Tales of Interest [Archive] - Page 19

SteveH

02-28-25, 06:53 PM

How the German Autobahn ended up without speed limits
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/28/how-the-german-autobahn-ended-up-without-speed-limits.html

It wasn’t all that enjoyable for me. I turned off the music and intently focused on everything. It’s actually mentally exhausting. I’m glad I did it. From Munich to Salzburg.

nrc

03-02-25, 10:33 PM

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-firm-fireflys-blue-ghost-074257088.html

Another commercial moon landing. This one stayed upright.

TravelGal

03-04-25, 12:41 PM

RIP Gene Hackman. Great actor in so many roles.

It seems like a tragic story no matter how it turns out, but it's strange to consider that he was in his '90s. When stars step out of the limelight they're kind of frozen in time for us.

I agree. I could hardly believe he was 95. The whole thing sounds a little macabre and, as one poster somewhere said, "a week? None of his children could be bothered to call them even once a week?" Sheesh.

SteveH

03-05-25, 01:31 PM

Bald eagle with suspected bird flu dies in Northwest Indiana (https://wgntv.com/northwest-indiana/bald-eagle-with-suspected-bird-flu-dies-in-northwest-indiana/)

Sad news. There has been a nesting pair near where I live. This may be one of the pair. I have seen one or both flying occasionally. With as much open water as there is here, there probably are other pairs.

It was reported last week that 1,500 sand hill cranes have died in NW Indiana. 150 alone on a small lake in Laporte. We live in a major flyway. In March I'll see hundreds of sand hill cranes flying to the northwest. And then the reverse in the fall. Two years ago two pair would visit the open area behind our house all year long. On occasion in our backyard. About 45 minutes south east of here is a state fish and wildlife area where the sand hills layover during their migrations. There will be several thousand there. This could be disastrous.

SteveH

03-06-25, 08:45 PM

Bernie Ecclestone sells £500m private car collection to Red Bull billionaire
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/formula-1/2025/03/06/bernie-ecclestone-car-collection-sells-mark-mateschitz/

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/formula-1/2025/03/06/TELEMMGLPICT000415267345_17412863860460_trans_NvBQ zQNjv4BqpVlberWd9EgFPZtcLiMQf0Rf_Wk3V23H2268P_XkPx c.jpeg?imwidth=960

SteveH

03-06-25, 10:56 PM

Butterflies in the U.S. are disappearing at a ‘catastrophic’ rate
https://www.msn.com/en-us/science/ecology/ar-AA1AoOyV

The total number of butterflies in the contiguous United States has declined 22 percent over a 20-year period, according to a study in the journal Science, as shrinking habitat, rising temperatures and a toxic array of pesticides kill off the delicate insects.

I’m planting milkweed in the open area behind our backyard.

nrc

03-07-25, 07:28 PM

Butterflies in the U.S. are disappearing at a ‘catastrophic’ rate
https://www.msn.com/en-us/science/ecology/ar-AA1AoOyV

I’m planting milkweed in the open area behind our backyard.

We have a field that has a lot of thistle and some milkweed on our property out in the country. It was like a butterfly paradise the year before last. Not so many this past year but you have to be there at the right time. We hope to move out there in a couple of years and we plan to encourage pollinator-friendly native plants and only mow it at the end of the year.

SteveH

03-08-25, 12:48 PM

While walking the dog this morning I saw/heard several hundred sand hills flying to the northwest. Stay safe big birds

nrc

03-08-25, 09:17 PM

TravelGal

03-09-25, 11:54 AM

Oh, and another thing about milkweed. The flowers are gorgeous and smell amazing. It's funny because I never noticed that when I was a kid and it seemed to be everywhere. We just had fun with the seed pods.

Monarch butterflies are big deal in SoCal because we are on the flyway to Mexico. That means milkweed gets talked about a lot. We all planted it and then were told we planted the wrong kind! I ripped out my yellow-flowered plants and put in others.

