Anyone who has grown up where the snow stays on the ground 6 months a year will know why. Heck, even folks who've never seen snow will understand.
If you're feeling particularly ADD, just jump to the 2:03 mark. But be sure to hang on to your shorts:
Showing posts with label Wildlife. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wildlife. Show all posts
10/09/2014
6/19/2012
On Q hits milestone: 100,000+ visits
So, I was looking at my Sitemeter account earlier today (you know, the thingie that measures traffic to this blog), and here's what I saw:
My first thought upon seeing this stat? Cool! My second thought? I need to thank everyone who made it possible.
As a QNXer, I'm fortunate to have lots of cool technology to talk about. I'm even more fortunate to have readers who are willing to listen, comment, and, yes, disagree with me. Because the real fun starts when the convo warms up.
All of which to say, thank you — for visiting, for subscribing, for reading, for watching, for commenting, for responding, and, above all, for making this an enjoyable ride. And while I'm at it, a big bear hug for all the colleagues who have supported this blog with their expertise and encouragement. You guys are the best.
And now, a request...
Tell you what, let's make this occasion a little more interactive. Do you have a favorite On Q post? If so, leave a comment — I'd love to hear about it.
Meanwhile, here are 5 of the all-time most popular posts on this blog:
POSTSCRIPT
In case you're wondering, 100,000 isn't my daily visit count — it's the total count. The actual number is higher, as I started to measure traffic about six months after my first post. For those of you who prefer page views as a metric, the total is 173,000+.
My first thought upon seeing this stat? Cool! My second thought? I need to thank everyone who made it possible.
As a QNXer, I'm fortunate to have lots of cool technology to talk about. I'm even more fortunate to have readers who are willing to listen, comment, and, yes, disagree with me. Because the real fun starts when the convo warms up.
All of which to say, thank you — for visiting, for subscribing, for reading, for watching, for commenting, for responding, and, above all, for making this an enjoyable ride. And while I'm at it, a big bear hug for all the colleagues who have supported this blog with their expertise and encouragement. You guys are the best.
And now, a request...
Tell you what, let's make this occasion a little more interactive. Do you have a favorite On Q post? If so, leave a comment — I'd love to hear about it.
Meanwhile, here are 5 of the all-time most popular posts on this blog:
- QNX system runs 15 years nonstop until...
- First pix of the QNX medical reference design
- WIRED: Gadget-filled Corvette connects with QNX
- I passed the buck...
- Two naughty! My favorite QNX marketing campaign
POSTSCRIPT
In case you're wondering, 100,000 isn't my daily visit count — it's the total count. The actual number is higher, as I started to measure traffic about six months after my first post. For those of you who prefer page views as a metric, the total is 173,000+.
9/26/2011
Three new PlayBook wallpapers: Timber wolf, sunrise, and fence
Yeah, I know what you're thinking: He's posted a wallpaper of a fence? Actually, it's one my favorites — a pleasant, symmetrical design that doesn't wear out its welcome.
In any case, here are my three latest PlayBook wallpapers, all posted on Flickr. See below for download instructions.
In any case, here are my three latest PlayBook wallpapers, all posted on Flickr. See below for download instructions.
 |
| Timber wolf |
 |
| Sunrise on the Bonnechere |
 |
| My neighbour's fence |
To download the wallpapers to your PlayBook:
|
9/11/2011
Download my latest PlayBook wallpapers!
It's taken me forever, but I've finally started to post full-size versions of my BlackBerry PlayBook wallpapers.
To download the wallpapers from your PlayBook:
To download the wallpapers from your PlayBook:
- Go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulleroux
- Tap on any wallpaper.
- A larger image will appear. Tap Actions, then tap View all sizes.
- An even larger image will appear! Tap Download the Large size of this photo.
- Your PlayBook will ask you to enter a file name. Type something meaningful, such as cat_wallpaper.jpg, and tap Save.
- From the PlayBook home screen, tap Pictures, then tap Downloads.
- Tap the wallpaper you want, swipe from the top of the screen and tap Set as Wallpaper. You're done!
 |
| Star field |
 |
| My friend's cat (actual wallpaper looks much snappier than this image) |
 |
| Blackbird at sunset I plan to post more in the coming weeks. Stay tuned! |
4/17/2011
Critter of the week: House cat
Hey, have you ever wondered how cats manage to stay healthy even though they don't eat fruits and vegetables? Of course you haven't. But now that I've raised the question, I'm sure you're dying to know.
Well, I'm no expert in cat physiology, but here's one reason cats survive without fruit smoothies: They manufacture their own Vitamin C. Neat, huh?
Now that we've got that out of the way, back to the world of cars, tablets, and other cool stuff. But before you go, check out this photo I took of a friend's cat a few months ago. Behind that (seemingly) menacing stare is probably the gentlest kitty you've ever met:
Have a great week.
Well, I'm no expert in cat physiology, but here's one reason cats survive without fruit smoothies: They manufacture their own Vitamin C. Neat, huh?
