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A palaeontology student living in West London funding my own part-time PhD because it's cheaper than going full-time.
Monday, 31 March 2008
Turning The Interwebs Blue
posted by Julia @ 4:19 PM
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Fuck yeah!!
Thanks to Dinosaurs And The Bible: A Creationist's Fairy Tale, who's far more polite than I am...
Thanks to Dinosaurs And The Bible: A Creationist's Fairy Tale, who's far more polite than I am...
Tuesday, 25 March 2008
Full Of Black Sheep, But Not Bitter
posted by Julia @ 4:10 PM
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I'm back. Castleton was, as always, great fun. Ironically, Paul was really disappointed with the bookshops and I was really disappointed with the garden centres. But we had excellent weather, considering we were told to expect heavy rain over the entire weekend. Apart from one unwelcome hail storm halfway down Jacob's Ladder (leaving us clinging to the fence for dear life for 10 minutes or so) we had sunshine, strong winds and the odd overnight dusting of snow.
On Friday we ascended Kinder Scout from Grindsbrook Clough, crossing west over the top and coming down the Pennine Way (and therefore Jacob's Ladder). Saturday we did the Castleton ridge walk, hiking up Winnats Pass (all the bloody ferns have died back for the winter and I couldn't see a chuffing thing!), across to Mam Tor (choosing to go over the crumpled remains of the road rather than over the top of the hill, given the high winds), then up to Back Tor and Lose Hill. And on Sunday we hit the bookshops before going on to Chatsworth House, which you may recognise as Mr Darcy's house Pemberley in the recent film version of "Pride And Prejudice".
Crucially all this was powered by a full English breakfast (with black and white pudding!), cooked by Alan and served by Jenny at the Four Seasons, dinner at a different pub every night (choice determined by the availability of meat pie) and many pints of Black Sheep and Moonshine. I also introduced Paul to the concept of Pot Noodles (it simply must be the beef and tomato flavour - no other one will do) as hiking food, and he was more than happy to carry the thermos.
Coming up over the next week, the fascinating geology of the area we visited, and fun and games with cycad seeds...
Wednesday, 19 March 2008
I Need A Holiday
posted by Julia @ 9:34 PM
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So it's just as well I'm going on one tomorrow. For four days the ethical husband and I will be yomping in the greatest national park in the UK. Please don't burgle our house. What's the weather forecast? Rain, sleet and snow. Deep joy. The thermal underwear is packed, and a ready supply of beer and pie money.
The plan to have 48 hours away from the interwebs and then get right back onto it didn't work out too well. I'm definitely burnt out. I've seen so many things I want to blog about but I simply do not have time or energy. Such as:
I owe a lot of people e-mails. I'm sorry - it's not going to get sorted until I'm back from holiday. There's one task I absolutely have to do before we go away tomorrow, but I'm so tired I think I'll have to go to bed and attempt it tomorrow morning. Normal service should be resumed after Tuesday, but if you're suffering Ethical Palaeontologist withdrawal, tune in to High Peak Radio this Sunday between 2am and 3am to hear yours truly discussing the Great Earthquake.
The plan to have 48 hours away from the interwebs and then get right back onto it didn't work out too well. I'm definitely burnt out. I've seen so many things I want to blog about but I simply do not have time or energy. Such as:
- Young women top unpaid work list - not impressed but not surprised.
- Parker's response to Spencer Lucas - Bill Parker, one of the plaintiffs in the Aetogate case, has published his response to Spencer Lucas' "defence". It's a good point-by-point reply, and if you've been following the case, you should check it out.
- The Grand Old Man of science fiction - Arthur C Clarke died yesterday, and my husband wonders who can possibly fill the gaping hole. We've lost Clarke, we lost Carl Sagan a while ago, and we lost Isaac Asimov before that. They were the science fiction writers that got our parents' generation interested in science. Most of my generation can claim to have been drawn in via these three men too. Who is worthy to take on the responsibility of bringing science to everyone?
