Author Archives: John Wallenfeldt

Make: Online » Why Are Fewer Students in Science Fairs?

Fi we want to actually compete with the world, we need to encourage kids that math and science are not only valued and interesting, but also useful. Our ed system, as structured, is to produce workers for our economy.

Right now, it’s only chucking out – in the main – kids who can take tests and run a McDonald’s drive thru window.

Our canary in the coal mine in this instance ar science fairs. Make does a good overview of the issue and provides some good followup articles.

Meanwhile, a week late to the party, NPR covers the reporting on how so many biology teachers are not teaching evolution.

Look, if we can’t hire people to teach our children facts, we’re already screwed.

BBC News – Free diabetes and blood pressure drugs for Brazilians

Perspective and values.

The United States gives billions to oil companies in tax abatements and just reaffirmed our selling out status to billionaires by giving them more tax breaks.

Brazil just gave it’s citizens free diabetes and blood pressure meds, hoping to reduce the 34% of deaths in their nation from these illnesses.

“Land of the free”, huh?

BBC News – BBC offers apology for Top Gear comments on Mexico

The BBC offers an apology for it’s Top Gear talent being racist pricks.

It offers an apology but a good reading of the press release shows that it doesn’t actually deliver an apology.

When did our society turn into one where mumbling words that sound like you recognize someone was offended by something you did, but don’t care to find yourself at fault pass as an actual apology?

I plan to raise my kid better than that. I hope the rest of you do too.