Sunday, May 31, 2026

An occasional series: photography account on Instagram

 

In the course of my web wanderings, I have encountered some remarkably appealing photographic accounts on Instagram, with tasteful, artistic, and captivating images of the human female form (and not AI).  I decided to occasionally feature sites like that here, with a couple of examples of their work.

Here's the first one:  stevejmckee_shoots



















This last one is another version of what I've called "The Pose"


The trunk is smart

 

Recent research revealed that the whiskers on an elephant's trunk are remarkable sensing instruments, which is why the trunk is capable of such remarkable capabilities. 


Elephant trunk whiskers exhibit material intelligence, revealing the secret behind an amazing sense of touch

"To try to figure out why [why the trunk hairs have a stiffness gradient], Schulz worked with colleagues at MPI-IS to 3D print a scaled-up whisker with a stiff, dark base and a soft, transparent tip. Having this physical "whisker wand" prototype helped the researchers develop their intuition for what an elephant trunk feels through its whiskers.

Schulz left the wand with his mentor after a meeting, and a few days later…Eureka! Kuchenbecker carried the wand in her hand as she walked through the halls of the Institute, gently hitting the columns and railings. She recounted, "I noticed that tapping the railing with different parts of the whisker wand felt distinct—soft and gentle at the tip, and sharp and strong at the base. I didn't need to look to know where the contact was happening; I could just feel it."

This figure describes the research schematically.



Lighthouse of the Week, April 19-25, 2026: Bote Lighthouse, Philippines

 

This Lighthouse of the Week is most peculiar, because the Lighthouse Directory has very little information about it, but websites and pictures and Google Maps call it historic. It certainly has great views, and that's what people visit it for. 

It is located on Cantanduanes Island of the Philippines, which is here on the map. I believe the island has been hit pretty hard by a couple of typhoons moving in from the warm Pacific Ocean.

Now, here is all that the Directory has (excluding the photographic information):

"Date unknown. Active; focal plane unknown; two white flashes every 10 s. Approx. 15 m (49 ft) square white concrete tower with a stairway spiraling around the tower. ... Located on heights near the village of Bote and the southeastern tip of Catanduanes. Site open and nothing prevents climbing the tower."

With all that, here are some pictures and a video:





 

French Open 2026 at the turn




Because I am lagging behind the news, I haven't been able to keep up with sports, which is old news if you aren't commenting on it the next day.  (I'd like Vegas to beat Carolina in the Stanley Cup Final, by the way, even though I won't get very excited if they do.)  

So it's amazing that I can briefly comment on the upset fest at the French Open this year.  Rybakina went out really fast (but her game isn't built for clay), to be joined by Gauff and Swiatek, the latter having not found her unbeatable form again ever since she lost it.  Hard to see how anybody beats the dominant Sabalenka, but I'd love to see Svitolina do it.

On the men's side, this is Zverev's great opportunity. I was going to say that Casper Ruud was his biggest challenge, but he just lost to Fonseca.  Fonseca may be young and brash enough to go all the way. We know Zverev can play on clay -- he was pushing Nadal a couple of years ago before he turned an ankle badly and had to retire.  But you can never tell with clay court specialists. 

So, that's where we are as Roland Garros goes into Week 2 of the 2026 French Open.


Quick review of the Premier League season finish

 

As we go into the World Cup, I thought I'd make a quick comment or two on the Premier League season.  As hoped but maybe not expected, Arsenal managed to outlast Manchester City down the stretch to take the Premier League cup.  I saw at least one sour-grapes headline about how VAR saved Arsenal's season, but judgment calls will always be judgment calls.  So congratulations to the Gunners.

(And may I once again add that penalty kicks are a lousy way to finish a major championship, but I don't think they will ever go away, given how much bettors must love them. I still think a 9-on-9 overtime (8 players and the goalkeeper) would be a LOT more interesting, and give the star players a chance to shine.  But nobody listens to me about that. Eze, formerly of Crystal Palace, tried to be way too cute in the Champions League final.)

Crystal Palace started really hot, but ended up where they are usually expected to be, in 15th. They flirted with relegation, but managed to win what they needed to win. Their manager, Oliver Glasner, is moving on, probably to a major club.  So next year will probably be like this year -- just hanging on.

The other big stories down the line to the end were the collapse of Chelsea, the resurgence of Manchester United (who is their star player, by the way?) and the survival of Tottenham Hotspur. As others have noted, West Ham United in the Championship puts many smaller teams on the big stage of their massive stadium.

