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Science is Fun Fridays!

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  Often called the "rainforests of the sea," coral reefs are just as important, supporting over 25% of marine life.  If an area of the Amazon turned white, we would be concerned. But scientists have been fighting for years to make us understand the global red flag of dying reefs. When they collapse, it's not just a loss of biodiversity, it's a loss of human food security and coastal safety. The  Allen Coral Atlas  is powered by Arizona State University, originally conceived by Paul Allen. Teams have mapped reefs across the globe, and continue to monitor for bleaching events.  All it takes is a 2 degree rise in water temperature for the corals to stress react by purging the algae that lives within it. The algae is what produces 90% of the coral's energy through photosynthesis.  Without the algae, the polyps turn clear, so all we see is the skeletal structure.  Without enough energy to eat, the coral will eventually die. Okay, so not fun-filled informati...
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World Vitiligo Day

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  I've been following Winnie Harlow (Chantelle Brown-Young) since I first saw her on America's Next Top Model in 2014. She's had one of the more successful careers after the show. More importantly, she became a spokesperson and a positive figure for those with vitiligo. Vitiligo is a condition in which the immune system targets melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin, the pigment that contributes to skin, hair, and eye color. This is of course most noticeable on darker skin tones, but around 3 million people in the US are affected.
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Hump Day History

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 10 years ago, the shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Florida became the deadliest attack on the gay community in this country.  Prior to that, it had been arson at the UpStairs Lounge in New Orleans in 1973. A fire was set in the stairway, which trapped and killed 32 people.  The cause was noted as "undetermined," however, so no one was ever arrested. Fifteen people who jumped from the second story reported smelling gasoline before the blaze. Churches in the area reportedly refused to host funerals, and a bishop even rebuked one reverend who held a prayer service for the victims. In 2013, the Catholic Archdiocese apologized.
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Fosse Fosse Fosse!

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  Back in high school, my bestie took me along to see this at our local theater. Bob Fosse is considered the most influential figure in the field of jazz dance in the twentieth century.  The play is a showcase of his choreography, but we'll pull from the originals. "Big Spender" from Sweet Charity "Nowadays" and "Hot Honey Rag" from Chicago "Steam Heat" from The Pajama Game "Manson Trio" and "Glory" from Pippin "Mein Herr" , of course. And here he is performing "From This Moment On" from Kiss Me, Kate
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Best Dressed!

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David and Victoria Beckham Zendaya Michelle Obama Eve Colman Domingo Queen Maxima Angelina Jolie Lexi Minitree rewears a dress Reese Witherspoon wore to Legally Blonde.  She is the new Elle Woods.
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Science is Fun Fridays!

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 In a three month period, archaeologists found two cannonballs from the famous Battle of Alamo, 1836. The one on the left is from the Mexican side, and is made of bronze. The one on the right is from the Texas side, made of iron. While many other pieces of ammunition and shrapnel have been found around the site, these are the first examples of "solid shots" they have ever found. The battle was part of the Texas Revolution, and it became a state 10 years later in 1846. It was the westernmost slave state, and today is Juneteenth. The day that the news of freedom finally reached Galveston in 1865. The Bolivar Archaeological Project has recovered artifacts belonging to pioneering Black entrepreneurs during Reconstruction.   Tom Cook
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My Shots - Almost Summer

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It's been a morning at work, and I'm not too inspired by any of the day's topics, but summer starts on Sunday and you know we've already been enjoying the outdoors. Hot days and long nights. So this can be whatever you want today - history, music, summer vibes, whatever. 😊
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