In response to the call for uncomfortable questions, Jason Failes asks: What’s the best evidence for the Big Bang theory? The more I read about it (25 years ago to present), the more contrived, ad hoc, and retro-dictive it seems. At this point, what would falsify the Big Bang theory? What would falsify the Big… Continue reading Relatively Comfortable Question: Big Bang
Month: January 2009
Uncomfortable Question: Creationist Theology
In the uncomfortable questions thread, David White asks: Ever entertained the notion that attacks on true science from the muscular political creationism/ID lobby might be vitiated by exposure of their great and inexplicable theological flaw (gasp!) dating all the way back to William Paley? Not really, no. Because, you know, there are only so many… Continue reading Uncomfortable Question: Creationist Theology
Uncomfortable Question: Tuition Hikes
In response to my request for uncomfortable questions, Lou asks: As a private college professor and a new parent, I’m sure you are aware that the current rates of tuition growth are unsustainable indefinitely. When do you expect to see the rates drop back to inflation levels, rather than continuing to grow 3-4% above it?… Continue reading Uncomfortable Question: Tuition Hikes
links for 2009-01-07
Discovering Biology in a Digital World : Another reason why science education sucks "According to the article almost 40% of the 59 science education specialists, surveyed in the California University system, were "seriously considering leaving" their current jobs and some (20%) were considering leaving the field entirely." (tags: science education stupid academia) Squeezing and over-squeezing… Continue reading links for 2009-01-07
Uncomfortable Question: Fatherhood
In response to my call for uncomfortable questions, Ewan goes for the jugular: what do you think your biggest failing as a father has been to date? See, this is the sort of thing I’m talking about… The answer is “I get frustrated too easily.”
Ask Me Uncomfortable Questions
I’m feeling kind of uninspired, blog-wise. I’ve got a few ResearchBlogging type posts in the mental queue, but they’re not going to get written before the weekend, and the other obvious topics are things that I’ve written about N times before, and I’m not fired up for iteration N+1. So, we’ll repeat last year’s uncomfortable… Continue reading Ask Me Uncomfortable Questions
Back to School
Classes started yesterday for the winter term. This is the first time I’ve had to teach in six months, thanks to juggling my schedule so as to let me stay home for much of the Fall term. I’m always surprised by how much I forget, and how much I remember about the process. The remembered… Continue reading Back to School
links for 2009-01-06
EzraKlein Archive | The American Prospect "The middle fifth of the income distribution begins at a yearly income of $34,738 per household. Assume they pay 20 percent in total taxes (it’s probably a bit higher), and they’re left with $27,798 to live on. That’s fairly rough if you’re raising a family. The top 0.01 percent,… Continue reading links for 2009-01-06
The Football Positioning System
It’s NFL playoff time, which means that sports fans will be treated to the sight of the most high-stakes farce in sports, namely the ritual of “bringing out the chains” to determine whether a team has gained enough yards for a first down. We’ve all seen this: the play is whistled dead, a referee un-stacks… Continue reading The Football Positioning System
Hugo Nomination Suggestions
As Kate notes, I am a paid-up member of this year’s Worldcon, and thus entitled to nominate works for the Hugo Awards. Of course, there are a zillion categories, and I’m not entirely sure what to nominate for any of them. So, if you are a reader or watcher of science fiction and/or fantasy, this… Continue reading Hugo Nomination Suggestions