grrlscientist | December 24, 2009tags: Crimson Rosella, Pennant's Rosella, Platycercus elegans, Australian King Parrot, Alisterus scapularis, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery birds] Australian King Parrots, Alisterus scapularis (3 on right), and Crimson Rosellas, sometimes known as Pennant's Rosella, Platycercus elegans (13 on top, left and bottom, also one in lower right side), photographed at Lamington National Park, west of the Gold Coast, Australia. The bird at the bottom is about to jump into the center, to the discontent of the other birds. [I will identify these birds for you in 48 hours]
Image: Matthew…
grrlscientist | December 24, 2009tags: kitchen science, science abuse, christmas lights, microwave oven, funny, humor, brainiac, streaming video
This video shows one of several dangerous kitchen experiments conducted by real scientists who video them -- all so you don't have to repeat them yourself.
grrlscientist | December 23, 2009tags: invertebrates, comedy, humor, bentekr, animation, streaming video
This sweet video shows you how the spider and the fly celebrated Christmas this year.
grrlscientist | December 23, 2009tags: education, public outreach, SciCafe, science cafe, AMNH, American Museum of Natural History, NYC, streaming video
Who: Ichthyologist Melanie Stiassny
What: free public presentation, "Mysteries of the Congo: Exploring the World's Deepest River"
When: 700pm, Wednesday, 6 January 2010
Where: Gottesman Hall of Planet Earth, American Museum of Natural History, Enter at the 81st Street (Rose Center) [directions and maps]
Cost: free, and there is a cash bar (must be 21+ with ID)
What strange new species lurk beneath? Join Museum Curator Melanie Stiassny, an ichthyologist who has been…
grrlscientist | December 23, 2009tags: The Known Universe, education, AMNH, American Museum of Natural History, NYC, streaming video
The Known Universe is an educational video about the new exhibit at AMNH that takes viewers from the Himalayas through our atmosphere and the inky black of space to the afterglow of the Big Bang. Every star, planet, and quasar seen in the film is possible because of the world's most complete four-dimensional map of the universe, the Digital Universe Atlas that is maintained and updated by astrophysicists at the American Museum of Natural History. The new film, created by the Museum, is part of…
grrlscientist | December 23, 2009tags: Roseate Spoonbill, Platalea (Ajaia) ajaj, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Roseate Spoonbill, Platalea (Ajaia) ajaj, photographed at Arthur Storey Park, Houston, Texas. [I will identify these birds for you in 48 hours]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 5 December 2009 [larger view].
Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope with TSN-PZ camera eyepiece 1/750s 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 | December 23, 2009tags: The Science of Christmas Trees, education, streaming video
My spouse and I are seeking the perfect Christmas Tree today -- our first ever! -- so we thought we'd do some homework. In this video, a tree expert talks a little about Christmas trees for sale at his corner shop.
This particular film has been entered for consideration in the contest at ChloroFilms.
grrlscientist | December 22, 2009tags: Finnish Father Christmas, Santa Claus, Jack Bauer interrogates Santa Claus, comedy, humor, funny, fucking hilarious, holidays, Christmas, Finland, streaming video
Here's another video documentary that reveals the travails that Father Christmas encounters when he tries to enter the United States. It isn't easy being generous to strangers in the land of unfettered capitalism.
Video credit: Rebel Viral Team.
grrlscientist | December 22, 2009tags: Northern Pintail, Pintail, Anas acuta, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Northern Pintail, also known simply as the Pintail, Anas acuta, photographed at Arthur Storey Park, Houston, Texas. [I will identify these birds for you in 48 hours]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 5 December 2009 [larger view].
Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope with TSN-PZ camera eyepiece 1/350s 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 | December 22, 2009tags: Speak Better English, German, comedy, humor, funny, satire, television, streaming video
The man in this television commercial reminds me of myself as I attempt to learn to speak German.
grrlscientist | December 21, 2009tags: Santa Claus, Santa the Fascist Years, comedy, humor, funny, satire, holidays, Christmas, politics, streaming video
We all think of Santa as "Jolly ole St. Nick." But who knew that he has a dark hidden past that's very un-jolly? This short film uncovers and explores Santa's flirtation with politics and ...
grrlscientist | December 21, 2009tags: Common Redstart, Phoenicurus phoenicurus, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Adult female Common Redstart, Phoenicurus phoenicurus, photographed at La Lanterna in Genova, Italy. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]
Image: Cliff Miles, 11 December 2009 [larger view].
Canon EOS Rebel XT with a 75-300mm zoom lens.
Here's a challenging bird for you to identify courtesy of a friend, who narrowed it down to one of two species (but it doesn't "fit" either species well). He contributed four images of this bird (what I think is the best image is published here) to…
grrlscientist | December 21, 2009
As you know, I recently married a British nutter and relocated to Germany, where I assume we both will remain for a significant period of time. Like most newlyweds, we wish to start our own traditions for the holidays, but since our possessions have not arrived yet, we are living in a nearly empty flat.
No seriously: our flat is nearly empty. For example, in Germany, when people move into their own flat, it is empty of all furnishings -- including the entire kitchen. Most Germans design and purchase their kitchen before moving in -- refrigerator, stove, range top, microwave, dishwasher,…
grrlscientist | December 21, 2009tags: Motorworld, giant Dodge Power Wagon, offbeat, weird, automobiles, television, streaming video
This is a short video clip from Clarkson's Motorworld about a Dodge Power Wagon that is 64 times larger than the original. It comes with a full-sized house inside, a great view from the tailgate ... and it can move: it gets great mileage for a truck...just under 30 gallons per mile! (I do really like the brief bits from Pink Floyd as background music).
How small does someone's penis have to be that they need to have a truck like this?
grrlscientist | December 20, 2009tags: Finnish Father Christmas, Santa Claus, Rare Exports, comedy, humor, funny, fucking hilarious, holidays, Christmas, Finland, streaming video
This fascinating video, filmed and presented in the grand tradition of a National Geographic documentary, reveals what happens when an original Father Christmas, Hoho joulusta, goes on a rampage after being treated badly by humans.
The composer is Jim Dooley and the songs used in the film are "Mystic Tryst" and "Ancient Crystal".
grrlscientist | December 20, 2009tags: Frankfurter Weihnachtsmarkt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, Expat Life, Frankfurt through my eye, photography
Frankfurter Weihnachtsmarkt (Frankfurt Christmas Market)
Image: GrrlScientist, 20 December 2009 [larger view]
This afternoon, my spouse and I investigated the Frankfurter Weihnachtsmarkt (Frankfurt Christmas Market) in Römerberg and Paulsplatz in downtown Frankfurt. It was five degrees below zero celsius (it felt a lot colder), and it was snowing vigorously -- all of which added to the festive atmosphere. We purchased a variety of flavors of "licorice" ropes -- including…
grrlscientist | December 20, 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 | December 20, 2009tags: Bronzed Cowbird, Molothrus aeneus, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz
[Mystery bird] Bronzed Cowbird, Molothrus aeneus, photographed at Quintana, Brazoria County, Texas. [I will identify these birds for you in 48 hours]
Image: Joseph Kennedy, 22 April 2009 [larger view].
Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope with TSN-PZ camera eyepiece 1/800s 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 | December 20, 2009tags: Atheists Can't Think For Themselves!, humor, funny, satire, religion, christianity, islam, Edward Current, streaming video
This astonishing video sets out to prove that being a Christian requires constant thinking, while being an atheist sheep does not. This explains why atheists are the dumbest people God ever created!
grrlscientist | December 19, 2009tags: religion, fundamentalism, christianity, SPAM, MysteryBox, streaming video
A hardcore atheist finds God when he wasn't even looking for God. It's a touching story with a happy ending.
Although the star is having a bit of fun in this video, the point that the video star making is serious. The world is full of people making exactly the sort of logical mistake he's making in the video. As a result the world is filled with people thinking they have had a personal experience of their version of god yet all these people believe conflicting notions and have no real evidence for their beliefs.