Zimmer’s evolving blog post on X-woman 28 Mar 2010 Carl Zimmer has a continually updated blog post on the mtDNA of “X-Woman”, which is being informed by his readers and experts. It’s a useful antidote to hasty and inaccurate reportage in the MSM, done well by a very good journalist. Biology Education Evolution Media Philosophy Science Evolution
Accommodationism How to argue with silly thing believers 30 Jan 201420 Feb 2014 [Apologies this took a while; I’ve been rather sick] So, given all this [Why believers believe silly things, why they believe the particular silly things they do, and the developmental hypothesis of belief acquisition], how can you change a believer’s mind? It is tempting to say that you cannot, or… Read More
Epistemology The view from nowhere and objectivity in the media [revised] 14 Nov 2010 Okay, after a solid bout of teaching, I can return to this piece. Rosen has attacked my interpretation, and rightly so. I ascribed to him views he did not hold. But, as I say elsewhere, this blog is for ill-formed thoughts that happen to pass through my forebrain. The particular… Read More
Journalism How scientific journalism is, and should be done 7 Oct 2010 I wrote in my last links page, “Martin Robbins at the Guardian blog site spoofed science journalism with a “meta” entry. Here, he explains why and what to draw from it.” A scientist friend asked me my opinion. Never one to hold back, and as readers know, I have a… Read More
I can see the cover of Newsweek now — ALL MAN DESCENDED FROM NEANDERTHAL “EVE”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!