Thursday Classic

Kina Granis' take on one of my favorite Bob Dylan songs. Here is 'Boots of Spanish Leather'.

Sun Kissed

The sun reaches down to touch the mountains, Antarctica.

Friday Phillips

Nothing wrong with some perspective some times. Glen Phillips plays 'Don't Need Anything'.

The Devil's Backbone

Devil's Backbone in Northern Colorado on a hike with my Mom and Dad.

One State Of Washington

Mount Rainier through the trees.

Van Morrison on Thursday

A really interesting recording of Van Morrison and The Chieftains playing Ragland Road. I think this is the best version of this song I have ever heard.

A Living Logarithm

A beautiful Nautilus having a look...

Comb Jelly

Bird Thirty You Say?

A frigate with wings spread wide in an attempt to cool down.

Paul Simon Week: Last One

I wanted to end the week with one of the most meaningful Paul Simon songs to me. 'Half of the time we're gone, and we don't know where, we don't know where...'

A Bit On The Eye

The Weddell seal has a large number of well developed rods (photoreceptor cells that are sensitive to low light), and a well developed tapetum lucidum (a layer of tissue found in many vertebrates located in or behind the retina that reflects and refracts light back through the retina intensifying the light to photoreceptor cells). The tapetum lucidum is the cause of the eyeshine phenomenon in photographs. These adaptations allow the Weddell seal to see well in low light conditions like at depth or under sea-ice, but sacrifice high quality focus to a degree. For a little more on the Weddell seal eye you can check out this abstract (or the paper for you lucky folks who have access).

You can get more interesting Weddell seal information from Weddell Seal Science.
Weddell seal images obtained under NMFS Permit No. 1032-1917 

Paul Simon Week: The Story Of Graceland

 

Ok, one word, 'Graceland'. The album was released in 1986 and is thought to be some of Simon's best work, and one of the best albums of all time. Backing Simon on 'Graceland' was Ladysmith Black Mambazo from South Africa. While 'Graceland' received international accolades, some criticized Simon for cultural exploitation for his use of the South African group on the pop album.

The music of Ladysmith Black Mambazo comes from a history of young men that had come to the Natal region of South Africa in the 1920's to work in the abysmal conditions of the diamond and coal mines.  The music from this tradition is called Mbube which developed into a more mild and dynamic style called  Isicathamiya. The genres are dominated by male a cappella arrangements. Some say Simon used this nearly sacred style to sell pop records, and in turn make money.

I actually think that Simon was able to accomplish a very New Yorkesk phenomenon. He was able to take two things that are culturally very different and combine them into something that isn't better or worse, but something new and distinct. In the end Ladysmith Black Mambazo's contribution to 'Graceland' launched them onto the international stage. They have toured extensively world wide, and were able to start The Ladysmith Black Mambazo Foundation which teaches local Zulu children about traditional music and culture.

'Graceland' is an incredible piece of art, and in my mind, we are lucky to have it.

Paul Simon Week: Paul As A Movie Star

'Soft Parachutes' was in the 1980 movie One Trick Pony.  One Trick Pony was written by and starred Paul Simon.  An album of the same name was released with all of the songs from the movie except for this one. 

Paul Simon Week: Some of His Favorites

Here is a really well put together video about some of Simon's personal favorite songs. I really enjoyed listening to him talk about Graceland.

Your Tern

A Sooty tern feeding a chick on Tern island at French Frigate Shoals.

Paul Simon Week: Homeward Bound

Paul Simon plays 'Homeward Bound' live in 1975.

White Tern Wednesday

 

A close shot of a White tern. Fun fact: Seabirds are first seen in the fossil record in the Cretaceous (roughly 145.5-65.5 Ma), although modern seabirds are more of a  result of a wide radiation in the Miocene (23.03-5.332 Ma).

Wednesday Evening Albatross

A tight shot of a Laysan albatross.

Paul Simon Week: Duncan

One of my all time favorite Paul Simon songs. 'Duncan' was on Paul Simon's 1972 album Paul Simon. The flute duet is played by Los Incas who had collaborated with Simon before in 1970 on the song 'El Condor Pasa (If I Could)' with Simon and Garfunkel.  

Paul Simon and Bach on Tuesday

Paul Simon plays 'American Tune'. This song is a classic for so many reasons. I especially like that it shows how elegant of a guitar player Paul Simon is. The melody for this tune is actually taken from the St. Matthew Passion, composed by Bach.

Pilot Whale

A Short-finned pilot whale off of the Kona coast. The waters on the west side of Hawaii are great for seeing a number of different odontocete species. Flat seas make spotting whales off of Kona much easier than some places. In addition it gets very deep very quickly (in some places going one mile offshore will get you one mile in depth!), getting you into odontocete habitat a lot more easily.

For more information check out Cascadia Research Collective.
Photo taken under NMFS Scientific Research Permit No. 731-1774