grrlscientist | June 28, 2009tags: Hibiscus Tree, Rose of Sharon, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Garden, Horticulture, Botany, nature, image of the day
Rose of Sharon, also known as the Hibiscus, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.
Photographed on Columbus Avenue, between West 81st and 82nd streets.
Image: GrrlScientist, 24 June 2009 [larger view].
grrlscientist | June 28, 2009tags: Birdbooker Report, bird books, animal books, natural history books, ecology books
"How does one distinguish a truly civilized nation from an aggregation of
barbarians? That is easy. A civilized country produces much good bird
literature."
--Edgar Kincaid
The Birdbooker Report is a special weekly report of a wide variety of science, nature and behavior books that currently are, or soon will be available for purchase. This report is written by one of my Seattle birding pals and book collector, Ian "Birdbooker" Paulsen, and is edited by me and published here for your information and…
grrlscientist | June 28, 2009tags: Mother Goose Stakes, horse racing, Rachel Alexandra, streaming video
Rachel Alexandra (daughter of Medaglia d'Oro), running away with the
2009 Kentucky Oaks (Grade I; three-year-old fillies)
under the guidance of Jockey Calvin Borel.
Image: David J. Phillip [larger view].
I have been keeping my eye on the amazing filly, Rachel Alexandra, who wowed the public by beating the boys as she won the Preakness Stakes last month. Yesterday, at Belmont Park in New York, Rachel Alexandra did it again. This time, she won the Mother Goose Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, setting not one, but two…
grrlscientist | June 28, 2009tags: Lesser Flamingo, Phoeniconaias minor, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Lesser Flamingo, Phoeniconaias minor, 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.
Review all mystery birds to date.
grrlscientist | June 28, 2009tags: World Science Festival, science, dancing parrot, Snowball, eleanora cockatoo, Cacatua sulphurea eleonora, humor, funny, streaming video
Despite living in NYC, I was not at the World Science Festival last weekend, which totally bums me out, especially since Irene Pepperberg was there, speaking, and Snowball, a male Eleanora (medium sulfur-crested) cockatoo, Cacatua sulphurea eleonora, was there, dancing. This video shows Snowball's delightful performance -- which I missed!! [3:01]
grrlscientist | June 28, 2009tags: science, god, religion, creationism, humor, funny, satire, Edward Current, streaming video
In this video, we learn that the know-it-alls who dreamed up the Big Bang and evolution don't know what they're talking about. Edward Current proves this with a few simple science experiments. (ps, sorry about the picture quality. I thought 'white balance' had something to do with banning immigrants.) [5:05]
grrlscientist | June 27, 2009The current Antarctic Trip Vote count is as follows; 375 - 305 - 159 - 136 - 135 out of 158 candidates registered.
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. Voting ends 30 September and there is one vote allowed per valid email address (registration required).
grrlscientist | June 27, 2009tags: Dahlia, flowers, Garden, Horticulture, Botany, nature, image of the day
A bunch of flowers for you to enjoy. The big yellow blossom
is one of the many thousands of popular Dahlia cultivars.
Photographed on Amsterdam Avenue, near West 83rd street.
Image: GrrlScientist, 24 June 2009 [larger view].
grrlscientist | June 27, 2009tags: Eastern Meadowlark, Sturnella magna, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Eastern Meadowlark, Sturnella magna, photographed in Texas. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 19 March 2009 [larger view].
Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope with tsn-pz camera eyepiece 1/640s 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 | June 27, 2009tags: Weekend Project, Potato Gatling Gun, DeRose family, trailer, entertainment, engineering, physics, streaming video
Do you wish you could do something fun with your family? This video shows how one family designed and built a potato gatling gun, which was shown at this year's Maker Faire. This looks like so much fun that it almost makes me want to have kids! [4:29]
grrlscientist | June 26, 2009tags: Rainstorm, weather, nature, Manhattan
Hiding from the rain under the eaves.
Photographed on Columbus Avenue, between West 81st and 82nd streets.
Image: GrrlScientist, 26 June 2009 [larger view].
This rainstorm was so severe that it even drenched people with umbrellas .. and flooded the streets.
grrlscientist | June 26, 2009Here's the latest blog carnival action in the blogosphere for you to read and enjoy;
Carnival of the Vanities. This blog carnival celebrates the best writing in the blogosphere, regardless of topic.
