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Fri, Oct 31, 2025

12:53am EDT

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Carrion Luggage

by Waltz in the Lonesome October

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.

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Show Recent Comments

10 Most Recent Blog Comments:

Annette

about 11 hours ago
In response to "Un-Holey"

I remember that article. Or a version of it. I don't follow 'Bon Appetit,' but I probably saw the headline and a re-baked version of the scooped bagel interaction of carb-phobic Californian in New York.

His attitude is that of a visitor in deep Mongolia being upset that they can't find an Applebee's.

Eat what they sell you when out of town, is the answer to all of that.

Clearly, people who have real health issues with certain ingredients are allowed to ask if their chosen dish has the potential to kill them. In which case, they have to pick something else instead of trying to bend reality to their whim.

Spoken as someone who runs a six person household with two who can't have dairy, one who can't have shrimp, one who gags when he eats mushrooms, one who can't have kiwi, and one who makes faces when experiencing new textures. We have everything in the pantry and refrigerator. It's up to each person to stay clear of the things that they can't (or don't want to) have.

3 Like

tj says Boris sent me

about 13 hours ago
In response to "Un-Holey"

Scooping a bagel is equivalent to cutting the crust off a slice of fresh-baked bread, throwing the bread away, and eating the crust; it's evil.

3 Like

Spudy Specter👻

about 13 hours ago
In response to "Un-Holey"

I get if the customer has a medical condition. Still the whole concept of scooping out the chewy, dense goodness is a strange concept to me. It makes me think of one of those squeaky chew toys dogs use.

2 Like

GrueSum1

about 15 hours ago
In response to "Un-Holey"

I think some of the best bagels in Bloomington are at 2 places. Jewel-Osco grocery store, and our Einstein's Brothers Bagels. No, I'm not a connoisseur, I just know what I like here in town. If we were out of town, we'd have to find another place then, huh!

3 Like

Battywyn🎶Prep!

about 15 hours ago
In response to "Un-Holey"

When I played at Potbelly back in the 2000's (ack), I got a discounted sandwich every day I played, and for quite a few years, that was six days a week. I always ordered a "skinny" roast beef with provolone, toasted. It wasn't on the menu, but other skinny versions of sandwiches were. They consisted of 2/3 of the meat and cheese of the regular versions, and the bread was scooped (though I didn't know the word for it until your blog post.) They cut it out with a knife, and they used the discarded part to make croutons for salads. I can appreciate the efficiency, but also, the meat & cheese to bread ratio was much tastier.

On a bagel, I think it would depend on what I'm piling on top of it. The bread-to-cream-cheese ratio is perfect in a non-scooped bagel. As a diabetic, I need to watch my carbs, but I can do that by eating half a bagel instead of changing the soft-middle-to-crust ratio of my bagel.

Damn it. Now I want a bagel.

4 Like

🌝 HuntersMoon

a day ago
In response to "Flick of the Risk"

There is no such thing as "zero-risk." Yeah, you said it but it bears repeating.

@ Annette It depends. If you live in a gingerbread house, then, yes!

1 Like

tj says Boris sent me

a day ago
In response to "Naturally"

When I first read the title, I thought "chemophobe" was a person with a deep fear of chemotherapy. I fear each coming infusion, know the effects, but it's not a phobia:

As for: “I should really get the organic peaches,” I say yes, the plastic and wax ones are terrible.

As for Twinkies, I've heard that they have been found in the tombs of pharaohs along with honey, both of which were still good!

2 Like

Annette

a day ago
In response to "Naturally"

I remember when bags of gummy bears were advertised as 99% fat free.

That's when I gave up on "free from something something" claims.

If a product is known to be one thing (sugar and colors) and I've agreed to eat it because it's fun and I enjoy it, then telling me a random factoid usually puts me off.

But I'm the kind of person who understands that I AGREE with the ingredients in prepared foods if I choose to buy and eat them.

The chemophobes are a sad group of people who need to go back to second grade reading and comprehension class.

3 Like

Spudy Specter👻

a day ago
In response to "Naturally"

I ate Cheetos and peppermint patties while reading this.

4 Like

Battywyn🎶Prep!

a day ago
In response to "Naturally"

You already know you and I are sympatico on this topic. Don't even get me started on GMOs. But I did want to thank you for the (ridiculously punny) apple article. I shall keep that up my sleeve for future arguments debates, since the article is probably nicer than I am when the topic of "chemicals" comes up.

