Reflections of the Polish Masters.
This reminded me of Ulam’s Adventures of a Mathematician, which I have read at least three times.
Mathematics from Eastern Europe
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Monthly Archives: June 2014
Changing Times
Neil DeGrasse Tyson: US need not lose its edge in science … but if things continue as they have been the last couple decades, it will. This seems quite similar to the talk that Mia McDavid, Rachel Hadley and I heard him give in May
Avoiding “Sagan Syndrome.”
Nathan Taylor, Why Astronomers and Journalists should pay heed to Biologists about ET.
Years ago I wrote something that mentioned similar issues: Extraterrestrial Intelligence: A skeptical view. This was long before the Kepler space probe. However, Taylor seems to be saying the fundamentals of the issue have not changed.
As Taylor points out, there is an ad hominem issue here. Frank Tipler, who was a forceful advocate of the no-ETs view in the early and mid 1980s, subsequently became a “crackpot” (Taylor’s word, but I agree completely). However, this does not invalidate Tipler’s earlier work.
Taylor also points out that for practical (creating life) purposes, the universe is still very young. Star formation will continue for a long time, a necessary condition for life. ETs may yet turn up, but you will need to be very patient.
Coming soon to Lake Shore Drive
Chicago wins George Lucas museum
One of the attractions of the Chicago site was the proximity to the “Museum Campus” of the Field Museum of Natural History, the Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium. Looks like an example of the Matthew effect.
From Slashdot.
The Rebel Rani
As with much of what I know about the 19th British Empire, I first learned about Lakshmi Bai from George MacDonald Fraser’s Flashman stories, in this case Flashman in the Great Game.
Hotter still
Earth has warmest May on record, may signal warmest year in pipeline.
The NOAA analysis for May agrees with those of NASA and the Japanese Meteorological Agency, which I referred to here.
How the NRA and pro-gun Americans abuse Australian crime stats
Faking waves, by way of AstroKatie
Conclusion:
So what is the reality? Homicide and suicide rates have declined in Australia since the 1990s. Deaths results from firearms have plunged even more dramatically. In Australia, mass shootings similar to Port Arthur,
Hoddle Street and Strathfield have not occurred for over a decade.Is this the result of the gun laws introduced by the Howard government? While some (particularly gun advocates) dispute their impact, several studies conclude the laws have made a difference .
Claims that Australian gun laws have increased crime are pure spin and deception. They say more about American partisan politics than about the reality in Australia.
Making good decisions in a hurry
Sometimes, particularly on television, decision making is presented as a choice between careful analysis and “going with the gut.” On television, of course, the gut always wins. However, in the real world this is a false dichotomy. We often, particularly in a crisis, do neither. Instead we use “heuristics.”
Heuristics enable us to make fast, highly (but not perfectly) accurate, decisions without taking too much time and searching for information. Heuristics allow us to focus on only a few pieces of information and ignore the rest.
See Miracles Happen — The Simple Heuristic That Saved 150 Lives
“Experts … often search for less information than novices do.”
Hotter and hotter
Earth Just Tied for Its Warmest April on Record, NOAA Says
Earth Has Its Warmest May on Record Globally, Spring Could Be Warmest
May 2014 Was the Hottest May in Recorded History
Those stories about a slowdown or “pause” in global warming? Just statistical noise, or a #FauxPause.
Monday Night Irish Class, June 16, 2014
Irish Class, JUne 16, 2014
Rang Gaeilge, 16ú lá Mí na Mheiteam 2014
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