentations and the ABCs (Attitudes, Behaviors, and Characteristics) of each for better connections:

1. Centurion (those over 55 years of age; exit point employees) – more structured, formal, conservative, dedicated, and loyal, identity is rooted in what one does, change resistant …

2. BabyBoomers (those from 38 to 55 years of age) – more status driven, materialistic driven, opinionated and ego driven, live to work …

3. Generation X (28 to 38 years of age) – entitlement expected, more outgoing and impatient, question authority and norms more, self indulgent, live for the now …

4. Generation Y (22 to 28 years of age) – More social and relationship driven, work to live, not as class conscious, highly educated, more liberal, change accepting …

5. Generation MTV (17-21 years of age; entry point employees) – looking for association causes to be dedicated to, more structured and accepting of others and situations, concerned for the future and consideration of their peers, live for the now with a reflection on the future, very tech savvy …

When listening to others, listen from the vantage point of the generational segmentation as a footprint from where they come from and you will have a greater awareness of why one says what one says and how to connect with them more effectively.

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David S Babylon Obit September 4, 1923 – August 22, 2006

David S. Babylon, Jr.

September 4, 1923 – August 22, 2006

Myers-Durboraw Funeral Home

91 Willis Street, Westminster, Maryland 21157410-848-3933 Fax 410-876-3284

David Snider Babylon, Jr., 82, died at his home on Tuesday, August 22, 2006, after an extended illness.

Born on September 4, 1923 in Westminster, MD, he was the son of the late D. Snider Babylon and Marion Cover Babylon. He and G. Evelyn Fluck Babylon were married October 16, 1948 by her father, the Reverend Dr. William A. Fluck, in Hatfield, PA.

Mr. Babylon was a 1941 graduate of Valley Forge Military Academy. He was one of the youngest Captains commissioned in the U. S. Army during World War II. He graduated from Gettysburg College in January 1948 with a BA degree in Economics.

After graduation, he continued in a business, Cunocar Bookkeeping Service, begun in his college years. Many in Westminster have fond memories of Mr. Babylon’s green “office-on-wheels,” in which he would travel from business to business. He sold his business in 1986, to retire, travel, and enjoy his family and friends. He enjoyed entertaining family and friends at his home on Willis Street.

Much of life was dedicated to public service. He joined the Westminster Fire Engine and Hose Company #1 on June 1^st, 1949. Serving in the fire department was one of the passions in his life. He served for many years as secretary/treasurer. Some members still recall how he stopped by the station every morning to “match for coffee” – flipping a 1923 silver dollar.

Mr. Babylon served as a Westminster Common Councilman for 25 years, from 1964 to 1989; at which time, he retired. For 16 of those years, he served as the Common Council President as did his grandfather, F. Thomas Babylon, in 1898 and 1899.

Mr. Babylon was a member of Carroll Post 31 American Legion for over 60 years, as well as a member of the Westminster Elks Lodge 2277, and a member and past president of the Westminster Lions Club for over 50 years, for which he was named a Melvin Jones Fellow in 1994. He was a member and past president of the Westminster Riding Club; of which his sister, Eleanor Cover Babylon was a founding member.

He was also an active member of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church on Carroll Street in Westminster as was his family for two previous generations.

As a business professional, Mr. Babylon served as President and board member of the Westminster Hardware Company for many years. He served as a Director and Vice-Chairman of the Board of Carroll County Bank and Trust Company from 1961 until 1999 as well as Mason-Dixon Bancshares from 1991 to 1999. His grandfather, F. Thomas Babylon and father, D. Snider Babylon, also served as President of the Westminster Hardware Company and as a Director and President of the Westminster Savings Bank, the predecessor of Carroll County Bank & Trust.

He was on the Board of Directors of Piney Branch Golf & Country Club, the Raymond I. Richardson Foundation for Bowling Brook School and the Albaugh and Babylon Grocery Co.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by four children, their spouses and six grandchildren. Marian Babylon Rognlien and her husband, Ronald L. Rognlien and daughter, Marnie, of Nokesville, VA. Col. William T. Babylon, US Army (Ret.) and his wife, Lt. Col. Patricia Jean Cronen Babylon, US Army (Ret.) and their children, Franklin Thomas and his fiancé, Rosalena Magroski; Elizabeth Anne; and David Snider Babylon III, of Anchorage, AK. Caroline Babylon and her husband, Kevin Dayhoff, of Westminster, MD. Sarah Babylon Dorrance and children Jamie and Melissa, of Mount Airy, MD.

He was predeceased by his stepmother, Caroline Billingslea Babylon, sister, Eleanor Cover Babylon, brother Thomas Cover Babylon, and son-in-law James Dorrance.

The family will receive friends at the Myers-Durboraw Funeral Home at 91 Willis Street, Westminster, MD from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8, Friday, August 25. The Westminster Fire Department will hold a memorial service at 8:15 p.m. Friday evening, August 25.

A memorial service will be held at Grace Lutheran Church, 21 Carroll Street in Westminster at 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 26 with the Reverend David B. Helfrich officiating. The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. before the service at Grace Lutheran Church. Entombment will be private at the family mausoleum at Krider’s Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Evelyn and David S. Babylon Community Fund, c/o The Carroll Community Foundation, 255 Clifton Blvd., Westminster, MD 21157.

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