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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 and communications consultant based in western North Carolina, where he tries to put degrees in marine biology and journalism to good use.
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in the Dark,
by Carl Sagan
(A
review)
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Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal: www.csicop.org
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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
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Category: climate
Posted on: October 14, 2009 9:50 AM, by James Hrynyshyn
Hmmm. Not sure this will accomplish what the British government hopes it will.
On the other hand, the U.K. is far ahead of most of the rest of the world when it comes to getting serious about greenhouse-gas emission legislation -- no one else has binding targets, and 34 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020 is among the most ambitious around. So maybe they do know what they're doing. Probably not, but still...
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uncertain principles 02.13.2012
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starts with a bang! 02.13.2012
Comments
Paying for the climate fairy and socialized medicine has made England the WORST place to live in Europe. The U.S. should jump all over that bandwagon.
"Britons can expect to work three years longer and die two years younger than their French counterparts.
We also have to contend with a higher cost of living and pay more for most basics such as fuel, food, alcohol and train travel.
With a litre costing £1.08, the UK is the second most expensive country for unleaded petrol and the most expensive for diesel.
Meanwhile, a basket of food items that costs £134.48 in the UK will be £124 in Europe and only £118.76 in France. "
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1219743/Britain-worst-place-live-Europe-despite-big-pay-packets.html
Posted by: The Climate Farce Fairy | October 14, 2009 12:45 PM
Yeah, frightening children and their parents about a nonsensical threat to further your political agenda is a great idea.
You must be so proud of your British eco-loon brethren.
Posted by: Lance | October 14, 2009 3:35 PM
Socialised medicine is far cheaper and more effective than the US option, and UK life expectancy is doing much better than the US's as a result. I guess this is why you choose an inapt comparison with France (which also has socialised medicine) taken from a rag of a newspaper called the "Daily Mail".
As for the idea of climate change and rising sea levels being a "nonsensical threat", this is clearly a deluded opinion which flies in the face of science and reality.
Posted by: Vince Whirlwind | October 14, 2009 7:45 PM
Part of the reason the UK is such an expensive place to live is because a series of governments have made half-arsed attempts to introduce complete or partial privatisation (really, whose bright idea was allowing commercial companies to profit from national services, but throwing any commercial risks back on the tax-payer?). Between this, inept bureaucracy and corrupt politicians (although less of the latter than some countries in Europe - hello, Berlusconi) it's amazing we have any functioning services at all.
Posted by: stripey_cat | October 15, 2009 9:11 AM
Yo Vince,
The most recent IPCC report predicts sea level rise of between 8 and 30 inches over the next century. I don't think children need to be frightened, or bunny tears shed, by this prospect. Unless you plan on tying them down at the beach for their entire lives.
And what the flip does socialized medicine have to do with the topic at hand other than showing that your leftist knees jerk in no apparent connection to reality.
Posted by: Lance | October 17, 2009 11:04 AM
Lance... I imagine that Vince mentioned socialised medicine in response to the Climate fairy's post where it is first mentioned. Interestingly, whenever I go to France I'm amazed at how expensive things in the shops are compared to the UK.
And did you read the article to see who carried out the research? Uswitch.com a comparison web site. And they only compared 10 European countries.
I found one of the comments on the Daily mail article amusing: "You whiners should try living over here! Most people get little or no vacation, and will have to work until they die. Medical care sucks for most people. Most of us go into hock just trying to live. In Detroit, we would love to have your weather.
- Uncle Frank, Detroit USA, 13/10/2009 21:21"
Posted by: Turboblocke | October 18, 2009 7:20 AM
Perhaps treating climate change as a fairy tale will only encourage people to think that it is only a fairy tale. I assume that wasn't the intended message.
Posted by: Marcia Earth | October 20, 2009 12:41 PM
No Virginia, there's no happy ending - go back to your nightmare
Posted by: Rick | October 25, 2009 8:43 PM