#learning2026 — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #learning2026, aggregated by home.social.
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Moina Michael and the Remembrance Poppy
Inspired by Col. John McCrae's poem, In Fladers Fields, Georgia resident and professor Moina Michael championed the remembrance poppy following World War I. Sara Freeland, writing for UGA Today, explained: She also launched a national letter-writing campaign encouraging others to adopt the poppy. The American Legion designated the red poppy as its official flower in 1920, and distribution of poppies became a Legion national program in 1924. Michael passed away in 1944. According to her […]https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/moina-michael-remembrance-poppy-05-25-26/
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Weighing Large Owls
I have never had to weigh an owl before, much less a large owl. But in the event I were ever called upon to weigh a large owl, I learned from MARS Wildlife Rescue, via Owls in Towels (see Owls in Towels re-post) that I should first “burrito” the large owl in a towel and then gently place the likely malcontent large owl upside down in a box on a scale. I suspect that the ultimately successful pigeon rescue I assisted Victor V. Gurbo with back in 2023 would have gone smoother had we […]https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/weighing-large-owls-05-13-26/
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Learning About Preserving Strawberry Freshness
I came across a blog post by Chris Glass titled Strawberries were on sale. Having not long ago published an article about once purchasing out-of-season cherries on sale. I had to open. While Mr. Glass’ post came as advertised, I found a tip. After purchasing his for-sale strawberries, he soaked them in one part white vinegar and three parts water for 10 minutes to “extend their freshness.” I have found that the appearance of strawberries deteriorates quickly, so I will have to study […]https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/learning-about-preserving-strawberry-freshness-05-07-26/
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Development of the Anglerfish Lure
I am a long-time admirer of the anglerfish, one of the ocean's most aesthetic creatures. The University of Kansas news service published a news release about an open access study vt Alex J. Maile and Matthew P. Davis titled The Evolution of Lures in Anglerfishes (Acanthuriformes: Lophioidei): Investigating Nature's Tackle Box. The summary notes that researchers believe that the anglerfish lure first developed in the modern anglerfish's ancestors about 72 million years ago. The researchers […]https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/development-of-the-anglerfish-lure-04-20-26/
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Pook-Emu Bee: Links For 04-20-26
I present for your reading enjoyment our daily selection of Pook-Emu Bee links for Monday, April 20, 2026. 1. AI Use Appears to Have a "Boiling Frog" Effect on Human Cognition, New Study Warns (Maggie Harrison Dupré for Futurtism. April 14, 2026.) The top-line results are consistent with my priors. While I am not sure how useful the specific methodology of the study is, I appreciate that it used solving math problems as an example in light of my recent NLJ post, AI Today, Calculators Back […]https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/pook-emu-bee-links-for-04-20-26/
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Yellow-Capped Passover Coca Cola
I never paid much attention to the color of caps on bottles of Coca Cola. In fact, I do not think I bought a bottle of Coca Cola in almost two years. But thanks to a 2014 article in Food & Wine, I learned that Coca Cola makes yellow-capped Coke for Passover (HT Dan Lewis at Now I Know). This Coke, like Mexican Coca Cola, is sweetened by sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup. The New York Post wrote about the Passover Coca Cola before this year's Passover. Citing to the New York Times, the […]https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/yellow-capped-passover-coca-cola-04-16-26/
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Unique Individual Scoring Games in NBA History
I recently published a new NBA research project inspired by Bam Adebayo’s 83-point eruption on March 10, 2026. Noting that Bam Adebayo is a modest scorer in the pantheon of NBA players who scored 60 points in a single game (much less 70 or 80 points in a game), I created a comprehensive survey evaluating how many points per game and points per 36 minutes players averaged in the seasons in which they scored 60 or more points at least once (HT Basketball Reference). While looking at my […]https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/unique-individual-scoring-games-in-nba-history-04-15-26/
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Unique Individual Scoring Games in NBA History
I recently published a new NBA research project inspired by Bam Adebayo’s 83-point eruption on March 10, 2026. Noting that Bam Adebayo is a modest scorer in the pantheon of NBA players who scored 60 points in a single game (much less 70 or 80 points in a game), I created a comprehensive survey evaluating how many points per game and points per 36 minutes players averaged in the seasons in which they scored 60 or more points at least once (HT Basketball Reference). While looking at my […]https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/unique-individual-scoring-games-in-nba-history-04-15-26/
