Advertise on podcast: That's Life

Yolo Basin Foundation's bat expert Corky Quirk know a LOT about the "Bats in our Bypass"! And she freely shared her knowledge and fascinating stories about this non-rodent population.  Yep. That's right. Bats are NOT rodents!  Even though the German word for them (fledermaus) literally means 'flying mouse', they aren't.  Corky says that about half the mammal species in the world are rodent species, and about half of the rest of the mammal are BATS!  Lots and lots of species of BATS -- few of which live in or near Davis.  Most of the bats living inside the causeway bridge are Mexican Free-tail Bats which are each about the size of my thumb.  With their wings folded closely, they roost in the one-inch-wide expansion cracks under the concrete of the road. They cling to the concrete and huddle together like a huge very long puppy-pile.  Sleeping in the day, one can see them streaming out just after sunset all along the 3 miles of causeway between Davis and Sacramento as they head out to feed.  Lots of bats. Lots and LOTS of bats!! Over 250,000 bats!!! (Lois' note: I don't think I have enough exclamation points to express my amazement at some of the things I learned today.  Instead, I'll just invite you to listen in to this fast-paced fact-filled BATmania episode.) By the way. Did you know that baby bats are called pups and are left vercroed to the concrete while their mothers go out and eat?  Yep. A purely puppy puppy-pile of bat pups.

Davis employs a wildlife biologist named John McNerney to oversee all things natural in the City.  John  has been on the show several times (all archived for your listening pleasure!). This time our discussion focussed on the turkeys and other 'wild' animals in the City and what people should or should NOT do in their interactions.  Although I hope you will listen to this entire episode; here's the main point Lois got from it -- DO NOT leave out food where the rats, turkeys, squirrels, skunks, opposums, or other animals can get to it.  That includes remnants of cat and dog food, as well as intentionally feeding them. Wild animals that become 'habituated' to people can cause problems.  Ah, you might say, but what about the little birds?        If you want to feed the finches, try hanging a seed feeder up high (and cleaning the ground below it); to attract little songbirds, let your yard have lots of leafy bushes and don't use pesticides; leaving leaves where they fall under bushes attracts the ground feeders; and offering a BIRD BATH near a bush outside your window lets you enjoy whoever is in your yard.        Lois says: The easiest thing is to put out a hummingbird feeder.  [This is a commitment though. We DO have hummingbirds that live here year-round, so if you put up a feeder it's best to keep it going all the time.]  To be safe, one should bring in the feeder, empty it, clean it, and re-fill with sterilized sugar-water once a week (twice a week if we get over 90°). Don't wait until you can 'see' something growing in it.  The first things to grow in there will have no color and yet are producing toxins that can harm a hummer. Fill your feeder with 1:4 sugar-water (1/4 cup sugar for each 1 cup water) that you have boiled (we microwave ours) and let cool. DO NOT USE FOOD COLORING in the water; it is not useful to them and apparently can harm the birds.  (If you REALLY want something red, paint a bit on the outside of your feeder.)         If you have questions about anything on this show, you can leave a comment on the archive page at: https://kdrt.org/audio/thats-john-mcnerney-talkin-turkey

KDRT's Hawaiian expert Beth Post is today's guest. Her radio show "Na Mele O Hawaii" is one of the most popular on this station!  And the story of how it came to be and what changes it has made in her family's is fascinating. Beth first became involved with KDRT when a  friend started the "Road Scholar" show about home-schooling and needed a back up. Beth and her daughter started helping out and eventually doing it all on their own.  After a few years, the kids got older and that show was no longer of as much interest.  Beth's daughter went on to school and Beth -- having gotten a taste of sharing on the radio -- was left on her own.  When she approached Jeff about having a new music show, his first question was: "So what kind of music do you plan to play?"  Since there was already a great classical show and several of other genres, Beth had to think hard about what she could offer that was different. Ah-HAH!  She had enough Hawaiian music CDs to do 10 half-hour shows.  Which was enough time to see if this thing would really fly. But Beth, being Beth, would not be satisfied just playing a song and announcing the title.  No.  She wanted to give more info about each song and artist -- background  for the people and origins of the songs.  "And how do you pronounce that?"  So she started researching, began to learn Hawaiian language, and launched her new show.   But that research turned out to not effect just the show.  As she learned more about Hawaii, she fell in love with the culture as well as the music.  Fast forward to now ... She and her family  have been making the journay to a week-long immersion camp in Maui for years; she says her values have shifted for the better; and now she hosts visiting Hawaiian artists, produces music videos on DCTV, and is widely regarded as a local Hawaiian music expert.  She is also organizing 'house concerts' for guest performers from the islands.   A good friend and an interesting chat.  Hope you will join us.

