RANDOM WEDNESDAY: Map Projection Featuring Hannah Fry

via Numberphile 

Three's a Crowd, Especially at Bedtime

I came across this interesting article interview in The New Yorker about a polyamorous throuple. As implied in the article, living in a polyamorous throuple comes with its unique bedtime challenges. 

Sharing a king-sized bed with two other people and an eight-pound dachshund can get a bit crowded, especially when navigating different sleeping preferences and negotiating mattress firmness. 

While polyamory sounds enticing, squeezing into bed with multiple partners and a pet often turns into a nightly game of "bedtime Tetris."

Giving Back: Kurt Geiger X KIDS: Our Volunteering Week

If you're a follower of my blog, you're well aware of my passion for fashion—an art form that deeply influences our daily lives.

Among the many talented designers, Kurt Geiger stands out as a personal favorite. Their daring approach to fashion design resonates with me. Moreover, I appreciate how their creations complement my girlfriend's style and how she admires Kurt Geiger's work.

Recently, while browsing YouTube, I came across an inspiring video showcasing Kurt Geiger's remarkable community partnership with X Kids—an organization dedicated to supporting children with disabilities in the UK.

via Kurt Geiger

Texas' Falkenstein Castle

When the world was closed during the early part of the pandemic, 2020, my girlfriend and I noticed a castle in the distance while hiking Longhorn Cavern State Park. The sight triggered our curiosity; however, we soon forgot about it when we returned to Austin.

Recently, I came across an article on El Paso's KLAQ radio station's website that highlighted a castle in the Hill Country--the one we saw on our hike. If you aren't familiar with the Hill Country, it's the area west of Austin that is... well... hilly. 

The article included a YouTube video by Kara and Nate, a young globetrotting couple from Tennessee, who stayed at the castle. 

In the video, Kara explains that the castle, which is called Falkenstein, was inspired by King Ludwig II's Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany. Further research finds that the owners, Terry and Kim Young, used a design by King Ludwig II for his other castle, Falkenstein, which didn't get fully built.

The 20,000 sq. ft. castle sits on 113 acres of land located about 13 miles west of Burnet, Texas. 

The cost? Well, as the video photo shows, it'll set you back a little over a couple of grand. So, round up eight couples, and the place can be affordable. 😉

via Kara and Nate

via Billy Perkins

via Beyond Civilization (Xplore RC)

via Panther City Air

How kinky am I?

I don't care much for tests, but this test is somewhat accurate in it's assessment. I am a voyeur and an exhibitionist. I think I can be non-monogamist, but I'd need to get over being hypochondriac.

== Results from bdsmtest.org ==

88% Voyeur 

79% Non-monogamist 

79% Exhibitionist 

70% Experimentalist 

67% Ageplayer 

67% Owner 

65% Dominant 

62% Daddy/Mommy 

59% Switch 

56% Primal (Hunter) 

Having THAT Talk with my Parents about "Cock-Blocking"

I received a text message from my mom Friday afternoon that they were on their way to Austin and asked that I make reservations at Gloria's Latin Cuisine restaurant for 8:00 PM.

The problem was that I had a scheduled date with a young lady for Friday evening. I was planning on making dinner (my famous Chicken Piccatta) and watching season two of The Girlfriend Experience, which she introduced season one to me the previous weekend. Unfortunately, I had to cancel our date night.

Granted, my parents were concerned about how I was doing--I recently ended a year long relationship and currently dealing with a transition at my job. So, they wanted to check up on me and make sure I was doing okay. [Unbeknownst to them, I was doing quite well.]

I did have a talk with them about the challenges single parents with custody schedules deal with when dating. Perplexed, I further explained that when I have my son, I really can't go out. Similar, the other person can't date when they have their kids. What makes it challenging is that custody schedules may not match. And so when there is a date scheduled, we single parents jump on that opportunity.

I asked them that next time they give me a couple of days, at minimum, advanced noticed of a visit.

Hearing Santa Claus

I was about 7 years old, when I heard Santa Claus.

It was late on Christmas Eve and I could hear my parents fighting--they were more arguing than fighting, but for a kid it sounded liked a fight.

On the roof, I remember hearing what sounded like hoofs. Hoofs that blended with trees rustling with the outside wind.

Then suddenly the door slammed. I jumped out of bed and ran to the window but could only see the streetlight and the quiet neighborhood.

My dad ran into my room and asked what happened. I explained I heard Santa Claus. Curious, he looked outside too and called out to mom.

We all came out of my room and went to the door, but no sign of Santa. Then we turned to the living room and saw the many presents under the Christmas tree. He did arrive and even enjoyed the milk and cookies I left.

Excited to see all the presents, my parents started a tradition of opening one present Christmas Eve. We all did. I don't remember what I opened first, but I do remember going back to bed eager to wake up the next morning to open the rest.

Google is Barely Legal !!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GOOGLE!

Keep Calm, It's the First Day of Fall

The Integrity of Journalism and Blogging

PARDON THE INTERRUPTION 

There is a huge difference between journalism and blogging.

As defined by the AP, journalism is the activity of gathering (researching), assessing (investigating/evaluating), creating (writing), and presenting news and information. I'd add further that before a piece is printed, there is a form of review by editors.

Blogging, as defined by Webster, is a web site on which someone writes about personal opinions, activities, and experiences.

Unfortunately, we live in a society where many obtain news from unsubstantiated sources, such as social media and blogs. Many of these blogs have questioned the integrity of journalism--a source of substantiated information (see definition above).

What's worse is when news organizations take blogs (a source of personal opinion) as credible information and report it as "factual."

