Hedwig Pöllöläinen
grrlscientist
Posts by this author
June 17, 2009
tags: books, fiction, novels, public libraries
I am back at home, ill, but I managed to mooch a neighbor's uncharacteristically open wireless connection so I have been talking with one of my readers about one of our favorite topics: books. I love reading fiction when I am sick, and currently, I…
June 17, 2009
tags: Purple Gallinule, Porphyrio martinica, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery birds] Purple Gallinule, Porphyrio martinica, photographed at Anahuac Wildlife Refuge, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 19 May 2009 [larger view].
Nikon D200 ,Kowa…
June 17, 2009
tags: NYC Life, NYPL, public services, public education, public libraries
I just wanted to thank all of you, dear readers, who have joined with me to write letters to Mayor Bloomberg and other elected officials in NYC, asking them to see the light: a bad economy is absolutely no reason to cut…
June 17, 2009
tags: Shawn Johnson, gymnastics, sports, humor, satire, Onion News, streaming video
Gymnast Shawn Johnson euthanized after breaking leg. After gym doctors confirmed the her injuries were career-ending, Johnson's trainers said there was no reason to keep her alive. [2:28]
June 16, 2009
Today, I was reminded that, even though I live a frugal life, I am not impoverished. What am I talking about? When I collected my mail today, the most recent issue of Bird Watcher's Digest magazine was waiting for me. Inside were articles about Elegant Trogons, summertime hummingbirds and…
June 16, 2009
To encourage innovation and excellence in education, Science magazine has established a prize for online resources in education. The SPORE prize will recognize outstanding projects from all regions of the world that bring freely available online resources to bear on science education.
Winning…
June 16, 2009
tags: NYC, Upper West Side, Lincoln Center, Manhattan, flowers, nature, image of the day
Mystery Flower.
Meadow sage, Salvia pratensis.
Photographed in Manhattan's Lincoln Center
in a planter in the middle of Broadway.
Image: GrrlScientist, 16 June 2009 [larger view].
Salvia is the largest…
June 16, 2009
I have been rather violently ill these past few days due to, I assume, food poisoning. Today, I am shaking and weak but that horrific headache and my desire to cling to the porcelain throne are gone. But I am left wondering; was this the bread I bought as a treat in the bulk bin at the grocery…
June 16, 2009
Who: CFI-NYC Executive Director, Michael De Dora, Jr.
What: free public presentation, "CFI and the State of Science and Reason"
Where: Shetler Studios, 244 West 54th Street between Broadway & 8th Avenue, 12th floor, Penthouse 1.
When: 830pm Tuesday, 23 June 2009
What exactly is the Center…
June 16, 2009
Endangered Parrots of the World Chess Set [larger view].
Do you know someone who loves chess, art and parrots? If so, you might wish to start saving your money now for a Christmas gift that they would probably love: an Endangered Parrots of the World Chess Set.
This environmentally-friendly…
June 16, 2009
tags: Bateleur Eagle, Terathopius ecaudatus, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Immature Bateleur Eagle, Terathopius ecaudatus, photographed in Tarangire National Park, Tanzania, Africa. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Dan Logen, 31 August 2007 [larger view].…
June 16, 2009
tags: National Center for Science Education, NCSE, religion, fundamentalism, creationism, intelligent design, streaming video
This video gives you a brief overview of what the National Center for Science Education (NCSE) does to protect our schools from the tyranny of religious brainwashing posing…
June 15, 2009
Image: wemidji (Jacques Marcoux).
Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est (And thus knowledge itself is power)
-- Sir Francis Bacon.
Please forgive me for taking so long to notify you of this (I have been quite ill), but the most recent edition of Scientia Pro Publica (Science for the People) has…
June 15, 2009
tags: NYC, Upper West Side, Manhattan, flowers, nature, image of the day
Dahlia.
Photographed on Manhattan's Upper West Side
near the corner of West 81st street and Central Park West.
Image: GrrlScientist, 11 June 2009 [larger view].
