December 6, 2024

REMINDER: YOUR SUBMISSIONS ARE ENCOURAGED

December Oranges in Tucson

Overview for this week.

1. Because I love the photo so much, I'm starting this week off by reposting the photo of a puma from this year's Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition and then following up on it with an article on the winning photo from the competition.

2. The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree was lit this week, so now it's officially the Christmas Holiday Season in New York City.

3. This week in part 3 of my Holiday Travel series, I have guides to celebrating Christmas in Copenhagen, Denmark; Bruges, Belgium; and Barcelona, Spain.

4. Here in Tucson, Tohono Chul Gardens has kicked off their annual holiday nights festivities, and the Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures is featuring there holiday themed exhibits as well as a special exhibit of Broadway stage designs by iconic theater designer David Korins.

5. Next, I'm catching up with The Flock's first Next Genner, Keith Murfee-DeConcini, and the fourth season of his podcast Disability Empowerment Now.



6. This week I'm bragging on my good friend Norm Fishman's daughter Laora and grandson Micah in Bragging Rights.

7. In Reaching High, the highest mountain on Earth, Mount Everest, is still getting taller.

8. In Wellness I have some sage advice on how to avoid overeating during the holidays.

Now, to this week's Flock.

Tap to view past issues.

The final post in last week's Flock was an article about the Wildlife Photographer of the year People's Choice finalists. I so loved the photo of the Puma in the mountains of Chile, that I am starting off with it again this week by reposting that photo along with an article announcing the winners of the competition. As you will see below, the winning photo is of a school of tadpoles. I adore this one too, as it brings back childhood memories of collecting tadpoles with my grandmother in the streams and brooks near her New Hampshire farm. Please tap through the article link and the finalists photos.

From: CNN, By: Jack Guy, October 9, 2024

A magical underwater image of western toad tadpoles has won the 2024 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.

The winning image, “The Swarm of Life” by Canadian photojournalist Shane Gross, was chosen from a record-breaking 59,228 entries, according to a statement from the organizers, published Tuesday.

“Shane captured the image whilst snorkelling for several hours through carpets of lily pads in Cedar Lake on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, making sure not to disturb the fine layers of silt and algae covering the bottom of the lake,” the organizers said.

The Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center was lit this past Wednesday night marking the start of the Christmas Holiday Season in New York City.

From: NBC News, By: Rebecca Cohen, December 4, 2024

The tree is lit!

The Rockefeller Christmas tree is lit, with 5 miles of multicolored string lights shining bright against the New York City skyline declaring it is officially Christmas time.

New York Mayor Eric Adams and Chuck Scarborough, an NBC New York anchor who recently announced his retirement after more than 50 years, were there to help light the tree.

Once it was illuminated, a choir sang "Joy to the World."

Welcome to part 3 of my Holiday Travel series, I've got Christmas holiday activity guides for Bruges, Belgium; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Barcelona, Spain this week. Stay tuned for three more destinations next week.

From: The Guardian, By: Sarah Turner, December 10, 2023

To be in Copenhagen in December is to experience truly exhilarating tastes of Christmas. The air is heavy with the scent of caramelised almonds that are sold in red and white striped paper bags, while stalls on the harbourside at Nyhavn are dispensing glögg, mulled wine with almonds and raisins. And there’s Julebryg, Tuborg’s Christmas beer, delivered to bars across Copenhagen by horse-drawn wagons.

Danes also head to their iconic amusement park Tivoli (tivoli.dk). In gardens created in 1834, you’ll find giant pirate ships, a Chinese pagoda and more than 1m glowing lamps. Denmark’s Queen Margrethe personally designs the costumes for the ballet performances that Tivoli holds each Christmas; this year it’s The Snow Queen, based on the fable by Hans Christian Andersen.

From: The Travel Bunny, By: Suzanne Jones, January 12, 2024

Christmas in Bruges is like stepping into your very own Christmas card. The medieval town, in the Flemish region of Belgium, has the air of a fairytale as it glows with sparkling lights, Christmas markets and gothic churches.

Shops selling the prettiest of Christmas decorations are draped in festive foliage, cobblestone streets echo with the clip-clop of horse-drawn carriages and chocolate shops line the narrow streets.

A visit to the Bruges Christmas markets is guaranteed to leave you feeling warm, fuzzy and festive. Here’s why you should visit Bruges at Christmas and what to do in Bruges in December.

From: Lonely Planet, By: Jamie Ditaranto, October 21, 2024

When December rolls around in Barcelona, lights are going up, market stalls are being assembled, and someone is hiding a mischief-making figurine in the nativity scene. Colorful displays are hung in the historic center’s ancient alleys and the Passeig de Grácia promenade transforms into a river of twinkle lights, leading pedestrians to the evening holiday light show projected on the mesmerizing façade of Gaudí’s Casa Batlló. 

Christmas is a very special time to be in Barcelona, a city that never shies away from an opportunity to celebrate a holiday with flair, honoring tradition with a hefty dose of spectacle on the side. Here are some things to expect, and tips for finding the best holiday markets and feasts, to get you in the mood for the Christmas season in Barcelona.

Holiday Nights at Tohono Chul Gardens is a highlight of the Christmas Holiday Season every year.

From: Tohono Chul Gardens • Bistro • Gallery

A timeless Tucson tradition for families and friends to gather together and celebrate the Holiday Season.

Stroll through enchanting paths, revel in live entertainment, and bask in the glow of thousands of twinkling lights. Musicians and artists will captivate you as you savor hot cocoa and festive treats. Don’t miss out on this holiday wonderland!

Tohono Chul Holiday Nights

The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures in Tucson is a unique museum featuring an extensive collection of antique and contemporary miniatures. They have two current exhibitions that I want to highlight here. The first is their H0liday Season exhibit, and the second is a very special exhibit of stage designs for some of Broadway's most popular plays by set designer David Korins

From: The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures

During Wee Winter Wonderland, the museum decorates a number of miniatures to depict holiday celebrations around the world and through time. These displays are described on special signage in both English and Spanish

Dayvewood Drive 1940s Holiday Season

From: The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures

The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures, in collaboration with Korins Studio, proudly announces the debut of an unparalleled exhibition, Stages of Imagination: The Iconic Broadway Designs of David Korins. This groundbreaking showcase invites visitors on an immersive journey into the visionary world of Emmy award-winning, three-time Tony Award-nominated Broadway designer David Korins. Featuring the original Broadway set models of Hamilton, Beetlejuice, Dear Evan Hansen, Here Lies Love, and The Who's Tommy, visitors will get to peek behind the curtain at how these iconic sets are created from page-to-stage. The exhibition includes highlights from interviews from David's many artistic collaborators such as Lin Manuel Miranda, Phillipa Soo, Lea Salonga, Ben Platt, and more.

Visitors will also have an opportunity to take a picture on a full-size replica of the Beetlejuice couch, designed by David Korins!

I first profiled my friend Keith Murfee-DeConcinni in The Flock's first month of publishing. I'm a big fan of the work he does to advocate for and support disability rights through his website and podcast Disability Empowerment Now, in which he interviews people from across the disability community. The podcast has earned him accolades and national press coverage. Keith launched the fourth season of the Disability Empowerment Now podcast this past September. I'm sorry that I let it slip by, but I'm covering it now. Check out Keith's website an add his podcast to your feed through your preferred streaming service.

Disability Empowerment Now | Season 4 Trailer

Norman Fishman is a long-time friend of mine and my go to consultant on anything Mac computer and iPhone related. This week I'm bragging on his daughter Laora and her son, Micah. Laora is an educator and a health & fitness buff. This last month Laora was honored as Employee of the Month at elementary school she works at in San Diego.

Laora's 12-year-old son Micah is a budding young athlete and Honor Roll student himself.

