Early start to the day to work on the new chicken run. (Picked up 3 pullets yesterday to add to our 3 hens). I was in the garage gathering...

Early start to the day to work on the new chicken run. (Picked up 3 pullets yesterday to add to our 3 hens). I was in the garage gathering tools when I heard a bird shriek. I stepped out, looked directly up to see a juvenile bald eagle flapping its way toward University Lake.

TIL there are a lot of image placeholder options. Some fun ones here including bacon or beards or random Flickr images. Any favorites from...

TIL there are a lot of image placeholder options. Some fun ones here including bacon or beards or random Flickr images. Any favorites from the M.b community?

A couple of months ago I asked for recommendations for graphic designers. @pratik pointed me to @ningkantida, which was perfect. The result...

A couple of months ago I asked for recommendations for graphic designers. @pratik pointed me to @ningkantida, which was perfect. The result is a new brand for The Zuiker Chronicles. See it and get the background here. New site using the new brand in a few weeks.

Now that I have a new brand for the Zuiker Chronicles, I have begun to code the site to use new colors and styles. After all these years of...

Now that I have a new brand for the Zuiker Chronicles, I have begun to code the site to use new colors and styles. After all these years of managing my own site, I’ve finally taken the time to understand sass and how it will ease my fumbling with css.

Great snowfall in Chapel Hill today. I went for a 4-mile run at 4pm, passed cars spinning on the steep hill, then along the Morgan Creek...

Great snowfall in Chapel Hill today. I went for a 4-mile run at 4pm, passed cars spinning on the steep hill, then along the Morgan Creek Trail. Now making chocolate chip cookies and listening to Josh Ritter (The Animal Years on vinyl) to cope with this crazy country.

This morning, I received from @ningkantida the design package for a new Zuiker Chronicles logo and I am delighted by the result. I’ve...

This morning, I received from @ningkantida the design package for a new Zuiker Chronicles logo and I am delighted by the result. I’ve been writing my personal/family blog for nearly 25 years, and this is brand will be perfect for the next phase of the site. (h/t @pratik for the referral)

Need a diversion? The Robots ht font from Huerta Tipografica looks fun. 242 modules to make your own little robot icon.

Need a diversion? The Robots ht font from Huerta Tipografica looks fun. 242 modules to make your own little robot icon.

From the Athletic: Adidas unveils 2025 Club World Cup ball: ‘The design pays homage to the United States’. Looking ahead, with the Trump...

From the Athletic: Adidas unveils 2025 Club World Cup ball: ‘The design pays homage to the United States’. Looking ahead, with the Trump tariffs about to blow up relations, will there be a World Cup in Canada/USA/Mexico?

Back now from the Uwharrie Mountain Run, in national forest west of Asheboro, NC. We had big rains across the state last night, but when the...

Back now from the Uwharrie Mountain Run, in national forest west of Asheboro, NC. We had big rains across the state last night, but when the 8-mile race started, the day was clear and cool and perfect for a run through the forest. I feel good.

I’m watching the Apple TV+ series Prime Target, about a mathematician about to uncover the law of prime numbers–and gain power...

I’m watching the Apple TV+ series Prime Target, about a mathematician about to uncover the law of prime numbers–and gain power over all the word’s encryption? It’s a cliché, a caper, there’s murder, intrigue, and chases. But also awesome views of Cassis, that heavenly place we visited in 2016.

Friday challah habit.

Friday challah habit.

So easy to make. Such a tradition to it. Perhaps I can make this a Friday habit.

So easy to make. Such a tradition to it. Perhaps I can make this a Friday habit.

I did watch inauguration and listen to that awful speech. (I’m rereading Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, after all.) Better yet, I...

I did watch inauguration and listen to that awful speech. (I’m rereading Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, after all.) Better yet, I started the day with pickup soccer, great game, scored goals. Also spread wood chips on walking path, relished sun and cold air, warmed hands over fire. Watching a game now.

Just canceled my Washington Post subscription. Erin and I have agreed to wind down our Amazon Prime account. I’ll never give again to...

