A lovely visit with old friends

Derek and Mary came over with pizza and wine yesterday. It gave us a welcome break from our move in labours. Thanks so much, guys!

Tech problems

What else is new when you move....

Paella

I guess we've never really had a good paella outside of Spain. I can't seem to make a great one either. I think you have to be in Spain. A post by J.Z. "Paella Night @ Del Rey Restaurant in Villa Royal was a disaster! The paella was dry and spicy. Paella is never supposed to be dry or spicy. The portions were mostly dry spicy rice with little to no shrimp, chicken or chorizo just a few clams. The Spanish deviled egg with jamon was also dry and flavorless. The burrata salad with jamon and fig was fine but again somewhat bland; the flavors did not come together. The rice pudding desert was bland and dry. Spanish rice pudding should be creamy. All Spanish deserts are creamy. But the real disappointment was the paella. This was the absolute worst dinner I have had in my eight years living in Palm Springs."

France the most visited country in the world

Not really a surprise to me. It does seem to have it all. I'm glad we were able to make many trips there. "Welcoming more than 89 million visitors annually, France is the most visited country in the world. Little wonder, owing to the eternal pull of the cosmopolitan capital of Paris. City breaks to the French capital are always popular with couples, who long to experience the romance of Paris’s historic streets and glistening Eiffel Tower. Furthermore, Paris is a shopping paradise and boasts some of the finest restaurants in the world. On the other hand, France offers an array of Mediterranean beaches along its glamorous Côte d’Azur. France’s diversity doesn’t stop there, as the chateaux and vineyards of the Loire Valley are another reason to visit this European nation." Source: Exoticca

A wonderful Thanksgiving

We began with lunch at the University Golf Club with Linda and Cec and Donna,then spoiled with a super dinner and wonderful wine with Richard and Grace and Ray and Naomi. Thank you all for making this a very special Thanksgiving.

I wish I could find a Picasso in my basement

CNN — "A painting discovered by a junk dealer in the basement of an Italian villa six decades ago is actually the work of Pablo Picasso and could sell for millions, according to experts. Luigi Lo Rosso used to spend his days combing abandoned houses and landfills in search of treasure to sell in the family’s pawn shop in Pompeii, Italy. In 1962, he found a rolled-up canvas with an asymmetrical painting of a woman in the basement of the villa on the nearby island of Capri." This link seems to work if you want to see the painting. https://click.convertkit-mail.com/lmu7qoek5gimh0p4n0gcgu80onv00cg/9qhzhdupvr9dwxfz/aHR0cHM6Ly9lZGl0aW9uLmNubi5jb20vMjAyNC8xMC8wMi9zdHlsZS9waWNhc3NvLXBhaW50aW5nLWp1bmstZGVhbGVyLWl0YWx5LXNjbGktaW50bC9pbmRleC5odG1sP2xjdGc9cTVnbHZtZGU

Giller Prize

As always, some interesting looking books to read. It's always fun to see who wins. "This year's Giller Prize shortlist celebrates five of the country's finest authors as it marks its 31st anniversary, raising the profiles of fiction writers from across the country. The authors on the 2024 Giller Prize shortlist are: Éric Chacour ​for his novel What I Know About You (translated by Pablo Strauss), published by Coach House Books Anne Fleming for her novel Curiosities , published by Knopf Canada Conor Kerr for his novel Prairie Edge, published by Strange Light Anne Michaels for her novel Held, published by McClelland & Stewart Deepa Rajagopalan for her short story collection Peacocks of Instagram, published by House of Anansi Press. This year’s jury, made up of Canadian authors Kevin Chong and Noah Richler (jury chair), and Canadian singer-songwriter Molly Johnson narrowed down over 100 submitted works to curate a shortlist that seeks to inspire future generations of writers."

This would be a fun museum to visit

KYOTO, Japan – Japan’s iconic video game maker Nintendo opened a museum here in its home city today, Oct. 2nd, tracing the company’s roots from a playing card company that began 135 years ago, to the present-day home of Super Mario, Pokémon and a vast and growing entertainment empire. The company’s bosses appear to want to sum up their corporation’s achievements, as they begin to transition to a younger generation of leaders, and the company moves from video games into new businesses, including stores, movies and theme parks. But to open a museum that explains the company’s history is a highly unexpected, uncharacteristic move for a company that seldom explains itself, preferring instead to let its games and other products speak for themselves.

Drinking on public transport in London

This came up on something I was reading with a photo of people enjoying some drinks. We did quite a lot of travelling on public transport in London before 2008 and I don't ever recall people drinking let alone partying. We came back to our lodging after seeing a play or some event so were on transit in the evening. "On 7 May 2008, the newly elected Mayor of London Boris Johnson announced that the drinking of alcohol would be banned on all public transport services run by Transport for London from 1 June." I do remember people drinking and eating on trains in France and other public places but not on public transport like the subway. I don't know what the laws were.

Dinner at Minerva's

We had a super dinner with Donna at one of our very favourite places. And we have leftovers for tomorrowm.

A lovely lunch with old friends

Katey and David were in town from London and visiting with Liz. It was great to see them all and talk over fun times we've had together and hear about all their news.

Indigenous authors being studied

I think it's great that Indigenous authors are being studied and agree that it should be a compulsory course but I don't think you have to ditch Shakespeare. "You won’t find Shakespeare in Michelle de Braux and Tobie Loukes’ Grade 11 English class. Instead, their students may be studying the works of Indigenous authors like Tanya Talaga, Duke Redbird and Lee Maracle. De Braux and Loukes are teachers at the Toronto District School Board’s Kapapamahchakwew — Wandering Spirit School, which provides an Indigenous-focused education by centring the voices, cultures and values of First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples. But their Grade 11 class is not unique. The pair are just two of approximately 370 educators across the board who are currently teaching this course at some 100 Toronto schools. By the end of the academic year, the new Grade 11 English class will be offered at all 114 high schools in the TDSB. It’s part of a broader plan to replace the existing curriculum and make the course mandatory for all students — a necessary change, educators and students say, that will help promote truth and reconciliation, and shine an important spotlight on Indigenous perspectives. "

A quick trip

Just back from a quick day trip to Victoria.

Good on Lego

Well, I guess I only expect the best from Lego and they deliver again. COPENHAGEN, August 28 (Reuters) - Toymaker Lego said on Wednesday it was on track to replace the fossil fuels used in making its signature bricks with more expensive renewable and recycled plastic by 2032 after signing deals with producers to secure long-term supply. Lego, which sells billions of plastic bricks annually, has tested over 600 different materials to develop a new material that would completely replace its oil-based brick by 2030, but with limited success.

