Archaeologists surveying for a new railroad line at Gamla Uppsala, Sweden have discovered a large monument that dates to about 500 AD. They found a mile-long avenue or path, that was lined with 144 precisely placed pillars, each estimated to be about 23 feet tall. If you'd like more information, please visit: http://www.examiner.com/article/archaeologists-discover-massive-1-500-year-old-monument-sweden
Yesterday Boulder wildlife officials kept an eye on an un-tagged black bear who spent most of the day in trees near Iris and 34th Street. Near dusk, when the bear seemed to be settling down, instead of moving on, it was shot with a tranquilizer dart in order to remove it. The first dart only made the bear run. A second dart sedated the young male, estimated at being 2 to 5 years old. He was transported into Rocky Mountain National Park and released.
In eleven days, the Breeders Cup World Championship thoroughbred racing series will begin it's 30th running. The Breeders Cup will take place at Santa Anita Park in California on November 1 and 2. This year, there will be 14 races run - five on Friday and nine on Saturday. It seems that my (and a lot of other folks') complaint about running all of the female races on Friday has been recognized as a type of segregation - this year, the Friday races are: the Marathon, with a purse of $500,000; the Juvenile (2-year-old) Fillies Turf, the Dirt Mile, and the Juvenile Males Turf, each with a prize of $1 million; and the Distaff, with a purse of $2 million. On Saturday, the purses range from $1 million to $5 million; the races, in the order they are scheduled to run are: Juvenile Fillies, Fillies & Mares Turf, Fillies & Mares Sprint, the Turf Sprint, the Juvenile, the Turf, the Sprint, the Mile, and ending with the Classic.
There is some sad news in the racing world: Dullahan, a bright chestnut son of Even the Score, and grandson of Unbridled's Song, was retired from racing a week ago, after it was found he had injured a foreleg in his defense of the Pacific Coast Classic. Early yesterday morning, during a barn check, he was found to be sweating heavily in his stall, and was taken to an equine hospital. It was determined, during surgery, that his intestine had ruptured - and that it had done so in an explosive way. Vets decided that with the amount of contamination in Dullahan's abdominal cavity, it was best to euthanize him on the spot. We've lost another nice prospective sire to colic.
Showing posts with label Gamla Uppsala. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gamla Uppsala. Show all posts
Monday, October 21, 2013
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Bits and Pieces
Yesterday, the History Channel held a nine hour marathon, and showed all the episodes from the first season of Vikings. The second season is being filmed in Ireland, and I found this write-up in The Daily Kos to be interesting: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/10/20/1248988/-Vikings-Gamla-Uppsala#
One of my cousins sent me an interesting news article stating that rattlesnakes are not rattling before striking anymore. Rattlesnakes shake their tails and rattle to warn others away - they strike only if they feel they are in imminent danger and are protecting themselves. An Arizona newspaper wrote about the "new" happenings back in 2010: http://azstarnet.com/news/science/environment/don-t-rely-on-rattler-s-rattle-to-warn-you/article_fa6e379c-9240-11df-bc07-001cc4c002e0.html And, just a month or so ago, the National Public Radio broadcast a 3+ minute report regarding the lack of rattling found by a herpetologist in the Black Hills of South Dakota. In SD, many of the prairie rattlesnakes have atrophied tail muscles, so they cannot give a warning rattle. It is supposed that the atrophy is due to evolution - snakes that rattle get killed, while those who are silent don't. This will be an interesting development to watch in the coming years. - If you live in an area with poisonous snakes, be aware of their habits, walk carefully, and wear stout leather boots when out trekking on foot.
The Chincoteague Pony Fall Round-Up will occur on October 25 & 26 this year. Since the government shut down is over, the Salt Water Cowboys will round up the ponies on Assateague Island for their fall checkups and vaccinations. They will also be separating the foals left with their dams at Pony Penning, so the babies will go home with their new owners.
The third coyote who attacked a 22-year-old man in Niwot this past week has been euthanized by wildlife officials. I was asked by several folks on my Wildlife newsletter chain to send out information regarding this attack. I did so, not realizing that it would set off a huge amount of controversy in the neighborhood... It's been amazing to sit and read what's been written. A single neighbor "took me to task" for villainizing the coyotes, and the rest of the neighborhood went ballistic. I really did not mean to stir up trouble in a usually quiet neighborhood. I respect the man's opinion - and I'm sure he respects mine.
