See girls CAN do science!

... and do it quite well, thank you very much!

Spotted first at Skepchick: Girls Doing Science, Kicking Ass

Not only were all three top winners girls, but 47% of the entrants this year were girls. Woo-hoo! After just finishing the audiobook of Susan Jacoby's "The Age of American Unreason" this was just the little pick-me-up I needed. Now if more Americans could locate Iraq on a map... but I digress.

This is one of those news stories that at first glance, I'm very happy to hear, but then upon further thought, I wish it actually wasn't a big deal.

As part of my job doing astronomy outreach, I was leading a group of girls on a tour of our department and we were talking about how just a couple of days before - for the first time ever - when the commanders of the space shuttle and the International Space Station greeted each other after docking, it was two women shaking hands and hugging. And one of the girls, probably about 12 years old, said "It will be great when that doesn't have to be big news", or something close to that. I could have hugged her! Not only was she right, but if more girls her age have that attitude it won't be a big deal someday.

By the way, some of the bonus prize that some of the various winners (there are actually around a thousand prizes given out) get are a trip to the Nobel Prize ceremonies and naming rights for asteroids. How cool is that?!

Here's a round-up from Science News

Photos from Scarborough Renaissance Festival



After what I think was a 10-year absence, I finally went back to the Scarborough Renaissance Festival up near Dallas. I had forgotten how delightful this faire is! It's smaller (although expanded since the last time I visited) than the big Texas Renaissance Festival near Houston and has kept a less-commercial feel. Part of the charm is the creek and wooded area that runs through the middle of the faire, as well as the big leafy trees (as opposed to the pine trees at RenFest).

Click on the joust above to go to my Flickr photo set.

New bird photos



I've updated my Flickr bird set with some new hummingbird photos, as well as some of a male cardinal, a house sparrow and a white-crowned sparrow. Click on the hummer above to go to the set (the new photos are at the bottom of the set).

This means something



If you don't get the reference... here's a hint. And here is another.

I know, it isn't mashed potatoes, but I still thought it was funny. And yes, it is actually a hay bale that has been munched down by some cows.