A lovely dinner with old friends

We had a great dinner at the University Golf Club with Donna, Linda, and Cec. So great to see them all.

Trip to Victoria

We got back Friday evening and had a super lunch wih Derek and Mary. It was great to see them.

Lunch with Brian and Carol

We had a fun lunch with the Peckfords yesterday at the University Golf Club and so glad they are really enjoying living in Parksville. It was great to catch up.

Dinner at Minerva's

We had a lovely dinner with Donna last night and leftovers for today.

Beach Volleyball

Sports: Beach Volleyball Sure, Las Vegas also has an Eiffel Tower, but let’s give credit to the original, which is only slightly taller than the next-most-recognizable French tower, Victor Wembanyama. Because it boasts stunning views of the famous building, the beach volleyball stadium has become one of the hottest tickets in town.—DL

Afternoon tea

We had a lovely afternoon with Dick and Susan yesterday. It's always so nice to see them. Thank you so much.

A break from blogging

Well, almost everyone takes a holiday in August so I won't be posting as regularly.

Cool artwork by Shara Hughes

"Born in Atlanta in 1981 and based in Brooklyn, Shara Hughes is celebrated for her distinctive approach to landscape painting, combining historical influences with contemporary sensibilities. Her jubilant color palette is reminiscent of masters like Henri Matisse, conveyed with David Hockney's stylish, visual boldness while acknowledging a broader tradition of landscape painting, including influences from Art Nouveau, Fauvism, and German Expressionism." From: The Art Newspaper

A sure way to get publicity

Good on King Charles for taking it so well.

From CNN "King Charles III’s first official portrait was unveiled to public criticism over its contemporary take on the British monarch. The portrait was commissioned to celebrate King Charles’s 50 years as a member of the Drapers’ Company, one of the U.K.’s oldest charitable bodies. Artist Jonathan Yeo said his goal was to highlight “a 21st-century monarchy” but the dramatic backdrop was likened to a “pinkish psychedelic splurge” by Jonathan Jones in The Guardian and a “grisly execution” at the Tower of London by Kate Mansey in The Times. King Charles himself looked “mildly surprised” as he pulled back the black curtain to reveal the bold portrait, which he last saw in a “half-done state,” but seemed to smile “approvingly,” Yeo shared with BBC."

Hedy Lamarr, the inventor

Quite amazing and so unknown...first I heard of her being such an important inventor. From: Interesting Facts Hedy Lamarr During her Hollywood heyday, Hedy Lamarr was known as “the most beautiful woman in the world,” a designation that ignored the impressive brain power behind those green eyes. Determined to aid the Allied cause during World War II, Lamarr teamed with composer George Antheil to devise a radio transmission technique that defied enemy disruption efforts by randomly jumping to different frequencies. Although it was initially dismissed by the U.S. Navy, the secret communication system is now recognized as a precursor to the wireless technology that fills our everyday lives. Lamarr also dabbled in more mundane creations, like an improved stoplight and dog collar, and was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2014.

Yeah....the Blue Jays won yesterday

The final score was 7-3. We especially enjoy our baseball when they win.

Olympics Opening Ceremonies

It was fun watching these and seeing glimpses of Paris. So glad everything went ok. I guess they really don't want people posting photos they don't really have legal access to as I can't seem to get any photos to upload. Fair enough.

PEZ candy

As a kid I loved eating PEZ. It was so much fun using the dispenser. I didn't know it was created to help people quit smoking.

From: Nice News "PEZ candy was created to help people quit smoking. Decades before doctors began to publicize the harmful effects of cigarettes, a 30-year-old Austrian executive decided to invent a refreshing alternative. In 1927, Eduard Haas III was managing his family’s baking goods business — the Ed. Haas Company — when he expanded the product line to include round, peppermint-flavored treats known as PEZ Drops. The German word for peppermint is pfefferminz, and Haas found the name for his new candies by combining the first, middle, and last letters of the German term. Clever advertising built national demand for the candy, which adopted its iconic brick shape in the 1930s and eventually nixed the “Drops.” PEZ were packaged in foil paper or metal tins until Haas hired engineer Oscar Uxa to devise a convenient way of extracting a tablet single-handedly. Uxa’s innovation — a plastic dispenser with a cap that tilted backward as springs pushed the candy forward — debuted at the 1949 Vienna Trade Fair. "

GDT Nature Photographer of the Year

Quite an amazing photo for sure.

"The German Society for Nature Photography (GDT) has announced the winner of its prestigious GDT Nature Photographer of the Year competition. The 2024 winner is Dieter Damschen for his photo Winter flood in a riparian forest. “Winter is my favorite time of year, and one of my favored motifs is the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Elbe River Landscape,” Damschen explains.” I often visit this hardwood riparian forest in the fore land of the dyke to take photographs at fixed points with lines of sight that reveal carefully selected compositions.” While the photographer has spent a lot of time in this forest and captured many images over the years, he says he is “regularly surprised” by how different the location can appear in various conditions."

A dress made of dahlias

From: The Good News Network "Dress made of 200 dahlia flowers – by Anita Lee-Archer / SWNS A mom created a fairytale dress made of more than 200 fresh flowers she grew herself, as part of her university studies in art and design. Anita Lee-Archer created the dress on her daughter, Bella, spending around two hours arranging multi-colored dahlias, hand-picked from her garden in Australia. The mother-of-five is pursuing a fine arts degree at the University of Tasmania at age 48. She decided to go back to college four years ago to pursue her dreams of a career in art."

The 1st Mexico City taquería to make Michelin star history

This is pretty cool. Good on Michelin for recognising street food can be great.

