Suitable label for OTC medication

This is the type of label I want to see on over the counter medications.  It clearly states it’s claim, and backs it up with results of a scientific study.

Technorati Tags: science

Yes, it snowed in NJ

Here’s the before picture, December 2009:

After three feet cumulative snow, February 10, 2010:

For reference, the wood fence in the foreground is 5’ high, and the white fence is 6’ high.

Technorati Tags: weather,NJ

Happy Birthday, Isaac Newton.

Thanks for Calculus (with Leibniz), the laws of motion (Newtonian Physics), and your work with light. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Newton

Technorati Tags: Science,mathematics

The TSA is not interested in science

Thank you, XKCD

Technorati Tags: TSA,science,politics

Meteor Showers in 2009

 

SkyandTelescope.com - Observing Highlights - Meteor Showers in 2009

Perseid meteor shower is visible tomorrow night after midnight. 

 

Technorati Tags: meteor,astronomy

(un)Scientific American

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20126995.600-were-we-right.html

 

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/03/20/creationist-heh-master-of-science-haha-degree-hahahahaha/

"In Texas, a state legislator wants the ironically-named Institute for Creation Research to be able to grant a Masters degree in science. In fact, the bill submitted to the Texas congress would make it legal for any private group calling themselves educational to be able to grant advanced degrees in science. So, now's your chance: that lack of a PhD in Astrology and Alchemy won't hold you back any longer."The Institute for Creation Research made a similar request to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board last year, but were shot down.

Technorati Tags: science,politics

Sarah Palin

As is everyone in the United States, and the World, I’m stunned at McCain’s selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate.  To this end, I am tabulating a list of facts that are pertinent to the election as well as some questions that I want to answer as we learn more about her background.

Questions

• Has she ever traveled outside of North America, and does she have a current passport?
  Answer:  Yes, she received a passport in July, 2007 before she visited members of the Alaska National Guard in Kuwait.  She also traveled to Germany on the same trip.
• Censorship (aka book burning) – does she believe government (local, state, or federal) has the right to restrict any book, for any reason, from public libraries?
• Medical – both Sarah Palin and John McCain should release their medical records for public review.  This would address legitimate questions about McCain’s general health (POW, ex-smoker, survivor of multiple cancers) as well as resolve unanswered questions about Palin’s last pregnancy.
• Creationism – does she also believe students should debate issues surrounding Mathematics, Geography, etc? 
  • Does she believe that pi is a transcendental number, or does she round it up to 3?
  • Does she believe Earth is 6000 years old? 

Facts

• Sarah Palin was governor of Alaska for 20 months.
• In 2006, the state of Alaska had a population of 670,053
• In the rest of the country, we call a population of 670K a city, not a state.  I live 15 miles from Philadelphia, and neighbors commute to NYC, and Washington, DC.  
• Sarah Palin was on the city council and mayor of Wasilla, AK.  At this time Obama was an IL state senator, not a community organizer (as stated in her speech on 9/3/2008).  The Republicans appear to just make up things and turn them into ‘facts’.  A full timeline of Obama and Palin’s professional live is below.
• In 2004, the city of Wasilla, AK had a population of under 6000
• In 2005, the enrollment in our regional high school was 7500
• Our local high school had a larger budget and more construction projects than Wasilla, AK.
• Sarah Palin is not related to Michael Palin.
• She promotes teaching creationism in public schools.
• She has a BA in Journalism from the University of Idaho.
• The University of Idaho is considered a third tier college.
• All public Universities in NJ are ranked tier 1.   The only other tier 3/4 school I know is Regent University, where the Bush DoJ staff received law degrees.

Technorati Tags: Palin,politics,science,election

Crude Oil and Total Petroleum Imports Top 15 Countries

Crude Oil and Total Petroleum Imports Top 15 Countries:

"The top sources of US crude oil imports for May were Canada (1.840 million barrels per day), Saudi Arabia (1.579 million barrels per day), Mexico (1.116 million barrels per day), Venezuela (1.030 million barrels per day), and Nigeria (0.851 million barrels per day)."

I found this very interesting. Canada is our single largest source of crude oil, about 17% more than Saudi Arabia. Iraq isn't even in the top five, and if you walk through the list, it's not a very pretty sight. Lots of unstable countries, and countries that are not very friendly with the United States. These include Venezuela, Nigeria, Angola, Algeria, and Libya.

I'm posting and commenting on this list for several reasons.

First, to my friends in Canada. If Karl Rove wants to visit, I highly recommend not letting him into your country. No good can come from a visit by Rove. Double that for McCain, but he was already there and apparently he doesn't realize Canada is a foreign country. I would keep an eye on him. He keeps running ads about off shore drilling and his energy plan. After re-reading through his plan, it's a quick read and requires no technical background, he *may* be considering Canada part of his plan. Again, keep an eye on him.

Next, I don't agree with either party, but at least Obama is using credible technical resources (academic and industry) rather than industry-only.

