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RIP Gene Hackman. Great actor in so many roles.
It seems like a tragic story no matter how it turns out, but it's strange to consider that he was in his '90s. When stars step out of the limelight they're kind of frozen in time for us.
How the German Autobahn ended up without speed limits
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/28/how-the-german-autobahn-ended-up-without-speed-limits.html
It wasn’t all that enjoyable for me. I turned off the music and intently focused on everything. It’s actually mentally exhausting. I’m glad I did it. From Munich to Salzburg.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-firm-fireflys-blue-ghost-074257088.html
Another commercial moon landing. This one stayed upright.
TravelGal
03-04-25, 12:41 PM
RIP Gene Hackman. Great actor in so many roles.
It seems like a tragic story no matter how it turns out, but it's strange to consider that he was in his '90s. When stars step out of the limelight they're kind of frozen in time for us.
I agree. I could hardly believe he was 95. The whole thing sounds a little macabre and, as one poster somewhere said, "a week? None of his children could be bothered to call them even once a week?" Sheesh.
Bald eagle with suspected bird flu dies in Northwest Indiana (https://wgntv.com/northwest-indiana/bald-eagle-with-suspected-bird-flu-dies-in-northwest-indiana/)
Sad news. There has been a nesting pair near where I live. This may be one of the pair. I have seen one or both flying occasionally. With as much open water as there is here, there probably are other pairs.
It was reported last week that 1,500 sand hill cranes have died in NW Indiana. 150 alone on a small lake in Laporte. We live in a major flyway. In March I'll see hundreds of sand hill cranes flying to the northwest. And then the reverse in the fall. Two years ago two pair would visit the open area behind our house all year long. On occasion in our backyard. About 45 minutes south east of here is a state fish and wildlife area where the sand hills layover during their migrations. There will be several thousand there. This could be disastrous.
Bernie Ecclestone sells £500m private car collection to Red Bull billionaire
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/formula-1/2025/03/06/bernie-ecclestone-car-collection-sells-mark-mateschitz/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/formula-1/2025/03/06/TELEMMGLPICT000415267345_17412863860460_trans_NvBQ zQNjv4BqpVlberWd9EgFPZtcLiMQf0Rf_Wk3V23H2268P_XkPx c.jpeg?imwidth=960
Butterflies in the U.S. are disappearing at a ‘catastrophic’ rate
https://www.msn.com/en-us/science/ecology/ar-AA1AoOyV
The total number of butterflies in the contiguous United States has declined 22 percent over a 20-year period, according to a study in the journal Science, as shrinking habitat, rising temperatures and a toxic array of pesticides kill off the delicate insects.
I’m planting milkweed in the open area behind our backyard.
Butterflies in the U.S. are disappearing at a ‘catastrophic’ rate
https://www.msn.com/en-us/science/ecology/ar-AA1AoOyV
I’m planting milkweed in the open area behind our backyard.
We have a field that has a lot of thistle and some milkweed on our property out in the country. It was like a butterfly paradise the year before last. Not so many this past year but you have to be there at the right time. We hope to move out there in a couple of years and we plan to encourage pollinator-friendly native plants and only mow it at the end of the year.
While walking the dog this morning I saw/heard several hundred sand hills flying to the northwest. Stay safe big birds
Oh, and another thing about milkweed. The flowers are gorgeous and smell amazing. It's funny because I never noticed that when I was a kid and it seemed to be everywhere. We just had fun with the seed pods.
TravelGal
03-09-25, 11:54 AM
Oh, and another thing about milkweed. The flowers are gorgeous and smell amazing. It's funny because I never noticed that when I was a kid and it seemed to be everywhere. We just had fun with the seed pods.
Monarch butterflies are big deal in SoCal because we are on the flyway to Mexico. That means milkweed gets talked about a lot. We all planted it and then were told we planted the wrong kind! I ripped out my yellow-flowered plants and put in others.
From various websites: There are 140 species of milkweed, but only a quarter of them are known to be important host plants for monarchs. Tropical milkweed (A. curassavica) is a beautiful plant with bright yellow/red/orange flowers, but it hosts a parasite that infects the caterpillars and weakens the butterflies when they emerge from their chrysalis. Since the plants don’t die back until late into winter, the Monarchs stay there until it is too late to make their yearly trip to Mexico.
https://journeynorth.org/
Follow Monarch migration. As well as other species. They have a great newsletter also.
