January 29, 2016

Air Bonsai Lets You Make Your Own Floating Tree



                                                                          





Owners are affectionate about the upkeep of their bonsai plants. After all, they require a continual source of maintenance in order for them to look their best.

However, Hoshinchu has taken their hobby for indoor gardening to the next level by introducing the Air Bonsai project on Kickstarter. This labor of love, which adds another dimension to plant care, has been met with a wealth of support already.

Each Air Bonsai is made up of two separate pieces: a levitating piece called the “little star “and an “energy base.” Both are equipped with like-charged magnets, allowing the plant container to repel upward from the base.

Visit the Air Bonsai’s Kickstarter page for more info and to pledge a donation.

By Jonathan Luk
  
                                                                   



With many thanks to Highsnobiety 

Some related posts:

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Keukenhof: The Garden of Europe
Butchart Gardens, Vancouver Island - Canada
The Socatra Dragon Blood Tree
Sri Lanka’s Sirilak Garden: History And Spices
The Bomarzo Monster Park
A Tree That Grows 40 Kinds Of Fruit  
Wollemi Pines: Secret Plantation In Blue Mountains To Ensure Species' Survival
A Japanese Company Is Building The World's First Autonomous Farm






January 27, 2016

Leopard Hunting Banned in South Africa For Remainder of 2016


                                                                        



                                                                    
It should be a permanent ban.

South Africa recently instated a year-long ban on leopard hunting in 2016 after conservationists convinced officials that the lack of an accurate leopard count makes hunting the cats – perhaps a seriously endangered population – highly irresponsible.

The Department of Environmental Affairs said it was acting on recommendations from South Africa's scientific authority, which had suggested that actions be taken to ensure the species' survival. This ban will be reviewed at the end of the year.


"We just don't know how leopards are faring in South Africa," Guy Balme, a conservationists from environmental group Panthera, said in a statement. "They're secretive, mainly nocturnal, solitary and range over huge areas."

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) allows South Africa 150 permits each year for the trophy hunting of leopards destined for export. Selling these permits generates some $375 million for the country every year, according to the environment ministry.

However, conservation activists say updates on population numbers and carrying capacity are needed before hunting can be re-instated.

"It's important to ensure that any wildlife trade we do is sustainable," Kelly Marnewick, carnivore conservation manager at the Environmental Wildlife Trust, added. "If we can't do that, it's highly problematical. We need a trade ban until we can get to that."

Currently, the main threats to South Africa's population of leopards are the mismanagement of trophy hunting and the illegal trade of fur. In fact, dignitaries from South Africa's Zulu community traditionally wear animal skins - specifically leopard fur - for ceremonies.

By Samantha Mathewson

With many thanks to Nature World News
 
                                                               


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Bornean Marbled Cat: An Ultra-rare Cat Species Captured On Camera

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Amur Tiger Release 

January 26, 2016

Brian Wilson To Play Pet Sounds For The Last Time This Tour


                                                                      



Brian Wilson, along with fellow Beach Boys Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin, will tour the world in 2016 for the 50th anniversary of Pet Sounds.


Pet Sounds was the eleventh album by the Beach Boys in just four years and was a major turning point in the group’s style. Containing such classics as Wouldn’t It Be Nice, Sloop John B, God Only Knows, Caroline No, I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times and Don’t Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder), the album was not welcomed by the public, peaking at just number 10, but it has gone on to be considered one of the most important sets of the rock era.

According to Wilson, this will be the final time that he will perform the album in its entirety. He said “It’s really been a trip to sit here and think about releasing Pet Sounds 50 years ago.I love performing this album with my band and look forward to playing it for fans all across the world.”

