June 27, 2010
Even at the most extreme edges of the flow of stuff out of the volcano Pompeii, at the far edge of the mud and ash that came from the volcano's explosion, the heat was sufficient to instantly kill everyone, even those inside their homes.
And that is how the people at Pompeii, who's remains were…
June 27, 2010
I'm not going to say anything about the methods the Belgian authorities have used, because I don't know anything about due process in that country. (Though I did notice that that Belgian police carry big machine guns, at least when I've been there.)
Anyway, the Vatican has it's shorts in a twist…
June 26, 2010
He swam straight over to the German glass, climbed in and even put a lid on top once he was sitting inside."
Huh?
Yes, it's true. Paul the octopus has been predicting German soccer outcomes for some time now, doing slightly better than random.
Here he is in action (Do watch to the end. Maybe…
June 26, 2010
In which I provide my two cents regarding the current discussion between PZ Myers, Pamela Gay, and others.
The relevant posts and threads:
Should skeptic organizations be atheist organizations? by PZ Myers.
Why are we lying to Pamela Gay? by Seth Manapio
Separation between Scientific Truth &…
June 26, 2010
I know you don't like when I say this, but you people living in Florida through Louisiana (and points in between) are not exactly the sharpest knives in the drawer. As it were.
(I said it that way because I figure you won't understand what I mean.)
I think it's funny that I enraged people with my…
June 26, 2010
If you've not seen this graph, or read this blog post, you should:
From here.
June 26, 2010
According to some sources, yes.
News has just emerged from the Gulf Coast that BP is burning endangered sea turtles alive. 1
A boat captain who has been leading efforts to rescue the endangered turtles says BP has blocked his crews from entering the areas where the animals are trapped, effectively…
June 26, 2010
Linux in Exile has a new post on the approach an organization may take in moving to Linux. The post is here, and I recommend reading it.
I have a few comments on JH's commentary. I won't quote what he says (you should just go there and look at it), but my responses correspond to his numbering…
June 26, 2010
It is hard to prove, but the evidence certainly leads in that direction.
The former Bachmann campaign official in question is Luke Hellier, previously featured on Quiche Morain here. There is no doubt whatsoever that Hellier's commentary on the Minnesota Democrats Exposed blog, regarding editing…
June 26, 2010
It's called Staring Down the Brilliant Dream.
I'm especially excited about the new versions of Shame on You and Wild Horses
The disk is a collection of 31 songs selected from live shows during 2006-2009. Brandi Carlile and Jill Hennessey do some of the singing.
Technically, it comes out on the…
June 26, 2010
It's all in the mix. The pancake mix.
June 26, 2010
I've reposted this once already, but it is so important and cool .... we're going to do it again. (And by "it" I mean the research, not this post!)
The perfect bird family tree ...
... is certainly still in the future. But we have seen a step in that direction in a new paper, coming out this…
June 25, 2010
Michael Jackson died one year ago. The following is a repost of something I wrote at that time:
~~~~~~
I have only one Michael Jackson story.
Michael Jackson was an international pop icon for a very long time, because he started his career so early. He was also African American. Bob Marley…
June 25, 2010
... Where you pay a little every month and get something for it, or even don't pay but become a "member" and get something for that?
At the moment there are no plans for such a thing, but there is a survey for you to offer your opinion. Click here to take the survey.
June 25, 2010
The next installment of my new falsehoods series, on Skeptically Speaking radio with Desiree Schell, is tonight at 6PM Mountain Standard Time. You can listen on line or wait until emacsDay, I mean Sunday, and download it.
The main guests (my bit is a little add in pre-recorded thing) are George…
June 25, 2010
First, I want to point out this post which describes an interesting example of Michele Bachmann Republicans making stuff up to harm a Democratic contender for a congressional seat.
Then, I want to show you a video from Jim Meffert's campaign which relates to the above linked post AND points out…
June 25, 2010
Is it a Falsehood that Humans Evolve from Apes?
How about this one: Is it a Falsehood that Humans did NOT evolve from Apes????
Yes and no. Humans descend from a population of primates from which other apes also descended (minimally the two species of living chimps) and which was part of the…
June 25, 2010
Both this year and last year (is this the beginning of a tradition?) Stephanie Zvan gave me a short story for my birthday. Last year, the story impressed me because it was a good story even without the unexpected, mildly disturbing twist. This time, the twist is not mildly disturbing at all.
It…
June 25, 2010
Although the paper addresses Tanzanian lions, this is a photograph of a Namibian lion Starting some years ago, we began to hear about revisions of the standard models of lion behavioral biology coming out of Craig Packer's research in the Serengeti. One of the most startling findings, first…
June 25, 2010
I am all in favor of the White House and the military being at odds over policy and politics. I have this notion that the elected civilians need to remind the officers that in our country, at least, the elected civilians are in charge. It's that respect for the concept of democracy deep within my…
June 24, 2010
Along with a few other .... select bloggers. Check out the latest editor's choice at Research Blogging
June 24, 2010
And in this case by "feminism" I mean specifically active engagement in STEM-recruiting.
The answer is ... going to be at the far end of what I predict will be an interesting and productive discussion starting out at Urban Science Adventures: An Open Letter to...Nerd Girls
June 24, 2010
Oh, no, I read it wrong. It's "hope." And not THAT Pandora. But it is my birthday!
June 24, 2010
... or, this:
Watch Saving Africa's Witch Children in Activism & Non-Profit | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com
Hat tip: Traumatized by Truth
June 24, 2010
Interesting piece:
...Certain topics never fail to generate a flood of impassioned reactions online: immigration, President Obama, federal taxes, "birthers," and race. This story about Obama's Kenyan aunt, who had been exposed as an illegal immigrant living in public housing in Boston and who was…
June 24, 2010
Over that last day or so, tons of BP oil have been removed from Florida beaches. The news shows people who live along the beaches crying. Sorry, Floridians, I do not cry for you. I cry for the clams, but not the people. You put that oil there.
You may or may not remember your part in stealing…
June 24, 2010
Is it possible for all the oxygen molecules in the room, which are moving around randomly, to randomly all move to one corner so everyone is breathing just nitrogen for a while and they die?
Is is possible for a World Cup soccer game to have a score of, say, 24 to one?
Is is possible for a tennis…
