RenoVous

  Dance is the heartbeat of Bollywood, serving as a powerful tool for storytelling, emotional expression, and cultural celebration. I found this lovely number from Devdas. The first Bollywood film was released in 1913. Director Dhundiraj Govind Phalke is considered the father of Indian cinema. The story is based on the mythological Hindu king, Harishchandra. But Sholay, from 1975, is considered the most defining movie in Bollywood history. I might need to check out some Hindi horror movies.

  Jack Henry Abbott spent much of his life incarcerated, as a minor at the age of 12 (at a reform school), and then at the age of 18.  While in prison, he killed an inmate and received additional time. He heard that author Norman Mailer was writing about convicted killer, Gary Gilmore.  So he wrote to Mailer claiming Gilmore was a liar and offered to share a more accurate experience, that of a "state-raised convict." Mailer was moved by Abbott's writing, and helped him get released on parole in 1981.  He offered to employ him, and the literary crowd in New York was ready to accept him. Only six weeks later, he got into a fight with a waiter and stabbed him in the chest.  He fled town, and was found in Louisiana, on this day.  He was convicted, but he still had Mailer's support, who advocated for a minimum sentence.  He is quoted as saying, "Culture is worth a little risk." His book, which was published just after his release, became a bestseller. The N...

  The International Rhino Foundation was founded in the early 1990's, in response to intense poaching of the black rhino in Zimbabwe. To date, the population has stabilized, and the foundation continues conservation programs for all species of rhinoceros.  Recovery of the greater one-horned rhino is among their successes as well. White rhinos are the most populous, but still considered near threatened. The Sumatran rhino is critically endangered. The Javan rhino only exists in Indonesia's Ujung Kulon National Park. But that doesn't mean you'll see one if you visit.  They are shy and prefer to stay hidden - it even takes rangers months of planning and weeks of patience to catch a sight of them. Rhinos are considered keystone species, because they have a massive impact on their environment.  They help control plant growth, creating pathways and spreading nutrients and seeds. Help Us Create A World Where Rhinos Thrive in the Wild

 I love this head shot. Anya Taylor-Joy Penelope Cruz Olivia Wilde Chase Infiniti Daisy Edgar-Jones Celine Dion Ayo Edebiri Florence Pugh Esme Creed-Miles Mellody Hobson, with George Lucas

  As I've mentioned here and there, we volunteered to do a Dark Sky Survey for Washoe County last weekend. We purchased the Save Starry Skies license plate to support Friends of Nevada Wilderness. Suffice to say, we believe in protecting the night skies. Not just for our view of the stars, but for the nocturnal species that rely on it. Light pollution impacts the well-being of all animals. Article Article The county wants to use the data from this citizen science project to update current lighting regulations.  The city of Flagstaff in Arizona was the nation's first International Dark Sky Place. In Nevada, we have the Massacre Rim Dark Sky Sanctuary. But from our assigned location in the desert you could still see the light dome of Reno.  The Milky Way could be seen from horizon to horizon, but without a lot of detail.  I used to be able to see that much from the North Valleys, but not anymore.  We scored our home at an 8. Details

  I've started chapter 7. This is one of the weirdest books I think I've ever read, but it's certainly interesting.  I'm very on board with the supernatural elements.  Poor Ivan though. Sous mentioned a Russian movie - I found one that was filmed in 1994, shelved, and finally released in 2011.  And then another movie came out in 2024.  It is scheduled to open in the US tomorrow as a limited release. Even if you're not reading along, it was Book Clubbers that turned me onto this, so thank you!