Search where?

This Portfolio (cathartes02)

All of Writing.Com

◄ April ►
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30
Archive				RSS

Member Blogs

· Complex Numbers (my previous blog, archived)

Create New Item

Read & Review

Community

Browse By Type

Browse By Genre

Writing Resources

Thursday, Apr. 24, 2025

1:27pm EDT

Members: 782

Guests: 2,363

Total Online: 3,145

Carrion Luggage

by Robert Waltz

Rated: 18+ · Book · Opinion · #2336646

Items to fit into your overhead compartment

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 an hour ago
In response to "Color My World"

I was listening to a sci-fi story on youtube the other day, where a a fox-like alien soldier had to, all but, follow their human ally counterpart as they chased down an enemy, because the human noticed a suspicious red-colored smoke that the fox couldn't see too clearly.

JACE

about 3 hours ago
In response to "Color My World"

Interesting that my first thought as I read your title had nothing to do with actual colors. As one who laments the passing of the 70's and one of my favorite bands, Chicago, your title and their song released in 1971 became one. By the way, the Chicago I saw in 2023, was NOT the same group I saw in 1973 and 1975. And I don't mean just personnel changes.

But, since we're on this subject that my eyesight is considered terrible. Have been wearing glasses since I was three. My prescription is not one Lenscrafters can do in an hour.

However, I seem to be able to discern various shades of the same color easily. Because of this when asked my advice by my wife for an opinion of a color to paint a room, I acquiesce only under duress. I figure she'll get the color she wants anyway.

1 Like

Cubby

about 6 hours ago
In response to "Color My World"

I've been curious about colors for quite some time. I took a hue test a few years back and received 100%, My hubby can look at a navy-blue item and swear it is black. Same with blues and greens, we each see them differently.

A few years ago, there was something on FB which was interesting. My daughter and I could both look at the same thing at the same time and see two different colors. That amazed me, though I still wonder if it was a trick.

1 Like

Sum1

about 17 hours ago
In response to "Science Eggsperiment"

During my life, I've eaten far more than my share of eggs. BUT, only if powdered eggs count.... If so, yep, I've eaten my share. If not, I may be on the low side. Here's why? On a Submarine, fresh food doesn't last long, maybee 2 weeks, So we would go 6-7 weeks without fresh vegetables, eggs, milk, etc. When we finally surfaced after our deployment, that first breakfast (and lunch/dinner) was something else!

1 Like

tj wanderlust-words-in-motion

a day ago
In response to "Science Eggsperiment"

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Probably the rooster!

1 Like

Jeff

a day ago
In response to "Science Eggsperiment"

At this point I'm old enough to remember when eggs (and chocolate, wine, red meat, etc.) were bad for you, good for you, no wait bad for you again, good for you actually...

2 Like

Cubby

a day ago
In response to "Science Eggsperiment"

I egg-specially agree with that last paragraph:

And I say we're already neurotic enough about food. Worrying about it so much can't possibly be good for you.

3 Like

tj wanderlust-words-in-motion

a day ago
In response to "Fee For All"

Communication/internet services and insurance companies are a couple more that pile on additional fees.

1 Like

Robert Waltz

Apr 22, 2025 at 12:38pm
In response to "Fee For All"

Sum1

- Hey, some things we learn from experience. No shame in that, as long as we learn.

1 Like

Sum1

Apr 22, 2025 at 11:32am
In response to "Fee For All"

As always, an interesting post. I have to confess that there was a time where I purchased shoes based on price, not quality. Hell, I bought a lot of things based on price instead of qualify. Then I wised up. I just wish it hadn't taken me until I was almost middle-aged to learn this!

