Living the Scientific Life (Scientist, Interrupted)

Today's Mystery Bird for you to Identify

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:59:20 -0500

tags: identify this bird, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz

[Mystery bird] photographed at Mareeba Wetlands, Australia. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]

Image: Steve Duncan, 26 August 2009 [larger view].

Nikon D200 w/ Nikkor 300mm f/4 & TC17E.

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

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Latin Cicada (Cicada Love)

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:59:03 -0500

tags: insects, comedy, humor, bentekr, animation, streaming video

I love cicadas, and this video about a cicada who learns the "wrong" song is just so sweet! The star of this video was introduced to salsa music while still in his egg, but he still manages to find true love.

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Love Story

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:59:47 -0500

tags: insects, comedy, humor, bentekr, animation, streaming video

About the true love of two apple worms becoming separated during harvest times, but like my love story, this one has a happy ending

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Hello Germany: Why I am (and am not) Looking Forward to Living in Germany

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:59:18 -0500

When this publishes, it will be 8 am in Germany and my plane will have landed in Frankfurt a few minutes ago. As you are getting ready to snuggle into a warm bed, I will be jet-lagged, waiting to collect my checked bags and to work my way through Customs with my birds. Hopefully, I have all my permits, certificates and other paperwork in order so the authorities will simply wave me through and let me go home -- to a place I've never seen -- and take a hot shower! Even though I've said I will collapse and sleep for three days after reaching Frankfurt, this is unlikely (based on what I do after all my previous travels). If I end up doing what I've always done every other time I've traveled, I will investigate the city, eat the food and try out the beer -- and then I'll collapse.

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Goodbye America: My List of What I Will (and Won't) Miss

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:59:24 -0500

By the time this publishes, I will be on the plane with my parrots somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean (hopefully not in it!), flying to Frankfurt! So while I am preoccupied with doing that, I thought I would write this list to amuse you (and to remind you that I am thinking about all of you, even while relocating);

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Today's Mystery Bird for you to Identify

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:59:00 -0500

tags: birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz

[Mystery bird] photographed at Port Hope, Ontario, Canada. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]

Image: Art McLeod, 18 August 2009 [larger view].

Canon 40d 400mm 5.6 lens.

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

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President Obama's Teleprompter Malfunctions During Family Dinner

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:59:20 -0500

tags: satire, comedy, humor, president obama, teleprompter, ONN, Onion News Network, streaming video

Imagine the crisis that occurred when President Obama's teleprompter unexpectedly stopped functioning during a family dinner. Fortunately, he is capable of remembering his script, unlike the moron who was in office one year ago....

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Ladybug Lurve

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:59:07 -0500

tags: insects, comedy, humor, bentekr, animation, streaming video

A love story, starring those sweet little ladybugs. But this love story has a hidden message under all the gooey kisses.

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Today's Mystery Bird for you to Identify

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:59:56 -0500

tags: birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz

[Mystery bird] photographed at Bodega Bay, California. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]

Image: Joseph Kennedy, 23 December 2007 [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.

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The Bee Prisoner

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:59:32 -0500

tags: insects, comedy, humor, bentekr, animation, streaming video

Now this is a very cute video. It follows the story of a honeybee that flies into a house and becomes a prisoner inside. A fly discovers the trapped bee on the opposite side of the window glass and then the unexpected happens.

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Moving Overseas, Part 13

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:30:45 -0500

Here's how I will know that I and the birds are home at last.

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Mystery Bird: Greater Roadrunner, Geococcyx californianus

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:59:24 -0500

tags: Greater Roadrunner, Geococcyx californianus, birds, mystery bird, bird ID quiz

~~[Mystery bird]~~ Greater Roadrunner, Geococcyx californianus, photographed at Laguna Atascosa Wildlife Refuge, Texas. [I will identify this bird for you in 48 hours]

Image: Joseph Kennedy, 29 March 2008 [larger view].

Nikon D200, Kowa 883 telescope with TSN-PZ camera eyepiece 1/320s f/8.0 at 1000.0mm iso400.

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

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The Ants and the Sugar Cubes

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:59:17 -0500

tags: insects, comedy, humor, bentekr, animation, streaming video

This video shows ant culture and society as you've never seen it before!

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Moving Overseas, Part 12

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:49:39 -0500

Today is far more stressful than it deserves to be. I spent a good part of today either bleeding all over my apartment (one of my lories bit me) or on the telephone, talking with the police department, trying to determine if my "good citizen certificate" is ready to pick up. Even though I saw at least two police officers with desks that had functioning telephones on them while I was there, I was told there are no telephones into that office. WTF?

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Going, Going, GONE! Free Books, CDs, DVDs -- If You Act Within 24 Hours

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:36:37 -0500

I am leaving on Thursday (19 November), and still have a mountain of books to give away. I could give them to NYPL or I could give them to you (if you pay postage). I prefer to give them to you, but you have to act quickly because I have tons of things I need to take care of before I leave. I'll give you 24 hours to (1) claim the book in comments below (so everyone knows the book is claimed), and then (2) you MUST send me your mailing address via email. If you don't do both things, I will take all the unclaimed books to NYPL to add to their fund-raising book auction. I am really stressed out but I want to share with you, so please work with me here to make this as easy as possible on me.

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