Fellow Blogger Pat on Fairer Science has a tribute.
And, for some reason, so does MIT, the school.
Daily Archives: August 26, 2009
Carnival of the Vanities
… The original blog carnival … is out, and it is here.
Can Bachmann be beat in 2010?
An analysis by Eric Ostermeier says …
In only one instance since the DFL merger has a political party both taken back control of the Governor’s mansion and lost a U.S. House seat….
… so it depends. It does make sense that a strong race for governor is going to have coat tails.
Fat Body = Not Fat Head?
A new study finds obese people have 8 percent less brain tissue than normal-weight individuals. Their brains look 16 years older than the brains of lean individuals, researchers said today.
Those classified as overweight have 4 percent less brain tissue and their brains appear to have aged prematurely by 8 years
I don’t know what to think about this yet. It would be nice to know more about the proximate mechanisms. I’m guessing this is a cardio-vascular thing.
hat tip: Natalie.
Let The Eagle Soar
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| Golden Eagle |
I hope I won’t disappoint you … this is not about John Ashcroft. It is about golden eagles (actually, maybe its about one golden eagle in particular).
Continue reading Let The Eagle Soar
Ted Kennedy 1932 – 2009
It has been said that everyone who grew up or lived in Kennedy country has at least one Kennedy story. This is true, of course, though mine are not especially impressive. But since this is a wake, you have to hear them anyway. Grab yourself a beer and a plate of steamed clams while I regale you….
Continue reading Ted Kennedy 1932 – 2009
Wikipedia will limit changes to bio pieces
…within weeks, the English-language Wikipedia will begin imposing a layer of editorial review on articles about living people.
The new feature, called “flagged revisions,” will require that an experienced volunteer editor for Wikipedia sign off on any change made by the public before it can go live. Until the change is approved — or in Wikispeak, flagged — it will sit invisibly on Wikipedia’s servers, and visitors will be directed to the earlier version.
Sounds like a good idea to me. Actually, it is rather astonishing that it does not already work this way.
This is from the NYT.
Back to school: Books on Creationism
If you are a teacher or a parent you may find some of these books especially useful to: a) prepare yourself; b) give to your child’s teacher or a colleague; or c) give to a school administrator. Seriously.
Each link is to a review of the book to help you decide if you are interested.
Back to school: Books on science
The following may serve well in a home study environment, or for the parent to keep up with what the school kid is doing or for the overachieving youngster to get ahead of the teacher!
Ted Kennedy has died
I just saw the news. I will have some remarks later.
Discordant Democrats vs. Republican Dittoheads
The Democratic Party represents true diversity and has elements in it that are as conservative as any Republican on some issues, as well as libertarians and even quasi-anarchists who are willing to bite the bullet and “show up” to have some kind of influence. The Republican Party, in contrast, strictly polices itself and drives anyone with differing opinions into the swamp. A “differing opinion” is one not endorsed by Rush Limbaugh.
Read more at qm.
Natural Selection is Survival Of the Fittest (A Falsehood)
Let me remind you of what we mean by “falsehood.” A falsehood is not merely a statement that is factually untrue or logically flawed. Rather, it is a statement that when uttered in certain company rings true; It is a statement that sounds right to people; It is a statement that may be made frequently in reference to some body of knowledge, in this case, evolution or a related topic. But, the meaning that statement comes with is flawed. The statement is wrong in a way that requires explanation, and the explanation opens up the opportunity for new learning on the topic. So, the statement “humans evolved from apes” is a falsehood not because it is incorrect (in fact, it is correct), but because the implications and meaning the statement comes with for most people are wrong. (Humans did evolve from apes. Just not from those apes, and we still are apes!)
So, what is wrong with the statement “Natural Selection is Survival of the Fittest”?
Continue reading Natural Selection is Survival Of the Fittest (A Falsehood)