Bits and Pieces
jlynch | July 26, 2006My DSL line is out at home and has been since last night. Since I don't want to be coming in to my office during my "break", it may be that posting will be sparce for awhile. Just a warning.
jlynch | July 22, 2006Here are some things that caught my eye this past week or so, but I was unable to post on. Feel free to discuss in the comments as you see fit.
Will future doctors be forced to teach abstinence?
Stunning macro photos of bugs (hat tip to Jason @ xenogere!)
Hippo eats dwarf
Feral children
DarwinCatholic
Rob Skipper on Fisher v Wright
Microsoft used pirated software?
Santorum exposed
jlynch | July 21, 2006At 4pm today (i.e. 30 minutes ago), Sky Harbor Airport here in Phoenix was reporting a temperature of 117 degrees - a new daily record. It's a mite warm here and thunderstorms are expected this evening.
We're actually in the throes of our "monsoon" season - thirty to forty days in July and August where, if we're lucky, we get a total rainfall of an inch and a half. Since I came here in 1994, it's only exceeded two inches on five years and never since 1999. But there's no global warming, I tell ya, none!
jlynch | July 16, 2006On Ms Coulter, Zeno writes:
As she plies her trade as a self-proclaimed snoutfair and prunk dispenser of scaum, we can imagine she cut her teeth as a flarting nazzle. Time, however, is not the ally of this cock-throppled fishfag, now well on her ostentiferous way to becoming a dwizzen-faced hurrion. She may not anticipate her condign fate while still basking in the puzzomous regard of the national media and girding her loins in defense of the rhonchisonant quockerwodger in the White House, but she will end up well and truly scunt, both morally and financially.
No folks, this isn't nonsense (…
jlynch | July 16, 2006Can anyone guess where this is? And equally, why it is topical?
Clue: "Batter my heart, three person'd God"
[I stole the idea from Alex's Map That Campus quiz]
jlynch | July 14, 2006Here's an interesting story over at Discover regarding bacteria in the high Arctic - Ellesmere Island, to be precise - and what they might bring to the search for extraterrestrial life.
Mike Price, the author, just graduated from ASU with an honors degree in Journalism and is heading off to the prestigious science journalism program at Johns Hopkins. Mike did his honors thesis with me on coverage of the Kitzmiller case.
jlynch | July 14, 2006
This is cool. A rainbow and lightning in Arkansas (source). But the comments appear to miss the point of basic physics:
Incidents like this make we wonder how some people say there is no God.
The pictures are truly amazing!! Proving outright the power and existance of a higher power.
I, too, witnessed the rainbow in the sky last night. It was an awesome experience. It reminded me that God is really in control.
While the newspaper running the story is British, the comments about God are American. No surprises.
jlynch | July 7, 2006We've made some changes here at ScienceBlogs. What it means for you, gentle reader, is that TypeKey has been kicked to the curb and commenting should be easier (just requiring an e-mail address). Let's see how it goes ..
jlynch | July 5, 2006According to this table over at Nature, this blog is the 18th most popular blog written by a scientist (according to Technorati). Out of the top twenty, twelve are here at ScienceBlogs. Congrats to one and all!
jlynch | July 5, 2006I had a longish post on Phillip Henry Gosse (as requested by John Wilkins awhile back), but the gods of the internet were displeased and consigned it to the aether. I'll try and reconstruct it later.
In other news, that Germany / Italy was quite good wasn't it? Have to say, I wanted Germany to win and those two quick goals were nice (though brutal). Here's hoping France move on today (prediction: 2-0) and we get a reasonable final out off all of this.
Woke up this morning and it's raining here ... in Tempe ... in July ... during the day. What's going on?
And a day late ...
jlynch | July 3, 2006The Lynch Euro 2006 tour is over. Past few weeks were spent in Paris, Dublin and (briefly) London while studiously avoiding e-mail and blogging. Highlights included watching the World Cup in French cafes and Irish pubs with people who actually care about the beautiful game (there is no language barrier when it comes to football). It was my daughter's first trip to France & England, so that was fun.
As many of the blog sibs have noted, the Sb/Donors Choose has ended with a total of $34,001.68 being donated. Props to everyone involved. I especially want to take those who donated throught…
jlynch | June 17, 2006I'm going to be out of regular electonic contact until the beginning of next month, so there will be a blogging hiatus. It would be really sweet if we meet our challenge goals by the time I return. I can dream, can't I?
Update: Two of our four projects are now 100% funded. Thank you so much.
jlynch | June 16, 2006Good news from the mothership. SEED magazine has come out and stated that it will match the total donations from our DonorsChoose drive up to $10,000. Yes, folks, your $10 donation is now worth $20. So don't delay.
I know this is a little like one of those public radio/tv pledge drives that annoy you every few months. But look on the bright side ... I'm not going to give you a Yanni CD for your donation, just the warm satisfied feeling that you've helped.
Thanks to those who have given already!
jlynch | June 15, 2006Educators will tell you that a good foundation at the K-2 level leads to success later on. My daughter has just finished first grade and over the past year alone has made significant strides in her reading, writing and math ability, all due to the dedication of her teachers. While we live in a relatively well-off school district, it is noticeable that, even here, teachers often need help in purchasing materials. In particular, teaching kids science requires supplies, and these cost money. And that's where you, my reader, comes in. A bunch of us at ScienceBlogs have set up Bloggers Challenges…
jlynch | June 14, 2006John beat me to it, but I'll go ahead anyways. Congrats to Reed Cartwright, active at Georgia Citizens for Integrity in Science and the Panda's Thumb, for passing his dissertation at the University of Georgia and thus now becoming Dr Cartwright. Good job, Reed. Now get back to whatever you were doing before grad school hit.
P.S. I'm quite proud of the title of this blog :)
jlynch | June 14, 2006It appears Coulter's knowledge of evolution (and the certainty with which she spouts) is on a par with her knowledge of the Vietnam War.
jlynch | June 14, 2006Here is Kaká's splendid goal against Croatia. Viewers used to the ESPN school of broadcasting may like to note (1) the commentary that actually tells you who has the ball, and (2) the lack of crap on-screen.
jlynch | June 9, 2006Just a quick shout out to Bora, John, Nick and all the new Scienceblog pledges. Let the hazing begin, but first wander over and say hello.
And we've got a new front page, thanks to the hard work of Tim, Katherine and all our overlords at Seed.
Now, I can go back to the World Cup!