32 Comments
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Lily's avatar

So kind of you to anticipate their cultural confusion with an orientation manual chock full of pointers and illustrations. Even if many won't have enough time or literacy to use it, the gesture alone should ease discomfort. I can imagine much chuckling too.

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Merrill Markoe's avatar

The chuckling cicadas are even louder than the sexting ones.

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Lily's avatar

They are never stepped on.

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Frank 4's avatar

I know it will wear off soon. And I want it to. But I can't help reading the headline and thinking, "Oh, here she goes making big deal out of a trillion cicadas emerging together for the first time in over 200 years."

Now how can we think of an excuse to get you to do a brief history of 1485-1803?

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JeannieLaKT's avatar

White working men in suits had me in stitches

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Lucian K. Truscott IV's avatar

Genius. We are lucky you are alive and on the earth -- and not wearing bright colored suits, at least not on a regular basis.

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Merrill Markoe's avatar

Haa. Thank you Lucian. I have been enjoying your work as well.

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Elene Gusch's avatar

So much fun, and certainly much more fun than trying to find a place to step without squashing at least 15 cicadas is going to be!

The sound of even a few of them is maddening as far as I'm concerned, so I'm delighted not to live in any of those states. We used to have a moderate number of them every year here in NM, a different species, but there haven't been any for a few years-- I don't know whether some brood or other will be showing up soon.

I wouldn't be nearly as bothered by repeated '80s songs, but too much of a good thing is still too much. If they're repeating "Wooden Ships," though, it's not an '80s track-- that was released in 1969.

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appleton king's avatar

i hope they can read this with a brief smoke after sex before they die

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painedumonde's avatar

Finally, man bites dog.

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McKinleyRd Creatives's avatar

This is brillaint. So many smiles, so much seeing cleverness and the brilliance in your words and POV, in your glorious self appointed role. Very kind of you. Has me wanting to know more about Cicadas.

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Holly Starley's avatar

"If you feel like wearing capris, go ahead and wear them." This is just good advice for anyone. Merrill, thank you for the laugh. Mirth is a gift you keep on giving, and I am here for it.

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Bill Southern's avatar

I bet cicadas taste like chicken.

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Merrill Markoe's avatar

I have always heard that chicken tastes like cicadas.

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brian m's avatar

Funniest thing i read all week! I would give my little finger to use art, logic and nuance to pull

this out of the ether. Well the tip of my little finger, .. maybe a piece that would reattach with triple antibiotic and bandaids.

Wow, 64 live beatles at the cow palace. I am jealous even after 60 years.

Dont sell that house, the capital gains will eat you alive and stay away from those brookies at TJ's

so, very , addictive😊

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Ërb's avatar

Best cicada pictures ever.

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Liza Blue's avatar

This is the first time since 1803 that the two broods have coincided, but the 13 year cycle locusts have emerged 17 times since 1803, while the 17 year cycle cicadas have emerged only 13 times. I imagine a conversation between the two broods, where the 17 year cyclers looked for updates from the more experienced 13 year cyclers.

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Merrill Markoe's avatar

I considered all that. But it was such a complicated set of historical data I had a feeling i would never be able to hold anyone's attention.

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Perry Albertson's avatar

Brilliant, as always... Thank you, Merrill!

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Merrill Markoe's avatar

Aww. Thanks.

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Perry Albertson's avatar

I’m not a Crocs fan, either. 😋❤️

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Gundy Walton's avatar

Oh my, I see I am in the thick of it! Do these critters sleep at night? I sure hope so.

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Mark Morey's avatar

'Fraid not. They are a summer staple in the Texas Panhandle. I remember taking my daughters out to listen to them (both were summer babies). Sometimes it was the only time I got to sit down carrying them around in the wee hours.

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Morgan OCailleigh's avatar

Ahh, the yearly gathering of white men and women in suits led gracefully by their 4 legged masters. 🐕🐕🤣

Who won win best in show...?

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