Although it would seem that some suspiciously hott ScienceBloggers think they have enough data to call a winner in the nerd-off, it’s not over yet.
There are more nerds poised to represent. (Not just ScienceBloggers, either. I’m curious to see whether anyone at Cosmic Variance will throw down.) As well, there will be a proper analysis and weighing of the data in evidence.
So there’s still a chance to get your nerd on in the nerd-off. Anything posted (and detected via Technorati or Google Blogsearch) by next Sunday evening is eligible. The results will go up Monday, Sept. 18.
Reminder: get your Skeptics’ Circle submissions in!
The next meeting of the Skeptics’ Circle will be happening right here on Thursday, September 14.
You can send links to your posts about pseudo-science, quackery, tales of the paranormal, urban (or suburban, or rural) legends, and critical thinking to me. I’d appreciate getting the submissions by 3 PM (Pacific Time) on Wednesday, September 13.
Friday Sprog Blogging: Microcosmos!
Elder offspring: The dung beetle rocks!
Dr. Free-Ride: The dung beetle rolls!
Elder offspring’s eyes roll.
* * * * *
The sprogs finally watched Microcosmos — which, of course, prompted a second, and third, and fourth viewing in close succession. (They may be young, but that doesn’t mean they’re not obsessive about details.) Some of their reactions to the film:
The cultivation of girl geeks.
It’s been cool to see my ScienceBlogs sisters Sandy, Shelley, and Tara represent in our little nerd-off. I’m inclined to say this offers at least some evidence that women can get as geeky as the geekiest men. Sadly, there seem still to be many people — including people selling stuff — who just can’t wrap their heads around that idea.
The math limerick.
A real nerd can combine love of math and poetry, like so:
{(12+144+20+3(4)^0.5)/7}+5(11) = 81 + 0
It’s a true equation. And, it’s a limerick. Read it out loud and you’ll see:
A few nerd jokes.
Let’s start with a song:
Aleph-null bottles of beer on the wall,
Aleph-null bottles of beer.
Take one down, pass it around,
Aleph-null bottles of beer on the wall!
When you’re done with that:
Nerds at cocktail parties (another nerd-off volley).
Other ScienceBloggers may think they’re nerdy. They haven’t spent time with me at a party.
“Desert Island Lists” for the educated person.
This was asked on a listserv I’m on, and I decided that the question is interesting enough to share here — largely because I’m interested in how you would answer.
In an article titled “What is a Generally Educated Person?” in the Fall 2004 issue of AAC&U’s Peer Review, Jerry G. Gaff asks readers to list 5 answers to each of these questions:
1. What are the ideas and skills students should learn?
2. Who are the people (living or dead) students should know?
3. What are the places students should visit?
4. What artistic or musical performances should they see or hear?
5. What are the books they should read?
You have to keep each list down to five items — the point is to choose what is most important rather than every good answer that occurs to you.
My answers (and some thoughts on the exercise in general) below the fold.
It’s a nerd-off.
Perhaps not every ScienceBlogger is hot, but almost all of them are nerds. The time has come to see just how high those geek flags fly.
It’s time for a nerd-off.
My opening volley after the jump, starting where one does: my momma.