This entry was published at least two years ago (originally posted on July 15, 2009). Since that time the information may have become outdated or my beliefs may have changed (in general, assume a more open and liberal current viewpoint). A fuller disclaimer is available.
Sometime between July 14th and July 15th, I thought this stuff was interesting. You might think so too!
- Why America Is Flunking Science: "The experience of CERN is, more broadly, the experience of science in our culture today. It is simultaneously admired and yet viewed as dangerously powerful and slightly malevolent — an uneasiness that comes across repeatedly in Hollywood depictions. As science-fiction film director James Cameron has observed, the movies tend to depict scientists 'as idiosyncratic nerds or actively the villains.' That's not only unfair to scientists: It's unhealthy for the place of science in our culture…. To begin to counter this problem, though, we need to wake up to a new recognition: Fixing the problem of science education in our schools, although very important, is not the sole solution. We also have to do something about the cultural standing of science — heavily influenced by politics and mass media — and that's a very different matter."
- Psychotic Letters From Men: Customer Disservice: "Every woman who's ever held any type of service or sales job knows about one of the major inherent hazards associated with their chosen profession. Namely, the unavoidable encounters with creepy fucking dudes." Oh, my lord. As if the posted stories aren't bad enough, there's all the stories in the comments. So, so, so many disturbing guys out there.
- How to Scan a Cat and Other Subjects: "MetaFilter became that rarest of online creatures: a booming online community that's mostly intelligent, mostly civil, and mostly functional. It's not just a good read, and it's not just popular and lively, but it actually makes one feel slightly better about being human. It might be the best site on the Internet. The trick is trying to explain why it happened." Happy 10 year anniversary, MetaFilter!
- Pinboard – Antisocial Bookmarking: Interesting looking Delicious competitor just getting started.
- Spectacular Dream Yachts to Set Sail: "So often we're teased with amazing renderings of things that could be but never will because they lack a bridge between blue sky and real world. The latest virtual tease, a pair of futuristic yachts rapidly rising in virtual visibility, breaks that convention. Designer Kevin Schöpfer plans to set sail in three years." If I were a mad James Bond villian, I would totally have the Infinitas as my base of operations. That's a gorgeous yacht.