Years ago I spent a few days in Berlin. I remember the impressive Pergammon Gates in all their displaced splendor. I remember a precious jewelled statue of St. George striking a sparkling jewelled dragon with his spear. I remember visiting Checkpoint Charlie with a girl from Heidelburg and her Nazi mother, repentent of the war. I know the wall was down and remember the map of the Ringstrasse. I remember the Lindon trees on the big avenue leading from Brandenburger Tur. I remember the English bookstore called Shakespeare and Company.
This time, I am looking forward to seeing the newly created Museum Island and the "Tiergarten" Zoo. I wonder if it will be like Schonbrun's, with fancy houses for the animals, or if it will be big and open like the NY Zoo? I think the city will be big and noisy, and the metro easy to get around in. I think the wall will be even harder to find. I think there will be even more tourists, and cars. Maybe less German and more English?
I hope there are big parks to wander in, and fancy water fountains to drink out of. I hope there is not too much traffic, and that people still ride bikes. I hope there is interesting street food and summer concerts. I hope that we can eat ice cream in the parks. I hope there are birds and animals to watch. I hope the pollution is not too bad.
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Monday, January 29, 2018
CRYOSEISMS, FROST QUAKES OR ICE QUAKES
My neighbour asked me yesterday if I heard the loud noise this past Friday. I had to admit that I hadn't, but I had just come off a series of late evenings so the timing was likely at the beginning of my deep sleep and I could definitely sleep through something at that point in the night.
She told me that night, all around the city, people heard noises at different times, and they said it was the result of a phenomenon of freezing earth after saturated soil. They call them frost quakes, and they were loud enough to wake my neighbour and cause her and her husband to search the house before turning to facebook to see what had happened on Friday January 26, 2018.
Apparently this is not the first time this has been reported in the West Island, with a wikipedia entry on the subject listing an "ice quake" at 2:30 am on January 6th, 2015. These frost or ice quakes are not to be confused with snow quakes (I name I really prefer, but is less scientific), which appears to be a dirt bike race in Europe set on ice or a delicious cookie confection. Under the heading "Snow Job" I did find a description of a snow tremor or quake in a google book called "The Indispensable Book of Useless Information". It stated the sound occurs when a large field of snow settles down on an air pocket beneath it, producing a very loud sound, possibly even resulting in a snow geyser! I'm not sure this is meteorilogically accurate, but I though I should mention it just in case it is!
I am sorry I missed it! I am glad to know that I am a good sleeper though. I am sure it will happen again, maybe still this year!
She told me that night, all around the city, people heard noises at different times, and they said it was the result of a phenomenon of freezing earth after saturated soil. They call them frost quakes, and they were loud enough to wake my neighbour and cause her and her husband to search the house before turning to facebook to see what had happened on Friday January 26, 2018.
Apparently this is not the first time this has been reported in the West Island, with a wikipedia entry on the subject listing an "ice quake" at 2:30 am on January 6th, 2015. These frost or ice quakes are not to be confused with snow quakes (I name I really prefer, but is less scientific), which appears to be a dirt bike race in Europe set on ice or a delicious cookie confection. Under the heading "Snow Job" I did find a description of a snow tremor or quake in a google book called "The Indispensable Book of Useless Information". It stated the sound occurs when a large field of snow settles down on an air pocket beneath it, producing a very loud sound, possibly even resulting in a snow geyser! I'm not sure this is meteorilogically accurate, but I though I should mention it just in case it is!
I am sorry I missed it! I am glad to know that I am a good sleeper though. I am sure it will happen again, maybe still this year!
I USED TO THINK THE ICE STORM WAS IN 1998 BUT THIS IS MONTREAL. ICE STORMS ARE A MONTHLY OCCURRENCE!
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| Even with a protective layer of snow, this took me almost an hour to clean off. Strange how the ice fractures in ways that resemble glass, but the paint on the car under is |
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| How the snow layer saves a little time! |
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| Unfortunately the most important doors were shaded against the rising sun. Still, parking backwards is a winter essential in case you need a battery charge. |
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| Ice with chunks of ice embedded (from blowing off the tree branches the night before) and ice chunks from the car. |
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| What I came home to from commuting by foot and train (AMT was on time!) from work |
Sunday, January 28, 2018
EAT FIRST WITH YOUR EYES
Season two of The Crown is out on Netflix, and the girls were instructed to bring finger food. This was the savoury result! It was followed by lindt chocolates, strawberry yogurt terrines, mille-feuille, and the difficult choice of which tea (Vanilla black, Strawberry sencha, Green tea). It was delicious, filled with friends, fun, and the sovereign Elizabeth. Thanks chicks!
