Baloney

Michael Shermer and the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science have produced a "Balony Detection Kit" video (inspired, of course, by Carl Sagan's concept).  It's a nice, short, accessible explanation of how the scientific method, peer review, and critical thinking work.

http://richarddawkins.net/article,3986,RDF-TV---The-Baloney-Detection-Kit,Michael-Shermer-The-Richard-Dawkins-Foundation-Josh-Timonen

Insurance

As the healthcare debate rages on, I thought I'd post this little gem about how private insurance companies (that's right - free market, people) retroactively revoke polices to avoid paying for expensive conditions.  

Despicable.  The only reason I have health insurance is for catastrophic care.  I eat well, excercise, have never smoked, never ingested ANY illegal substances, and as long as my allergies are kept in check (with a $14.99 / year over-the-counter medication), I don't have need to seek medical attention.

If I were then to get cancer or suffer some sort of trauma due to an accident, my insurer can cancel my policy because I didn't remember knee pain I had when I was 14 years old?

For a potentially life-threatening disease, isn't that the same as a death sentence; meted out by our 'sacred' private industry?

Here's a quote that demonstrates the crux of the story:

"Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI), who chaired the hearing, asked all three [Insurance Industry] CEOs if they would agree to stop rescinding policies except in cases of fraud. 

All three said no. 

If they don't do something to stop it, said Barton of Texas, Congress will."

I think I'll take my chances with a government bureaucrat.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105680875

EVP

I was reading a blog post here about that awful A&E show Paranormal State and it occurred to me:

Why do the EVP voices always say 'scary' ghosty things? How come they never say "Man, I could go for beer right about now!" or "I miss Twinkies!"?

Of course, considering how auditory pareidolia works, they're probably just mis-hearing what those crazy EVP spirits are really saying and in fact thay are saying things like "Could somebody please play the new Dylan CD?".

More HuffPo... *SIGH*

Arlen Specter

For some time now, I have held Arlen Specter up as an example of a Republican for whom I have some respect.

Now who will I use?

NPR story here

This is why we vaccinate

Anti-vaxers need to go back to school and get a refresher course in general science and biology.

Warning: This video from Australia's current affairs show "Sunday Night" is difficult to watch. Actually, it's excruciating. But watch it anyway, especially if you think there is any merit at all to the claims made by the likes of Jenny McCarthy.



Direct link to video here.

Things are looking up (maybe)....

Texas Governer (I use that term loosely) Rick Perry doesn't seem all that enthusiastic or supportive of his 2007 appointee to the Chairmanship of the Texas SBOE. The senate has been considering this week whether or not they will re-appoint Don McLeroy to the chairmanship. I guess Perry has a good nose for political winds. Kind of like a dog.

TFN Insider has more.

ICR Lawsuit

The lawyer for the Institute of Creation Research must have studied law at the ICR itself, given his legal acumen.

EC presents a legal skewering of ICR's filing.

Why, oh why does the ICR feel the need to locate its headquarters here in my neck-of-the-woods?

And how did that ICR guy pass the state Bar Exam?

Huffington Post

I suppose that ideologically, I lounge somewhere out on the 'liberal' end of the spectrum. Dogmatic, however, I am not. I'm not a fan of the MoveOn.org crowd and have similar disdain for both of the major political parties in the U.S.

Having said that, it should come as no surprise that I am not terribly familiar with the content on the Huffington Post. I thought it was just a 'liberal' Democratic-leaning hang-out spewing the typical partisan trash that has become the norm these days. Thus, it was quite a surprise to me to discover that the Post is apparently a haven for nut-job pseudoscience quacks. Here are a few examples:

Antibiotics Cause Cancer
Anti-Vaccination Nonsense - (also here and here -- and that's just a small sample)
Intuitive Scanning for Health (Really??? REALLY?????)
Numerology

While I am surprised to find this stuff in such a place as the Huffington Post, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that people buy into this modern snake oil.

After all, Peter Popoff is back in business.

Hello World...

I’m not sure what I’ll eventually post here, but I suppose it’s time to finally dive into the proverbial blogosphere.

I hope you enjoy. Or not. 

Your choice.