Hedwig Pöllöläinen
grrlscientist
Posts by this author
July 23, 2009
tags: Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia, cities, image of the day
St. Olav's Church (Oleviste kirik) is the tall spire on the right.
Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia.
Image: GrrlScientist, 22 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It was first placed on a…
July 23, 2009
After much agony and angst, it seems that the yesterday's upgrade of the Scienceblogs' site code was successful. Comments and blog entries are publishing as they should and with little wait time, so it appears that this was successful, thanks to the wonderful IT Systems consultant, who was hired…
July 23, 2009
tags: Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery birds] Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus, photographed at High Island, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 19 May 2009 [larger view].
Nikon D200 ,Kowa 883…
July 23, 2009
Image: wemidji (Jacques Marcoux).
Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est (And thus knowledge itself is power)
-- Sir Francis Bacon.
Scientia Pro Publica (Science for the People) is a blog carnival that celebrates the best science, nature and medical writing targeted specifically to the public that…
July 23, 2009
tags: Richard Dawkins, evolution, University of Nebraska State Museum, Diatoms, Yellowstone Lake, Stephanodiscus yellowstonensis, religion, fundamentalism, streaming video
Richard Dawkins explains how microscopic algae called Diatoms uniquely evolved in Yellowstone Lake in response to climate…
July 23, 2009
tags: Gordon Brown, world wide web, WWW, social injustice, poverty, security, climate change, economy, ethics, streaming video
We're at a unique moment in history, argues UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown: we can use today's interconnectedness to develop our shared global ethic -- and work together to…
July 22, 2009
The current Antarctic Trip Vote count is as follows; 1983 - 1177 - 1135 - 840 - 788 out of 363 candidates registered. I am in second place, trying to recapture first place.
If you've already voted, then please encourage your family, friends, colleagues and neighbors to vote for the person whom you…
July 22, 2009
tags: Suomenlinna, Helsinki, Finland, nature, image of the day
I expected to see hobbits running around this part of Suomenlinna,
but alas ..
Suomenlinna, Helsinki, Finland.
Image: GrrlScientist, 19 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
I have returned to one of my two favorite haunts in…
July 22, 2009
tags: Ruff, Philomachus pugnax, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Ruff, Philomachus pugnax photographed in Swakopmund, Namibia, Africa [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: Dennis Paulson, April 2007 [larger view].
Please name at least one field mark that…
July 22, 2009
tags: TEDTalks, medicine, Psychopathic Killers, epigenetics, brain damage, psychology, MAOA gene, serotonin, Jim Fallon, streaming video
In this video, Gever Tulley uses engaging photos and footage to demonstrate the valuable lessons kids learn at his Tinkering School. When given tools, materials…
July 22, 2009
tags: Onion News Network, ONN, Princess Diana, 120-car Pile-up, humor, funny, satire, fucking hilarious, streaming video
Yesterday's 259 car pile-up on the autobahn in Germany reminded me of this tragic news report that I'd always meant to share with my friends -- especially one of my British…
July 21, 2009
The current Antarctic Trip Vote count is as follows; 1933 - 1165 - 1123 - 774 - 581 out of 357 candidates registered. I have excellent news: I am once again in second place after one of my Reddit peeps whipped up support for me among my fellow Redditers! THANK YOU REDDIT!
If you've already voted,…
July 21, 2009
tags: Suomenlinna, Helsinki, Finland, nature, image of the day
Suomenlinna in summer, 3 [the same place in the winter]
Suomenlinna, Helsinki, Finland.
Image: GrrlScientist, 19 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
I have returned to one of my two favorite haunts in Helsinki; Suomenlinna. This…
July 21, 2009
tags: Tallinn Estonia, travel, photography, Europe
Tallinna sadam, Eesti Vabariik (The Port of Tallinn, Estonia).
Image: Ralf Roletschek (Wikipedia) [larger view].
[NOTE: Does this announcement sound familiar? Hopefully, I will not have this trip ruined by undergoing surgery to have a piece of…
July 21, 2009
Since I have recently developed quite a history of visiting cold and snowy places, often during the winter, I wish to preserve that tradition. I am competing for the opportunity to go to Antarctica in February 2010 -- a dream adventure that I've always wanted to pursue (and almost did pursue when I…
July 21, 2009
tags: Least Bittern, Ixobrychus exilis, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery birds] Least Bittern, Ixobrychus exilis, photographed at Anahuac Refuge, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 1 May 2009 [larger view].
