tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post2518132423720895181..comments2024-03-27T14:50:47.345-04:00Comments on <center>Sandwalk</center>: Canada is destroying a generation of scientistsLarry Moranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05756598746605455848noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-62969736910883379242014-01-14T09:01:37.581-05:002014-01-14T09:01:37.581-05:00LouisG, please read this Congressional hearing abo...LouisG, please read this Congressional hearing about funding of the Fermilabs: http://history.fnal.gov/testimony.html<br /><br />In particular US Senator Pastore asks whether building a particle accelerator will help US defense, or give the US any competritive edge over the USSR. Dr Robert Wilson, the first director of Fermi labs replies:<br /><br />"Only from a long-range point of view, of a developing technology. Otherwise, it has to do with: Are we good painters, good sculptors, great poets? I mean all the things that we really venerate and honor in our country and are patriotic about.<br /><br />In that sense, this new knowledge has all to do with honor and country but it has nothing to do directly with defending our country except to help make it worth defending."apalazzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06077383161556651420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-34390163206872189052014-01-13T16:36:45.932-05:002014-01-13T16:36:45.932-05:00How does this help a regular Joe Blow?
Regular Jo...<i> How does this help a regular Joe Blow?</i><br /><br />Regular Joe Blow has two choices. Either he can understand and accept something that it true, like evolution, or he can believe superstitious nonsense, like creationism. <br /><br />Some of us think that it's better to accept reality and live in a rational world. Obviously, there are others who think that it doesn't really matter what Joe Blow believes. Larry Moranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05756598746605455848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-46055516188252944792014-01-13T16:29:18.787-05:002014-01-13T16:29:18.787-05:00Why should I finance evolution lab/ and shit? How ...<i>Why should I finance evolution lab/ and shit? How does this help a regular Joe Blow? How does that help the society?</i><br /><br />Yeah, how does science help anything, she typed into her computer so it could be read on the Internet.<br /><br />[facepalm]judmarchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03111006189037693272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-49379709457120825432014-01-13T09:27:56.215-05:002014-01-13T09:27:56.215-05:00There was a paper published in 1908 on the subject...There was a paper published in 1908 on the subject of stimulated nuclear emission of photons by an somewhat obscure employee of the Swiss Patent Office. Now one might say, how does this result help the regular Joe Blow? Well, from this research has come the multibillion dollar (US) industry know as lasers. I'm sure that regular Joe Blow, LouiseG, has a CD/DVD player in her computer, which utilize lasers as the the vehicle for interpreting the information on CD/DVDs.<br /><br />The moral is, basic research often leads to developments that produce revenues far in excess of that which went into the support of the research. colnago80https://www.blogger.com/profile/02640567775340860582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-29019852989808302152014-01-12T20:10:07.633-05:002014-01-12T20:10:07.633-05:00You made one of your typically incoherent response...You made one of your typically incoherent responses to John Harshman's very reasonable question, "LouiseG", and then deleted it, leaving his question unanswered.<br /><br />So, again: Why are you claiming that you are an MP or member of a provincial or territorial legislature? Is that because you are one? Or do you just like to pretend you're a politician while on the internet? Faizal Alihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00937075798809265805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-4030445302824229912014-01-12T20:03:21.327-05:002014-01-12T20:03:21.327-05:00That's actually not correct. While I don'...That's actually not correct. While I don't doubt that there are climate change deniers in the back benches of the Conservative Party, Harper's official policy is that climate change is a real and serious problem, and his party is doing everything possible to combat it, so long as revenue from oil drilling is not unduly jeopardized.<br /><br />You can probably guess how that policy works in practice. Faizal Alihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00937075798809265805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-31676511558667579402014-01-12T19:44:34.024-05:002014-01-12T19:44:34.024-05:00How does this help a regular Joe Blow?
