grrlscientist | May 12, 2010tags: A Sneak-Peak at UK Conservatives, Not the Nine O'clock News, UK politics, conservative politics, immigrants, racism, comedy, humor, funny, satire, parody, television, Rowan Atkison, streaming video
This British comedy reminds me of conservative politics (and politicians) in the USA, especially those in Arizona. Amazing how little things change, isn't it?
This was the second episode from the first season of Not the nine O'clock News (1979).
grrlscientist | May 11, 2010tags: Bait Ball Feast, natural history, animal behavior, plankton, herring, seabird, humpback whale, television, BBC, streaming video
In late summer, the plankton bloom is at its height. Vast shoals of herring gather to feed on it, diving birds round the fish up into a bait ball.
grrlscientist | May 11, 2010
Image: wemidji (Jacques Marcoux).
Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est (And thus knowledge itself is power)
-- Sir Francis Bacon.
The next edition of Scientia Pro Publica (Science for the People) will publish Monday and as usual, it is seeking submissions and hosts! Can you help by sending URLs for your own or others' well-written science, medicine, and nature blog essays to me or by volunteering to host this carnival on your blog?
Scientia Pro Publica is a traveling blog carnival that celebrates the best science, environment, nature and medical writing that has been published in the…
grrlscientist | May 11, 2010tags: Sonnenaufgang Ranunkel Blume, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, travel, cities, flowers, image of the day, photography
Sonnenaufgang Ranunkel Blume.
Nordwestzentrum open air market, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Image: GrrlScientist, 5 May 2010 [larger view]
grrlscientist | May 11, 2010tags: Swainson's Thrush, Olive-backed Thrush, Catharus ustulatus, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Swainson's Thrush, also known as the Olive-backed Thrush, Catharus ustulatus, photographed at Quintana Neotropical Bird Sanctuary, Brazoria County, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 27 April 2010 [larger view].
Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope with TSN-PZ camera eyepiece 1/400s 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 | May 11, 2010tags: The Delicious Dish, Betty White, comedy, humor, funny, satire, parody, television, Saturday Night Live, National Public Radio, The Splendid Table, Good Food, streaming video
For those of you without a TV or who don't live in the US (where Saturday Night Live is filmed and broadcast), here's a look at a skit that aired on the most recent episode hosted by Betty White. In this skit, SNL is parodying Margaret-Jo McCullen and Teri Rialto who host "The Splendid Table" and "Good Food" on National Public Radio.
grrlscientist | May 10, 2010tags: Octopus versus Fish, Chinaman Leatherjacket, animal behavior, predatory behavior, documentary, Jervis Bay, Australia, streaming video
A scuba diver captured this interesting footage of a group of Chinaman Leatherjacket fish attacking and killing an Octopus, in Jeris Bay, Australia, in this is an amazing display of animal behavior.
grrlscientist | May 10, 2010
Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est (And thus knowledge itself is power)
-- Sir Francis Bacon.
This week's edition of Scientia Pro Publica (Science for the People); "Scientia Pro Publica 29" has been published by me at my Nature Network blog, Maniraptora. So go there, read the linked essays and be sure to leave your comments on at least one of those essays, either telling those authors what they did well, or making suggestions for improvements in their writing.
After you've read this carnival, perhaps you also wish to submit your blog essays to the next issue of Scientia? If so, you're in…
grrlscientist | May 10, 2010tags: Sonnenaufgang Ranunkel Blume, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, travel, cities, flowers, image of the day, photography
Sonnenaufgang Ranunkel Blume.
Nordwestzentrum open air market, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Image: GrrlScientist, 5 May 2010 [larger view]
grrlscientist | May 10, 2010tags: Bald Eagle, White-headed Sea Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Bald Eagle, also known as the White-headed Sea Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus photographed in Lyman County, South Dakota. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: Terry Sohl, 17 January 2010 [larger view]. You are encouraged to purchase photographs from this photographer. I am happy to email his contact information to you.
Canon 50D, 400 5.6L lens.
Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.
