(From http://phylomon.org) (Facebook group: link) – – – “When you have seen one ant, one bird, one tree, you have not seen them all.” ~ E. O. Wilson. Well 2010 is here, a.k.a. the International Year of Biodiversity, and to us at the SCQ, it means that we’re finally ready to go ahead with our long awaited phylomon project. Please repost, reblog, retweet, phone a friend – whatever you can do to spread the word. WHAT IS THIS? Good question. Well, it’s an online initiative aimed at creating a Pokemon card type resource but with real creatures on display in…
The Science Creative Quarterly
From archive
UNTITLED
whole green leaves eaten away across an expansive canopy of undergrowth. soft wet soil pulled slowly toward the sea as bits of rocky structure show through and red-brown, mossy trunks cling low & climb high to chase the water and the light.
INTERESTING AND SOMEWHAT RANDOM ASSORTMENT OF ORGANISMS OR INAPPROPRIATE ANIMAL NAME FOR BROWNIE GIRL GUIDE LEADERS
Barricuda Fox Tit Minx Cougar – – – Greetings everyone! Please join us in ushering the International Year of Biodiversity! For those with science and badge affections, this includes a special New Year’s resolution whereby an amendment to the Science Scout drinking game rules is hereby now effective. For the year 2010, any mention of the word “biodiversity” during drinks, merits an upstanding hoisting your glass and cheer of recognition.
HOW THE PINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS!
(There are more science Christmas plays by Vince LiCata here, here and here). Cast: Generic Faculty Member Pinch Narrator The Dean The Chair Cindy Lou Who Darth Vader Santa – – – NARRATOR: Every Who Down in U-ville Liked their research a lot… FACULTY: (pipeting): I sure like research a lot. I love running gels, I get bored when I’m not. NARRATOR: But the Pinch Who lived just North of U-ville Most certainly, did not. FACULTY: Now, who wouldn’t love labwork? I’m sure I don’t know. They’d have to be a real jerk, Or perhaps a bit slow. He sings:…
HELIUM PILLS FOR REINDEER AND OTHER TRICKS OF THE CHRISTMAS TRADE
Other kids may be convinced that Santa Claus uses some kind of Christmas magic to get the job done. Not my offspring. They have told me that obviously, Santa is putting his trust in science. (And also technology. But the holidays are no time for ugly spats about disciplinary boundaries.) From the younger offspring: Santa needed to do research, of course, to work out the details of flying reindeer. Apparently, much of this was online research. (Also, it looks like Santa uses a MacBook.) From the elder offspring, two items science relies on: The elastic in that bag must be…
WHAT IS TWITTER GOOD FOR?
Well, it’s been about three weeks since I signed up for a personal account on twitter (you can follow me here if you’re interested – my handle is @dnghub), and threw out my first “tweet.” Since then, I’ve found myself fully immersed in the web tool, and feel like I can say a few intelligent things about it, especially if you’re reading this as someone who is resisting signing on, or someone who just wants to know a little more about it. It might help if I first start off with a bit of context. For instance, my lab sort…
EVOLUTIONARY DEAD ENDS: PLANT SPECIES
In an earlier essay, some of the now extinct species of animals were presented. Their characteristics were described as best as the evolutionary biologists can presently determine, and various theories were put forth as to the reasons they became extinct. It is now time to examine some of the plants on which those biologists have done research. Once again, we are not talking about old maid Sunday School teachers, even though many of them probably have the petrified flowers of a futile romance pressed between the pages of their hymnals. – – – PREHISTORIC CANNIBUS There is much debate about…
ON NATUROPATHY, PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, AND THE SANCTITY OF SCIENCE ITSELF
Regarding Bill 179 – whereby graduates of Canada’s two naturopathy schools may be given drug prescribing rights by the Ontario legislature. Please read this for further information (Nov 25th, 2009) – – – The science-based community is always at a disadvantage in these sorts of outcries, because we’re limited to the evidence, and we can’t just make stuff up. There’s a lot to respond to. 1. With 23,000 doctors in Ontario, and fewer then 1000 naturopaths, the argument that granting naturopaths prescription rights will ease the burden on the healthcare system is a bit silly. 2. The assertion that the…
THE DEATH OF A HUMAN HEART AND OTHER ANATOMICAL POEMS
Part of our Science Creative Literary Symposia. – – – THE DEATH OF A HUMAN HEART By Emma Sloan A human heart shall surely break, by the time it’s worldly and frail. From an attack, or An enemy’s deathly siege. Or from yearning for the embrace of a loved one long past. But which is worse? A sudden clogging of the darkened, winding hallways, that snake through one’s host. Or the deep, electric desire of a soul that you know is forever beyond your reach? Myself. I would choose to perish of heartache no matter my age and health. You…