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

Celebrating the baguette

I don't think I'll ever forget the experience our first time in Paris going to the bakery and getting a baguette warm from the oven. Now, that is fresh.

What a great idea! Agence France-Presse in Paris Fri 17 May 2024 20.24 BST Share The French Post Office has released a scratch-and-sniff postage stamp to celebrate the baguette, once described by President Emmanuel Macron as “250 grams of magic and perfection”. The stamp, which costs €1.96, depicts a baguette decorated with a red, white and blue ribbon. It has a print run of 594,000 copies. According to the Parisian shop Le Carre d’encre, which sells it, the stamp has a “bakery scent”. The ink used on the stamps contains microcapsules which provide the fragrance. It was released for sale on Friday, after a launch on Thursday, the day of Saint-Honoré, the patron saint of bakers and pastry chefs. “The baguette, the bread of our daily lives, the symbol of our gastronomy, the jewel of our culture”, La Poste says on its website. “This scent is encapsulated. We buy it from another manufacturer,” Damien Lavaud, printer at Philaposte, told France Bleu. “And the difficulty for us is to apply this ink without breaking the capsules, so that the smell can then be released by the customer rubbing on the stamp.” The French baguette was given Unesco heritage status in 2022. https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/article/2024/may/17/french-post-office-releases-scratch-and-sniff-baguette-stamp?utm_campaign=mb&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_source=morning_brew#img-1

A lovely lunch with Donna yesterday

We went to our old standby,the University Golf Club. I enjoyed the shrimp brioche and Jim had the eggs benny. Then we came home to see the Blue Jays winning and they won 9-3.

More cool art

by Rachel Eulena Williams

Monet and London: Views of the Thames

I would love to see this exhibit.

From: The Smithonion Magazine "Claude Monet had planned to display his paintings of the river Thames at a London exhibition in 1905. However, weeks before the show opened, the artist postponed it, believing the works weren’t up to snuff. Nearly 120 years later, the long-awaited exhibition is finally coming together: London’s Courtauld Gallery has reunited many of the original pieces to execute Monet’s vision. The show, “Monet and London: Views of the Thames,” will open this fall. Between 1899 and 1901, Monet created 94 pieces featuring the Thames over the course of three trips to London. These works showed the Charing Cross Bridge, the Waterloo Bridge and the Houses of Parliament at different times of day and in various weather conditions. “Some of Monet’s most remarkable Impressionist paintings were made not in France but in London,” says the Courtauld Gallery in a statement. “They depict extraordinary views of the Thames as it had never been seen before, full of evocative atmosphere, mysterious light and radiant color.” In 1904, Monet presented 37 of his Thames paintings at a show in Paris, where they were a big hit. Building on this success, the artist started organizing an exhibition at Dowdeswell’s, a London gallery on New Bond Street. “I have always wanted to show my Londons here, for my own satisfaction,” the artist wrote in a letter during a trip to England in 1904, per the Art Newspaper’s Martin Bailey. Just months after the show’s announcement, Monet’s big plans started to unravel. The Manchester Courier reported that the artist had delayed the exhibition indefinitely, writing that “Monet is dissatisfied with the quality of the canvases which he intended to show, hence the postponement.”

Heavy flooding in Italy...wow

I hope they get relief soon. I seem to recall driving from Venice to Nice in a torrential rainstorm. We got some relief from all the tunnels along that route. I generally don't like long tunnels as I'm a bit claustrophobic but was very grateful for a bit of relief from the rain. We thought of turning off and staying the night somewhere but there was so much water on the sides of the road we were concerned the car would be covered in water.

The many works of Alice Munro

From: Russell Books "Canada, and the world, lost a legend in the literary community. This towering stack is just a few of the works of Alice Munro (1931-2024)"

Time Zones

From: Interesting Facts

"Before 1833, local time was all over the place; communities set their clocks to noon when the sun was highest in the sky, which led to at least 144 different local times in North America. This wasn’t a huge deal when people were traveling slowly by foot and horseback, but with trains, people could suddenly travel across wider distances more quickly — and train operators needed consistent schedules to coordinate. Even small miscommunications about time could lead to missed connections and accidents. Railroads established a four-time-zone system in 1833, and used it for decades before the U.S. government officially established time zones in 1918."