Nikon D200 ,Kowa 883 telescope with TSN…
July 21, 2009
tags: TEDTalks, medicine, Psychopathic Killers, epigenetics, brain damage, psychology, MAOA gene, serotonin, Jim Fallon, streaming video
Psychopathic killers are the basis for some must-watch TV, but what really makes them tick? Neuroscientist Jim Fallon talks about brain scans and genetic analysis…
July 21, 2009
tags: TEDTalks, Diet Pepsi, Aspartame, artificial sweeteners, diversity, choice, happiness, psychology, Malcolm Gladwell, streaming video
Tipping Point [Amazon: $8.54] author Malcolm Gladwell gets inside the food industry's pursuit of the perfect spaghetti sauce -- and makes a larger argument about…
July 20, 2009
Your future Penguin whisperer?
[book title: Maailman Pingviinit translates as Penguins of the World (Amazon USA :: Amazon UK)]
Image: Bob O'Hara, 19 July 2009 [seriously, do you want to look at a larger view?].
Several endorsements are coming my way and they've asked me to write an essay that…
July 20, 2009
The current Antarctic Trip Vote count is as follows; 1890 - 1147 - 1109 - 766 - 574 out of 347 candidates registered. I have excellent news: I am once again in second place after one of my Reddit peeps whipped up support for me among my fellow Redditers! THANK YOU REDDIT!
If you've already voted,…
July 20, 2009
Image: wemidji (Jacques Marcoux).
Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est (And thus knowledge itself is power)
-- Sir Francis Bacon.
Scientia Pro Publica (Science for the People) was published today at A DC Birding Blog.
Scientia Pro Publica (Science for the People) is a traveling blog carnival that…
July 20, 2009
tags: Suomenlinna, Helsinki, Finland, nature, image of the day
Suomenlinna in summer, 2.
Suomenlinna, Helsinki, Finland.
Image: GrrlScientist, 19 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
I have returned to one of my two favorite haunts in Helsinki; Suomenlinna. This island fortress was built from…
July 20, 2009
tags: Birds in the News, BirdNews, ornithology, birds, avian, newsletter
Birdwatchers in southeastern Australia have been thrilled to see the arrival of about a third of the total national population of the highly endangered Swift Parrot, Lathamus discolor, on the Far South Coast.
Image: Max…
July 20, 2009
tags: Spot-Bellied Eagle-Owl, Forest Eagle-Owl, Malay Eagle-Owl, Bubo nipalensis, identify this bird, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Spot-Bellied Eagle-Owl, also known as the Forest Eagle-Owl or the Malay Eagle-Owl, Bubo nipalensis. This interesting bird, which is a pet, is…
July 20, 2009
tags: Sharp-tailed Grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Sharp-tailed Grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus, photographed at roughly 9am in the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument in Montana. [I will identify these birds for you in 48 hours]
Image…
July 20, 2009
tags: TEDTalks, medicine, infections, new technology, alpha-gal aptomer, antibiotics, Kary Mullis, streaming video
Drug-resistant bacteria kills, even in top hospitals. But now tough infections like staph and anthrax may be in for a surprise. In this video, Nobel-winning chemist Kary Mullis, who…
July 20, 2009
tags: science, geology, Grand Canyon, religion, creationism, humor, funny, streaming video
The Grand Canyon is such an icon of the Earth's geological history, of slow and steady uplift, erosion, submergence and deposition, that the creationist crowd thought it essential to tackle it head on. So…
July 19, 2009
The current Antarctic Trip Vote count is as follows; 1851 - 1139 - 1091 - 738 - 562 out of 339 candidates registered. I have excellent news: I am once again in second place after one of my Reddit peeps whipped up support for me among my fellow Redditers! THANK YOU REDDIT!
If you've already voted,…
July 19, 2009
tags: Suomenlinna, Helsinki, Finland, nature, image of the day
Suomenlinna in summer.
Image: GrrlScientist, 18 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
I have returned to one of my two favorite haunts in Helsinki; Suomenlinna. This island fortress was built from stone by the Swedes to protect…
July 19, 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…