There's a long way between a new paleontological discovery and the Loch Ness Monster.
Nonetheless, it's an interesting discovery.
Diamonds ... maintain their forever grip on the imagination of mankind. (And their cash.)
At 170 carats, this may be the largest pink diamond found in 300 years
Do you know where the Kattegat is?
If not, I'll tell you. The Kattegat is the body of water that lies between most of Denmark (on the west) and Sweden (on the east). To get to the Baltic Sea by boat from the Atlantic Ocean, you have to go into the Skaggerak, through the Kattegat, then through the islands (one of which has Copenhagen on it), and then you'll get to the Baltic Sea.
So, at the entrance to the Kagerrak, there are lighthouses. On the Swedish side, there is the Vinga Fyr, which I already featured -- click that link to revisit it. And on the Danish side, at the far far northern end of the Denmarkian peninsula (or whatever it's called), is the Skagen Fyr. (Geographically speaking, it's the Region of Northern Denmark.)
According to the Lighthouse Directory, which we'll get to, this is probably the most famous lighthouse in Denmark.
So, first, go see where it is.
If you zoom in close, and switch over to the satellite picture, you'll see that it's located on a marshy area surrounded by beach.
So now that we have ascertained and established where it is, let's find out more, from the great LD.
"1858 (station established 1747). Active; focal plane 44 m (144 ft); white flash every 4 s. 46 m (151 ft) round brick tower with lantern and gallery, attached by a covered passageway to a large 2-story keeper's house. The lighthouse is unpainted; lantern dome is gray metallic; keeper's house and other buildings painted white. ...
Marking the entrance to the Baltic Sea, this is probably Denmark's best known lighthouse. Locally it is called Det Grå Fyr (The Gray Lighthouse). When it was built it was about equally distant from the Kattegat to the southeast and the Skagerrak to the northwest. However, the land has shifted steadily northwestward over the past 150 years, and the lighthouse is now perilously close to the Kattegat ...
In 2013 the Maritime Authority sold the light station to Realdania, a company that develops historic and cultural properties. The company has a cooperative agreement with the Frederikshavn municipality, the Turist Nord tourist agency, and the Danish Ornithological Society (Dansk Ornitologisk Forening) to restore the lighthouse and establish it as a tourist attraction and ornithological research center. The restoration project was completed in the spring of 2017."
So, given that it's moving close to the Kattegat, see it while it's there, if you can.
Now for the pictures!
There's a mustard shortage.
Oh yes, I know that there are very serious problems in the world right now. War in Ukraine, saber rattling over Taiwan, global hunger, extreme weather events, Republicans trying to overthrow American democracy, baseball trade deadline ... but still, in France, this is a national emergency
I'm ... not ... kidding. And it's a climate change symptom (probably), caused by problems where mustard is grown, mostly in Canada. And the French are questioning whether they should be growing more mustard themselves, as in their own country.
So it's a problem.
France’s mustard shortage fuels drama and panic in grocery stores
"Mustard is a staple of most French diets — adding a kick to fries and sandwiches — and a key ingredient in iconic dishes like steak tartare. It’s also a source of national pride: The production of mustard was regulated in France as early as the Middle Ages, and the world-famous Dijon mustard comes from the Burgundy region. While historians say mustard wasn’t invented in France, many French people claim it as their own.
Droughts and heat waves that occurred last year in Canada — the source of about 80 percent of France’s mustard seed imports — severely disrupted global supply. Containers to transport foodstuffs are hard to come by, and the high cost of fuel has made shipping costs skyrocket. French producers say mustard-seed-eating insects, which thrive in warmer temperatures, are also foiling crops."
Yes, most definitely a problem.
Just don't come for the tomatoes.
Get it while it's spicy. (Or yellow. Or Dijon. Or brown. If it's on the shelf, get it.)
Two articles about the Tour de France 2022, which just concluded. One is about the race, and who won it.
Article 1: Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard wins Tour de France to cap sizzling rise
"Vingegaard’s winning time was 79 hours 33 minutes 20 seconds. Slovenia’s Tadej Pogacar took second place, 2 minutes 43 seconds back, and Geraint Thomas of Britain was third, 7:22 back."
