Eye on Faith

Tuesday, September 7, 2021

Tastes Like Chicken

What a relief! (Photo by Andrei Niemimaki)

According to Buddha, life in this world is an illusion. In other words, things are not what they seem to be.

This holds true for pretty much everything we identify, including chicken nuggets. Those delectable munchies on your plate might instead be plant-based. Impossible Foods has made the seemingly-impossible possible.

Its chickenless delight will soon be found on menus and in markets. Try it, and you just may like it.

Resources

https://www.msn.com/en-us/foodanddrink/foodnews/impossible-foods-chicken-nuggets-roll-out-this-month/vi-AAOc8iB?ocid=uxbndlbing

Rocky One

Selfie time! (NASA photo)

Yo everyone! Perseverance has persevered to the point of collecting its very first rocky sample from Mars.

This cigar-shaped specimen was immediately sealed into an air-tight container. Sometime within the 2030’s, it will be analyzed for hints of a microbial past. Until then, we may continue to wonder whether Earth has a monopoly on life.

Resources

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/nasa-s-perseverance-rover-finally-snatched-its-first-mars-rock-sample/ar-AAOceG3?ocid=uxbndlbing

Sunday, September 5, 2021

Feisty Capybaras

Munch a Lunch (Photo by Charles J. Sharp)

When native lands are virtually stolen, some inhabitants fight back. The world’s biggest rodents aren’t shy when it comes to doing just that.

Argentina’s capybaras are being driven from their territories by land developers. Their absorbent wetlands are being transformed into gated communities for the wealthy. This not only causes the “poorer surrounding neighborhoods” to flood more easily, but also wreaks havoc on the local flora and fauna.

Capybaras have been reclaiming their turf. They’ve staged what’s been called a “revolution” by breaching gates and having their way with “manicured lawns.” And who wants to argue with a 174-pound rodent that pounces on dogs?

Resources

https://news.yahoo.com/worlds-biggest-rodents-become-symbol-104053488.html

Saturday, September 4, 2021

Bubbles Galore

(Public Domain)

Bubbles have often been associated with happiness. A bubbly personality is one that is joyously effervescent. And what would soda be without its carbonated pizazz?

Kurth Reis, aka San Francisco’s “Bubble Man,” wasn’t always so much fun. In fact, he’d spent a good deal of time in morose settings such as hospitals and jail. So it seems only natural that he would afterwards pursue joy, both for himself and others.

He found some, in of all places “a bucket of soap.” All it took was some gumption plus a whole lot of creativity, and voila! Bubble Man emerged on the scene.

We’re talking serious bubbles here, some the size of a Prius. As they grace the city streets, faces light up. And wouldn’t yours if a giant bubble just floated by?

Resources

https://news.yahoo.com/bubble-man-roams-san-francisco-100949386.html

Friday, September 3, 2021

If Kitty's happy, everyone's happy

Not a happy camper... (Photo by Luis Miguel Bugallo Sanchez)

There’s an app for everything these days, including one to make sure that your cat is okay.

If Kitty seems out of sorts, simply whip out your phone and take a picture. The app Tably will then assess the situation, based upon a “feline grimace scale” (FGS). This takes into account such nuances as “eye-narrowing” and whisker changes.

For those who prefer a more eyes-on experience, simply look at your cat’s tail. If it seems tense, then chances are that Kitty is “worried or scared.” Marked differences in routines such as eating and sleeping are also signs to take note of.

Resources

https://news.yahoo.com/feline-okay-app-tells-cats-101025868.html

Thursday, September 2, 2021

Homes Sweet Homes

1910 American Homestead (Public Domain)

If anything’s convinced people about the value of a good home, the pandemic has. Those who have a home-sweet-home appreciate it all the more. Those who don’t are often out searching for one.

Seek and ye shall find, but how do you know what to look for? One way to begin is by pursuing a real-estate license. Then you can learn from the inside out.

Knowing what not to do can be just as important as knowing what to do. Here are some tips from Mindy Jensen, an expert in this field: Avoid properties that are somewhat controlled by Homeowners Associations (HOAs). Do not get carried away by a particular house that is way over budget. Other prospects will come along. Simply put: “If the numbers don’t work, don’t buy the property.”

Resources

https://news.yahoo.com/real-estate-investing-guru-mindy-192222335.html

Wednesday, September 1, 2021

Females Defending Themselves

Eye of the Octopus (Photo by Becky A. Dayhuff)

When it comes to sexual harassment, females of other species can learn a thing or two from certain octopuses.

In response to unwanted overtures, octopuses off the coast of New South Wales have taken matters into their own tentacles. Some of these hens have deliberately sprayed oncoming mates with rubble composed of “clams, algae, silt, and other debris.”

One even flung a shell with her tentacle, aiming it like a frisbee at a would-be “suitor.” In doing so, she displayed a keen tactical intelligence, as well as the assertiveness to send a clear upfront message.

Resources

https://bloomnews.org/female-octopuses-throw-shells-silt-and-other-debris-at-males-who-are-harassing-them/