grrlscientist | January 16, 2008So where have I been all day? In short, I wasted a perfectly good day of internet connectivity so I could go to the hospital -- not as a patient nor as an emergency arrival, although the day was such an abortion that it is surprising that I didn't end up in the psych ER after all was said and done. No, I was there for just one reason: to see my psychiatrist who would then refill my prescription.
This is how my day went.
0600: I am awake, listening to NPR. It's dark. My parrot pals are still asleep.
0700: Get up, take a shower, wash my hair, and feed my birds their gourmet meals of fruits,…
grrlscientist | January 16, 2008tags: black-bellied plover, grey plover, Pluvialis squatarola, birds, Image of the Day
Black-bellied (grey) plover, Pluvialis squatarola.
The photographer, a friend of mine, sent this image to me. This image was taken on a Florida trip a couple years ago when a Black-bellied Plover walked up to him while he was sitting on a beach. Luckily, he had his 180 lens on and was able to get this shot.
Image: Jim Rosso [larger view].
grrlscientist | January 16, 2008tags: Like a Bird on a Wire, wow, streaming video
A clip from a documentary entitled 'Straight Up' with men being transported by helicopter, then working on live power cables carrying more than half a million volts.
By wearing a suit made from fire retardent material and stainless steel thread, creating a 'Faraday cage', then attaching a metal wire to the helicopter, which must remain off the ground, these people work on live high voltage power lines. [3:11]
grrlscientist | January 15, 2008tags: bat, photography, subway art, AMNH, NYC, NYCLife
Unknown species (to me) of Bat in flight,
as portrayed in tiles on the walls of the NYC uptown subway stop (A-B-C)
at 81st and Central Park West. (ISO, no zoom, no flash).
Image: GrrlScientist 2008 [wallpaper size].
Read more about the AMNH tile artworks and see the AMNH tile artworks photographic archives -- with all the animals identified.
grrlscientist | January 15, 2008tags: researchblogging.org, blind cave fish, Astyanax mexicanus, evolution, fish, genetics
Blind cave fish, Astyanax mexicanus.
Image: Orphaned. Please contact me for proper credit and linkage.
Do you keep tropical freshwater fishes? I have kept tropical fishes for most of my life and was always intrigued by the so-called "blind cave fish", Astyanax mexicanus, that were sometimes offered for sale to the public. These fish evolved from a sighted species that live in surface streams, but since the blind cave fishes lived in caves since the mid-Pleistocene or earlier, they were not exposed…
grrlscientist | January 15, 2008tags: empire-building, politics, satire, schoolhouse rock, streaming video
This satire uses the style of "Schoolhouse Rock" to criticize empire-building, especially America's empire building activities. Even though this video has been around for awhile, it is as applicable today as it was when it first came out, unfortunately. [4:17]
grrlscientist | January 14, 2008tags: All Women Blogging Carnival, blog carnivals
The latest edition of the All Women Blogging Carnival is now available for your reading pleasure. They included two contributions from me!
grrlscientist | January 14, 2008tags: SheBlogs Carnival, blog carnivals
The 12th edition of the SheBlogs Carnival is now available for you to enjoy. They also included an essay that I wrote!
grrlscientist | January 14, 2008Because I am one of the contributors, I will not review this book. However, I know that some of you may wish to review it and I also know that a few more of you might wish to actually purchase a copy just so you can read it! If so, you can go here to purchase your very own copy.
The rumor is that Nature is reviewing this book, and I know that Amazon will be listing this book for sale soon (remember; I get a 1% "reward" on total sales for every Amazon purchase that you make through my blog, at no cost to you). I will update you with the Amazon link to the book after it is available.
grrlscientist | January 14, 2008tags: warthog, Phacochoerus aethiopicus, African elephant, Loxodonta africana, photography, subway art, AMNH, NYC, NYCLife
Warthog, Phacochoerus aethiopicus (left), and African elephant, Loxodonta africana (right),
as portrayed in tiles on the walls of the NYC uptown subway stop (A-B-C)
at 81st and Central Park West. (ISO, no zoom, no flash).
