Photos....who knew?

I did find this rather amazing. From "Interesting Facts" "Two centuries ago, imaging pioneers were only beginning to tinker with ways to capture the world around them using chemicals and light, and now cameras are embedded in our daily lives. We don’t know how many photos were taken in the 19th century, but it’s likely it was a few million at most. In 2014, it was estimated that humanity took a staggering 1 trillion photos that year, which means that every two minutes of 2014, we likely took more photos than were taken in the entire 19th century. Experts believe that the number of cameras in the world passed 45 billion in 2022 (that’s more than five cameras for every person). As cameras continue to get better while shrinking (sometimes to the size of a grain of sand), that number is only increasing, with estimates suggesting humans will take 2 trillion photos in 2025. When that happens, every single minute of the day will create more photos than an entire century of human history."

National corn on the cob day

I do love corn on the cob. I think I ate 9 on my first time I met Jim's parents. They were rather amazed.

Inspiring quotes from female comedians

I enjoyed reading these quotes and thought some of my readers might too. https://www.inspiringquotes.com/15-motivating-quotes-from-female-comedians/YZL2lf448gAGJ-MF?liu=26da72d4899d29579ae9719e3d9b2e04&utm_source=blog&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=1811198653

A wonderful evening with Donna and Earl

We went to Minerva's last night...well where else would we go:) The food was wonderful as always. Great to see you guys.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Richard

Richard came over yesterday and gave Jim an early Father's Day gift...juggling balls. His old set had one that was in pretty rough shape so they didn't really work very well. And he did all sorts fo tech stuff for us. That won't be a surprise for anyone who knows our family.

For dog lovers

I have always loved dogs and usually get a good welcome from them. It seems they are even smarter than we think. A vet once told me that a dog that barks is in distress. I think this is an over simplification but I don't like the sound of dogs barking and I've found it a good thing to tell people who have dogs that bark. https://www.newsweek.com/2023/06/02/does-your-dog-truly-love-you-science-has-answer-1800708.html?utm_source=recommendedreads.com

I'll just have to go swimming there for sure

I loved watching the polar bears when I was a kid. Of course, we had no idea how awful this must have been for them. We visited many wonderful zoos in many parts of the world over the years. I see the whole idea of zoos differently now but we sure did enjoy seeing all the wonderful animals. "A new pitch by Tony Osborn Architecture & Design (TOAD) imagines the complete conversion of the same pools where polar bears used to swim into a space for leisure bathers. As well, the perimeter trench that separated the polar bears from the visitors above would be covered to create an underground, tile-covered, cave pool with a waterfall at its entrance."

A great writing assignment idea

When I was teaching English I was always looking for ideas for writing assignments for my students. Students who were excited about a topic wrote so much better. I think this idea would have produced some great writing especially when they learned what an impact it had in getting adoptions. AUTHOR Julia Diddy "By putting pencil (and crayon) to paper, an elementary school class honed their creative writing and drawing skills while also helping some overlooked shelter pets find adoptive homes. Second-grade teacher Kensey Jones was mulling over new writing assignment ideas for her students at St. Michael’s Episcopal School in Richmond, Virginia. Jones had become a volunteer at Richmond Animal Care and Control a few years earlier and so decided to combine her passion for animal welfare with her next school project: She had the kids write letters on behalf of the animals at the shelter. Her students were thrilled by this chance to “actually make an impact on the world,” Jones told The Washington Post, and they took the assignment to heart. Some of the shelter’s most difficult-to-adopt residents (23 dogs and one cat), who had been in the shelter much longer than average soon found themselves with exuberant bios and colorful hand-drawn portraits attached to their kennels. The impact of the students’ efforts was undeniable: 21 of the 24 animals were paired with new owners within weeks."

