A post for my father October 17, 2006
Posted by Evil Bender in Science, wingnuts.5 comments
My father is a statistician who, to his credit, has never even made fun of me for my humanities degree and my amazingly non-profitable Masters. But perhaps more importantly, he also gave me the tools to understand at least the basics of statistical modelling. When someone releases a study, I immediately look for the margin of error and the standard deviation (when the press bothers to report such trifling things).
Unfortunately, it appears the wingnuts are not so lucky. If you peruse right-wing attacks on the recent Lancet study, you’ll find few–if any–attacks of any substance. What you will find are brilliant bits of reasoning like this
Lancet’s number of documented deaths in Iraq, upon which the respected medical journal based its Iraqi mortality study, is but a mere 0.0835% of Lancet‘s estimated post-invasion death total.
The “estimate” part of Lancet’s equation is 99.9%.
And this: ” Remember: Lancet came up with this via a survey that identified precisely 547 deaths (as reported by the New York Times).” (more…)
Reason and Religion October 16, 2006
Posted by Evil Bender in Religion, wingnuts.5 comments
I couldn’t let this post by Christian Conservative pass. It’s too funny to ignore, and it’s basic thesis is that Judiasm and Christianity, unlike other religions, are logical enterprises. I could take the time to catalogue all the fallacies and misrepresentations he presents, but there’s no need: they’re patently obvious, and you don’t need me to guide you through them. I do think this section is worth mentioning specifically, though:
This one’s for Tony Snow October 10, 2006
Posted by Evil Bender in News and politics, wingnuts.2 comments
I know you think racism isn’t a big problem any more. But maybe the NYC Cops ordered to “Stop and frisk every black man at a robbery-plagued Brooklyn subway station” would disagree. Maybe anyone with eyes would disagree.
Of course, I don’t think Snow really believes there is no racism. I think that he just assumes that BushCo’s base doesn’t give a shit about racial profiling. As long as they can keep thumping Bibles and convincing the working and middle classes to vote against their self-interest, they’ll be fine. And if that doesn’t work, there’s always Diebold.
Memo to wingnuts October 10, 2006
Posted by Evil Bender in News and politics, Right-wingers, Science.7 comments
Suggesting that facts should be taught in science class and contradicting falsehoods does not make one a bigot. It’s amazing to me that no matter how much power they get, the Religious Right seems to think they’re the ones being oppressed. Maybe that just makes it easier to sleep at night. After all, we’ll never see them admit that in the US, they’re the ones doing most of the oppressing.
The good news is that calling others bigots is time they can’t spend denying gay rights and banning books.
Shelley strikes again October 9, 2006
Posted by Evil Bender in Science, wingnuts.4 comments
Things have gone from bad to worse for the Creationists and the nice fellas over at the Discovery Institute. They’re losing in court, real scientists are finally responding in force to their stupidity, and people are increasingly seeing through their bullshit. But all is not lost. At least they still have Shelley the Republican:
Michael Behe: This famous scientist single-handedly disproved Darwin’s theory of Evolution, with solid indesputable mathematical facts. He is a founding fellow of the Discovery Institute. Why has he been constantly overlooked for a Nobel Prize?
The answer is simple: He is a victiom of a secualrist scientific minority who irrationally deny that science should consider non-material phenomena. As a result, Behe has been prevented from publishing a single scientific paper about his credible and important discoveries.
As John Stewart would say, now that’s good satire.
And the award for most Orwellian organization name October 7, 2006
Posted by Evil Bender in Religion, language and lit, wingnuts.4 comments
Goes to the “Citizens for Literary Standards in Schools,” who, in the tradition of the PATRIOT Act, the Healthy Forests Initiative, and the Discovery Institute, are busy trying to ban books like Beloved, Ceremony, One Hundred Years of Solitude, Slaughterhouse Five, and The Things They Carried.
Meanwhile, the Citizens have kindly presented us with a list labeled “books your children will not be reading in school.” It’s their tacitly approved list. So what kind of books to the Moralists love? Well, that list includes Christopher Columbus, Mariner; Gone with the Wind; Of Plymouth Plantation; Pilgrim’s Progress; and The Screwtape Letters.
Almost all of the “approved” books are by white authors, and most of them by men. Meanwhile, a much higher percentage of the books they object to are by women and people of color. As Pat Hayes notes, “More black authors are now being read in high school and college literature courses and that, apparently, troubles the mothers for morality who want these books off the shelves. An inordinately high percentage of the books they oppose are by black or Hispanic authors.”
I can’t help but note the overtly Christian leaning in the literature “recommended” by the Citizens-Against-Education, as well. This should come as no surprise. These people don’t really think that the use of the “F-word” in Ceremony will corrupt our children, they object to the idea that they don’t get to tell everyone what to think.
Something to think about October 6, 2006
Posted by Evil Bender in Blogging, Morality, Science.add a comment
Important thoughts to ponder on a Friday.
New Stupidity in ID October 5, 2006
Posted by Evil Bender in Science, wingnuts.2 comments
Okay, so the arguments are old, but I haven’t seen this particular site before, so I suspect it may be new. But the arguments the same drivel surrounded by lies and distortions. Take this article, for instance. It goes on and on, but there are only a few main points, which are so moronic that even a Humanities type like me can dispose of them. So let’s get right to it, eh?
One comment on the Foley scandal October 5, 2006
Posted by Evil Bender in News and politics, wingnuts.add a comment
There’s lots to say, and most of it has been said elsewhere. The Republican leadership knew about this for years and did nothing. Fox and the AP have both, at various times, called Foley a Democrat. Foley has issued statements. Hastert is in trouble.
But in case you missed it, Catholic League President William Donohue also weighed in on the Foley scandal:
“As for the alleged abuse, it’s time to ask some tough questions. First, there is a huge difference between being groped and being raped, so which was it Mr. Foley? Second, why didn’t you just smack the clergyman in the face? After all, most 15-year-old teenage boys wouldn’t allow themselves to be molested. So why did you?”
That’s right, Donohue’s response to Foley’s admission that he was molested was to blame Foley–not for the scandal, but for being molested in the first place.
Donohue’s right. It is time to ask some tough questions. For example:
- Why is the Catholic League letting this man speak for them?
- Why is Donohue so intent on blaming the victim?
- Why would Donohue prefer to protect priests than children?
Donohue should lose his job over this. His remarks, to borrow Bush’s vocabulary, give “aid and comfort” to child molesters. He should be ashamed, but since he clearly has no shame, the Catholic league should have the sense to cut their ties to this maniac.
Still fighting the good fight October 2, 2006
Posted by Evil Bender in News and politics, wingnuts.5 comments
It’s been a while since I posted about the evil agenda. Of course, I speak of the scourge of heterosexuality. Fortunately, Pam Spaulding over at Pandagon is on the case, reminding us of its dangers. Remember, bloggers, these deviants won’t be happy until everyone is living their corrupt “lifestyle.”
Did You Know?
- Many heterosexuals molest young boys.
- Some heterosexuals engage in behavior like eating shit and fetishizing amputations (thanks, Sera).
- Heterosexuals have huge amounts of political influence, and use it to force their lifestyles on our children.
- Heterosexual “recruitment” begins at an extremely young age, and includes the family unit, the school, media, and even many so-called “churches.”
- Heterosexuals “encourage” the use of “scare” quotes.
Let’s keep up the good fight, ladies and gentlemen!
