tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81418291969631888612024-02-07T11:14:26.715-05:00Marsh MuckingLiving every day to its fullest - no regretsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621133666228169632noreply@blogger.comBlogger156125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141829196963188861.post-56940238365318378672014-01-22T08:56:00.000-05:002014-01-22T08:56:56.298-05:002014: My Year of Learning<img height="494" src="https://d11lsn3axbj16p.cloudfront.net/1390397675-1a6f3dff-767b.jpeg" width="640" /><br />
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Happy New Year everyone!! New Year's Eve is my absolute favorite holiday of the year. Why's that? Well, it's the only holiday that asks of no superficial gift-giving, involves reminiscing AND looking into the future and includes popping open a bottle of bubbly. What's not to love? Best of all, you get a chance to say goodbye to the previous year (think about all the good parts of it and brush off any of the negatives as bygones) and say hello to a new year full of endless potential.<br />
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I don't make resolutions, per say, but I always like to make a list of things that I'm planning/hoping for in my personal life for the year. In 2013, <a href="http://marshmucking.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/still-learning-after-all-these-years.html" target="_blank">I started learning new things</a>, but this year, I'm really going to dive in!<br />
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This year, 2014, will be my year of learning. Now that I've gotten a few pieces of paper called diplomas and what most call a "higher" education, you might think that I've had enough of educating myself. Just the opposite. I think now that I have been freed into the world of "real experiences," I can finally take on learning new things because I want to and not because my professors are breathing down my neck.<br />
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My goals are to learn new things that make me smile, make me happy, have me thinking intelligently to solve problems, or have me trying new things for the pure experience of trying something new.<br />
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I hope to learn more of the following things this year:<br />
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<ol>
<li>more coding (JavaScript mostly)</li>
<li>how to create an App</li>
<li>UK botany and wildlife</li>
<li>UK endangered species and habitat surveying techniques</li>
<li>guitar (let's see if I can finally make this happen!)</li>
<li>how to drive in the UK (yes, I'm back to taking drivers tests)</li>
<li>Publishing a manuscript in a scientific journal</li>
<li>change management and project management skills</li>
</ol>
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<a href="http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2014/01/how-to-learn-more-in-2014/" target="_blank">These people are thinking about learning this year too.</a></div>
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Anything else you think I should add to the list? What will you be learning this year?<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621133666228169632noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141829196963188861.post-64613468924216327062013-12-02T17:14:00.001-05:002013-12-02T17:14:15.619-05:00Look where I showed up!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoqwppvASMrStbQ1fe-0mbP9Hjzt44UjZUT4CvvrkZAzmIFnnbeZAMj_YjVUKmNdzu3eiieZq7by67wD4IaiojMX6-B0D6_GzUwnUN4vjjQfaPl3dPz-6DRuvmp3ua33OOMAQL8CFhBKg/s1600/2013-11-24+05.54.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoqwppvASMrStbQ1fe-0mbP9Hjzt44UjZUT4CvvrkZAzmIFnnbeZAMj_YjVUKmNdzu3eiieZq7by67wD4IaiojMX6-B0D6_GzUwnUN4vjjQfaPl3dPz-6DRuvmp3ua33OOMAQL8CFhBKg/s640/2013-11-24+05.54.52.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;">"Phew, what a day! Well, the Annual Exhibition Meeting is all over and I think we can say it was a huge success."</span> </div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://bsbipublicity.blogspot.com/2013/11/phew-what-day-well-aem-is-all-over-and.html?spref=bl">BSBI Publicity and Outreach</a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621133666228169632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141829196963188861.post-85800929279748250912013-11-26T03:00:00.000-05:002013-11-26T03:00:02.157-05:00Taxidermied Birds at the Natural History Museum<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUBb6xm7E3qkpVUYcv3vB-i9vm-t8NL_1Q9SWw3a2MBmZcz7o1DWfCMXV4WwImgVodpX7_y1SHbLi2lx6U4-vnv4SBhnyRbq7twk2ECbBo0Q9s0cO_6G42Q5Cnbsf57ubUc6FUe8ASZi2N/s640/IMG_4858.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td class="tr-caption">Bearded Vulture (known as a Bartgeier in Switzerland). This magnificent bird went extinct in Switzerland in 1913 when the last one was shot, but the Swiss Alps were <a href="http://www.spiegel.de/international/bearded-vultures-re-introduced-to-the-alps-the-return-of-the-bone-crusher-a-435307.html" target="_blank">repopulated</a> with the bearded vulture through an ambitious re-introduction program in the 1980s. I had the privilege of being eyed by one in flight as she swooped just 5 meters beside me while I was belaying a fellow climber on a cliff-side on Piz Kesch. I made eye contact with this beautiful, massive scavenger.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Let's take a look at an exhibit at the Natural History Museum before we move on through the city. The Birds exhibit is a magnificent collection of common, rare, and curious ornithological specimens.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge5RrOcIgPn0dWPAILmgMaX-wBKEG6gh3AaOJL6CabViXgKb0Aa-_9mKQcU3uI9ZSCcA2spnnwlmv-9jfRIqMo9Iu-Cm4ZapbLDyqRVHP4QP-PzXdqILlbkrz1wlkgzGuPCLGKT_5E5rcU/s1600/IMG_4860.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge5RrOcIgPn0dWPAILmgMaX-wBKEG6gh3AaOJL6CabViXgKb0Aa-_9mKQcU3uI9ZSCcA2spnnwlmv-9jfRIqMo9Iu-Cm4ZapbLDyqRVHP4QP-PzXdqILlbkrz1wlkgzGuPCLGKT_5E5rcU/s640/IMG_4860.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An American Bald Eagle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVy6QBrYCYXk4PC_xkgtWqICAlrv8QBwPfW6JG0zJ6u1Xr741J-0Ltz_NH8CaD_JLvNAA-9LyIYy0AuJD6m3PS3mko_rGGOU8dU6XRL-MZEuUlEP9zwayN5jCgL1WmihQIJJ4xv5ez1eAa/s1600/IMG_4861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVy6QBrYCYXk4PC_xkgtWqICAlrv8QBwPfW6JG0zJ6u1Xr741J-0Ltz_NH8CaD_JLvNAA-9LyIYy0AuJD6m3PS3mko_rGGOU8dU6XRL-MZEuUlEP9zwayN5jCgL1WmihQIJJ4xv5ez1eAa/s640/IMG_4861.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pheasant (this one is from China). These are such funny birds. I've only ever a glimpse of one running into a meadow in Maryland, but here in the UK, they are raised for game hunters and they are everywhere! I mean everywhere! And they aren't very smart, which means you often see them bopping around road sides, popping on and off golf course greens, and standing conspicuously in the open. But that doesn't change the fact that they are gorgeous fowl! I would love to raise a few from chicks myself someday.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_7Ay25jzBe_9DuATNMtI8ssK6JFrL2tcprWvkZ22ohLKZh1OABmWdpO_scLB11XQkininPyugWBv4NPWTHKZW4ckAgdBD9_WHOo3P5drFlhSr7E3WpfHDQF2EoCkCdDgHYMmDzDU6x4U/s1600/IMG_4862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_7Ay25jzBe_9DuATNMtI8ssK6JFrL2tcprWvkZ22ohLKZh1OABmWdpO_scLB11XQkininPyugWBv4NPWTHKZW4ckAgdBD9_WHOo3P5drFlhSr7E3WpfHDQF2EoCkCdDgHYMmDzDU6x4U/s640/IMG_4862.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bird collection</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPp1YCAw4oDn2wM0Y0AlKXVr2mUiNop_UdjIhXmsyEbkr7-lipkqIRdhPyL7FjhMScEy-fgIXFQBnrcQUMEI5ZV7R9gxO280CnS7dUhhN-buDZG7GHboWddMhsySDvSqt3R4gllhb9oxK/s1600/IMG_4863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="582" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPp1YCAw4oDn2wM0Y0AlKXVr2mUiNop_UdjIhXmsyEbkr7-lipkqIRdhPyL7FjhMScEy-fgIXFQBnrcQUMEI5ZV7R9gxO280CnS7dUhhN-buDZG7GHboWddMhsySDvSqt3R4gllhb9oxK/s640/IMG_4863.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Dodo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKFahJ9mC5hE35TOIPtpibmQpG6qpQYW5TfFEFeuCYkqV-hCFDvj4cATJaeK7ChodOk6CgsFYa6ucpBtJnIoYkcxtogtB9Fy7qDHZhWXKWOsTR6i4HZZ38c-dLT9TrInSwiSIzyoX9Hxr7/s1600/IMG_4867.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKFahJ9mC5hE35TOIPtpibmQpG6qpQYW5TfFEFeuCYkqV-hCFDvj4cATJaeK7ChodOk6CgsFYa6ucpBtJnIoYkcxtogtB9Fy7qDHZhWXKWOsTR6i4HZZ38c-dLT9TrInSwiSIzyoX9Hxr7/s640/IMG_4867.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And here's a photograph of a video display played in the ecology section of the museum. I was really excited that they have an ecology section, but I was less impressed with the display than in the rest of the museum. Still, even having an ecology section is a very good start!</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621133666228169632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141829196963188861.post-29016360129354102472013-11-25T00:30:00.000-05:002013-11-25T00:30:00.619-05:00Let's take a closer look at the Natural History Museum in London<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXnq6MDSpJN5Nppbb7I9siNnFSgzW3o_YGFwqOIm9617O96qVdbzByVj8_9-Zp6ogaJ0zIDv-I5s18iDCScB3-RKncJpFvA7VL6hu58_n_A-5Aj46UkmmWg1k3z5snCcWkEN0usbXKWgR/s1600/IMG_4855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXnq6MDSpJN5Nppbb7I9siNnFSgzW3o_YGFwqOIm9617O96qVdbzByVj8_9-Zp6ogaJ0zIDv-I5s18iDCScB3-RKncJpFvA7VL6hu58_n_A-5Aj46UkmmWg1k3z5snCcWkEN0usbXKWgR/s640/IMG_4855.jpg" width="480" /> </a></div>
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When you arrive at the <a href="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/index.html" target="_blank">Natural History Museum</a> in London, this is the sight that greets you. The building is stunning! My favorite part about it is that the building was actually built in 1881 with the intention of it being a Natural History Museum. How rare! Most of the museums I have encountered in my life seem to be in repurposed buildings. What this means for the Natural History Museum in London is that the entire building contains details rich with flora and fauna in every nook and cranny. There are relief sculptures of animals and plants everywhere! Try to find some in the pictures I've taken... </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFDrp_tpBaLgaUglVEL4nR70CF992EmAGiQ_YWOdhwfSgc5cgW3juUf2pz23g2H8aFlpfhJCEcKG_Xrf2kpxA_XMqEmIvuXIAxBFQfkz9zU4IlHwTNaKOtQHD1CQJtrfDna7VSW9Qxvxhn/s1600/IMG_4857.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFDrp_tpBaLgaUglVEL4nR70CF992EmAGiQ_YWOdhwfSgc5cgW3juUf2pz23g2H8aFlpfhJCEcKG_Xrf2kpxA_XMqEmIvuXIAxBFQfkz9zU4IlHwTNaKOtQHD1CQJtrfDna7VSW9Qxvxhn/s640/IMG_4857.jpg" width="480" /> </a></div>
