You will notice that it lacks definiteness; that it lacks purpose; that it lacks coherence; that it lacks a subject to talk about; that it is loose and wabbly; that it wanders around; that it loses itself early and does not find itself any more. --Mark Twain
Joshua Rosenau spends his days defending the teaching of evolution at the National Center for Science Education. He is also a graduate student at the University of Kansas, completing a doctorate in the department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. When not modeling species distributions or battling creationists, he writes about developments in progressive politics and the sciences.
The opinions expressed here are his own, do not reflect the official position of the NCSE. Indeed, older posts may no longer reflect his own official position.
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May 14, 2008
Category: Policy and Politics
NARAL and John Edwards endorse Barack Obama. Obama currently has the most pledged delegates, the most superdelegates, and Democrats are unifying around him.
As someone (hilzoy?) pointed out a few days ago, this is a remarkable event: for the first time in my political life, my favored candidate in the primaries actually seems to have won the nomination. Take that, Bill Bradley!
Posted by Josh Rosenau at 6:07 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Policy and Politics
The Department of the Interior explains:
Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne today announced that he is accepting the recommendation of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dale Hall to list the polar bear as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The listing is based on the best available science, which shows that loss of sea ice threatens and will likely continue to threaten polar bear habitat. This loss of habitat puts polar bears at risk of becoming endangered in the foreseeable future, the standard established by the ESA for designating a threatened species.The press release goes on to explain that, even though the threat to the bears comes from rapidly melting Arctic ice, and that fossil fuel production is responsible for that threat, this will not allow changes in petroleum extraction or carbon emissions. Kempthorne explains, "While the legal standards under the ESA compel me to list the polar bear as threatened, I want to make clear that this listing will not stop global climate change or prevent any sea ice from melting. Any real solution requires action by all major economies for it to be effective. That is why I am taking administrative and regulatory action to make certain the ESA isn’t abused to make global warming policies."
The logic here is fairly tortured. Global warming threatens polar bears, and the US government acknowledges that it has to take steps to control that threat. But since every other country hasn't taken steps to control carbon dioxide emissions, no steps can be taken to block that threat.
It isn't that Kempthorne is wrong to say that "The ESA is not the right tool to set U.S. climate policy," the problem is that all other paths to setting climate policy have been closed off. When EPA staffers recommended allowing California to regulate carbon dioxide, political officials overruled them, denying California's request.
Similarly, when the Supreme Court ruled that the EPA could not duck a lawsuit demanding regulations of carbon dioxide, the administration responded by scuttling its internal rulemaking process. Last December, EPA administrator Stephen Johnson "ordered staff to stop work on the federal greenhouse gas proposal, said two sources inside and outside the agency."
In that Supreme Court case, the administration argued that ongoing international negotiations and actions in other governmental agencies precluded the EPA from taking action on carbon emissions. As I said at the time, "The [Court's] majority ruled that the agency could not refuse to regulate carbon dioxide simply because of policy objections, or because of unrelated actions being taken (or not taken) by other parts of the government."
Addressing claims that ongoing action in the international arena, Congress and other agencies mitigated EPA's responsibility to act on carbon emissions, the Court held:
EPA overstates its case in arguing that its decision not to regulate contributes so insignificantly to petitioners’ injuries that it cannot be haled into federal court, and that there is no realistic possibility that the relief sought would mitigate global climate change and remedy petitioners’ injuries, especially since predicted increases in emissions from China, India, and other developing nations will likely offset any marginal domestic decrease EPA regulation could bring about. Agencies, like legislatures, do not generally resolve massive problems in one fell swoop, but instead whittle away over time, refining their approach as circumstances change and they develop a more nuanced understanding of how bestto proceed. That a first step might be tentative does not by itself negate federal-court jurisdiction.Whether that ruling would apply to the Endangered Species Act as well is unclear, but the principle still applies. The Department of the Interior could take measures to reduce global warming, and it may be that, despite Kempthorne's "administrative and regulatory action to make certain the ESA isn’t abused to make global warming policies," courts will still require action from that agency.
Posted by Josh Rosenau at 5:43 PM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Policy and Politics
Buswell fends off quokka rumours | The Australian:
WEST Australian Opposition leader Troy Buswell has admitted to chair-sniffing in the past but today he denied having done anything untoward to a quokka.Yep.Mr Buswell, who has also admitted to snapping the bra of a Labor staffer, faced question at Parliament House after sacked frontbencher Paul Omodei had said “more stories” would emerge about Mr Buswell and that his leadership would “die the death of a thousand cuts”.
Asked if he had done anything inappropriate to a quokka, Mr Buswell replied: “No”.
Asked if he was aware of any rumours about actions involving the small marsupials, which are indigenous to Rottnest Island, Mr Buswell said: “I have absolutely no idea about these stories of quokkas on Rottnest.
“I'm not being backward in saying that I'm not a perfect individual and you know I've had a robust past and there may be elements of that that have proved offensive to people.
“I don't shy away away from that at all, but I'm not aware that I've caused any offence to a quokka.”
Asked how the rumours had started, Mr Buswell said: “I have no idea.
“I'm not going to comment on it. All I've heard is people use the word quokka and then smile and laugh."
A staffer explains what he means by "robust past":
"We finished the meeting, I walked the bloke downstairs and out of parliament and when I got back I walked into the room to pick up my notepad from the desk and Buswell started grabbing the chairs going: 'Aahww, which one did you sit in? I'll be able to tell'," she said.Our presidential campaign would be much better if we had more scandals like this."And then he picked them up and started sniffing them and groaning and making sexually satisfying noises.
