Rolando Garcia's Blog: Writing and News

New Direction

Hi Everyone.

I just want to let you know that I have started a Youtube channel focused on travel, ABEDIONA. I will not be writing stuff for this website anymore. After several years of Ratio Scientiae and a few books, I just felt that I needed to go in a new direction. Of course, I still keep my interest in science, and whenever I have the chance I will include that in my Youtube videos. But the main focus will be travel and finding the interesting in the unusual and the mundane down the road.

I hope you can visit my channel and check out my videos.

Take care,
​
Rolando

Whimsy In Science

My new book. My latest book, Whimsy In Science , is a book of science jokes and puns, along with funny stories about science and scientists. Some people may ask how, in these hard times for science while budgets of vital programs are being cut and pseudoscientists and conspiracy theorists are running government agencies, can it be possibly justified to put out a book of science jokes, puns, and stories?

Well, I believe part of the problem is that people think that scientists are “different” from the average person. When we feel others are different from us, we often are not as receptive to their plight in times of need. Those mathematicians, molecular biologists, chemists, physicists, and others speaking in jargon and putting out incomprehensible publications while consuming resources, don’t seem to generate a lot of sympathy in the hearts of many people.
​ But this attitude is unwarranted. In my blog, I have tried over several years to explain how the activity of scientists has made our lives better, and I have provided many practical examples. What I have not delved into as much is the fact that all these scientists as individuals are not different from the average person. And one example of this equality is humor. Just like you, scientists have a sense of humor. Now, granted, scientific humor has its own distinctive angle, but in this it is no different from other groups of people. Military personnel, firefighters, librarians, accountants, football players, teachers, etc. have their own brands of humor with inside jokes and puns, and scientists are no exception.

It has been said that a joke is a very serious thing. In publishing this book, I take that maxim to heart, and I hope this book contributes to humanize scientists and make the average person better appreciate their contributions to making our lives better (and funnier).

Interview with Leslie Tate

I was interviewed by the British author and poet Leslie Tate. Leslie asked me some deep questions that required a lot of introspection to answer, but I am pleased with the final result. You can read the interview by clicking here or the image below.

Random Science: Featuring Science Cat

There are two things I like to do. The first, is that I tend to look at stuff that many people don’t care about and visit places that many people will not visit. Some things that interest others will definitely catch my attention, but I am mostly drawn to the unusual even if it is sometimes boring. The second thing that I like to do, is check out the science behind things. So, you combine one with the other, and what do you get? Random Science!
 
Yes, that is the title of my most recent book. In it, I check out the science behind a motley assortment of things ranging from bones, clouds, rocks, cicadas, and carnivorous plants, to amusement park rides, musical saws, phonographs, and singing wine glasses. But that is only part of the story.
 
This book also features a cute cat which has become the mascot of my website and which appears in the book under her professional name, Science Cat. Science Cat helps me to present some awesome science facts as well as to showcase the science behind cats like herself.
 
This book is part trivia and fun facts, part nature writing and how things work, and part cats. So if you are interested in an eclectic mix of the interesting, the mundane, and the curious, join Science Cat and me in the exploration of Random Science! You can see the book and read a sample following this link.

The Gift of Science

I have finally published the second book of essays based on my blog! The book is organized around several unifying themes, one of which is what I call “the gift of science”. When people hear this, they probably think of medical advances or technology useful for everyday life, but the gift of science goes way beyond that. As I explain in this book, this gift is something much more fundamental, something that is necessary for all of us to truly be free, and something, in fact, that most people take for granted and don’t really think about much. Also, sadly, the gift of science is something that numerous individuals reject. Be it global warming and COVID-19 severity deniers, creationists, antivaxxers, flat Earthers, or Qanon, in today’s polarized and confrontational environment, evidence, facts, and reason have been replaced by feelings and beliefs. Healthy skepticism has been replaced by a rabid irrational skepticism mired in ignorance, misinformation, and adherence to conspiracy theories. And confidence in those who have been trained to observe and discover reality has been replaced by a deep-seated mistrust fueled by all sorts of grievances. With this book, I hope to push back against all this and help as many as I can to once again accept the gift of science.
 
