This weeks tidbits from the wider world
"We are 13.7 billion light years from the edge of the observable universe, that's a good estimate, with well-defined error bars, and with the available infomation I predict that I will always be with you" -Singer Katie Melua's redrafted lyric to the song Nine Million Bicycles, in response to science writer Simon Singh's complaint that the original wa inaccurate.
Stupid Design
"When it comes to dealing with "intelligent design", scientists should take a leaf out of the book of Karl Rove, George Bush's tenacious election strategist. "It's time to start playing hardball," said Donald Wise of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, speaking at the Geological Society of America's annual meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah.
"In a call to arms, geologists were urged to join their biologist brethen in attacking the creationist challenge to Darwinian evolution. The conference devoted two sessions -comprising 24 presentations- to the debate, plus a panel discussion on the so-called "national attack on science"
"With the trial over teaching intelligent design in full swing in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the urgency was palpable and the sessions attracted large crowds. Many of the speakers stressed the anti-evolutionists' high level of organisation, dedication and persistence, and urged scientists to match this. A variety of tacticts were discussed, from bolstering legal efforts to grass-roots action such as teaching evolution to children to children at an early age, reaching out to voters, and leading church group discussions about evolution. "Join the school board," suggested high-school science teacher Mark Terry from Seattle.
"Wise drew enthusiastic applause by arguing that science should go on the offensive. He suggested a Rove-style campaign to "find a few of your opponent's weakest points and pound on them mercilessly".
"What are these weak points? Look no further than out poorly draining sinuses, cramped teeth and hunched spine, all hangovers from our long-muzzled, knuckle-dragging days, and perfect examples of what Wise calls "incompetent design"."
Both courtesy of the 22 October edition of New Scientist which includes a facinating feature on metal-fueled car engines.
Stupid Design
"When it comes to dealing with "intelligent design", scientists should take a leaf out of the book of Karl Rove, George Bush's tenacious election strategist. "It's time to start playing hardball," said Donald Wise of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, speaking at the Geological Society of America's annual meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah.
"In a call to arms, geologists were urged to join their biologist brethen in attacking the creationist challenge to Darwinian evolution. The conference devoted two sessions -comprising 24 presentations- to the debate, plus a panel discussion on the so-called "national attack on science"
"With the trial over teaching intelligent design in full swing in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the urgency was palpable and the sessions attracted large crowds. Many of the speakers stressed the anti-evolutionists' high level of organisation, dedication and persistence, and urged scientists to match this. A variety of tacticts were discussed, from bolstering legal efforts to grass-roots action such as teaching evolution to children to children at an early age, reaching out to voters, and leading church group discussions about evolution. "Join the school board," suggested high-school science teacher Mark Terry from Seattle.
"Wise drew enthusiastic applause by arguing that science should go on the offensive. He suggested a Rove-style campaign to "find a few of your opponent's weakest points and pound on them mercilessly".
"What are these weak points? Look no further than out poorly draining sinuses, cramped teeth and hunched spine, all hangovers from our long-muzzled, knuckle-dragging days, and perfect examples of what Wise calls "incompetent design"."
Both courtesy of the 22 October edition of New Scientist which includes a facinating feature on metal-fueled car engines.
posted by ʎ at 4:27 AM
1 Comments:
how about this one; enither side be so damn arrogant as to think they have all the answers, useless feuding gets men nowhere, intelligent discourse at least lets people decide for themselves. Everything we know is restrained by the concepts we have developed, whats' to say that at the begining of all such investigations someone took a wrong turn and now all future work based on it has gone off track? or maybe, just maybe. there are more important things to be worrying about?
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