What are Purposes of Duck Hunting?

Fig 01- Three Duck playing at road side

Number of waterfowl hunters about 900,000 in the USA, but they killed 31 millions duck each years. Quite surprising number for me.

Some states with higher duck killed, sometimes not correlated to number of active duck hunters with licenses.

From The Duck Blog (2017), here the list of states with higher average duck killed by a hunter per year:

- Mississippi

- Tennessee

- Oregon

- Louisiana

- Idaho

- Washington

- Arkansas

- California.

Fig 02- Canadian geese are swimming

Then, What are Purposes of Duck Hunting?

The answers are depended on to whom we talk to: government or duck hunters?

Fig 03- Two ducks on the grass

Federal duck stamps or licenses are source of income for federal and states government.

Cost for federal stamps was US$ 28.5 (include transaction fees), and license fees are varies between state to state.

These income was designed for conservation efforts, especially in relate to:

- wildlife management

- new lands purchase for hunters

- research and education

Hunters or whoever interests with duck hunting may purchase federal stamps in many places:

- U.S. Post Offices

- Walmart

- some sporting and outdoor stores

- some national wildlife refuges

- online

Moreover, duck hunting is for sport purpose, and duck’s flesh is the main target for some duck hunters.

Have you ever hunting? Hunting for what animals? Deer, duck or what? 

Icy in my Neighborhood during Recently Snow Storm

Fig 01- Snow in the jogging track area

Hundred millions people across America have experienced “deadly” snow storm. Temperature below zero Celsius degree during second week of February 2021.

Almost all southern states to brace more icy and frigid temperature than normal February each year, the states include:

- Texas

- Louisiana

- Mississippi

- Alabama.

Our city, Baton Rouge, temperature reached -8 C (18 F) degree. This is our first time experienced to face lower temperature in the Southern state.

The storm caused several problems in our neighborhood and city:

- power outage

- no water supply

- roads block

- grocery stores are closed

Fig 02- Ice on all branches of tree

Many our neighbors have no electricity more than 50 hours since Monday, 15 February 2021.

Fig 03- Branches fall down on the street.

No signs of light until Wednesday afternoon, 17 February 2021. We don’t know until when.

Few neighbors had to leave because it was too cold inside and they don’t have a fire place inside their houses.

Since our neighborhoods have different grids, we and several neighbors are lucky to have light and water supply during snow storms and until today.

How about with your cities? Have your cities snow storm?

Special Mailboxes of Letters to Santa in Neighborhood

Fig 01- Mailbox to Santa in neighborhood

You know about sending letter to Santa, tradition that back to about 100 years ago, 1921 in the USA.

Kids who believe in Santa may send their letter to address such as Santa, Santa Claus, North Pole or any other address they wish.

Letters may be responded “and with small gifts sometimes” by:

- postal employees

- charitable organizations

- corporations

- any citizens who “want to respond to the letters”

What curious me that I just saw several red mailboxes or Santa mailboxes in my neighborhood this time around.

The mailboxes are provided by US Postal Service. It is said that the letters to Santa must be sent before December 15, 2020 with following address:

123 Elf Road

North Pole 88888

Fig 02- Santa and the mailbox, illustration only

The focus of program is to provide relationship between kids and the citizens. These citizens may help kids to realize their wish during holiday times.

Fig 03- Small red mailbox in the corner, illustration only

Surprisingly, millions of letter sent to Santa each year across America. Just to let you know, one state only, the New York postal service received at least a half million (500,000) letters to Santa each year.

Have you ever sent a letter to Santa or responded a letter to a kid? What did you say to Santa or Kid?

The Helicopter in the Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV)

Fig- 01- The helicopter starts to take off

As far as I remember, I came to Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) in my city for several times.

The business I did in DMV:

- apply for ID card

- testing (paper and road) for driving licensed

- voting registration (register as Democrats, Republicans or independents).

- notice of vehicle transfer

- plate relate things (order personalized, return and cancel plates)

In term of vehicle transfer notice, we have donated, sold and traded our vehicle long time ago.

One day, people from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stop our car, and guide us to DMV parking lot.

Fig- 02- The copter is getting to fly

Then, they check our car emitting gas, luckily our car is the range of normal. The EPA let us go.

Fig- 03- Copter is flying away.

Actually, we check our cars gas emission every year at the state authorized test centers near by our neighborhood.

Testing is to keep our car emission within the range of state regulations. The cost is US$ 18 only.

Surprisingly, when we visit DMV this morning, we saw Copter in the parking lot. We wonder why?

Some people said the helicopter is belong to the police institution. They use this flying vehicle to fight crimes.

By using copter, the police may get very good a crime scene or “bird’s eye view of” to any suspect objects.

Finally, have your city police’s helicopter to combat crime?  

Have you Seen Black Racer Snake Comes in your Backyard?

A black racer snake in the backyard.

First, we saw skin of snake on our backyard sometimes ago. Its could be Black racer snake, because this snake is a common reptile in the southern USA.

Coluber constrictor is scientific name for black racer. It is said the snake is active during daylight, and not poisonous.

Few other characters of black racer are:

- fast moving snake (why called as racer)

- length could reach to 55 inches (140 cm)

- color blind

- yearly to shed its skin

- live in woody, garden or yard areas

- predators of snake are hawk and bigger birds.

- similar appearance to venomous snake called water moccasin.

Black racer in other position

We might wonder about what kind of food Black racer eat. Here some:

- mole

- bird

- lizard

- frogs

- rodents

- insect

- smaller snakes

We never saw snake’s eggs in our yards. Some sources said the snakes could have about 20 eggs yearly with 40% survival rate for young born.

