mjh's blog

61 Amazing Kite Aerial Photography Images

Sixty-one are a lot, but some are quite cool. peace, mjh

61 Amazing Kite Aerial Photography Images by Darren Rowse

Note that Rowse is the collector / editor, not the photographer.

Oñate Had His Thanksgiving in 1598 in New Mexico

Oñate Had His Thanksgiving in 1598
By Donald A. Chavez y Gilbert, Freelance Writer, Thursday, November 25, 2004

Thanksgiving Day is a holiday which has a much longer history than most Americans realize.

The first recorded act of giving thanks by Europeans on this continent occurred April 30, 1598, as the Oñate muster arrived on the banks of El Rio Bravo, the Rio Grande. That was almost a quarter century before the Pilgrims anchored the Mayflower at Plymouth Rock on Nov. 21, 1620.

New Mexico’s official flag until 1925, plus a beautiful interpretation of “crescit eundo”

I missed these two items when they were timely, a month ago. Just stumbled upon them in my archives.

New Mexico Politics with Joe Monahan

That flag photo accompanying today’s lead piece may not look familiar, but it was in our state’s early days. From 1912 to 1925 it was the official state flag. Since then the easily recognizable Zia symbol flag has flown proudly.

posted by mjh at December 3, 2004 11:13 AM

ABQjournal: Letters to the Editor

Thunderbolt in Motion

THE MUCH-CRITICIZED state motto "crescit eundo" is actually a quotation from the first-century B.C. Latin poet Lucretius in his epic poem De Rerum Natura, "On The Nature of Things," book 6.

In context it refers to the motion of a thunderbolt across the sky, which acquires power and momentum as it goes. Whoever chose that as a state motto in the old frontier days obviously knew the classics.

Once one realizes that the motto is comparing the state of New Mexico to a mighty thunderbolt flashing across the sky, it gives a whole new meaning to the expression.

WARREN SMITH
Professor of classics, University of New Mexico
Albuquerque

Other entry by mjh at March 22, 2005 11:19 AM

xkcd: Wrong Superhero – damn, I’m still laughing

xkcd: Wrong Superhero

xkcd: Wrong Superhero

A big grin for everyone who is correct to a fault.

OMG – I could NOT do that

Surreal Scenics (9 Photos) | PDN Photo of the Day

© Jimmy Chin. Meru Expedition, Garwhal, India.

Surreal Scenics (9 Photos) | PDN Photo of the Day

Years ago, I saw a Nat Geo photo of someone “camped” on the face of Half Dome in Yosemite. The photo almost gave me vertigo, more so than this one, but this is beyond amazing.

Space shuttle era ends with Atlantis

I’m late with this, but these photos are amazing.

Space shuttle era ends with Atlantis – The Big Picture – Boston.com

The space shuttle Atlantis flies over the Bahamas prior to a perfect docking with the International Space Station on July 10, 2011. Part of a Russian Progress spacecraft docked to the station is in the foreground. (AP Photo/NASA)

Space shuttle era ends with Atlantis – The Big Picture – Boston.com

Happy Dependence Day!

Head over to NewMexiKen’s for the story of the conquest of New Mexico (a continuing saga of 13,000 years or so):

NewMexiKen | New Mexico

New Mexico officially became part of the United States 164 years ago today when 1,600 troops under General Stephen Watts Kearny raised the American flag over the plaza in the Royal City of the Holy Faith of Saint Francis (Santa Fe), reportedly as the sun broke through the overcast sky. There had been little or no resistance. (It came at Taos the following January.)

August 18. Gen. Kearney proceeded through the pass and at 5 pm reached hill that overlooks Santa Fe. …

NewMexiKen | New Mexico