You will notice that it lacks definiteness; that it lacks purpose; that it lacks coherence; that it lacks a subject to talk about; that it is loose and wabbly; that it wanders around; that it loses itself early and does not find itself any more. --Mark Twain
Joshua Rosenau spends his days defending the teaching of evolution at the National Center for Science Education. He is also a graduate student at the University of Kansas, completing a doctorate in the department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. When not modeling species distributions or battling creationists, he writes about developments in progressive politics and the sciences.
The opinions expressed here are his own, do not reflect the official position of the NCSE. Indeed, older posts may no longer reflect his own official position.
Thanks!
The Birth of Intelligent Falling
A failure of Intelligent Design
Why it's called Intelligent Design Creationism
Buying some music for your friends?
Or maybe some gift certificates?
Buy me things from my Amazon.com wishlist.
Buy yourself things!
Register here to join the PBA.
« They write letters | Main | Drink deep, or taste not the perchlorate stream »
Category: Policy and Politics
Posted on: September 23, 2008 4:55 PM, by Josh Rosenau
A poll on the national economy found literally no one who thinks that the national economy is getting better. 0%
Of course, they didn't poll John McCain, who is so out of it that he thinks the economy is pretty strong.
Bear in mind here that 25% of Americans think the sun orbits the earth.
Find more posts in: 
Politics
YES! Send me a free issue of Seed.
If I like what I see, I'll receive 5 more issues (6 in all) for just $14.95. That's 50% off the cover price! If I'm not completely satisfied, I'll simply write "cancel" on the invoice and owe nothing. The free issue is mine to keep.
(Non-U.S. subscribers, click here.)
Comments
Dude, your blog now has fuck all to do with Kansas. It's time to change the name!
How about "Thoughts From Rosenauas"?
Posted by: PhysioProf | September 23, 2008 7:47 PM
And seasons are caused by the earth being closer to or farther from the sun. I was actually told that by someone I had obviously overestimated in intelligence. I guess that elliptical orbit around us makes the difference!
Posted by: Old Bogus | September 23, 2008 9:19 PM
Physio: then it wouldn't be TfK! Come up with a good backronym and I'll rename. My current favorite is "Tertiary follows Cretaceous," which is funny to geologists and no one else.
Posted by: Josh Rosenau | September 25, 2008 5:24 PM
Well, that clinches it. So much for my futile hope you could get 8-20% of Americans to say anything out of sheer confusion.
No confusion here. Economy in crapper. Move along.
Posted by: Becca | September 25, 2008 9:58 PM
The second poll you mention is from 1999, but things haven't changed. Here's some data from 2006 (quoting from one of my posts):
The statistics at 'Science and Engineering Indicators 2008' ( http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/seind08/ ) are disturbing. Here are some sample questions, and the percentage of correct answers (1864 adults, in 2006):
45% - Lasers work by focusing sound waves. (False)
56% - Antibiotics kill viruses as well as bacteria. (False)
76% - Does the Earth go around the Sun, or does the Sun go around the Earth? (Earth around Sun)
55% - How long does it take for the Earth to go around the Sun: one day, one month, or one year? (One year)
I'm not even going to get into the evolutionary or cosmological questions.
Posted by: Larry Olin Horn | September 27, 2008 12:12 PM