I think 2 cubs is more normal.

Thank you very much, Mike! I've not been everywhere, but from 1960 on (20 years USAF, retired in 1980) I have traveled quite a bit. I've been in all 50 US States, all but the top 2 Canadian Provinces, almost all of Western Europe, Some of Eastern Europe, the Baltic, Iran, Turkey, several Aegean islands, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Kenya, and several islands in the Caribbean. Nowhere in South American (or Antarctica) yet, and only Kenya in Africa. I have also not been to Iceland or Greenland, nor the eastern Adriatic. I have been fortunate enough to take photographs almost everywhere I've gone, but often not nearly as many as I'd have liked to. I still have maybe 2000-3000 slides that have not been digitized (mostly of USAF assignments and associated travel). (FWIW, I usually only buy tee-shirts from Harley-Davidson dealerships I visit--there are even some from other countries.)

You're welcome, and flattery will get you anywhere. I'm mining my 45,000 photos on Flickr for sets to post here. Haven't run out, yet.

Thank you very much. I thought so, too.

I think this is a discussion of clathrates. Those are crystal-like structures that can entrap gas molecules. It is a technology that needs further investigation.

Tallinn, Estonia – the Kadriorg Art Museum

In 2009 I took a cruise of the Baltic Sea, and one of the ports of call was Tallinn, Estonia. While there, a group toured the Kadriorg Art Museum, located in a large former palace erected by Peter the Great. The building is a Baroque masterpiece with ornate stucco work and original fireplaces in an opulent 2-story main hall. It contains a collection of 16th to 18th Century Dutch, German, and Italian paintings. The Estonian name for the palace is “Kadrioru loss”, or “Catherine’s valley”. There is an extensive formal garden at the rear of the palace.

Exterior views
https://live.staticflickr.com/3091/2838553544_1d353874d4_z.jpg
Baltic2008_609 by David Casteel, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/3152/2796991981_74df8d932c_z.jpg
Baltic2008_613 by David Casteel, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/3044/2838556082_2acd1ba34d_z.jpg
Baltic2008_614 by David Casteel, on Flickr


https://live.staticflickr.com/3196/2837718581_c9b7864905_z.jpg
Baltic2008_611 by David Casteel, on Flickr (one of the ceilings)

https://live.staticflickr.com/3291/2838550662_5e4c3eb526_z.jpg
Baltic2008_610 by David Casteel, on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/3178/2837721255_d74bd1c199_z.jpg
Baltic2008_612 by David Casteel, on Flickr (Neptune statue, at extreme left of prior photo)

Interior views
https://live.staticflickr.com/3146/2838560946_46af05fd99_z.jpg
Baltic2008_618 by David Casteel, on Flickr (replica of Venus d’Milo)

https://live.staticflickr.com/3177/2796997953_5c2abd9ab1_z.jpg
Baltic2008_629x by David Casteel, on Flickr (Portrait of Peter the Great)

https://live.staticflickr.com/3277/2837728615_a57dd22960_z.jpg
Baltic2008_622 by David Casteel, on Flickr (one of the ceilings)

https://live.staticflickr.com/3035/2838567708_aa449f9922_z.jpg
Baltic2008_623 by David Casteel, on Flickr (detail of the Emperor’s seal)

https://live.staticflickr.com/3130/2837733193_92f2a90302_z.jpg
Baltic2008_624 by David Casteel, on Flickr (detail of a capital)

https://live.staticflickr.com/3052/2838571530_eb8fcbebfc_z.jpg
Baltic2008_626 by David Casteel, on Flickr (a “vahz”)

https://live.staticflickr.com/3080/2838577908_b8b5a84b44_z.jpg
Baltic2008_632 by David Casteel, on Flickr (one of the gorgeous fireplaces)

https://live.staticflickr.com/2208/2838574144_ce21753ab3_z.jpg
Baltic2008_630 by David Casteel, on Flickr (another fireplace)

https://live.staticflickr.com/3040/2837739621_23d28f11ab_z.jpg
Baltic2008_631 by David Casteel, on Flickr (an ornate clock)

https://live.staticflickr.com/3130/2796992575_39b4b66e0d_z.jpg
Baltic2008_628 by David Casteel, on Flickr (a beautiful footed bowl)

I don't think anyone is seriously recommending use of thorium reactors to power cars or homes--I think they'd be part of the electrical grid. They do have the societal advantage of not producing plutonium as a byproduct, so are not a source of bomb material.

At one time I had 7 indoor cats, the largest of which weighed 26 1/2 pounds! The big one, Rusty, died in 2014 at age 8; Spike (20 pounds) died early this year at age 12; the other 5 are in good health but don't generally go on the attack (to me--they fight each other occasionally). All of them were born in my back yard to feral mothers, two of which were faithful members of my outdoor realm (both are now dead). I have just one faithful outdoor cat at this time (but have seen another one once). I do not "poke"--I took 2 semesters of typing in high school and am a fair touch typist. I insist that my keyboard have moving keys that make a sound when depressed. :)

You can see my cats here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/8712554@N02/collections/72157632943756937/

I believe it is the Peggy's Point Lighthouse at Peggy's Cove. I have several photos of that lighthouse and it matches the one here.

Very cool.

My biggest concern would be safety. For efficient storage, hydrogen must be contained at very high pressure. Not only that, it is the smallest of all molecules and very difficult to distribute without leaks. And worst of all, it burns with an invisible flame--something could be on fire and not noticed. I wouldn't drive a hydrogen-powered automobile.

Well done! Looks like the one at Peggy's Cove--is it?

Good job! I was fooled.

I liked the photo. The narrative was funny. I have 5 indoor cats, but only one seems to have the duty to arouse me.

All very beautiful. You do good work! Happy New Year.