grrlscientist | September 12, 2007tags: Tangled Bank, blog carnivals
The 88th issue of Tangled Bank is now available for you to read. This blog carnival links to the best recent writing about nature, science and medicine in the blogosphere. Be sure to go there to explore the links they have!
grrlscientist | September 12, 2007tags: Bipolar disorder, manic-depressive illness, mental health, blog awards
Wow, my blog was given another award! This time, Living the Scientific Life was recognized by Psych Central as being one of the top ten blogs to go to to read about bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness. The top ten list for bipolar disorder was compiled with input from readers, one of their associate editors, Sandra, and by John Grohol, PsyD. According to John, "[This award] reflects the excellence in regular writing of entries related to this mental health concern that we feel is consistent and…
grrlscientist | September 12, 2007tags: Australia, blog carnivals
The 12 September issue of the Carnival of Australia is now available. This carnival focuses on stories about Australia, most of which are written by Australians. I am pleased to say that they included a story that I wrote, even though I am not Australian.
grrlscientist | September 12, 2007tags: glass, scissors, streaming video
Who would have thought?
It's like something Homer Simpson would try.
I can see how this could come in handy for some kind of art piece. [1:15]
grrlscientist | September 11, 2007tags: streaming video, humor, blog carnivals
A new blog carnival for me is the Carnival of Funny Videos. They just published their 10 September edition for you to enjoy. If you would like to watch a bunch of humorous streaming videos, then this is the place to go!
grrlscientist | September 11, 2007I promised that I would post the link to the interview with Irene Pepperberg by All Things Considered, so here it is. It also includes a streaming version [3:53]
grrlscientist | September 11, 2007tags: birds, American Robin, Turdus migratorius, Image of the Day
American Robin, Turdus migratorius, with hungry nestlings in NYC's Central Park.
Image: Bob Levy, author of Club George. [wallpaper size].
More below the fold regarding how this image was captured.
The photographer writes: This picture is from my almost-too-cute-for-words file. It may be another one of those ho-hum-here-go-again photos of nestlings but how I got this shot will always stay with me.
I was standing on a sloping boulder on the far northwest edge of the Ramble in Central Park when I heard the nestlings yelling…
grrlscientist | September 11, 2007
Because you read this blog, you are no doubt aware that more than half of all Americans do not believe that evolution is a valid scientific explanation for how the world works, but did you know that one-third of all advanced science degrees awarded in America are earned by foreign students? These are just a few of the facts that you'll learn in the new book, The Canon: A Whirligig Tour of the Beautiful Basics of Science (Houghton Mifflin: NYC; 2007), by science writer, Natalie Angier. The Canon explains the basics of science, starting with the scientific method, probability and measurements…
grrlscientist | September 11, 2007tags: Alex, African grey parrot, Psittacus erithacus, cognition, learning, speech disabilities, Irene Pepperberg
Alex, the African grey parrot, Psittacus erithacus,
who worked with Irene Pepperberg for more than 30 years.
Image: Mike Lovett/Brandeis University [larger size]
Alex, the African grey parrot who worked with Irene Pepperberg, has managed something that most of us never will: his obituary is in today's NYTimes;
Scientists have long debated whether any other species can develop the ability to learn human language. Alex's language facility was, in some ways, more surprising than…
grrlscientist | September 11, 2007tags: terrorism, religion, streaming video
All religion has a very bloody history and the fact that people still subject themselves to this brainwashing shows that most people are mindless idiots. Don't believe me? Watch this video that will remind you about what happened on September 11th, six years ago. [5:27]
grrlscientist | September 10, 2007tags: Alex, African grey parrot, Irene Pepperberg, streaming video
"Alex is actually THINKING!"
