As previously noted, the UK edition of How to Teach Physics to Your Dog is selling very well via the Guardian‘s online bookshop, among other UK venues. It’s doing well enough that I might need to start referring to the original text as the American edition of How to Teach Quantum Physics to Your Dog…… Continue reading …As Long As They Spell Your Name Right
Links for 2010-12-15
Confessions of a Community College Dean: Cost-Effectiveness, or Cost? “The goal of the study — which is entirely to the good — is to encourage colleges to base resource allocation decisions on actual effectiveness, rather than on what sounds good or what has usually been done. The authors break out two-year and four-year sectors —… Continue reading Links for 2010-12-15
None Dare Call It Treason
As usual, the most sensible commentary on the Southern organizations celebrating the 150th anniversary of secession comes from the Daily Show. Specifically, Larry Wilmore: The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c The Daily Show on Facebook This whole business makes me think the British have the right idea regarding the… Continue reading None Dare Call It Treason
Links for 2010-12-14
Monday Matchup, Giants vs. Vikings From Detroit – NYTimes.com “Tired of building vinegar-and-baking-soda volcanoes for your children’s science projects? Recreate the collapse of the Metrodome roof instead. Materials needed: green construction paper, some wooden dowels, a paper towel, about 500 artificial sweetener packets, and a cellphone. Glue some wooden dowels to green construction paper. Moisten… Continue reading Links for 2010-12-14
Monday Miscellany
A bunch of smallish items that have been failing to resolve into full-fledged blog posts for a little while now, thrown together here because I don’t have anything better to post this morning: — When is doubt, start with self-promotion: Physics World includes How to Teach Physics to Your Dog in their holiday gift books… Continue reading Monday Miscellany
Links for 2010-12-13
What scientists in 1903 wanted for Christmas! | Skulls in the Stars “Recently, while I was looking for a paper published in Nature in 1903, I happened across a series of advertisements in a supplementary issue of the magazine. These ads, clearly targeted towards those of a scientific persuasion, immediately fascinated me. They provide a… Continue reading Links for 2010-12-13
Annual Request: Christmas Songs That Don’t Suck
As you can see from the picture at right, we’ve got our Christmas tree up, waiting to surprise SteelyKid when she comes home in a couple of hours. This also means it’s getting toward the time when I switch over to the holiday music playlist on iTunes. Christmas music is, of course, a problematic genre.… Continue reading Annual Request: Christmas Songs That Don’t Suck
Links for 2010-12-12
New York Governor Vetoes Fracking Bill – NYTimes.com “New York Gov. David A. Paterson on Saturday vetoed legislation intended to curtail natural gas development using the technique called hydraulic fracturing until a closer review of its effects can be undertaken. Instead, the governor issued an executive order instituting a moratorium that extends until July 1,… Continue reading Links for 2010-12-12
Literary Interlude: Bearded Mentor Figures in the Literature of the Fantastic
It’s time now to talk about two of the greatest mentor figures in the literature of the fantastic. You know their stories well, I’m sure, but the parallels between them are eerie: Both are gruff but kindly mentor figures who provide crucial guidance for the young and naive protagonist of the story as he moves… Continue reading Literary Interlude: Bearded Mentor Figures in the Literature of the Fantastic
Links for 2010-12-11
Physics Buzz: Holiday Instability “Holiday decorations are unstable. (We’re talking about physics here. We’ll leave their emotions aside.) To take a closer look at what we’re dealing with, I’ve considered three of the most popular items from the array of December decor: The Christmas tree, the Hanukkah menorah and, of course, the Festivus pole. Which… Continue reading Links for 2010-12-11