Things I do not understand.

[saxikath]

• Why 9:30 on a Sunday night seems to be the time at which I am most likely to be inspired to clean the bathroom. And the kitchen floor.
  
• Why my left eye refuses to give me just one day without getting irritated.
  
• Why Wisconsin has "Describe types of reasoning and evidence used outside of science to draw conclusions about the natural world." among its middle grades science standards, and what exactly it's supposed to mean.
  
• The exact intended meaning of a lot of other curriculum standards, too.
  
• What I did to the second toe on my right foot that made one joint stick up farther. (My guess is I broke it at some point without realizing it, and it healed funny.)
  
• Why my feet shred trouser socks and stockings.
  

And one thing I do understand: Homemade lemon ice cream is ohmygodtodiefor.

Comments

[ericberlin.livejournal.com]

"Outside of science?" Do I detect a whiff of intelligent design in those words? Wisconsin doesn't strike me as the kind of state where that would be a serious problem, but I guess you never know.

[kayre]

Yes, I think that's opening the door to discussing religious answers to scientific questions. If I could believe it were intended to be as neutral as it sounds, I'd be fine with it-- but I rather suspect it's not neutral at all.

[navrins]

Well, discussing the fact that people use non-scientific methods of drawing conclusions about the world seems like a great idea, even in a science class. Maybe even especially in a science class, so that students have something to compare the science they're learning against.

"This is science."

"These are some things that are NOT science."

This can be done in a value-neutral way, although it's hard - there's a strong tendency to say, "These are some things that are not science and are therefore less valid," or "These are some things that are not science and are therefore better," but if you can leave off the "therefore" part it's a very worthwhile conversation and a very appropriate one for a middle school science class.

[rikchik.livejournal.com]

It would be great if they had a chapter on unscientific reasoning including appeals to scripture, trusting authorities, astrology and other divination, etc.

[chenoameg.livejournal.com]

Interesting. To me it sounded like tying it into more common everyday reasoning. Which I would still call science, but I could see someone who was afraid of science thinking about it differently.

[ophymirage.livejournal.com]

au contraire, sadly:

http://syndicated.livejournal.com/strangemaps/26804.html

link is to the strangemaps feed of 4/3, map is "Rating of Evolution Treatment state by state in the US." Wisconsin, a state which went liberal only by slim margins, is described as "confused."

[crossfire.livejournal.com]

The middle two points, about curriculum standards, is no doubt due to the legislative nature of those things. :-D

Lemon ice cream? Tell me more!

[saxikath]

Yes, of course it's due to the legislative nature of them -- but that doesn't help me understand what they actually mean. :)

Lemon ice cream. I chilled the syrup beyond room temperature, because with the frozen-bowl ice cream maker I have, the ingredients need to be pretty cold. It churned up very soft, but should be fine after being put in the freezer. And it tastes amazing.

[crossfire.livejournal.com]

What a cool recipe...it totally sidesteps the whole curdling issue. I'll have to try it.

I've been looking for a new recipe to try since last week I just finished my last pint of peach sorbet that I'd made last fall.

[jayfurr.livejournal.com]

Carole likes random cleaning outbursts late at night too. I can't get her to take part in cleaning at any other time, really, but whenever it's inconvenient or there are lots of other more important things, or it's already bedtime, that's when she'll get out the Fantastic spray and head for the stovetop with a faraway look in her eye.