Latest news with #SmithsonianInstitute
Spectator
5 days ago
- Spectator
How often do volcanoes erupt?
Under control UK air space is to be reorganised – the first wholesale change since the 1950s – to improve flight times and reduce delays. It was Britain that pioneered air traffic control with the world's first control tower – a timber shed on a platform 15ft above the ground – at Croydon Aerodrome in 1920. The tower was given responsibility for all aircraft airborne, with which it had basic radio connections. From 1928, control centres in Norfolk and Kent allowed radio signals to be 'triangulated' for the first time, allowing the position of an aircraft to be determined even if the pilot was lost. Battle ready The government seemed to downgrade its target to spend 3 per cent of GDP on defence to an 'aspiration'. Who spends the most, and least, on defence as a percentage of GDP in 2023 (or latest figures)? MOST Ukraine 36.7 Eritrea 20.9 Libya 15.5 Lebanon 8.9 Algeria 8.2 Saudi Arabia 7.1 LEAST Haiti 0.1 Ireland 0.2 Zimbabwe 0.2 Papua New Guinea 0.3 Ghana 0.4 Guatemala 0.4 World Bank Hot stuff Tourists were nearly caught in an eruption of Mount Etna on Sicily. How often do volcanoes erupt? – There are 47 volcanoes worldwide considered to be in a state of eruption. – 54 have so far erupted this year. – 65 erupted over the course of 2024. – 333 volcanoes are recorded as having erupted since 1960, many multiple times. – 528 have erupted since 1800. – The average number which have erupted a year since 2010 is 80. Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institute Force fields How much land does the MoD own? – On 1 April this year, it owned 230,800 hectares of land and foreshore, 0.9% of the total surface area of Britain. – It held rights over a further 110,600 hectares, 0.5% of the UK land area. – The land is broken down as: training (76%); R&D (10.5%); airfields (4.4%); barracks/camps (3.8%); and storage/supply depots (2%).
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Stewart Grocery in Buffalo Gap closing after 8 decades of community service
BUFFALO GAP, Texas ()- Since 1946, Stewart Grocery in Buffalo Gap has been the local one stop shop for gassing up and chowing down, all the while owned and operated by the Stewart family. Owner Mickey Stewart announced recently that the store will be closing on Saturday, May 31, leading to an outpouring of memories and well wishes shared by locals. Debbie Powers has been a store clerk at Stewart Grocery for about 5 years now, calling the place a 'home away from home', a sentiment that many in the community share. She tells KTAB/KRBC that the decision to close the store comes from a number of factors not the least of which are financial concerns due to the rising cost of stocking, insuring, and operating the beloved corner store. Small Town Tales: Smithsonian Institute features Buffalo Gap in upcoming exhibit 'You have to have insurance on everything you sell out of the store to cover it. You have to have insurance on the property. That's went up probably 30, 40% over the last couple of years…it's kind of hard for a little mom and pops to compete with all the forward progress,' Powers said. For all the bittersweet memories that have come up in the wake of the announcement, Powers hopes that the public will show up in force to say their farewells and buy their final goods throughout the coming week as their closing day approaches, Powers saying there is still time to make a few fond memories more. 'People come in and, you know, get a fountain drink visit. They always ask us how we're doing and we ask them how they're doing. I love that part. I'm going to miss that part of it…I myself am thankful for the community and their support and i know Mickey is thankful for it through the years. I would just say to them, don't be sad. Come out and give him a good sendoff. Help him clean the store out,' said Powers. Cannonballs discovered in walls of historic courthouse in Buffalo Gap Special deals on goods and store stock will be held all throughout the coming week leading up to the final day on Saturday, May 31. Powers saying that day will be the public's last chance to enjoy one of Mickey's famous ground meat hamburgers made from high quality chuck, as well as a slice of their well known pizza. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Epoch Times
25-04-2025
- Epoch Times
A Ranch in the Mojave Desert Is a Testament to Tenacity
Few people realize that California's Joshua Tree National Park sits between two deserts. To the east is the Colorado Desert and to the west is the Mojave Desert. With just a few feet in elevation change, from just under 3,000 feet to just over 3,000 feet, the wildlife, foliage, cacti, and rocks, are distinct. But the main similarity is that both landscapes receive only two to six inches of rain annually. Few settlers sought to live in the region due to its dry, dusty climate and limited water. However, some men were drawn to the Mojave for its mining opportunities. In fact, copper, silver, lead, gold, zinc, and tungsten are elements and minerals mined in the region. Evidence of closed mines and rusted equipment still litter the landscape. A Joshua tree stands strong and tall, in Joshua Tree National Park. Deena C. Bouknight Mining is what enticed William Keys (1879–1969) to the county line between San Bernardino and Riverside counties—an area that became part of Joshua Tree National Park