Now on ScienceBlogs: Surgical masks versus respirators for flu protection
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
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
Category: humor
And now for something completely different. Nothing to do with climate change, pseudoscience, religiosity or even Twitter. I post it here because I am a freelancer. And everyone who has ever freelanced, or used a freelancer, or thought about freelancing,...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 2:15 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: climate
Which of these recent developments raises your eyebrows the highest? Russia is planning a fleet of floating and submersible nuclear power stations to exploit Arctic oil and gas reserves, causing widespread alarm among environmentalists. (The Guardian, May 3, 2009) Gov....
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 8:31 AM • 10 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: humor
This comment, posted to a Yahoo Finance forum by one dianasullivan1953 in response to a pointer to my recent post about the possible end of coal, was a great start to the day. I laughed for ages....
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 11:20 AM • 10 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: technology
Why would I care what you're doing? The 140-character limit. Just another opportunity to interrupt real-world social interactions. Enabling attention-deficit disorder sufferers doesn't seem a like a particularly good idea these days. Gives NPR Weekend Edition host Scott Simon...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 7:09 AM • 98 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: humor
"Neuroscientists fear brain drain" (Globe and Mail, March 12, 2009) It's about research funding drying up in Canada, while Obama pours more into U.S. labs....
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 9:08 AM • 6 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: humor
It's time for the Union of Concerned Scientists' annual scientific integrity editorial cartoon contest. See the candidates and vote for your favorite here. My favorite:...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 1:41 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: humor
Star Trek's Data would call such behavior a product of a malfunctioning ethical subroutine.
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 8:28 AM • 10 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: humor
A little April Foolishness now. Please help me fill in the blanks. Correct entries must come from television or film....
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 8:56 AM • 19 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: humor
Bob Carroll of The Skeptic's Dictionary, has produced a theme song for skeptics. Well, OK. He stole the music from Leonard Cohen. "The Tower of Song" becomes "The Tower of Woo." Actually, I think he's drawing on Bob Dylan at...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 12:48 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
