Category Archives: Uncategorized

A salt and batteries How Bolivian lithium could help fight climate change But the country with the world’s largest resources is still struggling to extract them Dec 8th 2021 ECONOMIST  The Salar de Uyuni, a salt flat in southern Bolivia, … Continue reading →

Pakistan is a large country (1.5 times the size of France) in South Asia at the crossroads of Central Asia, East Asia, and South Asia. Located along the Arabian Sea, it is surrounded by Afghanistan to the west and northwest, although Tajikistan is separated by the Wakhan Corridor, Iran to the southwest … Continue reading →

Saudi Arabia – Medina Province (Yanbu) Dec 7, 2021 MEDINA PROVINCE The Al Ula area is a fantastic landscape of eroded sandstone: buttes, mesas, chimneys, pinnacles, and a few arches (the most famous is Elephant rock). It reminds me of … Continue reading →

Saudi Arabia dominates the Arabian peninsula and contains Islam’s holiest cities: Mecca (Makkah) and Medina (Madinah) — where Muslim pilgrims throng during the Hajj. The Hajj, along with a few crops that grow well in oases, such as medjool dates, used to be the country’s main … Continue reading →

NEUROTYPICAL SYNDROME Neurotypical is a label for nonautistic people. Neurotypical syndrome (NT) is a neurobiological disorder characterized by a preoccupation with social concerns, delusions of superiority, and an obsession with conformity. By autistic standards, the “normal” brain is easily distractible, … Continue reading →

MEKKA PROVINCE  (Jeddah, Ta’if) Nov 27-29 DARB ZUBAYDA Tentative WHS (Pilgrim Road from Kufa to Makkah) (08/04/2015). Al-Jumaimiyah Pool N3275894.87 E 364798.83 Al-Thulaimiya Pool N 3278032.44 E365701.37 Zabala Pool N 3252358.56 E 360364.63 Faid Site N 3002185.00 E 254404.13 Al-Rabadha … Continue reading →

Day 8 AL QASIM PROVINCE, Burayday, Ha’il – Dec 5, 2021 I started driving at 7 am to see a supposed Tentative WHS in Rafne. It was a very fast 150-180km/hour drive with a following wind. When I arrived at … Continue reading →

Saudi Arabia – Eastern Province (Damman, Khobar, Al Ahsa, Jubail) Nov 2-4, 2021 EASTERN PROVINCE. Covering the Gulf coast, the center of Saudi oil production Dhahran – the home of Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest petroleum company Empty Quarter (Rub’ al Khali) – … Continue reading →

Mule deer crossing a river in Wyoming. This is one of a growing number of animal species that can become infected with SARS-CoV-2. PHOTOGRAPH BY JOE RIIS , NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION COVID-19 is more widespread in animals than we … Continue reading →

After a 9 1/2 hour drive across the Empty Quarter, I arrived at Al-Kharj, ate, and found a hotel. Day 6 Heet Cave. This is not a tourist site!  About 50 km north of Al-Kharj, the last drive is on … Continue reading →