In brief, the author asked a bunch of physicists and astronomers about how they prefer to access materials. No big surprise; they’d rather grab it online. What is curious is a connection drawn by some respondents between online accessibility and perceived quality. In my paraphrase: “if it’s not online, if nobody’s taken the trouble to scan it or throw it up somewhere, how important can it be?”
Whoa. Every single librarian reader I have just cringed. I admit that even I winced a little.
From personal experience, where I see this bias a lot is on Wikipedia. Subjects that have little to no online presence are much less well represented but worse, when the importance of an subject cannot be easily established online, they're much more likely to be deleted as non-noticable. So you get a sort of systemic bias towards subjects that are so obviously important that you'll also find them in the Encyclopedia Brittanica, or new enough to have a deep online presence or with enough of a following/interest in them for an active online community to spring up around it. Subjects that fail those requirements though, even if there are proper offline sources for them are much vulnerable to deletionism.
This is just a place for me to jot down some random thoughts and reactions to the news so I don't have to yell at the television or radio, or mutter to myself whilst reading the news.
Waffle
In which Reinder Dijkhuis, Adam Cuerden, Timm Brand, Geir Strom and Jeroen Jager talk about comics, music, politics and the impending apocalypse.
Science fiction and fandom
Ansible
David Langford's near legendary fanzine and website.
Charlie's Diary
By science fiction writer, technogeek and old style UK liberal Charlie Stross.
Kathryn Cramer
An editor of science fiction anthologies, Kathryn writes intelligently about sf and other stuff.
Making Light
Teresa and Patrick Nielsen Hayden's blog embodies the best of fandom.
Deltoid
A science orientated weblog by Tim Lambert.
Encyclopedia Astronautica
Incredibly cool site about the history of space travel, with lots of info about
the various space programs. Recommended for all spacenuts.
The Loom
A blog of biology and bioscience, written by Carl Zimmer.
Panda's Thumb
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Pharyngula
Science, politics and the intersection between them. By PZ Myers.
Real Climate
A commentary site on climate science by working climate scientists.
All the rest
24-hour Drive-Thru
By Mitch Wagner, computer journalist and sf fan. Good on tech news and internet issues.
Branko
Technology, comics and other stuff by Branko.
Caveat Lectorzilla
Written by Dorothea, this is an exuberant mix of geekery, personal issues and sharp observations.
