What Are You Doing Right Now?

[Southeasterner]

Getting through my to-do list for today.

 

[rbkwp]

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Hi Graham,
Ready to dive into some fresh reads? We have plenty to make you think, chuckle, or give a little sigh of relief this week.
First up, a serious one: physical elder abuse is a heartbreaking reality for far too many older people. We give you the facts, signs, and ways to help bring this hidden issue to light.

loving on

no wat's nor politics sdhit

 

[rbkwp]

quite a few comments from readers with additional advice on how to get closer to wildlife. Some were tips I knew but failed to mention and a few were things I hadn't thought about before. So, I wanted toshare them with you.

Also, remember to only approach an animal if it's safe for both you and the critter! (I put some of my own photos between the comments)

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"Another point - don't slam the car door when getting out to shoot.

I mention this because two Denver camera clubs I belong to each want to plan Spring field trips to the Pawnee Grasslands, where there is a birding driving tour. I'm the trip leader for one of the clubs, soif we do this, I get to lead it. I am very apprehensive, especially about a caravan! The last time my wife and I did this, we were sensitive to not slamming the car door shut."
~Tom

Editor's note: This is great advice. I can't tell youthe number of times I've watched an opportunity fly off due to a slammed door!

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"Animals pay attention to other animals and the situation. So if you're getting along with other animals, your subject animal will notice that you're okay, or if you're hidden and the other animals who know youare there are acting normally then the situation is okay.

Make quiet clicking or tsking, kissing noises around animals that will notice you, especially birds. (They cluck to send this message.) As you approach, when you're near, and as youwalk away. I used to walk almost through a flock of pigeons on the ground at a school I used to teach at doing this. I thought someone might notice, 'Hey, the pigeons never scattered from you..' No one ever did. Making some low-level comforting noises broadcasts the message: I am not trying to sneak up on anything. The flock doesn't only protect one species, it protects everyone near it. Be part of the flock.

Don't make eye contact with any animal. Don't stare. Look away. Hide your eyes. Sunglasses are not hiding, they're really big eyes. Every animal I've ever been able to observe closely pays attention to eyes. (On a sailing trip, when I fished for the first time, the one thing I knew was get the lure with the biggest eyes. Worked.)And if an animal notices you, and you see them? You're looking, so look away, meh you're just that pileated woodpecker that's supposed to be extinct… I'm more interested in the Nikon than you. Maybe nibble at your camera like it's a rock that has something edible on it (just thought of that.)"
~ Will

Editor's note: Great advice all the way around. I, too, have found once you get some animals in a group to accept you, the others often follow. I've also used soft little sounds with some species. In fact, I've been able to get chickadees to come down with some soft "swishing" noises. Also, great tip on the sunglasses- I never thought of them as big eyes!

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"One other tip...no dangling cords or neck straps. I've learned (the hard way) any movement from a loose strap is enough to cause a bird to scatter."
~Barry

Editor's note: As someone who doesn't use a camera strap, I never thought of this. I think it also applies to a piece of clothing blowing around in the wind. Great tip!

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"A corollary to not making eye contact is to avoid pointing your telephoto continuously atyour subject, especially if they notice.

ta bg
background gallery owher/photographer

niwars v/i/p

 

[rbkwp]

FEATURED​ Can cattle and wildlife co-exist in the Maasai Mara? A controversial study says yes byAshoka Mukpo — November 5, 2024 - Conventional conservation wisdom has held that cattle herds managed by Indigenous Maasai in East Africa compete with wildlife for grazing land and degrade protected areas like Kenya’s Maasai Mara and Tanzania’s Ngorongoro. - But a new research study shows that, in a small study patch of the Maasai Mara, cattle herds didn’t cause a decline in forage quantity or quality, nor did wildlife steer away from areas where cattle had grazed. - The finding has drawn criticism from other researchers, who question its methodology and say the overwhelming evidence points to the need for restrictions on cattle grazing inside these protected areas. - The study authors say they hope their findings spark new thinking about how pastoralists like the Maasai can be seen as potential conservation partners rather than excluded as they’ve been for decades. Study finds bonobos more diverse, and more vulnerable, than previously thought byCharles Mpaka — November 4, 2024 - Recently published research finds that bonobos show a much deeper degree of genetic diversity than previously thought, with the species split into three distinct subgroups that diverged tens of thousands of years ago. - The study is based on a detailed analysis of the genomes of 30 wild-born captive bonobos, cross-referenced with more limited data from 136 wild bonobos. - Separation into three genetically isolated groups means that each group is more vulnerable than a single unified population would be, and that loss of any of these groups would result in a significant loss of the species’ genetic diversity. How a lineage of chiefs built a thriving fish oasis in Lake Malawi byCharles Mpaka — November 4, 2024 - Lake Malawi accounts for more than 90% of landlocked Malawi’s total fish catch, and a key fishing ground is the water around Mbenje Island. - The community here has since the 1950s practiced, and enforced, a fisheries management regime that continues to benefit both fishers and local fish stocks. - Even as fish stocks dwindle and average fish sizes shrink elsewhere across Lake Malawi, around Mbenje Island the fish are bigger and fishers are “assured [of] a good haul.” - The success of the management scheme is credited to the fact that it’s embedded within the community’s existing power structures, giving it “legitimacy among fishers as it has not been imposed from outside,” according to a researcher. New brown bear ‘stronghold’ in Nepal redraws species’ range map byAbhaya Raj Joshi — October 31, 2024 - A population of brown bears has been discovered in western Nepal, extending the species’ known geographical range and suggesting a potential “contact zone” between the Himalayan and Tibetan brown bear subspecies. - Researchers from the Himalayan Wolves Project discovered the bears during camera-trap studies in the Limi Valley, which is rich in biodiversity but has seen limited ecological research compared to other regions of Nepal. - The bears exhibit physical traits associated with the Tibetan subspecies, but genetic analysis is necessary to confirm their subspecies classification and determine if they’re hybrids. - Research indicates that habitat for brown bears in Nepal may shrink significantly due to climate change, with predictions showing up to 82% habitat loss by 2070 if global temperatures rise by 2.7°C (4.9°F) by end-century, emphasizing the urgent need for conservation efforts. muh usa edu. bs muh2 fav website mongabay oceanic saviopur no ww wamongers involved hiuh/duh

 

[rbkwp]

and
skyfox
luxuriating in the remarkabke succes
attributwd to ya'all /most,displaying common srnse

thanks usa populace

 

[Southeasterner]

Closing the drawer and getting ready to go to the gym to walk on the treadmill.

 

[rbkwp]

bit fn lkate
to try and be nice

wont work

not taslking ofus here/honest

jormely called a truth

 

[Southeasterner]

Having lunch.

 

[rbkwp]

smiliong the day/night away
favoured result avhieved

thasls many usa
seen th3e light

 

[rbkwp]

Book Excerpt: How Circadian Rhythms Make Life on Earth Tick​

By Lynne Peeples

Circadian rhythms are essential to all living things. For humans, our inner clocks regulate everything from the ebb and flow of hormones to the rise and fall of blood pressure and heart rate, and help our digestive and metabolic systems to gear up ahead of time for meals and to handle other activities. Read on »

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The Nobel Prizes Tell a Story About Scientific Discovery​

By C. Brandon Ogbunu

The Nobel Prizes have long been celebrations of scientific innovation. In this month’s Selective Pressure column, C. Brandon Ogbunu explores how this year’s awards have highlighted the increased relevance of technology and magnified existing questions about where — and how — scientific discovery happens. Read on »

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Are Schools With Armed Police Actually Safer?​

By Rod McCullom

In 2022, more than 41,000 U.S. schools employed at least one officer. But recent research has questioned whether such policing actually promotes safety, and shows that the approach increases punitive measures. While districts re-think their policies, Chicago — which removed all officers from schools this year — is charting a new course. Read on »

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An Honest Discussion of Covid Vaccine Side Effects Is Overdue​

By Anthony Flint

Severe side effects of Covid-19 vaccinations, like Guillain-Barré syndrome, are very rare. But, writes journalist Anthony Flint, the government currently does not sufficiently document or provide compensation for such cases. Doing so it vital to improving vaccines and engendering trust in vaccine safety. Read on »

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The Great American Nuclear Weapons Upgrade​

By Ramin Skibba

A $1.7 trillion military program is advancing the American nuclear arsenal. While some analysts argue that the program is crucial to building — or rebuilding — a formidable arsenal that deters other nuclear powers, other say it raises questions for both nuclear deterrence and arms control. Read on »

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as confused as the resy of oue worldf
burr u. ha
not gonna srop
formerly called democracy/wesern version haha

actualy stiom undark

 

[rbkwp]

​ For an Ecosystem in Crisis, Recovery Can Take Ages​ A massive environmental calamity rocked the ancient Mediterranean. It took millions of years for the ecosystem to recover.​ by Moira Donovan • 700 words / 3 mins ​

​ Crafting the Perfect Poo​ Scientists are working to emulate whale waste, which they say could fertilize the ocean and sequester carbon.​ by Sandy Ong • 1,200 words / 6 mins​

What We’re Reading​ Because we’ve read more than enough journalism about elections in recent weeks, we’ll share some poetry instead: this gorgeous compilation of more than 500 responses to a prompt asking readers what will not change in their lives, no matter how the political winds blow. (Reasons to be Cheerful) Speaking of poetry, Sarah Gilman—who has written, edited, and illustrated many Hakai Magazine stories over the years—shared this brief illustrated poem, reminding us to look for light in times of darkness. (Last Word on Nothing) For perhaps the first time in 10,000 years, Indigenous residents living along the Yukon River in Alaska haven’t been able to fish for either chinook or pink salmon after consecutive years of low runs caused managers to shut down the fisheries. In some places, “culture camps” have replaced fish camps, as tribal communities try to keep traditions alive without the species and practices that helped define them. (High Country News) In an era when scientists can identify which species of fish live in a stream simply by examining the DNA in a vial of stream water, biology has become ever more reliant on technology. Yet a growing number of wildlife enthusiasts are going old school: the ancient art of tracking is experiencing a revival. (Smithsonian) Legendary Canadian wildlife biologist and writer Karsten Heuer died at his home in Alberta earlier this week after contracting multiple system atrophy, a rare neurological disease. (Rocky Mountain Outlook, The Narwhal)​

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Rhyme Time is a weekly puzzle exclusively for our newsletter readers. Each week, we provide a cryptic clue and you guess the answer, which will be two rhyming words with the same number of syllables. For example, the clue “The hour of the day for writing couplets” has the answer “rhyme time.” Last week’s clue was “A bag to carry things while you sail,” and the answer is “boat tote.” Congrats to Joe K., Robin R., Will E., Glen H., Sande M., Brittany B., Matt W., Om S., Monika H., and Brian S. for being the first to guess correctly. Our puzzle master also gave his of approval to these alternate answers from readers: float tote, tack sack, and tack pack. This week’s clue is “To give glowing comments to mantas and their kin.” Send your guess, just for fun, by replying to this email. The answer will be revealed in our next newsletter.​

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North Beach is right across the street from my place on Haida Gwaii, British Columbia. I like to nip over daily, sometimes between meetings or to catch a nice long walk as the sun goes down. I took this picture in late September when a clear day between the wind and rain of an atmospheric river and the dregs of Typhoon Pulasan offered a lucky view of the sunset. The dynamics of kelp and wrack tell a story about the seasons, and this season is definitely about storms, and the beachward end to many a kelp frond. It looked like the ocean swell was grabbing the kelp and bowling it onto the beaches: rock, holdfast attachment, kelp, and all. They were strewn all over the beach and I thought this one rock looked particularly like a bowling ball. — Margot Hessing-Lewis See where the photo was taken on Google Maps. Submit your coastal snapshots for inclusion in the newsletter by replying to this email.​

ta thanks hakai favooured oceanic conservation wesite weekly notifocation amazing an only website i freely contribute to financially fr thhat feelgood feelig

 

[rbkwp]

Mammals including mice, cats, squirrels, lions, tigers and bears all have the instinctive reflex to shake their wet fur. (Nat NT/Getty)

How touch triggers the ‘wet dog’ shake​

kovingon
no denying smie

 

[shIgreen123]

Folding laundry, which I hate to do

 

[rbkwp]

ehank you usa veterans al wars
esp in rhe acifuc/saving us/our weak arsed attempts

hope your many recuperating enjoyed our hospitality

know your govt then created recreeation facilities for you

bless you all partici[ants

 

[rbkwp]

dissapointed skytv usa d8d not acnwledge j..s fine veterans day speech

meadiately goig into usual duatrbe resame olr shit

depends whon ison i geuss
most are real good

getalif3e ww media

you can help make a difference too
gea the world

mj

 

[rbkwp]

Four people with limbal stem-cell deficiency, which causes a buildup of scar tissue that coats the cornea, received a world-first treatment. (Patrick Landmann/Science Photo Library)

Stem-cell transplants restore lost vision​ reading intriuged

 

[rbkwp]

and why nt
bless you
can never say that re iygtnorat/non learners that imitate'fight' casll

geeesus

bs/imature sub- humankind huh

 

[rbkwp]

Woman charged as NT police allege cattle died of dehydration, not cyanide poisoning​ ​ Police allege investigators found about 70 cattle had no access to drinking water for 10 days at the Old Man Plains research facility near Alice Springs.​ Read more