"Taquerías are a quintessential part of Mexico's street food scene and culture. And for the first time in history, the Michelin Guide has awarded one of its coveted stars to a tiny taco stand in Mexico City. Chef Arturo Rivera Martínez has helmed the ripping hot flat top at Taquería El Califa de León for 20 years -- searing off fresh meat to fill tortillas topped with red or green sauce -- and on Tuesday, it became the first taco shop to obtain one of the French dining guide's prestigious honors. From: CNN

Tomatoes

I love tomatoes so glad the world got this sorted out. Looks like pizza is the hero of this story. From: History Facts "There’s a reason why the humble tomato used to be known by the far more sinister moniker of “poison apple”: Europeans feared tomatoes for centuries and believed they were poisonous. As recently as the 18th century, it was thought that aristocrats were falling ill and even dying after eating tomatoes — a misconception stemming from the use of pewter plates, which contained high lead content. The fruit, which is highly acidic, would leach that lead and then poison the unlucky eater. The fear of tomatoes was just as prevalent across the pond, where some American farmers believed that the green tomato worm was “poisonous as a rattlesnake” (in the words of one New York farmer). An entomologist named Benjamin Dann Walsh eventually set the record straight, writing that the insect in question was “merely an ugly-looking worm which eats some of the leaves of the tomato,” and by the late 1800s, more people began to appreciate tomatoes for the nutritious treat they are. That change of heart was thanks in part to the increasing popularity of pizza, of which Italy’s Queen Margherita (sound familiar?) was known to partake. It’s believed by some that Raffaele Esposito, a baker from Naples often credited with inventing the modern pizza, used the Italian flag’s three colors as inspiration: red tomatoes, white mozzarella, and green basil. If anything explains an entire continent overcoming its irrational fear of tomatoes, it makes sense that it would be pizza."

A mother at 70

I had no idea flamingos lived this long. Amazing it was her first egg.

"A flamingo who was described as having been "unlucky in love" has laid her first egg at a nature reserve aged 70. Gertrude is part of a flamboyance of more than 65 flamingos at Pensthorpe nature reserve near Fakenham, Norfolk. The reserve is awaiting new arrivals of flaminglets, as many of the birds are currently sitting on their nests before their eggs hatch. Ben Marshall, the reserve's managing director, said: "Flamingos might live 40 years and Gertrude is 70, so [at] that ripe old age to be able to display [maternal] characteristics is amazing."

Seat Belts

Volvo gave away its seat belt patent to save lives. Makes me feel pretty positive towards Volvo.

Good on Volvo! From: Nice News "Few people in history are credited with saving millions of lives, but one person who did so worked for Volvo. Swedish engineer Nils Bohlin’s improvement on the three-point seat belt has helped drivers (and passengers) safely reach their destination for more than six decades. Seat belts are a standard feature in today’s cars and trucks, but it hasn’t always been that way. In the 1950s and ’60s, car manufacturers weren’t required to include safety belts in vehicles. When they were built in, the earliest seat belts were simple two-point restraints that secured across the waist (aka lap belts). While a step in the right direction, lap belts had some downsides — they didn’t protect the upper body during a collision and could even cause injuries during high-speed crashes. A three-point design was created in 1951 by Americans Roger W. Griswold and Hugh DeHaven, but it never took off, likely because it was uncomfortable. Recognizing these issues, Swedish carmaker Volvo hired Bohlin (a former aviation engineer who helped create pilot ejection seats) as the company’s safety engineer, and tasked him with a redesign. Bohlin’s creation — a more comfortable V-shaped belt that stays in position across both the chest and hips — was drafted in under a year, and is the style used in cars today. Volvo added the belts to its cars in 1959, before the inventor even secured a patent. But when he did, Bohlin and Volvo didn’t look to profit off of the safety feature. Instead, they released the design publicly, urging all car manufacturers to add the upgraded belts. After years of presentations and crash test dummy demos, Volvo eventually made headway — the evidence of which is found in our cars today and credited with saving lives around the world."

Worry worm

So adorable...just looking at it would help you to worry less.

The Crochet Worry Worm is perfect for your Random Acts of Crochet Kindness makes and in fact, originated from the Random Acts of Crochet Kindness Facebook Group! To find out more about the movement and learn how Olivia Dieterich founded the Random Acts of Crochet Kindness movement, please click HERE Huge thanks to Sam Cloud for allowing me to film her pattern 🐛

Venomous snakes

I'll have to try to remember this if I ever encounter a rattlesnake. I seem to remember encountering one when I was a kid when we were camping in Penticton. Scared the life out of me.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — In a Phoenix-area venomous snake training course, the first thing students learn is that basically everything they thought they knew about rattlesnakes is a myth. For starters, rattlesnakes aren't aggressive. They don't rattle to warn that they're about to strike. And they definitely don't chase people. "They're not out to get us," Cale Morris of the Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary told the class Tuesday. The sanctuary holds the class for the public and businesses in the spring, as rattlesnakes wake up from their winter-long naps, known in the reptile kingdom as brumation.

Love this idea for a bird feeder

"Amateur and professional birdwatchers will get a kick out of this feeder with a built-in camera. It gets up close and personal with any avian visitors, sending a phone notification when one lands, so he can watch them in real time. The camera itself is solar-powered, meaning there are no plugs or cords to hassle with. "

A sign of the times...a degree in Cyber Security

Sounds like an interesting program. Master’s degree in Cyber Security Are you interested in earning a Master’s degree in Cyber Security? Study 100% online with the University of London, with a programme designed to help you stay ahead in the rapidly changing field of cyber security and progress your career with CISO-ready skills. Why choose this programme? Flexibility: Work through the programme in your own time studying up to 2 modules per term. You have 2 to 4 years to complete all modules. Funding: Take advantage of the pay-as-you-go fee structure meaning you’ll only be charged for the modules you choose to take. Knowledge: Learn how to protect the fabric of society through a comprehensive set of modules, including Applied Cryptography, and Security and Behaviour Change. Hands-on learning: Understand how to connect academic and theoretical cyber security knowledge with hands-on lab sessions simulating real-life scenarios to gain practical experience. Faculty: Gain insights from pioneering and influential researchers, academics, and professionals from Royal Holloway’s Information Security Group. What could your future hold? Apply by September 9, 2024 to secure your spot.

The Granville Island Keg

We had a great meal with Donna yesterday evening. It's a place that doesn't disappoint. Jim and Donna had top sirloin and I had lobster. I can never get too much lobster.

A wonderful birthday dinner

Last night Richard and Grace took us out to Provence Marinaside for our birthdays. We always have a wonderful meal there and so great to be with them. Thank you so much!

