Sunday, February 27, 2011

Burnee links for Sunday

It's open season on women and doctors out there! : Pharyngula
I first heard about this on some podcast. It seems the proposed legislation could make it legal to kill an abortion doctor.

The Meming of Life » When science goes south Parenting Beyond Belief on secular parenting and other natural wonders
On evolution, schools, and the damage done by "conflict avoidance". And the disturbing follow-up:
http://parentingbeyondbelief.com/blog/?p=5420
And the follow-up to the follow-up:
The Meming of Life » The incredible shrinking woman

Review: Sam Harris's Guide to Nearly Everything | The National Interest
Scott Atran reviews The Moral Landscape. He doesn't like it.

YouTube - The Real Cost Of Religious Faith - Atheist Experience 696
I heard this on the audio podcast version of Axp. My admiration for these guys is undiminished.


Response to Critics :: Sam Harris
Clarifications as well as responses (though this was written before the Atran review).

A minor point - Butterflies and Wheels
Ophelia Benson makes a good (but minor) point. But there may be a case for using softer or less incendiary language when your audience is known to react adversely to strong tone. This is mitigation for the sake of achieving your desired results, despite your audience's interpretive shortcomings — I wouldn't call it framing.

British Centre for Science Education: Creationism and Science Education in the UK - time to stop laughing and to start worrying
This is no time to be complacent. Vigilance and exposure are what's required to stem the flow of creationist nonsense into schools.

Can you OD on woo? : Pharyngula
PZ Myers brings us five minutes of tosh. Not fake tosh, mind you — this is the genuine stuff: