Month: February 2017

#Climatechange is the ultimate #heavymetal topic. Last thoughts before my @TEDxPSU talk.

February 10, 2017

Climate change is a super metal issue. Like nuclear annihilation and the plight of soldiers and unjust invasions, climate change overwhelms us. There’s nothing cute about it. It’s serious and terrifying. And it’s been part of metal’s lexicon for over 25 years. In 1988, NASA scientist James Hansen said the following to the Senate Committee on Energy and … More #Climatechange is the ultimate #heavymetal topic. Last thoughts before my @TEDxPSU talk.

Who’d have thought that heavy metal tunes could wake you up to the world?

February 8, 2017

A lot of people think of heavy metal as kid’s noise, the dystopian chainsaw soundtrack to teen angst alone. Just guys being angry. Nothing else. Well, Sunday I’ll be delivering my TEDxPSU Talk saying, “Not so!” Heavy metal is really good at telling us about social problems. I’ve written here previously about nuclear annihilation and … More Who’d have thought that heavy metal tunes could wake you up to the world?

Abuse.

February 4, 2017

Given the sheer number of sexual assault survivors I know and their visceral reactions to Trump, it’s clear that his election has created a new division on the political landscape. You have to recognize that Trump is an abuser at the highest level. It’s not difficult to see. Before and after the election, people excused … More Abuse.

Metallica’s broken bodies and Lamb of God’s shock & awe. @TEDxPSU

February 4, 2017

Next week I’ll be delivering my TEDxPSU talk on how heavy metal is really good at telling us about social problems. Maybe we should listen to this hard-to-hear music because it’s good  risk indicator…and it kicks ass. This is my second quick entry before my talk. The first was on metal and nuclear annihilation and this one is … More Metallica’s broken bodies and Lamb of God’s shock & awe. @TEDxPSU

Newt Gingrich gave the scientific community a gruesome opportunity.

February 3, 2017

Recently, Newt Gingrich was a keynote speaker at the National Council for Science and the Environment conference in DC. The Council “advances informed environmental policy and decisionmakingthrough science. Our work and programs include interdisciplinary research, scientific assessment, information dissemination, training and curriculum development.  We engage scientists, educators, policymakers, business leaders and officials at all levels of government.” Gingrich was a strange choice. … More Newt Gingrich gave the scientific community a gruesome opportunity.

Dear Senators, you need to reject #BetsyDeVos

February 2, 2017

Dear Senators, I implore you to vote “NO” on Betsy DeVos’s appointment to head the Department of Education. You and I are both committed to ensuring that all children of our nation being granted an excellent and affordable education. Ms. DeVos has shown that she isn’t interested in either. Her record in Michigan proves that … More Dear Senators, you need to reject #BetsyDeVos