Hedwig Pöllöläinen
grrlscientist
Posts by this author
September 23, 2008
tags: Royal Tern, Sterna maxima, birds, nature, Image of the Day
[Mystery bird] Royal Tern, Sterna maxima, photographed flying over Frenchtown Road, Bolivar Peninsula, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 22 August 2008 [larger view].
Nikon D200, Kowa 883…
September 23, 2008
tags: William Shatner, Rocket Man, humor, funny, streaming video
This is a hilarious video William Shatner doing what he does best: overacting to the point of silliness [5:00]
September 23, 2008
tags: Politics, Ralph Nader, Cardozo, humor, funny, streaming video
This is a silly video by Ralph Nader, who feels left out of the political process since the electorate finally sees him for what he is. So Ralph talks about dressing up as a panda with Cardozo the Amazon parrot, who lives with…
September 22, 2008
tags: Times Square, 42nd street, L>osing My Marbles, subway art, NYC through my eye, photography, NYC
Losing my Marbles (2003).
Artist: Lisa Dinhofer.
Losing my Marbles, image 1, Detail 4. Glass mosaics on mezzanine walls of the 42nd Street (Times Square) for the A, C and E trains. This…
September 22, 2008
As you know, I wrote an essay on this blog about the lack of health insurance for 47 million Americans, most of whom work full-time. You might also remember that I have been writing about WNYC's wonderful series, "30 Issues in 30 Days" -- a series of informational programs where they invite…
September 22, 2008
tags: Mediterranean Gull, Ichthyaetus melanocephalus, Larus melanocephalus, birds, nature, Image of the Day
[Mystery bird] Mediterranean Gull, Ichthyaetus [Larus] melanocephalus, stretching her wings. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Rick Wright [larger view].
Two hints: (1)…
September 22, 2008
Here's a few new blog carnivals for you to enjoy;
Brain Blogging, 39th edition. This blog carnival is all about the brain and neuroscience.
Carnival of Cinema. I know these are serious times, but this is even more of a reason to go to the movies, right?
September 22, 2008
tags: ornithology, birds, avian, National Geographic
A dragonfly has no stinger, but a European bee-eater, Merops apiaster, will beat it senseless anyway, the same way it handles its namesake prey. If the fly's wings break off, they are discarded, not eaten. The insect is then devoured as a…
September 22, 2008
tags: Birds in the News, BirdNews, ornithology, birds, avian, newsletter
The cassowary, Casuarius casuarius,
is a large, flightless bird that is native to Australia and New Guinea.
Image: Orphaned [larger view].
Canaries in Our Coal Mine
Common birds are in decline across the world, providing…
September 22, 2008
tags: socialized medicine, uninsured Americans, health care policy, election2008, politics
I have a confession to make: I am an American who has no health insurance, and I have been so ever since my postdoctoral funding ended four years ago. But I am not alone: according to the most recently…
September 22, 2008
tags: cats, pets, humor, funny, streaming video
This is a hilarious video of common ordinary cats being .. well, cats! It's humorous way to start your work week! [4:23]
September 21, 2008
tags: Times Square, 42nd street, L>osing My Marbles, subway art, NYC through my eye, photography, NYC
Losing my Marbles (2003).
Artist: Lisa Dinhofer.
Losing my Marbles, image 1, Detail 3. Glass mosaics on mezzanine walls of the 42nd Street (Times Square) for the A, C and E trains. This…
September 21, 2008
My colleague, Tara, is feeling lonely. She asked all of us SciBlings if we would ask our readers whether any of you will be attending her Cedar Rapids/Iowa City area Millionth Comment Science Blogs Party? It's going to happen tomorrow and she will be watching the film, A Flock of Dodos at 7pm in…
September 21, 2008
tags: socialized medicine, uninsured Americans, health care policy, election2008, politics
I have a confession to make: I am an American who has no health insurance, and I have been so ever since my postdoctoral funding ended four years ago. But I am not alone: according to the most recently…
September 21, 2008
tags: Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus, birds, nature, Image of the Day
[Mystery bird] Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus, photographed at Smith Point, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 7 September 2008 [larger view].