OK, so how do I finish it?  How about the Goal of the Season?  


Saturday, May 30, 2026

Sew that's how old it is

 

A discovery in a dry Oregon cave has been a major advance (backwards) regarding the age of culture and manufacturing crafts in North America.  Sewn animal hide and woven materials that were determined to be about 12,400 years old pushed back the time when the early residents switched over from hunting and gathering to a more cultured lifestyle, according to the researchers.

Article:   Oldest Sewn Hide Found in USA Rewrites Ice Age Clothing History

Research paper: Complex perishable technologies from the North American Great Basin reveal specialized Late Pleistocene adaptations

Abstract of the research paper: "Structurally and functionally complex technologies were a defining element of Late Pleistocene societies, but physical examples of them remain extremely rare in the archaeological record because most were made from perishable raw materials. The sparse material record of those myriad technologies limits our ability to formulate nuanced models about this critical period in human history. We present radiocarbon, Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry, and other taxonomic identification data from two of the largest Late Pleistocene perishable assemblages in the world, Cougar Mountain Cave and Paisley Caves, Oregon, US. These data include 66 radiocarbon dates on 55 items made from 15 different plant and animal taxa, including the oldest known physical remains of sewn hide. We provide data on eyed bone needles from four regional sites, showing that they are among the finest bone needles made in the Pleistocene. Our study illuminates the complex interplay of culture, climate, and technology in the Pleistocene."


Picture of the high tech:



Remember Candice Swanepoel?

 

The buzz around the Victoria's Secret Angels is not as loud as it used to be, and there are less recognizable VS Angel superstars than there were a few years ago.  Several of them dropped out of the VS runway appearances as the brand became more inclusive, and as the recognition that came with being an Angel became a bit reduced. Age, marriage, and changes in career and life goals also reduced their number.  I'll comment on the current status of one of the "later" Angels, Barbara Palvin, shortly.) 

One of the memorable Angels of the height of the Angel era was Candice Swanepoel. As the Daily Mail article attests, indicates, and demonstrates, Candice is still allied with the Secret, has a swimwear collection with them, and is still eminently suited (ha) to model the suits of the collection.

Candice Swanepoel's second Victoria's Secret swimsuit collection sizzles... after sharing the secret to getting killer abs

What's the secret to the Victoria's Secret "killer abs"? 
" 'I've been doing my own kind of yoga. It's not traditional yoga, but I put on some music and mix in some Pilates and squat resistance stuff,' she told The Cut."

A little more detail might be useful for those wishing to emulate her exercises, and their results.

Speaking of results, here's one of the modeling shots. The exercises appear to work, and she also appears quite memorable.  (BTW, she's at age 37 now.)



 

Lighthouse of the Week, April 12-18, 2026: Selkirk Lighthouse, New York, USA

 

Well, as you can see, it's late May, and this is the Lighthouse of the Week for mid-April 2026.  I am going to catch up, and I have several lighthouses in the queue to help me catch up.  This is an outstanding and historic lighthouse to kick off the "recovery" effort.

So, we shall begin with the location of this one. It is on the shore of Lake Ontario, to the north of Oswego.

The Lighthouse Directory has a lot to say about the Selkirk (also called the Salmon River) lighthouse.  Below the excerpt, I've included the link to Lighthouse Friends on this one, too.

"1838 (Jabez Meacham). Reactivated (inactive 1858-1989; now privately maintained); focal plane 50 ft (15 m); white flash every 2 s. 32 ft (10 m) octagonal red-shingled tower with lantern and gallery, mounted on the roof of a 2-1/2 story fieldstone keeper's house; 190 mm lens. The tower still has its original (and very rare) birdcage lantern. ... An architectural treasure, this is one of the oldest "integral" lighthouses in the country, and it is the oldest one surviving without significant modification. A historic photo from the Library of Congress shows how little the building has been altered. After deactivation the building was used as a lifesaving station for a number of years before being sold at auction in 1895; the new owners operated it as part of a hotel for many years. Privately restored beginning in 1987, the building is now a guest house (operating April through November) with accommodations available by the day or week. ... Located on Lake Road (county route 5) adjacent to the Lighthouse Marina on the north side of the entrance to the Salmon River in Selkirk."

