Category Archives: Uncategorized

Mind Different from Brain?

Consider the mind, rather than the brain. I asked readers in the last blog to think about the mind rather than the brain because Samuel Morton’s skull measurements in the 1860s asserted that American Indians have smaller skulls, hence smaller … Continue reading

Posted in framing, Indian, journalism, Native Science, neuroscience, science, science communication, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Confined to a Wheelchair

Sometimes messages expand our thoughts and sometimes messages narrow them. A relative pointed out journalists are fond of saying, for example, Lady Gaga is “confined to a wheelchair,” as reported recently in the Huffington Post (UK). But a wheelchair is … Continue reading

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Remembering Maria Tallchief

When someone mentioned ballet my mother would chime in that a famous ballerina came from her American Indian community. Maria Tallchief. We learned this week that Tallchief passed on. She and her sister Marjorie came from a prominent Osage family, … Continue reading

Posted in american indian, authenticity, community, Family, film, Indian, journalism, native american, Native Science, Osage, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Cookie Full of Arsenic

I’d hate to take a bite of you. You’re a cookie full of arsenic. That’s just one of the unforgettable quotes from the movie, The Sweet Smell of Success my students viewed this week. Set in 1950s against the backdrop … Continue reading

Posted in authenticity, cinema, ethics, film, framing, journalism, news bias, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Big Brother’s Reading You

We now know if you’re reading the book. At least if it’s an e-book.

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Science & Lipstick

It’s the stories that draw my attention to the science and health sections of the New York Times. But what caught my eye this week was a full-page advertisement. The French cosmetics company L’Oréal honors women scientists and the ad … Continue reading

Posted in authenticity, framing, journalism, Loreal, Nobel, science, science communication, Uncategorized, Unesco, writing | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

I’m Not a Monkey

There’s a delicate balance between teaching and learning; between giving instruction and taking over the task. And it takes a nimble soul to figure out when to let someone falter or fail. A student sent an email recently to make … Continue reading

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Revenge of the Machine

When I read about machines that can learn, my mind flew from science to science fiction. Can machines really learn? I always thought that’s what they meant by intelligent design–that machines were programmed to respond intelligently to new stimuli.

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Defining Race

The conversation turned to race. My talk Wednesday at the Newberry focussed on Native and scientific perspectives, particularly over Kennewick Man–the 9300-year-old skeleton discovered in the Columbia River. During the question and answer session one guest asked if Kennewick Man … Continue reading

Posted in american indian, authenticity, ethics, Family, framing, human origin, Indian, journalism, Kennewick Man, native american, Native Science, news bias, repatriation, science, science communication, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

My Life as a Talk-Show Host

Truth is I live much of my life as a pretend talk-show host. I admit to being a smidge off-center. Like the Seinfeld episode when Kramer’s living room transforms into the Merv Griffin set, I imagine my couch welcomes guests … Continue reading

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