When word got around that Bill Nye (“The Science Guy”) was going to debate Ken Ham, the founder of the Creation Museum, I was skeptical because just understanding the science of evolution is not good enough, you also have to understand and be prepared for all the creationist criticisms of evolution, and most scientists have no reason to learn about those.Among other things, … [Read more...] about How Bill Nye Debates Creationism
Death Doesn’t Have to Knock: A Modest Proposal
In the past few years, the states have been facing increasing difficulties obtaining the drugs they need to carry out their death penalties. This is in part because manufacturers have been refusing to make the drugs available for use in executions. So instead of using the traditional three-drug sequence, states have been experimenting with new drugs. However, since they don't … [Read more...] about Death Doesn’t Have to Knock: A Modest Proposal
No Need for the Truth Police
At the very liberal Addicting Info website, Justin Acuff is upset that politicians might be lying, and he wants the government to do something about it: There’s a first amendment case going in front of the Supreme Court right now that’s very, very dangerous. Why? Because it might allow religious opinion to become legal fact, corrupting the intent of our constitutional rights, … [Read more...] about No Need for the Truth Police
SORNA Challenge Update
Last summer, I expressed my doubts about scientific aims of the SORNA Challenge. By asking for proposals for "innovative" ways to measure the costs and benefits of the Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act, I felt that the National Institute of Justice was implicitly admitting that the widely accepted methodologies of sociology, criminology, and economics wouldn't … [Read more...] about SORNA Challenge Update
Jim Ardis and the Abuse of Power
Via Radley Balko comes more narcissistic whining from Jim Ardis, the mayor of Peoria, Illinois, who is rapidly becoming famous for sending his pet cops to raid the house of someone who ran a parody Twitter account in his name. Nick Vlahos of the Peoria Journal Star reports that Ardis doesn't seem to think he did anything wrong: Ardis defended his actions, which led to search … [Read more...] about Jim Ardis and the Abuse of Power