Andy Warhol

This image was posted with a question about Andy Warhol...what art he represented. The answer is Pop Art. I liked the image so decided to post it.

And it gave me an excuse to post a few of his famous images.

Lego and Valentine's Day

Trust Lego to get into Valentine's day. Kind of cool actually. $19.86(19 new offers) Ages: 8 years and up

"Unlike flat puzzles, this three-dimensional creation doesn’t require feet of table space to complete. Romantics will appreciate this rose-themed Lego set for V-Day, and the flowers are cute enough to display in a jar or vase long after Cupid’s day."

Pets in the trenches in the Great War

Lion cubs and raccoons as pets? I can see how cats were so useful. "The Great War was such a difficult time, some soldiers sought out the assistance and comfort of four-legged friends — including cats, who were used in the trenches to boost morale. Dogs, homing pigeons, foxes, goats, lion cubs, and even raccoons also served their countries as pets and mascots throughout the “war to end all wars,” and some even carried out official duties. Cats did a bit of both: Though most kitties simply kept their compatriots in good spirits by providing them with loyal companionship (and fending off rats), some also used their heightened sense of atmospheric pressure to detect bombs in advance. Not all feline soldiers’ deeds have gone unnoticed. Among the 75 animals who have received the PDSA Dickin Medal, which was established in 1943 to honor the military service of animals, is a cat named Simon. He served aboard the HMS Amethyst from 1948 to 1949 and received the medal for “disposing of many rats though wounded by shell blast. Throughout the incident his behaviour was of the highest order, although the blast was capable of making a hole over a foot in diameter in a steel plate.” In a newsreel of the ship returning home, Simon is rightly referred to as “a hero in his own right.”

Statue of Alan Turing

This statue really appealed to me and I think it's very fitting that Turing is honoured in this way. I'm amazed how well it projects a man thinking given that it is really very abstract.

"Antony Gormley’s abstract 12ft steel sculpture commemorating the Second World War code-breaker Alan Turing has finally been unveiled at Cambridge University. The sculpture of Turing stands in the grounds of King’s College—between Gibbs Building and Webb’s Court—where the computer scientist read mathematics in the 1930s. Christina Faraday, an art historian and research fellow at Gonville and Caius, University of Cambridge, posted on X (formerly Twitter): “I quite like this and it could have been worse.” But another contributor on social media says: “I’m just bored of Gormley repeating this same silhouette everywhere.” A wartime hero, Turing successfully decoded German messages with the Bombe, his machine designed to break Enigma-enciphered messages. But, after being disgraced by a conviction for “gross indecency” for homosexuality in 1952 and an enforced chemical castration, Turing is thought to have committed suicide in 1954. Gormley’s piece, entitled True, for Alan Turing, is made from Corten steel. “Corten contains 1% of copper which means it will oxidise over time, forming a rich red rust surface. The sculpture’s relationship with time and weather is an integral part of its character,” Gormley says in a statement. Gormley adds: “Alan Turing unlocked the door between the industrial and the information ages. I wanted to make the best sculpture I could to honour a man who was pivotal in changing the course of all our lives. It is not about the memorialisation of a death, but about a celebration of the opportunities that a life allowed.” Historic England initially objected to the project however, saying the steel work would “harm” the character of the college. In 2020, officials at the UK heritage body said that the figure "would harm the particular character created by the interplay of buildings and landscape, which makes the college so remarkable a place”. Historic England’s advice was taken into consideration during Cambridge City Council’s assessment and decision to erect the statue. Numerous letters of support were included in the initial application for Gormley’s Turing sculpture. For instance, Alex Farquharson, the director of Tate Britain, wrote in a redacted letter dated 7 October 2019 that he considers “this work to be a highly fitting tribute from one of our leading artists to one of our greatest mathematicians”.

David Hockney painting

I love the way he painted the water here. Goodness, what a price! "An early work by British artist David Hockney, a painting depicting his well-known pool motif and not seen in public for more than 40 years, is headed for auction with an estimate of around $20 million. Hockney, 86, painted “California,” showing two naked figures in an outdoor swimming pool, in 1965 after his first trip to Los Angeles and it has been held in a private collection since 1968."

Minnesota state flag

I love the simplicity of the design.

