Lincoln

I love it when I see a movie and come out thinking "wow, I really did learn something from that". Couldn't face the Mongolian hordes at the shops on "Black Friday" and so we saw the new Steven Spielberg movie "Lincoln", with the formidable Daniel Day-Lewis in the title role.  As a naturalized American citizen, I enjoyed the useful lesson in American history, particularly the tumultuous period between January 1865 and the conclusion of the Civil War on April 9 and Lincoln's assassination five days later, on Good Friday. The movie documents the fight between the anti-abolitionist Democrats, Lincoln's moderates and the more zealous anti-slavery radicals of the young Republican Party. Good supporting cast including Sally Field as Mrs. Mary Todd Lincoln, James Spader as a rascally/roguish 19th-century lobbyist, and Tommy Lee Jones as a Republican abolitionist.

Stem cell research reverses paralysis in a dachshund

http://www.theworld.org/2012/11/jasper-the-dog-whos-walking-again-after-cell-therapy/

As the owner of two dachshunds, this story made my day! A ten-year-old dachshund has helped scientists achieve a medical breakthrough that could help treat paralysis in humans too. Injecting cells from the dog’s nose into the injured part of his spine helped repair the damage. After the treatment, Jasper the dachshund was able to move his previously paralysed hind legs and coordinate movement with his front limbs. The dog is now ‘whizzing around’ unassisted and can also swim. Early trials involving humans have taken place, and Professor Robin Franklin, co-author of the study from the Wellcome Trust-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, said: ‘Our findings are extremely exciting because they show for the first time that transplanting these types of cell into a severely damaged spinal cord can bring about significant improvement'. [Daily Mail].

Red panda-monium

This cute critter was enjoying a meal with its pals in Japan when a zookeeper stepped into the enclosure, terrifying the furry bundle....

Jaguars and monkeys to be cloned in Brazil

"Experts in Brazil at Brasilia Zoo, who have already successfully cloned cows and horses, are hoping to start creating their first copy of a wild animal next month. The eight at-risk species chosen are the jaguar, the maned wolf, the black lion tamarin monkey, the bush dog, the collared anteater, the gray brocket deer, the Brazilian aardvark and the bison."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/9680968/Jaguars-and-monkeys-to-be-cloned-in-Brazil.html

Generals Gone Wild

There is something tragic about the General Petraeus scandal...a 4 star general and director of the CIA brought down by two "ferociously opportunistic women" as someone described them. I usually try to adhere to that old biblical saying: "Judge Not, That You Be Not Judged" (Matthew 7:1), but this story just keeps getting stranger and stranger...with shirtless FBI agents, threatening e-mails, possible love triangles... http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/14/what-paula-broadwell-tell_n_2130513.html

  
"So-called honey traps are typically used by foreign spy agencies to ensnare top men, such as General Allen and former General Petraeus, in order to try to extract information out of them,” Wall Street Journal reporter Maria Abi-Habib said yesterday in an audio dispatch from Afghanistan posted on WSJ.com. There is no evidence the generals’ female friends are spies, but Abi-Habib says the affair has raised concerns “of a so-called honey trap, which was a very famous spy tactic used by the KGB.”
Wow. Just when you thought the plot couldn’t get any thicker...

Ralph Peters is a blunt-speaking retired Army officer and author. “When a man becomes more reputation than substance, his reputation had better be invulnerable,” he said of Petraeus’ plight. “Every successful man has encountered at least one Paula Broadwell. The smart ones don’t take her calls.”
Read more: http://nation.time.com/2012/11/14/the-rise-and-fall-of-general-peaches/#ixzz2CFyajyEt

Mysterious death of migrating birds

In today's Daily Mail, an article about the mysterious deaths of disorientated migrating birds:

A fisherman grins as a lost song thrush sits on his shoulder

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2232285/RSPB-investigates-mysterious-deaths-thousands-migrating-birds-lost-sea.html

A murmuration of starlings

Migrating starlings visit Gretna in Scotland twice a year, in February and November...Starlings congregate for added security and to share warmth and their numbers are boosted by migrant birds from Europe, the RSPB reports. This group appeared just before dusk on Saturday in Gretna.

