August 29, 2008

  • Update!!!!

    Barack Obama earns my vote again by answering all 14 of Science Debate 2008's questions.  Go here.

    Bull's-eye

    Science Has No Place in Politics
    by Live Science
    Benjamin Radford

    Recently, the two men who want to be next president of the United States appeared in a televised two-hour forum on faith, hosted by megachurch minister Rick Warren.

    Religion has been problematic for both candidates in their campaigns. Barack Obama's pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, made controversial, conspiracy-laden statements about AIDS and racism, while John McCain's spiritual advisor Rod Parsley claimed that America's "divine purpose" is to destroy Islam, which he considers a "false religion."

    Still, it's not hard to see why the pair participated: The so-called Faith Forum had important political implications, as both candidates court conservative Christian voters.

    Yet the bigger story is another, lesser-known debate — one that transcends faith or politics. The debate, slated for April 18 in Philadelphia, was arranged by ScienceDebate 2008, a bipartisan group of Nobel laureates and other scholars who want to bring science to the fore of public discussion. The idea of a science debate is supported by virtually every scientific organization in the country, including the National Academy of Sciences.

    The reason you probably haven't heard about the Science Debate is that it didn't happen. None of the candidates accepted. They found time for other public forums, including the Faith Forum, and a "Compassion Forum," but when it came to science — the very engine that drives America's technology — the candidates were conspicuously silent.

    Discussions of faith and compassion are fine, but solutions to the serious problems facing our nation and indeed the planet can only be found in science. It's not clear why the candidates didn't participate. Perhaps they felt that they weren't well-versed enough in science to really discuss it, lest the forum turn into an embarrassing, gaffe-riddled version of "Jeopardy!" Perhaps they think science isn't sexy, and assumed that they should focus on more fundamental issues like the Iraq war, energy shortages, and the economy.

    What they don't seem to understand is that science underlies all those issues, and many more. America needs a science-literate president now more than ever. Both Obama and McCain are intelligent people, but neither seems to recognize the importance of science to the future of our country. The point is not to ask the candidates to explain Faraday's law of induction, or know the difference between mitosis and meiosis, but a basic understanding of what science is, and how it works, is essential to creating good laws and public policy.

    It's not too late; Obama and McCain can still have a Science Debate before the election if they realize how important science is. After all, our energy and environmental problems can't be solved with hot air.
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    Science Debate 2008 is an excellent and in my mind, obvious idea.  For the debate's 14 questions, format, and other info, go here.  Hopefully the candidates will step up to the plate for this one.

    But if not, look on the bright side  - The Onion has an idea that just might work:
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    Bush Told To Sign Birthday Treaty For Someone Named 'Kyoto'

    August 22, 2008 | Issue 44•34  

    WASHINGTON—Enlisted by members of the House and Senate, presidential aide Rebecca Tandy brought a copy of the international climate-change treaty to President Bush's desk Monday and asked him to sign a birthday document for a Japanese dignitary named "Kyoto Protocol." "Mr. Protocol really likes treaties, so we got him this treaty instead of a card, so if you could just—all the other countries have already signed it," a nervous Tandy reportedly said to Bush, who quickly scrawled his signature on the treaty and told her to tell Kyoto he said "hi." "And now, if you could just initial here, and here, and here, and, oh, you can ignore all that stuff about sulfides. That's just an inside joke." House Speaker Nancy Pelosi later attempted to get Bush to sign a "bar mitzvah stop-use agreement" for the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Clusterbomb.

August 21, 2008

  • Lights Down

    leroi2

    Each passing decade seems to produce fewer and fewer musicians destined to reach legendary status, bright diamonds in a desert of dust.  One such gem from the 1990's burst onto the scene with an explosive debut album entitled Under the Table and Dreaming that would propel the richly talented Dave Matthews Band into the mainstream and lay the musical foundation for which much of their future work would be based.  With supreme instrumental musicianship, they incorporated horns, strings, percussion, and a unique vocal style into a diverse tapestry of music that pleased the masses and the critics both.  From the beginning, they poured their soul into every aspect of their art, and it showed.  Each album from the cover art to the lyrics to the music itself reflected the high level of the group's dedication to its craft.  It is with this integrity, as opposed to commercialization and self-promotion, that the band quickly developed and continues to maintain a strong following.  Their concert tickets are among the most sought after in the world, though they frequently devote live performances to promoting charity organizations such as Farm Aid.  In a profession rife with opportunists and wanna-be' s, they are icons for the value of skill, creativity, diversity, and humility.
    And now, as the band mourns the loss of one of its founding members, I can't help but mourn as well.  Their music contributed greatly to the soundtrack of my college years after I was hooked by percussion performances that rank second only to the great     Neil Peart.  I can't tell you how many times I fell asleep listening to the Crash album.  A memorial fund has been set up in his name and donations can be made here.  It's the least I can give for what their music has given me. 