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Do you see the dragon-like creature guarding the windows here? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYA1vMMqxgclqTl2M9tB8WeDYypG5CJWfSlOue6fM56xIBT36cAbS1OtfRdo_fXwzAEi1MnRiAtZgMAOYvxXHDt11iDvv4xsMIwoUR2yMHWhg_BNEEGOHepouTa9eJLRDG4FrdlYULzcZc/s1600/IMG_4854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYA1vMMqxgclqTl2M9tB8WeDYypG5CJWfSlOue6fM56xIBT36cAbS1OtfRdo_fXwzAEi1MnRiAtZgMAOYvxXHDt11iDvv4xsMIwoUR2yMHWhg_BNEEGOHepouTa9eJLRDG4FrdlYULzcZc/s640/IMG_4854.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And do you recognize these unique animals? Perhaps they were real or perhaps they were imagined. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5x7bZoLTFRxmO1elhk5BdflctKMIskxdV5dG5X7tDE3gAIlmi5L-aq_IZWRJBAwUBnUwTdSJFsdRULcpp0TTqMfppDUG0nxT-cb1I9U40fXltquvGMLNKvvUU6sQQuJ0u2JmICzxImmb2/s1600/IMG_4873.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5x7bZoLTFRxmO1elhk5BdflctKMIskxdV5dG5X7tDE3gAIlmi5L-aq_IZWRJBAwUBnUwTdSJFsdRULcpp0TTqMfppDUG0nxT-cb1I9U40fXltquvGMLNKvvUU6sQQuJ0u2JmICzxImmb2/s640/IMG_4873.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Even the interior is covered in details. Here, sculptures of fossils line the walls and decorate the columns.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxh3pthYHWDrmI_EXlh6PnGVS90U0b13cgi2b23ynNCp_QudWqblrFdo-b2p-Wu5D6SgXkRGkBWVP_Nt79tBG_n7D5Z-GMBW5azDj4qoXY7JPzYo91Vible5oTEDEmQVK0vjKEd5Dy6om4/s1600/IMG_4875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxh3pthYHWDrmI_EXlh6PnGVS90U0b13cgi2b23ynNCp_QudWqblrFdo-b2p-Wu5D6SgXkRGkBWVP_Nt79tBG_n7D5Z-GMBW5azDj4qoXY7JPzYo91Vible5oTEDEmQVK0vjKEd5Dy6om4/s640/IMG_4875.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
The main hall's centerpiece is this complete dinosaur skeleton, but what catches my eye is still the details in the building!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfBp5aJQtXauTiyWbGS3xqPHZ7z8IicdqqHadHmsBRxhwVMrt4BDeSIemNgZpNCTeAHMUUhU4kTfOUySCrv9kF-vDXPKR1dC1XAStSH4q7UPaBWtjob04yacXSZZ-iEe_liTzvsVQrLUK/s1600/IMG_4909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfBp5aJQtXauTiyWbGS3xqPHZ7z8IicdqqHadHmsBRxhwVMrt4BDeSIemNgZpNCTeAHMUUhU4kTfOUySCrv9kF-vDXPKR1dC1XAStSH4q7UPaBWtjob04yacXSZZ-iEe_liTzvsVQrLUK/s640/IMG_4909.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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How oranate!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqWMc15FO2hXX6k5KG9p56BoyTUOwRFPNYW84JV1pRUfGpnhMJC2hnl5G6tPQX9KEJ9yIp275DwVbcuWn1nkSVmBF9nm1FTxEIi2ekzKFS16SiHbxULj_3iMUGICHrCa0zq1RzMjMhtxm/s1600/IMG_4911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqWMc15FO2hXX6k5KG9p56BoyTUOwRFPNYW84JV1pRUfGpnhMJC2hnl5G6tPQX9KEJ9yIp275DwVbcuWn1nkSVmBF9nm1FTxEIi2ekzKFS16SiHbxULj_3iMUGICHrCa0zq1RzMjMhtxm/s640/IMG_4911.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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This is a view toward the entrance of the building, looking through the dinosaur.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgramnpgCzzHNSaeFGYBqITr-GSeLLwCe_HuJPcBLrO50Tj58mpA5SOMlb_yoQgvA7eTuc1eZ40wPur-LROi6fjOE7yqWFVtohZv7FAIVcP2YOa0-rYLGpZVucvWYj8bhMJGeaO7epk6ozQ/s1600/IMG_4913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgramnpgCzzHNSaeFGYBqITr-GSeLLwCe_HuJPcBLrO50Tj58mpA5SOMlb_yoQgvA7eTuc1eZ40wPur-LROi6fjOE7yqWFVtohZv7FAIVcP2YOa0-rYLGpZVucvWYj8bhMJGeaO7epk6ozQ/s640/IMG_4913.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
And of course, I looked for the plants, which are interestingly all over the ceiling of the grand hall. Look at all those gorgeous illustrations of plants. I could spend hours just laying on the floor gazing up at these.<br />
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<img border="0" height="166" src="http://backdoorbroadcasting.net/wp-content/uploads/logo_naturalHistoryMuseum.jpg" width="320" /> </div>
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<a href="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/index.html" target="_blank">Natural History Museum</a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621133666228169632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141829196963188861.post-73778537545641769972013-11-24T17:51:00.004-05:002013-11-24T20:05:28.331-05:00What happens at the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI) Annual Exhibition Meeting?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhAm5STisSxHKISPf549hsMxgk1eb1zO4jZcexBwUmW5ziJ6ewBR0N1YFwtmVuwT71fdkO9ohFRCukUKmRYeuW_sc5Z-07uUSz0l71xvCrFdsJRaoGAAH1PqIXsyVE6rygMaxEOTN10CD/s1600/IMG_4915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhAm5STisSxHKISPf549hsMxgk1eb1zO4jZcexBwUmW5ziJ6ewBR0N1YFwtmVuwT71fdkO9ohFRCukUKmRYeuW_sc5Z-07uUSz0l71xvCrFdsJRaoGAAH1PqIXsyVE6rygMaxEOTN10CD/s640/IMG_4915.jpg" width="480" /> </a></div>
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This is the grand entrance to the <a href="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/" target="_blank">Natural History Museum</a> in London. The front entrance is German Romanesque architecture style designed by <a href="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit-us/history-architecture/waterhouse-building/index.html" target="_blank">Alfred Waterhouse</a>, a young architect who was called upon when the original architect died. We all fall into our jobs in funny ways, don't we? But I digress...</div>
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This weekend, I had the opportunity to attend the <a href="http://www.bsbi.org.uk/" target="_blank">Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland</a>'s <a href="http://www.bsbi.org.uk/meetings.html" target="_blank">Annual Exhibition Meeting</a> here in this fabulous building. I should mention that the BSBI recently changed names from the Botanical Society of the British Isles, but managed to hold on to the acronym. Nicely done!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sYlvcwy2Ulyxwrj3MA69IXbLuDmiuSDUZcBU8qPPRsgPP1-eA_JLCiWvCLWAtI48S5Mv2x9r7IeD70UW1rkKW6qrknrwFo2lDbpiY3DQuGCMNThAtz2g2zxq1ysI-ZFVjDAmQFvb8d2G/s1600/IMG_4908.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sYlvcwy2Ulyxwrj3MA69IXbLuDmiuSDUZcBU8qPPRsgPP1-eA_JLCiWvCLWAtI48S5Mv2x9r7IeD70UW1rkKW6qrknrwFo2lDbpiY3DQuGCMNThAtz2g2zxq1ysI-ZFVjDAmQFvb8d2G/s640/IMG_4908.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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So what happens at an Exhibition meeting? Well, I walked in shyly to find out and was instantly consumed by a small area of tables showcasing botanical information, fun plant identification curiosities, and plant research information. There was also a large book sale going on. When I say consumed, I don't mean by the exhibits themselves, but by the huge masses of very friendly, eclectic botanists of all ages chattering away about the exciting plants they had recently seen, discovered, or happened upon. </div>
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Following the exhibition period, there were talks by the staff and volunteers of the BSBI to discuss recent society happenings, plans, and updates. Then there were talks about how plant geeks like myself can use different venues to get others excited about the green leafy things around us too. We are encouraged to use digital avenues (social media like Facebook, Twitter and blogging) as well as tutoring, guiding walks, and engaging the public in all ways big and small. The highlights were from:</div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/about-science/staff-directory/life-sciences/j-tweddle/index.html" target="_blank">John Tweddle</a> (Head of the Angela Marmot Centre at the Natural History Museum) who talked about how he is working to engage the public at the museum with hands on science</li>
<li>Brian Eversham, who is an amazing speaker and loves nature enough that he crosses over from entomology to botany. He can be heard in this video talking about the Wildlife Trusts in Britain:</li>
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It was a wonderful way to spend my day and as I was leaving, I paid my dues to be a member for the next year. I'm really inspired by the national botanical society and I can't wait to be kneeling in the mud next to fellow members looking at a new plant. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621133666228169632noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141829196963188861.post-40125814287800618402013-11-17T14:00:00.000-05:002013-11-17T14:00:02.828-05:00Mama always said... not to drink milk when you've got a cold<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ07jLmD1xuZ1BPEEZ5YOtvd_nvTvXBxEaxrQ-mXzWlzAk5mz51cg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQ07jLmD1xuZ1BPEEZ5YOtvd_nvTvXBxEaxrQ-mXzWlzAk5mz51cg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/BSBI/bsbi%20logorgb.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/BSBI/bsbi%20logorgb.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>
<a href="http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/BSBI/bsbi%20logorgb.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/BSBI/bsbi%20logorgb.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_1910716177"></span><span id="goog_1910716178"></span><br />
<a href="http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/BSBI/bsbi%20logorgb.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/BSBI/bsbi%20logorgb.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/BSBI/bsbi%20logorgb.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/BSBI/bsbi%20logorgb.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>The Englishman has a cold and I'm doing everything I can to help him feel better. I've made Dad's famous chicken corn soup, bought him man-sized tissues (haha, yes, that is a thing here in England!), and tucked him into bed early. This morning we were talking about food and I mentioned that he probably should lay off the dairy for a bit because it would make him feel even more stuffy. He'd never heard that theory before. Here's what the <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/phlegm/AN01455" target="_blank">Mayo Clinic</a> has to say about it:<br />
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I've heard that you shouldn't drink milk when you have a cold because it increases phlegm. Is this true?</span></h2>
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Answer</span></h2>
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from James M. Steckelberg, M.D.</span></h5>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">Phlegm is the thick, sticky mucus that drips down the back of your throat when you have a cold. Although drinking milk may make phlegm thicker and more irritating to your throat than it would normally be, milk doesn't cause your body to make more phlegm. In fact, frozen dairy products can soothe a sore throat and provide calories when you otherwise may not eat.</span></div>
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So, the myth is half true! I do like the recommendation that you binge on ice cream when you're sick!<br />
