The host of a Fox News program has apologized for a segment on the Canadian military that Defence Minister Peter MacKay called "disgusting" and "crass."I wonder if they've ever treated 9/11 in a "lighthearted, humorous and ridiculous" manner? What about the USA? Have they ever mocked their own country on this show?
A group of pundits on "Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld," which airs weekdays at 3 a.m. on Fox News, each took turns trashing Canada and its military during an episode that aired on March 17.
...
Gutfeld issued an apology Monday afternoon saying, "I realize that my words may have been misunderstood. It was not my intent to disrespect the brave men, women and families of the Canadian military, and for that I apologize."
But the host also seemed to defend his program, adding "Red Eye is a satirical take on the news, in which all topics are addressed in a lighthearted, humorous and ridiculous manner."
Identify this molecule and briefly describe its function. You must supply the common name and one of the the formal IUPAC names. 
What are the implications of today's equinox?Phil Plait of Bad Astronomy didn't think it was funny: Canada slips further into goofiness. Neither did any of the people who posted comments on the newspaper's website.
Attwood: As the earth goes around the sun it appears that the overhead sun seems to be creeping towards the north. For the next three months it will continue to creep north until the first day of summer, when it's at its farthest point north. As the sun gets higher that means it's able to concentrate more heat on the ground.
Barwick: Somebody who's born at 0 degrees Aries – that's a particularly strong Aries person ... William Shatner, Captain Kirk, has kind of the ultimate Aries energy in a way: going forth, boldly going where no one has gone before, pioneering, being in command, leading intuitively. This is Aries.
The 44th edition of Gene Genie has been posted at Mary Meets Dolly [Gene Genie #44]. My first Gene Genie! For my Catholic readers, Gene Genie is the "blog carnival of genes and genetic conditions." (No rubbing of ancient oil lamp necessary.) I hope I shall do it justice.The beautiful logo was created by Ricardo at My Biotech Life.
The latest issue of SEED praises US President Obama's emphasis on science and offers a list of ideas "for revising the role of science in America." The number one recommendation is "Make Scientific Literacy a National Priority." What's needed is better ways of fostering critical thinking and imagination not only in the nation's schools but among its citizenry.Good advice, although I wish they'd mentioned the importance of skepticism along with critical thinking. Scientifically literate citizens should not blindly accept every new breakthrough that appears in the scientific literature.
Scientific literacy is not just about being able to weigh in on scientific debates of the day by parsing climate change or understanding the difference between a theory and a guess. The ability to empirically test one's ideas about the world and discard beliefs in light of new evidence is fundamental to the ideals of a just and democratic society; it brings people to the table to debate issues reasonably and with minimum rhetoric.
"The 10,000 Year Explosion" would be important even if it were only about population genetics and evolutionary biology, but Gregory Cochran and Henry Harpending, a physicist turned biologist and a biological anthropologist, respectively, at the University of Utah, have written something more. This book is a manifesto for and an example of a new kind of history, a biological history and not just of the prehistoric era. Covering broad ground over human history and prehistory, the authors argue for the singular importance of genes in human history, not just as markers but also as makers.Is this an example of critical thinking? Is this the best way to enhance scientific literacy?
The first four of the book's seven chapters serve as something of a preamble to the final three. Cochran and Harpending first present the evidence for recent, accelerated human evolution after the invention of agriculture. In its own right that argument is a fairly revolutionary proposition, bit one with clear data, both skeletal and genetic, to back it up: investigations of the human genome undertaken as part of the International Hap Map Project and elsewhere have clearly demonstrated that selection has been ongoing and has accelerated over time. This has been a landmark finding in human biology, and Cochran and Harpending, building on their own work and that of others, including John Hawks of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, convincingly tie the advent of architecture—and the stresses resulting from the new diets. new modes of habitation, new animal neighbors, and new modes of living that agriculture made possible—to this accelerated evolution. It is work destined to launch a thousand careers.[My emphasis-LAM]
Cochran, G., Hardy, J., and Harpending, H. (2006) Natural history of Ashkenazi intelligence. J. Biosoc. Sci. 38:659-93.