August 10, 2008

  • Fermi-tastic!!!

    August 2008 041

    On Wednesday, I made good on my earlier promise and was able to make the trip to Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, the world's largest subatomic particle accelerator, for now.  For those thinking "what?" - a particle accelerator takes various kinds of subatomic particles, places them on separate radio waves, sends them through 5 stages of increasing velocity and when they reach their maximum level of energy, collides them together, leaving the remains to be studied and analyzed.  The administration building (above) and some of the offices are visible, but all of the actual atomic activities occur underground.  The final stage of the process, the Tevatron, is an underground concrete tunnel four miles in cirumference capable of accelerating particles to 1 trillion Electron volts.  All I can say is wow.  You can't imagine the complexity of this process and the technology necessary until you see it, and probably not even then - the tour guide stuck to the basics but a significant portion of it was beyond my comprehension (Who knew atomic physics was so complicated?).  But no matter - this is the type of place you don't have know much about to realize you are in the presence of something spectacular.  I had a great time and want to thank my wife and son for following me around for three hours with minimal whining.  They got their turn on Saturday and took in Walking with Dinosaurs.  Fermilab was well worth the trip, and I highly recommend it for anyone in the Batavia, IL area with a few hours to kill.  I couldn't believe that such an important, powerful machine/facility was so easily accessible to the public.  Literally anyone could show up at the main building on Wednesdays at 10:30 with no reservations, no tickets, and no money and get a tour.  Hopefully, people take advantage of the fact.  Check out all the pictures here.

August 1, 2008

  • Am I a killjoy?

    002

    Or do pictures like this give anyone else pause?  It depicts a 5-year old boy at a county fair involved in a hotdog eating contest.  What's more the caption indicates the fair also offered watermelon eating, pie eating, and other contests for kids under age 6.  I know, I know - food eating contests are good old-fashioned fun that have been part of local fairs for generations.  They're cute, they're entertaining and have contributed to our culture with humorous anecdotes (Who could forget Lardass Hogan?)  But something about them makes me wince.  Maybe its the idea of rewarding gluttony during a time of current and impending food shortages in various places around the world.  Maybe its the current epidemic of child obesity in the US.  Maybe its the fact that the boy pictured is age 5 and in the process of a crucial stage for the development of his body and his eating habits.  Maybe its the fact that they are not having pea or broccoli or celery eating contests.  Maybe its the fact that the event is presided over by adults who either haven't considered the problems I've mentioned or don't find them compelling.  Maybe I am a killjoy making much ado about nothing.  Anyway, this has made me hungry for hot dogs - but I'm only having two, and I'm going to take my time.

July 26, 2008

  • So, just how far-reaching are the effects of climate change?
    _______________________________________________

    Global warming to hit nether regions

    July 15, 2008 at 10:17 AM EDT

    We all know that global climate change is heating sensitive ecological regions around the world. Now U.S. researchers are predicting it will bring a burning sensation to some sensitive human regions.  Researchers at the University of Texas say global warming will trigger a dramatic rise in kidney stones in the United States.  According to their study, warming temperatures over the next 42 years will cause a 30-per-cent jump in cases of nephrolithiasis, or kidney stone disease, in some regions of the country.

    "This will come and get you in your home," said Tom Brikowski, lead researcher and an associate professor of geosciences at the University of Texas at Dallas. "It will make life just uncomfortable enough that maybe people will slow down and think what they're doing to the climate."

    Higher rates of kidney stones have long been associated with hotter climes.  The effect of warm temperatures on the human body is much the same as it is on lakes. During scorching summer weather, lakes evaporate at faster rates, increasing the concentration of salts and minerals in the water left behind.  In humans, dehydration also leaves high mineral concentrations, which can congeal, forming solid, painful plugs in the bladder or kidneys.

    "While this is a serious effect, it's not devastating," said Dr. Brikowski. "It's an additional inconvenience proving yet again that climate change is a really dangerous experiment we're performing on the world."

    Physicians refer to the blistering southern states as the "stone belt," because of the higher rate of nephrolithiasis in regions where mean annual temperatures top 13.4 C (56.1 F). As temperatures rise the belt will grow, according to researchers, spreading north to Chicago and west to California.

    Physicians and climate-change researchers have forecast myriad health problems brought about by global warming. Higher prevalence of mosquito-borne illnesses - including malaria and West Nile virus - and lung problems associated with air pollution are but two.  Climate change contributes to 150,000 deaths worldwide a year, mainly from malaria, malnutrition or diarrhea, according to the World Health Organization.  Most climate-change experts are not yet aware of the kidney stone connection, but probably would not be surprised.

