Scotto's Wall Scrawls

last night.

Originally published at The Scotto Grotto. You can comment here or there.

1227001419.jpg, originally uploaded by scottobear.

bldg next door leveled... parking coming soon?

Originally published at The Scotto Grotto. You can comment here or there.

The day before yesterday, an investigator looking for evidence of the emerald ash borer in a neighbors white ash tree. Found a little article that makes it worth a look for me. (Stuck here for future reference) The researcher was telling BHK and me about a few prophylactic measures like a genetically engineered wasp, and assorted poisons.

As part of a national survey for the emerald ash borer, the Maryland Department of Agriculture will begin hanging 400 12" x 24" triangular purple insect traps in ash trees along roadsides from just east of Cumberland westward beginning in early April.  The purple traps, which are sticky and baited with a compound that simulates a distressed ash tree, are designed to attract the destructive emerald ash borer, should it be present. Residents should not be concerned if they see the traps and should not disturb them.  MDA will place some traps on private property. Property owners will be notified by letter in advance.  All traps should be in the trees through August and will be checked every two weeks.

To date in Maryland, the emerald ash borer has only been found in a small area of southern Prince George’s County where it was introduced illegally by a Michigan nurseryman in 2003.  The insect, an exotic pest from Asia, feeds on and kills ash trees in one to three years after infestation.

 “Our challenge is to eradicate the emerald ash borer or at least keep it from spreading so we hope we don’t find any in these traps,” said Agriculture Roger Richardson.  “Since the insect can travel easily on firewood that might be moved from Prince George’s County and other states where it has been introduced, we are trapping along travel routes. In addition we are encouraging campers, hunters, anglers and other outdoor enthusiasts to buy their firewood at their destination rather than take it with them.”

The presence of the emerald ash borer typically goes undetected until the trees show symptoms of being infested – usually the upper third of a tree will thin and then die back. This is usually followed by a large number of shoots or branches arising below the dead portions of the trunk. Other symptoms of infestation include: D-shaped exit holes in the bark where adults emerge, vertical splits in the bark, and distinct serpentine-shaped tunnels beneath the bark in the cambium, where larvae effectively stop food and water movement in the tree, starving it to death.  The only way to eliminate the emerald ash borer is to cut down its food source, ash trees, as there is currently no known effective pesticide or other treatment.

For more information about the purple traps or to report signs of dying ash trees, contact the Maryland Department of Agriculture at 410-841-5920.

Follow-up on the neighbor that was arrested the other day( Read more... )

Mostly photos from the polar bear plunge, but some gaming (Valley of the mammoth – warning, cartoon nudity) and Hap-pye New(t) year!

Additional caution – if looked at too closely, you may see Scotto's hair front and or back.

1 year ago – jaw a bit better, winter holidays over, Sean, J and Duncan visit

2 years ago - dinner and a movie w/BHK, rotoscope video, friday 5, cold weather - shelter hotline, orexin A vs narcolepsy,

3 years ago - The Library is Open

4 years ago - on call, nice day, rainbow love thingum
5 years ago - Mel lunch, food cravings, b/w picture of Scotto, torture
6 years ago - Henry Earl Likes to Party (he still does!), Glossary of Linguistics and Rhetoric, Tokyo bowl, playing with filters
7 years ago - Ticked at bro, want to try out for LSH
8 years ago - chilly, dream, Miss Cleo in trouble, digi cam shopping, Cinnamon Pecan Bread
9 years ago - super power desire, phoneless

3 years ago - goodies, 008 is landon, kill windows nag, mr t - be somebody, rfjason - wtf prank, kitty combo

4 years ago - Red Thread, Postcard, walking weather, work, 2nd life, battersea

5 years ago - visit meme, case against voodoo, freeflow thought, Mexico Wal-mart Protest

6 years ago - Newt-vet, shoutcast, tiny cities, Why I dislike leiberman, Frankie mooches again, Turkish Hairballs

7 years ago - Lots of robots, World Affairs, palm art

8 years ago - Shocked awake, Nostia, folks scamming relief, weather, programming, lovely chat

9 years ago - Pompano Weather, Warghetz, Suzy News, Censorship, Loved

Bloody Fun Day is a strategic arcade game where players control the Reaper as he plows his way through little critters. Every time Death sticks his scythe into one of the creatures, he gains points but loses health. Destroying red creatures will bring his life back up.

Each set of creatures killed leave behind eggs which need to be left alone to hatch into even more critters. Building up points also gives Death special abilities which can be activated in order to grab even more points. It's all about bagging as many points as possible before you run out of life.

The game mechanics work really well and it's a very nice concept. There's a tutorial to get you going and a couple of game modes to choose from. Play it over at Kongregate. (via indiegames.com)