Flag expert calls new Minnesota state flag ‘outstanding,’ top 10 in the country

State dish of Texas

I don't think I knew this. I'm pretty sure we never ordered chili in Texas. Our meals in Texas were quite memorable but chili is pretty ordinary for me and I like the recipe I make myself. I do remember ending up just ordering an appetizer for dinner since portions were so large. And I learned not to order anything called a "feast". I ordered a "Seafood Feast" once and this huge plate of all sorts of seafood arrived. Good thing Jim had a great appetite in those days.

Texas State Dish – Chili Chili was adopted as the Texas state dish on May 11, 1977. The International Chili Cook-Off has been held in Texas in 1967. President Lyndon B. Johnson commented that “chili concocted outside of Texas is a weak, apologetic imitation of the real thing,” and Will Rogers described Texas chili as “the bowl of blessedness.” The legislature said, “One cannot be a true son or daughter of this state without having his taste buds tingle at the thought of the treat that is real, honest-to-goodness, unadulterated Texas chili.”

The colour of tennis balls...who knew?

I was surprised that tenniis balls were black in colour at one point. "Historically, balls were either black or white in colour, depending on the background colour of the courts. In 1972 the ITF introduced yellow tennis balls into the rules of tennis, as research had shown these balls to be more visible to television viewers."

It was "Mac Day" yesterday

I read about this on Seth Godin's blog. The introduction of the Mac computer certainly changed a lot of lives, mine being one. And of course it got Richard into computing.Good thing because we needed someone to figure things out for us. https://seths.blog/2024/01/its-mac-day-40/

Pantone's color of the year

I wasn't really aware there were "colors of the year" but I found it quite fun to scroll through these.

https://www.housebeautiful.com/room-decorating/colors/g46063530/pantone-color-of-the-year-past-selections/#:~:text=2024%3A%20Peach%20Fuzz&text=A%20light%2C%20delicate%20shade%20that,we%20seek%20a%20peaceful%20future.

Interesting information about the Eiffel Tower

From Nice News "When the Eiffel Tower was first built in 1889, it was the tallest building in the world at 312 meters tall, or a little more than 1,023 feet. Today, it’s around 60 feet taller because of the radio and TV antennas at its peak, and while nothing’s going to make it the tallest building in the world again, its exact height varies by a few inches depending on the time of year. That’s thanks to a scientific phenomenon called thermal expansion. In general, when a substance heats up, its atoms become more active and move farther apart, making its volume larger. Some substances are more sensitive to thermal expansion than others, including metals like iron. Because the Eiffel Tower is made up of almost pure iron — and there’s a lot of it — hot weather leads to some different measurements. In the summer, the tower not only grows (by as much as 6 inches), but also gets a little lopsided; because the sun only hits one side, it tilts ever-so-slightly away from the sun."

Safest countries to travel to

I'm glad to see Canada is #1. I'm a little surprised about France being #13. Check out the 15 safest countries in the world, according to the study, below: 1. Canada 2. Switzerland 3. Norway 4. Ireland 5. Netherlands 6. UK 7. Portugal 8. Denmark 9. Iceland 10. Australia 11. New Zealand 12. Japan 13. France 14. Spain 15. Brazil

Hunter Biden's Art

"US President Joseph R. Biden will be remembered as the father of the great artist Hunter Biden, his art dealer says" I may have posted this before but I do love the cheekiness of this fellow. His comment certainly got people's attention. I do quite like his art as well.

Michelin Stars

Interesting beginning of this now famous rating system. "A Michelin star is one of the highest honors in the culinary world, signifying exceptional quality in a restaurant’s cuisine. The coveted rating is considered the authority on fine dining around the world, but the Michelin Guide started as little more than a driver’s roadside companion. In the late 19th century, brothers André and Édouard Michelin founded the Michelin tire manufacturing company in Clermont-Ferrand, France. At the time, the automobile industry was still on the rise, with only around 3,000 cars on the road. In 1900, as a way to promote more automobile travel and, in turn, boost tire sales for their company, the Michelin brothers launched the Michelin Guide. The free book included relevant information for motorists such as maps, tire repair tips, and listings of fuel retailers, accommodations, and places to eat. As the guide evolved, so did its approach to evaluating dining establishments. Readers showed interest in the restaurant and hotel information, and in the 1920s, Michelin began hiring critics to anonymously assess and review restaurants at length. The famed “star” system debuted in 1926; at first, rankings consisted only of a single star, but by 1931, the three-star system still used today made its debut. A single star denoted "a very good restaurant," two stars signified "excellent cooking worth a detour," and three stars represented "exceptional cuisine worth a special journey." To date, Michelin has sold more than 30 million copies of its guidebooks, and chefs who have been on the receiving end of a star have said that the prestige does indeed increase business. Michelin, however, doesn’t disclose whether the guides are profitable to the company, nor just how many tires the guides have helped it sell."

