LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — For more information, click here. Siena College hosted middle school students on Saturday to teach them about the wonders of science.The Great Siena Expedition is a hands-on science exploration event.Students can engage in activities to learn about science.The kids came out to see some reptiles The station representative that can assist any person with disabilities with issues related to the content of the public file is Brittany Moroukian. She can be contacted at bmoroukian@wnyt.com or 518-207-4710 Fifty years after receiving a handmade wingbone call an outdoorsman remembers the legendary biologist Wayne Bailey By T. Edward Nickens April/May 2025 You may or may not be impressed that I took third place in the junior division of the 1975 North Carolina wild turkey calling championships I will tell you that it wasn’t easy standing on the stage of a darkened high school auditorium a city kid in a cavernous assembly room full of Carhartt coats I stood alone on the stage as the contest judges called out my instructions in disembodied voices emanating from the gloom: “Gobble.” “Yelp.” “Putt.” I did my best with a box call the sweat from my hands wetting the call’s wooden sides not even when I’d been forced to sing “The Little Drummer Boy” as a solo in church This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply The reason for my discomfiture was simple: At the time I’d learned what little I knew about turkey calling from endless rewinds of an instructional cassette tape played in my bedroom while my brother yelled to my mother to make me stop I was stunned when the results were announced; I’d taken the bronze medal and I’ve been bragging about it for the half century since The fact that there were only three of us competing in the junior division—I don’t crow so much about that I don’t remember what the other fellows won but my prizes were a plastic wood and fake bronze turkey trophy and a wingbone turkey call with the name Wayne Bailey—presumably the call maker—etched into the side it didn’t look like much more than a few bones stuck together with glue but others in the auditorium practically lined up to see it They would hold it in their hands as if it were an emerald necklace but suddenly my third-place trophy didn’t seem so much like a last-place prize Like I’d gotten away with something that I didn’t really deserve glued together to form a single flute-shaped piece a wingbone turkey call is as old-school as it gets; Native Americans were using them to fool toms and hens as early as 6500 BC When the user sharply sucks air through the tip of the narrow radius a lacework of rigid structures inside the bones slices and dices the passing breath The sounds resonate in the hollows of the bone and resound in the trumpet-shaped bulge of what used to be the ball on the end of the humerus There’s something inherently authentic in using a wingbone call to entice a turkey Something poetic about giving voice and life to the lifeless and displayed them on bookshelves in my childhood bedroom—strange bones I found in the woods dried venom from a rattlesnake I’d killed and then milked postmortem I knew of neither the term nor the concept at the time I understand that my boyhood bedroom was akin to the European Wunderkammer or “cabinet of curiosities,” that was all the rage among the emerging intelligentsia of the Renaissance those collections showcased objects that felt meaningful I hauled a bunch of that sort of stuff from boyhood bedroom to college dorm to squalid apartments and assorted rental houses (Yet another reason that I may have been viewed as a bit of a curiosity myself.) At any point over the past fifty years you could have challenged me to find that wingbone turkey call within two minutes and I would have taken your money every time I was interviewing an old biologist in North Carolina for a story about old biologists in North Carolina when my subject said: “I hope you’re going to talk to R He was one of the pioneers of wild turkey biology and the name those real turkey hunters in that auditorium had whispered in reverence It was the name inscribed on my wingbone call Wayne Bailey lived less than two hours from my home in Raleigh The bird’s song sounded as faint as a leaf falling to the ground I didn’t hear it so much as realize that I had just heard something All around us the first rays of dawn thawed the colors of an early spring morning in north-central North Carolina’s Caswell County Blooming redbud and dogwood splattered the greening woods with lavender and cream blossoms I’d followed Bailey and his battered shotgun up a steep red-clay two-track trail crisscrossed with fox Tall enough to step over a three-strand barbed wire fence nearly flat-footed Bailey was eighty-six years old at the time and surprisingly swift I carefully hopped on shingles of moss growing in the middle of the road trying to keep up with the old man and keep quiet Now we stood at one of Bailey’s favorite listening posts a heavily timbered ridge with long views toward a creek bottom pasture where bellowing cattle milled about and almost instantly a different gobbler cut him off short There is no sound in the Southern woods to match a tom turkey’s gobble the turkeys must extend their necks out as straight as an axe handle Biologists believe that the opening notes of a turkey’s gobble—called the “attack”—snag the attention of other birds while the trailing notes help other turkeys calculate the distance and direction of the gobbler But here’s the thing about eastern wild turkeys: Sometimes they act like wild animals three wild turkeys within a couple hundred yards of one another decided they weren’t buying what one of the South’s greatest turkey hunters was selling and headed back to Bailey’s small house in the little town of Milton He drove his beat-up pickup like he stole it Even though there was hardly anyone else on the road it was one of the more terrifying rides I’d ever experienced Bailey signed on as a biologist with the state’s Conservation Commission in 1945 he was tasked with trapping a lone male gobbler in Seneca State Forest It was an early effort in what would become a half century of trapping wild turkeys in areas where they were common and transplanting them into areas around the country where they had disappeared Bailey couldn’t have known then that such work would one day be lauded as one of the greatest conservation success stories of the modern era and that he would play such a significant role in the comeback he was just trying to figure out how to get his hands on that gobbler It took weeks for him to lure the bird into the back corner of a picnic shelter with wheat and oats but when Bailey tripped the drop net he’d fashioned from plumbing pipe By the time he retired in 1980 as the project leader for North Carolina’s turkey restoration effort he’d assumed the mantle of “the godfather of modern wild turkey management.” He wrote more than a hundred scientific papers on the topic He live-trapped hundreds of wild turkeys in West Virginia and North Carolina and shipped the first wild birds ever released in Ohio He used drop nets and walk-in wire traps with trapdoors and spent long days in the blind He baited turkeys with corn soaked in tranquilizers that he shared his tiny house with doped-up turkeys Some would come out of their comas earlier than planned watching Bailey chase them around the room with a burlap sack in his hands Bailey pulled out mementos of his life as a turkey hunter and career as a pioneer in the wild turkey restoration movement—old black-and-white photographs of turkeys caught in cannon nets When I found a rare pause in the conversation and I told him the story of that long-ago turkey calling contest and the kid who knew he didn’t deserve what resulted There is no telling how many calls Bailey had made in his lifetime of chasing turkeys and sleeping with hungover turkeys in the next room The bones in my call had yellowed with age The small black kisser button on the mouthpiece was chipped and worn But the name etched into the trumpet end of the call was still as legible as the day he had made it He brightened up as if it were a prodigal son that’s an old one.” He scrounged around in a desk drawer but the words came out as pretty as you please: MADE FOR EDDIE NICKENS BY The inscription flowed nicely into the signature on the other side of the bone but it’s a pretty good bet it was among the last handmade wing-bone calls he ever signed despite my sterling credentials on the competitive circuit I’ve yet to kill one lured in with Bailey’s signature wingbone I keep the wingbone on a lanyard around my neck where I can grab it to toss out a quick yelp or putt every so often when I’m moving through the woods from location to location trying to figure out what the hell I would be doing if I knew what the hell I was doing in the turkey woods in the first place when a gobbler stepped into the wood’s road and eyeballed me at thirty feet Clearly he was looking for that sexy hen he’d been hearing for the last half hour and he seemed as utterly surprised to see me as I was to see him and then the bird vanished into the vernal ether and I touched the talisman around my neck and remembered the old man you never really know what trophy you might bring home the prize is a memory of a certain slant of early sunlight through a scrollwork of beech leaves or the stuttering tat-a-tat-tat-tat of a drumming yellow-bellied sapsucker Nothing you could make a turkey sandwich from That long-ago night after my hunt with Bailey I returned the wingbone call to its place of honor on a bookshelf crowded with its brethren oddities: a small specimen jar of preserved glass eels I’d collected on a full-moon night of yore; a patch of rabbit fur; the dried-up body of a red newt that I’d kept as a boyhood pet until it escaped from its terrarium only to be discovered under the bed years later and how our lives intertwined at distant moments within the still-unfolding saga of the eastern wild turkey’s magnificent return only seventeen remain in the wild on a swampy peninsula in Eastern North Carolina a number on the rise thanks to the passionate team of biologists determined to help them thrive once more Journey through the seasons in coastal South Carolina via a sleeping green anole A child of the Blue Ridge with an artistic streak Chocklett learned early the science behind tying flies Little did he know his cutting-edge designs would launch him to the heights of angling royalty The future of conservation in the South just got a little bit brighter—and not just for salamanders but they’re the craftsmanship of local crustaceans called lawn lobsters The drawls are receiving a lot of flak across the internet but a North Carolina linguist argues they’re actually pretty accurate '#' : location.hash;window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUQuery = location.search === '' && location.href.slice(0 location.href.length - window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash.length).indexOf('?') !== -1 '?' : location.search;if (window.history && window.history.replaceState) {var ogU = location.pathname + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUQuery + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash;history.replaceState(null "\/the-wonders-of-ai\/?__cf_chl_rt_tk=ZEQEvM3bxwPM4fnPjsteYBc4YjcFv6YNfAZoxY6lDvI-1746526032-1.0.1.1-lVBAMV6JsUCCn2Uzy6mCeLlY9wmmA9hbP0oSbdTH8ho" + window._cf_chl_opt.cOgUHash);cpo.onload = function() {history.replaceState(null ogU);}}document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(cpo);}()); Get 4 Weeks of Farm and Dairy Home DeliveredSign Up for your FREE Trial The most welcome change this time of year is the return of color after a long I’ve loved seeing the grass grow green across the lawns and the endless pastures and hayfields breezy weather beckons us to explore the great outdoors and our grandchildren find our farm the best place to be My husband has jokingly said he has pulled out all the stops to be sure little kids love to visit we put in an in-ground pool long before any grandkids were even a hopeful glimmer we have a wonderful cast of puppy characters each one loving to carry a toy to young visitors for a never-ending game of fetch the cherry on top of this trifecta is a large pasture for friendly ponies to run and play and each one alone is a surefire calling card 2-year-old granddaughter Josie spotted the ponies out running and kicking up their heels like wild little wonders From the time my husband was old enough to express thought cutting out his artwork and placing groups of ponies in various pastures on the living room floor of his early childhood home His mother told me she had no idea how to explain his passion for a pony but those imaginary beings followed him during both indoor and outdoor play Nothing makes him happier than to now have a possible pony for each of our four grandchildren Two of the mare ponies are going to foal in the coming months What better drawing card for young grandchildren than this It is a beautiful sight as Doug leads them from the barn to the wide open pasture As we were saying our goodbyes to today’s visitors I said to each of them that they should be thinking up some wonderful names giving them the happy news that there might be a baby pony or two by the time they return for a fun day of play here My husband chuckled when he overheard my parting words “I am pretty sure they are going to want to come back tomorrow now “You’re catching on to this grandchild attractant plan just fine,” he said with a chuckle and website in this browser for the next time I comment First Draft: A Dialogue of Writing is a weekly show featuring in-depth interviews with fiction highlighting the voices of writers as they discuss their work First Draft celebrates creative writing and the individuals who are dedicated to bringing their carefully chosen words to print as well as the impact writers have on the world we live in In this episode, Mitzi talks to Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer about her new poetry collection, The Unfolding Subscribe and download the episode you say how strangely wondrous life can be after a loss And I’m wondering if you can talk about feeling that so there’s a beautiful example of it how strangely wondrous life can be after a loss And I do think that there are ways that having lost my son just over three years ago that allowing myself to go deeply into that loss and turning toward it or finding myself be as open to it the constant prayer I had at that time was open me how do we find what’s wondrous after loss is a surprise I don’t know that I ever knew that was a possibility and I think that’s the value of