Strapped into a tethered contraption that looked like a rocket with a propeller and handlebars, a journalist goes for a stomach-churning ride down a steep valley and up the other side. At speeds up to 100 mph.

I may not have power for much longer. Ominous dimmings keep occurring, giant limbs are falling off the redwood tree, lots of sirens in the background. Unfortunately, I have to head out in this muck at 4:00.

Also from National Geographic: the Crab Nebula in astonishing clarity.

The giant creatures moved on land, although maybe only near the water’s edge. Scientists say the tracks (330 million years old) indicate that the arthropods walked slowly.

Yesterday, I planted 25 daffodils, 100 scallions, and hundreds of California poppy seeds. Then I strode briskly around the Costco acreage, and through one clothing store. If the ankle looks somewhat puffy in the preceding post, that’s why.

It’s gusting up to 50 mph out, raining. Inside, I get to wear my new fuzzy socks and maybe have some hot cocoa.

Many of their designs are $10. A steal, actually.

I have an aunt who weighs less than 80 lbs. In past years, I’ve scoured the little girls’ departments looking for a pair of pajamas that doesn’t have Lilo and Stitch on the front. Or glitter. For all I know, she might go to bed each night wearing a Barbie nightgown.

This year, I finally found the perfect sleepwear for her at Lands’ End, an unadorned, fleecy pair in girly colors.

More lively Christmas music as I study size charts and free shipping requirements.

The chat line to customer help didn’t seem to work, or else they’re too busy. The request for a call back is pending.

I just want to know if they will hold the goods for a couple of weeks so the gifts won’t arrive in Canada way too early.

Shipping to Canada can hold unpleasant surprises. One year there was a mail strike. The weather can be a huge factor. Sometimes, packages only arrive after going through a mangler. But some years, gifts get there in the nick of time, and everyone has a warm glow.

Little Christmas. Doing some online shopping while working. Need some help getting in the Christmas mood.

The bio-paper is made of a thin, biodegradable, gel-like material, the bio-ink is filled with cells. The stacks of printed paper are assembled in stacks thousands of sheets thick. Once the paper disintegrates, the cells take on a specific form, such as a hollow blood vessel.

The ability to identify a species from a bit of tissue in a hand-held device? Such a futuristic tool may not be so far-fetched after all, as scientists find ways to access databases with lower error rates.