Scientific Method?

I followed Chris's link to the Blog Readability Test and found that I too had somehow (good lord, read my posts, how is this possible), achieved genius status... and I thought, clearly the algorithm is faulty!

So I decided to test the algorithm through a series of rigorous and scientifically sound methods (e.g. - copy and paste). So here are the results:

1. MoronLife : Elementary School

I wanted to see if I could force the issue so this was not a random choice. It didn't fail to fulfill my expectations.

2. CashAdvance1500: Junior High School

I'm not sure if anyone else saw the extra code added to the blog readability results, but I thought I would test the site they are promoting...

3. Republican National Committee: College (Undergrad)

Then I thought, why not compare similar organizations that everyone is familiar with... I'm not making a political statement, just presenting the hard cold "data" that I collected during my strenuous testing efforts.

4. The Democratic Party: Genius

Maybe that's why they struggled to regain control, the Democrats are speaking over all our heads, and we really don't understand what they're saying?

5. The National Academy of Science: Genius

Well, this was good news...

6. NASA: High School

Not sure if it's good news or not? Does that mean I can be an astronaut?

7. National Public Radio: High School

I think this IS good, they're reaching all their viewers, not just those elite, liberal, lefty, hippies. Wait a a second....

8. C-Span: Unable to check URL

WOW, even computer algorithms are bored by C-Span...

9. FOXNews: High School

I'm seeing a trend in our news that I actually like, presenting information that everyone can access. Kudos for us!

10. BBC: Elementary School
11. CBC: Genius

I wouldn't have guess that, I assumed we would see genius for both of those sources... I have yet to crack the code...

12. Drudge Report: Elementary School

There's good news...

13. Michael Moore: Elementary School

Propaganda does have to be accessible to the masses...

14. Ann Coulter: Genius

Just what she needs, something more to swell her ego!

15. Rosie O'Donnell: High School

I just thought, with all the hoopla she's been garnering over the last few months, maybe she was saying something important...

16. Rush Limbaugh: High School

I think he needs lessons from Michael Moore

17. Apple: College (Undergrad)
18. Microsoft: College (Undergrad)

Didn't Steve Jobs drop out of college, like 6 times? I'm pretty sure Bill didn't graduate... Just ironic, I'm not passing judgment.

19. Yahoo: Junior High School
20. AOL: Junior High School
21. Google: Genius

I'm sure everyone has been to Google... so you KNOW how sparse it is! This one blew my mind, especially since Yahoo and AOL (cluttered, cluttered, cluttered) fall in the Jr. High ranking... I'm confused.

22. Wikipedia: Genius

I guess this is good since this is where everyone turns to for all their information, at least we have the perception that it's a reliable online "genius."

23. NFL.com: Elementary School
24. NHL.com: Elementary School
25. NBA.com: High School
26. USSoccer.com: High School
27. Tennis.com: Junior High School
28. PGA.com: Junior High School

Again, I'm not passing judgment, I LOVE sports. But an interesting trend nevertheless.

Finally, I wanted to see how our geologic societies measure up (for the geologists in the crowd):

1. Geological Society of America: Genius
2. American Geophysical Union: College (undergrad)
3. United States Geological Survey: Genius
4. American Petroleum Institute: College (undergrad)
5. The Geological Society: Genius
6. American Association of Petroleum Geologists: Genius
7. American Institute of Professional Geologists: Genius
8. The American Geological Institute: College (post grad)
9. The Paleontological Society: College (post grad)
10. British Society for Geomorphology: Genius

I'm sure some of your favorite links or societies you're a member are missing... sorry. Looks like we're doing a good job of talking to ourselves though, I guess that's why they exist, professional development, sharing of science, etc., etc. But I agree with Chris, NO ONE else is probably visiting or enjoying those sites. :) However, I'm not as distraught as Chris that my blog was ranked in the genius category, not until they explain how this algorithm works, until then it will just be utter rubbish! I mean the algorithm, not my blog... I think.

Paleontological B.F.F

I'm currently working on a suite of bumper stickers, mugs, t-shirts, etc., displaying my warped (plastically deformed) sense of geologic humor... I won't be ready to go 'public' for awhile, but I thought I'd post a preview of the fun to come. If you've taken Historical Geology, Sed/Strat, or Paleontology, you've probably heard of Cope and Marsh (if not, Romer (1964) provides a great summary of their relationship). Or you can pick up Bonehunters Revenge, also a fun read. Enjoy!

Yardangs... Of The Mega Persuasion

I really love landforms and the fact that both similar and varied processes can create a suite of similar landforms (e.g. - diamictons represent a wonderful challenge). I just finished reading Goudie, A.S., 2007, Mega-Yardangs: A Global Analsysis. I couldn't find an online PDF version and I'm pretty sure if I post the PDF I can go to Yardang jail... or I might get a nasty email. Regardless of my law abiding behavior, the article provided some wonderful literary enjoyment (not something typical in a peer-reviewed science journal). I'll probably get harassed for that comment.

Goudie essentially provides a global perspective on the distribution, morhphology, and historical documentation of yardangs. I have a particular interest in understanding where our geologic jargon is derived and his explanation of the origin is that yar- is a Turkestani word that translates to ridge or steep bank, without explaining the -dang. DANG. However, I found a very interesting discussion of this word (believe it or not, people other than geologists find this word intriguing enough to research its origins too). The interpretation on that site suggests -dang (or dan) translates to "fall from a steep cliff" and that the original spelling was jardang. Goudie also provides an Iranian? term to describe these regionally extensive ridge and swale landforms - kaluts and two additional French terms - crêtes and couloirs (Fr. = to slide or flow, to strain). That isn't how I use the word couloir... No wonder our students get frustrated with yargon (I mean jargon).

Goudie also provides some wonderful excerpts from Hedin (1903). I'll only quote part of his quote - "They assumed the shapes of lions in ambush, recumbent dragons, inscrutable sphinxes and sleeping dogs." and Bagnold (1939) described yardangs in Egypt as "mud lions." Although I recognize the importance of well-established terminology and descriptive sciences, you have to admit it would incredible fun to write a peer-reviewed journal article that included prose like that! I may have to add a dragon yardang to my list of potential cartoons.

I'll leave you with a nice historical photo of a possible yardang in China, you should know by now how much I like these kind of photos.


EDIT: Thanks to Chris for posting a working link to a full version of Goudie's article.