gregladen | June 9, 2010One of the great things about Coturnix is that he brings two context-broadening tools to the table in any discussion: Synchronic and diachronic. In a recent post (Am I a Science Journalist? he adds the diachronic. I had not previously realized or considered (or at lest, not thought it relevant) that early science journalists were not trained in journalism school, as has been the case recently. Recognizing this serves to place the professionalized (read "fetishied") version of journalism in a different light, and weakens models of modern practice that rely on potentially constraining…
gregladen | June 9, 2010My friend Asha just gave a copy of Squirrel Wars: Backyard Wildlife Battles & How to Win Them to her mom for Father's day. Which reminds me of this method of controlling squirrels in your back yard.
Which, in turn, reminds me that I've been meaning to ask around about color morphs. Where I grew up, gray squirrels were gray. I lived in Boston for many years, and gray squirrels there were ... also gray. Well, the ones in Harvard Yard were more a shade of grey. Anyway, here in the Twin Cities area, they are pure white, almost jet black, or gray. Some of the gray ones are reddish gray…
gregladen | June 9, 2010It has been said that "word frequency" is the most important variable in language research, despite the belief by many that it can't be used as a variable because no one really knows what a word is. (see: Minifalsehood: We can't tell what a word is!?!? and A run in my stocking ...)
A recent study in PLoS looks at a heretofore under investigated area, word/character use in Chinese.
Following recent work by New, Brysbaert, and colleagues in English, French and Dutch, we assembled a database of word and character frequencies based on a corpus of film and television subtitles (46.8 million…
gregladen | June 9, 2010Or ... What I had for breakfast.
I just got the Caribou Coffee trivia question wrong. I got it so wrong that the Barista stared at me in disbelief for a moment, then blurted out the correct answer with audible snark and disappointment. If I told you what the question was (and that is not going to happen) you would be embarrassed for me as well. This was especially bad because I usually answer the question by adding some additional fact, or spice things up by answering the question in Classical Greek or Latin, or at least provide one or two scholarly references. But this time it was a dumb…
gregladen | June 9, 2010Cyberwar is a fiction, but tech cults are not.
Sometimes these cults are inspired by elegant lines of code. Other times it's dedication to an ideal. Some are looking to transform the way software is made. Others hope to transform humanity itself. And some just want to argue about it all -- endlessly and at great length.
Who would ever do that?
You are certainly familiar with Dublin Wellington Boots - Size 9 Green (they've been mentioned here, as has their link to evolutionary biology). Well, now there are Wellies that can power your cell phone. Supposedly.
And there will be no more phone…
gregladen | June 8, 2010First, an objective review by Steve somebody:
Now, a little trouble in Oz:
I think it's funny that the voice over says this is an "unfamiliar" position. According to YouTube, these presentations ALWAYS go wrong!
So, in the future, just do whatever Jobs tells you to do, and when that does not work, just quietly accept the blame anyway.
I think maybe I'll get an Android until the bugs get worked out of that iFour thingie.
Oh, wait, no, too expensive.
gregladen | June 8, 2010Apparently. In particular, this approach was tried with GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder). A current study in PLoS investigated whether iCBT (Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy) works when the process is guided by a clinician.
The research was done in connection with the "VirtualClinic," self described as " ... the Internet-based Research Clinic that develops and evaluates free online education and treatment programs for people with anxiety and depression."*. The study involved 150 GAD participants, who were randomly assigned to three groups: "Clinician-assisted vs. technician-…
gregladen | June 8, 2010... is the topic of discussion on Skeptical Science, a blog that examines AGW denialism. John Cook, the author of that blog, did a recent Skeptically Speaking and the podcast of that discussion is here.
gregladen | June 8, 2010... full religious freedom is the compromise between the competing rights of the followers of all the different sects that have fled to our land. Anything short of that is choosing sides, as the people of the time well knew, as the Baptists of the time well knew.
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gregladen | June 8, 2010It turns out the answer is "yes" ...
... according to Yahoo Answers.
Also, in answer to the question, "Can a Jedi Lighsabe cut through Superman?" the answer is: It depends.
Nice to see Yahoo Answers deals with the subtleties.
I hope Yahoo Answers never goes away. But in case it does, the best of the best is recorded here.
gregladen | June 8, 2010Considering how right wing SC is, this is rather remarkable. Here's the details:
Can teachers be "allowed" teachers to "help students understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and weaknesses of existing scientific theories pertinent to the course."
like, as in, teach evolution?
Not in South Carolina!
Or, can a law be enacted that requires the state board of education to "examine all curriculum in use in this State that purports to teach students about the origins of mankind to determine whether the curriculum maintains neutrality toward…
gregladen | June 8, 2010... and, since it will launch on my birthday I expect everyone to give me one!!!
It will have FaceTime video chat and a reasonable price tag of $199.
It will have two cameras, one flash, and the frame that holds it together is the antenna. There will also be an upgrade to (or new version of, depending on your views of such things) the operating system.
Details
gregladen | June 8, 2010I woke up this morning and the internet told me ...
According to this map, I live between Hasty and "I'm Alone" but I have relatives near Grouse, Knocemstiff, Weed Patch and Heist.
Will BP oil increase cancer on oiled beaches? Possibly.
This should be obvious, but there is now some support for the idea: Children raised by lesbians 'have fewer behavioural problems'
In case you've been waiting, Unscientific America in Paperback!. I just go mine. It's small, and papery. Perfect for beach reading. If you are a PZ Myers fan, this is a must read, but you'll probably want to borrow it rather…