grrlscientist | May 4, 2010tags: Strassenmusiker, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, travel, cities, busker, image of the day, photography
Strassenmusiker.
Hauptwache, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Image: GrrlScientist, 14 April 2010 [larger view]
This is a busker whom I photographed at Hauptwache train station in downtown Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Despite his age, he was putting on quite a performance. (For those of you who care, he was also a reasonably good musician).
grrlscientist | May 4, 2010tags: Blue-headed Vireo, Vireo solitarius, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] photographed at Quintana Neotropical Bird Sanctuary, Brazoria County, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 27 April 2010 [larger view].
Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope with TSN-PZ camera eyepiece 1/1000s f/8.0 at 1000.0mm iso400.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
The Blue-headed Vireo is a common and vocal bird of northeastern forests. Formerly lumped as a "Solitary Vireo" with the more western Plumbeous and Cassin's…
grrlscientist | May 4, 2010tags: New Fitness Craze: White Women's Workout, exercise, fitness, racism, social observation, humor, funny, satire, fucking hilarious, Godfrey, Ty Bowman, streaming video
I know that many Americans want to lose weight, and here's a novel new workout craze to help you do just that! Combining racial stereotypes with exercise techniques, exercise guru Ty Bowman has created Southern Cali's latest workout craze...The White Women's Workout. As a NYCer, I think this will work well in certain neighborhoods in the Bronx!
[Comedian, Godfrey, plays Fitness Guru, Ty Bowman.]
grrlscientist | May 3, 2010tags: Hong Kong Architect Transforms Shoebox Apartment into 24 Rooms, efficient living, home life, architecture, technology, Gary Chang, streaming video
Life is cramped in Manhattan, but if you have enough money and imagination, you can convert your shoebox into a livable space, as this Hong Kong architect did. Find out how award-winning Hong Kong architect, Gary Chang, managed to squeeze 24 rooms -- including a home cinema and ''spa'' -- into 32 square meters (344 square feet) of apartment space.
grrlscientist | May 3, 2010
Image: wemidji (Jacques Marcoux).
Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est (And thus knowledge itself is power)
-- Sir Francis Bacon.
This week's edition of Scientia Pro Publica (Science for the People); "Scientia Pro Publica 28" has been published by Kelsey at her blog, Mauka to Makai.
After you've read this carnival, perhaps you also wish to submit your blog essays to the next issue of Scientia? If so, you're in luck because we are trying an experiment: we are trying to publish this blog carnival on a weekly basis this spring, so we need enough submissions make this a "go." So I ask you to…
grrlscientist | May 3, 2010tags: Sonnige Blume, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, travel, nature, flowers, image of the day, photography
Sonnige Blume.
Image: GrrlScientist, 20 April 2010 [larger view]
I was lured out of my sickbed so I could photograph this lovely flower, which really did brighten my day (even though I am STILL SICK!!)
grrlscientist | May 3, 2010tags: education, public outreach, SciCafe, science cafe, AMNH, American Museum of Natural History, NYC, streaming video
Who: AMNH paleontologists Dr Mike Novacek and Dr Mark Norell
What: free public presentation, "Travels with Tyrannosaurus"
When: Wednesday, 5 May at 700pm
Where: Gottesman Hall of Planet Earth, American Museum of Natural History, Enter at the 81st Street (Rose Center) [directions and maps]
Cost: FREE, and there is a cash bar too! (must be 21+ with ID)
Amazing fossils are still out there, waiting to be discovered. Museum paleontologists Mike Novacek and Mark Norell will…
grrlscientist | May 3, 2010tags: Sora, Sora Rail, Sora Crake, Porzana carolina, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Sora, also known as the Sora Rail or sometimes as the Sora Crake, Porzana carolina, photographed at Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 27 April 2010 [larger view].
Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope with TSN-PZ camera eyepiece 1/250s f/8.0 at 1000.0mm iso400.
Can you tell me why this bird's tail is so short?
A short tail is reportedly found in birds that specialize in fast flight, such as loons, ducks, grebes and…
grrlscientist | May 2, 2010tags: Using Statistics to Create The Ultimate TEDTalk, statistics, public speaking, Sebastian Wernicke, TEDTalks, streaming video
In a brilliantly tongue-in-cheek analysis, Sebastian Wernicke turns the tools of statistical analysis on TEDTalks, to come up with a metric for creating "the optimum TEDTalk" based on user ratings. How do you rate it? "Jaw-dropping"? "Unconvincing"? Or just plain "Funny"?
