Archive for the ‘Laughing Matters’ Category
Unusual Job Titles
Today I saw a job announcement for a position with the following job title: Malicious Logic Specialist There are times when I feel fully qualified for such a position.
But Is It Science?
It is not often that I laugh out loud while reading court decisions. True, I may smile at a clever argument or an adept turn of phrase, or maybe chuckle over displays of willful stupidity; however, cackling is not a common response for me. Today I'm finally giving a first read to Judge Jones' decision […]
In: All, It's Only Rocket Science, Laughing Matters
Loose Lips Are Often Funny
There were amusing quotations that have come from the testimony of Attorney General Gonzales before a congressional committee about Bush's self-admittedly unwarranted and illegal surveillance of US citizens. "Our enemy is listening, and I cannot help but wonder if they aren't shaking their heads in amazement at the thought that anyone would imperil such a […]
In: All, Laughing Matters, Splenetics
The Gay Boyfriend
We spent the evening at some friends' house — they were hosting a party for another friend, who turned 50 today. I was hoping to pick up some pointers on crossing the 50s threshold since I'm going to be doing it myself in just a few months. Anyway, late in the evening I was having […]
Feeling a Little Derivative
I knew a mathematician who had a recurrent dream. He dreamt that he was a partial derivative. [Jeremy Bernstein, A Theory for Everything (Singer-Verlag, New York, 1996), p. 263.] This quotation no doubt tells you more about me than I expect, but when I read it I found it terribly funny. I also have the […]
In: All, It's Only Rocket Science, Laughing Matters
Now That We've Caught It…?
I'm beginning to think that passing middle age means living everything through words that I've already spoken, writings that I've already written, conversations that I've already had, or cartoons that I've seen. Case in point. I see where Brent Scowcroft says in the New Yorker (I'll read it sometime, but I'm about 3 years behind […]
Primates & Judicial Philosophy
Despite my proddings, some of you may still not read Bob Park's "What's New". But that's okay, since I tend to put the best bits here anyway. Recently he solicited readers' questions that might be suitable for appropriately probing the thoughts and positions of Supreme Court nominees regarding science. This week he revealed "the question […]
In: All, It's Only Rocket Science, Laughing Matters
Yer Better Constants
I know, two quotations in a row from the same person who isn't even Bill Moyers, but there is a reason, mostly that I've been going through some of the archives at Slate and having an enjoyable time. For the last little while I've been looking at "Do The Math" articles by Jordan Ellenberg, whither […]
In: All, Laughing Matters