3 Like

#232. Un-Holey
ID #1100451 entered on October 30, 2025 at 9:26am

#231. Naturally
ID #1100397 entered on October 29, 2025 at 10:34am

#230. Flick of the Risk
ID #1100327 entered on October 28, 2025 at 11:04am

#229. Another Wry Bread Pun
ID #1100252 entered on October 27, 2025 at 9:51am

#228. Picking the Lark
ID #1100174 entered on October 26, 2025 at 10:00am

#227. Facts? Maybe.
ID #1100100 entered on October 25, 2025 at 10:29am

#226. Mexican Standoff
ID #1100000 entered on October 24, 2025 at 10:23am

#225. Dis-Integrated
ID #1099927 entered on October 23, 2025 at 9:32am

#224. Look Who's Finally Awake
ID #1099853 entered on October 22, 2025 at 9:52am

#223. Science Mews
ID #1099785 entered on October 21, 2025 at 11:10am

#222. To a Tea
ID #1099699 entered on October 20, 2025 at 9:46am

#221. I'll Have Mine On Wry Bread
ID #1099636 entered on October 19, 2025 at 11:01am

#220. What In Dalmatian
ID #1099558 entered on October 18, 2025 at 10:25am

#219. In Cheese's Name, Amen
ID #1099474 entered on October 17, 2025 at 9:38am

#218. Night Moves
ID #1099410 entered on October 16, 2025 at 9:20am

#217. Dodo or Dodo Not (There Is No Try)
ID #1099348 entered on October 15, 2025 at 9:43am

#216. I'll Wait for the Movie
ID #1099284 entered on October 14, 2025 at 8:52am

#215. It Fell from the Sky
ID #1099218 entered on October 13, 2025 at 9:06am

#214. Clap
ID #1099156 entered on October 12, 2025 at 9:55am

#213. Troy, Troy Again
ID #1099090 entered on October 11, 2025 at 9:48am

#212. Technomedium
ID #1099037 entered on October 10, 2025 at 10:36am

#211. Thumb Drive
ID #1098963 entered on October 9, 2025 at 9:50am

#210. Judgmental Health
ID #1098888 entered on October 8, 2025 at 9:01am

#209. Herd It Through the Bovine
ID #1098825 entered on October 7, 2025 at 9:38am

#208. Bugs-B-Gon
ID #1098753 entered on October 6, 2025 at 9:41am

#207. Sutra Self
ID #1098690 entered on October 5, 2025 at 10:42am

#206. Web Spinner
ID #1098605 entered on October 4, 2025 at 8:52am

#205. Lost and Found
ID #1098541 entered on October 3, 2025 at 10:36am

#204. A Titillating Discovery
ID #1098460 entered on October 2, 2025 at 8:57am

#203. Put Up Your Duke
ID #1098388 entered on October 1, 2025 at 9:25am

#202. Alienation
ID #1098323 entered on September 30, 2025 at 11:38am

#201. Stranger Danger
ID #1098242 entered on September 29, 2025 at 10:06am

#200. Cut to the Chase
ID #1098185 entered on September 28, 2025 at 10:40am

#199. Don't Be a Dopamine
ID #1098133 entered on September 27, 2025 at 9:19am

#198. Helpful Tips
ID #1098089 entered on September 26, 2025 at 10:50am

#197. Cheesed Off
ID #1098033 entered on September 25, 2025 at 11:05am

#196. Shakedown
ID #1097968 entered on September 24, 2025 at 9:04am

#195. Occam's Razor-Stuffed Apple
ID #1097917 entered on September 23, 2025 at 7:30am

#194. Look Around
ID #1097850 entered on September 22, 2025 at 8:35am

#193. What's Up, Dox?
ID #1097783 entered on September 21, 2025 at 9:22am

#192. Wit In and Wit Out
ID #1097732 entered on September 20, 2025 at 9:50am

#191. Tongue Tied
ID #1097658 entered on September 19, 2025 at 7:45am

#190. March to Mars
ID #1097606 entered on September 18, 2025 at 9:54am

#189. All Over the Map
ID #1097537 entered on September 17, 2025 at 10:52am

#188. Huge Erection
ID #1097470 entered on September 16, 2025 at 10:32am

#187. Pay Me
ID #1097412 entered on September 15, 2025 at 8:36am

#186. Entropical Storm
ID #1097342 entered on September 14, 2025 at 10:47am

#185. Zucchi-NO
ID #1097273 entered on September 13, 2025 at 9:19am

#184. Teamwork
ID #1097212 entered on September 12, 2025 at 7:59am

#183. That's Life
ID #1097110 entered on September 11, 2025 at 9:19am

#182. Let's Scroll
ID #1097052 entered on September 10, 2025 at 8:06am

#181. In a World of Pure Imagination
ID #1096997 entered on September 9, 2025 at 10:08am

