Deadliest creature in the world

And they just seem to love me.

"Based on the number of human deaths per year, the deadliest animal is not a creature that humans usually find scary, such as a lion or a snake. Mosquitos are by far the deadliest creature in the world when it comes to annual human deaths, causing around one million deaths per year, compared to 100,000 deaths from snakes and 250 from lions. Perhaps surprisingly, dogs are the third deadliest animal to humans. Dogs are responsible for around 30,000 human deaths per year, with the vast majority of these resulting from rabies that the dog transmits." Source: Statista

Lou Rota Mother Nature Dessert Plate

I never thought I would get excited by a dessert plate but these attracted me and a pretty good price too. (200) Reviews $20.

Pets of US presidents

Some pretty strange ones for sure.

Here is the whole article with pictures of all the pets mentioned. https://www.dictionaryscoop.com/article/Did-You-Know-The-Stories-Of-These-Iconic-And-Lovable-Presidential-Pets?x_title=1&utm_source=blog&utm_campaign=blog-20240411-treatment

A lovely evening

We had dinner at Donna's last night.It was so nice to be together. Merci beaucoup, chere amie!

NASA and Nessie

From: Nice News This is all quite fascinating to me. NASA and Nessie...who would have guessed they would be linked together. "A large-scale hunt for Nessie will take place this May and June (Image: Loch Ness Centre) The Loch Ness Centre has announced a brand new search for the Loch Ness Monster, and has called on NASA to lend its expertise. In 2023, the newly revamped research centre launched a large-scale hunt for Nessie that saw hundreds of in-person and virtual volunteers search the famous waters of the loch. Following multiple potential sightings and reports of strange noises heard from the depths, it is returning with an even bigger search next month. Set to take place between May 30 and June 2, the Loch Ness Centre is once again looking for budding monster hunters to take part in the search. This year, however, organisers are also asking for experts to lend a hand. As well as scientists and universities, the research centre has called on the pioneers of exploration at NASA to provide equipment and expertise. By using state-of-the-art technology, the Loch Ness Centre is hoping to uncover the mysteries of Loch Ness once and for all.

Cool photos of the eclipse

From: Euronews

At least something is cheap at the Masters

From: Morning Brew "Good morning. The Masters begins today, which means it’s once again time to marvel at the dirt-cheap concession prices at Augusta National Golf Club. The classic pimento cheese sandwich costs $1.50, a chicken sandwich costs $3, and a beer costs $6. Think about it this way: You can get two egg salad sandwiches, a coffee, a breakfast sandwich, a ham & cheese on rye, a chicken biscuit, a blueberry muffin, and a beer for the same price as one honey deuce drink at last year’s US Open for tennis ($22). Of course, it’ll cost you well over $1,000 for a ticket, but that’s not really the point…" —Holly Van Leuven, Matty Merritt, Molly Liebergall, Abby Rubenstein, Neal Freyman

Great news for fast food workers

Good on California. It has always seemed like a pretty progressive state to me.

From: Nice News "$20 That's the new hourly wage for about half a million fast food workers in California. The latest increase — which is $4 higher than the overall state minimum wage — applies to restaurant chains with more than 60 nationwide locations. It comes after a yearslong fight by workers to establish better pay and improve working conditions."

Colourful cities around the world

I will probably be posting more of these.

From: Daily Passport "In a country of colorful cities, San Miguel de Allende still manages to stand out. Nestled in central Mexico’s highlands, San Miguel de Allende was originally an Indigenous Chichimeca village called Itzcuinapan until the arrival of the Spaniards in the 16th century. A Franciscan monk named Juan de San Miguel built a chapel in the village in 1542, and the outpost grew in wealth and power as a market for the silver and tin mined in the region. Today it’s a haven for expats, artists, and tourists drawn to its magnificent and well-preserved colonial architecture — recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site — as well as the city’s vibrant cultural and culinary scenes."

Solar eclipse

I watched quite a bit of coverage of this. It was all pretty interesting.

Comment from Louise Penny. Total eclipse of the sun today!! And we are right in the path of the totality. It's going to last more than 3 minutes here. Visitors from around the world arriving to see it. Am going to Manoir Hovey with friends to watch. Glasses at the ready. Will report back. Everyone very excited, and rightly so.

