Over at Immunoblogging, Joseph has a multi-post series on the evolution of the immune system that I've been meaning to highlight, since obviously the claim that there's no research done in this area plays a large part in IDists' claims. So, some background reading on a few of the issues:
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
and a bonus (if a bit older) post on Toll-like receptors here, along with a newer overview here.
Additionally, at the new Good Math, Bad Math, Mark discusses Dembski's use of the NFL (No Free Lunch, not the sporting league) theorem and creationist use of probability. Check 'em out...
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Nice one, Tara!
I can understand that many people haven't got the time to plough through the primary literature, and even many reviews demand too much pre-existing technical knowledge to be rewarding for the layperson (and we can argue all day about where the fault lies for that!), But with the clear, concise, intros to scientific topics springing up on blogs these days, no-one really has an excuse for ignorance any more.
Keep it up!
Unforunately I think Blogs are the last place to learn about science or evolution, as the whole system of determining who is a real authority on a subject doesn't exist.
At the same time I agree, these days there is little excuse for being ignorant about evolution or intelligent design, and you definitely aren't in a position to argue the truth or one side or the other without knowing both positions.
As far as I'm concerned, the way to solve the ignorance problem is to make Biology a mandatory class in both high school and college, and what gets taught in that class should be determined by a national standards committee whose members and chair must meet minimal education and experience requirements of their own. In essences the decision on what gets taught is isolated from the political whims of politicians and laypersons on local school boards.
Unforunately I think whether we like it or not, the United States and the rest of the World are about to get a hard lesson in biology and evolution, and when the dust settles there are going to be alot of frightened people asking the question why did happen? And their will be two distinct groups of people with an answer, and only one of those groups will get it right. I hope people are listening.
Oh, I don't know, Tobin. I think a fella could learn a lot at blogs. I know I certainly have. I guess the key might be time. Learning to check out claims for yourself, looking up scientific papers and working through them to examine the claims made in a blog, etc. can take up a huge amount of time.
I'm a carpenter with limited education, so websites like Science and Nature can be a bit technical for me sometimes. Places like this one, Panda's Thumb, Pharyngula, Science Just Science are good starting places.
Being disabled, I have more time than most, though, so I have the time to refer to some of the original literature. When I have questions, there are plenty of folks out there who are much more educated in a given subject who are willing to take time to elucidate (I just love that word). I'm currently working my way through Nick Matzke's paper on the bacterial flagellum, and the folks over at Science Just Science have been amazingly helpful.
(For the record, my last biology class was in 1982 in 10th grade. As I could find no selective advantage in using a microscope to attract chicks, I wasn't terribly interested, and got a C.) After a bit, one learns where to get the good stuff.