grrlscientist | June 21, 2009tags: Cedar Waxwing, Bombycilla cedrororum, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Cedar Waxwing, Bombycilla cedrororum, photographed in Arizona. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Richard Ditch, 12 November 2007 [larger view].
Date Time Original: 2007:11:12 09:11:15
Exposure Time: 1/639
F-Number: 8.00
ISO: 400
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
Review all mystery birds to date.
grrlscientist | June 21, 2009I was surprised to learn that the fringe animal rights activist group, the Humane Society of the United States, has formed the Humane Society University which was recently granted a license to grant bachelor's degrees in three areas; animal studies, animal policy and advocacy, or humane leadership. They also are licensed to grant certificates for graduate study in those same areas. Required courses are offered online or at their Washington DC site starting autumn term in 2009.
All students, who must have attained junior status elsewhere, are required to take two courses: Animal Protection…
grrlscientist | June 21, 2009tags: universe, god, religion, creationism, humor, funny, satire, Edward Current, streaming video
In this video, we learn that God created the entire universe for the enjoyment of us humans on Earth. To believe otherwise is arrogant and deluded! [4:08]
grrlscientist | June 20, 2009tags: NYC, Upper West Side, Manhattan, flowers, nature, image of the day
Red Dahlia, Dahlia hybrid.
Photographed on Manhattan's Upper West Side
on Columbus Avenue between West 81st and West 82nd streets.
Image: GrrlScientist, 20 June 2009 [larger view].
grrlscientist | June 20, 2009
Get Your Sexy Name
But I actually like this name better;
Get Your Sexy Name
But I am such an amazing lover that, when I give the generator my full name -- "GrrlScientist" -- it blows up! But when I give it my name in bits and pieces, it gives me this (see above the jump for the first part of my name);
Get Your Sexy Name
grrlscientist | June 20, 2009tags: Sanderling, Calidris alba, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Sanderling, Calidris alba, photographed at Galveston, East Beach, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 19 May 2009 [larger view].
Nikon D200 ,Kowa 883 telescope with TSN-PZ camera eyepiece 1/750s f/8.0 at 1000.0mm iso400.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
Review all mystery birds to date.
grrlscientist | June 20, 2009tags: The Science of Story Telling, Paul Nurse, genetics, family history, narrative, streaming video
This video is a fascinating look at Paul Nurse's personal history .. Nurse, who is a biochemist, Knight, 2001 Nobel Prize Winner and President of Rockefeller University in NYC, reveals how, after 58 years, he finally learned the truth of his own family history. As a boy, Nurse always felt "a little bit different" from the rest of his family. His parents and siblings all left school at age 15 while he excelled at academics and pursued higher education. In his 30s, Nurse's mother confided in him…
grrlscientist | June 19, 2009tags: The Constitution of the United States of America, DNA Evidence, criminal trials, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr, Supreme Court, William G. Osborne, justice, ethics
Some days, I am ashamed to be an American. These past two days, I've been astonished and outraged -- and ashamed -- by yesterday's 5-4 Supreme Court decision that prisoners have no constitutional right to DNA testing that might prove their innocence. This decision was inspired by Alaska prison inmate William G. Osborne's petition to be allowed to undergo DNA testing -- at his own expense -- to establish whether he is…
grrlscientist | June 19, 2009tags: 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].
Pentas lanceolata, is native to Northeastern Africa mostly to Egypt, hence its name, the Egyptian Star Cluster. This popular and hardy little evergreen perennial does best in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil, and its tubular flowers are especially attractive to hummingbirds and…
grrlscientist | June 19, 2009tags: BBC America, natural history, nature programming, television, entertainment, education, streaming video
I just wanted to let you all know that every one of you with a television is the subject of my enduring envy because I just learned from Nicole Wetzold that my favorite radio news and television programming source has done it again: BBC is now bringing all of its natural history content together under one brand, BBC Earth. This programming is available in the United States on BBC America. As a taste of what to expect, here is a video they sent me to share with you. It is a tiny bit of…
grrlscientist | June 19, 2009tags: Bohemian Waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Bohemian Waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus, photographed near Brandon in Minnehaha County, South Dakota. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Terry Sohl, 12 February 2005 [larger view]
Photo taken with a Canon 20D, 400 5.6L.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
Review all mystery birds to date.
grrlscientist | June 19, 2009Here's the latest blog carnivals to be published for you to read and enjoy;
Review Bloggers Carnival. This features reviews of all sorts of trinkets and other items, including (best of all!!) books!
