Monthly Archives: December 2006

3000

Posted on Sunday, 31 December 2006 by David Gorsline

Along with many other passings great and small this week, the 3000th U.S. service member has died in Iraq. While I respect the choices and sacrifices that our troops overseas have made, nevertheless I have to ask: Isn’t it time … Continue reading →

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Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

Posted on Saturday, 30 December 2006 by David Gorsline

Fighting off a case of the flu, I took an overnight trip with Leta to Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge on the Eastern Shore of Chesapeake Bay to see the eagles. The weather was fine for our morning field trip. We … Continue reading →

Posted in In the Field | Leave a comment

My year in cities, 2006

Posted on Saturday, 30 December 2006 by David Gorsline

Following the lead of kottke.org, here is a list of the out-of-town places I overnighted in this year: Kill Devil Hills, N.C. Rocky River, Oh. (Cleveland suburbs) Geneva, N.Y. Martinsburg. W. Va. (3 visits) Reading, Pa. Easton, Md. 2005′s list.

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Short bits of string: 3

Posted on Friday, 29 December 2006 by David Gorsline

Via Birderblog.com, a discussion thread is active on Birdchat concerning methods and materials for cleaning optics. Jerry Blin recommends Lens Clens and Kimwipes.

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Fox Farm-Snead Farm Loops

Posted on Sunday, 24 December 2006 by David Gorsline

I took a quick holiday hike on the Blue Ridge: Hike #1 in PATC’s Circuit Hikes in Shenandoah National Park: two loops joined at the middle, descending into Fox Hollow and climbing Dickey Hill. The air was chilly (although warm … Continue reading →

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The Skriker

Posted on Saturday, 23 December 2006 by David Gorsline

Nanna Ingvarsson executes a star turn in the title role of one of Caryl Churchill’s more demanding texts, The Skriker. The Skriker is “a shapeshifter and death portent, ancient and damaged,” and she is accompanied by all manner of denizens … Continue reading →

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All that is left is the schlepping

Posted on Thursday, 21 December 2006 by David Gorsline

One of the items on my checklist for the break was to clean up some of the piles of useless crap in the basement and generally make room for more crap. My goal is to end up with marginally less … Continue reading →

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Paul Taylor Dance Company

Posted on Monday, 18 December 2006 by David Gorsline

The company presents two new, quite disparate works, framed by two older pieces set on music by G. F. Handel. If Taylor’s Promethean Fire (2002) is read as a bold, optimistic response to the events of 9/11, his Banquet of … Continue reading →

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AI = audience interface

Posted on Monday, 18 December 2006 by David Gorsline

Ten more things computers (and their users) do in the movies that they don’t in real life. 9. You’ve Got Mail is Always Good News In the movies, checking your mail is a matter of picking out the one or … Continue reading →

Posted in Computing and Mathematics, Film | Leave a comment

Getting to the end

Posted on Saturday, 16 December 2006 by David Gorsline

Eighteen years after its hardcover publication date, and the year that it arrived on my doorstep from the Book of the Month Club (probably the last thing that I ever bought from them), and fiteen years after a false start, … Continue reading →

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Why not thirteen?

Posted on Thursday, 14 December 2006 by David Gorsline

Via I and the Bird #38, Twelve reactions to a wood duck box.

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Digital Holga

Posted on Wednesday, 13 December 2006 by David Gorsline

My mother bought me one of these toy digital cameras for Christmas. The packaging disingenuously suggests a retail price of $39.95, but I hope she didn’t pay more than the $10 that seems to be the going rate at Walgreen’s. … Continue reading →

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Some links: 8

Posted on Friday, 8 December 2006 by David Gorsline

Best blog title I’ve seen in some time: the Horn Farm Paste Mob.

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Backpacker citizen science

Posted on Friday, 8 December 2006 by David Gorsline

Plans are underway to establish the Applalachian Trail Mega-Transect, “a long-term collaborative project to comprehensively monitor changes in the mountain and valley environments” the the famous trail from Maine to Georgia traverses. “The Appalachian Trail’s 2,174 miles are the spine … Continue reading →

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Blip blip blip-blip-blip blip

Posted on Friday, 8 December 2006 by David Gorsline

Via Boing Boing, a rant that needed to be ranted: What code DOESN’T do in real life (that it does in the movies). Coders, too. 5. Code does not make blip noises as it appears on the screen This goes … Continue reading →

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