Saturday 27 February 2021

Snowy Owl Re-Appearing after Hiding for 130 years – Nature 3

Snowy owl is sitting on the hill (credit to Jamie Baker)

The snowy bird is coming from north part of the globe, the birds flew over the countries which close to their breeding of the Arctic Circle

This predator may be seen abundance about 20 to 30 years ago in the regions or countries such as:

- Russia
- Canada
- Iceland
- Denmark (Greenland)
- Sweden
- British Isles
- northern states of USA

Since the snowy birds can fly long distance about 7,000 miles (11,300 km), the bird could be observed in the southern states include:

- Texas
- Hawaii


Flowers in the city corner, just illustration

Unfortunately, once found easily, now very rare in many places. Even, no snowy owls for more than 100 years in certain areas.

The population was estimated 200,000 of snowy owl in 2013, but decreasing in great number to be 28,000 only in 2017.

Without doubt, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) list the snowy owl to be “vulnerable” species.

Vulnerable species means “A species considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.”

Several factors caused population decreasing:

- climate changes lead to snow melt, hence less preys availability.
- illegal hunting
- hitting power lines or vehicles

Just recently, many mainstream medias, not limited to USA Today, Yahoo News, New York Times and NBC news have been surprising with appearing of snowy owl in Central Park, New York after 130 years.

We don’t know the reasons yet!!

Snow owl video:




Tuesday 23 February 2021

Snow Storm in Our City Baton Rouge – Nature 2

Fig 01- Debris on the street

Like other part of USA, our city was hit by snow storm last Monday, 15 February 2021.

As one of cities in the southern state, Baton Rouge and many of my neighbors never experienced of:

- lower temperature of C minus 9 (-9 C) or equal to F 16 degree

- long freezing temperature almost one week, especially at night.

- ice rain


Current snow storm is the same with other storms in many case, but, since its contain snow, had specific negative impacts to our state and neighborhood.

Some of negative impacts:

- sleet has covered the entire street in several places

- debris everywhere

- trunks hit electric wires and poles

- thousands have no lights

- some of my neighbors have no water.


Fig 02- Tree fall down in our neighborhood.

After long freezing temperature, today, Sunday, 21 February 2021, the temperature was a quite warmer.


Fig 03- Icy in the yard

Temperature reached +15 C (F 59) degree. This is should be temperature in the normal Spring season.


Fig o4- Icy covered tree’s branches and chairs

Since temperature getting warmer and warmer, our neighbors start to clean up their own streets (in front of their houses) by:

- moving or blowing debris in the middle of street to the side of street.

- if debris are trees (trunks), must be cut into 6 feet lengths, and stack to the side of roads.

- trash and white goods must be separated.


In addition, residents who have old, poor condition and weaken trees should do the delimb or cut down the trees.

Hope, our neighborhood well prepare for future accidents due to future storms or hurricanes. 

Saturday 13 February 2021

Russian Covid 19 Vaccine Advantages – Science 2

Comparison of 4 different vaccines

The third clinical trials of Russian Covid 19 vaccine, Sputnik V has been published in the England medical journal, the Lancet (2021).

Sputnik effective rate is 92%, almost similar to American vaccines (Moderna and Biontech-Pfizer) which is 95%.

The advantages of Russian vaccine compared to American vaccines are following (in term of):

- price (about US$10 only)

- storage (able to be stored in regular fridge temperature)

Compared to UK’s vaccine, AstraZeneca, Sputnik V is clearly better in respect to effective rate.

If you read mainstream medias recently that South Africa government stop to conduct trials of AstraZeneca vaccine.

It is because the vaccine is not effective to control new strain from South Africa, called as 20H/ 501Y. V2 or B.1. 351.

Please read:

- Can Johnson & Johnson’s Vaccine Contains New Variants? - Virus 37.


However, the developer of Sputnik V believes that the vaccine works against Covid 19 new strains.

Whatever, people have plenty of choices, and hope, the vaccines are available in the market soon.

Wednesday 3 February 2021

A chocolate as a Gift for Valentine’s Day

Homemade chocolates covered strawberries

Plenty of gifts for valentine’s day is available in the market, from cheap to expensive ones.

Many people to choose chocolate as a gift for this special day with several reasons:

- tradition since old days

- symbol of love

- emotional reasons

- stimulate love

- to make connections with others

- promote spiritual wisdom

- reasonable price.

As we know, heart shape is the most popular for gift in valentine’s day, may be every where in this planet.

However, trending gift in our neighborhood is chocolates covered strawberries. Homemade chocolate by seasonal small business.


Colorful chocolate in the box

The price is a quite reasonable with almost a half price compared to market price with similar quality product.

We may wonder why are chocolates covered strawberries favorite for valentine’s day gift in my neighborhood recently?

The reasons are quite simple:

- perfect combination of chocolate and strawberry

- chocolate is a symbol of love, wisdom and relationship

- strawberry is refer to love of goddess, Venus.


Do you like chocolate and strawberry? Do you have specific gift for valentine’s day?

The Spring is Coming around Here - Nature 128

 The temperature going up to around F 68* (20* C) and flowers are blooming, it is mean that Spring is coming  in our areas.  Image 01 - Red ...