When blogging, I try to practice my journalistic education, but at the same time offer my opinion and perspective. The main purpose of many of my entries are more to share what I learn and what I experience. However, in no way do I feel that readers should take my entries, although many well researched, as factual.

The blue in blue jeans

Blue jeans are a part of American culture.  James Dean wore them and defined cool.  Brooke Shields wore them tight and made them look good.

The indigo color in blue jeans, however, would have not been possible without the help of German chemist Adolf von Baeyer.

Baeyer devised a method to create synthetic indigo dye--the color blue used for blue jeans--which earned him a Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1905.

Sources: http://science.howstuffworks.com/dictionary/famous-scientists/chemists/adolf-von-baeyer-info.htm; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigo_dye; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_von_Baeyer

Visit my blog at http://photographywritingandmore.blogspot.com/

Megacities

It's absolutely breathtaking when flying into New York City, especially at night when the lights can be seen for miles and miles. 

New York City is considered a megacity.  The Big Apple is the seventh largest megacity in the world, according to citypopulation.de.  Megacities are metropolitan areas with more than 10 million people.

Imagine all the people that live in megacities, such as New York City.  The things that are sometimes overlooked or just taken for granted.  What makes a megacity function?

From a public administration standpoint, there are countless challenges these megacities face--primarily focused on infrastructure such as roads, water, wastewater, etc.

Freelance business writer Sarah Fister Gale explores this challenge in her article, which appeared in PM Network, a project management magazine.  The challenge is that many megacities don't have the infrastructure budget to keep up with urban sprawl.    

The article can be found here.

Below are megacities ranked by size as provided by citypopulation.de:

1.  Tokyo, Japan (34 million)

2.  Canton, China (24.2 million)

3.  Seoul, South Korea (24.2 million)

4.  Mexico City (23.4 million)
5.  Delhi, India (23.2 million)
6.  Bombay, India (22.8 million)
7.  New York City, USA (22.2 million)
8.  Sao Paulo, Brazil (20.9 million)
9.  Manila, Philippines (19.6 million)
10. Shanghai, China (18.4 million)

Sources: Sarah Fister Gale, "Urban Overload," PM Network, August 2010, p.8-9
Thomas Brinkloff, The Principle Agglomerations of the World, http://www.citypopulation.de/


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http://photographywritingandmore.blogspot.com/

The Old Genesee County Poorhouse

Established in 1826, the Genesee County Poorhouse provided residence to paupers and the mentally ill.  

Over 1,200 residents died while at the asylum, including young orphans and elders. Their bodies are buried around the property in unmarked graves.  A memorial site was created recently by Genesee County to honor those who died at the home. 

The facility was closed in 1974 and unoccupied for over two decades.  In 2002, the property was purchased by Jeff and Lori Carlson and renamed Rolling Hills.  Recently, Sharon Coyle became the owners of the property (you can listen to the audio interview here).

Supposedly, the former asylum is haunted.  Several sources say they have seen shadows or felt presence while visiting the home.  Syfy's Ghost Hunters as well as the Travel Channel's Ghost Adventures (a must watch) have recently visited the old poorhouse.   Others such as the New Jersey Paranormal Research group have visited this place and recorded their findings.

As mentioned in Ghost Adventures, a power substation across the street from the old asylum may explain the paranormal activities at the home--spirits feed off energy.

Sources: Wikipedia; Genesee County website; Hubpages

Anne Frank's tree

I love reading the inflight magazines.  You know, the ones found in the pouch in front of your seat when flying somewhere.  They are the magazines that usually have stories of CEOs and such.  Sometimes, they can be a bit boring and a last-resort reading.

I came across an interesting story, however, about a tree Anne Frank wrote about in her diary.  Recently, the horse-chestnut tree saw its demise after a storm.  The article talked about how this new owner, Henric Pomes, purchased the Amsterdam home not knowing that the horse-chestnut tree was that written by Anne Frank.  The article further stated that Pomes had since taken an active role in preserving the tree.

Unfortunately, the tree died this past summer (August 2010); however, it was reported that a sprout was soon growing out of the stump.

Sources: Wikipedia; Hemispheres Inflight Magazine, December 2010

Atheistic view of science and religion

First of all, I should disclose that I am not atheist nor agnostic. I believe in God, but I also believe in our need to apply science to find answers.

The video below is by Philhellenes, an atheist who presents an argument for science titled "Science saved my soul...from religion." 

You can view more of his videos on his YOUTUBE webpage at http://www.youtube.com/user/philhellenes.



Visit my website at http://photographywritingandmore.blogspot.com/.

A Cyclist's Paradise

Bjarke Ingels and his BIG Architect firm created an amazing spiral-shaped structure for cyclists to ride through and where visitors can have a picnic. The structure is also the new home to Denmark's iconic statue--The Little Mermaid.

The Danish Pavilion was build in preparation for the Shanghai 2010 World Expo.

You can find more information about this breathtaking structure here, here, and here.



Sources: PM Network, August 2010; DesignBoom.com; big.

Sen. Al Franken draws the U.S. States

The SeaOrbiter

French architect and ocean enthusiast Jacques Rougerie has designed the world's first vertical ocean ship called the SeaOrbiter. 

The 167 foot tall vessel, which is solely powered by the winds and currents, will allow 18 crewmembers to spend up to six months in the ocean without returning to port.  This would allow oceanographers to study the ocean in a different way.  Further, Rougerie envisions astronauts using the SeaOrbiter for training.

The $43 million construction project is expected to begin in September and should set sail by 2012.

Source: PM Network April 2010