Fred Clark at Slacktivist is the best writer in blogdom on issues of politics and religion in America, bar none. So when he takes up Amy Sullivan’s Time article on the “God Gap”, you know it will be worth a read. He actually has two posts on the subject, the first making a good point… Continue reading Clark on Sullivan on the “God Gap”
Thoughts on Clarke’s Laws
Speaking of dubious and oft-cited “Laws”, I’ve run into a number of citations of “Clarke’s Laws” recently. Of course, these were apparently subliminal mentions, because I can’t seem to locate any of them again, but it put the subject in my mind, which is partly why I was primed to be annoyed by the subject… Continue reading Thoughts on Clarke’s Laws
Internet Laws and Framing
Despite efforts to avoid such foolishness, Kevin Beck inadvertently drew my attention to what people are calling “Blake’s Law,” which apparently briefly had its own Wikipedia page, but now appears to redirect to the Pharyngula page. Blogdom really needs a killfile. Anyway, the Internet “Law” in question is stated as: In any discussion of atheism… Continue reading Internet Laws and Framing
Harry Potter and the Total Loss of Perspective
Everybody is all abuzz about Harry Potter these days, what with the release of the final book coming this weekend. Scott McLemee takes up the really important question, though: what do professional academics think about everybody’s favorite boy wizard? In the years since the author introduced her characters to the public, they have become beloved… Continue reading Harry Potter and the Total Loss of Perspective
Subhuman Behavior in the NFL
I’ve never been a big fan of Michael Vick as a football player, and his indictment for running a dog-fighting business pretty much wipes out any chance he ever had of winning me over. Steve Verdon notes that, if convicted, Vick could be fined up to $350,000 and face as much as six years in… Continue reading Subhuman Behavior in the NFL
Career Guidance
A comment I made at a meeting yesterday that I think is worth reproducing out of context: A big part of making it from junior faculty to tenure is deciding which bits of unsolicited contradictory advice you’re going to ignore.
Finishing the Ph.D.
Inside Higher Ed reports on a new study of Ph.D. completion rates by discipline. The original data are available as PowerPoint files that I haven’t looked at, but IHE provides a summary in tabular form. Because everything looks more scientific as a graph, I cranked them into Excel and after the requisite ten minutes spent… Continue reading Finishing the Ph.D.
Why Basketball is Better Than Golf
While on vacation in Michigan, I played a round of golf, which I do a few times a year. I shot reasonably well, when you consider that it was my first round of the year, and it was pouring rain. I even birdied one hole, by chipping in from about thirty feet off the green,… Continue reading Why Basketball is Better Than Golf
My Hugo Ballot
Having finished all of the fiction nominees, I’m now basically ready to submit my votes for the Hugos. Though it occurs to me that I’ve actually seen two of the five movies up for “Best Dramatic Presentation,” so I might Netflix the others, and check off yet another category. At any rate, I’m sure you’re… Continue reading My Hugo Ballot
Farewell and Hail
Rob Knop is leaving academia to design galaxies for Second Life (or some such). On his way out, he’s getting a lovely parting gift: a share of the Gruber Prize in Cosmology. Stop by and offer congratulations, or condolences, or both, as you feel appropriate.