Random Bits of Thought @yeswhathesaid - Tumblr Blog

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NXJvPVgZsY)

I learned at 4:30 AM today that my childhood friend died. I was initially numb, without emotion. Even now, I feel as though I am on the other side of a pane of glass, insulated from the actual pain and grief that wants to burst forward. Since then, at random times, I’ll feel something come over me like a shiver. It takes my breath away and the grief I knew I would feel runs through me, like a pang of regret. All the stories I never got to tell her. All the hugs left to give. I am weary, I am empty. My beautiful, kind, intelligent and young friend has died. I am lost for words.

What to do in Utah

Outdoor Recreation

Antelope Island State Park, Syracuse, UT 1 hour 51 minutes from Salt Lake City, home of the Spiral Jetty and wild Bison.

Albion Basin, Alta, UT Wild flowers galore only 42 minutes from Salt Lake City

Cascade Springs, Heber, UT 1 hour 15 mintues from Salt Lake City

City Creek Trail, Salt Lake City, UT this paved 6.3 mile canyon offers, cool streams, towering hills and sprawling meadows; hard to believe it's only mintues from downtown Salt Lake City.

Mirror Lake, Kamas, UT 1 hour 33 minutes from Salt Lake City, features the Mirror Lake Scenic byway a 42 mile strech of highway which offers scenic overlooks, picnic areas, waterfalls, lakes, trails, and campgrounds.

Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, Kanab, UT 4 hours from Salt Lake City, UT

National Parks

Arches National Park, Grand County, 3 hours 3 minutes from Salt Lake City home of the world famous Delicate Arch, pictures below.

Bryce Canyon, Garfield County, 3 hours 58 minutes from Salt Lake City

Canyonlands National Park, San Juan County, 3 hours 49 minutes from Salt Lake City

Capitol Reef National Park, Wayne County, 3 hours 25 minutes from Salt Lake City

Timpanogos Cave National Monument, Provo Canyon, Provo, UT 40 minutes from Salt Lake City

Zion National Park, Washington County, 4 hours 25 minutes from Salt Lake City

Local Attractions

Temple Square 50 N Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84150

Utah Museum of Fine Art located at the University of Utah, 410 Campus Center Dr, Salt Lake City, UT 84112 Entrance is free the first Wednesday of every month

Utah Museum of Natural History 301 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108

Utah Hogle Zoo 2600 Sunnyside Ave S, Salt Lake City, UT 84108

Loveland Living Planet Aquarium 2033 Lone Peak Pkwy, Draper, UT 84020

Red Butte Gardens 300 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108

State Capitol Building 350 State St, Salt Lake City, UT 84111 Open Monday-Friday 7 AM-8 PM and Saturday-Sunday 8 AM-6PM 365 days a year.

Salt Lake City Library 210 E 400 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84111 Know for it's towering glass and steel edifice the Main Library features two cafe's, several shops,, an art gallery, a sprawling plaza, a falling water fountain, thousands of books and a rooftop garden terrace with a great view of downtown Salt Lake City.

Rio Grande Train Station 610 State Ave, Alamosa, CO 81101 A historical site which contains an art gallery and restaurant.

Wheeler Historic Farm 6351 900 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84121 Established in 1887 Wheeler Farm provides a glimpse of early pioneer life in Utah.

Lagoon Amusement Park 375 North Lagoon Drive, Farmington, UT 84025 Offers 9 roller coasters, live entertainment, swim park and campgrounds.

Madeline Cathedral 331 E S Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84111

Hill Air Force Base Aerospace Museum, 7961 Wardleigh Road, Hill AFB, UT 84056 Entrance is free

Pioneer Park Farmers Market 350 300 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84101 Occurs every Saturday from 8 AM - 2 PM June - October

Annual Festivals and Concerts

Utah Arts Festival The award winning Salt Lake City tradition features some of Utah's most talented artists, performers, musicians and filmmakers. The Festival also offers a chance to speak with artists about their work, enjoy live entertainment, make your own art or experience a wide variety of food and drinks. The annual Arts Festival takes place on 100 East and 400 South on the grounds of the Salt Lake City Municipal building, an impressive castle like building in its own right, and the Main Library campus.

Sundance Film Festival The world renounced independent film festival draws crowds and celebrities each year, but also offers an opportunity for local restaurants, shops and hotels to put their best food forward providing live shows, demonstrations, freebies and specials. Start your Sundance Film Festival experience at the Sundance Institute located at 1825 Three Kings Dr, Park City, UT 84060.

Oktoberfest at Snowbird Resort 9600 Little Cottonwood Canyon Rd, Snowbird, UT 84092

Salt Lake City Marathon 26.2 mile course through Salt Lake City in the spring.

Red Butte Concert Series Has feature acts such as Steve Miller Band, Willie Nelson, Gypsy Kings and many more the Red Butte Concert Series offers a fun casual summer concert experience.

