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.
October 30, 2008
Category: climate
For the tail end of this year, I'd have to nominate this paper as the best way to introduce a global warming rookie, or anyone who considers themselves a skeptic of the consensus, to the state of the science,
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 9:59 AM • 11 Comments •
October 29, 2008
Category: politics
I know of no solid evidence that editorial endorsements have even the slightest effect on presidential campaigns. You might be able to find some correlations in some states, but that could easily be because the newspaper and magazine editors are...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 3:40 PM • 0 Comments •
October 28, 2008
Category: climate
Trains, trains and more trains
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 3:03 PM • 4 Comments •
October 27, 2008
Category: politics
It's almost not worth the bother of taking another swipe at Sarah Palin's anti-intellectual bigotry this late in a game that's pretty much over, but gosh darn it, it's just too easy!
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 2:12 PM • 3 Comments •
October 23, 2008
Category: climate
On the one hand, it's always good to know things like this. But ...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 10:47 AM • 10 Comments •
October 22, 2008
Category: climate
I just don't understand where the EPA is coming from when it assigns fuel economy ratings. The latest rankings are out and they just don't jibe with my driving experience. I'm not the most aggressive driver out there, but neither...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 2:51 PM • 12 Comments •
October 17, 2008
Category: climate
It's not important which comes first. What's important is where things are headed once that the feedback is in operation.
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 3:44 PM • 7 Comments •
October 16, 2008
Category: climate
Two thirds of America's oil is used by the transportation sector. And since the transportation sector is not electrified, supplying more electricity in the form of nuclear generating plants won't actually end the need for that oil.
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 1:31 PM • 19 Comments •
October 15, 2008
Category: climate
In a country that should be leading the charge toward clean energy thanks to its enormous natural and renewable resources, educated workforce and relatively healthy economy, we have another government that has consistently shown a preference for fossil fuels over renewables.
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 1:40 PM • 14 Comments •
October 13, 2008
Category: climate
A look at some of the studies that have been by professionals and published in peer-reviewed journals confirms just how far from neutral we're talking about.
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 1:21 PM • 10 Comments •
October 9, 2008
Category: Sci-culture
Science is science, and when it's raining, dark or you're thousands of kilometers from a coastline, it's hard to beat a couple of hours at a planetarium.
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 9:34 AM • 7 Comments •
October 7, 2008
Category: climate
The Canadian Press has this story about Canadian scientists who have written an open letter calling on the Canadian voter to consider climate change in next week's federal election. When will their American colleagues follow suit?...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 4:01 PM • 8 Comments •
Category: Sci-culture
There are too many dilettantes out there, especially in the blogosphere, who will herald a paper that has been peer-reviewed, regardless of the quality of that review, as proof of one thing or another.
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 2:32 PM • 4 Comments •
October 2, 2008
Category: climate
"It's a matter of large physical changes in the oceans," and that almost certainly won't be a good thing.
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 11:23 AM • 5 Comments •
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