Some insights into mathematicians
Keywords: social awkwardness, handedness, learning modes, conversation, methods of thinking I’m one of the fortunate people that have always had a direction in my life (as well as to have the ability to pursue that direction). When I set off for college, there was absolutely no doubt that I would major in math. By theContinue reading “Some insights into mathematicians”
Metrology Part II – How do I measure thee? Let me count the ways.
Keywords: measure, measurement, ISO, SI, units, derived units, metrology I’ve had various discussions about science where people have made statements like, “That can’t be measured” and “Science can’t tell us anything about that.” Since I have yet to be presented with a well-defined concept that science is not capable of analyzing (vs. necessarily already havingContinue reading “Metrology Part II – How do I measure thee? Let me count the ways.”
Solstice Banner Fundraiser Closeout
I want to thank everyone that donated to the Solstice Banner. I received enough donations to pay for this year’s installation. It is very validating to me that so many people have supported this project. I started displaying the banner because a Jesus banner had been displayed annually. I felt that the secular community shouldContinue reading “Solstice Banner Fundraiser Closeout”
Metrology is not about the weather. Part I – How to weigh a potato
Keywords: philosophy of science, measurement, ISO, NIST, standards, accuracy, precision, philosophical foundations When someone buys a pound of potatoes, how do they know it weighs one pound? A likely answer is that the produce scale said it was. But that assumes the scale is accurate. Is it? And how do we know? The answer toContinue reading “Metrology is not about the weather. Part I – How to weigh a potato”
Systemic racism: A concise history
Keywords: racism, war on drugs, inequity, incarceration A friend pointed me to this 18 minute video by Phil Vischer the creator of Veggie Tales that very concisely overviews the history of how the U.S. got to the current point of social inequity. It starts with the end of slavery then continues through Jim Crow laws,Continue reading “Systemic racism: A concise history”
Lucy Diggs Slowe
Keywords: women’s’ studies, civil rights, feminism, mea culpas I came across Lucy Diggs Slowe in a N.Y. Times article Overlooked No More: Lucy Diggs Slowe, Scholar Who Persisted Against Racism and Sexism. From that article: “She influenced broad campaigns for racial equality, feminism, personal freedom and peace activism. She made it a priority to createContinue reading “Lucy Diggs Slowe”
White supremacists on display in the capital
Keywords: racism, violence, white nationalism, insurrection, white identity I am generally going to avoid politics in this blog, but this is only tangentially about politics. The storming of the Capital of the United States was not just by a mob, it was by a mob of white supremacists. FiveThirtyEight does an excellent job of discussingContinue reading “White supremacists on display in the capital”
Is there anything supernatural?
Keywords: philosophy of science, physical reality, philosophical foundations, nonphysical, god, ghosts, ch’i, chakras, soul, spirits, magic There are lots of things that are said to be supernatural; things like ghosts, gods, and magic, to name a few. Can these things truly be supernatural? I’m not the first to come up with or present the typesContinue reading “Is there anything supernatural?”
Just because it’s awesome: Advances in space exploration
Over the last year there have been some awesome accomplishments in space. A few examples (there are many others): Retrieval of subsurface asteroid samples to earth by Japan’s Hayabusa2. The return of lunar samples by China’s Chang’e 5. The transport of humans to space for the first time by a non-governmental agency, Space X. AnContinue reading “Just because it’s awesome: Advances in space exploration”
Liberation of doubt
Keywords: origin of morality, religious privilege, hate, good without god I had another letter to the editor published in the Eugene, OR Register-Guard on Dec 17. It was in response to Michael Gerson (who writes for The Washington Post.) His column, Hope doesn’t depend on us, was published in the Register-Guard on Dec 9. MyContinue reading “Liberation of doubt”
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