Great news for young people in France

From: Nice News "French President Emmanuel Macron said last year he wanted a rail pass for all, but after months of negotiations, a scaled-back version has been agreed. Following on from the success of Germany’s Deutschlandticket, France is set to launch its own version this summer. In an interview with AFP on Wednesday French transport minister Patrice Vergriete said an agreement had been found with all regions. The scheme is expected to cost €49 per month and it will be available to around 700,000 young people under the age of 27 this July and August. It will allow unlimited travel on TER and Intercity trains but will exclude high-speed TGV trains."

Tartan Day

This weekend marks the return of Tartan Day. On Saturday, people across Scotland and beyond will be taking part in the annual celebration. Falling on April 6 every year, Tartan Day is all about Scottish heritage and the cultural contributions of Scottish people throughout history. If you have never heard of Tartan Day, don't be too hard on yourself. Despite being entirely dedicated to Scotland, its origins actually lie outside of the country. First celebrated in Canada in 1987, nowadays countries all over the world take part in Tartan Day celebrations. Australia, the United States, and of course Scotland itself are among the places where the holiday is the most widely observed.

Barcode-like memories in chickadees

From: Nice News "If you often have a hard time recalling where you placed your keys or wallet, you’ll be especially impressed by the incredible memory capabilities of black-capped chickadees. The small birds store and retrieve thousands of seeds and insects to eat throughout winter, and a recent study shed light on how they’re able to remember each snack’s hiding spot. ​ Researchers determined that members of the avian species create “barcode-like” memories when they deposit food, and those barcodes are reactivated during the retrieval process. The team arrived at their conclusion by observing chickadees in constructed arenas with various spots for stashing food."

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Aïoli

We were first introduced to this in Brussels and will never forget the wonderful taste. It seemed very strange to us to get a mayo type sause for fries.

"This rich garlic sauce is similar in texture to mayonnaise, and is commonly used in the cuisine of Provençe in France and Catalonia in Spain. Provençal aïoli consists of egg yolks, olive oil, and garlic, while the Catalan version consists only of garlic, salt, and olive oil. Its name comes from ail, meaning garlic, and oli, the Provençal word for oil. Some historians claim that its origins lie in a Roman sauce called aleatum, which was also made with garlic and oil. A sauce similar to aïoli was first mentioned by Pliny the Elder, Roman procurator of Tarragona, in his first-century encyclopedia Naturalis Historia, in which he describes garlic and its powerful medicinal properties.

Solar Eclipse

From: The Desert Sun "As if a solar eclipse weren't enough, observers on April 8 may also get a glimpse of a rare "horned" celestial show, a dazzlingly bright comet with a scary name. A comet designated 12P/Pons-Brooks got the much more interesting name “devil comet” when it had an outburst, a large ejection of dust and gases, in July 2023. On the day of the Great American Eclipse, the devil comet may become visible to the unaided eye, astronomers say. Amateur and professional observers in the Northern Hemisphere will get a unique opportunity to view the comet, which is renowned for its periodic eruptions of gas and dust. "

Easter dinner illustrated

Naomi sent a photo of our wonderful Easter dinner. It looks great and tasted even better.

Paintings by Winston Churchill

I'm quite sure I have posted about this before but I continue to be amazed by his talent.

Easter dinner

We had a lovely dinner with Naomi, Ray, Richard and Grace. Thank you all for making this Easter very special.

New high speed rail projects

I would love to travel on these trains.

https://dailypassport.com/new-high-speed-rail-projects-in-us/

Most stressful airport in the world

I was a little surprised by this. I guess we hit Gatwick at relatively quiet times. "London Gatwick is the most stressful airport in the world London Gatwick, the UK’s second biggest airport, came out as the most stressful airport globally to travel through. Although the number of passengers that use Gatwick is below average compared to other airports, it has one of the highest passenger density scores. Its percentage of annual delays is the second highest of the top ten, and the distance from the city centre - 43 kilometres - is the highest."

Paying to see Venice

I'm sure I've made a similar post but any excuse to post a photo of this wonderful city.

From: Daily Passport "Few places have suffered as much from overtourism as Venice, the famed Italian city of canals. For decades, massive cruise ships have unloaded thousands of passengers straight into the heart of the historic city. Although the largest craft are now redirected to the industrial port outside the historic city center, Venice still finds itself overcrowded with tourists, many of whom only come in for a day or two. Since 2011, Venice has charged overnight visitors tax on the first five nights of their stay. The amount — between €1 and €5 per person a night, varies depending on the style of accommodation, time of year, and area of the city in which visitors stay. But starting in spring 2024, day visitors will start to pay a €5 entry fee."

