Friday, May 31, 2013

New Direction ~ Art via Instagram

Like a dragonfly I change direction a lot.
Please, head in the direction of my art, most recently on Instagram! I hope you enjoy looking as much as I enjoy creating!


Interested in more?
ART ON CANVAS, FRAMED PRINTS, PRISMS, CARDS, AND MORE!

Friday, October 22, 2010

BBC - Earth News - Dolphins learn to 'walk on water'

By Matt Walker
Editor, Earth News

Wave the dolphin, tail-walking
Wave the dolphin, tail-walking

Wild dolphins in Australia are naturally learning to "walk" on water.

Six dolphins have now been seen mastering the technique - furiously paddling their tail fluke, forcing their body out and across the water.

The dolphins seem to walk on water for fun, as it has no other obvious benefit, say scientists working for the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society.

That makes the behaviour a rare example of animals "culturally transmitting" a playful rather than foraging behaviour.

Only a few species are known to create their own culture - defined as the sharing or transmitting of specific novel behaviours or traditions between a community of animals.

Rare trick

The discovery was made by Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) scientist Dr Mike Bossley, who has spent 24 years studying dolphins living in the Port River in Adelaide, Australia.

In past years, Dr Bossley has witnessed two wild adult female dolphins, named Billie and Wave for research purposes, attempting to walk on water.

Now four other dolphins, including young infants, have been recorded trying to learn the trick from the two adults, and have been seen practising, less successfully, in the river.

The behaviour, when a dolphin beats its tail fluke repeatedly, so it lifts its body vertically out of the water and then along the surface, is more commonly seen among captive dolphins trained to perform tricks.

A composite image showing Bianca the dolphin attempting to tail-walk on 10 Oct, 2010
A composite image showing Bianca the dolphin attempting to tail-walk on 10 Oct, 2010

In the wild it is extremely rare.

According to the WDCS, apart from Billie and Wave, only one other adult dolphin had previously been seen tail-walking in the Port River during thousands of hours of scientific observations, and then only once.

Billie is thought to have learned the trick during a brief period when she was held captive in a dolphinarium, before being released back into the wild.

TALENTED DOLPHINS

She passed the behaviour onto Wave, and now Billie and Wave appear to be passing on their knowledge of how to tail-walk to their wider community.

WDCS dolphin photographers Marianna Boorman and Barbara Saberton have recently documented Wave's calf, named Tallula, also attempting to tail-walk.

Other dolphin called Bianca, and her calf Hope, and another calf called Bubbles are also attempting the trick.

These dolphins are now being seen trying to tail-walk many times each day.

A number of animals are known to culturally transmit novel behaviours to others of their species.

Bianca the dolphin photographed tail-walking on 18 October, 2010
Bianca the dolphin photographed tail-walking on 18 October, 2010

Chimps learn to fish for termites with sticks, and orcas learn various techniques to hunt seals, for instance.

But few examples have been documented of animals culturally passing on behaviours that are unrelated to obtaining food.

Tail-walking appears to have no function other than play, says Dr Bossley.

"As far as we are aware, tail-walking has no practical function and is performed just for fun, akin to human dancing or gymnastics," he says.

"Culture in the wider sense of the term, defined as 'learned behaviour characteristic of a community' is now frequently on show in the Port River."

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Sunday, October 10, 2010

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Lazy Autumn Sunrise Sphinx Cat

Looking very much like the Sphinx in this last photo.

Happy Autumn to everyone!

Thursday, September 30, 2010

TOSSLaSal: Home: Zazzle.com Store

'Kiss Of The Rainy Day' is actually a painting of a family member!
How she became immortalized on T-shirts and key chains is through Zazzle.com, which was introduced to me by good Twitter friend @JimGoodrich a few years ago. It's a very cool site that allows you to customize your own products using your very own images, and let others customize things for themselves, using your images. Awesome site IMHO.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

6 new scientific findings about Facebook users - The Week

The List

6 new scientific findings about Facebook users

Why Friday mornings are the best time for posting updates, and five other recent conclusions from the emerging field of "Facebook studies"

posted on September 22, 2010, at 3:35 PM
More important than using the bathroom?

More important than using the bathroom? Photo: CC BY: Richard Hopkins SEE ALL 34 PHOTOS

With Facebook now claiming 500 million members, it's no surprise that the world's largest social-networking site has become a hot new field for research in the social sciences, says Helen A.S. Popkin at MSNBC. What have we learned? Here's a look at six notable findings:

1. Heavy user? You might be narcissistic
A study from York University in Canada found that the people who frequently update their Facebook pages most frequently tend to be narcissistic — or struggling with low self-esteem. The "more posts = more narcissism" conclusion reinforces a 2008 study from the University of Georgia. Both studies found that narcissists use Facebook for self-promotion; the York one notes that conceited females focus on glamorous, posed photos while males tend to brag in the "About Me" section. Just what we need, says MSNBC's Popkin: Another study showing "Facebook users are jerks."

