(For the Zen moment of not having to teach while an exam is invigilated)
Chairs creak,
Noses sniffle cold virus gobs
Teacher breathes, class quiet, leaves fall
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Sachs on Anti-Intellectualism
Jeff Sachs, probably the leading economist of development in the US today, and highly influential, just released an editorial on the last decade's trend in anti-intellectualism, connecting Sarah Palin to the trend.
But how can this be so?
One explanation is the BBC. With only two, and then three, TV channels in 1960s and '70s Britain, two of them government-run, it was inevitable myself and my school friends would study science in front of the tube. This wasn't an accident. When did Reithianism become a bad word?
Another explanation is that American conservative anti-intellectualism is one obvious outcome of a country founded at least partly on religious separatism and extreme protestant exceptionalism, and remains very long-lived indeed. The Pilgrim Fathers were less bastions of freedom, more religious dictators, iconoclastic and austere. The Scopes Trail is in direct descent from the Salem Witchcraft trails, and the Know-Nothing Party is alive and well.
Sarah Palin may co-occupy the same 50 states as the best and most widespread scientific program in history, but that doesn't mean to say she has ever been part of it, or even educated in what it has, can and will do. As such, she's more commonplace than exception.
I think it goes beyond that. As a Brit with 20-plus years in country and therefore an unofficial anthropologist of American culture, I can easily bear witness to the fact that you only have to step outside your door and interact with people to find the American anti-intellectual trend. A trip to the barber shop, the waiting room at the Jiffy-Lube, or the supermarket check-out, will quite ordinarily turn up someone who wants to tell you some conspiracy, deus ex machina, about how the world runs, all of their own making, while the great efforts to figure out how the world really runs, in social science, economics, biology, geophysics, sometimes seem virtually unknown in popular culture.
This despite (or perhaps because of) cable and satellite TV widely available with hundreds of channels, many carrying superb scientific content, and despite (or perhaps because of) a liberal press system that surely must be the most diverse and unfettered by libel or government interference of any in history.
By comparison, the UK system I grew up with thirty years age (four TV channels, a handful of national papers, seemingly few specialist magazines, and draconian libel laws) seems thoroughly deprived and trammeled, like the two-up/two down houses many of us Lydgate Lane Primary kids lived in. A spartan existence. When I were a lad....
But, as Tapton School showed us later, we were both more educated and educable. Most of us were, at least. But in this country, even the brightest kids from the best schools can be quite ignorant of science when they arrive at college.
But how can this be so?
One explanation is the BBC. With only two, and then three, TV channels in 1960s and '70s Britain, two of them government-run, it was inevitable myself and my school friends would study science in front of the tube. This wasn't an accident. When did Reithianism become a bad word?
Another explanation is that American conservative anti-intellectualism is one obvious outcome of a country founded at least partly on religious separatism and extreme protestant exceptionalism, and remains very long-lived indeed. The Pilgrim Fathers were less bastions of freedom, more religious dictators, iconoclastic and austere. The Scopes Trail is in direct descent from the Salem Witchcraft trails, and the Know-Nothing Party is alive and well.
Sarah Palin may co-occupy the same 50 states as the best and most widespread scientific program in history, but that doesn't mean to say she has ever been part of it, or even educated in what it has, can and will do. As such, she's more commonplace than exception.
The American Anti-Intellectual Threat
By Jeffry Sachs
NEW YORK – In recent years, the United States has been more a source of global instability than a source of global problem-solving. Examples include the war in Iraq, launched by the US on false premises, obstructionism on efforts to curb climate change, meager development assistance, and the violation of international treaties such as the Geneva Conventions. While many factors contributed to America’s destabilizing actions, a powerful one is anti-intellectualism, exemplified recently by Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin’s surging popularity.
By anti-intellectualism, I mean especially an aggressively anti-scientific perspective, backed by disdain for those who adhere to science and evidence. The challenges faced by a major power like the US require rigorous analysis of information according to the best scientific principles.
