This week, we’re listening to “Cities of The Future,” a panel discussion about the future of human living spaces recorded live at CONvergence 2014. Panelists Jamie Bernstein, Ryan Consell , and Shawn Lawrence Otto discuss how cities can adapt to accommodate the changing demographics, economics, and environment of a warming planet.
Author: Josh Witten
http://www.thefinchandpea.com
Stalking Squirrels for Science – A Silent Film
Brought to you by our good friends Bethany Brookshire (aka, @SciCurious) and Scott Lewis with a special thanks to our own Michele Banks’ squirrels.
Please help Bethany and Scott support the #DIYScienceZone at Geek Girl Con 2014.
HT: Brian Switek
Martin the Warrior
This one is for my brother, Ben, who was a huge fan of Brian Jacques’ Redwall series of books. Martin the Warrior is instrumental in the founding of Redwall Abbey, for which the series is named.
The books are classics and I cannot wait to share them with my daughters. The Frogger is already a fan of David Peterson’s Mouse Guard graphic novels. So, the talking animals of Redwall won’t be a big leap, but I hope she won’t judge the Redwall books for not being as gritty as she her usual fare.
Predictably, one of Ben’s favorite aspects of the Redwall books was Jacques’ lush descriptions of the food:
Every one of Jacques’s books contains a feast prepared by the anthropomorphic woodland creature of Redwall Abbey. The spread alway seems to contain a delectable mix of real and imaginative dishes that leave the mouth watering. Among my personal favorites: Shrimp and Hotroot Soup, Deeper ‘n Ever Tater ‘n’ Turnip ‘n’ Beetroot Pie, Meadow Cream on fruit and pastries, Damson Cordial, and the cellarhog’s famous October Ale.
My favorite characters were the hares of the Hare Border Rangers and the otters*, who are apparently fond of Shrimp & Hotroot Soup, as one should be.
*They are good guys in the Redwall series, which is a bit unusual for an apex predator.
Rosetta Rendezvous, commemorated in LEGOs
After a ten-year odyssey, the ESA Rosetta spacecraft rendezvoused with Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in early August. In honor of this momentous series of events, we wanted to share this delightful LEGO model* from Stefan Schindler (Stefan has been featured here before). Continue reading “Rosetta Rendezvous, commemorated in LEGOs”
My Kids Need a Velociraptor
UPDATE 2014-09-29 11:45AM – Project is fully funded and closed with £11,057 (£7600 needed) from 268 backers.
UPDATE 2014-09-08 11:17AM – Project is now fully funded with £7981 pledged from 193 backers.
UPDATE 2014-09-02 11:26AM – Project is now 88% funded with £6680 pledged from 155 backers.
UPDATE 2014-08-28 11:34AM – Project is now 61% funded with £4643 pledged from 102 backers.
Rebecca Groom, creator of Paleoplushies is running a Kickstarter campaign to fund the production of scientifically accurate, poseable velociraptor stuffed animals (aka, plushies in the UK). You have until 28 September to pledge. As of this writing, 79 backers have pledged £3103 of the needed £7600. Misrepresentation of these creatures in toys and movies interferes with the communication of interesting discoveries in paleontology. It has also incorrectly convinced my children that Daddy could not beat a ‘raptor in a fight. Groom’s velociraptor, complete with feathers, opens up discussions.
If, like me, your kids* desperately need such a toy, the “perks” that include a toy start at £30 plus £4 shipping to the US (about $56).
*Or your kids are a socially acceptable excuse for you desperately needing one.
HT: John Conway
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