Uncategorized
grrlscientist | June 12, 2010
Image: wemidji (Jacques Marcoux).
Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est (And thus knowledge itself is power)
-- Sir Francis Bacon.
The most recent issue of Scientia Pro Publica (Science for the People); "Scientia Pro Publica 32: Biology Overload" was published by Philip at his blog, The Dichotomous Trekkie 2.0. This was Philip's first ever blog carnival, and he did an excellent job! So go there, leave some warm fuzzies for Philip, then read the linked essays and be sure to leave your comments on at least one of those essays, either telling those authors what they did well, or making…
gregladen | June 11, 2010The times they are a changin' ... Minnesota Leads in Modernizing Bar Rules: Ladies Night will Be No More.
Today's subversive activity tip: Let's play Disability Bingo.
Scott Gavura on vitamins and Steve Wereley on the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.
dgmacarthur | June 11, 2010It looks as though the FDA is swooping down on the direct-to-consumer genetic testing industry in a serious way, sending formal letters to five companies informing them that their tests will be regulated as medical devices:
WASHINGTON -- The Food and Drug Administration is issuing regulatory letters to five genetic test makers, the first sign that the government is cracking down on companies that claim to use DNA samples to predict inheritable diseases.
The FDA letters notify each company that their tests are considered medical devices and therefore must be federally approved as safe and…
gregladen | June 11, 2010The southern end, to be exact:
(Or, so it is called. One could debate the point.)
grrlscientist | June 11, 2010
Image: wemidji (Jacques Marcoux).
Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est (And thus knowledge itself is power)
-- Sir Francis Bacon.
The most recent issue of Scientia Pro Publica (Science for the People); "Scientia Pro Publica 32: Biology Overload" was published by Philip at his blog, The Dichotomous Trekkie 2.0. This was Philip's first ever blog carnival, and he did an excellent job! So go there, leave some warm fuzzies for Philip, then read the linked essays and be sure to leave your comments on at least one of those essays, either telling those authors what they did well, or making…
cwilcox | June 10, 2010... drumroll please....
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I'M IN!
I feel so honored to be chosen as one of the top 9 finalists!
Go check out the post that made it: Evolution: The Curious Case of Dogs
Of course, there are some FANTASTIC posts in the top set with me. Go check out all of them! They include my fellow sciblings Jason and Eric, as well as other great bloggers like Ed, Margaret and Carl. Basically, it's a list of everyone I mentioned before, plus a couple of other ones just for kicks ;)
Congrats to all, and good luck to everyone! I can't wait to see who Dawkins picks as the Top Quark!
gregladen | June 10, 2010Here is some data on the impact of outside individuals as targets or important components of blog posts on the You're Not Helping blog. Sample of the last several blog posts plus all known posts related to Yours Truly.
Clearly, while PZ Myers is not helping, he is not helping at the same order of magnitude of, say The Friendly Atheist. Greg Laden, on the other hand, is Totally Not Helping at All and probably deserves some kind of an award.
Person
Comment "N's"
Greg Laden
34, 22, 4, 29, 3, 52, 7 (X=22)
PZ Myers
13, 28, 1, 0, 5 (X=9)
Everybody Else
13, 1, 5, 5, 2,10, 13, 2…
gregladen | June 10, 2010Remember the Saint Paul RNC 8? Here's the latest news:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Court Affirms Prosecution's Attempt to Criminalize Activism, Proceeds in Case Against RNC 8
June 10, 2010
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Yesterday, the RNC 8 completed the probable cause hearing, begun last month, a key step in determining whether their charges of conspiracy to riot and conspiracy to damage property will go to trial in October. Judge Teresa Warner is expected to issue a ruling on the defendants' motion to dismiss the charges due to a lack of probable cause sometime in August.
The probable cause hearing…
gregladen | June 10, 2010Who knows, but maybe you can find out on Friday Night when you listen to Skeptically Speaking.
Scott Gavura
Pharmacist and blogger Scott Gavura returns to give us the evidence-based perspective on vitamins and the claims that are made about them. Which ones are beneficial, which ones are bunk, and how is this billion-dollar industry regulated?
amd
Speaking up
Steve Wereley on the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
gregladen | June 10, 2010You can now download a PDF version of Genie Scott's book, Evolution vs. Creationism, 2nd edition, here.
cortex | June 10, 2010I'd like to tell you a story about a routine of modern life that is really bad for your brain. Everybody performs this activity - sometimes multiple times a day! - and yet we rarely realize the consequences. In 2008, scientists at the University of Michigan did a very clever study illuminating how this activity led to dramatic decreases in working memory, self-control, visual attention and positive affect. Other studies have demonstrated that people who are less exposed to this activity show enhanced brain function. They are better able to focus and even recover more quickly in hospitals.…