RenoVous

  On this day in 1859, the world famous Big Ben rings out for the first time. In 1834, a fire destroyed much of the Palace of Westminster, and the clock was chosen as part of the redesign.  Royal astronomer, Sir George Airy, wanted pinpoint accuracy.  He recruited Edmund Beckett Denison, an expert in horology. The clock tower was designed by Augustus Pugin, in neo-Gothic style.  He was also asked to design the interiors of the new palace, which included carved panelling, wallpaper, painted and gilded ceilings, encaustic floor tiles, and a range of furniture such as this sideboard. In 1987, the tower was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. In 2012, for the Diamond Jubilee, it was renamed the Elizabeth Tower.

 

Lazy pups on a holiday. Remembering those who gave their lives, and remembering that we fight fascism.  

  Since sinking in 1912, the Titanic has fascinated us.  Multiple expeditions have been to the wreck since it was located in 1985 - 400 nautical miles from the coast of Newfoundland and 12,500 feet underwater - but it's been impossible to see the full picture. A deep sea mapping company, Magellan Ltd, developed technology that made it possible.  The above image is a digital scan of the site, "a highly accurate photorealistic 3D model of the wreck," says specialist Gerhard Seiffert. Scientists spent six weeks capturing scans, followed by months of processing and rendering the information. Magellan states this is the largest underwater scanning project in history, generating 16 terabytes of data with more than 715,000 still images and 4k video footage. Experts in Titanic history consider this an invaluable tool for research, potentially helping to solve some lingering mysteries.  For deep sea exploration, it's a "game changer." NPR

  The Queen of Rock n' Roll passed away yesterday at the age of 82. Simply. Share your favorites!!

  We didn't set out for Tahoe, but it's where we ended up with a cheap motel. In the morning, we found an adorable and delicious coffee shop. And we still wanted our camping breakfast, so we found a spot in the forest.

  All tortoises are turtles, but not all turtles are tortoises. Tortoises are exclusively land creatures, like our friend in the desert here. The American Tortoise Rescue began in 1990 to protect these animals from environmental hazards, including the hunting and harvesting of their eggs.  Their mission is to fight the exploitation of turtles for food and the illegal sale of live animals on the internet. The desert tortoise lives in the Mojave Desert of California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah.  It is currently listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Ravens are a major predator of tortoise babies, but once they reach adulthood, they are rarely killed.  Not only can they tuck inside their shell for protection, but they're also diggers who burrow.  This is also how they temperature control during the cold nights and hot days. The Nature Conservancy has created Habitat Protection Plans, which includes the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve.  The animals rely...

  Viola Davis Natalie Portman Gemma Chan Sofia Carson Naomi Campbell I don't love the dress, but I love the drama. Elle Fanning Fan Bingbing Phoebe Waller-Bridge Alessandra Ambrosio Lily Gladstone Michelle Yeoh Let's get a few guys too. Jeremy O. Harris Rahi Chadda Jason Fernandez

  Science is also serious. You may have heard that a case review is ongoing regarding the safety and science of an abortion pill, called mifepristone, that has been on the market since 2000. It's another attack from antiabortionists who want to restrict others from care and choice for themselves. Of course, the FDA already vetted the drug and numerous studies show the pill is safe and effective. "If courts can go against a whole tremendous amount of scientific evidence, that just doesn't seem right." More Info: Science News News and Politics

 These are being posted by our local KTVN Meteorologist, Jeff Martinez. I certainly recall the flood of 1997.... And a flight shot from Tahoe. The City of Reno is telling people to keep out of the river.  It's not about being a good swimmer or having a fun float.  It's dangerous, and not cool when you have to be saved.

 Yesterday I came across a Great Horned Owl nest with three healthy owlets. Unfortunately, the Barn Owl lost some babies.  There was not enough food being brought in. But this Barn Owl nest is packed full! I went to check on the raccoons as well but apparently mama ripped the camera out of the box last night, so it's just Texas Backyard Wildlife.

 A favorite piece of art in our house. A quick search returned some of the most iconic sketches ever made. Edgar Degas Egon Schiele Peter Paul Rubens Eugene Delacroix Joseph Mallord William Turner And of course, Da Vinci. Share your favorites or your own work!