    "It's completely consistent with the other types of ailments we've seen," said Gideon Forman, executive director of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. "There will be all sorts of unforeseen consequences related to global warming."

    Dr. Brikowski launched the study after his veterinarian wife mentioned observing a higher rate of animal kidney stones during drought years.  At first he focused his research on salinity and hard water. But after reading a study on high rates of kidney stones among soldiers on deployments to arid regions, he changed his focus.

    Dr. Brikowski built a mathematical model relating temperature, kidney stone occurrence and geography using data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and regional rates for kidney stones.  From his model, co-researchers calculated that the enlarged stone belt would precipitate 2.2. million new cases of kidney stone disease in the United States by mid-century at a cost of more than $1-billion.  The study will appear in a forthcoming issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.
    ________________________________________________________

    Laugh all you want, but not around Alice.  For those who don't know, she was in the hospital the last day and a half with kidney stones.  The stone has since passed and she feels fine.  Her case likely had nothing to do with a dry climate - I can't remember a year with more rain.  After the stone passed, she took its picture, but I'll spare you.

July 17, 2008

  • I'm not in any hurry for Fall to get here, but.....

    Brand new Ben Folds album Way To Normal to hit stores September 16 

    and...

    Brand new Oasis album Dig Out Your Soul to be released October 6

    and...

    NHL releases 2008-09 regular season schedule - highlights include the first two games Pens vs. Sens in Stockolm, Sweden, an appearance by Crosby & company IN St. Louis, and of course the Blackhawks vs. Redwings Heritage Classic on New Year's Day at WRIGLEY FIELD!!

    and most importantly...

    Brand new Arnold baby to be released October 10 via scheduled C-section.

    I better relax while I can.
    ___________________________________________________________

    Footnote:  Last night, my favorite band of all time, Rush, broke a decades-long streak and appeared on American television for the first time in 33 years.  The best part?  Their chosen venue - The Colbert Report.  My favorite part was when Stephen asked the band - You have yet to be inducted into the Rock'N'Roll Hall of Fame.  Have you considered calling your next album "That's Bullshit"?

July 2, 2008

June 29, 2008

  • Credit where credit is due

    Fermilab Bailed Out by Congress

    President Bush expected to sign bill intended to prevent layoffs

    The nation's premier particle physics laboratory—Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) in Batavia, Ill.—just got a new lease on life.
     
    The U.S. Senate yesterday passed legislation that provides $400 million for science programs, including $62.5 million to the     Office of Science in the Department of Energy (DOE), which oversees Fermilab. The measure, passed by the House last week, now goes to President Bush, who has indicated he will sign it.

    Fermilab says the infusion will likely prevent     layoffs in the works since December, when Congress slashed the lab's 2008 budget from the $372 million requested by the DOE to $320 million, down $20 million from 2007.

    To keep alive the lab's hunt for the elusive     Higgs boson—the long-awaited source of all mass in the universe—staff were forced to take mandatory work furloughs of one week a month, and lab officials planned to lay off approximately 140 employees. The furloughs ended in May after an anonymous donation of $5 million.

    Today was the deadline for staff to decide whether to accept the lab's     buyout offer before layoffs begin. Fermilab Director Pier Oddone said in a statement that between those opting for the buyout and the additional funding, "I expect to announce the end of involuntary layoffs at the laboratory."

    "It's been such a long road that until all the 't's are crossed and the 'i's are dotted, I don't think anyone's breathed out yet," Judy Jackson, a spokesperson for the laboratory, said. "People are really very, very pleased," she added.

    Fermilab said the added funds may allow researchers to begin new work on     neutrinos, a type of subatomic particle that will become the lab's main line of research in coming years after its Higgs hunt ends.
    _____________________________________________________________________________________

    After a presidency replete with nose-thumbing at the scientific community, Bush is for once on the right side of things and follows through accordingly.  Who would guess that after his policy gaffs involving climate change, stem-cell research, and a tacit endorsement of  "intelligent design", he would have a soft spot for particle physics.  I intend to show my support by taking a tour of Fermilab sometime when I'm in the area.  Spencer has never seen a particle accelerator, and I'm sure Alice will be thrilled. 

June 23, 2008

  • George Carlin was one of the most unique comedic minds of the twentieth century.  In a profession replete with cheesy gimmicks and dated fads, his approach was simple - keenly-worded observations and unique perspective of the world around us and its ridiculousness.  His refreshing point of view was matched only by the wittingly creative way in which it was delivered.  He will be missed.  Below is one of my favorite Carlin routines - even in his later years, he remained as sharp and as talented as ever.

June 19, 2008

  • On a lighter note, we made The Daily Show!
    Note the name of the city that Jason and Wyatt report from in the second video.