Matthew Yglesias‘s first book arrives burdened with one of the longest subtitles in memory (“How the Republicans Screw Up Foreign Policy and Foreign Policy Screws Up the Democrats”), which is a little off-putting. Of course, it also features a back-cover blurb from Ezra Klein calling it “A very serious, thoughtful argument that has never been… Continue reading Heads in the Sand by Matthew Yglesias
Month: May 2008
Festive Physics
Over at Cocktail Party Physics, Jennifer Ouellette offers her Top Ten events at the upcoming World Science Festival in New York City the week after next. The full program is at the festival site, and it looks like there’s even something for the stamp collectors. Probably to keep the cool physics-themed events from being overcrowded.… Continue reading Festive Physics
Quest for Physics
We had a colloquium talk yesterday from the very energetic Jessica Clark of the American Physical Society’s outreach office who talked about the many things that the APS does to bring positive physics experiences to a wide audience. It was a terrific talk, and brought to my attention a couple of programs I hadn’t heard… Continue reading Quest for Physics
links for 2008-05-16
Learning Curves: Verizon Wireless Reminds You to Silence Your Cell Phone During Class “I’m willing to put corporate logos on my PowerPoint slides if the Math Department gets to keep a decent share of the ad revenue. “ (tags: academia education economics math silly) Pre-K students benefit when teachers are supportive Today’s news from the… Continue reading links for 2008-05-16
The Frankenstein Moment
Over at Swans on Tea, Tom has a great story of his Frankenstein Moment, that moment in science when the lightning flashes, and it’s immediately clear that everything just worked, and you have successfully reanimated your creation, or split the atom, or discovered high-temperature superconductivity, or whatever. As he says, these are rare. My own… Continue reading The Frankenstein Moment
Dorky Poll: Trick Questions
I’m giving an exam this morning (magnetic fields, circuits, magnetic forces on charges), which is always a carnival of boredom– happily, I have papers to grade during the test, which will keep me busy. Sadly, this is not a final exam, as Female Science Professor and others are making or grading right now– we still… Continue reading Dorky Poll: Trick Questions
FutureToy!
I have to go to work unpleasantly early to give an exam, and then I’ll be occupied for most of the day with a visiting speaker. Here’s something cute and fuzzy to compensate: That’s the plush triceratops I bought Tuesday at the Natural History museum shop, as an advance gift for FutureBaby. We’re developing a… Continue reading FutureToy!
links for 2008-05-15
Fafblog! the whole world’s only source for Fafblog. That’s that no-nonsense down-to-business style I like about you, Hillary Clinton! You don’t just talk about change. You talk about how much you don’t just talk about change! (tags: politics US silly blogs society) How to Turn Your Vacuum Cleaner into a Bazooka : Environmental News Blog… Continue reading links for 2008-05-15
NYC Trip: Excellent Art at the Met
I feel a little bad about posting a long ranty thing about stupid and annoying art at the Met, because every time I go there, I find something new and really impressive. For example, the renovations underway in the museum forced me to cut through the European Decorative Arts section, where I never go, because… Continue reading NYC Trip: Excellent Art at the Met
NYC Trip: Bad and Ugly at the Met
Having done a whirlwind and somewhat disappointing swing through the Museum of Natural History, I strolled across Central Park to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, to get me some culture. I guessed correctly that it was less likely to be choked with middle-school kids, and I never fail to find something interesting to look at.… Continue reading NYC Trip: Bad and Ugly at the Met