sheril | September 5, 2008I've been receiving emails and comments about Sarah Palin lately, and some are questioning my commitment toward advancing women in politics and elsewhere--a subject I regularly write about:
In spite of the go-women perspective at this site, I suspect it may not include "conservative" women or women with opposing viewpoints.
[Here's the most outrageous email.]
Look folks, it's true that Mrs. Palin and I have lady parts. We've both lived in the northern United States, and we each recently welcomed new additions to our families. Similarity ends there.
Sarah Palin's politics are not 'pro-woman…
sheril | September 5, 2008by Philip H.
DISCLAIMER - The opinions expressed in this blog post are those of the author alone. They do NOT represent the official opinion, policy, or action of any governmental agency the author may work for or have ever worked for at the county, state or federal level. If you do not like the content or opinions, contact the author, not your Congressmen.
As one of the largest users of electricity in the U.S., the federal government has both an obligation, and an opportunity to help with global carbon emissions. You see, much of that electricity powers the computers that federal…
sheril | September 4, 2008by Eric Roston
I've observed with great interest the discussions about framing science, here, at Matt Nisbet's blog, and elsewhere. For two reasons, I've not weighed in on the topic directly. First, I defer to Matt, Chris, Sheril and others, as far as ownership and proper deployment of the phrase "framing science" go. On a logistical level, I was too buried in the manuscript of my new book, The Carbon Age, to duck out for even routine blogging. It's really only in the last couple of weeks that I've come back to life.
The other reason has something to do with this. At the heart of the framing…
sheril | September 3, 2008'I guess a small-town mayor is sort of like a 'community organizer,' except that you have actual responsibilities.'
- Sarah Palin, 2008 Republican National Convention
My heroes are community organizers who impact lives everyday in their neighborhood. I have the utmost admiration for such selfless, often frustrating, and deeply committed work. And I prefer this sentiment:
'Be the change you wish to see in the world.'
- Gandhi
cmooney | September 3, 2008
Tropical Storm Ike intensified into a hurricane today, and then rapidly intensified into a sudden Category 3 storm, our third major hurricane of the year. And instead of recurving northward, as hurricanes at its location tend to do, Ike is forecast to plow straight towards Cuba and Hispaniola, and possibly threaten the United States.
All of which is so not cool....but just more proof that this hurricane season is far, far from over.
To that end, my latest Science Progress column is an attempt to seize the moment to direct attention beyond Anderson Cooper dodging flying billboards on CNN, and…
sheril | September 3, 2008Over at NexGen, it's the Obama McCain Energy Smackdown:
Okay ladies and gentlemen............. Let's get ready to rumble! Two candidates. Two possible administrations. Energy policy. Doesn't get much more relevant than that.
Both are Senators who say they'd like to reduce U.S. reliance on foreign oil, fight global warming, and cap greenhouse gas emissions with increased focus on nuclear power. What partisan politics? Time to dig a little deeper...
Since Obama already answered the 14 questions posed by ScienceDebate2008 laying out his perspectives, here's a peak at McCain's position…
sheril | September 3, 2008Once again, Seed is planning parties with readers and you're invited! Around the world, wherever sciblings are, we'll be celebrating our one millionth comment (expected to happen some time mid-September). There will be shindigs in Michigan, Oklahoma, Iowa, Minnesota, New York, San Francisco, Vancouver, London, and more... watch the blogs for announcements. And North Carolinians are in for a treat because we're sort of the unofficial Scienceblogs capitol with 7-8 sciblings expected.
Mark your calendars for September 20th and we'll meet you at the N.C. Zoo in Asheboro. They'll be a tour…
sheril | September 2, 2008
After Obama spoke about a new hope last week, Jim Ramsey suggested this title.
What did readers think of the night?
sheril | September 2, 2008by Philip H.
DISCLAIMER - The opinions expressed in this blog post are those of the author alone. They do NOT represent the official opinion, policy, or action of any governmental agency the author may work for or have ever worked for at the county, state or federal level. If you do not like the content or opinions, contact the author, not your Congressmen.
In my last post for the Intersection, I mentioned the Office of Technology Assessment and its place in the history of communicating science to Congress. I also asked the questions as to whether, in the increasingly complex Information…
sheril | September 2, 2008
Looks like my favorite Republican is crossing the party divide this election...
