grrlscientist | June 2, 2008tags: Dental Appointment, Harvey Korman, Tim Conway, humor, comedy, streaming video
This brilliantly funny streaming video stars the late Harvey Korman as Tim Conway's dental patient-- these guys were brilliant together. If only everyone could give people half as much joy as each of these men did. RIP Mr. Korman [2:59].
grrlscientist | June 1, 2008tags: West 86th street subway art, subway art, NYC through my eye, photography, NYC
West 86th Street Subway Art #21
as seen at NYC's West 86th Street stop at Broadway for the downtown 1 train.
(This piece was completed in 1989; it was mounted on 2 July 2006).
Artist: Nitza Tufino.
Image: GrrlScientist 2008 [larger view].
I have photographed tile artworks from several NYC subway stations now, so far, all are westside Manhattan subway lines, including Chambers Street (A & C trains), Houston Street (1 train), Pennsylvania "Penn" station (1, 2 & 3 trains) [subway art archives] and,…
grrlscientist | June 1, 2008tags: The Good Person Test, religious wingnuts, zealots, kooks, right-wing, religion
Thanks to my very naughty colleague and friend, PZ, I took the Good Person Test and learned that I am a liar, a thief, an adulterer, a murderer, and a blasphemer, and can look forward to spending all eternity in the Lake of Fire. Does anyone know if the Lake of Fire is close to New Guinea where some of my research birds live?
I am glad to know that the religious wingnuts are providing travel advice for all eternity. Thanks to this test, I, for example, should pack lightly and bring a stick along with lots of…
grrlscientist | June 1, 2008tags: Mexican Long-tongued Bats, Choeronycteris mexicana, bats, Image of the Day
My good friend, Dave Rintoul, is on a much-deserved vacation camping in the
Chiricahuas and Gila Wilderness area at the moment, but he took a little time out from the fun and games to send me a couple images to share with you.
Two nectivorous Mexican Long-tongued Bats, Choeronycteris mexicana,
help themselves to nectar at a hummingbird feeder in Cave Creek Canyon in
the Chirichahua Mountains of Arizona and New Mexico.
Image: Dave Rintoul, 2008 [larger view].
grrlscientist | June 1, 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.
New and Recent Titles:
Gallagher, Tim. Falcon Fever: A Falconer in the Twenty-first Century. 2008. Houghton Mifflin. Hardbound: 326 pages. Price: $25.00 U.S. [Amazon: $15.00]. SUMMARY: The authors recounts some of his…
grrlscientist | June 1, 2008tags: atheism, godlessness, religion, philosophy, Epicurus, The Epicurean Paradox
The Epicurean Paradox
Is God willing to prevent evil, but unable?
Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing?
The he is malevolent.
Is he both able, and willing?
Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing?
Then why call him God.
~Epicurus (Greek philosopher, BC 341-270)
grrlscientist | May 31, 2008tags: West 86th street subway art, subway art, NYC through my eye, photography, NYC
West 86th Street Subway Art #20
as seen at NYC's West 86th Street stop at Broadway for the downtown 1 train.
(This piece was completed in 1989; it was mounted on 2 July 2006).
Artist: Nitza Tufino.
Image: GrrlScientist 2008 [larger view].
I have photographed tile artworks from several NYC subway stations now, so far, all are westside Manhattan subway lines, including Chambers Street (A & C trains), Houston Street (1 train), Pennsylvania "Penn" station (1, 2 & 3 trains) [subway art archives] and,…
grrlscientist | May 31, 2008tags: Harry Potter, JK Rowling, charities, prequel
From the prequel I am not working on -- but that was fun! JK Rowling 2008
At the request of UK bookseller, Waterstone's, JK Rowling recently wrote an 800-word outline for a Harry Potter prequel, all to benefit the British charity Dyslexia Action and English PEN. Dyslexia Action is the UK's leading provider of services and support for people with dyslexia and literacy difficulties, and PEN is an international fellowship of writers who are working to promote literature and defend the freedom to write.
Rowling's prequel, hand-written on both…
grrlscientist | May 31, 2008tags: Long-toed Lapwing, Long-toed plover, Vanellus crassirostris, birds, Image of the Day
Fourth in a series of non-passerine images by this photographer.
Long-toed Lapwing, also known as the Long-toed plover, Vanellus crassirostris, which is endemic to southeastern Africa.
Image: John Del Rio [larger view].
grrlscientist | May 31, 2008tags: Alex And Me: A 30-Year Adventure, Alex & Me: Lessons from a Little Bird with a Big Heart, ethology, cognition, learning, parrots, Irene Pepperberg, book review
As a scientist, parrot researcher, aviculturist and parrot companion, I have met Irene Pepperberg several times, at both scientific meetings and also at avicultural meetings, and I have followed her research closely (but quietly) for most of my life. So, when Seed Media, which houses all of ScienceBlogs, asked me if I wanted to read and review Pepperberg's upcoming book, Alex & Me: Lessons from a Little Bird with a Big…
grrlscientist | May 30, 2008tags: West 86th street subway art, subway art, NYC through my eye, photography, NYC
West 86th Street Subway tile mosaic art #19
as seen at NYC's West 86th Street stop at Broadway for the uptown 1 train.
