Professor of Indeterminate Studies
Some of my online friends post music regularly, to share their favorites with friends and strangers. Sometimes they remind me of songs I’ve loved and forgotten, sometimes I find new things that I like.
I learned of The Magnetic Fields in just such a fashion, a few years ago, and this is a good time to share one of my favorites.
My latest post for Science in My Fiction, on the naming of organisms, went up on Friday. I wouldn’t mind at all if you read it and left a comment. Or two.
As I slowly dig out of my current pile of stuff, let me entertain you with this video that’s been making the rounds. This is highly entertaining, but decidedly not appropriate for the office.
So you all know that I’m writing for the new Science in My Fiction group blog, right? And you’re all reading it and commenting regularly, right? And you will definitely read and leave comments on Friday when my next post goes up, right?
But did you notice the contest??? Short fiction based on current science, with substantial prizes? Deadline is June 30. You’ve got time to do some research and write some fiction.
The editors want to put together a print edition of the winning stories. Wouldn’t that be great? But they’ve got to get enough pre-orders to pay for it, otherwise the print edition just won’t happen. Please consider pre-ordering a copy, and perhaps throwing in a few extra dollars to get more Science in your Fiction.
I swear I didn’t conveniently forget the other writing link so that I could use that title. Honest. But when the opportunity arose…
The writing link that I couldn’t remember last night: How to Get Ideas: Talk to Cows by John Brown. He’s cogent, and funny. I’ll have to check out his new book.
Despite good intentions – tonight was to be for finishing a couple of nonfiction articles – nothing was accomplished. I blame the snow.
October snow
The comment period for the new US stem cell research guidelines from the NIH is open through May 26. The anti-science nutjobs have been out in force for this one – please take a few minutes to provide your own thoughts on the issue to the NIH. More details, and the NIH comment link are here.
This is important for thoroughly practical reasons: stem cells provide the best-known avenue of attack for treatment of many diseases and injuries. But the crucial part: a conservative religious minority should not be allowed to dictate the course of scientific research. This is nothing new – Galileo was convicted of heresy for his scientific findings – but must not be allowed to continue.