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Unique Individual Scoring Games in NBA History
I recently published a new NBA research project inspired by Bam Adebayo’s 83-point eruption on March 10, 2026. Noting that Bam Adebayo is a modest scorer in the pantheon of NBA players who scored 60 points in a single game (much less 70 or 80 points in a game), I created a comprehensive survey evaluating how many points per game and points per 36 minutes players averaged in the seasons in which they scored 60 or more points at least once (HT Basketball Reference). While looking at my […]https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/unique-individual-scoring-games-in-nba-history-04-15-26/
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Unique Individual Scoring Games in NBA History
I recently published a new NBA research project inspired by Bam Adebayo’s 83-point eruption on March 10, 2026. Noting that Bam Adebayo is a modest scorer in the pantheon of NBA players who scored 60 points in a single game (much less 70 or 80 points in a game), I created a comprehensive survey evaluating how many points per game and points per 36 minutes players averaged in the seasons in which they scored 60 or more points at least once (HT Basketball Reference). While looking at my […]https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/unique-individual-scoring-games-in-nba-history-04-15-26/
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Learning About Zespri RubyRed Kiwi
I learned two things from Kat & Satoshi's April 6, 2026 post on Our Adventures in Japan (see the first). The post featured four photos. The last of four photos shows slices of yellow-orange-red kiki on a plate (see their kiwi photo). Granting that I am not a big kiwi person, every kiwi I have seen has been green. Through Wikipedia, I identified Kat & Satoshi's red kiwi as the Zespri RubyRed variety. Specialty Produce's page on the RubyRed kiwi provides the history of the fruit: Between 2005 […]https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/learning-about-zespri-rubyred-kiwi-04-13-26/
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Asian Carp and Gefilte Fish
I have read about the invasive Asian carp problem in U.S. waterways. But I learned something new from Dan Lewis' aptly named "Now I Know" blog: Asian carp is commonly used in gefilte fish. I must confess that I have never tasted gefilte fish. The jars of it at the grocery store do not make it look appetizing. Does learning that Asian carp is often used in the making of gefilte fish change my view? Not at all. Asian carp do not look tasty to me. But with that being said, I would certainly take […]https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/asian-carp-and-gefilte-fish-04-13-26/
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Asian Carp and Gefilte Fish
I have read about the invasive Asian carp problem in U.S. waterways. But I learned something new from Dan Lewis' aptly named "Now I Know" blog: Asian carp is commonly used in gefilte fish. I must confess that I have never tasted gefilte fish. The jars of it at the grocery store do not make it look appetizing. Does learning that Asian carp is often used in the making of gefilte fish change my view? Not at all. Asian carp do not look tasty to me. But with that being said, I would certainly take […]https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/asian-carp-and-gefilte-fish-04-13-26/
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Asian Carp and Gefilte Fish
I have read about the invasive Asian carp problem in U.S. waterways. But I learned something new from Dan Lewis' aptly named "Now I Know" blog: Asian carp is commonly used in gefilte fish. I must confess that I have never tasted gefilte fish. The jars of it at the grocery store do not make it look appetizing. Does learning that Asian carp is often used in the making of gefilte fish change my view? Not at all. Asian carp do not look tasty to me. But with that being said, I would certainly take […]https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/asian-carp-and-gefilte-fish-04-13-26/
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Asian Carp and Gefilte Fish
I have read about the invasive Asian carp problem in U.S. waterways. But I learned something new from Dan Lewis' aptly named "Now I Know" blog: Asian carp is commonly used in gefilte fish. I must confess that I have never tasted gefilte fish. The jars of it at the grocery store do not make it look appetizing. Does learning that Asian carp is often used in the making of gefilte fish change my view? Not at all. Asian carp do not look tasty to me. But with that being said, I would certainly take […]https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/asian-carp-and-gefilte-fish-04-13-26/
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Asian Carp and Gefilte Fish
I have read about the invasive Asian carp problem in U.S. waterways. But I learned something new from Dan Lewis' aptly named "Now I Know" blog: Asian carp is commonly used in gefilte fish. I must confess that I have never tasted gefilte fish. The jars of it at the grocery store do not make it look appetizing. Does learning that Asian carp is often used in the making of gefilte fish change my view? Not at all. Asian carp do not look tasty to me. But with that being said, I would certainly take […]https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/asian-carp-and-gefilte-fish-04-13-26/