Rep. Wayne T. Gilchrest, ousted after nine terms in a bitter Republican primary campaign last winter, will cross party lines today to endorse Democrat Frank M. Kratovil Jr. in the 1st Congressional District.
Read more here.
cmooney | August 31, 2008
There is so much to worry about with this storm...and also, just maybe, a ray of hope.
Gustav has not explosively intensified over the Gulf of Mexico loop current, as feared. It is now a 100 knot Category 3 storm, with some intensification forecast before landfall, but not too, too much. Meanwhile, the landfall forecast is shifting to the left/west...a trend which, if it continues, could be quite a good thing for New Orleans. (Eric Berger certainly thinks so; Jeff Masters though is still very worried.)
The point is, this one is going to go down to the wire. I can't say, and neither can…
sheril | August 30, 2008
In November, 2007, a small group of six citizens - two screenwriters, a physicist, a philosopher, and Chris and I - began working to restore science and innovation to America's political dialogue in an initiative called ScienceDebate2008. Within weeks, more than 38,000 scientists, engineers, and other concerned Americans signed on, including nearly every major American science organization, dozens of Nobel laureates, elected officials and business leaders, and the presidents of over 100 major American universities. Signers submitted over 3,400 questions and we worked with the leading…
cmooney | August 30, 2008
The latest report is that maximum sustained winds have jumped all the way up to 125 knots. Frankly, I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Category 5 at some point on Gustav's highly ocean-heat laden journey.
I just talked to the family in New Orleans. They are in Pensacola, and headed to Atlanta....
sheril | August 30, 2008Gustav is now a major hurricane headed toward Louisiana with estimated surface winds of 120 mph. He's expected to make landfall late Monday or early Tuesday.
Values of Tropical Cyclone Heat Potential (TCHP) over 80 are often associated with rapid intensification of hurricanes. More from Jeff Masters.
sheril | August 29, 2008We knew Katrina was coming and now Hurricane Gustav looks set to get uncomfortably close to New Orleans. While models suggest Gustav will just miss the city, Jeff Masters has advised residents to leave given the small chance of a Category 3 storm surge. More at the National Hurricane Center.
sheril | August 29, 2008
Sarah Palin is McCain's running mate.
As I wrote yesterday, with less than two years in office, her nomination undercuts his central criticism of his opponent -- that Obama is too inexperienced to be commander-in-chief. As a relatively young woman, she may draw a necessary demographic and conservatives will be pleased she is opposed to abortion rights.
As Nate points out, Palin may run into gender politics taboos and be unable to draw Clinton voters. Further, Andrew Sullivan is correct that she has no Washington experience or foreign policy expertise.
On the campaign trail, this may…
sheril | August 29, 2008In January of 2003, I sat in Joe Kelley's seminar at the University of Maine as he foretold the devastation that was to come to New Orleans. I'd never heard this chilling story before and listened intently as he explained that as far back as when The Big Easy flooded in the 1920's, scientists realized that the Mississippi Delta would continue to change its course (rivers have a habit of doing that you see). I began to understand that over time, the already vulnerable city faced increasing threat and felt dizzy amid the whirlwind of so many alarming facts and figures.
The levees are…
sheril | August 28, 2008As I watched Obama deliver his acceptance address tonight, I sensed the growing optimism across the nation. And I'm not alone. Andrew Sullivan eloquently describes his speech:
It was a deeply substantive speech, full of policy detail, full of people other than the candidate, centered overwhelmingly on domestic economic anxiety. It was a liberal speech, more unabashedly, unashamedly liberal than any Democratic acceptance speech since the great era of American liberalism. But it made the case for that liberalism - in the context of the decline of the American dream, and the rise of cynicism…
sheril | August 28, 2008In presidential campaigns, there's a tradition of allowing one's opponent a clear run on the night they accept their party's nomination. This time, McCain plans to air an ad congratulating Obama as he accepts the presidential nomination.
Also for several hours we've been hearing rumors that the name of the Republican VP pick will be leaked just before tonight's speech. And McCain does indeed have to make a very tough choice...
Pawlenty (age 47) would make it impossible to argue about experience to lead.
Lieberman or Ridge would mean selecting a pro-choice running mate (not to mention…