The U.K. tour:
03/26 – Auckland, Australia – Civic Theatre
03/28 – Byron Bay, Australia – Byron Bay Bluesfest
03/29 – Sydney, Australia – Sydney Opera House
03/31 – Sydney, Australia – Sydney Opera House
04/03 – Melbourne, Australia – Palais Theatre
04/05 – Adelaide, Australia – Adelaide Entertainment Centre
04/07 – Perth, Australia – Riverside Theatre
04/12 – Tokyo, Japan – Tokyo International Forum
04/13 – Tokyo, Japan – Tokyo International Forum
04/15 – Osaka, Japan – Orix Theater
04/30 – Austin, TX – LEVITATION Festival
05/15 – Bristol, UK – Colston Hall
05/17 – Birmingham, UK – Symphony Hall
05/18 – Cardiff, UK – St. Davids Hall
05/20 – London, UK – London Palladium
05/21 – London, UK – London Palladium
05/24 – Manchester, UK – 02 Apollo
05/26 – Edinburgh, UK – Usher Hall
05/27 – Glasgow, UK – Royal Concert Hall
05/29 – Gateshead, UK – Sage
05/31 – Liverpool, UK – Philharmonic Hall
06/01 – Nottingham, UK – Royal Concert Hall
06/04 – Barcelona, Spain – Primavera Sound
06/14 – Burlington, VT – Flynn Center for the Performing Arts
06/15 – Portland, ME – Merrill Auditorium
06/17 – Boston, MA – Symphony Hall (with the Boston Pops Orchestra)
06/18 – Boston, MA – Symphony Hall (with the Boston Pops Orchestra)
06/19 – Lenox, MA – Tanglewood
07/01 – Las Vegas, NV – Hard Rock Casino
07/09 – Phoenix, AZ – Celebrity Theatre
07/15 – Elizabeth, IN – Horseshoe Casino
07/17 – Council Bluffs, IA – Horseshoe Casino
07/20 – Kansas City, MO – Muriel Kauffman Theatre
07/21 – St. Charles, MO – Family Arena
07/22 – Tunica, MS – Horseshoe Casino
07/23 – Bossier City, LA – Horseshoe Casino ^
09/13 – St. Petersburg, FL – Mahaffey Theatre
09/14 – Hollywood, FL – Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
09/17 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium
09/19 – Charlotte, NC – Blumenthal PAC
09/20 – Washington, DC – The Music Center at Strathmore
09/21 – Red Bank, NK – Count Basie Theatre
09/23 – Philadelphia, PA – Tower Theater
09/25 – Easton, PA – State Theatre
09/27 – Wallingford, CT – Oakdale
09/28 – Buffalo, NY – University of Buffalo’s Center for the Arts
09/30 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre
10/02 – Minneapolis, MN – Orpheum Theatre
10/04 – Denver, CO – Paramount Theatre
10/07 – Portland, OR – Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
10/08 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre
10/10 – Arcata, CA – Humboldt State University’s Van Duzer Theatre
10/13 – San Francisco, CA – The Masonic
10/14 – Lake Tahoe, CA – Harrah’s Casino


                                                               
With many thanks to Noise 11  


                                                                         


See also:
Brian Wilson film Love & Mercy - Toronto review

Pharrell, Elton John, and Every Other Celebrity Musician Sing “God Only Knows”

"Love and Mercy" - A Review Of The Brian Wilson Biopic 

Glyn Johns: Defining That Classic-Rock Sound

Fender Stratocaster: A Design Icon At 60 

Bob Dylan Named Greatest Songwriter Ahead Of Lennon and McCartney According To Rolling  Stone

How Los Angeles and Hollywood Took Rock ‘N’ Roll Around The World

 Rock Around the Clock: B-side Find Accidentally Launched Rock Anthem 


 Dixie: Elvis Presley — An Anthem Of The American South

 Elvis At 21 - National Portrait Gallery, Canberra

60 Years of Rock And Roll: Elvis Presley Anniversary 2014

25 Most Influential People In History By Attribute

Last Elvis Presley Studio Album 'Today' Re-released - Another With Michael Bublé Coming In October

Rick Nelson - Some Words of Wisdom 

Gram Parsons And Rick Nelson: Early Pioneers of 'California Dreaming'

Rick Nelson Validated




Rock Around the Clock: B-side Find Accidentally Launched Rock Anthem

Nat King Cole Gets A 10CD Make-Over


Bob Stanley's Book:Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!: The Story of Pop from Bill Haley to Beyonce