Loved these rubber duckies

From "The Art Newspaper"

Good on tigers

"According to a recently published study, “the tiger is one of the most charismatic and highly protected wild species in India.” And that philosophy of appreciation and protection for the big cat has led to environmental wins beyond growing the species’ population. The study found that the creation of tiger reserves between 2005 and 2022 led to “significantly” less deforestation in the areas where the reserves are. That, in turn, also reduced the amount of greenhouse gas emissions, preventing over 1 million metric tons of carbon from entering the atmosphere over the past 15 years or so. From an economic perspective, those avoided emissions from tiger conservation efforts corresponded to more than $6 million in savings for India between 2007 and 2020." “Our study provides a comprehensive appraisal of the national tiger conservation policy in India, demonstrating there are important ancillary climate co-benefits of enhanced protection in tiger reserves,” the study reads, continuing, “Our findings offer empirical evidence at a broad geographical scale to support a biodiversity-first approach to climate change mitigation.” http://track.nicenews.com/?xtl=593ulquiac31o92ziq0wtnuji2d5jjpm0w1fce50tl8n4mbmrz7s795saolbuqutsgi3dylqltzfafuo1rjslmpig3jivkf4r2lu5km3jxi4h3ovbmkd60innem14wvhshg0hqtdhap8plef4ahrfltdgd34k3l9sna3l352f3qrgcihgjlsw61wp1tfcacg7c5lsl583qc3sgpgwnrtl7y6jknkktcf7jk&eih=4dlyjkzrn4gmqxi3zs2o9ree5dkztf4q7c67teqx

Love this Lawren Harris

"Another highlight of the early session was Lawren Harris’s Northern Image (1952), which easily topped its high estimate of C$550,000, selling for a hammer price of C$850,000, or just over C$1m with fees ($750,000). According to a Heffel spokesperson, that result set a record for a Harris abstraction at auction. At a 2016 Heffel sale, Harris’s 1926 canvas Mountain Forms set a new Canadian art market standard when it was knocked down at a whopping C$11.2m ($8.3m)."

Wonderful lunch at C-Lovers Saturday

We had their deluxe platter for two....yum. We may not be heading that way again any time soon,though. Traffic tie ups both ways.

Bedtime stories with Alexa

Creating technology for families Kids have long loved listening to stories, and with “Create with Alexa” they can also actively co-create stories of their own." What a great feature! I wonder if it could do what our son loved best. I would make up a line for a story then he would make one up. When he was just learning to talk the lines he made up really didn't follow the story line so I had to incorporate some pretty wild ideas into our "story". I would have loved to see how Alexa would have dealt with this. "Children can say the simple phrase, “Alexa, make a story,” follow a few prompts, and Alexa takes over—generating a unique and original narrative based on the child’s preferences. For each scene, the AI also composes an illustration, background music, and sound effects. The child’s choices of character, setting, and other variables dictate the direction the story goes—and no two stories are the same. For example, once a child has told Alexa they’re ready to create, they select a theme, which could be “space exploration,” “underwater,” or “enchanted forest.” They then choose and name a character—say, an astronaut named Speedy or an alien named Fuzzy—choose a color theme, and pick adjectives like “silly” or “happy” or “mysterious.” With those few inputs, Alexa works behind the scenes to create a five- to 10-line story, told across five unique scenes that are complete with sound and visual effects. Even if the child chooses the same prompts in the future, the story will be different each time. They can then save the story in their personal media gallery to experience it again, and coming soon, share it with their loved ones.

Hot dogs for lunch

We enjoyed our lunch yesterday at the Jericho Sailing Club. Always a nice view over the water.

A lovely evening with old friends

We had dinner last night at the University Golf Club with Linda and Cec and Donna and Earl. So wonderful to see everyone. Thanks for coming our way, Guys!

