David’s Comments (group member since Dec 13, 2009)

David’s comments from the Science and Inquiry group.

This book reminds me of another book I read: Kluge ("Kluge: The Haphazard Construction of the Human Mind")

I agree with Betsy--it's a very good book. I was amazed by the fact that a small group of people with political agendas influenced so many different "controversial" issues. By generating controversy, they created doubt in the public's mind. And, as a result, the press thinks it's necessary to print both sides of an issue, even when scientists are 99% agreed. I've reviewed the book here.

I just finished the book Feynman's Rainbow: A Search for Beauty in Physics and in Life by physicist Leonard Mlodinow. This is a charming little book that shows a portrait of Feynman during one of his last years at CalTech. Here is my review.

We have a tie! So, the winners are:
At Home in the Universe: The Search for the Laws of Self-Organization and Complexity
and
The Calculus Diaries: How Math Can Help You Lose Weight, Win in Vegas, and Survive a Zombie Apocalypse
We can have fun discussing both of these books. So take your pick--read either one, or both!

Kim wrote: "Hello fellow geeks! - I use the term lovingly :)

I'm a Family Nurse Practitioner with an interest in medicine, of course, but beyond that in most anything scientfic and analytical.

I am fascinate..."

Welcome to our group, Kim!

Find a discussion thread that interests you--or start a new one--and speak your mind!

And please vote in our August poll today! :-)

--David

There hasn't been much discussion about Stiff. Who else is reading it? What do people think about it?

Seven books have been nominated for the August book. If you are interested in reading one of these books, please vote in our poll before June 30.

This is a really tough choice for me--I would like to read several of these books!

I just finished reading The Evolutionary World: How Adaptation Explains Everything from Seashells to Civilization. The author is a professor at University of California, and a true expert in the field of evolution. It's not an easy read, but it is packed with unique insights. Here is my review of the book.

It's that time again! Time to start nominations for the August "Book of the Month". If you have a good idea for a book, please share it! (Make sure to press the "add book" option, so a link to the book will make it easier for everybody to read up about it.)

Nominations will be open until June 26.

This looks like a fun book--thanks for the recommendation!

Alex wrote: "I recently started and then abandoned Before the Dawn: Recovering the Lost History of Our Ancestors. Weirded me out a little because I really liked it - it's a terrific book with int..."

Alex, I am almost finished reading the book. It isn't an easy book to read, but I've learned a lot about our ancestors. I had never realized how warlike they were in the distant past. We took after chimpanzees in that regard. Also, our ancestors were often cannibals, afraid to say.

The most interesting aspect of the book is the synthesis of a wide variety of evidence; archaeology, genetics, linguistics, anthropology/sociology, animal behavior and anatomy.

It looks like Merchants of Doubt: How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on Issues from Tobacco Smoke to Global Warming is the winner for the July "Book of the Month". When July comes around, you can post your comments in this thread.

Interesting article, Betsy! Archaeology has been helped quite a lot by satellite remote sensing technologies.

I've closed nominations for the July book. Take a look at the poll and vote for the book you would really like to read.

Loafingcactus wrote: "Is written communication something that humans due, and therefore participating makes us more human, or is it something technologic that is unnatural Nd takes away from our humanity? My first instinct is to say that is depends on how you use it; it can be either. Ellul would call BS on that, pointing to how it changes how people think, and say that the technology and not the human is always in control. Thoughts? "

I remember reading in The Information: A History, A Theory, A Flood that writing is necessary, in order to have deductive reasoning and syllogisms. Societies that are illiterate do not understand syllogisms. (For example, it is said that Homer's works--handed down across generations orally--do not have syllogisms.) On the other hand, even illiterate individuals who live in literate societies do understand syllogisms.

Hey everybody, it's time to start nominations for the July "Book of the Month". If you have a good idea for a book, please share it! (Make sure to press the "add book" option, so a link to the book will make it easier for everybody to read up about it.)

Nominations will be open until May 26.

Marcelo wrote: "Does anyone here use Bayesian statistics in work instead the traditional approach? I attended a seminar some time ago on the subject but I didn't think it would be useful for me."

Marcelo,
Yes, I use Bayesian methodology in my daily work. For some applications, it is a necessity. The mathematics involved is not difficult, but one must be careful to apply it correctly.
--David

Aloha, after you write a review, let us know about it; put a link to your review in this thread.

Here is a link to my review.

I've been enjoying The Information: A History, A Theory, A Flood very much. The applications of these ideas are far ranging; communications, genetics, computer science, linguistics, cryptography, and physics.

I just saw the two musical memes on page 312. Gleick does not inform the reader what they represent. Obviously, the first one is the opening theme from Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. I think that the second one is from the song Macarena. :-)

I just finished reading The Physics of Star Trek. Here is my review.