grrlscientist | June 24, 2008tags: The Cost of War, documentary, streaming video
In just one tiny little second, America spends enough money to support me for six months in a lifestyle that is beyond what I have now, by killing innocent people in Iraq. Worse, this country spends more money in one minute than I've earned in my entire lifetime, so we can kill innocent Iraqis! DISGUSTING! PATHETIC! [1:30]
More suggestions as to what george bush and his buddies can do with that money they are wasting on slaughtering innocents.
grrlscientist | June 23, 2008tags: West 34th street Penn Station subway art, Circus of Garden Delights, subway art, NYC through my eye, photography, NYC
Circus of Garden Delights.
West 34th Street/Penn Station Subway tile mosaic art #1
[detail #6, looking from left to right]
as seen at NYC's West 34th Street stop at 8th for the A, C and E trains.
Artist: Eric Fischl, 2001.
Image: GrrlScientist 2008 [larger view].
According to the artist, this subway station artwork "depicts a commuter being drawn into the bizarre and surprising world of the circus, meeting animals, clowns, acrobats and fire-breathers on his way to…
grrlscientist | June 23, 2008tags: researchblogging.org, scientific ethics, Hippocratic oath, life scientists, corporate culture
I promise never to allow financial gain, competitiveness or ambition cloud my judgment in the conduct of ethical research and scholarship. I will pursue knowledge and create knowledge for the greater good, but never to the detriment of colleagues, supervisors, research subjects or the international community of scholars of which I am now a member.
Scientific misconduct is very expensive, leading to years of wasted research dollars and effort in pursuit of a scientific mirage, and it damages…
grrlscientist | June 23, 2008tags: Rainbow Lory, Trichoglossus haematodus, birds, Image of the Day
First in a series of lory images by this photographer.
ABSTRACT: Rainbow Lory, Trichoglossus haematodus.
Image: John Del Rio. [larger view].
grrlscientist | June 23, 2008tags: seven forbidden words, George Carlin, humor, comedy, streaming video
When I woke up this morning I heard George Carlin talk about the seven forbidden words -- another examination of language that eventually led to the involvement of the Supreme Court. This video is not safe for your easily offended boss (but don't worry about the kids -- they already talk like this) [10:38]
grrlscientist | June 23, 2008tags: language as bullshit, George Carlin, humor, comedy, streaming video
When I woke up this morning, I heard George Carlin talk about language on NPR. What's wrong with using simple, direct and honest language? He wonders. "It's getting so bad that any day now I expect to hear a rape victim described as an 'unwilling sperm recipient'!" [6:55]
grrlscientist | June 23, 2008tags: shit versus stuff, George Carlin, humor, comedy, streaming video
I woke up this morning to hear George Carlin talking about materialism on the radio. You know, stuff. Yes, stuff. "Have you noticed that their stuff is 'shit' and your shit is 'stuff'?" he asks [5:09]
grrlscientist | June 23, 2008tags: Birds in the News, BirdNews, ornithology, birds, avian, newsletter
Yellow-rumped warbler, Dendroica coronata, After Hatch Year male.
Image: Dave Rintoul, KSU [larger view].
People Hurting Birds
The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) in South Africa said it was out of options trying to prevent a bird hunt organised by the High School Hans Strijdom in Mookgophong (Naboomspruit). The school apparently organised a bird hunt to take place over the weekend to raise funds, but the NSPCA condemned it as unethical. "The linking of a school with flagrant slaughter, turning killing into sport…
grrlscientist | June 23, 2008tags: pro-life is anti-woman, George Carlin, humor, comedy, streaming video
George Carlin talks about the so-called pro-life people, who use their hypocritical position to legalize and institutionalize their hatred for women. He asks, Why, when it's us, it's an abortion, but when it's a chicken, it's an omelet? [9:50]
grrlscientist | June 23, 2008tags: Religion is Bullshit, George Carlin, humor, comedy, streaming video
As usual these days, I was awake until the sun came up. So in the wee hours of the morning, I learned that one of my favorite people, George Carlin, died. I've always loved George Carlin even though I've never had the privilege to see him perform live. I especially enjoyed George's comments about religion, but he is so brilliant that I "especially enjoy" many things that he had to say. I know that he lived a long and wonderful life, with little mental or physical deterioration to rob him of his dignity and integrity,…
grrlscientist | June 23, 2008tags: Where the Hell is Matt?, documentary, streaming video
Here's a wonderful streaming video that celebrates this beautiful world and the people in it! It celebrates our common humanity, regardless of where we live, or what we look like. My favorite parts were when Matt was dancing among the red crabs on the beach of Christmas Island, I laughed to see him dance in the demilitarized zone in Korea and to see him and a crowd dancing in a downpour in Quebec, I caught my breath .. for just a moment .. when I watched him dance among the sons of headhunters of Poria, Papua New Guinea (where some…
grrlscientist | June 22, 2008tags: West 34th street Penn Station subway art, Circus of Garden Delights, subway art, NYC through my eye, photography, NYC
Circus of Garden Delights.
