That's Astronomy, Not Astrology!

Yes, there is a difference...

image from NASA APOD

Another excellent series of astronomy podcasts are actually recordings of two classes taught by Professor Richard Pogge at Ohio State University. Why these aren't on iTunes U instead of iTunes, I don't know, but these undergrad courses are excellent primers on astronomy. Astronomy 161 explains the local neighborhood - our solar system. Astronomy 162 deals with the big picture, deep time perspective - from the big bang to the heat death of the universe. Professor Pogge supplies copious supporting materials for 161 and 162 at the Ohio State website, but he does such a nice job explaining his topics you can get by without them...at least until you get home.

Astronomy Cast: Watch The Skies!

Fraser Cain and Dr. Pamela Gay entertain and inform...

image from NASA APOD

Fraser Cain is the publisher of the Universe Today website.  Dr. Pamela Gay lectures at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.  Each week they come together to deliver the Astronomy Cast.  I found them on iTunes or you can visit their website where they have an episode archive 243 shows deep.  The average show is around 30 minutes in length and deals with a single topic (except for their fun "listener questions" episodes).  Each 'cast is supplemented by helpful show notes at the website.  Both hosts have voices that are easy enough to listen to at 2x on your iProduct (do MP3 players have variable playback speeds too?) so it will only take you a little over 60 hours to catch up...

Books and Ideas

Ginger Campbell's other podcast...

I've been listening Ginger Campbell's Brain Science Podcast on iTunes since I got my first iPod.  Dr. Campbell practices Emergency Medicine and still finds time to blog and podcast.  Neurology is her interest, not her specialty, but she has made it her business to popularize the ever-expanding discipline.  She has also organized a group called Science Podcasters where like-minded promoters of science can hang their hats.  Dr. Campbell also has a presence on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, a Twitter feed, and an iPhone app.  I'm always impressed when a fellow boomer dives headfirst into Web 2.0.

I don't know why I never tried any of her work at Books and Ideas but I'm glad I finally did.  She 'casts from this site topics that don't precisely fit the charter at Brain Science.  Not everything that interest Dr. Campbell interest me, but as I've caught up with her podcasts several struck my fancy...

#34 Bruce Hood, author of SUPERSENSE  Hood's book is on my 2011 reading list.

#32 "Unscientific America" 

#30 Tom Clark on Naturalism

#27 Jennifer Michael Hecht  Hecht, author of Doubt: A Hisory, was a skeptic of revealed truth a couple years before the four horsemen of the angry "new atheism" mounted their steeds. Listening to this interview reminded me to add her book to my 2011 reading list.

#25 Vaccines DO NOT cause Autism This one was 'cast on both feeds so I've heard this excellent interview before.  

#21 Interview with Eugenie Scott

#20 Mindfulness Meditation with Delany Dean

#19 "Predictably Irrational" with Dan Ariely

#14-Dr. Pamela Gay of Astronomy Cast  Dr. Gay gives a surprisingly candid interview in which she and Dr. Campbell discuss the challenges of being women in the male-dominated fields of science and medicine.

#12 Does Free Will Exist?  So, what does it mean to us if there is no "contra-causal" free will?

#5 How are Science and Philosophy Related?

#2 The Trouble With Physics

#1 Science vs. Pseudo-science 

Dr. Campbell is so genuine and committed it's easy to overlook the few glitches in some episodes as she negotiated her podcasting learning curve.  I recommend you give Brain Science and Books and Ideas a listen.

"Injustice Anywhere is a Threat to Justice Everywhere"

"We should never forget that everything Adolf Hitler did in Germany was 'legal' and everything the Hungarian freedom fighters did in Hungary was 'illegal.'" - Letter from Birmingham Jail

Martin Luther King Jr's Letter From Birmingham Jail is a powerful piece of writing.  It is a time capsule and a source of ageless wisdom.  You do not have to be black to appreciate it.  You need not be Christian to be moved by it.  But you will be more fully an American if you do read it.  It is a long letter, for which Dr. King apologized, "but what else can one do when he is alone in a narrow jail cell, other than write long letters, think long thoughts and pray long prayers?"  Read it today, if only once.  Me, I propose to reread it the 3rd Monday of every January until it no longer resonates.

Cassandra's 2010-2011 Nordic Ski Season Continues

Cassie took third at her meet at the Saints Invitational at St John's in Collegeville on Saturday.  Way to go, Boo!

The Gustavus Women took first in their race, a 12k classic mass start.  The Gustavus Men took second in their race.  Go, Gusties!

Even though we had to leave before noon Erik came along.  On the way up we stopped at Nelson Bros. in Clearwater for giant pastries.  On the way home we visited Cabela's in Rogers to peruse the used guns racks and the gun library, as is our tradition.