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Archive for the ‘Likes’ Category

The weather today is beautiful and I wish I could go outside for a walk. Sadly, work, so instead I was happy to see this Google Doodle commemorating one of the world’s great hikes, the Appalachian Trail.

Here’s the Doodle.

For more on the Trail, here’s the National Park Service site to give you a sense of what it’s like… minus the bugs.

Appalachian National Scenic Trail (U.S. National Park Service)

The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by private citizens, and completed in 1937, today the trail is managed by the National Park Service, US Forest Service, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, numerous state agencies and thousands of volunteers.

I haven’t hiked the Trail but a lot of my best childhood moments revolved around the woods in the Allegheny Mountains, part of the central section of the Appalachians. My father also recently sent out a collection of his backpacking memories, which were great to read. (Although how he wasn’t eaten by a bear or something is beyond me.)

The beauty of these mountains, however, is something special.

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Sharp Top, VA, from a side trail. Photo by Isaac Wendland on Unsplash

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Yes, the internet can sometimes be a bit of a drag, but then you stumble across the one thing your six-year-old heart most desired: A map of Fairyland.

An anciente mappe of Fairyland – newly discovered and set forth

Excerpt from Sleigh, Bernard, and Sidgwick & Jackson. An anciente mappe of Fairyland: newly discovered and set forth: imaginary locality. [London: Sidgwick & Jackson, ?, 1920] Map. https://www.loc.gov/item/2006628749/.

Found when perusing Texas A&M Libraries’ Maps of Imaginary Places.

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Photo by Daniel Kempe on Unsplash

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Traveling Today

“Am going to cross Pacific on a wooden raft to support a theory that the South Sea islands were peopled from Peru. Will you come? I guarantee nothing but a free trip to Peru and the South Sea islands and back, but you will find good use for your technical abilities on the voyage. Reply at once.’

Next day the following telegram arrived from Torstein:

COMING. TORSTEIN.” 

― Thor Heyerdahl

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Photo by Peter Thomas on Unsplash

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Brave Enough

“There is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we are brave enough to be it.”

— Amanda Gorman

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Photo by Hà Nguyễn on Unsplash

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I enjoy stumbling across an interesting new way of looking at or interacting with the world, and realizing that a non-zero number of people are highly invested in a thing I had no idea existed. 

Exhibit A: The hyperlapse is a niche art form documenting travel via a time lapse plus camera movement, where both distance and time are compressed into one immersive experience.

Here’s an example video of a walk around Canberra, Australia’s capital city.

Journey Through Seasons: A Hypnotic Hyperlapse of the Canberra Centenary Trail

A year in the making, it follows a 145km walking track that circumnavigates Canberra, the capital of Australia.

This article from The Guardian discusses this particular project in more depth.

Canberra hyperlapse: a year walking 145km around Australia’s capital – squeezed into seven minutes

What a world.

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Photo by Rosie Steggles on Unsplash

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“Stuff your eyes with wonder,” he said, “live as if you’d drop dead in ten seconds. See the world. It’s more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories.” 

― Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451

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Photo by Amy Shamblen on Unsplash

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A year ago we adopted the cat who would later (much later, fine, it took quite a while) be named Chewbacca. He is the sweetest cat I’ve ever had, and I’m more than glad we kept looking until we found the right fit. Kittens are cute and all, but adopting this older cat from our local rescue was the best thing we could have done.

Recommend.

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This is what treadmills are for, right?

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Dear Readers,

Attached please find important information for your enjoyment and edification. It may be particularly appropriate for a quiet Sunday afternoon.

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Photo by Matt Ridley on Unsplash

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Mr Man and I went for a walk today, a hot, sticky endeavor that reminded me of childhood summers. Humidity, thunderstorms, and lightning bugs.

We have fireflies in the yard now, enjoying our long grass and pine litter and bird bath. They appeared outside a could of weeks ago, and now we turn off as many lights as we can to help them find love.

Turn Off Your Lights and Welcome Fireflies

Many of my best summer memories involve fireflies, so now I’m doing what I can to help future generations have such memories too.

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Photo by Mike Lewinski on Unsplash

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I like making things and I like learning about making things. This predilection may have its roots in family trips to places like the Kellogg and Hershey factories (mm, Fruit Loops and chocolate samples), but whatever the reason, I dig a behind-the-scenes perspective. 

You too? Then perhaps you will also like these deep dives into the wonderful world of pencils: 

How Are Pencils Made?

How we make pencils – YouTube

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Photo by Mahbod Akhzami on Unsplash

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