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  It is National Purebred Day, but also International Doodle Dog Day. We're actually watching my sister's Labradoodle, Reggie. The science of breeding studies the genetic, behavioral, and physical diversity of dogs. "At a DNA level, breeds are a very real concept.  Every poodle is more closely related to a poodle than it is to a dog of any other breed," says Dr. Elaine Ostrander. This was proven in a study of Australian Labradoodles, in fact. Wally Conron bred a labrador with a poodle in 1989 to create a guide dog suitable for people with allergies or asthma.  Poodles are hypoallergenic, because their dense curly hair sheds minimally, trapping dander close to the skin. Mixing breeds increases genetic diversity and reduces inherited congenital diseases, which improves overall health and longevity.  But traditional organizations, such as the Westminster Kennel Club, evaluates the breed standards regarding appearance, temperament, and movement. So why does the poodle re...

 On this St. Patrick's Day, I thought we'd look at the bigger picture. The Irish American Heritage Center is in Chicago, founded in 1976. Along with New York City and Boston, Chicago was a popular place for immigrants coming in.  Port cities were easier to stick around in, but many traveled West as well, where railroads and mining offered work. The Heritage Center offers a library, museum, art gallery, and archives.  Programming focuses on Irish dance, literature, language, music, and cultural contributions.  There's also a pub. The Fifth Province Pub was built by founding tradesmen - stonemasons, carpenters, woodworkers, tile-masters and pipe-fitters - built from materials from the former Mayfair School. It would be the place to party tonight! Featuring: Sláinte!

  There's some claim that Columbus Day is meant to celebrate Italian-American immigrants, and that is a basis of why the day became mainstream - but there are other ways we can observe that. Such as this event which took place over the weekend.  It's a sauce competition - bring (or buy) some bare noodles to try as many as possible and then vote on your favorite. Of course, other Italian foods are for sale, as well as a farmer's market. There's also music, which included Those Darn Accordions. Not only is there a wine walk to taste samples from Tuscany, Sicily, Piedmont, and more - there's also grape stomping. The age-old tradition was first represented on a Roman sarcophagus from the 3rd century AD. The grape harvest is known as vendemmia. October itself is Italian-American Heritage Month.

 With the continued insistence on Columbus Day, I wanted to acknowledge the real heritage of our country, which comes from the people who were here before. Many of us were raised with stories of how, in 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue - but much of the narrative was fictionalized.  They left out the murder, enslavement, and cultural destruction. In recent years, more of that culture is being reclaimed and celebrated. To keep it on Monday's usual topic, there was a strong showing at New York Fashion Week last month, a stage that hasn't really been given to Indigenous designers before. Jontay Kahm is Plains Cree, born in Saskatchewan and now living in Santa Fe, NM. Lily Gladstone wore this piece.

  Malpelo Island is a barren rock about 300 miles off the coast of Colombia.  In the ocean, three currents come together, creating upwellings of nutrient-rich waters, attracting a large number of sharks. More than 75 different species. Among them is what some locals came to call the Monster Shark.  Divers were able to go down the shelf enough to approach one up close in order to attach a recording device.  Once they obtained the data, they were able to confirm it's a Smalltooth Sandtiger shark. They prefer the cool, deep waters in temperatures from 43-68 degrees.  Females can grow as much as 11 feet, but some reports suggested the ones around Malpelo are closer to 20 feet. While populations in Australia and the Mediterranean are declining, these Colombian waters are protected as a marine sanctuary. In 2006, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Kiss, 1907-1908   Brancusi was born on this day in 1876.  From Romania, he is considered one of the most influential sculptors of the 20th century.  He was a pioneer of modernism, a move away from traditional styles, embracing experimentation and abstraction. Mademoiselle Pogany She sat for him several times in 1910 and 1911.  He then carved a marble and made a plaster mold from which he cast four bronze statues.  The Infinite (Endless) Column A UNESCO World Heritage site in Targu Jiu, Romania, commissioned to honor fallen soldiers in World War I. The ensemble also includes Table of Silence. As well as Gate of the Kiss. Brancusi was also a photographer. Bouquet

  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.

  On this day in 1872, President Grant signed the bill creating our first National Park: Yellowstone This was 18 years before Wyoming, Idaho and Montana even became states. Archaeological evidence shows that people began traveling through the area more than 11,000 years ago. A Clovis-type spear was found near the north entrance in Gardiner, Montana, made from obsidian.  It was the Native Americans who gave the name Yellowstone, for the yellow sandstone that lines the river. There are 45 named waterfalls in the park, and hundreds more exist throughout. But the hot springs and thermophiles are what make the park stand out. It is the thermophiles that create the vibrant colors we see around the hot, acidic pools. Of course, most famous is the geyser, Old Faithful.  It erupts 17 times a day and can reach heights of 184 feet, lasting about 90 seconds. Magma is estimated to be a mere three miles below the surface of the park.  It is one of the most seismically active areas...

  Welcome to the Quinta Da Regaleira in Sintra, Portugal. In 1904, Antonio Augusto Carvalho Monteiro enlisted Italian architect, Luigi Manini, to build his "Palace of Mystery." A Masonic Initiation Well, meant to symbolize death and rebirth of the initiate. Gazebo on the Lower Gate Bridge. The property contains a ten-acre park along with waterways, grottoes, and fountains as well as stucco statues and ornate benches. The Fount of Abundance In 1995 it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

  Google is kicking off the month with a little history on North American Stickball. Invented as a ceremonial sport by native tribes - such as Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Seminole, and Yuchi - it is one of the oldest team sports. Elder tribal leaders would organize games of Stickball to settle disputes without violence. There are a few versions of the origin story, but it always comes down to the land animals challenging the birds to a game.  Like the hare with the tortoise, they assume it will be easy, but they are defeated. To play, grab a stick!  The goal is to move the ball towards the other team's goalpost, scoring a point when hitting said goalpost.  You cannot touch the ball with your hands.  Various tribes continue to play the sport along with its ceremonial traditions. Modern day field lacrosse originated from Stickball. Alf Jacques, of the Onandaga Turtle Clan, has been making sticks for over 50 years, helping to preserve the culture.  He's also...

  "In honor of US Hispanic Heritage Month, today's animated video Doodle celebrates the life and legacy of American "Nuyorican" musician and internationally-renowned entertainer, Tito Puente." To this date, his best-selling track. Tito loved the Cha-Cha rhythm, and this song is one of his most famous pieces. He was heavily influenced by Big Band jazz, and this song combines the American and Latin traditions. For Latin Jazz though, this one's named as his most famous. "A song where you can fully appreciate the ability Tito Puente had playing the vibes."

  Becoming a park in February 1919, the Grand Canyon is a Wonder of the World as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Scientists estimate the canyon formed 5-6 million years ago, as the Colorado River carved its way through the rock.  The Vishnu Basement Rocks, found near the bottom of the inner gorge, formed 1.7 billion years ago when magma hardened and joined the region.  According to tribal history, the Havasupai have lived in and around the canyon for more than 800 years.  Much of their land was taken with the creation of the park, but in 1975 they regained a large portion.  They make money from tourists, especially from Havasu Falls. Now, on this day in history (2013), Nik Wallenda became the first person to walk a high wire across Little Colorado Gorge, which is near the park. History

  Preserve Nevada released a list of endangered places in the state, and The Lear Theater is at the top. It was built as a church in 1939 by Paul Revere Williams, who is considered one of the most important African American architects of the 20th century. As a church, it closed in the 1990's and a non-profit organization, led by church member Moya Lear, sought to convert it into a theater.  About 10 years ago it was donated to Artown, but funding has remained an issue. The Reno-Sparks Theater Coalition still hope to turn it into a community theater, more affordable to smaller companies than the Pioneer Theater, and with more than enough space to be a repository for props, costumes and set-making. "The quality of your art only reflects the quality of your community, and right now we're still struggling," says Randi Thompson of the Sierra School for Performing Arts.  She wants to see a community center that is open and available to anyone and provides options for a nigh...

  Welcome to Cahokia, a Pre-Columbian Native American city, the largest and most influential urban development of the Mississippian culture.  Today, the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site resides in St. Clair County, Illinois and is one of 24 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the United States. The mounds are the largest prehistoric earthen structures in the Americas north of Mexico. The original site contained 120 of these mounds, over 6 square miles. Monks Mound is the largest, rising 10 stories tall.  Excavation revealed the evidence of a large building, possibly a temple or chief residence. There is a petition to change the name, as it represents Trappist monks who stayed there after Euroamericans settled in the area. Change.Org Sophisticated engineering has been displayed throughout the site, including a Grand Plaza that was expertly and deliberately leveled, and not just for flooding as originally thought, but for ceremonies, gatherings, and games. Rattlesnake Mound is...

  Welcome to Angel Island Immigration Station. From 1910-1940 it is estimated that 300,000 immigrants came through here, and approximately 1/3 were of Chinese descent. Poetry found on barracks walls has helped to classify this as a National Historic Landmark.  Some are written in ink, others carved with a Cantonese technique. The government tried placing signs to discourage what they saw as destruction, but the Chinese poetry led other immigrants to respond in kind.  Japanese, Russian, English, and South Asian languages can also be found in the barracks. In 1970, Ranger Alexander Weiss entered the building ahead of demolition plans.  Upon seeing the walls, and against orders, he contacted San Francisco State professor George Araki about the inscriptions.  This started a movement to protect the Station, and by 1983 it was officially opened as a museum. The largest percentage of Chinese immigrants came from an area in Guangdong Province known as the Toishan Distri...

FloraForager  Happy May! We've had some beautiful days for stepping outside to read on my breaks. I just started a new book, a recommend from my sister. She loves historical fictions, chasing down ancient relics and whatnot. This appears to be centered around the Holocaust, and the Stones of David. The New York Public Library has a list of recommendations. Here In school I read a book called Farewell to Manzanar, about a Japanese family moved to a concentration camp during World War II.  Jeanne, the young narrator, was born an American citizen to Japanese immigrants. So share your reads!

 While providing some local history  here , I mentioned "Spirit Cave Man," unearthed in 1940 in the foothills of the Stillwater Mountains, outside of Fallon, NV. He is the oldest human mummy found in North America.  He was wrapped in a mat of tule, a plant native to freshwater marshes, as well as a rabbit-skin blanket. In the 1990's, researchers studied the remains with X-rays and computer scans, built models of his head and reconstructed facial features.  They determined that he had been about 45 years old. It is believed that he suffered blood poisoning from infected teeth, and it was evident that his people cared for him until his death.  Ground up fish remains were found in his stomach.  When he died, he was taken up the hillside into the cave.  They laid him on his right side with his hand resting beneath his chin. In 1996, the remains were carbon dated and the results indicated he lived approximately 9,400 years ago.  They estimate that he d...

 Continuing on for Native American Heritage Month, today we will look at the art of Jack Malotte, born in Schurz, NV as part of the Walker River Indian Reservation.  He graduated from Wooster High here in Reno, and now lives in Duckwater, NV. I learned of him after catching an exhibition at the Nevada Museum of Art. NV Art Juxtapoz