" WASHINGTON (AP) — Any day now, billions of cicadas with bulging red eyes will crawl out of the earth after 17 years underground and overrun the East Coast. The insects will arrive in such numbers that people from North Carolina to Connecticut will be outnumbered roughly 600-to-1. Maybe more. (snip)
"There are ordinary cicadas that come out every year around the world, but these are different. They're called magicicadas — as in magic — and are red-eyed. And these magicicadas are seen only in the eastern half of the United States, nowhere else in the world.
There are 15 U.S. broods that emerge every 13 or 17 years, so that nearly every year, some place is overrun. Last year it was a small area, mostly around the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee. Next year, two places get hit: Iowa into Illinois and Missouri; and Louisiana and Mississippi. And it's possible to live in these locations and actually never see them.
This year's invasion, Brood II, is one of the bigger ones. Several experts say that they really don't have a handle on how many cicadas are lurking underground but that 30 billion seems like a good estimate. At the Smithsonian Institution, researcher Gary Hevel thinks it may be more like 1 trillion.
Even if it's merely 30 billion, if they were lined up head to tail, they'd reach the moon and back."
'Woggy, I didn't have a chance to do any teasing at Walmart...bummer. My last duty station at Mt. Clemens, Mich. cicadas were so thick on the roads, it was like driving on ice! Slipping and sliding everywhere. Have a great day everyone.
Ick, Phooey; sounds like they get all over you! It's hot here--he he heh we have the sun out. Da Woof is following 'Woggy around. He loves her dearly; everybody loves Sis. Especially me ;-)
Hi Frog! How is your cold? No cicadas in Fl. that I'm aware of but when we lived in N.C., every summer evening enjoyed sounds they made though some called it noise. Love ya.
A few days ago it was dandy lions now it is bugs next will come spiders, snakes and mice. You are hitting all my phobias. YIKES!
Busy day for me. I got plenty of vitamin D as it has been warm and sunny.
Scott had his eye exam today. The Dr referred him to a specialist. One eye cannot be corrected to 20/20 and she couldn't figure out why. A trauma maybe? It may have happened when Scott took a bad tumble 2011. We will find out soon.
Hi Gloria, I just saw pics of giant snails in Houston (as big as your hand!) Glad we don't live there. Have you been a little warm up your way? Let us know how Scott is doing. I'd like to try lasik. I really don't like to wear glasses ...but they work!
SEATTLE (AP) - The Seattle Police Department collected more than 700 guns during a buyback in January, and now city officials have a plan for them.
Mayor Mike McGinn announced Tuesday they'll be melted into plaques that feature quotes from Seattle children about gun violence.
Students can submit quotes in the "Weapons to Words" contest to the mayor's office. Winning entries will be selected by Sept. 15. The plaques will be placed in Seattle parks.
NEWS TO PONDER:
ReplyDeleteEast about to be overrun by billions of cicadas
" WASHINGTON (AP) — Any day now, billions of cicadas with bulging red eyes will crawl out of the earth after 17 years underground and overrun the East Coast. The insects will arrive in such numbers that people from North Carolina to Connecticut will be outnumbered roughly 600-to-1. Maybe more.
(snip)
"There are ordinary cicadas that come out every year around the world, but these are different. They're called magicicadas — as in magic — and are red-eyed. And these magicicadas are seen only in the eastern half of the United States, nowhere else in the world.
There are 15 U.S. broods that emerge every 13 or 17 years, so that nearly every year, some place is overrun. Last year it was a small area, mostly around the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee. Next year, two places get hit: Iowa into Illinois and Missouri; and Louisiana and Mississippi. And it's possible to live in these locations and actually never see them.
This year's invasion, Brood II, is one of the bigger ones. Several experts say that they really don't have a handle on how many cicadas are lurking underground but that 30 billion seems like a good estimate. At the Smithsonian Institution, researcher Gary Hevel thinks it may be more like 1 trillion.
Even if it's merely 30 billion, if they were lined up head to tail, they'd reach the moon and back."
Read more: http://www.seattlepi.com/news/science/article/East-about-to-be-overrun-by-billions-of-cicadas-4492211.php#ixzz2SbszB9UN
'Woggy, I didn't have a chance to do any teasing at Walmart...bummer.
ReplyDeleteMy last duty station at Mt. Clemens, Mich. cicadas were so thick on the roads, it was like driving on ice! Slipping and sliding everywhere. Have a great day everyone.
Phooey, guess you'll have to save up that teasing. I pictured you teasing some people. I've heard cicadas a long time ago. Do you get them in Florida?
DeleteIck, Phooey; sounds like they get all over you! It's hot here--he he heh we have the sun out. Da Woof is following 'Woggy around. He loves her dearly; everybody loves Sis. Especially me ;-)
ReplyDeleteHi Frog! How is your cold? No cicadas in Fl. that I'm aware of but when we lived in N.C., every summer evening enjoyed sounds they made though some called it noise. Love ya.
DeleteA few days ago it was dandy lions now it is bugs next will come spiders, snakes and mice. You are hitting all my phobias. YIKES!
ReplyDeleteBusy day for me. I got plenty of vitamin D as it has been warm and sunny.
Scott had his eye exam today. The Dr referred him to a specialist. One eye cannot be corrected to 20/20 and she couldn't figure out why. A trauma maybe? It may have happened when Scott took a bad tumble 2011. We will find out soon.
Hi Gloria, I just saw pics of giant snails in Houston (as big as your hand!) Glad we don't live there. Have you been a little warm up your way? Let us know how Scott is doing. I'd like to try lasik. I really don't like to wear glasses ...but they work!
DeleteWog, have you ever seen banana slugs? They were pretty common on Whidbey. YUK.
DeleteARE YOU KIDDING?
ReplyDeleteSeattle to melt buyback guns into peace plaques
SEATTLE (AP) - The Seattle Police Department collected more than 700 guns during a buyback in January, and now city officials have a plan for them.
Mayor Mike McGinn announced Tuesday they'll be melted into plaques that feature quotes from Seattle children about gun violence.
Students can submit quotes in the "Weapons to Words" contest to the mayor's office. Winning entries will be selected by Sept. 15. The plaques will be placed in Seattle parks.
READ MORE: http://mynorthwest.com/174/2268565/Seattle-to-melt-buyback-guns-into-peace-bricks
I saw this. Stupid is as stupid does. We cannot give up hope for our state.
DeleteI have been trying to watch Grinding of America. Can only watch in parts. It takes 1 1/2 hours. Worth the time but it will make you mad.