It must spring

The Rufous Hummingbirds have been back for a little over a week. I saw the first one last Friday at my feeder. They are on a long trek towards B.C. where they'll hang out for the winter. The Anna's' aren't too happy the competition is around and a feisty one at that. Even though they are smaller, the Rufous tend to dominate the feeding grounds.
On another note, I've been watching the Blue Planet series and been completely blown away. If you haven't taken time to see the series, stop what you're doing and go rent it right now. It will make you think it was filmed on another planet. And then when you're done with that series, might as well get the Planet Earth series next.

Mow in style

If you're in the midwest right now, visualize this bike on a snowblower. Otherwise get some ideas stirring in your head and borrow your neighbors welder. No better way to get a little exercise and manicure your grass at the same time!

Patrick gets video deal with Sector Nine

Congrats to patrick on getting a deal with Sector Nine this summer. According to Patrick, "Looks like the skateboard project this summer is ON!!!!" Not sure entirely what this entails, but a video is for sure and a lot of fun in the Sierra. Patrick is a National Champ longboarder, and is famous (in yosemite) for bombing down Tioga Pass on trips over to the east side. I got to follow one day and snapped a couple shots. Let me tell you following a national champ down a steep winding pass is not easy. He won that race no problem. And one would think the large wheels of a bicycle would have a killer advantage, nope. Patrick had to constantly speed check to let Ben on his mtb catch up. Can't wait to see the project results.

Layne Winfield Churchill

Congrats to Kate and Cabe. Words from Cabe: "She was exactly 34 weeks and 6 pre-mature, BUT! She came out sqwakin', kickin' and peein' on the nurses.
Layne will be here at Bronson for 2-3 weeks. She's in fiesty spirits, so far, with great blood sugar and the lungs of Cheetah (thanks for the assimilation, Big Jake)-lean, mean and a fightin' Mochine!"

Samba

Katie at her samba performance last weekend. Once I get all the photos edited I'll be posting them online. Woke up this morning to a downpour outside. Not particularly what I wanted to ride into campus with. Looks like it may have been a small cell and has changed to a light sprinkle. Looking forward to the weekend.

Humboldt Flyover

Came across this video on the HSU website of an aerial movie from a helicopter flying over campus. Just for you all who was wondering what campus looked like. It's a little cheezy, but has some great shots. Think trees.

technology 1, jb 0

Well my LCD monitor turned out to be a dud. After it warmed up and not until I had a certain brightness of background did I notice some intense burning on the screen. And to think I didn't realized that burning of screens was still a problem these days. Looks like I was wrong. Gladly they are taking the monitor back (as they should) and it's back to the drawing board and my 15" laptop screen.

the lowest common denominator

Never be scared lowering your pride to the level of a child. A lot can be said about the child in all of us. And just how are laws made?

A beautiful short clip with and about bikes.

seperating life through a microscope

Cross section of a Ranunculus root.

31 and still kicking

Survived another year. Had a great birthday yesterday despite spending most of it studying. Did get a nice walk on the beach to watch the waves. And at 31, one still gets great gifts. Just got to find time to set up my weather station with anemometer (wind speed gauge). Also got some mukluks, tickets for greg brown, a german chocolate cake (like my mom used to make for me), some rubber frogs to put on my monitor and watch over me, and a wonderful breakfast quiche. Looks like another beautiful day. Glad I'm not in the Midwest struggling through -20 wind chills.

crazy day for storms

at a micro level

what the hell am I doing in botany? I'm already swimming neck deep in sclerenchyma cells and sieve tube elements. speaking of sclerenchyma cells, this here picture is of one, a fiber sclerenchyma cell of the New Zealand Flax plant to be exact. Perty isn't it? I took it through the microscope. 6 hours of lab time staring through a tiny hole will just about make one go crazy, rrrrrrrrr.

since I was 4!

some call it a single speed. I call it a simple speed. simply find 2 cups left over parts, .5 ounce grease, 5 gallons of love, 1 box sponsored planet bike accessories, and 500 calories to burn. A great recipe for fuel efficiency.

like joan jett....

It's a bit early yet, but mark your calendars, especially those in the Midwest and east coast. Those of us on the west coast will miss the beginning but should still see a good show. Total eclipse, your pad and mine, Feb 20.

I'd rather be biking....

ONe of these days when the anchor is not set and the barb is released from my cheek I will pedal again. I will sleep under bridges, eat little debbies, and wear the same clothes for a month. I will have no assignments due, my bike will not run out of ink or dick space, and I will stop to SMELL the roses rather than dissecting them to look at at their collenchyma cells.