We are in Montreal with my BFF and her husband, my best buddy from college (I introduced them!), and

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We are in Montreal with my BFF and her husband, my best buddy from college (I introduced them!), and their two children, who are three and five. I’ve never been to Montreal, but she and her family used to come here, until motherhood (and really, being the mother of a premature baby who did not figure out how to sleep for like, three years) kind of wrecked that. 

We’re having a pretty good time but i’d just like to state for the record that a total of two (2) times today I have managed to reduce their sleep-resistant 3-year-old (the preemie is 5 now and sleeps just fine) to total unconsciousness with my patented a capella too-low rendition of Townes Van Zandt’s immortal classic Pancho & Lefty. So, this is me, taking a bow on the Internet, because I was too busy slipping silently out of their hotel room to take a bow then. (The first time was in the car and listen, we got a solid 45 minutes before that kid snapped awake shrieking so I’ll take it.)

Also they can get their kids to modulate their voices and not just shriek-yell all the time? We had a Quiet Party in the hotel room for like, two hours just now? It was unreal. Nobody yelled at all. We all shushed each other. It was impressive. I’m so impressed by those kids.

I’m also sorry that apparently most childfree people are so down on kids! I have gotten sort of spoiled, maybe, because I have all these friends under five who are so good to me. 
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I was having a really annoying time in the hotel here, they have this meaningless security theater..

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I was having a really annoying time in the hotel here, they have this meaningless security theater thing where you have to use your room card to get the hotel elevator to stop at the floor you choose (but it doesn’t prevent you from being on the elevator, and of course you can get off on any floor where someone else has called the elevator, and WHAT’S MORE, there’s a TOTALLY UNLOCKED STAIRWELL you can take freely unobserved to ANY FLOOR, and I’m on the 5th floor and my bestie and her family are on the 4th and it is a PAIN IN THE ASS), and anyway I had just stomped up the stairs for the zillionth time, and opened the door and there was a $5 bill lying on the floor. Canadian, but, I mean, we’re in Canada.

So I picked it up. Ha, there, some little reward from Fate for my troubles.

And then I turned my head and there was the maintenance door open and the hotel maid’s cart sitting there, but no maid. But, clearly, right there.

I was like, this could not more obviously be a tip someone left for the maid that she dropped.

So I stepped into the maid’s closet and put the $5 onto the cart, because, clearly, it belonged there.

Anyway. I don’t really need $5 Canadian, but that’s somebody’s livelihood.

It cheered me up anyway, I guess, sort of. 
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elodieunderglass: strikeslip: elodieunderglass: al-the-grammar-geek: gwo: I hate.. any...

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elodieunderglass:

strikeslip:

elodieunderglass:

al-the-grammar-geek:

gwo:

I hate.. any glorification of war, but I think there is something very sweet about animals getting medals for doing a great job. I especially love it when they get to retire to comfy, non-demanding lives after their service. 

In WWII, 32 out of the 53 medals issued to animals went to pigeons. They’re so helpful and brave, its a tragedy we think so little of pigeons now!

Look at this dashing picture I found of GI Joe! He flew 20 miles in 20 minutes, and saved a thousand people from a bombing in Italy. He retired alongside other pigeon heroes and lived a long life of 18 years!

… Gallantry!

Another good pigeon war story is that of Kaiser, who became the most famous jailbird

—

he was originally a German bird who became a prisoner-of-war after he was caught by Americans. Upon capture he was drafted into a breeding program and sired over 100 children for America’s side. He died at 33 (that is a ridiculously long life for a pigeon - almost unbelievable. An extremely healthy bird!) making him the only pigeon to serve in both world wars.

@elodieunderglass

LOOK AT THIS GALLANT BOY!

I had to go look up a picture of the incredibly healthy prisoner of war pigeon, so here he is. Apparently he was also featured in a parade.

BRILLIANT RESEARCH!!!!!
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Lovely day! Wish I spoke French! (at Montreal, Quebec)

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Lovely day! Wish I spoke French! (at Montreal, Quebec)
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Why You (Probably) Shouldn't Worry About Earth's Magnetic Poles Flipping

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Why You (Probably) Shouldn't Worry About Earth's Magnetic Poles Flipping:

If the poles really did do a switcheroo, Earthlings would notice, though scientists aren’t worried about a planetwide doomsday.

Just before a reversal, the extreme weakening of our magnetic field, the shield that protects us from charged particles constantly blasting the atmosphere, could cause trouble. Live Science previously reported these charged solar particles could punch holes in Earth’s atmosphere akin to the ozone hole above Antarctica. Whether those holes would have any true impact is debatable, scientists have said.

The increased radiation, however, could mess with the navigation of satellites and aircraft as well as electrical power grids. “Were this to happen today, the increase in charged particles reaching the Earth would result in increased risks for satellites, aviation and ground-based electrical infrastructure,” University of Leeds geophysicists Phil Livermore and Jon Mound wrote in an article for The Conversation.
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This little friend kept falling from the loosening grip of a...

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This little friend kept falling from the loosening grip of a very small child on the verge of falling asleeo, and was twice returned by sweet earnest French-speaking passers-by, but made it back to the hotel. Thank you, polite and kindly Montrealites! (at Montreal, Quebec)
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