a practice every day of showing up And I think the practice of showing up every day and being met with small wonders in a daily way It didn’t hurt that I’m surrounded by poets who helped along with that also I think that I had an enormous support group who came alongside and also have a practice of meeting this wide spectrum of feelings was that you could be just sobbing and see something beautiful at the same time and experience them both and that you could be extremely happy and in that moment of great joy I did this with that person that I’ve lost and now this sense of great grief that shows up in the middle of this moment of great joy and how they sing together and seem to call to each other and inform each other and open each other even more I like to think of it as this is how we create this sense of spaciousness inside of us maybe more to the point that it’s created inside of us I don’t know that there’s any agency to it is like they just keep pushing everything back until there’s more and more and more space from inside Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer has been writing and sharing a poem a day since 2006—a practice that especially nourished her after the death of her teenage son in 2021 or a curated version (with optional prompts) on her daily audio series Her poetry collection Hush won the Halcyon Prize Naked for Tea was a finalist for the Able Muse Book Award Her most recent collections are All the Honey and The Unfolding she became the first poet laureate for Evermore helping others through this platform to explore grief She is the co-hosts of a podcast on creative process called Emerging Form Created by Grove Atlantic and Electric Literature Masthead About Sign Up For Our Newsletters How to Pitch Lit Hub Privacy Policy Support Lit Hub - Become A Member Lit Hub has always brought you the best of the book world for free—no paywall you'll keep independent book coverage alive and thriving Advocacy Awards Back to School Booklists Books & Media Budgets & 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stations—and books galore—the resources here will help kids learn about our avian friends Photo by Maheera Kulsoom on Unsplash the return of longer days also cues the vibrant return of songbirds Though not all birds disappear during the winter the number and variety increase during the spring migration—and watching them is a great way for both students and teachers to connect with nature or outdoor bird-watching expeditions. Studying the natural world teaches students how to use their observational skills Since birds appear in all outdoor environments bird-watching is also a reliable entry point into place-based learning better understand themselves and their place in the world A few projects to get students started on observing and understanding birds: Join the conservation community in educating young people about birds through interactive resources Tiffany Coulson is a curriculum designer and research librarian for Altera You did not sign in correctly or your account is temporarily disabled Passwords must include at least 8 characters Your password must include at least three of these elements: lower case letters The email you entered already exists. Please reset your password to gain access to your account Exclusive video library and multimedia content searchable archives of more than 300,000 reviews and thousands of articles This comment was removed because it violates Library Journal's comment policy We are currently offering this content for free Sign up now to activate your personal profile where you can save articles for future viewing We’ve noticed you are using a private browser CREATE AN ACCOUNT SUBSCRIBE Most SLJ reviews are exclusive to subscribers you'll receive unlimited access to all reviews dating back to 2010 To access other site content, visit our homepage Around Cornell News directly from Cornell's colleges and centers In a musical journey through the cosmos, the Cornell Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Gabriela Gómez Estévez will perform the world premiere of “Ex Terra, Ad Astra,” a new work by Cheryl Engelhardt ’02 commissioned especially for this year’s Young Person’s Concert. The Cornell Orchestras perform in Jordan Hall during their Boston tour last January Inspired by the wonders of space, the concert is a collaboration with the Carl Sagan Institute. It will take place Sunday, March 2 at 3 p.m. in Bailey Hall, with an instrumental petting zoo and Mars Rover exhibit before the concert, at 2 p.m. in the lower lobby of Bailey Hall. The concert is free and open to the public and will also be livestreamed Attendees are also invited to participate in the related events hosted by the Cornell Astronomical Society on Friday The program includes Missy Mazzoli’s “Sinfonia (for Orbiting Spheres),” selections from Holst’s “The Planets,” and Bruch’s “Scottish Fantasy,” featuring Dean Zhang ‘25 this year’s concerto competition winner in the Symphony Orchestra category serves as the concertmaster of the Cornell Symphony Orchestra and has won the Ellen Gussman Adelson Prize for excellence in musical performance. Read the full story on the College of Arts and Sciences website. Get Cornell news delivered right to your inbox The Great Pyramid of Giza is an honorary member of the Wonders of the World The New Wonders of the World wouldn’t have been possible without what may be the best marketing campaign the travel industry has ever seen for the original Seven Wonders of the the World: the Great Pyramid of Giza and the (possibly fictional) Hanging Gardens of Babylon The original set sources input from Hellenic travelers The 7 New Wonders took a different approach In 2000, Swiss-based New7Wonders Foundation released a poll to update the old list. More than 100 million votes came in from all over the world, eventually crowning the Taj Mahal, Colosseum, Great Wall of China, Cristo the Redeemer, Petra and Alhambra are a few of the finalists that didn’t make the cut.) The organization (understandably) received criticism for its methods. UNESCO even made a formal announcement that it wasn’t involved with the campaign “in order to avoid any damaging confusion.” But the label stuck Now these places drive such large visitor numbers that one may wonder if visiting them is still worth it in the age of overtourism the Wonders of the World represent more than the specific destinations; instead they symbolize a larger-than-life idea of visiting faraway places When I was a high schooler set on traversing the whole world I had a vision of seeing all existing Wonders by the time I hit 25 and majestic places I have seen are in part thanks to an ambitious dream that got me out the door As Afar contributor Carey Baraka writes about the value of these types of places eloquently in his piece about bucket lists: “While there is undeniably still space for small we can’t write off travel experiences that are about the superlative And when most of your life is lived in a valley So if you’re intent on seeing the Wonders of the World and support local communities when you can Here are a few tips from experts (including some on Afar’s Travel Advisory Council) for experiencing the seven New Wonders of the World and the last remaining original Wonder—while minimizing the chaos of the crowds although you may want to skip paying extra to go inside the Great Pyramid if you’re prone to claustrophobia tour operator Geographic Expeditions’ managing director of premier access recommends arranging a private viewing of the Great Pyramids or the outside of the Great Sphinx’s paws which would also give you an uncrowded view of the pyramids From Doty’s experience booking clients with Geographic Expeditions those who opt for such excursions need advance requests as you’ll need confirmation through the Egyptian Antiquities Authority Genghis Khan breached the Great Wall of China in the 13th century The 13,171-mile Great Wall of China is so expansive, there’s even a myth that you can see it from space it runs through the northern part of central China more than 10 million people come and marvel at the fortification most travelers don’t come to walk the whole Great Wall Instead they usually choose a section to visit each with various levels of hiking difficulty and accessibility But if you want to get away from the crowds Doty suggests going to more remote sections that are still well preserved The section is a two-hour drive (around 100 miles) from Beijing making it a crowd-free day trip from the capital The path after the Treasury is where you’ll find fewer crowds was settled by the Nabataeans around 400 B.C The approximately 65,000-acre site has tombs and a massive theater a facade carved into the rock to be a mausoleum (The name comes from the area’s inhabitants in the 19th century The ancient city draws about 1 million travelers a year Doty recommends venturing farther from the iconic structure: “If you are physically able you may walk the steps up to the monastery and there will be even fewer people.” Cari Gray CEO and owner of private jet travel company Gray and Co. suggests ending (or starting) a hike from the nearby archaeological site Little Petra you need to arrange a guide and transportation at the end and starting points The ancient city of Chichén Itzá takes up four square miles To avoid the crowds, try to get there right when the site opens, before the hordes of travelers come in. With the intensity of the sun and limited shade, your body will thank you. Still, you may find yourself rubbing shoulders with some tour groups on a guided tour, but don’t fret; there are plenty of other ancient pyramids worth exploring in Mexico Machu Picchu means “Old Mountain” in Quechua Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca citadel located nearly 8,000 feet above sea level For many of its 950,000 or so annual visitors the trip entails a car or train ride to a gateway town like Aguas Calientes Afar deputy editor Michelle Baran recommends getting there early or late in the day to explore in relative solitude But to avoid the literal bus load of tourists obscuring your view travel advisor Doty suggests lacing up your hiking shoes and taking a trek such as the Choquequirao Trek or the Lares Trek Peru’s Ministry of Culture offers three circuits for viewing all of the sights at Machu Picchu in an effort to spread out the crowds. On a 2024 visit to Machu Picchu Afar deputy editor Tim Chester completed a lower circuit and now recommends it: “You still pass many of the main sights Mughal emperor Shah Jahan commissioned the Taj Mahal in Agra in 1631 to honor his late wife Mumtaz Mahal For a fantastic viewpoint, Gray says the Oberoi Hotel is great when the skies are clear with viewpoints such as the Mehta Bagh gardens The head and hands of Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer statue were sculpted in France Looming over Rio de Janeiro are the outstretched arms of Christ the Redeemer, a concrete statue of Jesus Christ. The Catholic symbol stands at 98 feet high and spans a whopping 92 feet horizontally from fingertip to fingertip The concrete work took five years to build and was finished in 1931 The statue is the crowning piece of Corcovado Mountain and about 2 million people come every year to visit the work There are several ways to see Christ the Redeemer, including via train, van tour, and hike. If you want to time your visit right, Afar contributor and Rio de Janeiro resident Joel Balsam recommends visiting right when it opens in the morning. Or save the sweat and consider going by helicopter (like the ones offered by Kensington Tours) which Gray recommends if the skies are clear AFAR participates in affiliate marketing programs which means we may earn a commission if you purchase an item featured on our site.© 2025 AFAR LLC Red and Barb Moulinier of Rehoboth Beach recently visited Sabino Canyon in Tucson Arizona—a popular tourist destination renowned for its hiking trails They spent a beautiful day exploring the canyon they marveled at the stunning saguaro cacti and other unique desert vegetation Show fellow Cape Gazette readers just how wide a territory their newspaper covers! Carry your Cape Gazette on your travels. Email jamie@capegazette.com a photo and description - don’t forget names I was intrigued and excited to embark on this journey Tanzania offers a unique and unforgettable travel experience As someone who has traveled the world experiencing diverse cultures and one-of-a-kind adventures my recent time in the country ranks among the best trips of my lifetime Turkish Airlines stands out for its unparalleled luxury and comfort when choosing an airline the in-flight experience is worth every penny Just imagine being welcomed by a chef who introduces the menus and wine selections as soon as you board Or carts full of gourmet side dishes and desserts to accompany your meal The flight attendants are equally attentive and provide turn-down service Another advantage of flying with Turkish Airlines is their stop-over program With a long layover in Istanbul from one of its hub locations like New York (the airline provides accommodations through its hotel partners) you can explore two destinations in a single trip the type of experience you want to have will determine the best time to visit the period from November to May is the wet season June to October is the peak travel season as the Great Migration occurs throughout the Serengeti No matter when you decide to make your way my number one tip is to ensure you book with a reputable tour company For my trip, I booked with Moved: Safari One of the things that drew me to them was the nonprofit component that led to the opening of Kisimani School in Arusha partners with tour operators and hotels to craft bespoke experiences each donating a portion of their commissions towards continued support of the school This has allowed the school to build a library and provide other critical supplies Booking with a reputable tour company like Moved: Safari ensures a safe and well-organized trip with knowledgeable guides and high-quality accommodations while contributing to the local community I could have gone on a safari every day because every single one, even at the exact same location, would be different. Nothing can compare to seeing animals in their majestic glory, roaming about their natural habitats. For our safari through Manyara National Park, we used JorAfrica as our tour company gave us facts about the area and the animals along the way–and had a keen eye for spotting mammals like gazelles and bee-eaters amid their camouflaged surroundings For lodging, check out the luxury accommodations of Mayanara’s Secrets located just across the lake from the park It’s a beautiful resort; you may even spot some