in 1994. Despite tenuous water supplies, little sustenance for farm animals, and temperatures that fluctuate, depending on the time of year, from 30 to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, Keys decided to establish roots in the expansive desert landscape. The nearest town, Banning, California, was 60 miles away. He married Frances Lawton in 1918. They had seven children, four of whom survived to adulthood. The family proved resourceful in an unforgiving environment. The remains of Keys Ranch provide a glimpse into the ingenuity and hard work the Keys family needed to survive and prosper for over three decades. The ranch is tucked in a remote, rocky part of the Mojave Desert, closer to the main Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center than the Cottonwood Visitor Center at the Colorado Desert entrance. For a while, Keys supported his family by processing ore at Wall Street Mill for other miners. It took 12 or more hours to process a ton of ore to learn if it contained any gold. Related Stories 3/2/2025 3/14/2025 The Barker Dam is not only functional, it is also aesthetically pleasing. Deena C. Bouknight Additionally, Keys was a farmer, blacksmith, farrier, mason, amateur geologist, and engineer. He also successfully raised cattle. Besides the preserved home, visitors to Keys Ranch can view sundry early-to-mid 20th-century work vehicles and equipment on the grounds' salvage yard. Included is an old Mack truck. The Keys's home is a pieced-together wood siding and tin roof structure. Its chimney, capped with a bent piece of metal, is constructed of cut area stone and has stood the test of time. The Smithsonian Institute deemed Key's chimney as a historic example of excellent amateur masonry. Other outbuildings constructed out of wood and repurposed materials served various purposes. There was even a school building and a store for passersby. A clever design for an outdoor cooler, made of burlap with water dripping down the sides, kept some items from spoiling during the warmer months. The ranch was replete with interesting inventions to make the family's life easier. This watering trough would have been used by livestock. Deena C. Bouknight Through signage and tours, the National Park Service (NPS) provides insight into the Keys' family struggles. Two children died in infancy and their 11-year-old son died in a freak accident while gathering water at the property's well. It was difficult to eke out a living in the unforgiving desert. To sustain a garden, Keys had to first drastically amend the desert soil by tilling in much cow manure and other organic matter. He also used dynamite to blast deep holes in hard-packed soil. He planted fruit trees in the holes, but not before adding dirt he enriched with composted materials. The family also grew a variety of vegetables. Chickens, rabbits, sheep, and cows provided meat. The Barker Dam provided much-needed water for the Keys family. Deena C. Bouknight However, water was always an issue. Even though the family maintained a few wells, they often ran dry. In the 1940s, a resourceful Keys added to and greatly improved a 1902 dam that the Barker and Shay cattle company had built. The water Keys collected provided a backup source for them as well as for their gardens, animals, mining endeavors, and recreation. NPS reported that this manmade water source was even stocked with fish. The dam still holds some water today, and visitors to the area can walk the 1.5-mile Barker Dam Loop Trail and see how vibrant and more lush the plant life is due to the decades of collected water. Keys lived at the ranch until his death in 1969; in 1974, the ranch was designated a National Park Service Historic Site. Keys, his wife, Frances, and some of their children are buried in a small family cemetery not far from the ranch. It's hard to imagine a family living in the inhospitable environment of the Mojave Desert. Deena C. Bouknight Visitors to Joshua Tree National Park are mostly drawn to the area because of the tall, unusual-looking yucca plants—the Joshua trees—though they're not actually trees. They thrive in this area of the Mojave Desert. However, experiencing the historical remnants of a family who endured the weather and temperatures in this grueling region of America is a bonus. What arts and culture topics would you like us to cover? Please email ideas or feedback to
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
National Park Service restores removed Harriet Tubman webpage after backlash
The National Park Service has restored mentions of Black abolitionist Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad on its website after their removal sparked backlash. The NPS, which manages national parks, monuments and other natural, historical and recreational properties, said the changes had been done without approval. 