From various websites: There are 140 species of milkweed, but only a quarter of them are known to be important host plants for monarchs. Tropical milkweed (A. curassavica) is a beautiful plant with bright yellow/red/orange flowers, but it hosts a parasite that infects the caterpillars and weakens the butterflies when they emerge from their chrysalis. Since the plants don’t die back until late into winter, the Monarchs stay there until it is too late to make their yearly trip to Mexico.

SteveH

03-09-25, 01:32 PM

https://journeynorth.org/

Follow Monarch migration. As well as other species. They have a great newsletter also.

SteveH

03-09-25, 01:51 PM

Watch Eagle Chicks Hatching on the Eagle Cam
https://kottke.org/25/03/watch-eagle-chicks-hatching-on-the-eagle-cam

TravelGal

03-09-25, 03:40 PM

In today's research I came upon Official Street Go-Kart Tour - Okinawa Shop. I think it's great. Wish other places did it. Nothing but 5-star reviews.

Get ready for the ultimate Okinawa adventure. Enjoy the unusual and fun experience of being able to dress up in costume as you tour a city. Choose from a variety of anime, comic, or games character outfits, and explore the highlights of Okinawa in street go-karts. Take the stress out of navigating, as your guide will lead the way, and you’ll see multiple highlights in a day, such as Senagajima Island, and Kokusai Main. Street.Explore the sites of Okinawa in style—in a street go-kart tour
Lots of photo opportunities—dress up as anime, comic, or games characters
You won’t get lost—a guide will lead the group
Flexible tour with choice of different departure times during the day
$38USD

TravelGal

03-09-25, 03:56 PM

Watch Eagle Chicks Hatching on the Eagle Cam
https://kottke.org/25/03/watch-eagle-chicks-hatching-on-the-eagle-cam

Many of us in SoCal have been glued to the news of Jackie and Shadow. The eggs did not hatch the last two years so to have three chicks this year is quite the story. She is quite careful of the third one, which is more than a day younger, so there are high hopes that they will all survive.

SteveH

03-09-25, 05:28 PM

Monarch butterflies are big deal in SoCal because we are on the flyway to Mexico. That means milkweed gets talked about a lot. We all planted it and then were told we planted the wrong kind! I ripped out my yellow-flowered plants and put in others.

From various websites: There are 140 species of milkweed, but only a quarter of them are known to be important host plants for monarchs. Tropical milkweed (A. curassavica) is a beautiful plant with bright yellow/red/orange flowers, but it hosts a parasite that infects the caterpillars and weakens the butterflies when they emerge from their chrysalis. Since the plants don’t die back until late into winter, the Monarchs stay there until it is too late to make their yearly trip to Mexico.

You can obtain seeds specific to your location here for a small donation

Live Monarch
https://www.livemonarch.com/free-milkweed-seeds/

The best time to plant the seeds is in the fall but can be planted in the spring if the seeds are kept sufficiently moist before planting to break down the seed case

https://environmentamerica.org/center/articles/when-where-and-how-to-plant-milkweed-to-save-the-monarch-butterfly/#:~:text=When%20should%20you%20plant%20milkweed,pl ant%20milkweed%20in%20the%20springtime.

The above site also provides by region plants that attract butterflies

TravelGal

03-10-25, 01:02 PM

You can obtain seeds specific to your location here for a small donation

Live Monarch
https://www.livemonarch.com/free-milkweed-seeds/

The best time to plant the seeds is in the fall but can be planted in the spring if the seeds are kept sufficiently moist before planting to break down the seed case

https://environmentamerica.org/center/articles/when-where-and-how-to-plant-milkweed-to-save-the-monarch-butterfly/#:~:text=When%20should%20you%20plant%20milkweed,pl ant%20milkweed%20in%20the%20springtime.

The above site also provides by region plants that attract butterflies

I have "bought" seeds from them before but missed planting them in the fall. I'll give it another go and keep them moist for spring planting. THANKS!

