TED | Talks | Hans Rosling: Debunking third-world myths with the best stats you’ve ever seen (video)
Topic: Miscellaneous
10:53 pm EDT, Apr 17, 2007
You’ve never seen data presented like this. With the drama and urgency of a sportscaster, Hans Rosling debunks myths about the so-called “developing world” using extraordinary animation software developed by his Gapminder Foundation. The Trendalyzer software (recently acquired by Google) turns complex global trends into lively animations, making decades of data pop. Asian countries, as colorful bubbles, float across the grid -- toward better national health and wealth. Animated bell curves representing national income distribution squish and flatten. In Rosling’s hands, global trends — life expectancy, child mortality, poverty rates — become clear, intuitive and even playful.
This guy is a trip. Disinformation Conference. "I might be loaded but I got into a 7-11 and its still a 7-11 and I might have had smoked a quarter bag but I smoked a quarter bag every day for years........ "We use time to grow Larve"
Satire: Experts call for restrictions on childhood imagination - CNN.com
Topic: Miscellaneous
7:24 pm EST, Feb 22, 2007
Got me too - I just saw the CNN part and after news today that a popular pediatrics magazine advised doctors to 'monitor homeschool students for socialization' (the studies out show that homeschool students are BETTER socialized than their public school peers, so that had to be based on the author's uninformed opinion only)
...I just got SO pissed off after just seeing that, and then this - and I can say yeah, I *HIT* the mouse. What timing. I was about to go ballistic.
Free Streamlink Weekend - Art Bell, Coast to Coast MP3 downloads
Topic: Miscellaneous
6:56 pm EST, Feb 9, 2007
Ok, I have to admit that I am hooked on coasttocoast. I listen to it every night. I love the format - where really smart folks and really weird folks all call in with stories and tidbits and they are all given respect. I love the conspiracy theories focus in the same week as another show of really good science. I got the best advice ever from some 'hackers' on an Art Bell show back in the 80s. A friend that knew I liked computers brought it to me on cassette.
They said "Read the TCP/IP protocol and learn it inside out." I did. I've always felt like I owed Art Bell some credit for sparking a flame in me.
Anyway, streamlink is free all weekend. IF you are up late, why not check it out. Even when it is very bad, it is horribly funny at least.
"...two widows filed a lawsuit accusing the government of unconstitutional religious discrimination. At that point, the department suddenly unveiled a proposed regulation for handling such requests.
But the department won't say whether the new policy will permit the Wiccans to use their symbol. Nor is it clear from the text, which says the department may refuse to recognize religious groups that "promote or engage in activity that is illegal or contrary to public policy," and may reject any emblem that "would have an adverse impact on the dignity or solemnity of cemeteries."
When I asked a department spokesman whether the Wiccan application would qualify under this policy, he said only that it would get "thorough consideration." The new rules didn't dissuade a federal judge from letting the lawsuit proceed.
Maybe the VA is finally ready to do the right thing. But after all the time it has spent stalling on this issue, the suspicion arises that somebody there has a major problem with the Wiccans. And it's not hard to imagine that the current secretary of veterans affairs would like to delay a resolution until the next administration, so someone else would get the blame for -- as the change will undoubtedly be portrayed -- giving a seal of approval to an evil cult.
But the question is not whether Wicca is a good or true religion -- only whether its adherents are entitled to the same rights as everyone else. The Constitution has a simple answer: yes."
The Word Theory Must be Stricken from Scientific Thought
Topic: Miscellaneous
2:32 pm EST, Feb 7, 2007
........or something. Perhaps this is a word that should be above the 4th grade level meant for public news consumption.
The popular press is using the word theory to describe well tested and analyzed science, and the public is seeing that word only as it is used in the scientific process - almost as if theory = hypothesis.
I try to remind people that while there is a THEORY of Evolution, there's also a THEORY OF GRAVITY. (1,3,4)
But folks are not getting it. Therefore, we must strike the word THEORY from all talk of science, unless it is indeed, purely conjecture, as the word THEORY must mean DOUBTFUL to a large percentage of the public.(2,5,6,7)
I, for one, am tired of seeing scientific theories politicized and analyzed by the public IN the media. I really don't blame the media so much for this one - it is the PUBLIC. The media could stand to INFORM the public better though, when the meaning of the word may be used in a confusing way. Maybe the media just needs a better WORD. Something that the general public can't trip their tongues over.
What an interesting, confusing word:
"1. a coherent group of general propositions used as principles of explanation for a class of phenomena: Einstein's theory of relativity. 2. a proposed explanation whose status is still conjectural, in contrast to well-established propositions that are regarded as reporting matters of actual fact. 3. Mathematics. a body of principles, theorems, or the like, belonging to one subject: number theory. 4. the branch of a science or art that deals with its principles or methods, as distinguished from its practice: music theory. 5. a particular conception or view of something to be done or of the method of doing it; a system of rules or principles. 6. contemplation or speculation. 7. guess or conjecture. "
I mean - come on - what a CONFUSING WORD. THEORY. Maybe we should say Theory(1) or Theory(2). But then, we'd have to figure out which DICTIONARY to use, because they all present the word meanings in different orders. So strike that.
No - let's just strike THEORY from the Science Vocabulary and come up with something ELSE. It is not concise enough for science in the modern world.
Here I am....never thought **I** would advocate changing the common use of a word.
It is 3am and I am tired of scanning through trying to find educational programs that I can maybe enjoy and our use.
After going back and forth from this channel to that, I found MEEVEE.
You can imput shows you like, and channels you like - and it will give you your listings and suggest other programs you might like - AND - big AND
It has a section devoted to internet tv, where you can watch channels from all over the world.
This is great. Just what I needed - more access to media. HAHAHA But seriously, its great to be able to watch tv in Japanese and German. If you are into any particular foreign language, you might find this a nice way to stay refreshed.
Crash here often? Astrology Used to Determine Traffic Risk
Topic: Miscellaneous
11:52 pm EST, Dec 14, 2006
"According to a study by InsuranceHotline.com, a Web site that quotes drivers on insurance rates, astrological signs are a significant factor in predicting car accidents.
The study, which looked at 100,000 North American drivers' records from the past six years, puts Libras (born September 23-October 22) followed by Aquarians (January 20-February 18) as the worst offenders for tickets and accidents
Leos (July 23-August 22) and then Geminis (May 21-June 20) were found to be the best overall.
Even age, another variable for determining insurance rates, is less of a consideration to Romanov. The cutoff line for being considered a higher risk driver is 24 years of age; 25-year-olds are considered not-high risk.
"I'd rather get into a car with a 24-year-old Leo than a 25-year-old Aries," Romanov said....
Leos, described along with the study results on InsuranceHotline.com/a10.html ..."
