Some of Ned's faithful followers are aware that Ned has posted on the four defining aspects of the evolution of western "culture" since 1500, after Jacques Barzun. Rather that stop for a pop quiz, Ned will remind readers that they are EMANCIPATION, SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS, INDIVIDUALISM, AND PRIMITIVISM.
Lest readers think that science won out over primitivism during the Enlightenment, Ned wishes to gently remind them of the millions of unwashed no-nothings who are fanatic followers of Sarah Palin, and who are immensely proud of their ignorance.
The latest skirmish in this unending war was chronicled today in the NYT. It can be found at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/08/science/earth/08climate.html?_r=1&hp.
In it, the Times reports that a blue-ribbon committee, tasked with determining whether scientists falsified data concerning evidence for climate change at a British institution, exonerated the scientists on all counts. It did say they were mean to opponents in sarcastic emails, and did say that, since some of the graphs they used were complicated, they should have explained the hard parts for those whose IQ is at or near room temperature.
Now, Ned does not FOR A MOMENT believe that this will quiet the so-called "skeptics", since they are probably too busy feasting on their lunch of baked beans and dead dogs to take note of such a report. However, had any sensitive, responsible person
doubts about ANY of the evidence for human-induced climate change, which since 1988 has had overwhelming scientific acceptance, they can check out the report, then concern themselves with the more important things today, which, to Ned, are the World Cup, and LeBron's presser at 6 PM PDT tonight!!!
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