jtoney
Posts by this author
May 17, 2011
Every parent knows the frustration of responding to a baby's cries. Are they hungry? Wet? In pain? Need a hug? Tired?
According to Dunstan Baby Language, you can interpret these cries with confidence, reducing your stress and making you a better parent. Really?
According to their website:
The…
May 16, 2011
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The Art of Science Learning is a superb blog about STEM education. Their posts provide us with insights from experts in science education. What would a young science student have to say?
An avid reader of Science cover to cover, this Letter to the Editor is one of my favorite pieces,…
May 16, 2011
Still from Woman in the Moon (1929, Fritz Lang) (via filmmuseum-potsdam.de) Walking on the moon without spacesuits!
Portrayal of science and scientists in media and film has for generations misrepresented what we do and who we are. Caricatures of the lone mad scientist toiling in the laboratory…
May 15, 2011
Hilary Clinton famously said in 1992:
I suppose I could have stayed home and baked cookies and had teas, but what I decided to do was to fulfill my profession which I entered before my husband was in public life.
Ironically, daily domestic necessities such as baking and cooking have taken on a…
May 13, 2011
May 12 was a glorious day for our graduates, some 2,730 students celebrating the completion of their undergraduate education. Our Commencement Speaker John Legend, a Grammy Award Winner, shared an important message in both speech and in song: equal access to quality education is a right, not a…
May 11, 2011
This is a story of two fetching women, one known for glitz and vacuous socializing, one known for serious news commentary and for reinventing the television morning news show format. Yes, as my title reveals, they are Paris Hilton and Mika Brzezinski whose paths crossed unwittingly, emblematic of…
May 6, 2011
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A strange email arrived in my Inbox recently asking me for a picture of my tongue, assuring me "lifetime benefits." First I wondered how this email escaped my Spam filter. But then I wanted to explore.
Here's the email {you likely will have received it too}:
Dear distinguished guest,
How…
May 4, 2011
Credit: MIT International Review
Did undergraduate students pinpoint Bin Laden in 2009? A paper published in the MIT International Review indicates that they might have.
This story may well be a classic in the history of the war against terrorism and it is a compelling example of how students…
May 3, 2011
Death has been everywhere in the news media since the announcement of Bin Laden's demise on Sunday. How this historic event will affect global terrorism is unknown; perhaps the most important news of all was of the treasure trove of computers and files found in Bin Laden's luxury "compound."
With…
May 1, 2011
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In a rare late night statement in the East Room of The White House Sunday, President Obama announced that Bin Laden is dead.
This historic announcement raises more than questions than answers.
How will this affect terrorism abroad and in the US?
How will this affect our relationship with…
April 27, 2011
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I had a dream last night of harvesting MMORPG time to save the planet. Let me explain.
Massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG) are deeply engaging millions of players, spending some 21 hours per week in a virtual world according to The Daedalus Project. The World of…
April 20, 2011
Korycheer Happy Children
To mark the one year anniversary of the disastrous BP oil spill, I wanted to share this article that I published last summer.
Like many New Jersey families, my children and I spent several sunny, fun-filled days on the Shore last summer, enjoying mini-golf, water…
April 19, 2011
My recent post "The Royal Wedding, A Thoughtful Theologian and the Faith/Science Conundrum" stirred up, not surprisingly, some thoughtful and not so thoughtful (or respectful) readers' comments. Some readers mistook my article as an endorsement of Archbishop Williams' writings - it was not.…
April 18, 2011
Source - Pancreatic beta cells needed to produce insulin.
Atlas carried the weight of the heavens on his shoulders. Americans may be carrying a burden of almost two tons of sugar from a lifetime of satisfying their sweet tooth.
The New York Times article "Is Sugar Toxic?" describes the risk in a…
April 16, 2011
To mark "Tax Day," April 18:
The White House website has just launched a "Federal Taxpayer Receipt" calculator that shows you where those federal tax dollars go.