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Did your Mama tell you the same thing as a kid?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621133666228169632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141829196963188861.post-23829307822428164482013-11-17T08:19:00.003-05:002013-11-17T10:35:53.293-05:00Still learning after all these years!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://education.ed.pacificu.edu/aacu/workshop/resources/brain.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://education.ed.pacificu.edu/aacu/workshop/resources/brain.JPG" width="146" /></a><a href="http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/BSBI/bsbi%20logorgb.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/BSBI/bsbi%20logorgb.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/BSBI/bsbi%20logorgb.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/BSBI/bsbi%20logorgb.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/BSBI/bsbi%20logorgb.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/BSBI/bsbi%20logorgb.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/BSBI/bsbi%20logorgb.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/BSBI/bsbi%20logorgb.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
Are you still learning new things? In addition to <a href="http://marshmucking.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/have-you-read-anything-good-lately.html" target="_blank">reading a lot more books lately</a>, I've also been picking up a few other things.<br />
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Although I now have three nice degrees from esteemed universities - 2 bachelor degrees and a masters - I'm still not done learning. If anything, I find being back in the 9-to-5 working world even more of a learning curve. I'm constantly having new concepts, new technologies, and new policies thrown at me. And my curiosity keeps me looking for exciting new things to learn.<br />
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Here are a couple of things I'm learning at the moment:<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">Plants</span></h2>
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<a href="http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/BSBI/bsbi%20logorgb.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/BSBI/bsbi%20logorgb.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>Though I'm familiar and fluent in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Florida and Swiss plant species, I'm still learning my British flora. So I'm on a mission to teach myself as much as possible through books, other experts, and time spent outside on my hands and knees with a magnifying glass (loop). There is a test called the <a href="http://www.bsbi.org.uk/field_skills.html" target="_blank">Field Identification Skills Certificate</a> through the <a href="http://www.bsbi.org.uk/index.html" target="_blank">Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland</a> which I can use to test my abilities by next summer.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0UPWJFxo5meqAFmhAncWjBV0h2VOWd7KddRsphN1PnQP-xj-k4PQNyNllvQvnPosdNk0e_YNMiTTlN1tXduZxwzy5s_uO6zr9T03jAHWX6rvqdFc6DHqefgbt7etuV3LK0qHelhPkoB4/s1600/Concise-British-Flora.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0UPWJFxo5meqAFmhAncWjBV0h2VOWd7KddRsphN1PnQP-xj-k4PQNyNllvQvnPosdNk0e_YNMiTTlN1tXduZxwzy5s_uO6zr9T03jAHWX6rvqdFc6DHqefgbt7etuV3LK0qHelhPkoB4/s320/Concise-British-Flora.jpg" width="233" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: red;">JavaScript</span></h2>
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Being in a technical job now, I need to know more programming and because JavaScript is one of the most commonly used programming languages for software applications (or apps as the kids are calling them these days), API connections and mobile devices, I thought it'd be a good time to brush up on a new language. I've programmed using Visual Basic, Python, and HTML languages before, but this one is new for me. So I'm using an amazing game-like online school called <a href="http://www.codecademy.com/" target="_blank">Codecademy </a>to learn JavaScript. It's actually really fun!</div>
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It's a fun time to learn new things! Especially with winter coming, I have to resist the urge to curl up and hibernate. So keeping my mind active is a great way to avoid the winter blues. And there's a method to my madness. I'm hoping to someday be able to help build an amazing app or perhaps a new technology to help people discover, explore and identify plant species in the wild. The available apps now don't quite meet my needs!</div>
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Are you teaching yourself any new skills at the moment?</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621133666228169632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141829196963188861.post-70420583076705390462013-11-11T08:45:00.003-05:002013-11-17T08:37:26.180-05:00Have you ever wondered how plants are grouped and named?<a href="http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/BSBI/bsbi%20logorgb.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/BSBI/bsbi%20logorgb.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>I couldn't describe it to you any better than this video does. It is a beautiful depiction of evolution and how we have worked to understand the evolution of our species based on how species are grouped into Genus, Family, Order, Class, Phylum and Kingdom. And of course, it shows off how things are done at <a href="http://www.kew.org/" target="_blank">Kew Gardens</a>. What an amazing building!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/QT8Q22rVvuE?list=UUNa8wJk6VYIRK78JuDSRnTQ" width="560"></iframe></div>
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Enjoy!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621133666228169632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141829196963188861.post-42779010710609109382013-10-27T10:07:00.000-04:002014-02-13T07:28:35.430-05:00Shrooming in LondonRecently, I try to get out into the gardens as often as possible. Especially now that it is autumn, the rains have been through, and it is rather warm. The conditions for fungi forays (searching for mushrooms) are perfect! Can you help me identify these? Here are some mushrooms I found around Kew Gardens:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnrZYUWHq_8joZIe2PUtvOligB0fQ02J-MquTkiq4-1x0Gx18_p7oWn3RGBZSINTTE3yp00fYHnaFdOj4feIZlrifYgKRR45M8QRC99Jm5QuDONXHdCJs7zcbsT-3SMrAxwFsV8PxeaNK/s1600/IMG_4349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnrZYUWHq_8joZIe2PUtvOligB0fQ02J-MquTkiq4-1x0Gx18_p7oWn3RGBZSINTTE3yp00fYHnaFdOj4feIZlrifYgKRR45M8QRC99Jm5QuDONXHdCJs7zcbsT-3SMrAxwFsV8PxeaNK/s400/IMG_4349.JPG" data-pinit="registered" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Agaricus</i> sp. (these are related to the button mushrooms you buy in the grocery store!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWCNuXztVZrKjul5B9MNV1IIOsmXgxFHpZ2X8Qfgri9dY98hyphenhypheniEJ38gotO7UzXnvpLPdrYKFvDKj0NoQWUuRc8FvJMnnWB3yxrMDrQT60vTb4pi6zts8jT5u4yIO-vgMcw4ZabpMU143hO/s1600/IMG_4364.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWCNuXztVZrKjul5B9MNV1IIOsmXgxFHpZ2X8Qfgri9dY98hyphenhypheniEJ38gotO7UzXnvpLPdrYKFvDKj0NoQWUuRc8FvJMnnWB3yxrMDrQT60vTb4pi6zts8jT5u4yIO-vgMcw4ZabpMU143hO/s320/IMG_4364.jpg" data-pinit="registered" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Agaricus</i> sp.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYddBonklDCJ4sp0dqZ7M7fDp441QStsexhJn49fjtwaoOSX0HaAe6Knbgk7V4Dc39ZW3vCt0JyijATA0TgsH0yvMY2XvxgOY_vtk9ufvRDX-gdbiqZSBIZIRf6Wo2TDKCgSSaW4KBgpiu/s1600/IMG_4813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYddBonklDCJ4sp0dqZ7M7fDp441QStsexhJn49fjtwaoOSX0HaAe6Knbgk7V4Dc39ZW3vCt0JyijATA0TgsH0yvMY2XvxgOY_vtk9ufvRDX-gdbiqZSBIZIRf6Wo2TDKCgSSaW4KBgpiu/s320/IMG_4813.JPG" data-pinit="registered" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Clitocybe inversa</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDrcNolt_QykzSt0CtGeurVfxKfJ-N-BNCoU3y2ZvRb7aaWGh4Ucd3a-deje60KPidrkf7pG4dv2o5e1ewPzfWnKJifkRVl4jIHkvdvcLtP3lZQi3U8HDzvz6098xgZDbCS9HcXfNcc8a8/s1600/IMG_4818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDrcNolt_QykzSt0CtGeurVfxKfJ-N-BNCoU3y2ZvRb7aaWGh4Ucd3a-deje60KPidrkf7pG4dv2o5e1ewPzfWnKJifkRVl4jIHkvdvcLtP3lZQi3U8HDzvz6098xgZDbCS9HcXfNcc8a8/s320/IMG_4818.JPG" data-pinit="registered" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Clitocybe inversa</i></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpdRTc6gBZbBPXT6MEyp08A2hKLr-0YwfU-IEcFEQvn60pmsiOeUqqlw8-7awx57HZ5CMAAsFhTFL-oemNRSZckuByUMP9TE7r3hyphenhyphenzhngS_f0Ixjs-FoR81nlyJH6-i7kW4qizfO-TtbHM/s1600/IMG_4815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpdRTc6gBZbBPXT6MEyp08A2hKLr-0YwfU-IEcFEQvn60pmsiOeUqqlw8-7awx57HZ5CMAAsFhTFL-oemNRSZckuByUMP9TE7r3hyphenhyphenzhngS_f0Ixjs-FoR81nlyJH6-i7kW4qizfO-TtbHM/s320/IMG_4815.JPG" data-pinit="registered" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Clitocybe inversa</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlEa7jyQTsvMOArv0-fC7pvCpaYUwczZxq6P2mtEKpJXG8u1ktvsBG3p36260k1TxkzMLQdcqGYbjSrfDUCsw9LU9KlUMjMWd06DXhfmS5jE3YbLyFNsZXMU_AXoYQcPo1VD4lJv5j_4tE/s1600/IMG_4808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlEa7jyQTsvMOArv0-fC7pvCpaYUwczZxq6P2mtEKpJXG8u1ktvsBG3p36260k1TxkzMLQdcqGYbjSrfDUCsw9LU9KlUMjMWd06DXhfmS5jE3YbLyFNsZXMU_AXoYQcPo1VD4lJv5j_4tE/s640/IMG_4808.JPG" data-pinit="registered" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Clitocybe inversa</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXr9Pxivk7ToYCJ0C8hpCdE3RXbgvsnnOQNipL9Yn4qMEej1V62BebxWF3SLZIm5REB_ik5ULnuvf0QAuMRrD6PAkaCkSXYX2_Yap5zX0IUbNrML8BO6ltXvtC2WeMXA7ee-QIN8ouE5PJ/s1600/IMG_4386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXr9Pxivk7ToYCJ0C8hpCdE3RXbgvsnnOQNipL9Yn4qMEej1V62BebxWF3SLZIm5REB_ik5ULnuvf0QAuMRrD6PAkaCkSXYX2_Yap5zX0IUbNrML8BO6ltXvtC2WeMXA7ee-QIN8ouE5PJ/s320/IMG_4386.JPG" data-pinit="registered" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very nice mushroom with red/orange cap fringed with white feathery scales. Abundant in the area, found growing on mulch. Dark spore print, white fibrous stem without annulus/ring.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiayYw6ZjK3wQNOOyBAwqaxxZtBn3M4Jk2gdu_erQu4iKZ78NDkYu_8Jnc9eajT93WtDWw7CepXzDBzobsTNyKO9uetjzbGRyoTg5rirZmhKrNbBfaQoNvkZzuoVsiPuc6_IbsOop9ZP4_-/s1600/IMG_4372.