Random Thoughts

The War Of The Wells

Water has an economic value in all its competing uses and should be recognized as an economic good The Dublin Statement on Water and Economic Development In a warming world, will people fight over dwindling water supplies?  Will there be water wars?  What ...

Article - Patrick Lockerby - Jan 29 2010 - 8:43am

Whois James Delingpole?

Whois James Delingpole? Never heard of him?  I'm not surprised, really.  James Delingpole is a writer, journalist and broadcaster who is right about everything. Who said that?  James Delingpole. He's a blogger.  A journoblogger if you like.  Not ...

Blog Post - Patrick Lockerby - Jan 29 2010 - 10:10pm

Sing A Song Of Science: Blaze Away

Sing A Song Of Science: Blaze Away Blaze away can mean 'fire at will'.  In that sense, let's keep 'blazing away' at pseudoscience. Blaze away can also mean 'burn away', 'be consumed in flame'. Two recent news i ...

Blog Post - Patrick Lockerby - Jan 30 2010 - 8:54pm

Morning Science Quote

In the end, we should all like [mathematical] models that wear their faults on their sleeves.- Paul Wilmott, quoted in "Revenge of the Nerd", Newsweek June 8, 2009 Read the feed: ...

Blog Post - Michael White - Feb 1 2010 - 6:01am

Random Noise #19: How Many Things Have Scales?

Random Noise #19: How Many Things Have Scales? Justice has scales. Wikimedia The famous scales of justice used to be about a fair and balanced trial. Today, scales of justice are rates of pay   for lawyers based on how much justice the client wishes to bu ...

Blog Post - Patrick Lockerby - Feb 1 2010 - 7:39am

Still Occasionally Brilliant

As I quickly approach my forty-fourth birthday, I can almost feel the decline in my mental and physical abilities. Sure, I try to oppose it, but it is arguably an uphill fight. One of the means I have to gauge the line-up of my neurons is to play blitz gam ...

Blog Post - Tommaso Dorigo - Feb 1 2010 - 2:38pm

How Marketing Manipulates Our Preferences

Whether people will indulge or be prudent with their money is not necessarily based on personality type or education, but may be strongly influenced by advertising and other environmental cues, according to two studies recently presented at the Academy of ...

Article - News Staff - Feb 2 2010 - 12:31pm

Doctors Poke Holes In Soda Tax Proposal

Many public health advocates and scientific researchers have suggested that increasing the tax consumers pay when purchasing soda would be an effective way to help stem the growing rate of obesity in America. Most vocal among them in recent years has been ...

Article - News Staff - Feb 6 2010 - 8:13pm

Which me am I?

To celebrate my 1st anniversary writing for this site, I thought it time to update my biography here.  You'd think I'd have one ready, but in fact I can't stop with just one.  Having too many facets is a hazard of being a rocket scientist wi ...

Blog Post - Alex "Sandy" Antunes - Feb 2 2010 - 2:34pm

How Useful Is College? Depends Where You're From, Study Shows

What you can do with a college degree upon graduation depends on where you're from, according  Université de Montréal professor of education Jake Murdoch. In some parts of the world diplomas from elite universities can practically guarantee employment ...

Article - News Staff - Feb 2 2010 - 2:57pm