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gregladen | August 25, 2009A 64-bit version of the Google Chrome browser is now ready, but Windows users will still have some time to wait for their version.
In a mailing list posting this week, Chrome developer Dean McNamee wrote that the Google v8 JavaScript team have working on a 64-bit port. There are now full instructions on the Google Code wiki for Chromium on how to build Chrome for 64-bit Linux.
details
cortex | August 25, 2009I won't waste too many words trying to explain this stunning video, which is by Will Hoffman and the folks at Radio Lab. At first glance, it's a mere collection of ordinary moments - a falling teardrop, an escaped balloon, a dive into a pool - but I think it's also evidence that the things we see everyday, when carefully framed, can ache with ignored beauty:
grrlscientist | August 25, 2009Since I have recently developed quite a history of visiting cold and snowy places, often during the winter, I wish to preserve that tradition. I am competing for the opportunity to go to Antarctica in February 2010 -- a dream adventure that I've always wanted to pursue (and almost did pursue when I was an undergraduate researching Fin Whales and Crabeater Seals at the University of Washington). To enter, all candidates must publish a picture of themselves and write an essay explaining why we think we are the best choice, and solicit votes from the public. Whomever receives the most votes wins…
gregladen | August 25, 2009Listen to the long list of Town Hall meetings Bachmann claims to have had or to have planned.
So far, she's only had meetings more restrictive than those Bush has had. The one time she had a public meeting with actual public that I know of was the famous bathroom incident, but that's another story...
We'll see how things go this Thursday.
hrynyshyn | August 25, 2009I put the last word of the headline in quotes, because in this space, I prefer to use the term "pseudoskeptics" when describing those who claim to be applying scientific analysis to the issues without bothering to actually understand the science involved or stay abreast of even long-ago-published research. The shorter word, however, appears in an undeniably provocative essay at Grist by one Adam D. Sacks, a veteran climate change campaigner.
What to do about pseudoskeptics is a common these in this space, because there are an awful lot of them, and like many other science bloggers concerned…
grrlscientist | August 24, 2009
Image: wemidji (Jacques Marcoux).
Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est (And thus knowledge itself is power)
-- Sir Francis Bacon.
Scientia Pro Publica (Science for the People) is a blog carnival that celebrates the best science, nature and medical writing targeted specifically to the public that has been published in the blogosphere within the past 60 days. To send your submissions to Scientia Pro Publica, either use this automated submission form or use the cute little widget on the right (sometimes that widget doesn't upload when the mother site is sick). Be sure to include the URL or "…
grrlscientist | August 24, 2009The current Antarctic Trip Vote count is as follows; 4623 - 1791 - 1498 - 1198 - 1115 out of 518 candidates registered. I am in third place and sloooowly creeping up on second place. With less than 6 weeks remaining (especially if the Quark site crashes), voting is changing rapidly as previous voters reassign their votes and new voters cast theirs for the first time. Many tens of thousands of votes have already been cast in this competition, so if the people who have cast their votes already decide to change them, they can significantly affect the outcome of this competition. The top four…
cortex | August 24, 2009In the LA Times, Megan Daum has an interesting reflection on the late comedy director John Hughes, and his eccentric cinematic representations of adolescence:
If the brooding, solitary Andie played by Ringwald in "Pretty in Pink" were in high school in 2009, it's hard to imagine she wouldn't be a candidate for anti-depression therapy. Likewise, if "The Breakfast Club," which is about five teens serving time in Saturday detention, took place in a post-Prozac, post-Columbine America, Ally Sheedy's mostly mute, kleptomaniac misfit would have undoubtedly been medicated, and Anthony Michael Hall's…
gregladen | August 24, 2009PLoS Currents ... is a Google/PLoS collaborative effort using Knol to consolidate and organize info about H1N1 novel influenza flu.
The key goal of PLoS Currents is to accelerate scientific discovery by allowing researchers to share their latest findings and ideas immediately with the world's scientific and medical communities. Google Knol's features for community interaction, comment and discussion will enable commentary and conversations to develop around these findings. Given that the contributions to PLoS Currents are not peer-reviewed in detail, however, the results and conclusions…
gregladen | August 24, 2009The only TV series I ever watched (sine being a kid) was The West Wing. I didn't watch the West Wing either. But then I met Amanda, and she was into watching the show, so the two of us took in the last year as it happened, then rented the whole thing and eventually saw it all.
