Monthly Archives: July 2013

A change in the neighborhood

Posted on 31 July 2013 by

A few blocks from our flat is a corner that we pass every time we walk downtown. It’s distinctive because of the stench of urine that emanates from it, particularly on hot days. On the corner is a block of … Continue reading →

Posted in life, Portugal | 1 Comment

Wallpaper Monday

Posted on 29 July 2013 by

Photographer Dominic Kamp writes: Taken from the top of Muottas Muragl, a minor summit situated near St. Moritz in Switzerland. It offers a great view on the four lakes of St. Moritz/Engadin and is reachable until 11PM by a cable … Continue reading →

Posted in astronomy, science, wallpaper | 4 Comments

A little Maine weather

Posted on 27 July 2013 by

My shutterbug friend Caren sent this photo, along with a description of the moment. She was vacationing at Washington Pond, Maine, where she spent two weeks kayaking, photographing loons and scenery, and generally loving life… This cloud built up in … Continue reading →

Posted in USA, weather | 1 Comment

Algarve roundabouts, part II

Posted on 26 July 2013 by

After Jorge commented on my Loulé roundabout post to remind us of the horrors of Guia’s N125 roundabout, I couldn’t help myself. The next time we passed through it, I pulled over and asked my wife (who had her trusty … Continue reading →

Posted in humor, Portugal | 11 Comments

Saturn and us

Posted on 24 July 2013 by

The Cassini folks have already released photos from humanity’s biggest selfie, and one in particular is simply gorgeous. It is, of course, the one featuring us. In total, Cassini took a mosaic of 33 “footprints” spanning Saturn and its entire … Continue reading →

Posted in astronomy, science | 3 Comments

Filed under “holy s**t!”

Posted on 23 July 2013 by

Depending on your interest in or tolerance for hair-raising weather phenomena, Florida is either one of the best or worst places in the world to live. Massive thunderstorms are regular occurrences, hurricanes are semi-regular, and the Atlantic Ocean off the … Continue reading →

Posted in USA, weather | 3 Comments

Wallpaper Monday

Posted on 22 July 2013 by

The photographer says only “Taken during a bird-show in Buchs, Switzerland,” but I’d like to know a bit more, such as…from what? An ultralight? A hang glider? Or the highest peak in the area? Looking a raptor straight in the … Continue reading →

Posted in wallpaper, wildlife | 2 Comments

Happiness is…

Posted on 20 July 2013 by

…sitting on the couch all sweaty and stinky from a good bike ride, and enjoying a well-earned scoop of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream while watching the Tour de France riders get far sweatier and stinkier than me. And what … Continue reading →

Posted in sport | 3 Comments

Say “Cheese” — for real this time!

Posted on 19 July 2013 by

Remember when I posted about Cassini taking humanity’s biggest selfie last month? And it turned out that I had flunked Reading Comprehension 101 and it was actually this month? Well, guess what? It’s today! We Europe-dwellers will be in darkness … Continue reading →

Posted in astronomy, life, science | 1 Comment

Lance Armstrong has been erased

Posted on 18 July 2013 by

We’ve been noticing something odd about this Tour de France: Lance Armstrong has been erased. It’s like he never existed. Nobody mentions him on TV or in the press, and the Eurosport channel never shows footage of him from past … Continue reading →

Posted in sport, video | 13 Comments