Fun, Factual, Weird, and Breathtaking: 2016

Thursday, June 30, 2016

Marcelo De Castro Engineer/Nature and Travel Photographer

While seeing the world while traveling for his job, Marcelo De Castro began his creative relationship with photography. Since 2010, his love for nature and the outdoors has directed his focus to landscape photography.

Neuschwanstein Castle in the Bavarian Alps

Photo: Marcelo De Castro

The Neuschwanstein Castle has always been my favorite castle and my hope is to see it in the future. Hours have been spent placing the pieces of the 1,000 piece puzzle to create the complete image. This winter photo by Marcelo is one that truly captures the mystery and beauty of this amazing castle.

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes at sunset

Photo: Marcelo De Castro

For the sake of photography, Marcelo now visits places he normally would not go, at times he normally would not be traveling, and braves weather which previously would have kept him inside. Photography has broadened the scope of his travel in the hope of discovering new places to find the perfect scene.

Giza Plateau, Egypt

Photo: Marcelo De Castro

Marcelo grew up in Brasil and lived a large portion of his life in the United States where he graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in electrical engineering.

Visit Marcelo's Website to see his featured photos in National Geographic Traveller, National Geographic Rarely Seen, Destinations of a Lifetime, Fotografe Melhor (Brasil), and Photo Digital (Germany).

Above Guangxi Mountains
Southern China six-image stitched panorama

Photo: Marcelo De Castro

Marcelo behind the scenes
in the Mandalay Region of Myanmar

Sources:

Website

Facebook

Google+

(Google+ is now obsolete.)

Sunday, June 5, 2016

Voluntary Recalls from Kashi, Meadow Gold, and Quaker Oats

May 31, 2016

Many off the U.S. Food and Drug Administration links provided at the time of the recalls have now been archived.

Kashi Company Recalls One Variety of Granola Bars

and One Variety of Naked Granola

Kashi Company voluntarily recalls Kashi® Trail Mix Chewy Granola Bars and Bear Naked® Soft Baked Granola, Cinnamon + Sunflower Butter in the continental United states due to containing ingredients made with sunflower seeds distributed by SunOpta which have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

This can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems. Visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for more photos, codes, and dates to identify the recalled products.

June 1, 2016

Meadow Gold Dairy Recalls Whipping Cream

and Half and Half

Photo: Food Safety News

The Meadow Gold Diary plant in Boise voluntarily recalls Meadow Gold brand Old Style Whipping Cream and Meadow Gold DairyPure brand Whipping Cream and Half and Half because of insufficient pasteurization. Pathogens which may have survived which are present in the raw milk include Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria, and/or E. coli. These could cause serious or life threatening issues. Visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for more photos, codes, and dates to identify the recalled products.

June 2, 2016

Quaker Oats Recalls Quinoa Granola Bars

The Quaker Oats Company does a second voluntary recall of ALL Quaker® Quinoa Granola Bars due to further sunflower kernel contamination discovered by ingredient supplier SunOpta. Quaker issued a recall on May 16, 2016, on a small quantity of Quinoa Bars which were potentially contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. This can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems. Visit the U.S. Food andDrug Administration for more photos, codes, and dates to identify the recalled products.

Sources:

U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

The Faces of South African Artist, Gerhard van Vuuren

Faces provide identity, display emotion, and house the sources for the portions of our being which provide for two of the human senses, both seeing and taste.

Faith
Gerhard van Vuuren

Thandeka
Gerhard van Vuuren

Gerhard van Vuuren began drawing and painting in elementary school allowing him to win prizes for his art. Drawing biology sketches for fellow students in high school gave him the opportunity to begin making money for his incredible talent.

Being color blind has worked as an asset when painting by removing the prescribed limits of color which others might see. Gerhard’s unique presentation brings life to the portraits he creates somewhat in the abstract, but at the same time being very realistic.

Stoic
Gerhard van Vuuren

The following two paintings from his Proverbs and Idioms series invite the viewer to explore the meaning of the portrait.

Swallows
Gerhard van Vuuren

Neck in Neck
Gerhard van Vuuren

Using mostly acrylic, Gerhard has developed various methods of his own for creating the interesting effects we see in his portraits. Focusing primarily in female portraits, his male portraits, murals, drawings, and furniture painting also reflect a style which is completely his own.

Contemporary Seascape
Gerhard van Vuuren

Which colors would define your portrait?

Gerhard van Vuuren
Pretoria, South Africa

Sources:

Sunday, May 15, 2016

Haberdasher Extraordinaire, Maor Zabar!

In today’s world, the term haberdasher is most generally used to describe a clothing outfitter for men. Haberdasher is derived from the Middle English word hapertas, which was an Anglo-French word for a type of cloth, as is the now obsolete noun haberdash, which once meant petty merchandise or small wares such as sewing needles and thimbles. However, throughout history, the term haberdasher has referred to someone who deals in hats or caps. With that being said, I would now like to introduce Maor Zabar, Haberdasher Extraordinaire!

Pitcher Plant Fascinator
inspired by the deadly Sarracenia pitcher plant
Photo: good jude

As the grandson of a tailor, Maor Zabar began playing with fabric and learned how to sew at an early age. His studies in fashion and costume design led him to the creation of many complex costumes invoking a unique dreamlike appeal.

Racing Hat with Dragonflies

Photo: good jude

Having always loved hats, Maor’s basic learning from a milliner impelled him to begin experimentation to discover new ways to mold and manipulate fabrics. With the addition of beads, fur, plastic, paint, and a variety of themed items, this stunning line of hats became filled with true works of art.

Baby Chicks in the Meadow Fascinator
Photo: good jude

After seeing Maor’s costumes featured in a play, Tal Markovitch, a fashion designer, contacted him with the hope that the two of them might begin working together. Before long, a business partnership was formed and the hat business began.

Lobster Fascinator

Crustacean and Wine Hat

Photo: good jude

These fascinating fashions originate from varied themes, including carnivorous plants, baby, fruits, infestation, food, folk tale, and others. Visit the Maor Zabar Hats Website or their shop on Etsy to see the end result of the artistry involved in this fascinating wearable art.