Miraz Jordan

Global Extinction of Languages Is Threatening … Human Knowledge:

Among 12,495 medicinal uses for plants in indigenous communities … over 75% of those plants are each tied to just 1 local language. If these unique words trickle out of use, so too may the knowledge they contain.

Brunched with a friend at Rosetta Cafe in Raumati South. The Big Brekkie (1/2 size) meal was superb: sourdough toast, roasted tomato, pan-fried spinach and mushrooms, polenta fries. With green tea. I opted out of the chilli bean mix because I don’t eat onions.

When we drove to Levin in the rain today we were delayed by yet another accident near Ōhau. Fortunately this was a simple nose-to-tail so emergency services cleared it quickly and it seems no one was injured. Makes a change from the many recent fatalities on that stretch.

Today we went to Paraparaumu for a Line-dancing social. The songs in red were Beginner level (that’s us). There were about 60 people there, including our teacher and a bunch of folks from other groups in the region. It was fun. Our teacher, Tania, is third from left in the photo.

We had to call on Reggie, our local water guy, to fill our drinking water tank today. I couldn’t tell whether we had one week’s water left or a bit more. Now I can relax. The last time we bought water was March 2020.

Took my car through the carwash for what may be the first time in the 5 or 6 years I’ve owned it. The carwash and blow dry led me to the interesting discovery that one of the rear windows doesn’t go all the way up. The button will lower it but not raise it at all. 😒

Researchers explored Māori storytelling in spoken word, weaving and carving and found:

Polynesian narratives … include voyaging into Antarctic waters by Hui Te Rangiora … and his crew on the vessel Te Ivi o Atea, likely in the early seventh century

Māori journeys to Antarctica

Once I finally got myself and the correct gear (nearly left the paddle behind) out on the river I really enjoyed it. I’d forgotten how serene it can be to paddle or float on a quiet river on a sunny day. My new neoprene gloves were excellent too.

I really have been meaning to take my kayak out again and today’s weather leaves me with no excuse. I see it’s been almost exactly a year since I last took it out. No wonder I’m finding it hard to actually organise myself.

Blue beach morning.

Ordered a tank of water as our rainwater tank is worryingly low. We need 30mm rain every week to cover our needs and forecast rain just keeps on not happening. Or decent rain is forecast and we get a dribble. Long-range forecast is for normal or drier than normal too. 💧

First time in my life, I cleaned my bike chain. It’s a messy business, but I think it went OK. 🚴🏼

Ooooh, multiple timers! Yay!

I use Siri quite a lot — on-device processing should be a big help. Siri quite often can’t help me when I’m out and about round here because of poor cellphone coverage.

Whew, sitting up in bed watching the WWDC 2021 Keynote. Sasha the dog is asleep on the bed. I’m realising just how very pongy she is‼️ 👃🏼Good thing the dogs are off to the groomers in a couple of days! 🐶

The 5 am start for the WWDC 2021 keynote is always a challenge. 🥱