The James Randi Educational Foundation announced them on a completely appropriate Friday, and it's not exactly surprising that at least one of the recipients is also a Cretin of the Moment:
Dr. (Mehmet) Oz is a Harvard-educated cardiac physician who, through his syndicated TV show, has promoted faith healing, "energy medicine," and other quack theories that have no scientific basis. Oz has appeared on ABC News to give legitimacy to the claims of Brazilian faith healer “John of God,” who uses old carnival tricks to take money from the seriously ill. He's hosted Ayurvedic guru Yogi Cameron on his show to promote nonsense "tongue examination" as a way of diagnosing health problems. This year, he really went off the deep end. In March 2011, Dr. Oz endorsed "psychic" huckster and past Pigasus winner John Edward, who pretends to talk to dead people. Oz even suggested that bereaved families should visit psychic mediums to receive (faked) messages from their dead relatives as a form of grief counseling.
My, oh my. The crap that television producers try to pass off as medical fact these days.
But wait! Dr. Oz has a comrade in his questionable endeavors, and she works an arguably more high-profile gig at CBS:
After all of (Sharyl) Attkisson's pandering to the anti-vaccine movement and promoting its message, one huge question remains. Why does CBS News tolerate Attkisson's horrible reporting on vaccines and other scientific issues? I can't speak about her other reporting, but when it comes to science, Sharyl Attkisson is a crank par excellence. She has an agenda; and she tortures the evidence to make it seem to agree with her biases. I also wonder how long it will be before Attkisson joins Dan Olmsted as a writer for AoA (Age of Autism). My only surprise is that, nearly four years since I first noticed her, she hasn't made that move already. I suppose I can always hope that CBS News wises up to the anti-vaccine propagandist working as one of its correspondents and forces Attkisson finally to make that move.
People who wonder why I find it less and less useful to watch large amounts of TV with each passing year should look no further. You don't have to watch intentionally disposable crap like Jersey Shore or Dancing with Myself (er..Dancing with the Stars, sorry) to find readily accessible mind rot. Not with "medical" or "scientific" reporting like this, you don't.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Cretin of the moment
The eternally hideous Ann Coulter, for reasons PZ Myers goes into gory detail about at the provided link.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Cretin of the moment
Dr, Mehmet Oz, who seems to be making a habit of this. From the Respectful Insolence piece:
In actuality, what's going on here, I think, is more likely to be pure hubris. Dr. Oz has become so enamored with himself and his image as the iconoclast bucking the medical system, seeing beyond "Western medicine," and being just so much more damned smart than any other doctor that it never occurred to him that he could be fooled by a psychic scammer just as easily as anyone else. Add to that his need to fill the insatiable maw of his TV show with new topics and new guests, coupled with the demands of his audience, who are clearly very much into this sort of thing, and it becomes easy for him to justify having a guest like John Edward as both evidence of his intelligence and open-mindedness and giving the people what they want.
If anything, Oz deserves an extra dose of COTM derision for pulling the odious John Edward out of whatever hole he's been hiding in after the failure of Crossing Over and giving him the exact sort of platform he doesn't deserve: "medical" legitimacy. You just can't keep a career publicity-hungry kook down, I suppose.
In actuality, what's going on here, I think, is more likely to be pure hubris. Dr. Oz has become so enamored with himself and his image as the iconoclast bucking the medical system, seeing beyond "Western medicine," and being just so much more damned smart than any other doctor that it never occurred to him that he could be fooled by a psychic scammer just as easily as anyone else. Add to that his need to fill the insatiable maw of his TV show with new topics and new guests, coupled with the demands of his audience, who are clearly very much into this sort of thing, and it becomes easy for him to justify having a guest like John Edward as both evidence of his intelligence and open-mindedness and giving the people what they want.
If anything, Oz deserves an extra dose of COTM derision for pulling the odious John Edward out of whatever hole he's been hiding in after the failure of Crossing Over and giving him the exact sort of platform he doesn't deserve: "medical" legitimacy. You just can't keep a career publicity-hungry kook down, I suppose.
Tennessee: Dunn's Folly continues its march
The antievolution Tennessee House Bill 368 made it out of subcommittee recently, and (with one important exception among the yea votes) the vote was split predictably down party lines.
If you're reading this in Tennessee and want to show up at the full House Education Committee in order to become appropriate irate, contact info is included on the NCSE link I cited.
If you're reading this in Tennessee and want to show up at the full House Education Committee in order to become appropriate irate, contact info is included on the NCSE link I cited.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Japan: will we bother to learn a lesson from it?
