Archives for August, 2008
Gustav cf Katrina
Posted by Greg Laden on August 31, 2008 This is a rough sketch of the actual path of the eye of hurricane Katrina compared to the current projected path of the eye of hurricane Gustav. Now, this is NOT Gustav’s actual path. We don’t know what the path is going to be. But this graphic allows for a few key points to be…
This photograph needs a caption
Posted by Greg Laden on August 31, 2008 New Species of Giant Clam
Posted by Greg Laden on August 31, 2008 A new species of giant clam has been discovered in the Red Sea. Fossils suggest that, about 125,000 years ago, the species Tridacna costata accounted for more than 80% of the area’s giant clams. The species may now be critically endangered, researchers report in Current Biology journal. BBC
Technology Tidbits
Posted by Greg Laden on August 31, 2008 From CNET: There is a new electronic capture device that has been developed primarily for law enforcement, surveillance, and intelligence operations that is also available to the public. It is called the Cellular Seizure Investigation Stick, or CSI Stick as a clever acronym. It is manufactured by a company called Paraben, and is a self-contained…
The Abington Park Museum of Northhampton, UK, Requires Your Assistance …
Posted by Greg Laden on August 31, 2008 … in regards to its exhibit on Darwin. A creationist visiting the museum objected to phrases regarding evolution on the Darwin Exhibit (Hat Tip: Pharyngula). This led the museum to cover up the offending language. Clearly, the government unit that runs this museum, and the museum itself, needs support. They need letters, emails, and phone…
So just who is Sarah Palin?
Posted by Greg Laden on August 31, 2008 Watch the Wiki: Palin and Biden Entries Edited Prior to Announcements
Posted by Greg Laden on August 31, 2008 Over the source of several hours before the announcement by John McCain that Sarah Palin was to be his running mate, Palin’s Wikipedia entry was heavily edited. The editors included individuals who were simultaneously updating McCain’s Wikipedia entry. Apparently, similar activities associated with Biden’s selection occurred as well. So, in other words, if you want…
Hurricane Gustav: Changing Predictions
Posted by Greg Laden on August 31, 2008 There has been enough change in the predictions regarding Gustav to make it worth a fresh look. Bottom line: It is weaker than previously predicted, it is still almost exactly on the same track, and it may be speeding up a little bit. Tropical Storm and soon after hurricane force winds may strike the Northern…
Happy Birthday Mike!
Posted by Greg Laden on August 31, 2008 Mike Haubrich is the transparently pseudonymous proprietor of Tangled Up in Blue Guy, which is one of the best blogs on my blogroll. Mike is also Minnesota’s Voice of Atheism, as the primary host on the Minnesota Atheist Talk Show (Air America, AM 950, Sunday mornings). He is also politically active and a pillar of…
Gustav Update. Bottom line: Run Away Now.
Posted by Greg Laden on August 30, 2008 Gustav’s eye has passed over western Cuba, and remained a category four hurricane the entire time. One gust in Cuba, where Gustav mainly affected the tobacco growing region, as clocked at 204 miles per hour. Miles. Not kilometers. The storm has caused considerable damage there (source). Here is the salient information regarding the current forecast:
Palin for President?
Posted by Greg Laden on August 30, 2008 Razib has noted that there is a 15% chance that if McCain/Palin is elected, that Palin will take office based on actuarial data. However, I beg to differ with this given that the presidency is a) known to add years to a person’s life, b) is a somewhat more dangerous job than average (there are…
This bozo is going to piss you off (Palin on RWTV)
Posted by Greg Laden on August 30, 2008 Sarah Palin comes in at 4 minutes 20 seconds. Turns out she wants all the Polar Bear to die.
Proof that God Exists
Posted by Greg Laden on August 30, 2008 I’m with Richard Dawkins on this one: I don’t believe that god exists. There is no evidence for this, why believe it. But, if evidence did emerge strongly suggesting the existence of god, this would be the greatest scientific discovery of our time. Well, we are still lacking in proof, but there is now some…
Barack Obama’s answers to the top 14 science questions facing America
Posted by Greg Laden on August 30, 2008 In November, 2007, a small group of six citizens – two screenwriters, a physicist, a marine biologist, a philosopher and a science journalist – began working to restore science and innovation to America’s political dialogue. They called themselves Science Debate 2008, and they called for a presidential debate on science. The call tapped a wellspring…
Beauty Queen Veep will Ruin Everything for Everybody
Posted by Greg Laden on August 30, 2008 The following announcement regarding Sarah Palin is from Move On Dot Org. This is about McCain’s running mate. Obviously, in my earlier post I was too quick to judge this woman. It turns out that she is not a bad choice, not a person with less than ideal experience, not a person unsympathetic to liberal…
Gustav Update
Posted by Greg Laden on August 30, 2008 This may be premature by an hour or two, and if so, I’ll update again, but there is enough new information on Gustav to provide an update. Gustav is now a Category Four Hurricane and is bearing down on Cuba. The hurricane will strike the northern Gulf coast as a serious, possibly major storm. I…
Kevin Kelly: Predicting the next 5,000 days of the web
Posted by Greg Laden on August 30, 2008 McCain Picks Former Beauty Queen as Running Mate
Posted by Greg Laden on August 29, 2008 According to the BBC, John McCain has picked Alaskan Sarah Palin for VEEP.