tree-climbing lions While I enjoyed the national park adventure, Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area was an exceptionally breathtaking experience We started early in the morning on a quest to see The Big Five: lion These are the five most dangerous animals to hunt on foot and seeing them in the wild is a thrilling experience You’ll start your tour at the top of the conservation area where you’ll see the largest volcanic caldera in the world Driving into the crater is where you can find The Big Five plus other wildlife like exotic birds For lodging near Ngorongoro, consider the quaint cottages of Entamanu Nomad Camp and you can open your door to the sight of a stunning sunrise or a giraffe roaming through the acacia trees Pro tip: You can up the ante with a helicopter or hot air balloon safari tour drove us into the Yaeda Valley to spend time with the Hadzabe people–the last known hunter-gatherer tribe at the Dorobo Mobile Camp They have lived without modern conveniences for centuries relying on nature and a sense of community for daily needs We joined the women by passing the time doing beadwork or foraging in the nearby woods for root vegetables and other edible food sources The men taught us about the types of arrows used for hunting various animals It was one of the most enriching things I have ever witnessed I left with a greater sense of what it means to be a part of a community and have dependable relationships Depending on when you plan your getaway, you’ll want to include some time at the beautiful beaches of Tanzania by visiting Zanzibar. If you want to relax among turquoise waters and white sands, consider Nungwi Beach. Stop by Zeebar for great eats If you’re a bit more adventurous and want to indulge in activities like snorkeling There is even more to be explored in Tanzania or beholding the beauty of the Materuni Waterfall You’ll be planning your next visit before you leave Joseph Church in Le Mars for their new initiative “The Arts at All Saints” program on Sunday This is the inaugural concert and it will feature a semi-professional choral ensemble of the Northwest Iowa Singers The concert is called “Many are the Wonders” and a reception will follow the show May 1- 31 - Join us for a month-long celebration of new vegan dishes all over Manchester Businesses across the city will showcase exciting special vegan menu items giving everyone the opportunity to explore creative plant-based dishes crafted by talented local chefs -Visit participating restaurants across Manchester.-Try their exclusive vegan offerings.-Share your experience—vote It’s about bringing our community together to celebrate incredible food and support our region’s chefs 🙌 Get Involved: Looking for ways to connect We’re seeking passionate individuals to help with outreach and community building throughout the month It's a great way to meet like-minded people and make a difference Volunteer using this link: TinyURL.com/VOLVCC Join us in making Manchester an even more inclusive visit our website at veganchefchallenge.org/Manchester Join us for a month-long celebration of new vegan dishes all over Manchester Businesses across the area will showcase exciting special vegan menu items 🗓 How It Works:- Visit participating restaurants throughout Manchester- Try their exclusive vegan offerings.- Share your experience—vote and tag us at @veganchefchallengeMWThis event is open to everyone—not just vegans It’s about bringing our community together to celebrate incredible food and support Manchester chefs 🙌 Get Involved:Looking for ways to connect Volunteer using this link: TinyURL.com/VOLVCCJoin us in making Manchester an even more inclusive and compassionate community.For details on participating businesses visit our website at veganchefchallenge.org/Manchester The NH Furniture Masters are pleased to present the “Chairmen’s Show,” a fine furniture exhibition at the NH Furniture Masters gallery in downtown Concord the NH Furniture Masters has been led by volunteer chairmen who dedicate tremendous time and energy towards the management and direction of the group The “Chairmen’s Show” is an opportunity to recognize members who have taken on the highest role in the group and have shepherded the organization over the last 30 years This exhibition includes works by Jeff Cooper Brian Sargent and Bill Thomas.An Opening Reception will be held on Friday About the NH Furniture Masters:The NH Furniture Masters is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and advancing the profession of fine furniture making The organization was founded 30 years ago to build public awareness of New Hampshire’s fine furniture makers and to cultivate an audience for their goods closer to home NH – Squam Lakes Natural Science Center celebrates the start of the 2025 public trail season on opening day Squam Lakes Natural Science Center has been a favorite New England family destination and discovery to generations of visitors through live animal exhibits guided Squam Lake Cruises and the vibrant charm of Kirkwood Gardens The Science Center is Certified Sensory Inclusive by KultureCity The 3/4 mile live animal exhibit trail features coyote Plan at least two and a half hours to walk the animal exhibit trail and marsh boardwalks on a packed gravel path Trail rates for 2025 are $28 for adults; $26 for seniors (age 65+); $22 for youth (ages 3-15); free for children 2 and under and Science Center members.Tickets and information are available at www.nhnature.org Unbound vol.XIIIArtistree Gallery's annual exhibit of Artist's Books and artwork made from and about books 2025The opening reception on April 25th from 5:30-7:30pm.Gallery hours;10:00am to 6:00pm from Tuesday to SaturdayImage: Fragments ~ Edition varie #4 by Debra A with special guided tours of the Unbound exhibitMay 16 Rivier University is pleased to host Ana Hebra Flaster author and member of the institution’s Board of Trustees for a book signing as she presents her new memoir Ana will also lead a discussion and take audience questions The historical narrative captures her family’s transformation from pro-Castro revolutionaries in a vibrant Havana barrio to refugees seeking a new life in the New Hampshire mill town of Nashua Flaster’s memoir offers a personal exploration of loss Flaster has written extensively about Cuba and the Cuban American experience for major publications Her powerful storytelling and commentaries have also been featured on National Public Radio and PBS’s “Stories from the Stage” offering audiences a rich and immersive perspective on identity Copies of Property of the Revolution will be available for purchase through the event registration page The general public is invited to join the Rivier community for the book signing The 16th New Hampshire Literary Awards are now open for nominations These prestigious awards recognize outstanding published works about New Hampshire as well as works by New Hampshire natives or residents All entries must be a first edition published within the eligibility period (January 1 2024.) All submissions will be read and evaluated by a panel of judges vetted and assembled by the NH Writers’ Project Literary Awards Committee Chairperson In May the Gibson's Book Club is reading and discussing The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store author of the bestselling Oprah’s Book Club pick Deacon King Kong and the National Book Award–winning The Good Lord Bird a novel about small-town secrets and the people who keep them Our book club is free and open to the public Club books are chosen democratically by the participants; they've chosen an eclectic ambitious list of books for the coming year: join us for every meeting or deal yourself in as the spirit moves you New Hampshire PBS has partnered with the New Hampshire Society of Genealogists (NHSOG) to bring you a weekly five-session virtual “Intro to Genealogy” Course 🔍 In this 90 minute weekly workshop you'll learn: including immigration & citizenshipResearching the U.S CensusTracing your family tree back to 1850—and beyond!📅 FIVE Live Sessions (all from 6:30 PM-8 PM): April 23 (First Session!)April 30May 7May 14May 21Donate $110 and get:✔️ Access to all five live & recorded sessions✔️ An NHSOG membership including their digital journal (3x/year)✔️ An NHPBS membership + PBS Passport (if you're not already a member) Start your journey into the past—sign up today a branch of the state-wide program offered by the New Hampshire Writers' Project Every attendee has the opportunity to read up to about 5 pages (about 8-10 minutes spoken out loud) of their work for critique and feedback from the group we may have a prompt at the end if time allows We meet on the first Monday of each month from 7:00 – 9:00pm at Murphy’s Taproom and Carriage House in the Cork Private Room (on the left when you walk into the dining room) Murphy’s is located at 393 State Rte 101 in Bedford We also offer an optional social hour starting at 6 before the meeting officially begins at 7 We rely on readers like you to support the local and international coverage on this website Your support makes this news available to everyone A monthly donation of $5 makes a real difference Sign In Subscribe Now Yukoners live in harmony with majestic annual cycles of cosmic abundance such as the annual migration of the Porcupine caribou herd government contractors perch expectantly around the Yukon legislature at a certain time of year for the annual running of the projects How many other eagles are hanging around to compete for a piece of the action The capital budget announced by Finance Minister Sandy Silver in March has $478 million for this year with $1.9 billion in the full five-year plan That’s a solid chunk of investment for a Yukon economy that clocks in at around $4-billion a year There are big projects on Whitehorse airport the Klondike highway and the Teslin bridge over the Alaska Highway (or are we calling it the “Yukon Highway” now as some Yukonomist sources have suggested?). Other capital priorities are housing and land (18 per cent) and community and First Nations projects (16 per cent) Sectors getting less of the capital budget include climate change (6 per cent) education (5 per cent) and health (2 per cent). Other highlights include $23-29 million for 45 housing units to replace the Ryder apartments $15-25 million per year for new Whitehorse residential lots $45-58 million to move Whitehorse Elementary to Takhini $60-86 million for new sewage lagoons in Carmacks and Dawson $13-16 million for a new Coroner’s building and $4-7 million for a new law court information system The capital budget lists dozens of projects Are they just a replacement of a current asset We need to replace bridges at end-of-life of course but from a macro perspective a new bridge will not make the Yukon economy more productive or efficient a convention centre that fills local hotels in summer but is quiet in the winter Or are they enablers of new social services or economic activity like the $12-14 million for a new science building at Yukon University or the $40-51 million for the upgraded mining port facility in Skagway Does the project provide social services to Yukoners or support a bigger and more productive private-sector economy The $6-9 million for housing addressing gender-based violence is important but so are the investments in infrastructure for business These two dimensions give you four categories: social with net new benefits social status quo and economic status quo. As I flip through the big-dollar projects in the capital budget I see a lot of maintenance and replacement of existing assets Relatively less of the money is going into net new infrastructure that will build a more financially sustainable Yukon private-sector economy The Skagway port facility is in this category since sky-high housing costs and the resulting wage and labor supply pressures have really hurt Yukon businesses’ growth prospects Another example is the Yukon Resource Gateway project pencilled in for $110-135 million over five years This is a previously existing project and includes things like helping the proposed Casino copper mine upgrade 126 kilometres of their mining road and construct 18 creek bridges As we face the US trade war and a new world of economic uncertainty including the impact of recessions and slower growth on our transfer payment provider in Ottawa we probably need to be more focused than previously on growing the local economy Which will not be easy given the capital needs of health A large part of the capital budget is political theatre Everyone knows that not all the projects will actually happen and that big projects that aren’t included in its numbers will be announced the capital budget has $1-2 million to start the planning for a much-needed expansion of the Whitehorse hospital Government officials talked before the budget of plans for a new “surgical tower.” We can be very confident this will happen since the need is so obvious as evidenced by the number of stories in the Yukon News about surgical capacity since the Cornerstone Consulting report on the problem back in 2018 But the capital budget shows zero dollars for it in future years You will not find the words “convention centre” in the capital budget despite the government announcing an $18.75 million contribution to the $75-million project just a few weeks later Ditto for big bucks for the $500 million in power investments that territorially-owned Yukon Energy mentioned later in the same legislative session It’s kind of like if you sat down with your spouse And then she goes the next day and spends $110,000 on a Silver Streak Challenge soft-top fishing boat It may be wonderful that it comes with a 150-horsepower Yamaha but it wasn’t in the family capital budget listening to the Yukon finance minister talk about the capital budget is a bit like getting data on the Haines salmon run by listening to fellow patrons of the Fogcutter tavern The same can be said about the budget’s overall spending projections When Minister Silver said in his budget speech that “we have laid out a path to repay borrowed funds,” he didn’t explain how major spends like new surgical towers or diesel power plants would factor in Keith Halliday is a Yukon economist and the winner of the Canadian Community Newspaper Award for Outstanding Columnist The audiobook version of his most recent book Moonshadows Dialogue and debate are integral to a free society and we welcome and encourage you to share your views on the issues of the day. We ask that you be respectful of others and their points of view, refrain from personal attacks and stay on topic. To learn about our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines Inspired by the wonders of space, the concert is a collaboration with the Carl Sagan Institute with an instrumental petting zoo and Mars Rover exhibit before the concert The concert is free and open to the public. “We are thrilled to bring this unique collaboration with the Carl Sagan Institute to the stage and stunning visuals for an immersive experience,” said Estévez assistant professor of music and director of orchestras in the College of Arts and Sciences.