You never know when inspiration will strike. Literally. In a big, splattery mess of new Rugbyologism:
- lactile vulcanism, n, the epic spit-up Offspring 2.02 delivered unto mine lap in mid-feeding last night.
Tag: Science Communication
Kosher Bacon Argument (New Rugbyologism)
Well, that did not take long. See the full list of Rugbyologisms here. Our newest addition is:
- Kosher bacon argument, idiom, the argument that religious organizations ban the behaviors that their leadership secretly long to engage in, usually used in reference to Catholic molestation scandal and credited to Christopher Hitchens.
Rugbyologisms
Through hard won experience, we have learned that Josh frequently finds the English language inadequate in its descriptive variety, requiring the establishment of new terms, specifically crafted for the task at hand. The right tool for the right job, wot? We have also found that a concise dictionary of these terms is necessary in order to have any idea what he is on about. A regularly (or, you know, as often as Josh makes something up) updated version of this glossary can be found at the Rugbyologisms Page. Continue reading “Rugbyologisms”
Predator X: Too Bad Ass for Peer-Review?
Suffice it to say that earning the title Predator X should require a resume loaded with specific instances of statistically significant bad assery[1]. Big fangs or some kung fu lessons might get you Predator L or, even, E, but we are talking about Predator Freaking X here. By law, Predator X must be one bad mother. . .
Shut your mouth!
I’m talking ’bout Predator X.
Then we can dig it.
Predator X[2] was a pliosaur, a group of prehistoric marine reptiles (within the order plesiosauria) characterized by large body size, long heads, short necks, conical teeth, four flippers, and eating tasty things that had the misfortune to be smaller than them. Basically, pliosaurs were sea monsters, and sea monsters are already pretty bad ass.
Originally discovered in 2006, Predator X was the subject of a History channel documentary in 2009. Predator X was the subject of all manner of articles with the notable exception of the academic, peer-reviewed variety[3]. Hmmm, the publicize before peer-review strategy sounds familiar to me.
What makes Predator X deserve all this attention? According to the team from the University of Oslo Natural History Museum Predator X stands out even in a clade of sea monsters:
Its anatomy, physiology and hunting strategy all point to it being the ultimate predator – the most dangerous creature to patrol the Earth’s oceans – quoted in New Scientist (link to original press release no longer available[4])
Wait, did I just say University of Oslo Natural History Museum? What does that remind me of? Continue reading “Predator X: Too Bad Ass for Peer-Review?”
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.
The Finch and Pea 