There’s a Kenneth Chang article in the New York Times this morning on the ever popular topic of “If the globe is warming, why is it so darn cold?” It’s a good explanation of the weather phenomenon that’s making the morning dog walk at Chateau Steelypips so unpleasant. This reminded me of something I’ve wondered… Continue reading Climate, Weather, and Public Opinion
Category: Society
The Internet Is Making Me Hate Your Website
Every year, John Brockman asks a big selection of smart people to answer some question or another, and posts it on the Internet to provoke discussion. This year’s question is “How is the Internet changing the way you think?“ This always seems like a better idea than it ends up being in practice, because the… Continue reading The Internet Is Making Me Hate Your Website
Is Frank Wilczek Making Us Look Bad?
Today is Question Day when it comes to post topics, I guess. Over at Fine Structure, Nick asks about the effect of spotlighting brilliant scientists: I can’t help but think about the repercussions of looking at his clearly above average career as something that’s normal in physics. It’s a deterrent, I think, for all those… Continue reading Is Frank Wilczek Making Us Look Bad?
Does Pinkification Fool Anybody?
Over at Faraday’s Cage, Cherish is thinking about gender color codes: I know I may be in the minority here, but let’s look at it this way: if someone might consider getting a microscope or telescope for a girl because it’s pink rather than a traditional “girl toy” (read: BARBIE) in the absence of a… Continue reading Does Pinkification Fool Anybody?
The Ethics of Santa
Janet has a post grappling with the ethical implications of telling children about Santa Claus. SteelyKid is too young for this to be an issue yet, but on this issue, like many others, I turn to my favorite literary philosopher, Terry Pratchett: “All right,” said Susan. “I’m not stupid. You’re saying humans need… fantasies to… Continue reading The Ethics of Santa
The Death of Sincerity
Paul Krugman had a post today calling Obama the WYSIWYG President: There’s a lot of dismay/rage on the left over Obama, a number of cries that he isn’t the man progressives thought they were voting for. But that says more about the complainers than it does about Obama himself. If you actually paid attention to… Continue reading The Death of Sincerity
Best Books, With Bonus Irony
Like every other media outlet, Slate has a Best Books of 2009 list, in this case featuring one book chosen by each of their 22 editors. Editor in chief Jacob Weisberg chose Richard Holmes’s The Age of Wonder, and writes: If, like me, you didn’t study much science after high school, this absorbing narrative will… Continue reading Best Books, With Bonus Irony
Tiger Woods Can’t Win
I mostly try to avoid stupid celebrity gossip stories, but the last two weeks, it’s been impossible to escape the sordid Tiger Woods thing. I still don’t care about his personal life, but there’s one thing that keeps coming up in the media coverage that’s annoying me even beyond the stupidity of the whole business.… Continue reading Tiger Woods Can’t Win
David Stern, Eliot Spitzer, and Bernie Madoff
… walk into a bar. No, wait, that’s not what I want… In the interval before this morning’s Mike and Mike show became the Tiger Woods Scandal Hour, they were talking about Tim Donaghy and his allegations about the NBA, which basically amount to the league being just a few steps up from the WWE.… Continue reading David Stern, Eliot Spitzer, and Bernie Madoff
Hail to the Geek
Via Chris Mooney, a Seth Borenstein article about Obama’s love for science: Out in public, Obama turns the Bunsen burner up a notch, playing a combination of high school science teacher and math team cheerleader. Last week, for example, the president announced that the White House would hold an annual science fair as part of… Continue reading Hail to the Geek