Posted in Likes, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, creativity, fantasy, genre fiction, inspiration, maps, Writers on September 13, 2023| Leave a Comment »
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
Found when perusing Texas A&M Libraries’ Maps of Imaginary Places.
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Posted in Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, astronomy, discovery, feels like magic, science, space on September 12, 2023| Leave a Comment »
This week, you have a once-in-a-430 year chance to see a new comet. Comet Nishimura was just discovered last month, and will be gone by the end of the week.
Nishimura green comet: what is it, how to see it and when it will be back – NPR
Scientists determined that this comet takes about 430 years to orbit the sun.
So the last time it was visible from Earth was in the late 1500s — before Galileo Galilei pointed his telescope to the sky.
The last time this comet came through these parts was just a few years before Galileo invented his telescope. The comet was discovered just last month, by an amateur astronomer named Hideo Nishimura.
There are good images of the comet as well as detailed location information here: The new comet Nishimura is closest to Earth today.
I should have posted this a few days ago, because the comet is now passing us. If you’re interested, the comet is visible this week with binoculars or a telescope, but only with effort and only from the northern hemisphere. Try looking toward the east, low on the horizon, before sunrise, and look for the constellation Leo.
I don’t have good binoculars or a telescope, but that’s fine. It’s enough for me to know that this comet, and so many other fascinating objects, are still out there.
Waiting to be discovered.
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Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, 9/11, heroes, inspiration, memories, Thoughts on September 11, 2023| Leave a Comment »
On this day in 2001 I was home in Pennsylvania, getting ready to fly back to Boston. At least that was the plan, until I got a call telling me that all flights had been grounded.
For more on what was behind the cancellation of my flight, and all the others, check out this article from Now I Know:
In all, Ben Sliney’s initiative makes for an incredible story. When Universal Pictures decided to turn the heroism of the passengers of United Flight 93 into a movie, they did not overlook Ben Sliney’s role — they even asked him to play himself in the movie…
Here’s to all the heroes from that day, and after.
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Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, inspiration, nature, Thoughts on September 10, 2023| Leave a Comment »
The weather today was perfect for a walk. We headed out to the southwest of Ottawa, found a new cafe, then spent quality time on a new-to-us path along a converted railroad bed.
Years ago, Mr Man and I found ourselves in the northern Ontario wilderness. After a long day of fishing, we realized that we are always happier when we say yes to nature. So today, that’s what we did.
If you’re looking for new trails too, you might find this site useful:
Browse to see options for walking, hiking, running, biking and more, complete with maps and elevation. Here’s the list for Ottawa, and an example that includes the lovely Fletcher Gardens near Dows Lake:
Wikiloc | Hartwells, Fletcher Garden and Morris St Trail
Did we exert ourselves enough to balance out the cheesecake we’ll be having for dessert?
Maybe?
I mean, yes.
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Posted in Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, inspiration, space on September 9, 2023| Leave a Comment »
How Many People Are In Space Right Now?
Does what it says on the box. Fabulous!
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Posted in Food and..., tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, breakfast options on September 8, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Note from the kitchen: Peanut butter and jelly with yogurt is surprisingly good.
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Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, beauty, Canada, fall, fall foliage, home, inspiration, nature, poutine, Thoughts on September 7, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Canada is a global leader in many arenas: friendliness, humor, dishes featuring cheese, gravy and potatoes.
Come fall, it also leads the way in terms of natural beauty.
The leaves on the maple across the street are beginning to turn. Thanks in part to my father falling in love with the Appalachian mountains on a job interview, I’ve watched this dance most of my life. First the green fades into yellows and orange and reds, slowly and then fast, until every vista is filtered through a rainbow-colored lens.
The change depends on a number of factors such as precipitation and temperature, but check out this map for a prediction:
2023 Fall Foliage Map & Nationwide Peak Leaf Forecast
More on the map and how it was made:
See When Brilliant Fall Foliage Will Peak With This Interactive Map
According to the map, fall foliage season began on September 4 and will end on November 20.
For comparison, here’s the Farmers’ Almanac weighing in on dates by state: Fall Leaves: America’s Top Destinations.
When will peak fall happen for you? Soon, the trees whisper. Soon.
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Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, creativity, Fiction, genre fiction, inspiration, Kickstarter, Ukraine, Writers, writing on September 6, 2023| Leave a Comment »
Elizabeth Bear recently posted about a new Ukrainian speculative fiction anthology at Kickstarter.
Heads up about a very cool Ukrainian SFF Anthology!
The project is focused on Ukrainian and diaspora writers, all translated into English.
I enjoy supporting artists where I can, particularly those in such difficult situations.
+
I’m interested in seeing the current and future world through new perspectives.
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Sign me up.
Here’s a link to the project.
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Posted in Science!, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, copyright, creativity, genre fiction, technology, Thoughts, Writers, writing on September 5, 2023| 1 Comment »
What does one of the great speculative fiction writers of our time have to say about AI (or at least, her own AI doppelgänger)?
Margaret Atwood: Murdered by My Replica?
Apparently, 33 of my books have been used as training material for their wordsmithing computer programs. Once fully trained, the bot may be given a command—“Write a Margaret Atwood novel”—and the thing will glurp forth 50,000 words, like soft ice cream spiraling out of its dispenser, that will be indistinguishable from something I might grind out. (But minus the typos.) I myself can then be dispensed with—murdered by my replica, as it were—because, to quote a vulgar saying of my youth, who needs the cow when the milk’s free?
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Posted in Likes, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2023, Thoughts, travel on September 4, 2023| Leave a Comment »
“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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J.R. Johnson 
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