u/Write2Know

Music heals everyone.

This drama couldn't have been played or ended on a more harmonious note than this, and it will be among my all-time favorites for its excellent music and great acting. Hats off to the writer and the director for creating a music-themed drama that will resonate in our hearts for a long, long time.
 
“Even a flawed artist can make music.”
 
This was my deeply personal takeaway from this drama. As a flawed artist myself, I found it incredibly reassuring and comforting to all artists wallowing in self-doubt and low self-esteem. This applies not only to music, but to other forms of art as well. If you're gifted, have fun and flaunt it, for not everyone is as blessed. If you are passionate enough, practice to perfect it, but realize that perfectionism isn't the goal; unbridled creative expression is. Just enjoy your craft with all your heart and draw comfort from it for yourself first, and don't suppress your creativity to conform to rules or appease others or out of fear of their judgment.
 
In grandfather’s words (impressive acting by Jung Jin young), when you strip creativity out of a musician, you're not just taking away their music but leaving behind an empty, living ghost.
These words struck me as chillingly true.
 
>!The intro clip of Jeong yo (ep 1), the invisible orchestra (ep 4), the street violinist scene, and the final clip with all the moments of Pio and Jeong yo making music together are my unforgettable ones. I get teary-eyed every time I watch those. And I learned much about classical music thanks to this drama. The musical pieces will play on repeat in my mind❤️!<
 
No drama is without its discordant notes. I want to steer clear of controversial angles and focus instead on those that made the strongest impression on me and stirred emotions in me, as a two-year-old K-drama fan and a keen music lover.
 
I wrote this after watching the final episode through tears of joy, sorrow, and thankfulness because this drama healed me. It made me soak in the magic of music and hope again.
 
Joy, for the brilliant acting by Lee Jun young, Song Kang and the entire cast, the storyline, the direction, and obviously, the musical treat.
 
Sorrow, for >!the searing pain and angst of a musical genius who lost his magical touch to cunning and cruel design (No punishment can do justice to such a malicious offender, imo).!<
 
Thankful, for >!the peaceful resolution, the open-ended conclusion, and for not detouring too far in the direction of the usual tropes.!<!<

The ultimate goal of art is to assuage pain and bring comfort, and FHTS has conveyed it with elan.

I loved the drama. It is inspiring, it’s the best I've watched in 2026, and I heartily recommend it.🎶❤️

Image credit: Netflix

I finished watching episode 10 and I can’t stop thinking about the major twists and sharp turns.
I don't want to spoil it for anyone by sharing my speculations, venting my frustrations, or complaining about anything, but I can't help thinking about >!the flippantly handled gentle character,
the sudden and belated change of heart of an elder,
the shockingly callous attitude of a maternal figure,
the unfathomable (in)actions of a teacher,
the sadness of a mother gone too soon,
the agony and moral dilemma of a guilt-ridden maestro, and the vicious and vengeful fury of a tortured genius.!<

But I signed up for this! 🎶
Though I naively thought this would be a musical with two prodigious pianists, I found it is much more than that, and I have no complaints at all (except that I should have waited!). Love the music and the acting.💯

There are so many questions and untold stories from the past, but rn my anger is directed only >!at one character for cunningly orchestrating the whole thing. I am also upset that Kang Pio is shouldering all the blame and not even trying to explain and clear the misunderstanding because… but I also feel Jeong yo’s outrage is justified.!<

Most of all, I am worried that there isn't enough time left to give a plausible ending that isn't rushed. I do hope they wrap it up nicely.

What are your thoughts?

(image credit: Netflix)

I saw a flock of mallard ducks near a pond. Though ‘flock’ is the common collective noun used, I learned that the specific collective noun changes depending on where the mallards are and what they are doing!

On the water: a raft or a paddling

On the ground: a sord or a suit or a waddling

In the air: a flight, or a skein, or a team

What I sighted was a sord of mallard ducks.

I saw a flock of mallard ducks near a pond. Though ‘flock’ is the common collective noun used, I learned that the specific collective noun changes depending on where the mallards are and what they are doing!

On the water: a raft or a paddling

On the ground: a sord or a suit or a waddling

In the air: a flight, or a skein, or a team

What I sighted was a sord of mallard ducks.

