Blogger on the Cast Iron Balcony » blogger http://castironbalcony.media2.org A blog by an opinionated mother of two, which might lie idle for a while sometimes. The blog, that is. Tue, 15 Nov 2011 09:08:02 +0000 en hourly 1 The Clade http://castironbalcony.media2.org/2009/05/05/the-clade/ http://castironbalcony.media2.org/2009/05/05/the-clade/#comments Tue, 05 May 2009 10:30:06 +0000 Helen http://castironbalcony.media2.org/?p=647 Clade:

Pronunciation: \ˈklād\ : Function: noun : Etymology: Greek klados

: a group of biological taxa (as species) that includes all descendants of one common ancestor.

Many of you are familiar with Chris Clarke, US environmental writer and all-round awesum blogger.

If you like his stuff, you might be interested to know he’s started an environmental blog, The Clade.

It appears it’s not parochial to the US or California. When I went there just now, the top story was from South Australia!

When you’ve finished looking around that site, read this – it’s beautiful.
 
 
 
Crossposted at Larvatus Prodeo

]]> http://castironbalcony.media2.org/2009/05/05/the-clade/feed/ 8 What are the odds… http://castironbalcony.media2.org/2008/06/24/what-are-the-odds/ http://castironbalcony.media2.org/2008/06/24/what-are-the-odds/#comments Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:10:30 +0000 Helen http://castironbalcony.media2.org/?p=539 …that when Boychild did his ukulele number in the school music concert last night, the kid immediately before him (guitar*) would belong to a well-known Melbourne blogger (and a regular read of mine?)

I tell you, *waving arms*, what are the odds, people!

*Epiphone, cherry red vintage style copy. Guitar playing bloggers- Shaun? Jack? eat your hearts out.

]]> http://castironbalcony.media2.org/2008/06/24/what-are-the-odds/feed/ 16 Cruising through a sea of stones http://castironbalcony.media2.org/2007/01/21/cruising-through-a-sea-of-stones/ http://castironbalcony.media2.org/2007/01/21/cruising-through-a-sea-of-stones/#comments Sun, 21 Jan 2007 00:27:28 +0000 Helen http://castironbalcony.media2.org/?p=307 Can you guess what this is?

Image from http://yacht-maiken.blogspot.com/2006/08/stone-sea-and-volcano.html

A relative of mine, for whom no urban myth is too crazy to forward an email on, sent me a beautiful photo essay. I was sceptical, but this story turns out to be true according to Snopes.com.

http://yacht-maiken.blogspot.com/2006/08/stone-sea-and-volcano.html

The photo essay is from the blog Fredrik and Crew on Maiken (Maiken is an oceangoing yacht). The “beach” is a floating layer or raft of pumice, rained down on the ocean by an active volcano nearby.

After Fredrik and blogger Hakan Larsson saw the floating stone beach, they witnessed a volcanic eruption and the birth of an island. A local news report is here.

Lying on it with an umbrella drink might be a tiny bit uncomfortable this century, though.

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