Now on ScienceBlogs: Casual Fridays: What makes a good writer, and what motivates them?
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. Mostly regarding climate change, though.
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.
"There is no need to sally forth, for it remains true that those things
which make us human are, curiously enough, always close at hand.
Resolve, then, that on this very ground, with small flags waving, and
tiny blasts of tinny trumpets, we have met the enemy, and not only may
he be ours, he may be us."
--Walt Kelly
August 31, 2009
Category: climate
Even on those rare occasions when, in my opinion as a journalist, the editors have made a poor story selection, I end up thinking about the subject in a way that I otherwise wouldn't have.
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 9:58 AM • 20 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
August 27, 2009
Category: climate
Don't worry: Polaris will still be the North Pole star for a while yet.
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 9:31 AM • 8 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
August 25, 2009
Category: climate
I'm not saying that membership in the Chamber of Commerce should now be considered a source of gross embarrassment and good cause for a boycott of your products and/or services. I'm sure the Chamber does all sort of useful things. I just can't think what they are right now
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 2:37 PM • 30 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
I put the last word of the headline in quotes, because in this space, I prefer to use the term "pseudoskeptics" when describing those who claim to be applying scientific analysis to the issues without bothering to actually understand the...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 7:49 AM • 14 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
August 24, 2009
Category: climate
We need to find a way to over-write our programming, to unlearn our instinctual confidence in the way things have been
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 1:43 PM • 10 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
August 21, 2009
Category: climate
In a perfect world (one that runs on cold fusion, say), I'd object to needlessly modifying a beautiful view, pushing through some roads and electrical grid lines where none existed before, destroying a few acres of habitat, and killing a few birds and bats.
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 7:22 AM • 17 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
August 20, 2009
Category: climate
"Why are you so attached to paying more and getting less?" I ask
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 12:05 PM • 12 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
August 18, 2009
Category: climate
From the Center for American Progress, via Climate Progress: and from the comments to Joe Romm's post: Mark Shapiro says: August 18, 2009 at 11:01 am . . . "It would be great if the skeptics were right!" That's a...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 1:13 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
August 10, 2009
Category: climate
If we can connect the dots between the climate change deniers and the health-insurance fraudsters...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 10:14 AM • 25 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
