Day 5040: Switch, Freeze, Go! & Last Generation to See Fireflies?

 

"Expert": junk papers collage.

                                                                       

  

Want music?

    Click: Portugal, the Man, Feel It Still.

2GN2S

Switch, Freeze, Go!

Years ago when I was still teaching Karate, 

and for 33 years, I had a game, named as above. 

The game was part of warmups and involved circling 

the class space with running, at their own pace. 

When switch was called, they turned quickly 

to go the opposite direction, careful to not run in to others.

 When freeze was called, they had to stop immediately, 

with not even an extra step or a blink of the eye. 

Go is self-explanatory, except it could be called while 

they were already running, so often cause a hesitation 

They would sit down in the center if they had a mistake

 or even if they felt tired, knowing it would cost them 

a quick 10 push-ups counted by the 5 winners at the end. 

Even push-ups were to make them stronger. 

They came to love this game, and I told them I was 

glad they had fun, but really it was for me. 

I remember saying to them 

"I can't teach you until you can really listen."

Scientists warn that we could be the very last generation to see fireflies. The nostalgic magic of catching fireflies on warm summer nights may soon belong only to history. Scientists warn that humanity could be the last generation to witness the glowing courtship displays of these beloved beetles. Across the globe, firefly populations are experiencing rapid declines. This quiet ecological crisis is primarily driven by habitat destruction, pesticide use, rising global temperatures, and light pollution, which disrupts the dark environments they depend on to reproduce and thrive.

As crucial predators of pests and vital indicators of environmental health, the fading presence of fireflies signals a broader threat to our ecosystems. To prevent their complete disappearance, conservationists are urging immediate action, including restoring wetlands, reducing artificial nighttime lighting, and adopting sustainable agricultural practices. Without these steps, future generations may only experience the mesmerizing dance of these living stars through stories and digital screens.

source: National Geographic. Fireflies are vanishing—but you can help protect them. National Geographic

 

  

 

A 2+ minute cute video, This Side Up,  here.

 

 

Just because ...

Yellow Wattled Lapwing

Friday's Smiles ... 

 

Hoping you feel all the good things in your day.

  

 

 

Day 5039: Random thoughts & Scotland's Wind Turbines.

"GH3":acrylic on journal page.

                                                                       

  

Want music?

    Click: Chicago, Does Anybody Know What Time It Is?

2GN2S

View from my studio - 6AM

Today will be a rambling of thoughts, as is most often the case? Yesterday I attended my art group, Eastside. We meet the second Tuesday of the month and take turns sharing an art project and great food too. But the best part, is being together. I love sitting there just working on whatever, but being with and listening to my friends. We are all of a certain age, but at 84-1/2, I am by far the oldest. Not the elder statesman by any means, but occasionally a reference. The stories we share, family stuff, grandkid stuff and mainly, the laughs.. 

Yesterday, our wonderful host, Jody, had a drop in by her daughter and her twins. An adorable little blonde girl and boy, five year olds, as they dropped off their Shitzsu, Hunter, for Grandma to care for. They were on there way to Las Vegas and to Zion Park in Utah for week. Hunter, apparently accustomed to the routine, came to each lady to say hello then found his favorite spot and curled up for the afternoon. Just a snippet of a friends life that we shared. It was Norma's birthday, a dear, gentle, talented artist and fiercely loyal friend we all love. Ever ready Linda, our leader. made a cake, we sang, Norma read her cards and opened little gifts. A tradition but always special. Yes, there were actually two art projects in progress, planned by Jody, she had shopped for the supplies and had samples for us to study. Sometimes I take pictures of the art, but for me, yesterday was about the opportunity of spending the day with friends. Sometimes I don't take time to realize that blessing, yesterday I did.

We were sad to be missing Erin and Libby.

Scotland’s wind turbines are now capable of generating enough renewable electricity to supply far more than the country’s household demand during peak production periods.

The milestone highlights how rapidly renewable energy is expanding, with Scotland becoming one of the world’s leading regions for wind power generation.

 

Throwback Thursday ...

Demura Sensei & 8 members Costa Mesa Dojo

After Kangieko (Cold Weather Training) 

Huntington Beach, January4, 2009

(L-R) Luis Perez, Brandon Nomura, Tyler Kerce, Kim Israelson

Rachel Meyer, me, Demura Sensei, Cheyenne Lopez, MichaelKeating. 

  

 

A 4+ minute video, Temporary,  here.

 

Just because ...

Great-billed Kingfisher

Thursday's Smiles ... 

 

Hoping you feel all the good things in your day.

  

 

 

Day 5038: A Dad Story & The Amazing Beaver.

"Random Thoughts": junk collage, digital.

                                                                       

  

Want music?

    Click: Chaka Khan, Wishing on a Star.

2GN2S

A quick Dad story, 

 

 Dad had been a Greyhound bus driver, 

then a personal driver for the movie studios. 

Driving and cars were his specialty. 

I just saw an ad for this and it brought back memories.

Known as a Brodie knob, suicide spinner, knuckle buster, 

or wheel spinner, a universal steering wheel knob is a 

great add-on that offers an easy way to drive with a single 

hand safely. Common on machines like John Deere tractors,

 this device is a useful driving aid if you make a lot of turns 

in a vehicle, even one with modern-day power steering.

TMI? My Dad had one on his own car, not the bus. 

Do you remember the knob? 

Most people know beavers as nature's master builders, famous for constructing dams, lodges, and entire wetland ecosystems.

But one of their most remarkable tools is hidden in plain sight.

On each hind foot, a beaver possesses a specialized split claw known as a grooming claw. Unlike its other claws, this unique structure functions like a built-in comb, helping the animal maintain one of the most important survival systems in the natural world.

A beaver's thick fur is far more advanced than it appears. Beneath the outer layer of longer guard hairs lies a dense insulating underfur designed to trap warmth even in icy water. To keep this natural wetsuit working, the fur must be coated with waterproof oils produced by specialized glands.

That is where the grooming claw becomes essential.

Using this natural comb, the beaver carefully distributes waterproofing oils throughout its fur, ensuring every part remains protected from cold water. The process removes debris, untangles fur, and helps maintain a waterproof barrier that prevents heat loss.

Without this maintenance system, the fur would lose much of its effectiveness. Water could penetrate deeper into the coat, reducing insulation and making survival in freezing rivers and ponds far more difficult.

What makes this adaptation so fascinating is how perfectly each part depends on the others. The specialized claw, the oil-producing glands, and the unique fur structure work together as a complete survival package. Each component supports the next, creating a system so efficient that beavers can spend much of their lives in cold water without sacrificing warmth.

It is a powerful reminder that nature's greatest engineering is often found in the smallest details. While people admire a beaver's dam, the real masterpiece may be the tiny grooming tool hidden on its foot.

Which amazes you more: the beaver's ability to build massive dams or the incredible self-maintenance system built into its own body?

 

  

 

A 7+ minute video,  Quiet People by the Sea, here.

 

 

Just because ...

Pintail whydah

Wednesday's Smiles ... 

 

Hoping you see all the good things in your day.