Author: Josh Witten

http://www.thefinchandpea.com

Trivial Pursuits

In the 20 January 2012 edition of Science Magazine, editor-in-chief Bruce Alberts makes a strong argument that science education should not be about the “facts” of science or the false god of “rigor”:

Trivial Pursuit is of course merely a game; but it reminded me of the much more serious battle. . .for my grandchildren, “science” includes being able to regurgitate the names of parts of the cell in 7th grade. . .Although rigor might appear to be a worthy goal. . .they are taught with an overly strict attention to rules, procedure, and rote memorization. . .for far too many, science seems a game of recalling boring, incomprehensible facts. Continue reading “Trivial Pursuits”

Malpuerta

There is a door, in a wall. This wall is located in my place of work. It helps define a room I usually need to pass through in order to get to my bicycle. This door and I do not get along. It tries to break my nose. Not actively. It’s more of a passive aggressive refusal to meet my perfectly reasonable expectations of doors, especially those attached to post and lintel constructs. This diagram should make my perfectly reasonable expectations perfectly clear:

Continue reading “Malpuerta”

2015.10.21 – The Second Coming of Marty McFly -Lego edition

While we all await Marty McFly coming back to the future on 21 October 2015, we can gaze upon Alex Jones’ (Orion Pax) lovely Lego diorama of the future Hill Valley.

 

My trip to Science Online 2012

Here is an incomplete list of my impressions:

  • Jeremy Irons
  • John Wayne

Sorry, wrong impressions list. Here we go now. My impressions from Science Online 2012:

  • My friends from cyberspace are cool people and not Turing AI computers.
  • The depth and complexity of online interactions in science communication means these individuals act the same online and off.
  • It was pleasant to go to a conference that did not involve getting lectured at or deal with posturing competitors.
  • The correct spelling of the Canadian pronunciation of “about” is ab00t[1]. Continue reading “My trip to Science Online 2012”

Thanks to SOPA, I got my first letter from a congressman. . .

. . .that was probably written by a staffer, from party talking points, before he’d made up his mind about his vote, and I showed my margin notes over at The Paltry Sapien.