Category Archives: Science

What’s in a tagline? My blog’s identity: Version 4.0

Posted on April 4, 2019 by Katherine Wikoff

I’m developing a new course at MSOE called “SS 3700 Digital Society.” To say I’m excited is to understate my enthusiasm for this topic. As a political science major who took computer programming classes in the late 1970s using a … Continue reading →

Posted in Higher education, Learning, Life, Popular culture, Science, Teaching, Technology, Writing, blogging | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

The Milwaukee (Library) Lion

Posted on July 23, 2018 by Katherine Wikoff

In talking about my “Carnage at the old Washington Park Zoo” post over dinner last week with my friend and fellow blogger Karen Spivey, we started to reminisce about Milwaukee and its close relationships with favorite animals. For example, consider Samson … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Life, Milwaukee, Nature, Science | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Easter Moon, Setting

Posted on April 8, 2015 by Katherine Wikoff

Although it was daylight when I let the dogs out Monday morning around 6:00 a.m., the moon was still large and bright, as if it was reluctant to leave the sky.  I took several photos, each of which turned out quite … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature, Photography, Science | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Buddha mummy proves truth about statues

Posted on February 23, 2015 by Katherine Wikoff

Last April I wrote a short post titled “The Truth About Statues” about my childhood belief that statues were made by pouring concrete over dead people—or maybe not dead until AFTER the concrete casing went on! Possibly you’ve seen this photograph and story today? … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, History, Life, News, Science | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Box Elder Gold on Ice

Posted on February 12, 2015 by Katherine Wikoff

This is the junkiest, ugliest tree in the neighborhood—a female box elder.  Not only does it drop seed pods constantly throughout the year, but it also harbors box elder bugs.  Most of the time these red bugs stick close to … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Milwaukee, Nature, Photography, Science | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Wind-sculpted snowdrift

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Katherine Wikoff

I noticed this snowdrift up against our fence late this afternoon—and would love to learn more about the physics behind the beautiful swirls and ridges of sand dunes and snowdrifts.  I’m sure it has something to do with the granular nature of sand … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature, Photography, Science | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Perspective (2)

Posted on January 22, 2015 by Katherine Wikoff

Bright sunshine today for the first time in maybe a week. Had to pull down the blinds in my office . . . at which point I noticed another “perspective”-type convergence of lines similar (vaguely) to my post last Friday, … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, Art, Photography, Science | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Lake Michigan, January

Posted on January 10, 2015 by Katherine Wikoff

An old friend lives on Prospect Avenue, high on the bluffs overlooking Milwaukee’s lakefront.  I visited her today with another friend.  The day was gray, frigid and quite breezy.  But I pulled off my gloves and braved the wind—only for a minute—to … Continue reading →

Posted in Milwaukee, Nature, Science | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

That winter quality of light

Posted on January 5, 2015 by Katherine Wikoff

People who brave winter in the North know what I’m talking about: the strangely bluish quality of cold air and golden flash of low-angled sunlight.  When we say we appreciate the change of seasons, this “quality of light” is almost always … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Milwaukee, Nature, Science | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Communication lessons learned from the Indian Ocean tsunami and other natural disasters

Posted on December 26, 2014 by Katherine Wikoff

It has been ten years since the December 26, 2004, Indian Ocean tsunami.  Many “anniversary” articles today will look back at this event, so this post doesn’t cover the same ground.  Because my academic specialty is communication, I wanted to … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Learning, Life, Nature, News, Science, WPLongform (posts of 1000 words or longer) | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment