Science Daily has more news about the intact baby mammoth recently discovered in Siberia. Don't get sidetracked or bedazzled by all the adds for fossil ivory.
Further interesting discussion is here at Anthropology.net, including mention of a Russian biologist's efforts to create a "Pleistocene Park" - where cloned mammoths would presumably roam were scientists successful in extracting intact DNA and replicating these Ice Age beasts.
baby mammoth, Siberia, fossil, permafrost, Pleistocene
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Hobbit House in Wales
The Clog Almanac recently called your attention to Smurf Houses available in Turkey. Now you can contemplate a functional, lived-in Hobbit House in Wales.Quite a remarkable site really, plus commentary, advice, and house plans for you to peruse if you are so inclined. Don't I wish Bilbo or Frodo could comment on the place?
house plans, Hobbit, Wales, sustainable construction, architecture, Bilbo, Frodo, Tolkien
Surf's Up! - Must-See Web Content
Time to start a new occasional post at The Clog Almanac.
Henceforth, under the heading Surf's Up!, this site will provide links to a sometimes motley assortment of web- and blog-sites that have caught our eye; courted our fancy; sparked our interest; engaged our minds; tickled our funny-bones; piqued our conscience; challenged our perceptions; won our admiration; garnered our praise; or made us exclaim "Thats' cool!"
In nowise will we try to slip in items that might tug at your heartstrings; try your patience; test your patriotism; question your devotion; break your will; ruin your reputation; harm your self-esteem; steal your identity; or make you exclaim "That's gross!"
Pacific Ocean Trash Vortex - You've been to the beach and seen all that trash that has washed up from God knows where. Greenpeace knows from where, for the Pacific Ocean, anyway. Visit the link to view a remarkable animation that shows the fate of all that trash we humans cast into the sea...and where it ends up, eventually.
American Television Theme Songs - Someone had to compile them. From "The Addams Family" and "Beavis and Butthead", to "Mighty Mouse", "Underdog" and "Yogi Bear", this website has a gracious plenty, ready for you to right-click and download.
Visuwords - An utterly unique dictionary/thesaurus that lets you look at words in a visual-spatial context of related words and synonyms. It's dynamic and quite enjoyable to experiment with. Type in your favorite word, and Presto! magic happens; you find your word among a free-wheeling 3-D net of synonomies, derivatives, and associated words that you can drag around and reconfigure to your heart's content. Great tool if you're writing and need to find a word that expresses that precious sliver of nuance that suddenly escapes you.
surf, surf's up, Greenpeace, trash, Pacific Ocean, television theme, Yogi; Addams, Mighty Mouse, dictionary, thesaurus, 3-D
Henceforth, under the heading Surf's Up!, this site will provide links to a sometimes motley assortment of web- and blog-sites that have caught our eye; courted our fancy; sparked our interest; engaged our minds; tickled our funny-bones; piqued our conscience; challenged our perceptions; won our admiration; garnered our praise; or made us exclaim "Thats' cool!"
In nowise will we try to slip in items that might tug at your heartstrings; try your patience; test your patriotism; question your devotion; break your will; ruin your reputation; harm your self-esteem; steal your identity; or make you exclaim "That's gross!"
Pacific Ocean Trash Vortex - You've been to the beach and seen all that trash that has washed up from God knows where. Greenpeace knows from where, for the Pacific Ocean, anyway. Visit the link to view a remarkable animation that shows the fate of all that trash we humans cast into the sea...and where it ends up, eventually.
American Television Theme Songs - Someone had to compile them. From "The Addams Family" and "Beavis and Butthead", to "Mighty Mouse", "Underdog" and "Yogi Bear", this website has a gracious plenty, ready for you to right-click and download.
Visuwords - An utterly unique dictionary/thesaurus that lets you look at words in a visual-spatial context of related words and synonyms. It's dynamic and quite enjoyable to experiment with. Type in your favorite word, and Presto! magic happens; you find your word among a free-wheeling 3-D net of synonomies, derivatives, and associated words that you can drag around and reconfigure to your heart's content. Great tool if you're writing and need to find a word that expresses that precious sliver of nuance that suddenly escapes you.
surf, surf's up, Greenpeace, trash, Pacific Ocean, television theme, Yogi; Addams, Mighty Mouse, dictionary, thesaurus, 3-D
Monday, July 23, 2007
On Yards & Yardwork
I worked in the yard of Clog House Est. 1935 this weekend. Just the basics - mowed the lawn, trimmed a hedge, pulled a few weeds here and there. I also trimmed four crape myrtles that are in full bloom along the long sunny side of the property - shearing heavy clusters of developing fruits from straining branches with two thoughts in mind: Removing the clusters of capsules would let the trees devote energy back into flowering and thus prolong the blooming season; and, lightening the weight of the branches would make them less likely to split or break when laden with rain during the frequent summer storms. I had to work between intermittent lightning storms and rain showers to accomplish what little I did. Still, it is pleasing to look out upon that portion of the yard that is newly mown and trimmed. The whole "our human ancestors evolved in open grassland country so we yearn for open spaces where we can detect approaching dangers" explanation, and all that.
But I'm not of the "no blade of grass where it doesn't belong" set. There are portions of the yard that I leave wild. Some would say I've let little out of the way corners go to ruin and to the weeds. These spots are anything but. They are little preserves for butterflies and other insects. Many common "weeds" in this north central Florida landscape are host to the larvae of butterfly species. I let them grow and flower in my little preserves to invite butterflies to breed in my yard.
I've planted and transplanted species that attract butterflies in one of the larger "wild" areas that we call the "butterfly garden", and have begun to put out little concrete and stone pedestals and architectural elements. Here you will find native purple passion flower twining up a trellis and feeding a host of frittilary caterpillars; yellow sunflowers of various sizes rising from the tall grasses; purple and white Echinacea coneflowers, a cassia shrub that will be an explosion of yellow blossoms in a couple of months, parsley for the swallowtails; Sida rhombifolia for the checkerspots; black-eyed susans; two or three milkweed species; a red-flowered lantana; coral bean (also a hummingbird attractor); a dwarf pomegranate shrub; and various wild vetch species. The entire wild jumble of blooming plants and grasses is bordered by a tall bank of pink, white, and yellow four-o'clocks whose colorful blossoms fill the evening air with a lovely perfume, and which attract various hawk moths at night.
I think what I like best about the butterfly garden is that it attracts the eye and interest of the Clog-wife. Each morning she gets to survey the scene for new blooms and new surprises as she leaves on the morning dog-walk. My big black cat likes that garden too, and can be found lurking among the flowers early in the morning.
butterflies gardening, Florida, plants
But I'm not of the "no blade of grass where it doesn't belong" set. There are portions of the yard that I leave wild. Some would say I've let little out of the way corners go to ruin and to the weeds. These spots are anything but. They are little preserves for butterflies and other insects. Many common "weeds" in this north central Florida landscape are host to the larvae of butterfly species. I let them grow and flower in my little preserves to invite butterflies to breed in my yard.
I've planted and transplanted species that attract butterflies in one of the larger "wild" areas that we call the "butterfly garden", and have begun to put out little concrete and stone pedestals and architectural elements. Here you will find native purple passion flower twining up a trellis and feeding a host of frittilary caterpillars; yellow sunflowers of various sizes rising from the tall grasses; purple and white Echinacea coneflowers, a cassia shrub that will be an explosion of yellow blossoms in a couple of months, parsley for the swallowtails; Sida rhombifolia for the checkerspots; black-eyed susans; two or three milkweed species; a red-flowered lantana; coral bean (also a hummingbird attractor); a dwarf pomegranate shrub; and various wild vetch species. The entire wild jumble of blooming plants and grasses is bordered by a tall bank of pink, white, and yellow four-o'clocks whose colorful blossoms fill the evening air with a lovely perfume, and which attract various hawk moths at night.
I think what I like best about the butterfly garden is that it attracts the eye and interest of the Clog-wife. Each morning she gets to survey the scene for new blooms and new surprises as she leaves on the morning dog-walk. My big black cat likes that garden too, and can be found lurking among the flowers early in the morning.
butterflies gardening, Florida, plants
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Italian Terrorist School in a Mosque
Italian police raided a mosque in Perugia and found acid, cyanide, remote explosive detonators, films and internet evidence that the facility was used to conduct training activities according to this BBC report, and this article in the Sydney Morning Herald. It appears the investigation stemmed from intelligence that suggested that leaders and others at the mosque had connections to the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group (GICM).
Perugia, Italy, mosque, terrorism, Morocco
Perugia, Italy, mosque, terrorism, Morocco
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Clog Almanac Favicon
Here's an attempt at crafting a "FavIcon" for the Clog Almanac. Just a brief and simple Photoshop experiment for now. The rub:Tree: clog almanacs were made from wooden staves. Paleobotanist by training, urban forester by profession, trees are my business.
CA: abbreviation for this site's title - the Clog Almanac.
CA: first two letters of CALL, my epithet.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Today's Birds, in Passing
I saw and heard a few birds today as I went about my business in Gainesville, FL.
Mockingbird - singing for all he was worth from the dead top of an American Holly tree in a nearly completed luxury subdivision (the tree will be gone when that lot is built upon).
Mississippi Kite - soaring far overhead in company with an osprey, the latter one of a pair that roosts in a tall communications tower in downtown Gainesville near my office. These birds are done nesting here - soon they'll depart for other climes.
Osprey - the pair referred to above calling and wheeling above the city; one of them whooping and stooping - perhaps trying to entice their fledgelings to flight, from their nest-tower?
Bob-white Quail - surprising calls overheard emanating from a yet-to-be-developed acreage near a rather built-out suburban area.
In no-wise have I seen great flocks of birds like those reported in times past - over a billion passenger pigeons in one single flock by Audubon, for instance, or for the 1.5 billion birds at one time claimed by this Planet Earth video clip.
Simply amazing video, that.
quail, osprey, fish hawk, mockingbird, Audubon, Mississippi kite, Florida birds, birding, bird video
Mockingbird - singing for all he was worth from the dead top of an American Holly tree in a nearly completed luxury subdivision (the tree will be gone when that lot is built upon).
Mississippi Kite - soaring far overhead in company with an osprey, the latter one of a pair that roosts in a tall communications tower in downtown Gainesville near my office. These birds are done nesting here - soon they'll depart for other climes.
Osprey - the pair referred to above calling and wheeling above the city; one of them whooping and stooping - perhaps trying to entice their fledgelings to flight, from their nest-tower?
Bob-white Quail - surprising calls overheard emanating from a yet-to-be-developed acreage near a rather built-out suburban area.
In no-wise have I seen great flocks of birds like those reported in times past - over a billion passenger pigeons in one single flock by Audubon, for instance, or for the 1.5 billion birds at one time claimed by this Planet Earth video clip.
Simply amazing video, that.
quail, osprey, fish hawk, mockingbird, Audubon, Mississippi kite, Florida birds, birding, bird video
Love in a Submarine
You learn something every day. I never thought I'd learn this:
1. Rich people make love in their own private submarines.
2. Dolphins like to watch rich people make love in their own private submarines.
It's all here.
US Submarines (quoted in the link above) manufactures luxury personal underwater craft and living spaces. Money quote from the FAQ at their website:
luxury submarine, personal submarine, dolphin, deep ocean, US Submarines
1. Rich people make love in their own private submarines.
2. Dolphins like to watch rich people make love in their own private submarines.
It's all here.
US Submarines (quoted in the link above) manufactures luxury personal underwater craft and living spaces. Money quote from the FAQ at their website:
With 2300 megayachts operational around the world, some costing in excess of $150 million, the stakes in the game of one upmanship are rising. Some yacht owners like the idea of having a larger and more unique toy.Take 'er down, Scotty!
luxury submarine, personal submarine, dolphin, deep ocean, US Submarines
Leonardo da Vinci's Cats
I wasn't aware that Leonardo da Vinci sketched cats.
Many of the familiar poses of my present-day feline companion "Buffalo" are illustrated in the accompanying image. I am a little puzzled though, that many of the figures look quite like other animals.
These are but studies, perhaps concentrating on overall form and pose. Still, among these images I see a few ferret- and rat-like creatures. Perhaps a few hundred years' breeding has transformed the cat's appearance to the more familiar one borne by those inscrutable aloof pets that have bent us to their unfathomable wills.
Visit this website to see many other da Vinci sketches.
No sketches of cats would be complete without the word-pictures so playfully composed by T.S. Eliot in his collection of poems "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats", the entirety of which you can happily read here.
Eliot's own cat, named Jellylorum, is one of the characters in his collection, of course.
da Vinci, Leonardo, cats, Buffalo, T.S. Eliot, sketches
Sunday, July 15, 2007
More Home-Fried Potatoes, Please
Idahoan that I am, I love potatoes. A favorite weekend breakfast at Clog-House, Est. 1935 includes this wondrous staple, home-fried with diced onion, in my oft-used and well-seasoned 9" cast iron skillet.
The simple trick to producing golden-brown home fries that are thoroughly cooked is to half-cook the potatoes before slicing, dicing and frying. This may be accomplished by boiling or microwaving. The latter method is quicker, requires less energy, and keeps the summer kitchen cooler.
Peeling the spuds beforehand is a matter of preference. I don't mind the taste of Irish potato skins; cooked red potato skins leave a disagreeable bitter aftertaste , and have a curious propensity to stick to the roof of the mouth.
The onion carmelizes while cooking, and imparts a flavor that truly enhances that of the fried potato. Some cooks also like to add chopped bell pepper, or minced garlic. Others fold in a palmfull of chopped fresh parsley or chives in the last seconds of cooking. If you want to go overboard, try tossing in some peeled and chopped apples and a pat of butter.
Use a very well-seasoned, pre-heated cast iron skillet, as I do, or a good-quality non-stick pan. The potatoes won't stick and you can drastically reduce the amount of frying oil required.
potato, home fries, fried potatoes, recipe, Idaho potato
The simple trick to producing golden-brown home fries that are thoroughly cooked is to half-cook the potatoes before slicing, dicing and frying. This may be accomplished by boiling or microwaving. The latter method is quicker, requires less energy, and keeps the summer kitchen cooler.
Peeling the spuds beforehand is a matter of preference. I don't mind the taste of Irish potato skins; cooked red potato skins leave a disagreeable bitter aftertaste , and have a curious propensity to stick to the roof of the mouth.
The onion carmelizes while cooking, and imparts a flavor that truly enhances that of the fried potato. Some cooks also like to add chopped bell pepper, or minced garlic. Others fold in a palmfull of chopped fresh parsley or chives in the last seconds of cooking. If you want to go overboard, try tossing in some peeled and chopped apples and a pat of butter.
Use a very well-seasoned, pre-heated cast iron skillet, as I do, or a good-quality non-stick pan. The potatoes won't stick and you can drastically reduce the amount of frying oil required.
potato, home fries, fried potatoes, recipe, Idaho potato
Saturday, July 14, 2007
A Saturday in OZ
A day of intermittent rains kept me indoors most of the day. I spent a considerable bit of time proofreading pages of L. Frank Baum's The Emerald City of OZ for Project Gutenberg. It was quite interesting reading, and before I knew it I'd proofed 75 pages. The simple language and imagery are very engaging.
Uncle Henry and Aunt Em accompany Dorothy to the enchanted land in this volume. We learn that the name of the Tin Woodman is Nick Chopper, and that the Cowardly Lion has a companion, Hungry Tiger. Dorothy is a Princess in Oz, and the characters we've come to love are all present. Toto Too.
Oz, Emerald City, Cowardly Lion, Toto, Frank Baum
Uncle Henry and Aunt Em accompany Dorothy to the enchanted land in this volume. We learn that the name of the Tin Woodman is Nick Chopper, and that the Cowardly Lion has a companion, Hungry Tiger. Dorothy is a Princess in Oz, and the characters we've come to love are all present. Toto Too.
Oz, Emerald City, Cowardly Lion, Toto, Frank Baum
Friday, July 13, 2007
United in Death - July 13
Todays' Friday Mashup unites a painter, a photographer, and a pioneer, each of whom died on a July 13.
1954 Frida Kahlo - Mexican painter/wife of artist Diego Rivera
Check out the Tate Modern's great Kahlo web exhibition that includes a film clip, timeline, 360-degree photo tour of The Blue House, and numerous details of Kahlo's life and art.
1946 Alfred Stieglitz - American photographer/husband of artist Georgia O'Keefe
Read the concise Stieglitz biography compiled for his induction into the International Photography Hall of Fame.
1890 John C. Fremont - American soldier/explorer/first Republican presidential candidate
Fremont mapped extensively along the Oregon Trail. His route brought him through present-day Boise, Idaho, my home town, which he described here.
John C. Fremont, Frida Kahlo, Alfred Stieglitz, Boise, Idaho, Oregon Trail
1954 Frida Kahlo - Mexican painter/wife of artist Diego Rivera
Check out the Tate Modern's great Kahlo web exhibition that includes a film clip, timeline, 360-degree photo tour of The Blue House, and numerous details of Kahlo's life and art.
1946 Alfred Stieglitz - American photographer/husband of artist Georgia O'Keefe
Read the concise Stieglitz biography compiled for his induction into the International Photography Hall of Fame.
1890 John C. Fremont - American soldier/explorer/first Republican presidential candidate
Fremont mapped extensively along the Oregon Trail. His route brought him through present-day Boise, Idaho, my home town, which he described here.
John C. Fremont, Frida Kahlo, Alfred Stieglitz, Boise, Idaho, Oregon Trail
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Disaster Planet
Oh great, as if forest fires driving tourists out of Greece wasn't enough, now we learn that London is sinking at the rate of 1-2mm per year.
London, sinking, subsidence
London, sinking, subsidence
$225-Thousand Manhattan Parking Space
The National Association of Realtors reports that in May 2007 the median single-family home price in the U.S. was about US$230,000. Of course, such a home typically includes an expanse of driveway and a one-, two-, maybe three-car garage.
Good luck finding a place to garage your car in Manhattan. You might have to shell out a quarter-million dollars or more if you want to park your Prius or bakfiet there. Yes, you read it correctly - $225 thousand. Not that Manhattan, but the other Manhattan, where office space can rent for upwards of $200/square foot.
Sheesh. Paying more for a space to garage your car than the median price of a single-family home. Is this what capitalism is all about?
Manhattan, parking, real estate, garage, Prius, bakfiet
Good luck finding a place to garage your car in Manhattan. You might have to shell out a quarter-million dollars or more if you want to park your Prius or bakfiet there. Yes, you read it correctly - $225 thousand. Not that Manhattan, but the other Manhattan, where office space can rent for upwards of $200/square foot.
Sheesh. Paying more for a space to garage your car than the median price of a single-family home. Is this what capitalism is all about?
Manhattan, parking, real estate, garage, Prius, bakfiet
Lady Bird Johnson's Last Moments, Last Rites
Here are links to a smattering of Texas newspapers which ran stories remembering Lady Bird Johnson. Remarks by local people are found in a number of the articles.
El Paso Times
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Southeast Texas Record
Dallas Morning News
Houston Chronicle
Brownsville Herald
Corpus Christi Caller-Times
San Antonio Express-News - with a priest's account of her last moments/last rites.
I turned six years old in Mineral Wells, Texas, in 1964. "Lady Bird" and "LBJ" became part and parcel of my vocabulary then, and there.
Lady Bird, LBJ, last rites
El Paso Times
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Southeast Texas Record
Dallas Morning News
Houston Chronicle
Brownsville Herald
Corpus Christi Caller-Times
San Antonio Express-News - with a priest's account of her last moments/last rites.
I turned six years old in Mineral Wells, Texas, in 1964. "Lady Bird" and "LBJ" became part and parcel of my vocabulary then, and there.
Lady Bird, LBJ, last rites
Dutch Citizens Pedal About Everywhere
The Dutch bicycled an average of 1.5 miles a day for every man woman or child in the country last year. Bicycling is taken seriously there - and its not all pleasure-riding either:
bakfiet, bicycle, Holland, fuel economy, carbon dioxide
- Since 2002 Dutch citizens have been entitled a tax deduction of up to $950 for the purchase of a two-wheeler used to commute to work.
- There has been rise in the popularity of "bakfiets" - a hybrid between a wheelbarrow and a bicycle capable of hauling loads up to 175 pounds. [In this country, bakfiets have begun popping up in trendy cities like Vancouver, home of Rain City Bikes, and Portland, Oregon.][Update, 11:47 p.m. - I'm now informed that one can find/purchase Dutch bicycles and bakfiets in St. Augustine.]
- The U.S. population presently stands at just over 302,300,000. If every person in the U.S. bicycled 1.5 miles a day we'd have ridden over 453 million miles in a year.
- 453 million miles translates to about 22,672,500 gallons of gasoline (20 mpg).
- 22,672,500 gallons of gasoline produces about 453 million pounds of carbon dioxide when burned (the apparent paradox is explained here).
bakfiet, bicycle, Holland, fuel economy, carbon dioxide
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Lady Bird Johnson - Dead at 94
Claudia Alta Taylor "Lady Bird" Johnson is dead.
Some of you know her as the "mother" of the 1965 Highway Beautification Bill, which she so tirelessly helped push through, establishing herself as one of the "first ladies" to take a deliberate role in legislative activities on a national scale.
Read the moving remarks made by President Lyndon Johnson at the signing of the bill here, or here.
Ever wondered how the lovely roadside wildflowers you see traveling America's byways got established? State departments of transportation have seeded roadsides since the bill was passed. The Clog Almanac commented on this topic in this post.
Sweet irony that the Honorable John W. Gardner was the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare at the time of the address and bill's adoption.
Lady Bird, Lyndon Johnson, highway beautification, wildflowers
Some of you know her as the "mother" of the 1965 Highway Beautification Bill, which she so tirelessly helped push through, establishing herself as one of the "first ladies" to take a deliberate role in legislative activities on a national scale.
Read the moving remarks made by President Lyndon Johnson at the signing of the bill here, or here.
Ever wondered how the lovely roadside wildflowers you see traveling America's byways got established? State departments of transportation have seeded roadsides since the bill was passed. The Clog Almanac commented on this topic in this post.
Sweet irony that the Honorable John W. Gardner was the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare at the time of the address and bill's adoption.
Lady Bird, Lyndon Johnson, highway beautification, wildflowers
2 Billion Mice Invade China Provincial Counties
Flooding in the Hunan Province of China has forced 2 billion mice from islands in Dongting Lake to seek higher ground. The mice have invaded human turf in 22 counties around the lake. Locals are building walls and ditches to stave off the assault.
Upside: People have killed more than 2 million of the rodents with clubs, garden implements, traps, poisons, and well, about any other way they can contrive.
Downside: at least 1000 cats in the town of Lujiao have made the ultimate sacrifice after eating mice that had ingested poison. [Just when the cats were needed most - Murphy's law of unintended consequences?]
Flooding and landslides have killed well over 300 people in Central China in recent weeks. Chinese officials and local residents fear disease outbreaks will result from the rodent invasion.
The BBC article linked above makes no mention of rats, snakes, spiders, ants, centipedes, monkeys, or any other creature, just in case you were wondering.
China, floods, mouse invasion, rodent, disease
Upside: People have killed more than 2 million of the rodents with clubs, garden implements, traps, poisons, and well, about any other way they can contrive.
Downside: at least 1000 cats in the town of Lujiao have made the ultimate sacrifice after eating mice that had ingested poison. [Just when the cats were needed most - Murphy's law of unintended consequences?]
Flooding and landslides have killed well over 300 people in Central China in recent weeks. Chinese officials and local residents fear disease outbreaks will result from the rodent invasion.
The BBC article linked above makes no mention of rats, snakes, spiders, ants, centipedes, monkeys, or any other creature, just in case you were wondering.
China, floods, mouse invasion, rodent, disease
You Can Paint Like Jackson Pollock
You too can paint like Jackson Pollock, at this annoying little flash animation.
Tips:
Hit the space bar to start over.
Hit any key to add or subtract Miltos Manetas's signature.
Left click to change paint color.
Right click to bring up flash player controls.
Please comment to this post if you can figure out how to get the app to stop painting so you can admire your creation!
Jackson Pollock, painting, flash animation
Tips:
Hit the space bar to start over.
Hit any key to add or subtract Miltos Manetas's signature.
Left click to change paint color.
Right click to bring up flash player controls.
Please comment to this post if you can figure out how to get the app to stop painting so you can admire your creation!
Jackson Pollock, painting, flash animation
Remarkable World Statistics Presentation - TED
Swedish public health statistician Hans Rosling presents surprising world health, economic, and population statistics in an utterly dynamic fashion in a pair of amazing video clips from the now legendary TED conferences. The clips will have you smiling and maybe even cheering along with the audience, and surely correcting personal misperceptions about the developed and developing world.
These clips are "Freakonomics" writ large.
I've added a link to TED in the RED LETTER DAYS category of the sidebar to the right.
TED, TED conference, statistics, poverty, economic development, infant mortality, Hans Rosling, globalism
These clips are "Freakonomics" writ large.
I've added a link to TED in the RED LETTER DAYS category of the sidebar to the right.
TED, TED conference, statistics, poverty, economic development, infant mortality, Hans Rosling, globalism
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Another Lawnchair Balloonist
A Oregon man with the unlikely name of "Couch" recently traveled 193 miles sitting in a lawnchair tied to helium-filled balloons. Follow the link for a great photo and the amazing details at the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Oregon, helium ballon, lawn chair
Oregon, helium ballon, lawn chair
China Admits Food/Drug Safety Issues, Executes Official
People's Daily Online reports that the Chinese government admits that the developing country's food and drug safety system is inadequate and unsatisfactory.
Beset with internationally publicized incidents of shoddy production, and bribery scandals involving high-level officials within the food and drug safety system, the government has announced a 5-year plan to expand the inspection and monitoring process.
One drastic measure has just taken place. The International Herald Tribune reports that China executed Zheng Xiaoyu, the former chief of its food and drug agency, after he was convicted of taking bribes to approve untested medicines.
China exports a dizzying array of products throughout the world in ever and ever increasing quantities. Some experts are predicting that the China's global trade surplus will balloon to $400 billion dollars in 2008, or nearly 13% of the country's gross domestic product.
In the first six months of this year 34,400 instances of the production/sale of substandard food products have been uncovered. China recognizes that it must control the problem to save face and to protect its exports and standing on the world stage.
China, product safety, trade deficit, global trade
Beset with internationally publicized incidents of shoddy production, and bribery scandals involving high-level officials within the food and drug safety system, the government has announced a 5-year plan to expand the inspection and monitoring process.
One drastic measure has just taken place. The International Herald Tribune reports that China executed Zheng Xiaoyu, the former chief of its food and drug agency, after he was convicted of taking bribes to approve untested medicines.
China exports a dizzying array of products throughout the world in ever and ever increasing quantities. Some experts are predicting that the China's global trade surplus will balloon to $400 billion dollars in 2008, or nearly 13% of the country's gross domestic product.
In the first six months of this year 34,400 instances of the production/sale of substandard food products have been uncovered. China recognizes that it must control the problem to save face and to protect its exports and standing on the world stage.
China, product safety, trade deficit, global trade
Baby Mammoth Discovered
The BBC reports that a 6-month old female mammoth has been discovered in northwest Siberia.
The eyes and some of the hair are intact. Scientists are hoping that the remarkably well-preserved remains will provide intact DNA for study and possible cloning.
fossil mammoth, paleontology, cloning, Siberia, DNA
The eyes and some of the hair are intact. Scientists are hoping that the remarkably well-preserved remains will provide intact DNA for study and possible cloning.
fossil mammoth, paleontology, cloning, Siberia, DNA
Monday, July 09, 2007
Boeing 787 Dreamliner - Launch Summary
Boeing posted a blurb of its launch of the 787 Dreamliner. As of last week, the aircraft builder had received orders for 635 of the jets, the most successful aircraft roll-out ever.
The airliner has yet to fly. That little detail could possibly inject a little ointment into the situation. Observe the stock price during the days surrounding test flights of the plane.
Boeing 787, Dreamliner
The airliner has yet to fly. That little detail could possibly inject a little ointment into the situation. Observe the stock price during the days surrounding test flights of the plane.
Boeing 787, Dreamliner
Toxic Toothpaste from China - Update
You've likely become aware that the Food and Drug Administration so far has banned 23 brands of toothpaste produced in China from export to US markets (link contains brand names of all 23). The toothpaste contains diethylene glycol (DEG), a chemical poison that causes kidney failure and death. The chemical is used as anti-freeze and as an industrial solvent. The cheaper DEG is likely used as a substitute or cutting agent for the more expensive and entirely safe food additive glycerin.
U.S. citizens who don't try to bring tubes of toothpaste onto international airline flights, thinking they'll buy some toothpaste at their foreign destination, might might want to check the FDA list naming brands and manufacturers of the tainted products, and locations where such unsafe products are known to be available.
Summary of the FAKE COLGATE toothpaste crisis is offered at WebIntel.
FDA has advised that glycerin, used as a humectant in cosmetics, and sweetening agent in many foods, medicines or other ingestible products, be tested for presence of DEG.
The disturbing tale of tainted Chinese glycerin and its travels around the world is told by Walt Bogdanich and Jake Hooker in this very informative New York Times article. DEG used as an adulterant of safe/safer compounds have resulted in other mass deaths, listed in this good Wikipedia entry.
IT HAPPENED IN THE USA ONCE.--DEG added to the bacterial/strep medicine Sulfanilamide was responsible for 107 deaths in the U.S. in 1937. Read an article on the FDA website with the gruesome title "Taste of Raspberries, Taste of Death - the 1937 Elixir Sulfanilamide Incident" here.
diethyl glucose, toxic toothpaste, DEG, food safety, drug safety, poison toothpaste, China, Chinese exports, Beijing Olympics, 2008 Olympics, poison, FDA, Sulfanilamide, glycerin
U.S. citizens who don't try to bring tubes of toothpaste onto international airline flights, thinking they'll buy some toothpaste at their foreign destination, might might want to check the FDA list naming brands and manufacturers of the tainted products, and locations where such unsafe products are known to be available.
Summary of the FAKE COLGATE toothpaste crisis is offered at WebIntel.
FDA has advised that glycerin, used as a humectant in cosmetics, and sweetening agent in many foods, medicines or other ingestible products, be tested for presence of DEG.
The disturbing tale of tainted Chinese glycerin and its travels around the world is told by Walt Bogdanich and Jake Hooker in this very informative New York Times article. DEG used as an adulterant of safe/safer compounds have resulted in other mass deaths, listed in this good Wikipedia entry.
IT HAPPENED IN THE USA ONCE.--DEG added to the bacterial/strep medicine Sulfanilamide was responsible for 107 deaths in the U.S. in 1937. Read an article on the FDA website with the gruesome title "Taste of Raspberries, Taste of Death - the 1937 Elixir Sulfanilamide Incident" here.
diethyl glucose, toxic toothpaste, DEG, food safety, drug safety, poison toothpaste, China, Chinese exports, Beijing Olympics, 2008 Olympics, poison, FDA, Sulfanilamide, glycerin
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Red State/Blue State Redux
Here is a religious twist on the red state - blue state meme, shown in the low-resolution image to the left. I grew up in a mostly tan state (Idaho), but in one of the blue counties. Now I live in a blue county in Florida, immediately south of a sea of red counties and states (the whole of the South, essentially).Federal law prohibits religious tests in our electoral system, but that hasn't stopped a bunch of people from publicly stating quite recently that they would never elect a "tan candidate" like Mitt Romney for president of the US. Pretty much the same things were said about those blue Kennedies, once upon a time. Some things don't change.
technorati: U.S. elections, Mitt Romney, religion, election, presidential candidates
Your New Smurf Home in Turkey
You too can live like a Smurf, in one of these 3-story red-roofed mushroom homes just .5 km from the Aegean Sea, in Turkey.
The Clog Almanac wonders which of the little enclaves that Brainy Smurf will live in, because that over-confident Blue Boy was always messing things up for his neighbors, and I want to stay clear of him.
Just thinking: have you ever viewed your family of co-workers as Smurf/Smurfling characters? Which would you be - Papa?, Smurfette?, Grouchy?, Hefty?, Jokey?, Dreamy?, Handy?, Baby?, Vanity? Just wondering.
[Hat-tip: Long or Short?]
technorati: smurf, mushroom house, Turkey, house, Aegean
Gulf Fritillary
Today I observed a female Gulf Frittilary laying eggs on a leaf of one of the Maypops (purple passion-flower) that I transplanted into the butterfly garden at Clog-house, Est. 1935 this past Spring. Lovely and interestingly complex, passion-flowers invite (if not beg) detailed and lengthy contemplation. Vegetative parts of the plant are an important host to at least two prominent butterfly species in north-central Florida, the Gulf Frittilary and the Zebra-longwing. In this day of butterfly gardening's popularity, I can't see why this institution or any individual would consider it a weed and try to eradicate it from their premises.I posit that the relegation of this plant to weed status is an artifact of many years of its being so-named in dated textbooks and extension circulars. Websites and articles that quote those references to this day are just perpetuating an old notion rooted in another time. Passion vines are not weeds. They're important butterfly host plants and wildflowers.
My esteemed naturalist colleague and friend "No Thneeds Needed" has superb photos of a Gulf Fritillary and a Maypop flower in his diverse and ever-expanding Flickr galleries. Click on through to his site - he'd love for you to spend some time enjoying the many fine photos of his adventures in Florida and elsewhere. In my experience, he would welcome constructive comments about his images and any kudos you might offer. You'll be well-rewarded for your time and one-finger exertions.
technorati: Gulf Frittilary, passion-flower, Thneed, Florida butterflies, butterfly garden, Lorax, nature photography, nature images
Boeing 797 Timeliner
Boeing & Company are secretly working very hard on time travel so the company can stay on track for the unveiling of the Boeing 797 Timeliner. That as yet unbuilt futuristic aircraft will be unveiled on 7/9/07.
Since that day is tomorrow, the Clog Almanac suggests that all interested parties watch for an unexpected appearance of the craft in Seattle. That event will signal to the world that the Boeing of tomorrow did indeed master time travel. Stay tuned.
technorati: time travel, Boeing 797, 797, Boeing 787
Since that day is tomorrow, the Clog Almanac suggests that all interested parties watch for an unexpected appearance of the craft in Seattle. That event will signal to the world that the Boeing of tomorrow did indeed master time travel. Stay tuned.
technorati: time travel, Boeing 797, 797, Boeing 787
It's the Little Things Will Get Ya on 7/8/7
A shortage of thumbnail-sized titanium fasteners has proven to be the mouse that tripped the elephant. Or, to be specific, the key part whose supply crunch held up the actual completion of the first Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which will be unveiled today anyway, sans seats and other important passenger jet accoutrements.
Tom Brokaw will host the Seattle roll-out, which Boeing is billing as a "premier". One wonders if the carbon-fiber nose section of the airplane will be blushing from the embarassment of being just a shell of an airliner, and one that still is a few months away from first-flight.
You can view the unveiling hoopla live at the company website here, at 3:30 PDT.
Aerospace Technology has a very nice piece describing internal and external design features, variants of the basic 787 design, and discussion of which companies will be supplying pieces of the navigation, electronics, piloting, positioning, and other key functions of the craft.
If you like plush interiors when you travel, you might try the 787 VIP model. It will cost you several degrees north of $150 million.
Boeing 787, Dreamliner, titanium fastener, Tom Brokaw
Tom Brokaw will host the Seattle roll-out, which Boeing is billing as a "premier". One wonders if the carbon-fiber nose section of the airplane will be blushing from the embarassment of being just a shell of an airliner, and one that still is a few months away from first-flight.
You can view the unveiling hoopla live at the company website here, at 3:30 PDT.
Aerospace Technology has a very nice piece describing internal and external design features, variants of the basic 787 design, and discussion of which companies will be supplying pieces of the navigation, electronics, piloting, positioning, and other key functions of the craft.
If you like plush interiors when you travel, you might try the 787 VIP model. It will cost you several degrees north of $150 million.
Boeing 787, Dreamliner, titanium fastener, Tom Brokaw
Saturday, July 07, 2007
To Poe Springs and Back
This evening the Clog-wife, our weekend guest, and I ate at Floyd's Diner in High Springs. Talk was mostly about Irish dance, and of course about the first day of the Colin Dunne workshop.
After dinner we spent a little time at Poe Springs -- just long enough to walk the boardwalk, dip our feet in the cold spring water, and stand at the end of the spring run to watch the mullet which always congregate at the line where the clear spring water flows alongside the tannin-stained water of the Santa Fe River. It was dusk and the park was nearly deserted. At the spring we heard a couple of barred owls calling to one another from the dark bottomland forest. Photos and call recordings of the barred owl are here.
We also observed a turtle that had journeyed up out of a slough to linger on a grassy slope, and two deer grazing in grassy uplands in the park. We'd hoped to see otters and perhaps an alligator.
barred owl, Poe Springs, Florida, mullet
After dinner we spent a little time at Poe Springs -- just long enough to walk the boardwalk, dip our feet in the cold spring water, and stand at the end of the spring run to watch the mullet which always congregate at the line where the clear spring water flows alongside the tannin-stained water of the Santa Fe River. It was dusk and the park was nearly deserted. At the spring we heard a couple of barred owls calling to one another from the dark bottomland forest. Photos and call recordings of the barred owl are here.
We also observed a turtle that had journeyed up out of a slough to linger on a grassy slope, and two deer grazing in grassy uplands in the park. We'd hoped to see otters and perhaps an alligator.
barred owl, Poe Springs, Florida, mullet
Lucky 777 Deconstructed
No doubt you've heard that today, 7/7/07, is supposed to be lucky. Because we're a bunch of superstitious sillies. I'll warrant that the world's gambling houses will be taking lots of unlucky folks' money by the fistfulls today. Still, 777 is a handy rubric that invites a little investigation.
The "all sevens" bicycle tour of 7 cities and 777 miles ends today, 7/7/7. The tour began in Basel and ends in London.
Consider Boeing's jetliner, the 777. Here are some scaled drawings, if you're into the technical stuff (22-page .pdf file).
The British airship R101 was 777 feet long. Like the Hindenberg, this zeppelin met with mishap--48 people died on its maiden voyage. 36 died when the Hindenberg went up in flames and crashed. That about did it for commercial airship travel.
Islay Hill, elevation 777 feet, is the southernmost of the "Nine Sisters", a chain of extinct volcanos near San Luis Obispo, California.
Bordeaux, Zurich, and Laussane each lie 777 miles from Edinburgh, Scotland.
Finally, a nod to one of those skyscrapers with a number for a name. The 777 Tower in Los Angeles.
Now go buy that lotto ticket before time runs out.
technorati: 777, all sevens, bicycle tour, zeppelin, Hindenberg
The "all sevens" bicycle tour of 7 cities and 777 miles ends today, 7/7/7. The tour began in Basel and ends in London.
Consider Boeing's jetliner, the 777. Here are some scaled drawings, if you're into the technical stuff (22-page .pdf file).
The British airship R101 was 777 feet long. Like the Hindenberg, this zeppelin met with mishap--48 people died on its maiden voyage. 36 died when the Hindenberg went up in flames and crashed. That about did it for commercial airship travel.
Islay Hill, elevation 777 feet, is the southernmost of the "Nine Sisters", a chain of extinct volcanos near San Luis Obispo, California.
Bordeaux, Zurich, and Laussane each lie 777 miles from Edinburgh, Scotland.
Finally, a nod to one of those skyscrapers with a number for a name. The 777 Tower in Los Angeles.
Now go buy that lotto ticket before time runs out.
technorati: 777, all sevens, bicycle tour, zeppelin, Hindenberg
Sister Hazel Rocks Gainesville
Sister Hazel had a huge clothing giveaway today in Gainesville, Florida. Not this Sister Hazel, but Sister Hazel Williams, who runs a shelter and ministry for the homeless and otherwise downtrodden in Gainesville. Sister Hazel is, of course, the namesake and inspiration of the band. She has for years labored tirelessly and with compassion, and has achieved a measure of well-earned local celebrity.
The en plein air event was held under the shade of a couple of old laurel oak trees on Gainesville's NW 6th Street, next to the grounds of an abandoned church.
Sister Hazel, Gainesville Florida, homeless, plein air
The en plein air event was held under the shade of a couple of old laurel oak trees on Gainesville's NW 6th Street, next to the grounds of an abandoned church.
Sister Hazel, Gainesville Florida, homeless, plein air
Friday, July 06, 2007
United In Death - July 6th
Herewith the Clog Almanac revives a personal favorite, the Friday Mashup. Below are an eclectic juxtaposition of notables who left this world on a July 6th.
1998 Roy Rogers - American cowboy star
Known to his friends as Leonard Slye, Rogers' life is a story of success. He progressed from a Grapes of Wrath existence picking fruits and living in worker camps during the Great Depression to his status as a great Western-American music/film idol. Roy's famous golden palomino horse Trigger (stuffed), is the prime exhibit at the Roy Rogers-Dale Evans museum in Branson, Missouri.
1971 Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong - Legendary American jazz trumpeter and singer
I remember my dad cried when Satchmo died and the strains of "What a Wonderful World" were aired. A boy remembers the times his father weeps. Next time you're in Queens, you might visit Satchmo's house.
1962 William Faulkner - One of the America's greatest Southern authors
Here's an essay on Faulkner your cheating high-school student might be submitting. See a photograph of Faulkner as a baby here. In case you were wondering, Yes, there is/was a Faulkner Society of Japan, and they publish/ed a journal. Like so few of us who are disenchanted with their family names, Faulkner added a "u" to his name, after the "a".
July 6, it seems, was also a bad day for high nobility:
1762 Pyotr III Fyodorovitch - Peter III, Tsar of Russia
Unfortunately, he only reigned for half a year. According to the 1911 Encyclopaedia Brittanica, "Nature had made him mean, the smallpox had made him hideous, and his degraded habits made him loathsome." Sounds like some folks you've hung out with in your time, right? Don't lie.
1553 Edward VI Tudor - King of England
King at the age of ten. Associated Lord Protectors, Lord Admirals, and the convulsions of the riff-raff grownups surrounding him. Dead just 6 years later. Grown-ups had other holy plans for the throne and its successors.
1189 Henry II - King of England
First Angevin King. He was a Frenchie, but most definitely not this one. His last name was Curtmantle, which really doesn't translate to "miniskirt" [not work safe], despite the rumors, even though it really might help him in the legacy department.
Roy Rogers, Satchmo, Louis Armstrong, William Faulkner, Peter III, Edward VI, Henry II, King, Tsar, Russia, England, Angevin, miniskirt, mashup
1998 Roy Rogers - American cowboy star
Known to his friends as Leonard Slye, Rogers' life is a story of success. He progressed from a Grapes of Wrath existence picking fruits and living in worker camps during the Great Depression to his status as a great Western-American music/film idol. Roy's famous golden palomino horse Trigger (stuffed), is the prime exhibit at the Roy Rogers-Dale Evans museum in Branson, Missouri.
1971 Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong - Legendary American jazz trumpeter and singer
I remember my dad cried when Satchmo died and the strains of "What a Wonderful World" were aired. A boy remembers the times his father weeps. Next time you're in Queens, you might visit Satchmo's house.
1962 William Faulkner - One of the America's greatest Southern authors
Here's an essay on Faulkner your cheating high-school student might be submitting. See a photograph of Faulkner as a baby here. In case you were wondering, Yes, there is/was a Faulkner Society of Japan, and they publish/ed a journal. Like so few of us who are disenchanted with their family names, Faulkner added a "u" to his name, after the "a".
July 6, it seems, was also a bad day for high nobility:
1762 Pyotr III Fyodorovitch - Peter III, Tsar of Russia
Unfortunately, he only reigned for half a year. According to the 1911 Encyclopaedia Brittanica, "Nature had made him mean, the smallpox had made him hideous, and his degraded habits made him loathsome." Sounds like some folks you've hung out with in your time, right? Don't lie.
1553 Edward VI Tudor - King of England
King at the age of ten. Associated Lord Protectors, Lord Admirals, and the convulsions of the riff-raff grownups surrounding him. Dead just 6 years later. Grown-ups had other holy plans for the throne and its successors.
1189 Henry II - King of England
First Angevin King. He was a Frenchie, but most definitely not this one. His last name was Curtmantle, which really doesn't translate to "miniskirt" [not work safe], despite the rumors, even though it really might help him in the legacy department.
Roy Rogers, Satchmo, Louis Armstrong, William Faulkner, Peter III, Edward VI, Henry II, King, Tsar, Russia, England, Angevin, miniskirt, mashup
Seeking Colin Dunne
Colin Dunne has just arrived in Gainesville. So reports the Clog-wife, who collected him from the airport and took him to his hotel, where he will rest until this evening's meet-and-greet.
This weekend Inisheer Irish Dance is hosting Mr. Dunne, who is offering a 2-day masterclass for dancers, Irish in particular. The workshop takes place at the nice studios of the Gainesville Dance and Music Association.
This weekend Clog-House, Est. 1935, will host Colin's assistant/travel-booking-manager. Hope she likes Corgis!
Irish Dance, Colin Dunne, Irish Dance, Inisheer, Corgi, Clog Almanac
This weekend Inisheer Irish Dance is hosting Mr. Dunne, who is offering a 2-day masterclass for dancers, Irish in particular. The workshop takes place at the nice studios of the Gainesville Dance and Music Association.
This weekend Clog-House, Est. 1935, will host Colin's assistant/travel-booking-manager. Hope she likes Corgis!
Irish Dance, Colin Dunne, Irish Dance, Inisheer, Corgi, Clog Almanac
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
76 Pages for Project Gutenberg
Have you been looking for a way to quit navel-gazing for a few moments and apply your talents and attention to a worthy cause outside yourself, a project that may make a difference in the world?
