#365Ways2026 | J.R. Johnson

Posts Tagged ‘#365Ways2026’

Double the Fun!

Posted in Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, explainers, physics, rainbows, science, star wars, xkcd on July 17, 2026| Leave a Comment »

A friend who knows I like rainbows and Star Wars sent this my way, and it is fascinating!

In case you’ve ever wondered what difference two suns would make:)

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It’s Worth It

Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, beauty, inspiration, make it so, the work of life, Thoughts on July 16, 2026| Leave a Comment »

“Life is pointless, and absurd, and magical and cruel and edifying and jaw-droppingly beautiful, sometimes all in the same week. And the meaning you’re able to construct from that swirl of chance and circumstance and self-determination is up to you… It’s worth it. You will make it worth it.” — Maura Judkis

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Cheers to You!

Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, inspiration, quotes, Thoughts, ways to be happy on July 15, 2026| Leave a Comment »

“The best way to cheer yourself is to try to cheer somebody else up.” — Mark Twain

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A Red Sun Rises

Posted in Other, Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, atmosphere, folklore, old sayings, physics, predictions, sailors, Thoughts, weather on July 14, 2026| Leave a Comment »

My trip to the mailbox this morning began peacefully enough, a quiet stroll through a slowly brightening day. Then I looked up. The sun hung in a hazy sky, its light filtered by particulates from fires in Quebec, leaving a visible disk that looked like a second moon. The smoke changed the usual morning light from bright yellow to a darker, ruddier hue. Very dramatic.

Today’s forecast? Thunderstorms, which brought to mind the old adage about skies and sailors. “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky in morning, sailor’s warning.” It turns out to be based on atmospheric science, and while the logic doesn’t hold up everywhere all the time (and yes, smoke can interfere with its accuracy), it can be useful.

Red Sky at Night: Is the Sailor’s Saying Really True?

The folklore lines up with two pieces of plain physics: how air moves and how light scatters. Low pressure pulls air together and lifts it, which builds clouds and brings rain. High pressure does the opposite. Air sinks and spreads out, which keeps the sky clear and traps dust and fine particles near the ground. Sailors learned the shorthand long before anyone measured a millibar: low pressure for foul weather, high pressure for fair.

Happily, forewarned is forearmed (to use another old adage). Now I wait, and watch for the coming storm.

A red sun rises.

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The Path to Good

Posted in Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, another Hank Green quote, art in life, creativity, inspiration, life, practice, Thoughts, writing on July 13, 2026| Leave a Comment »

The path to good runs through bad, and that goes for art forms we don’t even consider art forms, like friendship, parenthood, and citizenship. But the only thing that gets us better is practice. — Hank Green

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Waxing Poetic

Posted in Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, beauty, geology, rocks, science, Thoughts on July 12, 2026| Leave a Comment »

We recently spent some time on the road, and drove through some fascinating geology. I had a professor once who was known to wax poetic about highway road cuts, and he wasn’t wrong. Millennia of geological processes are exposed to the light. It got me thinking about geology in general and rocks in particular.

Here’s a general introduction that emphasizes the connection of geology to everything from plate tectonics to the location of our cities:

I’d rather have polished stones from my local highway than diamonds, actually. And for fun, here’s a video on labradorite, a very pretty example of Earth’s stone modification skills:

Thanks for taking us to the Geology Department open house that one time, Dad. I still remember the rock polishing demonstration:)

And if you have a moment next time you’re on the road, watch the road cuts as you go by. Earth’s secrets are out there, waiting for you.

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Time to Get Serious(ly Fun)

Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, can't be working all the time, fun, inspiration, Thoughts on July 11, 2026| Leave a Comment »

The Serious Case for Fun

In a culture obsessed with productivity, fun can feel frivolous. Yet research increasingly shows that play, delight, and shared enjoyment are essential ingredients of a good life.

Here’s to finding time for a bit of fun. Happy Saturday, everyone!

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Tribute to an Inspiration

Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, #AmericanDreams, inspiration, kick-ass adults, NASA, persistence, pioneers, space, Thoughts on July 10, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Today, I’d like to pay tribute to Wally Funk, one of the early pioneers in flight and one of the first women to train with NASA. She didn’t get to be an official astronaut in the end, but she could fly just about anything, trained thousands at her own flight school, and much more. She also made a suborbital flight via Blue Origin’s New Shepard ship in 2021, becoming the oldest woman to reach space at 82.

Wally Funk, the oldest woman to venture to space, dies at 87

“I loved every minute of it. I just wish it had been longer.”

If you’re interested in the history of space, or women in space, or kick-ass ladies in general, I highly recommend the 2018 documentary Mercury 13 on Netflix.

Here’s to Wally’s example of determination, perseverance, and all-around excellence, and to finding ways to make dreams come true!

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