Josh Rosenau points out that the most serious lesson that can be learned from the Japanese tragedy of the last few days is not what's gone wrong, but what's gone right:
The difference is that Japan has made a commitment to earthquake-safe buildings, and had the money to carry out that commitment. Haiti lacked the money to implement strict construction standards and a government capable of compelling compliance. Builders and government regulators in the United States have the power and the resources to ensure Japanese standards of construction apply here, but my sense from living in California for 3 years is that we may lack the commitment needed to do this.
He also points out that a major roadblock is in the way, and - as usual - it has everything to do with the current national political climate du jour:
"But Josh," I hear you thinking, "we haven't got a spare $140 billion for the bridges, let alone the money for building retrofits." Indeed, the focus in Congress right now is on cutting government spending, a goal shared by state legislatures. And that's a problem, because government spending, especially job-creating spending like I'm talking about here, is exactly what we need to get out of this economic crisis. And borrowing to build and repair infrastructure is probably the smartest sort of borrowing we could do. It's what most people and businesses do when they buy a home or an office or a factory. It makes sense, because the benefit of the purchase will persist for years to come, and it makes sense to spread the cost of the purchase across the time while it serves its purpose. If I'm to pass a debt on to my grandchildren, I'd like to also let them see what that money bought. I'd be proud to tell my grandkids that they're helping pay for the bridge we're driving across decades from now, and I'd hope they'll be proud of such things, too.
Politicians being politicians, though...
I don't think I really have to finish the above sentence, unfortunately. The conclusion is already buried in the premises.
The difference is that Japan has made a commitment to earthquake-safe buildings, and had the money to carry out that commitment. Haiti lacked the money to implement strict construction standards and a government capable of compelling compliance. Builders and government regulators in the United States have the power and the resources to ensure Japanese standards of construction apply here, but my sense from living in California for 3 years is that we may lack the commitment needed to do this.
He also points out that a major roadblock is in the way, and - as usual - it has everything to do with the current national political climate du jour:
"But Josh," I hear you thinking, "we haven't got a spare $140 billion for the bridges, let alone the money for building retrofits." Indeed, the focus in Congress right now is on cutting government spending, a goal shared by state legislatures. And that's a problem, because government spending, especially job-creating spending like I'm talking about here, is exactly what we need to get out of this economic crisis. And borrowing to build and repair infrastructure is probably the smartest sort of borrowing we could do. It's what most people and businesses do when they buy a home or an office or a factory. It makes sense, because the benefit of the purchase will persist for years to come, and it makes sense to spread the cost of the purchase across the time while it serves its purpose. If I'm to pass a debt on to my grandchildren, I'd like to also let them see what that money bought. I'd be proud to tell my grandkids that they're helping pay for the bridge we're driving across decades from now, and I'd hope they'll be proud of such things, too.
Politicians being politicians, though...
I don't think I really have to finish the above sentence, unfortunately. The conclusion is already buried in the premises.
DDoS attack on ScienceBlogs originating from "Harun Yahya" sympathizers?
Although I don't have a shred of proof that the most fanatical simultaneous purveyors of creationist and antisemitic agit-prop in the Muslim world actually have anything to do with it. it seems to me that some of the information from the people who run the SB site (repeated by Orac) seems a bit...well...suspect:
Let me apologize again for the problems that many of you and your readers are experiencing. The attack is ongoing, originating from Turkey and Qatar, and until it stops, Rackspace must block IP ranges in order for the site to be accessible to anyone.
This smells more than a bit fishy, seeing as a description of the Yahya organization's harassment tactics comes exceedingly close to instantly evoking the word "cult-like":
But with so many ideas taken up and discarded, and their leader facing jail, might the group be nearing exhaustion? True, the Science Research Foundation and the followers have initiated thousands of court cases. Three hundred alone were brought against the model and one-time sympathiser Ebru Simsek, who spoke out against Oktar after she refused his advances, and a barrage of faked naked photos of her were made public. Oktar’s followers have shot thousands of compromising videos of everyone who has come into intimate contact with the group. They have intimidated prosecutors, judges and lawyers with endless streams of complaints and faxed denunciations and printed libellous advertisements in the Islamist media, defaming their critics. They have been especially effective on the internet, setting up numerous websites to denounce their enemies, while using the Turkish courts to silence them – the Dawkins site is just one of dozens they have had banned. “They may be only a few hundred people,” one lawyer told me, “but the damage they have inflicted is considerable. Damage to the families, to the judicial system, and to Turkish politics.”
If this isn't the fault of "Yahya" or his sympathizers, someone's engaging in an admirable frame-up.
Let me apologize again for the problems that many of you and your readers are experiencing. The attack is ongoing, originating from Turkey and Qatar, and until it stops, Rackspace must block IP ranges in order for the site to be accessible to anyone.