Days of 47 Parade

/Pioneer Day if you couldn't get enough fireworks on just one day in July Utah has a solution for you. Every year on July 24th Utahan's celebrate the arrival of Mormon pioneers to the Salt Lake valley with fireworks, parades, a rodeo and BBQ's. Pioneer Day is a state holiday observed by the University of Utah.

Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah A 300 mile, multistage, pro-cycling event sanctioned by UCI this competition is not for armatures but offers free admission to the public.

RAGNAR is a popular 200 mile long, team relay event which takes place across Utah each year. You'll see this conspicuous little butterfly picture below on many read windows and bumpers across Utah.

Holi: Festival of Colors - In India, the Holi Festival (also known as the festival of colors due to the colorful powders thrown by observers) marks the beginning of Spring and the end of Winter. What ensues is a day of music, food and celebration at the Radha Krishna temple located at 311 W 8500 S, Spanish Fork, UT 84660.

Retail and Dining

City Creek Center Located in the heart of downtown at 50 Main St, Salt Lake City, UT 84144, City Creek Center is Salt Lake's premier shopping destination. The mall's impressive architecture features a glass sky bridge which crosses over bustling Main street as well as indoor greenery and streams containing fish. There are a variety of dining options, from the more formal dining experience at Brio Tuscan Grille to more casual American fare such as Johnny Rockets. City Creek Center is also host to number of world class retailers such as Apple, Banana Republic, Brooks Brothers, Coach, Disney, Express, H&M, Hugo Boss, J. Crew, Michael Kors, Steve Madden and Tiffany's.

Benihana located at 165 S W Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84101

Thanksgiving Point Boasting shops, restaurants, a golf course, a social hall which hosts events and classes, a movie theater and an Ancient Life Museum there is no entertainment at Thanksgiving Point located 3003 N. Thanksgiving Way Lehi, UT 84043 only 30 minutes from Salt Lake City.

Fun in the sun...and the snow!

Once summer's over, Utahans come out and play! Known for outdoor recreation and great great snow, Utah boasts several resorts which are open year round but draw visitors from around the world during winter months.

2250 Deer Valley Dr S, Park City, UT 84060

8841 N. Alpine Loop Road Sundance, Utah 84604

Park City

Brian Head

Oh Goody

Things are moving right along. After getting fired from my job last week on the 19th (I’m beginning to see a pattern where I only write on here when I’m unemployed), I have begun submitting applications anywhere and everywhere that pays a minimum of $13/hour. I completed a phone interview just now with a certain university which shall remained unnamed but for which I am dying to work for. I have worked here previously and would love to do so again. I felt the interview went well, despite my irrational nervousness (I know I am a qualified and capable candidate for the job of “Executive Secretary” which sounds scarier than it is). I was told I would be contacted to attend an in person interview and I’m buzzing with optimism and excitement at the prospect. On another positive note, I also checked my application status to the University of Utah and saw that I was admitted to fall semester, Hooray! However there is now a nasty $150 enrollment fee I have to take care of, that probably won’t be taken care of until I find a job since rent is due next week and I am very unemployed at the moment. I was therefore especially pleased to discover that I will be able to mitigate my complete and utter poverty, with unemployment insurance for which I have also been approved for at the tune of $257 per week. Enough to pay the rent and have a little something left over to keep the lights on and gas in the car. I fully plan on eating exclusively at my parents house and pretending I’m on a diet the rest of the time. I call it the poor, broke, unemployed, college student diet. Yum! Lastly, I sold my crappy rusty and dented grey four door 2001 Hyundai Elantra last week for a cool $800, which I held and caressed lovingly for a full 10 minutes before handing all of it over to my dad for his nicer, newer, crappy car a 2008 Kia Spectra (coincidentally also a grey four door sedan, minus the rust and dents.) All in all I must say things are coming along, despite my best efforts.

An update on joining the army: I turned in my eye exam to the Army recruiter and am waiting to receive my social security card in the mail. Once I have that and find my birth certificate which is buried somewhere in the document vault at my parents house, I should have all the paperwork that is required of me in order to go on to complete whatever is that “they” have you do at the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS).

#broke unemployed college collegelife movingalong interview army crappycar hustle

aimlessly drifting through space and time.

For far too long I have felt as though I am on the precipice of something, I have been preparing for something that never quite comes to pass. On the verge, poised, ready, eager, wiling and then nothing. I fear that this moment will pass me by only to be finally recognized by my untrained and restless mind in hindsight which would undoubtedly fill me with remorse. I’d rather take a decisive action in some direction, any direction, now while I have my youth, strength and intelligence than come to a definitive realization of what I should have done at some later point in time, when my strengths have faded. Life is for the living. I am alive today. One day we will all die. Whoever reads this will die. I will die too. I want to die doing something noble, something I believe in. I want to join the army. It is a great physical and mental challenge the kind which I have always chased in my own diminished and uneducated way. I don’t know if this is the, “right thing to do,” but I do believe that this is what I must do at this point in my life. I need to chose a direction. I’m done aimlessly drifting through my existence. I have the will, I have the ability most of all I have the belief that I posses these qualities and sometimes a firm belief and resolve in yourself is exactly what you need. I know the U.S. isn’t perfect but I do believe it is a lot better than many places on earth. I believe we are a strong nation, and we have uphold values I believe in. I want to stand up for and defend these values and way of life this adoptive mother land has given me. I would be proud to die as a soldier, although death is not what I want, but I recognize it is a reality of service. Again, I would be proud to serve and even die for my country. Death will come to me one way or other as it will for all of us it might as well come in the name of and service of this great country.

