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.
September 29, 2008
Category: climate
Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth, has just bought the world's largest wind turbine. This from the Daily Mail. The 100-metre high turbine will supply 7.5 megawatts of power to the national grid when it is installed off the North East...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 11:39 AM • 3 Comments •
September 26, 2008
Category: climate
The news is, as you might expect, not good
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 9:34 AM • 4 Comments •
September 25, 2008
Category: Sci-culture
I usually like to refer to the actual study, but I can't find it, so we'll have to make do with the Independent's story on a survey of thousands of British primary and secondary schoolchildren that found most have no...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 2:35 PM • 1 Comments •
Category: climate
That's what happens when you become a poster child.
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 7:49 AM • 5 Comments •
September 24, 2008
Category: politics
She's not running for mayor of Wasilla anymore.
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 12:10 PM • 3 Comments •
September 22, 2008
Category: climate
More and more we're hearing that even 100% won't do the trick. Instead, say a growing chorus of scientists and analysts, we need to think about getting below current levels.
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 4:12 PM • 3 Comments •
September 19, 2008
Category: climate
It is possible that those carbon reservoirs have a chance of staying below ground, instead of off-gassing into the atmosphere
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 1:14 PM • 3 Comments •
September 17, 2008
Category: politics
... are you really prepared for President Sarah Palin?...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 3:52 PM • 3 Comments •
September 16, 2008
Category: climate
If you believe, the evidence of history to the contrary, that the free market can tap into the ingenuity and drive of the American people to solve the climate and energy crises, then you should vote for John McCain.
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 2:30 PM • 3 Comments •
September 12, 2008
Category: ecology
A lot of science is funded through earmarks, so we should be careful what we wish for when it comes to reforming government.
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 3:16 PM • 6 Comments •
September 11, 2008
Category: misc
If you have never posted a comment on ScienceBlogs before, now would be the time. Every commenter who supplies an email these days gets entered to win one of the those all-expenses-paid things to New York City. The trip includes...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 2:10 PM • 5 Comments •
September 9, 2008
Category: climate
You'd think the media could at least give their audiences the necessary background to understand a public policy debate that has degenerated into round of "Drill, Baby, Drill."
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 3:01 PM • 2 Comments •
September 8, 2008
Category: misc
Is every 10 minutes too often?
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 3:15 PM • 12 Comments •
September 5, 2008
Category: climate
... and that would be very bad, flooding something like a quarter of Bangladesh, for example.
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 2:38 PM • 5 Comments •
September 4, 2008
Category: religiosity
As of 1700 UT on Sept. 4, 2008, Sam "The End of Faith" Harris had attracted 986 comments to a piece on Sarah Palin he wrote for the LA Times. I guess I need to write a bestseller attacking religion...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 1:01 PM • 10 Comments •
September 2, 2008
Category: climate
We still aren't going to get a presidential debate devoted to science. So far, though,we have the Democratic nominee's elaborated responses to 14 questions put to him and his Republican counterpart by the Science Debate 2008 group. Here's two of...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 2:00 PM • 5 Comments •
Category: misc
If you've ever wanted to know what ScienceBloggers are like in the real world, and you're going to be in the general vicinity of Asheboro, North Carolina (that's halfway between the mountains and the ocean), drop by the NC Zoo...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 9:12 AM • 1 Comments •
YES! Send me a free issue of Seed.
If I like what I see, I'll receive 5 more issues (6 in all) for just $14.95. That's 50% off the cover price! If I'm not completely satisfied, I'll simply write "cancel" on the invoice and owe nothing. The free issue is mine to keep.
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