Davis Forever!

UC Davis research finds that 'king of the hill' cows are happy cows

Sometimes the best discoveries in science are those that arise from accidents. Such a serendipitous event has happened at UC Davis as scientists have realized that the cows that are located on the fields near La Rue seem to have a preference for resting on mounds of dirt, rather than on flat ground. 

This accidental observation led to some more scientific experiments being conducted. If you move the mounds, the cows will move to the new location and if you make the mounds bigger, more cows move to the mounds. UC Davis researchers then tested the cows for levels of stress hormones and found that cows that spend more time on the mounds appear to be more relaxed than other cows The research, to be published in the journal Animal Behaviour, might point the way to how to increase milk production by 'introducing varied topographic features within their natural grazing environment'.

 

Can you find the Davis 'Lonely Place'?

I recently met someone who told me that he was working on a secret art installation that is situated 'somewhere' in Davis. He explained that he was interested in the idea of art being situated in a natural place where it could be 'discovered' by people, rather than being kept 'locked up' in a sterile gallery.

I pressed him for more details, and he told me that he had set up his art project within the city of Davis, but in a place where people tend not to go, a 'lonely place' as he put it. When I asked him what the actual art was, he was very evasive claiming only that you'll know it if you look for it it but it's very subtle. He wanted to have the idea that you could possibly be standing in the installation and yet not realize that you are.

It was frustrating that he wouldn't give me any details of where this installation is, but after pressing him for a bit (and plying him with a couple of beers) he agreed to send me a picture of 'part' of the installation. So here is the photo of Davis' latest art project. He said it was an untitled piece, but I'm quite taken by the 'Lonely Place' name. Does anybody recognize where this is?

 

UC Davis Aggie Stadium might have to close due to a design fault

It's only been home to UC Davis college football for a couple of years, but Aggie Stadium might have to be closed down temporarily due to a design flaw which may pose a security risk. The problem concerns the lighting system that was installed only last June.

There are four poles that house the lights, and these are now a fixture on the UC Davis campus skyline. This is the pole that is nearest to the main entrance to the stadium:

As you can see, the pole itself is behind the perimeter fence of the stadium. This is intentional and it should be the case for all four lighting poles. However, if you take a walk around the stadium perimeter you will see the following:

 

As this pole is outside of the fencing it apparently poses a 'security risk' that could be exploited by 'rival fans, terrorists, or other malcontents' (these are not my words, but I'm not in a position to say whose words they are). I imagine that there is the possibility that some drunken idiot would try to climb the pole during a game? I guess if all the poles were inside the the fence, then this would be limited to only those drunken idiots who were in possession of a ticket.

I believe that a temporary solution is being finalized where security guards would keep watch over the errant pole during the next match to be played at the stadium. The longer term solution involves moving the fence around the pole. And moving that 6 foot fence just a little to the side will of course make a dramatic improvement to stadium security!