You might consider registering with Distributed Proofreaders, an affiliate of Project Gutenberg.
In a nutshell, volunteer proofreaders compare scanned pages of public domain books with text pages produced by an optical character reader, and make corrections and apply small formatting conventions that aid later formatters and algorithms to compile pages into a coherent e-book. The documents are preserved in a basic format so they will be able to be accessed by the greatest number of users.
Distributed Proofreaders, volunteers all, have produced over 11,000 e-books to date for Project Gutenberg. The latter has over twice that number of e-books in its archives. The number is growing every day as thousands of volunteers scan and proof and format one line at a time, one page at a time, over and over and over.
I registered this past weekend, and finished proofing my 76th page today. A small beginning of a long affiliation with this project.
Distributed Proofreaders, Project Gutenberg, Volunteer, Books, Public Domain
You might consider registering with Distributed Proofreaders, an affiliate of Project Gutenberg.
In a nutshell, volunteer proofreaders compare scanned pages of public domain books with text pages produced by an optical character reader, and make corrections and apply small formatting conventions that aid later formatters and algorithms to compile pages into a coherent e-book. The documents are preserved in a basic format so they will be able to be accessed by the greatest number of users.
Distributed Proofreaders, volunteers all, have produced over 11,000 e-books to date for Project Gutenberg. The latter has over twice that number of e-books in its archives. The number is growing every day as thousands of volunteers scan and proof and format one line at a time, one page at a time, over and over and over.
I registered this past weekend, and finished proofing my 76th page today. A small beginning of a long affiliation with this project.
Distributed Proofreaders, Project Gutenberg, Volunteer, Books, Public Domain
Ford Anglias Discovered in Florida Woods
During my Monday hike I happened upon an old abandoned automobile graveyard deep in the woods in northwestern Alachua County, Florida. The woods had grown up around them. Most had license plates from the 60's to very early 1970's. Of the dozen or so vehicles, there were 2 VW beetles, a Triumph, 2 Ramblers, 2 old Buicks with the baleen whale grills, a Chevy Vega station wagon, and surprise of surprises, 2 Ford Anglias of the 105E model.
I couldn't let the Anglias be. I prised the block-lettered "Anglia" emblem from the nose of one, and the lower-case script "deluxe" from the rear quarter panel of the other, a faded gray-blue car. Would that they were not rusted hulks. I should have tried for the chrome headlight "eyebrows" - they were still nicely intact on these cars.
I wouldn't mind owning a collection of these cute little britcars.
Ford Anglia, Model 105E, British cars, Anglia club
I couldn't let the Anglias be. I prised the block-lettered "Anglia" emblem from the nose of one, and the lower-case script "deluxe" from the rear quarter panel of the other, a faded gray-blue car. Would that they were not rusted hulks. I should have tried for the chrome headlight "eyebrows" - they were still nicely intact on these cars.
I wouldn't mind owning a collection of these cute little britcars.
Ford Anglia, Model 105E, British cars, Anglia club
Raptors Three
Monday I continued my survey of the vegetation around an abandoned quarry in the rural lands of northwestern Alachua County. The large tract will be developed into a cluster subdivision (=conservation subdivision in some places). The quarry bottom with its 2 fish- and turtle-filled lakes (lovely blue windows into the Floridan Aquifer) will be preserved as conservation land. The uplands outside of the required buffer (50-feet from cliff edges) are available for lots, stormwater retention, roadways, and common areas.
I saw 3 different raptors there: Mississippi Kite, Red-shouldered Hawk, and Red-tailed Hawk. I heard Summer Tanagers in the woods.
Sugarberry (hackberry), southern red cedar, and boxelder maple were over represented in the tree component of the vegetation owing to their weedy nature and tolerance/preference for limey/rocky soils. Walter's viburnum, buckthorn, and wax myrtle were the dominant shrub/small tree representatives.
It sure didn't feel like Florida. There is more sudden topography there than you see anywhere in the state.
Mississippi Kite, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Summer Tanager; Florida, birding
I saw 3 different raptors there: Mississippi Kite, Red-shouldered Hawk, and Red-tailed Hawk. I heard Summer Tanagers in the woods.
Sugarberry (hackberry), southern red cedar, and boxelder maple were over represented in the tree component of the vegetation owing to their weedy nature and tolerance/preference for limey/rocky soils. Walter's viburnum, buckthorn, and wax myrtle were the dominant shrub/small tree representatives.
It sure didn't feel like Florida. There is more sudden topography there than you see anywhere in the state.
Mississippi Kite, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Summer Tanager; Florida, birding
Scoot Over for Scooter
Yeah, go ahead and commute Scooter Libby's sentence to time served. His prosecution drew media and public attention from the rot emanating from Denmark and everybody missed the mark.
Now would be a good time to refocus and to identify once and for all and bring justice to bear upon the real culprits in the Plame outing. Identify the offenders and mete out their due punishments. Pillory them. Put them in stocks in the town square. Call them sissies to their faces, prop their eyelids open and force them watch Michael Moore films forever, whatever.
Now would be a good time to refocus and to identify once and for all and bring justice to bear upon the real culprits in the Plame outing. Identify the offenders and mete out their due punishments. Pillory them. Put them in stocks in the town square. Call them sissies to their faces, prop their eyelids open and force them watch Michael Moore films forever, whatever.
Sunday, July 01, 2007
If a Tree Falls:
This day in north central Florida started out quite nicely. The Clog-wife and I walked the 3-legged corgi (he rides in a Western Flyer red wagon when he tires) first thing this morning. The early light was filtering through the trees, the cardinals and wrens were up and busy, and the sunflowers in the butterfly garden were looking eastward to the rising sun. Everything pointed to a lovely Sunday.
I had to change my mower's oil and filter so hopped in the car to run to the local small-town hardware store that's usually open on Sunday (one of 3 hardware stores within a block of each other in the old town center). I'd just made it onto the blacktop when I noticed a clumping and vibrating and thought "bad tire". Not fifteen seconds later I was regaled with a terrible whanging of loose tread beating the fender well. The tread drummed a noisy tattoo as we limped the short trip home at five miles per hour through our (up to that point) quiet neighborhood, thankful I hadn't chosen to hop on the interstate and head for the big city.
I rode my bicycle back downtown only to find that all the hardware stores were closed. I pedaled home and fixed the mower the old-fashioned way - washed the filter in gasoline and used what motor oil I had in the shed. So the lawn got mowed, just as the wind whipped up and thunder clouds darkened the sky. We worked inside while a good hard rain and the wind lashed about outside.
After the rain and a nice meal, Clog-wife and I were back outside walking the dog again. She noticed that our neighbor had another tree down. Then we realized that it was an old chinaberry tree from the corner of our yard. I'll volunteer to stay home tomorrow and help him cut it up and put the pieces out for the city to haul away. I'm sorry for the smashed fence, and sorry that the tree took out one of the palm trees he's planted and has been nursing through the long drought we've suffered through these past months. Still, I'm glad it didn't hit our or his wooden storage sheds. Even more glad the truly big trees in the yard didn't fall: a tall branchy camphor and a massive southern red oak with a trunk as big around as a phone booth (remember those?). The camphor would demolish our shed, and the oak would certainly hit our home, or the neighbors'. We've got our fingers crossed as we guardedly pass through the 2007 hurricane season that is just underway.
The tree must have fallen in the height of the storm - we didn't even hear it go down.
Chinaberry, Camphor, Western Flyer
I had to change my mower's oil and filter so hopped in the car to run to the local small-town hardware store that's usually open on Sunday (one of 3 hardware stores within a block of each other in the old town center). I'd just made it onto the blacktop when I noticed a clumping and vibrating and thought "bad tire". Not fifteen seconds later I was regaled with a terrible whanging of loose tread beating the fender well. The tread drummed a noisy tattoo as we limped the short trip home at five miles per hour through our (up to that point) quiet neighborhood, thankful I hadn't chosen to hop on the interstate and head for the big city.
I rode my bicycle back downtown only to find that all the hardware stores were closed. I pedaled home and fixed the mower the old-fashioned way - washed the filter in gasoline and used what motor oil I had in the shed. So the lawn got mowed, just as the wind whipped up and thunder clouds darkened the sky. We worked inside while a good hard rain and the wind lashed about outside.
After the rain and a nice meal, Clog-wife and I were back outside walking the dog again. She noticed that our neighbor had another tree down. Then we realized that it was an old chinaberry tree from the corner of our yard. I'll volunteer to stay home tomorrow and help him cut it up and put the pieces out for the city to haul away. I'm sorry for the smashed fence, and sorry that the tree took out one of the palm trees he's planted and has been nursing through the long drought we've suffered through these past months. Still, I'm glad it didn't hit our or his wooden storage sheds. Even more glad the truly big trees in the yard didn't fall: a tall branchy camphor and a massive southern red oak with a trunk as big around as a phone booth (remember those?). The camphor would demolish our shed, and the oak would certainly hit our home, or the neighbors'. We've got our fingers crossed as we guardedly pass through the 2007 hurricane season that is just underway.
The tree must have fallen in the height of the storm - we didn't even hear it go down.
Chinaberry, Camphor, Western Flyer
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
The Enigma of Returning
After a long hiatus I'm back again. Changes abound.
