Carrion Luggage (Book)

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Carrion Luggage

Carrion Luggage

Native to the Americas, the turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) travels widely in search of sustenance. While usually foraging alone, it relies on other individuals of its species for companionship and mutual protection. Sometimes misunderstood, sometimes feared, sometimes shunned, it nevertheless performs an important role in the ecosystem.

This scavenger bird is a marvel of efficiency. Rather than expend energy flapping its wings, it instead locates uplifting columns of air, and spirals within them in order to glide to greater heights. This behavior has been mistaken for opportunism, interpreted as if it is circling doomed terrestrial animals destined to be its next meal. In truth, the vulture takes advantage of these thermals to gain the altitude needed glide longer distances, flying not out of necessity, but for the joy of it.

It also avoids the exertion necessary to capture live prey, preferring instead to feast upon that which is already dead. In this behavior, it resembles many humans.

It is not what most of us would consider to be a pretty bird. While its habits are often off-putting, or even disgusting, to members of more fastidious species, the turkey vulture helps to keep the environment from being clogged with detritus. Hence its Latin binomial, which translates to English as "golden purifier."

I rarely know where the winds will take me next, or what I might find there. The journey is the destination.

Show Recent Comments

10 Most Recent Blog Comments:

BIG BAD WOLF is Merry

about 3 hours ago
In response to "Package Contained Bobcat"

That's just a kitty cat. Here's a real cutie pie.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/PzDPn_uxErs

TJ says, "keep on keeping on!"

a day ago
In response to "Could, Not Should"

I think it may be time to put on that metal colander hat, or at least an aluminum foil one!

1 Like

Annette

Jan 14, 2026 at 1:29pm
In response to "Could, Not Should"

6 Social credit & behavioral scoring

I now have a fourth child because of that

Oldest Son started dating a Chinese political refugee last year. The Chinese woman was kicked out of China for posting something critical of the government on the internet. They didn't exactly kick her out, but they are blocking her from being employed, rent an apartment, register a car ... they essentially blocked her from life.

Soooooo ... she lives with us now. And, yes, she is a fourth child to me. Although her English is very good, there remains somewhat of a language barrier. There are cultural differences. Oh, and don't get me started on China's One Child policy that has created a person who has no self-awareness because she was doted on by her parents and grandparents and never told to consider others. (Like chewing with the mouth closed. Like leaving some of the fun food things for others. Like not giggling loudly in the middle of the night when others are trying to sleep.)

Argh.

Well, she loves my son. Or she loves having a free place to live. I don't care. Even with all my above gripes, she is good company. She's easy going, funny, creative, and carries her own weight in the household. She has her own car and she's giving rides when the other cars are booked up.

And, and this is crucial, when I sit her down and explain life in a large~ish household, she immediately adapts and starts following the rules.

2 Like

Lazy Writer est 4/24/2008

Jan 14, 2026 at 10:45am
In response to "Could, Not Should"

I like robots..but according to all the movies and books..they are going to be our downfall. They could really be a big help..but our government is going to turn them toward war etc.

2 Like

Soldier_Mike

Jan 14, 2026 at 10:44am
In response to "Could, Not Should"

Re #10: My first thought was of Data connecting with Locutus-Picard after he was rescued from the Borg. As for direct ad injection, of course it's going to happen, because it would be way better than subliminal advertising.

3 Like

ruwth

Jan 14, 2026 at 10:17am
In response to "One Fine Day"

Waltz,

I have always hated being asked, "How are you?" Sadly, for most of my life, "Fine" would have been a lie.

I don't like to lie--even if it is to the checker at the grocery store who is routinely asking, "How are you?" to every customer.

Over the years, I have used various answers. One for a good day was "fair to middling". At other times, I have responded, "Crappy, but thanks for asking!" Cashiers usually don't know how to respond to that one.

A fella from church asked me, "How are you?" and I did my turn it around non-answer: "How are YOU?" to which he replied, "Short, fat, and ugly." That answer stopped me in my tracks.

Lately, I came up with an answer to "How are you?" that I love so much I tend to say it even when I'm feeling great: "I plead the fifth." Saying it always makes me smile--I think it is so clever!

Wow, this public comment could almost be a blog entry, eh? Unusual for me...

Sincerely,
ruwth

1 Like

Jeff

Jan 13, 2026 at 7:37pm
In response to "Jury's Out"

I've always liked the general idea of a "jury of your peers" giving you a fair trial. Then I served on a jury and it was honestly kind of scary how people have to leave their fate in the hands of twelve individuals that, in many cases, struggle with basic deductive reasoning and critical thinking skills.

2 Like

Annette

Jan 13, 2026 at 1:23pm
In response to "Jury's Out"

"The jury is made up of citizens selected basically at random from public records, such as voter registration lists."

I think it's from DMV records, because I (not a citizen) get jury summons every few years. I check a box that says that I'm a foreigner and they back off for another couple of years.

"A lot of people complain about jury duty, and go to great lengths (including committing perjury) to get out of it."

I made sure to stay a foreigner. As a mother of three young boys who are capable of having me called away from whatever I am doing because they caused trouble at school, I didn't think I wanted to be involved in this judiciary process. Now that they are adults with their own jury summons, I can't become a citizen because the government has started snatching and arresting people on way to their swearing in ceremonies.

3 Like

Lazy Writer est 4/24/2008

Jan 13, 2026 at 1:08pm
In response to "Jury's Out"

I've been on a jury once. The only female. It was interesting and i enjoyed the experience. The only thing that irked me was the men kept asking if I understood! Like being female meant I didn't have a brain!

I haven't been chosen since because I answer their questions honestly. Most folks involved in jury selection don't like honesty.

Anyway it's all been interesting and a little entertaining.

2 Like

Charlèaux

Jan 13, 2026 at 1:00pm
In response to "Jury's Out"

Yeh, I had to pretend to look like an ass so that I wasn't selected when I had jury duty last year. I mean, I wasn't really pretending.

Granted, they let me know at 6pm the night before and I was sick and there was no way to ask to be excused on that short of notice.

I'd like to do it for real one day, maybe. But also not. Maybe for an easy case. The case I would have been on was a murder case, and I'm not about that life.

2 Like

January 16, 2026 at 9:16am

#1106109

Package Contained Bobcat

I don't remember why I saved this one. I have absolutely no recollection of anything I might have thought about it at the time. But it's funny, so here:

'Oh my goodness, that's not a cat': New Hampshire couple shocked when bobcat wanders into home

I know, I know. What with everything going on in the world, why talk about someone's home invasion by Robert T. Catt? Well, remember what I said yesterday about absurdism? Yeah.

"I looked and there's a cat. What I thought was a cat," Aprea said. "It took me a second. I'm like, 'Why is there a cat? And how did it get in?' And then, I stared at it for a second, and, 'Oh my goodness, that's not a cat!'"

I mean, technically, it's a cat? It's just not a cuddly one. Well, technically, it's cuddly once.

Aprea said her dog had been barking at the bobcat, which was sitting in the corner of the room.

That is the actual, literal definition of "not news." Right up there with "dog bites man." It would be newsworthy if the bobcat barked at the dog.

Her husband and son managed to coax the bobcat back outside, but not before it scaled the door, leaving scratches on the wood from its claws.

To be serious for a moment, I'm glad this encounter with wildlife ended well for the wildlife. Too many times, the humans' answer is "SHOOT IT."

"I'm going to leave those scratches on my wall forever so I can say, yeah, yeah, that was a bobcat," she said.

Oh, I'd absolutely do that.

And the only other thing I can think of right now is this classic xkcd strip.

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