Wild Bees are Visiting My Backyard – Part 2 - Nature 43

You may read previous post (Part 1):

- Wild Bees are Visiting Our Backyard – Part 1 - Nature 43

Image 1- Pure raw honey from our neighborhood.

Naturally, the word “honeycomb” has multiple purposes:

- housing for brood, included capped larvae, larvae and eggs
- storing pollen, nectar and honey.

Moreover, I familiar with the word's honeybees, bumble bees and wild bees, but honestly, I do not know differences of these critters. I just saw many bees come to my backyard.

They were abundance in the spring, then the number reduced in the summer. But bees still appear in the early fall.

Image 2- The bee on the wildflower, it may pollinate or take pollen

Image 3- Artificial beehives at our neighborhood.

They seem visit our backyard to pollinate my flowers and fruit plants, some of them are:

- orange quash,
- tangerine orange
- figs.
- blackberry and strawberry

The bees also collect pollen and nectar from plant flowers and wild flowers.

It is said that honeybees are outnumber the other bees, hence they are most important of pollinators in nature.

Do you know differences of honeybees, bumble bees and other wild bees?

# Previous postings

- The signs of late stage of Alzheimer's Disease – Part 1 - Alzheimer's 1
- A Novel of Arian - Then The Fish Swallowed Him - Part 2 – Reading 6

Have You Planned to Exit Twitter Account?

As you might know that after Elon Musk take over, Twitter seems “chaos” with several reasons.

Image 1- Image of Mastodon and Twitter (credit to Google).

At least, in my thought there are 3 (three) crucial reasons lead to “chaos” in Twitter social media:

1- First, Elon Musk “fired” thousands of Twitter’s employees include who monitors hates, bully and other nonsense speeches which spreading through out Twitter

2- Idea of “absolute freedom of speech” makes many people disagree, include big and important advertisers.

Image 2- Giant sun-gold sunflower

3- US$ 8 monthly fee for subscribers. As far as I know, no social medias have subscribed fee. Yes, there are some social medias have provided “pay” accounts, but not compulsory, just optional.

Image 3- Azalea, illustration

These 3 main reasons drive out not only million Twitter users, but also great number of advisers.

Twitter annual revenue is US$ 5.08 billion, about 90% is coming from advertising. Many big advertisers such as General Motors, Ford, Mondelez, General Mills and many more.

Do you Twitter users? If yes, do you plan exit Twitter?

What is your main reason to stay or exit Twitter?

# Previous postings:

- A Novel of Arian - Then The Fish Swallowed Him - Part 1 – Reading 6
- The Best Tacos which I Love to Consume in Louisiana – Part 2 – Food 10

Mediterranean Diet and Alzheimer's Prevention – Part 1 - Alzheimer's 11

From the acronym SHIELD, a new hope to prevent dementia in last week's entry, the letter D in the last word is stand for diet.

Image 1- Menu for Alzheimer's diseases.

You may read the previous posts about SHIELD:

- The SHIELD is a New Hope to Protect Our Brain – Part 1 - Alzheimer's 10
- The SHIELD is a New Hope to Protect Our Brain – Part 2 - Alzheimer's 10
- The SHIELD is a New Hope to Protect Our Brain – Part 3 - Alzheimer's 10

The doctors mention that gut health tied to brain health, and have suggested Mediterranean as one of the best diets.

It will help the risk of Alzheimer's in “a half.”

Image 2- Pine’s fruit, illustration

Image 3- Wild pink lily, illustration

What is the Mediterranean diet? Is it a kind of awesome food from Mediterranean restaurants such as a plate of lamb shank or a piece of Italian pizza?

Mediterranean diet that Doctors recommend is based on the traditional fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and good fats.

The diet from the countries which border with the Mediterranean Sea. The food is rich with legumes and seeds.

# To be continued to Part 2

## Previous posting:

- The Best Tacos which I Love to Consume in Louisiana – Part 1 – Food 10
- Could Botulinum Toxin be Turned to Beneficial Substance? - Part 4 – Science 10

The Winter Hummingbird at Our Community – Science 26

Generally, hummingbirds have visited our state by late February to early March and gone by late Summer.

Image 1- Immature Rufous

In case of winter hummingbirds, sure, they will arrive and stay in our areas during winter seasons. Southern states winter is a little bit friendly than frozen winter in northern states.

