Has Died at 100. He was a ground-breaker in Anthropology.
I actually did a structuralist analysis of the Oedipus myth in college in one of my electives.
Category: Junk Science
Why Science Knowledge Sucks in the US
Of course, it’s a Brit stand-up comedian who explains it….Not entirely SFW.
H/t Majikthise
Buzz Aldrin Punches Jerk Who Deserved It
At about 2:45 into the video, he lays one on a lunar landing denier.
I Question the Metholodology, but It’s Scary as Hell if it is True
There is now a study out that says that over ¼ of homeowners who default have the ability to pay, they are just walking away because they are under water on their mortgages.
If this is true, we are no where near bottom.
No, Coke is Not Supporting the Creationism Clown Show Museum
Generally, it’s pretty on the ball, but in this case, PZ Meyers is wrong. There is no corporate sponsorship of the Creation clown show Museum, there is a merchandising deal which means that, in exchange for selling only Coca Cola® at their clown show Museum.
That’s what the clown show Museum’s bold claim of corporate partnership means.
It’s kind of like the controversy with the Smithsonian “hosting” an “Intelligent Design” some years back. It turned out that the group rented the space from them.
Newsweek Calls Oprah Full of Crap
Newsweek looks at the health claims on Oprah Winfrey’s show, and concludes that they are snake oil.
Good. Hopefully, we will see more of this from the media.
Evolution Disproved!
I just hurt myself laughing:
In a severe blow to the credibility of evolutionary science, biologist Richard Dawkins admitted today that Darwin’s theory of evolution could offer no rational explanation for the continued existence of creationists. The process of natural selection sees genes which provide an advantage in the battle for survival being preserved across generations, but scientists can find no useful purpose for the gene which leads people to believe that the earth was created in only six days about 10,000 years ago.
Solipsism as proof of Genesis.
An Interesting Development in Autism Spectrum Conditions
It appears that there is a genetic link between nicotine addiction and autism, in the neurexin-1 gene, which creates an excess of neurexin-1 beta protein, which aids in nerve cells linking up with nicotine like substances to neuro receptors, in people addicted to nicotine.
It turns out that the levels of the protein, and the gene, are deficient in some people on the Autism spectrum.
It raises some interesting questions, though at this point I would be very cautious, and I think that a first step would be to compare smoking and non smoking populations of people on the spectrum.
The fact that quack physician Jeff Bradford has apparently already started putting nicotine patches on his patients should not be viewed as significant by anyone except, perhaps, for malpractice lawyers.
Giving small children nicotine is an invitation to injury or death, because a nicotine overdose can kill someone very quickly.
Let’s Give Texas Back to Mexico
Bill Would Allow Texas School to Grant Master’s Degree in Science for Creationism
Seriously, just how stupid are some Texas legislators.
[on edit]
I don’t mean to say that all Texas legislators are mind boggling stupid, just that when a Texas legislator decides to do “te stupid” he goes all Texas sized about it.
Note to Self: Never Piss Off Roger Ebert
Ben Stein has been calling him a wimp for not reviewing his (un)intelligent design agitprop “documentary” Expelled, so Ebert decided to oblige him.
Damn, that was not pretty. It was funny, and well written, but in the final analysis, it was like watching Muhammad Ali at his prime going after Jerry Lewis in a boxing ring.
He completely pwn35 (owns) Stein.
Go read.
Well, It Looks Like Texas Has Pulled Ahead in the Backwards State Derby
Yep, Texas is heading for a new monkey trial.
Chris Comer, former science director of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) was fired because he forwarded an announcement about an evolution event, and she has now sued for illegal termination on the basis that:
- That creationism is illegal religious dogma in public schools.
- The TeA’s “neutrality” on evolution/creationism is in fact an endorsement of the latter.
- That her firing is an illegal establishment of religion.
The think is that this is fairly settled law, see Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District, so I imagine that Comer will win this.
It’s why I left Texas in 2001. I did not want my children to grow up in the backward political and social environment there.
Thimerosal DOES NOT Cause Autism
A study has just been completed on Autism rates following the removal Thimerosal from vaccines in 2001, and the numbers are stark, removing Thimerosol made no change in the incidence of Autism spectrum disorders. (LA Times Link)
Autism cases continued to increase in California after the mercury-containing preservative thimerosal was eliminated from most childhood vaccines, according to a new report.This suggests that exposure to thimerosal is not a primary cause of autism.
Speaking as a parent of a child on the spectrum, Charlie is a very high functioning Aspergers kid, let me state that the people arguing for this are wrong.
Every peer reviewed study has shown no correlation, and while correlation may not prove causation, a lack of correlation does prove a lack of causation.
Inoculations work. Inoculations don’t give your kid an Autism Spectrum disorder.
Get your kids vaccinated, for their good, and for the good of their classmates.