I have been hearing them for the past few days, but couldn't photograph them. Excited to have come across a gaggle of geese yesterday!

It was a solitary grey-yellow bird with two white bands on its wings. It was small and whizzed off in seconds. The photos are from a video we recorded. TIA!

I became a birdwatcher after I discovered this sub on Reddit. It started with my first sighting of a Western Gull in December, 2025. I'm an avid birder now! Grateful to this community for inspiring me.

Location: Utah (August, 2026)

Medium-sized, greyish-brown (more dark grey)bird. It didn't call, I am a new birder not at all familiar with the birds of the area, and it flew away before I could get a better shot. Merlin gave me 5 suggestions — American Pipit, House Finch, Townsend’s Solitaire, Grey Flycatcher, and Sage Thrasher. I have seen a House Finch, so I'm almost sure it's not that. Can anybody guess the bird? Thanks!

Location: Utah
Species: Gambel’s Quail (Callipepla gambelii)
IUCN status: Least Concern

I learned these interesting facts about the bird:

A desert dweller, this bird with a bobbing black topknot prefers to walk or run rather than fly. The female lays a clutch of 10-12 eggs safely under a rock or shrub.
The mother waits until all the eggs are laid before sitting on them so that all chicks hatch in sync. Incubation time is 21-24 days.
She calls to the chicks and they cheep back from inside the eggshell to coordinate hatching so the entire brood emerges together.
What's more amazing is that the chicks cut a perfect circle around the widest part of the shell. They leave a bit of the membrane intact to act as a hinge. When the time is right, the chick pushes the shell door open and steps out in style, fully feathered with eyes opened and can walk and run immediately. 💚

Location: Utah
Species: Gambel’s Quail (Callipepla gambelii)
IUCN status: Least Concern

I learned these interesting facts about the bird:

A desert dweller, this bird prefers to walk or run rather than fly. The female lays a clutch of 10-12 eggs safely under a rock or shrub.
The mother waits until all the eggs are laid before sitting on them so that all chicks hatch in sync. Incubation time is 21-24 days.
She calls to the chicks and they cheep back from inside the eggshell to coordinate hatching so the entire brood emerges together.
What's more amazing is that the chicks cut a perfect circle around the widest part of the shell. They leave a bit of the membrane intact to act as a hinge. When the time is right, the chick pushes the shell door open and steps out in style, fully feathered with eyes opened and can walk and run immediately. 💚

Indian Honey Bees (Apis cerana indica)
————————————————————
I followed this bee, identified as the common Indian Honey Bee, and tried to count the number of flowers it visited in a minute. It was fast and covered quite a large area. My rough estimate is that it landed on 10-12 flowers/min, and then it went on without a pause for quite a while.

I learned that this busy bee is non-aggressive and easily domesticated, and its pollination work helps maintain the rich biodiversity of the Periyar Sanctuary and the entire Western Ghats.

As this is a subspecies of the Asiatic Honey Bee (Apis cerana), it has not assessed by the IUCN yet,** but entomologists note that wild populations of this bee are experiencing a steep decline.
This is certainly cause for concern.

Species: Indian Honey Bee (Apis cerana indica)

Location: Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, Thekkady, India

Range: India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and parts of Asia.

IUCN status: Not Assessed yet.

Population trend: Declining

Threats:
Deforestation, urbanization,
use of toxic pesticides,
hives affected by infectious diseases,
competition with introduced European bees, and
climate change, causing erratic flowering patterns and rising temperatures.

It is the most weather-resistant pollinator of South Asia. They can withstand intense heat. Many regional crops such as coconut palms, coffee, cardamom, mustard, and tropical fruits depend on this bee. Several tall forest trees and short plants of wildflowers rely on this species too.
A decline in native plants will affect entire food webs.

Protecting these vital pollinators will need policy changes and shifts in agricultural practices, but public action will also help.

We can grow native, seasonal flowering plants in our home/terrace/balcony gardens, avoid using toxic pesticides, and place water in a shallow dish with pebbles (so the bees don't drown).