“This interdisciplinary performance celebrates the wonder of the cosmos and we can’t wait to share it with the Cornell and Ithaca communities It’s going to be an inspiring and unforgettable event.” best-selling and award-winning New Age recording artist She's had more than 40 television and commercial placements of her music and has over three million streams on Spotify The concert will also be livestreamed At first glance, Wilmington bustling with industry and graced by a picturesque riverfront Delve a little deeper and you’ll discover a captivating blend of coastal charm and a thriving culinary scene that sets Wilmington apart who made the 2024 finalist list in the “Outstanding Chef” category the most remarkable thing about Wilmington is its relationship with the sea,” Neff says who came up in award-winning kitchens in Atlanta and Asheville moving to the North Carolina coast was like coming home “Getting back in touch with the ocean was amazing,” he says. a chic mid-century modern boutique hotel featuring the inviting Gazebo Bar in its courtyard and recently honored as a 2024 Michelin One Key hotel From these comfortable vantage points, you can appreciate the main show: the scenic beauty. “Wilmington has beaches galore,” Neff says. Think Carolina Beach, where a vintage boardwalk transports visitors back to the golden days of seaside getaways the mighty Cape Fear River lends to Wilmington’s riverfront and downtown with rows of nineteenth-century buildings and elegant eighteenth-century mansions showcasing the city’s rich architectural heritage or guided tour through these attractive streets offers a delightful visit Wilmington is also brimming with extraordinary hidden experiences waiting to be uncovered With everything from James Beard-nominated chefs to one-of-a-kind experiences Plan your Wilmington adventure at WilmingtonandBeachesGetaway.com Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain wonderland still sparkles These top-notch bakeshops let flour-free customers have their cake—and pies Science & Nature Photographers tend to spend a lot of time with their subjects. For astrophotographer Rick Wayne of Madison his subject for much of his life has been space What started off as an interest in taking better pictures soon became something much greater On one clear night, independent audio producer Alexandra Salmon joined Wayne to take photographs of the night sky at the Yanna Astronomical Research Station in Brooklyn owls and a clearing in the trees with a perfect opening to the starry night (This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.) This was two checks from Grandma Lynn’s worth of money and maybe a little contribution from my wife And I made this little 3D-printed gizmo so I could spread the tripod legs so it’s nice and firm I’m going to step over here and get the telescope out. And this guy, not to snow with you tech talk, but this is an 8-inch Ritchey-Chretién astrograph a software engineer by day and astrophotographer by night Alexandra Salmon: So with the images you produce — is that what is actually out in space if we were to be in space RW: If you were out in space and looked at it you would see nothing because these gases are a pretty good vacuum But part of it also is because the camera is integrating There are only a few photons hitting the sensor every second and your eyes can integrate only a quarter of a second at a time and the camera can do it for hours if I tell it to Something like the Andromeda galaxy which is just in an image with lots of integration time it bursts with color and it’s just gobsmackingly gorgeous it looks like some fuzzy stuff and a couple of stars there That’s what most of these deep space objects look like to the eye It would be pretty much the same if you were out there in space This part is a thermoelectrically cooled monochrome astrocamera which means it’s just taking in photons An image of West Veil Nebula in Narrowband and RGB Stars AS: Do you feel different things when you’re looking at a photograph of space versus when you’re looking up at space there’s that whole artisan pride and all that just generally looking at astrophotographs the images are so much more striking than looking up at the sky shapes — but there’s something about seeing something with your own eyeballs When we do outreach and I set up the big scope — if Saturn is up — every person or every third person bends over and looks in the eye piece and they’re silent for half a second and then they say my god.” Because it’s just that little jewel floating in space There’s something about that that no photograph can really convey The Milky Way captured at Newport Beach in Door County AS: The images are so beautiful and I wonder if you ever feel like looking up at space does something for you that looking around here on Earth doesn’t You don’t get a sense of the forces at play of the universe and that really deep history The old Carl Sagan saying that “We’re all stardust” … every atom in our bodies that’s higher up the periodic table than iron was built in a supernova explosion That’s the only place those atoms come from That’s our whole world — built out of stuff that came out of supernova explosions AS: When you spend so much time looking at space Sometimes it makes me feel a little insignificant my self-regard is such that making me feel insignificant is a long haul up a steep hill What I do on the other end of the spectrum may not matter We only have a tiny piece of the universe but it kind of behooves us to make it ours Astrophotographer Rick Wayne captured this image of the Ring Nebula during his interview with producer Alexandra Salmon in Brooklyn MUSIC: Hubble Image Sonifications by NASA ‘A Spring Song’: Reconnecting with nature after the winter thaw White pine eulogy: Honoring the many lives of a Wisconsin tree Freezing Man: Wisconsin’s small town version of Burning Man From backyard garden to high-tech strawberry farm Love Wisconsin? You’ll love Wisconsin Life, a place for engaging stories of the people that make Wisconsin feel like home. Produced by Wisconsin Public Radio and PBS Wisconsin © Wisconsin Public Radio and PBS Wisconsin, services of the Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents As you dive into the hustle of the spring semester, there’s one place on campus you might not expect to be your greatest study secret: the Syracuse University Libraries it’s where you’d normally think to grab a book or find a quiet corner to study they’re a hidden gem of unexpected resources that can make your academic life a whole lot easier Join Aidan Turner ’25 as he shares what You Otto Know about Syracuse University Libraries experiential learning and creative expression are core to the student experience at Syracuse University Libraries across campus provide endless opportunities to discover and deepen virtually any interest Contact: DNR Office of CommunicationsDNRPress@wisconsin.gov MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced that the winter issue of Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine is now available in print and online and the latest issue will help you embrace the fun The Safe Drinking Water Act marks its 50th anniversary this year and the magazine’s “Back in the Day” feature focuses on the positive impact of this important federal legislation And there’s much more in this issue to help you embrace winter in Wisconsin We’re also asking for feedback on the magazine as part of a quick survey. Readers and nonreaders alike can take a moment to let us know what they think on the survey webpage Check out the digital edition of Wisconsin Natural Resources online at wnrmag.com. Or subscribe to the print edition. Now through Dec. 31, there’s a special holiday rate of five issues for $5. Call 1-800-678-9472 or check the website to sign up, renew or give a gift today © Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources | Site requirements | Accessibility | Legal | Privacy | Employee resources The music of Thelonious Monk has stood as both a perpetual challenge and a bedrock inspiration in modern jazz. For guitarist Miles Okazaki In 2018, to commemorate Monk’s centennial, Okazaki recorded every single documented composition in his songbook — alone in his Brooklyn apartment, with a Gibson Charlie Christian archtop guitar, a Fender Twin amplifier, and no pedal effects. The resulting album, WORK (Complete, Volumes 1 - 6) I hailed it as “the six-string equivalent of a free solo climb up El Capitan.”) Okazaki recently connected with WRTI from his apartment and how he has been preparing as if for a marathon (He’s also literally preparing for a marathon.) Because we were talking on Bud Powell’s centennial he also obliged with a full performance of “In Walked Bud.” It's been a while since you first embarked on this project, which yielded the album WORK in Monk’s centennial year So the main thing I wanted to ask was: how has it evolved as you’ve lived with it 2018 was really just one iteration of a cycle that happens every five or six years I go into some sort of Monk deep dive and revisit — just the same way you might do with a great book that you read again because the book or the music is exactly the same as it was before So that was a documented version of something that I had been working on for a long time it was: “Let me get my mind around this body of work.” With any big project once you get your mind around the scope of it it becomes manageable to then break it into pieces and say I’m going to do it this way.” So after that I did quite a bit of touring solo guitar Inevitably that led to some favorites: not the whole 70 tunes or whatever but maybe half of that was what I was drawing on I seem to be kind of neglecting these ones that I’m still a little scared of because there were a lot of them that I could only just get together just to record you only have to have that one thing in your mind at the time I’d like to be able to just randomly jump into any part of this body of work.” Spin the wheel So I started revisiting some of these ones that I just recorded once and then didn't play anymore I was playing a solo Monk concert at SFJAZZ and a gentleman there decided that he wanted to produce a concert film of this project You mentioned some of those neglected pieces I call this the “genius” chunk; I’m thinking of this set in terms of chunks Genius of Modern Music is sort of the first albums that were released on 78s and then compiled into those Blue Note things “Humph.” There’s this one called “Who Knows?” There’s one called “Hornin’ In.” “Skippy.” There’s one called “Sixteen.” These are all tunes that were only recorded on that record and not recorded again So you aren’t the only one who who recorded them and then set them aside but I have a feeling that for a lot of people their earlier work is a lot more verbose and trying to demonstrate things There’s some element of that going on here Whereas some of the later things are really really pared down to some almost Zen-like essentials These kind of tunes like “Jackie-ing,” or something like that That chunk is a thing that I didn’t really play Now how much of that difficulty is just in the material itself and how much is in how difficult it is to play on the guitar a lot of these took quite a few takes in the studio They’re not so difficult for people nowadays But there’s some stuff going on with the guitar where you have to somehow project the feeling of the song You can’t really play all the parts at the same time So you have to do a part of it — like if I’m playing the melody this melody of “Skippy,” somehow underneath that I have to keep this kind of rhythm underneath it while while playing the melody this is a real monophonic instrument when he plays something like that it’s well-known that Monk would show people songs And even on sessions while the clock is ticking in the studio you take way more time to just try to get people to learn it by ear “Don’t worry about the chord changes; work on this melody and then it’ll be fine.” There’s direct sources So it’s not the jazz pedagogy thing where you have all these chord changes The melody can kind of carry the whole thing So sometimes that’s the approach on guitar where he’s kind of playing for a little bit But one of the most fundamental decisions you made you decided this would be an acoustic endeavor. You’re not plugging in and working with any kind of effect or varying your sound except in a tactile way Can you go back to your formative decision-making and and explain what led to these two decisions that defined the whole project like if I want to really work on these tunes — to the point where something comes out for each tune that is beyond just executing the melody and then playing a solo and executing the melody or if I really want to develop it into some kind of what they call an arrangement and you can’t do that in the studio with a group I wanted to be able to look at “Skippy,” or whatever is and try to unlock that and then hit record like you get into a certain zone and then do that And then there’s a sort of a purity of of approach that I just aesthetically like What can we just do with technique on the guitar And what kind of extended techniques might it require to get the sounds I’m looking for without pedals and looping and layering and overdubbing and all that stuff I’d like to just be with the guitar — try to see what I can get out of it The one up on the wall there is the one I used on the Monk record It kind helps me historically enter some sort of mood It may be just a little mental trick that I play on myself in order to get into the frame of mind Yeah, that makes perfect sense. You know, you mentioned some of your other projects: the last time I saw you was at Solar Myth with Trickster. You have a new album, Miniature America… …that is as far from this project as you can get in terms of really incorporating the studio and lots of different collaborators Having immersed yourself so deeply in this Monk universe and the physical and mental and musical challenges that it presents how did that then inform influence your music-making in seemingly unrelated areas because these things don’t sound the same right What initially attracted me and continues to attract me to Monk’s music is that it is a little world that you step into When you watch a great world-building science fiction