As an example, I used amounts from the 2009 tax return submitted by President Obama that reported payment of $1,792,414 in federal taxes…
April 13, 2011
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On April 29, Prince William and Kate Middleton will exchange wedding vows with Dr. Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury presiding. More than two billion viewers are expected to witness the event with well wishes for this handsome couple, with Britain's future in mind. I wish them all…
April 12, 2011
Every driver is faced with increasing gas prices in the midst of a recession. Each morning, I drive past this gas station (somewhere in New Jersey) that heralds "$1" per gallon gasoline. Could this be true?
Of course not. The truth is that this "$1" sign has remained unchanged for more than a…
April 8, 2011
I had the pleasure of meeting recreational mathemusician (think about the implications) Vi Hart today at the "Thinking Creatively" conference on our campus. Watch this brilliant video (shown during her seminar) and learn mathematics like never before.
Vi's audience included not only design…
April 8, 2011
"Man"
The Tennessee General Assembly overwhelming passed Bill 368 yesterday (April 7), stating:
Teachers, Principals and School Personnel - As introduced, protects a teacher from discipline for teaching scientific subjects in an objective manner.
At first blush, it sounds reasonable. Is it?…
April 7, 2011
Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Linux with us. Watch the Story of Linux to remember - or learn for the first time - how Linux disrupted a market and has begun to change the world. Do you see yourself in its story?
The computer operating system Linux was introduced in August 1991. It was made…
April 7, 2011
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Billionaire Donald Trump's recent announcement that he is considering running for President of the United States in 2012 has, if anything, generated a lot of media buzz. Could he apply his business acumen to become an…
April 6, 2011
The winner of the Templeton Prize (1 million British pounds) was announced today. Is this a turning point for Templeton, or more of the same?
What is the purpose of this award?
The Templeton Prize honors a living person who has made an exceptional contribution to affirming life's spiritual…
April 6, 2011
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Bioephemera provided an excellent overview of the ongoing appeal to the "Myriad gene patent case."
Jessica Palmer wrote:
Myriad Genetics's patents on the breast cancer genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2) were invalid because genes are unpatentable products of nature.
Could Myriad Benefit If They…
April 4, 2011
Can You Understand Our World Without Mathematics?
I could grapple with this question, but I'll let physicist Richard Feynman of the Manhattan Project and Nobel Prize winner in Physics, take it on.
This video {watch it here} was graciously shared by Sir Harold Kroto, excerpted from the BBC when he…
April 4, 2011
Find out what Congresswoman Michele Bachmann has to say about the weekly Prayer Meetings taking place in Room 219 of the U.S Capital. Also, her perspective of the sacrifices and faith of our Founding Fathers is sure to stir your heart. Find out more by visiting The Congressional Prayer Caucus…
April 1, 2011
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What is the academic value of Jersey Shore's Snooki? I'll let my readers decide. But consider this.
According to NJ.com, Rutgers University paid $32,000 for this reality TV performer for a question and answer session with students. Academic value? Questionable indeed.
In contrast, Nobel…
April 1, 2011
Is studying science and mathematics valuable for a general education? Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott said it is a "waste of my time, waste of my teacher's time and a waste of space" - if your goal is to become a lawyer. His audience roared in laughter and applause. Is such an…
March 30, 2011
Disaster relief for Japan has taken on many forms, and I applaud artists when they use their talents and their broad outreach to help the victims and their families. The band Linkin Park has responded in their own way, using graphic design guided by their fans.
This effort is part of the "Music…
March 30, 2011
If you hate math, or know someone who hates math, Sir Harold Kroto describes an elegantly simple way to understand algebra - using shapes.
I had the pleasure and honor to meet Sir Harold Kroto yesterday at the National American Chemical Society meeting. He spoke on "Science, Anti-Science and…
March 26, 2011
My son has been a Lego fanatic since he was about two years old. Our house is littered with those hard, plastic pieces on every floor, with various projects at different stages of completion - in some cases, merging into new hybrids. Legos are a great tool to encourage creativity. Who would…