March 31, 2023

Hey friends and fans, this is me on my son's shoulders after my Lavaman team finish and his individual finish. Mikey knocked a half an hour off of his last year's individual time. I added about 30 minutes onto my team finish.

Mikey finishing his Bike leg

Lavaman Swim Finish

My team's name was We Tri 2.Giuseppe DeMasi swam the course in a quick 30 minutes. He's the tall swimmer wearing a white cap in the video below. I love the race. This was its 33rd year an I participated in year one.

Since we’ve been swimming on the surface of the sea, let's take a look at what's going on under the sea.

From: Live Science, By:Harry Baker, March 26, 2023

An unnamed woman was bitten twice by a blue-ringed octopus, which contains one of the most dangerous neurotoxins on the planet, but she escaped relatively unharmed.

Every Spring, when this Flock reporter was a child, I couldn't wait to go to the streams and brooks with my grandmother. There, with soft nets, we pulled out the gelatin-like snowballs that protected the tiny little tadpoles they contained. After you capture the tadpoles, you can keep them as pets and eventually release them.

From: wikiHow, By: wikiHow Staff, March 31, 2021

Tadpoles are small larvae that will eventually turn into frogs. After capturing tadpoles you can keep them as pets or re-release them into the wild. If you decide to catch tadpoles, there are a few things you should do. Make sure you have the supplies prepared before you attempt to catch a tadpole. Once you pull tadpoles from the water with a small net or jar, you'll want to be able to transfer them somewhere right away to carry them home. If you choose to raise tadpoles, make sure to care for them properly. Make sure it's safe and legal to catch tadpoles in your area before attempting to do so.

Families that work together, stay together. This family in Minnesota works together making heated Hummingbird feeders to keep the little birds fed throughout the cold Minnesota winters. Hummingbirds and Hummingbird feeders are a common sight here in Arizona, but thanks to our warm climate, we don't need to heat them.

Unique Hummingbird Feeders

From: Northern Wilds: By: Joe Shead, March 29, 2023

When was the last time you saw a hummingbird in northern Minnesota in winter? My guess is never. So, it might seem surprising that a very unique style of heated hummingbird feeders is manufactured and distributed in Two Harbors.

Kevyn and Katie are very special. They are part of The Proposal American Eskies line. Their grandfather Kevin was featured in the movie The Proposal. He made Eskies famous, now everybody wants a little Kevin. they are half-brother and sister to my own Eskies. Kevyn and Katie's mom, Luly Ortega, loves pets and she has a superman dog, Liam. Liam was born November 18, 2016. the white knights and the superman dog are inseparable.

The big-hearted Ortega family collects pets. Below you can see Luly's rescue poodle mix Lila. Lila was rescued from the roadside several years ago and has been a well-loved edition to the pets on the Ortega's small in-city ranch. The Ortega family has dogs and sometimes parakeets doves, tortoises and an open door for any animal that needs a forever home. I can't praise them enough. Injured animals, birds, and guinea pigs find the Ortega home. They are free to leave but choose to stay.

Luly also had two large sulcatas tortoises on the family ranch in mexico.She raised them from 4 inch wide babies born in Tucson.

Our favorite up-and-coming operatic star is Linda Collazo. This past weekend, Linda performed at Carnegie Hall, it was quite a debut. I believe next weekend she will perform at Lincoln Center. Next week, we'll be sure to include her reviews.

From: Norwood News, By: Jose A. Giralt, JOSÉ A. GIRALT, March 23, 2023

A new musical voice is emerging from The Bronx but this time it’s not related to doo wop, salsa, or hip-hop, three musical genres often associated with the “Boogie Down.” This new talent is breaking ground from her home base in Hunts Point and into the world of opera – yes, opera!

Linda Collazo has been developing her musical talents her entire life. Now, as a 27-year-old mezzo-soprano, she will make her Carnegie Hall debut on March 25, and a month later, she makes her Lincoln Center debut at Alice Tully Hall.

I tell you, Tucson has it all. You know what? The town is filling up with spring snowbird visitors. They should have fun, look what's going on! 

From: Museum of Contemporary Art Tucson

Join us for a free evening at MOCA with galleries open late, live music by KXCI Community Radio DJs, food by Fat Boys Sandos, and free beer by Barrio Brewing Company. Don’t miss this lively time to gather around art, music, and drinks!

From: Raising Arizona Kids

Join the at Children’s Museum Tucson from 5-7 pm every Thursday for Discovery Nights. Part of CMT’s collaborative Aprendemos bilingual program that provide flexibility for working families and offer inclusive hands-on exploration in arts and science activities.

Discovery Nights programming includes an interactive blend of science, arts and culture with bilingual activities. Museum admission is free, but reservation is required.

De Grazia Gallery in the Sun

From: Wanderlog, By: Wanderlo stafaf, August 13, 2022

Many of us love traveling, so naturally we’re always on the hunt find the most popular spots anytime we travel somewhere new. With favorites like DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun, Pima Air & Space Museum, and San Xavier del Bac Mission and more, get ready to experience the best places in Tucson.

From: Tripadvisor, By Pedego Electric Bikes Tucson

We use Pedego Electric Bikes, the top ebike brand in America, to see more of the Sonoran Desert than on a traditional pedal bike. We utilize the beautifully maintained paved route that is laid out through the National Park. Our knowledgeable tour guides, ofter Pedego E-Bike owners and enthusiasts themselves, offer great insight into the picturesque desert landscape and all the critters that call Saguaro National Park their home.