Beachcombing taken to a whole new level

I always enjoyed beachcombing at our summer place on Gabriola Island even though I don't remember finding anything very spectacular. Sounds like John Anderson has been pretty lucky in finding treasures. From: Nice News Plenty of people enjoy spotting and snagging beach souvenirs — pretty shells, a sand dollar, perhaps. But for John Anderson, picking up treasures from the shore is more than a casual hobby. The Washington state resident has been beachcombing for nearly five decades, and he displays his countless finds in a makeshift museum that opens to visitors each summer. ​ His exhibits represent a vast world beneath the waves. He’s got thousands of colorful rubber buoys arranged into giant sculptural installations; a collection of Raggedy Ann doll heads from a container spill in the 1970s; a binder full of messages found in bottles; a juvenile gray whale skull; chains from medieval ships; and so much more. ​ “There’s a lot of history, and there’s a story in everything,” Anderson explained to NBC News of his passion for scouring the sand, adding: “One of the things that I never gave up from childhood was adventure.”

Times Square New Year's Eve

I remember a lot of people and I got rather spooked and we left before the ball dropped. We watched it on TV but could hear the crowd outside our hotel window. There certainly were a lot of people but a million did surprise me. Not quite sure why this post came up in the middle of the summer. From: Nice News "Every year as the clock nears midnight on December 31st, the eyes of the world turn once more to the dazzling lights and bustling energy of Times Square. New Year's Eve at the symbolic center of New York City has become more than just a celebration - it's a global tradition. As the famous New Year's Eve Ball descends from the flagpole atop One Times Square, about 1 million people in Times Square are united in bidding a collective farewell to the departing year and expressing joy and hope for the year ahead. Source: City of New York"

A "Walking Library"...love it!

[A "Walking Library" in London, circa 1930s] The concept of a "Walking Library" in London during the 1930s refers to individuals who would carry books with them and offer them to the public in various locations. These walking libraries were essentially mobile libraries, enabling access to books for people who might not have had easy access to traditional libraries. The idea was to promote literacy and the love of reading among the populace. Individuals acting as walking libraries would roam the streets, parks, and public spaces, lending books and sometimes even reading to those interested. This initiative was particularly valuable during a time when not everyone had the means or opportunity to visit a stationary library.

Looking through my images and this came up

Perhaps time to bake some peanut butter cookies but will wait until it gets a little cooler.

Leaf Legs

A very simple design but I think it's effective. Quite the price!

Sarah Crowner Leaf Legs (Blue), 2014 Acrylic on canvas and raw canvas, sewn 60 × 48 in | 152.4 × 121.9 cm Unique work Estimated value: $40,000–$60,000

A robot now has the record for solving Rubik's Cube

If you want to become the fastest human to ever solve a Rubik’s cube, you need to beat the 3.13 second Guinness World Record set by Max Park in June 2023. Unfortunately, you’ll need superhuman speed to outsolve the newly crowned fastest Rubik’s cube-solving robot. Earlier this month, a bot designed by Mitsubishi Electric engineers solved the iconic 3×3 block puzzle in the literal blink of an eye. At 0.305 seconds, the TOKUI Fast Accurate Synchronized Motion Testing Robot (TOKUFASTbot) was so blisteringly quick that even the cube itself had difficulty keeping up with the machine.

Another panda for the San Diego Zoo

From: Nice News Last week, two pandas made a 7,000-mile journey from China to their new home at the San Diego Zoo, marking a milestone for panda diplomacy and an effort to improve the species’ resiliency. The pair, named Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, are the first to enter the United States in 21 years. ​ “We are incredibly excited to welcome Yun Chuan and Xin Bao to the San Diego Zoo,” Paul Baribault, president of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, said in a press release. “This farewell celebrates their journey and underscores a collaboration between the United States and China on vital conservation efforts.” ​ Yun Chuan (pictured) is a nearly 5-year-old male whose name means “big river of cloud,” per Smithsonian Magazine. He’s the son of Zhen Zhen, who was born at San Diego Zoo in 2007, and is described by his caretakers in China as “kind, clever, and sensitive.” As for nearly 4-year-old Xin Bao, which means a “new treasure of prosperity and abundance,” she’s known to be a “gentle and witty introvert with a sweet round face and big ears.” Last week, two pandas made a 7,000-mile journey from China to their new home at the San Diego Zoo, marking a milestone for panda diplomacy and an effort to improve the species’ resiliency. The pair, named Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, are the first to enter the United States in 21 years. ​ “We are incredibly excited to welcome Yun Chuan and Xin Bao to the San Diego Zoo,” Paul Baribault, president of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, said in a press release. “This farewell celebrates their journey and underscores a collaboration between the United States and China on vital conservation efforts.” https://click.convertkit-mail.com/mvunkz7w4lt5hgdnrxps9tevv62qqa3/48hvh7urlmlx9ocq/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc21pdGhzb25pYW5tYWcuY29tL3NtYXJ0LW5ld3MvdHdvLXBhbmRhcy1hcnJpdmUtYXQtdGhlLXNhbi1kaWVnby16b28tdGhlLWZpcnN0LXRvLWVudGVyLXRoZS11cy1pbi0yMS15ZWFycy0xODA5ODQ2MzYv

Borrow a book or perhaps a wedding dress

I continue to be amazed by what some public libraries do. From: Nice News At a library in New Jersey, visitors pop in for more than just books — brides also visit to try on and check out donated wedding dresses. The collection of gowns is curated by Adele Puccio, the director of Maurice M. Pine Free Public Library in Fair Lawn who started collecting dresses 20 years ago. “I always enjoyed vintage fashion,” Puccio told the Today show. ​ But rather than keep her bridal finds for herself, Puccio lends them out to brides-to-be. Her collection started as a word-of-mouth passion project, but “things exploded” earlier this year after a local paper published an article about Puccio and donations started pouring in. ​ Her once-typical stash of around 10 dresses has since expanded to an ever-growing collection of 100-plus gowns, as former brides from across the U.S. send in theirs in hopes of giving them a second life. “The sheer number of dresses that have gone out of here this year is incredible,” said Puccio. ​ Of the many dresses Puccio has donated over the years, one is particularly special: her very own from her 1985 nuptials to her late husband. “It should live again,” she said. “It’s better than sitting in a closet for all those years.”

Kleenex...who knew?

