The slow-motion “meme” of the moment is this “eight things about yourself” list. Doctor Pion tagged me a while back, but I’ve been bad about actually responding, because I’m lazy. This seems like a good weekend topic, though, so here are some random facts about me (I’ll try not to repeat any from previous versions… Continue reading Eight Things
Month: July 2007
Biological SF and “Getting” the Web
Andre at Biocurious points out an interesting piece in Nature. They interviewed four prominent SF authors–Paul McAuley, Ken Macleod, Joan Slonczewski, and Peter Watts about biology in science fiction. The resulting article is a good read, with lots of interesting anecdotes and examples, and if you go to the supplementary information page for the article,… Continue reading Biological SF and “Getting” the Web
Don’t Fix What Ain’t Broke
Inside Higher Ed reports today on a new brainstrom from the ETS With criticism growing that standardized tests and grades fail to convey the full picture of applicants, the Educational Testing Service is preparing a standardized way for graduate schools to consider students’ non-cognitive strengths and weaknesses. Under the “Personal Potential Index,” which was developed… Continue reading Don’t Fix What Ain’t Broke
Olive Earth
I know, it’s “Live Earth,” but they’ve got this giant blue-green circle at the left of their logo, which makes it look like an illuminated initial capital… So, the latest charity rock specatcle is scheduled to start tonight. I can’t say I’ve been paying any attention– I only noticed it today because the New York… Continue reading Olive Earth
Summer at ACME College
“Ahhhh… summer at last. No more classes. No more committee meetings. Do you realize what this means?” “Ummmmm…. no. What does it mean? What are we going to do this summer, Brain?” “The same thing we do every summer…. Try to do PUBLISHABLE RESEARCH!!!” ———— “Are you pondering what I’m pondering?” “I think so, Brain,… Continue reading Summer at ACME College
Trust Me About the Sunscreen
Just in time to drive parents into a panic for the rest of the summer, the New York Times has a big article about sunscreen: Dr. [James] Spencer [a dermatologist in Florida] said that an S.P.F. 15 product screens about 94 percent of UVB rays while an S.P.F. 30 product screens 97 percent. Manufacturers determine… Continue reading Trust Me About the Sunscreen
sigh, Perpetual Motion
I suppose I really ought to say something about the “demonstration” of Steorn’s perpetual motion machine that’s supposed to start today, but, really, I don’t have much to say. I mean, if they were claiming that their device extracted free energy from extra dimensions thanks to their revolutionary new theory of quantum gravity, I might… Continue reading sigh, Perpetual Motion
Black Bodies and Quantum Cats by Jennifer Ouellette
Looking back at the archives, I see that I never did get around to blogging about Jennifer Ouellette’s Black Bodies and Quantum Cats, which I finished back in May. This is a particularly shameful oversight, as she visited campus in late May, and gave two excellent talks for us, so the least I can do… Continue reading Black Bodies and Quantum Cats by Jennifer Ouellette
American Music
“American Music,” the Violent Femmes “California Stars,” Billy Bragg and Wilco “The City of New Orleans,” Arlo Guthrie “Song to Woody,” Bob Dylan “The Body of an American,” the Pogues “Born in the USA,” Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band “Fortunate Son,” Creedence Clearwater Revival “American Idiot,” Green Day “War,” Edwin Starr “Buffalo Soldier,”… Continue reading American Music
Wednesday Hawk Blogging
On the way in from the parking lot yesterday, I caught up with a colleague from Mechanical Engineering, who was on a bike, but had stopped to look at one of the local raptors. There are at least two red-tailed hawks living on campus, and one of them was on the ground only ten or… Continue reading Wednesday Hawk Blogging