Salmon River (Selkirk), NY  (Lighthouse Friends)

AirBnB page for Selkirk Lighthouse


Here are some pictures:







Retreat of Hektoria Glacier

 

The really remarkable NASA Earth Observatory site keeps producing top-notch content. This post illustrating the retreat of Hektoria Glacier in Antarctica is another example of their quality.

Record-Setting Retreat of Hektoria Glacier

"A team of scientists published an analysis of Hektoria’s collapse based on a suite of remote-sensing data, finding that its particular geometry enabled the rapid change. Like many glaciers on the Antarctic Peninsula, Hektoria starts on land and extends to the sea, with the last section being a thick, floating plate of ice, or “ice tongue.” The researchers determined Hektoria lost both its ice tongue and an area of grounded ice spread over a flat plain—the latter directly contributing to sea level rise. Although Hektoria is relatively small as Antarctic glaciers go, scientists say that similar events at larger glaciers could be much more consequential."
Here's a map of where Hektoria Glacier is located.





















If you want to zoom in and out in Google Maps, use this link.



Did you miss me?

 

Surprisingly, when I took a look at my post views from mid-April (the last time I posted), there are tens of them.  Now, I don't expect a lot;  that's one of the joys of my hard-to-find blog.  I can say what I want and whoever finds what I write and post gets exclusivity.  I've had a couple of posts that were relatively well-seen, but not many.  I might (emphasis on might) start putting links to posts on Twitter (oh, I'm sorry, "X") more.  

So where have I been?  Nowhere special, but I did go to a conference on small nuclear reactors.  Very exciting developments, and this is where I think the industry has to go -- and will go -- because of several necessities.  The necessities are the need for more energy, and the need for more non-polluting energy. Even though solar is cheap, wind is cheap, and their growth is strong, these AI data centers need more than that.  This is demonstrated by the interest in restarts of old nuclear power plants.  But the better answer is a small, safe, and reproducible modular reactor.  And they are coming.

So, I will be posting a lot in the next couple of weeks. I have a lot of lighthouses to catch up on, so I'll be posting retroactive Lighthouses of the Week.  And I've seen and read a lot during my interim.

So get back on board, I'm typing again!

First, a couple of confections from Bethany Lily April, who has gotten herself into tremendous shape, and new mother of twins (via surrogate) Amanda Cerny.




Sunday, April 12, 2026

Keep the reefs, keep the tourists

 











Coral reefs around the world are beleaguered.  Yes, some are in better shape than others, but many are suffering and damaged.  

The reason I saw this is that coral reefs attract scuba divers, and scuba divers spend money where they go scuba diving. That's the subject of this paper.

Global economic impact of scuba dive tourism

"Scuba diving is not just an exciting recreational activity—it is also a significant contributor to the global economy. Our study provides the first global estimate of the economic impact of scuba dive tourism, revealing that the sector generates between 8.5 and 20.4 billion USD annually. This revenue supports local economies, creates jobs, and helps promote marine conservation. By highlighting the economic benefits of scuba diving, our research can help guide policies that balance ecological sustainability and economic growth in coastal communities."

So there's a clear vested interest for countries that host coral reefs in having them stay in the best shape possible.

Let's all try to help, shall we?



Iceland could get coldur

 












The nation and island of Iceland is worried about something that could make them much, much colder. ("Coldur" is not actually the Norse god or giant of cold, but he could be. It's actually Skaði, a giantess. You pronounce it.)

If the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) collapses, the result would be a Younger Dryas replay, in which case the North Atlantic and Europe get a lot colder. And since Iceland is smack dab right there in the middle of the North Atlantic, that might not be good at all.

Which is why Iceland considers this problem, which happens to be a consequence of Global Warming, a security problem.  A couple of articles about this are linked below;  the Washington Post article is probably behind a subscription, but if it's your first of the month, you might still be able to read it.

Washington PostWhy this country declared an ocean current collapse a national security risk

"Sometime over the next 100 years, human-driven warming could disrupt a vital ocean current that carries heat northward from the tropics. After this breach, most of the world would keep getting hotter — but northern Europe would cool substantially, with Iceland at the center of a deep freeze. Climate modeling shows Icelandic winter extremes plunging to an unprecedented minus-50 degrees Fahrenheit. Sea ice could surround the country for the first time since it was settled by Vikings."

"As a first step, Iceland has tried to remind other countries that cutting greenhouse gas emissions reduces the odds of planet-altering crises. At the United Nations’ global climate conference in November, Iceland’s climate minister told delegates that “the risk of large, abrupt change is real,” and that present-day policies could determine whether the next generation inherits “a managed transition or an unmanaged collapse.”

