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GrrlScientist is a colorful parrot who writes by typing with her beak. She's also an evolutionary biologist and a proud member of the vast left-wing conspiracy that your mother warned you about. GrrlScientist also writes a blog at Nature Network, Maniraptora (Tastes Like Chicken).

Online interviews with GrrlScientist: Kolibri Expeditions, ScienceOnline09, Nature Blog Network and ScienceBlogs. More biographical information about GrrlScientist.

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March 24, 2010

How Condoms Are Made

Category: EducationSexualityStreaming videosTeaching

tags: , , , , ,


Well, now this is an interesting video: how condoms are made. The manufacturing process is actually quite interesting, and my favorite part was stress-testing the condoms. I wonder what the people who work in that factory say when asked at a dinner party what they do for a living?

Scientia Pro Publica Needs Your Essays!

Category:

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) is less than two weeks away 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?

March 23, 2010

Today's Mystery Bird for you to Identify

Category: BirdingEducationMystery BirdsPhotographyTeachingTravel

tags: , ,

[Mystery bird] photographed on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, Midway Island, Hawai'i. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]

Image: Joe Fuhrman, March 2010 [larger view].


NOTE: Unless you are a beginning bird watcher, PLEASE wait 24 hours before identifying this bird. (Intermediate-expert birders are encouraged to use puns, anagrams, poetry references or citations, Monty Python quotes or anything else that tickles your fancy to indicate you've identified this species during the first 24 hours after the image pops up. Thank you.) Everyone -- even beginning birders! -- PLEASE name at least one field mark that supports your identification.

New Supernova Discovered by Young Citizen Scientist

Category: EducationStreaming videosYour Inner Child

tags: , , , , , , , , , ,


There is no age restriction on the chance to make a significant contribution to our understanding of the universe. Caroline Moore, a 14-year-old from Warwick, NY, has made such a mark on astronomy with the discovery of Supernova 2008ha. Not only is she the youngest person to discover a supernova, but this particular supernova has been identified as a different type of stellar explosion.

Sam Harris: Science CAN Answer Moral Questions

Category: Cultural ObservationEducationEthicsPoliticsStreaming videos

tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


Questions of good and evil, right and wrong are commonly thought unanswerable by science. But Sam Harris argues that science can -- and should -- be an authority on moral issues, shaping human values and setting out what constitutes a good life.

March 22, 2010

Who Will Read Your Excellent Environment Blog Writing?

Category:

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) is less than two weeks away 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?

Today's Mystery Bird for you to Identify

Category: BirdingEducationMystery BirdsPhotographyTeachingTravel

tags: , ,

[Mystery bird] photographed out of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]

Image: Paul Sweet, 4 August 2007 [larger view].


NOTE: Unless you are a beginning bird watcher, PLEASE wait 24 hours before identifying this bird. (Intermediate-expert birders are encouraged to use puns, anagrams, poetry references or citations, Monty Python quotes or anything else that tickles your fancy to indicate you've identified this species during the first 24 hours after the image pops up. Thank you.) Everyone -- even beginning birders! -- PLEASE name at least one field mark that supports your identification.

Making Violin Strings

Category: EducationStreaming videosTeaching

tags: , , , , ,


The best violinists rely on strings that are made from the guts of lambs that are no more than 4 months old at slaughter. Kinda makes you wonder how many vegans and animal rights wingnuts have given up playing and listening to orchestral and other music that relies on gut strings?

More from Eduard "Mr Trolololo" Khill (My New Boyfriend)

Category: HumorSatireStreaming videosYour Inner Child

tags: , , , , , , , ,


Yes, I do love this guy! And amazingly enough, he even has a twitter account! Below the fold is a hilarious remix of his original video, along with several news reports about him that might also interest you.

March 21, 2010

Scientia Pro Publica Needs Your Superb Science Writing!

Category:

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) is less than two weeks away 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?

Birdbooker Report 110

Category: The Birdbooker Report

tags: , , , ,

Books to the ceiling,
Books to the sky,
My piles 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 by me and published here for your information and enjoyment. Below the fold is this week's issue of The Birdbooker Report which lists ecology, environment, natural history and bird books that are (or will soon be) available for purchase.

