Hedwig Pöllöläinen
grrlscientist
Posts by this author
December 24, 2009
tags: Crimson Rosella, Pennant's Rosella, Platycercus elegans, Australian King Parrot, Alisterus scapularis, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery birds] Australian King Parrots, Alisterus scapularis (3 on right), and Crimson Rosellas, sometimes known as Pennant's Rosella, Platycercus…
December 24, 2009
tags: kitchen science, science abuse, christmas lights, microwave oven, funny, humor, brainiac, streaming video
This video shows one of several dangerous kitchen experiments conducted by real scientists who video them -- all so you don't have to repeat them yourself.
December 23, 2009
tags: invertebrates, comedy, humor, bentekr, animation, streaming video
This sweet video shows you how the spider and the fly celebrated Christmas this year.
December 23, 2009
tags: education, public outreach, SciCafe, science cafe, AMNH, American Museum of Natural History, NYC, streaming video
Who: Ichthyologist Melanie Stiassny
What: free public presentation, "Mysteries of the Congo: Exploring the World's Deepest River"
When: 700pm, Wednesday, 6 January 2010
Where:…
December 23, 2009
tags: The Known Universe, education, AMNH, American Museum of Natural History, NYC, streaming video
The Known Universe is an educational video about the new exhibit at AMNH that takes viewers from the Himalayas through our atmosphere and the inky black of space to the afterglow of the Big Bang.…
December 23, 2009
tags: Roseate Spoonbill, Platalea (Ajaia) ajaj, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Roseate Spoonbill, Platalea (Ajaia) ajaj, photographed at Arthur Storey Park, Houston, Texas. [I will identify these birds for you in 48 hours]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 5 December 2009 [larger view].…
December 23, 2009
tags: The Science of Christmas Trees, education, streaming video
My spouse and I are seeking the perfect Christmas Tree today -- our first ever! -- so we thought we'd do some homework. In this video, a tree expert talks a little about Christmas trees for sale at his corner shop.
This particular…
December 22, 2009
tags: Finnish Father Christmas, Santa Claus, Jack Bauer interrogates Santa Claus, comedy, humor, funny, fucking hilarious, holidays, Christmas, Finland, streaming video
Here's another video documentary that reveals the travails that Father Christmas encounters when he tries to enter the United…
December 22, 2009
tags: Northern Pintail, Pintail, Anas acuta, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Northern Pintail, also known simply as the Pintail, Anas acuta, photographed at Arthur Storey Park, Houston, Texas. [I will identify these birds for you in 48 hours]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 5 December…
December 22, 2009
tags: Speak Better English, German, comedy, humor, funny, satire, television, streaming video
The man in this television commercial reminds me of myself as I attempt to learn to speak German.
December 21, 2009
tags: Santa Claus, Santa the Fascist Years, comedy, humor, funny, satire, holidays, Christmas, politics, streaming video
We all think of Santa as "Jolly ole St. Nick." But who knew that he has a dark hidden past that's very un-jolly? This short film uncovers and explores Santa's flirtation with…
December 21, 2009
tags: Common Redstart, Phoenicurus phoenicurus, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Adult female Common Redstart, Phoenicurus phoenicurus, photographed at La Lanterna in Genova, Italy. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: Cliff Miles, 11 December 2009 [larger view…
December 21, 2009
As you know, I recently married a British nutter and relocated to Germany, where I assume we both will remain for a significant period of time. Like most newlyweds, we wish to start our own traditions for the holidays, but since our possessions have not arrived yet, we are living in a nearly…
December 21, 2009
tags: Motorworld, giant Dodge Power Wagon, offbeat, weird, automobiles, television, streaming video
This is a short video clip from Clarkson's Motorworld about a Dodge Power Wagon that is 64 times larger than the original. It comes with a full-sized house inside, a great view from the tailgate ...…
December 20, 2009
tags: Finnish Father Christmas, Santa Claus, Rare Exports, comedy, humor, funny, fucking hilarious, holidays, Christmas, Finland, streaming video
This fascinating video, filmed and presented in the grand tradition of a National Geographic documentary, reveals what happens when an original Father…
December 20, 2009
tags: Frankfurter Weihnachtsmarkt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, Expat Life, Frankfurt through my eye, photography
Frankfurter Weihnachtsmarkt (Frankfurt Christmas Market)
Image: GrrlScientist, 20 December 2009 [larger view]
This afternoon, my spouse and I investigated the Frankfurter…
December 20, 2009
tags: Birdbooker Report, bird books, animal books, natural history books, ecology books
"How does one distinguish a truly civilized nation from an aggregation of
barbarians? That is easy. A civilized country produces much good bird
literature."