Here is what I think the US should focus on in the next five to ten years:

• Drill off shore and in ANWAR. By drill, I don't mean pump oil from production wells, perform the studies necessary to accurately estimate the size and scope of any and all reserves in the United States. There is little risk to the environment and it will provide accurate information, currently not available, to make an informed decision.
• Nuclear Power. This has to be revisited. Consider a standard design for reactors, which increases safety and reduces cost. Also, plan to reprocess waste material instead of burying it in a salt mine. It doesn't have to be safe enough for humans to ingest, but somewhere in between. Charter the appropriate scientists to come up with some options and review, and this is not a ten year study, give us your best information within a year. At this point, we will have enough information to make an informed decision. Sound familiar?
• Forget ethanol.  It can’t be pumped, it’s hydrophilic (absorbs water), it’s corrosive, poor net energy, need I go on?
• Forget Hydrogen, at least for now and as a vehicle fuel.  Read “The Hydrogen Myth” and other references.  Look at the specifications for the BMW mixed fuel car – it generates half the performance when using hydrogen fuel.
• Biofuels are viable, just don’t compete with food (use non-food source material), and target generation of diesel or clean burning oils.  I’m quite interested in generating methane and other simple hydrocarbons from algae.
• Wind power generation – there are huge possibilities in some areas of the United States.
• Solar generation – we need tax benefits and contracts to sell back power to local companies at pre-defined rates.  Tax benefits have to be long term to make it a simple decision for homeowners and encourage wide spread adoption.  I’m an engineer and I can barely figure out how to complete energy rebate forms for my new HVAC system installed last year.  One page and you should be able to do the math in your head to figure out the payback and net cost.

 

Technorati Tags: politics,energy

The Phoenix Mission - photos from Mars

I don't have time to comment yet, but The Phoenix Mission is awesome.  There was minimal coverage on the news (in my opinion), but the photos from the University of Arizona site are incredible.

As a kid, I got up early and watched every space launch.  When Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, I thought the video was too good to be real, and at first I thought it was some form of animation.

I only hope that in 2008, there are still kids with that level of interest who seek out sites like this and watch the NASA channel (cable TV or online...).

Technorati Tags: science,space,Mars,photography

Gas Prices - what's the fuss?

Businesses are significantly impacted by the price of gas, particularly trucking, but I am tired of hearing news outlets incessantly beating the drum about the price for regular gas.

I maintain that for every dollar increase in the price of gasoline, the cost to the average consumer is $50 per month.

The average person in the United States drives 12,000 miles per year.  The average car gets 20 mpg.  At this rate, they buy 600 gallons of gas per year.

12000 miles per year/20 miles per gallon = 600 gallons/year

The price of gas has increased about $1 per gallon since last year, so this is $600 per year or $600/12 = $50 per month.

I'm more concerned about the increase in the price of cream for my coffee, which has almost doubled in the past year.  Bread and other staples have increased at an alarming pace, and quite frankly, I spend quite a bit more on food than gasoline in a month.

$50 per month is less than the cable bill for most households.  $50 per month is less than my than my home water/sewer bill. $50 per month is less than I spend on coffee.

Every time I see the news on TV, they lead with the price of gasoline.  I don't care about the price of gas, I care about health insurance, food, education, and my local taxes.  $50 per month is a rounding error on my monthly budget, not something that I need to hear about every night.

 

Technorati Tags: economy,energy,news

High Achiever, Gifted Learner, CreativeThinker

High Achiever, Gifted Learner, CreativeThinker

Interesting article. I have seen many parents get upset when their child is not placed in a gifted class. I think everyone learns differently, and although grades are important, we believe the better approach is to work with the kids until they really understand the material and the grades will come.

It was only after I completed college (ten years total) and after I taught my first Microsoft class (Windows 95, and it was a disaster...) that I revisited the entire process of learning material so I understood at a systemic level. Only after I had this level of understanding, was I able to teach others effectively.

We have three daughters, each of whom learn in a very different fashion. I think learning is also evolutionary and as individuals mature, the way they learn can, and should, change.

Ken Miller Evolution Lecture at Case Western

Dr. Miller is a professor at Brown University, and his position on evolution is very similar to mine - belief in God and evolution are not mutually exclusive.

Ken Miller's lecture on Intelligent Design at Case Western University. Ken Miller rips Intelligent Design apart in a 2 hour long exposé of the claims of intelligent design and the tactics that creationists employ to get it shoehorned into the American school system.

Dr. Miller is an excellent speaker and I think the YouTube video methodically addresses each issue brought up by the Intelligent Design (creationism) proponents and puts them to rest.  In particular, I was not aware of the fused chromosome discovery which addresses the chromosome count difference between homo sapiens and primates.

From a personal standpoint, I also liked the fact that he discusses Michael Behe, a professor at Lehigh University, and one of the biggest proponents of Intelligent Design.  During the Dover, PA ID trial, which Dr. Miller attended, Behe, under oath, stated that astrology and other pseudo-scientific beliefs should be included in science curriculums. 

I think Lehigh University is a good school, however, the fact that they continue to allow Behe to teach is a disservice to students and the rest of the Lehigh faculty.  After learning that Behe was a member of the Lehigh faculty, I would not allow my daughter to consider Lehigh.  I do not recommend any student of science or technology consider Lehigh until they banish him from the school.

Technorati Tags: evolution,science,religion,creationism

Dynamic Periodic Table

Dynamic Periodic Table

I have always been interested in the Periodic Table, but this is the best I have seen to date. The presentation is very flexible, with check boxes to display the full names of the elements, include the number of electrons for each. The customized tables can be saved as PDF or PNG graphic images in letter, legal, and A4 formats.

As an added feature, when you click on an element, all the physical property data (photo included), atomic properties, and, where appropriate, isotopes of the element are displayed.

The extended data is from Wikipedia, but data I reviewed appeared to be very complete and accurate.