Reptiles and Amphibians: Waterfall Toad Leap from Danger

Category: AmphibiansAnimaliaBehaviorBiologyEducationEvolutionStreaming videos

tags: , , , , , , , , ,


Gail Weiswasser at the Discovery channel emailed a few days ago to tell me about TONIGHT's premiere on the Discovery Channel of BBC's LIFE, the 11-part follow up to PLANET EARTH (the most successful natural history documentary of all time). While PLANET EARTH told the story of the natural world through the framework of our planet's ecosystems and regions, LIFE takes us on a more intimate journey, introducing different animal and plant groups, using the latest in HD filming techniques to show jaw-dropping behaviors never witnessed before. Narrated by Oprah Winfrey and spanning all seven continents, LIFE took over four years to produce and every minute of footage in the series is new. Unfortunately, due to copyright restrictions, I am unable to watch the youtube "sneak peeks" in Germany, but at my request, Gail kindly emailed the youtube embed codes so my American readers can watch them:

Mystery Bird: Striped Kingfisher, Halcyon chelicuti

Category: BirdingEducationMystery BirdsPhotographyTeachingTravel

tags: , , , , ,

[Mystery bird] Striped Kingfisher, also sometimes known as the Chelicut Kingfisher, Halcyon chelicuti, photographed near the Pangani River Camp, Tanzania, Africa. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]

Image: Dan Logen, 13 January 2010 [larger view].

Nikon D300, 600 mm VR lens, ISO 800, 1/1600 sec, f/7.1, Exposure compensation 0..

Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.

Life after Scientology

Category: BehaviorCultural ObservationEthicsPoliticsReligionStreaming videos

tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


ABC Australia's "Four Corners" investigate the realities and impact on members and ex members, of Scientology's overtly retributive doctrine. Includes rationale from Tommy Davis.

As more ex members reveal the inside workings of a cult once banned [1960's] in three Australian states, authorities again prepare to re-examine Scientology's tax exempt religious status, granted in 1983.

This is a fascinating investigative series that includes footage of L Ron Hubbard as well as other influential people who were near him.

Scientology X(enu) Factor Russian auditions 2010

Category: EthicsHumorReligionSatireStreaming videosYour Inner Child

tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


OMG, the evil cult of Scientology has been the victim of a Russian Rickroll!

March 20, 2010

Who Will Read Your Excellent Medical Blog Writing?

Category:

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) is less than two weeks away 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?

Rosa Blüte

Category: Frankfurt through My EyeImage of the DayMy PicturesNaturePhotography

tags: , , , , , , ,

Rosa Blüte.

PalmenGarten, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Image: GrrlScientist, 24 February 2010 [larger view]

Today was not very nice, weather-wise, so the spouse and I spent the day hanging out in our favorite bistro, eating, drinking, and working on a few things that we needed to get done. To the causal observer, it probably looked like a wasted day, but for us, it was perfect: it was exactly what we needed.

Mystery Bird: Pink-breasted Lark, Mirafra poecilosterna

Category: BirdingEducationMystery BirdsPhotographyTeachingTravel

tags: , , , ,

[Mystery bird] Pink-breasted Lark, Mirafra poecilosterna, photographed near the Pangani River Camp, Tanzania, Africa. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]

Image: Dan Logen, 13 January 2010 [larger view].

Nikon D300, 600 mm VR lens, ISO 800, 1/1600 sec, f/7.1, Exposure compensation 0..

Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.

HINT 1: this species is in the Alaudidae family and was first described by a German.
HINT 2: anagram of scientific name included in comment thread below.

Reptiles and Amphibians: Komodo Dragons Hunt Buffalo

Category: AnimaliaBehaviorEducationEvolutionReptilesStreaming videos

tags: , , , , , , , , ,


Gail Weiswasser at the Discovery channel emailed a few days ago to tell me about the upcoming March 21 premiere on the Discovery Channel of BBC's LIFE, the 11-part follow up to PLANET EARTH (the most successful natural history documentary of all time). While PLANET EARTH told the story of the natural world through the framework of our planet's ecosystems and regions, LIFE takes us on a more intimate journey, introducing different animal and plant groups, using the latest in HD filming techniques to show jaw-dropping behaviors never witnessed before. Narrated by Oprah Winfrey and spanning all seven continents, LIFE took over four years to produce and every minute of footage in the series is new. Unfortunately, due to copyright restrictions, I am unable to watch the youtube "sneak peeks" in Germany, but at my request, Gail kindly emailed the youtube embed codes so my American readers can watch them:

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