2. If you want to make a splash, post photos on Friday morning
Among the hordes of "friends" everyone has on Facebook, getting noticed can be hit-or-miss. For more hit and less miss, says social media marketing firm Virtrue, post a photo (not video) before noon on Friday. The specifics: Photos get clicked on 22 percent more than video posts, and 54 more than text-only posts; anything posted before noon gets 65 percent more clicks than afternoon updates; and Fridays are the best, and weekends the worst, for getting attention. However, "if you don’t like this data," notes Peter Kafka at All Things D, "you can always find another set of numbers that may suit you a bit better."

3. Facebookers love to project
Cornell researchers found that users have a tendency to assume that all their online acquiantances share their views. In the study, Facebookers gave their views on a series of hot-button political issues, then guessed what their friends think; their friends did the same. "Result?" says David Berreby at Big Think. "People way overestimate the extent to which their friends agree with them."

4. Lots of logging in = Lower grades
Dutch psychologist Paul Kirschner discovered that college students who check Facebook while studying do substantially worse in school. Looking at 219 U.S. college students, Kirschner found that the Facebook checkers had an average GPA of 3.06, while non-checkers had a 3.82 GPA. Older studies reported strikingly similar drops. It's hardly a shock, says Nikki Gloudeman in Mother Jones. "Stalking ex-boyfriends online totally cuts into study time."

5. Status updates are more urgent than going to the bathroom
A study from Oxygen Media and Lightspeed Research looked at the social media habits of women age 18 to 34, and the results were a little disturbing: 34 percent said they check Facebook first thing upon waking up, before coffee, before going to the bathroom; 39 percent self-identify as full-on Facebook "addicts"; 49 percent think it's fine to hack a boyfriend's account to check on him; and 89 percent say you shouldn't post anything you wouldn't want your parents to see. Um, doesn't that last one seem kind of "contradictory to the 42 percent that think it’s fine to post pictures of themselves drunk?" says Ben Parr at Mashable.

6. In spite of it all, Facebook may be making you happier
The British Computer Society apparently shattered one myth — that too much time spent social networking makes people feel isolated and out of touch with the real world. Instead, BCS found, using Facebook has a "statistically significant, positive impact on life satisfaction." The jump in happiness was greatest among low-income people, women, and less-educated users. So much for the online "'loner' stereotype," says researcher Paul Flatters.

Get more from The Week! Click here to get 4 FREE issues!

A 'little disturbing'?

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Super Harvest Full Moon And Jupiter

Sept. 22, 2010:  For the first time in almost 20 years, northern autumn is beginning on the night of a full Moon. The coincidence sets the stage for a "Super Harvest Moon" and a must-see sky show to mark the change of seasons.

The action begins at sunset on Sept 22nd, the last day of northern summer. As the sun sinks in the west, bringing the season to a close, the full Harvest Moon will rise in the east, heralding the start of fall. The two sources of light will mix together to create a kind of 360-degree, summer-autumn twilight glow that is only seen on rare occasions.

Just look at the 'twilight glow'!

Keep an eye on the Moon as it creeps above the eastern skyline. The golden orb may appear strangely inflated. This is the Moon illusion at work. For reasons not fully understood by astronomers or psychologists, a low-hanging Moon appears much wider than it really is. A Harvest Moon inflated by the moon illusion is simply gorgeous. The view improves as the night wears on. 

Northern summer changes to fall on Sept. 22nd at 11:09 pm EDT. At that precise moment, called the autumnal equinox, the Harvest Moon can be found soaring high overhead with the planet Jupiter right beside it. The two brightest objects in the night sky will be in spectacular conjunction to mark the change in seasons. Full moon and Jupiter hanging in the night sky September 22, 2010.

 

 

Usually, the Harvest Moon arrives a few days to weeks before or after the beginning of fall. It's close, but not a perfect match. The Harvest Moon of 2010, however, reaches maximum illumination a mere six hours after the equinox. This has led some astronomers to call it the "Harvestest Moon" or a "Super Harvest Moon." There hasn't been a comparable coincidence since Sept 23, 1991, when the difference was about 10 hours, and it won't happen again until the year 2029.

A Super Harvest Moon, a rare twilight glow, a midnight conjunction—rarely does autumn begin with such celestial fanfare.

