Daily Archives: August 30, 2012

Mars, the Book

A miracle. This is not the American Southwest, but part of Mount Sharp inside Gale Crater on Mars. The (apparently sedimentary) rocks exposed here are more than three billion years old. Curiosity is about six miles from them. Behold the Book of Mars. We’ll … Continue reading

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Louis CK Does a Close Reading of the Story of Abraham and Isaac

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Lyric and Song: Why Simple Reasons, However Incoherent or Decontextualized, are Effective Persuaders

I have a theory about explanation, and why bad explanations so frequently trump good explanations. Good explanations (that is, explanations that are true) often do not accord with what we want to believe is true. Therefore, when evaluating a successful … Continue reading

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Bill Nye Frets Over Evolution Denial

___________ Why is the above video so compelling? I’d say it has primarily to do with his manner of speaking about evolution: Bill Nye the Science Guy, a man beloved by children and parents alike, is pained, bewildered, and disappointed–and … Continue reading

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