Mooney Kerfluffle redux, or How Science Journalists Don’t Get What The Average Scientist Is Up Against

Chad at Uncertain Principles wonders what the kerfluffle is with Chris Mooney. Chris wrote an Op-ed in the WaPo that summarizes this AAAS article. My last post was directed at the Op-ed, which was pedantic and useless, if not counterproductive. The AAAS article has decent recommendations that will never do what he hopes they will [...]

A simple way to get the antiscience crowd to come around?

Mooney has the right message, but gets it wrong from there.

The Rightful Place of Science

So I’m sure you’ve all heard by now that, in Obama’s inauguration speech, he spoke of putting science “back in its rightful place”. Since then, Seed, our Benevolent Overlords ™, has started the Rightful Place Project, and has asked all of us what IS the rightful place of science. It’s taken Sci a little while [...]

Complete speculation on the health of John McCain

Some people have been noticing erratic behavior from republican nominee John McCain lately. His most recent seems to be slight, but rather odd. Specifically, he appears to have developed ptosis— a drooping eyelid— which could of course be related to any number of causes, from an autoimmune attack on cholinergic receptors such as that seen [...]

Charging women for their own rape kits?

This is one of those things I simply can’t fathom. How does a woman pretend to be pro-women and then charge other women for basic forensic services following a rape? She justifies it as necessary to cut taxes. Which begs the question: how much of a tax burden did sex crimes place on the town [...]

“Hoosiers for the Hot Chick”

McCain is bitching about supposed sexism from Democrats when this is what is being worn by Indiana delegates at the RNC? What a bunch of bullshit. By the way, ignore my previous post. That was IRONY, dammit

Most. Accidentally. Inappropriate. Campaign. Photo. Ever.

This is so many degrees of wrong. Start your “so this is how Palin got the job” jokes if you want, but please remember that HER DAUGHTER IS IN THE FREAKIN’ PICTURE TOO YOU SICK BASTARDS.

Today I’m a UCLA fan

UCLA now leads the way when it comes to protecting scientists from violent extremists.

SchadenFriday Early Edition: John McCain screws the pooch. Hard.

Looks like the Straight Talk Express took a detour through Dependswhatyoumeanby”is”ville. From the NYT: Mr. Black said Mr. McCain and Ms. Iseman were friends and nothing more. But in 1999 she began showing up so frequently in his offices and at campaign events that staff members took notice. One recalled asking, “Why is she always [...]

Iowa Caucuses

I make no secret that I’m pretty liberal, which means I don’t generally support the Democrats (especially after spending 8 years as a NC/VA resident, since they ain’t always that liberal in those parts). This year I find myself musing over what would be best for the Dems; currently, with about 1/3 of precincts reporting [...]