books

Skepticism

ICYMI: December 30 – January 5 on the Skepchick Network

Well hello, everyone! I see you survived New Year’s Eve more or less in one piece, and I could not be happier. Now that your week-long hangover has subsided, you can catch up on what you missed on the Skepchick Network. Teen Skepchick The Physics Philes, lesson 29: Math, Discontinuously Mindy is still trying to wrap her head around continuity.…

Random Asides

Ask Surly Amy: What to Do With Books You Don’t Like Anymore

Dear Surly Amy, I have a question. Before I became a skeptic, I purchased A LOT of pseudoscientific self help/metaphysical books (a la Chopra, Dyer, Eckhart Tolle, etc.) and now I have them sitting on my bookshelf (a constant reminder of my shameful past!). I don’t know what to do with them now. I feel bad donating them because I…

Skepticism

ICYMI: July 15-July 21 on the Skepchick Network

Good morning! Or afternoon. Or night. Look, I don’t know where you live. I just know that you should really catch up on what went on last week on the Skepchick Network. You won’t be able to keep up on Twitter, otherwise. And we all know that is the pinnacle of human achievement. Teen Skepchick Science Sunday: Dino Feathers Ali…

Afternoon Inquisition

Sunday AI: When has your curiosity gotten the better of you?

I was looking up a reference book on Amazon, and it happened again. Amazon recommended a book for me that was so strange, I couldn’t resist the temptation to download it. Today, it was a book about were-spiders.  I had to buy it. Because….WERESPIDERS.   I can’t wait to find out what kind of webs they spin. A couple of…

Afternoon Inquisition

Sunday AI: The Power of Habit

It’s been too hot here to do anything, including going to the library, so I found myself finally getting around to reading deeper in the pile of “books that look awesome and I am going to read any minute now. Really. ANY MINUTE NOW” that were sitting next to my bed. On top of that pile was The Power of…

Reviews

Book Review: Spider Silk

Spider Silk: Evolution and 400 Million Years of Spinning, Waiting, Snagging, and Mating.  Leslie Brunetta and Catherine L. Craig.  2011. Yale University Press. Spiders evoke a lot of complex feelings from humans.  In a survey of teenagers asked about their top fears, spiders ranked #2–right after terrorist attacks.  A quick comparison of “kill spiders” to kill insects” on Google trends shows…

Afternoon Inquisition

AI: Bug Naked (the book)

Over at the Bug Blog, I occasionally review books. Thought I would share this one as an AI about willing suspension of disbelief in fiction. Book Title:  Bug, Naked (Author: Jackson Williams) Basic plot: Mad scientist wants to alter humans to insect size to save the planet. He trolls singles bars to find the right experimental subject. They have sex and then he shrinks…

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