Now that we've got that out of the way, back to the world of cars, tablets, and other cool stuff. But before you go, check out this photo I took of a friend's cat a few months ago. Behind that (seemingly) menacing stare is probably the gentlest kitty you've ever met:
Have a great week.
12/05/2010
I passed the buck...
... or did the buck pass me? It's all a matter of perspective, I guess. In any case, this buck and I passed by each other in the woods yesterday, and I managed to squeeze off a few frames before he moved on. Here's one of them:
Click to magnify.
Photo tip: With their impressive antlers, white-tailed bucks evoke regality. To keep them looking regal, I often change my perspective by getting on my knees and shooting them from below their eye level. This gives the effect of looking up at them, much as you would a king on a throne.
Disney artists used much the same technique when drawing images of Bambi's father. For example:
Because in art, as in life, perspective is everything. :-)
Click to magnify.
Photo tip: With their impressive antlers, white-tailed bucks evoke regality. To keep them looking regal, I often change my perspective by getting on my knees and shooting them from below their eye level. This gives the effect of looking up at them, much as you would a king on a throne.
Disney artists used much the same technique when drawing images of Bambi's father. For example:
Because in art, as in life, perspective is everything. :-)
9/07/2010
Critter of the week: Underwing moth
You know what I like about being on vacation? I slow down enough to see things that would otherwise escape my notice. Take, for example, this underwing moth, which I stumbled upon while staying at a friend's summer cottage:
Click to magnify
As you can see, underwing moths are endowed with amazing camouflage patterns. But you know what's really cool? They know how to select tree bark that maximizes the effectiveness of these patterns — as this photo attests.
Underwings are most active at night, when their mortal enemies, bats, are also active. Obviously, a talent for camouflage does little good when your enemy hunts by echo location. Thus, underwings have developed a second defense mechanism: A set of organs called tympana that allow a moth to "hear" a bat's ultrasonic cries. Upon hearing these cries, the moth will take evasive action, such as falling to the ground.
If you're wondering how underwings got their name, it comes from a pair of brightly colored wings that become visible when the moths take flight. The underwing genus, Catocala, is large, comprising over 200 species.
Synchronicity department
A couple of days after I took this photo, my son took some surprisingly similar photos — not of moths, but of paintball markers. The photos are a testament to the effectiveness of the "A-TACS" camouflage pattern. Here's an example; to see more, click here.
Click to magnify
As you can see, underwing moths are endowed with amazing camouflage patterns. But you know what's really cool? They know how to select tree bark that maximizes the effectiveness of these patterns — as this photo attests.
Underwings are most active at night, when their mortal enemies, bats, are also active. Obviously, a talent for camouflage does little good when your enemy hunts by echo location. Thus, underwings have developed a second defense mechanism: A set of organs called tympana that allow a moth to "hear" a bat's ultrasonic cries. Upon hearing these cries, the moth will take evasive action, such as falling to the ground.
If you're wondering how underwings got their name, it comes from a pair of brightly colored wings that become visible when the moths take flight. The underwing genus, Catocala, is large, comprising over 200 species.
Synchronicity department
A couple of days after I took this photo, my son took some surprisingly similar photos — not of moths, but of paintball markers. The photos are a testament to the effectiveness of the "A-TACS" camouflage pattern. Here's an example; to see more, click here.
5/19/2010
Critter of the week: Chipmunk
Chipmunks are cute, but tough. A few years ago, I saw one dive repeatedly into an underground bumblebee nest to feast on the colony's larvae. The bees, no surprise, went on the counterattack. In response, the chipmunk would shoot out of the nest like a rocket, shake himself off, and dive right back in.
Mind you, even the toughest rodent knows that a painless meal is preferable to a painful one. Which explains why the chipmunk in this picture has decided that our bird feeder, stuffed with sunflower seeds, is his personal larder:
Click to enlarge.
Don't think, though, that chipmunks restrict their diet to seeds and the occasional insect. They may also eat fungi, eggs, frogs, worms, and, according to some accounts, the occasional small bird or mammal. They will even eat small snakes.
As for big snakes, they eat chipmunks. That's nature for you.
Mind you, even the toughest rodent knows that a painless meal is preferable to a painful one. Which explains why the chipmunk in this picture has decided that our bird feeder, stuffed with sunflower seeds, is his personal larder:
Click to enlarge.
Don't think, though, that chipmunks restrict their diet to seeds and the occasional insect. They may also eat fungi, eggs, frogs, worms, and, according to some accounts, the occasional small bird or mammal. They will even eat small snakes.
As for big snakes, they eat chipmunks. That's nature for you.
5/02/2010
Critter of the week: White-throated sparrow
The white-tailed sparrow comes in two models: white-striped and tan-striped. The first model, seen here, has black and white head stripes, whereas the other model has brown and tan head stripes. Technically, this is known as plumage polymorphism — but I only talk that way when I'm trying to be uppity.
Click to enlarge.
Now here is where things get interesting. The white-striped members of this species defend their territory more aggressively than their tan-striped brothers and sisters. On the other hand, the tan-striped individuals take better care of their young. So, if you were a baby white-throated sparrow, which parental style would better ensure your survival?