This smells more than a bit fishy, seeing as a description of the Yahya organization's harassment tactics comes exceedingly close to instantly evoking the word "cult-like":
But with so many ideas taken up and discarded, and their leader facing jail, might the group be nearing exhaustion? True, the Science Research Foundation and the followers have initiated thousands of court cases. Three hundred alone were brought against the model and one-time sympathiser Ebru Simsek, who spoke out against Oktar after she refused his advances, and a barrage of faked naked photos of her were made public. Oktar’s followers have shot thousands of compromising videos of everyone who has come into intimate contact with the group. They have intimidated prosecutors, judges and lawyers with endless streams of complaints and faxed denunciations and printed libellous advertisements in the Islamist media, defaming their critics. They have been especially effective on the internet, setting up numerous websites to denounce their enemies, while using the Turkish courts to silence them – the Dawkins site is just one of dozens they have had banned. “They may be only a few hundred people,” one lawyer told me, “but the damage they have inflicted is considerable. Damage to the families, to the judicial system, and to Turkish politics.”
If this isn't the fault of "Yahya" or his sympathizers, someone's engaging in an admirable frame-up.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Cretin of the moment
Florida state Senator Stephen R. Wise (R-5th), for introducing yet another identikit anti-evolution bill (Senate Bill 1854) in yet another state legislature. Also, expect him to be a repeat performer as a legislative circus seal since he also introduced SB 2396 back in February 2009.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Cretin of the moment
Tennessee state Senator Bo Watson, for joining House member Bill Dunn in sponsoring another attempt to reproduce Scopes in the 21st century. And lo and behold, look at the similarities - no, exactly identical wording at times - in language between this bill and another one from Oklahoma (emphasis mine):
Tennessee Senate Bill 893:
The bill would, if enacted, would require state and local educational authorities to "assist teachers to find effective ways to present the science curriculum as it addresses scientific controversies" and permit teachers to "help students understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of existing scientific theories covered in the course being taught." The only examples provided of "controversial" theories are "biological evolution, the chemical origins of life, global warming, and human cloning."
Oklahoma Senate Bill 320 (similar to House Bill 1554):
SB 320 would, if enacted, require state and local educational authorities to "assist teachers to find more effective ways to present the science curriculum where it addresses scientific controversies" and permit teachers to "help students understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of existing scientific theories pertinent to the course being taught." The only topics specifically mentioned as controversial are "biological evolution, the chemical origins of life, global warming, and human cloning."
They're not even bothering to rewrite the script to this tiresome movie, for crying out loud.
Tennessee Senate Bill 893:
The bill would, if enacted, would require state and local educational authorities to "assist teachers to find effective ways to present the science curriculum as it addresses scientific controversies" and permit teachers to "help students understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of existing scientific theories covered in the course being taught." The only examples provided of "controversial" theories are "biological evolution, the chemical origins of life, global warming, and human cloning."
Oklahoma Senate Bill 320 (similar to House Bill 1554):
SB 320 would, if enacted, require state and local educational authorities to "assist teachers to find more effective ways to present the science curriculum where it addresses scientific controversies" and permit teachers to "help students understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of existing scientific theories pertinent to the course being taught." The only topics specifically mentioned as controversial are "biological evolution, the chemical origins of life, global warming, and human cloning."
They're not even bothering to rewrite the script to this tiresome movie, for crying out loud.
Where woo and military "intelligence" intersect
James Randi details how an Iraqi general managed to both duck the JREF Challenge and land on the "Go to Jail" square in his own personal game of Monopoly. Tres amusing.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Stark's Darwin Day idea
Granted, this has next to no chance passing in a House dominated by soi-disant "Christians" like Bachmann or Shimkus, but it's a nice way of tweaking anti-science zealots in Congress and recognizing the importance of a central figure in the history of biology at the same time:
Stark told the San Jose Mercury (February 11, 2011) that he was "just trying to get people to understand that we're trying to get our kids to be scientists, were pushing for green jobs and green development, and you can't stick your head in the sand and not recognize that we're in a modern age. To get there, it seems to me, we have to understand that science is all part of what we're doing."
Stark told the San Jose Mercury (February 11, 2011) that he was "just trying to get people to understand that we're trying to get our kids to be scientists, were pushing for green jobs and green development, and you can't stick your head in the sand and not recognize that we're in a modern age. To get there, it seems to me, we have to understand that science is all part of what we're doing."
Cretin of the moment
Tennessee state representative Bill Dunn (R-16th), who seems to be under the impression that it's still 1925 down there. Given that this is the sixth anti-evolution bill introduced in state legislatures since the beginning of the year, there are a lot of people who are just as confused about the date as he is.
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