The stars down south

I have a lot of astronomer friends down in Oz, who love to regale me with pictures of the Magellanic Clouds.  Of course they don't have as many types of chickens as we do, but they do have the spectacular Australorp, which for years had the egg laying record.

I am not sure who holds it now, it may still be the Australian Orpington cross.  It's key of course is that it is not as big as the real Orpington, nor as fluffy (not as much Cochin fluff in the mix) but it is leaner and lays far more eggs.  Like the skies, there are trade offs between Australia and the US -- the biggest of course is there are few bookstores :-)

Beekeeping

Nice article from South Africa on keeping bees.I highly recommend it.  In the city some do it on their rooftops.  My brother in law did it in his basement.