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiayYw6ZjK3wQNOOyBAwqaxxZtBn3M4Jk2gdu_erQu4iKZ78NDkYu_8Jnc9eajT93WtDWw7CepXzDBzobsTNyKO9uetjzbGRyoTg5rirZmhKrNbBfaQoNvkZzuoVsiPuc6_IbsOop9ZP4_-/s320/IMG_4372.jpg" data-pinit="registered" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">same as above</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD0rtKaC_K3bXjAWHYz4PcwiEfls7u3WxmAM-FehIzhoOUrVdB-imPLvFSrdj4CFYF1clLnuPkrSTzveJ87hJEPoWgl4yNZgqGbK0tRpy0F4ucFX6R0pEO6s0_9Ct2N-BlEMU5tFncvtYf/s1600/IMG_4804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD0rtKaC_K3bXjAWHYz4PcwiEfls7u3WxmAM-FehIzhoOUrVdB-imPLvFSrdj4CFYF1clLnuPkrSTzveJ87hJEPoWgl4yNZgqGbK0tRpy0F4ucFX6R0pEO6s0_9Ct2N-BlEMU5tFncvtYf/s320/IMG_4804.JPG" data-pinit="registered" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unknown, very cute small white mushroom cluster on grass</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UNxqgI7QGdSiQ0j_59pWwTpPilxt3o-hdR2zHf7JF9-HBzxYUFgJIviU_DpAxkn90tA2gbPatiYtJEq4rVJjFOy7MAT325dLT13NnADBMOBRL_ziCl_2B7e8n9F54YB4DL9UWntyg7LL/s1600/IMG_4789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UNxqgI7QGdSiQ0j_59pWwTpPilxt3o-hdR2zHf7JF9-HBzxYUFgJIviU_DpAxkn90tA2gbPatiYtJEq4rVJjFOy7MAT325dLT13NnADBMOBRL_ziCl_2B7e8n9F54YB4DL9UWntyg7LL/s320/IMG_4789.JPG" data-pinit="registered" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful blue/green <i>Hygrocybe</i> spp. growing on the leaves beneath a beech tree (<i>Fagus sylvatica</i>).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4zEOX529y3UG2GDOG2jfJ0rb8vwx7j4hyCBmrZIeZiL0EhrCQh1Jbx1iQrutT7N_XEUlOWUztxN5I5Ol1HAarrD6Pif2zCnDNPMDoFJ1YmAlNn8PhfSiJXkPaA1IdRLLXpCHPIgy38x_/s1600/IMG_4792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH4zEOX529y3UG2GDOG2jfJ0rb8vwx7j4hyCBmrZIeZiL0EhrCQh1Jbx1iQrutT7N_XEUlOWUztxN5I5Ol1HAarrD6Pif2zCnDNPMDoFJ1YmAlNn8PhfSiJXkPaA1IdRLLXpCHPIgy38x_/s320/IMG_4792.JPG" data-pinit="registered" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Same as above. Note white, fibrous stem without ring.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0AuHOiQWqmb67f-hNQXflf99gGBhgiJ7OqNR9Bjg7Kv1cn-QBllulu1v72gq-l6J5kDtxc9jP9fhlD9ygtwSh6x01mQBaLc1VIRZTilepyuhNL4h-B06dgw0TzdTAQE4-aYsk0NlvUZwq/s1600/IMG_4799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0AuHOiQWqmb67f-hNQXflf99gGBhgiJ7OqNR9Bjg7Kv1cn-QBllulu1v72gq-l6J5kDtxc9jP9fhlD9ygtwSh6x01mQBaLc1VIRZTilepyuhNL4h-B06dgw0TzdTAQE4-aYsk0NlvUZwq/s640/IMG_4799.JPG" data-pinit="registered" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Same as above. Note white/cream spores, adnate gills (gills attached to stem).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMr75tQNojERh-4QggsYHbDmR8uQjaLuuracM5hmBJuNLR_LUKxj5j2lRp7rgQ2y6hLE-8GqXK868cyk7gwIfYXifF1eaAtca_LPjLwxSgvF5AZ0C98OgaQ4G9e6HVk8jFgxHLGc-uF79/s1600/IMG_4375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMr75tQNojERh-4QggsYHbDmR8uQjaLuuracM5hmBJuNLR_LUKxj5j2lRp7rgQ2y6hLE-8GqXK868cyk7gwIfYXifF1eaAtca_LPjLwxSgvF5AZ0C98OgaQ4G9e6HVk8jFgxHLGc-uF79/s320/IMG_4375.jpg" data-pinit="registered" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_WM4jFJweqs3Xgd1xhaJ8E9NvZ9kp89e8UNEMfSjFeLI8WwLfiOVjqYliRQN7M0ZPLTdqlhLZheMwnshlYtvZaG2oCsY75bcDdYZEkgaZgF_G8Vk2WcnVJZfb545IWXvezWGMl4kF5LLT/s1600/IMG_4383.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_WM4jFJweqs3Xgd1xhaJ8E9NvZ9kp89e8UNEMfSjFeLI8WwLfiOVjqYliRQN7M0ZPLTdqlhLZheMwnshlYtvZaG2oCsY75bcDdYZEkgaZgF_G8Vk2WcnVJZfb545IWXvezWGMl4kF5LLT/s320/IMG_4383.jpg" data-pinit="registered" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuvQ2K3mWxTewA3cFNh_prV8KmbBdGA-s4zO1nd2mnFsNWjWUkayMFXDFP8jAkluIvkNEsTvBom5h_zU72Ttb3BWn5TYpqhOs-Sd2IwfXLTWL0N3tCDxfUVEbVENSJu7YHsSoVAdOot0M/s1600/IMG_4380.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuvQ2K3mWxTewA3cFNh_prV8KmbBdGA-s4zO1nd2mnFsNWjWUkayMFXDFP8jAkluIvkNEsTvBom5h_zU72Ttb3BWn5TYpqhOs-Sd2IwfXLTWL0N3tCDxfUVEbVENSJu7YHsSoVAdOot0M/s640/IMG_4380.JPG" data-pinit="registered" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A mini forest of unknown little brown mushrooms growing on the mulch beneath Yew trees (<i>Taxus baccata</i>) and pines at Kew Gardens.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb16Ic6UueP63gUbuyVcGMW4_AHtZtcrS-nbmbcxnx8xkyTo4fUt1Y-gtgI_O83PUb-i15hp1-gHK5iwvI548dlbJCHCqf9MPgAM7c1iVJeyld1xW0Cw6cErtOHbC5h-yIwD0KujccG3uN/s1600/IMG_4379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb16Ic6UueP63gUbuyVcGMW4_AHtZtcrS-nbmbcxnx8xkyTo4fUt1Y-gtgI_O83PUb-i15hp1-gHK5iwvI548dlbJCHCqf9MPgAM7c1iVJeyld1xW0Cw6cErtOHbC5h-yIwD0KujccG3uN/s320/IMG_4379.JPG" data-pinit="registered" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Clitocybe</i> sp.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3CLtnN4quqiD27g84Z8RoyHOPgT0dX0ep_7wBjln25Aaig2GjkwKah59EAtK2trriJnP_OrzAcNKh0qs2EqbTY4GorBILjBySXc60fjdPbjWZ35AdrFh63qF7K4RZg6Q9JP8l-nH8kI9i/s1600/IMG_4370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3CLtnN4quqiD27g84Z8RoyHOPgT0dX0ep_7wBjln25Aaig2GjkwKah59EAtK2trriJnP_OrzAcNKh0qs2EqbTY4GorBILjBySXc60fjdPbjWZ35AdrFh63qF7K4RZg6Q9JP8l-nH8kI9i/s640/IMG_4370.JPG" data-pinit="registered" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unknown mushroom. Looks like a mini Ink cap<i> </i>mushroom<i> (Coprinus</i> sp.), but I did not check the gills for ink. It was tiny!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKWwP5mGWt117p7QqUzW-9ExNJiEq_XuSu0X5nBJoFaad8DjRtivqTYD9776_MH8UELaxU6fWxAUcDTo5a199pEgbzLyQ0IzQeaAPmnEZVe248XzTWddRqrb3hMFQerrwhZKWW5yqWShvF/s1600/IMG_4351.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKWwP5mGWt117p7QqUzW-9ExNJiEq_XuSu0X5nBJoFaad8DjRtivqTYD9776_MH8UELaxU6fWxAUcDTo5a199pEgbzLyQ0IzQeaAPmnEZVe248XzTWddRqrb3hMFQerrwhZKWW5yqWShvF/s400/IMG_4351.JPG" data-pinit="registered" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Agaricus</i> sp. fairy ring</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIsJFwspqPS3xtNayXZMyDb83vZNLsI4xOkqoYmr3mup0Hr3VdQzqEMOaV6X1w8IwhJthsMITs1w3NRZ4AEl-O4cRb-dGLI0aG0qPfn_E6qQj71Kq6srx2kQVqFp3j0egRoJb4wQ9n7Ss/s1600/IMG_4352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIsJFwspqPS3xtNayXZMyDb83vZNLsI4xOkqoYmr3mup0Hr3VdQzqEMOaV6X1w8IwhJthsMITs1w3NRZ4AEl-O4cRb-dGLI0aG0qPfn_E6qQj71Kq6srx2kQVqFp3j0egRoJb4wQ9n7Ss/s320/IMG_4352.JPG" data-pinit="registered" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Agaricus</i> sp. Note the annulus/ring around the stem and the dark gills.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_SMtqY6v-q1CDzVScYurQLHr1Dx7QeWJHlyjx2SBhNx2FHCkJigk9YCnQkNkrhu67nDXpxbgTSh79WZVbQEY4ue3jlr5j5uCLClL4kRsvplOGaiM0sh0Pwy2Ad-c9HvIJ-jVl8OhJsS8/s1600/IMG_4359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_SMtqY6v-q1CDzVScYurQLHr1Dx7QeWJHlyjx2SBhNx2FHCkJigk9YCnQkNkrhu67nDXpxbgTSh79WZVbQEY4ue3jlr5j5uCLClL4kRsvplOGaiM0sh0Pwy2Ad-c9HvIJ-jVl8OhJsS8/s320/IMG_4359.jpg" data-pinit="registered" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Lepiota</i> sp.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And of course, you know I can't resist photographing some wildflowers along the way too.<br />
<div>
</div>
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<div>
</div>
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<div itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject">
</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLJsjkmj245uHHT75Ndi_LHQZ4lzS0tNEzB-nE5aqnYI5p3qqw5cfKvwLRf_jid4fufAaGl56PNeIMjJxgPcm-zIN9zjFd3Bii6gExCGQXE0b5k6jGR5LMtl7CD8drpmZEWv7K_Fqd3Ld/s1600/IMG_4356.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLJsjkmj245uHHT75Ndi_LHQZ4lzS0tNEzB-nE5aqnYI5p3qqw5cfKvwLRf_jid4fufAaGl56PNeIMjJxgPcm-zIN9zjFd3Bii6gExCGQXE0b5k6jGR5LMtl7CD8drpmZEWv7K_Fqd3Ld/s640/IMG_4356.jpg" data-pinit="registered" height="640" itemprop="contentURL" width="480" />
</a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" itemprop="name" style="text-align: center;">Cornflower (<i>Centaurea cyanus</i>)<br />
<span itemprop="description" style="color: red;"><b>Update</b></span>: This was a fun find - I just learned that the Cornflower is an endangered species and a UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority species! Wow! Check out more information about it's <a href="http://www.brc.ac.uk/plantatlas/index.php?q=plant/centaurea-cyanus" target="_blank">status</a>. Apparently, this is not so much because of it's distribution (which is <a href="http://www.brc.ac.uk/plantatlas/index.php?q=plant/centaurea-cyanus" target="_blank">quite widespread</a>), but because it is important to the protection of <a href="http://www.plantlife.org.uk/uploads/documents/Threatened_arable_plants_ID_guide.pdf" target="_blank">arable lands</a> and therefore, biodiversity.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621133666228169632noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141829196963188861.post-16741476071208786312013-10-20T19:31:00.000-04:002013-10-20T19:31:05.358-04:00Have you read anything good lately?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRqnS8iOe1uQ-f1Jthfw4MXAXZ17K5C5caqax2VWQsoV33tT_N5TA" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRqnS8iOe1uQ-f1Jthfw4MXAXZ17K5C5caqax2VWQsoV33tT_N5TA" width="400" /></a></div>
I just read about <a href="http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn24356-reading-literary-fiction-makes-you-a-nicer-person.html#.UmRcFSTag7A" target="_blank">a study in the New Scientist</a> in which a scientist has discovered that people who read fiction books are nicer people! According to the article:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #38761d;">"Our ability to detect and understand other peoples' emotions, and to infer their beliefs and intentions is known as <a href="http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17352-language-may-be-key-to-theory-of-mind.html">theory of mind</a>.
David Comer Kidd and Emanuele Castano at the New School for Social
Research in New York tested whether exposure to literary fiction –
stories with more complex characters – boosts this."</span></blockquote>
The outcome showed that:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #38761d;">"Those who had read the literary fiction showed a heightened ability to empathise compared with the other groups." </span></blockquote>
I've recently started reading again before going to bed. The Englishman has convinced me that looking at a bright LED screen (i.e. my computer) before going to bed is not healthy. So, instead, I've been reading, which actually really works. I end up starting to doze and once the paragraph starts to get fuzzy, I know it's time for bed. And big bonus, I'm loving it! Having read so much nonfiction/scientific literature while earning my master's degree, I stopped reading anything else. Turns out I've been missing it. There's nothing that can beat the ability to escape into a good book, live out some fantasies, and connect to fictional characters. Perhaps I am even becoming a nicer person because of my reading increase.<br />
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I am currently reading <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2495398.The_Coral_Thief" target="_blank">The Coral Thief </a>by Rebecca Stott<br />
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<a href="http://www.janklowandnesbit.co.uk/sites/default/files/imagecache/large/book_covers/coral%20thief.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.janklowandnesbit.co.uk/sites/default/files/imagecache/large/book_covers/coral%20thief.jpg" width="222" /></a></div>
