Category Archives: Politics
Christian capitalism and socialism
Greg Paul, whose work on dinosaurs I find most interesting, has a blog entry on the Washington Post site on another kind of dinosaur – Christian socialists. He notes that the current American Christian obsession with capitalism is quite contrary to the … Continue reading
Filed under Philosophy, Politics, Social evolution
American Chemical Society: Spammers
The ACS have informed me (see comments) that they will stop sending me these emails. This obviates the need for this post. Ever since I set up this blog I have been hit by unwanted press releases from the American … Continue reading
Filed under Administrative, Politics
Religions, cults and wacos
Yes, I’m aware that it’s spelled “wacko” but when people start talking about cults, they often have in mind the insanity that led to the Waco compound disaster. The “Church” of Scientology has used a SLAPP suit to try to … Continue reading
Filed under Politics, Pop culture, Rant, Religion, Sermon, Social evolution
On the moral purity of skeptics and fallacies
The recent furore, called #elevatorgate on Twitter, about what Richard Dawkins said in response to complaints of sexism amongst atheists, has hit Gawker, who finish with the line: “That’s skeptics. Rational about everything except themselves, self-preservation, and manners.” Now without … Continue reading
Filed under Philosophy, Politics, Rant, Religion
My article in Times Higher Education Magazine
Is here (scroll down), based on a prior post on this blog. In it I make the somewhat radical suggestion that medial and legal degrees should be removed from universities also. One of the commentators there took issue: I worry … Continue reading
Filed under Academe, Education, General Science, Politics
Is reality liberal biased? Are liberals reality biased?
Josh Rosenau has a piece up on Chris Mooney’s latest article on the Republican war on science in the US. Conservative bodies around the western world seem to resist science when it conflicts with policy (usually driven by PR from … Continue reading
Filed under Academe, Australian stuff, Philosophy, Politics, Social evolution
Competition for public funds
Ever wondered why education, research, health care and public infrastructure is being wound back across the western world? This chart, from here, on the American debt, suggests why: In the competition between various calls on the public purse, it looks … Continue reading
Filed under Politics
Australian scientists resign from Murray-Darling Water commission due to a lack of heed
I don’t usually post these announcements, but GetUp are reliable and on target. Today it was revealed that key scientists have walked away from the government’s Murray Darling Basin Authority process in protest. Right now the Murray Darling Basin Authority … Continue reading
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Filed under Australian stuff, Ecology and Biodiversity, Politics
A new comment policy?
From Barry Ritholz’s blog Please use the comments to demonstrate your own ignorance, unfamiliarity with empirical data, ability to repeat discredited memes, and lack of respect for scientific knowledge. Also, be sure to create straw men and argue against things … Continue reading
Filed under Administrative, Humor, Politics
Time to re-evaluate higher education
When my grandfather was a boy of 14, he started a career as a fireman that led to him being the chief of the Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigade in the 1930s. While he did this he gained an engineer’s certificate, … Continue reading
