Official Comment Count: 1,033,872
An irregular exploration of the struggle between the power of rational discourse and the scientific method on one hand, and the forces of superstition and dogma on the other.
James Hrynyshyn is a freelance science journalist based in western North Carolina, where he tries to put degrees in marine biology and journalism to good use.
The Demon-Haunted World:
Science as a Candle
in the Dark,
by Carl Sagan
(A
review)
The Doubter's Companion:
by John Ralston Saul (Excerpts)
Skeptic Magazine: www.skeptic.com
Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal: www.csicop.org
A poem by Yehuda Amichai:
The
Place
Where We Are Right
The Meaning of the
Island of Doubt
By doubting we come to inquiry; and through inquiry we perceive truth.
--- Peter Abelard
Undisguised clarity is easily mistaken for arrogance.
-- Richard Dawkins
As for evolution, it happened. Deal with it.
-- Michael Shermer.
August 29, 2008
Category: climate
Does anyone really think it appropriate to run with a backup whose c.v. — less than two years as governor and a stint as mayor of a suburb of 9,000 — is as weak as Palin's?
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 2:17 PM • 16 Comments •
August 28, 2008
Category: religiosity
As far as I can tell, North Carolina's no different from the rest of America when it comes to religion. About a tenth of the population is free of religious conviction. That's not a big slice, but it could, in...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 3:29 PM • 2 Comments •
Category: climate
The We Can Solve It campaign has a new ad. Subtle it is not. One could argue that clean electricity in 10 years is far too ambitious a schedule, but you know what they say about a journey of 10,000...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 2:59 PM • 1 Comments •
August 27, 2008
Category: climate
It's a race between the genes controlling my son's growth hormones and falling pH levels in the ocean.
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 2:46 PM • 2 Comments •
August 26, 2008
Category: climate
If you're going to argue that an entire field of scientists got it wrong, you really should know something about the subject.
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 9:52 AM • 13 Comments •
August 22, 2008
Category: climate
Two non-scientists really have no business debating a scientific issue on talk radio.
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 3:42 PM • 3 Comments •
August 20, 2008
Category: climate
The news department of the journal Nature has just published an impressive round-up of all the major clean energy technologies — installed and theoretically capacity, prices, challenges, everything you need to know. Plus an inspiring editorial. A must read for...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 3:13 PM • 0 Comments •
August 19, 2008
Category: climate
Gore should take to that stage next week and make the most inspiring, couragous and audacious speech of his life.
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 4:54 PM • 8 Comments •
August 15, 2008
Category: climate
The fact is, CCS isn't the only tool at our disposal. We don't have to keep burning coal just because it's cheap and easy to find.
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 3:02 PM • 7 Comments •
August 13, 2008
Category: climate
One of things you learn living in the Great White North is just how fast conditions can change.
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 1:38 PM • 0 Comments •
August 12, 2008
Category: cetacea
Looks like we won't be needing a team of aging, time-traveling Starfleet officers to save the humpbacks after all. The IUCN has downlisted (I hate that word!) (Megaptera novaeangliae) from Vulnerable to Least Concern. Only took 25 years of keeping...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 12:18 PM • 1 Comments •
August 10, 2008
Category: religiosity
By now we've all seen the John McCain ad that juxtaposes Paris Hilton and Britney Spears with Barack Obama. Most of us probably recognize it as disingenuous use of imagery to make a flawed argument. Sadly, the same technique is...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 9:49 AM • 21 Comments •
August 8, 2008
Category: climate
"That's a wrong place to be looking for a solution. Trying to get every last drop of oil is not worth the effort."
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 2:14 PM • 5 Comments •
August 6, 2008
Category: climate
No politician hoping to attract national support can embrace the notion of an immediate moratorium on new coal-fired plants.
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 10:57 AM • 4 Comments •
August 5, 2008
Category: climate
It's finally time to comment on Gore's Law: "As an online climate change debate grows longer, the probability that denier arguments will descend into attacks on Al Gore approaches one."...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 11:18 AM • 19 Comments •
August 4, 2008
Category: climate
It is easy to be disappointed with Barack Obama's recent reversal on the acceptability of new offshore drilling. But unless this is your first presidential election, then you shouldn't be too surprised. Fans of any candidate have to be prepared...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 3:15 PM • 5 Comments •
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