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And before that I read <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13486632-the-hundred-year-old-man-who-climbed-out-of-the-window-and-disappeared" target="_blank">The Hundred Year Old Man who Climbed out of a window and disappeared by Jonas Jonasson</a>, upon my mother's recommendation and really enjoyed it:<br />
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<a href="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1334848488l/13486632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1334848488l/13486632.jpg" width="201" /></a></div>
What are you reading right now?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621133666228169632noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141829196963188861.post-71897319230191269212013-08-27T06:05:00.002-04:002013-08-27T06:05:39.126-04:00Brooklyn Botanic Garden prunes it's science department<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.davidairey.com/images/nature/brooklyn-botanic-garden-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="584" src="http://www.davidairey.com/images/nature/brooklyn-botanic-garden-logo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Every research/science institute dreads funding cuts as big programs can be affected. Or in the case of the <a href="http://www.bbg.org/" target="_blank">Brooklyn Botanic Garden</a>, <a href="http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20130823/prospect-heights/brooklyn-botanic-garden-cuts-science-staff-weeks-after-native-garden-debut" target="_blank">the entire science department can be shut down</a>! Apparently, this was a result of a combination of building issues (a subsiding found<span style="font-family: inherit;">ation) and<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px;"> "</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px;">increased insurance and employee-benefits expenses." What a loss for the scientific community as well as the garden.</span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621133666228169632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141829196963188861.post-15807667432765804992013-08-13T07:12:00.001-04:002013-08-13T07:12:07.126-04:00A map of plant families<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDSxAWM45_SnOCIrbLC3oZdui643MLdd5gIpT5W-KGc_F4D1fNJVSEVgigZnssOZMwks4kcfqUFDGigM_9OgQuMe5KcR38u263H-X-mdvZ2dis_FA3oBl5CYn-Ni0dJzRLjSopBYc4wzuk/s1600/Kew+Family+Map.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDSxAWM45_SnOCIrbLC3oZdui643MLdd5gIpT5W-KGc_F4D1fNJVSEVgigZnssOZMwks4kcfqUFDGigM_9OgQuMe5KcR38u263H-X-mdvZ2dis_FA3oBl5CYn-Ni0dJzRLjSopBYc4wzuk/s640/Kew+Family+Map.tif" width="640" /></a></div>
Check this out! The GIS department at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in London has made <a href="http://www.kew.org/science/family-genera/#" target="_blank">an interactive map</a> that will tell you the number and percentage of plant families and generas that occur in different parts of the world!<br />
<br />
Did you know that No<span style="font-family: inherit;">r<span style="background-color: white;">thern Europe (<span style="line-height: 15.59375px;">Denmark, Finland, The Faroe Islands, Great Britain, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Svalbard and Sweden) have 596 plant genera and 111 plant families.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 15.59375px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<div style="background-color: #e5e3df; color: #686868; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; padding: 0px;">
<b>It is ranked 40th in the world for genera and 44th for families.</b></div>
<div style="background-color: #e5e3df; color: #686868; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 0.75em; padding: 0px;">
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<img height="116" src="http://chart.apis.google.com/chart?chs=241x116&chd=t:4.53542348375314,0,95.4645765162469&chm=t&cht=p3&chl=Genera|Endemics|World&chco=2E8B57,006400,D3D3D3&chtt=Genera&chf=bg,s,FFFFFF" style="background-color: #e5e3df; border: none; display: inline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="241px" /><img height="116" src="http://chart.apis.google.com/chart?chs=241x116&chd=t:24.6119733924612,0,75.3880266075388&chm=t&cht=p3&chl=Families|Endemic|World&chco=CD853F,8B4514,D3D3D3&chtt=Families&chf=bg,s,FFFFFF" style="background-color: #e5e3df; border: none; display: inline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="241px" /><br />
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And did you know that the Southeastern US (which oddly, Maryland is lumped into) has 1064 genera and 202 families, it is ranked 25th in the world for genera and 22nd for families.<br />
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<img height="116" src="http://chart.apis.google.com/chart?chs=241x116&chd=t:7.80001521954189,0.296781066889887,91.9032037135682&chm=t&cht=p3&chl=Genera|Endemics|World&chco=2E8B57,006400,D3D3D3&chtt=Genera&chf=bg,s,FFFFFF" style="background-color: #e5e3df; border: none; display: inline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="241px" /><img height="116" src="http://chart.apis.google.com/chart?chs=241x116&chd=t:44.7893569844789,0,55.2106430155211&chm=t&cht=p3&chl=Families|Endemic|World&chco=CD853F,8B4514,D3D3D3&chtt=Families&chf=bg,s,FFFFFF" style="background-color: #e5e3df; border: none; display: inline; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="241px" /><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.kew.org/science/family-genera/#" target="_blank">Go have a play</a>, you might find it interesting too!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621133666228169632noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141829196963188861.post-16813363953038983922013-07-29T07:43:00.000-04:002013-07-29T07:43:05.325-04:00Let's Eat Tearthumb!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/img/pepe1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/img/pepe1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Since Kew Gardens has based this year's summer festival on edible plants, aptly named IncrEDIBLES, and because I love edible botany, I've been thinking some more about which plants we could eat. Although most of the time ecologists want to protect plants and increase biodiversity, there is one particular time when most ecologists will agree, the plants must be destroyed, eradicated, extirpated from an area. I know this sounds harsh, but I'm talking about invasive exotic species. These are pest species which have come from other habitats, often other countries, and they love their new habitat so much that they out-compete local native plants. Such invasive species can eliminate local endemic species, reduce the number of once common plants, disrupt the ecosystem and all the <a href="http://www.wri.org/project/mainstreaming-ecosystem-services/about" target="_blank">ecosystem services</a> that it once provided, and be a real headache for habitat managers and gardeners alike.<br />
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<a href="http://summerfieldbooks.com/asps/uploads/big/3701-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://summerfieldbooks.com/asps/uploads/big/3701-1.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
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Today, I came across a new book that has just been published in my home area of Maryland called <a href="http://summerfieldbooks.com/ShowDetails.asp?id=3701&utm_source=Customer+Newsletter&utm_campaign=6654e497c3-July_2013_Newsletter7_23_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_323bbd0033-6654e497c3-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D&ct=t%28July_2013_Newsletter7_23_2013%29&gooal=eyJjaWQiOiI2NjU0ZTQ5N2MzIiwidGFnIjoiSnVseV8yMDEzX05ld3NsZXR0ZXI3XzIzXzIwMTMiLCJ1aWQiOiI2ZWViZGM2MjM4YmY3ZDk0ZmFhMjFjZjEwIn0%3D|aGVhcnRraEBnbWFpbC5jb20=&mc_cid=6654e497c3&mc_eid=%5BUNIQID%5D" target="_blank">A Quick Guide to Wild Edible Plants: Easy to Pick, Easy to Prepare</a>. One of the wild edibles mentioned in the book is tearthumb or mile-a-minute weed (Polygonum perfoliatum), a nasty invasive plant that plagues our home in Maryland by climbing over plants, smothering my mother's wonderful garden, and becoming larger and more problematic every year. So I am delighted to find out that it's berries are edible!!<br />
<br />
According to the <a href="http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/vine/polpef/all.html" target="_blank">US Forest Service</a>, Mile-a-Minute weed is edible by humans and has a high potassium content. Does this mean we could skip imported tropical bananas and eat seeds from the garden instead!? And, based on the following excerpt from a journal article written about Mile-a-Minute weed, it is not only edible, but it is also use in Asia as an herbal medicine and could even be used as an anticancer agent! I wonder, if we started eating the seeds if it would cause even a small dent in the speed this invasive is taking over?<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>CURRENT AND POTENTIAL USES<br />In its native eastern Asia, mile-a-minute is considered beneficial and has been used as an herbal medicine for over 300 yr (He et al. 1984; Hoque et al. 1989; Sook and Myung 1992; Yang and Kim 1993; Zhu 1989), or as an edible wild fruit (Bajracharya 1980). The plant also serves as a suitable food source for a diverse group of mammals, birds, and insects. Two protein kinase C inhibitors (PKC), vanicosides A and B; five diferuloyl esters of sucrose; and feruloylsucroses have been isolated from mile-a-minute plants (Sun 1999; Sun et al. 2000). PKC are involved in cell signal transduction and cell proliferation and are believed to be tumor promoters; thus PKC inhibitors could be used as potential anticancer agents (Sun 1999). Two well-known natural products, quercetin and beta-sitosterol, have also been isolated from mile-a-minute (Sun 1999). Beta-sitosterol is also reported to have anticarcinogenic properties (Park et al. 2003). The bioflavonoid quercetin has antioxidant (Boadi et al. 2003; Kumar et al. 2003; Pietruck et al. 2003), antiproliferative, and anti-inflammatory properties (Pietruck et al. 2003).</i></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-small;">Kumar, V., & Ditommaso, A . (2005). Mile-a-Minute (<i>Polygonum perfoliatum</i>): an increasingly problematic invasive species. Weed Technology 19(4), 1071-1077.</span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRXIO846EOmJAcLkj5wZbfYf1vA-7JY3XmFUeEwMYDuhTdPywtryQ" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRXIO846EOmJAcLkj5wZbfYf1vA-7JY3XmFUeEwMYDuhTdPywtryQ" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621133666228169632noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141829196963188861.post-37088163225028579032013-07-29T04:49:00.000-04:002013-07-29T04:49:00.880-04:00Scientists and others have been eating strange things for centuries!