Denialism

Month: December 2007

  • Here’s my impression of Barry Arrington

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    MarkH
    in

    I don’t have the time to be anything but a jerk today so I’m going to imitate Barry Arrington of Uncommon Descent, who tried to place the blame for the most recent shootings at a church on atheist writers. You see, yesterday, there was an attack on the New York subway. In one of those…

  • It Is Time For A Presidential Debate On Science – Part II

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    MarkH
    in

    Reiterating our previous call for this debate, I’d like to point out two articles that have come out in the past day, that may address some of the negative commentary here. The first is Chris Mooney and Lawrence Krauss at LA Times. The second, by Sheril Kirshenbaum and Matthew Chapman at HuffPo. Note, I consider…

  • It Is Time For A Presidential Debate On Science

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    by

    MarkH
    in , , ,

    We must adapt to the fact that over the last few decades it has become critical that our politicians and policymakers understand science and implement policy that is consistent with scientific facts. And it is past time that we made science enough of a priority to merit a presidential debate on science. The need is…

  • O’Donnell on Mormonism

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    MarkH
    in

    All, Mark has been busy becoming a Dr. and I’ve been busy doing end-of-semester stuff at UC-B. So, sorry for the absenteeism. Maybe when Mark recovers from his hangover we’ll have more good content here. But until then, check out Lawrence O’Donnell (who is on HBO’s

  • Defense Day

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    MarkH
    in

    Well today is my thesis defense day. For those who are unfamiliar with the process, this is how it works at least at my university. When you start out in a lab you do the experiments your boss tells you to do, with the goal of picking up a project. This usually involves taking up…

  • David Kirby – the ultimate goalpost mover

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    MarkH
    in

    I don’t need to cover this latest nonsense from David Kirby about vaccines and autism as Orac has already done so nicely. However, I would like to point out a few examples of why anti-vax is a prime example of denialist argument. For one, Kirby is such a promiscuous goal-post mover, I’m floored. This is…

  • I’m Jealous of Minnesota

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    MarkH
    in

    You guys are so damn lucky. I want Al Franken to run in my state. That race is going to be a total blast. Not to say a showdown in Virginia between Mark Warner and one of the incompetent former Republican governors that bankrupted the state in the last decade won’t be entertaining, but a…

  • Attacking the FDA – Pseudoscience masking itself as patient advocacy

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    MarkH
    in

    Speaking of libertarians, reading the JCI this week I came across this wonderful review of Richard Epstein’s new book, “Overdose: How excessive government regulation stifles pharmaceutical innovation”. We’ve discussed Epstein, and his ilk before. The libertarians that routinely attack the FDA as some kind of bogeyman, killing kids, eating babies, blah blah blah, when the…

  • Reason – the most inappropriate magazine title ever

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    MarkH
    in

    The stupidest essay ever entitled “The Death of Main Street: Are big chains to blame, or is excessive regulation? ” courtesy of Reason magazine. This stuff rivals creationist drivel for sheer stupidity. Briefly, Balko argues small businesses fail because regulations price them out of business, not because of Wal-Mart. The evidence? Old Town Alexandria! Ha!…

  • HIV/AIDS denialism is deadly – The sick bastards have another victim

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    MarkH
    in

    If anyone has been deluded into thinking HIV/AIDS denialism isn’t dangerous or deadly, all one has to do is look at the fruits of their labor on the AIDS myth exposed message boards. Their latest monstrosity is to convince an HIV positive mother to refuse medical care and testing for her and her child. Momma2girls82…