A Little Light Reading

I'm currently working out of my New Jersey office, which is to say that I'm visiting my family for Thanksgiving. But if you're looking for a little light reading, try this short post by Andy Borowitz at The New Yorker:

Many Americans are tired of explaining things to idiots, particularly when the things in question are so painfully obvious, a new poll indicates.

According to the poll, conducted by the University of Minnesota's Opinion Research Institute, while millions have been vexed for some time by their failure to explain incredibly basic information to dolts, that frustration has now reached a breaking point.

Go read the rest. It won't take long.

I know, I know. This sort of snideness from the lamestream media is what the right feeds on, like spinach to Popeye. Very true. But I'm only human and this made me smile.

More like this

Jonah Lehrer at the Frontal Cortex asks an interesting question: Why is science so much work? But I'm curious why science takes so long. I know this is an incredibly naive question, but why do post-docs have to work so hard? What is it about the scientific process that forces the average researcher…
The last time I talked about our job search, I got a lot of comments of the form "Why does the process take so damn long?" As the first of our short list candidates shows up today for a campus visit/ interview, I thought I'd go through a sketch of what we do, and why it takes so long. I'm going to…
Over at National Geographic's other blog network, Ed Yong offers a guide for scientists talking to journalists. Like everything Ed writes about scientists and journalists, this was immediately re-tweeted by 5000 people calling it a must-read. Also like nearly everything Ed writes about scientists…
Major depressive disorder (hereafter referred to as "depression") is a prevalent and disabling illness. According to the National Institute of Mental Health: Major Depressive Disorder is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. for ages 15-44...[and]...affects approximately 14.8 million…

“This country is exhausting.”
Indeed.

I wish a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving to all.

sean s.

By sean samis (not verified) on 25 Nov 2015 #permalink

Hi I am writing you about the Neurocell. I hope I am contacting the correct person. See I was in a serious wreck in 1993 and have severe memory loss and now seizures all kinds of brain issues could finish school. Can't concentrate just a big mystery. Do you think this would help me I really want to get my GED but if I try to read when I turn the page I literally turn the page and can't remember what I just read. If you like you can email me. Thanks for your time.

By Tamara Djalout (not verified) on 30 Nov 2015 #permalink

What we cannot understand, we cannot support. I have been raising funds for scientists for 21 years, and sometimes a researcher's inability to talk "people-speak" is frustrating.

Talk to a teenager! Make friends with a patient advocate! Explain what you are working on.

When their eyes glaze over, rephrase your argument-- or learn to live without public funding.

Don C. Reed, author of "Stem Cell Battles: Proposition 71 and Beyond"

By Don C. Reed (not verified) on 08 Dec 2015 #permalink