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.kew.org/ucm/groups/public/documents/image/kppcont_081004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.kew.org/ucm/groups/public/documents/image/kppcont_081004.jpg" width="258" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.59375px;">Photograph of the 'hen and chickens' pineapple, sent to Kew in a letter from Leonard Wray Jr., from Malaysia 1892 [</span><a class="external-link" href="http://plants.jstor.org/visual/kdcas9535?s=t" style="background-color: white; background-image: url(http://www.kew.org/ucm/resources/kew/images/css-images/content/new-window1.gif); background-position: 100% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #2b8006; display: inline-block; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.59375px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 15px 0px 0px;" title="See Wray's letter on the JSTOR Global Plants website">archive ref: DC 165/275</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #686868; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.59375px;">]</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Look guys, it's not just me that has this strange fascination with discovering edible plants. <a href="http://www.kew.org/news/kew-blogs/library-art-archives/directors-correspondence/index.htm" target="_blank">A special group at Kew Royal Botanic Gardens</a> is working to digitize (scan/photograph and summarize) letters sent to and from the Director at Kew all the way back to the 1840s. Because <a href="http://www.kew.org/" target="_blank">Kew Gardens </a>have long been considered one of the leading research and collections hubs for plants and other things of botanical interest, scientists and botanists have been sending their findings, interesting anecdotes, and even samples or specimens to the gardens ever since the first official director, <a href="http://www.kew.org/heritage/people/hooker_w.html" target="_blank">Sir William Jackson Hooker</a>, was appointed in 1841.<br />
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Come see <a href="http://www.kew.org/news/kew-blogs/library-art-archives/food-for-thought.htm?AlertSrc=Internal" target="_blank">this Kew blog posting</a> about edible plants that have been referred to in the Director's Correspondence.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621133666228169632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141829196963188861.post-24029206204227858962013-07-26T11:08:00.000-04:002013-07-26T11:08:27.318-04:00Eating Wild Foods while Hiking<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://media.outsideonline.com/images/488*488/salmon-berries_ph.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://media.outsideonline.com/images/488*488/salmon-berries_ph.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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If you know me, you know that I like to eat things that I found out in nature. I find it a really fun way to interact with nature and the flavors you find in the wild are often evoke your taste buds in a very unfamiliar and delightful way. This "habit" of mine has led me into trouble - like the time I ate a <a href="http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/how_to_cut_and_prepare_prickly_pears/" target="_blank">Prickly Pear cactus fruit</a> with my bare hands, or the time I gulped down a leaf of <a href="http://www.eattheweeds.com/water-lettuce/" target="_blank">water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes</a>) before our guide in <a href="http://www.ots.ac.cr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=238&Itemid=415" target="_blank">Palo Verde National Park</a> in Costa Rica warned me of the tiny calcium oxalate needle-like crystals that cover it's leaves and burned my throat for hours, or the time I most recently ate a fresh cherry off a tree just to be reminded that it was growing on a polluted brown field. But despite all of my misguided tastings, there have been quite a few really amazing dishes that have come out of my wild foraging tendencies. I've foraged for over 5 kilos of wild mushrooms in the forests of <a href="http://www.davos.ch/en/news/news/detail.html?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=2051&cHash=8ee16fa3c5480f37a33f3fd84877745f" target="_blank">Davos, Switzerland</a> (I was not on the linked excursion, rather, I was hobby foraging with some friends). I have discovered snacks while passing <a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/240981-the-benefits-of-barberry/" target="_blank">barberry bushes</a> in Switzerland, <a href="http://conchscooter.blogspot.co.uk/2008/08/living-with-seagrapes.html" target="_blank">sea grapes</a> in Florida, <a href="http://youtu.be/RqNLxc5CdPo" target="_blank">bilberries </a>in the Swiss Alps, <a href="http://www.practicalprimitive.com/skillofthemonth/wineberries.html" target="_blank">wineberries </a>back home in Maryland, and many more things as I've roamed through natural areas.<br />
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Outside Magazine recently published an article on the top <a href="http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/hiking-and-backpacking/8-Incredible-Edible-Hikes.html?utm_source=dispatch&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_content=MRlink2&utm_campaign=07252013#gallery-photo-1" target="_blank">8 Hikes You Can Eat</a>. I love this idea! I would definitely travel simply to hike and eat things from the wild along the way! It's kind of like a survival-foodie trip. Would you do it?<br />
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<a href="http://media.outsideonline.com/designimages/outside-magazine-medium.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media.outsideonline.com/designimages/outside-magazine-medium.png" /></a></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621133666228169632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141829196963188861.post-47908493652269190872013-07-23T11:49:00.001-04:002013-07-26T11:11:08.065-04:00Coastal dunes and coastal ecosystems can save your homeSurely, after Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy, we all know the risks of building a home on the coast. But still, people want to live near water and coastal developments are booming. <a href="http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/population.html" target="_blank">NOAA calculated</a> that 39% of the US population lives on or near the shoreline. No wonder the Midwest is so sparsely populated! So how can we protect people's homes that live right on the shoreline when they have obviously built in an area subject to high risk? There is a natural solution. It has long been recognized that when a natural buffer is left between the home and the water sources, the home is less likely to be damaged heavily. That means, at the beach, we should leave natural, vegetated dune systems, trees, wide beaches, wetlands, and back-bays in a natural state. When a storm does come ashore, these natural systems can absorb the damage caused by wind, water, and energy much better than your home can. Plus, these ecosystems are typically naturally resistant or resilient to damage.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/RjaEgsjHr8I" width="480"></iframe><br />
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And here are a few more videos that discuss natural ecosystems protecting homes from the Nature Conservancy. </div>
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<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://youtu.be/pbf5lCh9u3w" target="_blank">Planting Trees to Help Protect Farming Communities in Mexico from a Changing Planet</a></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://youtu.be/bVAPn164Zso" target="_blank">Fire Management and the 2011 Wallow Fire</a></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.nature.org/newsfeatures/specialfeatures/nature-kept-us-safe.xml?src=e.nature" target="_blank">Nature Kept Us Safe</a></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.nature.org/newsfeatures/specialfeatures/how-fire-can-restore-a-forest-a-time-lapse.xml?src=e.nature" target="_blank">How Fire Can Restore a Forest: A Time Lapse</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621133666228169632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141829196963188861.post-38073551869619652742013-06-26T08:12:00.004-04:002013-11-17T10:43:06.536-05:00Upcycling climbing rope<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/galantnie/galantnie0904/galantnie090400082/4685940-climbing-rope-isolated-on-white.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/galantnie/galantnie0904/galantnie090400082/4685940-climbing-rope-isolated-on-white.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Have you heard of upcycling? It's the process of turning waste materials into something of better quality. Basically, instead of throwing away or putting something into the recycling bin, upcycling is a fancy word for reusing something that is otherwise useless. Do you do this?<br />
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The Englishman* is a climber and even though I got into climbing before him, he really got me to enjoy the sport and push myself to get better. Recently, he decided that for safety reasons, it is high time to buy some new climbing ropes. Great! But what do we do with the old ones? He's got over 10 years of blood, sweat, mud, rock and a bit of groaning soaked into these ropes. The memories are too precious to let go of. The ropes are actually still in great condition, they just are not deemed safe enough to hold a falling climber anymore. Here's what we decided to do with at least one of them:<br />
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<a href="http://www.animatedknots.com/imagesprelim/ocean_plait_mat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://www.animatedknots.com/imagesprelim/ocean_plait_mat.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The instructions for making this rug are super simple with the illustrations shown by <a href="http://www.animatedknots.com/oceanplait/" target="_blank">Animated Knots by Grog</a>. And I love that this still captures the essence of climbing (and it reminds me of knots in sailing too!!). It's the perfect doormat!<br />
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If you want to find more fun things that you can upcycle check out <a href="http://www.upcyclethat.com/" target="_blank">UpcycleThat</a>, this <a href="http://pinterest.com/candacefox/upcycle-and-re-purposing/" target="_blank">upcycling pinterest board</a>, and <a href="http://twistedsifter.com/2012/06/creative-ways-to-repurpose-reuse-and-upcycle-old-things/" target="_blank">this from TwistedSifter</a>. Do you have any other ideas?<br />
