Autumn begins on the equinox, the day the Sun crosses the equator. The earliest known civilizations celebrated the equinoxes, and they're still celebrated in many places. One of the biggest autumn celebrations is the Chinese Moon Festival. A traditional Chinese garden has a moon-watching pavilion.

Autumn Equinox

Of all the films I've viewed over the past year, Benedikt Erlingsson's "Of Horses and Men" was one of my favorites. Erlingsson's new film "Woman at War" is Iceland's official entry for the 2019 Academy Awards. The film has screened at numerous festivals but has been given no US release date yet. The trailer is online, however. Woman at War Official Trailer Of Horses and Men Film Review

Let's talk about the first woman.

Eve, What Were You Thinking ?

Orchids dying despite high humidity. What could be the cause? Some possibilities have been listed.
You are welcome to put in your thoughts too.


Rains, Humidity And Orchids

M15, a dense globular star cluster of over 100,000 stars, is 13 billion years old. It formed in the early years of our Galaxy as one of around 170 globular star clusters in the halo of the Milky Way.

M15 is about 35,000 light years away in the constellation Pegasus. (The spiky stars are much closer, in the foreground.) Although it's about 200 light years across, over half of the stars are densely packed in the central 10 light years. It's one of the densest concentrations of stars known. Hubble-based measurements of the increasing velocities of M15's central stars are evidence that a massive black hole resides at the center of dense globular cluster M15.

Image Credit & Copyright: Bernhard Hubl (CEDIC)
Description: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)

Play is important not only for humans but for others across the animal kingdom. Young (and older) animals learn through play. Play allows them to develop new skills, to learn about their environment and to pick up numerous attributes including communication, bonding, respect, etc. It is such a pity when people lose the desire to play in their daily life or even forget how to do it. Do you have any tips for keeping playful no matter your age?

Hello there Connie,

This is a TERRIBLE idea - whoever heard of having sweet treats anywhere let alone after a delish Connie-Sandwich-Meal? You are waylaying the innocent! You are enhancing lifestyle statistics! You are willfully sending subscribers to the Bella online obesity and diet sites! It is your fault that thousands of people, having eaten and raided the fridge, are SMILING!

What have you got to say for yourself?

Oh well! Ah nuts! I may as well come clean. I saw. I made. It conquered.

No sandwich required. Hmmm.

Lestie
Container Gardening.

The Museum of Modern Art announced today that filmmaker Martin Scorsese will be the recipient of its 2018 Film Benefit award. In addition to a gala on November 19th, MoMA will be screening Scorsese's New York films from October 30th through November 7th. Scorsese is being honored for his work as a director and as a film preservationist. His organization The Film Foundation works to restore and preserve films and educate students about the history of American cinema.

We all sometimes have racist thoughts.

Some people in recent threads argue vehemently that their viewpoint is not at all racist, even when fairly objectively the rest of the viewers can see that it is. I think it's important for us to accept that none of us are perfect. We are all products of our flawed culture, our imperfect parents, and heck the way genetics work. I think it's better to say "I might have challenges to work on" vs saying "I am an absolutely perfect human being and my life view is 100% accurate."

In the interest of fostering helpful communication, I'll reveal a few issues of my own I've found, on self-examination.

First, I love dressing in outfits from around the world. I always have. In high school I went to school in a Mexican dress I bought in Mexico and was ridiculed. "Look, it's the Chiquita Banana." I own a number of dresses like this traditional Chinese one. I adore wearing them. My own ethnic heritage is half Ukrainian and then a hodge-podge of German, English, Native American, African American, Irish, you name it. I grew up dancing Ukrainian dances and I own several Ukrainian outfits. But that's just a part of what I enjoy. I enjoy it all. I love celebrating all cultures around the world. I love us being one enormous amazing world.

In May 2018, a white teen wore a similar dress to a prom and many people were furious. They said she didn't have the right to wear it. It made me really think about the issue. I am not wearing this dress to "pretend to be Chinese" - it is that I adore their culture as I adore many cultures and respect their skill. It's the same reason I wear a Chinese necklace sometimes. But I can also appreciate that it bothers some Chinese who feel their culture is being "stolen" by those "in power". I do my best to hear that message. Here's the link.

Do you ever sit down and consider how your views of others might be a healthy or unhealthy thing?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...ire-stirs-cultural-appropriation-debate/

I have just posted a new article about mountain biking opportunities in Florida. I would be interested to know if any readers participate in this sport, and, if so, what is/are your favorite place/s to ride.

The American Film Institute Film Festival, known as AFI Fest, has announced its lineup for 2018. Included is the world premiere of director Susanne Bier's "Bird Box", a dystopian thriller starring Sandra Bullock. There will also be a screening of Karyn Kusama's crime drama "Destroyer", starring Nicole Kidman. The AFI Fest runs November 8th through the 15th in Los Angeles. "Bird Box" will be in theaters on December 21st and "Destroyer" opens on December 25th.

For warmth and simplicity using fleece to construct simple Halloween costumes can't be beat. Fleece fabric is economical, easy to sew or no sew, and creative ideas are always available online to spark the imagination.

Quick Fleece Halloween Costumes