Notes from a Hopeful American

Scanning the news for the positive

Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Tucker says it’s been kind of a scary day. Maybe he’ll just stay in bed a little longer.

From: “My Modern Met”

A friend sent a link to this epic photo essay about Siberia’s Indigenous People. Photographer Alexander Khimushin spent 6 months in Siberia traveling alone for 15,000 miles in a small SUV. He traveled from the shores of Lake Baikal to the coast of the Japan Sea visiting many ethnic minority groups, some as small as a few dozen people. In spite of harsh temperatures and small populations, the pride the people feel towards their culture is unmistakable.

Photo: Uilta Girl. North of Sakhalin Island, Siberia. Alexander Khimushin

From: KATC 3 Acadiana’s News Channel

Restoration is now underway at North Breton Island, at the southern end of the Breton National Refuge, which was created by President Roosevelt in 1904. “Without restoration, the island would dwindle to a sand bar by the early 2030s,” the U.S. Geologic Survey has said. With a history of natural erosion, and two oil spills, including the BP spill in 2010, hurricanes Katrina and Rita destroyed another 80% of the island chain’s land area in 2005.

“North Breton now houses one of Louisiana’s largest colonies of water birds, including one of the largest pelican nesting areas,” the Fish and Wildlife Service said.

Photo: Breton National Wildlife Refuge, Wikipedia

From: The “LATimes”

Patches, a pet cat thought to have died in the 2018 Montecito mudslides is found alive. On January 9, 2018, a torrential rain storm, that followed the Thomas Fire, sent a torrent of rushing water, debris and boulders down a hillside in Montecito. Twenty-three people were killed that night, including Patches’ owner, Josie Gower. Almost three years later, Patches was brought to the Animal Shelter Assistance Program in Santa Barbara County. A microchip scan revealed that the little cat was indeed Patches; she was reunited with Gower’s partner, Norm Borgatello, on New Year’s Eve.

A livestream ceremony to remember the 23 people who died in the mudslides was held last week on the third anniversary of what has become known as the “1/9 Debris Flow.”

Photo: Jillian Title/Animal Shelter Assistance Program

Links:

https://mymodernmet.com/alexander-khimunshin-indigenous-people-siberia/

https://tracywren.substack.com/publish/post/31335251

https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2021-01-13/missing-cat-montecito-mudslides-found-alive