Hawks, J., Cochran, G., Harpending, H.C., and Lahn, B.T. (2008) A genetic legacy from archaic Homo. Trends Genet. 24:19-23. Epub 2007 Dec 3. [PubMed] [DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2007.10.003 ]
Hawks, J., Wang, E.T., Cochran, G.M., Harpending, H.C., and Moyzis, R.K. (2007) Recent acceleration of human adaptive evolution. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA) 104:20753-20758. Epub 2007 [PubMed] [DOI:10.1073/pnas.0707650104]
1. The monthly column by PZ Myers in SEED is the exception, not the rule.
[Hat Tip: Canadian Cynic]
George Galloway is a Scottish MP who speaks out on behalf of Palestinians and expresses support for Hamas. He was recently invited to Canada to give a speech in Toronto but Canada's Immigration Minister, Jason Kenney, immediately recognized that Canada can't tolerate that. Kenney determined that a member of the British parliament is a threat to our national security and Galloway was banned from entering Canada. Journalists insist that we need professionals to mediate and explain science. From today's story, their self-belief seems truly laughable.Note to science journalists; people are beginning to catch on to your scam. Matt Nisbet helped a lot by making it obvious.
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Tenure-track Positions in Gene Expression and Metabolic Biochemistry
The Department of Biochemistry at Memorial University invites applications for two tenure-track positions at the level of Assistant Professor, one in each of the targeted areas listed below. Applicants should have a PhD or equivalent degree with a minimum of two years post-doctoral research experience and should possess a strong research record with significant future promise. The successful applicants will be expected to develop externally funded research programmes with relevance to one of the research foci of the department: 1) Development and health, and 2) Membranes and molecular interactions. They will also be expected to show a commitment to effective teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The new faculty members will be encouraged to collaborate with the faculty in the department and elsewhere in the university.
1) Gene Expression (ref # VPA-BIOC-2008-001). The successful applicant for this position will be expected to develop a research programme focused on some area of gene regulation such as, but not limited to, transcriptional regulation by DNA-protein interactions, chromatin structure/remodeling, or gene expression profiling.
2) Metabolic Biochemistry (ref # VPA-BIOC-2008-002). The successful applicant will be expected to develop a research programme focused on some area of metabolic biochemistry such as, but not limited to, metabolomics, gene-nutrient interactions, or metabolic regulation including signaling pathways.
Applicants should submit a curriculum vitae, a summary of past research, a statement of proposed research and reprints of 3 publications. The application must be accompanied by the names, affiliations and contact information of three referees.
Memorial University is the largest university in Atlantic Canada offering diverse undergraduate, graduate and medical school programmes to almost 18,000 students. As the Province’s only university, Memorial plays an integral role in the educational and cultural life of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Biochemistry Department consists of 18 faculty with expertise in a wide range of biochemical areas. For information about the Department of Biochemistry please see the departmental webpage. St. John’s is a safe, friendly city with great historic charm, a vibrant cultural life, affordable housing and easy access to a wide range of outdoor activities. For more information about St. John’s please see the municipal website.
Memorial University is committed to employment equity and encourages applications from qualified women and men, visible minorities, aboriginal people and persons with disabilities. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents will be given priority. Partners of candidates for positions are invited to include their resumes for possible matching with other job opportunities.
Applications should be received by the Department of Biochemistry by May 15, 2009.
Applications should be addressed to: Dr. Martin Mulligan, Head, Department of Biochemistry, Memorial University, St. John’s, NL, Canada, A1B 3X9. Applications may also be submitted electronically to biochead@mun.ca or by fax: (709) 737-2422. Please quote the appropriate job reference number on all correspondence.
Today at 11:44 UT (= 7:44 AM Eastern Time) the sun appeared to cross the celestial equator in its northward movement. (See Movement of Our Star for the real explanation.)An equinox in astronomy is the moment in time (not a whole day) when the centre of the Sun can be observed to be directly above the Earth's equator, occurring around March 20 and September 23 each year.
More technically, at an equinox, the Sun is at one of two opposite points on the celestial sphere where the celestial equator (i.e., declination 0) and ecliptic intersect. These points of intersection are called equinoctial points—the vernal point and the autumnal point. By extension, the term equinox may be used to denote an equinoctial point.
[Photo Credit: The photograph shows the position of the sun at various times throughout the year at 12h (UT) over the Temple of Aphaia (490-480 BC), Athens (Anthony AYIOMAMITIS). The image is called the solar analemma. See here for an explanation. The celestial equator is perpendicular to the long axis of the image and half way between the top and bottom. The crossover point of the figure eight depends on your distance from the equator. I'd love to see one taken on the equator or in the southern hemisphere.]
[Image Credit: eSky]