This book also addresses a number of specific questions and issues ranging from the serious to the humorous. Among them are: What happens when scientists dream? Is it true that nothing is impossible? What are the best Big Bang Theory nerd themes? In science is it enough to be right? Who created life, the mad scientist or the scientist? Can science operate in a vacuum? Can believers and skeptics agree on anything when it comes to the supernatural? Will there be a gospel for the age of space exploration? What are the applications of evolution? Is the summit of the tallest mountain also the closest to outer space? Is there a fine line separating the sublime from the ridiculous? Do we really want to be in harmony with nature? Are scientists speaking mumbo jumbo? Why are some genes known as the “Halloween Genes”? What is a cation afraid of? And, if a scientist wins a Nobel Prize, does he/she still have IT?
 
As in my previous books, Science Can Be Right Because It Can Be Wrong , this book is structured into several sections dealing with the nature of science, how science works and how it doesn’t, and what is and isn’t science. There also are stories about science and scientists, a section addressing how you relate to science, as well as sections dealing with issues that are fun and of interest. Finally, I also include some bad science jokes and puns, and all-purpose whimsy.

If you have enjoyed reading my posts over the past few years and have benefited from them, then purchasing this book (or my books of short stories) is an excellent way to support my work. The book is available on Amazon as an ebook. If you don’t have a Kindle, you can read it with a Kindle App on your phone or tablet, or you can read it directly on the cloud section of your Amazon account using Amazon’s inbuilt e-reader. If you read my book, I would appreciate if you can please leave a review on its Amazon page.
 
I hope you like my book. Science on!
​

Science Can Be Right Because It Can Be Wrong

I want to let everyone know that I have finally published my book! This book is based on my blog posts from the past few years. It is organized around a number of unifying themes, one of which is why science can be right. Some people who attack science provide a laundry list of the many times science has been wrong about something and then triumphantly ask: If science can be wrong, how can science possibly generate reliable knowledge on which we can base important decisions that will affect society and the world? In this book I point out the reason this attack is misguided. Science can be right, because it can be wrong! Yes, the fact that science can be wrong is actually one of its strengths. The fact that science can make mistakes should actually increase our confidence in science! Why this is the case is explained in the book.
 
This book also addresses a number of questions involving science and other topics. Among them are: Can anyone be a scientist? Can you win an out-of-body gold medal? What is heroic science? Is the only good scientist a blind scientist? Why does science have to be defended from the unreasonable man? Is science still cool if it affects you? What does science have to say about zombies? Do you know more than the experts? What are some of the stories of the monks and nuns of science? Can being a scientist immunize you against fearing the supernatural? How do we know there is not a conspiracy by scientists? How do you tell the difference between rational and irrational skeptics? Is a mind in the gutter a good thing to have in science? If a tree falls in a forest and there is no one around to hear it, does it make a sound? If you feel faint while reading the word “hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia”, does this mean you have it? And, of course: Why is Schrodinger's cat wanted dead and alive?
 
In this book I have endeavored to combine thoughtful explanations of the how and why of science with the examination of topics that are both informative and interesting, and I have added enough jokes, stories, anecdotes, and all-purpose whimsy to hopefully balance the more serious parts. If you have enjoyed reading my posts over the past few years and have benefited from them, then purchasing this book (or my books of short stories) is an excellent way to support my work. The book is available on Amazon as an ebook. If you don’t have a Kindle, you can read it with a Kindle App on your phone or tablet, or you can read it directly on the cloud section of your Amazon account using Amazon’s inbuilt e-reader. If you read my book, I would appreciate if you can please leave a review on its Amazon page.
 
Thank you very much, and be on the lookout as there are more books to come!
 
Take care and science on!

Note: the image belongs to the author and can only be used with permission.

Revisiting The Birth of a Zebra

The adult world is in many ways a betrayal of all the magic and wonder we experienced as a child. When we grow up, we discover that most of the time grinches do not return stolen toys, wolves devour little pigs, Bambi gets shot and eaten, tornados will kill you rather than take you to Oz, and wishing upon balls of burning gas hurtling thought the cold void of space many light years away doesn’t achieve much. More often than not, when we become adults, all the stories that wowed us as children are shelved under “fantasy.”
 
