grrlscientist | July 12, 2009tags: politics, religion, fundamentalism, physical violence, Bill Maher, streaming video
"'This is what I believe.' 'Yeah, you believe it, and I'm going to say why it's dumb.'" ~ Bill Maher [2:17]
grrlscientist | July 11, 2009The current Antarctic Trip Vote count is as follows; 1369 - 724 - 693 - 636 - 409 out of 276 candidates registered. I am still in second place, and first place is, as you can see, suddenly drawing away in an unprecedented burst of voting support. Hrmm.
If you've already voted, then please encourage your family, friends, colleagues and neighbors to vote for the person whom you think would be best for this unique job: traveling to Antarctica for the month of February 2010 and writing about it for the public on a blog. Here is my 300-word essay; hopefully, you will agree that I am a very well-…
grrlscientist | July 11, 2009tags: River Vantaa, Helsinki, Finland, nature, image of the day
A view of a natural waterfall in a park near the River Vantaa.
This waterfall is in the same park that I showed you yesterday.
I believe I was in Vantaa (will check after my host returns),
in northern Helsinki, Finland, when I photographed this.
Image: GrrlScientist, 6 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
grrlscientist | July 11, 2009
Image: appears here with the kind permission of Wetjens Dimmlich [Slow Loris Fickr site].
Send GrrlScientist to Antarctica!
Quark Expeditions is searching for an Official Blogger to join a voyage to Antarctica. Their goals, according to an email I received from their official spokesperson, Prisca, are to have their official blogger write a daily blog entry in English about their experience on this Antarctic trip, and to help raise public awareness of the environmental and conservation issues that pertain to the Antarctic. To select their official blogger, they are asking candidates to…
grrlscientist | July 11, 2009tags: mystery bird, identify this bird, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Brown Thrasher, Toxostoma rufum, photographed at Paul Rushing Park, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 28 March 2009 [larger view].
Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope with tsn-pz camera eyepiece 1/500s f/8.0 at 1000.0mm iso400.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
Review all mystery birds to date.
grrlscientist | July 11, 2009tags: technology, neurobiology, brain, Three ways the Brain Creates Meaning, Tom Wujec, streaming video
Information designer Tom Wujec talks through three areas of the brain that help us understand words, images, feelings, connections. In this short talk from TEDU, he asks: How can we best engage our brains to help us better understand big ideas? [6:26]
Take Home message: Creating technology that works intuitively with the way our brains function enhances our ability to solve really complex problems more efficiently.
TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances…
grrlscientist | July 11, 2009tags: politics, American constitution, national security, terrorism, Bill Maher, streaming video
Should America curtail our constitutional rights under the guise of preventing terrorist attacks? NO NO NO. I just wanted to remind you of an important discussion that occurred nearly one year ago when American was trapped in the clutches of a lunatic moron who aspired to be "dictator" -- I wonder when Obama will finally stop all this invasive secret governmental spying on Americans? [3:41]
grrlscientist | July 10, 2009How can you resist doing as the Bard of the Internetz asks?
She should be first on any list --
GrrlScientist! GrrlScientist!
Let no one's vote be lost or miss'd --
GrrlScientist! GrrlScientist!
Let one and all her cause assist --
Come join with me; I must insist!
Just move your fingers, hands, and wrist --
GrrlScientist! GrrlScientist!
Come raise your voice and clench your fist --
GrrlScientist! GrrlScientist!
Come march, or strut, or do the twist --
GrrlScientist! GrrlScientist!
Her cause is just; you can't resist;
Don't let her lose, or I'll be pissed!
(I'll stop for now -- you've got the…
grrlscientist | July 10, 2009The current Antarctic Trip Vote count is as follows; 921 - 683 - 652 - 621 - 401 out of 266 candidates registered. I am still in second place, and now there's a new third place candidate who is benefiting from a renewed surge of support.
If you've already voted, then please encourage your family, friends, colleagues and neighbors to vote for the person whom you think would be best for this unique job: traveling to Antarctica for the month of February 2010 and writing about it for the public on a blog. Here is my 300-word essay; hopefully, you will agree that I am a very well-qualified…
grrlscientist | July 10, 2009tags: River Vantaa, Helsinki, Finland, nature, image of the day
A view of a park near the River Vantaa.
I believe I was in Vantaa (will check after my host returns),
in northern Helsinki, Finland, when I photographed this.
Image: GrrlScientist, 6 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
grrlscientist | July 10, 2009
Image: Orphaned.
Reduce GrrlScientist's Antarctic Vote Threat Level from Orange to Green by voting for her today!