West 34th Street/Penn Station Subway tile mosaic art #1
[detail #5, looking from left to right]
as seen at NYC's West 34th Street stop at 8th for the A, C and E trains.
Artist: Eric Fischl, 2001.
Image: GrrlScientist 2008 [larger view].
According to the artist, this subway station artwork "depicts a commuter being drawn into the bizarre and surprising world of the circus, meeting animals, clowns, acrobats and fire-breathers on his way to…
grrlscientist | June 22, 2008I DID IT! I made reservations for a hostel in London in the W1 post code (I hope it is not a high crime area) and the total cost for 10 nights is $288.16 (£146.00) and my roundtrip airfare is $700 on Air India.
My goal is to write essays and add images to my blog while I am there, so I hope that you Londoners add your favorite free wifi location to the map so I can use them when I am there!
grrlscientist | June 22, 2008tags: Cassowary, Casuarius casuarius, birds, Image of the Day
The cassowary, Casuarius casuarius,
is a large, flightless bird that is native to Australia and New Guinea.
Image: Orphaned [larger view].
grrlscientist | June 22, 2008tags: Birdbooker Report, bird books, natural history books, ecology books
"One cannot have too many good bird books"
--Ralph Hoffmann, Birds of the Pacific States (1927).
Here's this week's issue of the Birdbooker Report by Ian "Birdbooker" Paulsen, which lists ecology, environment, natural history and bird books that are (or will soon be) available for purchase.
FEATURED TITLE:
Robb, Magnus, Killian Mullarney and The Sound Approach. Petrels Night and Day: A Sound Approach Guide. 2008. The Sound Approach. Hardbound: 300 pages. Price: about $70.00 U.S. (plus shipping). SUMMARY: Covers 23…
grrlscientist | June 21, 2008tags: West 34th street Penn Station subway art, Circus of Garden Delights, subway art, NYC through my eye, photography, NYC
Circus of Garden Delights.
West 34th Street/Penn Station Subway tile mosaic art #1
[detail #4, looking from left to right]
as seen at NYC's West 34th Street stop at 8th for the A, C and E trains.
Artist: Eric Fischl, 2001.
Image: GrrlScientist 2008 [larger view].
According to the artist, this subway station artwork "depicts a commuter being drawn into the bizarre and surprising world of the circus, meeting animals, clowns, acrobats and fire-breathers on his way to…
grrlscientist | June 21, 2008I was offered a free Darwin shirt by the good people at CafePress because they were certain that I'd like it so much that I'd mention it on my blog. Well, they were right about that! I love my shirt and I love it even more because it arrived in time for me to wear when I visit London! They were kind enough to also send a very clever Darwin sweatshirt. This sweat shirt is a size "G" (for giant? I actually asked for a large, but, oh well) which means that I can share it with someone special and we both can stay warm!
If you were curious about the quality of these items, I can tell you not to…
grrlscientist | June 21, 2008
Image: Orphaned.
Already, I know which airline I plan to avoid for my flight across the pond to London: US Air. I just learned that, as of 1 August, US Air is instituting a $2 charge for all drinks on all domestic flights -- another way to nickle and dime their passengers to death, apparently.
No, this won't affect me because I will be traveling on an international flight and no, I am not talking about alcoholic beverages, which already cost $7 or more, I am talking about non-alcoholic beverages; juices, soda, coffee and bottled water! Worse, since we cannot carry liquids through security…
grrlscientist | June 21, 2008tags: Anna's hummingbird, Calypte anna, birds, Image of the Day
Female Anna's Hummingbird, Calypte anna, sitting on her nest.
Notice the uncommonly bright colors on her gorget.
This bird is nesting on Bainbridge Island in Washington state.
Image: Eva Gerdts, May 2008. [larger view].
grrlscientist | June 21, 2008tags: researchblogging.org, quaternary ammonium compounds, fertility problems, repoductive problems, zoos, aviculture, medicine, disinfectants
I know a fair number of zoos and aviculturists who disinfect the premises occupied by their breeding flocks of birds with quaternary ammonium compounds to prevent the spread of diseases, especially viral disease. But according to a story that just appeared in the top-tier journal, Nature, exposure to the quaternary ammonium compounds, ADBAC (n-alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride) and DDAC (didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride), could cause a sharp…