"As battlefield injuries grew, the cotton supply shrunk. The company Kimberly-Clark (future owners of the Kleenex brand) developed a substitute made from wood pulp and dubbed it Cellucotton. The new material was pitched to the U.S. surgeon general as a substitute for a cotton surgical dressing for war wounds and as a gas mask filter. Two employees developed the material after visiting European pulp and paper mills in 1914 and seeing that manufacturers overseas were using processed pulp to make something that could stand in for cotton." Source: Time Magazine

Frank Lloyd Wright working on a budget

From: SurfaceMag.com "The Download: In 1936, the writer Herbert Jacobs challenged Frank Lloyd Wright to design a high-quality house on a tight $5,000 budget ($111,000 today). Though he was accustomed to working primarily for wealthy patrons, the 69-year-old architect rose to the occasion and designed a modest, low-cost home that kickstarted a prolonged period of late-career innovation. His Usonian homes, referring to the term derived from “United States of North America,” responded directly to the landscape—they featured glass curtain walls, open-plan interiors, and natural materials like wood and stone. He’d go on to build more than 140 Usonian homes over his remaining two decades. They became prototypes for his utopian vision of Broadacre City and helped inform the ranch-style houses that populated postwar American suburbs. Though Wright envisioned his Usonian houses with middle-class Americans in mind, owning one nowadays will cost you. That was until Lindal Cedar Homes started selling “kits” inspired by Wright’s designs. The Seattle-based company allows Wright-inspired houses to be built quickly, affordably ($300,000 for a single kit), and with minimal waste. Each of Lindal’s nine house models was designed by Aris Georges, a Wisconsin architect who studied and taught at the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture and updated them to fit contemporary living standards. Ceiling heights, for example, were raised to nine-and-a-half feet—Wright preferred low-slung buildings—while interior grids were elongated, yielding more spacious interiors."

Robots serving up coffee at Starbucks

I wonder if they expect a tip :) The details: Naver's autonomous wheeled "Rookie" robots navigate the building's 36 floors to bring packages, coffee, and lunch to employees. Rookie bots are assisted by dual-armed "Ambidex" robots, which are lightweight and dexterous for safer human interactions. Both robots connect to the company’s ARC system, which enables control of navigation, planning, and processing for the entire fleet through cloud computing. Naver also developed RoboPort, a dedicated elevator system that allows robots to move quickly and efficiently between floors. Why it matters: Naver’s putting its robots to work in the ‘real world’ — and while the location is just a testing ground for now, it’s also a glimpse into how service robotics will be integrated into the mainstream sooner than many expect.

Sea otter

I love otters so glad to see this one was saved. "An orphaned female sea otter pup from the Tofino area is cared for at the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society in Vancouver, BC Friday, June 28, 2024. PHOTO BY JASON PAYNE /PNG Article content Two weeks after it was rescued near Tofino, a sea otter pup is getting stronger every day, according to the Vancouver Aquarium’s Marine Mammal Rescue Centre."

Volkwagen Beetle

This car always brings a smile to my face. I can't seem to upload a photo but I think everyone knows what they look like. MEXICO CITY (AP) — Janette Navarro’s 1996 Volkswagen Beetle roars as it barrels up a steep hill overlooking concrete houses stacked like boxes on the outskirts of Mexico City. She presses her foot on the pedal, passes a lime green Beetle like hers, then one marked with red and yellow, then another painted a bright sea blue. “No other car gets up here,” she said. “Just the vocho.” The Volkswagen Beetle, or “vocho” as it’s known in Mexico, may have been born in Germany, but in this hilly neighborhood on the fringes of Mexico City, there’s no doubt about it: The “Bug” is king. The Beetle has a long history in the country’s sprawling capital. The old-school models like these — once driven as taxis — used to dot city blocks as the quirky look captured the fascination of many around the world. It was long known as “the people’s car.”

A lovely dinner with Donna Sunday

We went to the Milltown Pub and Jim and I had their special prime rib. It was excellent. Then back to Donna's for ice cream.

AI for marking

Where was this when I was teaching? I can understand the problems with it but I can also see great potential benefits for everyone. From: The Desert Sun "A growing number of California kids are having their writing graded by software instead of a teacher. School districts are signing more contracts for artificial intelligence tools, from automated grading in San Diego to chatbots in central California, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area. English teachers say AI tools can help them grade papers faster, get students more feedback, and improve their learning experience. But guidelines are vague and adoption by teachers and districts is spotty. The California Department of Education can’t tell you which schools use AI or how much they pay for it. The state doesn’t track AI use by school districts, said Katherine Goyette, computer science coordinator for the California Department of Education."

Scratch and sniff stamp

What a cool idea! France’s postal service is expected to raise quite a bit of dough after releasing a brand new scratch-and-sniff stamp that smells like a baguette with just over two months to go until the 2024 Olympic Summer Games in Paris. La Poste, the French postal service announced the crumby idea on Friday, honoring the iconic French food by calling the baguette “bread of our daily life, symbol of our gastronomy, jewel of our culture.”

The Outsiders

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 16: Vivienne Jolie, Angelina Jolie, Sky Lakota-Lynch, Adam Rapp, Matthew Rego, Danya Taymor, Hank Unger, and cast and crew accept the Best Musical award for "The Outsiders" onstage during The 77th Annual Tony Awards at David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center on June 16, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions) THEO WARGO/GETTY IMAGES FOR TONY AWARDS PRODUCTIONS When I was teaching many many years ago, "The Outsiders" was a novel kids loved. Kids who bragged they had never read a book read it.

History of some last names

A Brief History of Last Names In medieval times, town populations were small. One estimate suggests that England had between 11-30 people per square mile. With so few people living around one another, it was easy to know your neighbor by their birth name (first name). As small towns grew larger (around the Norman Conquest in 1066), residents needed a way to group and identify people. In some cases, they used lineage by drawing references to previous generations. For example, in the south of England and Wales, a man who was the son of John would have the last name “Jones.” This spelling worked like a possessive apostrophe. Looking at other common British last names, the pattern reveals itself: “Johnson” indicates the son of John; “Davidson” does the same. Last names also came from an individual’s attributes. If a person had a lot of muscle, they might be given the last name “Armstrong.” Someone known for their speed might earn the surname “Swift,” and a more diminutive family might have been called the “Shorts.” The common last name of “Smith” indicates a yet another trend — naming people according to their profession. With many types of smithing, including silversmithing and blacksmithing, the ranks of Smiths were large. Here are a few more occupational last names: Wainwright: This last name comes from the Middle English word “waynwright,” which referred to someone who makes carts for a living. Carter: If a wainwright made the cart, a carter hauled goods with the cart. Coward: This doesn’t refer to someone’s character. Instead, it hinted at the occupation of cow herding. Taylor: While the spelling has changed, this last name referred to a tailor, or someone who mends clothing for a living. Baxter: While many last names are drawn from male professions, this one was for women. “Baker” indicated a man who made bread, but a female baker was referred to as a “baxter.” Brewster: This person, usually in northern England, made beer. Marshall: In addition to denoting someone’s role in court, "marshall" also described someone who took care of horses. Sexton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms Origins Available: England England Ireland Ireland The name Sexton has a long Anglo-Saxon heritage. The name comes from when a family lived in Saxton, a parish, in the Upper division of the wapentake of Barkstone-Ash in the West Riding of Yorkshire. 1 This place-name was originally derived from the Old English Seaxe + tun, collectively meaning Saxon village. 2 The parish was recorded as Saxtun in the Doomsday Book of 1086. 3 Another source postulates the name could have originated in Cambridgeshire at Saxton Hall and/or Saxon Street.

