I really hope David Attenborough releases a documentary this year. Having one more decade listed here would truly be an amazing accomplishment; to educate people over the span of an eighty year career! Attenborough was always a joy to listen to growing up. #AttenboroughRocks #Amw from Instagram: https://ift.tt/2vcXwId

One of my challenges for 2020 is to produce a decent piece of artwork by the end of June. So I figured I would post each weeks progress as I start to try and develop my artistic skills.
I have never been much of a creative sketcher, and was always better at technical drawings, or imitations. So this weeks bit of art is a copy of a mouse photo I found online. Not too bad for my first attempt.
#2020ArtProject #musmusculus #amw from Instagram: https://ift.tt/2QugsKu

Sometimes I ask people if they know about some fact only to find they have absolutely no idea what it is (the example today was the Chernobyl disaster), and I am amazed they don’t know about it. I wonder how it is that someone has gone their whole life without knowing this seemingly basic fact of the world, or history. You see similar videos on YouTube where general members of the public are quizzed on the street (usually on current events, history, or geography), with the aim being to show how ignorant people are, and then more ‘educated’ people lament the populations ignorance.
But really, it just makes me think: “Geez, what are all the things that I don’t know that other people would be amazed at my ignorance of?”. What whole sections of human experience am I not aware of my own limited understanding of. It makes me more enthralled at the enormity of the human experience, rather than despair at people lack of certain knowledge.
Just a random thought.
#randomthoughtforarandomphoto #amw from Instagram: https://ift.tt/2sSdnux

Book 56 for 2019: The Wisdom of Wolves.
I have read a couple of books on wolves lately, American Wolf: A True Story of Survival and Obsession in the West, and The Last Wolf. Both were great books about these animals, both in their reintroduction into Yellowstone, and then a reflection on their lost place within Scotland.
This new book delves into an experimental observation of a pack of wolves living with a couple of American documentarians, and portrays the inner lives of these animals. Warning; you may get the feels… #2019inBooks #wolves #amw from Instagram: https://ift.tt/2q4okYu

Book 55 for 2019: Charles Darwin – Autobiographies.
Just starting this book tonight. I have yet to delve into Darwin’s Voyage of the Beagle, but figured this little book might be a good appetizer.
It is strange to read a book where the publishers introduction has to spend so much time trying to justify the printing of the book, when it seems pretty clear that Darwin didn’t want these writings to reach the public eye. Rather he wanted some of his inner story put down for his family to read in the future; something he wishes he had to peer into the mind of his famous grandfather.
#2019inbooks #charlesdarwin #reluctantautobiographer #amw from Instagram: https://ift.tt/36x97zL

Book 54 for 2019: Rive Out of Eden.

It has been a while since I read a Richard Dawkins book. When I first discovered his scientific writing back in 2006 I was amazed at how he was able to bring evolutionary theory alive; how thanks to his writing I was able to take evolution as something I simply understood to have taken place, and transition it into something I had a deep understanding of how it actually takes place.
More recently his books have swerved into other directions, focusing on biography and atheism. Which is fine no doubt; his The God Delusion was an amazing book and did a lot to ‘normalise’ atheism, at least from an unbelievers point of view. And yes, he may be more controversial these days with Twitter and all that (then again who isn’t?), but either way it was great to go back to one of his evolution focused books and remind myself why I loved the man’s writing so much.
Yes there are the usual jibes at religion in there (and given the state of things, as well there should be), but this book is once again a fascinating journey into the way that life functions, and how evolution as its guidance force can be used as a tool of great explanatory power.
Plus the audiobook is narrated by Dawkins, whose accent I love, and his wife Lalla Ward. Which is lovely.
#2019InBooks #RichardDawkinsIsAwesome #riveroutofeden #amw from Instagram: https://ift.tt/2r6hqlL

Book 53 for 2019: The Hidden Life of Trees. (Audible)
I have been wanting to read this book for ages, so I guess listening to it is the next best thing. This is one of those books whose influence I felt coming from many directions over the past few years, whether it be in articles talking about plant communication, tv shows discussing the possibility of plants moral rights, or documentaries about the life of plants. There has been a growing trend in tree based facts drawing me closer.
Not to mention that working closely with an arborist for years has helped give me a better appreciation for trees as living things, rather than just the backdrop for nature documentaries (thanks @fat_tony73 ).
This book was a real eye opener (a theme for a few of my books this year). I never knew how complex trees lives were, how social they were, or how advanced their physiology was. Trees can tell what time of year it is, count the number of days over a certain temperature, communicate with their neighbours, and share nutrients with their family members. Trees raise their young, and foster relationships with other plants, funghi, and animals.
If you want to start delving into the world of trees, I definitely recommend getting a hold of this book.
Also, if you love a good bit of Sci-Fi, take a look at Semiosis by Sue Burke. Its set on an alien planet where the human colonists have to work with a local intelligent plant to survive, and much of the learnings from The Hidden Life of Trees is represented within the story (though with the usual science fiction extrapolations).
#2019inBooks #hiddenlifeoftrees #TurnsOutTreesArePrettyBadass #JustFoundOutThereIsASequelToSemiosisThatCameOutThisMonth #amw from Instagram: https://ift.tt/2pjg5aM

I have gotten on the audiobook bandwagon recently and have been loving the experience. But one weird side effect I have Discovered recently is that when I am reading anything now, whether it be emails, or work documents, or even Reddit; my internal monologue takes on the voice of the narrators I have been listening to. Pretty cool when I have Alfred Molina or James France in my head, somewhat stranger when it is Jon Ronsons Welsh accent in my mental ears all day… #audiobooksrock #audible #hijackedinnermonologue #amw from Instagram: https://ift.tt/32BUlVB

Enjoying the Scottish Export at @cubbyhausbrewing #piningtoreturntoscotland #beers from Instagram: https://ift.tt/2xvaaAi

This is how you start your birthday right; out for breakfast with @minilizziebean and @saurwarlockx enjoying a sneaky morning Peroni. #goodbyeearlythirties #hello34 #imold #neverworkonyourbirthday from Instagram: https://ift.tt/2BS2Mna