June 15, 2009
tags: Mountain Plover, Charadrius montanus, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Mountain Plover, Charadrius montanus, photographed in Arizona. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Richard Ditch, 25 December 2007 [larger view].
Date Time Original: 2007:12:25 10:06:24…
June 15, 2009
I receive a fair number of books to review each month, so I thought I should do what several magazines and other publications do; list those books that have arrived in my mailbox so you know that this is the pool of books from which I will be reading and reviewing on my blog.
Froth!: The…
June 15, 2009
tags: parrot, head-banger, umbrella cockatoo, music, dancing parrot, streaming video
This is an interesting video is a headbanging umbrella cockatoo -- this bird really rocks out! Be sure to turn the sound down before you view this video, lest you go deaf... [0:38]
June 14, 2009
Tomorrow is North American Nature Photography Day. The goals of this day are to view the world with your camera and maybe even advance the cause of conservation. NANPA is challenging its members to bring a camera with you as you go for a walk. If you are a member and you upload one of your nature…
June 14, 2009
tags: NYC, Upper West Side, Manhattan, flowers, nature, image of the day
Common Pink, also known as the Dianthus, Dianthus plumarius.
Photographed on Manhattan's Upper West Side
near the corner of West 81st street and Central Park West.
Image: GrrlScientist, 11 June 2009 [larger view].
Can…
June 14, 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…
June 14, 2009
tags: Tree Swallow, Tachycineta bicolor, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Tree Swallow, Tachycineta bicolor, photographed at Lake Thompson in Kingsbury County, South Dakota. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Terry Sohl, 2 May 2009 [larger view]
Photo taken with…
June 14, 2009
This is a strange "debate" between Our Lady of Martyrs Catholic Church, and Cumberland Presbyterian, created using an online church sign generator. The images show, from top to bottom, the responses and counter-responses over time.
And the next morning, Our Lady of Martyrs Catholic Church…
June 14, 2009
tags: religion, Bible, Ricky Gervais, creation story, humor, funny, parody, streaming video
This streaming video shows Ricky Gervais discussing creation as he reads from the Bible -- wow! This makes so much sense, doesn't it? I am going to give up my godless hedonistic ways right now!! [9:53]
June 13, 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 traveling blog carnival that celebrates the best science, nature and medical writing targeted specifically to the…
June 13, 2009
tags: book review, Falconer on the Edge, A Man, His Birds, and the Vanishing Landscape of the American West, falconry, hawking, Rachel Dickinson
Like most married people, Rachel Dickinson thought she knew her husband quite well after years of marriage. But one evening, he surprised her by…
June 13, 2009
tags: NYC, Upper West Side, Manhattan, flowers, nature, image of the day
Egyptian Star Cluster, also known as the Star Flower, Pentas lanceolata.
Photographed on Manhattan's Upper West Side
near the corner of West 81st street and Central Park West.
Image: GrrlScientist, 11 June 2009 [larger view…
June 13, 2009
tags: Pectoral Sandpiper, Calidris melanotos, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Pectoral Sandpiper, Calidris melanotos, photographed at Anahuac Wildlife Refuge, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 19 May 2009 [larger view].
Nikon D200 ,Kowa…
June 13, 2009
tags: politics, congress, CongressCritters, Rep. Gordon McCullough, humor, parody, social commentary, streaming video
This hilarious video is a parody of itself, to be honest. This previous week in congress, Rep. Gordon McCullough presented the highlight of the week by ranting at his esteemed…
June 12, 2009
tags: book review, Animals Make Us Human, animal welfare, pets, farm animals, agriculture, Temple Grandin
What do animals need to have a good mental life? This question seems easy to answer until we realize that even though we can provide for an animal's physical welfare, we actually don't know…
June 12, 2009
Here's the latest blog carnivals to be published so you can read and enjoy them;
I and the Bird, #102. This blog carnival is all about wild birds and bird watching.
Carnival of Latin & South America and the Caribbean. This blog carnival focuses on news and events occurring south of the border…