Wow! Interstellar Traveler, Comet 2i Borisov.

On By jeff ludlumIn scienceLeave a comment

This story has it all, if you like outer space:  galaxies, other worlds, interstellar travel (between stars, over millions of years!), exploration, discovery, it’s all here. 

Only the second known comet to travel to our solar system from elsewhere in the Milky Way.  

How DO they study comets?  WHO studies comets?  How do the coordinate and work together?  What do they know?  What DON’T they know?  You’ll get enough answers to be spurred to further reading, like I was.

More on the comet and the guy who discovered the comet, HERE.

More on the person interviewed from Belfast for this podcast, HERE.

And the podcast itself?  Worth every minute.  Take about 10.  #worthit

npr.org/i/784214530:784291013

Bei Bei, Giant Pandas, Diplomacy, and Mother Earth

On By jeff ludlumIn Insight, politics, scienceLeave a comment

I heard this piece recently on the radio driving to work.  If you like animals and conservation, then this one is right up your ally:  it’s about the lengths we humans have gone in effort to save the Giant Panda from extinction.

Bei Bei is the name of a panda cub born in 2015 to two parents at the National Zoo in Washington DC.   He was recently flown to China to his new home, as per agreement between the governments of the two countries.

This story reflects one of the best aspects of good diplomacy and cooperation between two nations.  Sometimes we are rivals, many times we are partners (as in the many companies from the two countries that do business together), our history is long and complex, but working together is the only way forward, in my view.

The humble story of a panda and all the people that have worked to make his existence possible, and continue in effort to see he had his species thrive, THIS is the best of what diplomacy can do:  create and sustain hope and good work.

More on Bei Bei, here.

The podcast is worth a listen it can be found here:  one.npr.org/i/779777827:780034478

Lyrics Post: “Old Town Road”

On By jeff ludlumIn culture, lifestyle, musicLeave a comment

My kids love this song. They all sing it in the car. My son wants to hear it while he takes a bath. Got to admit it’s pretty catchy.

And a 20 year old song writer who launched via the internet, and has Billy Ray Cyrus and Trent Reznor in his corner? Gotta be something to it.

“Old Town Road (Remix)”

(feat. Billy Ray Cyrus)

[Billy Ray Cyrus:]

“Oh, oh-oh

Oh

Yeah, I’m gonna take my horse to the old town road

I’m gonna ride ’til I can’t no more

I’m gonna take my horse to the old town road

I’m gonna ride ’til I can’t no more

(Kio, Kio)

[Lil Nas X:]

I got the horses in the back

Horse tack is attached

Hat is matte black

Got the boots that’s black to match

Ridin’ on a horse, ha

You can whip your Porsche

I been in the valley

You ain’t been up off that porch, now

Can’t nobody tell me nothin’

You can’t tell me nothin’

Can’t nobody tell me nothin’

You can’t tell me nothin’

Ridin’ on a tractor

Lean all in my bladder

Cheated on my baby

You can go and ask her

My life is a movie

Bull ridin’ and boobies

Cowboy hat from Gucci

Wrangler on my booty

Can’t nobody tell me nothin’

You can’t tell me nothin’

Can’t nobody tell me nothin’

You can’t tell me nothin’

Yeah, I’m gonna take my horse to the old town road

I’m gonna ride ’til I can’t no more

I’m gonna take my horse to the old town road

I’m gonna ride ’til I can’t no more

[Billy Ray Cyrus:]

Hat down, cross town, livin’ like a rock star

Spent a lot of money on my brand new guitar

Baby’s got a habit: diamond rings and Fendi sports bras

Ridin’ down Rodeo in my Maserati sports car

Got no stress, I’ve been through all that

I’m like a Marlboro Man so I kick on back

Wish I could roll on back to that old town road

I wanna ride ’til I can’t no more

[Lil Nas X & Billy Ray Cyrus:]

Yeah, I’m gonna take my horse to the old town road

I’m gonna ride ’til I can’t no more

I’m gonna take my horse to the old town road

I’m gonna ride ’til I can’t no more”

Writer(s): Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Kiowa Roukema, Montero Hill

And this bonus insight from AZLyrics.com:: “”Billy Ray Cyrus wrote on Twitter on the 5th of April 2019, “Congrats @lilnasx I’m always in your corner! #1 #OTR #OldTownRoadREMIX.”

For Cyrus, the old town road reminds of the Old Town Bridge in Argillite, Kentucky, where he played in childhood.”

Life Admin

On By jeff ludlumIn Insight, lifestyleLeave a comment

There’s a myriad of things we need to do week to week, month to month, and year to year, to keep life going in the right direction. It’s the bills, memberships, periodic review of material that helps our home, family, life function.

You might refer to it as “Life Admin.” That’s what they called it in the attached podcast, in any event.

And so in this little gem of audio content, they have some great insights and motivators as to how to get sh*t done for the day yo day.

Full Disclosure: I’m only “ok” at life admin. For me it’s like Study Skills I learned in Fourth Grade. I like the ideas and the mechanics more than the work itself.

But I keep plugging away.

Enjoy the podcast.

one.npr.org/i/763560099:764040882

Blog Like a Tweet: Little Public Service Gestures for Those You Love and Live With

On By jeff ludlumIn Attitude, family, Happy, Insight, leadership, lifestyle, marriage, mental health, parentingLeave a comment

Little Public Service Gestures for Those You Love and Live With.

Good rule to live by.

Do the next right thing.

Look around. Opportunity abounds.

These hair ties are all around my houses. I live with three women with long hair. Got to expect that.

And so picking these up and putting them in a pile in the bathroom seems like the right thing to do. So I do it on occasion.

That’s it.

Help the cause.

Do what you can do.