The other is about the race against time, as warmer summers make the (primarily) French backroads and ways vulnerable to degradation, and literally melting, threatening the way the Tour rides.
Glorious and luminous Miranda Kerr, formerly a Victoria's Secret Angel and one of their most outstanding examples of such -- of whom I have numerous pictures in my archives -- has also had three children. She confesses that she hasn't gotten back to where she was, body-wise, glorious-wise, after having the three babies.
I mean, seriously, is that really possible? We've seen the bounce-back magnificence of several models after bearing one babe, but three -- that would be asking a lot. And she doesn't need to be asked. She's still, after all, Miranda Kerr.
Well, she says she's content with where she is now. So are we.
Sadly, outstanding watercolor artist Steve Hanks passed away a couple of years ago. I've noted his artistic expression, particularly his remarkable figure portraits, a few times -- you can search for his name. His portrayals of women were sensuous and captivating, without being overly erotic (but his models were amazing).
Regarding that, I happened to see the portrait (actually a photograph that looks like a painting) below at lowes.com, of all places. Its slightly titillating title is "Waiting for Love". I could say more, but I'll let the viewers decide for themselves if that's provocative or not. (And whether or not it should be.) The artist is "Kalynsky". And this one in particular reminds me of Steve Hanks' watercolors of women.
Lowes.com has some other "interesting" pieces for decoration. This one is entitled "Katrin".
But I was actually more interested in Kalynsky. There are a couple of other examples of his work available for sale online. I found this Instagram account (kalynsky_k) that has photography, and "Waiting for Love" is there, so this is the guy. And that's about all I have on him.
Lastly, these and other somewhat erotic art pieces appear to originate from "Trademark Fine Art", which you can't get into unless you have an access code. They market all kinds of art, and their clients include such high-end retailers as Lowes, Home Depot, and Walmart.
So if you do a Google image search with this combination:
"Trademark Fine Art" women
you'll get a broad (ahem) spectrum of depictions. But nothing as good as what Steve Hanks could do.
If a four-year-old is handling a live firearm, the first thing I'd be worried about is their aim.
Bodycam footage shows FOUR-YEAR-OLD boy shooting at cops as they arrest his father at a McDonald's drive-thru in Utah for pointing the gun at fast-food workers over a wrong order"The child picked up the gun because 'he wanted his daddy back,' reports ABC4. The station also quotes the child as hearing his father say that the officers 'cannot open the door' and that he 'didn't want to shoot the lady at the happy meal store,' prior to his arrest."
Every now and then, by chance more than anything else, I discover one of the world's great lighthouses. At least that's what the Lighthouse Directory calls them, including this one. It's based on history, location, and aesthetics.
So this one is the Farol da Guia, the lighthouse in the Fortaleza da Guia, located in a commanding (truly) position in Macau. Not sure where that is? Well, it's south of China, and across the bay west of Hong Kong (now connected by a bridge). That would be here. Zoom in and then switch to satellite view to see how the Fortaleza (fortress) is laid out.
So, about the lighthouse. The Lighthouse Directory, as usual, describes it well; most of that description is copied below.
"1865 (Carlos Vicente da Rocha). Reactivated (inactive 1874-1910); focal plane 108 m (354 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 13.5 m (44 ft) round tapered concrete-clad stone tower with lantern and double gallery. Lighthouse painted white with gold trim; lantern roof painted red. One of the world's great lighthouses, the Portuguese Farol da Guia was the first western-style lighthouse built in China. However, after only nine years of operation it was damaged by a typhoon in 1874 and remained out of service until 1910. Beautifully restored in recent years and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site, it is one of China's best known and most visited lighthouses. In recent years it has been the subject of an extended controversy, as preservationists have protested plans for high-rise buildings that may block the view (and the light) from the lighthouse. The lighthouse is built within the walls of the Fortaleza (fortress) da Guia, completed in 1638. Located atop Guia Hill near the southeast corner of the Macau Peninsula."