In fact, black racer snakes have positive impact on yards, because they may eat or get rid of the animals which cause damaging to the plants in the garden or yards.

However, in case you do not like this snake to stay in your yard, the best way that you snatch this reptile by trap.

Have you seen any snakes in your gardens or backyards? If so, what do you do?

Farmer Market is Dominated by Homemade Products

Homemade face masks

We have at least three farmer markets close by our neighborhood, they mainly selling produces from vegetable to fruit, flowers to potatoes, honey to cheese and any farming relate produces.

The markets open hours from 6.30 AM to 6.30 PM, and 7 days a week. Not quite short hours compared to ethnic groceries which open from 9.00 AM to 7.00 PM only.

However, one of our neighborhood “farmer market” is different than others in term of selling items and opening hours, the market called as “Harb Oasis.”

This market is collection of small vendors (farmers), they rented the available spaces. Market management said that there are 50 stalls.

It is open about 5 hours, from 8.30 AM to 1.30 PM. But, some booths may little bit longer, maximum at 3.00 PM, depend very much on the number of visitors. If there is crowd, then longer opening hours will be.

Bracelets, homemade accessories

The Harb Oasis is a weekly “farmer market,” every Saturday. 50 vendors fall in categories of:

- farmers

- food sellers

- craft makers

- artists 

Summer style and accessories

We may find plenty of products to buy. Selling items include:

- handcrafts

- art works

- jewelry

- toys

- soaps

- fashion accessories

Art works from community

In addition to shopping, visitors may enjoy live music. We may tastes many different kind of foods sold by food trucks at the corner of market.

Is there weekly farmer market or any weekly market in your area? How long its opening hours?

Algae and Weed on the City Park Lake

Algae cover the lake surface

We visited city lake close to our former university several times a year. In recent visit, we found:

- Algae covers almost entire lake surface

- Weed seems decrease in number compared to previous visit.

In case of algae, it is said the algae is include in blue green algae species which contain dangerous poison called “microcystin.”

Blooming of Blue green algae due to several factors:

- excessive nutrient inflow to the lake

- temperature increase due to season

- shallowness of lake makes water warm easily.

Uncontrolled blooming has impacted on environment in general, at least to lower the aesthetic values of the lake. 

Blue green algae produces poison

Abundance of weed and algae not only affect on aesthetic value, but also have direct effect on:

- fish population due to present of dangerous poison, microcystin.

- swimming movement of people

- boating recreations

- other types of visitors and recreational activities.

Government and local communities have planning to clean up the lake as soon as possible. Project cost is estimated about US$ 50 million.

Hope, the lake back to its previous, natural condition sooner than later!

How many Sand Dunes in the USA?

Great Sand Dunes National Park

By seeing at above image you might think it is a Middle East country scenery or Sahara Desert or other tropical countries view.

No, it is a Colorado image, the state I consider as one of northern part of USA with colder temperature.

The dunes called as “Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve” with area size is 603.1 km² (232.9 mile²).

Many people come there to explore this desert, about a half million (500,000) visitors to explore the area every year.

What they have done in the desert? Some activities are:

- watching sky in the night

- observing cranes migration during Spring and Fall

- Sledding and Sand boarding

- Riding horse

- Hiking

- many mores

Then, How many Sand Dunes in the USA? At least, there are seven sand dunes include in Colorado. Other 6 sand deserts are:

- Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Death Valley, California

- Dumont Dunes, California

- Oregon Sand Dunes National Recreation Area, Oregon

- Algodones Dunes, California

- The Outer Banks, North Carolina and Virginia.

- White Sands National Monument, New Mexico.

Have your state or country own sand dunes and deserts?

Solvang is One of Danish Towns in America

One side of Solvang town

I knew Danes have settled in northern parts of America. They are easily found in the states such as:

- North and South Dakota

- Illinois

- Iowa

- Wisconsin

- Michigan

It is interesting to know that Solvang is Danish town in Santa Ynez valley, Santa Barbara, California. The reason to live in California was to avoid harsh winter in northern part.

Solvang is Danish word for sunny field, the town has 5,900 population with European tastes and influences.

This beautiful “little village” is a kind of gateway to see Danish early settlement in California.

The town is small enough to walk around for two or three hours, especially at the weekend, and enjoy peaceful setting of historic Denmark heritages.

We may found authentic Danish products if stop by in the:

- bakeries (sell Danish pasteries, bread and decorated cakes)

- souvenir shops

- antique shops

- museums

- candle shops

- many small shops

- a lot of restaurants

In specific days, we may “watch” parades and shows such as car show, include classic cars.

Have you visited Solvang or any Danish town in America?

Why We Should Not Control the Future?

A Photo for Illustration only

Every people lived, living and will live in 3 different moments:

- past

- present

- future

Whatever we did, we can not erase it. The past may good or bad, and it could help our today and future live.

We are living right now should focus on the most relevant to us such as education, working, health and friendship.

We wish we could control our current living, unfortunately, we are not in completely charge of daily life. We face with fail and regret in many times.

How about with future? Why We Should Not Control the Future? The futures have some characteristics that are:

- unknown

- uncertain

- unsure outcomes

- unforeseen events

To control the future could results in disappoint, misery, fearful, no hope and worry. Thus, some experts suggest to enjoy of our life right now. We just able to plan our future with hope of good outcomes.

Are you happy with your current life?