Monthly Archives: July 2015

Respects to the Hobbit Man

Posted on July 30, 2015 by Ron Miksha

About a week ago I was at JRR Tolkien’s grave. It is not my habit to seek cemeteries containing the tombstones of fantasy writers. However, my wife, two young kids, and I were staying at a guesthouse in Oxford. The … Continue reading →

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Busted by Oil

Posted on July 28, 2015 by Ron Miksha

The list is long. Spindletop in Texas; Drake’s well in Pennsylvania; Petrolia, Ontario; Baku, Azerbaijan; Boryslav in Galicia. And many more. These are places spoiled by the boom and bust, rust and dust of oil production. I wonder if one … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Exploration, History | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Human Kidney acquires a Woolly Mammoth Gene!

Posted on July 23, 2015 by Ron Miksha

In a fascinating scientific breakthrough, scientists have transplanted a gene (TRPV3) from a spare woolly mammoth rump into a human kidney. The mammoth – frozen for 35,372 years – was discovered in a freezer at Muckatuk’s Emporium, a popular eatery … Continue reading →

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Crater Lake

Posted on July 19, 2015 by Ron Miksha

During the 1849 California Gold Rush, the easy pickings around Sutter’s Mill were staked off and scooped up rather quickly. The ’49ers, as the first prospectors were called, put gold in the bank while the ’50ers had to look further … Continue reading →

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Infinitesimal

Posted on July 16, 2015 by Ron Miksha

I just finished Infinitesimal –  a book that describes how a peculiar new idea was undermined by religion. Careers were ruined; people were imprisoned for promoting this idea that ran counter to prevailing religious notions. This time, I’m not talking … Continue reading →

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Monkeys on Trial

Posted on July 11, 2015 by Ron Miksha

The monkey trial.  It was 90 years ago. We know the key players – the fabulously successful criminal trial lawyer who defended Scopes (but lost) and the 3-time Democrat presidential candidate (and erstwhile preacher) who attacked Scopes (and won). It … Continue reading →

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License Plate Tectonics

Posted on July 10, 2015 by Ron Miksha

I write about plate tectonics. I eagerly jumped from my news feed to the story: “License Plate Tectonics” after I read the headline. About time, I thought. We license everything else – hunting, fishing, driving, marriage. Why not license plate … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Plate Tectonics | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Another day, another dinosaur

Posted on July 8, 2015 by Ron Miksha

You have to wonder when all the dinosaurs will be found. When will nothing remain to be discovered? That day is apparently a long way off. New dinosaurs keep popping out of the ground. In my home province, Alberta, it’s … Continue reading →

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