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| Shrimp and Pork Siu Mai |
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| Cauliflower (gluten free and keto friendly) mozza sticks with garlic tomato sauce |
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| Stuffed jalapeños and spring rolls |
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| Stuffed devilled eggs, Jalapeño greek yogurt and veggie crudités, tuna dip and breads, stuffed mushrooms |
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| Sharp cheddar and Quebec gala apple on cornmeal muffin halves, with blue cheese jalepeno jelly (we really like things spicy!), and tuna balls (see recipe below) with homemade tartar sauce (Hellman's mayo, relish, lemon juice) |
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| Thali plates with one of each app |
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| Kid friendly recipe |
BEAUTY IS NOT OPTIONAL
My colleague asked me recently about my motto, and this is what I replied:
It’s a motto I thought I came up with but I think someone clever said something like it first.
I have long ago learned than I cannot just survive or accept being reduced to a number or a cog, although as you so eloquently outlined in your response, this is the pressure on all of us in the ER in Quebec, and elsewhere too. But I need to hear the story or meet the person behind the pathology. If I have a need, I try and find something in it that I also love. It is the mark of great design; function and beauty. It is the only thing that I am sure that I am good at; being an admirer of beauty. It is why I am an avid member of Montreal's Fine art gallery, buy paintings from friends, travel and photograph whenever I can, admire people’s strengths and try and forget their faults, write, weed, paint, and decorate.
It’s a reason to exist, struggle, and live despite the stress and failure and regret. It keeps me from only judging (a personality trait I fight against), and keeps me sane (or at least keeps me closer than I would be otherwise!😂)
From environmentalist Terry Tempest Williams:
"When we were working in the village of Rugerero with Rwandan women who had lost everything from war, I saw a light in their eyes return when their children began picking up paintbrushes and painting the walls of their homes. Joy entered in. Creativity ignited a spark. In that moment, I saw that art is not peripheral, beauty is not optional, but a strategy for survival.
In Rwanda, USAID was saying, "How can you dare to paint a village when people are hungry?" But beauty feeds a different kind of hunger. And when there's so much ugliness in the world that we've created, I think it's essential, that whether it's pausing in a garden with a trowel in hand, or walking up to Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, or picking up a paintbrush with children, our soul seizes beauty and is sustained.
Finding beauty in a broken world is acknowledging that beauty leads us to our deepest and highest selves. It inspires us. We have an innate desire for grace. It's not that all our definitions of beauty are the same, but when you see a particular heron in the bend in the river, day after day, something in your soul stirs. We remember what it means to be human."
From Lord Byron:
It’s a motto I thought I came up with but I think someone clever said something like it first.
I have long ago learned than I cannot just survive or accept being reduced to a number or a cog, although as you so eloquently outlined in your response, this is the pressure on all of us in the ER in Quebec, and elsewhere too. But I need to hear the story or meet the person behind the pathology. If I have a need, I try and find something in it that I also love. It is the mark of great design; function and beauty. It is the only thing that I am sure that I am good at; being an admirer of beauty. It is why I am an avid member of Montreal's Fine art gallery, buy paintings from friends, travel and photograph whenever I can, admire people’s strengths and try and forget their faults, write, weed, paint, and decorate.
It’s a reason to exist, struggle, and live despite the stress and failure and regret. It keeps me from only judging (a personality trait I fight against), and keeps me sane (or at least keeps me closer than I would be otherwise!😂)
From environmentalist Terry Tempest Williams:
"When we were working in the village of Rugerero with Rwandan women who had lost everything from war, I saw a light in their eyes return when their children began picking up paintbrushes and painting the walls of their homes. Joy entered in. Creativity ignited a spark. In that moment, I saw that art is not peripheral, beauty is not optional, but a strategy for survival.
In Rwanda, USAID was saying, "How can you dare to paint a village when people are hungry?" But beauty feeds a different kind of hunger. And when there's so much ugliness in the world that we've created, I think it's essential, that whether it's pausing in a garden with a trowel in hand, or walking up to Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, or picking up a paintbrush with children, our soul seizes beauty and is sustained.
