Computer virus eliminated, word play, Route 31 updates, birdies
By Chuck Wiser, I write the words to share what my eyes see and my heart feels
I must apologize for having failed to produce a Wrambling on July 23rd. but technical difficulties don’t just happen on your TV disturbances. I had started writing my Wrambling and the above title indicates what the first topic was to have discussed. Following my technical difficulties I decided that “better late than never” would still have to be pushed back a week. I want to thank those faithful readers who reached out to me asking if they had missed my article. I am humbled to think that they “missed” my Wrambling.
My laptop computer, upon which I do my composing was inflicted with a couple of different viruses and I had to leave it in the hands of Keith Loines, my computer specialist friend to “clean it up.” He did and I am back online. I do have an office desktop computer for back up but it isn’t very comfortable sitting in my office chair and leaning over my keyboard so as to watch what I am writing, or have written.
The headline topic based on the characteristic of “size\amount\weight” measure will be continued and finished before I commence with my County Route 31 “wravings” and then continue with this week’s formal Wrambling.
Ounce for Ounce dry measure and liquid measure are different where ounces are concerned. A fluid ounce measures volume (how much space a liquid takes up), while the other measure “ounce” (often referred to as a dry ounce) measures weight (how heavy an ingredient is). Because of this, they measure completely different things and cannot be directly interchanged for baking, cooking, or filling a vessel…meaning a container and not a sea-going mode of transportation.
The phrase “ounce for ounce” (often misremembered as “an ounce for an ounce”) means making a direct, equal comparison of the value, strength, or contents of two different things using equal units of weight or measure. It highlights a proportional equivalence or competitive performance relative to exact mass. The context of the phrase “An ounce for an ounce” is typically quoted as a comparative implication including:
- Direct Comparison: Evaluating two items or entities on an exact equal-weight basis (e.g., comparing the nutritional value of two different foods, where “ounce for ounce, you get high amounts of vitamins and minerals”, as noted by Cleveland Clinic).
- Equal Strength or Power: Demonstrating that an entity holds matching or superior power or capability relative to its size (e.g., saying a small animal or muscle fights hard “ounce for ounce”).
- Literal Trade/Equivalence: Historically used in trading and commerce to mean an exact equal quantity of goods exchanged for another item by weight. BTW (By The Way) If you recall the phrase “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” that is a separate proverb meaning a small amount of early effort prevents a much larger problem later.
Continuing on with last weeks intended content includes reference to several witty or “wisdom-ful,” “whimsical” albeit not necessarily “wise,” Wiser sayings. I continue on…
Many of these old sage, or other-wiser sayings are self-explanatory.
Even if they are, I will include my comment, definition or smart-assed comment.
* “This ain’t goin to hurt”…One of earliest lies our parents shared with us before it hurt
* “Don’t let the door hit you in the ass”… Strong suggestion that it’s time to leave
* “Hunky Dory”; Everything is fine. *“Okay-Dokey” * “Hunky-Dunky” (my creation)
* “If the shoe fits, wear it” Deal with it as it is something you brought on yourself.
* “Give me a break” * “Deal with it” * “He who laughs last, laughs best”
Others; Dream Weaver, Joyful Rebel, Sassy Scholar, Coffee Crusader, Chaos Curator, Gritty Optimist Clever Ninja, Witty Wanderer, Bold Minimalist, Fierce Gentle heart, Happy Anomaly
That’s enough Wiser Wit for today so I will Wramble on. Under the topic of Wroad Wramblings I have been debating for a couple of weeks now as to how much more I can say about the several weeks long construction going on with County Route 31 “road closures” and detours. It is difficult to be objective if you don’t have full knowledge of what’s going on. All I have to base my feelings and judgement on is what I see with my own eyes.
