I just missed recording these guys biking around bagpiping. Very interesting entertainment at the National Mall in D.C.!

A UCLA grad student explains the uses of this dead room. Watch how the sound dies once I face the other way. Your ears feel all out of whack in this thing! I can’t wait for the next TEDxUCLA.

I came across this fun brand of nail polish with an entire line of items that change color in the sun. They have everything from stuffed animals to swim trunks to frisbees. And of course, nail polish!

In the sun, you get bright colors...

...and then they fade to more muted colors inside.

I spent most of recess on these! Did you have them too?

We all have things we’re good at naturally and I’ve found yet another random skill that I’m pretty good at, for having no training.   You see, yesterday I took an aerial martial arts class and I picked up on the moves pretty quickly.   Granted, I’m by no means “good” at the trapeze and silks, especially compared to the advanced students, but I was one of the better beginners.   I was able to do all of the moves that the instructor had us noobs do, and even tried a few of a bit more difficulty.  My childhood experiences playing on horizontal bars must have paid off!

My instructor seemed kind of surprised and asked me what I do for strength – I replied that I’ve been doing some yoga for a few months.   Now I thought that that would explain it to her, since I do feel it has helped my strength a bit, but to my surprise, she asked, “That’s it?”   I then joked with my friend Iota (who came to the class with me) that I must just naturally be strong!  Come to think of it, maybe there’s some truth to that?  After all, prior to picking up yoga this year, it’s been years since I’ve done anything to stay fit and build or even maintain strength.

I was pretty tired by the end of it all and my arms were shaking from exhaustion.  Between hanging from the trapeze in a variety of inverted positions and trying to keep the silk from sliding through my feet, I’d done as much as my body could handle!  And that’s not even counting the rigorous mini workout we did as a warm-up to class that left my abs sore.  I just knew I’d be sore the next day and so it has been.  There were times during the day today when I was so sore I couldn’t do more than flop back in bed and take a break.  That’s good though!  I like it when I’m working my muscles and I look forward to the next class!

Look ma, ALL hands!

The leg I'm touching is actually floating and not on the other one, so this was HARD!

You can see the liquid nitrogen bubbling the little bits of grease that it froze.

Even fish can have rituals, right?

It’s almost Mother’s Day, so here’s a baby turtle who loves his (or her?) mommy and wouldn’t stop following her around everywhere.