Below are pictures and an extended video (I couldn't find a good shorter one). Apparently there are some good angles to photograph it and some not so good, as you can tell from the communications towers that are visible in one picture.
Here's the video:
He's pretty good. So I'm advertising for him. He doesn't appear to have his own Web site, but is represented by Fine Art America (though he's Bulgarian) and Saatchi Art. art.com has a few choices, too.
I never had seen a pop-up shower tent before, but for some reason an ad for one popped up, so I took a look at it.
Previously (in years past) I provided posts on the amazingness of Emmanuelle Chriqui. (Because of some Blogger screwup, a lot of the pictures I had in previous posts are unlinked, which I could fix if I had a lot of time that I don't have). Despite the fact that she's a co-star on "Superman and Lois" -- a show habit that I haven't been able to find the time for, despite her presence -- I haven't posted much about her recently.
Maria Sharapova has recently and officially produced progeny. I expect the tot already has a respectable forehand.
1. West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin Ponders How He Can Make More Money and Screw the Earth's Future Again
2. Joe Manchin Seeks a Useful Thought; Is Unsuccessful
I can't say much more about this news than my title.
It's a travesty. Unfair, shortsighted, and stupid.
I forgot to say RIDICULOUS.
More news about invasive species, this time in the Gulf of Maine; from National Geographic:
Invasive green crabs: If you can't beat them, eat them.
Well, it's from the Daily Mail, but presumably it's sourced from somewhere semi-reliable.
E.J. Dionne, writing in the Washington Post:
Tuesday’s Jan. 6 hearing should be a turning point for Republicans
"Only the willfully blind will deny that the Jan. 6 Select Committee has now connected the dots. Trump’s falsehoods about fraud, his groundless lawsuits, his assembling of slates of fake electors, and, finally, his last-ditch resort to force were all components of one effort to let him stay in the White House despite the voters’ democratically issued eviction notice."
Izabel Goulart is still astonishing, head to toe.
Izabel Goulart looks incredible in yellow crocheted miniscule bikini as she poses up a storm in Mykonos during holiday with fiancé Kevin Trapp
I checked back, and I've only featured two Taiwanese lighthouses in the many years of doing Lighthouses of the Week. So I looked around for nice Taiwanese lighthouses.
This one is a Taiwanese lighthouse, but it's not on the main island of Taiwan; it's in the Matsu Islands group. Those islands are west of Taiwan and thus east of mainland China. Perhaps we should look at the map. I do not know why it is designated with "Taiwan Tourist Shuttle" -- but zooming in reveals lines between the island and Taiwan (at Keelung). That is one long tourist shuttle trip.
So let's hear about it from the Lighthouse Directory, of course.
"1902. Reactivated (inactive 1958-1989); focal plane 98 m (320 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. 14 m (46 ft) round cylindrical brick tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white, lantern dome black. ... This historic lighthouse was built by British engineers for the Chinese Imperial government. It was repaired after being badly damaged by Typhoon Alice in September 1995. The fog signal was deactivated in 2008. In 2016 the lighthouse was declared a national historical monument. The lighthouse is built on a cliff and is accessed by a steep staircase descending from the keeper's house."
Not a lot of different photo angles that I could find.
If a fetus is a person, then it's a passenger, right? Makes sense to me, Texas.
Years ago I used to track older (rich accomplished, usually) men who hooked up, genitally and sometimes maritally, with younger women and commonly had kids with them. I called it the "silverback syndrome" after the mature dominant gorillas who get to mate with all the young gorilla babes. It's basically alpha males, which are common in many different socially organized animals; wolves, elk, mountain goats, bison, etc.
Well, here's more on that, with reference to Nick "No Condom" Cannon and Elon "Twins" Musk. The article includes Alec "Fecundity" Baldwin.
Why DO so many men father mega-broods? As it emerges Elon Musk is a father of nine, expert says stars like Mick Jagger and Rod Stewart want to 'prove they've still got it' when dating women of child-bearing age
Kewl story about a new BIG waterlily grown at the Kew Gardens.