As you all know, I love poetry and in particular I'm a big fan of Haiku because it's quick and short and it captures a moment. There is a Poetry Center at The University of Arizona. I've known this for a few years, but only recently thought to include it in The Flock.

From: The University of Arizona Poetry Center

The Poetry Center is a leading literary institution and a living archive of poetry. As a premier example of a thriving public/private partnership, the Poetry Center connects the University of Arizona with the greater literary community in Tucson and beyond. We have amassed one of the finest and largest print/digital collections of contemporary poetry in America, with an active schedule of acquisitions. We’ve welcomed over one thousand poets to Tucson to read. Our education programs annually serve Arizona school children, college students, and adults with poetry experiences. Our public/private partnership has invested in a permanent landmark home for poetry in the American Southwest, and this underscores our ongoing commitment to the future of poetry, poetics, literary arts, and the ever-growing diverse community that we serve and cherish.

From: DifferenceBetween.com, December 23, 2010

Poem vs Poetry

The two words poem and poetry are interchangeably used although there is a difference between poem and poetry. The inner meanings of poem and poetry are different. Their connotations do differ to some extent. A poem is a piece of literary work. Poetry is an art form. The Oxford dictionary gives more detailed and elaborate definitions of the two terms poem and poetry. A poem is “a piece of writing in which the expression of feelings and ideas is given intensity by particular attention to diction (sometimes involving rhyme), rhythm, and imagery.” Poetry, on the other hand, is “literary work in which the expression of feelings and ideas is given intensity by the use of distinctive style and rhythm; poems collectively or as a genre of literature.”

From: All Poetry

The web's largest poetry writing group - from beginners to experts. Improve your poetry, create a fan base, and read the best poetry of our generation. Allpoetry is home base for poets.

Beth has recently been inducted in the Maxine Greene Society at Columbia University. She has been a long-standing member of the John Dewey Society at the Teachers College at Columbia University.  

"We are pleased to include you as members of the Maxine Greene Society (recognizing your steadfast giving for three or more years to the College) and our John Dewey Circle of Leadership Giving. Our Dewey members are committed donors who, through their significant investment in Teachers College with a leadership gift, extend Dewey's vision of learning through doing. Thanks to you and your peers, Teachers College is able to meet present needs while anticipating those of the future."

From: Eating Well, By: Carolyn Williams, Ph.D., RD, June 30,

You're not alone if you've questioned the role of fruit in a healthy diet. The popularity of low-carb and keto diets, along with consumers becoming more sugar-aware, has left many to feel that it may be best to limit (or worse, avoid) fruit intake altogether. But fruit can—and should—be part of a healthy diet, since it offers anti-inflammatory benefits you really don't want to miss out on.

From: verywellHealth; By: Carol Eustice, July 19, 2021

An arthritis diet focuses on incorporating foods that can help reduce the production of inflammation-producing chemicals in your body. Whether you have an inflammatory form of the disease, like rheumatoid arthritis, or a type that causes, but is not caused by inflammation, like osteoarthritis, controlling and reducing inflammation is essential to reducing pain, stiffness, and swelling.

From: verywell health, By: Lindsay Curtis, Mrch 15, 2023

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that supports many body processes and vital organs.1 It is found in certain foods and dietary supplements. The body also produces vitamin D after exposure to sunlight, which is why you may hear people refer to it as the “sunshine vitamin.”

Two types of vitamin D are essential for human health: vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol).2 Though both types are referred to as “vitamin D,” there are some key differences between the two.

From: Got Questions

The saying God bless you in response to a sneeze is of ancient origin, and there are a variety of stories about where it first came from. The practice of saying, “God bless you,” when someone sneezes does not come from the Bible, nor is there any mention of the practice in the Bible. However, the saying God bless you was used both by Hebrews (Numbers 6:24) and the early Christians as a benediction.

The practice of blessing someone after a sneeze is probably as old as the first century. The origin of the practice is most likely rooted in superstition: the belief that a sneeze is the body trying to rid itself of evil spirits, the thought that the heart stops beating when a person sneezes, or the fear that a sneeze somehow opens the body to evil spirits. In these cases, saying, “God bless you,” was a kind of protection or good luck charm that shielded the sneezer from being invaded by spirits or affected by evil. Other cultures have a similar response to sneezes, believing that a sneeze could signal ill health: they might say, “Salud” (Spanish for “health”) or “Gesundheit” (German for “health”) or “Sláinte” (Irish Gaelic for “good health”) or “Jeebo” (Bengali for “stay alive”).

As you know, I just got back from Hawaii. Let’s get back to Hawaii before we close out today. Her are some customs and traditions should you be planning to visit the islands.

Hawaiian Customs and Traditions

From: Kiahuna Beachside

Hawaii’s traditions are as diverse as its people. Rooted in Native Hawaiian culture that has been passed down through generations mixed with the traditions of the peoples from all around the world who have made Hawaii home.

I’m looking forward to getting some of your personal stories- oral, written, or otherwise. I’d so love to present them to the flock. Hit a mailbox below to share your story.

photo: San Carlos Bay, Sonora by: Sarah Smallhouse

silent beauty...

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