Yep, that's a turtle in his mouth

Iowa researchers have implemented an innovative method to help conserve a species that once thrived on the state's prairies. Ornate box turtles are at a significant risk because of climate change, so a retired schoolteacher has trained his hunting dogs to find the reptiles. Counting the creatures will help conservationists better manage the land. 
 

Recipe for Lo-calorie desert

If this all you're going to eat for a day, have 10 of these, but no more.

lego, from the Danish phrase leg godt, which means "play well".

i've been a big fan since my kids were little.  The Hawking lego reminded me of this pet snail from the movie "Mary and Max (voiced by Seymour Hoffman)".  Max has three snails, all named after famous scientists.

Modern anchorite

Yet now I am an anchorite, as was Julian of Norwich, and for one precious year the bishop locked me in. I had a bed area, a shower room, an enclosed garden of 10 square feet, and my oratory with the wicket window opening into our chapel. I had stable doors, the top half being under my control, the lower half locked. I was a “prisoner of the Lord”: no radio, phone, or internet. 
  
The practice has returned to England apparently.

Morena Baccarin

A young American actress who played in TV series Firefly. Mother is Brazilian,and father is Italian. The series was short lived but has a devoted following.

jogging in appalachia

jpr: Serenity is rarely disturbed by snakes, wolves, and coyotes.

a joke

A middle aged man is on a sea cruise when he notices a handsome woman watching him.
After several such occasions the man approaches the woman.

Man; "Good day madam! Do I know you?"
Woman; "You don't know how much you look like my third husband!"
Man: "Really! How many time were you married?"
Woman: "Twice!"