"The news here is not that people are irrational, giving too much credence to the dramatic and the local and the short-term (that's not news), but that people have added a veneer of scientific rationality to their irrational decisions." Seth Godin rants on the growing use of phony sciencey-sounding arguments to validate irrational decisions. Like "truthiness," for science.
Seth Godin rants on faux science and irrationality
Cannibalism, murderous insects, face mites, and creepy clowns
Gory Details is National Geographic reporter Erika Engelhaupt's new book about the science of creepy, interesting, and real things such as face mites (above), the caloric intake of cannibals, the unpleasantries of earwax, and the psychology of coulrophobia. From an interview with Engelhaupt in Science News: SN: Do you have a favorite reporting field trip?… READ THE REST
What would happen to a pair of Crocs at the bottom of the ocean?
What would happen to a pair of Crocs if they sat 3 kilometers down on the ocean floor? How about a styrofoam cup? Or a fishing lure? The Hydraulic Press Channel employs a high pressure chamber to subjects those items and more to a simulated 3 kilometers of depth. READ THE REST
Video compilation of people who think snow is fake
Yesterday, Jason posted a video from someone in Texas who couldn't melt a snowball in 10 seconds with a hairdryer and seems to think something funny is going on. Like dogs barking at the rain, many us are mystified and annoyed by the whims of nature. But not all of us think that the snow… READ THE REST
These Hollywood-renowned photographers want to teach you how to shoot like them
To become a photographer, you can take classes and training sessions to deep-dive into the medium. You can even throw yourself in by learning on the job and expanding your skill set through practice. But even with all that practical knowledge and hands-on training, you could still be missing that unique spark. That tiny extra… READ THE REST
Get this master class in Python programming for just $35
Innovation almost always comes when someone, often in a mix of both genius and frustration, decides there's just got to be a better way. Back in 1989, Dutch computer scientist Guido van Rossum felt the same way. The result of his journey was Python, a decidedly lithe, streamlined coding discipline that has emerged to become… READ THE REST
These ultra-primed Dell and Periphio gaming PCs are on sale for at least 33% off
For most of us, buying a PC is a lot like buying a car. We look for something responsible, sensible, efficient, and safe. That usually means we end up buying the computer equivalent of a Toyota or a Hyundai. But if you're a hardcore gamer, you're likely looking at a sports car-equivalent. Sensible is fine, but… READ THE REST