tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-186468852009-11-24T14:28:23.236-08:00Where poetry and biology meet and become rain bringing life and flowers to the sterile postmodernist landscape. Enjoy and join in. This is the news in a different sort of way.Paul Decelleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535027161567978343noreply@blogger.comBlogger542125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18646885.post-75438273247602499182009-11-23T12:58:00.000-08:002009-11-23T12:59:16.974-08:00

The climate noosphere is in an uproar about a bunch of e-mails there were hacked from a global climate site. The e-mails are allegedly from prominent climate scientists and date from the late 1990's. According to this article in the NY Times at least some of the e-mails don't show climate scientists in a very favorable light. For instance one e-mail talks about using a statistical trick,

Paul Decelleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535027161567978343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18646885.post-75795705253060957202009-11-20T09:13:00.000-08:002009-11-20T09:14:16.337-08:00

A few months ago I saw a claim that if theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking were in Britain with its socialized medicine he would have been dead by now. I blew it off as another stupid comment but apparently this comment has gotten repeated all over the web. The problem of course is the it is not true as Larry Krauss reminds us in this article in Scientific American: http://

Paul Decelleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535027161567978343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18646885.post-85469878909100115792009-11-02T09:49:00.000-08:002009-11-02T10:03:27.955-08:00

This Halloween we decided to go to a party once we disposed of all the trick or treaters (heh heh heh) and we decided to pay homage to our favorite Disney villainesses.So here is the lovely Maleficent:I bet I can make her smile...and the ever lovely Cruella De Vil:Don't you like my puppies?

Paul Decelleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535027161567978343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18646885.post-41097178231102208602009-11-02T09:39:00.000-08:002009-11-02T09:44:51.373-08:00

Even everyday happenings are full of surprises when seen on a different scale of length or time or both and this video of falling water drops coalescing with the surface of water shows this very nicely. There are two effects going on here surface tension and more surprisingly to me a thin film of air. Enjoy!Tip of the antennae to Sarah S for the find.

Paul Decelleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535027161567978343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18646885.post-3918626008221750322009-10-30T09:46:00.000-07:002009-10-30T10:00:57.951-07:00

Here are two articles that could have been in the Onion but are meant to be serious.First we have "The Danger of Celebrating Halloween".http://www.charismamag.com/index.php/prophetic-insight/23723-the-danger-of-celebrating-halloweenThis was posted on the CBN web site but was removed so I guess it was even too loony for Pat Robertson. My favorite part?"During this period demons are assigned

Paul Decelleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535027161567978343noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18646885.post-1433342615572057872009-10-28T08:28:00.000-07:002009-10-28T08:30:13.876-07:00

Hedge AppleAnd darkness falls as happens each year when the planetsTurn their eyes from the sun and clouds lid the earthWind whip drives the rains raw, what leaves are leftExcoriated by its sharp tongueAnd darkness falls even when the sun bleedsThrough the dawn’s fog and slowly melts the frostGeese honk fading in the air as if no one is aroundTo hear them in the orange lightAnd darkness falls

Paul Decelleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535027161567978343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18646885.post-4138073472846045402009-10-21T08:36:00.000-07:002009-10-21T09:16:39.985-07:00

I am no fan of FOX News but I think MoveOn.org's latest campaign to get Democratic Party leaders to stay off that network maybe counter productive. MoveOn.org's e-mail to its members including yours truly says in part:"All year, FOX has worked 24/7 to block President Obama's agenda—repeating lies about "death panels," promoting Tea Party protests, and whipping up fake political scandals.1Now,

Paul Decelleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535027161567978343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18646885.post-9710843406236883232009-10-18T19:04:00.001-07:002009-10-18T19:06:34.587-07:00

In amber lightOriginally uploaded by pdecellMy kind of fall leaf shot. From Mary's Lake in Lawrence Kansas. Th ant is Camponotus and is presumably collecting honey dew from the aphids.

Paul Decelleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535027161567978343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18646885.post-10648985431439860242009-09-27T21:15:00.001-07:002009-09-27T21:15:32.912-07:00

thornsOriginally uploaded by pdecellFall sneaks upin a robe of thornsthe herald of winterplaying her windy bones.

Paul Decelleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535027161567978343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18646885.post-53125978675937950652009-09-12T10:55:00.001-07:002009-09-12T11:16:47.374-07:00

Here are three plants from my collection:Plant number 1Plant number 2and finally...Plant number 3Which are cacti?A little more information. At least one is a cactus.The first plant grows in warm semi arid regions in South America. Some members of this group of plants get to be mid sized trees but most are shrubby.The second plant has reduced leaves that function as thorns and it is found in

Paul Decelleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535027161567978343noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18646885.post-31323427878049424222009-09-06T21:34:00.001-07:002009-09-06T21:38:35.952-07:00

orchid at sunsetOriginally uploaded by pdecellYou always have to be ready whenever a good picture strikes. I was prepping some steaks to grill and caught the red light of sunset reflecting from some common Dendrobium in bloom. So I dashed upstairs to get my camera to film the luscious colors before the light could fade.