film or something like that These things you only notice the fourth time you see the movie they really paid attention to that.” And those are the things that that make it Monk’s corpus is like the model for building a world of sound But there’s something about this particular body of work where there’s sort of a limit to it — like This is a body of work that’s really consistent and self-contained So that to me is an environment that you can go into and just kind of live there I don’t know why I’m going into the science fiction stuff if you’re going to really get the most out of it Some people kind of wander in and knock things over But how does it relate to other seemingly unrelated things — like for that previous record you just mentioned And the goal of this isn’t to make you have any direct message or anything like that It’s to create something that draws you into some kind of sound world and then keeps you there for a little while It’s just a purely an attempt to make something that is consistent in its approach something strange enough that it’ll make you curious That’s how I’ve always felt about my music And he also said: “But I want something that will keep the musicians coming to rehearsal.” You know So you have to have enough meat on the bone there to have have people come back and want to work with you and be interested in doing it we’re interested in a lot of esoteric things and all that I think that’s the spirit amongst music: It’s fun Can you talk through some of your design there It’s different than the track sequence on Work It’s not really practical to do six sets live And at solar myth it’s a single 90-minute performance So the record starts with that “genius” chunk I picked up this Monk boxed set of 10-inch LPs It has four of these LPs that were later compiled onto other things like Thelonious Monk with Sonny Rollins and stuff like that But the original LPs are kind of cool because they’re consistent with the personnel and all that stuff has three really interesting tracks on there that aren’t really on other stuff Then the second set is centered around Five Spot because to me that’s the sort of apex moment So that that second set is like Brilliant Corners Then the next set is the early ‘60s: you know Then at the end I bring back stuff from the late ‘50s because I wanted to end with certain tunes “Blue Monk” and “Work” and “Nutty,” those are bread-and-butter tunes for me which was one of the first records that I heard and it has this long version of “‘Round Midnight" on it — like a 20-minute version I wanted to end with “‘Round Midnight,” and it seems logical since the concert in New York will end around that time it reminds me of ending strong in a marathon — last mile It’s sort of like when you’re coming over the Willis Avenue bridge I’m training for the New York Marathon right now My last long run will be right after the Monk concert and then it’ll be this thing called the taper So how will you organize this material for Solar Myth I was thinking I’ll just blast through them faster than normal I’m glad that this project continues to live in your practice I don’t need to know everything.” I can just kind of know certain things and keep working on them I just sat down right before we were talking I never noticed that before.” It happens every time It was “Monk’s Mood,” and there was just one chord It was this chord at the end of the bridge but there’s a G-flat in the chord that I never was playing before Let me check that." I have this crazy book that I’ve been about a year working on It’s all the my notes for the stuff I’m supposed to remember — like I love the idea that you’re still discovering things in these compositions that you come back at a different time in your life I didn’t understand Dostoevsky when I was 18 there are a few guitarists who play Monk tunes regularly Steve Cardenas is famously a documenter of Monk’s music. Kurt Rosenwinkel and Peter Bernstein who play Monk’s music What kind of feedback have you received from guitarists who have listened to your approach Steve Cardenas was the one who originally sort of got me going on the thing and I’m a fan of his scholarship and the way he plays the tunes So he’s a great person to bounce stuff off of There are guitar players who I didn’t know hero-level guitarists that I was curious about His records with Paul Motian set the gold standard for playing Monk on guitar but still putting your personality into it and he told me: “I just wanted to say that I thought this was really an amazing project.” I was like Just to feel connected to someone who’s really part of that lineage of interpreting Monk He probably doesn’t remember it or anything like that It has room for you to walk around and kind of explore and check it out And that’s one of the things that keeps me coming back Miles Okazaki appears at Solar Myth on Friday, Oct. 11. He performs WORK: LIVE, the full Thelonious Monk songbook, at The Jazz Gallery on Oct This article is part of our February 2025 theme, “How to Fight for Joy in God.” To see the rest of the articles, visit our February theme page the solution to our spiritual struggles is less spiritual than we imagined Maybe a dull apathy settled upon you some time ago Maybe you live in a land where joy feels far away You might imagine that the main solution to these spiritual struggles is spiritual: hold more firmly to God’s promises; draw near to him more regularly; search out hidden sins you need to hear counsel like John Newton’s (1725–1807): Sometimes when nervous people come to me, distressed about their souls, and think that is their only complaint, I surprise them by asking if they have no friend in Cornwall, or in the north of Scotland, whom they could visit; for I thought a ride to the Land’s End, or John o’ Groat’s House, might do them more good than all the counsel I could give them. (Letters our spiritual struggles come not because we have neglected God’s word but because we have neglected his world We have walked through life wearing sunglasses and wondered at the darkness We have lived with headphones on and questioned why we can’t hear We may indeed have spiritual issues to address But our first solution may simply be this: open your eyes and ears and wonder at the world God made I mean a wide-eyed awareness of God’s creation that leaves us hushed Such wonder quiets cares and awakens worship It gilds ordinary moments and dignifies daily labors Even a little wonder can do wonders for the soul But some of us rarely look through the window of wonder We are too distracted by other attractions even though they lend far less cheer to heart and mind The first is probably not surprising. On average, we Americans check our phones some two hundred times a day “With the smartphone,” Nicholas Carr writes “the human race has succeeded in creating the most interesting thing in the world” (The Shallows But this “most interesting thing” has a way of rendering the real world uninteresting You don’t need to be addicted to your phone, however, to lose your wonder. Another more surprising attraction draws and keeps many for far too long. Some have called it “the devilish onrush” of the modern world; others “the cult of productivity and efficiency” (The Art of Noticing Many of us really like getting things done — and fast People made in the image of a creative God ought to value productivity But “the cult of productivity” is something different Those shaped by this cult don’t simply like getting things done; they dislike not getting things done And so they have little patience for stillness and silence digital bombardments and hustle-bustle busyness — often these are the enemies that steal our wonder These enemies are also difficult to resist even when you know what they take from you The sight of a real mountain may seem dull compared to a digital mountain — or the mountain of work we’d like to get done It takes a willingness to pin down our twitchy thumbs and endure the sight of unchecked boxes as we reorient our vision to “whatever is true I find help from two habits that draw from God’s creative pattern in Genesis 1:1–2:3: Daily look upon God’s world and call it good Weekly rest in God’s world and be refreshed attend — truly attend — to one of the wonders God has made This first habit borrows from Clyde Kilby’s “means to mental health,” where he gets more specific: “I shall open my eyes and ears Once every day I shall simply stare at a tree I shall not then be concerned at all to ask what they are but simply be glad that they are.” find something unentertaining and unproductive some flower that unfolds its beauty only under the sun of patient attention Press through the discomfort of undistracted inefficiency and slow down Consider something God created and “be glad” that he spoke it into being The sun gives one reason for gladness (Psalm 19:1–6); insects give another (Proverbs 30:28) Gentle rains show one kind of beauty (Psalm 104:13); stormy winds show another (Psalm 148:8) We find unspeakable variety in God’s world — from sheep to sharks tree rings to the rings around Jupiter — but they all share the glory of God’s original “good” (Genesis 1:10 The creativity of God invites creative exploration Maybe journal daily just a line or two about something you observe Or reclaim lull moments (like waiting or walking) for noticing Or build a five-minute sanctuary in your afternoon where you simply sit our God took daily pleasure in the world his words had made why not adorn your own days with an answering “good” set apart extended time to get lost in the wonders of God’s world Daily attentiveness has a way of delighting us in the midst of our labors sending us back to our screens and our tasks a little more free But our souls cry out for something more than snatches of wonder We want to hear more than a passing melody want to see more than a corner of the canvas We want to give our attention to the wonders of God’s world long enough to get lost in them Scripture’s celebrations of creation bear the marks not simply of attention but of extended attention the wise man’s appreciation of small creatures is exceedingly big Our Lord Jesus showed a similarly patient pleasure in creation He knew the ways of the wind and the signs of the skies (John 3:8; Matthew 16:2–3); he sat before wildflowers with enough awareness to see splendor greater than Solomon’s (Matthew 6:28–29) The wise care about wonder; they also know that wonder can take time Some of us feel wonder so rarely because we rarely (or never) walk through a whole day or even afternoon with the phone silent We rarely let creation or those around us set the day’s agenda and the images of God within our own home go unobserved Both in creation and among his old-covenant people, God set apart one day in seven for the rest that leaves room for wonder. Though Christians are not bound to keep the old-covenant Sabbath, God’s original six-and-one pattern still holds wisdom But even if we choose a different interval we need some kind of rhythm that refreshes the deepest parts of us Creation holds “untold resources for mental health and spiritual joy,” writes John Piper (When I Don’t Desire God these “untold resources” do not belong to creation itself not simply the art; we listen for the Author in every line we read the psalmist’s reflections follow a wonderful pattern: in meditating on sky he follows God’s creative work from day 4 to day 6 (Genesis 1:14–31) He puts his finger to paper and traces his Father’s lines seeking to add his creaturely “good” and “very good” to God’s primal pleasure “His name alone is exalted” (Psalm 148:13) The countless wonders of the world bear one signature God has written his name in everything good the solution to your spiritual struggle is less spiritual than you thought And maybe the God of Genesis 1 calls you to seek him not just through his word but through his world In the Nueces Delta marsh on Texas’ south coast a group of middle-school students are throwing cast nets into the water their eyes and hands search the netting for fish The program leader uses each organism captured as the starting point for a lesson and a discussion The students hear the story of how these creatures have adapted to life in the specific environmental conditions of the Delta and they learn how they can protect them—and their habitat—into the future Experiential learning of this kind is integral to protecting coastal resources, explains Kiersten Stanzel, Executive Director of Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program (CBBEP), which delivers programs for children and youth on the 11,000-acre Nueces Delta Preserve “Unless you can get young people to see something and really it's really difficult to get them to care about it,” she adds take part in CBBEP’s programs every year Each educational experience is designed to align with the state curriculum so that a visit to the Preserve augments the students’ classroom education The nonprofit is located in the city of Corpus Christi but the organization’s work focuses on the entire Coastal Bend region CBBEP’s programs are open to students in 12 counties CBBEP’s mission is to protect the bays and estuaries of the region while promoting continued economic growth and public use of the bays CBBEP acquires properties to conserve in perpetuity the organization has preserved more than 13,000 acres CBBEP’s stewardship work on preserved lands includes water quality improvements shoreline protection and habitat restoration All of this important work is possible thanks to grants and donations from the community and numerous partners “Finding partners like Enbridge is so critical We want to make sure that cost is not a limiting factor for the participants,” Stanzel says there are a lot of schools that wouldn’t have the resources to attend these programs We really want to keep offering these hands-on opportunities in nature at no cost to the schools.” For some of the students who arrive at the Delta the visit marks their first time in a place without sidewalks “They’ve never been immersed in nature,” Stanzel adds This experience with CBBEP helps students form a strong attachment to the environment they return with their families to attend public programming on the Preserve such as picnic days and star-gazing parties “It's our opportunity to try to show them what’s in their backyard,” Stanzel says we’re trying to get them to learn about our coastal resources and then learn to love and protect them.” Galápagos Conservancy At Galápagos Conservancy we understand that conserving the unique biodiversity of the islands requires engaging with the entire community Many local communities in Galápagos possess a priceless resource — a deep generational understanding of their environment Their local ecological