Month: May 2007
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LOL Creationists III
Ok, here is my final thread on LOL creationists (see the previous entries). Anti-evolution brings us some entries, this is my favorite (below the fold – it’s a tad dirty).
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Cranks are rarely bothered by other cranks
It’s in the nature of cranks and denialists not to really object to other forms of crankery, as long as the other crank or denialist is also sowing doubt about the same scientific theory. This fits in with proof 295,232 that intelligent design isn’t a science. Witness an IDer who really loves the Creation Museum.…
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Denialists’ Deck of Cards: Two Jacks, “Regulation Won’t Work” and “We Won’t Comply”
Two related arguments–the denialist will say that the regulation won’t work. And they won’t help in finding a way to come to a reasonable solution. Finally, continuing in the teenager theme, the denialist will argue that they won’t comply, even if directed to by law. Rule of law be damned!
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Thimerosal goes on trial
Slate has coverage of the impending trial against vaccine makers over the inclusion of thimerosal – a mercury containing preservative agent – in childhood vaccines. Luckily, the writers at Slate have done their homework. They present a laundry-list of denialist tactics from the anti-vax crackpots.
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A scientific study of overvalued ideas
Corpus Callosum points us to a review in science entitled Childhood Origins of Adult Resistance to Science (Chris at mixing memory also has coverage of the article). This is a perfect study to emphasize a critical aspect of denialism and crankery, that is, the central role the overvalued idea plays in the evolution of a…
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Denialists’ Deck of Cards: The Jack of Hearts, “We’ve Always Done This”
The fifth hand brings increasing petulance. One common tactic at this point is to admit to the behavior in question, and like a teenager, say “we’ll we’ve always done this,” and therefore we should be able to continue to do so.
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Happy Birthday to Rachel Carson
Today would be her 100th, and it presents us an opportunity to do two things. First, we salute a major influence in the birth of environmentalism in the United States and the world. Second, we want to use the opportunity to defend Carson from the specious attacks on her by the purveyors of the DDT…
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Badscience takes on the WiFi paranoia from BBC
And kicks its ass. What is up with the British and their fear of “radiation”? People complain about poor science comprehension here in the US, but it is by no means an isolated phenomenon. The fact someone was able to put a documentary on BBC suggesting that radiofrequencies of WiFi had any chance of affecting…
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LOL Creationists II
Well we’ve had some new entries and suggestions. I think the best so far is the entry from John Lynch of Stranger Fruit (inspired by Glenn Branch inspired by Carrie Sager). More below the fold!