Details: Quark Expeditions is searching for an Official Blogger to join a voyage to Antarctica. Their goals, according to an email I received recently from their official spokesperson, Prisca, are to have their official blogger write a daily blog entry in English about his or her experience on this Antarctic trip, and to help raise public awareness of the environmental and conservation issues that pertain to the Antarctic. To select their official blogger, they are asking…
grrlscientist | July 10, 2009tags: Grey-Backed Sparrow-Lark, Eremopterix verticalis, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Grey-Backed Sparrow-Lark, Eremopterix verticalis, photographed in Swakopmund, Namibia, Africa [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: Dennis Paulson, April 2007 [larger view].
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
The photographer, Dr. Dennis Paulson, Director Emeritus of the Slater Museum of Natural History, writes;
Sparrow-larks are bona fide larks, but their bills are modified for seed-eating, so they are very sparrow-like. They are…
grrlscientist | July 10, 2009tags: funny, humor, satire, economy, television news, instapoll tracker, live poll, ONN, Onion News Network, streaming video
ONN is trying out a new feature to give viewers greater involvement in the news: a live popularity poll. Viewers can vote on specific comments as the pundits are uttering them, which gives the pundits the opportunity to kiss ass in real time and while the broadcast is in progress! (Important when talking about the economy) [3:10]
grrlscientist | July 10, 2009tags: Harry Potter and the Midlife Crisis, comedy, humor, funny, streaming video
How will the Harry Potter movies finally end? Don't wait for the book! Here is the exclusive story [4:15]
grrlscientist | July 9, 2009tags: Harry Potter, kiss, Harry Potter and the Magical Kiss, online poll, fun
Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) kissed by Maggie Smith (Professor McGonagall)
World Premiere of Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince at the Empire Leicester Square cinema, London, England.
Image: WENN.com
Kiss kiss, kiss: it seems that everyone is thinking about kissy-face (snogging as the Brits say) -- and Harry Potter. In fact, after reading all those skanky tabloids, I've learned that Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley) is an excellent kisser while Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter) could use some further instruction in…
grrlscientist | July 9, 2009The current Antarctic Trip Vote count is as follows; 884 - 668 - 613 - 587 - 389 (how did yesterday's fifth place entrant lose 63 votes overnight??) out of 260 candidates registered. I am still in second place, and third place is creeping up on me rather quickly.
If you've already voted, then please encourage your family, friends, colleagues and neighbors to vote for the person whom you think would be best for this unique job: traveling to Antarctica for the month of February 2010 and writing about it for the public on a blog. Here is my 300-word essay; hopefully, you will agree that I am a…
grrlscientist | July 9, 2009tags: snowball, dancing cockatoo, parrots, Cacatua galerita eleanora, interview
Snowball, adult male Eleanora (medium sulfur-crested) cockatoo, Cacatua galerita eleanora.
Image: courtesy of Bird Lovers Only [larger view].
I have been working behind the scenes for the opportunity to interview Irena, the woman who lives with the amazing Snowball, the dancing cockatoo. She recently indicated her willingness to be interviewed so I am going to share the fun with all of you, dear readers. I will give you one week to think of all those questions that you'd like to ask Irena about Snowball, so…
grrlscientist | July 9, 2009tags: River Vantaa, Helsinki, Finland, nature, image of the day
A river flows through it.
A view of the River Vantaa. I believe I was in Vantaa (will check after my host returns),
in northern Helsinki, Finland, when I photographed this.
Image: GrrlScientist, 6 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
I've been telling you about how gorgeous Helsinki is, but mostly so far, I've shown you photographs of flowers. I hope you realize that I wanted to establish in your mind that it is warm and sunny enough here for flowers to bloom, but today, I just had to share a picture of the River Vantaa (…
grrlscientist | July 9, 2009tags: Ivory-Billed Woodpecker, Campephilus principalis, grail bird, bird watching, conservation, documentary, streaming video
No, I do not believe that the Ivory-billed Woodpecker lives, but this trailer makes the documentary film look interesting anyway, mostly because it focuses on the people; the residents of the town nearest the "rediscovery site", the scientists, the politics and the media frenzy surrounding this "Grail Bird" [3:29]
Here's a somewhat rambling interview with the film's director, Scott Crocker, who is articulate (and very fun to look at) [9:37];
I would like to point…
grrlscientist | July 9, 2009
Who: Dr. Jeff Schweitzer
What: free public presentation, "Moral Life in a Random World"
Where: SLC Conference Center, 352 7th avenue (between 29th and 30th streets), 16th floor.
When: 700pm, Thursday, 9 July
Dr. Jeff Schweitzer is a scientist who has written extensively on morality, religion, politics and science -- and who served as science advisor to former President Bill Clinton and former Vice President Al Gore. Schweitzer will talk about how we each have within us the awesome power to create our own meaning in life, our own sense of purpose, our own destiny. He will address how…