knowledge provides a nuanced view of the ecosystems and species that call the islands home Our team at Galápagos Conservancy is based mostly in the islands and not only understands the realities of the area but also shares a strong commitment to protecting this unique place We are deeply connected to the challenges and opportunities we face in conserving Galápagos By blending local insight with modern scientific approaches we’ve managed to develop more effective and sustainable conservation strategies Conservation cannot be imposed; it must engage those who live within the ecosystems we seek to protect. With around 30,000 residents relying on nature for their livelihoods—whether through tourism, fishing, or agriculture—Galápagos Conservancy promotes a community-centered approach By involving local people in protecting their environment we foster sustainable practices that benefit both their daily lives and the ecosystems they depend on We believe that fostering a lasting conservation culture in Galápagos begins with empowering its residents. Our Sustainability Education Program works with all teachers in the islands This ensures that environmental stewardship becomes an integral part of every young person’s education in Galápagos particularly focusing on women and eco-innovators by providing grants that encourage sustainable thanks to the generous support of our donors we have funded conservation projects that engage communities in protecting the ecosystems of Galápagos This effort reflects our deep commitment to empowerment and sustainability demonstrating the tangible impact of working hand-in-hand with local communities We are confident that by empowering local communities and working together, we can secure a prosperous and sustainable future for the Galápagos and its inhabitants. By integrating environmental education, supporting local entrepreneurs and funding impactful conservation projects undertaken with and by community leaders we are building a strong network of environmental stewards As our general director, Dr. Washington Tapia puts it: “The success of our conservation work in Galápagos often depends on the commitment and collaboration of local communities By supporting the initiatives of those who live in this remarkable area we help protect the unique biodiversity of the archipelago while fostering a future where nature and communities thrive together.” This comprehensive approach strengthens the local communities’ commitment to protecting their environment and ensures the sustainable management of Galápagos’ natural resources benefiting both its people and its ecosystems Galápagos Conservancy donors are the driving force behind our efforts to conserve this magical place Join the fight to save it by becoming a member Follow Galápagos Conservancy on social media to get the latest conservation updates and alerts in real time Inc.® is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with EIN Tax ID # 13-3281486 Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law in your country Ana Berry stopped by the Akdar Shrine Circus as it kicked off today and runs through Sunday Here's a preview of what you can expect http://akdarshrine.org/shrine-circus/ The Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) and Los Alamos High School (LAHS) Astronomy Club invites the community to two free planetarium presentations at the Los Alamos Nature Center space-curious students as they explore the universe and share their knowledge with engaging The presentation will cover everything from the Voyager mission’s first flybys to the cutting-edge Europa Clipper mission showcasing what’s currently known and what’s yet to be discovered about this icy world Attendees are invited to explore the enigmatic world of quasars (brilliant distant objects powered by supermassive black holes revealing insights into the early universe).The discussion will delve into groundbreaking discoveries from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey uncovering the secrets of these distant celestial objects Guests are encouraged to bring a friend and embark on a journey into the cosmos but the planetarium is not recommended for children under age 4 For more information, visit our website at peecnature.org/events Stay connected with us on social media for updates on each week’s activities The Los Alamos High School Astronomy Club is a student-led organization that nurtures a passion for space science through star parties The club aims to share the wonders of the cosmos with students and the wider Los Alamos community About The Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) Copyright © 2012-2025 The Los Alamos Daily Post is the Official Newspaper of Record in Los Alamos County This Site and all information contained here including graphs and graphics is the property of the Los Alamos Daily Post Permission to reprint in whole or in part is hereby granted provided that the Los Alamos Daily Post and author/photographer are properly cited columnists and other contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of the Los Alamos Daily Post The Los Alamos Daily Post newspaper was founded Feb the Collaboration Inspires the Next Generation of Young Adventurers LOS ANGELES, Dec. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, SHEIN, a global fashion and lifestyle online retailer, collaborated with Blippi one of the world's most popular live-action children's brands this collection lets children show off their love for Blippi Made with soft fabrics for comfort and easy wear these clothes are perfect for everyday play they encourage kids to explore and learn while expressing their love for their favorite characters Available on SHEIN's website, with prices ranging from $1 to $20, SHEIN invites customers to share their favorite picks on social media using #BlippixSHEIN and #SHEINCollabs. For more information on the Blippi x SHEIN collaboration and to explore the collection, please visit https://us.shein.com/campaigns/blippixshein2024 SHEIN is a global online fashion and lifestyle retailer offering SHEIN-branded apparel and products from a global network of vendors, all at affordable prices. Headquartered in Singapore, SHEIN is committed to making the beauty of fashion accessible to all, promoting its industry-leading, on-demand production methodology for a smarter, future-ready industry. To learn more about SHEIN, visit www.sheingroup.com the world's most popular live-action preschool brand turns the world into a playground for preschoolers everywhere. The brand encourages a lifelong love of learning which helps to instill confidence and curiosity at a young age Blippi has become a worldwide sensation with more than one billion monthly views across platforms including HBO Max Amazon and YouTube and millions of fans around the world The franchise has expanded rapidly since it was acquired by Moonbug Entertainment in 2020. Blippi is available in more than 20 languages and is distributed by more than 30 global broadcast and streaming partners Blippi's buddies Meekah and Juca have spun off into their own shows and Blippi lives off the screen with sold-out live events and in-demand toys available at all major retailers Marketplace team hosted its inaugural seller community event at SHEIN's Los Angeles office the program under global fashion online retailer SHEIN has teamed up with designer brand LUNA B on a bold new collection celebrating the.. Fashion Household, Consumer & Cosmetics Retail Textiles Do not sell or share my personal information: Leading Cruise Line on the West Coast Offers Voyages from Los Angeles New Star Princess to Sail Mexican Riviera Voyage from Los Angeles in April 2027 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- From sun-drenched Mexican beaches to the volcanic landscapes of Hawaii and the rugged beauty of California's coast Princess Cruises' newly announced 2026-2027 West Coast season delivers unforgettable journeys across 26 breathtaking destinations including the debut of the highly anticipated Star Princess With itineraries designed to immerse travelers in the culture the season promises a world-class cruising experience unlike any other "Our 2026-2027 season builds on our West Coast legacy with diverse itineraries that capture the essence of these extraordinary destinations," said Terry Thornton "From the golden beaches of Mexico to the vibrant energy of California and the tropical charm of Hawaii these sailings are crafted to offer something truly special for every traveler." Key Highlights of the 2026-2027 West Coast Season Sailings from San FranciscoRuby Princess: Returns with roundtrip itineraries sailing October 2026 to April 2027 to Los AngelesWine lovers can enjoy cruises aboard five ships departing from Vancouver Departures are scheduled for September 2026 with cruise lengths ranging from six to seven days aboard five ships - Coral Princess The west coast program also includes several holiday voyages roundtrip from either Los Angeles or San Francisco including Hawaii and Mexico over Christmas or New Year's and shorter West Coast Getaways over Thanksgiving Guests can book with the Better than Best Price Guarantee ensuring that if they find a better cruise fare on Princess.com for the same Princess cruise and sail date at any time before their final payment Princess will provide 120% of the difference in the form of an onboard credit. Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel advisor, by calling 1-800-Princess (1-800-774-6237) or by visiting www.princess.com Embark on an extraordinary adventure with the 129-day World Cruise Grand Circle Pacific Voyage the most destination-packed cruise offered by.. Delightfully carrying more guests to Alaska than any other cruise line Princess Cruises begins its 2025 season in less than a month with seven.. Travel Maritime & Shipbuilding Transportation, Trucking & Railroad New Products & Services Starting next month, the Lloyd Library & Museum will open its doors to a multi-faceted exhibition delves into the rich history of African botanicals and their influence on the Americas Spearheaded by artist and University of Cincinnati professor Mark Harris The Enduring Impact of the African Plant Diaspora is an immersive experience featuring 30 to 35 paintings and stimulating conversations shining light on the ways in which enslaved Africans shaped agricultural that still exist today Harris was Lloyd Library’s Artist-in-Residence in 2023 and has long been captivated by the intersection of art He has spent the past two decades in Cincinnati exploring themes that connect his knowledge of Caribbean culture with his academic pursuits His work on this exhibition stems from a deep fascination with how African plants transported across the Atlantic and to the Caribbean during the trans-Atlantic slave trade Harris’s research uncovered the crucial role enslaved Africans had in preserving botanical knowledge His artwork at the exhibition will depict historical and contemporary representations of these traditions alongside rare 18th-century botanical books from the Lloyd Library’s collection “I became increasingly interested in the knowledge that had come over “Enslaved people understood plants and medicines and the special properties that plants and herbs have.” art is a powerful way through which history can not only be re-examined but also reclaimed His work draws upon Caribbean music traditions which has historically blended entertainment with strong political and social commentary using visual storytelling to bring to light the suppressed histories of African botanical knowledge One of the themes Harris explores through his art is the role of Jamaican Maroon communities (settlements of escaped enslaved people) in preserving African agricultural traditions Harris was in awe of the resilience of these communities and their continued cultivation of medicinal plants The Enduring Impact of the African Plant Diaspora opening weekend of events kicks off on Friday, April 25, with a reception featuring the premiere of Harris’s film Predatory Botany alongside rare 18th-century botanical books from the Lloyd Library’s collection these books are key to the colonial plant trade but have overlooked the contributions of enslaved and indigenous peoples to botanical studies Harris’s artwork will highlight these contributions and offer a refreshing artistic perspective on African plant legacies that have been concealed or erased Saturday’s events will also feature a community dinner in collaboration with Cincinnati’s Table and Wave Pool’s Olivia Nava With a menu curated by Chef Sabina Ghartey the dinner will celebrate African food culture and agriculture through dishes such as red red staples with deep historical roots in both African and Caribbean culinary traditions Attendees will also be invited to swap recipes and food traditions creating a space for rich connections and cultural exchange “The dinner definitely is going to bring the community together to carry on conversations about something that we all share—food,” says Christine Jankowski Lloyd Library archivist and records coordinator who has led the archival research for the exhibition “We also want people to get to know who we are If there’s one thing Harris wants visitors to take away from this exhibition—including the film symposium and dinner—is the often unacknowledged importance of the legacies of African plant migrations and the resilience of African culinary and agricultural traditions “If people with the information given in the exhibition they’re able to recognize their indebtedness to these traditions without some of them realizing it The Enduring Impact of the African Plant Diaspora’s opening reception, symposium, and community dinner are all free and open to the public, but registration is required to attend the symposium The exhibition will run April 25 through July 25 2024) — A University of Kentucky professor and her former doctoral student have collaborated to create a book that teaches young students about an important organ — the brain and her former student Beth Ann Rice have written “A Brainy Book About Neurons and Beyond,” a vibrantly illustrated children’s book that introduces young readers to the nervous system Published by Austin Macauley in August 2024 foundational look at neuroscience for children ages 9 to 11 “I believe it’s important for children to learn about how the brain works at an early age,” said Akins professor of cognitive neuroscience in the Department of Psychology in UK’s College of Arts and Sciences “They can start with a few basic concepts and get excited about it.” when she was learning the ropes of children’s book writing and current associate professor at Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania “Beth Ann was