Ann Ranlett is an artist.  A SCRATCHBOARD artist.  What's that, you say?  Listen to today's show and find out!  Lois found Ann while researching a 'drawing' to be donated to the Friends of Art for their auction at the Yolo County Fair.  (Anyone know a local artist named "H. Friend" who was been making things in 1972?)  Once Lois figuring out this was not a drawing, but actually a scratchboard; she tried to find a gathering place of such folks to see if anyone know more about artist Friend.  Although she ddi find the group, alas, no one knew that artist. But during those communications, Lois discovered that Ann Ranlett lived in northern California and was willing to come and be interviewed!  Which brings us to this show. If you want to follow along during Ann's description of how scratchboarding is done, look at  http://www.annran.com/website/gallery/scratchboard/lucy-the-goose-steps/ where Ann has posted, step-by-step, the process she used to make Lucy's portrait.   THANKS!

Three of Lois' friends -- Leanne Friedman, Marilee Eusebio, and Autumn Labbe-Renault -- joined her to talk about friendship and friendliness.

Reese Rowland from the City of Davis spoke about his work on Stormwater Pollution Prevention.  Do you know where your water comes from and where it goes? Listen to today's show and find out!

Jeff Peterson's CD "Slack Key Travels" Bird behaviors (info via Lois).

Corky's back!  To talk to us about bats, bats, and more bats!  -- primarily the Mexican Free-tail Bat which is so plentiful under the I-80 freeway at the causeway.  Size, shape, habit -- all the things that one can know about these insect-devouring friends -- that's what Corky Quirk has for us today.  And then there are the mysteries that scientists still haven't learns.  The crack in the attached image is less than 2 inches wide.

Who's Tyler Lee, you ask? He's a very nice young man who Lois met at KDRT when he and another fellow were alphabetizing vinyl records in our library.  Lois, of course, started chatting with Tyler and (not unusually) ended up asking him to come and be on the show.  And he agreed! This is a man with a wonderful story.  I hope you have as much fun listening to this show as we had making it.

Starting about 15 into this weeks show, Lois interviewed Mark Blake, the owner of Blake's Heating and Air Conditioning.     Lois asks him about how extremely hot weather affects the efficacy of your A/C, how to maintain your system to cost you the least, and operate the best.   Listen to learn and enjoy!

Songs from the Debbie Harry Blondie CD "Once More Into The Bleach" [1988, Chrysalis]

Summertime 2009  brought songs from "Misner & Smith" off their brand new album -- which was the first of MANY!  For current info, see  MisnerAndSmith.com (Also, as our PSA, info about controlling mosquitoes in your yard.)

It's starting to sound a lot like Christmas! Here are a few carols to pass the time. First broadcast December 2025.

A few of you were around in the  70s and 80s and knew John Denver.  For you, here are some of his early songs.  Some other listeners have never even HEARD of John Denver!  For you, here is an introduction to one of the most influential singers of his time.  I've included some history of John as well as some of his music.  Today's songs are from his famous  "Rocky Mountain High" album.  (The CD was published by RCA, from recording of the 1972 album by BMG Music.) Original broadcast 2020-02-20.  Re-broadcast 2025-10-30 and 2025-11-04.

The Yolo County Landfill has many programs to reduce-reuse-recycle.  Tours of the landfill are available by appointment.  There is also a "waste wizard" on the website where one can ask questions about what to put where:  https://www.yolocounty.gov/government/general-government-departments/community-services/integrated-waste-management-division/central-landfill/a-z-waste-acceptability/a-z-list   Kids love learning about recycling!   Today, Marissa Juehler explains how diverting use-able items that would otherwise go into the landfill not only saves us space; it also makes things available for VERY low prices AND provides funding for other recycling programs.  EVERY DAY one can drop things off to be sold.  Then folks can BUY every Thursday, as well as the third Saturday of each month. BREAKING NEWS !!!  Our landfill is getting a new methane-gas-capture system to replace the 40-year-old one we use now.  And, yes, that means we have been capturing gas for that long.  We were among the first landfills to do that.   Marissa Juehler is now the "Integrated Waste Management Division Director", overseeing all Landfill operations and waste collection services in Yolo County.  Her office is at the Yolo County Landfill (NE of Davis) and, among other things, she manages the Big Blue Barn.  Marissa tells us about the hazardous waste facility out there where you can drop off light bulbs and batteries, old paint and pesticides, and other hazardous material.  They ALSO have a pick-up service for seniors (over 65) and disabled folks  anywhere in the county who want to properly dispose of such items but cannot get to the landfill on their own.  Note: Any liquid that is still useable (paint, cleaners, auto supplies, etc.) is NOT dumped in the landfill.  Instead all cans are checked and put onto shelves in the Paint Closet so that other residents can come and pick them up -- open Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 7:30-3:30 (same as the hazardous waste drop-off). There are many more details in this lively conversation.