Fun Facts…Plants & Trees Part 1

There are three trillion trees in the world…but 15 billion trees are felled every year, and only five billion are planted.

Trees grow from the top, which is why nest boxes and tree-houses always remain the same height.

Counting the rings inside a tree to assess its age is a process known as dendrochronology.

The world’s oldest tree is a bristlecone pine in Nevada named Prometheus thought to be more than 4,900 years old.

Unlike mammals and other creatures, trees never die of old age and all trees are capable of growing forever so long as they remain supplied with light and water, free from disease, and not harmed by floods, fires, or pests.

The world’s tallest known living tree is a California coastal redwood named Hyperion. It stands just over 380 feet tall.

Because trees absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, they can offset global carbon emissions. However, it would take a forest of 450 individual trees to offset the average carbon output of a single human being.

In 1971, NASA took some tree seeds to the Moon on Apollo 14 and returned them to Earth to see if germinating in space would affect their growth. The trees they planted are now the property of the US Forestry Service.

Daily Wisecracks & Wisdom

Always keep a bottle of wine in the fridge for
special occasions. You know…
like Tuesdays.
Anonymous

THE SPHINX—THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM

One less terrorist.   The IRGC have to be eliminated.   They are like Hamas, but have billions in oil money.

https://nypost.com/2026/03/26/world-news/irans-elite-navy-chief-alireza-tangsiri-responsible-for-closing-strait-of-hormuz-killed-in-airstrike-reports/

*****

Pass the bill.

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/amy-curtis/2026/03/25/fetterman-afge-tsa-n2673404

*****

Trump and check-engine-light.

Japan sends help to open Hormuz.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HD7qxVfXAAAyDha?format=jpg&name=900×900

*****

Those in power make the rules—are Congressional members still being paid ????  You bet.

https://www.breitbart.com/latin-america/2026/03/23/we-are-not-a-theme-park-oppressed-cubans-rage-as-foreign-leftists-enjoy-five-star-luxury-while-championing-communism/

SPORTS

Everyone wants special treatment—you are either XX or XY sex.

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/03/23/trans-golfer-sues-lpga-usga-to-compete-in-womens-events/

Reruns are big bucks.

https://nypost.com/2026/03/24/sports/heres-how-much-keith-hernandez-still-makes-in-seinfeid-residuals/

NATIONAL

Maybe Karen will lose.

https://nypost.com/2026/03/24/us-news/karen-bass-in-trouble-after-new-poll-ahead-of-la-mayoral-primary/

Spring Break has turned more violent.

https://nypost.com/2026/03/24/us-news/how-spring-breakers-turn-florida-beaches-into-war-zones/

Squirrels are addicted.

https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2026/03/25/squirrels-vaping-discarded-e-cigarettes-due-to-fruity-aromas/

*****

The Devil Made Me Do It Editor:    What is your first link, LL ?

The Swinging Cat:    It’s about a ruling in the Ninth Circuit Court in Washington state. 

https://redstate.com/smoosieq/2026/03/13/9th-circuit-judge-comes-out-swinging-ahemin-spicy-dissent-over-women-only-nude-spa-n2200196

This is one of my all time favorite decisions.

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-10-18-vw-3280-story.html

This judge must be on the Democrat payroll.

https://redstate.com/wardclark/2026/03/13/new-activist-judge-halts-doj-powell-probe-and-guess-who-it-is-n2200200

Jimmy is goofy enough to be a Democrat President.

https://theonion.com/political-profile-james-talarico/

https://www.washingtontimes.com/

*****

You never know.

https://babylonbee.com/news/tragedy-liberal-gets-stabbed-before-finishing-telling-people-how-peaceful-islam-is

https://www.breitbart.com/

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Hickson 44 in Leo
Image Credit & Copyright: Peter Kennett

Explanation: Scanning the skies for galaxies, Canadian astronomer Paul Hickson and colleagues identified some 100 compact groups of galaxies, now appropriately called Hickson Compact Groups. The four prominent galaxies seen in this intriguing telescopic skyscape are one such group, Hickson 44. The Hickson 44 galaxy group is about 100 million light-years distant, far beyond the foreground Milky Way stars, toward the northern springtime constellation Leo. The two spiral galaxies in the center of the image are edge-on NGC 3190 with distinctive, warped dust lanes, and S-shaped NGC 3187. Along with the bright elliptical, NGC 3193 (left) they are also known as Arp 316. The spiral toward the lower right corner is NGC 3185, the 4th member of the Hickson group. Like other galaxies in Hickson groups, these show signs of distortion and enhanced star formation, evidence of a gravitational tug of war that will eventually result in galaxy mergers on a cosmic timescale. The merger process is now understood to be a normal part of the evolution of galaxies, including our own Milky Way. For scale, NGC 3190 is about 75,000 light-years across at the estimated distance of Hickson 44.

Tomorrow’s picture: reaching extreme altitudes

Bible Verse

My friend, I pray that God will help you to live well. I know that you are well in your spirit. I pray that your body will also be well.

 

Patriot Post Memes

 

Fun Facts…Birds Part 3

Barn owls, ospreys, and bald eagles are among the many species of wild birds that mate for life and remain faithful to their partners for the rest of their lives.

The world’s smallest owl species is the Elf Owl, which grows to less than six inches in height and weighs less than one-and-a-half ounces.

Woodpeckers strike their beaks against trees and timbers around 20 times every second.

Tropical Hoatzin  birds are born with a tiny claw in the middle of their wings to help them clamber around the branches.

While some birds, like flamingos, sleep standing on one leg, other bird species have been found to sleep with one eye open, and others still sleep by shutting off one half of their brain at a time. 

Some bird species, including swifts and far-traveling seabirds, like albatrosses, even manage to sleep while they are flying. 