the prime choice for me in terms of working with someone on this because she had done some outreach,” Akins said and she and I had published together before She also had an idea about who might be able to give us some feedback.” I followed up when I was established in my own teaching career,” Rice said The pair collaborated with an Austin McCauley illustrator to ensure the accuracy of the brain figures and reflect the entire community the authors intended to address “We wanted children of all backgrounds to see themselves in the illustrations,” Rice said “I know it was important to both of us that we had a lot of representation in the type of illustrations that were in the book.” Filled with interactive elements like trivia and hands-on activities “A Brainy Book” aims to make neuroscience accessible and engaging for younger audiences but Rice said older children may also find new insights in its pages I hear from high schoolers who haven’t learned the basics about the brain “The book makes neuroscience more relatable and easier to grasp.” Akins also sees “A Brainy Book” as a resource that young readers can turn to as a handy reference item “Kids might have a question about the brain and they can grab the book off the shelf and maybe find an answer,” she said The book has received feedback from UK’s NeuroCATS a group of neuroscience students who bring brain education to local schools shared that they love the book and are getting copies to use during their visits,” Akins said The book is also resonating with audiences beyond traditional classrooms and Rice will present the book at an upcoming neuroscience teaching conference to promote its use in brain-awareness events “We designed activities with home-schooling and brain awareness weeks in mind using materials most people already have at home,” she said the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing It's all made possible by our people — visionaries disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center Discovery Place Science joins over 100 organizations from across the state as part of the North Carolina Science Festival (NCSciFest) the largest statewide celebration of science With over 500 events happening from the mountains to the coast NCSciFest engages audiences of all ages in STEAM exploration through hands-on experiences interactive programming and inspiring discussions A proud participant since NCSciFest’s launch in 2010 Discovery Place Science will engage the community through exciting learning experiences that highlight the wonders of science in our everyday lives “Discovery Place Science is thrilled to be participating for the 15th consecutive year in this monthlong celebration of science,” said Heather Norton “We believe that science builds greater understanding of the world around us and allows people to nurture curiosity solve problems and bring positive change to our communities.” Everyone aims to encourage audiences to see that science is in their daily lives extends far beyond the confines of laboratory settings and is accessible to everyone researchers and science enthusiasts from all walks of life to celebrate the wonders of science Discovery Place Science will highlight this year’s NCSciFest theme through STEAM activities Discovery Place will collect handmade birthday cards from guests to send to Dr Goodall a happy birthday and to share their pledge to make a positive impact on the planet Activities are included with Museum Admission Find your inner artist through hands-on nature sketching scientific drawing and collage art with Discovery Place visit the aquarium and Charlotte’s only indoor rainforest during this adult science + art workshop the Earth provides us with amazing materials we wouldn’t be able to live without Discover natural resources and their usage at interactive activities spread throughout the Museum Activities are included with Museum Admission: Journalist Laura Paskus has curated and contributed to Water Bodies: Love Letters to the Most Abundant Substance on Earth Laura Paskus has been visiting the same section of the Rio Grande for 15 years She has a loop she likes to walk or run where she observes the river’s water levels and takes in the water’s smell from season to season She watches for the non-human creatures that make their homes nearby her walks along the Rio Grande have become an intentional practice It’s a time that she uses to check in with the river “How are we treating you?” and “How are you feeling?” Paskus has covered the Rio Grande extensively Whether grappling with the consequences of our warming planet for the silvery minnow she has covered it all over the past two decades in newspaper articles and as the host of New Mexico PBS’s Our Land series But of all the reporting she’s done on the environment Paskus’ favorite medium to write and to read is the personal essay the essay is often what lands most powerfully for readers that you can never acknowledge your personal feelings — and don’t write about your experiences or your vulnerabilities or anything like that [because] you’ll somehow be less of a reporter,” Paskus says of her affinity for personal essays ‘I want to be the most effective communicator I can be through the written word.’” The power of the personal essay is evident in the anthology Water Bodies: Love Letters to the Most Abundant Substance on Earth a book released in October by Torrey House Press that Paskus both edited and contributed to The collection features 17 writers across the West who impart water stories that are both personal and profound The essays act as a confluence of tributaries that invite readers into a shared love of landscape and waterways The others include writers like CMarie Fuhrman in Idaho The range of writers and voices in the collection infuses the book with a richness of perspective that reflects the varied cultures and geographies of the West Writing about water in the West can often feel heavy — for one there is so little of this vital substance to begin with And when humans take more than the earth has to offer — for oil and gas extraction among other things — the topic of water in the West can be cause anxiety or despair free-flowing collection of essays that seeks to ease the fear that surrounds so much of environmental writing by celebrating and praising the water that gives us all life “There have been times in my life when I was really feeling super angry and starting to feel depressed because I was reporting on climate change all the time and frustrated about politicians or deniers or people who just weren’t giving it the space that it needs,” says Paskus I was going to start figuring out how to feel despair myself but not keep putting that on the audience.” Santana Shorty’s poems ripple through the essays and the yearning of plants in the high desert Fatima van Hattum’s poems capture glaciers and mountains like glistening drops Torres juxtaposes human rules with the older wisdom of our waters And the history of settler colonialism at the Pueblo of Zuni and the daily encounters with Black Rock Dam ebb and flow throughout Desiree Loggins’ essay pooling in the end as the community comes together to celebrate unexpected water and life Paskus has triumphed in the voices she’s collected for Water Bodies to tools she’s learned from faith communities which include theologian Larry Rasmussen’s writing on climate grief and eco anxiety who serves as the executive director the New Mexico Acequia Association “After the Calf Canyon fire and all the fights with FEMA Paula opened the Congreso [de las Acequias] in 2022 But we still love them,’” Paskus remembers that framing for me is really important; we have caused the planet’s climate to change as individuals and communities and as a species continue to love our landscape You can find gratitude in all of that and more fiercely protect them.” Paskus describes her relationship with water as one that honors the water as a friend and being with a consciousness daily actions such as watering her plants are moments she takes to pause and appreciate how truly miraculous water is magical beauty in your own place; if you’re paying close enough attention you notice not just the change in the seasons but the change in the climate over time,” Paskus says “And I just think that intimacy with landscape and all the good teachers who are a part of your landscape Water Bodies: Love Letters to the Most Abundant Substance on Earth Emily Withnall is a writer and editor living in Santa Fe. Read her work at emilywithnall.com Water Bodies reading and Q&A with editor with readings by New Mexico contributors Michelle Otero 505-955-2820; torreyhouse.org/water-bodies Get the highlights from Santa Fe's weekly magazine of arts, entertainment and culture each Friday. Pasatiempo's most popular online content from the past seven days Circulation Office Hours - 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Receive a list of headlines from the latest edition of The New Mexican in your inbox every morning. On Saturdays, get a preview of The New Mexican's big Sunday stories and review highlights from the week. Stay informed of the latest local news by receiving emails as soon as news is posted online. 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This week You! takes a look at Hatha Yoga, an ancient practice of achieving holistic wellness... In today’s fast-paced world, women juggle many tasks, often neglecting self-care. However, the age-old practice of classical yoga, also called Hatha yoga, offers a potent method to boost overall health. This traditional practice and time-tested approach can help women across generations foster balance in body, mind, and emotions. Read on... Hatha yoga goes beyond simple physical exercise and has its roots in India’s rich traditions and gained prominence in the 11th century. It is an all-encompassing system that balances the body, mind, and soul. Ha means sun, and Tha means moon. ‘Hatha’ means ‘unity of opposing energies.’ This painstakingly created system provides a path to balanced living by emphasising physical postures (asanas), breath control (pranayama), and meditation. Hatha yoga stresses the interconnectedness of all facets of our being, in contrast to modern yoga forms that might place more emphasis on fitness or weight loss. It promotes long-held poses that develop inner calm and profound awareness. This conventional method recognises the unique requirements of our bodies, especially the female body, and offers resources for gracefully navigating life’s ups and downs. Addressing emotional stress through Hatha asanas: With stress, anxiety, and other emotions settling in places like the hips, shoulders, and knees, the body frequently acts as a storehouse for emotional tension. Hatha yoga provides a gentle yet efficient way to let go of these pent-up feelings. Hip openers: The hips, in particular, are known to hold emotional weight. Poses like Malasana (Garland Pose), Utthan Pristhasana (Lizard Pose), and Baddha Konasana (Butterfly Pose) gently stretch and release tension in the hip flexors, promoting emotional release. Shoulder tension relief: Shoulder tension is common, often stemming from stress and responsibility. Gentle stretches and poses like Kandharasana (Shoulder Pose) and Gomukhasana (Cow Face Pose) can alleviate this tension. Knee stability: Our knees, just like our hips, are also a storage centre for emotional stress and are a representation of our ability to move forward. Strengthening poses like Virabhadrasana (Warrior Poses) improve stability and foster a sense of groundedness. Reducing back Pain and increasing spinal strength: Back pain is a concern for many women. Hatha yoga offers effective yet gentle methods for strengthening bones and easing pain. Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose): This backbend strengthens the back muscles and improves spinal flexibility. Mandukhasana (Frog Pose): This pose stretches the inner thighs and opens the hips, releasing tension in the lower back. Salabhasana (Locust Pose): This pose strengthens the back and legs and promotes spinal alignment. Taking care of your feminine essence with hormonal balancing asanas: A woman’s health can be greatly impacted by hormonal changes. Hatha yoga gives you the means to control these changes. Asanas that promote healthy endocrine function and relax the nervous system include Pashchimottanasana (Seated Forward Bend Pose) and Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (Downward Dog Pose). Pranayama and meditation should be included in daily practice to calm the mind, which further stabilises hormonal balance. Building bone strength and joint flexibility: Long-term health depends on maintaining joint flexibility and bone density. For this, Hatha yoga provides safe and efficient techniques. Weight-bearing poses that strengthen muscles and promote bone growth include Virabhadrasana (Warrior Pose) and Trikonasana (Triangle Pose). Joint rotations and mild stretching improve range of motion and flexibility. Cultivating balance and strength - mind and body: Resilience on both a mental and physical level is necessary in life. Both are fostered by Hatha Yoga. Proprioception and focus are improved by balancing poses like Garudasana (Eagle Pose) and Vrksasana (Tree Pose). Asanas, pranayama, and meditation work together to create inner balance, which lowers anxiety and enhances emotional health. The power of breath and inner stillness: Meditation and breath control, or pranayama, are essential components of Hatha Yoga. While meditation cultivates inner balance and self-awareness, pranayama relaxes the mind and balances energy. The benefits of even a short daily practice session can be substantial. A practical approach to wellbeing: Hatha Yoga is not about achieving unattainable physical features. It’s about cultivating a deeper connection with your body. Begin with gentle asanas and progress at your own pace. Listen to your body, respect its limits, and celebrate its strengths. Seeking guidance from a qualified Hatha Yoga instructor is recommended. Consistency is key; even a short daily practice can yield profound benefits. Embrace the power of your breath, the strength of your body, and the tranquillity of your mind. Hatha Yoga offers a pathway to vibrant health and holistic wellbeing. By incorporating this ancient practice into your life, you can cultivate strength, balance, and serenity. Ruby Gul is a certified advanced yoga teacher and meditation coach. Instagram: Yoga Journey with Gul Email: yogajourneywithgul@gmail.com Photo: Qiang ZhongSave this storySaveSave this storySaveAll products and listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links having been long lost since its days on the Museum of Alexandria’s shelves all these variations on the wonders have inspired countless itineraries But whichever seven you choose to celebrate perhaps your biggest wonder is: How were the most well-known lists created and there can never be enough for the sheer number of wonders in the world A version of this article originally appeared on Condé Nast Traveller India Want to be the first to know? Sign up to our newsletters for travel inspiration and tips 45 Abandoned Places Around the World That You Can Visit The Cheapest Nicest Hotels in Paris The Women Who Travel Power List 2025 On Oregon's Central Coast, Vacationing Feels Timeless—Not Trendy up-to-the-minute voice in all things travel Condé Nast Traveler is the global citizen’s bible and muse We understand that time is the greatest luxury which is why Condé Nast Traveler mines its network of experts and influencers so that you never waste a meal or a hotel stay wherever you are in the world Image courtesy of Homo Faber 2024.