The palm tree that got hit by lightning

 

 

A few weeks ago.

 

That’s not very many steps from our house.

 

It was really loud.

 

Confirmation Bias

 

 

In the context of news, it’s the tendency to ingest a perspective we already agree with.

 

Even without an outside source telling us, we already know how our chosen news sources lean.  The ones we watch the most tend to lean the same way we do.  Here is an outside source documenting what we already know.

 

 

The chart can be explored in detail with this link:

 

https://adfontesmedia.com/interactive-media-bias-chart/

 

AP and Reuters are pretty close to the middle.  MSNBC is to the left, Fox news to the right.  Clicking on any individual source reveals more about how the rating was determined.

 

The chart not only documents any political leanings of the reporting but does that against an axis of reliability; is each source more likely to be reporting verified facts, or do they tend to just make up stuff to fit their narrative.  That could be useful to know.  Isn’t it interesting that apparently the more a news source skews left or right, the less it relies on reliable evidence to make its case.

 

Of course, to believe this chart might be useful, a person would have to accept that it’s from an unbiased source and its methodology is sound to begin with…

 

This week’s eggs

 

 

LBH Ranch.

 

 

 

There are a lot of happy chickens here!

 

https://vitalfarms.com/farm/lbh-ranch/

 

 

Flagstaff Mountain

 

 

When we first moved to Boulder Colorado in 1968, we were blown away by the forest and trails of Flagstaff Mountain.  Flagstaff was not rugged and inaccessible, but small, round and friendly; right there adjacent to town.  A city street is suddenly switchbacks. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s an open Colorado kind of forest with an unobstructed view.  Besides the road, hiking trails lead from town to the top.  Longer challenges snake off into more remote terrain.  In 1968 I wanted to hike every step of every trail.  I think I did.  In 1968 I was blown away.  I still am.

 

Our deck can feel like a dangerous place

 

 

The only time I can catch hummingbirds for photos is when they’re on the feeders.  Otherwise, they’re zooming past our heads in screaming attacks and counter-attacks, as high performance flying darts.

 

At their calmer moments.

 

 

 

College Football

 

 

We follow two teams, Colorado and Texas.  Usually it’s Texas that provides all the excitement.  First game of the season, unranked CU 45-42 over seventeenth ranked TCU, runner-up at last year’s National Championship.  Go Buffs!

The twelfth ranked Longhorns didn’t suck either.

 

 

 

Yay

 

 

Hummingbird fall migration.

 

The resident buff-bellied.

 

The migrant ruby-throated.

 

And the interplay between a female ruby-throated and buff-bellied.