#180. A Star Trek
ID #1096931 entered on September 8, 2025 at 8:25am

#179. WDC25, Day 7
ID #1096846 entered on September 7, 2025 at 1:54am

#178. WDC25, Day 6
ID #1096788 entered on September 6, 2025 at 1:12pm

#177. WDC25, Day 5
ID #1096675 entered on September 5, 2025 at 1:32am

#176. WDC25, Day 4
ID #1096575 entered on September 4, 2025 at 12:53am

#175. WDC25, Day 3
ID #1096452 entered on September 3, 2025 at 1:08am

#174. WDC25, Day 2
ID #1096359 entered on September 2, 2025 at 12:51am

#173. WDC25, Day 1
ID #1096293 entered on September 1, 2025 at 9:36am

#172. Paint It Black
ID #1096227 entered on August 31, 2025 at 10:53am

#171. Welcome Back Again
ID #1096170 entered on August 30, 2025 at 9:37am

#170. We're All Runners
ID #1096120 entered on August 29, 2025 at 10:47am

#169. Gamma Ways
ID #1096044 entered on August 28, 2025 at 10:42am

#168. It's Not What You Think
ID #1096000 entered on August 27, 2025 at 10:10am

#167. Titanic
ID #1095958 entered on August 26, 2025 at 9:59am

#166. Instant Kama
ID #1095907 entered on August 25, 2025 at 9:45am

#165. Alfredo Their Own Shadows
ID #1095858 entered on August 24, 2025 at 8:33am

#164. Keep the Cat Alive
ID #1095789 entered on August 23, 2025 at 9:06am

#163. Melon Collie
ID #1095749 entered on August 22, 2025 at 10:25am

#162. Ferry Tale
ID #1095673 entered on August 21, 2025 at 7:25am

#161. Elephants of Style
ID #1095626 entered on August 20, 2025 at 9:34am

#160. That Joke Is Older Than Dinosaur Meat
ID #1095573 entered on August 19, 2025 at 11:54am

#159. Grumpy Old Man
ID #1095491 entered on August 18, 2025 at 9:35am

#158. Still Running
ID #1095445 entered on August 17, 2025 at 11:22am

#157. Sleep On It
ID #1095387 entered on August 16, 2025 at 8:47am

#156. Unhappy Campers
ID #1095338 entered on August 15, 2025 at 9:43am

#155. Burger? I Barely Know 'Er
ID #1095275 entered on August 14, 2025 at 7:48am

#154. Why So Selfies?
ID #1095219 entered on August 13, 2025 at 9:53am

#153. Allergic to Selfish
ID #1095155 entered on August 12, 2025 at 10:54am

#152. That's Corny
ID #1095081 entered on August 11, 2025 at 9:34am

#151. Three Times
ID #1095025 entered on August 10, 2025 at 10:13am

#150. Past Tents
ID #1094971 entered on August 9, 2025 at 10:24am

#149. Hold Me
ID #1094921 entered on August 8, 2025 at 9:43am

#148. Bold Strategy, Cotton
ID #1094858 entered on August 7, 2025 at 9:41am

#147. Lager? I Barely Know 'er
ID #1094802 entered on August 6, 2025 at 9:38am

#146. Live Long and Suffer
ID #1094742 entered on August 5, 2025 at 8:37am

#145. Put On a Happy Face
ID #1094669 entered on August 4, 2025 at 9:38am

#144. Search and Research
ID #1094614 entered on August 3, 2025 at 9:16am

#143. Go Go Godzilla
ID #1094554 entered on August 2, 2025 at 11:30am

#142. Lightning's a Beach
ID #1094513 entered on August 1, 2025 at 1:35pm

#141. Sun of a Beach
ID #1094430 entered on July 31, 2025 at 8:23am

#140. What I Think
ID #1094373 entered on July 30, 2025 at 9:37am

#139. Strings Attached
ID #1094315 entered on July 29, 2025 at 9:52am

#138. Reality Check
ID #1094252 entered on July 28, 2025 at 9:22am

#137. Pill Bugs
ID #1094199 entered on July 27, 2025 at 11:12am

#136. Light the Fuse
ID #1094118 entered on July 26, 2025 at 7:55am

#135. Going Wit Out
ID #1094073 entered on July 25, 2025 at 10:31am

#134. Y'all-Inclusive
ID #1094016 entered on July 24, 2025 at 9:43am

#133. Inside the Box
ID #1093951 entered on July 23, 2025 at 8:36am

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