Finding beauty in a broken world is acknowledging that beauty leads us to our deepest and highest selves. It inspires us. We have an innate desire for grace. It's not that all our definitions of beauty are the same, but when you see a particular heron in the bend in the river, day after day, something in your soul stirs. We remember what it means to be human."
From Lord Byron:
So the next time you feel stressed, choose to create or admire or do something beautiful. Make it beauty for yourself, or someone else. Don't just do something minimally. Elevate it to art, whether it is a conversation, a gift, a need, or a desire. If you can't create it, find a forest, and bathe in its beauty. You and the world around you will be better for it.
TODAY WE MADE A JOKE!
In researching an author's claim to be internationally known, I was testing the Princess Pirate's knowledge of geography. The author had been published in Amsterdam, in Dutch presumably, but neither of us knew the word for Netherlands in French for her assignment.
Really, it was the Princess Pirate who made the joke. She said she didn't know which country it was in, French or English, but she was sure it was founded by a beaver. When I asked why, she reminded me of the city's suffix, -dam, and I laughed.
Then I elaborated the joke, saying that it couldn't be a beaver. It had to be a Hamster! But if a French person said it, they wouldn't be able to say the H at the beginning of the word, and that set us off giggling, imaging a city declared by a French beaver to be his friend's place, 'Amster-dam!
Really, it was the Princess Pirate who made the joke. She said she didn't know which country it was in, French or English, but she was sure it was founded by a beaver. When I asked why, she reminded me of the city's suffix, -dam, and I laughed.
Then I elaborated the joke, saying that it couldn't be a beaver. It had to be a Hamster! But if a French person said it, they wouldn't be able to say the H at the beginning of the word, and that set us off giggling, imaging a city declared by a French beaver to be his friend's place, 'Amster-dam!
Friday, January 26, 2018
FORGIVENESS
There are some ideas that are taught in religion, but become obvious as morally with time and experience. Forgiveness is one of those concepts.
This blog is a topic I have thought about for a while, but today it was triggered from a news title I saw on the CBC website about some extreme examples of forgiveness that was the topic of a documentary.
Forgiveness is one of those things I was taught to do on behalf of others. As I have come to it another way as an adult, I realize that forgiveness is necessary for oneself. It is another example of a selfish act that is mistaken for a selfless act by many. It is what is required when a romantic love leaves you with no explanation. When someone wrongs you and feels no duty to right the wrong. It is required when you find yourself become bitter from the "slings and arrows of outrageous fortune". When you are suffering without cause. When you can't move forward unless you give up all the attachments you have to the person who says they want to make amends, but then take their sweet time doing it.
Forgiveness is for yourself. It is an act of survival. It is an act of generosity to yourself. An acceptance of the universe that is not fair.
This blog is a topic I have thought about for a while, but today it was triggered from a news title I saw on the CBC website about some extreme examples of forgiveness that was the topic of a documentary.
Forgiveness is one of those things I was taught to do on behalf of others. As I have come to it another way as an adult, I realize that forgiveness is necessary for oneself. It is another example of a selfish act that is mistaken for a selfless act by many. It is what is required when a romantic love leaves you with no explanation. When someone wrongs you and feels no duty to right the wrong. It is required when you find yourself become bitter from the "slings and arrows of outrageous fortune". When you are suffering without cause. When you can't move forward unless you give up all the attachments you have to the person who says they want to make amends, but then take their sweet time doing it.
Forgiveness is for yourself. It is an act of survival. It is an act of generosity to yourself. An acceptance of the universe that is not fair.
YOU ONLY HAVE ONE LIFE
Most of us spend our lives as if we had another one in the bank.
--Ben Irwin
Response:
Don't spend your life acting as if you have another one.
Caveat:
You only have one planet. Don't use it as if you have another one.
--Ben Irwin
Response:
Don't spend your life acting as if you have another one.
Caveat:
You only have one planet. Don't use it as if you have another one.
