grrlscientist | May 26, 2007tags: religion, creationism museum
While a small airplane flew overhead, towing a banner that read, "Thou shalt not lie," Ken Ham and his cronies opened their $27 million "museum" near Cincinnati today, and were met with condemnation from the country's scientists. This so-called "museum" portrays God as creating the heavens and the Earth in six days approximately 6,000 years ago. Ham responded to the criticism by claiming that his incorrect and unorthodox views were finally being represented publically.
"What we've done here is to give people an opportunity to hear information that is not…
grrlscientist | May 25, 2007tags: Keith Olbermann, political opinion, streaming video
Everyone in our government has failed the American people and ignored their demand to extricate us from this war based on lies. [Keith Olbermann 7:52]
grrlscientist | May 25, 2007tags: cicada, 17-year cicada, Magicicada
"Cicada"
Image: Wikipedia.
After seventeen years underground, immature cicadas are now emerging as full-fledged adults, ready to breed. Adult cicadas live, feed, and breed above ground for approximately two to six weeks before they die. The dark-colored insects are between one and two inches long with transparent veined wings, prominent red eyes and undeniable acoustic talents: the males produce a tremendously loud courtship song that sounds like a combination of a whirring blender and a lawn mover. Basically, cicadas are the most efficient and…
grrlscientist | May 25, 2007tags: insects, cicada, streaming video
In case you haven't heard yet, the cicadas are coming this year. In the next few months you will be hearing about the impending emergence of the 17 year cicada, mistakenly called 17 year locusts. If you don't remember the last outbreak, or if you are new to the east coast, you need to know a few facts about this periodic phenomenon.
Cicadas are large, plant-feeding insects. They have clear wings and are known for making a very loud noise. When tens of thousands of cicadas are singing at the same time the sound is quite loud and annoying. Be prepared for…
grrlscientist | May 24, 2007tags: snake, alligator, reptiles
A Burmese python swallows an alligator and then bursts open.
Image: BBC News.
An unusual struggle between a 6 foot (1.8 meter) alligator and a 13 foot (3.9 meter) python killed two of the deadliest predators in Florida's swamps. The alligator is native to the Florida swamps, while the python is native to Burma, and was probably was dumped into the swamp by its neglectful owner. Apparently, the Burmese python attempted to swallow the alligator whole but then its belly exploded. It is possible that the alligator might have clawed the python's stomach until it…
grrlscientist | May 24, 2007Well, ScienceBlogs is recovering from a system-wide crash, so some of your comments were lost and some of my colleagues' entries were lost, too. (I lucked out, because one of my entries published itself six times, instead of being lost). Sorry about that, but you'll be pleased to know that we all complained loudly about the situation behind the scenes.
So on to the court date story. I went to court yesterday evening as scheduled and sat on the bench, sweating, despite the fact that the courtroom was air conditioned to the point where it was as cold as a refrigerator. Anyway, after the first…
grrlscientist | May 24, 2007tags: snakes, smuggling, airplane
Did you hear about the guy who was trying to carry a bag containing 700 snakes in it onto a plane in Cairo? His stash of snakes included two deadly cobras -- the stuff of a good terror spoof. He was apparently trying to smuggle these snakes on board with him so he could sell them in Saudi Arabia, where his flight was headed.
The officers were stunned when a passenger, identified as Yahia Rahim Tulba, told them his carryon bag contained live snakes after he was asked to open it.
Tulba opened his bag to show the snakes to the police and asked the officers,…
grrlscientist | May 24, 2007tags: insects, hive mind, Insect Warrior, streaming video
This streaming video is a mini-documentary showing how humanity appears to be headed towards the hive-mind of the social insects. Is this really what we want to become? [3:39].
grrlscientist | May 23, 2007tags: Monica Goodling, Alberto Gonzales, US Attorney General, US Attorney firings, politics
So what is Monica Goodling's excuse for her poor memory? She's a terrible liar if the best she can come up with is that she "didn't intend to commit a crime," that she "crossed the line, but didn't mean to." Meanwhile, Justice Department documents show that Goodling attended numerous meetings over a year's time about the plans to fire the U.S. attorneys and she corresponded with the White House and at least one of the fired prosecutors before the dismissals were ordered. It's no wonder that she pled…
grrlscientist | May 23, 2007tags: beliefs, Republican, politics
You might find yourself agreeing with this list (how could you not?), and possibly adding a few more of your own points to it after you've had a chance to read it. Of course, it wasn't always like this, as one commenter pointed out. But the Republican party has been hijacked by the same evil liars who hijack truth, freedom and everything else we hold dear in this country.
