Science

Photo of Australian Parliament House (APH) in Canberra

Media Circus: Vegemite Chocolate edition

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The very idea is undoubtedly an Abomination unto Nuggan, and Ed Milliband would probably make a mess of eating any. Bill Shorten will say something graceless, and the teaser for the SBS documentary will be epic.

What’s piqued your media interests lately?

a photograph of Earth's moon showing a brightly sunlit crescent contrasted against the finally earthlit rest of the surface

ObEquinox: Happy Turn Of The Seasons To You

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The March equinox happened a little over an hour ago here in Sydney, at 9:45am AEST. APOD, of course, has an informative image for us today, and a London headmaster showed us what not to do when a few voices complain about a school taking note of a once in a lifetime event.

Quick links: nothing to hide

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Data retention is coming to Australia very soon. “[Data retained] includes your name, address and other identifying information, your contract details, billing and payment information…”

A pie with the symbol Pi carved into its crust.

Happy Epic Pi Day

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Only really works when one writes the date in that teeth-itch-making USian way, but today, 3.14.15 9:26:53 captures the first ten digits of pi – which happens once a century (according to David Brin on FB).

Fun with statistics and ‘splaining

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When vos Savant politely responded to a reader’s inquiry on the Monty Hall Problem, a then-relatively-unknown probability puzzle, she never could’ve imagined what would unfold: though her answer was correct, she received over 10,000 letters, many from noted scholars and Ph.Ds, informing her that she was a hare-brained idiot.

image text macro of a candle with superimposed text: #FixSociety Leelah Alcorn 1997-2014 #standupforleelah

Standing Up For Leelah

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[Content Note: discusses harassment, family rejection of transgender teens, suicide, trans* erasure, and silencing tactics commonly used to stifle discussion of these matters ].

I find more and more recs for articles written by Arthur Chu in my feeds lately. This post prompted by reactions to the Tumblr’d suicide note left by transgender teen Leelah Alcorn is a particularly strong piece: Cover-ups, Concern Trolls and Suicide. Chu questions why some people want others to stop sharing Leelah’s words.