RationalWiki:What is going on in the blogosphere?/October 2009

October 2009
A Northwestern University study on the human genetic tendency towards depression finds that Western culture rugged individualism feeds this tendency while Eastern culture collectivism buffers it. "The honourable Member for Braintree cited evidence from The Sun, so I want to refer to a recent edition of the British Medical Journal" - and other cases of politics doing science wrong. The surprise is not that people see Faux News as more ideological than other networks but that 14% of those polled think it is mostly liberal. New movie, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxR0nkk10bU Hexpelled! No Wizardry Allowed], investigates the persistent "pro-Newtonian bias" in academia. House Republicans have introduced a resolution to commemorate those whiners True PatriotsTM who went for a walk fought for their country on that pleasant September afternoon fateful cold morning, because they are the real heroes. Is being a Jew a matter of bloodline or religious practice? The UK's new Supreme Court is debating the subject this week, in a case that could have a wider impact on faith schools. Science Careers Blog: Fewer scientists, not more is the way to improve science and technology. Re-establishing science and engineering as an elite occupation will prevent potential innovators turning into hedge-fund managers and business consultants.

RationalWiki hits the big time. The London Daily Telegraph posts an article about important internet laws including Poe's Law, Pommer's Law, DeMyer's Laws, Law of exclamation and Cohen's Law. (23 Oct 2009) Conservative deceit: Yes, it does exist! Conservative Republicans are very different from independent Conservatives. PZ Myers explains why God is dead like Nietzsche claimed. How the quicksand of poverty just sucks you down. In her latest straw-man topple book, Barbara Ehrenreich (Nickel and Dimed), being sore that not everyone shares her gloom-and-doom view of capitalism America, suggests that "the relentless promotion of positive thinking has undermined America." David Mitchell delivers some harsh truths about the nature of hypocrisy in politics. "Which would you choose, the washing machine or the vote?" Charlie Brooker responds both thoroughly and with characteristic venom to Jan Moir's now almost infamous gay-bashing "article", suggesting that in true Daily Mail fashion, we should all formally lodge disapproval. Update: Moir attempts to defend herself almost by claiming that she didn't read her own article. Evangelist Frank Schaeffer, discussing End Times, Dubya, and assassinating Obama, skewers the ultra-right with memorable quotes. <vote poll=blog406 closed="yes">The British Chiropractic Association, who are suing Simon Singh for daring to complain that they promoted treatments that had insufficient evidence, manage to defame him in a press release. A briefer summary here <vote poll=blog405 closed="yes">The Republican Party launches a hip new website - and fails. <vote poll=blog404 closed="yes">Glenn Beck, "a snake-oil salesman's dim-witted assistant," debuts on British TV. <vote poll=blog403 closed="yes">Nice. 30 GOP senators vote in favor of allowing companies to mandate binding arbitration instead of lawsuits if one of their employees makes allegations of gang rape. Halliburton should be allowed to do that, it seems. <vote poll=blog402 closed="yes">Despite Conservapedia saying that all the Huffington Post does is bash Republicans and whitewash Democratic dirty laundry, it in fact is now featuring an argument from Arianna Huffington as to why Charles Rangel must be thrown out. <vote poll=blog401 closed="yes">Finally, a "What is going on...." post that warrants all-caps, bold and italics. CONSERVAPEDIA IS EDITING THE BIBLE TO MAKE IT MORE CONSERVATIVE!!! UPDATE:  The editors -- now called the "Conservative Bible Project" -- have posted editing guidelines.  The Huffington Post comments on the guidelines. <vote poll=blog400 closed="yes">"The American Way of Dentistry" (as opposed to British dentistry). P.S., six of the seven icons at the top of the page lead to related articles. <vote poll=blog399 closed="yes">As an allegory, is Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs a better film depiction of the financial meltdown than Michael Moore's more straightforward Capitalism: A Love Story? <vote poll=blog398 closed="yes">Conservatives at a meeting for the ironically named group "Americans for Prosperity" cheered when they were informed that Chicago lost the 2016 Olympics. Why do they hate America? <vote poll=blog397 closed="yes">Towards a responsible definition of socialism. <vote poll=blog396 closed="yes">Oh, it is a president's fault we lost the Olymipic bid, just not the current one's. <vote poll=blog395 closed="yes">Triumphs in statutory naming. <vote poll=blog394 closed="yes">Republican Wars- Episode V: The Moderates Strike Back