- a Life well spent - my brother-in-law writes a very touching tribute to David Attenborough, who is at last retiring, and wonders who could replace him. I say Chris Packham. Or possibly Charlotte Uhlenbroek.
- Quite possibly the scariest research ever to hit the geosciences community - beer is bad for publishing papers. Fuck. Although according to a comment on Bayblab, the data set is 34 people and the r2 is 0.55. So maybe it's not all bad news.
I owe a lot of people e-mails. I'm sorry - it's not going to get sorted until I'm back from holiday. There's one task I absolutely have to do before we go away tomorrow, but I'm so tired I think I'll have to go to bed and attempt it tomorrow morning. Normal service should be resumed after Tuesday, but if you're suffering Ethical Palaeontologist withdrawal, tune in to High Peak Radio this Sunday between 2am and 3am to hear yours truly discussing the Great Earthquake.
Friday, 14 March 2008
Happy Birthday "Ask A Biologist"!
|Thursday, 13 March 2008
Hiatus
posted by Julia @ 4:00 PM
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I had a bit of a self-imposed posting/surfing/e-mail/technology ban for a couple of days this week. I think I'm back though, and there might be a bit of a flurry of posting as I get out all the half-completed entries I drafted before I threw a wobbly. I've been feeling rough for a little while. Without going into too much detail (because you never know who's reading), the Real Job is not too great right now. I can tell, because I've got tooth/jaw pain so I know I'm subconsciously (and probably unconsciously) grinding my teeth. Hubster's Real Job isn't brilliant either, so we're both tired, grouchy and reaching too readily for the tequila/beer/pinot grigio.
I've got myself into an annoying habit of dozing off at about 9.30pm every night in front of the television. Then Paul has to wake me at 11pm to go to bed. Then I'm up at 6.30am the next day. The disruption is doing me no good, so last night I was in bed by 9pm. Maybe it'll snap me out of it, but I'm already feeling tired now. As you can imagine, falling asleep at 9.30pm is not conducive to any kind of studying, so that's been on the back-burner. I desperately need to arrange a meeting with my supervisors but I have so many meetings for the Real Job at the moment that it's filling up my own diary before I even contemplate asking the "U"s for their free time. It will get better, but the guilt remains.
I really hope I'm not suffering from burn-out at the moment. I'll be spending some time in the garden this weekend, and it's where (at the moment) I'm happiest, so I'll try to recharge my batteries.
Sadly, last week Teddy, the wonderful, loving, beautiful corgi who made his home with my parents, my brother and me, had to be put to sleep. He was allowed to die with dignity, quickly, painlessly and peacefully, in his own bed, surrounded by his loved ones - a death many humans don't get to have. It's been very difficult for us all to cope with (although I know I've been shielded as I'm the only one who hasn't seen the house without the Tedmeister there), but very lonely for my parents.
I've got myself into an annoying habit of dozing off at about 9.30pm every night in front of the television. Then Paul has to wake me at 11pm to go to bed. Then I'm up at 6.30am the next day. The disruption is doing me no good, so last night I was in bed by 9pm. Maybe it'll snap me out of it, but I'm already feeling tired now. As you can imagine, falling asleep at 9.30pm is not conducive to any kind of studying, so that's been on the back-burner. I desperately need to arrange a meeting with my supervisors but I have so many meetings for the Real Job at the moment that it's filling up my own diary before I even contemplate asking the "U"s for their free time. It will get better, but the guilt remains.
I really hope I'm not suffering from burn-out at the moment. I'll be spending some time in the garden this weekend, and it's where (at the moment) I'm happiest, so I'll try to recharge my batteries.