Advice to graduates from Bill Gates

His thoughts make a lot of sense to me. "This weekend, I delivered a commencement address at Northern Arizona University to the school’s forestry and engineering graduates. (You can read more about what drew me to NAU here.) I wanted to speak to the class of 2023 because they are no ordinary group of graduates. Before most of them completed their first year of college, a once-in-a-generation pandemic came along and changed life—and learning—as everyone knew it. It took resilience, grit, and a whole lot of ingenuity for them to cross this finish line. So I was excited to congratulate them before they begin the next stages of their lives, and share some wisdom I’ve picked up in the decades since I left my own college campus. This is the advice I shared: Your life isn’t a one-act play. You’re never too smart to be confused. Gravitate toward work that solves an important problem. Don’t underestimate the power of friendship. You’re not a slacker if you cut yourself some slack. You can read more about the life experiences that led me to this advice—and my speech in full—on my blog. Thank you for being an Insider."

Good on Greece!

AUTHOR Marika Spitulski Greece is known for its sandy beaches, clear blue waters, and gorgeous islands — from the honeymoon destination of Santorini to the lush oasis of Corfu. Now, more people will be able to experience the country’s coastline with less friction, thanks to a project making hundreds of beaches wheelchair accessible. The focal point of the accessibility project is the Greek-designed Seatrac system, which is, like its name suggests, essentially a movable track to the sea. Think: moving walkway, but instead of the airport, it’s at the beach and comes with a chair.

Another great idea for libraries

'Bus stops in Boston are beginning to double as digital libraries under a new pilot program being rolled out across the city. Riders at 20 bus stops can now dip into free digital content by using a QR code to browse and borrow audiobooks, eBooks, e-newspapers and e-magazines for all ages, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said Thursday. Library cards are not required and readers don’t need to download an app. The program, which runs through the end of August, features blue slip-proof decals on sidewalks at the bus stops. Wu said the initiative “builds on our efforts to make public transportation more enjoyable, while also connecting our residents to the resources the Boston Public Library already offers.”

Pretty amazing weather

It's been lovely sitting out in the sunshine and having our meals and drinks outside. We must take full advantage as I'm sure rain will come before long. I haven't looked at the forecast.

Mother's Day goodies from Richard

Wonderful Mother's Day gifts from Richard

His wonderful gifts arrived just as the Blue Jay's won to come from behind with a home run. I could hardly believe the timing. I seem to be having problems uploading photos but I was spoiled with a beautiful bouqet of flowers, candy, special teas, and bubble bath. Thank you so much, Richard. You are a wonderful son.

Fascinating stuff about oysters

Makes me yearn for oysters on the half shell. From "Interesting Facts" "Oysters can change sex multiple times during their lives. Within 12 hours of their birth, oysters begin pulling calcium out of the water to create their signature shells. For the first few weeks of their lives, these newborn bivalves zoom around in a current until they eventually settle on some hard substrate, whether it’s a rock, pier, or another oyster. This place of protection is where the oysters will spend the rest of their lives (which can be as long as 20 years). Eventually, usually a year after birth, it’ll be time for the oysters to breed, and that’s where things get interesting. Although born male, oysters have the impressive ability to switch their sex, seemingly at will. Every season, females can release up to 100 million eggs, and the amount of sperm released is so high it’s essentially incalculable. Once the egg and sperm are released, the oysters rely on pure chance for fertilization to take place, as the egg and sperm meet in the open water. Because any resulting larvae are extremely vulnerable to predators (especially filter feeders), oysters have evolutionarily compensated by being one of the most virile and sexually flexible species in the world — meaning that their ability to change sex likely evolved as a matter of survival. This impressive fecundity means that natural oyster reefs can grow to tremendous size; as little as 10 square feet of reef can house up to 500 oysters. Scientists theorize that water temperature could play a role in triggering whatever causes an oyster to change its sex, but many aspects of the process remain a mystery."

How far we have come....

