ricardo vacapinta

A candidate for the title of greatest physicist of the 20th century was a Chinese woman: Chien-Shiung Wu. One of my heroes.

The only Chinese person on the Manhattan project. Only she could figure out Uranium separation.

Her greatest work came later, when she devised a mind-blowing experiment that showed the world we see in the mirror doesn't obey the same laws of physics. Male colleagues got the Nobel Prize for it, of course.

She was nominated for the Nobel 23 times.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chien-Shiung_Wu

One of my oldest friends was telling me stories about his grandfather John. At one point, at the age of 99, John Miller was the oldest active pilot in the US. He started flying in 1922 and was the first to fly a rotorcraft across the US. He was also a famous cross-dresser under the name Felicity Chandelle, photographed by Mariette Pathy Allen.

Despite all that he was overshadowed by his better-known sister Lee Miller.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Miller_(aviator)

https://tgforum.com/felicity-chandelle-1905-2008-pilot-and-crossdresser/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Miller

They're here!!!!
Each year I watch for the swifts returning from Africa to our neighborhood in Amsterdam. Saw a small group doing their swooping and screaming over our heads this morning.

Apr 24, 2020
May 3, 2021
May 6, 2022
Apr 29, 2023
Apr 28, 2024
Apr 27, 2025
Apr 26, 2026

#gierzwaluw #gierzwaluwen #Amsterdam #swifts

Our little Baobab.

C. insists it's named Senghor. But for me Bob the Baobab just flows off the tongue so easily.

Netherlands cabinet just approved funding a 49 euro a month train ticket this summer which allows unlimited travel across the country- outside of a few weekday rush hours!
Fun!
https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/actueel/nieuws/2026/05/22/voorstel-voor-onbeperkt-treinreizen-in-de-daluren-gedurende-de-zomer

Happy Portuguese Carnation Revolution Day!! A bloodless revolution is something that can be done.

Found a fantastic bookstore in Lisbon called Gondwanaland. Books from the Southern Hemisphere. Many Argentinian writers and other Latin Americans but also African writers. Most books in their original language if possible!

Picked up books by Donoso, Chejfec and Aira as seen below.
I adore Chejfec, one of the great modern writers I think.

@Remittancegirl@mstdn.social This is one of the best meals!

Biked out to the Rijn Kanal this evening - the canal that connects Amsterdam to the Rhine. Such pleasant biking. I cannot imagine ever leaving this country, for the bike paths alone.
#Amsterdam

The Seagull Screeching Championship in Belgium makes me unreasonably happy. Maybe next year!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXjBjd1FZAk

There's more international (not Dutch or English) bookshops opening in Amsterdam!

-French
Le Temps Retrouvé
Le Chat Noir

-Italian
Alfabeto Libri

-Spanish
The Book Nook

-Russian
Pegasus

Any others? I know Athenaeum (the best Dutch bookstore) has many books in other languages too. A large Japanese bookstore like Junku in Paris would be great.
#Amsterdam #boekhandel