Hah! Never had much interest in Lego, but maybe I’ll visit — who knew there’s a new exhibition centre opening in Wellington? Tākina launches with hands-on Lego Jurassic Park exhibition
Six million plastic bricks have been used for dinosaurs, props … the T-rex alone took 1235 hours to complete.
New binos: someone turned on the light
I recently withdrew a chunk of savings and bought, after much research a pair of Nikon Monarch M7 8x42 binoculars specifically for looking at birds and wildlife. My first impression is: Wow! It's like someone turned the light on. The image is bright and clear and detailed.
I want to carry these alongside my Fuji X-T2 and big heavy zoom lens so wanted something reasonably small and light yet powerful.
Until now I've carried a pair of Bushnell 8x25 (permafocus) binos. They're wonderfully small and light and I don't have to fiddle with finding focus. They're easy to use and were inexpensive. New ones cost around $200 but I bought mine for around half that more than a decade ago. These fit in a pocket and are great for a quick look at something.
Bushnell 8x25 (permafocus): 265 grams. Close focus: not given. Focus-free models are designed for viewing distant subjects.
I also have a pair of Pentax XCF 12x50 (also around $200) that mainly stay at home. Although not huge they're just too big and heavy to routinely carry. They're pretty useful for looking at the night sky, which may well be what I originally bought them for.
Pentax XCF 12x50: 900 grams. Close focus: 9 metres.
But I don't only use these binoculars while out and about. We have a lot of birds around our home, some within just 3 or 4 metres. I can use the Bushnells to look at them, but only if I remove my specs first. Even then, it's a bit iffy.
A couple of weeks ago I was inspired to spend serious money getting excellent birding binoculars. Having discovered an interest in birds over the last few years I've now invested in a good camera and an excellent zoom lens. It's not surprising then that I decided to invest in binoculars too.
My research soon revealed that there are some extremely highly rated birding binoculars that cost vast amounts (US$2,500 anyone?). My budget was more in the low to mid-range, good value bracket.
See The Audubon Guide to Binoculars to find a pair of binoculars that suits you.
After a lot of review-reading, video watching and weighing up features I finally opted for the Nikon Monarch M7 8x42. They fall between the two pairs I currently have for weight and ease of use, but they have an amazing 2.5 metre close focus — perfect for use at home.
I considered the 10x42 but after learning that the additional magnification would also magnify any shake in my hands I decided to stay with the 8x42.
Nikon Monarch M7 8x42: 670 grams. Close focus: 2.5 metres.
Today I took them out for a test run and have been viewing nearby cows at home, nearby and more distant birds at the lake and down at the beach, by the river.
They're remarkably better than my other two pairs. The image is so bright and the detail stunning. I've had the chance to examine one starling near the front door and could see more than I've ever seen before.
These are definitely an investment for the next decade or two. So far I'm thrilled.
It pays to look up. Kōtare | Sacred Kingfisher in a neighbour’s tree. 🐦
On today's beach walk I saw a large mussel shell and a couple of oystercatchers. 🐦
Somehow I never watched Star Trek: The Animated Series (1974). I just watched S02E01 (by mistake, I’ll start back at Season 1 next time).
Wonderful 1974 futuristic sci-fi cartoon!
Another good read from Jana DeLeon, with some switching around of secondary characters and an intriguing plot — Fortune Teller. I enjoyed this book. Even with so many prior books in the series, and a few long-running gags, such as Gertie's handbag, the author has kept things fresh. 📚
Folks on Micro.Blog mentioning places they’ve visited. For me much of Western Europe, Scandinavia, UK and Ireland, Pacific Islands. Of special interest: I lived in Düsseldorf, West Germany and visited East Berlin when those distinctions were still a thing and Vanuatu when it was called New Hebrides.
The other day LeonP wrote about blogs being viewable on any device.
That led me to wonder how my blog looks on my 2018 Kindle Paperwhite. The answer is: not too terrible.
Heh, Aotearoa becomes more multicultural. Stories are legion of immigrants and visitors asked to "bring a plate" to an event who have turned up with an empty plate, puzzled about needing to bring it. 🤣
Hmmm:
When we hear the word 'fungi', [mushrooms are] what we think of first. But … only about 10 % of fungi species produce mushrooms. And they only do so when it suits them. Most fungi species are microscopic, like yeasts.
It's Samoa Language Week here in Aotearoa. This 25 minute documentary about traditional tattoo as service is so interesting, and moving: Tautua: Inked in Service.
BTW: Samoa is pronounced with the stress on the Sa. That syllable has a long a and rhymes with car.
Listen to it in the film.
Wowee: The new imitation game —
… CarynAI, a bot which “replicates [Caryn Marjorie's] voice, mannerisms and personality”. Interacting with it costs $1 a minute: in the first week it was available it raked in $100,000.
Thanks to A Feminist look at Language and things related to language.
Another one for folks interested in language — 18 minute video about weak and strong forms of words, and how in English the positive may just disappear: The Genius of Weak Forms.
This afternoon I thought I’d try photos of sea spray. The sea was a bit rough today. B&W filter via Photos.
Kei te pēhea tonu tātou? How are we really doing?
If you’re at all interested in language, or in indigenous culture take 10 minutes and watch this fascinating documentary (via Kottke) — Hand Talk:
Hand Talk sign language has been used by indigenous communities for thousands of years
This is a very heartening good news story. Take a moment to read this non-fiction comic by Toby Morris : The Side Eye: Anahera, our neighbour. 🐦
Note: Kiwi is a Māori word. There are very few specific plural forms in Māori, and definitely no plural ’s'.
Image from the comic by Toby Morris.
I was already pretty cheery this morning but listening to Korolova b2b Jonas Saalbach @ Praia da Adraga, Portugal (55 minutes) just lifted me right up. I just love the beat in this one.
Ahhh, my rejoicing was premature… After a couple of minutes the left AirPod just stopped working. From memory, if I put it back in the charging case for a few minutes it’ll work for a few minutes again. Still, I guess the right earbud still works…
It’s a miracle: my AirPods (1st gen) live again! Last year there were problems, fixes didn’t work, they were dead, they sat in my Must ship to Apple for recycling pile for months.
Then I discovered an issue with my charges-everything setup. Charged them for 2 days and they work again!
