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Dr. Seuss was not quite surreal enough for offspring 1.1. . .

Photo by Josh Witten

Musings on SexyGate, an opportunity missed?

This was originally intended as one of my rambling notes (you do read the notes, don’t you?) appended to “Zombie Feynman vs The Special Girl Powers”, but the ramble took on a life of its own. So, here are some thoughts about the impact of SexyGate[1][2] that have been tumbling around in the old noodle for a few days. Not sure if the extra cooking time helped them at all.

I would almost like to agree with Ayatollah PZed on this one – that to make a “sexy scientist” list without appearing to be an ass monkey, one should give the scientists the choice to be included. For just  such a list, check out the Science Cheerleader’s Sexy Scientists and Engineers, but restrain yourself from making any comments about how good I look in the short rugby shorts. Continue reading “Musings on SexyGate, an opportunity missed?”

Zombie Feynman vs The Special Girl Powers

If there is one lesson from SexyGate (the kerfuffle following Sheril Kirshenbaum’s inclusion on a “sexy scientist” list[1]), it is that actions have consequences, long-range, important, and potentially ironic consequences, for which you shall be held responsible. Consequences like drawing the attention of the hedonistic proletariat to the “sexy scientist” list and giving many the excuse to consider the potentially related[2] question: “Is science sexist?”

There were a number of thought-provoking answers. Alexandra Jellicoe’s article was advertised as both unusual and interesting, but was neither. While most commentators examined sexism in the institutions we use to do science, Jellicoe spent her non-raging-lesbian-feminist thunder[3] on the fundamental process of science. Continue reading “Zombie Feynman vs The Special Girl Powers”

The “No Black Box” Podcast: You vill listen and you vill like

If you are not listening to the Omega Tau podcast, what are you doing? Omega Tau covers über-cool science and technology topics like fusion reactors, flight simulators, and deep wreck diving. Unlike other science and technology shows, like the excellent NPR Science Friday, Markus Voelter and Nora Ludewig are willing to spend as much time as it takes to ask all the detailed, dorky questions that we want to know the answers to. They keep asking questions until they find out how things really work. I like to think of it as the “No Black Box” Podcast. Based in the Stuttgart, Germany area, Markus and Nora amazingly produce both German and English podcasts, making me wish I could speak either language fluently.

Omega Tau is available via iTunes and you can follow the podcast on Twitter or “like” them on Facebook.

Bueller, Buellen, Buelden, Buerden, Durden

Simply the best video editing to create a brand new story of out old material that I have seen.