Sunday, May 31, 2026

Day 5028: History of the Selfie & Sheep w/6 years wool.

 


"Attention span": junk paper collage, digital.



                                                                       
  

Want music?



    Click: Tom Misch, South of the River.



2GN2S

History of the Selfie.


In 1839, Robert Cornelius stood in front of a makeshift camera in the yard of his family’s gas lighting business in Philadelphia. He took a photo, then stood motionless for 10 to 15 minutes to allow the daguerreotype process sufficient exposure time. The resulting self-portrait — taken using a camera with an opera glass for a lens — shows a ruggedly handsome man with a fashionably upturned collar. It was a great technical achievement, coming just a little more than a decade after French inventor Nicéphore Niépce took “View From the Window at Le Gras,” the world’s oldest surviving photograph. Cornelius’ photo is generally considered the earliest surviving photographic portrait in the world — and, therefore, the first-ever selfie. 



   


In 2004, a merino sheep named Shrek became an unexpected celebrity in New Zealand after surviving on his own in remote mountain terrain for six years.
Merino sheep require regular shearing because their wool continuously grows throughout their lives. Without being trimmed, the fleece can become extremely heavy, trap heat, collect dirt, and eventually interfere with the animal’s movement and vision.
Instead of remaining with his flock, Shrek wandered into the rugged hills of New Zealand’s South Island, where he spent years hiding among caves and rocky landscapes that made him nearly impossible for farmers to find.
When he was finally discovered, Shrek looked almost unrecognizable beneath his massive coat of wool. His fleece had grown to an extraordinary size, weighing around 27 kilograms after shearing. The thick wool covered much of his body and face, making him resemble a giant walking ball of fleece.
Despite carrying years of uncut wool, Shrek was found alive and in surprisingly stable condition. After his rescue, he was carefully sheared during a live television broadcast in New Zealand, instantly becoming a national sensation.
Shrek’s story later became one of the world’s most famous animal survival stories and highlighted the importance of regular care for domesticated sheep.
 



  
 
A 4+ minute video, The Ant & Lazy Beetle, here.
 
 
Just because ...

Himalayan Snow Cock/jpg


Sunday's Smiles ... 

 

















Hoping you see all the good things in your day.


  


 

 

Saturday, May 30, 2026

Day 5027: Friday morning in France & African Lion Cubs.



"tool of destruction": junk paper collage, digitized.

 


                                                                       
  

Want music?



    Click: Quincy Jones, Secret Garden.


2GN2S

Where did Friday morning go? Well I was busy in France, Roland Garros to be exact. It's a yearly thing. I invest an inordinate amount of time watching tennis. The French Open is a tournament on clay, chronologically the second of the four Grand Slam tennis events every year, held after the Australian Open and before Wimbledon and the US Open. I go to all four. 

Joao Fonseca

This is an unusual year in that all the top players are out, Carlos Alcaraz is home in Spain, injured. All the top players have lost in the early rounds and this year's champ will be a newbie. Friday morning I spent 4 hours, 53 minutes sort of coaching 19 year old Joao Fonseca who defeated 39 year old Novak Djokovic in a tough 5-set match. One of the best matches I've ever watched, that's a lot of years & matches.

Djokovic congratulates Fonseca after the match.

I am still working on my future app that will let me burn the calories of the activity that I watch. Stay tuned, I am going to make a mint! And for you tennis fans, Fonseca served three aces in a row to finish and win the fifth set. Unreal!

   


African Lion cubs are fully weaned around the time they reach 8 months old. However, they may accompany their mother on hunting trips starting at around 3 months of age to learn how to find food for themselves. Most cubs will live with their mother for 2 years or until she has her next litter. Female lions typically remain in the pride they are born into, while males leave the group when they mature.

 



  
 
A 4+ minute video, Dust bunnies,  here.
 
 
Just because ...

Seram Golden Bulbul


Saturday's Smiles ... 

 


















Hoping you see all the good things in your day.


  


 

 

Friday, May 29, 2026

Day 5026: National Spelling Bee + Movie & Mustang Refuge.

  

"data analysis": junk collage, ink.


  

Want music?



    Click: Peter Frampton, Baby I Love Your Way.


2GN2S

Wednesday I watched the preliminary National Spelling Bee. Amazing to see youngsters as young as 9 spelling seemingly endless, mysterious words. So naturally I tuned in to see the finals Thursday evening. Have you ever watched it? I find it fascinating.

Shrey Parikh, 14, won the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee with the word bromocriptine," which is "a polypeptide alkaloid that is a derivative of ergot and mimics the activity of dopamine."

The San Bernardino, California, native takes home $52,500, the Scripps Cup, a commemorative medal and other prizes. And then, I topped it off watching the charming little 2006 movie, Akeelah and the BeeKind of a themed evening?
















A massive wild horse refuge larger than Manhattan is giving rescued mustangs a protected place to live freely. The sanctuary supports wild horses threatened by habitat loss, overcrowding, and relocation challenges across the United States.
The refuge provides wide open land that lets the horses keep their natural behaviors. It also helps reduce pressure on overcrowded holding facilities. Conservation groups and animal welfare advocates have praised the project for offering many mustangs a safer long-term future.
Wild horses remain an important part of American history and culture. Debates continue around land management and conservation. Supporters say refuges like this help balance animal welfare, environmental protection, and sustainable population management.
Credit: Wild Horse Conservation Reports / Animal Welfare Organizations
 



  
 
A 2+ minute video, Bento boxes, here.
 
 
Just because ...

Baikal Teal



Friday's Smiles ... 

 



















Hoping you feel all the good things in your day.