Latest news with #cliffs
The Guardian
12-05-2025
- General
- The Guardian
The one change that worked: I started sketching
I've always battled with phone use. I resent how much my sense of being alive in the world – feeling it, doing things, making stuff happen – is affected by my screen time. So a few years ago, I decided to do a sketch every day. I had always wanted to draw, but I was embarrassed about starting out because I was so bad at it. Then I bought a few black notebooks: a small one for my jacket pocket, and larger ones for my bedside and for the kitchen table. As no one would ever see my drawings, I decided I didn't need to care about what anyone thought. One day I grabbed one of the notebooks and a pencil and went out to the Cornish cliffs. I spent 10 minutes hastily drawing some cows and wild ponies. Standing on a cliff, pencil in hand, I felt like an idiot and an impostor, but I had started. It was a happy moment. I had never drawn a pony before but, to my delight, one quick, simple sketch seemed not bad for a beginner. Next, I drew our cat snoozing. Then our dog, Foxy, staking out a mouse in our kitchen. Beside each sketch, I wrote the date and little notes. Having the pencils and sketchbooks within easy reach – in my car or lying around the house – meant these small moments built up. Within weeks what might otherwise have been buried in photos on my mobile phone became a tender profile of my life unfolding on pages. My favourite drawings are often of people. Our daughter, Elizabeth, is usually furious when she realises I'm surreptitiously drawing her. Drawing strangers at airports, in cafes or on the tube is fun. I enjoy the element of danger. Will I get caught? Can I finish the drawing before that person moves on? It helps to pass the time on long journeys instead of spending it on screen. Lots of my sketches are dreadful, but the quickest ones – of people or animals – can have good results because drawing at speed makes my self-consciousness fall away. One unexpected benefit of doing a sketch a day is I spend less time doomscrolling on my phone. Like most people, I am anxious about the state of the world, but drawing slows things down, makes me pay attention to the moment. I lose myself in the act of drawing, and I'm using my hands, which is soothing in itself. Drawing also brings me back to the analogue world. It makes me happier and more patient. Art is known for being therapeutic and transformative, and I've definitely felt the benefits. In two years our daughter will be leaving home. In the future I'll be able to look at those drawing diaries and think, yes, we were together when I did those.
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
RNLI volunteers rescue teenager cut off by tide
A lifeboat crew from Looe rescued a teenager who was cut off by the tide. The RNLI said the teenager was stranded on Second Beach, East Looe, and was rescued by Looe RNLI's D Class inshore lifeboat. The crew said they spotted the teenager sitting on a cliff by Chough Rock, Plaidy. They said he was wet and cold but uninjured. The RNLI said the volunteer crew took the teenager back to the Looe Lifeboat Station to warm up and he was reunited with his parents. This was the second call out in 2025 for the volunteer crew and both were due to people being caught out by the tide, the RNLI said. It urged people to be aware of the tides and particularly the high tides at this time of year. Ian Foster, Looe RNLI's volunteer press officer, said: "Last night's tide was one of the highest spring tides of the year." He said the public should always take note of their surroundings as tidal cut offs could happen at any state of the tide. "Luckily the casualty had a means of calling for help and did not attempt to climb further up the cliffs," he added. Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ Lifeboat crew rescues teens cut off by tide 'Risk to life' yacht rescue takes 13 hours Helicopter rescues five stranded people from beach RNLI
BBC News
31-03-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Looe RNLI volunteers rescue teenager cut off by tide
A lifeboat crew from Looe rescued a teenager who was cut off by the tide. The RNLI said the teenager was stranded on Second Beach, East Looe, and was rescued by Looe RNLI's D Class inshore crew said they spotted the teenager sitting on a cliff by Chough Rock, Plaidy. They said he was wet and cold but RNLI said the volunteer crew took the teenager back to the Looe Lifeboat Station to warm up and he was reunited with his parents. This was the second call out in 2025 for the volunteer crew and both were due to people being caught out by the tide, the RNLI said. It urged people to be aware of the tides and particularly the high tides at this time of Foster, Looe RNLI's volunteer press officer, said: "Last night's tide was one of the highest spring tides of the year." He said the public should always take note of their surroundings as tidal cut offs could happen at any state of the tide. "Luckily the casualty had a means of calling for help and did not attempt to climb further up the cliffs," he added.