Just canceled my Washington Post subscription. Erin and I have agreed to wind down our Amazon Prime account. I’ll never give again to ACLU until it stops hiring people to force handshakes on street corners.

Congratulations to the Atlantic, restored to a monthly printed magazine after crossing the million-subscription threshold. I’m holding...

Congratulations to the Atlantic, restored to a monthly printed magazine after crossing the million-subscription threshold. I’m holding the Feb. 2025 issue in my hands and reading the Note from the Editor in Chief. I’m proud to have been a subscriber for most of the last 30 years.

My night to make dinner. Went for a run first, saw amazing full moon. Came home, showered, started curried red lentils. Put Springsteen’s...

My night to make dinner. Went for a run first, saw amazing full moon. Came home, showered, started curried red lentils. Put Springsteen’s Born in the U.S.A. on the turntable. Such a great album. Music of my youth.

I’ll need supplies and advice for this photo project. Instead of supporting Amazon any more, I’ll head to our local camera shop,...

I’ll need supplies and advice for this photo project. Instead of supporting Amazon any more, I’ll head to our local camera shop, Southeastern Camera in Carrboro.

Commencing photo project, using flatbed scanner to begin digitizing many of the thousands of slides, transparencies, and prints that I have...

Commencing photo project, using flatbed scanner to begin digitizing many of the thousands of slides, transparencies, and prints that I have collected from my father, grandfather, and others. Testing scanner, picked at random these 120 medium format slides.

Just listened to On the Media show Public Broadcasting Is In Danger (Again) on our local public radio station, WUNC. My brother-in-law, Tom...

Just listened to On the Media show Public Broadcasting Is In Danger (Again) on our local public radio station, WUNC. My brother-in-law, Tom Michael, was interviewed about Marfa Public Radio, which he founded before he moved to Boise State Public Radio.

Now I’m listening to Melt on the turntable mingled with the sounds of melting ice sliding off the metal roof above.

Now I’m listening to Melt on the turntable mingled with the sounds of melting ice sliding off the metal roof above.

A beautiful post-storm morning. Went for a run on the snowy trail along University Lake. Saw a juvenile bald eagle over the water. Now home...

A beautiful post-storm morning. Went for a run on the snowy trail along University Lake. Saw a juvenile bald eagle over the water. Now home eating an omelet made with eggs from our hens. Plenty of housekeeping and cleaning to fill the day ahead. Just put Son Volt on the turntable. Windfall my fav.

Sunrise meditation is nice.

Sunrise meditation is nice.

I see a silver lining to the chaos of another Trump presidency: Chances might be good that he’ll say or do some shit on June 3, the...

I see a silver lining to the chaos of another Trump presidency: Chances might be good that he’ll say or do some shit on June 3, the world will be distracted, and I’ll be able to snag tickets to the BohemiaFC-Rovers Dublin derby.

Kevin Drum on the latest misinformation from Elon Musk: In addition to having an audience about a thousand times the size of mine, it took...

Kevin Drum on the latest misinformation from Elon Musk:

In addition to having an audience about a thousand times the size of mine, it took him only five seconds to repost that comment. It took me two hours to write this one. It's not possible to keep up with his firehose of lies and misinformation.

I want very much to make a quip about being ‘unemployed in Greenland’ but I’m not quite ready to get in the path of a guy...

I want very much to make a quip about being ‘unemployed in Greenland’ but I’m not quite ready to get in the path of a guy who ‘truly [has] a dizzying intellect.’

Walk To Vote

Microcast from Carrboro Town Plaza just after I cast my ballot.

Transcript

A morning microcast to explain my latest blog post on the Zuiker Chronicles (A list of profiles Ive written) and the writing goals that are...

A morning microcast to explain my latest blog post on the Zuiker Chronicles (A list of profiles Ive written) and the writing goals that are in my 5-year “vivid vision.”

h/t Cameron Herold for the Vivid Vision inspiration.

Transcript

As I watched the presidential debate last night, the barred owls in the woods were hootin' at each other. Heres an audio clip. From 00:48 to...

As I watched the presidential debate last night, the barred owls in the woods were hootin' at each other.

