• Travel

    Taking it Easy on the Tour du Mont Blanc – Rick Steves’ Travel Blog

    May 23, 2025 - By 

    While the Tour du Mont Blanc is demanding, it’s not a particularly difficult hike. It’s just long, with lots of altitude gain and loss, and always scenic. On my recent trek around the mountain with three friends, it seemed each of us had a weak spot: knees, toes, or lungs. For some, the challenge was the uphill part, and for others (with weak knees), it was going downhill. We just took it easy, with lots of little breaks. David, Sue, Shelley, and I shared the entire hike on Mont Blanc. But to be free to go our own pace, we…

  • Astrology

    This Month’s Astrology June 2025

    May 23, 2025 - By 

    On May 26th, the New Moon occurred in Gemini, prompting a new beginning. This lunation brought a fresh start to our lives, particularly with our communications and mental orientation. We carry this energy into the month of June. By consciously tuning in to positive Gemini energy, we learn through others simply by being curious, and we improve our social and communication skills at the same time. We open our minds to more information, and we learn to truly enjoy the variety of different personalities around us. Read more about this New Moon on its calendar page. On June 9th, Jupiter…

  • Travel

    Could Plant Communication Help Save Argentina’s Crops?

    May 23, 2025 - By 

    An innovative biotech startup is using nature’s own signals to fight crop-killing insects—without toxic chemicals. TUCUMÁN, Argentina — When dozens of desperate farmers flocked to Victoria Coll’s laboratory in Tucumán, Argentina, she knew her research had finally met its moment. It was September 2023, and the visitors were on edge about the corn leaf­ hopper—a four-­millimeter-­long bug already decimating the grain crops nationwide. Traditional insecticides had failed, leaving farmers facing billions in losses. Coll, a botanist with a doctorate in analytical chemistry, was certain the answer lay in cracking the code plants use to communicate with insects: their scent. “Smell…

  • Online Deals

    How to Save on Groceries Without Sacrificing Healthy Choices

    May 23, 2025 - By 

    With inflation impacting every area of our budgets over the past few weeks, many are cutting costs wherever and however they can. Some are sacrificing healthy or organic food choices for inexpensive bulk options across the board. Here are our tips on strategizing and prioritizing your grocery shopping so that you’re saving money and eating well.  Prioritize First of all, determine what matters the most to you when it comes to food shopping. Will you “save money” by eating only instant ramen and rice? Yes. However, eating only dry pantry staples during times of inflation won’t sustain you for long…

  • Astrology

    Your Weekly Horoscope: (May 25-June 1)

    May 23, 2025 - By 

    Love is not a one-size-fits-all affair, and thank the stars for that—how boring would that be? This week’s astrology is here to stir the cosmic pot, throwing sparks into your love life whether you’re riding solo or entangled in a full-blown romantic saga. With Mercury chatting it up in Gemini and Neptune daydreaming across the zodiac, it’s giving “text me something poetic or don’t text at all.” Emotions are swirling, connections are buzzing, and the universe is practically begging you to flirt a little harder, dive a little deeper, and express your love like you’re the main character (because, honestly,…

  • Science

    Mystery of ‘very odd’ elasmosaur finally solved: fiercely predatory marine reptile is new species

    May 23, 2025 - By 

    A group of fossils of elasmosaurs — some of the most famous in North America — have just been formally identified as belonging to a “very odd” new genus of the sea monster, unlike any previously known. Long-necked and measuring in at 12 metres, Traskasaura sandrae — as it is officially named today in this new study — possessed heavy, sharp, robust teeth, ideal for crushing. Findings, published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, highlight Traskasaura as having a strange mix of primitive and derived traits unlike any other elasmosaur. Its unique suite of adaptations enabled this plesiosaurto hunt…

  • Travel

    Hotel Find: Vipp Shelter Sweden : Melting Butter

    May 23, 2025 - By 

    Posted by Mark Casagranda on Thursday, June 13, 2019 · Leave a Comment  The Vipp Shelter is a unique hotel experience set on Lake Immeln, Sweden and designed by Morten Bo Jensen after the Danish design company conceived of an idea where a luxury escape could immerse its guests in nature. Upon driving onto the properly and seeing the Shelter, you’ll be amazed at the way it fits into its lakeside environment, almost floating on the land. Sitting on stilts four feet above the forest floor, the undergrowth adapts to the structure with flora sprouting from beneath. The surrounding wilderness is…

  • Online Deals

    Better Homes & Gardens Providence Steel & Wicker Outdoor Glider Loveseat w/ Cushions (Red/Bronze) $97 + Free Shipping

    May 23, 2025 - By 

    Product Description: Casual, outdoor glider loveseat with plush cushions transforms patio, porch, or deck into beautiful place to unwind, entertain, or spend time with someone special Seats 2 adults comfortably and gently rocks back and forth Features red, fade-resistant, moisture-wicking olefin fabric and a sturdy frame designed with a bronze finish and constructed of powder-coated, rust-resistant steel for longevity Wicker accents add traditional style to complement most outdoor furniture and decor Cozy, comfy addition for reading, resting, or chatting in any outdoor setting Coordinates with other pieces in the Better Homes & Gardens Providence outdoor furniture collection (sold separately), and…

  • Astrology

    Getting A Fix On Neptune In Aries: Veiled Aggression

    May 23, 2025 - By 

    The fact Saturn and Neptune are leaving the last sign for the first, to retrograde back, before settling in Aries, has made it hard to get a clear fix on this.  I have certainly seen it hit people, hard: Mental Health Crises Abound. Be fearful? Be brave?  Few are surefooted at this time. It’s reasonably sensible to stay somewhat situated and wait for clarity, assuming you have the option. But I do this job and I need to figure this out, for real.  I think I’ve got it. You can understand Neptune in Aries by thinking in terms of a Mars Neptune…

  • Science

    Do we suffer ‘behavioural fatigue’ for pandemic prevention measures? – Mind Hacks

    May 23, 2025 - By 

    The Guardian recently published an article saying “People won’t get ‘tired’ of social distancing – and it’s unscientific to suggest otherwise”. “Behavioural fatigue” the piece said, “has no basis in science”. ‘Behavioural fatigue’ became a hot topic because it was part of the UK Government’s justification for delaying the introduction of stricter public health measures. They quickly reversed this position and we’re now in the “empty streets” stage of infection control. But it’s an important topic and is relevant to all of us as we try to maintain important behavioural changes that benefit others. For me, one key point is…