Monday, January 22, 2018
GERMAN ARTICLES
DECLENSIONS
SINGULAR MASCULINE FEMININE NEUTER PLURAL
NOMINATIV der die das die
GENETIV des der des der
AKKUSATIVE den die das die
DATIV dem der dem der
SINGULAR MASCULINE FEMININE NEUTER PLURAL
NOMINATIV der die das die
GENETIV des der des der
AKKUSATIVE den die das die
DATIV dem der dem der
GERMAN COMMON NOUNS
THREE ARTICLES: der (MASCULINE), die (FEMININE), das (NEUTER)
HOUSEHOLD
Tasse cup
Undertasse saucer
Teller plate
Schüssel bowl
Gabel fork
Löffel spoon
Messer knife
Glas glass
Einmachglas jar
Krug jug
Bratpfanne frying pan
Topf pot
Tiegel pan
Flasche bottle
Pyjama pyjamas
Spiegel mirror
Kamm comb
Trommel drum
Toaströster toaster
Bett bed
Zahnpaste toothpaste
Zahnbürste toothbrush
Seife soap
Waschlappen facecloth
das Fenster/die Fenstern window/s
das Regal bookcase
das Radio radio
Handtuch towel
das Haus house
Schirm umbrella
Vase vase
Bese broom
Spültisch sink
Herd stove
Hintereingang backdoor
Fussboden floor
der Tisch table
der Stuhl chair
der Sessel easychair
das Esszimmer dining room
der Schrank cupboard
der Kühlschrank fridge
Bett bed
das Schlafzimmer bedroom
Saftpresse squeezed juice
Honig honey
Marmelade jam
Butter butter
Syrup syrup
Speck bacon
Spiegeleier fried eggs
Haferbrei porridge
Rahm cream
Obstsaft fruit juice
Muffins muffins
Teegebäck English muffins
Milch milk
Waffel waffle
Kakao cocoa
Frühstück breakfast
HUMAN
Gesicht face
Hände hands
Zähne teeth
Haare hair
OCCUPATION
Bauer farmer
Milchauto milk car
Brief letter
Briefträgen postman
Polizist police
Feuerwehrmann fireman
Feuerwehrwagen fire engine
Krankenschwester nurse
Patient patient
Hexe witch
Gitarrenspieler Guitarist
Mutter mother
Vater father
Maurer bricklayer
Anstreicher painter
ANIMAL
Waschbär raccoon
Katze cat
Fliege fly
Maulwurf mole
Kuh cow
Krähe crow
Maus mouse
Lamm lamb
Schwein pig
Hase rabbit
Biber beaver
Kröte toad
Walross walrus
Hahn cock
Henne hen
Küken baby chick
BOTANY
Weidenkätchen pussy willow
Rose rose
Giftpilz toadstool
Pilz mushroom
ABSTRACT
Bunten words
TIME
Tag day
CULTURE
Indianet Indian
MUSIC
Waldhorn bugle
PLACES
die Apotheke pharmacy
die Bibliothek library
die Schule school
die Poliklinik medical clinic
HOUSEHOLD
Tasse cup
Undertasse saucer
Teller plate
Schüssel bowl
Gabel fork
Löffel spoon
Messer knife
Glas glass
Einmachglas jar
Krug jug
Bratpfanne frying pan
Topf pot
Tiegel pan
Flasche bottle
Pyjama pyjamas
Spiegel mirror
Kamm comb
Trommel drum
Toaströster toaster
Bett bed
Zahnpaste toothpaste
Zahnbürste toothbrush
Seife soap
Waschlappen facecloth
das Fenster/die Fenstern window/s
das Regal bookcase
das Radio radio
Handtuch towel
das Haus house
Schirm umbrella
Vase vase
Bese broom
Spültisch sink
Herd stove
Hintereingang backdoor
Fussboden floor
der Tisch table
der Stuhl chair
der Sessel easychair
das Esszimmer dining room
der Schrank cupboard
der Kühlschrank fridge
Bett bed
das Schlafzimmer bedroom
Dach roof
Shornstein chimney
Rauch smoke
Fernsehantenne tv aerial
Fernsehapparat tv set
der Fernseher tv
Lichtschalter lightswitch
Plattenspieler record player
Kajütenbetten bunkbed
Bubenschlafzimmer boy's bedroom
Bild picture
das Wohnzimmer living room
Kerze candle
Telefon telephone
Kamin fireplace
Teppich rug
das Sofa sofa
die Couch couch
Fussmatte doormat
Haustür front door
Treppen stairs
Treppenhaus staircase
das Badezimmer bathroom
Hammer hammer
Nagel nail
Brett board
Hobel carpentry plane
Sandpapier sandpaper
Bohrer drill
Spannsäge jigsaw
Säge saw
Sägemehl sawdust
Hobel spaäne wood shavings
Schrau Bezieher screwdriver
Schraube screw
Zange pliers
Winkelmass right ankle ruler
Bolzen bolt