Nikon D200,…
September 21, 2008
tags: Sarah Palin, religion, The Rapture, Keith Olberman, streaming video
Keith Olberman reports on the peculiar situation where Sarah Palin's pastor, whom Palin gives partial credit for making her the governer of Alaska (does this qualify as cheating?), was involved in chasing an innocent woman…
September 21, 2008
tags: Birdbooker Report, bird books, animal books, natural history books, ecology books
"One cannot have too many good bird books"
--Ralph Hoffmann, Birds of the Pacific States (1927).
The Birdbooker Report is a special weekly report of wide variety of science, nature and behavior books that are…
September 21, 2008
tags: politics, federal budget, funding freeze, science funding, technology funding, McCain, Ike Brannon
United States Federal Budget Discretionary Spending.
I just learned that, according to Ike Brannon, an economist and senior policy adviser to presidential candidate, John McCain, all funding…
September 20, 2008
tags: Times Square, 42nd street, L>osing My Marbles, subway art, NYC through my eye, photography, NYC
Losing my Marbles (2003).
Artist: Lisa Dinhofer.
Losing my Marbles, image 1, Detail 2. Glass mosaics on mezzanine walls of the 42nd Street (Times Square) for the A, C and E trains. This…
September 20, 2008
tags: politics, federal budget, funding freeze, science funding, technology funding, McCain, Ike Brannon
United States Federal Budget Discretionary Spending.
I just learned that, according to Ike Brannon, an economist and senior policy adviser to presidential candidate, John McCain, all funding…
September 20, 2008
tags: political views, politics, physiology, threat response, psychology, philosophyfight or flight, nature versus nurture
Most Americans have been actively engaged in the frustrating sport of arguing about politics, which often leads to the common refrain; "You just don't get it!" So this made me…
September 20, 2008
tags: Pectoral Sandpiper, Calidris melanotos, birds, nature, Image of the Day
[Mystery bird] Pectoral Sandpiper, Calidris melanotos, photographed at the Texas City Dike, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 3 September 2008 [larger view].
Nikon D200, Kowa…
September 19, 2008
tags: Times Square, 42nd street, L>osing My Marbles, subway art, NYC through my eye, photography, NYC
Losing my Marbles (2003).
Artist: Lisa Dinhofer.
Losing my Marbles, image 1, Detail 1. Glass mosaics on mezzanine walls of the 42nd Street (Times Square) for the A, C and E trains. This…
September 19, 2008
I just learned that Sarah "What would Todd do?" Palin, the darling of mindless right-wing robots in this country, is nothing more than a vindictive asshole who freely abuses her position of power, and apparently believes she should be able to get away with it. Seriously, do we REALLY want someone…
September 19, 2008
tags: Western Sandpiper, Calidris mauri, birds, nature, Image of the Day
[Mystery bird] Western Sandpiper, Calidris mauri, photographed at Smith Point, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 7 September 2008 [larger view].
Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope TSN-PZ…
September 19, 2008
tags: Northern cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis, birds, Central Park, Image of the Day
Give that bird a comb!!
Male Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis, in moult.
Image: Bob Levy, author of Club George [larger].
The photographer writes;
As a writer I am loathe to use an exclamation point so…
September 19, 2008
tags: human anatomy, human bodies exhibit, forensic pathologist, Cyril Wecht, streaming video
This is an absolutely fascinating tour of the Human Bodies Exhibit by forensic pathologist Cyril Wecht. This video will prove to be especially interesting to students of human anatomy and medical students…
September 18, 2008
tags: Times Square, 42nd street, L>osing My Marbles, subway art, NYC through my eye, photography, NYC
Losing my Marbles (2003).
Artist: Lisa Dinhofer.
Losing my Marbles, image 1. Glass mosaics on mezzanine walls of the 42nd Street (Times Square) for the A, C and E trains. This mosaic was just…
September 18, 2008
tags: Greater Yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca, birds, nature, Image of the Day
[Mystery bird] Greater Yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca, photographed at Smith Point, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 7 September 2008 [larger view]. [voice: mp3: Gough, G.A.,…
September 18, 2008
These blog carnivals are hot off the presses, just for you to enjoy;
Here's my other favorite blog carnival, Carnival of the Vanities, the 18 September issue. This blog carnival is all about recognizing writing -- excellent writing -- in the blogosphere.
And here's the latest issue of I and the…