This is one of the best critiques I’ve ever read of the current state of scientific research and communication. It makes me want to figure out how to help communicate science to non-scientists in ways that don’t distort the science or its strengths and limitations.

https://undark.org/2024/03/08/interview-paul-sutter-science-trust/

https://www.zooniverse.org/ is a collection of science projects that lay people can help with. Most of them involve looking at images and marking things on the images. Apparently it's easier for humans to do some tasks of this sort than computers.

One of my favorites is called Radio Galaxy Zoo. You're shown an image that is an overlay of radio signals on an infrared photo of a distant part of the universe. You click the picture to indicate associations between the radio signals and the infrared signals. I find it easy and calming.

http://radio.galaxyzoo.org/

Another easy and calming one involves keeping tabs on penguin populations. Basically you see a photo that may or may not have penguins in it, and if there are penguins, you click them.

http://www.penguinwatch.org/

This one is a real page-turner.

Katherine Lampe writes something like paranormal fiction but her protagonists aren't vampires or shapeshifters. They and other characters in her books have some personal magic power, and also access power and communicate with supernatural entities use a variety of magic forms and rituals that are common in the Americas and Europe. This lets Katherine get her characters into and out of trouble using everything from Tarot readings to shamanic journeying to charms you can buy off the Internet or make with supplies from your local craft store, which I think is a lot of fun. In this story, for example, a love charm ends up implicating someone as a murder suspect.

The relationship between Caitlin and Timber (who are married) is a delightful change from the usual antagonistic romantic relationship (or its opposite, the soulmates-until-the-end-of-time-even-though-we-only-met-two-days-ago relationship) in many paranormal romances.

This novel uses elements and gods from African religions, and the antagonist is an African woman. Because people might feel this is cultural appropriation, Katherine includes an afterword explaining her choices and how she researched these subjects. Because of that and because I'm white and they aren't my religious elements or gods, my enjoyment of the story wasn't affected.

The story shifts between Caitlin's and Timber's POVs. They have really distinctive voices. For example, Timber is much more tentative about communicating with himself verbally. I really sense that his relationship to the world is mediated through his body.

(Spoiler of a general plot point) In this story Timber is subject to sexual harrassment and rape. There are other paranormal novels where a male character has a history of being sexually abused, but I haven't often read one where the abuse happens during the story.

Sexual harrassment is often used as a plot driver in the paranormal genre in ways that make me uncomfortable: there is a trope (I'm looking at you, Charlaine) where male characters use sexual harrassment against female characters as a form of flirting/power-jockeying with other male characters. I hate that, and I am glad that is NOT happening in this book.

I was glad to see Tintri Fionn again, from an earlier book. He's one of my favorite characters.

I went to Kickstarter to help with Spike Lee's latest film:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/spikelee/the-newest-hottest-spike-lee-joint

And this POC superhero comic was mentioned in the comments to that project. The artwork is beautiful.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1715217388/the-q-vol1-graphic-novel


I was thinking of boycotting Kickstarter because of their $fail in supporting a pickup-artist book that condoned sexual assault. I decided not to boycott them because they apologized materially: http://www.kickstarter.com/blog/we-were-wrong

Browser Ponies! (Requires Javascript)

And while I'm at it:
The return of the Flying Toasters

I was delighted to discover that the moderators of the excellent LJ community 50books_poc, for reviews of books by people of color, have created a sister community on Dreamwidth: 50books_poc

The announcement is here along with a request for input on how people want the two communities to interact: http://50books-poc.dreamwidth.org/374.html

I have been looking at this web page for the past several days and I have to stop myself from licking the screen.

http://www.madagascarminerals.com/cat-labradorites.cfm

My Dad has participated in this intermediate-level piano ensemble class for over a year and he loves it. The ensemble has been active for a number of years. They need to recruit a few new members for the next session (12/9 through 3/10) so he asked me to pass the word.

If you know anyone who might be interested, or any mailing list or web forum that might welcome information about the class, please pass it on.

If you want my Dad's e-mail address to make further inquiries, let me know.

Play Piano? Read Music?

Have some fun! Join a unique East Bay Area Piano Ensemble!

The San Lorenzo Adult School Piano Ensemble warmly invites intermediate and advanced pianists to join us.

The class meets Thursdays, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, at
San Lorenzo Adult School
http://adult-slzusd-ca.schoolloop.com/
820 Bockman Rd., San Lorenzo CA 94580 (there is an A.C. Transit stop across the street)
Room 16 near rear parking lot.

The room has about 20 upright pianos. We play mainly classical orchestral music transcribed for 2 pianos, 8 hands, but each member of this very compatible group sits at his/her own piano.

If you would like to play in an ensemble, or if your main instrument is not piano but you want some piano experience, come join us! You do Not have to be an expert sight reader to enjoy this group but we guarantee to advance your reading skill.

Call Don Jones at 650-685-8208 for queries or info.

Sign up by WEDNESDAY 12/1/10 through the Adult School Office 510-317-4200 or at our session on Thursday, Nov. 18th. Tuition is $100.00 for 12 weekly sessions from 12/9/10 through 3/10/11.

This list by John Scalzi is a good start for understanding what it means to have privilege. Quite a few of the comments are good too (as of right now there are 155 comments).

http://whatever.scalzi.com/2010/10/18/things-i-dont-have-to-think-about-today/

The .doc File of J. Alfred Prufrock.

http://copperbadge.dreamwidth.org/305346.html