Heres an audio clip. From 00:48 to 00:60 you can hear at least three of them at the same time.

Raindrops and Turtles

Another walk in the woods to find box turtles and listen to the birds and cicadas.

Hum of Cicadas

From Chapel Hill, North Carolina, a moment in the woods to listen to the birds and cicadas.

Waterfall in the preserve

I’m in Northern Virginia for a work event. I needed a walk and saw the Winkler Botanical Preserve nearby.

Owl In The Chilly Night

Cleaning up the kitchen and heard an owl so stepped outside to record the night sounds.

Studio 4

I recorded a short message of thanks to my Duke University colleague Stephen Toback for the amazing new podcast studio he and his team have created in the basement of the Bryan Center. I referenced Voices of Duke Health, too.

When dad saw the Rolling Stones

News today that Charlie Watts, the drummer for the Rolling Stones, died, so I called my father, Joseph, to ask him about the time he peeked out from backstage as Charlie and company finished a set in the Los Angeles Forum.

Heres our microcast.

Do have a gentle day

Richard Gildenmeister died this month at age 88 (obituary here). He was a legendary bookseller in Cleveland for 55 years, and my friend for 20 years. There are plenty of mentions of him in my blog archives, including the story of our trip to New York City and the day we spent with architect Philip Johnson at The Glass House.

I found an audio recording of a conversation he and I had in 2011 when I was up in Cleveland for Thanksgiving, and another audio clip of his answering machine message, and Ive put them together into this Coconut Wireless microcast. It was an honor to know Richard.

Car Horns

Carrboro, North Carolina is celebrating the Biden/Harris win!

The Coconut Wireless: Hard floors

A microcast for a rainy Friday morning from my desk in the center of the house.

The Coconut Wireless microcast for Sept. 28, 2020 Notes: Podcast episode I mention: The Democratization of Medicine: Open Access, Social...

The Coconut Wireless microcast for Sept. 28, 2020

Notes:

• Podcast episode I mention: The Democratization of Medicine: Open Access, Social Media, AI, Apps, and Empowering the Patient as the Future of Clinical Research

The Coconut Wireless: Two turtles

For many years, I thought of my blog (archived at mistersugar.com; I blog now at zuiker.com) as the “coconut wireless” in deference to my time as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the South Pacific, where news traveled around Paama Island as people walked from village to village. Now that I have the means to post audio observations, Ive decided to recycle the name for my microcasts.

So, heres the first, a short observation on how the world outside is helping to keep me sane as I spend so much time in the house at my desk.

After I recorded this, I was standing outside and the great horned owl flew by, followed by a hummingbird.

And heres a photo of the two turtles:

2.9.2020 01:05The Coconut Wireless: Two turtles
https://smol.zuiker.com/2020/09/...

After A Storm

Once the afternoon thunderstorm passed over us, I walked out in the woods and encountered the dreaded princess tree.

Pleasant Evening with Birdsong

I am enjoying the peace of the front patio and the birds in the tress above.

Day’s End and Evening Birdsong

After dinner, I walked out to the back woods to listen to the birds as they prepared for the night.

Microcast from my home studio, i.e., a desk at the foot of the bed where Ive been working for the last month (communications for the Duke...

Microcast from my home studio, i.e., a desk at the foot of the bed where Ive been working for the last month (communications for the Duke Department of Medicine). Im testing the Zoom Livetrak L-8 sound board with a Rode Podmic into a MacBook Pro and Hindenburg Journalist.

Hiking With My Brother, Joel

On the Little Mountain Falls Trail in Fairy Stone State Park, Virginia.

Birdsong On Summer Eve

Just before heading out to dinner, I sat and listened.

Sounds of the South Pacific

Weve been back from our epic South Pacific trip for nearly two months, and only now am I getting a chance to log the various sound recordings I made during our week in Vanuatu. I hope to stitch together the best of the sounds and interviews into an audio postcard. Here, though, is one full clip of my interview with my son, Oliver, on the morning we first woke up at Erakor Island Resort in Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu.

Thats Oliver in the green swim shirt in the photo above.