This past weekend the Clog-wife and I had some memorable experiences. We lunched with my daughters prior to their sojourn in Athens and Crete with their mother. We hiked in San Felasco Hammock and saw a 4-point whitetail in velvet, and hiked at O'leno State Park where we saw a 4' garfish; a young 3'-4' alligator who still had the orange-ish bars/stripes on his tail; and had a close encounter with a red-shouldered hawk who swooped through the woods at eye-level just 20 feet in front of us.
We attended the 2007 annual meeting/reunion of the local chapter of the National Association of Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Alumni at O'Leno. What a vibrant bunch of old folks they were! My Grandfather Baldwin served in the CCC in 1934 in Idaho. This being the Fred White/Gator chapter in north central Florida, and well-attended by elderly southern ladies, it was a treat to sample the great southern cooking during the pot-luck after the business had been attended to: Fried chicken, creamed corn, pole beans and ham, coleslaw, and some marvelous desserts.
CCC, Florida, whitetail deer, alligator, hawk
This past weekend the Clog-wife and I had some memorable experiences. We lunched with my daughters prior to their sojourn in Athens and Crete with their mother. We hiked in San Felasco Hammock and saw a 4-point whitetail in velvet, and hiked at O'leno State Park where we saw a 4' garfish; a young 3'-4' alligator who still had the orange-ish bars/stripes on his tail; and had a close encounter with a red-shouldered hawk who swooped through the woods at eye-level just 20 feet in front of us.
We attended the 2007 annual meeting/reunion of the local chapter of the National Association of Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Alumni at O'Leno. What a vibrant bunch of old folks they were! My Grandfather Baldwin served in the CCC in 1934 in Idaho. This being the Fred White/Gator chapter in north central Florida, and well-attended by elderly southern ladies, it was a treat to sample the great southern cooking during the pot-luck after the business had been attended to: Fried chicken, creamed corn, pole beans and ham, coleslaw, and some marvelous desserts.
CCC, Florida, whitetail deer, alligator, hawk
Friday, November 10, 2006
Today's Butterflies
Today scores of butterflies visited the sunny flower beds at west-facing Clog-House, Est. 1935:
Gulf Fritillary
Cloudless Sulfur
Long-tailed Skipper
another brown Skipper – 2-3 white checks on wings
Zebra Long-wing
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
United In Death - November 8
Today' mashup unites an American painter, a British poet, and a Scottish philospher, all of whom died on a November 8th.
Norman Rockwell 1894-1978, American painter
John Milton 1608-1674, British poet
Duns Scotus 1255/66-1308, Scottish Philosopher
Rockwell is best known for his cover paintings for the Saturday Evening Post.
Milton left Cambridge University following a fist-fight with his tutor. His work Areopagitica, published as a pamphlet, is a seminal reference that argues for freedom of speech. View his poems here.
An interesting discussion of the birthplace and philosophy of Blessed John Duns Scotus is available in the Catholic Encyclopedia.
mashup, Norman Rockwell, John Milton, Duns Scotus, November 8th
Norman Rockwell 1894-1978, American painter
John Milton 1608-1674, British poet
Duns Scotus 1255/66-1308, Scottish Philosopher
Rockwell is best known for his cover paintings for the Saturday Evening Post.
Milton left Cambridge University following a fist-fight with his tutor. His work Areopagitica, published as a pamphlet, is a seminal reference that argues for freedom of speech. View his poems here.
An interesting discussion of the birthplace and philosophy of Blessed John Duns Scotus is available in the Catholic Encyclopedia.
mashup, Norman Rockwell, John Milton, Duns Scotus, November 8th
Rumsfeld Is Bugging Out
Donald Rumsfeld is leaving the Bush administration. So said a brief statement on Reuters at 12:53 p.m.
President Bush confirmed it at 1:06 during his televised conference, and praised Rumsfeld for his service. Bush nominated Bob Gates to replace Rumsfeld, a former Director of Intelligence who has served in 6 administrations.
Donald Rumsfeld, Rumsfeld, Robert Gates, Secretary of State
President Bush confirmed it at 1:06 during his televised conference, and praised Rumsfeld for his service. Bush nominated Bob Gates to replace Rumsfeld, a former Director of Intelligence who has served in 6 administrations.
Donald Rumsfeld, Rumsfeld, Robert Gates, Secretary of State
Monday, November 06, 2006
More Dance and Music
Yesterday was a busy day for the Clog-wife and me. She had a series of performances with the Greenwood Morris side at the annual Gainesville (FL) Downtown Arts Festival. I put in a 3-hour stint with the newly-formed trio of which I am the guitarist, Fear No Weevil, playing for the Gainesville Old-Time Dance Society's bi-monthly contra dance. We played a series of energetic (gross understatement) old-time Appalachian fiddle tunes for the dancers. For three hours.
Fear No Weevil's lineup includes banjoist/fiddle leader Chuck Levy and fiddler Dave Forbes. Dave is an extremely accomplished instrument artisan. His banjos, produced earlier in his career as a craftsman, are one of the most sought-after instruments among 5-string clawhammer style banjo players. His bows are played in orchestras world-wide, and are the recipients of many awards. Dave currently also plays string bass in the Gainesville Fl Jazz band Hot Club de Ville, with band leader Marty Liquori, who you may remember as a legendary mile-runner from a former era.
dance, traditional music, Gainesville Florida, banjo, Fear No Weevil, old time music, David Forbes bow, fiddle, southern music
Fear No Weevil's lineup includes banjoist/fiddle leader Chuck Levy and fiddler Dave Forbes. Dave is an extremely accomplished instrument artisan. His banjos, produced earlier in his career as a craftsman, are one of the most sought-after instruments among 5-string clawhammer style banjo players. His bows are played in orchestras world-wide, and are the recipients of many awards. Dave currently also plays string bass in the Gainesville Fl Jazz band Hot Club de Ville, with band leader Marty Liquori, who you may remember as a legendary mile-runner from a former era.
dance, traditional music, Gainesville Florida, banjo, Fear No Weevil, old time music, David Forbes bow, fiddle, southern music
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Dance Magic Dance
The Clog-wife and I travelled to Jacksonville, FL to participate in a half-day dance workshop taught by Kieran Jordan. The workshop focused on fundamentals of Irish Sean Nos and Cape Breton styles of percussive dance.
The group was extremely fortunate to have live music to learn steps and dance to in the lively duo Laura Risk on violin and Paddy League on guitar and bodhran. The Clog Almanac wholeheartedly recommends Kieran Jordan's dance workshops and performances to anyone interested in exploring stepdance traditions, and likewise the music workshops and recordings by both Laura Risk and Paddy League. Follow this link to watch a video of Laura and Paddy performing on the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center.
After the exhilarating workshop we hied to a traditional folklife festival in White Springs hosted by the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center, where two of the workshop participants joined fellow members of the Cross Creek Cloggers to perform several of their traditional Appalachian clogging routines. Just spitting distance from the beautiful and legendary Suwannee River. We drove home to High Springs as the sun was setting in the west and the full November moon rose in the east. That was a lovely end to a fabulous day filled with traditional dance and virtuosic live music.
sean nos, Cape Breton, stepdance, Kieran Jordan, Laura Risk, Paddy League, Celtic music, Suwannee River
The group was extremely fortunate to have live music to learn steps and dance to in the lively duo Laura Risk on violin and Paddy League on guitar and bodhran. The Clog Almanac wholeheartedly recommends Kieran Jordan's dance workshops and performances to anyone interested in exploring stepdance traditions, and likewise the music workshops and recordings by both Laura Risk and Paddy League. Follow this link to watch a video of Laura and Paddy performing on the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center.
After the exhilarating workshop we hied to a traditional folklife festival in White Springs hosted by the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center, where two of the workshop participants joined fellow members of the Cross Creek Cloggers to perform several of their traditional Appalachian clogging routines. Just spitting distance from the beautiful and legendary Suwannee River. We drove home to High Springs as the sun was setting in the west and the full November moon rose in the east. That was a lovely end to a fabulous day filled with traditional dance and virtuosic live music.
sean nos, Cape Breton, stepdance, Kieran Jordan, Laura Risk, Paddy League, Celtic music, Suwannee River
Friday, November 03, 2006
Scottish Cello Music - CD Review
New in the mail yesterday: Castles, Kirks, and Caves - Scottish Music of the 18th Century, featuring the haunting and powerful virtuosity of cellist Abby Newton. Newton's restrained and nuanced interpretations of the selection of tunes are sublime.
I especially enjoyed the 5th track - Neil Gow's Lament on the Death of His Second Wife. This is a classic and well-loved tune generally played by the violin, but as she points out in the liner notes, this melody is a man's lament equally well-suited to the range of the cello.
I recommend the CD (RWMCD 5410) to anyone with an ear for fine music from the Celtic lands. Listen to track samples here.
cello, Abby Newton, Scottish music, 18th Century
I especially enjoyed the 5th track - Neil Gow's Lament on the Death of His Second Wife. This is a classic and well-loved tune generally played by the violin, but as she points out in the liner notes, this melody is a man's lament equally well-suited to the range of the cello.