Paul Decelleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535027161567978343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18646885.post-68212985262483624752009-09-05T11:30:00.000-07:002009-09-05T11:50:47.338-07:00

Readers of my blog know I love odd plants. So here is my latest:This is Cissus and I am thinking C. quadrangularis. Got this wonderful plant today at the Lawrence farmer's market. Has these great segmented stems. The plant is in the grape family and apparently has medicinal properties.This article from Lipid World (Julius Oben , Dieudonne Kuate , Gabriel Agbor , Claudia Momo and Xavio Talla,

Paul Decelleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535027161567978343noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18646885.post-28571239039098841812009-08-29T13:03:00.000-07:002009-08-31T23:12:55.211-07:00

Lawrence is currently considering adding gender identity to its nondiscrimination ordinance and today the City's human rights commission held a public forum to discuss the issue.I went as part of a group of people representing different aspects of the transgender spectrum. Most of the people there were supporters adding of gender identity. The committee seemed focused at first about protecting

Paul Decelleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535027161567978343noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18646885.post-9360012112998783412009-08-13T06:27:00.000-07:002009-08-13T06:36:56.192-07:00

Just when I think anti-evolutionists can't get any sillier some politician comes along to demonstrate that I am wrong. Seems that a mayoral candidate in Tulsa feels the zoo doesn't properly honor Christianity and needs an exhibit on the first book of Genesis."Today we are announcing that God will be glorified in this city. He shall not be shunned. Upon our election, we hereby commit to honoring

Paul Decelleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535027161567978343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18646885.post-23501234377880781832009-08-10T13:26:00.000-07:002009-08-10T13:43:38.506-07:00

The latest tactic of the far right is apparently to try to use the rhetoric of inclusion against any one they would normally want to oppress. The latest example is an attempt to force public libraries to stock books about and by members of the so called ex gay movementThere is a report here from lgbt news:http://lgbtnewsblog.blogspot.com/2009/08/new-tactic-from-burning-books-to.htmlMy favorite

Paul Decelleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535027161567978343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18646885.post-33558838131195261182009-08-01T21:17:00.001-07:002009-08-01T21:17:43.161-07:00

orchid6Originally uploaded by pdecellOur local garden store got a shipment of orchids. Unfortunately the shipment consisted of hybrids such as this one that really haven't grown well for me. But I love the patterns.

Paul Decelleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535027161567978343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18646885.post-12599323241028624422009-07-01T21:31:00.000-07:002009-07-01T21:39:19.376-07:00

See this article about Diane Schroer who was refused a job at the library of congress when she revealed her desire to transition from male to female.http://www.aclu.org/lgbt/transgender/40092prs20090701.htmlThe Bush administration had argued that transgendered are not protected by existing discrimination laws. The federal court ruled that they are and IMHO their reasoning could have far reaching

Paul Decelleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535027161567978343noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18646885.post-6999680478831716112009-06-08T20:07:00.000-07:002009-06-08T20:26:41.869-07:00

Now that Sonia Sotomayor's papers have been released, conservatives have been ransacking them for juicy incriminating tidbits. For example,David Brody over at the Christian Broadcasting Network has uncovered a letter she cosigned in condemning the ransacking of a dorm room of two gay activists back in 1976.The letter says in part:"No matter how much one may disagree with the Gay Alliance or the

Paul Decelleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535027161567978343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18646885.post-78348129994947637022009-06-02T20:01:00.000-07:002009-06-02T20:02:36.257-07:00

Conservatives Warn Quick Sex Change Only Barrier Between Gays, Marriage

Paul Decelleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535027161567978343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18646885.post-8790036761661553612009-05-27T18:37:00.000-07:002009-05-27T18:53:07.216-07:00

I really should write more about conservative rhetorical tricks because they are the current masters. Take their offensive about Judge Sotomayor where conservative bloggers and pundits have been virally quoting this line from one of Judge Sotomayor's speeches:"First, as Professor Martha Minnow has noted, there can never be a universal definition of wise. Second, I would hope that a wise Latina

Paul Decelleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535027161567978343noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18646885.post-77031864774161961282009-05-26T06:31:00.000-07:002009-05-26T07:00:04.289-07:00

Some conservative religious groups complain about the alleged "oppression" of their point of view in secular universities. Well it seems they don't mind suppressing view points on their campuses that don't match their own. First we had the flap about Notre Dame giving Obama an honorary degree and now we have a flap over campus Democratic club at Jerry Falwell's Liberty University.Seems that the

Paul Decelleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535027161567978343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18646885.post-44059993054534063572009-05-13T21:45:00.000-07:002009-05-13T21:56:07.031-07:00

Susan Stanton who lost her job as Largo FL. City manager when her plans to transition from male to female were leaked, has been hired as City Manager of Lake Worth Fla by a 4 to 1 vote.According to this article in the Palm Beach Post:"The national discussion that followed Stanton's firing led the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council to persuade West Palm Beach, Tequesta, Lake Worth and Palm

Paul Decelleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535027161567978343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18646885.post-34837898346483420912009-04-18T16:05:00.000-07:002009-04-18T16:17:39.710-07:00

The autistic community has been getting more active trying to dispel stereotypes about autism. For instance here is a new public service announcement put out by a group called No Myths:http://www.nomyths.org/60windows.htmlAlso recommended is http://www.autisticadvocacy.org/.

Paul Decelleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535027161567978343noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18646885.post-3993483585424027522009-03-18T14:17:00.001-07:002009-03-18T14:32:01.324-07:00

Well it is either Loonie Toons time or time for another school board race in Lawrence Kansas. If you really want quality schools then check out Michael Riley and consider carefully what he says:"Those beliefs lead him to maintain that parents should have a primary say in the public school system before the teachers, district, state and federal government. “I think when I say decentralized, I

Paul Decelleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535027161567978343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18646885.post-40254277273638949652009-03-14T13:17:00.000-07:002009-03-14T13:19:12.666-07:00

...watch for the first robin of Spring. What do I watch for? Obviously, the first...

Paul Decelleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00535027161567978343noreply@blogger.com0