SteveH

03-17-25, 07:02 PM

The last surviving Battle of Britain Pilot, John 'Paddy' Hemingway DFC, passes away
https://raf.mod.uk/news/articles/the-last-surviving-battle-of-britain-pilot-john-paddy-hemingway-dfc-passes-away/

https://raf.mod.uk/sites/raf-beta/assets/Hemingway/Group_Captain_John_Paddy_Hemingway_DFC.jpg

TravelGal

03-17-25, 09:21 PM

Thanks, Steve. I have shared this ^^^^ with several people.

SteveH

03-17-25, 10:03 PM

Send them this, also https://x.com/visegrad24/status/1901770006041428205?s=61&t=oFXcsN2wTfApq6UdUB40Qg

nrc

03-20-25, 12:03 AM

nrc

03-28-25, 07:13 PM

Your childhood dreams await.

1272

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/slot-cars-8/

SteveH

04-25-25, 10:06 AM

Very interesting approach, there's little to no competition at this price point, actually none.

Jeff Bezos’ Sub-$20k Slate EV Is A Bare-Bones Truck With Crank Windows And No Paint: Here Are The Details (https://www.theautopian.com/jeff-bezos-sub-20k-slate-ev-is-a-bare-bones-truck-with-crank-windows-and-no-paint-here-are-the-details/)

cq1qEjwSYkw?si=ePSsRd4ue3HrQBhC

nrc

04-28-25, 03:18 AM

nrc

04-28-25, 03:31 AM

Warren Zevon, legendary songwriter, artist, singer, musician, and storyteller, is finally getting his due. He is being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s Class of 2025 posthumously.

Zevon will be recognized with the “Musical Influence Award,” which is bestowed to artists whose music and performance style have directly influenced, inspired, and evolved rock and roll and music impacting culture.

https://www.digitaljournal.com/entertainment/warren-zevon-posthumously-inducted-into-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fames-class-of-2025/article

As the piece says, long overdue. For many years the HOF was heavily influenced by two guys who hated Zevon: Jann Wenner formerly of Rolling Stone, and Bob Krasnow formerly of Asylum records. Both of these guys have a lot to do with why the Hall has lost credibility over the years.

Krasnow died back in '16 and Wenner was finally run out in '23 for racist and sexist remarks he made in a book he wrote.

Elmo T

04-28-25, 07:45 AM

RIP. That remarkable era continues to fade into history.

And thank those from more recent times as well. Before they too fade away.

I was in NOVA yesterday and stopped in the Udvar-Hazy Center. Three tour buses rolled up and unloaded a bunch of vets - it was an Honor Flight tour. About 1/3 of the vets were in wheel chairs.

I thanked many and chatted up a few. I spoke with this one Navy vet in the photo - who actually flew that exact F4 which was then assigned to the Navy, off the Enterprise during Vietnam. He flew over 300 missions and later became a test pilot.

That F4 was later modernized and given to the Marines. The staff member in the photo was a Marine aviator who also flew that same aircraft.

I just happened to walk up on their tiny reunion - the pilot, his daughter who was escorting on the trip, the staff member, and a couple more escorts. The former pilot scrolled thru his phone to show me saved old photos from his time during the war.

We can never thank them enough.

1275

SteveH

04-28-25, 07:51 AM

https://www.digitaljournal.com/entertainment/warren-zevon-posthumously-inducted-into-the-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fames-class-of-2025/article

As the piece says, long overdue. For many years the HOF was heavily influenced by two guys who hated Zevon: Jann Wenner formerly of Rolling Stone, and Bob Krasnow formerly of Asylum records. Both of these guys have a lot to do with why the Hall has lost credibility over the years.

Krasnow died back in '16 and Wenner was finally run out in '23 for racist and sexist remarks he made in a book he wrote.

I share the same view on everything in your response. Wenner in particular.