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<i>*The Englishman - I'm trying out nicknames for my wonderful boyfriend. But for privacy purposes, I don't want to share his name online. After a terrible stalking incident a couple years ago, I am much more protective of my personal information and that of those around me. I hope you can all respect that. </i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621133666228169632noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141829196963188861.post-22591443989658946102013-06-21T04:31:00.001-04:002013-06-21T04:31:11.329-04:00Naked mole rats do not get cancer!<br />
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<a href="http://animals.nationalgeographic.co.uk/animals/mammals/naked-mole-rat/" target="_blank">Naked mole rats</a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"> (<i>Heterocephalus glaber</i>) </span></span>has suddenly become very interesting! Mole rats bodies contain a substance called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyaluronan" target="_blank">Hyaluronan</a>, which acts as a lubricant for soft tissues. Humans apparently also have this polysaccharide, but it is composed differently and present in the human body in much smaller concentrations. Doctors already use human Hyaluronan for <a href="http://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/arthritis-information/drugs/hyaluronan.aspx" target="_blank">arthritis</a>, <a href="http://www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/hyaluronan-injections-for-osteoarthritis-of-the-knee" target="_blank">chronic knee problems</a>, and <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1563592" target="_blank">eye surgery</a>. The most exciting new discovery is that naked mole rats do not seem to get cancer and Hyaluronan is credited with preventing it! Wouldn't it be great if we could find out a way to prevent or treat cancer with this substance? (but please don't harvest naked mole rats to do it!)<br />
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Here are some quick facts about mole rats: <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.theanimalfiles.com/images/naked_mole_rat_range.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="311" src="http://www.theanimalfiles.com/images/naked_mole_rat_range.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The naked mole rat is found in arid areas of East Africa. They live in colonies with complex family structures.</td></tr>
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<strong>Size relative to a tea cup:</strong></div>
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<img alt="Illustration: Mole rat compared with tea cup" height="90" src="http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/graphic/size-molerat-160-2797-cb1273166104.gif" width="160" />
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Here is <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Naked_mole_rat" target="_blank">more information </a>about naked mole rats. <br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621133666228169632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141829196963188861.post-34853334535276735212013-06-17T07:08:00.001-04:002013-06-17T07:14:31.316-04:00Leaving on a Jet Plane...spewing carbon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3QcQhEDV11TWFaLfNd9JJSzrg50C5cMdvb2CtAoSrzfMjc_x2sbBMff-hlvgN5eBKBL69egQ5hSH4fECwbpWMhMc8PKLId3wwy3pD3_8ruEnHkksSYPGraXsmey4PqBI0jkfy80th959D/s1600/IMG_2680.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3QcQhEDV11TWFaLfNd9JJSzrg50C5cMdvb2CtAoSrzfMjc_x2sbBMff-hlvgN5eBKBL69egQ5hSH4fECwbpWMhMc8PKLId3wwy3pD3_8ruEnHkksSYPGraXsmey4PqBI0jkfy80th959D/s640/IMG_2680.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguraGNmxJr-EXAzrhTAhYeK5uXZakOIeww-w-ldBoCJ-JEzE9fWwrQzxItDDy-pmliR9uNqJ2RuiYeW4xKtlURs5NYFCBupi39OvMsr4d9Q_MJGp00drN4qItVq1M97vRiesFZgTz1MKtX/s1600/IMG_0128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
Have you ever been given the option to pay the carbon offset for your flight? Have you ever chosen to pay it? I am on my way to the airport now for a flight to the US to visit my wonderful family. I wasn't given the option when booking through United Airlines, but I wonder if I would have paid it even if I was. Whenever I fly, the tiny environmental activist on my left shoulder starts wagging his finger at me and lecturing on the huge amounts of carbon emissions I am adding to the environment just because I have chosen to live so far from my immediate family. But then, the tiny underpaid accountant sitting on my right shoulder pulls out his calculator and tells me that my finances simply won't allow it. I defer to my seeping bank account.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguraGNmxJr-EXAzrhTAhYeK5uXZakOIeww-w-ldBoCJ-JEzE9fWwrQzxItDDy-pmliR9uNqJ2RuiYeW4xKtlURs5NYFCBupi39OvMsr4d9Q_MJGp00drN4qItVq1M97vRiesFZgTz1MKtX/s1600/IMG_0128.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguraGNmxJr-EXAzrhTAhYeK5uXZakOIeww-w-ldBoCJ-JEzE9fWwrQzxItDDy-pmliR9uNqJ2RuiYeW4xKtlURs5NYFCBupi39OvMsr4d9Q_MJGp00drN4qItVq1M97vRiesFZgTz1MKtX/s640/IMG_0128.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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What would you do? Here is some <a href="http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2011/04/should-you-pay-for-carbon-offsets-when-you-fly/" target="_blank">further discussion</a> of the topic.<br />
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Here's a beautiful view of <a href="http://www.kew.org/" target="_blank">Kew Gardens</a> out of the foggy window from the plane just before landing in Heathrow Airport on my return trip last week.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibdCovWL1c_CApn6a7DokiVWr6h4KZcorlXsMXDBCLQStAn9RWN2Ts0wBiAoCoI8X4ZWuuhmCJqm8vHmNy9gcyUBK9HnwrMNrRlM5_pceqqQK2N7nYMMRxlfwGIa1kwDYaRNHGRtGOhDK/s1600/IMG_2687.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgibdCovWL1c_CApn6a7DokiVWr6h4KZcorlXsMXDBCLQStAn9RWN2Ts0wBiAoCoI8X4ZWuuhmCJqm8vHmNy9gcyUBK9HnwrMNrRlM5_pceqqQK2N7nYMMRxlfwGIa1kwDYaRNHGRtGOhDK/s640/IMG_2687.JPG" width="640" /></a> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621133666228169632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141829196963188861.post-9190967863713732622013-05-30T11:00:00.000-04:002013-05-30T11:00:01.169-04:007-Minute Workout ain't no joke!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.prevention.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/ssm_600w/static/squat-600x450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://www.prevention.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/ssm_600w/static/squat-600x450.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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So I just completed 2 full circuit repetitions of the <a href="http://marshmucking.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/7-minute-workout-proven-by-science-pipe.html" target="_blank">scientifically proven 7-minute workout which I posted about last week</a>. That was no joke! I tried to go with full intensity, as the study recommends. Let me tell you, I am feeling sweaty, something that rarely happens when I do my 30 minute run around the local park. I feel good! I used this very <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Itye1DEJTQk" target="_blank">helpful video</a> to help me keep on pace and put on some dance music.<br />
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If I can do this workout every day or two, I will be kickin' butt soon...that's a proven fact! But here are a few lessons I learned:</div>
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<li style="text-align: left;">This is super easy to do at home and I love that I don't need weights or equipment!</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">I need a sturdier chair for the step-ups and tricep dips!</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">30 seconds of push ups doesn't sound hard, but it really burns when your only 15 seconds in at a high intensity level</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">I love the simplicity and difficulty of a wall sit</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Push ups with rotation aren't hard. But when your muscles are a little shaky already, these can really put you off balance. Good thing no one was watching!</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">I look stupid doing jumping jacks in-front of a mirror</li>
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Any one else give this a try yet? What did you think?</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621133666228169632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141829196963188861.post-80179593751801078642013-05-30T08:35:00.000-04:002013-05-30T08:35:04.901-04:00American Forest KitWow, I want one of these <a href="http://portfolios.aiga.org/gallery/American-Forests/8641745" target="_blank">American Forest Kits</a> designed by Kevin DeBoer!!<br />
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<a href="http://behance.vo.llnwd.net/profiles14/1803587/projects/8641745/558ee744f3362a183cd171b378cfea79.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://behance.vo.llnwd.net/profiles14/1803587/projects/8641745/558ee744f3362a183cd171b378cfea79.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I don't know if it's on sale yet, but the design is stunning and effective. It's gorgeous! The popup part brings out the kid in me, there is interestingly presented information on the cards and in the pamphlet, and you get to plant the seeds for these trees!! I'm bursting with excitement! When and where can I get one?</div>
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As most of you know, my <a href="http://marshmucking.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Treehugger%20Tour" target="_blank">Treehugger Tour 2010</a> was sponsored by the non-profit, <a href="http://www.americanforests.org/" target="_blank">American Forests</a>. Sadly, I don't think there is a connection between the organization and this beautifully designed information and seed packet for American trees. I sent them a message to recommend that they invest in this guy and the design. How cool would it be if you donated some money to American Forests to plant trees for our future and as a gift you got this?? </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621133666228169632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141829196963188861.post-16872005650348331612013-05-24T12:00:00.000-04:002013-07-26T11:12:06.453-04:00How are corks made? (A wine inspired post)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/Chinon_wine,_bottle,_cork,_foil_and_corkscrew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/Chinon_wine,_bottle,_cork,_foil_and_corkscrew.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Was there a real cork in that bottle of wine you had last night? Corks come from the bark of the cork oak tree (<a href="http://www.kew.org/plants-fungi/Quercus-suber.htm" target="_blank">Quercus suber</a>). Take a look at the fascinating story of cork making and the new discovery that has made the extraction more efficient.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621133666228169632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141829196963188861.post-5878859783516809372013-05-24T06:02:00.000-04:002013-05-24T13:20:18.441-04:00And the Top 10 new species of 2013?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/files/2012/08/glowing-roaches.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="402" src="http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/files/2012/08/glowing-roaches.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A South American cockroach (<i>Lucihormetica luckae</i>) which can glow at night</td></tr>