Awareness can influence action.
Spread the word.
Save the pollinator.🐝

Image: My original photograph

** According to the IUCN’s Red List protocols, the ‘Species-First’ rule is followed whereby an assessment of a subspecies can only be published if a global assessment of the parent species has been published first. But the parent species, Asiatic Honey Bee (Apis cerana) has never had an a global evaluation. So, the Indian Honey Bee cannot have its independent status.

Today, July 28, is World Nature Conservation Day. It focuses on preserving natural resources, protecting biodiversity, and maintaining ecological balance so that future generations live in a healthy environment.
 
The day also aims to highlight threats like climate change, habitat loss, and pollution — no better opportunity than this to bring the Brown-winged kingfisher, a bird whose population is rapidly decreasing due to habitat loss, into the limelight.
 
Species: Brown-winged Kingfisher
Scientific name: Pelargopsis amauroptera
IUCN Status: Near Threatened (NT)
Population: ~25,000–35,000 mature individuals
Population Trend: Decreasing
Range: Bay of Bengal coastline -  Bangladesh, India (Sundarbans), Myanmar, Thailand, and Peninsular Malaysia
Habitat: Subtropical and tropical mangrove forests, estuarine systems
 
An apex coastal predator within the Sundarbans mangrove ecosystem, the Brown-winged kingfisher plays the important ecological role of regulating the populations of fish, crabs, and aquatic invertebrates.
 
As the largest kingfisher in the range, it is the key indicator species for the health of the Sundarbans, the world’s largest and most biodiverse mangrove ecosystems.      
 
Threats:
Mangrove clearance and degradation across the range, especially in Myanmar.
Aquaculture expansion that is converting mangroves into shrimp ponds.
Sea-level rise and storm surges caused by climate change (IUCN 2024 warns that 50% of global mangroves could collapse by 2050).
Agricultural run-off and industrial waste contaminate coastal waters, killing crabs and fish.
Increased tourist activity and boat traffic.
 
Why cannot the kingfisher relocate?
The Brown-winged kingfisher is physiologically and behaviorally wired specifically for the still, shaded, tidal creeks of the intact mangrove forest. 
A ‘mangrove obligate’, the bird cannot survive outside this system.
 
Unlike other kingfishers, it seldom dives into open waters to catch its prey because it has cracked the code of hunting from mangrove branches hanging over clear, shallow, shaded creeks.
It watches, waits, drops, and catches — a hunting technique it has perfected over ages will not work anywhere else.
 
The bird’s diet is varied and all its prey live only in the mangrove ecosystem. Its big, bright, and strong beak is designed for crushing crab shells as well as spearing fish, small reptiles, and amphibians.
 
 It nests in earthen banks and cavities in the mangrove root system and along the edges of creeks. Such micro-systems do not exist in other types of forests. 
 
Most importantly, as mangroves cover less than 0.1% of Earth’s surface (and the Sundarbans are one of the last intact mangrove systems), the birds have nowhere else to go.
 
Habitat protection is urgent and conservation efforts are ongoing. Sundarbans UNESCO World Heritage Site designation provides some protection across India and Bangladesh.
 
It is protected within the Sundarbans National Park and Tiger Reserve in India and conservation agencies are monitoring the mangrove in Myanmar.
 
How we can help:
Wherever we live, we can do our bit to protect the  mangroves.
Adopt a sustainable lifestyle and be conscious consumers. Support sustainable products. Check for palm oil in everyday products you buy; mangrove forests are being replaced by palm oil plantations across Southeast Asia.
Refuse single-use plastics. Plastic waste enters coastal waterways and contaminates the mangroves. Don't litter near water.
Share science-backed information to raise awareness;
public attention drives funding, policy changes, and action.
 
Awareness can influence action.
Share the story.
Save the species.
Saving the species starts with protecting its habitat. 💚  

I’d asked for your suggestions for filling in the background for these Gouldian finches many months ago. I tried out all the ideas and finally came up with this. I learned so much along the way. Thank you very much!

The Gouldian Finch is no longer on IUCN’s red list. 
From being listed as Endangered (1994-2008) and Near Threatened (2012-2016), it was promoted to the Least Concern list in 2022, thanks to all conservation efforts.