Enjoy the show!

Photo's by me.

Info via Nasa @ http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2010/22sep_harvestmoon/

EVP's: How often does a ghost tell you his/her name?

This was originally posted on my blog on 7/18/10. I decided to use Posterous to share it again, even though it will re-post to the blog site, because it's such an unbelievable EVP capture.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Animal camera lets you fly with the fastest birds on the planet:!

Via @joerogan on Twitter... this video is mind blowing. The human brain can't process fast enough to see what's happening clearly, let alone control it and make these split mili-second decisions! Awesome viewing!!! Thanks for sharing, Joe!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Key Limes

Just picked a bucket full.... now what...?

Morning Sun Peeking....

...through the trees.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Mr. BD

He likes flying circles around his cage and perch area... I think he's practicing his take off and landing skills.

And he comes running across the cage to eat from my hand held seed now... he's getting closer and closer every day!

Thursday, September 9, 2010

The Newest Member Of The Family

He's not ready to hop on a finger yet, but I'm working with him and got him eating out of my hand.... literally. His name was originally Blue Dude, but we've fancied it up a bit and call him Mr. BD.  How cute is he???

Monday, August 30, 2010

Food Network - The Great Food Truck Race America's Favorite Giveaway

Some people near and dear to my heart, family even, have their own food truck called Salvioli's Kitchen. They do awesomely delicious Italian food, in a small bistro style setting in a small town called Ashland, Oregon. They are in the running to be on the Food Channel's TV show "The Great Food Truck Race", and this is a chance for YOU to be a part of getting them there!!!

It's super fast and easy, just go to this link http://foodtrucks.teamdigital.com/?vty=foodtrucks#page_top and scroll down to the map, click on Oregon, and you'll see their food truck link. Click on it and vote!!! I

If you like texting, you can vote for them by texting FT109 to 66789.

Let's help them out, guys, because they live in a small town and don't stand a chance against the big city food truckers without all our support.

Reasons to vote:

You like food.

You like Italian food.

You like eating great food on the go!

You like helping people reach their goals!

You haven't been asked to vote for anyone BUT SALVIOLI'S KITCHEN, right?

Just because.

And once they get onto the show, you can watch them every Sunday night!

Thanks for all your help!!!!

Peace, love and light,

LaSal

Friday, August 27, 2010

Dragonfly Photos

These photos were taken in various places around the yard one day. The fun thing was how the dragonflies seemed to posing for the pictures.

Short Neurological Test

Yes


See if you need to see your neurologist immediately or not.
Short Neurological Test
Please do not use any cursor help.

1- Find the C below..

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO COOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOO

2- If you already found the C, now find the 6 below.

9999999999999999999 9999999999999999 9999999999999999 99
9999999999999999999 9999999999999999 9999999999999999 99
9999999999999999999 9999999999999999 9999999999999999 99
6999999999999999999 9999999999999999 9999999999999999 99
9999999999999999999 9999999999999999 9999999999999999 99
9999999999999999999 9999999999999999 9999999999999999 99

3 - Now find the N below. It's a little more difficult.

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMNMMMMMM MMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMM

This is NOT a joke. If you were able to pass these 3 tests, you can cancel your annual visit to your neurologist. Your brain is great and you're far from having a close

relationship with Alzheimer.

Congratulations!

____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ ____


part 2

eonvrye that can raed this rsaie your hnad.

To my 'selected' strange-minded friends:
If you can read the following paragraph, forward it on to your friends and the person that sent it to you with 'yes' in the subject line.


Only great minds can read this
This is weird, but interesting!

If you can raed this, you have a sgtrane mnid too

Can you raed this? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.

I cdnuolt blveiee that I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd what I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in what oerdr the ltteres in a word are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is that the frsit and last ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can still raed it whotuit a pboerlm. This is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the word as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? Yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! If you can raed this forwrad it


This is NOT a joke. If you were able to pass these 3 tests, you can cancel your annual visit to your neurologist. Your brain is great and you're far from having a close relationship with Alzheimer.

Dog dancing merengue

Glad #posterous let's me share this stuff so easily. TY @1capplegate ! Funny stuff!!!

Recently....

..., as in today, I tried something new. It's called guacamole. No, wait, I ate that. I tried something called posterous. It should be interesting to see how it works, since I'm somewhat (as in a LOT) techie, new stuff, web stuff, lot's of stuff challenged. I think it's going to post everywhere on the web, to everyone's site, on everyone's page, and to each and every status update on the planet. This must be the same high megalomaniacs crave.... ;D