gregladen | April 15, 2012Yesterday, at the Democratic Farmer Labor (DFL) Convention in Minnesota's United States Congressional District 3, my candidate, Sharon Sund, did not gain the endorsement of our party; the endorsement went to the Gentleman from Edina, Brian Barnes. Brian won fair and square, and it was a good campaign.
This morning, my car sits in the garage crammed full of seat cushions and Sun(d) chips, campaign posters and stickers, and other sundry items hastily gathered from our convention field headquarters and the lobby of the Valley View Middle School where the convention happened.
I'll be…
gregladen | April 15, 2012This is a good starting point:
"Successful organizing is based on the recognition that people get organized because they, too, have a vision."
-Paul Wellstone
gregladen | April 15, 2012One hundred years ago today, the Titanic, the largest boat in the water at the time, and unsinkable by design, ran into an iceberg and sank. Many died on board because of insufficient safety equipment.
A majority of first and second class children survived the sinking, but only 34% of the third class children lived. Almost all of the first class women and 86% of the second class women lived, but under half of the third class women survived. For men, 33% of the first class, 8% of the second calass, and 16% of the third class survived. Among crew, 87% of the women survived, but only 22% of…
gregladen | April 11, 2012Another poll shows increasing and strong interest among Americans in developing Green Technology and related technologies, as well as reduced interest in anti-environmental extremism and petrolatum-related efforts.
Previously, we discussed the new poll by the Science Debate people, and now we have new information from the UT Energy Poll.
The results are mixed, but interesting. In order of decreasing preference expressed by a voter to support a candidate for president based on their position, voters like expanded natural gas development1, incentives for renewable tech companies, increased…
gregladen | April 11, 2012We've had conversations before, here, about this topic, especially in the context of school. We've spoken about how to deal with students who are trying very hard to push creationism in the classroom, where you are the teacher. We've spoken about what a parent of a student in school might like to do. And now, here's an item on what can go right and wrong when this or related topics come up at your place of work.
gregladen | April 11, 2012An earthquake triggered a tsunami warning in Indonesia, which is said to have covered "Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Australia, Myanmar, Thailand, the Maldives and other Indian Ocean islands, Malaysia, Pakistan, Somalia, Oman, Iran, Bangladesh, Kenya, South Africa and Singapore," but the wave that rolled ashore was insignificant. However, a subsequent, strong aftershock then triggered another warning, and I've seen no information about that yet.
These events seem to be about 8.6 magnitude, which is high. They were at sea along the western edge of the continental plate.
This is of course…
gregladen | April 10, 2012Rick Santorum, Republican Candidate, has essentially dropped out of the Republican presidential race. Gone, but not forgotten.
gregladen | April 8, 2012CBS News is reporting that veteran newsman and "60 Minutes" star interviewer Mike Wallace has died at age 93.
Details of his passing aren't yet clear, but on the CBS website colleague Morley Safer is remembering the journalist's 65 years from Wallace's first appearance on the network to his last, a "60 Minutes" interview with Roger Clemens.
source
gregladen | April 6, 2012Science Debate Dot Org asks the question: In a nationally televised presidential science debate, who would be the best moderator?
I find the suggestions that have been made so far to be interesting. A lot of people seem to be suggesting people who are obviously good scientists, or good communicators, but who are not especially known for being moderators. They are not the same thing.
Go have a look, make a suggestion, or vote for the existing suggestions.
gregladen | April 5, 2012
Not really. Do people who design social networking systems really think we LIKE push notifications???????? Seriously?
By the way, I'm working at a place these days that seems to produce a correct and incorrect (and inexplicably so) result on Google Maps at about a 50-50 ratio. This means that when I tell people to meet me there I have to work twice as hard, and even with my additional efforts, a certain percentage show up late anyway. A system like that depicted in the video has to be 99.999% perfect, and it has to never change unexpectedly once it is in place. That is not how modern…
gregladen | April 5, 2012I'm showing you this animation because I think it illustrates the difficulties of explaining things that exist or occur at different scales, and because it's kinda fun:
gregladen | April 3, 2012We are at war. I do not refer to the war in Afghanastan (though that too) but rather to the war between the religious right, Republicans, the 1% and various anti-science forces on one hand and everybody else on the other. Indeed, it is standard political wisdom that Fundamentalist Christians and Republicans constitute an overlapping (and where not overlapping, highly cooperative) group standing in opposition to science.
Right?
Well, actually, no. New research released literally moments ago suggests that things are a bit more complicated than this. It turns out that generally speaking,…
gregladen | April 3, 2012Huxley's grandfather takes him to swimming lessons every week, and between grand-dad and mom, Huxley goes to a pool about once a month outside of "class." This has been going on for about two years, and Huxley is about two years old. I estimate that this particular toddler has been in the pool for an extended period well over 100 times, and probably more times than I've been in a pool over my entire life.
He can do something like 11 bananas. If you know what that means, then, well, you know what I mean. Otherwise don't worry about it.
By the way, did you know that toddlers naturally sink…
gregladen | April 2, 2012Suzie Gilbert is the author of Flyaway, which in turn is a chronicle of life as a bird rehabilitation expert. And, she is the newest addition to the Beat Writer's staff at 10,000 birds. You can find her bio at the Beat Writer's Page, and starting on April 6th, she'll be contributing regularly to 10,000 birds.
In case you were unaware, I contribute a monthly post to 10,000 birds, and they are listed here.
gregladen | April 2, 2012NCSE policy director Steve Newton explores the evolution of American creationism and how anti-evolution activities have changed from the Scopes era to the present. Newton explains creationism's many faces, from dinosaurs-lived-with-humans young earthers to "intelligent design" advocates to legislators promoting "academic freedom" legislation. Newton's talk will examine why teaching evolution--and science in general--is so important, and suggest ways for the pro-science community to counter creationist assaults on science education. Where: Oakmont Sunday Symposium, Santa Rosa, CA. When: 2/15/…