New Scientist complains about memes wasting their time and then also wastes their own time by tracking them.
SCIENCE CONQUERS FUCKING TELEPATHY; NERDS READY THEMSELVES FOR THE GREAT UPLOAD
Prof. Myers Explains the Hitler Fallacy to Creationists; Creationists Point Out that Myers is Still a Godless Liberal.
(Related/hilarious: PZ Myers Expelled from "Expelled" Screening)
Scientists Advocate Insect Consumption to Reverse Global Warming; Tofu Sales Skyrocket.
2008년 3월 29일 토요일
2008년 2월 10일 일요일
protest!
The scientology protest was pretty interesting. There were a lot of people and a lot of honking, and even a guy in a kilt. Photos: here dey are. The scientologists wouldn't comment on anything and referred me to their PR manager who was busy with people who have actual audiences (aka CBC).
Also, Obama's Keynote Address was very good
"For one, they need to understand the critical role that the separation of church and state has played in preserving not only our democracy, but the robustness of our religious practice. Folks tend to forget that during our founding, it wasn't the atheists or the civil libertarians who were the most effective champions of the First Amendment. It was the persecuted minorities, it was Baptists like John Leland who didn't want the established churches to impose their views on folks who were getting happy out in the fields and teaching the scripture to slaves. It was the forbearers of the evangelicals who were the most adamant about not mingling government with religious, because they did not want state-sponsored religion hindering their ability to practice their faith as they understood it.
Moreover, given the increasing diversity of America's population, the dangers of sectarianism have never been greater. Whatever we once were, we are no longer just a Christian nation; we are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers.
And even if we did have only Christians in our midst, if we expelled every non-Christian from the United States of America, whose Christianity would we teach in the schools? Would we go with James Dobson's, or Al Sharpton's? Which passages of Scripture should guide our public policy? Should we go with Leviticus, which suggests slavery is ok and that eating shellfish is abomination? How about Deuteronomy, which suggests stoning your child if he strays from the faith? Or should we just stick to the Sermon on the Mount - a passage that is so radical that it's doubtful that our own Defense Department would survive its application? So before we get carried away, let's read our bibles. Folks haven't been reading their bibles.
This brings me to my second point. Democracy demands that the religiously motivated translate their concerns into universal, rather than religion-specific, values. It requires that their proposals be subject to argument, and amenable to reason. I may be opposed to abortion for religious reasons, but if I seek to pass a law banning the practice, I cannot simply point to the teachings of my church or evoke God's will. I have to explain why abortion violates some principle that is accessible to people of all faiths, including those with no faith at all."
Also, Obama's Keynote Address was very good
"For one, they need to understand the critical role that the separation of church and state has played in preserving not only our democracy, but the robustness of our religious practice. Folks tend to forget that during our founding, it wasn't the atheists or the civil libertarians who were the most effective champions of the First Amendment. It was the persecuted minorities, it was Baptists like John Leland who didn't want the established churches to impose their views on folks who were getting happy out in the fields and teaching the scripture to slaves. It was the forbearers of the evangelicals who were the most adamant about not mingling government with religious, because they did not want state-sponsored religion hindering their ability to practice their faith as they understood it.
Moreover, given the increasing diversity of America's population, the dangers of sectarianism have never been greater. Whatever we once were, we are no longer just a Christian nation; we are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers.
And even if we did have only Christians in our midst, if we expelled every non-Christian from the United States of America, whose Christianity would we teach in the schools? Would we go with James Dobson's, or Al Sharpton's? Which passages of Scripture should guide our public policy? Should we go with Leviticus, which suggests slavery is ok and that eating shellfish is abomination? How about Deuteronomy, which suggests stoning your child if he strays from the faith? Or should we just stick to the Sermon on the Mount - a passage that is so radical that it's doubtful that our own Defense Department would survive its application? So before we get carried away, let's read our bibles. Folks haven't been reading their bibles.
This brings me to my second point. Democracy demands that the religiously motivated translate their concerns into universal, rather than religion-specific, values. It requires that their proposals be subject to argument, and amenable to reason. I may be opposed to abortion for religious reasons, but if I seek to pass a law banning the practice, I cannot simply point to the teachings of my church or evoke God's will. I have to explain why abortion violates some principle that is accessible to people of all faiths, including those with no faith at all."
2008년 2월 9일 토요일
Quite Interesting: Stem Cells, Cosmic Symphony, Scientologists etc...
Stem Cell Transplant Cures Diabetic Mice
New Scientist has a tendency to get way too excited about things that aren't quite there yet, and I can't see the full article yet because sadly McGill library doesn't get them until a month later (HINT HINT- my birthday is in October) but this is rather exciting news! It's good to see that stem cell research is progressing regardless of the obnoxious restrictions on them in the states.
Growing Up To Prozac
You know how old people are always going on about how kids are growing up too fast these days? They might be referring to Lindsay Hohan or Britney Spears' formerly cute sister who got pregnant or something but I'd like to think that they're referring to neurons maturing faster on Prozac. Let me have at least one delusion.
