Museum Quality Glass

I spent the past weekend in Tacoma, Washington.  I attended a math conference but on the very last day, after the final speech, I went out with others to lunch.  After lunch, we did a bit of sightseeing in the downtown area.  We didn't have a lot of time so we stopped through the Museum of Glass gift shop.  They had so many wonderful things.

This set looks like knitting made out of glass strands.  The stitches look quite real and the needles are so cool.  I never realized one could create something this realistic out of glass.  Each and everyone is a different knitted project.

These birds are so cute.  They are all perched on a table across from the knitted glass.  None of the two are the same even if they share the same colorations.  

This wall is filled with birds of different colors and styles.  I didn't get a picture of the cool penguin with its black and white stripped suit and dark black hat.  I was down to about 25% power so I could only take a few.

These are bee's standing on top of a bee hive.  Each bee is an individual and so cute.  In the back, behind the window is a set of clear glass objects that seem to be part of a water display but are under renovation.  

I couldn't believe these are made out of glass. They are so delicate, looking as if they are made of threads.  They remind me of those guns that melt plastic so you can make three dimensional objects out of the plastic threads.  They look as if they have beads woven into the structures.

There was so many glass pieces.  Several looked as if they had jellyfish floating inside while others displayed a technique with stripes and small bubbles inside, or spheres that appear to hold various space items such as planets or stars and are so beautiful.  They even had hanging glass bulbs, each with swirling colors and so much depth you wanted to walk into them, just to explore the beauty.  I could not afford most of the art there because the pieces ranged from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.

I hope to go back someday to enjoy the whole museum but until then I can enjoy the little taste I had. Tomorrow, I'll share pictures from the Venetian wall leading to the museum and possibly a few shots of the ceiling of the bridge.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.

As Seen From Space

As seen from space.  Isn't it beautiful?

Holding The World

He holds the world in his hands.

This Green Could Kill You!

 Today, we don't worry about paints and such we decorate the house but in the past that wasn't as true.  I've touched on this ingredient before but only in regard to books but not as it is used in the house.

During Victorian times, people loved using  vivid wallpapers in their houses because these wallpapers added depth to rooms.  Then on April 3, 1862, the local doctor in Limehouse, East London , was called in to treat an extremely ill 3 year old girl.

This young lady was curled up in pain and was unable to swallow. symptoms consistent with diphtheria but her three older siblings displayed the same symptoms yet died.  Since the three died within a short time, it supported the diagnosis of diphtheria.  Although Diphtheria is quite contagious, this doctor felt the diagnosis was incorrect because none of the neighbors came down with it.

Since he didn't now what caused the symptoms, he made notes identifying everything he could about their living conditions.  He noted the place was cramped but clean with good ventilation, and in good condition.  He examined the sanitation conditions, and checked the water conditions.  He couldn't find anything to explain this except for the green wallpaper in the parent's bedroom.  There was a theory circulating in the medical field that this could kill people.

When the three year old died, the doctor asked if he could perform an autopsy and when her tissues were tested, they revealed she died from arsenic poisoning.  The story made the newspapers where reporters rushed to let everyone know it was the paints in the wallpaper that killed her because the paints had arsenic.  The official report made it clear you didn't have to be in the same room to be exposed and poisoned.

This went to court to find the official cause of death but the judge and jury refused to accept this finding.  Instead, the jury ruled the little girl died of natural causes.  This lead to a media flurry with people on both sides sharing their opinions.  The argument for the arsenic poisoning included the fact the parents hung the wallpaper over Christmas holidays and up until then the whole family had been extremely healthy but after, they got sick.  Furthermore, additional "proof" was given by sighting other cases in which people got sick after they installed the wallpaper and yet got healthier when the wallpaper was removed.

This use of these vivid greens dated back to 1778 when a Swedish chemist used copper arsenic to create this rich green which paint manufacturers and interior decorators loved.  Eventually, everyone wanted it in their home or in their clothing.  Most of Europe was aware of this color's dangers by the time it made it to the United Kingdom but they tended to ignore the warnings.  Furthermore, the wallpaper industry was growing and they didn't want to lose that momentum, so they continued making it this way because people loved the color.

In 1814, one of the fabric manufacturers began using this wonderful green dye to produce a fantastic green.  It was a jewel toned green that was brighter and bolder and named "Emerald"green.  People loved it because it stood out in the ballrooms and people soon wanted it in their houses and other places.  Arsenic was responsible for producing this spectacular green but many women soon developed ulcers all over their bodies, lost hair, and even vomit blood.  It was worse for the women who produced the dyes.  They died horrible deaths.

It took until the 1870's people exerted enough pressure for companies to begin producing arsenic free wallpaper.  One owner of a company caved to public demand but didn't believe arsenic was responsible.  He felt doctors used arsenic as the fall guy for patients whose illness could not be diagnosed.  In a sense he couldn't be blamed for his opinion because he used it on his walls and never got sick.  At the time, they didn't know that young children, the elderly, and the sick were at higher risk of getting sicker from the arsenic.  Furthermore, the Victorians used arsenic on vegetables as a pesticide, dipped cattle in arsenic to discourage flies, added it to beer, and used it on postage stamps.

By 1900 regulations had been passed to eliminate arsenic from use in clothing, wallpaper, other items, and dye factories.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear, have a great day.

Traveled Yesterday

I spent all day yesterday traveling to Tacoma. Didn’t get much done.

Waiting for flight to Nome.

Waiting on runway for fellow travelers at another village.

Shot of countryside as we headed to Nome.

Hotel room and bed looked so good.

It was a long day.  I traveled to Tacoma and it took all day.  I didn't get a chance to do what I wanted because I was traveling with a group.  I'll share more tomorrow.

It Made The Headlines.

My father loves reading his local newspaper because it is filled with lots of errors.  He majored in English and grew up in a family that spoke very good English so he catches many things that other miss.  My niece is a translator and she loves surfing the web for language errors.  I'm not quite as good as those two but I know I have found some that are quite funny.

I realize headlines need to be short but some of these are too short. Some of the headlines I've found that could use editing include:

1.  "Bugs Flying Around With Wings are Flying Bugs" headed an article on bugs that look like ants with wings.

2. "State Prison to replace easy open locks" is another good one.  I suspect the state prison is getting locks that are easier for the guards to open, not for the prisoners to escape.

3. "Federal agents raid gun shop: Find weapons".  This is one of those "Duh" headlines because one usually finds guns in a gun shop.  I think they meant illegal weapons were found.

4. "Most Earthquake damage is caused by shaking."  Yeah,  this one is so obvious and quite true considering the number of earthquakes I've been in.

5.  "Missippi's literacy program shows improvement." according to the headline but someone obviously couldn't spell their states name.

6. "Statistics show that teenage pregnancies drop after the age of 25."  I have no idea who came up with this one up but I thought anyone over the age of 20 was no longer a teenager.

7.  "City unsure why the sewer smells." This is the headline on an article on the city being unable to determine why a smell invaded several downtown businesses.

8.  "Mayor Parris to the Homeless: Go home!" heads an article on the mayor wanting to increase the funding for bus fare to send people out of town.

9.  "Puerto Rican teen named mistress of the Universe." is an actual headline.  I think they meant she was Miss Universe rather than a mistress.

10."Amphibious pitcher makes debut".  They meant Ambidextrous as the pitcher could use both hands.

11. "Cows lose their jobs as milk prices drop."  refers to the price of milk dropping so farmers don't make as much.

12.  "State population to double by 2040: Babies to blame". Hmmmm, blaming the babies for a population increase.

13. "Breathing oxygen linked to staying alive."  I guess they aren't teaching this in science.

14. "Police arrest everyone on February 22nd."  Wow, I didn't know they did this kind of thing.

15. "Muddy Creek problem - It's too muddy."  I thought that was how the creek got it's name.

I chose just a few to share with you out of the many I found.  I hope you enjoyed it.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.

Limoncello

Every time I read a book or watch a movie that takes place in Italy, everyone seems to want to enjoy a drink called Limoncello.  Limoncello is an Italian liquor made out of lemon zest, sugar, water, and alcohol.  The lemons are not just any lemon but a lemon grown in certain areas because the fruit has an intenseness and slight sweetness not found in most varieties.

Although there are many stories concerning its origin, tt is said that this drink began in a farmhouse owned by Lady Maria Antonia Farace.  She'd make this drink out of the fruit she grew to share with visitors.  After World War II ended, her grandson opened a bar and offered Limoncello made according to his grandmothers secret recipe.  His son is the one who registered the trademark in 1988 and began a business producing it before shipping it all over the world.  

The thing is that every region has its own story of how the drink originated from monks who used it as part of their daily meditations, to the drink has been around since the beginning of the domestic cultivation of the lemon tree, to being used by fishermen to ward off colds and stay warm.

What is common is that the lemons are picked by hand so they do not touch the ground, and are harvested during the warmer months between February and October. In general, the drink is made by steeping lemon zest (peels) in alcohol like vodka until the oil is freed and the liquid is a beautiful yellow.  For the most part, the liquid is between 25 and 30 percent alcohol and its produced in Southern Italy.

The drink is usually consumed before the meal or after the meal because it is said to aid digestion.  It is generally served chilled but not over ice to improve its flavor.  Limoncello is served in shot glasses or small cups because it is meant to be sipped slowly.  In addition to drinking it straight, it can be mixed with citrus juices, fruits, other alcohols and flavored with mint or basil as cocktails.  It is preferred in cocktails because it does not have the sharp flavor that comes with lemon juice.  Furthermore, it is also used in cakes, cheesecake, or other baked goods. This drink also comes in pistachio, melon, or strawberry flavors.

It is possible to make your own limoncello but it takes a bit and it might not taste the same as the commercial varieties.  Take the zest off of 10 lemons.  Make sure you get only the zest and not the bitter white part.  Put the zest in a jar and cover with one bottle of high quality 100 proof vodka.  Cover and place in a dark area for four weeks without touching it.  At the end of four weeks, strain the peels out of the liquid.  Add one cup of simple syrup to the liquid and place in a bottle.  Place it in a dark area again for two more weeks.  It should be ready to drink at this point.  Chill in the freezer before you serve.

I've never had it but one of these days I am going to try it but I know my brother acquired a taste for it when he and his family visited Italy.  When they came back, they gave a bottle of it to my parents but I never got around to trying it yet.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.