From: BBC, by: Navin Singh Khadka, September 30, 2024

Mount Everest is 15-50m taller than it would otherwise be because a river is eroding rock and soil at its base, helping push it upwards, according to a new study.

Loss of landmass in the Arun river basin 75km (47 miles) away is causing the world’s highest peak to rise by up to 2mm a year, University College London (UCL) researchers said.

“It’s a bit like throwing a load of cargo off a ship,” study co-author Adam Smith told the BBC. “The ship becomes lighter and so floats a little higher. Similarly, when the crust becomes lighter… it can float a little higher.”

Pressure from the collision of the Indian and the Eurasian plates 40-50 million years ago formed the Himalayas and plate tectonics remains the major reason for their continued rise.

But the Arun river network is a contributing factor to the mountains’ rise, the UCL team said.

As the Arun flows through the Himalayas it carves away material – the river bed in this case - from the Earth's crust. This reduces the force on the mantle (the next layer under the crust), causing the thinned crust to flex and float upward.

It’s an effect called the isostatic rebound. The research, published in Nature Geoscience, adds that this upward pushing force is causing Everest and other neighbouring summits, including the world’s fourth and fifth highest peaks, Lhotse and Makalu, to move upward.

From: Everyday Health, By: Michelle Seitzer, November 9, 2023

The holiday dinner table may be decked with delicious foods, but to give your heart a gift, be sure to pace yourself this season. Overeating can cause heartburn in the short term, and over time it can lead to unhealthy weight gain and obesity — which, according to the American Heart Association, is a major risk factor for heart attack and heart disease.

Also, a study published in Clinical Research in Cardiology revealed a holiday season peak in cardiac-related hospital admissions, with overeating cited as a key trigger.

“Binge eating puts stress on the body,” explains Amnon Beniaminovitz, MD, a cardiologist with Manhattan Cardiology in New York City. Much like emotional outbursts, running fast, or shoveling snow, overeating makes extra work for the heart, Dr. Beniaminovitz says.

5 Cardiologist-Approved Tips to Avoid Overeating During the Holidays

To help maintain your fitness goals through this sugar- and fat-packed season and to keep your ticker in top shape well into the new year, consider adopting the following:

1. Stick to a Routine

2. Avoid Foods With Saturated Fat

3. Take Your Time

4. Plan Ahead

5. Focus on the Company

photo & art: Cita Scott

These Flock regulars are always here for you:

Cita Scott for paintings, photography, and culinary art. Cita will be in and out of town all summer. Don't hesitate to give her a jingle. (520) 404-1551

Kimberly GomER, MS, RD/LDN

Registered and licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist. Find me on my website at KimberlyGomer.com for information about nutrition coaching.

Sarah Smallhouse & Make Elections Fair ArIzona

– Sign the petition here

Sensitive & Specific: The Testing Newsletter by Mara G. Aspinall and Liz Ruark. Mara is always here to help in understanding testing knowledge and how it's being applied.

Kyria Sabin of Fletcher Pilates,

she's the best. (520) 323-7070

Where in the World is Zoe

Zoe is back in Colordo helping launch the 2024 Aspen Tennis programs with sister Ana and mother Petra.

The Fabric Jeanie!

Tap to learn more. 

(520) 245-0589

Linda Collazo, mezzo-soprano

for piano and voice lessons

Andres Valbuena, drum selection, drum basics, and more.

Dr. Hayward M. Fox, Ph.D.

The institute of Personal andTranspersonal Knowledge

Tucson Village Farm:

Vegetaable growing in the summer heat.

In coming weeks: we'll be sharing more investigative articles from our roving reporter William George, original writing from Flock favorite Dino DeConcini.

Don't Be Shy: Share Your Stories!

I'm looking forward to sharing more of your personal stories - oral, written, or otherwise, as we enter our third year. I'd so love to present them to The Flock, hit a mailbox below to share your story.

Holualoa Ed Fit Wellness & Culture 2

520-818-4433

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