And this is understandable. Growing up facing the endless stream of challenges and frustrations that the average person faces has a way of dulling our senses. Sure we survive, and we have our victories. But the scars of our battles, the accumulation of unrealized dreams and stifled hopes, tend to make many people cynical. Some look back upon childhood as a cruel hoax. Others do view it as a precious experience that they long for and cherish, but still an experience with little practical application for grownups. And finally, others forget it or don’t think about it that much. After all, they may reason, to survive in the adult world we cannot be like children. And what can the world of a child possibly teach us about dealing with the complexities and brutal realities of the real world?
 
My opinion of childhood used to be a mix of the above: until I began to write. Then one day I saw a picture of an animal in a particular situation and a little girl came out of nowhere in my mind. The girl took a look at the animal and excitedly went over to tell her dad she had found a “zebra.” This dad was skeptical of the discovery made by this girl whose name is Nell. Nevertheless, he and his wife Rhonda chose to take Nell to look for the zebra and, to quote Robert Frost’s immortal poem, “that…made all the difference.” I won’t tell you the ending of this short story but suffice it to say that the animal Nell saw turned out to be part flesh and part metaphor.
​
To my surprise, four other stories involving Nell and her family followed. A brave insect set forth to where no insect had gone before, Poe’s poem “The Raven” came to life in a very particular way, a Christmas tree acquired meaning, and a long-forgotten superhero made a triumphant return.
 
In these five stories the skeptical world of adults collided with the magical world of childhood and sparks of wisdom flew everywhere. I had rediscovered the ability to see the world through the eyes of a child. I say “rediscovered” because it was always there, only I didn’t use it. So I gathered these tales together in a book of “children’s stories for grownups,” and I published them on Amazon as an ebook to share my epiphany with others. The stated aim of the book is to help us discover or rediscover some of the amazing things that children can teach us adults about life.
 
I want to let my readers know that I have published a paperback edition of The Sun Zebra, so if instead of an e-book you want a physical copy of the book, you can find it on Amazon here .
​ Sun Zebra Paperback and Digital
The images are property of the author and cannot be used without permission.

The Birth of a Zebra

The adult world is in many ways a betrayal of all the magic and wonder we experienced as a child. When we grow up, we discover that most of the time grinches do not return stolen toys, wolves devour little pigs, Bambi gets shot and eaten, tornados will kill you rather than take you to Oz, and wishing upon balls of burning gas hurtling thought the cold void of space millions of light years away doesn’t achieve much. More often than not, when we become adults, all the stories that wowed us as children are shelved under “fantasy.”
 
And this is understandable. Growing up facing the endless stream of challenges and frustrations that the average person faces has a way of dulling our senses. Sure we survive, and we have our victories. But the scars of our battles, the accumulation of unrealized dreams and stifled hopes, tend to make many people cynical. Some look back upon childhood as a cruel hoax. Others do view it as a precious experience that they long for and cherish, but still an experience with little practical application for grownups. And finally, others forget it or don’t think about it that much. After all, they may reason, to survive in the adult world we cannot be like children. And what can the world of a child possibly teach us about dealing with the complexities and brutal realities of the real world?
 
My opinion of childhood used to be a mix of the above: until I began to write. Then one day I saw a picture of an animal in a particular situation and a little girl came out of nowhere in my mind. The girl took a look at the animal and excitedly went over to tell her dad she had found a “zebra.” This dad was skeptical of the discovery made by this girl whose name is Nell. Nevertheless, he and his wife Rhonda chose to take Nell to look for the zebra and, to quote Robert Frost’s immortal poem, “that…made all the difference.” I won’t tell you the ending of this short story but suffice it to say that the animal Nell saw turned out to be part flesh and part metaphor.
​
To my surprise, four other stories involving Nell and her family followed. A brave insect set forth on an unusual trek, Poe’s poem “The Raven” came to life in a very peculiar way, a Christmas tree revealed its secrets, and a long-forgotten superhero made a spectacular return.
 
In these five stories the skeptical world of adults collided with the magical world of childhood and sparks of wisdom flew everywhere. I had rediscovered the ability to see the world through the eyes of a child. I say “rediscovered” because it was always there, only I didn’t use it. So I gathered these tales together in a book of “children’s stories for grownups,” and I published them on Amazon as an ebook to share my epiphany with others. The stated aim of the book is to help us discover or rediscover some of the amazing things that children can teach us adults about life.
 