Sadly, last week Teddy, the wonderful, loving, beautiful corgi who made his home with my parents, my brother and me, had to be put to sleep. He was allowed to die with dignity, quickly, painlessly and peacefully, in his own bed, surrounded by his loved ones - a death many humans don't get to have. It's been very difficult for us all to cope with (although I know I've been shielded as I'm the only one who hasn't seen the house without the Tedmeister there), but very lonely for my parents.
He gets an honorary Cool Organism Thursday mention this week, for the twelve years of wonderful memories and loyal companionship he has given us (you "met" him a few months ago, in a meme I did). Mum was the true love of his life, but he was devoted to all his humans (at any one point, devotion was directly proportional to the amount of toast you had on your plate, plus a constant of utter adoration). The photo above is the last one I have of him, chowing down on an empty macaroon packet. Old, tired, but content. There'll never be another one like him (there couldn't!), and he was quite simply the coolest little organism we've ever known.
Searching For A Fern
posted by Julia @ 3:24 PM
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A few weeks ago, Paul and I went on a trip to RHS Wisley (where I became a proud member of said Royal Horticultural Society). I of course was in my element, and even Paul (who normally only appreciates my plants for their success in stopping me from buying clothes and shoes) really enjoyed himself (a bonsai workshop and associated bonsai garden helped matters). On our way back to the main entrance we walked through a walled garden, and spotted a particular species of fern:
It was called Polystichum andersonii. Well, being an Anderson good and proper now (Heathcote is, and always will be, my "stage name"), I'm quite taken with the idea of having an Anderson's holly fern. And Polystichum is a good, solid, generally hardy genus, much like my dear husband.
But it's not very common, to all intents and purposes. Fernatix and Trevena Cross don't have it. Rickards Ferns list it in their 2007 catalogue but nowhere on their website (must actually give them a call and see if they have it for 2008). I will have to wait until I get paid at the end of the month, but I'm now a woman on a mission. Don't know if Paul will be overly impressed if I present it to him as a second wedding anniversary gift though!
It's rather exciting having things to search for - the pursuit of/lusting after new plants for the garden is often more satisfying than the reality of having them in the garden, especially as so many of my plants are really low maintenance. I love seeing the box/tube/parcel from the mail order catalogue arrive. It worries me, but I am continually amazed at how tolerant plants are of having all their leaves stripped off and being dumped in a dark box and transported halfway across the country. I can't wait to get them home and plant them up. Incidentally, the Metasequoia is doing really well now, and I have to stop myself from stroking a leaf every time I walk past.
But it's not very common, to all intents and purposes. Fernatix and Trevena Cross don't have it. Rickards Ferns list it in their 2007 catalogue but nowhere on their website (must actually give them a call and see if they have it for 2008). I will have to wait until I get paid at the end of the month, but I'm now a woman on a mission. Don't know if Paul will be overly impressed if I present it to him as a second wedding anniversary gift though!
It's rather exciting having things to search for - the pursuit of/lusting after new plants for the garden is often more satisfying than the reality of having them in the garden, especially as so many of my plants are really low maintenance. I love seeing the box/tube/parcel from the mail order catalogue arrive. It worries me, but I am continually amazed at how tolerant plants are of having all their leaves stripped off and being dumped in a dark box and transported halfway across the country. I can't wait to get them home and plant them up. Incidentally, the Metasequoia is doing really well now, and I have to stop myself from stroking a leaf every time I walk past.
My bookmarks now include a section entitled "Plants - to buy list". As of today, I'm after Araucaria bidwilli (had to really - would it be a proper Mesozoic garden without a bunya tree?), the bumper pack o' cycads, Equisetum hyemale (although I know I MUST keep them well containerised), Ginkgo biloba (yes, I want that variety purely because of the name, and yes, I want two of them), Lycopodium clavatum (*looks sheepish because she thought they were extinct until a few weeks ago*) and Sciadopitys verticillata. Quite a few Lazarus taxa in there, which will be good fun. I'm also intrigued by proteas, and figure if I have Magnolia and Camellia I may as well have some proteas too. Wonder how many of them will be hardy...