“What I love about my life is that I have these ideas this capacity of wonderment,” said Luca Guadagnino in Venice earlier this year “When you’re like that and you make things you have the power to make people who don’t have that attitude feel something new.” The decorated filmmaker is celebrated on the festival and awards circuits for his capacity for worldbuilding—Guadagnino nestles his characters into intimate universes that draw their lushness from his own disparate homelands Born to a Moroccan mother and Sicilian father Guadagnino spent his early years in Ethiopia before his family relocated to Palermo—a cultural melange that has yielded a varied oeuvre raunchy sports flick (Challengers) and a quiet period drama (Queer) Though the two films have little in common they reveal the filmmaker’s love of long-term collaboration—both bear the mark of Jonathan Anderson creative director at Loewe and long time friend of Guadagnino’s it was about harnessing the architecture of the space to create monumental installations but also to celebrate small moments in every room,” added Rosmarini previously welcomed a group of curators present their visions in individual spaces we were the only ones and we approached it on a monumental scale,” Guadagnino said each themed space—encompassing everything from birth and childhood to death and the afterlife—bristles with meticulously crafted objects ranging in size from glass sculptures no bigger than a pencil eraser to the looming papier mache cypress trees (marking the transition from youth to adulthood) that tower over the main hall’s marble staircase The show might be Guadagnino’s most arresting creation yet—but does it live up to its co-curators’ standards? “It’s new for me,” Guadagnino said. “I'm used to the audience of cinema. I'm used to going to festivals or premieres and to talking directly to the critics, the journalists, the VIPs…Speaking to artisans, collectors It’s hard to know how they feel.” Allowing visitors to meander through this creation and draw conclusions on their own time is a foreign experience for the director but it’s quite a familiar one for Rosmarini: “We wanted the people to come in and be stunned but not to think of the effort involved,” he said CULTURED sat down with the pair to discuss their collaboration and—the many surprising things they taught one another along the way CULTURED: What was the most exciting part of putting something like this together Nicolò Rosmarini: This was exciting from the beginning, when we realized that this incredible experience was beginning, and also now that we see the full result. Every discovery that we made in between—from incredible artisans and artists to the collaborations that we did—has been amazing Luca Guadagnino: I would say the presentation itself We've been working together for months before that moment The previous editions of Homo Faber were very minimal and every room was done by different curators we were the only ones and we approached it on a monumental scale So we didn't know what kind of reaction to expect. CULTURED: Is there a section of the exhibition that felt like your problem child But the vestibule before the long dining room We wanted to put something in it that makes sense as a transition between the whimsical playfulness of childhood and kind of gives an idea of the imposing decoration in the next room I remembered the big cypress in the cloister outside And what if we put the two magnolias from my personal garden in front of the cypress We wanted the people to come in and be stunned but not to think of the effort involved. CULTURED: Our world often forgets to celebrate craft—and particularly those who have committed their lives and careers to it Guadagnino: I think foraging for and fostering artisans is important even if its just to remind yourself of the existence of a given tradition If you lose your sense of the journey that got us here the wholeness of experience—everything becomes flatter and more segmented CULTURED: Is there a space in the exhibition that is particularly special to you it’s the room with all the art on the table Gathering people and the idea of celebration is something I’ve— Guadagnino: Because you are a party animal. CULTURED: There are a lot of younger artisans involved in this show. What kind of advice do you have to offer them? CULTURED: This one, Luca, is for you. You’ve spent the bulk of the last year or so working on developing this exhibition and making Queer, your latest film. How does it feel to tap into your design brain at the same time as your filmmaker brain? CULTURED: What’s one thing that each of you learned from the other? Guadagnino: I learned from Nicolò the gift of a lot of method and sacrifice. Rosmarini: From Luca I learned— Rosmarini: Probably that nothing is unachievable in this business. Guadagnino: I would say nothing is unachievable in life. Rosmarini: It’s the motto of this exhibition. Sign up to our newsletter for the latest arts and culture updates The cover of “Beyond the Sea: The Hidden Life in Lakes Around 97% of all the water on the planet is in the vast oceans that cover more than two-thirds of its surface “But Seas are not the only body of water that make Earth special,” ecologist David Strayer writes in his new book and Wetlands,” presents the lesser-known facts of freshwater ecosystems and how they affect our everyday lives Strayer spent nearly 50 years studying freshwater ecology most recently at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies where he developed an expertise in the nearby Hudson River the bad and the ugly of the world’s inland water bodies which Strayer reports are home to some 2,600 plant species and 150,000 animal species While celebrating that abundance of life the book doesn’t shy away from the serious threats and challenges that inland waters face climate change and the damaging impacts of dams and water diversions David Strayer uses fine screens to search for juvenile freshwater mussels in Webatuck Creek in eastern New York Dams have caused more extinctions in inland waters than any other factor and are perhaps “the biggest threat” to those ecosystems Strayer writes about Muscle Shoals in the Tennessee River this stretch of river moves slowly over a muddy bottom Many of the species that once lived in Muscle Shoals such as the Atlantic sturgeon and mussels called riffleshells and leafshells Strayer also highlights the negative impacts of dams in other parts of the world Once the world’s fourth-largest lake the inland sea has been drying up since the 1960s due to a Soviet diversion dam that redirected water from its tributaries to use for irrigation the Aral Sea has shrunk to less than 10% of its original size and then there was just a little puddle down at the bottom and that was irrigation water,” Strayer said Invasive species are another significant threat to freshwater environments He argues that something as easy as cleaning a boat before launching it on a lake can prevent the spread of invasives which can outcompete native plants and animals and cause habitat loss While the threats to inland waters are prominent His research shows that these ecosystems are resilient “We need to have more pressure from regular people to push for that conservation,” Strayer said “I’m kind of hoping at least a few of the people who read this book might join a conservation NGO or might write a letter to their elected representatives and push a little bit harder for the conservation of inland waters.” Strayer said that writing the book reinforced his appreciation for these water bodies “Most of the freshwater people I know have very dark days where we’re very pessimistic about the future of inland waters,” he said “Writing the book made me realize that it’s within our power to control out of those impacts “Beyond the Sea: The Hidden Life in Lakes, Streams, and Wetlands” is published by Johns Hopkins University Press and is available for $27.95 We're a project of the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism at Michigan State University. More Catch of the Day By David Strayer If you’ve driven Michigan’s highways lately you’ve probably seen the billboards: a big picture of a lanternfly The spotted lanternfly is a serious pest that is poised to cause […] More Photo Friday Power is supplied to the electric motor very quickly which gives the electric bus high performance and rapid acceleration More podcasts By Sammy Schuck Most people may know that festivals attract people to Michigan communities What most may not know is that festivals and events in the state are an annual $1 billion industry according to Michigan Festivals and Events Association CEO Mike Szukhent the lack of winter festivals last year “hit hard.” […] More COVID-19 stories Built with the Largo WordPress Theme from the Institute for Nonprofit News Between the political upheaval in American politics and the melodrama unfolding in Ottawa recently, there are not many holiday options that offer the distance and perspective for a serious break from brain-rot, to make good use of Oxford’s word of the year bookended between extra days in Istanbul and Athens When you’re pondering the epic romantic rivalries and disproportional score-settling that produced the Trojan War or standing in Ephesus wondering how the mother of Jesus Christ spent her days in retirement Donald Trump’s latest tweets and Justin Trudeau’s leadership woes tend to recede in your preoccupation horizon our journey through nearly three millennia of civilization was a cultural and historical education and great fun I’d first visited Istanbul 50 years ago as a student, on the Greek equivalent of a Eurail pass. I’d taken Greek and Roman Culture and Civilization at university, and I’ve never lost interest in either. To appreciate the fundamentals and origins of geopolitics look first to Homer’s Iliad, Thucydides on the Peloponnesian War and Tacitus’ Histories I’d returned to Istanbul a couple of years ago en route to Astana for a conference in the Kazakhstan capital The twelve-hour layover allowed time for a Turkish Airlines cook’s tour of the city It made me want to see more of this crossroads of history and civilizations: the thousand years of Byzantium; then Christianity’s Constantinople; then Istanbul of the Ottomans We booked three nights before our cruise in a boutique hotel in what was once Istanbul’s banking district Over a magnificent Turkish breakfast on its rooftop restaurant Over the next days, we marveled at the Blue Mosque but especially the Hagia Sophia Originally the world’s largest Christian cathedral dating back to 537 AD then a mosque from the fall of Constantinople in 1453 it became a national museum and Istanbul’s most famous landmark with the advent of Ataturk’s secular Turkey Under the increasingly autocratic rule of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan who has ruled Turkey as prime minister and president for the past 20 years it is once more a working mosque — one of more than 20,000 built or refurbished as part of Erdogan’s ongoing Islamization of Turkey We toured Topkapi Palace also known as the Seraglio — residence of the Ottoman sultans — and inspected the quarters of the harem We bought Turkish delight in the spice market and scarves in the winding maze of the centuries-old Grand Bazaar We walked the bridge crossing the Golden Horn and got lost until we Google-mapped the location of our 16th century hammam — an experience akin to a steamy car wash except that you are the one being scrubbed The email instructions on where to board the Viking Sea were vague but our concierge pointed out the ship from our restaurant rooftop in the Karaköy Yolcu Salonu passenger terminal, more commonly known as Galataport The first of our excursions was a tour around the Turkish Straits at either end of the Sea of Marmara: the Bosporus connecting it to the Black Sea and delineating a continental boundary between Europe and Asia and the Dardanelles linking it to the Aegean The 19-mile route is lined by hillside apartments and seaside villas that make greater Istanbul The Marmara is filled with pleasure craft and commercial vessels transporting ANZAC Day each April 25th marking the Gallipoli campaign is as foundational to their national identities as Vimy Ridge is for Canadians who is credited with rediscovering ancient Troy The temple may be long gone but there was still much to see. Walking the length of ancient Kuretes Street, we saw frescoes on what were once stately homes, the towering facade of the Library of Celsus, built to house 12,000 scrolls, the massive amphitheater that sat 25,000 spectators, the Temple of Hadrian the spectacular Great Theater and the Byzantine Basilica of St said to have been built over the burial site of St John the Apostle who likely wrote his gospel in Ephesus first navigating our way through the modern-day shopping – carpets jewelry and high-end replica handbags – of the port of Kuşadasi have a role to play in shaping tourism development to respond to these challenges and watched other cruise ships come into port Next stop was Heraklion on the isle of Crete. Blessed with generous beaches, soaring mountains and coursing rivers, Crete was once the home of the Minoans We bused to the archeological site of the palace of King Minos with its labyrinthine corridors and Throne Room dating back to the 15th century BC Minos’s wife Pasiphaë gave birth to the Minotaur growing from the riches of the Venetian Empire Our voyage concluded the next morning when we sailed into Piraeus One of Europe’s biggest passenger ports it has been managed since 2016 by the Chinese shipping company Cosco which remains a topic of controversy debating ideas of government and democracy is a fellow and host of the Global Exchange podcast with the Canadian Global Affairs Institute in Ottawa