Alice Munro

She was a wonderful writer and I was so thrilled when she won the Nobel literary prize. Perhaps time to re-read some of her wonderful stories.

By Associated Press Nobel laureate Alice Munro, the Canadian literary giant who became one of the world’s most esteemed contemporary authors and one of history’s most honored short story writers, has died at age 92. A spokesperson for her publisher confirmed the death of Munro, winner of the Nobel literary prize in 2013, but did not immediately provide further details. Munro had been in frail health for years and often spoke of retirement, a decision that proved final after the author’s 2012 collection, “Dear Life.”

Pet Portrait

I really like what he does to bring pets alive in his portraits. "New Pet Portrait with referrence photo. My pet portraits are different but who wants something that looks like it was done from an instructional booklet and is the same as everything out there. If u want your pet done send me a message and I'm sure we can work something out!" Mark Prosser

A wonderful Mother's Day with Richard

In the afternoon, these wonderful gifts arrive..flowers, cookies, chocolates, Amsterdam Breakfast tea, and a notebook. Then we had dinner together and watched the hockey game. And he helped us with all sorts of tech stuff. We are blessed with a wonderful son.

A lovely dinner with Donna

We were at the University Golf Club last night. We always enjoy our time together.Thank you so much, dear friend.

National Wildflower week

I'll never forget the first time we drove though the desert when we were in Palm Springs at the height of wildflower season. So amazing to see wonderful blooms in such a landscape. From: Nice News "It’s National Wildflower Week, and what better way to celebrate than taking in this stunning photo from Idaho’s Lemhi Pass. We encourage you to seek out some springtime blooms before the week is over (or maybe just listen to Tom Petty’s “Wildflowers”)."

Hazukido has closed down

I guess we missed our chance to get a great croissant. Perhaps we'll need to go to Paris now :)

From: Vancouver is Awesome "Despite an opening with much fanfare, the first Vancouver outpost of global croissant sensation Hazukido has closed down in silence. The well-appointed bakery-cafe at 280 Nelson St in Yaletown opened its doors in October 2022, marking the Taiwanese franchise chain's first foray into Metro Vancouver. The brand is known for its Japanese-inspired baked goods, in particular sweet and savoury croissants."

Olympic torch in Marseille

I would have loved to have been there and enjoying a bouillibaise.

"OLYMPICS | FRANCE Lighting the way The Olympic torch arrives in the port city of Marseille today after crossing the Mediterranean aboard the Belem, a three-masted sailing ship. Accompanied by more than 1,000 boats, it will dock on a pontoon designed to resemble an athletics track. This will mark the first stage of its three-month journey across the country towards the capital. The flame’s arrival will offer an early indication of what we can expect from Paris 2024."

Award winning fish and chips

I'm pretty sure we visited Gourdon and had some wonderful fish and chips. From: Scotland Now "We are already one week through May, which means summer is hurtling towards us. If you are keen for a sunny day trip in Scotland before the busy holiday season, time is running out. Fortunately, even during the peak of the summer, there are still plenty of secluded spots all over the country you can visit that many Scots haven't even heard of. One of these is the lovely little destination of Gourdon, which the Daily Record has picked as our latest Village of the Week. Sitting along Aberdeenshire's breathtaking coast, it is the ideal spot for a short getaway. Whether you're travelling alone, with your other half, or with the whole family, Gourdon is perfect for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle. Framed around a picturesque working harbour that dates all the way back to 1820, Gourdon may be less than 40 minutes from Aberdeen by car, but it feels like its own peaceful little world. There is plenty to see and do in the village, with the highlight being the Maggie Law Maritime Museum. However, the star of the show is the spectacular trails that you can set out on for some jaw-dropping coastal scenery. Once you're done, you can head back to the village for some well earned rest and relaxation. In terms of food, Gourdon is home to a multi-award winning fish and chip shop that has been described by visitors as a "little gem"."