Lawren Harris

I continue to be amazed at the high prices. I do love his work.This one sold for around 2 million.

10 famous libraries

I've only been to two of these. https://www.dictionaryscoop.com/article/Worldly-Wisdom-10-Libraries-Totally-Worth-Traveling-To?utm_source=blog&utm_campaign=blog-20240115

Wandertrivia.com

I get a lot of fun out of this site. Give it a try. Wandertrivia.com And lots of great photos. These are from New Orleans.

Jimmy Buffett Highway

We enjoy his music so greatto see him being honoured in this way.

BY BRENDAN FARRINGTON Updated 12:49 PM PST, January 10, 2024 Share TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Looking to waste away with a cheeseburger in paradise? You could soon do so while driving down Jimmy Buffett Highway with a Margaritaville license plate. Buffett, the iconic Florida singer who died last year, wrote songs that drove tourists to the Florida Keys looking for sun, sand and relaxation. Now the Florida Legislature wants to return the favor. A state Senate committee on Wednesday unanimously approved two bills to honor Buffett after watching a short video tribute to him.

Girl Guide Cookies

Goodness, times have changed. There are all sorts of different cookies now. It would be hard not to like some of them. They all look pretty good.

Monet's "The Water-Lily Pond"

Oh, to be in York and to see this painting again. I'm pretty sure I saw it at the National Gallery. "York Art Gallery is showing Monet's masterpiece The Water-Lily Pond, on loan from the National Gallery as part of their 200th birthday celebrations, sharing 12 of the nation's most iconic paintings across the UK. Monet's The Water-Lily Pond was completed in 1899 and is an instantly recognisable masterpiece by one of the biggest figures in art history. A programme of activity will be developed around the display, encompassing both the gallery and its gardens."

LEGO

I didn't know this about LEGO. I would guess the number of times I stepped on a piece of LEGO would be in the thousands...well, in the hundreds for sure. I was surprised to learn they were introduced in 1949. From Interesting Facts: Scientists estimate that at some point, every person on Earth will step barefoot on a piece of Lego. OK, not really, but these plastic interlocking bricks, first introduced in 1949, are one of the world’s most popular toys, with more than 400 billion pieces on the planet and 60 billion bricks now being produced each year. (They’ve even made it to space!) The Danish phrase “Leg Godt,” which translates to “play well,” is the origin of this brand’s acronym.

Thoughts turn to having this wonderful soup...

...on sunny winter days...well, perhaps any day will do. We had many memorable bouillabaisse in France.

https://www.hotel-restaurant-le-rhul.com/en/bouillabaisse-charter

Year of the Dragon

This looks like an interesting program but we are avoiding crowds these days.

Description The dragon is a symbol of power, nobleness, honour, luck, and success in Chinese culture. Celebrate Lunar New Year with a Dragon and Lion Dance by Wong Kuan Dragon and Lion Dance Association and a traditional tea ceremony featuring Lillian Li, a certified tea artist and the Cultural Experience Specialist at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. Musician Sonia Liu, will start the year off on a bright note by playing the Guzen, a Chinese plucked zither instrument. There will also be a special visit from Master Tek Siaw from Hsin-I Tai Chi Institute who will do a participatory Qigong demonstration. In the Alma VanDusen Room on the lower level, the Vancouver Cantonese Opera will do a drop-in makeup demonstration followed by a Water Sleeve Dance performance in the Alice MacKay.

