Living With the Virus

People management at Costco to help regulate the number of shoppers at one time and to maintain social distancing.

It’s been just over two weeks since our daughter called us – I should say lectured us – about taking the virus threat more seriously.  Since then, we’ve stayed inside except to walk the dog and to quickly run essential errands.

It’s a strange feeling.  I’m retired so I don’t really HAVE to be anywhere. Through the wonders of Medicare,  I have a free gym membership which I was enjoying several times a week.  I play golf.  I have several volunteer activities and I was finding my retirement days were busy and full.

Until it all shut down. 

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Lithuanian independence

Kovo 11 means March 11, the day 30 years ago when Lithuania declared its independence.

I took this photo in June 1992 in front of the Lithuanian Parliament building. 

The barbed wire was from 1990-1992 when leaders of the newly independent State of Lithuania barricaded themselves in the building which was the “heart of Lithuania” and political center of the country. 

“Kovo 11” means March 11, the day in 1990 when Lithuania became the first Soviet state to dare to declare its independence from the Soviet Union.  “Islandja” refers to Iceland, the first country to recognize Lithuania’s independence. 

The Soviets grudgingly accepted Lithuanian independence a year and a half later in September, 1991.  The barbed wire and other signs of the barricades were still there when I took this picture 9 months later in a symbolic protest of the Red Army troops that were still stationed in the country.

Latest woes for Boeing’s grounded 737 Max: Predatory falcons and pigeon corpses

A peregrine falcon can be seen amid brackets atop the roof of the plant in Renton, Wash., where Boeing made 737 Max planes until production was suspended. (Richard Read / Los Angeles Times)

The falcons are messy eaters. After they dive-bomb their prey, severed heads, wings and feet plop onto the factory floor and a lunch area, soon followed by feathers.

Source: Los Angeles Times

How a fire in the Inland Empire could spell doom for the worldwide vinyl LP boom

A fire at Apollo Masters in Banning, Calif., on Feb. 6 has disrupted the supply chain for lacquers essential for making vinyl albums. (Cal Fire)

Some experts fear that a fire last week at a lacquer manufacturing plant in Banning, Calif., could lead to a worldwide shortage in vinyl LPs.

Source: Los Angeles Times

Mosaic Chiminea

The finished chiminea in its new home on the patio

I’ve just finished my latest mosaic project, a chiminea. I purchased the chiminea in July 2019 but I spend several months contemplating the design. I finally decided on a dragon design for the top. The dragon is hovering in swirling smoke. The bottom of the chiminea is intended to look like flames started by the dragon.

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You See Pepsi, I See Coke: New Tricks for Product Placement

Mirriad, a digital product placement company, incorporated Pepsi into an episode of Univision’s “El Dragón” after it was filmed.Credit…Univision, “El Dragón”

The streaming services have data on viewers’ spending habits and brand preferences, and they’re looking into new ways to use it.

Source: www.nytimes.com