That Rainwater Thing
By Allen L Phillips We’ve always noticed the effect of rainwater on our gardens over the years. There’s just something about it that plants love. So it was with some anticipation that we set out the last week of April to visit Pat’s step-daughter in San Jose, and my daughter in San Francisco. We picked […]
Isabella of Portugal (1503–1539): A Renaissance Tour de Force in Politics and Culture
By Josh Longster Isabella of Portugal (1503–1539) stands as a notable figure in the Renaissance era, known for her impactful role in European politics and her contributions to cultural patronage. Born in 1503 in Lisbon, Portugal, she was the daughter of the Portuguese king Manuel I and Maria of Aragon. Isabella’s life took a significant […]
Parterres and Paths in Versailles
At the foot of the Palace on the garden side there are three large parterres: North Parterre, South Parterre and Water Parterre. The latter is composed of two large rectangular pools. From here the North and South Parterres, as well as Latona’s Parterre, can be seen from above, offering a point of view which best […]
How to Break Bad News to Children About a Parent’s Health
By Wendy L. Patrick Delicate Discussions About a Parent’s Illness or Death Mandate Preparation Recently, Princess Catherine, affectionately known as “Kate,” the Princess of Wales, publicly announced that she has cancer. She has three young children. As she begins chemotherapy, she reminded the world that she and her husband Prince William also have to explain […]
Ghostly Star Tendrils Captured in the Largest Image Ever Released (Video)
NOIRLab Dark Energy Camera captures remains of a massive star that exploded nearly 11,000 years ago in huge gigapixel image This colorful web of wispy gas filaments is the Vela Supernova Remnant, an expanding nebula of cosmic debris left over from a massive star that exploded about 11,000 years ago. Located around 800 light-years away […]
Belling the Cat
Adapted from Aesop LONG ago all the Mice came pattering from fields and pantries to hold a council meeting. They sat around under a washtub with a candle for a light and very solemnlyasked: “What shall we do to keep ourselves safe from Pussy? She hides in secret places and suddenly springs out on us […]
Luca Giordano, The “Presto”
Luca Giordano (1634-1705) was an Italian late Baroque painter and printmaker in etching. Fluent and decorative, he worked successfully in Naples and Rome, Florence and Venice, before spending a decade in Spain. Born in Naples, Giordano was the son of the painter Antonio Giordano. In around 1650 he was apprenticed to Ribera on the recommendation […]
Eclipses on Earth, Mars and Beyond
By John Uri Johnson Space Center On April 8, 2024, North America will witness its last total solar eclipse for more than twenty years. Other parts of the world will experience the rare celestial event in the coming decade. A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Sun and the Earth, […]
The Two Crabs
Adapted from Aesop* ONCE upon a time there was a Great Big Crab and once upon a time there was a little bit of a Crab. And the Big Crab used to come out of the sea and walk along on the sand of the beach. And the Little Crab used to come out of […]
The Secrets of Botticelli’s Drawings
Bringing a new perspective on the beloved Renaissance artist, “Botticelli: Rhythm of the Line” reveals the central role that drawing played in Sandro Botticelli’s art and practice. This short documentary takes viewers through the streets of Florence, where the artist lived and worked, to the Uffizi galleries, home of Botticelli’s most striking masterpieces. The story […]