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 having analyzed) I feel such statements need to be addressed.Continue reading “Measuring Morality – Metrology Part IV”
Category Archives: History
Nuclear power to the rescue?
Nuclear power to the rescue? I’ve subscribed to the magazine Analog Science Fiction & Fact for decades. It mostly publishes short science fiction stories. But it also always includes some fact articles – and they get some pretty heavy professional scientists to write the articles. One of the things I like about the fact articlesContinue reading “Nuclear power to the rescue?”
Benefits of Measure 110 are generational
This is a Guest View column I had published Nov 20, 2021 as Legalize Drugs for Everyone’s Sake in the Eugene Register Guard. Oregon’s Measure 110 decriminalized almost all drugs. That is, possession of small amounts of even drugs like heroin only results in a citation and fine. There are a bunch of other relatedContinue reading “Benefits of Measure 110 are generational”
Ask culture vs. guess culture
This came to my attention from BdiJ. The following was an easy cut and paste way for me to provide the basic concept (from The Atlantic): Let’s say your husband or wife has a friend who will be coming to your city for two weeks on business. This friend writes to you and your spouse,Continue reading “Ask culture vs. guess culture”
An original meter
Keywords: meter, standards, metrology In my post Metrology is not about the weather. Part I – How to weigh a potato, I mentioned that international standards used to be based on physical artifacts. I just came across this short article, The Last Original Standard Metre by Atlas Obscura. The cover picture is of one ofContinue reading “An original meter”
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”
Maria Sibylla Merian
Keywords: caterpillars, butterflies, women’s studies, women scientists, scientific method I first became aware of Maria Sibylla Merian decades ago at an exhibit of her artwork (in L.A.) She made meticulous and beautiful drawings of insects in their different life stages. I was more interested in her artwork at the time than her other accomplishments, butContinue reading “Maria Sibylla Merian”
If you’re not Christian, why call it Christmas?
Keywords: Solstice, secular holidays, the “nones” Here’s a letter I had published in the Register Guard on Dec 30, 2019 with the title: Solstice is for everyone. It is an argument against the concept of a “secular Christmas”. As a reminder, roughly 30% of the U.S. and 70% of the world’s population are not Christian.Continue reading “If you’re not Christian, why call it Christmas?”
Racism in technology – cameras
Keywords: technology, photography, Shirley cards One of the difficulties of recognizing systemic racism is that it can be very subtle and deeply ingrained – even in technology. One reason people may be reluctant to acknowledge systemic forms of racism is that they are not always a consequence of conscious efforts. (Some are, but not all.)Continue reading “Racism in technology – cameras”
Starting From Doubt 