2 Like

#43. Color My World
ID #1087899 entered on April 24, 2025 at 2:08am

#42. Science Eggsperiment
ID #1087848 entered on April 23, 2025 at 8:42am

#41. Fee For All
ID #1087788 entered on April 22, 2025 at 10:21am

#40. If It Was A Snake It Would Have Bit You
ID #1087704 entered on April 21, 2025 at 9:52am

#39. Blue My Mind
ID #1087645 entered on April 20, 2025 at 8:48am

#38. Not The Droids You're Looking For
ID #1087547 entered on April 19, 2025 at 8:38am

#37. Pasta Prime
ID #1087473 entered on April 18, 2025 at 9:55am

#36. Now You See It, Now You Don't
ID #1087414 entered on April 17, 2025 at 9:33am

#35. Size Doesn't Matter
ID #1087349 entered on April 16, 2025 at 1:29am

#34. Sierra November Alpha Foxtrot Uniform
ID #1087295 entered on April 15, 2025 at 3:38am

#33. I Want To Believe
ID #1087224 entered on April 14, 2025 at 7:51am

#32. The Wrong Stuff
ID #1087131 entered on April 13, 2025 at 12:35am

#31. Inspired to Grapeness
ID #1087073 entered on April 12, 2025 at 3:22am

#30. I Swear...
ID #1087018 entered on April 11, 2025 at 9:13am

#29. Kitchen Sink
ID #1086956 entered on April 10, 2025 at 12:42am

#28. In Its Place
ID #1086899 entered on April 9, 2025 at 11:19am

#27. Human Becomings
ID #1086823 entered on April 8, 2025 at 10:11am

#26. Seeing is Disbelieving
ID #1086745 entered on April 7, 2025 at 9:25am

#25. Skeuomorph
ID #1086678 entered on April 6, 2025 at 7:50am

#24. Food Stuff
ID #1086609 entered on April 5, 2025 at 9:46am

#23. Through a Glass, Brightly
ID #1086555 entered on April 4, 2025 at 10:04am

#22. What Do You Meaning?
ID #1086501 entered on April 3, 2025 at 10:20am

#21. Stat-Us Report
ID #1086432 entered on April 2, 2025 at 8:54am

#20. Study A Broad
ID #1086338 entered on April 1, 2025 at 10:18am

#19. Moonstruck
ID #1086267 entered on March 31, 2025 at 10:55am

#18. Pushing the Envelope
ID #1086212 entered on March 30, 2025 at 9:54am

#17. Perhaps Pursuit
ID #1086164 entered on March 29, 2025 at 10:25am

#16. You're Saying There's a Chance
ID #1086117 entered on March 28, 2025 at 10:39am

#15. Louvre, Twue Louvre
ID #1086072 entered on March 27, 2025 at 9:04am

#14. Say Cheesesteak
ID #1086014 entered on March 26, 2025 at 9:37am

#13. Wooster
ID #1085973 entered on March 25, 2025 at 9:51am

#12. Loser Error
ID #1085928 entered on March 24, 2025 at 11:17am

#11. Paying the Piper
ID #1085877 entered on March 23, 2025 at 10:01am

#10. Dualism
ID #1085834 entered on March 22, 2025 at 10:28am

#9. Phased Out
ID #1085787 entered on March 21, 2025 at 11:05am

#8. Terrabull
ID #1085726 entered on March 20, 2025 at 7:52am

#7. sdrawkcaB
ID #1085682 entered on March 19, 2025 at 8:18am

#6. Yes? No? Goodbye
ID #1085624 entered on March 18, 2025 at 8:23am

#5. Salad Days
ID #1085558 entered on March 17, 2025 at 9:17am

#4. Lower Expectations
ID #1085499 entered on March 16, 2025 at 8:39am

#3. Word
ID #1085451 entered on March 15, 2025 at 8:42am

#2. Lucky Strike
ID #1085390 entered on March 14, 2025 at 10:44am

#1. The Persistence of Memory
ID #1085331 entered on March 13, 2025 at 9:52am

© Copyright 2025 Robert Waltz (UN: cathartes02 at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Robert Waltz has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and its syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.

Printed from https://web1.writing.com/main/profile/blog/cathartes02/action/archive