After making a splash in the field of bioinformatics, Sebastian Wernicke moved on to the corporate sphere where he motivates and manages multidimensional projects. You can get your copy of…
grrlscientist | May 2, 2010tags: Wikileaks on the Culture Show, freedom of publishing, freedom of press, investigative journalism, communication, information technology, internet, television, Culture Show, Jacques Peretti, John Young, Julian Assange, streaming video
Jacques Peretti looks into Wikileaks, the anonymous whistle-blowing internet site. Features an interview with John Young of Cryptome and Julian Assange of Wikileaks. Just for good measure, John has published details of the email correspondence with the BBC.
grrlscientist | May 2, 2010tags: Helsingin tuomiokirkko, Suurkirkko, Helsinki Cathedral, Helsinki, Finland, travel, cities, architecture, photography
Helsingin tuomiokirkko or Suurkirkko (Helsinki Cathedral), Helsinki, Finland.
This is an Evangelical Lutheran cathedral located in the center of Helsinki, Finland.
Image: GrrlScientist, 23 July 2009 [larger view]
My spouse has made arrangements for us to return to gorgeous Helsinki, Finland. We will attend his student's defense, and hang out in the city. I already have plans to photograph Suomenlinna, the Luonnontieteellinen Museo (our hotel is across the street from…
grrlscientist | May 2, 2010tags: Rosenblüte, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, travel, nature, flowers, image of the day, photography
Rosenblüte.
Image: GrrlScientist, 20 April 2010 [larger view]
grrlscientist | May 2, 2010
Image: wemidji (Jacques Marcoux).
Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est (And thus knowledge itself is power)
-- Sir Francis Bacon.
The next edition of Scientia Pro Publica (Science for the People) will publish TOMORROW and as usual, it is seeking submissions and hosts! Can you help by sending URLs for your own or others' well-written science, medicine, and nature blog essays to me or by volunteering to host this carnival on your blog?
Scientia Pro Publica is a traveling blog carnival that celebrates the best science, environment, nature and medical writing that has been published in the…
grrlscientist | May 2, 2010tags: Birdbooker Report, bird books, animal books, natural history books, ecology books
Books to the ceiling,
Books to the sky,
My pile of books is a mile high.
How I love them! How I need them!
I'll have a long beard by the time I read them.
~ Arnold Lobel [1933-1987] author of many popular children's books.
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…
grrlscientist | May 2, 2010tags: Lake Victoria Weaver, Victoria Masked-Weaver, Entebbe Weaver, Gambian Black-headed Weaver, Yellow-backed Weaver, Yellow-collared Weaver, Black-headed Weaver, Ploceus melanocephalus, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Black-headed Weaver, also known by numerous other common names, including the Yellow-collared (or Yellow-backed) Weaver, Gambian Black-headed Weaver, Victoria Masked-weaver, Lake Victoria Weaver, or the Entebbe Weaver, Ploceus melanocephalus, photographed Ndutu Safari Lodge, Tanzania, Africa. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: Dan Logen,…
grrlscientist | May 2, 2010tags: I'm A Teabagger For Jesus, teabaggers, America, poverty, racism, sexism, homophobia, socialism,humor, funny, satire, fucking hilarious, social commentary, cultural observation, Edward Current, streaming video
What would Jesus do to help America? In this video, William Current, one of my favorite social satirists, explains how he decided that he would be a Teabagger. No taxation without representation!
grrlscientist | May 1, 2010tags: Bible Contradictions Quiz Show, religion, christianity, Bible, humor, funny, satire, comedy, fucking hilarious,animation, cults, streaming video
This amusing video shows a quiz show where the two contestants are asked questions about the bible -- unfortunately, the holy word of god is filled with contradictions (more contradictions than the Harry Potter series, for that matter!)
grrlscientist | May 1, 2010tags: Rosen, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, travel, nature, cities, image of the day, photography
Rosen.
Image: GrrlScientist, 20 April 2010 [larger view]
grrlscientist | May 1, 2010tags: Funny Cide, horse racing, horses, retired racehorses, HorseracingTV, streaming video
Funny Cide gave America something to cheer about in 2003 as the first New York bred in history to win the Kentucky Derby. He went on to capture the Preakness Stakes winning easily by ten lengths. However, he lost by four lengths to Empire Maker in the Belmont on a very muddy track (Funny Cide hated mud).
As he walked back towards the grandstand, the crowd continued to cheer for Funny Cide, "America's Horse," and boo the winner Empire Maker. Funny Cide's owner Barclay Tagg, after retiring Funny Cide,…
grrlscientist | May 1, 2010tags: Black-fronted Bush-Shrike, Black-fronted Bushshrike, Chlorophoneus nigrifrons, Telophorus nigrifrons, Laniarius nigrifrons, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Black-fronted Bush-Shrike, Chlorophoneus (Laniarius) (Telophorus) nigrifrons, photographed in the East Usambara Mountains, Tanzania, Africa. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: Dan Logen, 12 January 2010 [larger view].
Nikon D300, 600 mm lens, ISO 800, F/5.6, 1/200 sec.
This is a challenging bird to identify, so I am asking you to instead try to identify the taxonomic family.
Please name at…