Birdfeeding

Today is partly sunny and hot.

I fed the birds.  I've seen house finches and doves.

EDIT 8/20/21 -- We picked up grass in the ritual meadow to haul away.  I saw a tiny, fingertip-size toad.  :D

 

Better, Cheaper Prosthetics

This company is making 3D printed bionic arms for about 1/10 the conventional cost.  They are customized to each user, including skin tone.  I wonder if that will bring down the rejection rate (often 80% or more) for upper-limb prosthetics.  Most people just don't find the advantages worth the disadvantages.  Another problem is that few people can afford prosthetics for growing children, but kids who don't grow up using a prosthesis will naturally find other ways to accomplish tasks and then not want one later.

Bears and Their People

It turns out that distinct populations of grizzly bears match indigenous language families. The hypothesis of environmental factors affecting both large mammals is plausible. 

But if I were studying this, I'd check for cultural factors too.  For example, how does each human culture relate to bears?  Some cultures like bears, others really don't, and that can influence the behavior of both bears and humans.  Does anyone's mythology claim a relationship with bears?  If humans and bears both want the same berry patch or salmon-fishing spot, are the humans permitted to kill or drive away the bears, or are they directed to back off and let the bears have it?  I'd start looking in that middle range, because if the people there are bear-hostile, that could discourage the bears from traveling between the other two groups.

Also, I'd check for timing.  About how far back do scientists think those bear populations split?  And how does that compare with the various theories of when humans reached Turtle Island?  Does it match anything in anybody's oral history?