Science Debate 2008--85% of Americans think we need it!

"This is not a niche debate, the future economic success of the United States depends on out-performing the competition with smart people and smart ideas. Without the best education system and aggressive investments in basic research and development we will become a second rate economic power. We hope the candidates for president take this very seriously."

-Craig Barrett

Chairman, Intel

"WASHINGTON—May 12, 2008— A new poll (charts, pdf, 3.1mb) shows that 85% of U.S. adults agree that the presidential candidates should participate in a debate on how science can be used to tackle America’s major challenges. The poll found no difference between Democrats and Republicans on this question. A majority (84%) also agree that scientific innovations are improving our standard of living.

The poll, commissioned by Research!America and ScienceDebate2008.com and conducted by Harris Interactive®, shows that 56% strongly agree and 29% somewhat agree that the presidential candidates should participate in a debate to discuss key problems facing the United States, such as health care, climate change and energy, and how science can help tackle them..."

Read the whole press release here or visit the ScienceDebate2008 website here.

C'mon Obama, Clinton, and McCain! Let's talk about it!

The Front Fell Off--the Whole Story

The viral "The Front Fell Off" has been making its rounds across emails everywhere, which was damn funny in its own right but incomplete--I recently found the whole story. If you have yet to see just how the oil caught fire, as well as the Minsiter's comments off the air, check it out here:

Been busy... but what else is new?

Chris, Shea, Erin, and I recently got back from the 76th Annual Western Snow Conference, where we presented a couple of posters. This summer I'll actually be able to post a link to the papers... so stay tuned!

Had a damn good time there; there were a few thousand years of experience in the room at any one time, but everyone was laid back, friendly, and just made for a wonderful experience.

Long hike up Deer Ridge today; had to park way the hell down at Slab Camp and hoof it to the top of the ridge (2 hours, thank you very much! This ole guy can still hike, even if I can't keep up with the 'young 'uns'). Our ^#@ snow scale gave out after two courses, but at least we got some depth readings. Also got some snow for Bill, Jay, and Jessica in the microbial group; we'll see if anything interesting turns up outta that. If it does--hello pubs!

Got a fun video of Shea and Chris coming down a slope today. (Snow?!?! It's almost May!!!) Enjoy...

"Math Education: An Inconvenient Truth"

Great video at YouTube helps explain why many of the freshman I've taught can't do basic math in intro science classes.



You can't reason your way to math proficency--this provides good examples of how misguided math ed has been over the past decade or so. But I've seen some of her examples in my friends' kids'' homework!!!

It's 15 minutes long but worth watching if you have ever despaired over the state of math knowledge among college students or the general public.

Of course, if you don't know math, you will certainly have trouble reasoning logically. Hmmmmm.... the fact that NCLB came from Texas makes one leap for conspiracy theories. But since I am decent at math, I will simply leave it to the commentators to hash out and stick to my logical approach to reality. :-)

Back from Arizona...

Spent a week and a half visiting the folks in Arizona (blessed sun!), then back to the PNW in time to catch the last (probably) snows of the winter down here in PA.

Here's a spot near Sedona, off in USFS land and away from (most of) the touristas.

Here's a pic one of the rock walls near that same spot, catching some reflected rays from the midday sun:

And here's a close up of one of the alcoves within that rock wall. Eat your heart out Sistene Chapel!

And what vacaction blog would be complete with a great pic of me and my daughter playing in a creek? (Much love to all the fam out there!)

Clouds like a glacier, Dungeness watershed

view from the top

Been busier than the proverbial one-legged ass-kicker with snow work recently. Chris, Shea, and I have installed all but one remote weather station, and the last one was the best one... as far as the view goes.

Not as far as the 60# pack goes. Yep, I hauled in the instruments and the tripod tower. Them young whippersnappers had wussy light packs, in spite of Shea's claim to the contrary, and yours truly took the heavy load. GO OL' TIMERS!

So here's how I was at the bottom of the ridge (note the smile):


Here's how I was when I reached the top:

But of course it is all worth it, if for nothing more than for the pure joy of science:

Now ain't science great???