I recommend the CD (RWMCD 5410) to anyone with an ear for fine music from the Celtic lands. Listen to track samples here.
cello, Abby Newton, Scottish music, 18th Century
Greenhouse Gases Up Up Up
Greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere are at an all time high. A senior scientist at the World Meteorological Association suggests that controls more stringent than those of the Kyoto Protocol of 1997 are required.
greenhouse gases, global warming, Kyoto protocol, climate change, anthropogenic emissions
greenhouse gases, global warming, Kyoto protocol, climate change, anthropogenic emissions
Thursday, November 02, 2006
The Decline of Fish
Get your seafood while you can. It might be all gone within your lifetime.
Remember those history lessons about the Grand Banks? That cod fishery collapsed and is probably gone for good. the same is now happening on a global scale.
Let's make it an object lesson. Scientists warned, politicians ignored the facts and did little to address problems and implement solutions, factory [over]fishing went unabated, and fish stocks went extinct.
Now apply that object lesson to other issues like global warming, international whaling, deforestation, &c, &c.
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.
fish, fisheries, seafood, global warming, extinction
Remember those history lessons about the Grand Banks? That cod fishery collapsed and is probably gone for good. the same is now happening on a global scale.
Let's make it an object lesson. Scientists warned, politicians ignored the facts and did little to address problems and implement solutions, factory [over]fishing went unabated, and fish stocks went extinct.
Now apply that object lesson to other issues like global warming, international whaling, deforestation, &c, &c.
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.
fish, fisheries, seafood, global warming, extinction
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Today's Birds
Observed at Chapman's Pond, a favorite birding stop on the Great Florida Birding Trail, Gainesville, Florida.
Boat-tailed grackle
Phoebe
White ibis
Tri-colored heron
Little blue heron
White egret
Coot
Blue-winged teal
The 30 or so teal (mostly females) were busy dabbling. Grackles were congregating in noisy groups among the cattails bordering the pond. The lone phoebe paused for a moment's perch atop a pole supporting a nestbox upslope from the pond.
I collected a handfull of achene/pappus "parachute" fruits of a couple of aster species that grew rampantly in waste areas around the pond, in hopes of getting them established in "natural areas" around the yard at Clog-House Est. 1935.
One couldn't have hoped for a prettier day, though the birding could have been better. There will be better days ahead.
birds, birdwatching, birding, Florida, Chapman's Pond
Boat-tailed grackle
Phoebe
White ibis
Tri-colored heron
Little blue heron
White egret
Coot
Blue-winged teal
The 30 or so teal (mostly females) were busy dabbling. Grackles were congregating in noisy groups among the cattails bordering the pond. The lone phoebe paused for a moment's perch atop a pole supporting a nestbox upslope from the pond.
I collected a handfull of achene/pappus "parachute" fruits of a couple of aster species that grew rampantly in waste areas around the pond, in hopes of getting them established in "natural areas" around the yard at Clog-House Est. 1935.
One couldn't have hoped for a prettier day, though the birding could have been better. There will be better days ahead.
birds, birdwatching, birding, Florida, Chapman's Pond
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Sumac Tea
I enjoyed a very pleasant walk in the woods south and west of Gainesville Florida the whole of this afternoon. The tract was former farmland. Trees along the wooded areas surrounding a cleared area exceeding 40 acres were predominantly very old live oaks, with scattered longleaf pines, post oaks, bluejack oak, turkey oak, occasional upland laurel and water oaks, Walter's viburnum, and American and yaupon hollies. There were gopher tortoise burrows, Opuntia cactus, 2 species of pawpaw, Agave, sparkleberry, and numerous wildflowers and grasses that indicated the land was once a sandhill community. It was very hard to go back to the office on this lovely Autumn day in Florida. The pressing thought was that this land needed to be burned to reset the clock to encourage those periodic fire-adapted species to reassert their presence in this area.
Before leaving, I picked a double-handfull of winged sumac infructescences: clusters of very small red drupes from which I will steep and make a strong sour "lemonade" this evening, flavored with fresh ginger and a stick or two of cinnamon, and a measure of honey or sugar.
On the balance, life is good. I try to make homemade music every day (guitar, piano, fiddle, banjo, pennywhistle), dance at least once a week, and walk through a local woodland two or three times a week. Life could be much much worse.
sumac, sumac tea, bluejack oak, turkey oak, Florida, sandhill, gopher tortoise
Before leaving, I picked a double-handfull of winged sumac infructescences: clusters of very small red drupes from which I will steep and make a strong sour "lemonade" this evening, flavored with fresh ginger and a stick or two of cinnamon, and a measure of honey or sugar.
On the balance, life is good. I try to make homemade music every day (guitar, piano, fiddle, banjo, pennywhistle), dance at least once a week, and walk through a local woodland two or three times a week. Life could be much much worse.
sumac, sumac tea, bluejack oak, turkey oak, Florida, sandhill, gopher tortoise
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
DANNY HAROLD ROLLINGS
Serial Killer Danny Harold Rollings was executed at 6:13 EST today. I had just moved to the University of Florida when he went on his spree to become a superstar criminal: the brutal mutilation murders of 5 local college students. Residents of the city of Gainesville were terrorized by this man who had vowed to kill one person for each of the 5 years he had been incarcerated for other crimes.
One consequence of the student murders that was never discussed: the number of big dogs owned by off-campus students and Gainesville townsfolk increased noticeably. American pitbulls were previously the dog of choice for the reddest of redneck men; the most unsophisticated of drug dealers; and congenitally inhumane illegal dog fighters - most of whom live off in the woods where their pathologies go mostly unnoticed and unpunished. Suddenly pitbulls were seen everywhere. Being led through downtown street art shows; marauding through the dog park; and happily defecating on the lawns of student apartments and curbsides of the most genteel of urban core neighborhoods alike. This canine unpleasantness continues to this day, more than a decade later.
Rollings killed 5 kids just as they were blooming into adulthood. The community is still horrified and reacting to his actions.
Danny Rollings, Gainesville Florida, execution,
death penalty, pitbull, bulldog
One consequence of the student murders that was never discussed: the number of big dogs owned by off-campus students and Gainesville townsfolk increased noticeably. American pitbulls were previously the dog of choice for the reddest of redneck men; the most unsophisticated of drug dealers; and congenitally inhumane illegal dog fighters - most of whom live off in the woods where their pathologies go mostly unnoticed and unpunished. Suddenly pitbulls were seen everywhere. Being led through downtown street art shows; marauding through the dog park; and happily defecating on the lawns of student apartments and curbsides of the most genteel of urban core neighborhoods alike. This canine unpleasantness continues to this day, more than a decade later.
Rollings killed 5 kids just as they were blooming into adulthood. The community is still horrified and reacting to his actions.
Danny Rollings, Gainesville Florida, execution,
death penalty, pitbull, bulldog
Monday, October 23, 2006
Katharine Harris - Only Good From The Waist Up
Florida Democrat Bill Nelson and republican Katherine Harris squared off tonight in a televised debate. The event was aired on my local north Florida television outlet.
Bill Nelson emerged as a composed, experienced, humble, down-to-earth, and moderate-thinking Floridian who convincingly argued that he has served Florida while remaining immune to the interests and money of big corporations and lobbyists; one who has served with the so-called People of Florida in mind. He stood on his record and seemed to defend and deflect the rehearsed challenges of his republican opponent; challenges which seemed to be contrived and designed to snatch whatever spotlight his record, personal philosophies and positions held.
Katherine Harris put on an unflattering variety of stage show worthy of a moneyed, rehearsed-with-consultants, yet still trailing-badly-in-the-polls political candidate. The performance was vaguely reminiscent of the risible, grinning, and badly ill-advised presidential debate antics of Michael Dukakis. Harris frequently strode from behind the podium to smile, show her legs, and speak patronizingly in turn to her opponent, to the audience, moderator, and panel. She battered viewers with stiff smiles and awkward gestures. She attempted to own the stage as if this were the true key to winning the votes she needs to overtake the front-runner Nelson.
In the end, Katherine Harris' legs seemed uncomfortably too big, too out of proportion to the rest of her and to her stage. Perhaps so with her ambitions to the Florida Senate and beyond as well.
Katherine Harris, Bill Nelson, Florida Senate, Senate Race, Florida
Bill Nelson emerged as a composed, experienced, humble, down-to-earth, and moderate-thinking Floridian who convincingly argued that he has served Florida while remaining immune to the interests and money of big corporations and lobbyists; one who has served with the so-called People of Florida in mind. He stood on his record and seemed to defend and deflect the rehearsed challenges of his republican opponent; challenges which seemed to be contrived and designed to snatch whatever spotlight his record, personal philosophies and positions held.
Katherine Harris put on an unflattering variety of stage show worthy of a moneyed, rehearsed-with-consultants, yet still trailing-badly-in-the-polls political candidate. The performance was vaguely reminiscent of the risible, grinning, and badly ill-advised presidential debate antics of Michael Dukakis. Harris frequently strode from behind the podium to smile, show her legs, and speak patronizingly in turn to her opponent, to the audience, moderator, and panel. She battered viewers with stiff smiles and awkward gestures. She attempted to own the stage as if this were the true key to winning the votes she needs to overtake the front-runner Nelson.
In the end, Katherine Harris' legs seemed uncomfortably too big, too out of proportion to the rest of her and to her stage. Perhaps so with her ambitions to the Florida Senate and beyond as well.
Katherine Harris, Bill Nelson, Florida Senate, Senate Race, Florida
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