RenoVous

  Rafflesia has no stems, no leaves, and no roots, but is the largest flowering plant on Earth. Unlike most plants, it does not use energy from the Sun to make food through photosynthesis.  Instead, as a parasite, it gets all it's nutrients and water from a host, a vine in the grape family. It is also known as a carrion flower, because it smells strongly of rotting meat.  This odor attracts insects that will pollinate the plant.  (Much like the corpse flower, Titan arum). There are 28 known species, all found in Southeast Asia - Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines.  It was first discovered around 1791 by French naturalist Louis Deschamps in Java, but his notes and illustrations were seized by the British in 1803 and the plant remained unknown to science. In 1818, British naturalist Joseph Arnold saw one in the Sumatra rainforest, after a Malay servant pointed it out.  It was named for Stamford Raffles, the leader of the expedition.  ( R....

I could not find a good topic for today so I settled on something new. I've been meaning to do a spotlight on Tex Avery and Mel Blanc, who first worked together on Picador Porky on February 27, 1937.  Even though I missed that anniversary, I wanted to share some bits. Video Here Tex began his Warner Brothers career with Porky, starting with Gold Diggers of  '49 in 1935.  The star is Beans the Cat, and Porky is the father of his fiancé, Little Kitty. Full Video Here And in other Looney Tunes history: It was April 30, 1938 that Happy Rabbit first appears, and this is who becomes Bugs. That's all I've got - feel free to share some cartoon history!

 April 26, 2013 - I saw one of the best shows of my life. Jason Newsted, once the bassist for Metallica, on tour for his new album. Heavy Metal Music. That's right, front and center!! In this moment, he was playing the intro to "My Friend of Misery." In the first photo you may notice his long chain necklace.  At the end of the show, he took that off. AND HE PUT IT AROUND MY NECK!!! My heart still races when I think of that.  It was a fangirl moment for sure. And here it is! \m/

 I thought it would be a good time to return to the nests to see what's going on with the eaglets. The ones at Duke Farms have lost most of their down by now, which means another week or two and they should be fledging. The nest at Big Bear lost its final egg to a raven. Just like a typical pair of siblings, these two fight over a bone to choke on until Dad takes it away.

  Zendaya Leslie Odom Jr. Viola Davis Regina King Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher Amanda Seyfried H.E.R. (Best Original Song) Colman Domingo Maria Bakalova Carey Mulligan Daniel Kaluuya (Best Supporting Actor, Judas and the Black Messiah ) Andra Day Youn Yuh-jung (Best Supporting Actress, Minari ) Chloe Zhao (Won Best Director and Best Picture, Nomadland ) [with Charlene Swankie, right] Frances McDormand won Best Actress as well. Anthony Hopkins won Best Actor for The Father.

  Proprioception: Perception or awareness of the position and movement of the body. Plants are up against mechanical forces such as wind, gravity, and people who like to pluck.  They sense and interpret these forces to guide growth and development.  Fluctuations in mechanical cues form the basis of a proprioception system that ensures steady growth despite variable environments. These fluctuations range from deformation of wall components, cell growth variability, and swaying stems to stem flexion under tree weight or wind drag. Developing plants use such fluctuations to monitor and channel their own shape and growth.  Using proprioception, the cell and tissue shape changes are linked to changes in body configuration and involves the sense of tension and deformation. "It follows that plants, like all living organisms, should be considered to be like active and self-sensing materials and structures." I thought this was a nice follow up to Earth Day.  :-) Science

 Act V Summary and Analysis This act is one long scene where everything comes to a head. It opens with Fabian asking Feste for the letter Malvolio wrote, but he refuses.  The Duke and Cesario arrive, asking for Olivia.  Feste plays him for a bit of money. Officers arrive with Antonio, whom the Duke recognizes but asks, "What's the matter?"  The officers explain they arrested him for his crimes, so Viola speaks in his defense, since he did interrupt the duel with Andrew.  But Antonio, feeling betrayed by this person he thinks is Sebastian, complains of him to the Duke.  But it can't be the same person, since Cesario has been with him all this time, not with Antonio. Olivia comes out, with Orsino swooning and her denying him still, especially since she's been married, and of course assumes it was to Cesario standing here.  When Viola denies being husband, and chooses to follow the Duke as he means to stomp off, Olivia calls on the priest.  He confir...

 I'm sharing some random shots I've taken over the past few weeks. First off, a yummy cocktail with rosemary. Cherry blossoms. Our tree neighbor. Battle Born. A hike with Seester. And a day trip to Wall Canyon Reservoir. Share some of your own Spring photos!!

  Act IV Summary and Analysis This one was fairly short: Sebastian has been mistaken for Cesario by nearly everyone.  Feste approaches him first, and then Andrew with Toby and Fabian.  He strikes Sebastian, who is more willing to fight than his sister.  But then Olivia intervenes, calls Toby an "ungracious wretch," and pulls Sebastian aside.  She asks, "Would thou'dst be ruled by me!"  He says he will. We return to the prank on Malvolio, where Maria plans to dress Feste as Master Parson, Sir Topas.  He has come to see the lunatic, who insists he is not mad and has been wronged.  "This house is as dark as ignorance."  Feste talks with himself as Sir Topas, telling himself not to speak with Malvolio, and when Sir Topas leaves, Malvolio asks Feste for ink, paper and light.  Feste says he'll fetch them. Sebastian is in Olivia's garden, wondering what the heck is going on.  Is he dreaming, is he crazy, is SHE crazy?  But no, she run...

  Tenille Arts Maren Morris Miranda Lambert Jimmie Allen (New Male Artist of the Year) Kelsea Ballerini Little Big Town Leslie Jordan CeCe Winans Carrie Underwood Darius Rucker Gabby Barrett (New Female Artist of the Year) Hosts: Keith Urban and Mickey Guyton

Researchers have found that in the hours after we die, some brain cells not only remain active, but increase their activity. These "zombie genes" are glial cells, which will grow and sprout appendages, but that in itself isn't too surprising.  These cells are responsible for clean up after brain injuries such as oxygen deprivation and stroke. However, not knowing this before may complicate some of the research done using post-mortem brain tissue to find treatments and cures for such diseases as Alzheimer's and schizophrenia, because it has not accounted for the post-mortem cell activity. "Most studies assume that everything in the brain stops when the heart stops beating, but this is not so." -Dr. Jeffrey Loeb, head of neurology and rehabilitation at UIC College of Medicine. Loeb and his team noticed that the global pattern of gene expression in fresh human brain tissue didn't match any of the published reports of post-mortem gene expression, so they dec...