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Showing posts from August, 2024

Wildlife Photographer of the Year

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We're getting a sneak peek at some of the images selected by the Natural History Museum to be displayed for the 60th anniversary exhibition in October. I am anticipating being off work tomorrow - and Monday, being a holiday.  :-)

Hump Day History

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  On this day in 2009, the band Oasis came to an end after years of infighting between brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher. They were set to play a show in Paris when Noel quit. But this week they announced they're getting back together!   The above album, celebrating its 30th anniversary tomorrow, will be re-released on Friday along with some previously unheard early recordings. It was their second album that really caught attention though. I'll always love this song. In the UK, it was the Battle of Britpop between Oasis and Blur. The Story

Art Class - Potentialist

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 In downtown Reno resides the Potentialist Workshop, run by Pan Pantoja, a multi-faceted artist. His style is often those swirly circles by the window, but he also makes sculpture - not to mention music and poetry. He's created an immersive experience called Upside Down Land, based on bedtime stories he's told his son. "I am a potentialist.  I want to take it too far, I want to leap off the edge of the energy I put out, swim in the unseen and drown in the unknown."

Best Dressed - Week of August 26

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  Michelle Obama Selena Gomez Jenna Ortega FKA Twigs Abigail Achiri Penelope Ann Miller Heidi Klum Chris Perfetti Colman Domingo Maxim Baldry

Science is Fun Fridays!

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  Work is underway for a seaweed farm, within a wind farm, off the coast of the Netherlands. The area, known as Hollandse Kust Zuid, or HKZ, includes 139 wind turbines. "The integration of seaweed cultivation with offshore wind farms offers an opportunity to resolve space constraints for the seaweed sector in coastal areas, with additional potential for atmospheric CO2 uptake," explains Professor Ana Queirós, Marine and Climate Change Ecologist. Data from this project will help scientists further research carbon reduction and sequestration. There's also the expected production of 13,000 pounds of fresh seaweed, a food source which is growing in popularity.  Proteins such as spirulina and chlorella contain all of the essential amino acids, and the plant also provides B12 and omega-3 fats. I've tried a seaweed snack, and they're not bad. A 2021 UK report suggested that the seaweed market could be worth around $10 billion by 2030, create 115,000 jobs, and deliver hea

My Shots - Lake Life Vibes

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  The ever so beautiful Pyramid Lake. Anaho Island. Morning. Indian Head Rock. Pups.

Hump Day Hawaii

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  On this day in 1959, Hawaii became our 50th state. But I'm not really going to celebrate that, because from my perspective, in just 65 years we've nearly decimated a beautiful and culturally rich set of islands. My feelings aren't helped by a video I watched this week, from Last Week Tonight. The first known settlers of the islands were Polynesian voyagers who arrived sometime in the 8th century from the Marquesas Islands.  Some time later, more voyagers arrived from the Society Islands.  They claimed descent from the greatest gods, and ruled Hawaii.  After a few hundred years though, contact with Polynesia ceased, and a unique Hawaiian culture developed. Laws, Governance, and Social Structure In 1893, a group of American expatriates and sugar planters, with support from the US Marines, deposed Queen Liliuokalani, the last reigning monarch of Hawaii.  Sanford B. Dole became the first president of the protectorate, and we can clearly see the motivations.

Juice Live Stream

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  JUICE is flying by! They will be sharing images as they are captured as well as hosting a Q&A. Pictures will also be available tomorrow after some processing. Wave!

Best Dressed - Week of August 19

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  Isabela Merced Jenna Ortega Ashley Park Halle Berry Heidi Klum Awkwafina Lily Collins Julianne Hough Aja Naomi King Meghan Markle

Hump Day History in Science

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 Since I'll be off Thursday and Friday, I wanted to cover our bases for both history and science. This is Richard Darwin Keynes, born on this day in 1919, he passed away in 2010. In 1979 he released The Beagle Record: Selections From the Original Pictorial Records and Written Accounts of the Voyage of the H.M.S. Beagle.   You see, Charles was his great-grandfather. But Richard made his own contributions to science, studying the mechanisms underlying the conduction of of the action potential along nerve fibers. By using the giant nerve fibers of squid, he was able to discover how nerve impulses are transmitted in all animals. Along with Dr. David Aidley, he authored an introductory textbook named, Nerve and Muscle. "The authors begin with a discussion of the nature of nerve impulses as electrical events.  They go on to consider communication between nerve cells via synaptic transmission, and finally discuss the nature of muscular contraction, relating muscle cellular structure

Fire Danger

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  It's that time of year when everything has dried up and is ready to burn.  Add some wind, and we've got an 8% contained wildfire at the border. How it started: 2020 Alfa Romeo, driver arrested for DUI. Unfortunately, Hubby's aunt lost her home.  But in her post, she referenced hope. Luckily, she has the means to be okay.   674 acres as of this morning.