Werkzeugkasten toolbox
Zirkel compass
Engländer monkey wrench
Taschenmesser jackknife (pocketknife)
Farbe paint
Malerbürste paintbrush
Stift tack
Spachtel putty knife
Zollstock folding ruler
Bindfadenknäuel ball of twine
Ziegelstein brick
Maurerkell trowel
die Waschmaschine clothes wash machine
die Lampe lamp
der Computer computer
die Mikrowelle microwave
der Zeitschriften newspapers
die Wand wall
die Brille glasses
Handy mobile
Schlüssel key
die Küche kitchen
das Arbeitzimmer workroom
das Zimmer room
das Buch book
das Wörterbuch/die Wörterbücher dictionary
das Heft notebook
OUTDOORS/PLAY
der Garten
Spaten spade
Leiter ladder
Shaufel shovel
Auto car
Axt axe
Spitzhacke pick axe
Schubkarren wheelbarrow
Erde earth
Beil wachet
Mörtelhacke hoe
Holzstoss woodpile
Rasen lawn
Vogelbad birdbath
Plattenweg stone path
Holzklotz log
SPORTS/PLAY
Fussball football
Fernsehantenne tv aerial
Fernsehapparat tv set
der Fernseher tv
Lichtschalter lightswitch
Plattenspieler record player
Kajütenbetten bunkbed
Bubenschlafzimmer boy's bedroom
Bild picture
das Wohnzimmer living room
Kerze candle
Telefon telephone
Kamin fireplace
Teppich rug
das Sofa sofa
die Couch couch
Fussmatte doormat
Haustür front door
Treppen stairs
Treppenhaus staircase
das Badezimmer bathroom
Hammer hammer
Nagel nail
Brett board
Hobel carpentry plane
Sandpapier sandpaper
Bohrer drill
Spannsäge jigsaw
Säge saw
Sägemehl sawdust
Hobel spaäne wood shavings
Schrau Bezieher screwdriver
Schraube screw
Zange pliers
Winkelmass right ankle ruler
Bolzen bolt
Werkzeugkasten toolbox
Zirkel compass
Engländer monkey wrench
Taschenmesser jackknife (pocketknife)
Farbe paint
Malerbürste paintbrush
Stift tack
Spachtel putty knife
Zollstock folding ruler
Bindfadenknäuel ball of twine
Ziegelstein brick
Maurerkell trowel
die Waschmaschine clothes wash machine
die Lampe lamp
der Computer computer
die Mikrowelle microwave
der Zeitschriften newspapers
die Wand wall
die Brille glasses
Handy mobile
Schlüssel key
die Küche kitchen
das Arbeitzimmer workroom
das Zimmer room
das Buch book
das Wörterbuch/die Wörterbücher dictionary
das Heft notebook
OUTDOORS/PLAY
der Garten
Spaten spade
Leiter ladder
Shaufel shovel
Auto car
Axt axe
Spitzhacke pick axe
Schubkarren wheelbarrow
Erde earth
Beil wachet
Mörtelhacke hoe
Holzstoss woodpile
Rasen lawn
Vogelbad birdbath
Plattenweg stone path
Holzklotz log
SPORTS/PLAY
Fussball football
Spielplatz playground
Rutschbahn slide
Purzelbaum somersault
Ringe rings
Schaukel swing
Kletterstange sliding pole
Kreisel top
Rollschuhe roller skates
Seilspringen skipping rope
Ringelreihen ring-a-ring-o'roses
Versteck speilen hide-and-seek
Bockspringen leapfrog
Wippe see-saw
Karussell merry-go-round
Fangen tag
Seifenslasen machen bubble blowing
Drachen kite
Drachenschnur kite string
Ball spielen catch
Himmel-und-Höllespiel hopscotch
Murmeln marbles
Reifenspielen hoop rolling
Kletterturm jungle gym
Ringe werfen tossing the ring
Sandkasten sandbox
FOODRutschbahn slide
Purzelbaum somersault
Ringe rings
Schaukel swing
Kletterstange sliding pole
Kreisel top
Rollschuhe roller skates
Seilspringen skipping rope
Ringelreihen ring-a-ring-o'roses
Versteck speilen hide-and-seek
Bockspringen leapfrog
Wippe see-saw
Karussell merry-go-round
Fangen tag
Seifenslasen machen bubble blowing
Drachen kite
Drachenschnur kite string
Ball spielen catch
Himmel-und-Höllespiel hopscotch
Murmeln marbles
Reifenspielen hoop rolling
Kletterturm jungle gym
Ringe werfen tossing the ring
Sandkasten sandbox
Saftpresse squeezed juice
Honig honey
Marmelade jam
Butter butter
Syrup syrup
Speck bacon
Spiegeleier fried eggs
