Count Four

War on Science

From an excellent article by Christopher Hitchens over on Slate:

This is what the Republican Party has done to us this year: It has placed within reach of the Oval Office a woman who is a religious fanatic and a proud, boastful ignoramus. Those who despise science and learning are not anti-elitist. They are morally and intellectually slothful people who are secretly envious of the educated and the cultured. And those who prate of spiritual warfare and demons are not just “people of faith” but theocratic bullies. On Nov. 4, anyone who cares for the Constitution has a clear duty to repudiate this wickedness and stupidity.

Hear, hear.

QOTD 10/20/08

Much of economic theory is based on the notion that humans make rational choices (which may mean that economists don’t get out much).

From Slate, in an article on why people are so easy to take offense.

Innovations in Energy

This would be laughable, if it weren’t so true.

(Flash required)

Unreason Versus Reason

Sam Harris takes the journal Nature to task for their review of a religious book, and their general, overly accomodating attitude toward religion.

Link via Doubting Thom.