Don't try answering, because it's a trick question. White-striped individuals almost always mate with tan-striped individuals, and vice versa. So, as a baby sparrow, you always benefit from both parental styles.
White-throated sparrows tend to stay near the ground, but I tricked this one into posing at eye level by placing some sunflowers seeds on a fence post.
For more information on the white-throated sparrow:
- Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Wikipedia
Click to enlarge.
Now here is where things get interesting. The white-striped members of this species defend their territory more aggressively than their tan-striped brothers and sisters. On the other hand, the tan-striped individuals take better care of their young. So, if you were a baby white-throated sparrow, which parental style would better ensure your survival?
Don't try answering, because it's a trick question. White-striped individuals almost always mate with tan-striped individuals, and vice versa. So, as a baby sparrow, you always benefit from both parental styles.
White-throated sparrows tend to stay near the ground, but I tricked this one into posing at eye level by placing some sunflowers seeds on a fence post.
For more information on the white-throated sparrow:
- Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Wikipedia
2/12/2010
Critter of the week: pelecinid wasp
Sometimes, Mother Nature can be downright icky. Case in point: the pelecinid wasp.
As you can see, the pelecinid is a nasty-looking bugger, but before you panic, that isn't a stinger looming menacingly at the end of its tail. It's an ovipositor. You know, for laying eggs.
Which brings us to the icky part. The female pelecinid jabs its ovipositor into soil to detect beetle grubs. When it finds one, it lays an egg. When the pelecinid larva subsequently emerges from the egg, it burrows into the beetle grub, kills it, and proceeds to feast on the remains.
Moral: When you see one of these wasps, don't kill it. Because it controls the beetle grubs that devastate lawns.
Just think of all the grass seed you won't have to buy.
As you can see, the pelecinid is a nasty-looking bugger, but before you panic, that isn't a stinger looming menacingly at the end of its tail. It's an ovipositor. You know, for laying eggs.
Which brings us to the icky part. The female pelecinid jabs its ovipositor into soil to detect beetle grubs. When it finds one, it lays an egg. When the pelecinid larva subsequently emerges from the egg, it burrows into the beetle grub, kills it, and proceeds to feast on the remains.
Moral: When you see one of these wasps, don't kill it. Because it controls the beetle grubs that devastate lawns.
Just think of all the grass seed you won't have to buy.
1/27/2010
Today's special: White-tailed deer
Working at QNX comes with a number of benefits, including a nearby forest populated by coyotes, porcupines, white-tailed deer, and a variety of other wildlife.
It was bright and sunny outside last Friday, so I grabbed my camera and headed out into the forest -- just a five-minute drive down the road. An hour later, I returned to the office with about two dozen deer photos, including these two. Enjoy.
Click to enlarge.
It was bright and sunny outside last Friday, so I grabbed my camera and headed out into the forest -- just a five-minute drive down the road. An hour later, I returned to the office with about two dozen deer photos, including these two. Enjoy.
Click to enlarge.
2/14/2008
Mother Nature’s Debugger
The Goldenrod crab spider is a nasty piece of goods. A master of camouflage, it can mimic the color of its surroundings, rendering itself invisible to prey. Basically, it catches bugs by means of obscurity.
Check out the accompanying photo, which I took in my front garden. It tells the whole story: a yellow flower, a yellow crab spider, and an unfortunate fly that couldn’t tell the difference.
Obscurity is good for the spider, but not so good for humans. In business and politics, for example, hidden practices often, if not always, lead to corruption. Transparency is usually the cure, which is why a global organization dedicated to fighting corrupt practices calls itself Transparency International.
Mind you, transparency isn’t just good for CEOs and politicians; it’s also good for software developers. Vendors who publish their source code and develop their software products out in the open benefit from having more eyes inspecting their code — and the more eyes you have, the easier it is to catch bugs. (Spiders figured this out long ago.) Customers, for their part, can study the code and learn how to make best use of it. They can also use it to improve their own debugging efforts — which means even fewer bugs.
Basically, transparency is good for both the vendor and the software user. And there’s nothing obscure about that.
Using more eyes to catch more bugs.
Check out the accompanying photo, which I took in my front garden. It tells the whole story: a yellow flower, a yellow crab spider, and an unfortunate fly that couldn’t tell the difference.
Obscurity is good for the spider, but not so good for humans. In business and politics, for example, hidden practices often, if not always, lead to corruption. Transparency is usually the cure, which is why a global organization dedicated to fighting corrupt practices calls itself Transparency International.
Mind you, transparency isn’t just good for CEOs and politicians; it’s also good for software developers. Vendors who publish their source code and develop their software products out in the open benefit from having more eyes inspecting their code — and the more eyes you have, the easier it is to catch bugs. (Spiders figured this out long ago.) Customers, for their part, can study the code and learn how to make best use of it. They can also use it to improve their own debugging efforts — which means even fewer bugs.
Basically, transparency is good for both the vendor and the software user. And there’s nothing obscure about that.
Using more eyes to catch more bugs.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)