January 2012
5 posts
Gov. Haley Barbour of Mississippi Is Criticized on... →
Here is an actually useful amendment to fight for (not some open worded ban on contraceptives or on gay marriage): amend the state consitituion to prevent the govenor from pardoning felons. At least ensure as Louisianna does that pardons can only be issued if 4 of 5 members of the parole board agree. In this case the executive should not have any power over the judiciary. It is dangerous....
University of Maryland plans $7.2 million... →
I understand that the previous house was rather crummy, but 7.2 million for a new house for the university president? That’s extravagant to say the least.
December 2011
5 posts
Serious conversations (part 32): →
This series is a continuation of my conversations with an atheist friend of mine. These are my edited responses from that conversation. The thirtieth through thirty-third entries deal with…
Our Future in Space – panel at TAM 9 | Bad... →
These are the big discussions that should engross our country, not the nonsense you hear on 24-7 “news” stations. These discussions mean something. These discussions contribute to society. These discussions will propel us forward.
Must Watch: An Out-of-Character Stephen Colbert... →
Fantastic interview of one of my favorite scientists. This man is the kind of person we need in government, not the power-hungry know-nothings that constitute both parties presently.
November 2011
4 posts
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/bob-osterta... →
The police brutality that has occurred lately is very disturbing and frankly inexcusable and intolerable. As soon as we allow one voice, regardless of opinion, to be silenced in the name of security, we have lost our liberty.
Serious conversations (part 31): →
This series is a continuation of my conversations with an atheist friend of mine. These are my edited responses from that conversation. The thirtieth through thirty-third entries deal with…
October 2011
5 posts
National weather association weather briefing →
Here Matthew Reagan and I give the Monday morning weather briefing at the 2011 NWA conference.
CHARTS: Here's What The Wall Street Protesters Are... →
It will take you a few minutes, but click through these. Good overview in chart form of why banks are evil and why Occupy Wall Street anger is justified.
Serious conversations (part 29): →
This series is a continuation of my conversations with an atheist friend of mine. These are my edited responses from that conversation. The twenty-ninth entry is a selection of comments on…
September 2011
9 posts
Lab Claims Faster-Than-Light Particle -... →
Yeah, no. Something must be wrong with their experiment.
Serious conversations (part 28): →
This series is a continuation of my conversations with an atheist friend of mine. These are my edited responses from that conversation. The twenty-seventh and twenty-eighth entries are a…
The pitfalls of a third-party candidacy - The... →
I am about ready to suport an intelligent third party regardless of the chances of it winning.
"Let him die": A debate question exposes the... →
A hundred times yes. You overly zealous christian republicans can’t talk about Jesus and quote the Bible and condemn everything it condemns then let people die. What about forgiveness? You are suffering from a sin you are condemning the government of: greed. The real question I want Bachmann or Perry to answer is: ”If a 30 year old man who is too poor to buy health insurance will...
Sugar-apple - Wikipedia →
This fruit sounds delicious. I wonder where I might get some.
Goodbye to All That: Reflections of a GOP... →
Great article, but it does nothing to solve our present political problems. Someone write that article, because I have no idea how to fix our current broken political system.
August 2011
4 posts
Academic publishers make Murdoch look like a... →
I agree with this wholeheartedly. If the government funds research, it should be freely available once published. We need to rid ourselves of this middleman.
(Via +Eric Tramel on G+)
Quantum Diaries →
Quote of the article: ”Evolution works on the same principle as the capitalist society. There is no central planning but a massively parallel system with a very ruthless feedback loop: adapt or die. It is ironic that the left attacks capitalism and supports evolution, while right attacks evolution and supports capitalism since both evolution and capitalism depend on one and the same...
But for those making more than $1 million — there were 236,883 such households...
– Respond to this, my tax hating, republican friends:
Stop Coddling the Super Rich , by Warren E Buffett, chairman and chief executive of Berkshire Hathoway (via dansel)
A letter to my congressman →
Sorry, but this is going to be one more post of a political nature before we resume the “serious conversations”. Instead of being continually frustrated with the Congress over the budget impasse,…
July 2011
6 posts
John Boehner’s no-confidence vote - WP →
The line from this article, one of the tea party freshman reps says when asked about the immenant default, “I hope the Lord blesses our nation in a way that is measurable.”
That’s why we aren’t getting anywhere; there are representatives that believe the solution to the debt crisis is God. We are so screwed.
Let me clue you in, Rep Scott (SC), if God exists, He...
Comment on the News →
All the “news” is anymore is an opinionated commentary designed to sway a line of thought. The “news” is not a delivery anymore. It is an ultimatum. Either you believe what the news tells you or…
Democrats claim victory in Congressional Baseball... →
I don’t care that if was the 50th annual or if it was for charity. We default in two weeks, and the House is playing baseball.
The GOP Plan to Save $40 Billion: Let Rich Alone,... →
Hey, GOP, you think you’re taking your “Let’s screw the poor and middle class to help the rich” agenda a bit too far now?
Tell Rep. Cantor that he is absolutely wrong to do this: http://cantor.house.gov/contact/
6 mind-blowing ways 'Starship Troopers' predicted... →
I realize it’s cracked.com, but everyone, everyone should read this. It is amazing. The events in the movie parallel the war on terror so closely it is unsettling.
The campy anti-war satire about a race from a distant, desert land, who out of nowhere strikes a civilian target in a way we didn’t think was possible, leading to heavy-handed patriotic propaganda, and a headlong rush into...
Apples and oranges
I thought I would share this anecdote about a conversation with my dad. This may seem like one my of terrible jokes, but the conversation actually occurred.
I’m home visiting my parents for the next few days, and as is my usual habit, I try to tend to the garden since my parents are rather neglectful of it. In my parent’s yard, I had an orange tree that produced quite a few...
June 2011
4 posts
May 2011
6 posts
Where does the Water Go? The Old River Control... →
Fascinating article about the control structures on the Atchafalaya by the father of a friend of mine from Vicksburg. He works for the Coastal and Hydrolics Laboratory at the Engineer Research and Development Center, Corps of Engineers in Vicksburg. I work in the Environmental Lab.
Carbon-fiber cello →
Carbon-fiber cello. That looks awesome. And when you have testimonials from the director of the Eastman School of music, Yo Yo Ma, and principal musicians from various symphonies, it must sound awesome as well.
Atmosphere Above Japan Heated Rapidly Before M9... →
Might this be a way to predict future earthquakes?
Benford's Law →
Fascinating discussion of why the digit one appears more frequently at the beginning of any number than your intuition leads you to believe.
Photopic Sky Survey →
A panorama of the entire sky. You owe it to yourself to take a minute to look at this.
April 2011
4 posts
Serious conversations (part 26): →
This series is a continuation of my conversations with an atheist friend of mine. These are my edited responses from that conversation. The twenty-seventh entry is a comment on my own self…