Alexander Calder

I may have posted this at some point but worth posting again. I just love his work.

Red Petals, Blue Moon 1972 29 1/2 x 43 1/4 in. (74.93 x 109.86 cm) gouache and ink on paper Provenance Perls Galleries, New York Private Collection, Florida, 1974 175,000

Cats will have their way

This cat doesn't seem in any hurry to come down. We've had a lot of train delays in our time but I don't think a cat was ever the cause of one.

Olympics in Paris

I'm sure the French won't let us down and there will be some pretty special and very French happenings. From: The Monocle Minute "It was once customary for Olympic host cities to stage, as part of their Games, demonstration fixtures of some, hopefully, enticing recreations peculiar to the locality (writes Andrew Mueller). In 1908, London offered bicycle polo and duelling; in 1956, Melbourne attempted to interest visitors in Australian rules football; and in 1992, Barcelona served up Basque pelota and roller hockey. This tradition has fallen, sadly, into abeyance and there are no plans to formally revive it for Paris this summer. But in the French capital’s Olympic year, one eccentric local pastime is being revived. Today, for the first time since 2011, the cobbled avenues of the city’s Le Marais district will once again serve as the course around which the Waiters’ Race is run. First held in 1914, the Waiters’ Race is exactly what it says on the tin. Entrants wear formal waiters’ attire and attempt to bolt about 2km carrying a tray bearing a croissant, a coffee and a glass of water as quickly as possible without dropping anything. It is an extraordinary spectacle, not least as it’s the only time you’ll ever see a Parisian waiter trying to do anything quickly. The comeback of the Waiters’ Race, a few months before the Olympic flame is lit, must surely prompt hopes that it is not too late for uniquely Parisian recreations to be added to the programme. Who would not tune in for the 100 metre shrug, synchronised philosophising or freestyle throwing of café chairs at the gendarmes?"

Holi

This looks like it would be a lot of fun.

From: Nice News "Holi, widely known as the Hindu festival of colors, is a joyful annual celebration at the advent of spring with cultural and religious significance. Typically observed in March in India, Nepal, other South Asian countries and across the diaspora, the festival celebrates love and signifies a time of rebirth and rejuvenation — a time to embrace the positive and let go of negative energy. For one of Holi’s most well-known traditions, celebrants clad in all white, come out to the street and throw colored powders at each other, leaving behind a kaleidoscope of pigments and joy. Festivities with music, dancing and food ensue. WHEN IS HOLI CELEBRATED? Holi is celebrated at the end of winter and the beginning of spring, on the last full moon day of the Hindu luni-solar calendar month of Falgun. The date of the festival varies depending on the lunar cycle. Typically, it falls in March, and will be celebrated this year on March 25."

A lovely dinner with Donna

We went to Minerva's last night and even have some leftovers for today.

Donut shops

It seems Canada has more donut shops than the US.

A win for journalists

From: Business Insider "Google was hit with a roughly $270 million fine on Wednesday, in part over how it trained its AI. French regulators say Google went back on its commitments tied to negotiating deals with news outlets in France for their content. The watchdog alleged Google used the journalists' content without telling them in order to teach its AI chatbot Bard — now rebranded as Gemini. Google had promised in a previous settlement to "negotiate in good faith based on transparent, objective and non-discriminatory criteria," which the regulators referred to as "Commitment 1." The regulators said there are still legal questions related to the use of news content to train AI models, but "at the very least, the Autorité considers that Google breached Commitment 1 by failing to inform publishers of the use of their content for their Bard software."

Quite an honour for Satrapi

I love the design and how she gets the Eiffel tower in there.

The Olympic tapestry designed by French-Iranian artist Marjane Satrapi is displayed in Paris, France, March 12, 2024. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab The artist said she thought she was being pranked when asked to design the piece. "When I got the call, I thought it was a hoax, but it wasn't. I was delighted. I was very delighted, very honoured, very happy but also very stressed," said Satrapi, author of the graphic novel "Persepolis", whose film adaptation won her a nomination at Academy Awards in 2008. The tapestry will be displayed on the Hotel de la Marine in the Place de la Concorde in the French capital from late June. The installation will then be moved to Nice, home of the 2030 Winter Games, after the Paralympics concludes in September. The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up here. Reporting by Vincent Daheron; Writing by Julien Pretot; Editing by Lucy Marks

Françoise Gilot's artwork being shown at the Picasso Museum in Paris

"One of Picasso’s muses seems to have had the last laugh. Françoise Gilot famously walked away from the celebrated Spanish artist at the height of his fame (by the mid-1950s, Gilot’s relationship with Picasso had ended—they had two children together, Claude and Paloma Picasso). Gilot died last June in New York at the grand old age of 101. In a surprise twist, her life and art is commemorated in a small, temporary exhibition at the Musée Picasso in Paris. As we noted in our obituary, she was a tireless artist whose output spanned more than 80 years, defying simple categorisation and efforts to define her merely as a footnote in the story of her former lover."

The Booker Prize Longlist

I really haven't heard of any of these. Guess I'm out of the latest in reading these days. The Silver Bone Simpatía Not a River Undiscovered White Nights Mater 2-10 What I'd Rather Not Think About Crooked Plow The House on Via Gemito Lost on Me A Dictator Calls Kairos The Details

St. Patrick's Day in New York

It does sound pretty crazy. "Happy St. Patrick ‘s Day from Crazy New York. Yesterday was the parade which we did not go to because we had an opera to go to and today is the 1/2 marathon on the street in front of our hotel. Huge number of street blockages both days making it difficult to get around. Thousands of people on the streets. Today is last opera and then a nice dinner. Look forward to coming home. Will be in touch. Love Donna" Sent from my iPhone

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Spring Break

I'm glad to see some discouragement for this ridiculous tradition. Wouldn't it be great if the "tradition" was to help people who are struggling in their home communities. From Morning Brew "Heavy is the head that wears the “It’s a bad day to be a beer” hat. Spring break party hub Miami Beach has created an anti-tourism ad and rules to try to deter rowdy college kids from clogging up its beaches this year during spring break season, which starts this week. During two high-traffic weekends, Miami Beach said it would institute $100 parking fees for nonresidents, curfews, DUI checkpoints, beach closures, bag checks, and a much heavier police presence. The city even made a pointed video asking spring breakers to come back only when they’ve grown up a little. The Unwelcome to Miami message comes after the city said it’s seen a rise in violence over the last few years. In 2023, there were two fatal shootings during spring break. Not everyone wants to boot breakers: Civil rights advocates argue the restrictions are an overreaction largely targeting Black visitors, who have increasingly started vacationing in the area over the last 20 years. Meanwhile, some business owners say the regulations are throttling their income as spring break is one of the busiest times of the year. The discouragements might not matter…United Airlines expects this to be the busiest spring break ever, with 21+ million passengers flying from March 8 to April 21.—MM"

So much fun...Stuffed animal sleepover

Another great way to get kids interested in libraries. Description Drop off your favourite stuffed animal for a night of fun at the library. Your fluffy friend will be registered with library staff and they'll make new friends and get a behind-the-scenes look at the library. Don't worry, we'll take good care of them and you'll see photos of all the mischief and mayhem when you pick them up! Drop off: March 19th, 3:45pm Pick up: March 21st, 10:00am

You can't keep lego down...no surprise

https://www.barrons.com/news/lego-steams-ahead-despite-struggling-toy-market-5299615d#:~:text=The%20unlisted%20family%2Downed%20company,percent%20market%20share%20in%202022.

Where was this when I was taking Math?

Abstract. "This study evaluates the impact of Rori, an AI powered conversational math tutor accessible via WhatsApp, on the math performance of approximately 1,000 students in grades 3-9 across 11 schools in Ghana. Each school was assigned to a treatment group or control group; the students in the control group continued their regular math instruction, while students in the treatment group engaged with Rori, for two 30-minute sessions per week over 8 months in addition to regular math instruction. We find that the math growth scores were substantially higher for the treatment group with an effect size of 0.37, and that the results were statistically significant (p < 0.001)."

Sunflowers

I will never tire of seeing sunflowers.