A group of geese is called a gaggle when the birds are on the ground, but a skein when they are in flight.

The V-shaped formation geese and similar birds make when they migrate is called a wedge.

A pelican’s pouch is properly known as a gular sac.

Daily Wisecracks & Wisdom

On Politics:
“I’m not going to Bubble Wrap it:

The water in Washington, D.C., won’t clear up
until you get the pigs out of the creek”.
Senator John Kennedy

THE SPHINX—FLIP-FLOPS

Too many religious holidays are happening in the next month–too many to list.

https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/2026

*****

I have no idea concerning peace in Iran.

*****

Is justice found in California ?????

https://redstate.com/rusty-weiss/2026/03/25/panic-move-failscourt-slaps-down-dem-ag-bid-to-block-recount-of-seized-ballots-amid-45k-vote-discrepancy-n2200599

*****

Hitler fails his Bar Exam.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loKuM98Nhzs

*****

Did you know that Congresspeople have this benefit ?????

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/amy-curtis/2026/03/24/delta-suspends-stand-alone-service-for-congress-until-tsa-is-fully-funded-n2673343

*****

ICE delivers.

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/amy-curtis/2026/03/24/atlanta-airport-lines-gone-n2673337

https://redstate.com/nick-arama/2026/03/24/ice-is-helping-out-at-houston-airport-n2200574

*****

Barbie is a drug-mule.

https://nypost.com/2026/03/24/lifestyle/fentanyl-found-in-barbie-doll-packaging-at-midwest-retailer-cops/

*****

DEMOCRATS DON’T CARE ABOUT AMERICANS—Period

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/03/24/prosecutors-illegal-alien-shot-killed-sheridan-gorman-she-ran-for-her-life/

https://nypost.com/2026/03/23/us-news/chicago-dem-slammed-for-suggesting-loyola-student-caused-her-own-murder/

https://redstate.com/sister-toldjah/2026/03/23/pritzkers-safe-chicago-lakefront-videos-come-back-to-haunt-him-after-sheridan-gormans-murder-n2200544

*****

It’s quick, easy, and cheap.

https://redstate.com/ben-smith/2026/03/24/undercover-video-exposes-california-petition-scheme-cash-cigarettes-fake-names-n2200553

*****

NATIONAL

We have reported several court cases where AI was used to make up nonexistent cases.   The judges are incompetent if they or their clerks don’t verify evidence.

https://twitchy.com/grateful-calvin/2026/03/21/excruciating-georgia-chief-justice-destroys-state-attorney-over-non-existent-cases-n2426268

Democrats want sexy-hot candidates.   What’s wrong with Maxine, Nancy, Maze, and that bunch ?

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/amy-curtis/2026/03/23/democrats-run-hotter-candidates-n2673285

Floods in Hawaii.

https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/hawaii-flooding-heavy-rain-oahu-north-shore/2026/03/22/id/1250329/

SPORTS

A new kicker.

https://www.breitbart.com/sports/2026/03/22/watch-utsa-kicker-stuns-nfl-scouts-in-unbelievable-pro-day-performance/

OTHER

Progress in Alabama.

https://redstate.com/jenniferoo/2026/03/23/secy-of-the-navy-john-phelan-spearheads-the-first-golden-fleet-public-private-partnership-with-hadrian-n2200520

*****

Mamstinky.

https://townhall.com/tipsheet/jeff-charles/2026/03/24/israel-considers-banning-zohran-mamdanis-wife-n2673361

*****

The Sandal Editor:    Is this about flip-flops, LL ?

The Bare Pawed Cat:   It is kind of about flip-flops.   This would have been a good spokesperson for the Democrats big push on Electric Vehicles.

With a National Debt of about 39 TRILLION American taxpayers are cooked.   Interest on the debt is 1 Trillion per year.   EV’s aren’t ready for Prime Time.

Honda closes U.S. Electric Vehicle production.

https://pjmedia.com/vodkapundit/2026/03/12/honda-just-lost-billions-on-evs-it-cant-sell-n4950558

Trump sues California.

https://redstate.com/wardclark/2026/03/12/trump-doj-sues-california-to-kill-illegal-ev-mandate-n2200140

Cornyn flip-flops too much.   He is not a MAGA guy.

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/03/12/john-cornyn-texas-pastors-soros-linked-group-gang-eight-amnesty/

Does Canada miss Justin ?

https://theonion.com/justin-trudeau-finally-comfortable-enough-to-keep-brown-face-paint-at-katy-perrys/

https://www.washingtontimes.com/

*****

Words are important.

https://babylonbee.com/news/save-act-passes-after-mike-lee-cleverly-changes-its-name-to-the-give-congress-a-raise-act

https://redstate.com/

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Black Holes and Neutron Stars: 218 Mergers and Counting
Image Credit: Ryan Nowicki, Bill Smith & Karan Jani
Text: Cecilia Chirenti (NASA GSFC, UMCP, CRESST II)

Explanation: What is the sound of two black holes merging in deep space? Sound waves don’t propagate in vacuum, but gravitational waves do. In 2015 we were able to “hear” them for the first time and confirm one of Albert Einstein‘s theoretical predictions. Each square on the grid of the featured image represents one of the gravitational wave detections announced so far by the LIGOVIRGOKAGRA Collaboration. These plots show how the binary pair accelerates in their orbit around each other towards merger: the rising frequency effect is called a “chirp“. Although there are significantly more neutron stars than black holes, most of the detections are binary black hole mergers. That happens because black holes are heavier and their signals are louder and can be seen farther away, resulting in more detections. These events are rare, and we don’t expect to see one close by in our Galaxy any time soon. But they are happening continuously throughout the cosmos.

Tomorrow’s picture: What’s next?