What I have seen with my own eyes is the streams of traffic proceeding around the bend near the Buckley storage units, only to have to back up, and/or turn around. In my humble, uneducated opinion, perhaps the road closed sign placements and wording could have been a little more informative and/or clearer. West bound “thru-traffic” supposedly was to travel north via the Back River Road to Belmont and then, based on the proximity of construction to the top of the hill headed into Friendship continue on to County Road 31A, Rte 20, or even I86. I guess it’s easy to be a couch road monitor, dozens of vehicles every day had turned around and, based on how long they spent at the stop sign intersection between Charles Young Road and Back River Road, or headed back South to Rte. 9, to go back into Scio presumably to head North on County Rte. 19. I could/would observe them hesitate most likely checking their handheld phone trying to find alternate route directions.
Upon my return from a weekly Olean trip yesterday I came back over Cty. Rte. 31, headed towards Scio. Admittedly it had rained all day but there was no work along the full route. All of the “beneath road” culverts had been completed and despite the numerous “Bumpy Road” locations everything seemed open to through traffic. A complete re-paving of the entire route will help immensely. *** (See Late Update)
2026 Aviary Activity. This week is definitely one of the busiest hi-lite weeks of aviary activity. Based on the traffic at our place it has been a very bountiful season for reproduction. I believe that the male Baltimore Orioles have already begun the southward migration as none have been sighted on our feeders for well over the past week. Some females and yet not distinctively marked males, plumage wise, remain and are very active. Cardinals have been very successful and the mixed plumage males vs females make it difficult to decide on gender. What so far seems to be “head and shoulders” (another phrase) above the most prolific of the Aviary visitors in their reproductive cycle is/are the Rose Breasted Grosbeaks. There has/have been at least 20 of the Grosbeaks visiting our numerous feeders at one time, or at least as far as sequential appearances seem.
In addition to the half to full dozen birds on the feeders actively the “tree branch” roosts we have provided are full as well, and the chirping coming from the nearby trees indicates that several more, or at least young fledglings are waiting their opportunity, or are calling “mom or dad” teasing for them the “hurry up I’m hungry.”
I expect that the juvenile Orioles and the mixture of Grosbeaks will have departed before I write next week’s Wrambling. Oriole reproduction seems to have done well, as well.
In answer to a frequently asked question about our successful invitation and retention of our aviary friends is a little creativity on my/our part. Whenever I trim or remove the branches of any of our trees or shrubs, especially the Lilac trees, I save the branches and pile them up next to our wood pile. The plentiful smaller offshoot branches make a great landing or relaxing group resting places.
As golfing season nears its end there are a number of “traditional” golf tournaments between now and about mid-October. August and September seem to be the months of greatest activity. I, and my teams, will have the honor of representing the Wellsville Sun and Hornell Sun in a couple of them. From a weather standpoint this is aa great time of year, at least until the fall leaves pile up making it a challenge to find your ball if you hit a little to close to the edge.
Speaking of “this time of year,” calls to mind the difficulties of trying to get ballons launched during the Balloon Rally weekend. It is not unusual for the Rally to only get one or two of the possible 4 or 5 launches in the air. July just seems (to me) to have a much too volatile temperature and humidity commonly combined aspect thus creating less than favorable, if not downright dangerous time to get balloons in the air. I know here are a few other regional launches so Wellsville has to have a consistent date so as to be open to the many balloonists who traverse the east coast in their launches.
I’m thinking that it might reduce the number of entrants if the date time was changed but it might be better to have successful launches by fewer balloons than to have them go to the expense of travel and set up, just to get in more than one launch…if they’re lucky.
If you have any comments, questions or concerns email me at IM.Wiserdad@gmail.com. Once again, thank you for Wreading and especially Wremarking if you so choose.
*** Late Update: As I was doing a final proof on this I went to the front door looking out to see which emergency vehicle was passing by, sirens blaring. Whilst there I noticed traffic pausing at the top of the Charles Young road, then turning down to Back River Road. Road Closed signs are back up. Yesterday’s rains must have put a pause on their construction activity.