--Edgar Kincaid
The Birdbooker Report is a special…
December 20, 2009
tags: Bronzed Cowbird, Molothrus aeneus, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Bronzed Cowbird, Molothrus aeneus, photographed at Quintana, Brazoria County, Texas. [I will identify these birds for you in 48 hours]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 22 April 2009 [larger view].
Nikon D200, Kowa…
December 20, 2009
tags: Atheists Can't Think For Themselves!, humor, funny, satire, religion, christianity, islam, Edward Current, streaming video
This astonishing video sets out to prove that being a Christian requires constant thinking, while being an atheist sheep does not. This explains why atheists are the…
December 19, 2009
tags: religion, fundamentalism, christianity, SPAM, MysteryBox, streaming video
A hardcore atheist finds God when he wasn't even looking for God. It's a touching story with a happy ending.
Although the star is having a bit of fun in this video, the point that the video star making is serious. The…
December 19, 2009
tags: Green Jay, Cyanocorax yncas, Blue Morph, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Blue Morph Green Jay, Cyanocorax yncas, photographed at Laguna Atascosa Refuge, Harlingen, Texas. [I will identify these birds for you in 48 hours]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 8 April 2008 [larger view].…
December 19, 2009
tags: Chainsaw Illusion, magician, optical illusion, streaming video
I ran across this amazing illusion recently and have been intrigued: how did the magician do this?
Was the guy who was chopped in half actually two people? Was the short guy running around at the beginning of the scene the…
December 18, 2009
tags: Finnish Father Christmas, Santa Claus, Rare Exports, comedy, humor, funny, fucking hilarious, holidays, Christmas, Finland, streaming video
This fascinating video, filmed and presented in the grand tradition of a National Geographic documentary, follows three Finnish hunters through the far…
December 18, 2009
tags: Frankfurter Sonnenaufgang, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, Expat Life, Frankfurt through my eye, photography, image of the day
Frankfurter Sonnenaufgang (Frankfurt sunrise).
Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Image: GrrlScientist, 18 December 2009 [larger view].
Are you getting bored of looking at…
December 18, 2009
tags: Ashy Drongo, Dicrurus leucophaeus, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Ashy Drongo, Dicrurus leucophaeus, photographed at the small village of Muang Khong, near Chiang Dao Mountain, northern Thailand. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: Dirk S. Schmeller,…
December 18, 2009
tags: Hamburger Make Up Artistry, food porn, Buy Me That, streaming video
This is another video in the Buy Me That series, which is designed to teach kids how to think critically about the television commercials they are constantly bombarded with. In this episode, we see some kids playing with a…
December 17, 2009
tags: Women: Don't Drive!, entertainment, comedy, satire, funny, fucking hilarious, BBC Worldwide, Harry Enfield, streaming video
More homework. Actually, even though blind agreement with whatever a man tells me is part of my social etiquette homework, I must point out that women are much safer…
December 17, 2009
tags: education, public outreach, SciCafe, science cafe, AMNH, American Museum of Natural History, NYC, streaming video
Since the holidays are a busy time, I am notifying you of NYC's upcoming SciCafe a little early so you can be sure to add it to your calenders!
Who: Ichthyologist Melanie…
December 17, 2009
tags: Frankfurter Kirche, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, Expat Life, Frankfurt through my eye, photography, image of the day
Frankfurter Kirche (Frankfurt church).
Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Image: GrrlScientist, 16 December 2009 [larger view].
Last night, on my way home from my first ever…
December 17, 2009
tags: Carolina Wren, Thryothorus ludovicianus, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Carolina Wren, Thryothorus ludovicianus, photographed in an abandoned finch nest on the deck outside the home of one of my readers in Powder Springs, Georgia. [I will identify this bird for you in 48…