Interesting how life experiences unfold sometimes. A few months ago I was given four fish which were identified as KOI. (Three Orange with white spots and bands and one primarily white.) Unfortunately, one of the orange ones disappeared from the outdoor pond almost immediately but the remaining three proved to be quite prolific producing numerous fry (young fish). When I say numerous I mean hundreds of them! (The parents, and other predators, consume the young ones and thus keep the pond population down.)

I was surfing the internet for images of KOI fry (to rule out the possibility the offspring might be another species previously habituating the pond) when I began to doubt they were KOI at all because they did not have the mustache like “barbels” that KOI do.

INFORMATION ON THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOLDFISH AND KOI:

http://www.differencebetween.net/science/difference-between-koi-and-goldfish/

Later a friend of mine checked with a pet store and was advised they were a specialty bred Goldfish called Fancy Comet. Here’s some 411 on Comet Goldfish:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comet_(goldfish)

You know, it doesn’t really matter what they are because watching them is rather relaxing.

ANYWAY, no big deal, just thought it peculiar: losing Comet my long time geriatric pet cat then inadvertently ending up with a pond full of Comets.

My best to you and yours, Lew

Since I had not checked it out for weeks, I logged on to the NASA Human Space Flight website and discovered I had approximately 10 minutes to set up for a pass of the International Space Station (ISS). The schedule had the ISS for June 18 2013 appearing at 2309hrs, 81 degrees, approaching from 16 above NW and departing 36 above NW for a total observation time of about 1 minute.

After locating the tripod and camera I decided to try several single 4 second exposures because experience had taught me attempting to merely videotape the speck of light would be unsatisfactory. (Leaving the shutter open for an extended exposure creates a better “light trail” of the object making it easier to see.)

Just as I had anticipated, there were 6 images of a short straight line of light (with darkness in between as the ISS moved across the sky while the camera processed the image and the shutter was closed) passing by the bottom of the Big Dipper. The ISS entered my field of vision coming from the direction of Modesto and departed towards Mariposa with the entire process taking under a minute. I snapped another 4 second exposure as soon as the camera had processed the one before. (Sure wish I could find out if it is possible to increase the exposure time or if the equipment is factory set at 4 second exposures.)

ANYWAY, here’s the ISS that passed over tonight along with a couple of photos of the KOI fry that are beginning to show color despite their small size.

ISS 01

ISS 02

ISS 03

ISS 04

ISS 05

ISS 06

Oh yeah, the LDPCSD water board meeting yesterday went very well despite a three director attendance.

My best to you and yours, Lew

PS:  Here’s the link to that NASA website:    http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/cities/skywatch.cgi?country=United+States

Prior to attending the June monthly meeting of the LDPCSD Board of Directors I snapped the below photo.

June 17 2013 1229hrs

Below photo taken across from the LDPCSD on Merced Falls Road.

Across road from the LDPCSD

The below photo was taken on Lazo Way looking east.  Lake McClure is this side of the hills in the center of photograph.

Looking east from Lazo Way in Lake Don Pedro

Below:  Returning home from the meeting I took another shot of the Carstens Fire plume which was spreading north and south.

FOR BREAKING NEWS ON THE CARSTENS FIRE:

Sierra Sun Times: http://goldrushcam.com/sierrasuntimes/index.php/news/mariposa-daily-news-2013/154-june/8816-up-dated-news-on-the-carstens-fire-in-mariposa-county

Mariposa Gazette: http://www.mariposagazette.com/

CALFIRE: http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_current

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To all those affected, our thoughts and prayers are with you.

My best to you and yours,  Lew

I was digging through some old records when I discovered this single sided 78 RPM Victrola.  Enrico Caruso performing Rigoletto – Ladonna e Mobile “Woman is Fickle”.

So?  Like I really listen to opera.  Didn’t mean that much until I listened to it on this website:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpLxqVn7ZiY

Whoa!  Who knows how many times I have heard this particular song in my lifetime without being aware of the composer, title, or performer?

Learn something new everyday.

La-la  la  la-la-la,

La-la  la  la-la-la …

Great.  Now I won’t be able to get this tune out of my head.

Didn’t the Three Stooges use this music in a skit?

My best to you and yours,  Lew

woo-woo-woo