Day 5177: Ready for Halloween? & Shanghai's New Opera House.

  

"Mindful": junk papers collage.

  

Want music?

   Click: Herb Alpert, This Guy's in Love With You.

2GN2S

How's your Halloween Spirit?

I have a wooden pumpkin on my front door, that's it. 

But I thought, maybe like me, you might need a seasonal boost?

I saved these from my Mom & No Pop advertising agency days.

When I had my "Mom and No Pop" Ad Agency, sometimes companies like French Paper Company, also a family business, sent me cute gifs!

Kinda cool stuff,  I guess I saved to share it with you.

Creativity and inspiration?

I thought you might enjoy these too?

A few days away, but Happy early Halloween!

for Carole

Shanghai’s new Grand Opera House has officially opened. Designed by Snøhetta in collaboration with ECADI, the waterfront building opened on October 17, 2026. A sweeping spiral staircase connects the ground to a vast rooftop overlooking the Huangpu River. Inside, three auditoriums provide a total of 4,200 seats, alongside spaces for rehearsals, exhibitions and arts education. - via Architecture Hub https://www.facebook.com/photo?

  

 

A 2+ minute video,  For the Birds, here.

 

 

Just because ...

French (red-legged) Partridge

Tuesday's Smiles ... 

 

Hoping you see all the good things in your day.

  

 

 

 

Day 5176: Reads on my bedside table. & Koala Fingerprints.

"Emmanuele": acrylic, ink, junk paper collage on Banana skin paper.

  

  

Want music?

   Click: Etta James, Somethings Got a Hold on Me.

2GN2S

While in Nevada recently, I took 3 books to read, and bought another while I was there.

A. One was recommended by my cousin Michelle and I am 1/3 in.

B. One was given by my friend Michelle, and I am 3/4 through.

C. One I had bought on a whim and it is completely read.

D. And one, I bought and have barely started. 

Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is which is which?

If you don't accept, or don't want to play that's okay too. 

I'm just curious, one? no-one? no problem.

Of course, if you have read any of the four, I'd love to hear your thoughts? 

Do you want any when I'm done, let me know?

 Koalas have fingerprints so similar to ours that even forensic experts struggle to tell them apart from a human print.

Look closely at a koala's fingertips and you will find ridges that look almost identical to human fingerprints. Their patterns form loops, whorls, and arches — even though koalas are marsupials, only distantly related to us.

Researchers Maciej Henneberg, Kosette Lambert, and Chris Leigh described this eerie similarity in a 1997 paper in Natural Science. Working from the University of Adelaide, they found the resemblance holds both to the naked eye and under magnification.

Scientists call this convergent evolution: distant species independently developing the same solution. Koala and human lineages split over 70 million years ago, yet both evolved ridges — likely because gripping branches and handling leaves demands fine touch.

And here is the twist: a partial print at a scene could confuse an examiner who assumes it must be human. It rarely causes real problems, but the patterns are close enough to create genuine doubt.

Source: Henneberg, Lambert & Leigh, Natural Science (1997)

  

 

A 4 minute video,  Lost Penguin, 

 

Just because ...

Crested Guineafowl

Monday's Smiles ... 

Hoping you feel all the good things in your day.

  

 

 

 

Day 5175: Sensei Anthony Rios & Last Two Northern White Rhinos.

"Antoine": junkr paper collage, digital.                j.long

   

                                                                        

Want music?

   Click: Smokey Robinson, Daryl Hall, Sara Smile.

2GN2S

 

I went to a Memorial Service today. I haven't been too peppy lately and it was hard to get up to be ready when Mitchell and Noriko picked me up at 11 am. But at 10 am when I was dressed and just about to start silly putty-ing my weary face, good friend Irene called and just her voice helped me to get going. Isn't it wonderful what a friend can do, even long distance. I knew I could cancel and it would not really matter, except to me. I have learned that I never regret going and doing what is difficult for me, but I do regret when I don't.

Good friend Mitchell and I had visited Tony when he was in hospice. Even-though he was in pain and medicated, he was himself, the kind, funny caring person as always. So when we received word that he had passed it was still a shock. I had always admired Tony for his big heart and how he cared for his student and inspired them. So as many spoke today sharing their memories and their love for he and his wife, Cindy. One man who had trained with Sensei Rios (Tony) since a child, told of the Northridge earthquake causing his family's apartment to be condemned and they were moved out to the parking lot. Tony and Cindy invited them into their home for the next two months! There were many tributes and so much love and respect shown. The church was full with many standing in the back, all there on a warm California day to say goodbye to one of the real good guys, Anthony Rios. 

Only two northern white rhinos remain alive under constant security in Kenya. Najin and Fatu, a mother and daughter, are the world's final two northern white rhinos living at Kenya's Ol Pejeta Conservancy. With no surviving males left, dedicated keepers and armed guards protect them 24/7 while scientists attempt to save the subspecies by creating embryos using preserved genetic material and southern white rhino surrogates.

#photography #Rhinos #Kenya

  

 

A 3  minute video, Little Red Hen, here.

 

 

Just because ...

Baby Owls

Sunday's Smiles ... 

Hoping you see all the good things in your day.