Good food on an airline

Just might encourage me to take to the skies.

"Picture it: a full, warm breakfast on morning flights, palette-stimulating wraps and hearty sandwiches to fuel you through the day, and chef-curated mains that will take your tastebuds on a culinary adventure around the world. A delectable new culinary program from Air Canada is thoughtfully crafted to proudly champion Canadian brands, entrepreneurs, chefs and local ingredients. It spotlights Air Canada’s long-standing culinary partners Chef David Hawksworth, Chef Vikram Vij and Chef Jérôme Ferrer, showcasing flavours, textures and fresh, quality ingredients that sing at cruising altitude, complemented by wine selections from Air Canada sommelier Véronique Rivest. The result? More than 100 new seasonal, rotating recipes with bigger, bolder flavours, a new range of craveable snacks and new irresistible beverages for everyone."

Back home again

Everything worked out well and we were very lucky with the weather. I realise how much I don't miss being on the ferry.

In Victoria

We had a lovely dinner with Derek and Mary at Pagliachi's. So nice to see them again and catch up.

Sneaker Festival

I guess I'm not really surprised by anything these days. Festivals for everything it seems. Europe's "largest sneaker festival" is coming to Glasgow this month. "Crepe City will return to Scotland for the third time on June 30, for what is predicted to be its biggest event in the country to date. Taking place in the city's Boxhub Warehouse, the festival will see sneaker sellers from across the UK and Europe come together."

Best recycling nations in the world

I found this interesting.

LEGOLAND Castle Hotel

What a great place for kids who love LEGO and what kid doesn't? From: Daily Passport "The family fun doesn’t stop when you leave the famous LEGOLAND California theme park in Carlsbad, — as long as your visit includes a stay at LEGOLAND Castle Hotel. The neighboring accommodation was tailor-made for kids with its medieval LEGO castle theme. The turrets and towers were built in mismatching LEGO colors, and even the shape and structure of the hotel resembles the popular toy building blocks. The hotel also boasts an outdoor cinema with LEGO-themed movies, activities like a hotel-wide scavenger hunt, a castle-themed outdoor playscape, and themed rooms such as the Knights & Dragons, Wizards, and Princess rooms. With LEGOLAND California just steps away and constant entertainment found within the hotel, a stay at the LEGOLAND Castle Hotel is a child’s dream come true."

Billiard balls

I'm awfully glad they realized elephants were endangered and stopped killing them to make billard balls. From: Nice News And did you know... Early billiard balls were made of various materials, including wood and clay. Although affordable ox-bone balls were in common use in Europe, elephant ivory was favored from at least 1627 until the early 20th century. By the mid-19th century, elephants were being slaughtered for their ivory at an alarming rate, just to keep up with the demand for high-end billiard balls. The billiard industry realized that the supply of elephants was endangered, as well as dangerous to obtain. Inventors were challenged to come up with an alternative material that could be manufactured. John Wesley Hyatt patented an "ivory imitation" composite made of nitrocellulose, camphor, and ground cattle bone on May 4, 1869. The material was a success and was sold as Bonzoline, Crystalate, and Ivorylene until the 1960s. The ivory substitute was one of the most significant early reinforced plastics and induced the global growth of billiards, pools, and snooker. Source: Wikipedia

Sea Turtles on stamps

Love that buying a stamp can help save turtles.

The U.S. Postal Service wants to save the turtles. Announced this week, the USPS unveiled a new Forever Stamp design, dedicated to the awareness of endangered sea turtles — and the work to protect them. “Sea turtles are majestic creatures who play an important role in marine ecosystems,” David Camp, the USPS Texas 2 District manager, said in a statement. “As you send letters to your friends and family using these stamps, we hope they will serve as a reminder that we can all do our part to help save these incredible ancient mariners.”

Cape Breton

Donna, Linda, and Cec were here recently on their trip to Cape Breton. This little village looks lovely. I can't seem to upload a photo. "Baddeck is a picturesque, vibrant little village right in the heart of Cape Breton Island set on the shores of the great inland sea known as the Bras d’Or Lakes. Baddeck is widely known as ‘the beginning and end’ of the famous Cabot Trail, a magnificent scenic drive along some of the most stunningly beautiful coastline in the world!"

Calvin and Hobbs

From: Inspiring Quotes Some Calvin and Hobbs Even if you've heard these before I guarantee you will laugh again. https://www.inspiringquotes.com/20-calvin-and-hobbes-quotes-to-make-you-smile/ZCrSX5wSlQAHG_8H?liu=26da72d4899d29579ae9719e3d9b2e04&utm_source=blog&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2182682930

Most recognizable songs in American history

A long with “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Happy Birthday,” “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” is one of the most recognizable songs in American history. Written in 1908 by songwriter Jack Norworth and composer Albert Von Tilzer, the tune was one of many popular baseball songs that made waves at the time. But unlike those other onetime chart-toppers, the catchy song went on to become an intergenerational cultural fixture, traditionally played during the game’s seventh-inning stretch at stadiums across North America. You would think this legendary anthem for America’s pastime came from a diehard baseball fan, but the truth is that neither Norworth nor Von Tilzer had ever even been to a baseball game when they penned the tune. The idea for the song came to Norworth not while he was sitting in the stands, but instead, of all places, on the New York City subway. According to legend, he was taking a trip across town in spring 1908 when he saw a subway advertisement for a New York Giants home game at Polo Grounds stadium in upper Manhattan. Inspiration struck the songwriter, and he quickly jotted some words on a scrap of paper. Von Tilzer completed the music shortly after, and on May 2, 1908, the pair registered the song with the U.S. Copyright Office. On the same day, an ad for the sheet music appeared in the entertainment trade paper the New York Clipper, and before the year was out, it was the No. 1 song on the pop charts. In 1940, Norworth finally attended a Brooklyn Dodgers game at Ebbets Field, where he was honored for his contributions to baseball. He claimed it was his first baseball game. Despite its early success on the charts, “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” doesn’t appear to have been played or performed at a Major League Game until the 1934 World Series. It was much more recently still, in 1971, when Chicago White Sox owner Bill Veeck caught legendary announcer Harry Caray singing the song to the entire stadium (possibly not realizing the public microphone was on nearby) that it became the essential singalong tradition that it remains today.