Friday, October 3, 2008
From Stef at the DEP: TV disposal
If you're not in Maine, contact your state environmental agency or town office to find out what you can do with your old tv set...
Don't let your television end up In Our Back Yard
The Digital TV Transition May Make Many Televisions Obsolete
Been watching much television lately? If you have, then you have probably heard that big things are happening this coming February. On February 17, 2009 all full-power broadcast television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting on analog airwaves and begin broadcasting only in digital. Digital broadcasting will allow stations to offer improved picture and sound quality and additional channels.
Unfortunately, many of the television sets in people's homes cannot accept the digital broadcast signals. These analog televisions will not work with the digital broadcast signals after February 17, 2009, when the analog signals disappear. So what happens to the old set? For many people, their first response is, "Toss it! We need a new TV anyway."
And that's a real problem.
Televisions and other modern electronics contain dozens of metals, including many valuable ones like gold and silver. They also have lead, cadmium, and even mercury. If not recycled, if simply tossed into the garbage, we are potentially causing harm to the environment. Cast-off televisions have several toxic components. The glass in a TV screen alone contains anywhere from one to seven pounds of lead!
That is why Maine has an Electronics Waste (E-waste) Recycling Law. Because of their quantity and toxicity, used electronic products are the most rapidly growing problem in our waste stream. Used televisions and computer monitors can no longer be tossed in the trash. They must be recycled, and municipalities are responsible for ensuring their residents have a place to deliver their televisions and computer monitors for recycling. Many municipalities operate an on-going collection center, some do regular one-day collections, such as an "E-waste collection day", and others have their residents deliver their electronics directly to a near-by private Universal Waste management company. These collection sites ship the TVs and monitors to a recycler that maximizes the materials reclaimed for reuse and manages all hazardous materials in an environmentally-protective way. In 2006 and 2007, Maine residents recycled more than 8 million pounds of toxic electronics through this system, with the recycling paid for by the TV and monitor manufacturers,
But do you know what is even better than recycling your old television set? Keeping it, using it, and NOT buying a new one. For a net cost of approximately $30 you can buy a converter box that will keep your current analog television working with digital signals. To help consumers with the DTV transition, the Federal Government established the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program. You can get a coupon worth $40 toward the purchase of eligible digital-to-analog converter boxes, and almost all the eligible converter boxes are well below $100. So keeping their current television set will be an attractive option to many people. Go to www.dtv.gov or call 1-888-388-2009 to apply for a coupon, and remember that you must have the coupon with you when you purchase your converter box.
Got cable? You don't need to get a new television. "Cable and satellite TV subscribers with analog TVs hooked up to their cable or satellite service should not be affected by the February 17, 2009 cut-off date for full-power analog broadcasting." (source: www.dtv.gov )
This article was submitted by Peter Moulton, an environmental engineer with the Maine DEP Bureau of Remediation and Waste Management.
Don't let your television end up In Our Back Yard
The Digital TV Transition May Make Many Televisions Obsolete
Been watching much television lately? If you have, then you have probably heard that big things are happening this coming February. On February 17, 2009 all full-power broadcast television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting on analog airwaves and begin broadcasting only in digital. Digital broadcasting will allow stations to offer improved picture and sound quality and additional channels.
Unfortunately, many of the television sets in people's homes cannot accept the digital broadcast signals. These analog televisions will not work with the digital broadcast signals after February 17, 2009, when the analog signals disappear. So what happens to the old set? For many people, their first response is, "Toss it! We need a new TV anyway."
And that's a real problem.
Televisions and other modern electronics contain dozens of metals, including many valuable ones like gold and silver. They also have lead, cadmium, and even mercury. If not recycled, if simply tossed into the garbage, we are potentially causing harm to the environment. Cast-off televisions have several toxic components. The glass in a TV screen alone contains anywhere from one to seven pounds of lead!
