gregladen | March 22, 2009There has always been Oxygen on the earth, but it was not floating around free in the atmosphere as it is today (most of it still isn't). Indeed, it is kind of strange that the earth is blanketed in a mixture of toxic, corrosive liquid (water) and equally corrosive gas (the oxygen in the atmosphere). Imagine showing up at a planet without an atmosphere or liquid water, and splashing the water and spraying the air from he earth all over that planet. Depending on the planet, it could be like throwing vinegar into a bowl of baking soda. Third grade science fair time!
In fact, this could…
gregladen | March 22, 2009The Reef Tank is an enterprise that supports and supplies salt water aquarists and supports the use of captive raised organisms and knowledge about ecosystems and conservation issues. From their site:
The Reef Tank is a unique bulletin board with a unique philosophy. Our mission is to provide a supportive, flame-free environment for beginning and experienced aquarists to share ideas, ask questions, and learn about the marine and reef keeping hobby. We also aim to educate ourselves and others about responsible animal husbandry, promoting captive-raised livestock and aquacultured corals when…
gregladen | March 22, 2009From my homey Emetrece:
El 3 de abril, en la Ciudad de La Habana, se realizara la ceremonia de premiación "Puños Arriba" en el Cine-Teatro Rivera de 23 y G // 8PM
CategorÃas en competencia incluyen:
Canción Beef, Canción Social, Canción al amor. Canción mas popular, Mejor featuring, Mejor Beat, Mejor Grabación, Mejor Video Clip, Mejor mini reportaje, Mejor cover CD, y CD del año.
Discos en competencia:
Mi Testimonio (Escuadrón Patriota). El Atropello (Los Aldeanos), Miseria Humana (El Aldeano), Dr. jekill & Mr Hyde (El B.), Redención (Papá Humbertico), La Segunda Temporada (…
gregladen | March 22, 2009
Leo Berman, Republican State Rep in Texas, has proposed a bill that would allow the Institute for Creation Research to issue advanced degrees in Creationism. The faux educational institution, which moved from California to Texas several years ago hoping to dupe the Texans into exactly this sort of idiotic thing, was previously denied this right by the proper regulatory agency. Berman's act is cynical, anti-democratic, and terribly embarrassing for all Texans.
There is a news report here:
A Texas legislator is waging a war of biblical proportions against the science and education…
gregladen | March 22, 2009... known to us as The Gene Genie, has been transcribed in the form of volume 44, here, at Mary Meets Dolly Dot Com.
gregladen | March 22, 2009The National Young Women's Leadership Conference is going on. You can get to related information via this blog: Choices Feminist Campus.
Welcome to the second day of our National Young Women's Leadership Conference. WOOHOO! We are Showing this morning's plenary live today on UStream -- same link as below for yesterday's plenary. It will be live from 10am-11:15am and available after for viewing anytime.
gregladen | March 22, 2009The Red River is flooding again, and people up there are filling sandbags again. So I thought I'd provide a little context to this important news.
The Red River in Minnesota flows backwards in its channel, in a northerly direction. Its course is backwards not because it's going north (many people in America do think that rivers flow south), but rather, because its channel is part of a larger channel that historically carried more water than any other river on this planet has ever carried. This was the Warren River, which emptied Lake Agassiz (the largest fresh water lake ever) via the Red…
gregladen | March 22, 2009How to spot a hidden religious agenda
As a book reviews editor at New Scientist, I often come across so-called science books which after a few pages reveal themselves to be harbouring ulterior motives. I have learned to recognise clues that the author is pushing a religious agenda. As creationists in the US continue to lose court battles over attempts to have intelligent design taught as science in federally funded schools, their strategy has been forced to... well, evolve. That means ensuring that references to pseudoscientific concepts like ID are more heavily veiled. So I thought I'd share…
gregladen | March 21, 2009I've got two unrelated breaking news stories for you. The first is totally confirmed and real:
Rebecca Skloot has got a new column at Slate:
I'm pleased to announce that, starting in May 2009, I'll be writing a weekly science and health column for Slate's new Double X Magazine. I'll be covering any and all science that might be of interest to women (note: I won't just be covering science about specific female issues -- though I'll definitely cover those). Here, from Double X's website, is a description of the new magazine:
Go here to read the rest and get to the links and stuff.
The second…
gregladen | March 21, 2009Mythical Creaturs Stamps to be released by Royal Mail this summer
Nature's Artificial Divide: The best hope for science journalism is a marriage of new and old media
There is now a Brian Bat Foundation. I suppose it is to raise money to send more bats into orbit.
NPR: Obama Backers Return To Streets To Push Plans
President Obama's grass-roots political machine has been reactivated for a weekend door-knocking crusade designed to sell the administration's economic plan -- and its record-busting $3.6 trillion budget.
But the task for the Organizing for America volunteers -- tapped from…
gregladen | March 21, 2009You've heard about the dismal report of the state of birds in the US. Here is a detailed account of the USFW et al report.
And here are a few different items regarding migratory birds and what you can do about them.
Citizen Science Is for the Birds
Open Data: Help Migratory Bird Observations Fly into the Digital Age
Help Science: Build Your Own Bird Tracker, Cheap
New project aims to digitise hand-written migration records...
gregladen | March 21, 2009Is teaching a way of life or a profession?
It probably depends on the teacher.
gregladen | March 21, 2009I interrupt this seemingly endless stream of YouTube Videos to announce that Tomorrow (Sunday) Morning, PalMD, of Scienceblogs.com, (White Coat Underground) will be interviewed on Atheist Talk Radio.
The interview will be conducted by Stephanie Zvan, and the director of the show is Mike Haubrich, both of Quiche Moraine Dot Com.
AM 950 KTNF on Sunday at 9AM Central
Details here.
gregladen | March 21, 2009This exact thing happened to me the other day.
Signs (without Mel Gibson) - watch more funny videos
I wonder if it is best to just stay away from University campuses.
gregladen | March 21, 2009"This is not rocket science."
I would not have done it this way. The teacher on the couch concurs. What would you do?
gregladen | March 21, 2009
From Dump Bachmann:
In the beginning of this video Bachmann says she is a "former federal tax litigation attorney". Bachmann was introduced on a Fox talking heads show recently as a "federal tax attorney".
Actually, if I recall correctly, Bachmann's J.D. is from Oral Roberts (since de-accredited), and her LL.M. in tax law is from William and Mary's Marshall-Wythe School. She has not been legally able on the bar, or whatever they call it, for a long time.