duck race and adoption

One thing off my bucket list. I am going to watch the duck races down the former 9th hole water hazard, aka Waikoloa Lake. It's a terrific fund raising activity for CP on the island and the day will have music, food and fireworks in front of our house. It's not a very lofty goal, but I have always wanted to do this.
Photos TK


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Location:hawaii

Coconuts

I really did learn something at last years fellowship. Got some fresh coconuts off the landscapers and used my training from ntbg to open my treats in a modern way. I used a weight bar instead of a pointed stick to slice the outer core and crack the fibrous shell and open the nut.


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NCAR

Well, it's been a week since I left Boulder and I've had some time to put things into perspective. We were bombarded with so much information that it was hard to take in all the facts and formulate questions we really wanted to ask. I, for one, tended to blurt out whatever was on mind. The things that stick out now are the follow-up questions that I wished I asked.
It was interesting. When we were in the van coming back from the facilities we all had questions or "ah hah" moments in the day. In retrospect I wished I had asked the following questions:
in response to the presentation where the scientist said, "this piece of data didn't fit and I didn't throw it out". I sat stunned, and I wished I had asked the logical question - do you often do that?
I also wish I asked the head of NCAR the same questions that I had asked the head of UCAR, but his vortex presentation was so interesting I forgot.
And I wished I pressed the head of UCAR harder on some of the climate gate controversy. Well, I do have their emails, so I still could.
Or I could go roller blading as it is a lovely morning.......


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Location:Hawaii

blue dragon

Last nite we had the great honor of hear someone who will be one of the world's greatest rock guitarist. A 16 year old kid named JC was playing with a group called Evolution at the Blue Dragon. The lead guitar player was channeling some of the greatest guitar players ever known. It was his last gig on the island for a while as he was headed to Berklee in Boston for 6 weeks. The crowd, a mix of family, friends and fans, as well as diners, filled the place to the rafters and went wild as he played his guitar over his head, behind his back and on the floor. Look for this kid in a few years as he will be a star. I had the feeling we were watching Clapton or Hendrix back when they first started out.


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Location:hawaii

Family and friends

For those of us who grew up in the 50's, our home here is a throw back to a simpler time. Instead of bridge the women play mah Jong while the men work on Sudoku puzzles. We BBQ, drink wine and ride bikes like our parents did, but we throw in group weight lifting and roller blading. At nite we read books on our iPads. With about a dozen here for a wedding it's way too much fun. I haven't even looked at the stories I have to file from ncar. There's always tomorrow.

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Location:Hawaii

back from boulder

I'm onkly going to be home for another 12 hours and I'm swamped. The NCAR fellowship was amazing and when I have time I will put up pictures and share information. I wished I had boned up a little more on some of the more obscure things - "spicules" on the sun's surface being one of them, but everything was amazing.

one day til Boulder

I wasn't nervous about the NCAR Fellowship until LJ, my writing partner, advised me to be quiet because all these people are smarter than me. And she's my best friend. NOW I'm nervous. At least this year I don't have to shop, cook, clean and drive the van. I don't have to share a room with a woman who snores louder than my husband. I don't have to live in squallor and I can drink wine at night while apparently listening to people who are smarter than me. I will have the voices of Mike Kenyon and Jon Rubinstein rumbling around in my mind - yelling facts and figures at me about climate change. My husband thinks I should only apply for fellowships in places he'd like to go, like Italy.

Sleep may help you become a 'Guitar Hero'

Sleep may help you become a 'Guitar Hero'

ATTENTION GAMERS! Important scientific news that will help your skills. Read this study.

Will the new World Cup soccer ball bend?

Will the new World Cup soccer ball bend?

Here's something to think about when you are watching the world cup and frankly who isn't watching the event? Before turning on the TV, watch Bend it Like Beckam or Invictus for a dose of dramatic soccer.

Photos: Chinese paint their dogs to look like pandas, tigers in new fad | Posted | National Post

Photos: Chinese paint their dogs to look like pandas, tigers in new fad | Posted | National Post

As an owner of a pair of white dogs, it's so tempting to think abouit dying them. One of the dogs has a very thick coat and we shave him in the summer so that he feels more comfortable. He looks like the Coca Cola bear cub, which is terribly cute and it doesn't harm him. Even with the shorn locks he finds the coolest place on the slate tiles and lies there. The other dog finds the warmest spot and lies there.

Neil degrasse Tyson: Alien vs. Human Intelligence. [VIDEO]

Neil degrasse Tyson: Alien vs. Human Intelligence. [VIDEO]
I love this man!

Check out this great MSN Video: Undersea BASE Jumper Hits Deepest Submerged Hole

Check out this great MSN Video: Undersea BASE Jumper Hits Deepest Submerged Hole

Watch this video and hold your breathe. How long can you go without breathing?

Heart-healthy Yak Cheese

Heart-healthy Yak Cheese

I have a very long, very complicated story about sacred yak butter which was given to a Canadian diplomat and is said to still be in the fridge in the Two Gun Cohen bar at the Canadian embassy in China, but I don't think I'd really want to blog about it. Suffice it to say, if you ever want to know the tale, just ask me sometime.

No matter- Yak cheese is good for you. Who knew?

CBC News - North - North Pole rainfall 'bizarre': climatologist

CBC News - North - North Pole rainfall 'bizarre': climatologist

I was at a party last night where someone was talking about this story. Bob said he remembered reading this in April and I thought he might have not realized it was an April Fool's joke. Turns out it this really happened. Almost as odd as the whale swimming in downtown Vancouver.

On a roll: Designing the next rover to explore Mars

On a roll: Designing the next rover to explore Mars

These look like the giant bubble things that you can rent at certain resorts. Science inspired by hamsters balls.

Tidy house, fitter body?

Tidy house, fitter body?

That's it! I think I will start blogging about stupid science studies. Let's see, if you get up off the couch or log off the computer or do more than eat and watch TV, you will be fitter. Hmmmmmmmmm, didn't see that one coming.