Recommended reads #29
“The problem isn’t the technology–it’s the way we elicit students’ attention.” –Ban Disconnection, Not Laptops
“How to search your hotel room for bed bugs,” written by an entomologist who knows how to break it down for non-entomologists. For starters, put your luggage in the bathtub at the outset.
Did you know that Bill Watterson just had three new comics in the paper last week? He’s been essentially in hiding since Calvin and Hobbes ran its last strip on New Year’s Eve in 1995. Stephan Pastis tells the story about what it’s like to get a glimpse of Bigfoot, or work with one of your heroes. (Also, I had a post inspired by Stephan Pastis several months ago, too.)
“I’ll be blunt: Have you been getting evaluations of “good” on your grant proposals? If yes, then you really need this information.” –How to Turn A “Good” Proposal Into An “Excellent” Proposal in Eight Admittedly Arduous Steps
“I think Robbins, if asked, would argue that a few jerks are a fair price to pay for a world with unusual people in it. And I’m pretty sure I’d agree.” – A review of Tom Robbins’ new memoir, Tibetan Peach Pie.
“The well-intentioned Diversity Question may be an awkward inevitability, one that will help bring about a world where the Diversity Question is no longer necessary. In the meantime, though, it seems mostly to ask white interviewees to flounder awkwardly so that the white people inside and outside the interview room can sit comfortably with the fact that more white teachers are being hired to teach more white students.” –The Diversity Question
Collecting insects using ethanol? But you’re abroad and the right ethanol is hard to get? Or you just need to preserve DNA better? How about using EDTA instead? This paper lays it all out. It’s really simple.
This piece by Ta-Nehisi Coates on The Case for Reparations is epic in scope, focused on the present and recent history, and I’ll wager is far more convincing than you might expect.
If you have read Song of Ice and Fire or watched Game of Thrones, what time period in human history do you think that world reflects? Medieval? Renaissance? This piece makes a strong case for a certain time period, as well as why it matters.
Did you know Nate Silver does statistics in Excel? Seriously. No joke.
And finally, two choice items just as the World Cup launches:
“Even before he exiled the most accomplished and iconic player in United States soccer history and before his presumptive top goal scorer went nearly an entire season without scoring goals and before he knew whom, exactly, his team was actually going to play, Jurgen Klinsmann was sure he was going to lose.” –How Jurgen Klinsmann Plans to Make U.S. Soccer Better (and Less American)“
The SB Nation World Cup Preview. Great for
footballsoccer neophytes and more seasoned people. Engaging, and interesting for a surface but detail is available if you want. Seriously, it’s worth your time. It’s really frickin’ cool.
For links, thanks to Morgan Jackson and Emilio Bruna