"In Maine, there aren't many jobs that scream out 'math and science,"' said Cook, who lives in Etna, in the central part of the state. Yes, both topics are important, but "most parents are saying you're better off going to school for something there's a big need for."

There's a lot going on here, I think.

For one, I could discuss how tragically shortsighted people are. That's a common enough refrain though that I'm sick of saying it and ultimately don't think it matters because I don't think people care. The fact is that the majority never look outside their bubbles. The woman's very premise belies a lack of vision : "In Maine, there aren't many jobs..." Fuck Maine. Fuck your home town. We don't live in a world anymore where many people can expect to get a job locally and stay there for their whole life. So when you're discussing education, it's irrelevant to base the conversaion primarily on the needs of a small locality. Yes, i'm considering a state to be a small locality because the market isn't my town and your town anymore. It's the whole planet, give or take a few countries.

Mrs. Cook has a pragmatic notion of educating towards jobs, but completely misunderstands the big picture. In the future, what will there be a big need for? I'm not precient, but I'm pretty sure we're not going to see a *decreased* need for analytical thinkers. Of course, it's possible that the jump I made -- "math and science education" to "critical thinking" -- is not obvious to people. I get the impression that people think of studying math and believe that it's basically only useful if you want to sit in an office or a lab alone struggling with the mysteries of the universe.

Truly, I'm not a biased geek. I hated math as a student and right up until my first day of college I spent 10 times as many hours writing as i did working problems. I loved science in many ways, so I chose Physics in college (and was woefully unprepared for it), in contrast to what I had always been skilled at.

I'm not going to sit here and argue that we need more math and science either, because I reject the notion that quantity is a relevant factor. The goal of pre-college education is, presumably, to provide a baseline amount of knowledge for people that ought to let them move in any direction they want. There are only so many hours available in which to achieve that goal and for me to argue for more of those hours to be spent in math and science is to argue that less should be spent in english, music, history. That's not something I'm comfotable doing.

I'm coming to believe that the very structure of our educational system is flawed. I am not an educator, and haven't studied alternatives, but when I think back to 6-12 grade education I find the analysis unpleasant. I see an overly rigid curriculum that emphasizes specific facts over general capability, memorization over analysis and which provided little prac... [ Read More (0.2k in body) ]

CNN.com - Parents don't see a crisis over science and math - Feb 15, 2006

Don't you see? We need to learn Chinese not math and science!

I HAVE to point out this quote...."Students put a lack of science and math near the bottom of problems they see at school. They are much more worried about bad language, cheating or the pressure for good grades."

Bad language? Are you kidding me? I am really surprised that bad language beat out drugs and violence to make it into the top three, or maybe the survey conveniently left those choices out seeing as they really don't affect education at all.

CNN: Parents don't see a crisis over science and math

First it was Napoleon. Now it is Jesus Christ. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has compared himself to both, prompting the open scorn of his political opponents and even the quietly raised eyebrows of his coalition partners.

"I am the Jesus Christ of politics," Italian media quoted him as saying at a dinner with supporters on Saturday night. "I am a patient victim, I put up with everyone, I sacrifice myself for everyone."

Berlusconi is quite a character...

He is not only the current Prime Minister, he is Italy's richest man, and he owns most of Italy's media. His political party, which he founded, is named "Forza Italia" (translation: Go Italy), after the chant used to support a local footbal team, which he owns. When not running the government or making billions in advertising, insurance, food and construction, he deals with the fallout from getting caught bribing judges.

CNN.com - Berlusconi: I'm Christ of politics - Feb 12, 2006

Country music outlaw Willie Nelson sang "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" and "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" more than 25 years ago. He released a very different sort of cowboy anthem this Valentine's Day.

Willie Nelson Releases Gay Cowboy Song

test your light sabre skillz, fanboys.

Use the force

In honor of Freedom to Marry week, send an equal-marriage themed valentine or learn more about NOW's Equal Marriage Campaign.

Freedom to Marry Week

In your face Wal-Mart!

The state board that oversees pharmacies voted Tuesday to require Wal-Mart to stock emergency contraception pills at its Massachusetts pharmacies, a spokeswoman at the Department of Public Health said.

Wal-Mart Must Stock Contraception in Mass.

Bull-sapien!

Raising Awareness about Human-Animal Hybrids

I would argue a slightly different angle to that. Despite all the accusations thrown around not many people actively think about the origins of their goods and services (and thus whether they are keeping others "down"). What I see in this argument is the relative security each group enjoys compared to the other. The higher amount of perceived security, the more happiness (which doesn't apply to the Sunbelt. I'm sure that has some scientific reason like greater exposure to the sun minus cancer). But seriously, happiness is objective and I sure don't need Pew to tell me who has it and who doesn't. I'll leave that to Cosmo.

Pew Research Center: Are We Happy Yet?

I can't even count how many people are getting this as a present.

If Robots Ever Get Too Smart, He'll Know How to Stop Them - New York Times