A few towns here in Colorado are still isolated due to the 100 Year Flood that happened last month. Because all the roads were washed away, these places are trying to do a massive clean up with only what is available at hand. It is incredible to see these people working like the pioneers their great-grandparents were. They are trying to knock down homes and businesses, and rebuild simple shelters. Insurance representatives have not yet been able to access properties, and, here at the height of fall foliage tourism, the towns are accessible, unless one walks and hikes multiple miles and wades through ice cold streams. I really feel for towns like Glen Haven and Drake - they are still in desperate need of help.
Half of my college teams won yesterday, and half of them lost their games. The closest was the South Carolina Gamecocks losing to Tennessee in the final seconds. And I have to admit that I have never really liked the Gators head coach, and, so I was rooting for the Missouri Tigers yesterday (and they won). Today I'll be cleaning house until the Broncos - Colts kick off in Indianapolis... and I'll be cheering for my Denver Broncos!
One of my cousins sent me an interesting news article stating that rattlesnakes are not rattling before striking anymore. Rattlesnakes shake their tails and rattle to warn others away - they strike only if they feel they are in imminent danger and are protecting themselves. An Arizona newspaper wrote about the "new" happenings back in 2010: http://azstarnet.com/news/science/environment/don-t-rely-on-rattler-s-rattle-to-warn-you/article_fa6e379c-9240-11df-bc07-001cc4c002e0.html And, just a month or so ago, the National Public Radio broadcast a 3+ minute report regarding the lack of rattling found by a herpetologist in the Black Hills of South Dakota. In SD, many of the prairie rattlesnakes have atrophied tail muscles, so they cannot give a warning rattle. It is supposed that the atrophy is due to evolution - snakes that rattle get killed, while those who are silent don't. This will be an interesting development to watch in the coming years. - If you live in an area with poisonous snakes, be aware of their habits, walk carefully, and wear stout leather boots when out trekking on foot.
The Chincoteague Pony Fall Round-Up will occur on October 25 & 26 this year. Since the government shut down is over, the Salt Water Cowboys will round up the ponies on Assateague Island for their fall checkups and vaccinations. They will also be separating the foals left with their dams at Pony Penning, so the babies will go home with their new owners.
The third coyote who attacked a 22-year-old man in Niwot this past week has been euthanized by wildlife officials. I was asked by several folks on my Wildlife newsletter chain to send out information regarding this attack. I did so, not realizing that it would set off a huge amount of controversy in the neighborhood... It's been amazing to sit and read what's been written. A single neighbor "took me to task" for villainizing the coyotes, and the rest of the neighborhood went ballistic. I really did not mean to stir up trouble in a usually quiet neighborhood. I respect the man's opinion - and I'm sure he respects mine.
A few towns here in Colorado are still isolated due to the 100 Year Flood that happened last month. Because all the roads were washed away, these places are trying to do a massive clean up with only what is available at hand. It is incredible to see these people working like the pioneers their great-grandparents were. They are trying to knock down homes and businesses, and rebuild simple shelters. Insurance representatives have not yet been able to access properties, and, here at the height of fall foliage tourism, the towns are accessible, unless one walks and hikes multiple miles and wades through ice cold streams. I really feel for towns like Glen Haven and Drake - they are still in desperate need of help.
Half of my college teams won yesterday, and half of them lost their games. The closest was the South Carolina Gamecocks losing to Tennessee in the final seconds. And I have to admit that I have never really liked the Gators head coach, and, so I was rooting for the Missouri Tigers yesterday (and they won). Today I'll be cleaning house until the Broncos - Colts kick off in Indianapolis... and I'll be cheering for my Denver Broncos!
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Interesting Views (At Least, I Think So)
A 6th century Viking ironing board made of whale bone, the green flattening stone, and a bone hair comb; displayed at the History Museum in Stockholm, Sweden.
From the Vikings TV show - (from left) Leif with shield, Athelwulfe (King Aelle's brother), Ragnar leaning on his horses neck, and Rollo
The symbolism of the Vikings logo on History Channel
Known Norse symbols
The 8th episode of Vikings was about the sacrifices at the Hall of the Gods in Uppsala, which happened every nine years. The stone building on the right is the Old Town Uppsala (Gamla Uppsala) Cathedral that was built on the site of the Hall of the Gods; the red building at left is the bell tower.
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