Yesterday’s cheery hypothetical came about because I’ve agreed to do a guest lecture in a Science Fiction class in the English department. I’m going to be talking about Ted Chiang’s “Story of Your Life,” whose connection to the hypothetical should be obvious to people who have read it, but is a spoiler for those who… Continue reading Notes Toward a Discussion of “Story of Your Life”
Author: Chad Orzel
Earlier Alcohol Prevention?
EurekAlert tossed up a press release from the University of Minnesota yesterday with the provocative title: “U of Minn researchers find primary alcohol prevention programs are needed for ‘tweens’” and the even more eye-popping subtitle “Study recommends that prevention programs occur as early as third grade.” What, you may ask, is the problem this is… Continue reading Earlier Alcohol Prevention?
Buckley
William F. Buckley is dead, and Patrick Nielsen Hayden is glad to see him go. I can’t say I’m all that broken up, either. I saw Buckley speak once, when I was in college. I remember very little about the context– not even what year it was– but he came to campus at the invitation… Continue reading Buckley
links for 2008-02-28
Confessions of a Community College Dean: Ask the Administrator: Suggestions for Research? What should people be studying about community colleges? (tags: academia social-science economics science) Buying a Spot on the Syllabus :: Inside Higher Ed :: Jobs, News and Views for All of Higher Education “The gift in question was $1 million to Marshall’s business… Continue reading links for 2008-02-28
Hypothetical Scenario: Love and Death
Say you were offered the chance to be introduced to the great love of your life, your absolute perfect soul mate. The two of you will be perfect together– compatible personalities, the same taste in movies and books, sex so good you’ll temporarily lose the power of speech– but you’ll only be together for five… Continue reading Hypothetical Scenario: Love and Death
It Snows In Detroit, Right?
I’m very happy with my 2007 Ford Freestyle, but there’s one major design flaw that drives me nuts. It’s only a problem in the winter, though, which makes me wonder what the hell the folks in Detroit are smoking. If you look at the picture, you can just make out the antenna, on the passenger… Continue reading It Snows In Detroit, Right?
The State of Science Blogging
We haven’t had a good navel-gazing kerfuffle around here in a while, but not to worry– Bayblab comes to the rescue with a broadside against the current state of science blogging, as epitomized by ScienceBlogs: If you examine the elephant in the room, ScienceBlogs, the trend is maintained: politics, religion books, technology, education and music… Continue reading The State of Science Blogging
You Are What You Appear to Have Read
Scott McLemee writes about the shelving of books, spinning off Matt Selman’s list of rules for shelving books RULE #1: THE PRIME DIRECTIVE — It is unacceptable to display any book in a public space of your home if you have not read it. Therefore, to be placed on Matt Selman’s living room bookshelves, a… Continue reading You Are What You Appear to Have Read
links for 2008-02-27
quantum-entanglement.gif (GIF Image, 650×374 pixels) Toothpaste for Dinner identifies the first application of large-scale quantum teleportation. (tags: comics physics silly quantum) getfuzzy20183366080226.gif (GIF Image, 600×204 pixels) “Take Bigfoot. You only ever see him in campgrounds and parks: he’s clearly on vacation.” (tags: basketball comics silly) Stretching – Muscle Soreness – Injury – New York Times… Continue reading links for 2008-02-27
Notes for a Discussion of Physics and Politics
The local fraternities and sororities hold occasional dinners/ discussions with faculty, to demonstrate that they’re engaged with the intellectual life of the college. One of my students invited me to dinner at the Change in Kinetic Energy fraternity tomorrow night, and I agreed to do a discussion of physics and politics. That’s a vague topic,… Continue reading Notes for a Discussion of Physics and Politics