Author: Josh Witten

http://www.thefinchandpea.com

REPOST: Imagine if Sex Were Only for IQs Over 120

At the request of my co-blogger Mike, I’m reposting this article which originally appeared at Science 2.0 on 30 December 2008 where some authors of the paper in question respond in the comments during the run-up to the publication of their book The 10,000 Year Explosion.

Unfortunately for all of us still breathing braniacs, the title only applies to those of us who are also medieval Ashkenazi Jews, according to the authors of the 2006 paper “Natural History of Ashkenazi Intelligence”.

Discussing “race” and intelligence is always a touchy subject and definitely not politically correct; but science should not be fettered by the chains of political correctness like a mangy circus lion.  It must run free across the intellectual savanna, striking down the juvenile wildebeest of ignorance. Following articles on the biology and significance of race by Michael White, Massimo Pigliucci, and moi, my attention was directed to “Natural History of Ashkenazi Intelligence”.  Thanks to press attention from biological research bell-weathers like The Economist and the New York Times, as well as discussion on National Public Radio, this paper has gained Goodyear AquatredTM-esque traction on the internet. Continue reading “REPOST: Imagine if Sex Were Only for IQs Over 120”

Safe and Effective Skeptical Activism – The 10:23 Campaign

At 10:23AM on 30 January 2010, the 10:23 Campaign staged a mass overdose of homeopathic “medicine” to protest the sale of homeopathy products in Boots pharmacies, especially under the Boots brand name. The event generated a considerable amount of media attention and increased public awareness of the nature of homeopathy, although it has not yet succeeded in getting Boots to disavow homeopathy.

Spending on homeopathy by the government and private individuals is medically indefensible. Furthermore, wasting money on medically ineffective water and sugar pills at a time when local NHS trusts regularly run out of funds, and education and scientific research budgets may be slashed is ridiculous. Therefore, I am a strong supporter of the 10:23 Campaign’s goals and want nothing more[1] than to see them succeed.

But[3] I have concerns about the safety and efficacy of the 10:23 Campaign’s approach, which I have helpfully categorized as Economic, Philosophic, Scientific, Pedagogic, and Safety. Continue reading “Safe and Effective Skeptical Activism – The 10:23 Campaign”

On Leadership

President Obama has gone on the record with his belief that the US military’s “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy harms US national security*. “Threat to national security” is the class of items that usually legitimizes bombing other countries and infringing civil liberties. The “whatever it takes to avoid that” kind of situation. Continue reading “On Leadership”

Pick Your Battles

There is an American rugby* song that includes the call and response:

Cantor: Is everybody happy?
All: You bet your ass we are!

One would think that this describes the whole world’s response to the successful rescue of 33 Chilean miners that had been trapped underground for over two months.

Some atheists, however, are grumpy that a politician (the president) in an overwhelmingly Christian nation (Chile) thanked God for the safe rescue of all the miners instead of enumerating the many individuals whose heroic, hard work made the rescue possible. True, this statement is theologically dubious and somewhat inconsiderate. . .

. . .but, I’m going to let you in on a little something I learned at the rugby parties after matches my team lost: Being grumpy when everyone else is partying does not make people want to talk to you.

*By which I mean bawdy, drinking songs sung by inebriated American college rugby clubs at festivities to celebrate the completion of poorly played matches.

5 Minutes of Juggling-Day VII

Fruits and vegetables may be the answer to commandeering the kids’ toys.

Drops: 9 (all garlic)

Music: (Let Me Be) Your Teddy Bear – Elvis Presley, Walk the Line – Johnny Cash, & Running Scared – Roy Orbison