Irregular Exercise Pattern May Add Pounds
One more reason to stay home?
Listening For the Cosmic Symphony: Super computer will help scientists listen for black holes
Preliminary reports: it sounds eerily similar to Phillip Glass.
Actually, there is actually no listening involved, which is quite sad.
"Looking for gravitational waves is like listening to the universe," Brown says. "Different kinds of events produce different wave patterns. We want to try to extract a wave pattern -- a special sound -- that matches our model from all of the noise in the LIGO data."
But still - Oh, Computer. Is there anything you CAN'T do?
I mean, other than push back.
Also - Scientology World Wide Protest Tomorrow at noon!
For Montreal people, it's at the Montreal chapter of Church of Scientology near Park La Fontaine. I will be there covering it for the Daily. Should be interesting, if nothing else! If you're participating, remember to be anonymous!
Next A Pint & A Fight:
And if you can't think of what to do on Singles Awareness Day (AKA Valentine's Day)...
A lecture on the big bang! Perhaps the biggest.
This is the public lecture. The more rigorous scientific lecture will be held on Feb 15 from 15h00-16h00 at Strathcona Asbestos - er, I mean - Anatomy and Dentistry M1.
Growing Up To Prozac
You know how old people are always going on about how kids are growing up too fast these days? They might be referring to Lindsay Hohan or Britney Spears' formerly cute sister who got pregnant or something but I'd like to think that they're referring to neurons maturing faster on Prozac. Let me have at least one delusion.
Irregular Exercise Pattern May Add Pounds
One more reason to stay home?
Listening For the Cosmic Symphony: Super computer will help scientists listen for black holes
Preliminary reports: it sounds eerily similar to Phillip Glass.
Actually, there is actually no listening involved, which is quite sad.
"Looking for gravitational waves is like listening to the universe," Brown says. "Different kinds of events produce different wave patterns. We want to try to extract a wave pattern -- a special sound -- that matches our model from all of the noise in the LIGO data."
But still - Oh, Computer. Is there anything you CAN'T do?
I mean, other than push back.
Also - Scientology World Wide Protest Tomorrow at noon!
For Montreal people, it's at the Montreal chapter of Church of Scientology near Park La Fontaine. I will be there covering it for the Daily. Should be interesting, if nothing else! If you're participating, remember to be anonymous!
Next A Pint & A Fight:
| Date: | Thursday, February 21, 2008 |
| Time: | 5:30pm - 8:30pm |
| Location: | Benelux |
And if you can't think of what to do on Singles Awareness Day (AKA Valentine's Day)...
A lecture on the big bang! Perhaps the biggest.
| Date: | Thursday, February 14, 2008 |
| Time: | 6:30pm - 7:30pm |
| Location: | Frank Dawson Adams Auditorium McGill Downtown Campus |
This is the public lecture. The more rigorous scientific lecture will be held on Feb 15 from 15h00-16h00 at Strathcona Asbestos - er, I mean - Anatomy and Dentistry M1.
2008년 1월 4일 금요일
A Pint & a Fight: A GREAT BRITISH NIGHT!
hey there skepchicks and skepdudes, it's 2008 and that means there are only few more years left until people stop wearing these stupid glasses! Which is obviously a reason to celebrate in itself... Anyway, we're having the first meet-up of the year!
So come on out to Benelux next wednesday (Jan. 9th) from 5 to 8 pm with your quackery detectors on to celebrate Caroline Herschel's death day and being back in class with a pint and a fight, and by a fight i mean a scientific discussion at Benelux's happy hour!
GO TEAM SCIENCE!
over & out,
Heather
So come on out to Benelux next wednesday (Jan. 9th) from 5 to 8 pm with your quackery detectors on to celebrate Caroline Herschel's death day and being back in class with a pint and a fight, and by a fight i mean a scientific discussion at Benelux's happy hour!
GO TEAM SCIENCE!
over & out,
Heather
2007년 12월 20일 목요일
The lunatic is on the grass. In his underpants.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071205/sc_nm/moonbeams_dc_1;_ylt=AlH2J7H2OnC8mRO1ARi_KooE1vA
Couple of things that are funny about this story
1) They are calling the moon-light collector an "interstellar light collector." Either they think that the moon is not within our system, or they actually have no idea what interstellar means.
2) It sounds like some elaborate scheme a James Bond villain would cook up - middle of the Arizona desert, with an undergrould lair and a giant moonbeam collector on top, ready to fry James Bond strapped to a giant metal table or something. Sadly, just more woo.
3) Moon bathing hints to me a possibility of "moon burn", which is not only fun to say, but so ridiculous that it's awesome. I can't wait for Coppertone to come out with moonscreen.
One thing that is really sad about this story:
1) "You feel almost like you are in heaven," said Aranka Toniatti, a cancer patient who has driven from Colorado twice to stand in the moonlight. "It's a gorgeous feeling."
Just one way that a seemingly benign woo story can become rather worrisome.
Couple of things that are funny about this story
1) They are calling the moon-light collector an "interstellar light collector." Either they think that the moon is not within our system, or they actually have no idea what interstellar means.
