Random Thoughts

Movies With Sensory Reduction

"What is autism" is a medical science question.  "How can people with autism adapt to society" is a social science question.  "Why would someone pay to see a movie in a theater with the lights on, the sound turned down, and anyone ...

Article - Alex "Sandy" Antunes - May 7 2010 - 10:09pm

Musical Clowns

Musical Clowns Why is it that so often a genius of comedy has brilliant musical talent? Or is it the other way round? I've also noticed that geniuses of comedy tend to be geniuses of language.  For example, I think Ken Dodd knows more about language ...

Article - Patrick Lockerby - May 8 2010 - 12:24pm

A Simple Quiz

A Simple Quiz This diagram illustrates a general principle applicable to processing systems having multiple inputs. The principle is a broader application of a scientific law. The question is- which law? Points will be awarded, but if you expect prizes fr ...

Blog Post - Patrick Lockerby - May 11 2010 - 2:55pm

High Schoolers Have No Problem Cheating, Survey Shows

A recent survey of high school students shows that most have cheated on tests and homework and, as long the cheating requires effort, don't feel they're doing anything wrong. The study by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln gauged both the prevale ...

Article - News Staff - May 11 2010 - 5:37pm

Tierney Defeated by Blogging

So I'm a couple of weeks late, but it's worth noting that NY Times science blogger John Tierney is quitting his blog: After three years of experiments, TierneyLab is shutting down. I’ll still be testing ideas in my Findings columns and in other a ...

Blog Post - Michael White - May 12 2010 - 5:02pm

More Immigration Linked To Less Crime, Sociologist Says

A new study has found that cities with the largest increases in immigration between 1990 and 2000 experienced the largest decreases in rates of homicide and robbery. The findings suggest that immigration may be partially responsible for the drop in crime d ...

Article - News Staff - May 14 2010 - 11:00am

Scum Causes Outrage In U.K.

Scum Causes Outrage In U.K. A recent case in a British Magistrates Court has caused outrage in more ways than one. Two 16-year-old boys from Darwen had performed an act of wanton vandalism and desecration in a church.  They had written racist and sexually ...

Blog Post - Patrick Lockerby - May 19 2010 - 2:16pm

I Heart Scientists (By Way Of Introduction)

It's been several months since Michael White invited me to blog here at Scientific Blogging.  I think the immediate occasion for his invitation was a conversation we had about Douglas Hofstadter's 2007 book I Am a Strange Loop.  I don't reme ...

Article - Yago Colás - May 19 2010 - 9:55pm

The Nation Makes A Fundraising Plea, So We Can Too

The Nation magazine is in a pickle.  It spends $1 million more than it makes and Chris Hayes, The Nation 's Washington editor, was asked to send out an email to readers to bridge the gap.  So he did.  And the folks at Politico.com were kind enough to ...

Blog Post - Hank Campbell - May 19 2010 - 6:49pm

Owning Books Makes Your Children Smarter, Study Finds

Parents who have books in the home increase the level of education their children will attain, according to a 20-year study conducted by sociologists from the University of Nevada, Reno and UCLA. For years, educators have thought the strongest predictor of ...

Article - News Staff - May 20 2010 - 6:24pm