'Changes to the Underground Railroad page on the National Park Service's website were made without approval from NPS leadership nor Department leadership. The webpage was immediately restored to its original content,' the agency told The Independent in a statement. The changes were first reported by The Washington Post. Some of the modifications included replacing a photo of Tubman with images of Postal Service stamps highlighting cooperation between Black and white abolitionists within the Underground Railroad. Tubman was one of the numerous faces in the replaced images. Additionally, The Post found edits on the National Park Service's website that appeared to downplay some of the country's horrors, with some of the eliminated references discussing slavery. Information on Founding Father Benjamin Franklin's views of slavery and his ownership history of enslaved people was taken down, as were mentions of Declaration of Independence signer Thomas Stone's enslavement history from a website on the Stone National Historic site. The changes reportedly occurred after officials at the Department of Interior asked top leaders to identify webpages that might need to be amended, the outlet reported, after speaking with sources who requested anonymity. Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland, was among those who slammed the initial changes. 'Trump is trying to rewrite the history of the Underground Railroad — even diminishing its conductor, MD's own Harriet Tubman. The Underground Railroad is an important part of the American story. We cannot let him whitewash it as part of his larger effort to erase our history,' he wrote in a post on X. After the restoration, the Underground Railroad is now referred to as 'efforts of enslaved African Americans to gain their freedom by escaping bondage.' In another section, Tubman is described as one of the system's best 'conductors.' The effort was one of many made following President Donald Trump's inauguration. Last month, the president signed an executive order demanding that the Smithsonian Institute rid its museums of 'divisive narratives,' specifically targeting the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Before that, the US Army Women's Museum removed a display honoring transgender soldiers at the president's direction. Government entities have expressed confusion over how to implement Trump's directives when it comes to censoring websites and museums. In the case of the Smithsonian Institute, Trump cannot directly control the organization but can threaten to withhold federal funding. The organization closed its diversity office following an executive order stating organizations receiving federal funding could not operate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs.
The Independent
08-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
National Park Service restores removed Harriet Tubman webpage after backlash
The National Park Service has restored mentions of Black abolitionist Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad on its website after their removal sparked backlash. The NPS, which manages national parks, monuments and other natural, historical and recreational properties, said the changes had been done without approval. 'Changes to the Underground Railroad page on the National Park Service's website were made without approval from NPS leadership nor Department leadership. The webpage was immediately restored to its original content,' the agency told The Independent in a statement. The changes were first reported by The Washington Post. Some of the modifications included replacing a photo of Tubman with images of Postal Service stamps highlighting cooperation between Black and white abolitionists within the Underground Railroad. Tubman was one of the numerous faces in the replaced images. Additionally, The Post found edits on the National Park Service's website that appeared to downplay some of the country's horrors, with some of the eliminated references discussing slavery. Information on Founding Father Benjamin Franklin's views of slavery and his ownership history of enslaved people was taken down, as were mentions of Declaration of Independence signer Thomas Stone's enslavement history from a website on the Stone National Historic site. The changes reportedly occurred after officials at the Department of Interior asked top leaders to identify webpages that might need to be amended, the outlet reported, after speaking with sources who requested anonymity. Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland, was among those who slammed the initial changes. 'Trump is trying to rewrite the history of the Underground Railroad — even diminishing its conductor, MD's own Harriet Tubman. The Underground Railroad is an important part of the American story. We cannot let him whitewash it as part of his larger effort to erase our history,' he wrote in a post on X. After the restoration, the Underground Railroad is now referred to as 'efforts of enslaved African Americans to gain their freedom by escaping bondage.' In another section, Tubman is described as one of the system's best 'conductors.' The effort was one of many made following President Donald Trump's inauguration. Last month, the president signed an executive order demanding that the Smithsonian Institute rid its museums of 'divisive narratives,' specifically targeting the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Before that, the US Army Women's Museum removed a display honoring transgender soldiers at the president's direction. Government entities have expressed confusion over how to implement Trump's directives when it comes to censoring websites and museums. In the case of the Smithsonian Institute, Trump cannot directly control the organization but can threaten to withhold federal funding. The organization closed its diversity office following an executive order stating organizations receiving federal funding could not operate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs.