Just Write Blog Carnival, 19 June 2009 edition. Writing, book reviews, and lots of other fun stuff to read.
Author Love, #2. This blog carnival is new, and focuses on sharing information about writing from writing tips and stories to .. you guessed it .. book reviews.
Carnival of the Cats, #274. Of course, the name of this carnival is self-explanatory.
Carnival of Family Life, the Cathy Thorne…
grrlscientist | June 19, 2009tags: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, film, movie, trailer, entertainment, streaming video
Do you have your tickets to the opening showing yet? Thanks to one of my readers, I DO! I DO!
This is the newest trailer for the soon-to-be-released installment in the Harry Potter series; Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which will open on 17 July 2009. I have been waiting eagerly for one year for this film, ever since Warner Bros claimed it was going to be released last November .. but wasn't! [2:24]
grrlscientist | June 18, 2009tags: NYC, Upper West Side, Lincoln Center, Manhattan, flowers, nature, image of the day
Purple Heart, also known as the Purple Queen, Tradescantia pallida.
Photographed in Manhattan's Lincoln Center
in a planter in the middle of Broadway.
Image: GrrlScientist, 16 June 2009 [larger view].
I have a tactile memory of this plant, but I cannot recall the species. Can you identify this species of flowering plant?
Purple Heart, also known as the Purple Queen, Tradescantia pallida (also known by Setcreasea purpurea or Setcreasea pallida due to the still poorly known nature of this plant), is…
grrlscientist | June 18, 2009tags: BBC America, natural history, nature programming, television, entertainment, education, streaming video
I just wanted to let you all know that every one of you with a television is the subject of my enduring envy because I just learned from Nicole Wetzold that my favorite radio news and television programming source has done it again: BBC is now bringing all of its natural history content together under one brand, BBC Earth. This programming is available in the United States on BBC America. As a taste of what to expect, here is a video they sent me to share with you. It is a tiny bit of…
grrlscientist | June 18, 2009tags: Green Heron, Ardeola virescens, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Juvenile Green Heron, Ardeola virescens, photographed on a farm pond in central Kentucky. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Mark Selter, 14 June 2009 (thanks to Roger Brown for sharing) [larger view].
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
Review all mystery birds to date.
grrlscientist | June 18, 2009tags: TEDTalks, biomimetics, biomutualism, biology, engineering, origin of flight, Robert Full, streaming video
Biologist Robert Full studies the amazing gecko, with its supersticky feet and tenacious climbing skill. But high-speed footage reveals that the gecko's tail harbors perhaps the most surprising talents of all. [12:27]
TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Featured speakers have included Al Gore on climate change, Philippe Starck on…
grrlscientist | June 17, 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 has been published in the blogosphere within the past 60 days. To send your submissions to Scientia Pro Publica, either use this automated submission form or use the cute little widget on the right (sometimes that widget doesn't upload when the mother site is sick). Be sure to include the URL or "…
grrlscientist | June 17, 2009tags: tattoos, tattoo location, What does your tattoo say about you, humor, funny
Image: Cracked [larger view].
Yes, I do have a tattoo (it's on the back of my neck, where the rest of the prison population has at least some of their tattoos, according to this diagram), and I'd have more if I could afford them. How about you?
grrlscientist | June 17, 2009tags: NYC, Upper West Side, Lincoln Center, Manhattan, flowers, nature, image of the day
Giant Marigold, Tagetes hybrid.
Photographed in Manhattan's Lincoln Center
in a planter in the middle of Broadway.
Image: GrrlScientist, 16 June 2009 [larger view].