That's Gneiss! #72 ~ Peeps Show
It’s that time of the year you didn’t know you were waiting for - Peeps season! Everybody loves the brightly colored solid sugar treats, and some people even eat them.
There is a much better use for the little rabbit and chick shaped sugar blobs - anthropomorphizing them in dioramas or short vignettes!
My first encounter with this unusual practice was many years ago, when I stumbled upon this research on how Peeps use an academic library. Not very well it turns out. About the same time, others were doing research on Peeps - including solubility testing, reaction in low pressure environments, and the risks of smoking and drinking. It’s not pretty folks, and I’m not just talking about the website design.
Fast forward sixteen years (egads) and the art form of the Peeps diorama has risen to new heights! Every year contests abound (just a sampling), providing ample opportunity for people to push the creative boundaries of art and puns. There is probably a contest near you!
It may come as no surprise to you that the science-themed contest sponsored by The Open Notebook is my new favorite. It’s hard to choose a favorite, but I do like John “Peepsly” Powell Exploring the Graham Canyon.
I also love Mika McKinnon’s version of a 1903 mine disaster in Frank, Alberta. Look at that hand-drawn stratigraphy!
I was going to share a few photos from Nolan and Mia’s trip, now that they’re home and have spent some time narrowing them down to the best 1,000+. However, it’s a beautiful day and I have things to do, so they will have to wait until another day. Here’s one to entice you - Nolan’s camera takes great photos underwater!
It’s been fun hearing about their trip, they had an amazing time. The ate lots of good food, had some strange bus/van rides, and met interesting people along the way. Definitely an adventure!
Have a great week!
~Anne
Tidbits
Birdpunk - aka punkers are not two-dimensional and even people with tattoos like birds (must we put “punk” on the end of everything?)
The School House Rock we need today - Fool House Rock: Anti-Vaxx Fallacies
Motorists Guide, Mount Rainier National Park (1933) - THAT MAP!!!
Who knew mending could be so mesmerizing! Several short videos that show the process of mending a sweater using a vintage device called a Speedweve.
Visible mending - it’s a thing, and I want in. I don’t think my frankensteinian mending of the dog toys counts. See what people are doing on Instagram!
I’d like to decorate my home with these, please.
We found our new source of good meat.
Making - a little garden bed! Also making plans for growing many sunflowers this year.
Recently eaten: pie, and more pie, followed by leftover pie.
Reading: I finished The Cloud Collector’s Handbook, which inspires me to learn more about clouds. I also read two complete books! An Elderly Lady is Up to No Good (good for some chuckles), and Tetris: the Games People Play - the fascinating story of the game Tetris, in graphic novel form. I started The Trial of Lizzie Borden, the latest look at an event I find endlessly fascinating. I’m going to have to give up on Matter for now. Despite reading almost 300 pages, it’s just not doing it for me. There are so many other books to read!
Videos of the Week
Everybody hopes to see the Northern Lights in their lifetime, and one of you had the joy of seeing them this week in Iceland (LUCKY!) The rest of us canalize vicariously through these two videos.
Question of the Week
Just hit reply to send your answer, and I’ll share it next week. Always anonymous!
What are you making these days?
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Last week in honor of Pi Day I asked about your favorite kinds of pie.
Favorite kinds of pie? Lemon merengue. My aunt's chocolate pie. I haven't had it in years (no contact with said aunt, and not eating all the sugar that it contained), but it was a favorite. I like a good pumpkin pie. I enjoy the crustless pecan pies I make around the holidays (I also make it without corn syrup or sugar, just honey). I don't think I ate enough pie enough when I was younger. I favored cake, but that wasn't the right move. Cake is ubiquitous. Pie is underappreciated, I think.
My favorite pie is cherry, though I have rarely had it in the past 30 years. I’m not very good at pie-making, and others in the family don’t like it as much as I do. I also love pumpkin pie.
One cannot discuss pie without also discussing whipped cream and ice cream as toppings/accompaniments. For my part, I prefer my pie unadulterated with such froufrou. I have a different opinion as regards peach cobbler and blackberry crisp...
I don't eat nearly as much pie as I'd like, but those seldom-eaten pies include Shaker lemon pie, French apple, and savory vegetarian.
So many choices, it’s hard to pick. For creme pies it’s either coconut or banana. Or chocolate. Or mocha. For fruit pies it’s hard to beat a good apple pie. Then of course there are meat pies! Cheesecake - shaped like a pie. I’m hungry now.
From the closest weather station until I get mine set up:
Current Temperature: 59 F (14 C)
Current Humidity: 71%
Wind Gusts: 13 mph
Precipitation: 0.00 in
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