Express Tribune
06-03-2025
- Science
- Express Tribune
NASA shares new panoramic images revealing Mars' surface features
Listen to article NASA has released breathtaking panoramic images of Mars, offering an unprecedented view of the planet's diverse terrain. Captured by rovers and orbiters, the high-resolution images reveal rugged mountains, sweeping valleys, vast dunes, and evidence of ancient water flows on the Red Planet's surface. The newly released images provide a detailed and immersive perspective of Mars, giving scientists and space enthusiasts a chance to explore the planet like never before. The panoramas, stitched together from hundreds of individual images, highlight the dramatic variations in Mars' landscape, from cratered plains to towering cliffs and dusty plains. According to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), the images were captured using state-of-the-art cameras aboard rovers like Perseverance and Curiosity, as well as orbiters such as the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. "These stunning panoramas give us a new appreciation of Mars' geology and environmental history," said Dr. Lori Glaze, director of NASA's Planetary Science Division. "They help us understand how Mars evolved and where we should focus future exploration." Key Highlights from the Mars Panoramas The newly released images include: Jezero Crater: The landing site of Perseverance Rover, believed to be an ancient lakebed that once held water, possibly providing conditions for microbial life. The landing site of Perseverance Rover, believed to be an ancient lakebed that once held water, possibly providing conditions for microbial life. Valles Marineris: A canyon system ten times longer than the Grand Canyon, revealing layers of Mars' geological history. A canyon system ten times longer than the Grand Canyon, revealing layers of Mars' geological history. Olympus Mons: The largest volcano in the solar system, towering over 13 miles (22 km) high. The largest volcano in the solar system, towering over 13 miles (22 km) high. Gale Crater: Explored by the Curiosity Rover, this area features sedimentary layers that could hold clues about Mars' past climate. Why These Images Matter The panoramic views are not just for public fascination—they serve as critical data points for future missions. By studying rock formations, erosion patterns, and atmospheric conditions, scientists can determine potential landing sites for human missions and robotic exploration. The images also fuel NASA's long-term goals for Mars exploration, including the upcoming Mars Sample Return mission, which aims to bring Martian soil and rock samples back to Earth for in-depth study. Future Mars Exploration Plans NASA, in collaboration with international space agencies like ESA (European Space Agency), is working toward sending astronauts to Mars in the 2030s. The newly released images provide valuable insights for determining safe landing zones, identifying resource-rich locations, and understanding the planet's geological history. As Mars exploration continues, these images remind us of the vast and mysterious world beyond Earth, bringing us closer to answering one of humanity's biggest questions: Was Mars ever home to life?
NBC Sports
14-02-2025
- Climate
- NBC Sports
Rain or shine, Torrey Pines is always a test
SAN DIEGO – Idyllic San Diego may be 'America's Finest City,' but the PGA Tour's best and brightest should be forgiven for questioning that marketing moniker after another brutal trip around Torrey Pines' South Course. Perhaps it's just too much of a good thing with the circuit making its second stop at Torrey Pines in less than a month after the devasting Los Angeles wildfires forced officials to relocate this week's Genesis Invitational from Riviera Country Club to the storied South Course. It seems like just yesterday when social media was spitting mad when the Tour opened the season with record scoring at Kapalua, as if Hideki Matsuyama's 35-under winning total was an affront to the resort course with sprawling fairways and greens. But those days seem long gone following another round on the South Course. Day 1's scoring average (74.278) would rank as the most difficult test on Tour this season, just ahead of, wait for it … the South Course's 73.685 scoring average from last month's Farmers Insurance Open that currently paces the circuit in degree of difficulty. 'Very tough. I love it,' said Collin Morikawa, who opened with a 73 and was five shots off the lead held by Denny McCarthy. 'It's just a demanding golf course and you've got to hit fairways. Rough is up, you've got to hit the greens. You just love to come out to courses like this. 'You've got a few courses out there that are that difficult knowing that just no matter what you're going to go out fighting and when you've got weather, wind like this, it makes it that much more challenging.' Thursday's conditions would be the outlier if not for last month's stop along the cliffs that tower over Black's Beach. A cold, steady rain pelted players the entire round and winds gusted to 25 mph to complete the blustery test. It should be no surprise that just 13 players out of the 72-man field managed to post under-par rounds. 'Today's a challenging day and this is a golf course that challenges you in a variety of ways. I felt like I did a lot of good stuff out there, I got off to a really good start and hung in there from there,' said world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who rebounded from last week's performance at the WM Phoenix Open with a first-round 70. 'Weather conditions were changing a bunch and we dealt with a lot of different elements today, so overall it was a pretty solid day.' Cold, wet, windy. Got it. But then the soggy signature event would have been challenging with these conditions even if it hadn't been relocated from Riviera, but not like this. Thursday's slog was complicated by the conditions but it's not the rain and wind that make the South Course such a beast. Just check the scorecard from last month's Farmers Insurance Open, which was won by Harris English with a single-digit under par winning score (8 under). Unlike this week's weather woes, the conditions were quintessentially San Diego for last month's tournament with hard and fast fairways, firm greens and plenty of sunshine. 'It didn't rain and it was much warmer, and it was the Santa Ana winds so the wind was coming from the opposite side. It was pretty different than last time,' said Michael Kim, who is tied for seventh at 1 under. It's been eight months since any significant rain fell in southern California and this week's 'atmospheric river' is the most precipitation the area has seen in a year. Rain or shine, wind or warmth, the South Course stands alone on Tour as one of the most demanding tests. 'I think it's really fun. I think on Tour sometimes you always see golf courses in their best conditions typically with the best weather. Besides on the west coast we typically travel around with the best weather, which it's odd to come to California and typically receive some of the worst wetter,' Scheffler said. 'I think it's interesting. The only other time we really see weather like this would be The Open Championship. It's fun, it's a different test and I like the variety.' With three more rounds awaiting on the South Course and an equally unpleasant forecast the idea that this particular brand of punishment is 'fun' will likely be relative depending on who you ask, but there is no ambiguity when it comes to Torrey Pines and one of the game's most difficult tests.
