Brad Allenby catalogs several of the outrageous epitaphs that have been hurled at those who question the current hysteria over global warming. He sees a very unscientific mindset at work here.
The sheer volume of articles, the vicious language and the retranslation of so many social and cultural trends — divorce, obesity, gender conflict and much else — into terms of carbon footprint suggests that something more fundamental is going on.
Most obviously, the extreme language — comparing academics who disagree about interpretation of data to Hitler or to Holocaust deniers — is indicative of a profound if subtle reframing of climate change. One does not debate Hitler: the use of such language indicates a shift from helping the public and policymakers understand a complex issue, to demonizing disagreement, especially regarding policies favored by the scientific community.
The data driven and exploratory processes of science are choked off by inculcation of belief systems that rely on archetypal and emotive strength. . . .
Climate change science and policy is rapidly becoming carbon fundamentalism, an over-simplistic but comprehensive structure of moral valuation that can be applied to virtually any individual or institution.
Someday the current hysteria over global warming will be taught in universities as a good example of how not to do science.
Categories: Global Warming
It’s not getting any headlines, but several years of hard fighting in Iraq is going to shape the leadership of our military for years to come.
The large number of soldiers and marines who have seen combat, or at least been close, comprise a group of military leaders that will be changing the U.S. Army and Marine Force for the next two decades. The large number of combat experienced NCOs and officers creates a different leadership climate, and a different attitude towards combat, and getting ready for it.
The media has run stories in the last year or so about the alarming number of officers and NCOs who are leaving the military, the implication being that this stupid war is driving out our best and brightest. But there could be another explanation:
What the army did not publicize was the large number of officers and NCOs that were encouraged to leave, or get out of their combat job, to make way for people who wanted to fight and were willing to learn how.
Categories: Iraq · Military
January 30, 2008 · 1 Comment
From ABC News “Political Radar” Blog:
Senator Hillary Clinton, in an interview with ABC News’ Cynthia McFadden for ABC News’ Nightline, was asked about President Clinton’s controversial comments about race and Senator Obama in the past weeks. Clinton apologized for her husband.
“I think whatever he said which was certainly never intended to cause any kind of offense to anyone,” Clinton said, “if it did give offenses then I take responsibility and I’m sorry about that.”
“Can you control him?” asked McFadden.
“Oh of course,” Clinton replied.
Ha, ha, ha, ha!!! Get it? After Monica, Gennifer, Kathleen, Juanita, Paula, etc., etc., why, of course she can control him – wink, wink!
Why these people are still in the running as serious contenders for national office, I’ll never understand.
Categories: Hillary · Humor · Politics
