Author: MarkH
-
Angels and Demons – Feeding our love of conspiracies
Tomorrow Angels and Demons comes to theaters across the country. One in a long series of movies that profits from the idea that underneath our regular, ordinary world, there are powerful forces controlling the scenes. I understand the appeal of these movies, it’s an entertaining concept. A fictional conspiracy engages your intellect, creates a mystery,…
-
Have you written your letter to Oprah yet?
If you have been keeping up with Pal or Orac in my absence, you already know the bad news. Oprah has decided to up her woo quotient from promotion of the Secret and relatively harmless nonsense to actively promoting anti-vaccine conspiracy theories in the form of a Jenny McCarthy TV show. Gawker suggests a good…
-
Obesity – A new study and what it means to be a “healthy weight”
In response to the conversation on “Obesity, Evolution and Delayed Gratification” on the main page and Razib’s coverage of a fascinating new study on the relationship to the lactase gene and obesity, I thought now would be a good time to write about an important new study that helps define the boundaries of what normal…
-
What should a national health care system look like?
I was pleased to see president Obama deliver this address yesterday: Click To Play I was even more pleased because he has gathered the traditional opponents of healthcare reform around him and has convinced them to commit to reform in the US system. This is a positive sign. However, I’m concerned because, as with all…
-
The Dr. Will Sue You Now – A stolen chapter from Ben Goldacre’s book Bad Science
In order to help spread the word about a dangerous altie quack and HIV/AIDS denier who is responsible for probably hundreds of thousands of unnecessary deaths from AIDS in Africa, I’m reproducing The Doctor Will Sue You Now, here on denialism blog. The chapter, removed from Ben Goldacre’s new book Bad Science due to libel…
-
Happy Blogiversary To Us!
It’s been two years now since we said hello to scienceblogs, and had our introductory posts on Conspiracy, Unified theory of the Crank, and the denialist deck of cards. Lately reading a recent profile of a crank, Marc Morano in the NYT, which was sent to me by the crank himself. I can’t help but…
-
The Teabaggers Are Nuts
Via Brayton I caught this disturbing video of the new right-wing fringe movement: Now, if you guys have been following along for the last few years of denialism blog, you know you should immediately be suspicious of people alleging conspiracy theories. This one is a doozy. The administration as a culmination of a 5 decade…
-
In a just society payday loans would not exist
Via Lessig and as explained beautifully by Colbert, payday loans are evil. The Colbert Report Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c The Word – Have Your Cake And Eat It, Too colbertnation.com Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor NASA Name Contest Being a Democrat is no protection from corruption by corporations, as Congressman Gutierrez demonstrates.…
-
Trauma II
I’ve been absent, I apologize, but my last rotation in medical school has been a sub-internship in Trauma surgery. Aside from work, sleep, eating, and buying a house in Baltimore, blogging has necessarily suffered. I will say a few things though that should be a public service message on the TV. People need to wear…
-
George Will Controversy Now Over – Mooney Cleans His Clock
Congrats to Chris Mooney for getting his rebuttal to George Will published in the Washington Post. And kudos to the post for allowing his serious factual answer to an article composed entirely of crank arguments and lies (they also published a rebuttal from WMO Secretary General Michel Jarraud dealing with the lies in Will’s article)…