Iceland ReviewScientists Warn Ocean Current Shift Could Alter Iceland’s Climate

"Recent modelling studies examining high global emissions scenarios suggest that the AMOC could weaken substantially and, in some cases, eventually stop.

A study published last August found that in nine high-emissions models considered, the circulation weakened and ultimately ceased.

Even if global climate targets under the Paris Agreement are met, researchers estimate the probability of collapse at approximately 25 percent.

Potential impacts for Iceland include significantly colder winters and expanded sea ice. The Icelandic Meteorological Office has indicated that in such a scenario, conditions could change dramatically."

"Iceland has included the possibility of AMOC disruption in its national security risk assessments and plans to integrate the scenario into its risk management strategy by 2028."

Not to be Feared

 

I've still got a few comments (I think) on the Winter Olympics, which I plan to cover this week. Oh, I know, it's been over for weeks and much other sports news has happened since.  Actually, not that much -- playoffs are getting ready to start for the NHL and NBA; the Masters (golf) is wrapping up today, there's been some tennis since the Australian, but nothing major as the French Open starts to get on player minds; March Madness is over (just a couple of buzzer-beaters, especially the one that put UConn over Duke); the Frozen Four is over (UDenver won late); NCAA swimming is over (Josh Liendo was spectacular, and Florida gave Texas a bit of a scare, and on the women's side, it was Virginia vs. Torri Huske).

So, the Winter Olympics were quite interesting.  Definitely some mental health struggles in sports that are decided by millimeters and milliseconds in many cases, the difference between winning and disaster (Lindsey Vonn in the latter).  Tight decisions, such as the ice dancing, where Chock and Bates probably deserved gold, but a French judge might have tilted it just enough for the French pair.  Ilia Malinin showed that even perceived locks can falter, but he came back and dominated the Worlds.

So, speaking of ice dancing, I noticed the British pair of Fear and Gibson, particularly because the name of the woman is Lilah Fear, who has a very distinct and pretty look.  And I'm showing below that she's also quite athletic.  

They finished a disappointing 7th at the Olympics, and maybe a more disappointing 4th at the 2026 worlds, 1.1 points behind the third place USA team (not Chock and Bates, it was Zingas and Kolesnik). 

So, as you might expect, a couple of pictures are below. She's got a great smile, clearly.






Lighthouse of the Week, April 5-11, 2026: Beavertail Lighthouse, Rhode Island, USA

 

As I noted yesterday for the Lighthouse of the Week corresponding to two weeks ago (as I type this), there's another Rhode Island lighthouse near the Dutch Island light. This one is the Beavertail Lighthouse (and also Museum), which is on the next island south in Narragansett Bay. It has a bit more history than Dutch Island, and is in better shape, too.

It appears to me that the reason it is called Beavertail Lighthouse is the shape of the end of the island that it is situated on.  See if you agree with me with this map view.

The famous Castle Hill lighthouse, which I have visited in person, is just across the water, south of Newport.

As I said, this one has a bit more history.  A slightly edited version of what the Lighthouse Directory has is provided below.  One thing I find interesting, and undefined, is that this is the fourth oldest light station, but it is certainly (I think) not the fourth oldest lighthouse.  I'm not sure of the difference.

"1856 (station established 1749). Active; focal plane 68 ft (21 m); white flash every 6 s, day and night. 45 ft (14 m) square cylindrical granite tower with lantern and double gallery attached to a 2-story stucco-clad brick keeper's house (1856); VRB-25 beacon (2019). The tower is unpainted granite; lantern and watchroom painted black; keeper's house white with red roofs. Fog horn (3 s blast every 30 s) on demand. The assistant keeper's house (1898) houses a museum; the 4th order Fresnel lens used 1907-1991 is on display. ... 

This is the nation's fourth oldest light station (after Boston MA, Tybee Island GA, and Brant Point MA). The foundations of the 1749 lighthouse remain visible and were restored in 2013. The Beavertail Lighthouse Museum Association (BLMA) works for preservation of the light station. ... 

The fog signal building houses an aquarium operated by the state Department of Environmental Management. In 2006 BLMA announced plans for expansion of the museum into all six structures on the light station when the station becomes available for transfer. ... 