The following, courtesy of a friend of mine, is a parody of the show. If you've not seen the West Wing, don't bother, this won't be even remotely funny. If you have seen it, you will find this to be an excellent parody because it is on one hand ridiculous and on the other and an accurate representation right down…
gregladen | August 24, 2009Mech originally characterized the "Alpha" pattern of behavior, and has subsequently (over the last forty years) modified this considerably. Science does indeed progress.
However, I hasten to point out that this is a case of inverted skepticism. The change in how we view animal behavioral biology since the 1960s to now has changed in all areas. Rumors that Mech is doing something odd here are clearly overstated. This is run of the mill progress of science.
Hat top: UO
cortex | August 24, 2009Mirror neurons are a classic illustration of a scientific idea that's so elegant and intriguing our theories get ahead of the facts. They're an anatomical quirk rumored to solve so many different cognitive problems that one almost has to be suspicious: how can the same relatively minor network of motor neurons be responsible for tool use, empathy, language and be a core feature of autism?
I'm not saying that mirror neurons don't have the potential to be an astonishingly cool cortical feature, especially when it comes to the intuitive understanding of physical actions. But I have yet to be…
grrlscientist | August 24, 2009
Image: wemidji (Jacques Marcoux).
Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est (And thus knowledge itself is power)
-- Sir Francis Bacon.
Scientia Pro Publica (Science for the People) is a blog carnival that celebrates the best science, nature and medical writing targeted specifically to the public that has been published in the blogosphere within the past 60 days. To send your submissions to Scientia Pro Publica, either use this automated submission form or use the cute little widget on the right (sometimes that widget doesn't upload when the mother site is sick). Be sure to include the URL or "…
gregladen | August 24, 2009A few months ago I was contacted by a person I didn't know (but vaguely knew of) about being on a panel to discuss evolutionary biology and blogging and so on. Her name was Carrie Iwan. In fact, I think that still is her name.
We had a number of professional and pleasant interactions via email, as she organized a fairly large scale affair. Sometimes when you plan an event, all the work is in the planning, and little needs to be done when things are underway ... it runs itself. This event, however, required continued and constant attention and Carrie managed a plethora of volunteers and…
grrlscientist | August 23, 2009The current Antarctic Trip Vote count is as follows; 4570 - 1785 - 1491 - 1193 - 1114 out of 512 candidates registered. I am in third place and sloooowly creeping up on second place. With less than 6 weeks remaining (especially if the Quark site crashes), voting is changing rapidly as previous voters reassign their votes and new voters cast theirs for the first time. Many tens of thousands of votes have already been cast in this competition, so if the people who have cast their votes already decide to change them, they can significantly affect the outcome of this competition. The top four…
gregladen | August 23, 2009This is crazy shit, man.
The Heil Hitler Lady who "believes in Biblical values", proves that she is a moron:
Hat Tip Kristine, who has quite a bit more on her post at Amused Muse.
gregladen | August 23, 2009Dear Rachel,
Apropos this story:
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Rachel, you know I love you, but I have to tell you that you must have your staff put a little more effort into the details of reporting these vitally important stories. In Minneapolis, we (and when I say "we" I mean "they") have been doing this fancy bike thing forever. This is the main recreational activity of our famous anarchists, as a matter of fact. Here are a couple of examples:
Fixed Gear Tricks:
More:
And of course, the May Day parade:
Dykes on bikes Minneapolis 2009…
gregladen | August 23, 2009A TEENAGER who posted a death threat on Facebook has become the first person in Britain to be jailed for bullying on a social networking site.
It appears that Keeley Houghton is a bully in real life, and has been bullying one Emily Moore for a few years. In fact, this is her third conviction. She recently reified this behavior on her facebook account and that seems to have been the evidence that put this behavior over the top in this latest round, in the eyes of British Law.
This is not too surprising ... that there are teenage bullies and that they do stoopid-shit (tm) on the Internet.…