Monday, 20 March 2023

Minnie Winnie RV of Homeless People in Our City

We are familiar with homeless people when we have a daily walking or jogging in the public park or city garden in recent days.



Image 1- A suspect homeless car

We believe some of them have their own car, and then parked in the public parking lots of the city park or city garden.

One of the “Minnie Winnie RVs” has been parked since several months ago. We have noticed the RV just moving from one corner to another corner for 2 or 3 days cycles (periods).

Based on report from a local newspaper, The Advocate (February, 2023) that city shelters have given services to a quite higher number of homeless people than usual during 2022.



Image 2- One of Minnie Winnie RV interiors from Google

Shelters don’t able to provide services for everyone. Hence, homeless must find their own way to survive.

Some lucky people even have RV as their temporary shelter.

By searching through Google, we found the new brand price of Minnie Winnie RV could reach more than US$ 100,000,-

I guess it is a luxury car.



Image 3- RV, photo was taken from back

The important point of this post that today rich people “possibly” be homeless by tomorrow.

Life could be “upside down” for many people at a certain time.



Image 4- The right side of RV

# Previous postings:

Sunday, 19 March 2023

Bonsai Show in Our City – Part 2 - Nature 51

You may read the previous post (Part 1):

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Bonsai Show in Our City – Part 1 - Nature 51



Image 1- Bonsai called as “Willow Leaf Picus” on displayed

We noticed and recognized few types of bonsai. It seems they are local and some imported types of bonsai.

Several types of bonsai on display in the room are:

- Green Mound Juniper
- Willow Leaf Picus
- Chinese elm
- Bold Cypress, Bougenville, Fukien tea
- and Japanese black pine



Image 2- Members of society and guests have a look at several bonsai.

Yes, the show has bonsai auction, called as “silent auction.” People involved in the auction:

- members
- guests
- whoever interests with bonsai



Image 3- Bonsai of Bold Cypress (Taxodium distichum)

The prices may range from couple hundreds to couple thousands, depend very much on:

- bonsai types
- age of bonsai
- cost to take care of bonsai
- arts
- bargaining



Image 4- Green Mound Juniper

Do you love bonsai trees or have any favorite of bonsai types?

# Previous postings:

Saturday, 18 March 2023

A Mother Duck with Her 8 Eggs – Nature 56

This post is a continuation of the previous post:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : A Duck Lays Eggs in the Pot – Nature 54



Image 1- A mother duck sitting on the eggs

One of our neighbors guessed wrongly, based on “an egg” color, the duck should be Mallard duck, he said.

Unfortunately, a duck is the Muscovy duck. She lays more and more eggs, from 3 eggs several days ago to 8 eggs as of today.

By searching through Google, the Muscovy ducks have several times to lay eggs in a year.

One clutch usually has 8 eggs to 13 eggs. The duck’s eggs usually take about 28 days to hatch.



Image 2- The eggs adding up to 8 eggs.



Image 3- The female Muscovy duck

The Muscovy duck may produce up to 120 eggs per year. The number is much less compared to Campbell or Khaki Campbell ducks which produce 340 eggs per year.

# Previous postings:

Thursday, 16 March 2023

Do you Know Some People Eat Alligator Meat? - Part 1 – Food 40

I went to Walmart Neighborhood a couple days ago, a nearby grocery, just few minutes from my house.



Image 1- Alligator fillet sold in Walmart

I wanted to pick fish fillets, and surprisingly that I saw fillets of alligator in the cold room of the store.

I thought this kind of “meat” sold in the specific market only, never expected that they are available in grocery stores like Walmart.

Yes, Louisiana has a great number of alligators:

- 2 million wild alligators
- 300 thousand farming alligators.



Image 2- Just for illustration

In Louisiana, alligators may be found in any places such as lakes, canals, rivers and even small ponds.



Image 3- Recipe to cook alligator fillet (back packed).

# To be continued to Part 2

# Previous postings:

Wednesday, 15 March 2023

Alligator Plants Grow Well in Louisiana – Science 34

There are several names for a plant with bell shape flowers, one of them is Alligator Plants, and the plant recent scientific name is Kalanchoe daigremontiana.



Image 1- Blooming of Alligator Plant flowers.

The plant is native to the island of Madagascar, Africa. Then it separates to other tropical regions.

Alligator Plants have been transported to America, moreover, the plants have adapted easily to several states.

We may find the plants in the states such as:

- Florida
- Hawaii
- Louisiana and other warmer states.



Image 2- Two alligator plants at the yard

Even thought some of our neighbors said that the plant is rare, but we have seen Alligator Plants are sold in some markets.

We bought it from a nearby farmer market with reasonable price about a couple years ago.

I think this bell shape flowers plant is easy to grow and maintain. Like other succulents, the plants no need much water, and may live for years.



Image 3- Bell shape flowers

Have you seen the Alligator plants?

# Previous postings:

Sunday, 12 March 2023

Joker, PBA, and Alzheimer's Disease – Part 3 - Alzheimer's 12

You may read previous posts (Part 1 and Part 2):



Image 1- Joker (credit to Board Vitals)

PBA is caused by a result of injury or trauma or disease that disrupts pathways in expression of emotion, which are the corticobulbar tracts and basal ganglia.

Symptoms of PBA commonly occur in people diagnosed with Parkinson disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer disease, traumatic brain injury, and stroke.

PBA is often unrecognized at the beginning, however, the study from PRISM obtained data about PBA: approximately 2 million Americans are diagnosed with PBA, and over 7 million people are thought to have symptoms of PBA.



Image 2- Colorful of Azalea

From their trial result, it was about 30% of patient with Alzheimer's Disease also have symptoms of PBA.

One thing I have learned from the buzzing of Joker movie today.



Image 3- Magnolia flowers, illustration

Alzheimer's Disease is not only about forgetfulness but also about displacement in the expression of their emotions.

# Previous postings:

Friday, 10 March 2023

The American Robin in the Yard – Nature 55

Even though birds' population and species are decreasing since several years ago, our backyard is still visited by some important birds.



Image 1- An American Robin on the ground

American Robin with scientific name Turdus migratorious is one of birds comes frequently to our backyard at early Spring to Summer every year.

We have noticed the presence of the birds by their sounds in the morning until before noon. The sound of American Robins is quite familiar in our yards during Spring and Summer.

The American Robin is a common bird in our areas. As suggested by Melissa Witte Berninger (2021: The most abundant bird in America may surprise you!) that American Robin is abundant bird in North America.



Image 2- The bird looks curious at me

The bird population is about 37 million individuals. The number of American Robin is much more compared to house finches, mourning doves and red winged blackbirds.



Image 3- The bird starts to run away.

What do you think about American Robin in your areas?

# Previous postings:

The Beautiful Bright Green Luna Moth - Nature 148

We saw a beautiful bright green critter it is called the bright green Luna moth. The grub making its way through our yard. Image 01 - A Luna...