Instead, the house was restored and opened as an expansion of the museum in 2013. In 2014 the fog signal building was restored and replica diaphone horns installed. d In February 2020 the loop road in front of the lighthouse was closed permanently due to beach erosion, but visitors can still walk to the lighthouse from the parking areas in the rear. In 2021 the lighthouse finally became available for transfer under NHLPA and in June 2024 it was transferred to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management as an addition to Beavertail State Park. Located on Beavertail Point on the southern tip of Conanicut Island in Jamestown."

Lighthouse Friends:  Beavertail, RI

New England Lighthouses:  Beavertail Lighthouse

Pictures and video below.








 

Saturday, April 11, 2026

The beautiful Prinzessin

 

It says, when you search, that Xenia Prinzessin von Sachsen is a German writer.  It appears that she is also Princess Xenia of Saxony, and that her great-grandparents on the royal side are Prince Ernst Heinrich of Saxony and Princess Sophie of Luxembourg. Her ancestry goes all the way back to the last King of Saxony.

So I guess in some circumstances she is a princess. She has a Wikipedia page, primarily in German, but it's translatable.  Apparently the writer tag comes from her authorship of an autobiography. She is also a singer and actress, and a celebrity of note (she's been on reality shows, including I'm a Celebrity -- Get Me Out of Here!, so she must be a celebrity).

She's also a very lovely woman. I found out about her kind of accidentally, and she was quite intriguing. Feel free to figure (note that word) out why.  It shouldn't be too difficult.





Lighthouse of the Week, March 29 - April 4, 2026: Dutch Island, Rhode Island, USA

 

Even though this Lighthouse of the Week is late, it's the first of a pair, and the second one won't be as late as this one.  Hopefully I can catch up to the current week after that.

This lighthouse is the Dutch Island Lighthouse in Rhode Island.  Stunningly, it's located on Dutch Island in Narragansett Bay.  It officially has a Jamestown, RI, address.  See why by clicking here. Don't confuse this with Dutch Harbor, Alaska.

Now let's learn more about it, using information in Wikipedia. I can't get to the Lighthouse Directory right now, darn it.

Constructed: 1826

Foundation: Surface rock
Construction: Brick
Automated: 1947
Height: 13 m (43 ft)
Shape: Square
Markings" White with black lantern
Heritage: National Register of Historic Places listed place

Light
First lit: 1857
Deactivated: 1979 - 2007
Focal height: 56 feet (17 m)
Lens: 4th order Fresnel lens (original), 9.8 inches (250 mm) (current)
Characteristic: Flashing red 6 seconds

The island itself has been fortified since the Civil War and even had a fort, Fort Greble, for several years.

Dutch Island Lighthouse Society has more pictures.  I have three.






Do you trust a single engine jet?

 









I guess the answer to that particular question (the one I pose in the subject) could also apply to a single-engine propeller plane, but a single engine jet is going much faster, so it would crash much harder.

But still, it's a pretty cool looking airplane.

Cirrus launches G3 Vision Jet featuring cabin, avionics upgrades


As I've said before, I'd sure like to fly once on a personal or corporate jet, just to see what it's like.

Have you ever heard of the King's Trough Complex?

 

As I just asked, have you ever heard of the King's Trough Complex?  Don't feel bad if you haven't. I think  it's a place that primarily makes geological oceanographers happy.

The King's Trough Complex is a large and deep underwater canyon northeast of the Azores Islands. Now, the Azores are volcanic -- the tallest mountain in Portugal is actually Volcan Pico on Ilha de Pico -- so it's not a surprise that the King's Trough Complex might have some relationship to volcanism and tectonics.

Which it does.

How the "Atlantic Grand Canyon" came to exist

It's a short article -- and this paragraph provides the basic mechanism.

"Between 37 and 24 million years ago, a tectonic plate boundary shifted to the area, resulting in the crust fracturing and the seafloor between Europe and Africa opening like a zipper in an east-west direction. Prior to the shift, the crust was thickened and heated by an upwelling of molten rock from the mantle, making it particularly fragile."

 See?  Simple.  I think they could offer underwater submersible tours for a high price.



Monday, April 6, 2026

How has Jocelyn Hudon been on 'Chicago Fire' since 2012?

 

I recently watched a couple of episodes of Chicago Fire, and couldn't help noticing Jocelyn Hudon.  I discovered she's been on the show since 2012.

The show has been on since 2012?

And she's been on it that long?  She started as a teenager!

I can't catch up on all those episodes, but it would be interesting to watch her evolve in the role.

