2012 in Bird Years

Monday, December 31st, 2012

In 2012 I saw:

  • 335+ total species
  • 204+ species in New York
  • 58 Life Birds (mostly in Cuba, but a few in New York, one in Bermuda, and one in Florida; total now at 850)
  • 12 new ABA area Birds (Total now in the vicinity of 500, though that may include a few like Muscovy Duck, Black Swan, Cockatiel, and Budgerigar that “don’t count”)
  • 13 new New York State Birds (Total now at approximately 300)
  • 7 new New Jersey State Birds (Total now at approximately 182)
  • 15 new Louisiana State Birds (Total now at approximately 143)
  • 40 new Florida State Birds (Total now at approximately 77)
  • 35 new Plaquemines Parish Birds (Total now at approximately 85)
  • 6 new Orleans Parish Birds (Total now at approximately 123)
  • 2 new Jefferson Parish Birds (Total now at approximately 61)
  • 9 new Kings County Birds (Total now at approximately 230)
  • 3 new Queens County Birds (Total now at approximately 202)
  • 8 new New York County Birds (Total now at approximately 112)
  • 4 new Richmond County Birds (Total now at approximately 111)
  • 12 new Nassau County Birds (Total now at approximately 138)
  • 8 new Suffolk County Birds (Total now at approximately 132)

I didn’t go to the Bronx, and added no new birds in California.

(more…)

Updating on New Evidence

Monday, December 24th, 2012

We now have two-and-a-half more chapters of Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality to consider. Chapter 85, while awesome and sad, doesn’t add a lot to the mystery. Nor does Chapter 87, which is primarily further character development for Harry and Hermione. But Chapter 86, now that’s interesting.
(more…)

Who is Hat-and-Cloak?

Sunday, December 23rd, 2012

To my mind the big open question in Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality is the identity of Hat-and-Cloak. I think there are two possibilities:

  1. Hat-and-Cloak is the defense professor.
  2. Hat-and-Cloak is not the defense professor

(Well I suppose there’s a possibility he/she is both of the above, but that seems overly complex, especially if the people who wear the hat and cloak are not working together.)

So which is it?
(more…)

Who Set Up Hermione?

Wednesday, December 19th, 2012

I still can’t stop thinking about Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality. But as I read it again (up to the original version of Chapter 85, though the new 85 and 86 don’t majorly change my thinking on these points), and the more I think about it, the outline of the plot is becoming clear. There’s only one piece that doesn’t fit now. Who is Hat-and-Cloak and what does he/she want?

(more…)