Archive for the ‘Snake Oil–Cheap!’ Category
When Are Two Things the Same?
As a response today to the Colorado Senate's Judiciary Committee voting 6-3 today to pass civil unions, I read this (here): "It is as close to marriage as can be construed in Colorado law without using that word," said Republican Sen. Kevin Lundberg, a long-time opponent of LGBT rights. "For that reason it is marriage […]
In: All, Faaabulosity, Snake Oil--Cheap!
Perpetually Park
Bob Park, in his "What's New" this week (5 March 2010) had two items on perpetual-motion machines, an idea, like creationism, that seems not to go away but just to get repackaged on a regular basis, said new packaging bagging lots of new, credulous believers–rather like creationism. I particularly enjoyed 'it's not a perpetual motion […]
In: All, It's Only Rocket Science, Snake Oil--Cheap!
Hate your Job Much?
[Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele, speaking of a "public option" in health-care reform, said,] "every time the government gets involved in something it doesn't work." [Dave Zirin: Michael Steele: Meet Amanda Duzak, Huffington Post, 2 September 2009.] Which is worse, Politicians who want positions in government while protesting that government is an awful idea; […]
In: All, Raised Eyebrows Dept., Snake Oil--Cheap!
Scienticity for Laughs
I enjoy meeting new people in the same of scienticity; I try for one new person a day. Today I made the acquaintance of Irish comedian Dara OBriain (thanks to BoingBoing). He doesn't know me yet but I've enjoyed watching him on YouTube and now Dara and I will demonstrate that a good scientific outlook […]
In: All, Laughing Matters, Snake Oil--Cheap!, Speaking of Science
Intellectual Abuse & "Insidious Creationism"
Creationist advocates of intellectually dishonest ideas like "teach the controversy", or "evolution is only a theory" are not engaged in a scientific debate. Neither are they engaged in a debate about how science works. Indeed, they are not even participating in good-faith (no pun intended) discourse but are pursuing their own subversive agenda, no holds […]
In: All, Current Events, It's Only Rocket Science, Snake Oil--Cheap!
Corporate Chump-Change Perverts American Policy
Let's suppose for a minute that your annual income is a modest US$50,000 (modest to some, unimaginable wealth to others). Don't you hate to see a bunch of that wasted in taxes? Wouldn't you like a nice tax cut, just for you maybe? Well, let me introduce you to Mr. Congressional Lobbyist. Would you be […]
In: All, Current Events, Snake Oil--Cheap!
"Hiking the Appalachian Trail"
Given the example of wacko Governor Mark Sanford (see, e.g.), a Republican defender of "traditional marriage", I'm thinking that saying one is out "hiking the Appalachian trail" could become a euphemism for "boinking one's mistress at taxpayer's expense while defending 'traditional marriage' ". Sure, it may not gain the currency of "saddlebacking", which is shorter […]
In: All, Snake Oil--Cheap!, Such Language!
Subjunctive Death
I listen with dismayed amusement as the once Vice-President Dick Cheney continues to justify his paranoia and abuse of power by announcing, in escalating numbers, the number of people who did not die while he was president…err, vice president. Lately I've been seeing it as "thousands, tens of thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands". Frankly, I […]
Breast Implants for Jesus
Personally, if I were a fundamentalist, god-fearing christian fearing the fundamentalist god, I'd believe that said god created all of creation for the benefit and happiness of good, god-fearing christians on the earth, provided they loved Jesus. Now, among those creations would most definitely be silicon — just look at computers! Now, if some fundamentalist, […]
In: All, Current Events, Snake Oil--Cheap!
McCain's Dangerous Science Illiteracy
At the most recent presidential so-called "debate" (that would be debate #2, the "town hall meeting" format), John McCain, trying to score cheap points against rival Barack Obama, referred to earmark money Obama voted for that included "$3 million for an overhead projector at a planetarium in Chicago, Illinois". Of course, as many of us […]
In: Books, It's Only Rocket Science, Snake Oil--Cheap!
Qualified = Smart Enough
There is confusion, probably even intentional obfuscation, during this current election over whether Ms. Palin is "qualified" to be vice-president. Someone correctly pointed out, in the words of Wikipedia, that the constitutional "qualifications" are few. The Twelfth Amendment to the United States Constitution states that "no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall […]
In: All, Reflections, Snake Oil--Cheap!
Park Validates Ars Hermeneutica's Mission
Here is one item from this week's "What's New", by Bob Park (5 September 2008 issue). I take it as validation of Ars Hermeneutica's view that increasing science literacy in America is vitally needed and will help enfranchise voters who find themselves at a loss to judge the words or deeds of politicians when it […]
In: All, Briefly Noted, It's Only Rocket Science, Snake Oil--Cheap!
Park on EMF Non-Dangers
Just in case you came in late, or you don't remember the events of the time, and never realized the terror that could be induced by toasters, Robert Park updates us on the utter lack of danger associated with electromagnetic fields (EMF). HYBRIPHOBIA: REMEMBER WHEN POWER LINES CAUSED CANCER? EMF stopped causing cancer in 1997, […]
In: All, It's Only Rocket Science, Snake Oil--Cheap!
The Unkindness of History
I am pleased that Arianna Huffington has so succinctly summarized (here) this week's startling-yet-not-unexpected revelation from inside the Bush administration, complete with a perceptive remark from John Ashcroft of all people that indicated they really did realize they were doing bad things: This week, being sent to the Principal's office took on a whole new […]
In: All, Laughing Matters, Snake Oil--Cheap!
Instant Fuel Efficiency
Detroit loves ethanol because it can use it to inflate fuel-efficiency ratings on their cars artificially. The mammoth Chevy Suburban, produced as a flex-fuel vehicle capable of burning both ethanol and gasoline, magically boosted its fuel efficiency to 29 miles per gallon from 15, since under federal rules only a vehicle’s gasoline consumption need be […]