Watch the video - amazing to watch the pads grow radially.
If you're going to Paris, I can offer this guide to the best cheese shops (fromagerie) in the city. I understand if you're not going, it's pretty expensive to get there right now. Well, we can still imaginez le fromage.
The Ultimate Cheese Lover’s Guide to Paris
Not much to this swimsuit in the way of material:
'What's the point in wearing a swimsuit?' Shoppers are baffled by TINY £10 Fashion Nova string bikini with barely-there bottoms featuring a diamante butterfly instead of fabric
Republican are obsessed with cutting taxes. As has been pointed out, the states with abortion bans in place now are the same states that don't have paid family leave for parents when a new baby is born.
So give them money, and they want to cut taxes, even if that means not doing good things for people that need help.
Republican states are trying to use federal covid aid to cut taxes
There's this
"The spending decisions have troubled some fiscal experts, who fear that the push for aggressive tax cuts this year could leave state budgets lacking much-needed revenue in the event of a recession. The moves also have flummoxed local advocates, who say that every federal dollar devoted to lowering tax bills is one less available for targeted relief — from improvements in housing to investments in aging infrastructure.followed by
“You have to look at the opportunity cost of what else they could have done with American Rescue Plan dollars,” said Esteban Santis, a budget analyst at the Florida Policy Institute."
"The GOP crusade began about a week after Biden signed the American Rescue Plan last year. The Treasury Department had not even started writing its set of draft agency rules when Republicans mobilized to undo the prohibition on using the money to cut taxes. Led by Arizona, Georgia and West Virginia, attorneys general from 21 states last March threatened action over a policy they saw as an unconstitutional encroachment on states’ rights."So, play the tune again, GOP -- at the expense of the public trust.
Since this week includes July 4, I'm going to show some lighthouse pictures with fireworks. I did this once before on or near the holiday, and I also showed another lighthouse with fireworks a year later. Amazingly enough, that's apparently the only two times I've done it.
So, Happy Fourth of July to the greatest republic on the planet -- for as long as we can keep it.
Choptank River Lighthouse, Maryland
Edgartown Lighthouse, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts
Fond du Lac Lighthouse, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin (which was visited on the Highway 41 end-to-end Streetview trek).
Time magazine provides an insight into what increasing the number of launches to sub-space and orbital space could do to Earth's environment.
As one might suspect, though they're going up, there's no climate upside.
Billionaires Are Racing to Space—and the Climate is Paying the Price
"But according to a new study published this month in the journal Earth’s Future, all the new joyriding could come at a steep environmental price. The more rockets that get launched, the more black soot gets injected into the upper atmosphere, not to mention pollutants including nitrogen oxides, aluminum oxide, hydrochloric acid, and chlorine, as well as water vapor. Together, all of that output not only contributes to global warming but also to the depletion of the ozone layer."
There are a lot of ways that this could be interpreted, and in some viewpoints and presentations it could be seen as humorous. But the underlying trend is too concerning to be funny.
Still, you'd think that there could be crab sperm donation center, don't you?
"In mid-May, the two state agencies that run the survey — the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science — made an announcement with more dire news. Only 227 million crabs had been counted, the lowest number on record since the survey began in 1990.So, as to the title of this post; stop fooling around. Shut down the crab fishery completely for two years, and let the populations recover. We in Maryland can get our crabs from elsewhere for a couple of years. The resource is too valuable to risk it.
The survey revealed a plunge in the number of female crabs, from 158 million in 2021 to 97 million this year. It also found a three-year continuation of a below-average number of juvenile crabs, estimated at 101 million.
“There were two big red flags,” said Allison Colden, Maryland senior fisheries scientist for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. “The lowest abundance on record since the survey began and also that we have lower numbers now than when Maryland and Virginia requested and were granted a federal fisheries disaster declaration in 2008. It’s hard to believe that the population was higher then than it is now.” "
Mitch McConnell has the benefit of not being consciously aware of what a complete and horrendous piece of scum he is. But a whole lot of the rest of us know it.
