Unscientific America

So, if you've been following the science blogs, the atheist blogs, or the skepticism blogs, you've no doubt heard of the giant kerfuffle over Chris Mooney and Sheril Kirshenbaum's new book Unscientific America.

Because I'm lazy, I'm not going to link to the relevant posts, but it shouldn't be hard to track down the relevant back-and-forth salvos o'vitriol at Mooney/Kirshenbaum's blog and PZ Myer's blog.

Now, I'd like to preface this with noting that I have not read UA to date. I have read and enjoyed Mooney's previous books, The Republican War on Science and Storm World. But the consensus I've seen of UA seems to be that there's some good discussion of scientific illiteracy in this country, but that there are major flaws in their approach to how to solve the issue. Namely, Mooney and Kirshenbaum blame scientists for not being PR people in addition to being, you know, scientists; and blame the "New Atheist" movement for daring to not bow down to religious claims when they are contradicted by science. If you ask me, kowtowing to unscientific claims is a good way to INCREASE public misunderstanding of science.

There's a new review of UA by Amanda Marcotte at Pandagon. Though it seems to echo the earlier criticisms of the book, Amanda's review is the best encapsulation of the issues at hand I've read... For instance,

I am so sick of the argument that assumes religious people can state their beliefs as forcefully as they like and threaten non-believers with hell, but atheists have to approach the topic on our tip toes. Mooney and Kirshenbaum repeatedly state that there’s no conflict between religion and science as if it’s a fact, when at best that’s a point of strong disagreement.

Exactly. This is why I heart Amanda Marcotte. Go check out the full piece.

Overheard in SLC: Polygamist Rally Roundup

So, I have another blog -- a neglected one -- called Overheard in SLC. If you're familiar with Overheard in New York, it's the same thing... only, you know, in SLC... and crappier.

Anyway, I just put up a post with some of my favorite quotes from polygamous FLDS members -- and the people who'd come in contact with them -- who were here in town over the last few days for a huge rally thing.

Also, if you live in SLC and would like to help contribute to Overheard in SLC, let me know! Or, if you overheard something deserving of being included, drop me a line!

Gary: Landlord of the Flies

Check out this HILARIOUSLY awesome blog from Gabe, who has been documenting his increasingly bizarre experience with a room rental (and now, it's aftermath) since first moving in at the beginning of June. Here's a taste of the awesomeness that is Stranger than Eviction, and be glad that Gary is not your landlord:

Upon returning from work on Wednesday, I find 2 cop cars parked in the driveway. The police inform me that when James returned from the hospital, he discovered his TV, laptop, and iPhone were all missing. When asked about this, Gary claimed he had no idea where they were. The police then found the TV in Gary’s garage. He admitted to having stole the TV, but said he had no idea where the laptop or phone was. They found the laptop under his bed. “Alright, I also stole the laptop, but I have no idea where the iPhone is.” The iPhone was then found in his desk drawer.

This is the first, and a prime example, of Gary’s inability to plan for future events. One could assume that after finding the TV, they would likely continue to search. Unless you have thought of a really unique hiding place, just fess up, because they’re probably going to check your desk and under your bed...

And it gets so much better/worse.

Since, as a blog, the newer posts are at the top, I'd recommend starting at the first post (currently, at the bottom of Page 3) and working your way to the newest post. You'll be reading it and laughing in sympathetic horror working hard at your job all afternoon.

Shona Holmes and the reality of Canadian heatlhcare

If you're following the heathcare debate at all, you've probably heard of Shona Holmes. Holmes has been showing up just about everywhere with her story of how the Canadian government, because their socialist, bureaucratic healthcare system, was willing to allow her to die of a fatal brain tumor. Luckily, she came to the USA where we have a super awesome healthcare system not forged by Stalin, and doctors here were able to save her life.

That's the story, more or less, how she tells it... but you might (not) be surprised to hear that the problems with her story are numerous and range from hyperbole to outright falsehoods.

See the rest of this tale at Some Candaian Skeptic's blog. [and a hat tip to Kaylia Metcalfe]

HAHAHA! Oh, Fox News, you make it too easy!

Wow.

Check out the awesomeness of Fox's map of the Middle East.
And here all this time I though Egypt was in Africa... And where, exactly, does this put Iraq? You'd think since we've been fighting a war there for more than half a decade, our friends at Fox might have this down by now...
[from Media Matters, via Sadly, No!]

Surprise Debate @ the Farmer's Market

Last weekend, some friends and I went to the Salt Lake City Farmer's Market. After we'd browsed around for a bit, we grabbed some food and sat down in the shade to eat and relax.

