• "the universe is big, rare events happen all the time (incl. life), and that doesn't mean it's special" –lawrence krauss #
• RT (sortof) @ArminWolf a quite funny juxtaposition of Avatar and Pocahontas: http://bit.ly/4ZYww4 #
• RT @WWF 10 species to watch in 2010 http://cli.gs/6nM37X #
• the idea of a sun that never sets has completely mesmerized me. #
• authentic thai curry, made with curry paste which was bought in bangkok http://twitpic.com/wy52g #
• we even have original thai chopsticks :) http://twitpic.com/wy5gm #
• …and of course: a side of vegetables,thai style http://twitpic.com/wy7hz #
• just ran into @olidax and gernot from @oewf. meeting cyberspace-acquaintences for the 1st time is funny. #
• oops, i meant acquaintAnces. #
• RT @echeng The Walrus video of all walrus videos. http://is.gd/5U9eV #
• dam'it! wanted to simply watch a movie this evening. just finished work. #
• Anti-whaling boat left to sink in Antarctica http://is.gd/5W72y #
• Australia tells Japan: stop whaling http://is.gd/5W7dY #
• RT @Richard_Dawkins Scientists Use Light to Map Neurons http://short.to/12xml #
• youtube goes 3D? need glasses! 5 eye-popping 3d youtube videos http://is.gd/5YiUM #

• Lese gerade: Lie #11: The Palm Pre Is the Ultimate iPhone Killer http://is.gd/5DGtH #
• just found the following appointment in my calendar: "mon 2009-12-28, 19:00-20:00, title: monday". #
• RWW: 8 Things Every Geek Needs to Do Before 2010. (badly behind with #7) http://is.gd/5FiyS #
• just heard a toddler talk about mr. bean. timeless comedy! #
• haha, nice one: apple approves "tits & boobies" and "pussy lovers" apps. biology FTW! http://is.gd/5G47o #
• new year's resolutions. http://is.gd/5D92p i had already planned on #1, #9 i did this year. :) #
• lead shape astrology nonsense is entertaining, but why is there no enyry for doubletailed manta rays? http://twitpic.com/w2w9b #
• go to google.com and click "i'm feeling lucky" w/ no text entered. #
• antibiotics for new year's eve? seems to become a tradition… #
• newest realization: the point at which you turn to youtube at a party is the same at which the older generation starts singing to a guitar. #
• news of @SeaShepherd seem to really get to me: last night, i dreamt that i was on one of their ships in the antarctic. #
• RT @oewf RT @Planck A few hours ago the Earth was at its closest to the Sun in its elliptical orbit. #Perihelion #

kakapo (strigops habroptilus)

there has been a major breakthrough in the kakapo recovery programme this year: semen specimen were collected earlier last year, and a total of six female kakapo were artificially inseminated, resulting in 2 confirmed successes: two of the fertilized eggs were a direct result of artificial insemination.
AI is especially important because there are a few males who dominate the gene pool of the 124-strong population.

[more...]

a happy new year and all the best for 2010 to all of you!
i apologize for the extreme level of inactivity on my blog. hopefully, i’ll be able to post a picture or two every now and then.
instead of the annual picture of fireworks, i’ll post something else in this place:

it’s the view of the norhtern mountain range (nordkette) in mid-december. the view is from approx. 200 meters from my place. i used hugin to stitch 18 photos together for this panorama.
 

this year, try something new and do something you’ve never done before!

markus

• avatar reminded me a lot of "last samurai" and "pocahontas", but it was certainly worth watching. especially in 3D. #
• hahaha: english interpretation of indian song. http://is.gd/5vuoQ #
• lord of the rings: facebook status updates http://is.gd/5vvya #
• i just actually lost 40 minutes and don't know where they went. #
• i you don't want to disassemble and reassemble a giant picture frame FIVE TIMES in a row, i suggest you read the manual. i didn't. #
• epic spelling fail http://is.gd/5wzG0 #
• wohooooo! #
• http://twitpic.com/umz5q – first annual family christmas tree hunt: anton carries our haul. :) #
• tomatoes are carnivorous http://bit.ly/7uhlge #
• #kakapo breakthrough: 2 chicks born from artificial insemination http://is.gd/5zklV #

• RT @instantwebmeets First 4G Mobile Network Launches . . . In Sweden :( http://ff.im/-cTZta #
• creative botanists: ferkelkraut (piglet herb), laemmersalat (lamb salad) & stinksalat (stinking salad) http://twitpic.com/tlkr3 #
• WOW! RT @RichardDawkins '''Bizarre'' Octopuses Carry Coconuts as Instant Shelters' – National Geo. News http://bit.ly/90X6b7 #
• haha: the ultimate machine http://bit.ly/7b8CKF #
• joy to the world: guerilla handbell strikeforce http://bit.ly/7EkQwr #
• damn you, german software versions! #
• apparently -14 deg celsius is cold enough for the crystals in my car hifi display to (partly) freeze. http://twitpic.com/u3ad7 #
• the gap wasn't there a week ago. is the wall shrinking, or is it the beam? i don't like either idea. http://twitpic.com/u64rx #
• RT @mashable It’s Official: There are Now More Tweets than People – http://bit.ly/7B4YhG #
• http://twitpic.com/u953n – j.s. bach's christmas oratorio, earlier tonight. not used to sitting in the audience during a concert of the wilt #
• RT @serafinowicz Why doesn't 'toes' rhyme with 'shoes'? –It 'does'. #

• xkcd on facebook suggestions: http://xkcd.com/672/ #
• google goggles: search google using photos http://bit.ly/7ZTzAR #
• just got a 25% "rebate" because cashier lady insisted that i had a different shelf. tried to tell her, but i wasn't gonna fight a lady. #
• just as expected: i moved into the new flat 3 or 4 days ago and the cooker hasn't been used once. yay for pizza delivery ;) #
• RT @instantwebmeets Science-themed cookies for all your holiday baking needs http://ff.im/-cGwXH #
• RT @WWF Maldives to bid for the 2024 Olympics. Most events will be underwater! (from: The Huffington Post) http://bit.ly/7RTpzN #
• "design your gingerbread" at today's company christmas party. i always wondered how these would look in reality. ;) http://twitpic.com/szd #
• oops, twidroid cut off the photo uri. here it is: http://www.twitpic.com/szd23 #
• http://twitpic.com/szg6y – the new GMX website looks pretty empty when ads are blocked. #
• brushing aluminium is a lot easier in photoshop… http://twitpic.com/t1rv8 #
• before: http://twitpic.com/t8hip #microwavepopcorn #
• after: http://twitpic.com/t8i19 #microwavepopcorn #