james_nicoll: Welcome to the Harlan Ellison Memorial Personal Boundaries Club The title is really all the commentary you need on the “Open-Source Boob Project.” (tags: SF stupid gender ethics society culture) Confessions of a Community College Dean: The Pre-Ninja Program “75 percent of the graduates we contacted indicated satisfaction with the program, though many threatened… Continue reading links for 2008-04-23
Quantum Computing in Diamond
Two weeks ago, now, I promised some peer=reviewed physics blogging, to compensate for the “screechy monkey” nonsense. Of course, I got distracted by other things, but I’ve been sitting on this paper for a while now, and I really need to get it off my desk. The paper in question is “Quantum Register Based on… Continue reading Quantum Computing in Diamond
Non-Dorky Poll: Political Documentaries
The release of Expelled has generated all sorts of chatter, almost certainly more than it deserves on its merits as a film. It’s also produced repeated mentions of the fact that it’s the eight highest-grossing political documentary of all time– most recently, Tara Smith writing at Correlations. That claim reminds me of a long-ago student… Continue reading Non-Dorky Poll: Political Documentaries
You Don’t Know Me
When I start to lecture, I go into Teaching Mode, which affects the whole way I present myself. I speak at a slightly higher pitch, and the whole cadence of my speech changes. I talk a little bit faster, but repeat myself more, and speak in a more formal style. The funny thing is that… Continue reading You Don’t Know Me
links for 2008-04-22
Cognitive Daily: What’s better for heating a mug of water: The stove or the microwave? Dave watches pots boil so you don’t have to. (tags: physics science energy environment silly) PETA’s Latest Tactic: $1 Million for Fake Meat – New York Times Shockingly, they’ve stumbled across a halfway decent idea. I think this is mentioned… Continue reading links for 2008-04-22
Ask a ScienceBlogger: What’s in the Air?
There’s a new “Ask a ScienceBlogger” question out: “A question from a friend’s 9-year old son: What is in the air we breathe? What is it’s chemical composition?” The short answer to this is “a little bit of everything.” Pretty much any substance we have on Earth can be found in the atmosphere somewhere. The… Continue reading Ask a ScienceBlogger: What’s in the Air?
Non-Transferable Strategies, or Aiiiieeee!!! Profzilla!!!
Another reason why I recommend limiting the advice you listen to as a new faculty member on the tenure track is that most of the things that academics do are highly individual activities. There’s no one right way to teach or do research, and what works for one person may fail miserably for another. My… Continue reading Non-Transferable Strategies, or Aiiiieeee!!! Profzilla!!!
FutureBaby Chronicles: Medical Mascot Choice
One of many parts of the FutureBaby! process that I was lamentably ignorant of is the idea of the hospital tour. When I first mentioned to colleagues that we were expecting, many of them (mostly women) asked “Where are you going to have the baby?” My initial response was “How the hell should I know?… Continue reading FutureBaby Chronicles: Medical Mascot Choice
Advice for the Tenure Track
Janet follows a post by ScienceWoman on prioritizing research time with a List of advice for tenure-track faculty. It’s excellent advice if you’re a junior academic seeking tenure. I have only one suggestion to add: Seek advice, but don’t take too much of it. If you’re on the tenure track, you will have friends and… Continue reading Advice for the Tenure Track
Stuck in an Elevator
Scott Eric Kaufman, inspired by this piece in The New Yorker, relates his own tale of being stuck in an elevator: At this point I was about five minutes into my own hanging. The damn thing wouldn’t settle and so I panicked. I started pacing frantically and I checked my watch and I knew I… Continue reading Stuck in an Elevator