It's hard to imagine that Santa Claus promoted cigarettes. Cigarette Supremacy Before tobacco marketing was legally restricted, cigarette advertising was a big business. Popular brands such as Lucky Strike, Camel, and Chesterfield used visually-compelling imagery and memorable slogans, like "It's toasted," to differentiate themselves. Holidays were even fair game for promotions, with tobacco companies featuring Santa Claus as a smoker and brand ambassador for their products.

A lovely evening

We had a wonderful meal with Donna and Earl at Wildlight restaurant yesterday evening. So nice to see them. And it was a sunny warm evening. Let's hope this great weather continues.

Ah...to see Paris again and these wonderful paintings

But then there would be that horrendous trans Atlantic flight. I'll stick with my memories.

An exhibition of Vincent van Gogh’s final paintings is to be presented in Amsterdam and then Paris. During his astonishingly productive period from May to July 1890, in the village of Auvers-sur-Oise, he completed a picture a day. Then, on 27 July, he shot himself, dying two days later. This will be the first comprehensive show devoted to Van Gogh’s period in Auvers, which lies 30km north-west of Paris. Van Gogh in Auvers: His Final Months sets out to argue that his work there was just as important as his better-known pictures painted in sunny Provence. The Van Gogh Museum and the Musée d’Orsay have succeeded in borrowing 48 of the 74 paintings that he completed in Auvers, along with 25 of the 57 drawings (he also filled a small notebook with rough sketches). Loans of Van Goghs are always very difficult to secure, so this represents an astonishing success.

Fun stuff from the Coronation

I've always been intrigued by mosaics.

"By David Mouriquand • Updated: 06/05/2023 - 07:16 The intricate mosaic floor where King Charles III will be crowned on 6 May will be opened to visitors this summer. Westminster Abbey has announced that following the coronation of King Charles III, the church’s famous Cosmati pavement – an intricate mosaic which lies in the sanctuary in front of the high altar – will be opened up to the public. It will be the first time in living memory that the abbey has invited visitors to walk on the Cosmati pavement, where the Coronation Chair will be placed. While many will relish the idea of being able to stand in the same spot as past and current rulers, there is one caveat: people will have to remove their shoes to step on it, in order to protect its surface."

Cassis

A photo of Cassis, one of my favourite places in the world, greeted me the other day. If I remember correctly this is where I first had raw oysters on the half shell.This was before the days when we did that in Canada.The folks at the neighbouring table were eating them with such gusto I just had to try. Or maybe it was sea urchins. Some wonderful fishy stuff that seemed very exotic at the time.

Whew....so glad Coronation Day went off well

Linda's blog on Coronation Day. Perfect. Linda did have an experience with Queen Elizaeth.She wrote the proper channels and got an invitation to a garden party.It was a pretty thrilling experience for her.

A great article on luxury train travel

I've had some wonderful travel experiences by train and so glad I did. These trips were mainly motivated by economics.It was cheaper to travel by train than to fly. https://robbreport.com/travel/hotels/luxury-trains-old-world-opulence-travel-1234828847/

Lots of baseball yesterday

We watched the Blue Jays then watched a very interesting documentary on the Asahi baseball team. "The Asahi was a Japanese-Canadian baseball team of amateur and semi-professional players that was based in Vancouver from 1914 to 1941. The team won many league championships, particularly in the 1930s. Wikipedia Founded: 1914"

I remember pretty much all of these....guess that shows my age

https://www.boredpanda.com/pics-that-make-you-feel-old/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter

Another wonderful painter from France

Susan K. introduced me to his work...just love it! "Roger Mühl (1929-2008) was a French painter, sculptor and draughtsman. Born in Strasbourg, an area that had just recently been returned to France after World War One, he studied at the School of Decorative Arts in Strasbourg. A figurative painter, he was passionate about the landscapes of of the South of France. His paintings were characterized by their pastel colours and the way in which he captured the light and shadows in his scenes. He based himself in Mougins, a hilltop town about fifteen minutes drive from Cannes and his partings of Provence and the Luberon region were exhibited all over the world." I can't seem to upload any photos but there is a montage of his work here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fx-MVzwqjck

Quite a game yesterday

The Blue Jays walk it off in the 10th inning thanks to Dalton Varsho

Quite an auction...