More great stuff that AI is doing

"The Rundown: Country music star Randy Travis just released his first new song in over a decade, using AI to recreate his voice years after a stroke left him unable to speak or sing. The details: Travis's new song "Where That Came From" was made by training an AI model on past recordings to generate a voice clone. The voice clone was then layered over guide vocals provided by another singer to craft the track. The 65-year-old Country Music Hall of Fame inductee suffered a near-fatal stroke in 2013 that severely impacted his speech. Why it matters: While the use of AI in music has sparked both excitement and controversy, Travis’ song is a good example of the tech’s potential to unlock new creative possibilities — even for those who may no longer have the ability to physically sing." From: Nice News

California wines beat out French wines

This doesn''t really surprise me. I think part of it is California's climate is more reliable in terms of sunshine.

"In a legendary event dubbed “The Judgment of Paris,” held on May 24, 1976, French wine experts preferred upstart California wines to the finest French ones in a taste test. An English wine shop owner staged the event to drum up business, and everyone assumed a French victory was a foregone conclusion. The nine experts swirled, sniffed, and sipped a variety of reds and whites, then tallied the number of points they awarded to each sample; shockingly, a cabernet sauvignon and a chardonnay from Napa Valley won out, proving that countries besides France could produce the world’s finest wines. A bottle of each winning wine is now in the Smithsonian collection." From: Nice News

Wow...what a picnic that will be

As I'm composing this post I'm looking at my own red check tablecloth. We have used it a couple of times this year when the sun has been bright and no wind.

"The event on Paris’s Champs-Élysées is open to all - but only 4,000 people will win access to the giant picnic. It’s one of the most famous - and well-trodden - streets in the world and now the Champs-Élysées is set to welcome delighted visitors for an entirely unique event. On Sunday 26 May, the Parisian avenue will transform into an enormous picnic site, hosting 4,000 residents of the French capital as well as tourists. Thought up by the Champs-Élysées committee in collaboration with LG Electronics France, the event will give lucky attendees the opportunity to gather around a giant, traditional red and white chequered picnic rug." From: Nice News

Wally the support alligator

Just when you think you've heard everything.

Wally, the emotional support alligator once denied entry to a baseball game, is missing By Sydney Bishop, CNN 3 minute read Joie Henney, 65, sits in 2019 with his emotional support alligator, Wally, at his home in York Haven, Pennsylvania. Heather Khalifa/AP CNN — Emotional support animals registrations in the United States reached 115,832 last year, by an industry group’s count. But in the eyes of reptile rescuer Joie Henney, there’s only one: “Wally Gator” – his “gentle” certified emotional support alligator. And now, Wally has gone missing – far from home.

Cutting screen time in France

I'm glad to see France taking the lead in this. I hope other countries follow suit. From: Euronews

"A team of experts commissioned by the French president warned against screen and social media use for children. Children under three years old should not have any screen time and up to age six it should be “strongly limited,” according to an expert panel commissioned by French President Emmanuel Macron. The panel also said on Tuesday that children under the age of 11 should not be allowed a mobile phone and anyone under 13 should not own a phone with internet access. Meanwhile, social media use should be forbidden for anyone under 15 and those above that age should only have access to ethical platforms such as Bluesky."

It is a lovely bird

A blue rock thrush

From: Nice News "Vancouver, Washington, resident Michael Sanchez inadvertently caused quite a flurry when he photographed a small bird on an Oregon beach last week. Sanchez told KOIN 6 News he initially thought the bird was black, but realized it was actually “blue and chestnut-colored” upon returning home, so he decided to post the pictures on social media to learn what species it was. ​ Local birders soon took notice — it turned out that Sanchez had photographed the first known blue rock thrush sighting in U.S. history. “Now that I know just how rare of a sighting this is, I wish I would have captured more pictures of it,” he said. “However, I’m happy with the photos that I was able to get, and I hope this brings new interest in the fascinating world of birdwatching.” ​ The blue rock thrush is native to Europe and Asia and had only been spotted in North America once before, in Canada in 1997, but that sighting was later written off. Sanchez’s encounter still has to pass through the Oregon Bird Records Committee or the American Birding Association Records Committee to be deemed official, but Oregon Birding Association member Nolan Clements said he’s confident it will be."