Monthly Archives: July 2004

Cool Space

This entry was posted in Astronomy Education Oceanography Science Space Exploration on by

The California Institute of Technology provides a site that has some great tutorial material on infrared and multi-wavelength astronomy. Also, the many images and videos will make multiple visits worth your time even after you have learned all the basics!
The material also covers applications to biology, geology, oceanography and more.
Interestingly, the site warns readers when material is written for those older then 14 and refers the reader to their parents or guardians if the text is too difficult. I wonder just who the average adult is supposed to get help from.
Via The Internet Scout Report.

Homeland Insecurity

This entry was posted in Patriot Act on by

These stories will, I’m sure, help feel much more at ease.
First, PZ Myers points us to this student’s adventures in photography and then Kevin Drum shares this writer’s experience.
It is pretty clear that the bushies have been pretty successful so far in building their culture of fear. So when someone like Washington Representative Adam Smith (D) says:

No, I’m sorry, I actually understand the issue.
when asked why he voted against the Sanders amendment I have to believe him and believe he means he supports the kind of behaviour depicted in these two stories. Certainly his broken understanding of the Patriot Act supports this view:
Smith, a member of the Armed Services and International Relations committees, disputed statements by some critics that the law allows investigators to gather sensitive information on suspected terrorists without a warrant or probable cause.
“If that was true I would vote against it, no doubt,” he said. “But it’s not true. You have to get a warrant, you have to show probable cause and there’s no evidence that this has been abused.”
Take a quick look at Section 215. Sure it requires a warrant but the only probably cause that is required is that
shall specify that the records concerned are sought for an authorized investigation conducted in accordance with subsection (a)(2) to obtain foreign intelligence information not concerning a United States person or to protect against international terrorism or clandestine intelligence activities.
In other words the alleged probable cause is the word of the investigator. No other evidence is required. I don’t think this is what most of us understand by probably cause.
Isn’t it time to rise up and say NO??

All Left Behind?

This entry was posted in Education on by

John Venlet brings back to life this interesting 1895 8th grade final exam that, as his commenter Gary points out, has been on the net for a while. You can read the Snopes article and judge for yourself rather this interesting historical document reflects a decline in education standards and achievement. I suspect the success distribution in 1895 was little different from what might be achieved by today’s students on today’s tests.
For instance, here are some sample questions used as preparation for the Washington State 8th grade math assessment exam. After scratching their heads a bit over vacuum cleaners, pizzas and robotics the very brightest of the 1895 8th graders might have cut through the verbal cuteness and been able to solve the math.
Of course, nothing herein should be taken to suggest that huge improvements are not only possible but necesssary in the US educational system.