I want to let my readers know that I have published a paperback edition of The Sun Zebra, so if instead of an e-book you want a physical copy of the book, you can find it on Amazon here .

The image of the book cover belongs to the author and cannot be used without permission.

Trying To Answer That Most Mysterious of Questions: What Do Spirit Women Want?

Sigmund Freud What indeed do spirit women want? Well, if good old Sigmund couldn’t figure it out with the real thing, there is no way he’d fare any better with the spirit version. I mean, for heaven’s sake, some people claimed the poor guy couldn’t even tell you when a cigar was just a cigar! But that’s another story.
 
The point is, I published a book of short-stories on Amazon entitled Spirit Women which examines the motivations and desires of, well…spirit women. If you read my book, it will take you to battlefields, art museums, psychic joints, drawbridges, deserts, cemeteries, mansions, and family homes; and it will introduce you to these entities and their effects on the men with whom they interact. The stories range from the psychological to the paranormal, and they will thrill you and fulfill you! How do I know that? I’m a scientist! [image error] If you have read my blog for the past few years, you know I have defended science and reason against the attacks of antivaxxers, climate change deniers, creationists, flat-Earthers, Qanon, and the proponents of chemtrail, 911, COVID-19, and 2020 election conspiracies. In other words, I know the difference between reality and fiction. So when I write fiction, you know it must be good, or at the very least “interesting”!
 
My book is available as an ebook an a paperback. You can buy the ebook for $2.99 on Amazon now. If you don’t have a Kindle, you can read it with a Kindle App on your phone or tablet, or you can read it directly on the cloud section of your Amazon account using Amazon’s inbuilt e-reader. Alternatively you can purchase the paperback version for $11.99.
 
Thank you very much for your attention. I hope you will buy and review my book, Spirit Women . If you want to find out a little more about my book, in the video below I provide a description of the inspiration behind the 9 stories contained in the book.
​
​Photographic portrait of Sigmund Freud by Max Halberstadt is in the public domain and was modified from the original.
 
The photograph of the author can only be used with permission.
​

What Do Spirit Women Want?

Sigmund Freud What indeed do spirit women want? Well, if good old Sigmund couldn’t figure it out with the real thing, there is no way he’d fare any better with the spirit version. I mean, for heaven’s sake, the poor guy couldn’t even tell you when a cigar was just a cigar! But that’s another story.
 
The point is, I published a book of short-stories on Amazon entitled Spirit Women which examines the motivations and desires of, well…spirit women. If you read my book, it will take you to battlefields, art museums, psychic joints, drawbridges, deserts, cemeteries, mansions, and family homes; and it will introduce you to these entities and their effects on the men with whom they interact. The stories range from the psychological to the paranormal, and they will thrill you and fulfill you! How do I know that? I’m a scientist! [image error] If you have read my blog for the past few years, you know I have defended science and reason against the attacks of antivaxxers, climate change deniers, creationists, flat-Earthers, Qanon, and the proponents of chemtrail, 911, COVID-19, and 2020 election conspiracies. In other words, I know the difference between reality and fiction. So when I write fiction, you know it must be good, or at the very least “interesting”!
 
My book is an electronic book. You can buy it for $2.99 on Amazon now, but it will sell for $0.99 between the 13th and 20th of December of this year. If you don’t have a Kindle, you can read it with a Kindle App on your phone or tablet, or you can read it directly on the cloud section of your Amazon account using Amazon’s inbuilt e-reader.
 
But let me make you an offer. If you buy Spirit Women and leave a review on my book’s Amazon page, I will give you a copy of my other book, The Sun Zebra. The Sun Zebra is best described as a children’s book for grownups, and it was very well received by my readers. Free copies of this book are only possible for US accounts. If you are outside the US, I can send you a PDF file. Just send me an e-mail to ratioscientiae@gmail.com and let me know about your Spirit Women review and your e-mail account.
 
Thank you very much for your attention. I hope you will buy and review my book, Spirit Women . If you want to find out a little more about my book, in the video below I provide a description of the inspiration behind the 9 stories contained in the book.
​Photographic portrait of Sigmund Freud by Max Halberstadt is in the public domain and was modified from the original.
 
The photograph of the author can only be used with permission.
​