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While researching for the last post about the <a href="http://marshmucking.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/top-10-new-species-of-2012-including.html" target="_blank">Top 10 New Species of 2012</a>, I came across some conflicting news about what the list is composed of. Interestingly, the LA Times has a <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-new-species-photos-20130523,0,5264726.photogallery" target="_blank">beautiful slide show of the Top 10 species newly identified in 2012</a>, as does the <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/gallery/2013/may/23/top-10-new-species-in-pictures#/?picture=409397284&index=4" target="_blank">Guardian</a>, and <a href="http://science.time.com/2013/05/23/cockroaches-sponges-and-snakes-the-top-10-new-species/" target="_blank">Time</a>, and <a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/05/pictures/130523-top-ten-new-species-animals-plants-science/" target="_blank">National Geographic</a>. These are supposedly based on the same <a href="http://species.asu.edu/index" target="_blank">ASU International Institute for Species Exploration</a> where I found the <a href="http://species.asu.edu/Top10" target="_blank">2012 list </a>(which is based on species found in 2011). On the official ASU website there is no news of a new list. So where did this list come from? Is this the newest list that has not yet been published on their website?<br />
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It's pretty exciting though...did you know that there are cockroaches which are laced with bioluminescent <a href="http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2012/08/23/look-at-this-glowing-south-american-roaches-mimic-toxic-beetles/#.UZ8qCYcyx8E" target="_blank">bacteria </a>(see above picture)?? Holy moly!! And they're almost kind of cute, like jawas from Star Wars.<br />
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I don't see these species on the Institute's website. If you find any more information about this, I'd be interested to know what's going on!<br />
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<b>Update</b>: according to the National Geographic page on the top 10 species:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;">"On Thursday, the ASU researchers released their list of what they say are the top 10 newly discovered species from last year, an annual tradition dating to 2007. The group always unveils the list on the anniversary of the birth of botanist </span><a class="c2" href="http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/history/linnaeus.html" style="background-color: white; color: #044e8e; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;">Carolus Linnaeus</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 19px;">, the man responsible for devising the scientific classification of organisms."</span></blockquote>
I guess there was a press release somewhere. Does anyone have access to the original talk or press release?<br />
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<b>2nd Update</b>: A nice editor from the Guardian named Eric answered my question when I sent him an email. Although they have not updated their Top 10 List webpage, <a href="https://asunews.asu.edu/20130523_top10newspecies2013" target="_blank">ASU announced the list</a> on their news <a href="https://asunews.asu.edu/" target="_blank">homepage</a>. Mystery cleared up! Now I can sleep easy knowing that the glow-in-the-dark cockroach is not a mistake! And now I also know that this is real...the Lyre Sponge (Chondrocladia lyra) was discovered in the deep dark depths of the Pacific Ocean. (I would mention the blue-balled <a href="http://www.top10species.org/Lesula_Monkey1.html" target="_blank">Lesula Monkey</a> that was also discovered, but let's try to be adult about this)<br />
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<a href="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2013/5/23/1369318763795/Chondrocladia-lyra--002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2013/5/23/1369318763795/Chondrocladia-lyra--002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621133666228169632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141829196963188861.post-19271019782027307112013-05-24T05:33:00.001-04:002013-05-24T05:33:25.520-04:00Top 10 New Species of 2012 - including the popular Walking Leg Sausage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://species.asu.edu/files/Banner_Poppies.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="http://species.asu.edu/files/Banner_Poppies.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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Every year, Arizona State University's <a href="http://species.asu.edu/" target="_blank">International Station for Species Exploration</a> makes a list of the <a href="http://species.asu.edu/Top10" target="_blank">10 most interesting new species</a> found that year. This year, we've got some interesting ones:<br />
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<ol>
<li>A yellow <a href="http://species.asu.edu/2012_species07" target="_blank">poppy </a>(<i>Meconopsis autumnalis</i>) that grows at elevations between 10,827ft and 13,780ft in the Himalayan mountains (photo above)</li>
<li>The first ever discovered <a href="http://species.asu.edu/2012_species04" target="_blank">Night-blooming Orchid</a> (Bulbophyllum nocturnum) from Papua New Guinea</li>
<li>A mushroom which smells fruity and looks like a sponge which scientists aptly named <a href="http://species.asu.edu/2012_species06" target="_blank">Spongebob Squarepants Mushroom</a> (<i>Spongiforma squarepantsii</i>). Haha, WHAT? The name which was originally rejected by taxonomists, but was reluctantly accepted because it attracted attention and awareness to this new species) from Malaysia</li>
<li>A snubnosed monkey from Myanmar called the <a href="http://species.asu.edu/2012_species01" target="_blank">Sneezing Monkey</a> (<i>Rhinopithecus strykeri</i>) because it sneezes when it rains - how cute!</li>
<li>The <a href="http://species.asu.edu/2012_species02" target="_blank">Bonaire Banded Box Jelly</a> (Tamoya ohboya) found in the Dutch Caribbean island of <a href="https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Bonaire,+Netherlands+(Dutch+Caribbean)&ll=12.168226,-68.24707&spn=16.909561,11.777344&hnear=Bonaire+Island&t=m&z=6" target="_blank">Bonaire, </a>was named this way because a high school biology teacher imagined that "Oh Boy!!" must be the first reaction to it and it's venomous sting. (read more to see the picture)<a name='more'></a></li>
<li>A nemotode named the <a href="http://species.asu.edu/2012_species03" target="_blank">Devil's Worm </a>(Halicephalobus mephisto). Why such a scathing name? This nematode is the deepest-living terrestrial multicellular organism found on Earth. It was found 1.3km deep into the Earth's crust in a gold mine in South Africa. The nematodes live in beautiful little glass beads.</li>
<li>A new <a href="http://species.asu.edu/2012_species05" target="_blank">wasp </a>(Kollasmosoma sentum) which dive bombs ants (Cataglyphis ibericus) in Spain, lays its eggs in the ant where its larvae will grow and kill the ant. Its stealth attack takes only a fraction of a second. Come see the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpMGhGMWaTA" target="_blank">video</a>.</li>
<li>A millipede with the endearing name of <a href="http://species.asu.edu/2012_species08" target="_blank">Wandering Leg Sausage</a> (Crurifarcimen vagans) found in Tanzania</li>
<li>A fossil of an lobopodian/arthropod now known as the <a href="http://species.asu.edu/2012_species09" target="_blank">Walking Cactus</a> (Diania cactiformis) found in ancient fossil deposits estimated at over 520 million years old.</li>
<li>And a beautiful iridescent blue spider called a <a href="http://species.asu.edu/2012_species10" target="_blank">Sazima's Tarantula</a> (Pterinopelma sazimai) found in Brazil.</li>
</ol>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://species.asu.edu/files/Banner_Tamoya-ohboya-Left.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://species.asu.edu/files/Banner_Tamoya-ohboya-Left.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bonaire Banded Box Jelly</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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If you are interested to see and read more about fun new species discoveries, come check out the <a href="http://species.asu.edu/Top10" target="_blank">top 10 lists all the way back to 2008</a> from the ASU International Institute for Species Exploration.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621133666228169632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8141829196963188861.post-8035010407567236992013-05-23T10:00:00.000-04:002013-05-23T10:00:00.075-04:00Stuffing Muffins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://acozykitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/StuffingMuffins_MCU.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://acozykitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/StuffingMuffins_MCU.jpg" /></a></div>
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I made this <a href="http://acozykitchen.com/pancetta-sage-stuffing-muffins/" target="_blank">recipe </a>for Pancetta Sage Stuffing Muffins from <a href="http://acozykitchen.com/" target="_blank">A Cozy Kitchen</a> last night with the leftovers in the fridge (celery, bread, and onions). I modified it a bit, because of course I didn't have sage or pancetta (which could easily be replaced with BACON!). Instead, I used some fresh thyme and rosemary from my surprisingly successful herb garden. Stuffing is one of my favorite comfort foods (it always reminds me of Thanksgiving with my adopted Grandma and Grandpa in the US), but in miniature form. They were a big hit!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621133666228169632noreply@blogger.com0