Meanwhile, here on some on- and off-set photos.





Upcoming debut

 

In just a couple of weeks, the National Zoo in Washington, DC will provide the first time the public can view a newly-born baby elephant (born on February 2).

See the first baby elephant born at Smithsonian’s National Zoo in nearly 25 years
 

They voted on a name:

The Public Has Spoken: The National Zoo's New Elephant Calf Is Named Linh Mai

The calf will first be viewable on April 22, Earth Day, on the Elephant Cam, which will be back online that day.

Below are a couple of pictures of the pachyderm tyke.




Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Going to Mars (maybe)

 

In case you're interested, with a hopefully successful Artemis II launch and mission slated to happen today, here's the National Academies of Sciences report on how to explore Mars, if humans actually get there.

A Science Strategy for the Human Exploration of Mars

I'd sure like to see Olympus Mons up close.  Instead, we have to rely on great satellite views like this:





This is just terrible

 


Just read about the idiotic Trump administration's plans to move the U.S. Forest Service to Utah, and while doing that, to close down thirty-one research sites. 

The utter disdain of this administration for the value of science is appalling -- but we've known that for years. Yet to see it demonstrated again and again and again causes constant angst and pain for the loss of what sometimes has been long-standing research, and well, forests don't grow overnight. 

Trump plans to move Forest Service headquarters to Utah and shutter research sites

"The Wilderness Society also pointed to Trump’s prior attempt with the BLM, saying that resulted in many staffers leaving who had valuable years of management experience. The group said this could end up hollowing out the Forest Service.

Many regional offices will close in the reorganization, and their services will shift to hubs in New Mexico, Georgia, Colorado, Wisconsin, Montana and California. Instead of maintaining multiple dispersed research stations with their own leadership, the agency will anchor its research at a single location in Fort Collins, Colorado."

For example, here's a description of their Experimental Forests and Ranges
"This research network provides an incredible wealth of records and knowledge of ecological change in natural and managed forest and grassland ecosystems across the United States. Hosted on a combination of public and private lands, the network provides a home for long-term science and management studies in most major vegetation types of the United States. Individual sites range in size from 47 to 22,500 ha."

If you want to see where they are in the Rocky Mountains (and nearby):   Experimental Forest and Range Locations

Yes, the IDIOTS are going to shut that down.  

Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Cover up by reconstruction

 

Donald Trump decided to close the Kennedy Center he named after himself for 2 years, basically because nobody wants to play the venue he named after himself.

Here are a couple of quotes about how it got to this point.

"On Sunday, Representative Chellie Pingree of Maine, the top Democrat on the House subcommittee that oversees funding for the Kennedy Center’s building, questioned the motivation for the planned closure in a video posted to social media, suggesting that the president was just “covering up the financial disaster he’s created there.”

" “This man has destroyed the place,” she said in the video. “He’s run it into the ground financially; he’s made it a place where performers don’t want to perform, and individuals don’t want to attend performances.”

"Norm Eisen and Nathaniel Zelinsky, representing groups that have sued the Kennedy Center on behalf of Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), said in a statement that Trump’s announcement “raises serious questions about whether his purpose isn’t to renovate but to shut the Center down to avoid further embarrassment” of artist and patron boycotts. They would consider “all legal remedies” to address the closure, they said."

And they're right.



Cristy Ren is a wonder

 

Glamor model Cristy Ren doesn't take herself too seriously, but she has looks that require serious attention. Two recent captures are shown here. It's not hard to find her with a search:  her name is sufficient but other descriptive words and provide more detail.








































The 2026 Winter Olympics are over, but ...

 

Even though the 2026 Winter Olympics and all of their drama (some of which was pretty dramatic) ended a month or so ago, but this article about former Olympic venues provides some historical perspective.  I've actually been to one Olympic Games, and visited several places that hosted them, including both swimming venues for the 1936 and 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games.  Sadly, now that we are in an era of temporary venues built in big stadiums (as will happen in 2028 for swimming in the Olympics) there won't be as many shrines to former athletic heroism to visit.

