Cat flummoxed by streaming bird cam

November 14, 2013 • 2:45 pm

Reader and artist Kelly Houle called my attention to a short but hilarious video of a cat going nuts while watching the live stream from a Cornell Lab Bird Cam on a flat-screen t.v. I’ve put a screenshot below, but to see the video, complete with frustrated paw-strikes and meows, go over to the original Flickr site.

Is this torture, or amusement?

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My piece in Slate: Is science based on faith?

November 14, 2013 • 10:00 am

No, it’s not a repost from this site, so you haven’t read it already, and yes, Slate does pay contributors, so they’re not taking advantage of me.  At any rate, they’ve just published a short essay I wrote on why science isn’t based on faith.

The claim that science and religion are both grounded on faith is, of course, a staple of accommodationists and religionists. It’s a way to suggest a comity between science and religion that involves dragging scientific facts down to the level of religious “truths.”

Slate gave it a nice illustration, too:

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I like my last line:

So the next time you hear someone described as a “person of faith,” remember that although it’s meant as praise, it’s really an insult.

Polar Bear Cam

November 14, 2013 • 8:59 am

Reader Mary informs me that Explore is hosting a live polar bear cam, or several (there are four live views). These are apparently on remote-controlled vehicles, and you can watch the bears here.  So far I haven’t seen a bear, but there appear to be operators zooming around. I’ll post a screenshot when I see an ursid.  The best hours for viewing, it says, are between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Chicago time (six hours later in Britain).

Remember, see these magnificent creatures while you can, for humans are killing them by changing the climate. When the sea ice goes, so go the bears.

Meet the sloths!

November 14, 2013 • 8:35 am

by Matthew Cobb

We’ve talked about sloths quite a few times here, including material from one-time University of Manchester student, Becky Cliffe. Becky is now a PhD student at Swansea University, still studying sloths – she recently raised £30,000 to support the Sloth Sanctuary in Costa Rica, where she is carrying out her research.

Now there’s an eight-part TV series ‘Meet the Sloths’ which is being broadcast on the Animal Planet channel. First UK airing is tonight, it began in the US last Saturday I think. The trailer looks like the series might be a somewhat saccharin affair, but that could be just right for any pre-teens or pre-high school children you know who are looking for inspiration. Plus the sloths are incredibly cute. The Guardian says ‘It’s a bit like Dynasty, but with sloths’. Post your reviews below!

Full schedules here.