Sunspots 454

Things I have recently spotted that may be of interest to

someone else:
The Arts: An elegant gown, constructed, according to the site, from the covers of discarded Golden Books. I remember Golden Books from my childhood. I think they are still being published.
Computing: Windows Secrets has published a good guide for routine computer maintenance.
Wired reports on a phone that's supposed to deliver scents to the person on the other end of the line. Really.
Humor: (And child-rearing) A stay-at-home dad leaves post-it notes.
A great Guy Noir segment (audio) from A Prairie Home Companion.
Science: USA Today reports on why birds fly in a V formation.
National Public Radio reports that old trees grow faster than young ones, and, therefore, remove more Carbon Dioxide from the atmosphere.
Sports: Sports Illustrated, and many others, reported on the heat wave in Australia, during the Australian Open.

Image source (public domain)

Sunspots 423

Things I have recently spotted that may be of interest to someone else:

The Arts: I've missed Garrison Keillor on "The Writer's Almanac." He's on summer hiatus. The replacement is OK, but, for one thing, doesn't do Keillor's great sign-off, which is "Be well, do good work, and keep in touch," with a Keillor-esque pause or two.

Health: (or politics, or science) The opinion of the US Supreme Court in the gene patenting case, delivered, for a unanimous court (!) by Justice Clarence Thomas.

Politics: Many Americans are more loyal to their party than to their church, or their religion, according to NPR.

Science: NPR tells us, with photos, and a video, about some enormous walking stick insects, which were thought to have become extinct, but aren't. Their re-discovery is an amazing story.

I just read about the idea of Pleistocene rewilding. If carried out, species similar to those who have gone extinct in Asia, Europe, and the Americas would be introduced. For example, cheetahs would be introduced to the plains of North America. Some such introductions have already taken place, but only on a small scale.




Image source (public domain)

Boo!

Garrison Keillor, at the Writer's Almanac, has a couple of paragraphs about today's holiday/celebration/abomination/whatever it is. As always, Keillor is worth reading or listening to.

Pumpkins are members of the Cucurbitae family of flowering plants, along with squash, cucumbers, melons, and others.

Here's my post on the color orange, and here's my post on the color black, both from over a year ago.

Thanks for reading!

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Addendum: A couple of hours later:

I should have pointed out that, on this date in 1517, Martin Luther wrote his 95 theses, which were, I guess, the beginning of Protestantism.