So, this list is interesting:

5 of the Oldest Olympic Venues Still in Use

The five of them are:

  • Zappeion and Panathenaic Stadium – Athens, Greece 
  • Vélodrome Jacques Anquetil – Paris, 
  • France Francis Olympic Field – St. Louis, 
  • Missouri Ryde Pier – Isle of Wight, England 
  • Stockholms Stadion – Stockholm, Sweden
Regarding Ryde Pier, "this heritage structure on the Isle of Wight remains a popular local landmark more than a century on — not least because it’s the second-longest seaside pleasure pier in the U.K., after the Southend Pier. During the 1908 Games, spectators gathered at the end of the pier to watch yacht races, all of which were won by the Great Britain crews, to the delight of the crowd.
This is Ryde Pier (actually, the end of it):



Sunday, March 29, 2026

Getting back to lingerie

 

We won't be seeing the last of Sydney Sweeney anytime soon, I can guarantee that. And she also has her own line of lingerie.  The pictures accompanying the Daily Mail article indicate that it fits her quite well.

Sydney's Lingerie: 

Sydney Sweeney lifts the lid on her lingerie empire plans as she strips down for jaw-dropping photo shoot

The article also features this appealing quote: "Sweeney worked hard to make the undergarments feel as comfortable as a second skin. 'Boobs and bodies are like fingerprints; everyone's are different, and I wanted to design for that,' Sweeney shared."

Good plan, and it looks like it's a quality product as well. Representing it herself probably doesn't hurt sales one bit.



Yes, it's a house

 

I saw this on a short list of celebrity homes that are quite impressive.  And this one is certainly that.  The name of this impressive domicile is Friar Park, and it was owned by Beatle George Harrison for three decades.  According to the list text, his wife still lives there. 

A few other people could live there too.









Here's a short summary of what's there. This is from Country Life UK.

"The Victoria County History describes Friar Park as ‘a colourful and eccentric melange of French Flamboyant Gothic in brick, stone and terracotta, incorporating towers, pinnacles and large traceried windows’. It was enlarged and embellished by Sir Frank Crisp, a brilliant lawyer, who bubbled over with charm and energy, but was also an enthusiastic botanist and treasurer of the Linnaean Society of London. He was rich enough, too, to employ 45 gardeners at Friar Park. Alpine plants were his greatest passion and, in 1896, he began to develop his spectacular four-acre Alpine Garden, topped by a scaled-down copy of the Matterhorn."

The house itself?

It apparently doesn't have 120 rooms -- George Harrison's wife, who still lives there, says that's too many -- but it probably doesn't have much less than that.



Coffee is in your genes

 

Some people like coffee more than others. Now, don't be concerned about the title of this post, because even if you drink a lot of coffee, it won't alter your DNA.

However, researchers have used caffeine to control gene manipulation with CRISPR.  And here I thought caffeine was just a stimulant.

It's called chemogenetics -- and the article I'm about to cite says this:

"Chemogenetics refers to the ability to control cellular behavior using externally applied, small molecules — often drugs or dietary compounds — that activate genetically engineered switches inside cells. Unlike traditional drugs that broadly affect many tissues, chemogenetic approaches are designed to act only on cells that have been genetically programmed to respond."

Smart readers are already anticipating what comes next -- caffeine is the small molecule being used to activate the genetic switch.  Let's see how.

"Zhou’s newest research builds on existing knowledge of genetic “switches” within cells by introducing a new chemogenetic approach that uses CRISPR and caffeine. The process begins with installing the cells in advance. Genes encoding the nanobody, its matching target protein and the CRISPR machinery are delivered using established gene-transfer methods, allowing cells to produce these components on their own. Once this molecular framework is in place, the process can be externally controlled. When a person later consumes a 20 mg dose of caffeine — such as from coffee, chocolate or a soda — it triggers a nanobody and its matching target protein to bind together, thereby activating CRISPR-driven gene modifications inside cells." 

Cool, right?   What could that help with?
"When an engineered nanobody protein can be switched on by caffeine, it’s called a “caffebody.” By harnessing the power of these caffebodies, Zhou says scientists may someday be able to treat a range of diseases. In the long term, he believes it may be possible to engineer cells that allow people with diabetes to boost insulin production simply by drinking a cup of coffee."

I think I'll have a cup of coffee while I think about this.












Reference: Wang T, Nonomura T, Cui M, et al. Reprogramming chemically induced dimerization systems with genetically encoded nanobodies. Chemical Science 2025;16(46):21774-21780. doi: 10.1039/D5SC05703E


 

A public service, of course

 

Always glad to draw the attention of my readers to new lingerie offerings.  This one is Avidlove (click the avidlove.com link for more). They're also on Facebook.

Some of their items are displayed below. I find them quite fetching. The models are helpful with that.