Mozart and billiards

It's always fun to learn surprising stuff like this. From: Trivia Scoop "Mozart liked billiards and was apparently very good at it. He played often with his friend, the Irish tenor Michael Kelly, and almost always won. (Kelly sang Don Basilio and Don Curzio in the first performance of Figaro in 1786). When he couldn’t find a partner he would play by himself as he indicates in this 1791 letter to his wife. The opera he refers to is The Magic Flute: "As soon as you were gone I played two games of billiards with Herr von Mozart who wrote the opera for Schikaneder’s theatre…then I had [my servant] bring a black coffee, to which I smoked a glorious pipe of tobacco…” A billiard table with five balls and 12 cues was on Mozart's estate when he died in 1791." Source: WQXR

Elephant twins

LONDON -- An Asian elephant in Thailand has given birth to a rare set of elephant twins, non-profit conservation group Elephantstay announced. A 36-year-old elephant, Jamjuree, on Friday evening gave birth to a male calf at Thailand's' Ayutthaya Elephant Palace and Royal Kraal in the north of Thailand's capital, Bangkok. About 18 minutes later, keepers were caught by surprise when a female calf emerged.

An Olympic gold medal for a sculpture

An American Trotter. Walter Winans (USA). Sculpture Gold Medal, Stockholm, 1912

The perfect brushstroke winning a medal...love it.

From: History Facts "At the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, the perfect brushstroke was just as likely to win a medal as the quickest sprint. That year, Pierre de Coubertin — co-founder of the International Olympic Committee — introduced a series of Olympic events in the fields of painting, literature, music, architecture, and sculpture, with the rule that all creations must be sports-themed. Though many of the newly eligible competitors lacked the physical prowess of traditional Olympians, some excelled at both the athletic and the artistic. American marksman Walter Winans not only won a silver medal for sharpshooting at the 1912 Games, but he also took home gold for his 20-inch-tall sculpture of a horse-drawn chariot, titled “An American Trotter.”

Giraffes

I've always loved giraffes and purple is one of my favourite colours. From: Nice News Giraffes have purple tongues. In addition to their spots and long necks, giraffes have another distinguishing feature: Their tongues are often dark purple. Whereas most animals have fully pink tongues, a giraffe’s is infused with melanin that makes it darker; sometimes it’s even blue or black rather than purple, although the base and back are indeed pink. While it hasn’t been proven definitively, there’s a widely accepted theory that the melanin provides ultraviolet protection, preventing giraffe tongues from getting sunburned while the animals feed on tall trees. Giraffe tongues are also long (up to 21 inches) and covered in thick bumps known as papillae, which help protect them from the spiky defensive thorns of the animal’s favorite snack: acacia trees.

Max, the cat

Max, the cat, gets doctorial degree.

Max the cat has hitched rides on top of students’ backpacks, participated in campus tours and more than once has sauntered into a psychology lecture at Vermont State University’s Castleton campus. The 5-year-old tabby is even listed on the staff roster at the university, where he has his own email address. So it seemed like an obvious next step when the university bestowed an honorary doctor of ‘litter-ature’ degree upon him, making him officially part of the graduating class of 2024, in addition to being a staff member. Max wears many hats, said Rob Franklin, a photographer and social media manager for Vermont State University. Last spring, Franklin had just started working at the university when he noticed the cat was everywhere, and he was treated like a celebrity. “I was talking to a colleague outside Woodruff Hall — the main building on campus — when I noticed this cat wandering around and everyone greeting him,” Franklin said. “I said, ‘What’s the deal with the cat?’ and I was told he came to the campus every day to socialize, then students would take him home when it got dark,” he said.

Henry Moore

I've always loved the work of Henry Moore but I won't be getting to London to see this exhibition. If you had asked me what artist was fascinated with walls I don't think Henry Moore's work would come to mind so this exhibition would be something I would enjoy seeing. EXHIBITION Henry Moore: Shadows on the Wall From 8 June Discover how Henry Moore’s fascination with walls emerges through his drawings. The Courtauld Gallery, London

Makes me yearn for a great example of fish and chips

From: Nice News Fish and chip shops had a lasting social impact on the port town, said Gaynor Western The role played by fish and chips in enabling women to run their own businesses is being explored in an exhibition. Organisers have delved into an archive held by True's Yard Fisherfolk Museum, King's Lynn, and highlighted the role the shops played in society during their early years at the end of the 19th Century. Gaynor Western, deputy manager of the museum in Norfolk, said many were set up as a supplementary income. "Some shops even provided opening hours to suit their most popular and female customers’ domestic timetables," she said.

Comedy pet photos

You'll get a laugh from these.

To see more go to this link: https://nicenews.com/culture/comedy-pet-photo-awards-2024/?ck_subscriber_id=2504247583&utm_source=convertkit&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The%20country’s%20largest%20VA%20housing%20project%20-%2014097197

Thomas Edison's most famous invention

Beach Reads

Having these on my blog will be a good reference.

https://www.rd.com/list/beach-reads/?utm_campaign=mb&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_source=morning_brew

Otter 841

Well, you just gotta love otters even so.

Santa Cruz, California — New mug shots have emerged of otter 841, America's most wanted marine mammal. Last summer, she terrorized surfers in Santa Cruz, California, biting surfboards and even hijacking them. Now, she has returned, and surfers are on the lookout. "I think they're (surfers) excited to see it at first, and then they get scared," one surfer told CBS News. CBS News went on a deep dive to try and spot otter 841, which is the number on her tag.

Notre-Dame Cathedral in lego

Just when I thought I had seen everything...well, why not?

Notre-Dame de Paris Architecture Price$229.99 Available now

A lovely visit with Donna

It was so nice to see her yesterday evening. We will look forward to hearing all about her trip to Newfoundland. Who knows...we just might get there ourselves. And she brought over peanut butter cookies. These are my favourites and it was my recipe she used. I felt very spoiled.