Jesus loves you, and shares your hatred of homosexuals and Hillary Clinton.
Saddam was a good guy when Reagan armed him, a bad guy when Bush's daddy made war on him, a good guy when…
grrlscientist | May 23, 2007tags: suicide, mental health, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, college, university
Approximately 1,300 college students will commit suicide this year, according to experts. Yet even though university students are less likely than other age and occupational groups to take their own lives, suicide has increased recently on campuses and it is the second-leading cause of death among college students. Why?
"We have had an increasing number of students with serious mental health problems while services are lacking," observed UC Santa Barbara Vice Chancellor Michael Young, co-chairman of the…
grrlscientist | May 23, 2007tags: Australia, blog carnivals
Wow, this is the day of the blog carnivals, isn't it? This time, the 3rd issue of the new Carnival of Australia is now available for your reading pleasure, and they included a piece that this lowly American wrote! So even though many of you don't live there, that doesn't mean you can't enjoy visiting, even if only it is a virtual visit!
grrlscientist | May 23, 2007tags: mental health, bipolar disorder, manic depression, depression, blog carnivals
The Mental Health Blog Carnival is now available. They include a piece that I wrote, so be sure to check it out. Incidentally, they are seeking people to host this blog carnival, so if you might be interested, be sure to contact them. After I get all this law suit stuff solved, I think I will host one of their blog carnivals, and hopefully I can give it a bit of a boost in traffic.
grrlscientist | May 23, 2007tags: science, biology, medicine, nature, blog carnivals
Those of you who have been holding your breath for the past two weeks can now inhale again because the 80th issue of Tangled Bank is now available! Yippee! I would also like to mention that this is a fairly large issue and it included three pieces that I wrote, so I am quite pleased. Go there to see which articles of mine were included. Yes, there will be a quiz tomorrow.
grrlscientist | May 23, 2007tags: history, middle east, streaming video
This streaming video gives a brief overview of the situation in the Middle East, and why we are there now, fighting our former allies. [3:03].
grrlscientist | May 22, 2007tags: Julie MacDonald, Interior Department, politics
Julie MacDonald, a Bush appointee who resigned earlier this month as Interior Department deputy assistant secretary for fish, wildlife and parks, is being investigated by Democrats because she was involved with delisting an endangered species to protect her financial interests. According to the Contra Costa Times, MacDonald removed the threatened Sacramento splittail fish from the federal threatened and endangered species list while she was profiting from her farm that lies within the habitat area of the threatened fish.
Today,…
grrlscientist | May 22, 2007Tomorrow is my court date. I am being sued for wages by the person who took care of my birds while I was in the hospital, even though she told me that these costs would be paid for by the social work department at the hospital. So I went to small claims court several months ago to solve this little problem, but there were so many other people there ahead of us that we had to reschedule for a later date. Tomorrow evening is that date.
To say that I am nervous is an understatement. I am terrified, even though I have been told by a couple lawyers that I have a good case (there was no contract…
grrlscientist | May 22, 2007tags: blogosphere, five lives meme, meme
I don't think this was intended to be a meme, but it is certainly has all the makings of a good meme. Basically, it is a self exploration exercise where you imagine that you could have five lives where you could explore five different careers, lifestyles, whatever -- what would they be? So if "Five Lives" became a meme, I'd be quite pleased because I am curious to know how all of you would answer it. I found it at Day by Day, an interesting blog written by a female postdoctoral scientist.
Well, for my first life, I would choose to be exactly what I am…
grrlscientist | May 22, 2007tags: advertising, sexuality, condoms, streaming video
This streaming video is a very clever (but of course, banned) Durex condom commercial and it is so hilarious that I had to share it with all of you [0:41].
grrlscientist | May 22, 2007tags: Wolfowitz, humor, politics
Steve Sack, Minneapolis Star-Tribune.
A friend sent this cartoon to me, but there was no accompanying link, so until I or someone else manages to find it, this is officially an orphaned image.