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wtg

I looked out towards the backyard this morning and saw a bajillion birds in one of the bird baths. At first I thought they were sparrows but then I looked again and realized they weren't. I used the Merlin app to identify their call. Cedar waxwings.

First couple of photos are from the screen room, through a window screen, so a bit fuzzy. I snuck out onto the deck for the last one and got a clearer snap but about half the birds had flown away. I've never seen so many of these guys at one time in our yard!

Zoom into the bird bath just to the left of the bridge to see the original crowd:

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A bit closer, but still through the screen:

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From the deck:

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wtg

The Justice Department on Monday launched a nearly $2 billion “anti-weaponization fund” as part of a settlement after President Trump sued the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for $10 billion.

The fund, which will receive a total of $1.776 billion dollars, will give payouts as well as issue “formal apologies” to those who pursue settlements after arguing they were wronged by the government.

The settlement comes after Trump was criticized for seeking a major payout from the IRS over a suit he filed related to the leaking of his tax returns.

“The machinery of government should never be weaponized against any American, and it is this Department’s intention to make right the wrongs that were previously done while ensuring this never happens again,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in announcing the fund.

“As part of this settlement, we are setting up a lawful process for victims of lawfare and weaponization to be heard and seek redress.”

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5883454-doj-launches-anti-weaponization-fund/

wtg

Stole these (and the thread title) from someone next door. So much fun!!

Link to video

Bit of naval-themed Busby Berkley-arranged dance by the Igor Moiseyev Ballet:

Link to video

wtg

Scientists analyzing the genomes of thousands of people across Japan discovered evidence for a previously overlooked third ancestral group, challenging the long-accepted “dual origins” theory. The newly identified ancestry appears linked to the ancient Emishi people of northeastern Japan. Researchers also uncovered inherited Neanderthal and Denisovan DNA connected to conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260514003314.htm

wtg

Gutting the department.

https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/16/politics/global-crises-state-department-cuts

wtg

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Why a Single 5.51-Carat Diamond Commanded $17.3 Million in Geneva

When an ultra-rare blue-green stone with no comparables returns to market, collectors take notice.

https://observer.com/2026/05/auction-news-ultra-rare-ocean-dream-blue-green-diamond-geneva-christies/

wtg

When Mr. Carl Craft nearly died from a brain hemorrhage, he and his wife Dawn reviewed their bucket list. Carl wanted to travel, Dawn said she wanted to go to medical school.

“He thought I was crazy,” she said.

Now though, Dawn Zuidgeest-Craft proudly carries a doctorate in medicine after finishing as the school’s oldest-ever graduate at 72 years old.

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/senior-scholar-fulfills-life-long-dream-to-graduate-medical-school-a-doctor-at-73-years-young/

wtg

@Big_Al said:

I wonder if he was working at the Erdemir plant. I worked with an engineer who was involved with a sinter plant for that company.

Here is a snippet from my neighbor Joe Faloon's obit. He died in 2006 at the age of 87, so he was much older than you.

Joseph and his wife Virginia both graduated from Carnegie Tech (now Carnegie Mellon University) in 1939. Joseph was an industrial engineer who worked in the steel industry throughout his career, first for U.S. Steel, then Ford Motor Steel, then Kaiser Engineers, managing the creation and expansion of major steel plants, living in Turkey and consulting in Indonesia, Australia, Venezuela and Mexico.

wtg

On another gardening note...I really like a variety of tomato called 'Little Sicily'. Tasty tomatoes, great yields. I have purchased them at Home Depot and at a local garden center but neither had them in stock this year. I don't have a lot of opportunities to get out to do plant shopping these days, so I took a flyer and ordered them from Home Depot online; I was surprised to see them listed. I thought I would probably get a couple of spindly, broken, yellow plants that I'd be schlepping to the store for a refund.

Imagine my surprise when this very sturdy box arrived with two tomato plants in it:

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Each plant was in a small hinged "greenhouse":

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Some of the healthiest specimens I've seen. I unpacked the plants when they came a few days ago, so they've already grown. I set up this photo so you could see how cozily they were packaged:

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Hopefully the universe will forgive me for all that packaging. But I'll be eating the tastiest tomatoes in the 'hood later this summer!

wtg

Summer is here (basically zero chance of frost moving forward) so I'll be spending the next few days catching up in the garden. I have already purchased veggie plants and have bean seeds and seed potatoes. Time to get to work getting everything in the ground!

Looks like this year's crop of gooseberries and currants (both red and black) isn't going to be as good as last year.

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