2) It sounds like some elaborate scheme a James Bond villain would cook up - middle of the Arizona desert, with an undergrould lair and a giant moonbeam collector on top, ready to fry James Bond strapped to a giant metal table or something. Sadly, just more woo.
3) Moon bathing hints to me a possibility of "moon burn", which is not only fun to say, but so ridiculous that it's awesome. I can't wait for Coppertone to come out with moonscreen.
One thing that is really sad about this story:
1) "You feel almost like you are in heaven," said Aranka Toniatti, a cancer patient who has driven from Colorado twice to stand in the moonlight. "It's a gorgeous feeling."
Just one way that a seemingly benign woo story can become rather worrisome.
2007년 12월 6일 목요일
Candles and Mammals
So, some bloke tells me that any old mouse's heart beats about as many times over its life span as my heart will beat over my life span. Is that so, I says. Well, here's how I would have replied if I could mentally access the internet;
700 Heart beats/minute*60 seconds *24 hours*365 days*2 years = 735,840,000 beats per mouselifespan, assuming aforesaid mouse lives 2 years.
60 Heart beats/minute*60 seconds*24 hours*365 days*100 years = 3,153,600,000 beats per humanlifespan, assuming advances in healthcare comparable to those of the 20th century.
SO, not completely off. Only one order of magnitude, and my heart will only out beat the mouse by a factor of 4.2857. Unlikely that the rule holds everywhere, and to be honest, my sources (wiki, random animal site) are not the most reputable. But it does make one wonder whether that line from Bladerunner is in point of fact, true for mammals. Quote in question;
"The candle that burns twice as bright burns twice as fast."
After all, we get our energy from the same reaction by which candles burn.
And some other bloke told me once that the human body releases the same amount of heat as a candle in a given period of time.
Speaking of which, does anyone want to go see the new edition of Bladerunner with me on the seventeenth at Theatre du Parc?
2007년 12월 4일 화요일
Zombie Cockroaches Revived By Brain Shot
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn12983-zombie-cockroaches-revived-by-brain-shot.html
There is a cure for zombies after all – if you are a cockroach. A new study has shown that cockroaches that turned into "zombies" after being stung by a parasitic wasp can be revived with an antidote.
As awesome as zombies are and as even more awesome as zombie immunity shots are, this strikes me as slightly dangerous. I mean, WTF are these people doing? Okay, don't they realize that cockroaches are the only thing that can survive a nuclear winter? Now they want to make them zombie immune? Are they crazy? Nothing will be able to stop them!
Also, I wonder how the anti-immunization/vaccine people will take this news... Are they pro-zombies?
-heather
There is a cure for zombies after all – if you are a cockroach. A new study has shown that cockroaches that turned into "zombies" after being stung by a parasitic wasp can be revived with an antidote.
Cockroaches can lose their ability to walk when stung by jewel wasps (Ampulex compressa) – the females of which use the cockroaches to feed their young.
The wasp, being much smaller than the cockroach, has evolved a fine sting that can deliver a venom cocktail directly into the cockroach’s brain. The poisons effectively turn the cockroach into a zombie.
The cockroach is not entirely paralysed, but loses its ability to escape. The wasp then grabs it by the antennae and pulls it into its burrow and lays an egg on its abdomen. The cockroach sits still while the wasp's larva hatches, chews a hole into its belly, and slowly eats its living host from the inside over a period of eight days.
Brain injection
To find out if he could revive the cockroaches, Frederic Libersat from Ben-Gurion University in Be'er Sheva, Israel, injected stung zombie cockroaches with candidate chemicals that resembled various neurotransmitters in the brain.
Libersat found that one of the drugs, a mimic of the neurotransmitter octopamine, succeeded in bringing the roaches back to life.
"The cockroach begins to walk spontaneously again, especially when injected directly into the brain," says Libersat.
He had previously discovered that octopamine-producing neurons elsewhere in the cockroach’s body show reduced activity when stung by the wasps. Libersat thinks that the same thing may happen in the brain.
Zombie humans
"I think the most likely explanation is that a component of the toxin affects the expression of genes that regulate the activity of these neurons", he says.
So could octopamine become a possible antidote for future humans turned into zombies by, say, invading aliens? Not quite, says neuroscientist Hans-Joachim Pflüger at the Freie Universität Berlin, Germany.
"Our brain is of course much more complex, and we use different neurotransmitters,” he says. “But new research shows tiny quantities of octopamine exist in the vertebrate spinal cord and do affect leg movement, so it will be interesting to see what exactly octopamine does in humans."
Journal reference: The Journal of Experimental Biology (vol 210, p 4411)
------
As awesome as zombies are and as even more awesome as zombie immunity shots are, this strikes me as slightly dangerous. I mean, WTF are these people doing? Okay, don't they realize that cockroaches are the only thing that can survive a nuclear winter? Now they want to make them zombie immune? Are they crazy? Nothing will be able to stop them!
Also, I wonder how the anti-immunization/vaccine people will take this news... Are they pro-zombies?
-heather
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