(This piece was completed in 1989).
Artist: Nitza Tufino.
Image: GrrlScientist 2008 [larger view].
I have photographed tile artworks from several NYC subway stations now, so far, all are westside Manhattan subway lines, including Chambers Street (A & C trains), Houston Street (1 train), Pennsylvania "Penn" station (1, 2 & 3 trains) [subway art archives] and, my favorite subway…
grrlscientist | May 30, 2008A reader of mine, knowing I am going through a rough time right now, sent me this to cheer me up. Of course, I had to share it with all of you, too!
Top Ten Saying Of Biblical Mothers
Samson! Get your hand out of that lion. You don't know where it's been! (Judges 14:5-8).
David! I told you not to play in the house with that sling! Go practice your harp. We pay good money for those lessons!
Abraham! Stop wandering around the countryside and get home for supper!
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego! I told you never to play with fire!
Cain! Get off your brother! You're going to kill him…
grrlscientist | May 30, 2008tags: mountain cow, Baird's tapir, Tapirus bairdii, mammals, streaming video
This streaming video shows you a little bit about the mountain cow .. the tapir. In this case, the Baird's Tapir, Tapirus bairdii, the state animal of Belize, a country in Central America. This animal, which is endangered, is not a cow at all, but is related to horses and rhinoceros [1:47].
There is one mistake on this video. When a person discovers a new species they cannot name it after themselves -- that's a rule.
grrlscientist | May 29, 2008tags: West 86th street subway art, subway art, NYC through my eye, photography, NYC
West 86th Street Subway Art #18
as seen at NYC's West 86th Street stop at Broadway for the uptown 1 train.
(This piece was completed in 1989).
Artist: Nitza Tufino.
Image: GrrlScientist 2008 [larger view].
I have photographed tile artworks from several NYC subway stations now, so far, all are westside Manhattan subway lines, including Chambers Street (A & C trains), Houston Street (1 train), Pennsylvania "Penn" station (1, 2 & 3 trains) [subway art archives] and, my favorite subway station of all…
grrlscientist | May 29, 2008tags: Hamerkop, Scopus umbretta, birds, Image of the Day
Second in a series of non-passerine images by this photographer.
Hamerkop, Scopus umbretta, also known as the Hammerhead Stork or the Anvilhead.
Image: John Del Rio. [larger view].
grrlscientist | May 29, 2008tags: My Guy Barbaro, horse racing, horses, Kentucky Derby, Edgar Prado, John Eisenberg, book review
Like most of America, I fell under the spell of the talented athlete, Barbaro. I was riveted by his brilliance and ability. Despite Barbaro's tragic end, I wanted to read a book that told his story, that gave him a voice without being maudlin or poorly-written. So thanks to one of my readers who kindly purchased this book for me, I was pleased to have the opportunity to read My Guy Barbaro: A Jockey's Journey Through Love, Triumph, and Heartbreak with America's Favorite Horse (NYC:…
grrlscientist | May 29, 2008tags: Young Hillary Clinton, politics, humor, comedy, streaming video
This brilliantly funny streaming video is the result of a deviant comedic mind -- it's a portrait of the young Hillary Rodham (like, duh, she wasn't married yet, as one of the students will remind you). My favorite quote? "What's a superdelegate?" [3:05].
grrlscientist | May 28, 2008tags: West 86th street subway art, subway art, NYC through my eye, photography, NYC
West 86th Street Subway tile mosaic art #17
as seen at NYC's West 86th Street stop at Broadway for the uptown 1 train.
(This piece was completed in 1989).
Artist: Nitza Tufino.
Image: GrrlScientist 2008 [larger view].
I have photographed tile artworks from several NYC subway stations now, so far, all are westside Manhattan subway lines, including Chambers Street (A & C trains), Houston Street (1 train), Pennsylvania "Penn" station (1, 2 & 3 trains) [subway art archives] and, my favorite subway…
grrlscientist | May 28, 2008Well, nothing, really.
[NOTE: I put this commentary under the fold so it is not mirrored all over the intertubes by those four or five content-stealing sites out there].
Actually, I have been trying to get a few things straightened out in my life so I can once again focus on writing for you -- which is the only thing (besides my beloved parrots) that gives me joy.
Unlike most people, who can function in their personal and professional life under the most dire and bleak of circumstances (how do they do it?), I am ashamed to admit that I am not one of them. I sincerely wish I was. But when I…
grrlscientist | May 28, 2008tags: Grey-bellied Tragopan, Tragopan blythii, birds, Image of the Day
First in a series of non-passerine images by this photographer.
Blyth's Tragopan, Tragopan blythii, also known as the Grey-bellied Tragopan.
Image: John Del Rio. [larger view].
Tragopans comprise a genus within the avian order, Phasianidae -- the pheasants.