Again....amazed by the price someone paid for a painting

A painting by a Lancashire-born artist has sold for over £22 million. Sotheby's said the sale of Leonora Carrington's Les Distractions de Dagobert in New York meant she had become the most valuable British-born female artist at auction. The surrealist painting was bought for $28.5m (£22.48m), which exceeded Carrington's previous record of $3.3m (£2.6m) set at the auction house in 2022. Carrington was born in Chorley on 6 April 1917 and later lived in Mexico, alongside female surrealists including Frida Kahlo and Remedios Varo. The painting was bought by an Argentine businessman

National flower of the Republic of China

An excuse to post a another pretty picture and learn some stuff I didn't know.

"The national flower of the Republic of China was officially designated as the plum blossom by the Executive Yuan of Taiwan on 21 July 1964. The plum blossom, known as the meihua, is a symbol of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity because plum blossoms often bloom most vibrantly even amidst the harsh winter snow. As the plum tree can usually grow for a long time, ancient trees are found throughout China. Huangmei county (Yellow Mei) in Hubei features a 1,600-year-old plum tree from the Jin Dynasty which is still flowering." Source: Wikipedia

Amazing info about the Oxford English Dictionary

I remember being so amazed the first time I saw the OED but I never would have guessed how long it took to reach the word "ant". From: Nice News "It took the editors of the Oxford English Dictionary five years just to reach the word “ant.” If you think reading the dictionary sounds exhausting, try writing one — largely by hand, no less. That’s what the editors of the original Oxford English Dictionary had to do after the Philological Society of London deemed existing dictionaries “incomplete and deficient” in 1857. They had their work cut out for them: In 1884, five years after beginning what they thought would be a decade-long project, principal editor James Murray and his team reached an important milestone — the word “ant.” That year, they began publishing A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (as it was then known) in installments called fascicles, with the 10th and final fascicle seeing the light of day in 1928." The last word in the OED is: Zyzzyva /ˈzɪzɪvə/ is a genus of South American weevils, often found on or near palm trees.[1] It was first described in 1922 by Thomas Lincoln Casey Jr., based on specimens obtained in Brazil by Herbert Huntingdon Smith.[2]: 2, 369 

Baseball and life

Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains. Separator icon Ron Shelton Known as America's pastime, baseball is a game full of superstitions and stories. This quote is given by a fictional pitcher, Nuke LaLoosh (played by Tim Robbins), in the movie “Bull Durham,” written by screenwriter and director Ron Shelton. A former minor leaguer himself, Shelton accurately spoke about the unpredictability of the game — and life itself. Sometimes the ball bounces your way, sometimes the better team loses, and sometimes, it rains.

Dinner at Minerva's

We had a super dinner with Donna at Minerva's last night. We always enjoy our food there and we have dinner for tonight as well. A good deal all round.

Pencils

I guess I never really wondered what HB stood for.

From: Trivia Scoop 'The degree of hardness of a pencil is printed on the pencil. The degrees of hardness of pencils are roughly divided into four groups: B stands for "black". These pencils are soft. H stands for "hard". HB stands for "hard black", which means "medium hard". F stands for "firm". Sometimes the alphabetic characters are preceded by numbers. They make an even more precise statement about the degree of hardness or color intensity of the pencil. The higher the number, the harder, softer, or blacker the pencil is.' Source: Eberhard Faber

Top baby names

"Janice" never seems to be on any list and "James" seems to always be on the list. From: Nice News Top baby names in the US in 2023 Liam and Olivia led the rankings for the fifth consecutive year. Mateo made the list for the first time. A table lists the top 10 most popular baby names in the United States for boys and girls. Table with 2 columns and 10 rows. Boys Girls 1 Liam Olivia 2 Noah Emma 3 Oliver Charlotte 4 James Amelia 5 Elijah Sophia 6 Mateo Mia 7 Theodore Isabella 8 Henry Ava 9 Lucas Evelyn 10 William Luna Source: US Social Security Administration, 2023 data released May 10, 2024 Table: Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN

National Wine Day

It seems it was National Wine Day yesterday. From: Nice News "Traditions for National Wine Day all revolve around indulging in and celebrating with wine! Friends and family get together and uncork their favorite bottles of wine. Splurging on expensive wine is also the norm today, so treat yourself to that fancy vino you’ve always wanted to buy. Wine tasting events are hosted, where wine lovers and connoisseurs enjoy different flavors and varieties of wine. Wine bottles are aesthetically pleasing, so reusing them for a DIY project, or making a rack from scratch to display them are also go-to celebratory traditions for National Wine Day."

Mona Lisa

I didn't know this. I still remember the big crowd around the painting when we saw it.

From: Nice News Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” has been on display at the Louvre Museum since 1804, but before that it hung in a rather less accessible location: the bedroom of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. After Leonardo died in 1519, the “Mona Lisa” eventually passed into the possession of the artist’s patron, King Francis I of France, and it remained the property of the French monarchy for more than 250 years. During the French Revolution (1789 to 1799), the painting was requisitioned by the rebelling public and officially became the property of the French Republic. However, this did not mean that the average French citizen was able to view Leonardo’s masterpiece. Napoleon Bonaparte, who rose to power in revolutionary France, had become enamored with the mysterious woman in the portrait — he even took to referring to her as “Madame Lisa” and the “Sphinx of the Occident.” In 1800, he ordered that the painting be transferred to his private bedchambers at Tuileries Palace in Paris. Since Napoleon was, well, Napoleon, nobody argued with him, and he enjoyed the privilege of having one of the world’s most famous works of art hanging by his bedside for four years. In 1804, the “Mona Lisa” was transferred from Napoleon’s bedroom to the Grand Gallery of the Louvre Museum, and since then no individual has had the audacity (or power) to add it to their private collection. It remains on public display to this day.

A quiet leaf blower

I hope this invention catches on. Jill Rosen / Published May 14 MEDIA INQUIRIES The challenge before Johns Hopkins University engineering students: Take a leaf blower, but make it quiet. Make it work as powerfully as ever, but do not allow it to emit the ear-piercing caterwaul that has gotten leaf blowers banned in some communities and cursed in many others. Shocking their sponsors, their advisers, and even themselves a little, the students did it. Their improved leaf blower drops the overall noise level by nearly 40% while almost entirely erasing the most obnoxious frequencies. The design is patent-pending and Stanley Black & Decker expects to be selling them in two years. From: The Hub

The stamp celebrating the baguette