Haferbrei porridge
Rahm cream
Obstsaft fruit juice
Muffins muffins
Teegebäck English muffins
Milch milk
Waffel waffle
Kakao cocoa
Frühstück breakfast
HUMAN
Gesicht face
Hände hands
Zähne teeth
Haare hair
OCCUPATION
Bauer farmer
Milchauto milk car
Brief letter
Briefträgen postman
Polizist police
Feuerwehrmann fireman
Feuerwehrwagen fire engine
Krankenschwester nurse
Patient patient
Hexe witch
Gitarrenspieler Guitarist
Mutter mother
Vater father
Maurer bricklayer
Anstreicher painter
ANIMAL
Waschbär raccoon
Katze cat
Fliege fly
Maulwurf mole
Kuh cow
Krähe crow
Maus mouse
Lamm lamb
Schwein pig
Hase rabbit
Biber beaver
Kröte toad
Walross walrus
Hahn cock
Henne hen
Küken baby chick
Pferd horse
Libelle dragonfly
Fuchs fox
Elch moose
Motte moth
Moskito mosquito
Moos moss
Huhuuu Whoo
Eule owl
Specht woodpecker
Weidenkätchen pussy willow
Rose rose
Giftpilz toadstool
Pilz mushroom
ABSTRACT
Bunten words
TIME
Tag day
CULTURE
Indianet Indian
MUSIC
Waldhorn bugle
PLACES
die Apotheke pharmacy
die Bibliothek library
die Schule school
die Poliklinik medical clinic
SUMMER BIRTHDAY GIFT FROM GRANDPA
My dad sent a kit of elastic string, dowels and caps for my daughter's summer birthday. He had made one for his other granddaughter and his own garage, and thought it would be enjoyed by her also. The first time we tried to put it together, it was more of a two dimensional object! It hung in shame for six months on a window crank, until my daughter's actual winter birthday, when I was inspired to try again.
Thanks to the internet, I was able to follow this video (stopping and starting and rewinding probably ten times to do it!) and successfully built this mobile on the second go.
The tensegrity icosahedron was "invented" by Buckminster Fuller, based on 20 triangles. The definition of tensegrity, as per Mr. Fuller, is "islands of compression inside an ocean of tension." ICOS comes from the Greek for 20. HEDRON means seat or base. The icosahedron has 20 triangles, 30 bases and 12 vertices, each with 5 triangular faces meeting. In the model below, there are 6 wooden struts and 24 string interfaces for the total of 30 bases.
This basic idea, here in Montreal, is most famously seen at the Biosphere, a geodesic polyhedron, designed by the architect Buckminster Fuller, at the 1967 Olympic site; formerly the US Pavillon. It seems he had been awarded a US patent, but the idea was actually invented years prior by an East German engineer named Walther Bauersfeld, who created the first geodesic dome, based on the icosahedron structure, and the genesis of the modern planetarium.
The tensegrity icosahedron was "invented" by Buckminster Fuller, based on 20 triangles. The definition of tensegrity, as per Mr. Fuller, is "islands of compression inside an ocean of tension." ICOS comes from the Greek for 20. HEDRON means seat or base. The icosahedron has 20 triangles, 30 bases and 12 vertices, each with 5 triangular faces meeting. In the model below, there are 6 wooden struts and 24 string interfaces for the total of 30 bases.
This basic idea, here in Montreal, is most famously seen at the Biosphere, a geodesic polyhedron, designed by the architect Buckminster Fuller, at the 1967 Olympic site; formerly the US Pavillon. It seems he had been awarded a US patent, but the idea was actually invented years prior by an East German engineer named Walther Bauersfeld, who created the first geodesic dome, based on the icosahedron structure, and the genesis of the modern planetarium.
 |
| BIRTHDAY TENSEGRITY ICOSAHEDRON |
Friday, January 19, 2018
SKIING WITH DONKEYS. ONLY AT CAP ST. JACQUES!
