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Global Warming is the Real Thing, but "Global Warming" is not the real problem [Greg Laden's Blog]

May 4, 2012 by ScienceBlogs

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As is the case with most things that are important, we as a society have done a very bad job of developing an effective conversation about Global Warming. The vast majority of electronic and real ink that I see spent on the discussion of Global Warming (outside of the peer reviewed literature) is not even about climate or climate change. Rather, it is about talking about climate change, the politics of climate change, critique of the rhetoric about climate change, clarification, obfuscation, complaining, accusing, yelling or belly-aching, and the occasional threat of violence. And today, dear reader, I'd like to give you some more of that! (Well, some of it. There will be no threats!)     Read more

Space Chronicles by Neil deGrasse Tyson [Uncertain Principles]

May 3, 2012 by ScienceBlogs

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I was tremendously disappointed and frustrated by this book.

This is largely my own fault, because I went into it expecting it to be something it's not. Had I read the description more carefully, I might not have had such a strong negative reaction (which was exacerbated by some outside stress when I first started reading it, so I put it aside for a few weeks, until I was less mad in general, and more likely to give it a fair reading). I'm actually somewhat hesitant to write this up at all, for a number of reasons, but after thinking it over a bit, I think I have sensible reasons for being disappointed in the book, and it's probably worth airing them.    Read more

Trickle Down Science [Uncertain Principles]

May 2, 2012 by ScienceBlogs

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A week or so ago, lots of people were linking to this New York Review of Books article by Steven Weinberg on "The Crisis of Big Science," looking back over the last few decades of, well, big science. It's somewhat dejected survey of whopping huge experiments, and the increasing difficulty of getting them funded, including a good deal of bitterness over the cancellation of the Superconducting Supercollider almost twenty years ago. This isn't particularly new for Weinberg-- back at the APS's Centennial Meeting in Atlanta in 1999, he gave a big lecture where he spent a bunch of time fulminating about what idiots politicians were for cancelling the project.    Read more

Are bills regulating fireworks there to protect stupid people from themselves? [Greg Laden's Blog]

April 30, 2012 by ScienceBlogs

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Yes. But don't assume you know a stupid person when you see one.

Our governor just vetoed a bill passed by our Pointy Headed Republican Legislature which would have significantly reduced regulation on dangerous fireworks in the state, allowing everyone access to explosives that are currently banned.

Which reminds me of a story.

Read the rest of this post... | Read the comments on this post...


Maybe My Next Book Should Be About Atheist Gatherings [EvolutionBlog]

April 30, 2012 by ScienceBlogs

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As you have probably guessed from the blog drought around here, it's the end of the semester. That means tons of grading, office hours, meetings with students, deadlines to meet, and all around not much time for blogging. Final exams are this week. Once those are graded I reach the promised land of summer break. So regular blogging will resume shortly.

In the meantime, here's a guest post I wrote for the Oxford University Press blog. I offer a few thoughts about my two recent experiences with atheist gatherings: The Reason Rally and the American Atheists Convention. I enjoyed both events immensely, but I also offer a few gentle criticisms. So go read the post and let me know what you think.    Read more

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