Published December 10, 2009 | 
When a geologist tells you to get out of the way, do it. This stunning landslide footage shows a roadcrew working to clear debris from a previous slide. They got out of the way when state geologist Vanessa Bateman warned them that they were in danger.
As Geographile points out, learning geology can save your life. So can feminism. What if the roadcrew had refused to listen to a female expert?
Posted in current events, geology, heroes, Natural History, scientists | 
landslide, Tennessee, video | 
Leave a commentPublished October 28, 2009 | 6-1 Phillies! Robin Roberts, thou art avenged!
The Phillies made more runs in this game than they did against the Yankees in the whole four-game series in 1950. No game in that series was this kind of blowout — all but one were decided by a single run. And although the Yankees swept that Series, it was, in the words of one Yankee, “closer than it looked.” The games were tough, tense pitching duels.
A few of the Whiz Kids are still alive. Hall-of-Famer Robin Roberts is taking part in the festivities. Curt Simmons, who wasn’t permitted to play in the 1950 Series, having been taken by the military, is also still around.
I’m glad some of the Whiz Kids survived to see this. It is very, very sweet.
Published May 13, 2009 | The Unlikely Events of a Water Landing: New Photos From Flight 1549. Fascinating chronicle of the salvage effort by a photographer on the inside. It shows the whole process of pulling the plane out of the Hudson. Very, very cool.
Bay Area Coolness, Episode 43,279. They’re building a rocket ship in Oakland. Yes, you will be able to visit it. And when I say “they,” I do not mean NASA or even Pixar. I mean some independent artists. Link courtesy rmjwell.
The air that I breathe, AKA Hazmat Crisis at AT&T. This article is being clipped or printed and posted in office kitchens all over the US.
Published April 13, 2009 | Goodbye, Harry Kalas. I am so glad you lived to see your team win the World Series again.
From the time I was 12, Harry Kalas was the voice of the Phillies. Whenever we made the playoffs, I resented the national broadcast team who took over from the local guys. Why should someone like Kalas, who called wins and losses steadily, for decades, have his place usurped when the team was finally getting some glory?
If Harry wasn’t calling the plays with Richie Ashburn, it wasn’t really a Phillies game. Richie’s been gone a few years, but now his old partner has rejoined him. They’re both in the Hall of Fame — Kalas as broadcaster, Ashburn as player.
Harry Kalas collapsed in the broadcast booth shortly before the Phillies game with the Nationals. He was 73. Philadelphia won’t be the same without him.