Carnival of Education, which has a zillion contributions from people involved with education.
Book Review carnival, #20. Are you looking for a few good books to read while you are on the beach? If so, this is the place to look for them.
Carnival of Satire, #115. This blog carnival is sure to give you a smile.
grrlscientist | June 26, 2009tags: Hibiscus Tree, Rose of Sharon, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Garden, Horticulture, Botany, nature, image of the day
Rose of Sharon, also known as the Hibiscus tree, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.
Photographed on Columbus Avenue, between West 81st and 82nd streets.
Image: GrrlScientist, 24 June 2009 [larger view].
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is one of many plant genera that can exhibit polyploidy, a condition where its number of chromosomes is far greater than the two sets that come from each parent. Polyploid offspring can have very different morphologies from either parent, or indeed any ancestor,…
grrlscientist | June 26, 2009
Since I have recently developed quite a history of visiting cold and snowy places, often during the winter, I wish to preserve that tradition. I am competing for the opportunity to go to Antarctica in February 2010 -- a dream adventure that I've always wanted to pursue (and almost did pursue when I was an undergraduate researching Fin Whales and Crabeater Seals at the University of Washington). To enter, we must write an essay explaining why we think we are the best choice, and solicit votes from the public. Whomever receives the most votes wins the job. But I am not the only one who thinks…
grrlscientist | June 26, 2009tags: House Sparrow, Passer domesticus, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] House Sparrow, Passer domesticus, photographed in Arizona. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]
Image: Richard Ditch, 3 June 2005 [larger view].
Date Time Original: 2005:03:06 17:34:01
Exposure Time: 1/30
F-Number: 8.00
ISO: 500
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
Review all mystery birds to date.
grrlscientist | June 26, 2009
Image: wemidji (Jacques Marcoux).
Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est (And thus knowledge itself is power)
-- Sir Francis Bacon.
Scientia Pro Publica (Science for the People) is a blog carnival that celebrates the best science, nature and medical writing targeted specifically to the public that has been published in the blogosphere within the past 60 days. To send your submissions to Scientia Pro Publica, either use this automated submission form or use the cute little widget on the right (sometimes that widget doesn't upload when the mother site is sick). Be sure to include the URL or "…
grrlscientist | June 26, 2009tags: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, film, movie, trailer, entertainment, streaming video
This is a behind-the-scenes look at the soon-to-be-released Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which will open on 17 July 2009. I have been waiting eagerly for more than one year for this film, ever since Warner Bros claimed it was going to be released in November 2008 .. but wasn't! [1:45]
grrlscientist | June 26, 2009tags: Antarctica, environment, nature, streaming video
As an introduction to my special plea to you, my readers, I want to share this astonishing time-lapse video filmed in Antarctica, in and around McMurdo Station and Scott Base [6:17]
Thanks to one of my readers, I learned recently that Quark Expeditions is searching for an Official Blogger to join a voyage to Antarctica. To select this person, they are asking blog writers to enter a competition where the public votes for whom they think would be best for the job. Quite honestly, I think I am the best person in the world to act as the…
grrlscientist | June 25, 2009Usually, I complain that I get less than what I've paid for, especially because I try to live frugally, which is difficult after the nearby 99-cent store burnt down recently. That unfortunate event means that all my expenses for food, cleaning supplies and other stupid items that I need -- like a bucket to catch the water leaking from underneath my sink because the landlord won't fix it and I lack the tools to fix it myself -- now cost significantly more than they did just a short time ago.
Significantly more.
But today, when I was eating my meagre dinner of Progresso Chicken and Wild Rice…
grrlscientist | June 25, 2009tags: Cambridge University, Garden, Horticulture, Botany, nature, image of the day
Walkway at Cambridge University Botanic Garden.
Image: Bob O'Hara, 23 April 2009 [larger view].
According to the photographer, the director led them on a tour of the gardens. He said it was laid out by one of Darwin's mentors to show the variation in the plants. Apparently, the trees were paired up to show morphological variation by Henslow, the man who recommended that Darwin accompany the captain on the Beagle's famous voyage. The director of the gardens was really pleased to have worked this out: it…