CAFE SCIENTIFIQUE...IN FRESNO?

Here's a fabulous idea that can help build support for science education in our community! Yes, it's Cafe Scientifique! This forum for promoting public engagement with science began in the UK, but since has spread to North America. There are Cafes in San Francisco, Palo Alto, Los Angeles and San Diego in California. Now, it is hoped that by building a broad coalition of local educators, academics and business people we can get this venture off the ground here in Fresno this fall.

If you're a Fresnan, and you would like to be placed on a mailing list that will notify you of Cafe Scientifique events and other news, please send an email with your name and (if you like) your 'snail-mail' address, to:

epigene13@gmail.com

INTRODUCING THE FINCHES

It's not every blog that has its' own fantasy baseball team, and even less common are fantasy teams based out of the Northern Territories in Australia. Yes, that's right, I'm talking about the Darwin Finches, or (as they are fondly known by their many fans) the 'Unnatural Selections'.

Currently, the Finches are near the top of the standings in the BARB (Bullard Alternative Reality Baseball) league to which its GM (a certain Scott Hatfield) belongs, and they attribute much of their club's recent success to their new manager, a no-nonsense take-no-prisoners veteran of the evolution-creation wars. Though one wonders why this fellow doesn't work for the Pirates! Can you guess who I'm talking about?

A FUTURE STAR?

My wife's nephew, Wes Dorrell. A left-handed hitter with a sweet swing and power, Wes plays for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (the Mustangs) and was just honored by being named a Freshman All-American. Our hopes are high for Wes: three of his teammates were taken in the 2007 baseball draft.