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2006 Archives
April 17, 2006:
Scientific writing:
My biggest problem with scientific writing is the consistent
use of the run on sentence by many of the practitioners who write
as though they do not know when to end a sentence and begin a
new one, so by the time you get to the end of the sentence you
forgot what it was about and you are compelled to go back and
read it again, just as you may want to do with this example,
but don't bother because I am going to write another paragraph
the way this one would have been written by someone who was a
writer instead of a scientist, so it will be clear and it will
not be necessary to wonder what the heck I was talking about.
My biggest problem with scientific writing is the consistent
use of the run on sentence. Many of the practitioners write as
though they do not know when to end a sentence and begin a new
one. By the time you get to the end of the sentence you forgot
what it was about. Then you are compelled to go back and read
it again. You may want to do that with this example, but don't
bother. I am going to write another paragraph the way this one
would have been written by a writer instead of a scientist. That
way, it will be clear. It will not be necessary to wonder what
the heck I was talking about.
Once Upon a Time:
There was a time in human history when a man could teach his
son to use a bow and a spear and that was all he needed to teach
him. There was another time in human history when a man could
teach his son to plant, cultivate, and harvest, and that was
all he needed to teach him. Those times have passed. Each stage
of man's history has required different forms of education. Now
we are at a time where we must teach our kids to be adaptable
to a rapidly changing environment as never before. We cannot
do that with rote training and memorized rules. There never was
a time where operant conditioning was a viable way to prepare
children for life.
Misdemeanor:
In Flint, Michigan a cop beat up a kid on a school bus for no
particular reason. Apparently he did not know the auto recorder
tape was going. He got caught. The authorities called that a
misdemeanor and the cop got 90 days in jail. I would have thought
aggravated assault would be classed as a felony. I guess it's
not in Flint. Maybe it depends on who does it. I wonder what
they would charge me with if I beat up on a cop for no particular
reason? I'm sure it would not be a misdemeanor. I suspect when
I was capture I would be killed attempting to escape.
Boehner:
This guy took over for Delay in the Republican party. George
Stephanopolous had him on the grill. The guy is a real piece
of work. He is no improvement over Delay at all. He is pretending
we can actually secure our border with Mexico and stop the wet-backs
from crossing over. He also claims we are wining in Iraq. He
says he will spend the taxpayer's money wisely. He told several
other lies while ducking and weaving around the questions George
threw at him. New Republicrumb leadership they say, but it don't
change much from fool to fool.
Meanwhile:
Meanwhile, wet-backs are running all over the country protesting
what they call the criminalizing of illegal immigrants. Say what?
Let's get real. Illegal immigrant and criminal are synonyms.
These folks are criminals by legal definition. However, they
do make a very good point. Who will do the crappy work they do
if they are not allowed to do it? For decades we have been looking
the other way and winking at this cheap labor activity. The truth
is, the food and service industries cannot function without it.
Most of the food and many of the services we depend on could
not be produced at all if it had to be done by, for example,
the grossly overpaid auto industry workers, Imagine paying two
bucks or more for an apple instead of two bits. How would you
like them apples?
Which Party:
Everyone in Americas is hung up on this either-or game. We must
be either republicrumbs or dumbocrats. Even the so-called intellects
on the Stephanopolous show are stuck on it. It is America's largest
blind spot. "Which party do you want?" is the wrong
question. The only realistic answer to that is none of the above.
So long as we continue th think in these either-or terms we will
continue to have decadent government and our culture will ultimately
disintegrate. We desperately need a new approach to government.
The two party system went bad when Jefferson came to power. It
is inherently corrupt. It will never get better.
Iran:
Bush's talking head said, the president is keeping all options
open as far as Iran is concerned. This includes a tactical nuclear
missile attack. To nuke Iran would be an act of insanity. I suspect
by the time enough people realize King George is insane, it will
be too late.
An Easy Meal:
Mrs. Gaffer has a black belt in shopping. One day, she went shopping
with a friend and left me alone to fend for myself. That's okay,
at least until I began to get hungry. When that happens my mind
starts to ferment. I get wild ideas. Here is the most recent
result of that. I call it quick pizza.
Mix one 6 oz can of tomato paste with one tsp, each of basil
and oregano and 1/3 tsp. of Louisiana hot sauce.
Put a soft flour tortilla on a plate and spread some of this
mix on it. Freeze the rest.
Cover the paste with a layer of shredded mozzarella cheese.
Spread on thin slices of pepperoni and whatever else you like
for topping.
Cover this thing with a microwave proof cover to prevent splashes
and pop it in the microwave for about 3 minutes.
You will have a personal instant pizza that tastes great. Don't
forget the Chianti. Bon appètit!
How Would We Know?
I discovered by accident that Michigan has a "move-over"
law. Our local TV news people mentioned it in a report on the
danger police face. The law specifies that when a police car
with flashing lights has pulled over a errant driver, the cars
passing the scene must move over one lane leaving an empty lane
for the safety of the cop. I think that's a very good law. There
is only one problem. They passed the law, but they did not bother
to tell me or anyone else about it. How the hell are we supposed
to know? I routinely move over when I see a police car with flashing
lights, but I do it as a matter of common sense. Now, I discover,
by accident, that I have been obeying an unknown law. That's
our Lansing leadership for you. Stupid, just stupid!
Easter:
Why did we celebrate Easter,
And make all of that fuss?
Because Jesus took it in the keester,
For all of the rest of us.
I wonder if J. C. was an orthodox Jew? I wonder how he would
feel about us eating ham to celebrate his resurrection?
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