Why is this worm different from all other worms?

I have to hand it to PZ Myers – he has the most fascinating science articles. In this one he tells us about a worm that does not have common ancestry with other worms, but instead seems to have developed separately from myxozoans and cnidarians.

Canadian Science Writers’ conference

The national science writers’ conference was in London, Ontario, this year – an easy distance for me but I missed it because I was busy. Here’s a note about it from Discovery Channel: Peter McMahon on science writers’ conference.

Skeptics’ Summer Bash today and tomorrow

Thanks to Larry Moran at Sandwalk, here’s the information for the Skeptics’ Summer Bash. It’s at the Centre for Inquiry, 216 Beverly Street in Toronto. That’s just north of College Street and west of University Avenue.

Summer Skeptics Bash, in honour of Friday 13th, featuring world renowned paranormal investigator Joe Nickell (July 12-13)

In honour of Barry Beyerstein (1947-2007), author, Professor of Psychology at Simon Frasier University, Chair of the Society of B.C. Skeptics and Fellow of the CFI Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (formerly CSICOP)

1. FLYING SPAGHETTI MONSTER DINNER $5 (FREE for Friends of the Centre) Thurs, July 12, 7pm

Featuring screening & debunking of the paranormal-plugging “What the Bleep do We Know?” with physics PhD candidate Edward Ackad

2. SUPERSTITION BASH, Friday, July 13

Featuring a full day of activities, including a presentation by world famous skeptical investigator Joe Nickell at 6pm and a haunted walk at 8:30pm

$5 (Joe Nickell talk), $15 (Full Day, with haunted walk) – $10 full day for Friends of the Centre

You can get more details at Sandwalk or the Centre for Inquiry Web site.

Jobs on the cheap

Yet another job posting has come in to the technical communication job bank asking for a “junior” with senior qualifications. It’s not as bad as some: it doesn’t ask for three languages and deep knowledge of IT industry trends. But it is not consistent. I’m not likely to make any difference, but I sent them a quick note:

Your job opening for a Junior Technical Writer has been published. However, I wonder if the job title you’re asking for will get you the skills that you need. A junior has relatively little experience and usually works under supervision of a more senior writer or someone who has a clear idea of the documentation needs.

Relatively high experience requirements with a junior job title is often a signal that the employer is not willing to pay industry rates, and most job searchers quickly learn that. If you wish to attract highly talented “juniors” you might want to advertise the salary range.

Or you might wish to change the requested job level. If you’re asking for a post-secondary degree or certificate in a relevant field plus two or three years of experience, and proven ability.I’d call that an intermediate level of experience.

Add in independent planning skills, project juggling, familiarity with many tools and formats, experience in technical document conversion, and familiarity with relatively new and evolving standards such as DITA, and you’re talking about a more senior level.

Another tactic is to list fewer requirements and talk more about what the job entails; then candidates can match up their experience level with what you need. I hope this helps!