Species: Gouldian Finch
Scientific name: Erythrura gouldiae
Habitat: Grassy plains; in tree hollows near freshwater
Range: Tropical savannah woodlands of northern Australia
IUCN status: Least Concern (since 2022)
EPBC Act 1999 (Australian domestic law): lists Gouldian Finch as Endangered & legally protected.

Altered fire regimes, habitat degradation, climate change, illegal pet trade are threats.
Share the story. Save the species.💚  

The Gouldian Finch is out of the IUCN’s red list but is listed as Endangered in Australia.
From being listed as Endangered (1994-2008) and Near Threatened (2012-2016), the Gouldian Finch was promoted to the Least Concern list in 2022, the status it maintains still. This a successful conservation story.
 
Species: Gouldian Finch
Scientific name: Erythrura gouldiae
Habitat: Grassy plains; in tree hollows near freshwater
Range: Native to the tropical savannah woodlands of northern Australia; non-migratory
IUCN status: Least Concern (since 2022)
EPBC Act 1999 (Australian domestic law): lists Gouldian Finch as Endangered & legally protected.
 
The Gouldian finches are vibrantly colored birds exhibiting ‘melanin-based color polymorphism-behavioral syndrome’. It is an interesting phenomenon of color-coded character traits where the bird’s color decides its personality. 
 
Red-headed:  Extremely aggressive and dominant.
Black-headed:  Bold and exploratory, least aggressive.
Yellow-headed:  Extremely rare, only <1% of the wild population. Other finches treat it as a red head of diluted color.
Orange-headed: It is a not a distinct genetic morph but a diet-driven variant of the red-headed finch.
Interestingly, the Gouldian Finch’s character changes with the company it keeps!
 
There is a stark difference in the numbers roughly estimated by the IUCN (25,000) and the actual field count by the Australian government (2500) because of the different methods they employ, but for a bird that once numbered in hundreds of thousands, even the loose estimation by IUCN is only modest.
 
Still, it is positive news that conservation efforts have paid off and the threats are being managed well.  There's hope, and cause for celebration, albeit with caution, because the bird still faces several threats.
 
Altered fire regimes.
Feral cat predation.
Habitat degradation and cattle grazing.
Effect of historical trapping for pet trade.
Climate change, that worsens fire predictability and intensifies sudden cyclones that destroy trees (these finches live exclusively in tree hollows).
 
Wherever we live, we can help this finch and other vulnerable species —

Support local and global conservation efforts.
Buy no wildlife-derived souvenirs or ingredients, no wild-caught birds, no exotic pets.
Adopt sustainable lifestyle habits.
Share science-backed information to raise awareness; public attention drives funding, policy changes, and action.
Use citizen science apps (eBird, iNaturalist) to report your bird sightings. This feeds data into global databases that scientists use to track the range and count of birds.

Share the story.
Save the species.💚  

On Pollinator Week 2026 — Pollinators and Hosts
 —————————————-
Since 2007, June 22-28 has been celebrated as Pollinator Week to raise awareness for pollinators and spread the word about what we can do to protect them.
 
Though staple crops (wheat, rice, corn, barley) don’t rely on pollinators, many of the fruits, vegetables, nuts, and beans (including coffee!) depend on pollinators for better yield. 
 
So, when studies suggest that 35%-40% of invertebrate pollinators (bees, beetles, butterflies) and 16.5% of vertebrate pollinators (birds, bats) are threatened with extinction, we have every reason to be worried and initiate immediate action.  
 
Protecting a pollinator starts with saving its habitat. 
 
Aptly, this year’s theme is ‘Life on a Leaf’, focussing on butterflies, moths, and other insects that depend on their host plants for survival.
 
I start the series with the most recognizable pollinator, second only to bees — the Monarch butterfly.
It has an obligate-dependency (one-way) on milkweed; its caterpillars feed only on milkweed leaves and cannot complete their life cycle without them.
The leaves are poisonous because of a chemical called cardiac glycoside in its sap. This makes the caterpillars and the adult Monarch toxic to predators, acting as its defense system.
If milkweed is gone, the Monarch will be gone too.
 
