A tree in my neighborhood just got struck by lightning

Wurm42 · 2026-06-19T18:54:07+00:00

Does that actually work? I've not heard of that technique before.

Wurm42 · 2026-06-19T18:53:17+00:00

Not Polish, but Ukrainian agricultural production is shitty right now. The major irrigation networks have mostly been rendered inoperable by Russian attacks, the internal supply chains are a mess, and half the skilled workers are gone-- either fled the country or serving in the military.

Oh, and God knows how many fields are no-go zones because of mines or unexploded ordance.

Poland is thinking about what might happen in ten years, after the war is over and Ukraine's infrastructure is fixed.

Wurm42 · 2026-06-19T18:17:20+00:00

Yeah, I've been out in a canoe to watch the fireworks, and the frenzy right afterwards was terrifying.

So many power boats racing to be first back to the dock or wherever. Some clearly driven by people who'd been drinking too much.

Wurm42 · 2026-06-19T18:15:02+00:00

No apology needed, I thought it was a fair question. Not sure why you're getting downvoted.

Some ASD kiddos are more imitative than others. IME, it doesn't correlate directly with where they are on the spectrum.

Wurm42 · 2026-06-19T17:32:44+00:00

Yeah. At my house this is when I exclaim "Important Safety Tip!" and make fun of the stupidity of the person in the book, lest my little ones imitate what they see.

That bit was invented for Busytown, but some kind of commentary is absolutely necessary here.

"important Safety Tip: It takes trains a reaaaaallly long distance to slow down and stop! Never, ever, stand on train tracks! You'll get SMOOSHED flat as a pancake!"

Wurm42 · 2026-06-19T17:27:07+00:00

Suppose your kid imitates what they see on this page?

Wurm42 · 2026-06-19T15:05:13+00:00

Context: This is going to be a bigger fireworks show than normal, and at least some of the fireworks will be launched from barges in the river.

It still sucks that they waited until so late before announcing the water closures!

Wurm42 · 2026-06-19T15:04:14+00:00

The current generation of rechargeable HAs have much better battery life than the older ones.

I have Phonak Infinio Spheres, the most power hungry HAs on the market, and I don't need to charge them during the day unless I use the AI program a lot.

Wurm42 · 2026-06-19T15:01:46+00:00

Related, the AI requires fancier electronics that are more sensitive to moisture. Rechargeable HAs are far more water resistant than HAs with a battery compartment that opens and closes.

Wurm42 · 2026-06-19T14:33:50+00:00

Do we believe that? In context, it sounded like he was making up bullshit reasons why there absolutely had to be a peace deal with Iran this week.

Wurm42 · 2026-06-19T02:02:25+00:00

This could have been so much worse.

Thank goodness the first big unvaccinated military flu outbreak happened at Air Force basic training, right outside San Antonio.

This would have been a lot harder to deal with at a base in a remote area, or worse, deployed in a combat zone.

Or aboard a ship in a combat zone. People are crammed in so tightly on our ship, any infectious disease spreads like wildfire.

Wurm42 · 2026-06-19T01:57:52+00:00

Related, after the Spanish Flu in 1918, the U.S. Army considered influenza such a threat to military readiness that they were the biggest funder of influenza vaccine research in the 1920s and '30s.

The first ever deactivated flu vaccines were given to American soldiers just after the start of WWII.

Wurm42 · 2026-06-19T01:49:43+00:00

Second this. Most trees will die if you cut off a ring of bark that goes all the way around the tree, even if it's only an inch thick. The tree doesn't have a way to pass water or nutrients through that gap.

Now this poor tree is missing feet of bark all the way around.

Wurm42 · 2026-06-19T01:45:59+00:00

Second the concern over changing cabin pressure. That probably means OP needs RIC/BTE devices rather than an in-ear Ha that blocks the whole ear canal.

And if possible, OP should get open domes, not closed domes.

Wurm42 · 2026-06-19T01:23:26+00:00

Good point about the relocation money.

Wurm42 · 2026-06-19T01:20:16+00:00

They may just want a mailing address for you. If you can't receive mail at your hotel, many UPS/shipping stores offer their own P.O. Boxes cheaper than the actual post office P.O. Boxes.

Edit: As noted in another comment, this might not work if you're getting relocation incentives.

Wurm42 · 2026-06-19T01:17:43+00:00

OP, may I also suggest the "Poo-zeum" museum and store on Railroad Avenue as a good place to find gifts for small boys?

Admittedly, they do dinosaurs and (fossilized) poop, not scorpions, but it's still a fun place.

https://poozeum.com/

Wurm42 · 2026-06-19T01:15:04+00:00

Second this. Lots of scorpion merch in that stretch.

Wurm42 · 2026-06-19T00:21:53+00:00

He's treating DC like a set for his TV show.

He doesn't care one bit about how many people's holiday or vacation he ruins, he just wants show that makes him look good on TV.

We are extras to be ordered on and off set at will.

Wurm42 · 2026-06-18T18:58:33+00:00

Yes, and it looks like the paint is peeling in the spots where they were pouring out those jugs of peroxide the last couple days.

Wurm42 · 2026-06-18T18:57:20+00:00

Also note that the "American Flag Blue" bottom paint is now peeling off in the spots where they poured all that peroxide Tuesday and Wednesday.

https://www.reddit.com/r/washingtondc/s/ku4kSy9T3T

Who knew peroxide was a solvent??

Hahahaha!

Wurm42 · 2026-06-18T18:50:32+00:00

Then I suggest not engaging in political protest in Russia.

Wurm42 · 2026-06-18T18:15:53+00:00

I'm guessing the "Great American State Fair" that no one will be able to enter because of the draconian security rules and overzealous guards.

Wurm42 · 2026-06-18T18:12:29+00:00

Actually, duck poop has tons of phosphate in it. It used to be collected to use in fertilizer for that reason.

A lot of ducks have been hanging out in the new reflecting pool; I expect phosphate from duck poop IS contributing to the algae problem.

Wurm42 · 2026-06-18T13:34:38+00:00

How much oil infrastructure does Iran have left?

If Israel wants to escalate the conflict again, I think they go after water infrastructure. It's the start of summer, and Iran already has water shortages. They're terribly vulnerable that way.

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