Popcorn banned in movie theatres

Being a lover of popcorn I found this interesting. "The movie theater’s most popular concession wasn’t always associated with the movies—in fact, it used to be explicitly banned. Movie theaters were trying to appeal to a highbrow clientele, and didn't want to deal with the distracting trash of concessions—or the distracting noise that snacking during a film would create. If those inside the theaters couldn't see the financial lure of popcorn, enterprising street vendors didn't miss a beat: they bought their own popping machines and sold popcorn outside the theaters to moviegoers before they entered the theater. As Smith explains, early movie theaters literally had signs hung outside their coatrooms, requesting that patrons check their popcorn with their coats. Popcorn, it seems, was the original clandestine movie snack." Source: Smithsonian Magazine

Wishing I was enjoying one of these in France yesterday

"The galette des rois is a cake traditionally shared at Epiphany, on 6 January. It celebrates the arrival of the Three Wise Men in Bethlehem. Composed of a puff pastry cake, with a small charm, the fève, hidden inside, it is usually filled with frangipane, a cream made from sweet almonds, butter, eggs and sugar. But more gourmet versions are available for us to enjoy, with chocolate, apple or candied fruits. Every year, the leading French pâtissiers offer exclusive creations for the tradition of crowning the one who finds the fève."

The amazing world of robots

Will my fascination with this stuff ever end? https://www.euronews.com/next/2023/12/30/from-gastronomy-to-pop-culture-here-are-some-of-the-most-remarkable-robots-introduced-in-2?utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=video_newsletter&utm_medium=referral&insEmail=1&insNltCmpId=243&insNltSldt=10080&insPnName=euronewsfr&isIns=1&isInsNltCmp=1

The world's first computer programer was a woman

From: History Facts "Long before laptops and smartphones, a 19th-century Englishwoman named Ada Lovelace created what many consider to be the world’s first computer program. Lovelace was born in 1815 to famed poet Lord Byron and philanthropist Annabella Milbanke Byron, though she never had a relationship with her father and was raised alone by her mother. Annabella became fearful that Ada would inherit her artistic father’s perceived “insanity,” and so she encouraged Ada to study grounded disciplines such as logic and math. Lovelace grew fond of those pursuits, and developed a keen interest in the inventions of English mathematician Charles Babbage, whom she met in 1833. Babbage told Lovelace of his plan to create a complex calculating machine known as the Analytical Engine — the precursor to the modern computer — and Lovelace was eager to contribute to the project. In 1843, Lovelace was asked to translate a French account of one of Babbage’s lectures overseas, and Babbage encouraged her to expand the paper with her own thoughts. In August of that year, Lovelace published the 66-page translation, which included 41 pages of appendices containing additional theories and formulas. The most famous of these notations is “Note G,” which has been deemed the world’s first computer program. In this table, Lovelace determined how the machine could theoretically calculate a sequence of rational numbers known as Bernoulli numbers. Though the machine was never built, and thus was never able to successfully execute Lovelace’s calculations, the theory laid the groundwork for the future of computer programming."

Unique airport architecture

Some pretty cool airports.

https://dailypassport.com/most-unique-airport-architecture/

Some Alexander Calder to brighten your day

10 of the Best Six Word Stories out there

I thought this was a cool idea. It reminded my how effective Haiku can be. You have to click on the link to read the stories.

https://www.dictionaryscoop.com/article/10-Of-The-Best-Six-Word-Stories-Out-There?utm_source=blog&utm_campaign=blog-20240101

New Year's in NYC

As I'm sure I've posted many times we were in NYC one New Year's with Don and Elaine. Jim and I ended up watching the festivities on our hotel TV as I got quite claustrophobic in the crowds. It didn't help that I was hearing a conversation from some guys I was squeezed up against that he was out on parole for murder. Our hotel was quite close so we could see the crowds leaving. I'm glad I wasn't in that throng.

"NEW YORK (AP) — The confetti has been tested for airiness. The giant numerals – 2 0 2 4 – are in place. And the luminous ball, bedazzled with 2,688 crystal triangles, is fixed to the pole from which it makes its 60-second descent at 11:59 p.m. With throngs of revelers set to usher in the new year under the bright lights of Times Square, officials and organizers say they are prepared to welcome the crowds and ensure their safety. At a security briefing Friday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said there were “no specific threats” to the annual New Year’s Eve bash, which is expected to draw tens of thousands of people to the heart of midtown Manhattan on Sunday." I posted this last night before midnight so hope everything went well. Update: Everything did go well.