#NowPlaying Young Jesus by Logic

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#NowPlaying Oh My by Sweatshop Union

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#NowPlaying My House by Flo Rida

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#NowPlaying Oh My by Sweatshop Union

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#NowPlaying Me, Myself and I by Beyoncé

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#NowPlaying Frankenstein by The Grouch

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#MondayMorningJam #HappyMonday Calm Down (feat. Eminem) by Busta Rhymes from Calm Down (feat. Eminem) - Single

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amnhnyc

New Species of Human Relative Discovered

An international team of scientists has discovered a new species of human relative, Homo naledi, which appears to demonstrate that modern humans are not unique in practicing ritualized treatment of the dead.

“Homo naledi is an extraordinary new discovery, both in terms of the unique combination of features found in its skeleton and its inferred behavior,” said William Harcourt-Smith, a co-author on the paper who is a resident research associate in the Museum’s Division of Paleontology and an assistant professor at CUNY’s Lehman College.

The initial discovery was made in 2013 in a cave known as Rising Star in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, some 50 kilometers (30 miles) northwest of Johannesburg, South Africa, by University of the Witwatersrand scientists and six cavers who are being called “underground astronauts.”

H. naledi was named after the location: “naledi” means “star” in the local Sesotho language. The finds were announced earlier today by the University of the Witwatersrand, the National Geographic Society, and the South African National Research Foundation and described in two papers published in the journal eLife.

Perhaps most remarkably, the location and nature of the discovery has led the researchers to conclude that this hominin deliberately disposed of bodies—a form of ritualized behavior previously thought to be unique to modern humans.

The fossils—which include remains of infants, children, adults, and elderly individuals—were found in a room deep underground that the team named the Dinaledi Chamber, or “Chamber of Stars” in Sesotho. That room has “always been isolated from other chambers and never been open directly to the surface,” said Paul Dirks of James Cook University in Australia, lead author of the accompanying eLife paper on the context of the find. “What’s important for people to understand is that the remains were found practically alone in this remote chamber in the absence of any other major fossil animals.”

The team notes that the bones bear no marks of scavengers or carnivores or any other signs that non-hominin agents or even natural processes, such as moving water, carried these individuals into the chamber.

“We explored every alternative scenario, including mass death, an unknown carnivore, water transport from another location, or accidental death in a death trap, among others,” said team leader Lee Berger, research professor in the Evolutionary Studies Institute at the University of the Witwatersrand and a National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence, who led the two expeditions that discovered and recovered the fossils. “In examining every other option, we were left with intentional body disposal by Homo naledi as the most plausible scenario.”

So far the team has recovered more than 1,500 fossil elements belonging to at least 15 individuals, a wealth of fossil material that is expected to shed new light on the origins and diversity of our genus. A small fraction of the fossils are believed to remain in the chamber.

“With almost every bone in the body represented multiple times, Homo naledi is already practically the best-known fossil member of our lineage,” Berger said.

The new research shows that an average H. naledi stood about 5 feet tall and weighed about 100 pounds. With a tiny brain—about the size of an orange—a slender body, ape-like shoulders, and curved fingers that demonstrate climbing capabilities, H. naledi looks like one of the most primitive members of our genus. But it also had some surprisingly human-like features.

Its feet, for instance, are “virtually indistinguishable from those of modern humans,” said Harcourt-Smith. This, combined with its long legs, suggests that the species was well suited to long-distance walking.

The discovery is featured as the cover story of National Geographic magazine’s October 2015 issue, available online now.

This post was originally published on the Museum blog.

americasgreatoutdoors

Brown bears are skilled hunters, and Katmai National Park and Preserve provides a vast, unspoiled area for them to travel in search of food. To prepare for the coming winter, the bears of Katmai have watched and learned the habits of sockeye salmon.

In the past weeks, the place to be has been Moraine and Funnel Creeks, located in the Katmai Preserve. These two creeks run in the high tundra, at eleven hundred feet, where the landscape has been carved into smooth slopes and gentle ridges by ancient glaciers. The salmon begin arriving in early August after an impressive 100-mile journey up the serpentine Alagnak River and through Kukaklek Lake. Here, the brown bears await the salmon’s arrival. In this picture, a brown bear makes intimidating eye contact while chasing salmon. Photo by Rebecca Wilks (www.sharetheexperience.org)