Monthly Archives: April 2011

“Hang on, I love you”

Posted on 30 April 2011 by

The monstrous tornado that ripped through Tuscaloosa, Alabama, spawned a series of amateur videos that take one’s breath away even while viewing from a comfortable, safe and sunny kitchen. This video, however, tops them all. It’s not of the terrifying … Continue reading →

Posted in event, USA, video | 2 Comments

Now THAT was pomp

Posted on 29 April 2011 by

I have just watched my first royal wedding. It would never have occurred to me to get up at oh-dark-thirty back in Oregon to watch a wedding in real time, and frankly it didn’t even occur to me to watch … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, Europe | 2 Comments

CERN explained (in comics!)

Posted on 28 April 2011 by

Ph.D. is one of my favorite comics, and this time artist Jorge Cham has outdone himself. He sat down with two physicists to talk about dark matter and what scientists hope to learn from CERN’s Large Hadron Collider near Geneva, … Continue reading →

Posted in science | 1 Comment

More eating

Posted on 27 April 2011 by

My friend is now winging her way home, after two weeks of being stuffed to the gills with extremely good food — some of which, I’m proud to say, we produced right here in our home. Having a local butcher … Continue reading →

Posted in Portugal, travel | 4 Comments

Eating our way across Portugal

Posted on 21 April 2011 by

We’re back home after a few days of wandering through the Alentejo region, stopping every few hours for yet another massive and delicious meal of Alentejana cuisine. So I thought I’d post a few images to make you hungry. In … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, Portugal, travel | 11 Comments

Sporadic post alert

Posted on 13 April 2011 by

My best friend has arrived for her visit, which means my postings will be sporadic for the next two weeks. In the meantime, it’s going to be fun to see my adopted country through new eyes. Having come from cool … Continue reading →

Posted in life, Portugal | 1 Comment

When they say “international,” they really mean international

Posted on 12 April 2011 by

Last month, Dart Music International staged a week-long free concert in Austin, Texas. Living up to the organization’s name, the concert featured six bands from six continents back to back, three days running. It also featured a global first: a … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, video | 3 Comments

Wallpaper Monday

Posted on 11 April 2011 by

From the 27 March Astronomy Picture of the Day comes this stunning view of the largest canyon in our solar system: Valles Marineris on Mars. APOD explains: The grand valley extends over 3,000 kilometers long, spans as much as 600 … Continue reading →

Posted in wallpaper | 1 Comment

Oregon Legislature April Fool’s prank

Posted on 9 April 2011 by

The legislature in my home state is the second-to-the-last place I’d ever look for humor. (The federal legislature is the last place.) But it turns out to have hosted one of the most elaborate political pranks ever pulled off — … Continue reading →

Posted in humor, Oregon, video | 3 Comments

Tragedy in Brazil

Posted on 8 April 2011 by

Twelve children dead, many others grievously injured, by a psychopathic nutjob with a gun. I cringed while reading the awful details…and then I cringed for a whole different reason when I came across this quote: “It is a massacre, a … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, event | Leave a comment