Notes from the Ocean

Photo JPL: This panorama, taken on Feb. 20, 2021, by the Navigation Cameras, or Navcams, aboard NASA's Perseverance Mars rover, was stitched together from six individual images after they were sent back to Earth.

MARS MARVELS: NASA continues to release still images, video, and even audio from the Perseverance rover landing last week.

There are three or so minutes of video that is absolutely stunning of the rover descending toward the Red Planet. Check it out here: https://youtu.be/4czjS9h4Fpg

Below is the embed code for the video Once upon a time, this used to work on blogger. I'm hoping some day they fix that feature. 

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4czjS9h4Fpg" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

While watching the video, I couldn't help but wonder about the pattern on the parachute. I figured it had to mean something and it wasn't just random. Turns out there is a code stitched into that fabric. 

JPL explains, "Using binary code, two messages have been encoded in the neutral white and international-orange parachute gores (the sections that make up the canopy's hemispherical shape). The inner portion spells out "DARE MIGHTY THINGS," with each word located on its own ring of gores. The outer band of the canopy provides GPS coordinates for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, where the rover was built and the project is managed."

                        PHOTO: JPL

Humanity now has the first ever audio recording beamed back from Mars. If you go to this page on NASA's site, https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-s-mars-perseverance-rover-provides-front-row-seat-to-landing-first-audio , you can listen to the audio both with the rover's noise and with the rover's sounds filtered out. Turn up your speakers, because Mars is pretty darn quiet at least at Jerero Crater. 

ELKS CLUB: The last couple of days our neighbors have included a sizeble herd of elk. They have been just across the street from us to the east, out on the beach in front of us, to the west, and they were even roaming the golf course when we stopped at McMenamins (outside, of course) for some happy hour Cajun tots.

Here they are on the side of our road. This shot was taken with my cell phone, no zoom used.

The elk were enjoying leisurely grazing on the greens at the golf course. There's a group in the middle, but look at all the dots on the hillside above them. Those are all elk.

Eventually the golf course greenskeepers tried to (gently) coax the elk to go elsewhere.

PUZZLED: For the past couple of days, this Springbok 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle has commanded some of our attention.

Per the box, every piece is a different shape. It was easy goings for the first 50 percent, but the last half was a real slog.

PORTHOLE: I really love the view out of this little porthole window in a bathroom upstairs.

Beachy Keen

SEASIDE: MPA has a change of venue for a few days. On Sunday, we drove down to Gearhart, which is just north of Seaside, Oregon. We're staying in what used to be Christian's paternal grandpa's house again. Built in 1941, it's right on the beach front. I was saying to the kids last night that it's very odd looking out the window and not seeing a single man-made structure between us and the horizon. 

When we arrived, the local herd of elk was hunkered down on a hillside right across from our driveway.

How many can you spot? There are at least 20 in this frame.

We spent Sunday getting settled in. The dogs seem right at home here. 

We're doing our usual things - homework and work work - but just in a different place. CJ has lots of writing and reading to do for school, but he's also taking time out for a little craft project, finally piecing together a Perler bead kit he got for Christmas.

Below are Annabelle and Christian at their temporary work stations. 

The weather on Sunday and Monday was crazy miserable. Sheets of rain coming down sideways. We spent some time mopping up leaks around the windows and hoping for a break in the weather. Finally, last night at sunset the clouds started to break up.

Tuesday morning has brought blue skies and whitecaps on the Pacific. Once the kids get up and about, we'll definitely get out and enjoy it while we can!

STORYTELLERS: A couple of days back, an email from Seattle Parks & Rec popped up. One of the items included was news of a free class for teens coming up, "SoundBites: Exploring storytelling and radio journalism."

The description read, "Join KUOW’s RadioActive Youth Media for a deep-dive into audio storytelling. Each session will focus on a different topic, including narrative storytelling, interviewing like a broadcast journalist, and hosting a podcast. These sessions are geared toward youth who are interested in writing, storytelling, journalism, podcasting, and amplifying youth voice. You can attend each session, or choose just the sessions you’re most interested in." It runs for five weeks, mid March through April. 

I hopped online and signed the kids up. I've long suggested to CJ that he might want to start a history-related podcast some day, and Annabelle might be interested in a D&D-themed show in the future. KUOW is Seattle's NPR station, so this class seems like a great place to learn about broadcasting today.

REWIND: A couple of scenes from last week. First up is a classic Parker Brothers' game, Waterworks. My sister and I spent hours and hours playing this in the 1970s. It's still plenty fun, even though I never seem to win.

The sketch below is from Annabelle's Friday night Gage art (virtual) get together. 

I thought she did a great job.