Sing A Song Of Science : You, Me And Us

The song "You, me and us" popped into my head today.  When a song pops into my head like that it most commonly triggers a train of scientific thoughts rather than associated memories.

The song "You, me and us", to the tune of Cielito Lindo (Ay, ay, ay ay.) was recorded in 1956 by Alma Cogan.  You can listen to it here.

Games Don't Cause Rickets

In the latest bad science reporting saga, many media reports are saying that scientists have said that gaming causes rickets.  Just do a Google search for "games + rickets" to see some examples.  As soon as I see the headline: "X causes Y,say scientists", I reach for my bovex^* filter.

During my childhood in the 1950s I never met anyone with rickets.  It was a scourge of Victorian england.  Its rise was due to a change of lifestyles in the industrial revolution: most children worked in factories or mines, rather than in the fields.  I have observed that people who spend most of their time indoors tend to wear more clothing out of doors.

UK Ban On Explosives Detector Exports


The ADE 651 is a lump of plastic with a wobbly telescopic antenna attached.  It is claimed by its manufacturers to be able to detect many things and substances at long ranges. 

The US Government says that during tests on a similar device it failed to detect a truck carrying a tonne of TNT when it drove up behind the operator.

Source: TimesOnLine

The Humor Of Mark Twain

Mark Twain would have made a world-class blogger.  He could write most wittily on just about any topic.  Here is a selection of Mark Twain quotes on the topic of lies and truth.

I have been working like sin all night to get a lecture written. I have finished it, I call it "Frozen Truth." It is a little top-heavy, though, because there is more truth in the title than there is in the lecture.  From a letter, Jan. 8, 1868
...
"In one respect the sick-nurse is perfection--when she is on watch, she never snores."
...

Science : It's More Than Just Words

Science, like law and many another discipline is widely noted for its jargon.  I love jargon because I love language.  I love language because I was blessed with parents who loved language.  I came to love science through being taught its experimental and investigative methods at school, overlaid on a strong foundation of inquisitiveness built at home.  Through studying the science of linguistics I came to understand that language is a common thread in all human endeavors.  To understand any branch of human endeavor, one must understand first how language may lead or mislead.