Campaign Reform Is The Cornerstone Of Restoring Our Republic

Science, not silence...

Science is more than a discipline, it’s a belief system.  It’s a way of looking at the world in wonder with insatiable curiosity.  Scientists value rationality.  They have a healthy sense of skepticism, they are critical thinkers.  They are using their time and energy to understand the world and make it a better place.  

They deal in evidence and facts.

Not politics and lies. 

I am THRILLED to hear that scientists are hearing the same call to action that many other groups are answering in these unsettling times...

The March for Science is a celebration of our passion for science and a call to support and safeguard the scientific community. Recent policy changes have caused heightened worry among scientists, and the incredible and immediate outpouring of support has made clear that these concerns are also shared by hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Mischaracterization of science as a partisan issue, which has given policymakers permission to reject overwhelming evidence, is a critical and urgent matter. It is time for people who support scientific research and evidence-based policies to take a public stand and be counted.

ON APRIL 22, 2017, WE WALK OUT OF THE LAB AND INTO THE STREETS.

We are scientists and science enthusiasts. We come from all races, all religions, all gender identities, all sexual orientations, all socioeconomic backgrounds, all political perspectives, and all nationalities. Our diversity is our greatest strength: a wealth of opinions, perspectives, and ideas is critical for the scientific process. What unites us is a love of science, and an insatiable curiosity. We all recognize that science is everywhere and affects everyone.

Science is often an arduous process, but it is also thrilling. A universal human curiosity and dogged persistence is the greatest hope for the future. This movement cannot and will not end with a march. Our plans for policy change and community outreach will start with marches worldwide and a teach-in at the National Mall, but it is imperative that we continue to celebrate and defend science at all levels - from local schools to federal agencies - throughout the world.

#sciencemarch

MarchofScience.com

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See also my del.icio.us links or my flipboards or many of the content/curation pages on my weebly site...  in particular though, one of the greatest scientists of all times comes to mind (Post: Carl Sagan)

And that includes politicians!!   In one of my favorite videos of Carl, he speaks about  science, politics, and skepticism (here’s the short clip on that).

Op-Ed: Why we need scientists to run for public office now - via Ars Technica

Which is why it’s also exciting to see groups encouraging scientists to run for office.... 

We are members of the STEM Community, grassroots supporters, and political activists committed to bring innovation to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, aggressively advocate for real solutions to Climate Change and elect more STEM trained candidates to public office.

314Action.org

Update

Sensing New Threats, Scientists Entertain Political Ambitions

Why I’m Marching for Science

In Age of Trump, Scientists Show Signs of a Political Pulse

A lot of Americans don’t know a thing scientist.  We need to fix that

Excerpt:   This is the battle for the legitimacy of science, a battle we helped create because we still haven’t figured out how to show people what we do, why we do it, and why it’s important.  So we’ll march. And then we have to get to work. Going forward, we have to be stewards. We have to share without condescension and be patient and helpful as people balance uncomfortable truths. We have to integrate into our communities as voices on the ground. We’re people who care about the health and well-being of the human race. That’s why we sequester ourselves in our labs working for cures, or in front of computers trying to understand weather patterns, or out in the ocean, gathering samples of water, fish, and plants. But we have to do a better job of communicating if we want the default to be evidence-based policy for us, the people, and not for profit. I hope it’s not too late to reverse our failings.

moon glow

It's Pi Day!

Why You Should Care How I Learn: Eric Smalls at TEDxStanford

Eric Smalls is a sophomore at Stanford studying computer science. In 2012, President Barack Obama featured Smalls in a campaign video about the importance of...

Great website...  I like how clicking on “Act” makes it very easy to choose a clearly defined and immediate way to act.

Here’s another link you can check out:    My previous post on gun violence

And read on for some more info and links after the break... of course, after you check out the #ThrowThemOut campaign!

Some of the recent posts and articles I’ve come across on the subject.... 

A pro-gun troll just came for Seth MacFarlane, and Seth fired back

What Explains U.S. Mass Shootings? International Comparisons Suggest an Answer

How to Prevent Gun Deaths? Where Experts and the Public Agree

Our Loved Ones Died. We Want Action on Guns (video)

How to Reduce Shootings

Came across the articles below when reading the A/V post:  An emotional Jimmy Kimmel responds to another mass shooting, telling the GOP, “You’ve done worse than nothing”...  not familiar with these websites/blogs but they seemed worth taking a look:

Guns In America And The US Military Industrial Complex America Wasn’t a “Gun-Loving Country” Until a $13.5 Billion Industry Made It So

Don’t forget to #ThrowThemOut!

Sick of leaders doing nothing to fight gun violence? So are we. Let’s work together and #ThrowThemOut: http://every.tw/2sAcIwT

Digital Literacy

SSSC Digital Literacy workshop

TEDxWarwick - Doug Belshaw - The Essential Elements of Digital Literacies

Protesting this weekend 1/19/17

Your Guide to NYC Inauguration Weekend Protests:

1/19 Thursday  Trump International Hotel  6pm rally at Columbus Circle

1/20 Friday  Foley Square, 111 Worth St 5pm - 11pm visit the Facebook page for details on the route etc..

1/21 Saturday One Dag Hammarskjold Plaza 10:45am-5pm visit the Facebook page for details on the route etc... it's suggested to RSVP, staggered start times for groups...  also see Human First Society 

Also see the Gothamist's article, specifically for tips on what to bring....

Information about events in DC

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SIGNAGE!

Signs-- can protest without one!  Well you can, but it's not as much fun ;)

Ideas:

Power to the People Love! Not hate! Makes America great! My body, my choice! No justice!” / “No peace! Choose to Be United by Love Not Divided by Hate The Power of the People is Stronger Than the People in Power No one is free when others are oppressed Girls Just wanna have fundamental rights! Power to the Peaceful Protest is Patriotic There is no planet B

Here's a Pinterest board with some more ideas... if you have any other ideas, let me know ;)

ROAR with the ♀ symbol forming from the “O”

Aliens

Mysterious Cosmic Radio Bursts Just Got Even More Interesting 

Update: Did We Just Discover Aliens via Ideas.TED

Announcing the Web We Want

"Millions of people together have made the Web great. So, during the Web’s 25th birthday year in 2014, millions of people can secure the Web’s future. We mu

Creating a Better Filing System

I found a great article on the Wirecutter about organizing your digital files, here's an overview:

-How long will it take-

It depends on how many files you have, a day to a week.

-Have a plan-

Start with categories, once everything is filed, file them into sub categories.

Keep in mind to use the same file structure (all singular or plural names, all caps or lowercase). It might be helpful to plot out the folder structure on paper.

-Use specific folders: resources, in progress, final, scrap-

Create a main folder called "Projects" and in that folder create subfolders called "Resources," "In Progress," "Final," and "Scrap" to use for the files you create during the process. Also use filenames like "01," "02," "03," etc in folders and files.

-For photos use: year > month > people > event

Using this structure for your folder allows you to sort by year and search by term: by month, person, or event.

-Pin folders to sidebar-

If you are working on a project or frequently accessing a specific folder or you need a folder with a long file path, you can drag the folder over to "Quick Access" on the left sidebar.

-Include descriptive file name and keywords-

Keywords will make files searchable by those terms.

Head over to the Wirecutter for their article on How to Organize Your Digital Files to get more details and examples.