Why I hate Scott Adams, pt. 243

Scott Adams, creator and current author of the cartoon Dilbert, is a dick. He pretends to be his own fan online and is a horrible boss on par with that which he depicts in his comic. Not to mention, last year he distorted behavior ecology in animals to justify sexual abuse towards women.

Now, see today's comic:

February 21, 2012

Scientist (since when has Dilbert been a scientist?) Dilbert discovers the Higgs Boson, dubbed by the media as "the God Particle," that is among the hypotheses hoping to be experimentally supported by the Large Hadron Collider. Dilbert discovers the Higgs Boson, and it proves to be evidence for the Abrahamic monotheistic god, which Scientist Dilbert chooses to ignore.

There's no way this comic is anything but malevolent towards science. My initial interpretation is that Adams is saying "scientists can easily find evidence for God, but choose to ignore it due to their Atheist Bias." Then I softened when I remembered the media calls the Higgs Boson "the God Particle" and decided it was just a lazy joke, absolutely perfect for the pages of syndicated daily newspaper comics. But that would have been Dilbert looking surprised in the last panel with explanation points over his head, not destroying evidence on a humongous advance in particle physics.

I don't even want to get into if there could even be "evidence for an omnipresent being" or if "atheist bias" is even possible.

Scott Adams is popularizing distrust towards science and I hate him. This isn't as bad as "male humans are inherently rape-y," however it is syndicated in "2000 newspapers," which I imagine are read more than his blog.

GREAT MOMENTS in answers that should have received full credit

I would have went with Judas Priest over Anthrax

What's New in Science? A dialogue between scientists, teachers and students

A few weeks ago University of Kentucky kicked off a new series "What's New in Science." This was created as a university outreach for science teachers, as well as interested students, to have a round-table like discussion with a panelist of UK researchers about new advances in science, opportunities for science teachers to explore exciting science topics and ways to excite student interest in science.

The first researcher in the series, Ganpathy Murthy discussed The Big Bang, Dark Matter and Dark Energy.  The series covers multiple disciplines ranging from chemistry, evolutionary biology and genomics, and psychology.  Also, shout out one speaker Randal Voss, a faculty member in the UK Biology Department who will be talking about learning evolution through genomics.

I was also in the audience, as I will be for the other three.  I enjoyed it, astronomy was one of the things that sparked my interest in science.  It was engaging and fun, especially as the audience started asking more questions.  I couldn't find the exact time mark, but one student asked, (paraphrasing) wouldn't the Big Bang violate the second law of thermodynamics, to which Dr. Murthy gave a good answer.  Teachers in the audience also brought some of there experiences to what students struggle with and was informative in ways to improves their practices.

If you live in the area I recommend to check them out.  It's free and open to the public!  The hosts ask that you register for the talk(s) you would like to join, as seating is limited.  I highly recommend you try to attend, especially you science educators out there.  Check out the video embedded below.  Stay tuned for the other videos, as I will post them as they become available.

Cheers,

What's New With Science - Ganpathy Murthy from UK College of Arts & Sciences on Vimeo.

Ark Park reaches milestone?

The Ark Park fund raising reached 21% of it's goal recently, and celebrations included the purchase of land to build something that, supposedly, could make it's home in water. The following is a press release provided by AIG with my edits thrown about.

Petersburg, Ky., Feb. 15, 2012—Passing another significant milestone (Months after they claimed they would reach it), the Ark Encounter, LLC, closed today on the last and largest piece of land for its planned development on an 800-acre site in Williamstown, Ky. , off Interstate 75 (south of Cincinnati). Under the direction of Answers in Genesis (AiG), a full-scale Noah’s Ark will be constructed as the featured attraction at the Ark Encounter. Research indicates the Ark Encounter will draw well over a million people in its first year (They keep mentioning that, I have research that shows I am the most awesome person ever. See how easy that is?).

In addition, the completion of complex engineering and architectural work (Complex engineering?!?!? But a 600 year old man with a wooden hammer had no issues) on the Ark structure has allowed for significantly greater guest capacity inside (Enough room for two of every kind) the Ark than originally anticipated. This finding has eliminated the need to build additional biblical attractions simultaneously to accommodate the projected crowds (Fancy talk for 'We don't have the money to build everything').