That is why Maine has an Electronics Waste (E-waste) Recycling Law. Because of their quantity and toxicity, used electronic products are the most rapidly growing problem in our waste stream. Used televisions and computer monitors can no longer be tossed in the trash. They must be recycled, and municipalities are responsible for ensuring their residents have a place to deliver their televisions and computer monitors for recycling. Many municipalities operate an on-going collection center, some do regular one-day collections, such as an "E-waste collection day", and others have their residents deliver their electronics directly to a near-by private Universal Waste management company. These collection sites ship the TVs and monitors to a recycler that maximizes the materials reclaimed for reuse and manages all hazardous materials in an environmentally-protective way. In 2006 and 2007, Maine residents recycled more than 8 million pounds of toxic electronics through this system, with the recycling paid for by the TV and monitor manufacturers,
But do you know what is even better than recycling your old television set? Keeping it, using it, and NOT buying a new one. For a net cost of approximately $30 you can buy a converter box that will keep your current analog television working with digital signals. To help consumers with the DTV transition, the Federal Government established the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program. You can get a coupon worth $40 toward the purchase of eligible digital-to-analog converter boxes, and almost all the eligible converter boxes are well below $100. So keeping their current television set will be an attractive option to many people. Go to www.dtv.gov
Got cable? You don't need to get a new television. "Cable and satellite TV subscribers with analog TVs hooked up to their cable or satellite service should not be affected by the February 17, 2009 cut-off date for full-power analog broadcasting." (source: www.dtv.gov
This article was submitted by Peter Moulton, an environmental engineer with the Maine DEP Bureau of Remediation and Waste Management.
From Stef at the DEP: TY disposal
If you're not in Maine, contact your state environmental agency or town office to find out what you can do with your old tv set...
Don't let your television end up In Our Back Yard
The Digital TV Transition May Make Many Televisions Obsolete
Been watching much television lately? If you have, then you have probably heard that big things are happening this coming February. On February 17, 2009 all full-power broadcast television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting on analog airwaves and begin broadcasting only in digital. Digital broadcasting will allow stations to offer improved picture and sound quality and additional channels.
Unfortunately, many of the television sets in people's homes cannot accept the digital broadcast signals. These analog televisions will not work with the digital broadcast signals after February 17, 2009, when the analog signals disappear. So what happens to the old set? For many people, their first response is, "Toss it! We need a new TV anyway."
And that's a real problem.
Televisions and other modern electronics contain dozens of metals, including many valuable ones like gold and silver. They also have lead, cadmium, and even mercury. If not recycled, if simply tossed into the garbage, we are potentially causing harm to the environment. Cast-off televisions have several toxic components. The glass in a TV screen alone contains anywhere from one to seven pounds of lead!
That is why Maine has an Electronics Waste (E-waste) Recycling Law. Because of their quantity and toxicity, used electronic products are the most rapidly growing problem in our waste stream. Used televisions and computer monitors can no longer be tossed in the trash. They must be recycled, and municipalities are responsible for ensuring their residents have a place to deliver their televisions and computer monitors for recycling. Many municipalities operate an on-going collection center, some do regular one-day collections, such as an "E-waste collection day", and others have their residents deliver their electronics directly to a near-by private Universal Waste management company. These collection sites ship the TVs and monitors to a recycler that maximizes the materials reclaimed for reuse and manages all hazardous materials in an environmentally-protective way. In 2006 and 2007, Maine residents recycled more than 8 million pounds of toxic electronics through this system, with the recycling paid for by the TV and monitor manufacturers,
But do you know what is even better than recycling your old television set? Keeping it, using it, and NOT buying a new one. For a net cost of approximately $30 you can buy a converter box that will keep your current analog television working with digital signals. To help consumers with the DTV transition, the Federal Government established the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program. You can get a coupon worth $40 toward the purchase of eligible digital-to-analog converter boxes, and almost all the eligible converter boxes are well below $100. So keeping their current television set will be an attractive option to many people. Go to www.dtv.gov
Got cable? You don't need to get a new television. "Cable and satellite TV subscribers with analog TVs hooked up to their cable or satellite service should not be affected by the February 17, 2009 cut-off date for full-power analog broadcasting." (source: www.dtv.gov
This article was submitted by Peter Moulton, an environmental engineer with the Maine DEP Bureau of Remediation and Waste Management.
