Month: July 2012

Not So Polite Dinner Conversation – The slow slow progress of science

It seems I spend a lot of time trying to explain to my relatives how the scientific method works: observation/idea which creates a hypothesis, which is either confirmed or disproven by observation/experimentation and if proven, becomes a theory (a great explanation in more detail here).  A theory, in this case, in the scientific sense, isn’t … Continue reading Not So Polite Dinner Conversation – The slow slow progress of science →

From the Bar – 3 wines from southern Europe reviewed

Three wines up this week.  Pennsylvania operates under a state store system for liquor purchases in the Commonwealth.  When I was quite a bit younger, the state stores didn’t have much of a selection, Black Velvet, Riunite,  wine coolers, etc.  But the PLCB (Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board) now has professional staff to select what the … Continue reading From the Bar – 3 wines from southern Europe reviewed →

A Night Out – Cobblestone’s Restuarant and Sports Emporium

Central PA is dotted with a lot of small cities, all about what was a day’s horseback ride from the next.  York, PA is one of these and home to one of my favorite bar/restaurants, Cobblestone’s.  Oh and again, this isn’t a “night out”, more like a “mid-afternoon out”.  Lots of pictures so follow the … Continue reading A Night Out – Cobblestone’s Restuarant and Sports Emporium →

Not so Polite Dinner Conversation – Tell them when they are wrong because they vote

If they can vote then they need to know the facts. As many people do, I got a forwarded email from an older relative.  This wasn’t my “Uncle Jim” of recent internet meme, but from "Aunt Jane".  This particular email was promulgating various lies and half-truths about how horrible stamps mentioning the Muslim holiday of Eid … Continue reading Not so Polite Dinner Conversation – Tell them when they are wrong because they vote →

Not So Polite Dinner Conversation – Critical thinking, the lack of it and the usual result on the theistic mind

I’ll admit it was nice when I still was sure that some magical being that is omnipotent and omniscient agrees with whatever you decide it does.  You can claim anything for this god and be sure that it has your back.  If something happens that wasn’t what you wanted, you just convince yourself that this … Continue reading Not So Polite Dinner Conversation – Critical thinking, the lack of it and the usual result on the theistic mind →

What the Boss Likes – Science, art and food

Thanks to my peripetations around the internets, I occasionally find nifty things.  Caren Alpert, a photographer, has taken food photography to a new level.  A scanning electron microscope is the new imaging device to get to know your food intimately.  The Smithsonian Magazine has a good interview with her and you can see her lovely … Continue reading What the Boss Likes – Science, art and food →

Not So Polite Dinner Conversation – Veterans, Romney and a little background

I had the amusement and bemusement of being on a Romney campaign phone “town hall” the evening of July 3rd, around 7 PM about veterans’ affairs.  I guess since my husband is a veteran, we were on the robocall list.  Knowing how badly another call went for the Romney campaign, I couldn’t resist participating.  Two … Continue reading Not So Polite Dinner Conversation – Veterans, Romney and a little background →