Praise then darkness, and creation unfinished

The problem with editing (or, I expect, writing) test-prep books that have to match state standards is that they often list the state standards, presumably for reference or to impress whoever makes the purchasing decisions. Thus, when something stupid has gotten into the state standard, I can't mark it for correction. Today's annoyance was, in an otherwise reasonable statement about climate change, a list of "minor" atmospheric gases whose increased concentrations are leading to global warming. The list includes O₂. Not a typo for O₃ (ozone). I double-checked. And then left a note on the manuscript so the next person wouldn't also spend time checking.

Clarification: The actual text is "Describe how changes in concentration of minor components
(e.g., O₂, CO₂, ozone, dust, pollution) in Earth's atmosphere are linked to climate change." So it doesn't specify "increase" but it does call oxygen a minor component of the atmosphere, and asserts that there are measurable changes in the oxygen concentration of the atmosphere over, say, the last couple of centuries.

I went to the gym after work, but edited the workout because my back is still bothering me some. I walked in there figuring I would at least do cardio (having shorted myself last time) and crunches (on the theory that exercising my abdominal muscles might help my back). I did a bit more.

( Read more... )