Additionally, you could have a witness/observer of your own - a friend or relative who might be willing to go with you.

Make it something that others will understand.

How about "Kodak"?

House finch. Fairly common here in the midwest. I think I've had one or two in my backyard.

I put it slightly differently: "A weed is any plant that grows where you don't want it to."

Hey, all Charlie Brown got was a rock.

When my parents "installed" their manufactured home, their only option for heat was propane. I don't recall what they paid. I know that later my mom was paying to have the tank topped off every month on the budget plan. Before she decided to move back down to the Detroit area the local gas company brought gas into the subdivision. Everyone in the sub jumped at the opportunity.
We still have the place "up north", as anywhere north of the middle of the Lower Peninsula is pretty much universally referred to by Michiganders. We do close it up for the winter but still pay a minimum charge every month, even though there's no usage.
But it still beats the cost of propane.

The numbers aren't quite that dire.

www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-05/49-australians-murdered-overseas-in-201617/9016706

A rank amateur is an amateur who never takes a bath.
Everybody knows that.

Well, this one looks pretty good.

Wait, can you see what a black hole looks like?

On the train side, it seems every steam loco I see these days has a diesel "helper". Do they not trust them?

Just because you're paranoid, it doesn't mean they're NOT out to get you.

I think the first question should be: How far are you willing to roam?

Pictured Rocks is only about 40 miles east and has all kinds of scenery. There are lots of waterfalls, beaches, and trails.

The air base was decommissioned in '95 and is partially used as a local airport. Not sure what there is to photograph.

There is a FB group called Michigan Photography that gets posts for that area.

I'm curious as to how you found they were used in the first place.

Looks like yellow billed cuckoo.