There are many species of winter hummingbirds, but three the most seen in our neighborhoods:

- Rufous hummingbird
- Calliope hummingbird
- and Allen's hummingbird

Image 2- Flowers which attract hummingbirds

What make us wonder that why does Rufous hummingbird show up early in our neighborhood?

What are factors trigger them to do migration early?

Image 3- A hummingbird sitting on the branch

First, I read it is due to daylight changes. I don’t know whether this reason is true or false. Quite strange for me.

Second, shortage of food resources such as insects, nectar and flower in areas where winter hummingbirds come from.

Finally, severe temperature in northern part of America. Frozen temperature may trigger winter hummingbirds to arrive early in our areas.

# Previous postings:

- What Autumn is Like in My Town, Baton Rouge LA – Part 2 - Nature 15
- Could Botulinum Toxin be Turned to Beneficial Substance? - Part 3 – Science 10
- Changes of Parents Behaviors When Caring a Baby – Part 2 - Science 11

Commercial Firewood in Our City, Baton Rouge

There is no record the number of households use firewood for heating in our city, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Image 1- Commercial firewood

Our state does not include in top 14 states using firewood for any purposes. The most of 6 states using firewood are:

- Vermont
- Maine
- Montana
- Idaho
- Oregon
- New Mexico

Image 2- Small business cutting firewood

However, we may find the places easily which sale firewood, especially during hurricane seasons and winter season.

Image 3- Selling of firewood

The blackout is common if our city hit by natural disasters, in this case is hurricane or storms.

Image 4 – Firewood in the room

More than 5 storms arrive in our state per year. In addition to generators, some people pile up firewood for preparation.

Several people I know said that heating by firewood is cheaper compared to electric bill during cold temperature.

The cost for 1 cord is range between US$ 175 to US$ 300, depend very much to wood quality and size of wood.

One cord consists of 600 to 700 pieces woods with size of 16 x 4 inches. One home may use 1 cord for two to three months.

Electric bill is about US$ 245 per month in Louisiana. So, using of firewood for heating is reasonable cheaper compared to electric bill.

Honestly, we never used firewood for heating. How about you?

Mural Paintings by Local Artists – Art 8

We talked about a colorful car which owned by mural artists at previous post:

- A Colorful Car at Our City Park – Art 7

Image 1- Two local artists are painting

After looking around for a while, we saw two mural artists while they are painting the wall diligently.

It seems the artists paint the park administration building. They painted variety of plants with pollinators on the leaves.

Sure, like other cities around the globe, we have mural collections in downtown.

Depictions of downtown murals may include cars, trees, futuristic architectures and animals.

Image 2- Artists are working hard

Image 3- Almost completed

Interestingly, all murals have been done by local artists, especially since 1998 where many mural projects are sponsored by art councils of our city.

Local artists may come from:

- students of high schools and universities
- who are graduated from universities and high schools
- whoever have talents.

We know one artist who graduated from painting and art history department of local university.

He is not only a mural artist, but doing a lot of commercial projects, some of them to paint windows and walls of restaurants, cafes, banks and many other businesses around city

How about with murals in your cities? 

What is Brain Plasticity? - Part 1 – Brain Plasticity 1

We may think, plasticity refers to plastic, an elastic material or things that can be bending.

Image 1- Brain plasticity (credit to “learning-mind /brain-plasticity”)

In case of brain plasticity, the meaning is “changing” of brain due to internal and external factors.

As we grow in respect to whatever, the brain is “growing” as well, this could be said as “changing.”

The brain keeps changing made us able to face new experiences in our daily life.

One day, we face difficulty with new things, it is because our brain capability has been declined.

Image 2- People saw some plants

We know that older persons get problem to adapt to new environments, and even not so interest to learn new methods.

Image 3- Just for illustration

It is important as said by Banks (2016) for brain to have ability to re-wire or modify itself. This ability makes us be human, develop from childhood to adulthood.

Another special ability is that brain could re-routing the signal pathways if one neural pathway was error. The ability significantly distinguishes between brain and computer, where computer just have parallel motor and sensory signals.

# To be continued to Part 2

## Previous postings:

- What Autumn is Like in My Town Baton Rouge LA – Part 1 - Nature 15
- The Rainbow BeforeParents Behaviors When Caring a Baby – Part 1 - Science 11