Seems you can make a call on your cellphone just about anywhere

There is cellphone service at the summit of Mount Everest. On May 21, 2007, Rod Baber placed a 1-minute, 48-second phone call. He called a voicemail account to leave a message, a move that cost him $4.72. By all accounts, Baber’s call was much like millions made from cellphones every day — except that the renowned British climber was standing on the summit of Mount Everest. Using a Motorola Rizr Z8, Baber made the call at 29,035 feet, earning a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for “highest mobile phone call.” The feat was made possible by China Telecom, which had set up a cell tower at the base camp on the mountain’s north side. Baber also called his family and sent a text to a Motorola employee: “One small text for man, one giant leap for mobilekind.” Since Baber’s historic phone call, Everest’s cell service has kept up with the times. In 2013, Everest received 4G service so climbers could livestream the view from the summit. In 2020, the mountain got the 5G upgrade, which offers 20 times more capacity at one-third the size. That means that if you want to find some excuse to unplug from work, “climbing Everest” might not be a good one.

Lunch at The Sylvia yesterday

Well, I wonder how many times I've posted that on my blog. We enjoyed our lunch as usual and the sun came out so a nice view of the water.

Pink Waves off the coast of San Diego

 This would have been quite something to see. We have gone swimming in the ocean in this area and certainly would have been surprised if this had happened.

https://nicenews.com/environment/pink-waves-san-diego/

What fun it would be to have trains like this!

"Japan’s railway companies are confronting the country’s shrinking labour market by moving ahead with automation. Central Japan Railway has been testing an automated system on its Tokaido Shinkanse, the bullet train that runs from Tokyo to Kyoto and beyond, since 2021. The company announced last week that it will be introducing the system to the high-speed service on its newest N700S (pictured) trains in 2028. A driver will still be present to start the train but speed adjustments and station stops will be made automatically. Back in the capital, the Tokyo Metro has announced that it will be testing automated trains on the Marunouchi Line from next month with a view to introducing the system in 2025. A conductor will still sit at the front of the train, ready to deal with emergencies, but mechanical operation of the vehicle will be done by an automated system. An unsettling thought to some, perhaps, but one that the Japanese authorities seem intent on speeding ahead with."

Loved this sketch that Susan K. did for me

Merci beaucoup!

From "Nice News"

I really liked the posters I saw by Dorothy Waugh. There are lots more if you do a search. "Dorothy Waugh’s storied creative career encompassed tenures as an artist, children’s book author, design school instructor, radio host, and more. Though her name may be unknown to many, Waugh’s work is embedded in the early history of the National Park Service, which has managed and maintained America’s public lands and monuments since 1916. In the 1930s, Waugh worked as a landscape architect and artist for the park service, at first designing technical manuals but eventually turning to the creation of posters promoting state and national parks. “United States citizens for many years have seen the Swiss Alps, the Italian Lake country, and other beauty spots of foreign lands depicted in beautiful posters on display throughout the land and it is time that Americans should be acquainted with their own beauty spots through the same medium,” a 1934 Park Service Bulletin explained of the poster campaign. Waugh’s bright and bold designs proved the perfect visual match for capturing interest in the great outdoors. In total, she designed 17 posters for the federal government agency. She died on March 20, 1996 at age 99, but the unique handprint Waugh left on the park service will forever be remembered."

From "The Good Life France"

I love the Deux Chevaux so just couldn't resist stealing this.

Now cats can be bunnies...

 HERSHEY, Pa., March 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- After receiving an impressive number of votes from animal lovers across the country, Crash the Cat from Boise, Idaho, has been crowned the winner of the fifth-annual Cadbury Bunny Tryouts, 'Rescue Pets Edition.' Crash will bring his pawsome personality to the Cadbury Hall of Fame and star in the 2023 Cadbury Clucking Bunny commercial this spring, which fans can get a first look at, here. Plus, Crash will receive a cash prize of $5,000 for himself, $5,000 to the shelter of his choice, and of course, plenty of bragging rights.

Crash the Cat is the winner of the 5th Annual Cadbury Bunny Tryouts, 'Rescue Pets Edition’

Now eight-years-old, Crash was rescued after a devastating car accident where he was severely injured and left with one eye. As he began to heal at a local shelter, his quirky, outgoing personality made everyone quickly fall head over heels for him, leading Crash to become their resident shelter cat. Crash charms and impresses people as they visit the shelter, performing tricks like high five – the purfect preparation for his starring role in the upcoming Cadbury Clucking Bunny commercial.

