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The Personal Blog of Stephen Sekula
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Bad debate blues

Tonight was the first and only debate between Phil Angelides and Arnold Schwarzenegger, the two candidates for governor of California. It was a one-hour debate, with about 7 questions asked of the candidates. The format was meant to be a conversation between the two men, but it degraded IMMEDIATELY into […]

Bad debate blues

The Music of Science

There’s a lot of great music out there. I’ve had the good fortune to be part of a few bands, on and off, in my life, exposing me to some pretty music-saavy folks. I am largely grateful for the exposure to all kinds of music this has given me, crossing […]

The Music of Science

Tom Bodett takes on NASA’s anti-science policies

“Is there anything you can do on the space station that you can’t do by locking yourself in your car for a few days?” That was Tom Bodett’s quip this morning on “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me” (the NPR news quiz) following a story on the recent space tourist’s reports […]

Tom Bodett takes on NASA’s anti-science policies

Mettle to Meddle

**Mettle to Meddle** *By Stephen Sekula* He stepped atop the atoll, was it four years to the day? A little dog set near the shore, a shore that tasted both the ebb and flow of time and waves He spoke of bird, of beak, of barnacle, collected by the shore, […]

Mettle to Meddle

Listen while you work

Crazy times, crazy times. I thought the summer would be busy, but it seems that I misjudged the autumn. There is a real press to get a bunch of analyses out the door and into publication, some of which I have my hands in. The batch system at SLAC is […]

Listen while you work

Rain

Not so long ago, my father asked, “When *was* the last time it rained where you are?” The fact that it hasn’t rained a drop on the peninsula since about April doesn’t surprise me, but always surprises folks from other places. Well, today the long dry spell is broken – […]

Rain

Dispatches from Doolin

I finally heard from Jodi this morning. It’s been eating at me for days, not hearing from her. I know it’s a reflection of my being spoiled with technology, but not talking to her for just three days has really taken its toll on me. Coupled with all the other […]

Dispatches from Doolin

Big Press for the Big Bang

It’s Nobel Prize season! I’m not a big fan of doing science for a prize, but I value the public impact that the prize has. For instance, today two American scientists, John C. Mather and George F. Smoot, were recognized with the prize for their tireless effort to realize the […]

Big Press for the Big Bang

Day-to-Day Observations

When I stay up late to work, I usually switch in NPR’s “Day to Day” program. It’s taped earlier in the day, but here on KQED airs late at night. They were reviewing listener letters concerning a piece criticizing extreme religions and also criticizing the behavior of self-labeled “moderate Christians” […]

Day-to-Day Observations

Why is there no “Protection of Science Act”?

The Constitution of the United States guarantees that the U.S. government shall not abridge any expression of religion (covered under free speech), nor establish a state religion (the “Establishment Clause”). As “Bob Park”:http://bobpark.physics.umd.edu/WN06/wn092906.html pointed out this week, and as I had heard would happen, the House of Representatives passed a […]

Why is there no “Protection of Science Act”?

Climate Change

I usually consider the boundaries of the seasons to be somewhat arbitrary. Winter is my favorite. Starting on December 22, winter comes long after all the feature I associate with it: bone-chilling cold, snow, lots of dead vegetation (or, in the case of California: cool, rain, flourishing vegetation). This year, […]

Climate Change

Phone Call from Dublin

I stayed up pretty late last night, rearranging the stereo and TV equipment in our living room (I get the “move stuff around” bug whenever Jodi leaves) and watching CSI and “Firefly”. Consequently, I was still sleeping when Jodi rang me from Dublin at 08:30. She and her sister arrived […]

Phone Call from Dublin

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astrophysics a view from the shadows badreligion badscience chickasha climate climate disruption evolution fighting pseudoscience israel linux nobelprize oklahoma photo photos physics policy politics pseudoscience research science teaching Texas State Fair travel

  • (no title)
    October 23, 2025
    For students: Let's Talk Quantum: Unlocking the Potential of the Super SmallOctober 30, 13:00 ETFrom tiny particles come big opportunities … hear from a […]
  • (no title)
    October 23, 2025
    Neutrino results offer possible clue as to why matter exists (The Globe and Mail (Ontario Edition)), Oct 23, 2025 https://globe2go.pressreader.com/article/281586656824477 It was very exciting […]

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