Summers' redemption? sex differences in brain structures warrant different treatments...

http://www.news.harvard.edu/gazette/2007/07.19/99-sexdifferences.html
 

Did you not read the article anon? First paragraph:

"Women’s brains are different from men’s. That’s not news. What is news is that the differences are smaller than most people believe. They are not big enough to say that one sex is smarter or better at math than the other."

No redemption.
 

Giant penguins? How tall were they? Did they dribble food on their bellies and talk to themselves? Were they a legend in their own minds? Is it possible that Larry Summers is in fact a genetic descendant of the Giant Peruvian Penguin?
 

Something for the higher ed folk who read this blog, from today's Radio Netherlands. Note the remarks of the Dutch minister of education:

* Not so clever clogs

A study reveals that nowhere in the world do students in higher
education learn so little.

Minister of Education Ronald Plastkerk tries to tone down the report's findings.

"The very best educated students come from New Zealand and Japan, but when has New Zealand ever produced anything interesting
and cooperation with Japanese scientists is almost like working with a developing country".

Nevertheless, according to the paper, the education minister did stress the importance of excellence and said he would look into whether PhD degrees at universities could follow the American model.

The good news is that the knowledge level of low-educated people in the Netherlands is the highest in the world, with the Finns and the South Koreans close behind.
 

"when has New Zealand ever produced anything interesting"

Hey, wait a minute!

NZ 15 seconds behind the Swiss round the third mark. Close, but doesn't look good.
 

Good news for Zen? When are you going to use the correct definition of "zen."
 

NZ wins! Up 2-1
 

Definition of zen: a Japanese sect of Mahayana Buddhism that aims at enlightenment by direct intuition through meditation

Conservation efforts that save leatherbacks, and scientific discoveries about penguins are exciting and positive news, but they are definitely not "zen." In fact, one of the core practices of zen is to eliminate the clutter from your head through the zazen meditation. "Clutter," referred to as "dharmas," which, confusingly also refers to truth but has a second meaning here as the conversations in your head, paradoxically reflects good news as well as bad. Zen practice is not just about getting negative thoughts out of your head, it's about getting all thoughts out of your head. And most importantly, the practice of achieving this.

Why is this important? As a writer and editor you have a responsibility to use language clearly and precisely. I hope in your new position you will show more care with your use of language.
 

Dear Think Twice: do you even know how little sense you make? You sound like an encyclopedia trying to define poetry. If you know anything about zen/Zen/zazen/etc, you know that it cannot be encapsulated in trite (albeit informed) descriptions like yours. So ask yourself: who are you to say what's "Good News for Zen"?
 

anon 3:57 -- good points. However, I suspect that RB was not using the title with mindful practice in mind. Don't know for sure, but it's a pretty good guess, I think.
 

"Think Twice"...if you read yesterday's blog, you would have known that Richard's reference to Zen stemmed from the picture of a sea turtle he posted yesterday as the "Monday Morning Zen" picture...Richard doesn't always go by the book...he has his own style...and I know he knows what a state of Zen is for him and that, after all, is what is important. I've read about Zen...there are different specific meanings...and a broader meaning and it's where each person finds it.

lmpaulsen
 

Yes, I caught the reference to yesterday's photo. We'll have to agree to disagree as to RB's precision with language and his grasp of Eastern meditation and Buddhism.
 

I agree with the advocate of keeping language at least a little bit precise.
 

Literary License: The ability to tell a bunch of know-it-all posters to "Get a grip and relax".

Say whatever you want and however you want to say it, Richard. It's your blog.
 

Think Twice, are you the comic book store owner from the Simpsons?

-Squatting Egret
 

die nachdenklich Seeschildkröte.
 

Der HureAdler.
 

Well said, 8:37...this is after all a blog and Richard can say whatever he wants here however he wants to say it. It has nothing to do with the way he performs his job, writes his articles or his books. He's quite capable and responsible and precise when he needs to be. And please, Standing Eagle, don't tell us you are going to give us a lecture on precise language. Which reminds me...Richard is never long winded and boring.

lmpaulsen
 

Nor does he create brilliant puns.

Zing!
 

RB is the anti-Coulter -- he goes down without gagging.