The four of us were chatting about labels. You may have seen my post recently on the same topic. We were discussing the meaning and qualities people might assign to you if you labeled yourself, for instance, a secular humanist versus an atheist.

Out of nowhere, a guy laying on the grass about ten feet away decided to join our conversation, yelling over at our small group:

Atheism is a religion like any other! Atheists are destroying this country and militantly trying to push their views on everyone else and [details lost in a haze of illogic]."

Um. Okay. Who invited this guy to the conversation? We were having a rather abstract philosophical discussion on nature of words and categories, and I was using my religious identification as an example (which happens to be more or less shared by the three people I was with). This guy feels he has an obligation to set us straight on what, exactly, we believe.

This guy shot into a long monologue about why atheists are bad and evil and we're all conspiring to destroy the world or something. At this point, two women on a nearby park bench stand up and leave. I can't say I blame them. Then I spoke up.

Did I make a mistake in engaging the guy? Possibly, but the discussion (which, needless to say, was fruitless) was such a shining example of the sorts of slurs and nonsense I hear hurled about against the nonreligious all the time right along utter falsehoods presented as facts.

Allow me to share some tidbits and quotes, as best as I can remember them. (I'll note that my text intercut here is probably a more fleshed-out discussion of the issues than I originally said, but his text should be fairly accurate.)

Jerk: Atheists are trying to push their views on everyone! They're trying to prevent me from worshiping the way I want. Atheists are trying to infringe on my free speech!

Me: No they're not. Most atheists are for a secular government, but would be vehemently opposed to limiting anyone's religious freedoms. Are there atheists who want to ban all religion and prevent people from practicing as they choose? Probably. I've never met one, but there are extremists in every group.

Jerk: But they're infringing on how I choose to worship! A church in New York had to take down their cross. Some atheist sued them because the shadow of the cross hit public property.

Me: If that happened, which I doubt, then that is wrong. [As expected, that story appears to be bullshit.] Like I said there are extremists in every group. Everyone should be enabled to worship -- or not -- as they see fit. That's exactly why we need to keep our government secular: to protect your religious freedom!

Jerk: Well, this country was founded as a Christian nation.

Me: That couldn't be more false! Many of the founders weren't even Christian: Franklin, Jefferson, Madison--

Jerk: Madison was a strong Christian who believed in Christian principles in our government!!!

Of course, in the real world, Madison more vociferously opposed any religious intrusion into the government than maybe even Jefferson, and said so just about any time he opened his mouth. Lots of other awesome Madison quotes at that link.

Jerk: If they didn't want it to be a Christian nation, why did the founders make "In God We Trust" our national motto.

Me: Uhhh... They didn't! That became our national motto in the 1950s during the Red Scare. The founders were pretty strident secularists, even most of the religious ones.

Jerk: Show me where in the Constitution it says "separation of church and state."

Me: Yeah, those specific words don't appear, in the 1st amendment. But it's clear that was the intent, particualrly since that specific phrase, "separation of church and state," originate from Jefferson's explanation 1st ammendment. How about the first ever legal US government document that makes any mention of Christianity whatsoever, the Treaty of Tripoli, which was written by President Thomas Jefferson and ratified unanimously by the senate, which states that the "Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion." That seems pretty unequivocal to me.

Jerk: Well, our laws are based on Christian laws.

Me: No they're not.

Jerk: Name one that isn't.

Me: Name one that is.

Jerk: Thou shalt not kill.

Me: Laws against murder long predate the Hebrew Bible and exist in every society. What about the Sumerians? The Code of Hammurabi?

Jerk: I don't know where you've been learning your history. Maybe you should go back to school.

Me: Um, my degree is in anthropology and I primarily studied Middle Eastern archaeology.

Jerk: Oh yeah! Well, I have a Ph.D!

Me: Um. Okay...

Jerk: How old are you?

Me: That's not important.

Jerk: No, really, how old are you?

Me: That's not important.

My friend: Actually, we were having a private conversation that didn't involve you. Why do you think you have the right to intrude into it.

Jerk: Because I live the United States and I have the right say whatever I want, a right atheists want to take away!

And it went on like this for a while. Eventually, the four of us stood up to walk away from this nonsense, and as we sauntered off, I murmered "Jesus Christ" to myself.

Jerk: PLEASE DON'T SAY THAT!

Me: Why? I thought we lived in the United States, where I'm free to say whatever I like! That's the difference I'm talking about: I think that everyone should be able to say what they like, and you think some people, like me, should be excluded.

Jerk: ... Well, at least I said please.

Simon's Cat

Via FilthyGrandeur, here's Simon's Cat. No words need be added. Just enjoy:



There's more to be had at the Simon's Cat YouTube channel.