Category: Links Dump

Should Students buy an iPad or a Year’s Supply of Pot Noodles? | blog@CACM | Communications of the ACM “Suppose you gave up washing clothes for a year, or relied on your mum to do it for you. According to the budgeting guide this would save £222, just about half of the iPad. You could… Continue reading Links for 2010-10-26

Hugo Nominees: Introduction | Tor.com | Science fiction and fantasy | Blog posts “I haven’t, of course, read every single book nominated for the Hugos since 1953. (What have I been doing with my time?) If I haven’t read it, I shall say so, and I shall say why. Otherwise I shall talk briefly about… Continue reading Links for 2010-10-25

Hey, Tea Partiers, this wine’s for you! – By Mike Steinberger – Slate Magazine “In response to the advent of the Tea Party movement, some people have demanded to know where all these deficit hawks and defenders of the Constitution were during the Bush years. I have a different question: “Where’s the Madeira?” If the… Continue reading Links for 2010-10-24

US LHC Blog » I’ve Invented a New Theory, What Do I Do Now? Surprisingly, “Start a kooky-looking webpage, and make a million dollars” isn’t one of the options. Probably an oversight. (tags: physics theory experiment lhc-blogs science blogs particles) …My heart’s in Accra » The ley lines of globalization “To use Maersk’s calculator, you… Continue reading Links for 2010-10-22

Views: The Real Cost Equation – Inside Higher Ed “All of these arguments place the higher education system at the center of the universe worth examining. Holding up a magnifying glass to the industry can indeed yield a wealth of detailed information, but without context that information is partial, and it can be quite misleading.… Continue reading Links for 2010-10-21

In Kansas, Climate Skeptics Embrace Green Energy – Series – NYTimes.com The power of framing in action. (tags: science politics environment energy society culture religion media communication nytimes) Physics Buzz: Twin Paradox a Paradox in Low-Earth Orbit “Relativity enthusiasts will be excited to learn that in a few months, twin brothers will meet in space… Continue reading Links for 2010-10-20

Confessions of a Community College Dean: Tossing Bottles One of the staples of 80’s teen movies was the moment when the screwup hero realized that he had imbibed (or allowed others to imbibe at a forbidden party) much of what was in the parents’ liquor cabinet — these houses always had well-stocked liquor cabinets —… Continue reading Links for 2010-10-19

The Trouble with Scientists | Speakeasy Science “Scientists won’t talk to journalists; they don’t want to waste their time “dumbing it down”; they don’t see it as “making us smarter.” So many of the good stories in science don’t get covered at all. Or the stories get covered only for an already science-literate audience –… Continue reading Links for 2010-10-18

It’s Time To Forgive George Lucas “I cannot defend the prequels, despite their many laudable qualities: often wonderful if no longer industry-defining special effects; Jedi Knights that are warriors to be feared and respected; a glimpse of a splendid Republic of majestic alien races, a galaxy worth fighting for. What I can say now, after… Continue reading Links for 2010-10-17

Scale of Universe – Interactive Scale of the Universe Tool A spiffy interactive guide to the scale of things. (tags: science astronomy physics biology measurement computing internet) slacktivist: Hold on to the good “Test everything. Hold on to the good. That’s from the Apostle Paul, actually. It’s a bona fide biblical commandment. Both parts of… Continue reading Links for 2010-10-16