"The first people settled in what’s now Kansas at least 12,200 years ago. Archaeologists know this because they’ve found the bones of mammoths and other animals with markings from human tools on them, a sign that humans had hunted the creatures. Kansas’ name comes from the Kansa Native American tribe, which means "People of the South Wind." Kansas' nickname, the Sunflower State, comes from the fields of sunflowers that bloom there. These flowers are grown for their seeds and oil." Source: National Geographic

Specialty licence plates

Great to know the fees go to good causes.

Florida lawmakers this week approved a new lineup of specialty license plates, including an homage to the late Jimmy Buffett. State of play: House Bill 403, sponsored by St. Pete Beach Republican Rep. Linda Chaney, passed the House on Feb. 22, and the Senate unanimously on Monday. It will now head to Gov. Ron DeSantis' desk for approval. The big picture: The new designs will add to more than 100 specialty plates already for sale. The fees from the plates go toward corresponding charitable organizations. About 2.2 million vehicles have such plates, per the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The most popular designs are Endless Summer (134,545), Helping Sea Turtles Survive (108,388) and University of Florida (92,251). Here's a sampling of the new plates, which cost $25 annually, per the bill analysis: 🦜 Margaritaville. The fees from this plate will head to the Buffett-founded organization Singing for Change to provide grants to nonprofits in communities impacted by disasters. 🏘️ The Villages: May All Your Dreams Come True. A slightly dystopian nod to Central Florida's massive retirement community, the money will go toward The Villages Charter School. 🐟 Clearwater Marine Aquarium. These fees will go toward — you guessed it — the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. 🛥️ Boating Capital of the World. This one's for the "Below Deck Mediterranean" fans: Fees will go toward a charity founded by celebrity Captain Sandy Yawn to bolster the maritime workforce. ♻️ Recycle Florida. Take your environmental do-goodery to the next level with this plate, the fees from which will benefit the Recycle Florida Today Foundation.

A golden rooster....how perfect for Notre Dame's new spire

New Notre Dame spire now topped with golden rooster Unveiling marks milestone in reconstruction of ravaged cathedral Gareth Harris 8 March 2024 Share The reconstructed spire of Notre Dame cathedral in Paris has been unveiled, almost five years after the fire that destroyed the historic monument located on Île de la Cité in the Seine river. The 96-metre-tall spire, made of oak, is crowned with a golden rooster and a cross. In an Instagram post (7 March), the official Notre-Dame reconstruction account says that the “oak frame has been revealed… the spire, under its leaded ‘skin’, is a masterpiece of carpentry, [made] entirely of oak wood.” Adorned with a new golden rooster reimagined as a phoenix with flamed feathers, the iconic cathedral is a French landmark and is the most famous Gothic cathedral of the Middle Ages. The rooster is a “French emblem of vigilance and Christ's resurrection,” according to The Associated Press.Feb 15, 2024

A lego flower shop

From "Small Joys" I think if there was a contest about what these flowers were made of I don't think many people would come up with lego bricks.

International Women''s Day

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia International Women's Day International Women's Day (IWD) is a holiday celebrated annually on March 8 as a focal point in the women's rights movement. IWD gives focus to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women.[3][4] Spurred by the universal female suffrage movement, IWD originated from labor movements in North America and Europe during the early 20th century.[5][6][7] The earliest version reported was a "Women's Day" organized by the Socialist Party of America in New York City on February 28, 1909. This inspired German delegates at the 1910 International Socialist Women's Conference to propose "a special Women's Day" be organized annually, albeit with no set date;[8] the following year saw the first demonstrations and commemorations of International Women's Day across Europe. After the Russian Revolution in 1917, IWD was made a national holiday on March 8;[9] it was subsequently celebrated on that date by the socialist movement and communist countries. The holiday was associated with far-left movements and governments until its adoption by the global feminist movement in the late 1960s. IWD became a mainstream global holiday following its promotion by the United Nations in 1977.[10] International Women's Day is a public holiday in several countries. The UN observes the holiday in connection with a particular issue, campaign, or theme in women's rights.[6] History

Cat Island

This would be a fun place to visit. SHANGHAI — The happiest place on Earth for cats might just be here, on Cat Island, a feline playground just a few miles from Shanghai Disneyland. While humans whoop and whirl at the latter, the 400-plus kitties who call Cat Island home rest in the shade of specially constructed grass-covered play tunnels or loll about in pagodas. They cross a wooden bridge to stalk through pear orchards, the intrepid among them even venturing into the horse stable.