Scientists isolate new antifreeze molecule in Alaska beetle

Scientists isolate new antifreeze molecule in Alaska beetle

It's hard to think about freezing insects when I'm on a beach

Iranian Scholars Share Avicenna's Medieval Medical Wisdom

Iranian Scholars Share Avicenna's Medieval Medical Wisdom

Santa’s sleigh: Researcher explains science of Christmas magic

Santa’s sleigh: Researcher explains science of Christmas magic

Merry Christmas everyone!

Pomegranates: Latest weapon in the fight against MRSA

Pomegranates: Latest weapon in the fight against MRSA

Pomegranates used to be tiny fruits, but have been bred to become the size of a small grapefruit. If you've never eaten one, and you have no idea what to do when you open up the seedy fruit, try this: use a sharp knife to slice open the fruit. I usually cut across the middle like you would when opening an orange. Use your fingers to pry the rest of the fruit from the membrane, then separate the seeds. You can pop the seeds into your mouth, and squeeeze out the juice. I swallow the seeds, but my kids used to spit them out. The juice is very good for you.

(When Is) Hanukkah This Year? by Melee

YouTube - (When Is) Hanukkah This Year? by Melee
I really meant to post this last week, but somehow with the sun and the sand I forgot to put this on the blog. I did, however, buy candles and light them every night. And yes, did make latkas with poke on the side

Poodwaddle World Clock

Poodwaddle World Clock

frogger

Guess what we found at our doorstep last night? This lovely toad plopped itself in front of the door and wait for us to come home

blue dragon musicquarium

One of the secret places that locals go to is the blue dragon musicquarium. Fabulous music by night and a spa and massage place by day.

creatures in lava

Here are two lava creatures that you can find if you look carefully when driving along the highway.

sad dog

this is what happens when you leave your dog for vacation. And it goes a long way to explain why this dog is called "Cry". Havoc the other dog is missing from the photo as he is off doing something evil

FOXNews.com - 'Vicious' Tongue-Eating Parasite Discovered in the Sea

FOXNews.com - 'Vicious' Tongue-Eating Parasite Discovered in the Sea

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looking at lava

If you like looking at clouds, and if you like playing "eye spy", then the big island of Hawaii is the place to be. the lava on the side of the road has hardened in interesting shapes. but that's not the cool part. people have been making cut-out sculptures of various creatures. there's a dino, an armadillo, a frog, lizard, horse, pig and flamingo. There's probably more, but that's what we've found so far. Will post photos later.

Killer cookies: To resist temptation, exaggerate the threat

This is the perfect article for the holiday season. For those of us watching our waists, then this is what you need to know...... that cookie will kill you. Perhaps I will say this every time dessert arrives at the table!

Killer cookies: To resist temptation, exaggerate the threat

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091214121955.htm

you might think that with nothing to do except bask on the beach and search for turtles, that I might have better things to do than blog. But this story caught my eye this morning. Nothing like a weird animal story to start the day. Check out this unusual bat

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091214121955.htm

Octopus using tools.

Coconut-carrying octopus: Tool use in an invertebrate

Coconut-carrying octopus: Tool use in an invertebrate

writer's fingerprint

a great many years ago the writer's group I belong to did a contest. Everyone submitted one sentence from a book they had written and the group had to match the writer to the sentence. While it is hard to believe, the 30 some authors who participated managed to correctly identify the vast majority of the writers. So it is no surprise that this study (below) has found the same thing

Formula to detect an author’s literary ‘fingerprint’

ScienceDaily (2009-12-10) -- Using literature written by Thomas Hardy, DH Lawrence and Herman Melville, physicists in Sweden have developed a formula to detect different authors’ literary ‘fingerprints’. ... > read full article

slow day

What's not to like. A day at the beach followed by an amazing dinner of local fish done with various preparations. And it's cold back at home

Ventriloquist birds call to warn friends and enemies

As a child I grew up on Shari Lewis and her puppet, Lamb Chop. She was the Jim Henson and Kermit the frog of my day. Don't know who researched this, but it seems that birds are also talented ventriloguists.

Ventriloquist birds call to warn friends and enemies

'Killer petunias' should join the ranks of carnivorous plants, scientists propose

The petunia as a carnivourous plant? Who'da guess.

'Killer petunias' should join the ranks of carnivorous plants, scientists propose

Kids eat less junk food when middle schools stop providing it

And yet again, another staggering finding in scientific research- if you don't give children junk food, they eat less empty calories. DUH! The only people in favor of junk food in schools are the people who make these foods and put them in schools. Nutrionists, parents, teachers, and anyone else with common sense just knows that empty calorie, high fructose corn syrup foods are one of the contributing factors to childhood obesity and a host of health problems. So- kids stop eating things that are white- sugar, flour, potatoes (chips and fries- not baked spuds as they are good for you), white rice, and things that are yellow- fried and battered foods. Exception to the white rule- drink milk, eat yogurt as long as you don't have allergies. Eat things that aren't packaged or haven't been manufactured. Anything green-vegetables, reds- apples, beets, fruit, purple - berries, eggplants, and orange - squash, oranges, sweet potatoes will be good for you. Don't drink sugary beverages. Forget about soda pop.

Kids eat less junk food when middle schools stop providing it

Hawaiian hot spot has deep roots

Yes, we are still counting down the days until we leave for vacation. With any luck the volcano on the big island will be erupting during the time we are there, so I will be able to post some pictures. In the meantime, I'm reading up on all things volcanic. Leslie and I wrote a book/kit on this subject two years ago, and I would like to write an even longer one with more details. LJ and I only have 3 more edits, and I have 3 edits on articles, then we are done for 2009. 2010 looks good so far.... but you never know.

Hawaiian hot spot has deep roots

plant camera

If I had a wish list for Christmas, which I don't because:
1 I'm an adult
2. I"m Jewish
I would put this really cool camera on my list. If any family member is reading this- there's a plant camera that captures the growth of plants over time. This really appeals to the geek in me.

Countdown to vacation

It's like being a kid again. Do you count down the days to the end of school? Well, adults do the same thing, too. We are shortly off to someplace warmer. The dog sitter came by to get keys, instructions and to meet the boys. She loves them and they love her, so all is good. I will shortly be filing from the lanai on the big island of Hawaii, where I will be sitting late afternoons and will be writing a new book, no doubt.