Friday, April 10, 2015

Thinking of bugs, butterflies, flip-phones and family...

I guess my Random and Willy-nilly link ups are out of business for the time being.  I was sorry to hear that, but I intend to be random anyhow.  So here you are.

On Monday at Magic Wings, we got to check out this great looking bug.  It’s a Jungle Nymph or Heteropteryx dilatata.  The first thought that popped into my head when I saw it was that wouldn’t it be great if people came in that color?  This is a female Jungle Nymph.  The male is dull brown and much smaller.


Also at Magic Wings, it was mating season for the Cairns Birdwing or Ornithoptera euphorion Butterfly.  We were told that they can go at it for two hours.  More power to them!  In this case, it’s the male who is the more colorful.  He's the one hanging upside down.

Get a room, you two!

 And here’s another Cairns Birdwing whose broken wing has been grafted with another so that it can fly easier and longer.  That’s pretty cool.  I just hope it didn't hurt.


I’ve been noticing on TV shows I watch that a lot of the characters carry flip-phones.  It has been years since I’ve had a flip-phone and it seems to me that most people in real life, at least in our circles, carry iPhones or large screen Droids, which is what I have.  I can’t remember the last time I saw a flip-phone besides the one my daughter Carrie carries.  She’s not a Luddite exactly, but she doesn’t really care that much about the latest technology.

  Anyhow, I’ve been thinking about why they use flip-phones in TV shows, because even the richest TV characters use flip-phones and rarely the latest iPhone model.  I think I have the answer.  I think that they use flip-phones on TV shows for the dramatic effect.  Snapping them shut is sort of the current version of slamming down the receiver like in the days of yore.

  You just can’t do that with an iPhone.

Mr. Birdwing is flipped shut.
Today is National Siblings Day.  I have three sisters and three brothers so I feel justified in celebrating.  I believe this picture was taken in 1976 or so and was a gift for my mother.  While there are hundreds of photos of us individually and in small groups, there aren’t that many photos around with the seven of us together.  It’s just too hard to get us all in one place.  Here we are:


I'm the one in the back row, third from the left in the brown turtleneck.  You may have noticed that there's an extra person in this photo.  That little blond kid in the front is my nephew Jim.  I think he was the only offspring around at the time, but there have been plenty more since.

Have a great weekend, y'all!



14 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

i assume most of the flip phones used on tv are burner phones that can't be traced. :) butterfly wing grafting...wow!

love the family pic!

kat from ky. said...

I like random, this was very interesting! That bug is huge!

Unknown said...

Butterflies are always so beautiful...only been to one such place down in Gainesville...grafted wing? who knew! if you meet a person that color of green, make sure you look behind you for the landing craft...;)...what a neat family...always someone to talk to. I liked the flip phones and still have my old one (no longer use it)...that snap shut sound is like when a tennis ball hits the centre of your racket...good sound! ps...I don't play tennis anymore though

Pamela Gordon said...

I enjoyed your random thoughts but never noticed the flip phone thing on TV shows. Hubby has a flip phone for work, his choice. I have an iPhone which I love. I enjoyed your previous posts and the fences from Scotland. I love it there! Great family photo. That's a good sized family and would be hard to gather all at once I'm sure. Enjoy the weekend. Pam

Giga said...

Insect from the first picture is a giant, but interesting. Butterflies wonderful. Nice to look at a large number of siblings. Regards.

Nicki said...

That first shot had me thinking of Disney's "Bug's Life". Fun family photo - that's a lot of kiddos.

Rose said...

Love that pic of you and your siblings! The butterflies are pretty...the Jungle Nypmh is something else. Looks prickly.

kat from ky. said...

I like random, this was very interesting! That bug is huge!

Brian King said...

That first one reminds me of a praying mantis on steroids! What a cool looking bug!

Debbie said...

a beautiful family photo.....and i love those butterflies, they are my favorites!!! i like brian's comment!!

have a wonderful weekend!!!!

MadSnapper said...

i love that big green bug and his color but he will never get to sit on MY hand.. but i would like to see him on someone else. the bflies are beautiful and i wonder how they did surgery on that butterfly wing.. can't imagine.
i only have one sibling, a brother 4 years younger..
I don't use a cell phone, but i do have a flip phone in my truck for emergency. i pay 10 a month for prepaid tracfone. it gets used if our power goes out to call for help... i am wondering if the movies are older, or if you are watching new movies. most of the ones we watch are form the 80's and 90's because the new ones are not on TV

Helma said...

Hello Barbara,
the weekend is now over and we are halfway through the week:-) What an enormous grasshopper in that first picture !!! Such a large, I have never seen and I think we have that even in Lower Land! Beautiful butterflies and your last picture you as a young girl also state is super cute!
Greetings, Helma

A Colorful World said...

Willy Nilly is still around...she just took a 1 week break, so I hope you'll come back. I think we've lost Nancy's. Love your beautiful insects! And the photo of your family is just wonderful! What a sweet gift! Such a good-looking group of kids.

Thanks for coming by my quilting blog and commenting! Hope you get a new machine and start quilting again.

Ida said...

That bug in the first shot is amazing & huge!