War poetry for Remembrance/Veterans' Day

Sean Bean

War poetry for Remembrance Day today, November 11th, by Sean Bean and other actors:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/video/2012/nov/11/sean-bean-first-world-war-poetry-video

The Soldier - Rupert Brooke

If I should die, think only this of me: That there's some corner of a foreign field That is for ever England. There shall be In that rich earth a richer dust concealed; A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware, Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam, A body of England's, breathing English air, Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home. And think, this heart, all evil shed away, A pulse in the eternal mind, no less Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given; Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day; And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness, In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.

Attenborough's Ark

Sir David Attenborough highlights the plight of 10 weird and wonderful endangered species, including the Sumatran Rhino. http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/20219857

Arctic Fox in Illinois

Just came across this stunning photo of an Arctic Fox (Vulpes lagopus) on the shore of Evergreen Lake near Hudson, Illinois: 

Photograph: Lenore Sobota/AP

The arctic fox is infinitely adaptable, living its life in one of the world’s most extreme climates. People who have the Arctic Fox as their totem tend to be sly, graceful, and have a near magic ability to make something out of nothing, utilizing even the most limited of resources. Arctic fox as a totem can teach us the ability to go with the flow of life, changing ourselves to suit our ever-evolving environments.

Caribbean sardine collapse linked to climate change

Getty Images

Climate change, overfishing and plankton decline may have contributed to collapse of fisheries, risking dire consequences for Caribbean:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2012/nov/07/caribbean-sardine-collapse-climate-change

Top 10 fire festivals around the world

"Remember, remember, the fifth of November,

Gunpowder, treason and plot.

We see no reason why the Gunpowder treason

Should ever be forgot!"

Today is November 5th - Guy Fawkes Night/Bonfire Night in the United Kingdom. This is a celebration to commemorate the failed gunpowder plot by Guy Fawkes to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes_Night

Here is an old article about the danger to Hedgehogs on Bonfire Night:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/blog/2009/nov/05/hedgehog-bonfire-night

Photo: Graham Turner @ www.guardian.co.uk

And here's a new article about the top ten fire festivals around the world, including Diwali in India and Sadeh in Iran:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/02/uk-travel-picks-firefestivals-idUSLNE8A101N20121102

The Roaring Dragon

http://www.accidentaltravelwriter.net/accidental-travel-writer/

Some fascinating facts on the Chinese economic miracle and accompanying rising energy consumption and environmental costs at this recent BBC link:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-20069627

Mahler Symphony # 3

Went to the CSO last night for the Mahler Symphony Number 3. Semyon Bychkov (conductor) and Bernarda Fink (mezzo soprano) were amazing! It can be seen again tomorrow night, November 3rd.
http://cso.org/TicketsAndEvents/EventDetails.aspx?eid=4902

"A symphony must be like the world," said Mahler, "it must contain everything." No work better exemplifies this than his epic Third Symphony, scored for massive orchestra including off-stage post horn and snare drums, women's and children's choirs and various bells. Our guide to Mahler's universal piece is Semyon Bychkov, acclaimed for his ability to grasp both the largest architectural sweep and the smallest detail." Mahler composed this symphony at his composing hut on a lake in upper Austria... the Komponierhäuschen (composition hut) in Steinbach am Attersee (photo below).

Photo: Wikipedia

All Soul's Day

All Soul's Day in Sweden

Today is November 2nd which is All Soul's Day...a solemn feast day in the Roman Catholic Church commemorating all those who have died and are now in Purgatory, being cleansed of their sins and punished for the mortal sins that they had confessed to, and atoning before entering into heaven...or being granted the vision of God in Heaven (called Beatific vision).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Souls'_Day

Apparently the reasoning behind this stems from the notion that when a soul leaves the body, it is not entirely cleansed from venial (minor) sins. Through the power of prayer and self-denial, the faithful left on earth may be able to help these souls gain the Beatific vision they seek, bringing the soul eternal sublime happiness.

Photo: Al Jazeera

A mannequin's head, bottles and and other debris lie in the Madrid Arena venue car park on Thursday November 1st.  A Halloween stampede killed three women and critically injured some other people. Someone set off a firework or flare in the arena where thousands of people were attending a Halloween dance party, causing a stampede:   

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2012/11/2012111213553749.html

Day of the Dead

Today is the Mexican "Day of the Dead" holiday or "Dia de los Muertos" which revolves around reunions of family and friends gathering around to pray, visit the graves of loved ones with offerings of flowers, food and candy skulls. The National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago has a special Day of the Dead exhibit until December 16th. 
http://www.nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org/exhibits/featured/d%C3%AD-de-los-muertos-2012