Well, of course animals think. They're constantly making decisions based on information available to them. What was special about Alex, the African grey parrot who worked with Irene Pepperberg, was his ability to communicate his thoughts, giving us insight into how his mind works. Rest in peace, little guy. [0:34]
grrlscientist | September 10, 2007tags: Alex, African grey parrot, Psittacus erithacus, cognition, learning, speech disabilities, Irene Pepperberg, interview
For those of you who are grieving the sad loss of Alex, the African grey parrot who worked with researcher, Irene Pepperberg, you should know that when you awaken tomorrow morning,there will be an interview on National Public Radio's All Things Considered. This interview was just taped this evening. I will provide a streaming link tomorrow after the show airs.
grrlscientist | September 10, 2007tags: suicide, world suicide prevention day, mental health, depression, bipolar disorder
Suicide is a major public health issue and accounts for nearly 3% of all deaths worldwide -- around the world, one million people will die by suicide this year. But suicide is a taboo subject that many people, regardless of age, sex, socioeconomic status or religious and cultural affiliations, are ashamed of, and rarely speak about. This veil of secrecy leads to needless deaths worldwide. So as a result, today was designated as World Suicide Prevention Day, which is designed to raise public awareness of…
grrlscientist | September 10, 2007tags: blog carnivals, encephalon, cognition, learning
I suppose it goes without saying that I have been interested in learning about brain and behavior for most of my life, and many of my interests have focused on all aspects of the development of birdsong and bird food caching behavior. Additionally, since I have lived with parrots for nearly my entire life as well, I am of course very interested in understanding how they learn their behaviors and how to speak. So, as a result, I have been invited to host the next edition of the blog carnival, Encephalon, two weeks from now on 24 September…
grrlscientist | September 10, 2007tags: Birds in the News, BirdNews, ornithology, birds, avian, newsletter
Clark's Grebe, Aechmorphus clarkii, in the foreground with a Western Grebe, Aechmorphus occidentalis, behind. Both were photographed on the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge (north end of the Great Salt Lake) in the spring of 2005. Similar birds, but the field marks are straw-yellow bill (Clark's) cf. greenish-yellow bill (Western); white feathering around the eye (Clark's) cf black (Western), and whiter flanks on the Clark's Grebe. This pair of birds was hanging out together, and that was not unusual, making one wonder…
grrlscientist | September 10, 2007tags: genetics, blog carnivals
The 18th edition of Mendel's Garden is now available for your reading pleasure. This blog carnival devoted to genetics, featuring some of the best science blogging focused on genetics, from the past month. They included a story that I wrote, so be sure to check it out.
grrlscientist | September 8, 2007tags: Alex, African grey parrot, Psittacus erithacus, cognition, learning, speech disabilities, Irene Pepperberg
Alex, the African grey parrot, Psittacus erithacus and his colored blocks.
Image: EurekaAlert. [wallpaper size]
As you know, I have spent my life researching, breeding and living with birds, especially parrots. I have also had the distinct pleasure of meeting Irene Pepperberg several times, both at professional meetings as well as at avicultural meetings. However, yesterday, I received the devastating news that Alex the African grey parrot, who was both a study subject and…
grrlscientist | September 7, 2007The 57th edition of I and the Bird blog carnival is now available for you to enjoy. Be sure to drop in and give them support by following their links.
grrlscientist | September 7, 2007tags: logical, online quiz
You Are Incredibly Logical
Move over Spock - you're the new master of logic
You think rationally, clearly, and quickly.
A seasoned problem solver, your mind is like a computer!
How Logical Are You?
The one thing that bothered me about this quiz is that it didn't say how many I got correct. I assume I got all of the answers correct, though. How about you?
grrlscientist | September 6, 2007tags: researchblogging.org, mental health, suicide, depression, bipolar disorder, SSRIs, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, antidepressants, FDA black-box warning
Prozac.
Image: Tom Varco
After a 2003 report linking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, with increased suicide rates among children and teen agers was published, the use of this class of antidepressants in these age groups has decreased dramatically. This led to a change in labeling in 2003 that warned that use of the medications could increase suicidal thoughts and behavior among youths. Sadly, this 'black…