Scientific name: Danaus plexippus
 
IUCN status: Endangered
 
Population trend: 80-90% decline since the 1990s
 
Range: North America
 
Threats: Habitat loss, herbicide use, climate change altering flowering/migration patterns, illegal logging in Mexican overwintering forests. 
 
Conservation efforts include native milkweed restoration projects across North America, protecting overwintering sites, promoting pollinator-friendly agricultural practices, and public awareness campaigns.
 
We can help Monarchs and other pollinators in your region by growing seasonal, native plants (plant milkweed if you live on the migration route), reducing the use of pesticides in your garden, and reporting sightings to science platforms.
 
Share the story. Save the species. 💚  

It has six legs, two sets of wings, and a pair of antennae.
Is it an insect?
Is it a bug?
A bird?
Ladybugs, also called ladybirds, are beetles.
And beetles aren't bugs; they are insects.
They protect our plants *from* bugs, and there are over 6000 species of ladybugs globally.

Ladybugs are primarily pest controllers. They are voracious eaters of pests, specifically aphids, that destroy wheat, corn, tomatoes, beans, soya, peppers, and fruit orchards.
They are also secondary pollinators.

They devour approximately 5000 pests/year in their lifespan of 1-3 years. They’re nature’s pest control system and farmers’ superheroes.

But their numbers are declining fast and some subspecies face endangerment due to habitat loss, use of pesticides, rising temperatures caused by climate change, and
changes in flower blooming season due to global warming.

What happens if ladybugs go extinct?

Their extinction will have a major impact on us through disruptions in ecosystems.

Aphids infestation will reduce crop yield.
Farmers will have to depend on chemical pesticides.
Pesticides will contaminate soil and water sources, and affect non-target species, harm the environment and reduce biodiversity.

Excessive pesticides will pose health risks to farmers and consumers.
Global spending on pesticides will increase and small-scale farmers in developing countries will suffer.
Higher costs, lower yields, and soil degradation could cause global food insecurity.

All this, if ONE insect goes extinct.
(IUCN has listed hundreds of threatened insect species).

We can help keep ladybugs out of the endangered club.
Grow flowering plants.
Avoid harmful pesticides.
Place a shallow bowl of water with pebbles (so the ladybugs don't drown).
Raise awareness and save the species.

Image: Painting of a 9-spotted ladybug (Coccinella novemnotata) sitting on Forget-me-nots.
This species is the state insect of New York, but is declining rapidly. It is considered endangered or at risk in parts of Canada.

It has six legs, two sets of wings, and a pair of antennae.
Is it an insect?
Is it a bug?
A bird?
Ladybugs, also called ladybirds, are beetles.
And beetles aren't bugs; they are insects.
They protect our plants *from* bugs, and there are over 6000 species of ladybugs globally.

Ladybugs are primarily pest controllers. They are voracious eaters of pests, specifically aphids, that destroy wheat, corn, tomatoes, beans, soya, peppers, and fruit orchards.
They are also secondary pollinators.

They devour approximately 5000 pests/year in their lifespan of 1-3 years. They’re nature’s pest control system and farmers’ superheroes.

But their numbers are declining fast and some subspecies face endangerment due to habitat loss, use of pesticides, rising temperatures caused by climate change, and
changes in flower blooming season due to global warming.

What happens if ladybugs go extinct?

Their extinction will have a major impact on us through disruptions in ecosystems.

Aphids infestation will reduce crop yield.
Farmers will have to depend on chemical pesticides.
Pesticides will contaminate soil and water sources, and affect non-target species, harm the environment and reduce biodiversity.

Excessive pesticides will pose health risks to farmers and consumers.
Global spending on pesticides will increase and small-scale farmers in developing countries will suffer.
Higher costs, lower yields, and soil degradation could cause global food insecurity.

All this, if ONE insect goes extinct.
(IUCN has listed hundreds of threatened insect species).

We can help keep ladybugs out of the endangered club.
Grow flowering plants.
Avoid harmful pesticides.
Place a shallow bowl of water with pebbles (so the ladybugs don't drown).
Raise awareness and save the species.

Image: Intended painting of a 9-spotted ladybug (Coccinella novemnotata) sitting on Forget-me-nots. (please see comments)