Watch Eagle Chicks Hatching on the Eagle Cam
https://kottke.org/25/03/watch-eagle-chicks-hatching-on-the-eagle-cam
TravelGal
03-09-25, 03:40 PM
In today's research I came upon Official Street Go-Kart Tour - Okinawa Shop. I think it's great. Wish other places did it. Nothing but 5-star reviews.
Get ready for the ultimate Okinawa adventure. Enjoy the unusual and fun experience of being able to dress up in costume as you tour a city. Choose from a variety of anime, comic, or games character outfits, and explore the highlights of Okinawa in street go-karts. Take the stress out of navigating, as your guide will lead the way, and you’ll see multiple highlights in a day, such as Senagajima Island, and Kokusai Main. Street.Explore the sites of Okinawa in style—in a street go-kart tour
Lots of photo opportunities—dress up as anime, comic, or games characters
You won’t get lost—a guide will lead the group
Flexible tour with choice of different departure times during the day
$38USD
TravelGal
03-09-25, 03:56 PM
Watch Eagle Chicks Hatching on the Eagle Cam
https://kottke.org/25/03/watch-eagle-chicks-hatching-on-the-eagle-cam
Many of us in SoCal have been glued to the news of Jackie and Shadow. The eggs did not hatch the last two years so to have three chicks this year is quite the story. She is quite careful of the third one, which is more than a day younger, so there are high hopes that they will all survive.
Monarch butterflies are big deal in SoCal because we are on the flyway to Mexico. That means milkweed gets talked about a lot. We all planted it and then were told we planted the wrong kind! I ripped out my yellow-flowered plants and put in others.
From various websites: There are 140 species of milkweed, but only a quarter of them are known to be important host plants for monarchs. Tropical milkweed (A. curassavica) is a beautiful plant with bright yellow/red/orange flowers, but it hosts a parasite that infects the caterpillars and weakens the butterflies when they emerge from their chrysalis. Since the plants don’t die back until late into winter, the Monarchs stay there until it is too late to make their yearly trip to Mexico.
You can obtain seeds specific to your location here for a small donation
Live Monarch
https://www.livemonarch.com/free-milkweed-seeds/
The best time to plant the seeds is in the fall but can be planted in the spring if the seeds are kept sufficiently moist before planting to break down the seed case
https://environmentamerica.org/center/articles/when-where-and-how-to-plant-milkweed-to-save-the-monarch-butterfly/#:~:text=When%20should%20you%20plant%20milkweed,pl ant%20milkweed%20in%20the%20springtime.
The above site also provides by region plants that attract butterflies
TravelGal
03-10-25, 01:02 PM
You can obtain seeds specific to your location here for a small donation
Live Monarch
https://www.livemonarch.com/free-milkweed-seeds/
The best time to plant the seeds is in the fall but can be planted in the spring if the seeds are kept sufficiently moist before planting to break down the seed case
https://environmentamerica.org/center/articles/when-where-and-how-to-plant-milkweed-to-save-the-monarch-butterfly/#:~:text=When%20should%20you%20plant%20milkweed,pl ant%20milkweed%20in%20the%20springtime.
The above site also provides by region plants that attract butterflies
I have "bought" seeds from them before but missed planting them in the fall. I'll give it another go and keep them moist for spring planting. THANKS!
The last surviving Battle of Britain Pilot, John 'Paddy' Hemingway DFC, passes away
https://raf.mod.uk/news/articles/the-last-surviving-battle-of-britain-pilot-john-paddy-hemingway-dfc-passes-away/
https://raf.mod.uk/sites/raf-beta/assets/Hemingway/Group_Captain_John_Paddy_Hemingway_DFC.jpg
TravelGal
03-17-25, 09:21 PM
Thanks, Steve. I have shared this ^^^^ with several people.
Send them this, also https://x.com/visegrad24/status/1901770006041428205?s=61&t=oFXcsN2wTfApq6UdUB40Qg
The last surviving Battle of Britain Pilot, John 'Paddy' Hemingway DFC, passes away
https://raf.mod.uk/news/articles/the-last-surviving-battle-of-britain-pilot-john-paddy-hemingway-dfc-passes-away/
https://raf.mod.uk/sites/raf-beta/assets/Hemingway/Group_Captain_John_Paddy_Hemingway_DFC.jpg
RIP. That remarkable era continues to fade into history.
Your childhood dreams await.
1272
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