Now on ScienceBlogs: The Galaxy's Biggest Valentine
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.
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
Deferring to experts is not the same as committing the logical fallacy of making an argument from authority, it's just acceptance of one's own ignorance.
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 12:28 PM • 27 Comments • 1 TrackBacks
Category: pseudo-science
"I view it with dread, fear and panic," he said. "I don't want to grow food under those conditions."
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 12:13 PM • 23 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: climate
I just don't understand how someone with his level of experience can assert that long-term trends are invalidated by short-term variation.
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 10:10 AM • 11 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 • 12 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: pseudo-science
Well, how do you explain it? Some strange lights observed at the time of the incident have been explained. But the physical damage remains an X-file....
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 1:06 PM • 6 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: pseudo-science
The real problem sets in when yoga is offered as part of a larger program of alternative care.
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 4:14 PM • 4 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: pseudo-science
So Leonardo DiCaprio is picking up where Al Gore left off in the battle to keep Earth habitable. Is this a good thing?...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 2:53 PM • 9 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: pseudo-science
A new study that shows people who say radio waves from cell phone towers are making them sick are exhibiting a purely pyschosomatic reaction won't be the last nail required to seal this particular coffin of pseudo-science. But as a...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 11:15 AM • 5 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: pseudo-science
"Her husband decided to ask their 4-year-old dog another question, the square root of 25. Micah tapped his paw five times."
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 2:18 PM • 7 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: pseudo-science
"One of the most eminent scientists in the UK" has been taking on the merchants of woo...
Posted by James Hrynyshyn at 8:05 AM • 4 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Orac 02.13.2012
ERV 11.26.2011
PZ Myers 02.02.2012
Orac 01.26.2012
Jason Rosenhouse 02.12.2012