Pop Sci Book Meme
Posted by Greg Laden on August 29, 2008 There is a new book meme, started by Jennifer Oullette, and so far infecting John Lynch and PZ Myers. This is a Pop Science book meme. PZ added a few to Jennifer’s list, and I’ve added a few more. Bold = read. What are we missing? Which, among those not bolded here, should I read…
Denver police arrest ABC reporter outside Dem Convention
Posted by Greg Laden on August 29, 2008 ABC’s coverage of this is here Hat Tip: Ed Brayton
“Gustav is expected to be a large powerful hurricane as it approaches the northern Gulf coast”
Posted by Greg Laden on August 29, 2008 …. Or so goes the last sentence in the current National Hurricane Center forecast discussion. This is Gusav. Even though it is only a strong tropical storm, it looks a lot like a hurricane already. This could be a Category IV hurricane in two or three days (Gustav, Atlantic Floater 1 Visible, Friday AM).
Webster Cook Impeached, Found Guilty
Posted by Greg Laden on August 29, 2008 Webster Cook, the Florida student who was physically and politically attacked by forces directly and indirectly allied with the Catholic Church, was impeached and found guilty by the school government of his college. This is according to a source close to Webster, his friend, Benjamin Collard. For more information on events leading up to this,…
What do we do when Scienceblogs.com reaches 1,000,000 comments?
Posted by Greg Laden on August 29, 2008 You have probably already heard that some time in the month of September, the millionth comment will be placed on some blog somewhere on the Scienceblogs Dot Com networks. We think the servers can only hold one million comments, so when this happens the whole thing shuts down. So, what will we do when the…
Obama knocks it outta the park
Posted by Greg Laden on August 28, 2008 Extraordinary speech, Barack. But as Julia said at the end … “OK, guys, now step slowly away from the stage before it gets cheesy …. oops, too late…” I have the following thoughts. Remember the Friend of Bill hats? Hey, we can re-use them as Friend of Barack hats. The money saved can be used…
Reed Kroloff: Architecture, modern and romantic
Posted by Greg Laden on August 28, 2008 Ridicule
Posted by Greg Laden on August 28, 2008 The MSNBC anchor on Morning Joe keeps asking the Democratic organizers they’ve got on about the attempts of the Republicans to ridicule the democrats for the setup for Obama’s talk tonight. Problem is, she keeps pronouncing it wrong. rih DICK ool Like “ridiculous” shortened but with no changes in emphasis. Sometimes these people can be…
Gustav May Hit New Orleans as a Category 2 Hurricane on Monday
Posted by Greg Laden on August 27, 2008 The current track places the storm dead on New Orleans. But this is many, many days in advance so you can’t expect this to be accurate. But, this is worth keeping an eye on. Speculation: RNC opens on September 1st. Gustav hits the Gulf Coast September 1st. RNC second and third day play out with…
Blogospherics
Posted by Greg Laden on August 27, 2008 More on bird self awareness (or not): Does Tweety have a secondary consciousness? Self-awareness in birds, mirror neurons, evolution and the mystery of consciousness. Almost Diamonds is not intolerant, but she is anti-tolerance, which is not the same thing. This post echoes my feelings exactly. Was Jesus Christ Gay? Of course .. everybody was gay…
Four Stone Hearth
Posted by Greg Laden on August 27, 2008 Four Stone Hearth – Layman Edition is now up at Tangled Up in Blue Guy, and it is an outstanding edition of this multidisciplinary anthropology web carnival.
Technology Tidbits
Posted by Greg Laden on August 27, 2008 There is a person out there who is trying to reach me to discuss an important issue. She has called a few times, and left messages, and so far I have five phone numbers linked to this name. I’ve tried calling but so far I’ve only been able to leave messages. If you are reading…
, which is now available for the 
