grrlscientist | June 17, 2009tags: 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 am trying to resist my urge to begin reading the entire Harry Potter series again (for the 14th or 15th time now. Reading HP is a 4-6 week investment that tends to keep me from doing what I should be doing: writing book reviews). During this conversation, I lamented the fact that I've not read many…
grrlscientist | June 17, 2009tags: 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 883 telescope with TSN-PZ camera eyepiece 1/500s 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 17, 2009tags: 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 funding for our public libraries, the crown jewel of New York City. I just learned this evening that Mayor Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn have promised they will preserve essential core resources for fiscal year 2010, including precious funds for libraries (fiscal year 2010…
grrlscientist | June 17, 2009tags: 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]
grrlscientist | June 16, 2009Today, 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 especially (my favorite) the featured "ID Yourself" piece, which this time was about the Long-winged Peeps.
You see, this magazine was a gift from my friend, Bill Thompson III, whose formal name makes him sound more inaccessible than he really is.
The fact is, I met Bill at Houghton Mifflin's NYC offices…
grrlscientist | June 16, 2009To 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 projects should reinforce one or more of the four strands of science learning recommended by the National Academies and be consistent with the science education standards published by the National Academies and the AAAS. Read more about SPORE rules and where to send your entries.
grrlscientist | June 16, 2009tags: 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 genus of plants in the mint family, Lamiaceae, with approximately 900 species of shrubs, herbaceous perennials, and annuals. It is one of three genera commonly referred to as sage. The ornamental species are commonly referred to by their scientific name, Salvia. This genus is distributed throughout the…
grrlscientist | June 16, 2009I 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 story? Or that beautiful apple that tasted especially good?
Anyway, I am back at the library today, using their free wireless and catching up on some things that should have been done by now, such as sending out a piece of writing to be published in the National Finch and Softbill Society's magazine (…
grrlscientist | 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 for Inquiry? What does CFI stand for? How does CFI carry out its mission? What does CFI -- specifically the New York City office -- have to offer to society? And how can you get involved with CFI and the movement? Come hear the new CFI-NYC Executive Director Michael De Dora Jr. address all these…
grrlscientist | 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 hand-made Chess Set was created by Grant Dawson Collections in the United States from certified sustainable North American hardwoods (walnut and maple) and food safe natural finishes, with recycled glass ball feet, and features 32 lead-free pewter playing pieces finished in 24k gold or sterling silver…
grrlscientist | June 16, 2009tags: 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].
Nikon D2X 200-400 NIkon VR lens, at 400 mm. ISO 400, f4.5, 1/250 sec.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
Review all mystery birds to date.
grrlscientist | June 16, 2009tags: 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 as "science" [3:19]
grrlscientist | 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 been published at Mauka to Makai. 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 public that has been published in the blogosphere within the past 60 days.
The host for the upcoming…
grrlscientist | June 15, 2009tags: 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].
grrlscientist | June 15, 2009tags: 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
Exposure Time: 1/319
F-Number: 10.00
ISO: 400
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
Review all mystery birds to date.
grrlscientist | 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 Science of Beer by Mark Denny (Johns Hopkins University Press; 2009). Review Copy.
Unholy Business: A True Tale of Faith, Greed and Forgery in the Holy Land by Nina Burleigh (NYC: Collins; 2008). Review Copy.
Evolution and Ethics by Thomas Henry Huxley (Princeton University Press; 2009). Review Copy.…
grrlscientist | June 15, 2009tags: 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]
grrlscientist | June 14, 2009Tomorrow 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 photographs for publication in the July/August issue of Ripples, their bi-monthly newsletter, it will be published at no cost to you. Photos for submission MUST be taken on June 15, 2009, within walking distance of wherever you are on that day. Full details can be found on the Nature Photography Day…
grrlscientist | June 14, 2009tags: 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 anyone identify this cultivated flower?
Dianthus is a genus of flowering plants with roughly 300 species in the family Caryophyllaceae. These plants are endemic to Europe and Asia, with a few species extending south into northern Africa. One adventuresome species, D. repens, has even managed to…
grrlscientist | June 14, 2009tags: 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 weekly report of a wide variety of science, nature and behavior books that currently are, or soon will be available for purchase. This report is written by one of my Seattle birding pals and book collector, Ian "Birdbooker" Paulsen, and is edited by me and published here for your information and…