RealClimate blog takes a look at Michael Crichton’s confusion

RealClimate is a new multi-author blog that identifies itself as a

commentary site on climate science by working climate scientists for the interested public and journalists. We aim to provide a quick response to developing stories and provide the context sometimes missing in mainstream commentary. The discussion here is restricted to scientific topics and will not get involved in any political or economic implications of the science.

I found it courtesy of a pointer in the Technology Review blog. Most of their early postings interpret the science and help make it accessible to the interested lay person. But, they’re also willing to take a look at how popular culture looks at climate science:

Michael Crichton s State of Confusion.
In a departure from normal practice on this site, this post is a commentary on a piece of out-and-out fiction (unlike most of the other posts which deal with a more subtle kind). Michael Crichton’s new novel “State of Fear” is about a self-important NGO hyping the science of …
[RealClimate]

Google’s University library project

Now this sounds fascinating. Both in its own right and it what it may portend for how the relationship between learning and institutions is likely to evolve. One more example
of the resources becoming available to anyone who has the motivation to learn. One thing that suggests to me is a potential role for guides to help others who want to navigate what will be a fairly messy and complex environment over the near term.

Battelle’s scoop on Google’s University library project. Mark Frauenfelder:
John Battelle has the scoop on Google’s “Project Ocean.” From an email he received: “Harvard University is embarking on a collaboration with Google that could harness Google’s search technology to provide to both the Harvard community and the larger public a revolutionary new information location tool to find materials available in libraries. In the coming months, Google will collaborate with Harvard’s libraries on a pilot project to digitize a substantial number of the 15 million volumes held in the University’s extensive library system. Google will provide online access to the full text of those works that are in
the public domain. In related agreements, Google will launch similar projects with Oxford, Stanford, the University of Michigan, and the New York Public Library.”

Link

[Boing Boing]

UPDATE: Edward Vielmetti offers some more information on Michigan’s participation in this project

Cussler’s Black Wind – 50 Book Challenge


Black Wind
Cussler, Clive

If you are a Dirk Pitt fan (I am), this newest book in the line is a pleasure and a reassurance. Classic Cussler with all sorts of bad guys and good guys (of both sexes). Dirk has moved up to management and his son and daughter are taking on the reins of most of the action. Moreover, Cussler is passing the baton to his own son Dirk in this outing which they co-authored. This looks like it’s going to be one of those attempted franchise-extenders that’s going to work. I’m looking forward to the next installment.

Lakoff’s Don’t Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate–The Essential Guide for Progressives – 50 Book Challenge


Don’t Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate–The Essential Guide for Progressives
Lakoff, George

This slim book was Lakoff’s effort to demonstrate the importance (and ultimate success) of efforts by “conservatives” to frame important policy debates in language and thought favorable to their goals. Lakoff’s point essentially is that the “facts” never speak for themselves, but depend on how they are framed and positioned. Frames tend to be set up in a “have you stopped beating your wife” kind of way so that however you respond to questions you reinforce the underlying frame. For example, if you let the argument over taxation get framed rhetorically as “tax relief,” then no matter how you argue your case you are endorsing the notion that taxation in and of itself is bad.

A series of essays on particular topics such as taxes or family values, the book suffers from a good deal of repetition across chapters. Moreover, this is a more polemical book than Lakoff typically writes. Understandable given its topic and timing, but I found it wearing after a while despite agreeing with Lakoff’s arguments and analysis. I’ve certainly bought into some of the frames that Lakoff identifies a lot more uncritically than I care to acknowledge.

Another reason to have good earphones when you fly

Fortunately, I have my Etymotic ER-6 earphones. I’ve been using them with my iPod for the past year and if the number of flight attendants who have to wave their hands at me to get my
attention is any indication, cell phones in flight shouldn’t prove to be too much of an issue.

Remind Me to Stop Flying.
Cell phones in the air are inevitable: Interesting piece from the New York Times running through the last few months of tests and proposals on putting cellular picocell stations in planes and allowing cell phone use on a broader basis. The highly quoted Paul Saffo wins the prize for summarizing the problem: “The last thing I want is a bunch of jabbering
business geeks,” said Paul Saffo, a technology industry consultant who travels 200,000 miles a year on United Airlines and said that flying was his only escape from e-mail and phone calls. “The only quiet time I get is when I fly. It’s my meditation time.”… [Wi-Fi Networking News]

BlogWalk 6 in Chicago

Definitely looking forward to having this come to Chicago. And to finally getting to meet Lilia face-to-face. Glad to see that Jack Vinson is able to take a lead role. Jack, you know where to find me for help.

BlogWalk 6 in Chicago

As Ton has announced, “It is our pleasure to announce a new edition of BlogWalk, the salon-like get togethers Sebastian Fiedler, Lilia Efimova and I are organizing.” I will have the pleasure of being the local host, but I will be getting lots of help from everyone who attends. We’re planning on the 21st or 22nd of January up in Evanston (just north of Chicago) – very convenient for me. For more information have a look at the BlogWalk wiki.

– jackvinson (jackvinson@jackvinson.com) [Knowledge Jolt with Jack]

A wholehearted recommendation of Crossroads Dispatches

If you’re not reading Crossroads Dispatches by Evelyn Rodriguez, block out some time. Her blog is rapidly moving to the top of my ‘must read’ list. More importantly, it’s moving to the
top of my ‘must think about’ list. Here is one of many excellent posts littering my aggregator and clamoring for my wholehearted attention.

Our Presence Spills Onto Our Voice.
The day I met Cindy, a women’s network was milling about her artistic loft in the newly gentrified part of Salt Lake City doing what women’s network groups do. Cindy quietly and powerfully stood out from the rest of the… [Crossroads Dispatches]

In it she shares an exchange between her and Cindy Martenay of Insight Shift on the topic of presence. I’ve harped on the importance of mindfulness in navigating today’s world. Evelyn and Cindy make a great case that the better notion is that of “wholeheartedness.” Here’s one key graf to make that point:

If we cultivate — in our bodies and nervous systems — an ability to open up our lenses on the world, to become less sure of ourselves and more curious, we become more present to more of our experience as well as others’ experiences with us.

While I certainly fail more often than I succeed, it remains a worthy goal.