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January 11, 2006

having a cow

Every now and then a cow comes along who steals the hearts of the KIW staff.

Well actually, it's been a while. Probably not since that one Thursday night during our summer in London back in the 1980s.

But, um, anyway . . . this cow (now named Molly B) makes each and every KIW staff member glowingly proud to be a mammal.
cow route.jpg
On 5 January 2006, Molly busted out of a bloody, horrific slaughterhouse into the cold Montana winter.

She braved rivers, traffic and tranquilizers for six hours before finally succumbing to capture.

"I've been around cattle all my life and it's just totally amazing. I watched her do things that are just not possible for a cow."

Del Morris, manager of Mickey's Packing Plant in Great Falls, Montana.

The powers-that-be have apparently been moved to spare Molly's (and her unborn calf's) life.

From the vast staff of KIW: YOU GO GIRL!

Great Falls Tribune online; 10 January, 2006; "Where now, black cow? Wave of concerned calls, e-mails saves heifer, but future up in air"

Great Falls Tribune online; 11 January, 2006; "Runaway cow, Molly B., may be pregnant"

Reuters; 11 January, 2006; "When good things happen to good cows.."

MSNBC; 11 January, 2006; "Cow on lam from slaughterhouse off the hook After hoofing it away from abattoir, Molly is granted clemency"

Seattle Times; 9 January, 2006; "Spirited cow wins hearts after fleeing Montana slaughterhouse" . . . . (pdf)

Seattle Times; 6 January, 2006; p A2

Posted by williamfrick at 9:31 PM | Comments (0)

January 7, 2006

the father of LSD

Albert Hoffman

No. It's not Timothy Leary.

Dr. Albert Hoffman synthesized lysergic acid diethylamide in Switzerland in 1943. He has some interesting - and quite sane - perspectives as he celebrates his 100th birthday on 11 January 2006.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer; 7 January, 2006; page A6; "Father of LSD nears the century mark" by Craig Smith, New York Times

related story is here


Posted by williamfrick at 12:06 PM | Comments (0)

January 6, 2006

stardust mysteries

"Life is fairly easy to create, but I think planets like Earth are going to be rare. We shouldn't take it for granted or engage in faith that it is somehow a divine creation that will be magically sustained forever."
University of Washington Astronomer Don Brownlee, one of the world's foremost experts on stardust and other tiny space particles.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer; 6 January, 2006; p. A11; "Stars don't always align for astronomer couple"

here is a related story

Posted by williamfrick at 11:45 AM | Comments (0)