Image: GrrlScientist 2008 [wallpaper size].
Read more about the AMNH tile artworks and see the AMNH tile artworks photographic archives -- with all the animals identified.
grrlscientist | January 14, 2008tags: Sir David Attenborough, Attenborough in Paradise, DVD review, BBC programming, nature filming, filmography
I've always enjoyed David Attenborough's nature programs and films when I've managed to see them on TV and now, thanks to several of my readers, I've been able to view nearly everything that Attenborough has available on DVD. But after watching the wonderful collection of films included in Attenborough in Paradise and Other Personal Adventures (BBC Worldwide; 2007), I have been transformed from a pleased watcher into an unabashed and enthusiastic admirer.
Attenborough in Paradise…
grrlscientist | January 14, 2008tags: atheism, religion, science, evolution, humor
A reader sent me this list of atheist-positive anecdotes that have been seen either on a bumper sticker or a t-shirt. Of course, they are accurate as well as hilarious. Which ones are your favorites?
Top Fifty Atheist T-Shirt and Bumper Sticker Aphorisms
Abstinence Makes the Church Grow Fondlers
Honk If Your Religious Beliefs Make You An Asshole
Intelligent Design Makes My Monkey Cry
Too Stupid to Understand Science? Try Religion.
*There's A REASON Why Atheists Don't Fly Planes Into Buildings
"Worship Me or I Will Torture You…
grrlscientist | January 14, 2008tags: Northern bald ibis, Geronticus eremita, birds, Image of the Day
Northern bald ibises, Geronticus eremita,
the Middle East's rarest bird, were seen last month in the Jordan Valley
for the first time in 13 years, and in Djibouti, east Africa, for the first
time ever. Scientists are hopeful that numbers are not as low as
originally feared.
Image: MAAR [larger view].
grrlscientist | January 14, 2008tags: Carnival of Principled Government, blog carnivals
This is a new blog carnival for me, so I am pleased to tell you that the 17th edition of the Carnival of Principled Government is now available for you to read. They included a series of entries that I wrote, along with lots of other stories for you to read.
grrlscientist | January 14, 2008tags: Birds in the News, BirdNews, ornithology, birds, avian, newsletter
Song sparrow, Melospiza melodia.
Image: Dave Rintoul, KSU. [larger size].
Birds in Science
I wrote about grandparenting behavior in the Seychelles warbler, Acrocephalus sechellensis, on my blog several months ago, so it is satisfying to see that the mainstream science media wrote about the same study last week.
People Hurting Birds
Analyses of satellite images have revealed for the first time the extent of deforestation occurring on the island of New Britain, Papua New Guinea, indicating that many more bird species…
grrlscientist | January 14, 2008tags: alcohol, Ask Your Pharmacist, humor, parody, streaming video
This is a really amusing parody of the typical commercials that you see on TV that advertize various prescription drugs. In this case, the ad is for tequila [1:41].
grrlscientist | January 13, 2008tags: photography, Lincoln Center, NYC, NYCLife
Still Life: Shells.
Image: GrrlScientist 2008 [wallpaper size].
grrlscientist | January 13, 2008tags: photography, Lincoln Center, NYC, NYCLife
Three days ago, NYC was encased in clouds after an all-night rainstorm. Being a native of Seattle, I found this to be very beautiful and reminiscent of my other home, 3,000 miles away.
City in the Clouds #2, Lincoln Center, NYC.
Image: GrrlScientist 2008 [wallpaper size].
grrlscientist | January 13, 2008tags: I and the Bird, blog carnivals
The most recent edition of the Natural Sciences Carnival is now available for you to enjoy. They included a bunch of stories that I sent to them along with a bunch of other stories as well.
grrlscientist | January 13, 2008tags: photography, Lincoln Center, NYC, NYCLife
Three days ago, NYC was encased in clouds after an all-night rainstorm. Being a native of Seattle, I found this to be very beautiful and reminiscent of my other home 3,000 miles away.
City in the Clouds #1, Lincoln Center, NYC.
Image: GrrlScientist 2008 [wallpaper size].