Want a monster? Get a woman

 

Thought-provoking article:

Why So Many Mythological Monsters Are Female

"Female monsters represent “the bedtime stories patriarchy tells itself,” reinforcing expectations about women’s bodies and behavior, argues journalist and critic Jess Zimmerman in Women and Other Monsters: Building a New Mythology. In this essay collection, newly published by Beacon Press, she reexamines the monsters of antiquity through a feminist lens. “Women have been monsters, and monsters have been women, in centuries’ worth of stories,” she notes in the book, “because stories are a way to encode these expectations and pass them on.” "

Later on in the article, we learn that Medusa was initially portrayed as hideous, but has evolved into something much more sexier (see below, courtesy of VMR photos on DeviantArt).  The problem with that is -- if you want to make love to her, you have to keep your eyes closed the whole time. Because if you don't, everything's going to be rock hard, not just ... well, you know.

Yes, there was a battle here

 

I understand there are places in the World War I theaters of battle in Europe where there is a lot of unexploded ordinance, and it isn't safe to walk in certain places.  

But where the Civil War took place in the United States, it's pretty safe,

Nonetheless, every now and then they find something indicating where the battles took place.  Usually it's something small, like a Minié ball (bullet) or uniform buttons or a piece of a gun, or soldier's equipment.

Just recently, at the Gettysburg Battlefield in Pennsylvania, they found something bigger.

Civil War artillery shell found on Gettysburg battlefield

Prudently, they didn't put the shell on display, and they blew it up.  Even though it was discovered by a metal detector wielded by a pro archaeologist, it shows it's still possible to find these things.  So be careful out there.

Ocean moments to watch in 2023

 

This is from the World Resources Institute.

5 Ocean Moments to Watch in 2023

Here's the list; read the article to learn more.  The first one just took place; I'll have to do a follow-up to see what happened (if anything).  The last one is the most intriguing from a scientific perspective.

1) Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Treaty Negotiations (Feb. 20 – March 3, New York)

2) A Focus on Marine Tourism and Pollution at Our Ocean Conference (March 2-3, Panama)

3) Advancement of Deep-Sea Mining Regulations

4) Universal Declaration of Ocean Rights

5) Recognition of the Ocean as a Fundamental Climate Component

"It is hoped that the second dialogue and COP28 in Dubai will continue to highlight the ocean as a fundamental component of the climate system. More than that, these discussions must seek to integrate ocean-based climate actions into countries’ climate goals, as research shows that ocean-based climate solutions can deliver up to 21% of the annual greenhouse gas emission cuts needed in 2050 to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees C (2.7 degrees F). Given this potential, it is essential that the ocean is recognized as a key part of decision-making at COP28."

Have some anolini

 

Sure looks good to me.

Do you know your pasta shapes?

"Welcome to Emilia Romagna, a region known for wide ribbon pasta like tagliatelle, but more so for its pasta ripiena (stuffed pasta), like lasagne, and its pasta in brodo (in broth). Why not try both pasta ripiena and pasta in brodo at once? Anolini–stuffed, ring-shaped pasta swimming in brodo in terza (savory broth made from capon, beef, and hen)–have origins dating back to the 12th century, when their elaborate preparation made them fare for the noble classes. Good news–even humble folk like us can enjoy anolini today, particularly during the winter holidays. Different versions of anolini crop up in Piacenza and Parma, filled with breadcrumbs and cheese or beef stew."

Not just pretty, she's ravishing

 

I occasionally have a "Pretty Girl" post, with pictures of a pretty girl.  In this case, "pretty" does not do justice to the heat this model generates.  So I went with "ravishing".  (I gotta use that in a sonnet, too.)

The model is Dehandré van Tonder.  She's from South Africa;  there's a bit more about her on this page, but the page is kinda messy.

She also has an Instagram page, as one would expect.  I first noticed her in the topless view from the back down below, and that was hard to forget.

She reminds me of the young Salma Hayek, for several reasons, her face and her figure primary among them. (This is not to say that older Salma Hayek is not as hot as young Salma Hayek, because she is, but she's different now than then.)

Returning to Dehandré, let's just watch. 

Lighthouse of the Week, February 26 - March 4, 2023: Ventės Ragas, Lithuania

 

I've had one Lithuanian lighthouse featured before, and let's face it, Lithuania doesn't have a lot of coastline.  So here's another one;  by a quick and unofficial count on the Lighthouse Directory Lithuania page, there's a dozen or so.   This one is no longer a useful lighthouse, but it's still there.

Here's where it is;  it happens to be very close to the little piece of Russian that includes Kaliningrad, which can be seen on the map.

So, speaking of the Lighthouse Directory, let's get some information on it.

"1860 (station established 1837). Active; focal plane 13 m (43 ft); continuous white light. 11 m (36 ft) octagonal brick tower with lantern and gallery, attached by a covered passageway to a 1-1/2 story brick keeper's house. The buildings are unpainted red brick; lantern and gallery painted white. ... The keeper's house is part of an ornithological field station and museum, founded in 1929 and well known among birders. The light no longer has any navigational importance, but it is maintained as a historical symbol."

We now proceed to the pictures.  People are included in the second one for scale.  I think the third one was taken to show the contractors where the electrical connections are. 

 

Pay attention, Daily Mail !

 

The Daily Mail gets the news out, fast, and in volume. So mistakes can happen.

So what's an order of magnitude, anyway?

It's not common to see four zeroes after the comma, unless there's a decimal point, too.

And in this case, the terrible Greek train crash has resulted in charges against the station master -- and because it was a tragedy, this particular tragic event didn't deserve the typo here. I'm sure they were looking for "negligent".