From Linda's blog....so amazing!

 #1 The Reading Room – Royal Portuguese Cabinet Of Reading – Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

Monet and Lego...what a combination!

How I would love to see this in person!

Ai Weiwei's Water Lilies #1 (2022) Photo: © Ela Bialkowska/OKNO studio. © Image courtesy of the artist and Galleria Continua

Anyone who has sat and tried to painstakingly complete a 1,000 piece jigsaw will likely look upon Ai Weiwei's latest Lego work with awe. Made of 650,000 Lego bricks in 22 colours, the staggering 15m-long work is a recreation of Claude Monet's triptych Water Lilies (1914-26) from the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York. The largest Lego work that the dissident Chinese artist has ever made, Water Lilies #1 (2022) will go on show at London's Design Museum when it opens Ai Weiwei: Making Sense next month (7 April-30 July).

Ai Weiwei

Stick 'em up! Ai Weiwei invites you to give the middle finger in new online art project

Gareth Harris

The original Impressionist masterpiece—depicting one of the lily ponds at Monet’s home in Giverny, near Paris—has become an internationally famous image of nature and light. For his version, Ai has used Lego bricks to "strip away Monet’s brushstrokes in favour of a depersonalised language of industrial parts and colours," according to a press statement. "These pixel-like blocks suggest contemporary digital technologies which are central to modern life, and in reference to how art is often disseminated in the contemporary world."

Brunch with Donna yesterday

Jim and I enjoyed our eggs benny and it was great to catch up with news. We do enjoy the University Golf Club restaurant and it is so close to us.

St. Patrick's Day celebration

Well, we went to Las Margaritas. What could be more fitting than Mexican food :)  

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Thinking about our lovely times in Ireland.

Can you guess

 

In which U.S. city was the first motion picture camera invented?

Books nominated for the Booker Prize

 

https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/prize-years/international/2023?fbclid=IwAR1a9Rsg0wuZwkuaGdH1GJTimCHkp-aacxJfr27VSdUE9k9GdN51X5Lssko

I guess I'll put some of these on hold at the library. I imagine many people have had that idea already.

A lovely lunch with Liz yesterday

 We went to the University Golf Club....what would we do without it? We must get a little more adventurous in our dining experiences but the food and the views are good.

It was great to catch up on the news of the London crowd. She's off to London in April and they will all be heading to Italy and Slovenia.  Looking forward to hearing about those trips!

Famous toys invented by accident

 This was fun to read....hope you enjoy it too.

https://www.interestingfacts.com/toy-origins/YoL131uKogAHE3js?liu=26da72d4899d29579ae9719e3d9b2e04&utm_source=blog&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=1742072562

Linda posted this to her blog....just about sums it up:)

 

Best Italian Restaurants in Vancouver

 I guess we are rather out of the restaurant scene these days as I know very of them. We'll have to change that.

https://www.timeout.com/vancouver/restaurants/best-italian-restaurants-in-vancouver

A lovely lunch with Donna yesterday

We all enjoyed the food...great place to go!

https://shaughnessyrestaurant.com

I love this painting by Kandinsky....wow, what a price!

 

Kandinsky makes £37m auction record at a procedural but solid Sotheby's London evening sale 

Strong Asian bidding helped secure the success of the 58-lot two-part auction, which brought the house £147m

I might even be tempted to fly long distance if someone offered me this

" German airline Lufthansa has unveiled plans for luxurious new first-class cabins with double beds and closable doors.

‘Suite Plus’ cabins come with a large table, a wardrobe, an entertainment system, and two wide seats that can be combined into a bed. The cabin can be made completely private with a floor-to-ceiling door.

Passengers flying in this class will also be served a gourmet menu at a time of their choosing.

“The First Class Suite Plus conveys the feeling of privacy and individuality similar to a hotel room - only at an altitude of eleven kilometres," explained Lufthansa CEO Jens Ritter at the product’s launch in Berlin on 28 February.

The cabins will be introduced in 2024 on the airline’s new Airbus A350s. They are part of its €2.5 billion long-haul revamp dubbed ‘Lufthansa Allegris’."

Vancouver sea lions enjoying the snow