Snapshot

For those who haven’t been watching, this year’s World Cup is sizzling hot. Fuego! The Group Stage delivered nonstop fireworks and edge-of-your-seat drama. Insane goals, heroic saves. This is not the boring soccer matches of years past with routine 1-0 victories. It’s pure chaos.

Talkin’ turkey here. Nope, not Thanksgiving turkey. Turkey tail mushrooms. It’s mushrooming season in Sonoma County. When the weather turns cold and damp, fog rolls in and rain falls, and mushrooms’ fruiting bodies pop up.

The Burning Man Project has had a 35-year run. With 35 years, isn’t it time to think about morphing into inclusivity? Burning Woman 2026? She/Her/They? But why mess with success?

The name of the comet comes from China’s Tsuchinshan Observatory, which means “purple mountain.” It was discovered in January 2023. A month later South Africa’s ATLAS telescope observed it. Hence, two names for the comet given the close timing of discovery.

Do you know what a group of giraffes is called? A tower of giraffes. Perfect, right? All kinds of fun facts about African plains animals and tropical birds can be gleaned from a walk or ride through Safari West’s 400 acres. Safari West’s oak...

If you like to meditate and enter a profound connection to the hear and now—pun, drum flair—consider a sound bath. Although there are many ways to enter a meditative state, such as following the rhythm of one’s breath, another easy way is to focus on a single sense. Sound is often chosen because it is uniquely immersive

This bad baby rolled in from Colorado. It’s the Acela Monterra XL 6x6. The Bozeman, Montana-based company says it is “born from a desire to exceed current industry standards for reliability and durability.” Can’t even imagine an RV class for this thing...

Sonoma County has one of three steam-powered sawmills in California that still work. About 60 volunteers meet each month to ensure it remains operational, fixing this or that, greasing gears and tightening belts so that when it fires up a few weekends a year it runs like it did in the old days. 

Pierre reflects upon chance, perhaps in recognition of casting a vote. In times past, leaving decisions to chance was not unusual. The practice is mentioned over 85 times in the Bible. In a famous instance, Judas’ replacement was chosen by lot.

Macadam refers to a road-surfacing material and a method of construction. Developed in 1820, it’s named after inventor John McAdam. His method and material was a major breakthrough improving on Roman stone and cobble construction. McAdam’s invention relied on small angular rocks compacted by traffic to create a self-locking stable and relatively smooth surface. This and other Fun Facts in the latest Snapshot.