By Theo Farrant & AFP • Updated: 27/04/2023 - 07:20 "Think you've seen it all at auctions? Well, a French courtroom has auctioned off drug dealers' designer goods. Among the items up for grabs were Gucci sneakers, Dior silk pyjamas, Rolex watches, and a flashy white Lamborghini. On a sunny afternoon, in France's majestic Court of Appeal, a rather unusual auction was underway this week. The room, usually reserved for serious legal proceedings, was filled with eager bidders and online participants, totalling over 11,000 people, all vying for a chance to own a piece of luxury seized from narcotics cases. From sneakers and bags by Gucci, Yves Saint-Laurent, and Vuitton to Dior silk pyjamas and Rolex watches, the items on display were nothing short of bling. In an adjacent courtroom, rows of Louboutin shoes glittered, and display cases showcased gleaming jewellery and gold coins. But the real showstopper was the white Lamborghini parked right in front of the courthouse, with a starting price of 160,000 euros."

Liz is now in Rome...lucky girl!

My favourite city in the world is now the world's most powerful city

It couldn't happen to a better place! "Paris is always a good idea, as the saying goes, and now it's also officially the world’s most powerful city. The French capital was ranked as the most powerful city destination by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). The rankings took into account everything from the contribution travel and tourism make to the GDP, to employment, and traveler spending habits. Overall, travel and tourism contributed nearly $36 billion to France’s GDP in 2022, about 3.5 percent of the city’s economy that year."

Brunch

We had a lovely time with Donna yesterday. Brunch at the University Golf Club. We do enjoy our Eggs Benny.

Cool sketch

Not sure who to give credit to but really liked it. Someone else found it. "I've found the Landscapeartclub on Instagram and am enjoying having the resource to add a virtual sketch by another when moved to do so. This bridge was from images in Ireland in week 72! No pencil/ink, just direct watercolor and I like it!"

Day for vaccines

So far, no ill effects. Good to get that out of the way.

How soon we forget

Funny to be reminded that this was a mail out DVD service.

New York CNN — Netflix is officially winding down the business that helped make it a household name. This fall, the streaming giant will officially say goodbye to its DVD rental service and all of the red envelopes that made it possible. “On September 29th, 2023, we will send out the last red envelope,” the company tweeted Tuesday. “It has been a true pleasure and honor to deliver movie nights to our wonderful members for 25 years.” “Our goal has always been to provide the best service for our members, but as the DVD business continues to shrink, that’s going to become increasingly difficult,” co-CEO Ted Sarandos wrote in a blog post Tuesday. “Making 2023 our Final Season allows us to maintain our quality of service through the last day and go out on a high note.” The company reported a miss for its second-quarter earnings after market close on Tuesday. Shares fell by around 6%.

Some pretty interesting works of collage

"I am a self-taught visual artist that seamlessly fuses classic style with modernity by combining traditional film photography, graphic design and vintage collage art. My artworks inception is hand sourced and selected materials from magazines, textbooks, and literature dating back to the early 1960s. The opus of my work asks the question, ‘What If?’, by combining pieces that fuse seamlessly or abruptly. A constant exploration of combining worlds drives my art to new heights and keeps me curious." Austin Sterpka

A good day for baseball

The Blue Jays won yesterday. A fun game to watch. Richard was over and did lots of stuff for us.Thanks so much!

Enjoying the sunshine yesterday

Donna and I had a lovely lunch and chat at the University Golf Club. Thank you so much.

