The New York Time’s reaches new heights of self-delusion: It’s not as if New York’s resorts are considered inferior. Counting as your props recommendations from Ski magazine is just awesome. Ever notice how every single article in Ski magazine references a ski area from all major ski regions? I wonder why that i$?
What Is an Uncomputer?
Sean watches a panel discussion on whether the universe is a computer, looks up the definition of a computer, and decides that instead the universe is a calculation. If thinking about the universe as a computer is designed to make computer scientists feel important, thinking about the universe as a calculation seems designed to make theoretical physicists feel important 🙂 But what I find interesting is that Sean points to a question asked by Tony Leggett: “What kind of process does not count as a computation?”
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Emailing Those Responsible for Science Funding Cuts
Mad about the funding cuts in science? Why not send an letter to those responsible?
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Computer Modern
Kitchener: Center of Science
I knew the Perimeter Institute was big, but enough to bump Kitchener to the second highest concentration of scientists in municipalities of its size in Canada?
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Happiness is…
Inbox this morning:
Inbox tonight:
Markets Predicting Elections
Can markets predict elections? Alea summarizes last night’s primary results: Ooops! From my perspective, I find the ideas of markets predicting future events fascinating, if for no other reason than my original motivation for studying physics was tied up deeply in questions about predicting the future.
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The Last Day of Bill Gates
Video from the keynote at CES:
The real question is, now that Bill is working for the foundation, which is opening an office in lower Queen Anee, will Bill be buying us a new bridge to aid his commute?
NeuroQuackology
Holy mother of quack science, Neuroquantology. But that withstanding, some of you real scientists should really satisfy their call for reviewers. I mean think how much fun you could have tearing holes in their papers :
We need additional reviewers:
Since in our interdisciplinary Journal we seek for holistic approach to science and particularly in neurobiology and consciousness studies, we strongly encourage authors that submit reviews that aim popularization of the recent advances of Quantum Field Theory (QFT), Relativity, String and Brane Theories, Evolution, Chaotic Dynamics, Nonlinear science, Mathematics, Neuroscience. The editorial board aims to increase the impact factor of the Journal in order NeuroQuantology to be synonym of scientific excellence.
They want scientific excellence? We could certainly give them some scientific, uh, guidance, no?
Candidates' Views on Geometry
For a New York Times article What is it About Mormonism?, the following lines which made me guffaw:
The framers recognized, of course, that a candidate’s religion (or lack thereof) would enter political debate, and they were prohibiting only a formal test for taking office. But they were also giving their imprimatur to Jefferson’s appealing notion that a person’s beliefs about religion were no more relevant to his politics than his beliefs about geometry.
Leaving aside jokes about the candidates debating whether the universe is open, flat, or closed, I’m guessing that the Renaissance man Jefferson would actually have cared quite profoundly about a candidate’s mastery of geometry.
Update: See this is exactly a case of extralusionary intelligence: Wim points out in the comments that the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom included not just a reference not just to religion mattering no more than view on geometry, but also views on physics. Oh Thomas, why have you forsaken me?