Enjoy every sandwich.

SteveH

05-06-25, 09:07 AM

The 24K Gold DeLorean You’ve Never Heard Of (https://revreflection.com/2024/06/02/the-24k-gold-delorean-youve-never-heard-of/)

SteveH

05-06-25, 06:40 PM

2026 Lotus Emira Clark Edition Honors One of History's Greatest Drivers
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a64671502/2026-lotus-emira-clark-edition-revealed/

Gorgeous car

SteveH

05-20-25, 04:39 PM

I was alone on shift when Newark air traffic control went dark
https://www.thetimes.com/us/news-today/article/air-traffic-controller-newark-airport-nj-9zpp3z9ww

TravelGal

05-21-25, 07:15 PM

I was alone on shift when Newark air traffic control went dark
https://www.thetimes.com/us/news-today/article/air-traffic-controller-newark-airport-nj-9zpp3z9ww

Most agents are rerouting their clients away from Newark. They have been for at least the last two weeks and will do for the foreseeable future.

Didja hear the one about the pilot in the loo when the co-pilot had a seizure? That's why they make auto-pilot.

TravelGal

05-28-25, 06:11 PM

Having been to New Zealand several times, last year thanks to Rusty, I didn't expect to hear too much new when I tuned in to a North Island webinar today. Was I wrong! Check this out. https://fighterjets.nz/ Worth the trip just to do it. Even converting to US dollars, it's still $2,500 for 30 minutes but :eek:

The Aero L-39 Albatros is a high-performance jet trainer developed in Czechoslovakia by Aero Vodochody. It was the first trainer aircraft to be equipped with a turbofan powerplant. The type was exported to a wide range of countries as a military trainer. The L-39 Albatros was designed to be a cost-effective jet-powered trainer aircraft, which is also capable of performing ground attack missions. Now the plane has found wide popularity all over the world, both among private owners and aerobatic jet teams.

SteveH

06-22-25, 10:14 PM

First electric passenger plane lands at JFK in milestone flight
https://www.foxnews.com/tech/first-electric-passenger-plane-lands-jfk-milestone-flight

For the first time, a passenger-carrying electric airplane landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport, and it wasn't just a test. There were actual people on board.

nrc

06-23-25, 02:19 AM

First electric passenger plane lands at JFK in milestone flight
https://www.foxnews.com/tech/first-electric-passenger-plane-lands-jfk-milestone-flight

Adds a new dimension to "range anxiety."

SteveH

06-29-25, 04:50 PM

The Most Stolen Car in Every U.S. State
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/mapped-the-most-stolen-car-in-every-u-s-state/

TravelGal

07-02-25, 11:06 AM

If you can get past the corporate-speak, this actually sounds like a good idea, especially if your family is not as into cars per se as you are. Seen in today's travel agent newsletter so presumably available from your friendly, local travel agent. Not me. I suppose I could be friendly but I'm definitely not local. :laugh:

Ultimate Driving Tours, a pioneer in ultra-luxury experiential road travel, has officially rebranded as HunterMoss, marking a new chapter in the company's 18-year history. The rebrand coincides with an expansion into the U.S. market as the business prepares to launch journeys featuring luxury hotels and dining experiences across the country. The new moniker combines the last names of co-founders Julie Hunter and Anthony Moss, who created the company in 2008. Hunter and Moss have curated and personally hosted hundreds of events for more than 1,500 guests worldwide. HunterMoss's curated group itineraries and bespoke self-guided drive tours allow guests to get behind the wheel of world-class supercars and immerse themselves in various cultures, cuisines and landscapes around the world. "At its heart, HunterMoss is about sharing the finer things in life." HunterMoss will be debuting a series of luxury supercar weekend vacations and corporate incentives throughout the U.S. starting this summer. The new slate of journeys will feature high-end accommodations, memorable gastronomic experiences and curated local activities. See https://www.huntermoss.com/