Monday, 10 March 2008
Why We Need More Scientific Literacy #9
|Saturday, 8 March 2008
What Happens When You Report Palaeontological Discoveries In Scotland
|Friday, 7 March 2008
Creationism Infiltrates Nasty Cheap High Street Fashion
posted by Julia @ 3:05 PM
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I saw this while out shopping on Saturday afternoon. I'm trying to work out what is more offensive:
- The anti-evolution sentiment
- The fact that the image is of a chimpanzee, which is an ape not a monkey
- The needless diamante "bling" on the t-shirt, or
- The fact that they're charging £60 for the jacket over the top
Thursday, 6 March 2008
Trouble Brewing
posted by Julia @ 12:04 PM
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Just saw this on my New Scientist feed: Grand Canyon flushing experiment criticised. I knew that this was happening, but am only just starting to sit down and consider the implications. And I shall try not to tread on the toes of any sedimentologists. I know that when a river forms a meander (most people in the UK at least, when they think of a river, are thinking of a meandering river), sediment is eroded from the outside of the meander and deposited on the inside of the meander as a point bar. Sediment travels downstream. And it stands to reason that if you stop the sediment from travelling (say, by shoving a great big dam in the way), there will be more deposition than erosion directly upstream of the dam, and more erosion than deposition for quite some way downstream of the dam.
So I understand why it was deemed necessary to try to restore the balance within the Grand Canyon ecosystem. CNN have reported that the flood has already taken place, and it's hoped that the sediment carried downstream will restore the sand banks, but of course this will only be temporary.
So I understand why it was deemed necessary to try to restore the balance within the Grand Canyon ecosystem. CNN have reported that the flood has already taken place, and it's hoped that the sediment carried downstream will restore the sand banks, but of course this will only be temporary.
According to CNN, four fish species have become extinct since the Glen Canyon dam was built, and a further two pushed to the brink of extinction. And on a more selfish human level, half the camping space in the canyon has been lost (I'd say this was more likely to get people to sit up and take notice, but I suspect the people who would care about a campsite in the canyon floor are pretty environmentally conscious anyway). I appreciate the need for renewable energy. Hydroelectric dams have always seemed the most invasive and least environmentally neutral, given the sheer area of habitat that has to be destroyed to create the reservoir behind the dam, and the rapid decrease in water flow downstream.
The superintendent of GRCA has suggested that the flooding really should be carried out every spring, and that's not a bad idea. Ideally it should be more frequently, I'd have thought, but I can see the logistical problems of clearing the camp grounds and warning visitors on a frequent basis. I am also aware of the possible problems associated with taking a power station offline or reducing output to zero, and can see that somewhere along the spectrum, a balance needs to be struck.
The canyon has been flooded before, in 1996 and 2004. It's flooded yesterday and today, and it'll flood again in 2013. So, river ecologists - how well do rivers respond to massive flooding every four years or so, versus milder flooding every year? Surely the latter is better? And while the dam was built long before (((Billy))) was born, I'd be interested to hear his views as he grew up at GRCA (or at least as many of his views as he is allowed to give!).
The superintendent of GRCA has suggested that the flooding really should be carried out every spring, and that's not a bad idea. Ideally it should be more frequently, I'd have thought, but I can see the logistical problems of clearing the camp grounds and warning visitors on a frequent basis. I am also aware of the possible problems associated with taking a power station offline or reducing output to zero, and can see that somewhere along the spectrum, a balance needs to be struck.
The canyon has been flooded before, in 1996 and 2004. It's flooded yesterday and today, and it'll flood again in 2013. So, river ecologists - how well do rivers respond to massive flooding every four years or so, versus milder flooding every year? Surely the latter is better? And while the dam was built long before (((Billy))) was born, I'd be interested to hear his views as he grew up at GRCA (or at least as many of his views as he is allowed to give!).