I just spent half an hour wandering around the interwebs and learning all kinds of interesting things. Like, for example, liberals are smarter than conservatives (average IQs of 106 vs 95 respectively, according to a British study at the London School of Economics and Political Science). Also, atheists tend to have higher IQs than religious people. I’m not sure I agree entirely with the methodology, but I’ve always suspected that people on the left are, on average, smarter than their right-wing counterparts. (The lead researcher, incidentally, claims to ‘despise’ Liberals.)
I also learned that lactating women can make cheese from their breast milk, and serve it with figs and Hungarian pepper.
And finally, I learned that the scariest part of a scary experience is the anticipation of it. This is based on studies of the psychodynamics of fear in skydivers. Their heart rate is highest immediately before they throw themselves out of the plane, and then it rapidly drops while they drop rapidly earthwards. I tried skydiving when I was 25, and that’s how I remember it too: Jumping is hard, but falling is easy. Forcing yourself to jump out of the plane is both physically and psychologically demanding, because you’re weighted down with equipment and the wind is pushing you back, away from the door, and every fiber of your being is telling you not to jump. I jumped. My helmet tipped over my eyes and I couldn’t see a thing. I was so high on the adrenaline rush I thought I’d literally gone blind. Interestingly, I went back a couple of weeks later for a second jump and chickened out.
Things aren’t looking so good for the hummingbird nest. The eggs are taking too long to hatch and there’s speculation that at least one of the chicks has died.
I was thinking the same thing when I looked at the cam this morning.
Well I guess that settles it then, I am not “conservative”.
At least, in the classical sense.
I am however, a nerd, according to the top definition at Urban Dictionary.
Poor wee hummers.
So sad about the hummers. I hope the other egg hatches, but I’m not optimistic anymore. (She does lay 4-5 clutches per year, so maybe in a month or two she’ll be ready to try again.)
Sad. I really wanted to see some baby hummingbirds.
OMG!!! Pheobe kicked a lizard’s butt! She got rid of one egg.
You saw that too? I was sitting here watching in helpless horror as the giant lizard peered into the tiny nest! It was so awful. Then there was the epic battle as little wee Phoebe relentlessly dive-bombed Goliath. Then she snatched out the bad egg and got rid of it, so the smell wouldn’t bring him back. My heart was pounding in my chest.
huh. human breast milk cheese on the menu. nope, still doesn’t beat man (not moo) milk recipe cookbook for odd: http://www.lulu.com/content/4956212
May be a data blip and related to economics and access to education as the causal factors. Wonder how the atheist/religious divide account for changes longitudinally in belief.
ah I see, it does account for longitudinal. professed belief and actual gets dicey to sort out.
Pearl, that cookbook MUST have been written by a man. 😉 As for the study, I believe they took into account socioeconomic status.