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South Australian fruit growers fight to save their pest-free advantage​ ​ Growers in South Australia's pest-free area are under enormous financial and mental stress as they battle Queensland fruit-fly outbreaks.​ Read more

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Tree farmer says hardwood price has doubled since WA native logging ban​ ​ Geoff North has planted hundreds of thousands of trees on his family's former dairy farm over the past three decades and now he's reaping the rewards.​ Read more

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Australian farmers fear significant tariffs if Trump goes back on free trade agreement​ ​ US president-elect Donald Trump plans to introduce an across-the-board tariff of either 10 or 20 per cent on all imports, which could have a big impact in Australia.​ rural ww rules ok better than coountlkess fkn ogooing wars mmongrels//idiots .... /// ......Read more

 

[rbkwp]

Click Here For The Guide!

In The Ultimate Nikon Z8& Z9 Setup & Shooting Guide For Wildlife Photography, I'll show you exactly how I've set my Z8/9 for my professional work as a wildlife photographer. I've been shootingthese cameras they were introduced and have used them extensively in the United States, Costa Rica, and multiple locations in Africa - capturing nearly 250,000 images and counting. These experiences helped me hone and optimize my Nikon Z8/9 setup to the point that using it is seamless, fast, and completely intuitive.

In this 590 page guide, I'll share every one of those settings with you.

With this guide, you'll unlock secrets designed to squeeze every ounce of performance out of your Z8/9 for wildlife photography. You'll see everything I change and set in the menu system, as well as my complete button and dial customizationsettings.

Once you have your Z8/9set properly, you can tackle any wildlife challenge that comes your way. With the setups outlined in the book, we'll tame the intimidating menus of the Z8/9 and turn it into an intuitive ally that works with you to sendthe best possible photos to your cards.

In short, I wrote the guide I wish I had when I first picked up my Z8/9!

However, this isn't just a list of settings! Inaddition to revealing the optimal configuration for wildlife work, we'll also cover why you should make these adjustments and, more importantly, we'll cover detailed instructions for how to use them in the field to get the highest possible keeper rate. From autofocus to metering to customizations, this book puts the rubber to the road and gives you to tools to get the most from your Z8/9 when you have a wildlife target in the viewfinder.

Click Here For The Guide!

Unlike the guides I purchased for the OM Systems OM-1, Steve’s guide not only tells WHAT something does but WHY he does or does not use the feature or why he sets it the way he recommends. Amusingly, I found Steve’s Z-9 guide more useful for setting up my OM-1 than OM-1 dedicated guides.

I would recommend that any primarily wildlife photographer who has a mirrorless camera with subject identification purchase this guide.
1-First, it is written by an experienced wildlife photographer, not a generalist. I don’t care how well my camera picks up eyes in amotorcycle race, but I do care why M+auto iso works best for wildlife.

2-The explanations of how the Z-9 works typically applies to other cameras. For example, if I set my maximum ISO too low in M+auto iso, the camera will underexpose when that limit is hit no matter what I do. Even exposure compensation won’t get the camera to go beyond that limit.
I could go on and on about what you will learn about mirrorless cameras with subject identification.

~Tom Reynolds

In addition, I realize that not all of us shoot the same way or have the same priorities, so you'll discover lots of alternative setups and ideas sprinkled in along the way. Basically, if a menu setting applies to wildlife photography - even if I don't use it myself - we'll discuss it so YOU can make the best decision for your setup.

We'll also cover how to set up and optimizeyour programmable buttons for wildlife work. You'll find easy to follow, step-by-step demonstrations for how to set each button and control - and you'll discover how to best use them in the field. Every configuration is designed to help you leverage the power of the Z8/9 to help you crank out wall-hangers!

I’ve been a Nikon shooter for about 12 years and have had several different DSLR models over that time. While I’m comfortable setting up a new system, part of my reason for buying the Z9 was its much-touted focusing capabilities so when I saw the availability of the Z9 Setup & Shooting Guide, it was an easy decision to purchase it. I’m glad I did!

If you’re new to the Z9 you’ll not find a quicker way to understanding how to get the most out of this impressive machine and at a little over $28, it’s tough to find more value. I read it from cover to cover and feel like my Z9 is customized to my shooting style, and not only do I have a good understanding of the various capabilities of thecamera, but I have an explanation for their practical use in the field.


ta bg/bacground gallery owner
another favourite

 

[BigdongSE]

Thinking about one specific clip on this video and how it works. The one clip with the lighter more specifically.