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| We had a weird fall. Very warm, then very cold. Some trees still have leaves that they normally would have shed. This is what it looks like when we have great snow and then a little wind. |
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| Two paths divide on the rabbit circuit. This is the left one, with horse and donkey! |
Thursday, January 18, 2018
MONSTERS
I don't love monsters. I hate gore. I despise Halloween and zombies. I miss the simpler Halloween of my youth, full of candy and ghosts, but now Halloween is so full of characters of the graphic horror films and walking dead that I literally feel ill about how the macabre is celebrated. So I was surprised how much I liked Guillermo del Toro's point of view of a life dedicated to creating monsters. He was being honored for his movie The Shape of Water, and he convinced me to love his monster. I do like making silly monsters like Monsters Inc. in colour and string.
As he received his first Golden Globe, for 25 year of creative work, and fending off the music with the most charm imaginable, he said,
" Monsters [] are the patron saints of our blissful imperfection and they allow and embody the possibility of failure and life."
Maybe it's time to be a little more accepting of the bizarre and the strange. But I think the gore is enough in real life. I don't need any more than that, and continue to work towards minimizing that.
As he received his first Golden Globe, for 25 year of creative work, and fending off the music with the most charm imaginable, he said,
" Monsters [] are the patron saints of our blissful imperfection and they allow and embody the possibility of failure and life."
Maybe it's time to be a little more accepting of the bizarre and the strange. But I think the gore is enough in real life. I don't need any more than that, and continue to work towards minimizing that.
LOFTY WORDS
GRACE
RESILIENCE
CHARM
RESPONSIBILITY
FORGIVENESS
INTEGRITY
JOY
MODESTY
GENEROSITY
HUMILITY
CHARM
KINDNESS
PATIENCE
TENACITY
WISDOM
DISCIPLINE
LOYALTY
FAITHFULNESS
POLITENESS
HOPE
PUNCTUALITY
RESPECT
HOPE
FAITH
RELIABILITY
PERSEVERENCE
LEADERSHIP
MODERATION
FREEDOM
EQUALITY
COMMUNITY
BROTHERHOOD
LOVE
PEACE
PATIENCE
GENTLENESS
SELF-CONTROL
REDEMPTION
ATONEMENT
LESS VALUABLE
JUSTICE
DUTY
SECURITY
FAIRNESS
SOBRIETY
TENACITY
TOLERANCE
RESILIENCE
CHARM
RESPONSIBILITY
FORGIVENESS
INTEGRITY
JOY
MODESTY
GENEROSITY
HUMILITY
CHARM
KINDNESS
PATIENCE
TENACITY
WISDOM
DISCIPLINE
LOYALTY
FAITHFULNESS
POLITENESS
HOPE
PUNCTUALITY
RESPECT
HOPE
FAITH
RELIABILITY
PERSEVERENCE
LEADERSHIP
MODERATION
FREEDOM
EQUALITY
COMMUNITY
BROTHERHOOD
LOVE
PEACE
PATIENCE
GENTLENESS
SELF-CONTROL
REDEMPTION
ATONEMENT
LESS VALUABLE
JUSTICE
DUTY
SECURITY
FAIRNESS
SOBRIETY
TENACITY
TOLERANCE
INSPIRATIONS IN GEOMETRY
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| I was browsing pinterest when I saw this gorgeous pattern. It reminded me of a quilt and I figured it must have simple rules to construct to be cut into baking or sew into a blanket. I found it on Nicola's Tasty Kitchen and it is her beautiful kibbeh dish. |
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| This doodle inspired me to summarise first Corinthians chapter 13. It was a really fun exercise! |
FROM here, run parallel lines vertically on each side of the quartered lines, sparing an inch in the centre, skipping, and joining chevrons in each quarter.
FINALLY, mark chevrons every inch horizontally.
STAND BACK and enjoy.
Correct as necessary.
UPDATING LIGHT SWITCHES
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| The tactile pleasure of my other lightswitches motivated the change, but the esthetics were overdue to be changed. |
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| The original by Stumpy. Here's where you turn off the appropriate breaker, if you haven't already. |
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| Unscrewed |
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| Stiff wires that I didn't touch. Clearly more wires than the switch would require, but I didn't want to jump down with that rabbit hole! |
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| Confirmation that no power is linked before unscrewing the electric wires |
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| These wires were stiff, so I needed needle nose pliers to unhook them from the screw post |
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| The update. Visually and tactilely esthetically pleasing, and an easy project. |
TIGER BARS
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