There's a way to get healthier without even going to a gym. It's called NEAT July 22, 2023 from National Public Radio By Will Stone [I rarely republish material from National Public Radio, because I figure it's information that has already received broad exposure. I'm making an exception here, however, as I think it covers a... Continue Reading →
What’s that stuff in your bellybutton? Science has the answer.
[Granted ... gorillas are hairy. SB Bill (Hinesburg SBs) thinks that this article from the Washington Post -- August 15, 2023 -- is essential reading for hygienically-minded 'Backs and 'Belles. Personally, I am relieved to see the WaPo de-emphasizing their coverage of political claptrap and taking on more Jungle-worthy topics. SB SM] Hairy bellies have... Continue Reading →
Humankind!
I just finished Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman which tackles the most basic question "Are human beings inherently good or evil?" I no longer have the time, confidence, or attention span to write a fully-considered review, but here are a few related thoughts and observations: When I was about 10 years old, my... Continue Reading →
Snake Charmers
[There are snakes in The Jungle, but I've never heard of gorillas being bothered by them. SB SM] July 31, 2023 It was around midday when we entered the colony, just in time to catch Ustad Misri Jogi’s class in the courtyard outside his small temple. The ustad is conspicuous by his orange turban, a... Continue Reading →
Is nature a gigantic cat?
An electrifying letter from Nikola Tesla SHAUN USHER JUL 21, 2023 Born in 1856 in Smiljan, Croatia, Nikola Tesla was an inventor whose invaluable impact on the modern world is difficult to comprehend. During the course of his eighty-six years he made numerous breakthroughs in the realm of electrical engineering, particularly around his AC induction... Continue Reading →
Think About it … a Different Way
[Thanks to SB Babs (Heron SBs] for this. SB SM] Could an Industrial Civilization Have Predated Humans on Earth? A thought experiment plumbs archaeology and geology to ask whether our own species will leave a trace. BY JOEL FROHLICHJuly 13, 2023 In the 1968 film Planet of the Apes, a crew of human astronauts travels into... Continue Reading →
Bees at Work
https://videopress.com/v/zSvWMp2i?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true You can learn a lot by watching bees at work. https://videopress.com/v/0JH4YyDj?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true No territoriality, no aggression ... we're all in it for the hive. There's a reason this flower is named bee balm. https://videopress.com/v/CHvS1txT?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true Once in a while there's room for a hummingbird moth, too.
Spotted Turtles: Rare and Reclusive
The Outside StoryBy Susan SheaNamed for their polka-dot-like markings, spotted turtles have declined throughout most of their range, which stretches from Maine south along the Atlantic coastal plain to northern Florida, and from western New York into the eastern Great Lakes states. This species is listed as threatened or endangered in northern New England states.... Continue Reading →
Sins of the Salmon Kings
[As self-appointed Great Ape of the Jungle, I have decidedly mixed feelings about seafood farms. On one hand, isn't it positive that we continue to have theoretically-sustainable seafood options in an era of rapidly declining natural stocks? Or, will humans $*##!! it up, as we have done with land-based agriculture, and greedily find new ways... Continue Reading →
Understanding “Vocal Fry”
[Remember the recent post on "of beekeeping age?" Remember how the narrator spoke? That's a classic example of "vocal fry," a style of speaking in the lowest possible register. Once you become aware of it, it becomes hard not to recognize how ubiquitous it has become. But why? Some attribute it to influence of Kim... Continue Reading →