Thursday, March 18, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
This is bothering me.
In my Introduction to Political Methodology class we talk about optical illusions. When we use the scientific method we rely on empirical observation and replicability, so with optical illusions as a jumping off point, we talk about what it means to observe something, the importance of replicating methods, and how our biases and brains can sometimes get in the way of what it is we think we know. After many semesters of looking at optical illusions I have gotten very good at seeing the illusions. However, I ran across this one today and it is just puzzling the shit out of me. I can't make my brain see it at all. Can you? I'm losing sleep over this.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Tonight's Facebook Conversation...
Carol L Silva Its spring. Bonzo the Wondercat just killed a gopher on the living rm floor. Yep, freaking out. It was mostly dead when I took it outside.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Thinking about writing...
So, at our last Rodmockers meeting we discussed the importance of being a good writer if you plan on having a successful academic career. Hank , Alisa and I were really keen on passing on to our graduate students some hints to help remind and encourage them to really take to heart the joys of constructing an informative and readable paragraph. My favorite hint, came from Hank -- in order to be a better writer you need to read, read, and read some more. I am all for more reading-- especially on a wet and cloudy days like we are having so many of in central Oklahoma.
What are you reading today? While I am all for a nice trash novel, we should all be reading at least one thing that stretches our mind in some way-- stretching our vocabulary, stretching our understanding or maybe stretching ourselves right out of our own comfort zone.
So what am I reading today? I have decided to re-read Neal Stephonson's The Diamond Age or a Young Lady's Illustrated Primer. The amazon.com editorial review describes the plot this way,
"John Percival Hackworth is a nanotech engineer on the rise when he steals a copy of "A Young Lady's Illustrated Primer" for his daughter Fiona. The primer is actually a super computer built with nanotechnology that was designed to educate Lord Finkle-McGraw's daughter and to teach her how to think for herself in the stifling neo-Victorian society. But Hackworth loses the primer before he can give it to Fiona, and now the "book" has fallen into the hands of young Nell, an underprivileged girl whose life is about to change."
I really like this book. I am not a big fan of how it ends (sort of fizzles out), but right up until the end the story is engaging. I love how the idea of subversive thinking is necessary for growth, and innovation. It is an important commentary on how we adapt to the institutions we find ourselves in.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Directly from the Taos News....
Police Reports
Taos Police: May 30-31
Here are the Taos Police Reports for May 30-31. The Taos News reprints police call logs courtesy of the Taos Police Department and does little or no editing to the copy.
If you have any information about a crime in or around the Taos area, call Crimestoppers at 758-HALT.
May 30, 2009
1:51 p.m., Welfare check, Paseo del Pueblo Sur — Caller reported that a man came in early that morning with blood on his head and then went to lie under a tree. Caller reported that he had not moved since lying down under the tree.
5:15 p.m., Criminal property damage, Bent Street — Caller reported that kids with sling shots were hurling rocks at the restaurant.
7:51 p.m., Stray animal, Paseo del Pueblo Norte — Caller reported that he caught a dog near a restaurant and tied it to a pole.
9:51 p.m., Welfare check, Camino del Santiago — Caller reported that there was a woman there who looked lost.
11:10 p.m., Battery, Siler Road — Caller reported that a woman harassed her.
May 31, 2009
4:10 p.m., Domestic violence — Caller reported that she and her daughter got into a fight, the daughter threw a child’s car seat through the window and threatened to kill herself. Caller requested a welfare check on her daughter.
6:55 p.m., Larceny, Taos Plaza — Caller reported that she left her card in the machine and when she came back it was gone.
If you have any information about a crime in or around the Taos area, call Crimestoppers at 758-HALT.
May 30, 2009
1:51 p.m., Welfare check, Paseo del Pueblo Sur — Caller reported that a man came in early that morning with blood on his head and then went to lie under a tree. Caller reported that he had not moved since lying down under the tree.
5:15 p.m., Criminal property damage, Bent Street — Caller reported that kids with sling shots were hurling rocks at the restaurant.
7:51 p.m., Stray animal, Paseo del Pueblo Norte — Caller reported that he caught a dog near a restaurant and tied it to a pole.
9:51 p.m., Welfare check, Camino del Santiago — Caller reported that there was a woman there who looked lost.
11:10 p.m., Battery, Siler Road — Caller reported that a woman harassed her.
May 31, 2009
4:10 p.m., Domestic violence — Caller reported that she and her daughter got into a fight, the daughter threw a child’s car seat through the window and threatened to kill herself. Caller requested a welfare check on her daughter.
6:55 p.m., Larceny, Taos Plaza — Caller reported that she left her card in the machine and when she came back it was gone.
Copyright © 2009 - The Taos News
| The Taos News |
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
You know how much I love twitter....
This article is very interesting. It takes a random sample of 300,000 twitter users and analyzes how they use the twitter service. Check out the article....
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