Potpourri

Originally this weeks edition was going to focus on local architecture and the continued support for its preservation but the pictures i wanted to publish aren't available right now so its on to other things.

There is a contest going on in England to develop a new design for Pylons(electrical wire support structures) that grace countrysides everywhere. England has decided to update theirs so they solicited the help of designers from all over the world through a contest. The contest closed in July with 250 entries but is now down to the final 6. Over at http://www.ribapylondesign.com/shortlist you can view the finalists and comment if you so desire. i kind of fancy number 4 because it keeps the lines in a vertical configuration and looks esthetically pleasing. i do wonder if it will hummmm in high winds and also how easy or difficult it will be to climb if repairs are needed.

Guess where this is.

This is a new one for me. Apparently in Cameroon women in the mistaken belief that they are protecting their daughters from advances by men will iron their daughters breasts to make them unattractive. The Association of Aunties has been trying to educate rural women about their sexual health and how to teach their daughters to protect themselves without doing physical damage. A study has found that 1 in 4 girls are affected by this practice. All of the 200 ethnic groups in Cameroon use some form of breast ironing.

This mornings moon and clouds

So i was reading an article on psychology that had researchers studying students at Columbia University by asking them a series of questions that would divulge their confidence levels and how that affected their overall grasp of reality. The study revealed that if you were 100% confident that your view of the world was correct you were less likely to absorb factual information that would challenge that view. The article claimed that if you didn't want to be stupid you should not let emotion drive your intellect.

Did you know that Google Maps has opened up their editing to volunteers from around the world? If you have been upset by misleading map features you may want to check out their policy and send in your fixes.

Green Heron thinking he's hidden!

Hope the Whimbrel, who was fitted with a satellite transmitter in May of 2009, and that some of us here on St. Croix have been following since she landed here in August of 2009 finished her Northern migration and took off for St.Croix a few days ago. Before the final push she had attempted to fly home in August but got caught up in Tropical Storm Gert and used the slingshot effect to fly back to Massachusetts at 92 miles per hour. She rested up and moved south to Virginia where she was originally caught and fitted. She sat out Hurricane Irene and then tried again a few days ago flying straight into Tropical Storm Maria. Her transmitter is still working and the last location showed her at sea but closing in on us so we are hoping she makes it home maybe today. If you'd like to watch her you can learn more about her travels at http://www.seaturtle.org/tracking/index.shtml?tag_id=88043 
and even sign up to get e-mail alerts.

i don't recall if i updated you on the Kingbirds that had been building nests in our West Indian Cedar tree. i think when i last left off they were working on their third nest. Well they failed again and gave up. i'm hoping next season they will do it again and have more luck. The one i called the Protector still comes and sits on the railing or visits for a bit on his old outpost, i think he learned that we were Ok to hang around and is not skittish like the other Kingbirds.

See ya next week!