fun
grrlscientist | December 7, 2009tags: kitchen science, parties, entertainment, fun, science tricks, christmas parties, edutainment, Richard Wiseman, streaming video
This video is a fascinating collection of the top ten science tricks that you can do at that upcoming corporate Christmas party that you are dreading -- and by performing these tricks, you can entertain others whilst enjoying yourself, and make this party into a fun event for all!
This video was created by Prof Richard Wiseman.
awild | December 7, 2009The annual Entomological Society of America meeting is next week (Dec 13-16) in Indianapolis. I'm giving two presentations- one on Pheidole and one on Heterospilus- that the sadistic conference organizers scheduled for the very last day when no one is around.  So if you are attending and happen to miss your flight out, consider heading back to the conference center to catch my talks.
The 2009 meeting will be a good one for we social insect people. I am especially looking forward to the Hoelldobler & Wilson symposium, but the rest of the program is packed with goodies.
Also. …
clock | November 27, 2009
Explained here. Critiques in the comments are (mostly) valid, but for a first effort at using this kind of visualization technique, I'd say it's pretty impressive.
awild | November 16, 2009from an interview with Survivor contestant Kelly Sharbaugh:
When your name showed up, you looked flabbergasted, shocked, dumbfounded.
All of the above. I had no idea that Russell had the idol. When [host Jeff Probst] said my name, I was like. âWhat just happened? What did I do?â I was so emotional because I was so unprepared. I didnât even wear my favorite boots to tribal because the thought that I could go never crossed my mind.
Did you ever get them back?
No, fire ants nested in them so I left them in Samoa and after the tsunami Iâm pretty sure they got washed away.
Good for Kelly, I say,…
clock | November 4, 2009The neighbors in Southern Village (here in Chapel Hill) are wild about Halloween, many making elaborate decorations of their houses for it (often more elaborate than for Christmas). The business on The Green also get into the spirit and put fun and scary dolls or scarecrows or other objects in front of their stores. These are often quite well designed as well. This year, we really liked this sign-post, showing the way to other businesses (e.g., Lumina Theater, Weaver Street Market, Harrington Bank, etc.) - click on buttons to see large:
grrlscientist | October 31, 2009tags: piano stairway, Sweden, behavior, social experiment, streaming video
This video documents an interesting social experiment in Stockholm, Sweden, where students changed stairs into a piano, and compared before-and-after video of stairway use to escalator use. Brilliant!
clock | October 30, 2009An awesome experiment in Stockholm, Sweden where students changed stairs in a subway station into a piano:
And? More people started using the stairs than the escalator! It's just more fun!
awild | October 25, 2009from the always excellent Creature Comforts:
For those sensitive to meaningless violence against ants, you might want to look away around 5:20.