Monthly Archives: August 2009

Judge: Take “god” out of recent Kentucky bill

According to the constitutions of the United States and the State of Kentucky, church and state must remain separate. But then the Kentucky Legislature passed a homeland security related bill that stated that the security of the Commonwealth (State) depends on Almighty God.

That wording was thrown out yesterday by a Kentucky Judge. This was the outcome of a lawsuit by ten residence of Kentucky and the American Atheists. The stte Attorney General has not decided if he will appeal.

Oh, do it, do it, do it!!! Appeal this one!!! Might as well get this cut and dry decision as high up as it can get!

Details here

Hat Tip Joe.

Using your foundation to cool your PC

Hardware hackers have done all sorts of interesting things to cool down their PC’s so they can be wildly over clocked. Roughly speaking, two otherwise identical processor chips rated at different speed are not necessarily designed differently. They are just capable of running at different speeds and not screwing up. The causes of screwing up are sometimes related to heat. So, a chip designed to run at a given range of speeds, then rated for, say, the middle of that range, can be run at the upper end of the range …. or beyond …. if it is kept very cold.

(I’ve oversimplified.)

So, you have hackers building their PC inside a beer cooler, or emersing it in non-conductive fluid. Or whatever.

Now we have a guy who is using the concrete slab of his house to cool down the box:

Continue reading Using your foundation to cool your PC

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.

source

hat tip: Natalie.

Ted Kennedy 1932 – 2009

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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.

Continue reading Back to school: Books on Creationism

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)