Don't let your television end up In Our Back Yard
The Digital TV Transition May Make Many Televisions Obsolete
Been watching much television lately? If you have, then you have probably heard that big things are happening this coming February. On February 17, 2009 all full-power broadcast television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting on analog airwaves and begin broadcasting only in digital. Digital broadcasting will allow stations to offer improved picture and sound quality and additional channels.
Unfortunately, many of the television sets in people's homes cannot accept the digital broadcast signals. These analog televisions will not work with the digital broadcast signals after February 17, 2009, when the analog signals disappear. So what happens to the old set? For many people, their first response is, "Toss it! We need a new TV anyway."
And that's a real problem.
Televisions and other modern electronics contain dozens of metals, including many valuable ones like gold and silver. They also have lead, cadmium, and even mercury. If not recycled, if simply tossed into the garbage, we are potentially causing harm to the environment. Cast-off televisions have several toxic components. The glass in a TV screen alone contains anywhere from one to seven pounds of lead!
That is why Maine has an Electronics Waste (E-waste) Recycling Law. Because of their quantity and toxicity, used electronic products are the most rapidly growing problem in our waste stream. Used televisions and computer monitors can no longer be tossed in the trash. They must be recycled, and municipalities are responsible for ensuring their residents have a place to deliver their televisions and computer monitors for recycling. Many municipalities operate an on-going collection center, some do regular one-day collections, such as an "E-waste collection day", and others have their residents deliver their electronics directly to a near-by private Universal Waste management company. These collection sites ship the TVs and monitors to a recycler that maximizes the materials reclaimed for reuse and manages all hazardous materials in an environmentally-protective way. In 2006 and 2007, Maine residents recycled more than 8 million pounds of toxic electronics through this system, with the recycling paid for by the TV and monitor manufacturers,
But do you know what is even better than recycling your old television set? Keeping it, using it, and NOT buying a new one. For a net cost of approximately $30 you can buy a converter box that will keep your current analog television working with digital signals. To help consumers with the DTV transition, the Federal Government established the Digital-to-Analog Converter Box Coupon Program. You can get a coupon worth $40 toward the purchase of eligible digital-to-analog converter boxes, and almost all the eligible converter boxes are well below $100. So keeping their current television set will be an attractive option to many people. Go to www.dtv.gov
Got cable? You don't need to get a new television. "Cable and satellite TV subscribers with analog TVs hooked up to their cable or satellite service should not be affected by the February 17, 2009 cut-off date for full-power analog broadcasting." (source: www.dtv.gov
This article was submitted by Peter Moulton, an environmental engineer with the Maine DEP Bureau of Remediation and Waste Management.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Hadley on stabalization wedges
A new report from the excellent UK Hadley Centre, with four scenarios for emissions reductions, and likely consequences:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/oct/01/climatechange.carbonemissions1
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/oct/01/climatechange.carbonemissions1
Sarah and the Skeptics
Sounds like a garage band.
Here's the Guardian's Ed Pilkington with a well-documented review of how Ms. Palin turned to some ExxonMobil funded climate skeptics for copy with which to oppose listing for polar bears.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/oct/01/sarahpalin.climatechange
Enjoy.
Here's the Guardian's Ed Pilkington with a well-documented review of how Ms. Palin turned to some ExxonMobil funded climate skeptics for copy with which to oppose listing for polar bears.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/oct/01/sarahpalin.climatechange
Enjoy.
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