"I went, 'you're sick, knock it off', grabbed my staff and walked out, but he didn't pay attention to a word I said."
The woman, who is well-known by most state MPs, came back to the office 10 minutes later when she and some colleagues wanted to ask one of Mr Buswell's staff members to come to lunch.
"Buswell opened the door really wide, grabbed a chair and started sniffing it, lifted it above his head sniffing it and breathing in, going, 'Aaww, yeah," she said. "It was awful. My colleagues - the four men I worked with - were just stunned into silence."
H/T Quiggin.
Posted by Josh Rosenau at 11:45 AM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
May 13, 2008
Category: Creationism
After months working behind the scenes, House Republican leaders this week will finally start rolling out their rebranding effort aimed at rallying the party around a comprehensive policy and message agenda.Titled “Reasons to Believe,” the plan is meant to provide House Republicans with a sales pitch to voters by focusing on four issue areas: the economy, energy, health care and security.
Yes, the Republican party has named its brilliant new plan after a crackpot creationist group, but at least it's an old-earth creationist group, and one that dissed Expelled. Truly, we live in an age of miracles.
Posted by Josh Rosenau at 3:03 AM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
May 12, 2008
Category: Chatter
May 23rd, according a random email I got today, is World Turtle Day.
One presumes that it is supported by a turtle, which is itself supported by a turtle, and so on, all the way down.
Either that, or it is a day to celebrate the inversion of dinghies.
Posted by Josh Rosenau at 6:19 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
May 9, 2008
Category: Policy and Politics
In Kansas, it was a party line vote:
Nay KS-1 Moran, Jerry [R]The bill, HR 1113, is a nonbinding resolution "celebrating the role of mothers in the United States and supporting the goals and ideals of Mother’s Day." The vote was on a motion to send the bill back for reconsideration and revision in committee.
Aye KS-2 Boyda, Nancy [D]
Aye KS-3 Moore, Dennis [D]
Nay KS-4 Tiahrt, Todd [R]
Tiahrt rose in protest, demanding first the vote on his motion to recommit, and requesting that the votes be recorded, because "because I’m sure every member wants their mother to know that they have supported the goals of Mother’s Day." He then joined his colleagues in voting against the measure.
I'm sure Donald Betts will have fun with this.
Posted by Josh Rosenau at 6:19 PM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
May 8, 2008
Category: Culture Wars
The National Center for Science Education, a non-profit organization that defends the teaching of evolution in the public schools, seeks candidates for a position in its Public Information Project.Staff members in the Public Information Project provide advice and support to local activists faced with threats to evolution education in their communities. They also provide information on evolution, evolution education, and related issues to the general public, the press, and allied organizations, and contribute as needed to NCSE's publications, both in print and on-line. Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, are necessary, as are a high degree of computer literacy and the ability to work cooperatively.
Candidates must have at least a college degree; advanced degrees in the sciences, particularly biology and geology, or in the history and/or philosophy of science, and/or science education, are pluses. A record of involvement in or understanding of the creationism/evolution controversy, or church/state separation issues in general, is also a plus.
This is a full-time permanent position with medical, dental, and retirement benefits in Oakland, California, to start as soon as possible. Telecommuting is not an option. Travel and public speaking may be required. Salary in the 40s, depending on qualification and experience.
Send c.v., brief writing sample, and the names of three references to NCSE, either by mail to NCSE, 420 40th Street, Suite 2, Oakland CA 94609-2509, by fax to (510) 601-7204, or by e-mail to pip@ncseweb.org. No calls, please. Materials must arrive by June 1, 2008, to be considered. NCSE is an equal opportunity employer.
Posted by Josh Rosenau at 5:15 PM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Category: Chatter
I'm away from the office, helping historians beat up on creationists, so enjoy some fine music in the mean time.
"Fall Of The Pigs" by COLISEUM from the album No Salvation (2007, 2:55).
"She's Got A New Spell" by Billy Bragg from the album Must I Paint You A Picture?: The Essential Billy Bragg (2003, 3:24).
"Fine Day" by Lessick and Lincoln from the album Other Lives (5:18).
"My Dream Blues" by St. Louis Jimmy Oden from the album St. Louis Jimmy Oden Vol. 1 1932-1944 (1994, 3:32).
"High And Dry" by Radiohead from the album The Bends (1995, 4:17).
"I Heard My Mother Praying for Me" by Hank Williams from the album The Complete Hank Williams (2:36).
"I Heard My Mother Praying for Me" by Hank Williams from the album The Complete Hank Williams (2:36).
"Out of Jail" by They Might Be Giants from the album John Henry (1994, 2:39).
"Black Annie" by Hobart Smith from the album Southern Journey, Vol. 2: Ballads And Breakdowns (1959, 1:52).
"Go Find Your Saint" by Frank Black from the album Honeycomb (2005, 2:04).
"The Waiting" by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers from the album Hard Promises (1981, 3:59).
Posted by Josh Rosenau at 5:13 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
May 6, 2008
Category: Biology
This is the third of four videos NCSE commissioned to help explain how evolution works, and to help people understand the threats posed to accurate science education. It's remarkable what you can fit into a brief video.
It's also worth noting that a lot won't fit into a video. If the issue of eye evolution is of interest, check out this recent article from LifeScientist. The Nature Reviews Neuroscience paper they discuss is more technical, but is a really good review.
Posted by Josh Rosenau at 6:41 PM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