This is an immature Bald Eagle, as you…
grrlscientist | May 10, 2010tags: Shining, The Shining, parody, satire, humor, funny, Something Awful Goon, streaming video
I've watched this video many times before and have always been impressed by how a horror film can be recast as a comedy simply through careful choice of narrator and which scenes to include in a trailer.
grrlscientist | May 9, 2010tags: A Small Announcement, Star Wars, parody, satire, humor, funny, Jennifer Hays, streaming video
This is a really strange announcement of a pregnancy and impending birth by a couple who apparently thought they'd never have their own kid. I wonder what the relatives think about the entire world tuning in to watch this announcement?
And why aren't they naming the kids Luke and Leia after all that? Hmph.
grrlscientist | May 9, 2010
Image: wemidji (Jacques Marcoux).
Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est (And thus knowledge itself is power)
-- Sir Francis Bacon.
This week's edition of Scientia Pro Publica (Science for the People); "Scientia Pro Publica 28" was published this past Monday by Kelsey at her blog, Mauka to Makai. This nicely-done issue of Scientia filled with well-written and thought-provoking essays about a variety of topics.
After you've read this carnival, I hope you will submit your blog essays to the next issue of Scientia. We are trying an experiment right now: we are trying to publish this blog…
grrlscientist | May 9, 2010tags: Orangefarben Dahlie, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, travel, cities, flowers, image of the day, photography
Orangefarben Dahlie.
Nordwestzentrum open air market, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Image: GrrlScientist, 5 May 2010 [larger view]
grrlscientist | May 9, 2010tags: Birdbooker Report, bird books, animal books, natural history books, ecology books
Books to the ceiling,
Books to the sky,
My pile of books is a mile high.
How I love them! How I need them!
I'll have a long beard by the time I read them.
~ Arnold Lobel [1933-1987] author of many popular children's books.
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…
grrlscientist | May 9, 2010tags: Brubru, Nilaus afer, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Brubru, Nilaus afer, photographed Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, Africa. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: Dan Logen, 15 January 2010 [larger view].
Nikon D300, 200-400 VR lens, at 400 mm. ISO 500, 1/800 sec, f/5.6, Exposure compenstation +1.
Okay, this lovely little bird's ID will drive you crazy (although it is possible that either Adrian or Carel might be able to figure it out), so I will be most pleased if you manage to correctly identify this bird's taxonomic family.
Please name at…
grrlscientist | May 9, 2010tags: Did Religion Have an Evolutionary Value?, religion, psychology, social structure, social commentary, cultural observation, Richard Dawkins, streaming video
Richard Dawkins argues that humanity's historical predisposition towards religion and supernatural beliefs may have held an evolutionary utility. "The rule of thumb: 'Believe whatever your parents tell you,' quite clearly could have survival value," says Dawkins.
He's the King of All the Atheists (um, yeah, right), and now Richard Dawkins is hammering home what he sees as his key argument against the existence of God. In his book,…
grrlscientist | May 8, 2010tags: Mexican Bishops Ask for Forgiveness, catholicism, religion, sex abuse, child rape, pedophilia, social commentary, cultural observation, Al Jazeera, streaming video
As the Vatican tries to defuse growing anger over child abuse by priests in the Roman Catholic Church, bishops in Mexico have released a statement asking victims for forgiveness.
Church authorities in Mexico have now admitted that one of their priests, Marcial Maciel, had over a 40-year period, preyed on nearly 200 young seminarians and children, including two of his own.
The Vatican has continued to deny allegations of a…
grrlscientist | May 8, 2010tags: Lachsfarbene Rosen, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, travel, cities, flowers, image of the day, photography
Lachsfarbene Rosen.
Nordwestzentrum open air market, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Image: GrrlScientist, 5 May 2010 [larger view]
I am so surprised to see that I managed to actually capture the delicate pinkish-orange color of these beautiful roses.
grrlscientist | May 8, 2010
Image: wemidji (Jacques Marcoux).
Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est (And thus knowledge itself is power)
-- Sir Francis Bacon.
This week's edition of Scientia Pro Publica (Science for the People); "Scientia Pro Publica 28" was published this past Monday by Kelsey at her blog, Mauka to Makai. This nicely-done issue of Scientia filled with well-written and thought-provoking essays about a variety of topics.
After you've read this carnival, I hope you will submit your blog essays to the next issue of Scientia. We are trying an experiment right now: we are trying to publish this blog…