Accordingly, the Ark Encounter will be built in multiple phases over many years (Brick by brick), with the Ark and other supporting elements opening during phase one. This approach will reduce the initial construction period and funding requirements (Told ya). It will also allow the utility infrastructure to be able to grow with the Ark Encounter’s expansions at a reasonable pace. Phased-in construction is also a safe way to proceed in a difficult economy (We don't have the cash to build this thing). Even then, over $5 million in donations have already been received for the building of the Ark itself. In addition to that milestone, many more millions (hand waves) of dollars in memberships and private funding have been raised or committed for the construction of the other attractions surrounding the Ark, the centerpiece of the project.

Michael Zovath, Senior Vice President of Answers in Genesis and the Ark Encounter, declared he was “elated to cross two milestones this week in the Ark’s progress.” Zovath, who was in charge of building AiG’s successful, high-tech (low reality) Creation Museum, noted that “due to the rolling hills and ravines of this scenic property, about 800 acres are needed to rape in order to get at least 160 useable acres—plus create a necessary buffer around the Ark Encounter attraction (Land doesn't depreciate, business first!). It has taken considerable, but necessary, time to close on all the different parcels, and there have been environmental studies that took time to perform on parts of the land, but all the needed acreage has been purchased.”

Additional updates on the Ark Encounter include the following:

• The worldwide media coverage of the full-size Noah’s Ark has exceeded expectations, including a news item on ABC-TV’s “World News with Diane Sawyer.” With some exceptions (Joe Sonka, this blog, rational people), the mainstream media have generally been fair and accurate.
• With the Creation Museum successfully drawing over 300,000 visitors a year, AiG is already master-planning the museum complex in Petersburg, Ky. (40 miles from the Ark site) to handle even larger crowds when the Ark opens. A 1,000-seat auditorium has been finished, as has a new observatory with high-power telescopes (powerful enough to see that bright star orbiting the Earth).
• AiG continues to be encouraged to see that even in a difficult economy, thousands of supportive people have already made donations (NO REFUNDS) to the full-size Ark (including through the “Pegs, Planks, and Beams” sponsorship program) or have purchased boarding passes (lifetime Ark memberships). Now that the land has been secured, AiG—as more revenue is received—has the next milestone in its sights for the ambitious project: groundbreaking (COMING MAY 2011 AUG 2011 SPRING 2012 ????).

Donations to AiG for the Ark structure itself are just one aspect of the entire Ark Encounter funding. The major part of the funding is coming through private funding from the Ark Encounter, LLC, a Missouri limited (very limited) liability company, which will own the attraction. Through a wholly owned subsidiary, AiG is the managing member of the LLC and is raising a portion of the funding (i.e., to build the Ark component).

“The Ark Encounter, LLC, and AiG continue to trust the Creator of the Universe to supply the needed funds for this project, just as He did with our successful Creation Museum, even with some bumps along the way in its construction,” said co-founder and CCO Mark Looy(they left the 'n' out). “The museum’s attendance has exceeded projections since it opened in May 2007, and it has been a major economic asset(educational liability) to the region. Moreover, with an Ark coming to the region, it is anticipated the Creation Museum’s best days for attendance are ahead of it.”

Answers in Genesis is a biblical apologetics ministry which conducts about 300 teaching meetings each year, publishes the growing family magazine “Answers” (winner of the 2011 best Christian magazine award from the Evangelical Press Association), and produces the “Answers” radio program heard on more than 500 stations in the U.S. The AnswersInGenesis.org website is this year’s “Best Ministry Website” as picked by the 1,200-member National Religious Broadcasters (about 1 million web visits a month). AiG’s Creation Museum, which opened in 2007 to much international press coverage, has welcomed over 1.5 million visitors in four and one-half years. (They are Rock Stars)

 

GREAT MOMENTS in eating that last doughnut

TAKE THAT skinny guys!