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Japan’s Oil Imports
Access to natural resources has long been a challenge for Japan (see e.g., World War II). According to a report by Alex Kimani for OilPrice.com, prior to the commencement of Operation Epic Fury, Japan was importing 90% of its oil from the Middle East (Saudi Arabia and the UAE its top suppliers). Moreover, approximately 95% of Japan's oil imports passed through the Strait of Hormuz. The report notes that Japan is looking to diversify its oil supplies: Japan is reaching out to suppliers in […]https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/japan-oil-imports-04-07-26/
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The Former Bronx Zoo Platypuses
I am a fan of the platypus. But I have never seen a platypus in person, for I live in New York City and not Australia. But thanks to a 2023 article in Mental Floss, I now know that New York City's Bronx Zoo welcomed three platypuses in 1947 and three more in 1958 after the last of the three 1947 platypuses passed away (it previously had a platypus in 1922). All three of the 1958 platypuses died within a year of arriving in the Bronx Zoo, which seems to have caused the Bronx Zoo to give up on […]https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/the-former-bronx-zoo-platypuses-04-04-26/
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Jehovah’s Witnesses Remove WATCHTOWER Sign in Brooklyn (2017)
In the March 12 edition of Pook-Emu Bee, I shared a link to a story about a proposal to turn the former Jehovah's Witness Watchtower buildings on Columbia Heights (between Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO) into apartments. When the Jehovah's Witnesses owned the building, they had a giant red "WATCHTOWER" sign over their headquarters that was something of a landmark in the "Brooklyn skyline." I remember when the WATCHTOWER sign came down in the late 2010s. While reading more news about what may be […]https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/jw-remove-watchtower-sign-in-brooklyn-2017-03-24-26/
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U.S. States With Alienation of Affection Laws
According to WRAL News on November 11, 2025, six U.S. states still still have alienation of affection laws: Hawaii, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Dakota, and Utah. I knew about North Carolina and Mississippi, but I do not think I knew the other four. North Carolina's alienation of affection law is in the news with former U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema (Arizona) facing a lawsuit.https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/us-states-with-alienation-of-affection-laws-03-17-26/
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The Oldest Known Mallard
I subscribe to Cornell Lab's All About Birds RSS feed. Through the feed, I learned that "[t]he oldest known Mallard was a male, and at least 27 years, 7 months old when he was shot in Arkansas in 2008. He had been banded in Louisiana in 1981." Impressive, albeit an unfortunate end to a mallard life well-lived.https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/the-oldest-known-mallard-03-04-26/
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Things I Learned: Berlin’s Road Salt Ban
I am used to seeing road salt in New York City before and after it snows. A couple of years ago (definitely during the Eric Adams administration), I recall having noted remarkable amounts of road salt in the street near Atlantic Avenue in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. We are in the midst of what I would describe as a subpar snow clean-up, and perhaps coincidentally, I have observed less salt than in other recent snows. But while I have come to expect road salt, I learned from Brussels Signal that my […]https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/berlin-road-salt-ban-02-11-26/
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Things I Learned: Official Languages in Russia
From a January 12, 2026 Jamestown Foundation report by Vadim Shtepa: The Karelian language has no official status in Russia because it is written in the Latin alphabet, as only those written in Cyrillic can be official languages of Russian republics. Thus, I learned that only languages that use the Cyrillic alphabet can be granted "official status" in Russia. This reminded me of something I learned which inspired me to write Similarities between Moldovan and Romanian on The New Leaf […]https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/official-languages-in-russia-01-16-26/
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Things I Learned: Official Languages in Russia
From a January 12, 2026 Jamestown Foundation report by Vadim Shtepa: The Karelian language has no official status in Russia because it is written in the Latin alphabet, as only those written in Cyrillic can be official languages of Russian republics. Thus, I learned that only languages that use the Cyrillic alphabet can be granted "official status" in Russia. This reminded me of something I learned which inspired me to write Similarities between Moldovan and Romanian on The New Leaf […]https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/official-languages-in-russia-01-16-26/