I hope we can get to see this

Celebrating Mexican culture and food in Vancouver Vancouver has a thriving Mexican community so Mexican culture and authentic Mexican cuisine are easy to find and enjoy. Opening on May 3rd at the PNE Agrodome Frida Kahlo, The Immersive Biography is the latest exhibition to arrive in Vancouver that helps to celebrate one of Mexico’s most influential artists of all time. The exhibit is a journey through the life of artist Frida Kahlo via virtual reality, 360-degree projections and 7 transformations spaces. In an interactive way, Kahlo’s colourful world and life story can be discovered.

Badminton...who knew?

I have many fond memories of playing badminton.

Badminton is a court or lawn game played with lightweight rackets and a shuttlecock. Historically, the shuttlecock (also known as a “bird” or “birdie”) was a small cork hemisphere with 16 goose feathers attached and weighing about 0.17 ounce (5 grams). The game is named for Badminton, the country estate of the dukes of Beaufort in Gloucestershire, England, where it was first played about 1873. The roots of the sport can be traced to ancient Greece, China, and India, and it is closely related to the old children’s game battledore and shuttlecock. Badminton is derived directly from poona, which was played by British army officers stationed in India in the 1860s.

A wonderful Easter dinner

We had a lovely evening with Ray and Naomi and Richard and Grace.So nice to have Easter together.The lamb was wonderful and yummy chocolate Easter eggs for dessert. Thank you so much!

Happy Easter everyone!

A lovely lunch with Donna today

We had smoked salmon on bagels and cream cheese. Very yummy.

Great game yesterday!

The Blue Jays won in extra innings. A walk off home run by Varsho.

Andy Warhol

I always find his work interesting. I don't think I've seen these "flowers" before.

Linda's new fridge...love it!

Tartan Day

"Tartan Day is a North American celebration of Scottish heritage on 6 April, the date on which the Declaration of Arbroath was signed in 1320. It originated in Canada in the mid-1980s. It spread to other communities of the Scottish diaspora in the 1990s. In Australia, a similar International Tartan Day is held on 1 July, the anniversary of the repeal of the 1747 Act of Proscription that banned the wearing of tartan. Tartan Days typically have parades of pipe bands, Highland dancing and other Scottish-themed events."

Seattle Art Museum receives 48 Alexander Calder works

Wow...a great reason to get to Seattle. I just love his work.

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/04/05/seattle-art-museum-alexander-calder-gift-10m?utm_source=The+Art+Newspaper+Newsletters&utm_campaign=29e605de14-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_04_05_11_05&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-29e605de14-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D

I can see how this would be a first for this animal shelter

From The Washington Post:

The staff at the Wake County Animal Center in Raleigh, N.C., had a dilemma when a goat named Cinnamon and a dog named Felix showed up together on their doorstep. The shelter takes in thousands of dogs and cats each year, and generally doesn’t accept farm animals. But Cinnamon and Felix seemed affectionate toward one another, said Jennifer Federico, director of animal services. “That was a first,” said Federico, who has worked at the shelter for 12 years. “Most of our dogs aren’t hanging out with goats.”

April is poetry month

Now I have some ideas for blog posts this month. Expect some poetry. From the Rancho Mirage Library: "𝑨𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒍 𝒊𝒔 𝑵𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑷𝒐𝒆𝒕𝒓𝒚 𝑴𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒉! Launched in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets, it's a reminder that poets play an integral role in our culture and that poetry matters. It's become the largest literary celebration in the world, with tens of millions of readers, students, educators, librarians and poets marking poetry's important place in our lives. On April 29th share a #PocketPoem on your favorite social media platform or with your favorite people! Come to the library and check out our display of favorite poetry books or visit us at https://www.ranchomiragelibrary.org/ to browse a list curated by Library staff."

Red Robinson passed away

For my generation he meant a lot. I think he may have been the first DJ to play rock and roll on a local radio station. Linda did a great post about him. https://lindaandcec.blogspot.com/2023/04/red-robinson.html

Thank you, thank you, thank you

...to our wonderful son who did all sorts of computer stuff for us over several hours yesterday and gave Jim an iphone. We are so blessed.