PODCAST EPISODE 19: Dr. Eugenie Scott Interview

For some reason, well-respected individuals LOVE talking to us!  For your listening enjoyment, we have Dr. Eugenie Scott, Executive Director of the National Center for Science Education, discussing the trials and tribulations surrounding those controversial topics in science classrooms and how she helps fight the good fight for teachers and our young 'uns.  She also gives us a preview of her upcoming talks in Lexington, KY; this Wednesday Feb. 15th at Transylvania University and Thursday Feb. 16th at the University of Kentucky.  You might also catch the debut of We Science Geeks 3, our new barbershop...threesome?  Check it!!

Available on iTunes, our external site, download the file, or stream right here:

Happy Darwin Day!

Yesterday, Sunday Feb. 12th, was Darwin Day!  ... But you can still continue the celebration throughout the rest of the week! And we at the Evolving Scientist intend to do just that.

Darwin Day is a global celebration of science and the discoveries of Charles Darwin, who proposed the Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection.  Darwin found that all species descended from a shared common ancestry.  Over time and many generations these species evolved into different species via natural selection, or the nonrandom adaptive process that traits become more more or less common within a population.  Thus leading to the grand diversity of life we observe day.  His discoveries, which have since been supported for over 150 years, are now the foundation of modern day biology, especially genetics and medicine (among all other disciplines in the life and physical sciences).

Interested in learning more?  These links are great sources of information about evolution.


So readers, lets celebrate the discovery and the history to one of life's fundamental processes!  To "endless forms most beautiful!" To Darwin Day!

Cheers,

PODCAST EPISODE 18: Chris Mooney Interview

We chat with Chris Mooney of The Intersection about science, politics, the threats toward scientific progress and effective scientific communication. Pre-order his new book out in April, The Republican Brain: The Science of Why They Deny Science--and Reality or go ahead and add his other books to your 'brary. More fun than smirking at a blank advertisement on a table in a monochrome restaurant!

Available on iTunes, our external site, download the file, or stream right here:

Happy Birthd....eerr..... CREATION DAY

All he wants is your time and money. Mostly your money.

After five years and 1.5 million people the Creation Museum marks this month with a celebration of their wood (Ark Park?) anniversary. We continually pile onto Mr. Ham for being the most successful snake oil salesman in recent memory, while Kenny Boy just looks down and laughs all the way to the bank. Batman needs the Joker, Luke had Darth, so I guess the good guys like us need Ken to keep us going and fighting the good fight. I raise my glass and salute you, Ken, here's to another five years..... Although I won't cry if it's just another five months.

A World United

It's a state, it's a country, no...it's a SUPERCONTINENT!  And one can only hope it will be prepared to battle other worldly supercontinents for interstellar domination.

Sorry.

Pangaea, our last supercontinent, formed 300 million years ago when all the land masses grouped together around the equator.  The traditional "supercontinent cycle" models predict that Amasia, the next supercontinent will either form where Pangaea broke apart, essentially closing the Atlantic Ocean ("introversion model") or on the opposite side of the world, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean ("extroversion model").

From Pangea to present day Earth.  

In a paper published in Nature this week, Dr. Ross Mitchell et al. argue that using traditional models of "supercontinent cycles" incorrectly predicts where the next supercontinent will form.  

Hit the jump to hear about out the new hypothetical model.....

PODCAST EPISODE 17: Arsenic and the G-spot

Arsenic and Old Lace G-spot.

Available on iTunes, our external site, download the file, or stream right here:

The State of Science Standards: at least we're not Wyoming

Here at The Evolving Scientist, we've spent a fair amount of time and tears talking about science education.  A lot of it has centered around the fair state Commonwealth of Kentucky, but what about the rest of the Union?  Is the bluegrass state fairing well against the rest of the US?  According to a report of produced at the start of the year, not really.  The report, whose title is reflected in the title of this post, was compiled by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, a self-described "education gadfly" whose mission is to "advance educational excellence".  Outside of their incredibly thorough research (especially considering they have a staff of 20), they also advocate within their home base in Dayton, OH for educational reform that bumps the status-quo.

The report is over 200 pages long, and most people (like me) will only be interested in reading the reports on their own states, so I'll just leave a map after the jump and talk about some of the major points.  I'll warn you, though, the picture is kind of bleak.

If you dare...