Minnesota election news
Suspend your ebullience over Obama’s election last night, and consider instead the more depressing summary of the Minnesota state election results. It’s not all bad; we have a little bit of good news....
View ArticleCafé Scientifique in Morris on Tuesday evening
We’re bringing it back! If you’re in the neighborhood, stop by tomorrow night to learn some cool student-centered physics research. Summary: Students from the Experimental Physics class will present...
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Cafe Scientifique tonight, in Morris!
You Twin Cities folk will have to drive like maniacs to get here in time, but you can do it: I hear the roads are slick as glass so you can just slide all the way here. At 6pm we’re doing another...
View ArticleMy nefarious plans are finally coming together
Another phase of my big project this year has launched: we’re now accepting student applications for our HHMI summer research program. Most of you won’t care yet; this program is only available to UMM...
View ArticleFor my birthday? You shouldn’t have!
I just learned today about @MoFems and that they’re having a local conference on 9 March (yes, my birthday!): the F-Word Conference: What Role Do You Play in Redefining Gender and Culture?. I should...
View ArticleCafe Scientifique tonight!
I was up early this morning and just got off the radio, where I told you the whole story. Were you listening? KKOK/KMRS out of Morris, Minnesota? You get it every day with the weather and the farm...
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Gosh darn it, it would be the funniest political race ever!
All eyes would be focused on Minnesota if Michele Bachmann tried to challenge Al Franken for his senate seat. Franken knows how to do the sober statesman with the occasional pointed barb just...
View ArticleStatus update
This stupid dilatory storm finally arrived in Morris last night, and dumped 4 or 5 inches of wet heavy stuff on us. It’s still coming down heavily, but this morning I braved the blizzard and cleared my...
View ArticleDon’t go outside!
I made the mistake of leaving my snug warm house. It’s windy out there! The temperatures are right there on that edge where one minute it’s snowing, the next it’s sleeting, the next it’s raining, and...
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Junk DNA in the coffee shop
I’m giving you a heads-up in advance: the last Cafe Scientifique in Morris for the school year is next Tuesday, the 30th, and you-know-who is giving it. I expect to see you all there. If you’re not,...
View ArticleToday is the day
Today, the Minnesota legislature is supposed to vote on gay marriage. I know because the pressure has been at fever pitch — I got three phone calls yesterday from advocacy organizations calling to get...
View ArticleThe SyFy channel should get right on this
It’s the Attack of the Killer Ice Sheets! Winter isn’t quite over here in Minnesota. It’s mostly over, but some vestiges still like to sneak up on us when we’re not looking. Visit NBCNews.com for...
View ArticleThe twisted logic of the anti-gay marriage movement
The Minnesota senate will be debating our gay marriage bill this afternoon; if it passes there, we have a done deal, because our governor Dayton has promised to sign it into law as soon as it hits his...
View ArticleIt’s inevitable now
The Minnesota Senate has approved gay marriage. It now goes to Governor Dayton, who has already said he’ll sign it, and then we’re at last edging our way into the 21st century. Not everyone is happy...
View ArticleI get email, gay marriage edition
The great news: Governor Dayton signed the same-sex marriage bill into law this afternoon. You may now cheer wildly. The silly it-is-to-laugh news: the religious right is indignant. I got this email...
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Let’s do crimes!
Late last night, as we were driving back from the airport, we ran into a curious meteorological phenomenon: we entered a dense cloud of thick, chunky material that clunked into our car like a hailstorm...
View ArticleBye-bye Bachmann
And Minnesota smiles in relief (we’re very reserved, so no loud cheers). Michele Bachmann will not be running for office again. You should watch her “I am not a crook!” video. She tries to claim that...
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An atheist goes to church
I’ve got this book finally coming out in August, The Happy Atheist, and I thought I’d tease you with the opening paragraphs. On any fine morning in rural Minnesota, I can step outside the door of my...
View ArticleAn atheist goes to church — 1stLC
For my first foray back into the fold, I made a conservative choice. I was brought up in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) branch of Lutheranism — that is, the liberal branch of that...
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