Help can ...<i>How does this help a regular Joe Blow?</i> <br /><br />Help can not be given to the unwilling to receive it. <br /><br /><i>How does that help the society? </i><br /><br />Improved understanding of the world around us is always a good thing. <br /><br />While we're at it, how does the majority of the activity that counts towards GDP help society? I should not have to provide a list of specific things, but I can if you want me toGeorgi Marinovhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12226357993389417752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-85998662191116885202014-01-12T19:42:24.884-05:002014-01-12T19:42:24.884-05:00Matthew 6:3
But when thou doest alms, let not th...Matthew 6:3 <br /><br />But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:<br /><br />Matthew 23:23.<br /><br />Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.<br />steve oberskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14067724166134333068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-77978987551930063932014-01-12T18:40:20.564-05:002014-01-12T18:40:20.564-05:00Which question are you referring to Louise?Which question are you referring to Louise?Mikkel Rumraket Rasmussenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07670550711237457368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-82279602478229945322014-01-12T18:31:33.565-05:002014-01-12T18:31:33.565-05:00You didn't answer my questions before? Do you ...You didn't answer my questions before? Do you want me to take you seriously? Why should I do that? Give me one reason. !Newbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12112647387206975751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-7995121007850832142014-01-12T18:19:02.819-05:002014-01-12T18:19:02.819-05:00Is science only worth doing if it helps regular Jo...Is science only worth doing if it helps regular Joe Blow? <br /><br />How many Joe Blows are enough for it to be worth it? What fraction of society must benefit, and how do we quantify whether they benefit enough?<br /><br />What time-lag is acceptable between basic research and results that translate into something useful for Joe Blow? <br /><br />What constitutes "help" to regular Joe Blow? Could different Joes benefit in different ways? Could it be useless to you but useful to me? <br /><br />Quick, simple one, since you're all about how it benefits Joe Blow and society: Research in evolution helps us understand how to combat evolving viruses and resistant bacteria. <br /><br />Is this useful to regular Joe Blow?Mikkel Rumraket Rasmussenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07670550711237457368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-9493945639598557072014-01-12T17:52:55.872-05:002014-01-12T17:52:55.872-05:00OK, Let's pretend I'm in charge of the mon...OK, Let's pretend I'm in charge of the money for evolution lab shit. Why should I finance evolution lab/ and shit? How does this help a regular Joe Blow? How does that help the society? I'm not turning on Larry and the team. I'm just curious what the real needs are since Canada has funded shit on the moon almost literally.Newbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12112647387206975751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-51783035776839844902014-01-12T17:51:26.112-05:002014-01-12T17:51:26.112-05:00Re lutesuit
However, the gov't has as one of ...Re lutesuit<br /><br /><i>However, the gov't has as one of its chief priorities asserting Canadian sovereignty over the Arctic, in order to take advantage of the seaways that are now opening up there as a result of <b>climate change</b>, and to exploit its mineral and petrochemical resources.</i><br /><br />Which, like their Tea Party cousins in Canada's southern neighbor, they deny is occurring.colnago80https://www.blogger.com/profile/02640567775340860582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-89284416910144953552014-01-12T17:48:28.806-05:002014-01-12T17:48:28.806-05:00Shorter Egnor: I don't like those arrogant sc...Shorter Egnor: I don't like those arrogant scientists so let's cut off their water and concede the future scientific progress to East Asia.colnago80https://www.blogger.com/profile/02640567775340860582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-41225402026270958342014-01-12T07:49:34.987-05:002014-01-12T07:49:34.987-05:00Quite.
For those without the time to watch the vi...Quite.<br /><br />For those without the time to watch the video, the most surprising example came at the beginning. Much of the rest of the program focussed on how the the gov't is defunding or suppressing research that demonstrates the negative environmental effects of oil extraction from the tar sands. While infuriating, that is not exactly news.<br /><br />You wouldn't, however, expect a field like archeology to be affected by this. But the program also documented an archaeologist who was doing research on early Viking settlements in the Arctic. Her work apparently arose wide interest, not only among her fellow academics, but in mainstream outlets like National Geographic. You'd think this would be the type of attention the gov't would crave to promote Canadian scientific and academic achievement.<br /><br />However, the gov't has as one of its chief priorities asserting Canadian sovereignty over the Arctic, in order to take advantage of the seaways that are now opening up there as a result of climate change, and to exploit its mineral and petrochemical resources. Part of this scheme involves emphasizing research on the British explorations to find the Northwest Passage, in order to strengthen our territorial claims to the region. Research that demonstrated that other European civilizations may have established settlements there before the arrival of the British decidedly works against this goal. So the project was unceremoniously cut, and its chief researcher was told she had half an hour to collect whatever material she thought she needed and clear out.<br /><br />Disgusting.Faizal Alihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00937075798809265805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-26468532484430971602014-01-11T17:25:45.295-05:002014-01-11T17:25:45.295-05:00The "transformation" of the Canadian Mus...The "transformation" of the Canadian Museum of Civilization into the Canadian Museum of History is a symbolic move. "Presenting a narrative national history" and "fostering a strong sense of Canadian identity" are surely dearer to conservative politicians than research, conservation and education (in any order).Piotr GÄ…siorowskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06339278493073512102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-51614595849439822402014-01-11T17:07:37.647-05:002014-01-11T17:07:37.647-05:00paylines are low in the US as well, i dont think t...paylines are low in the US as well, i dont think that is because democrats hate scienceAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12291507118158076247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-40874265575376509632014-01-11T16:34:48.999-05:002014-01-11T16:34:48.999-05:00The CBC news program The Fifth Estate ran an episo...The CBC news program The Fifth Estate ran an episode last night that details the effects of the Harper gov't's policy on science, and how scientific research is being jeopardized for ideological reasons. It can be viewed online here:<br /><br />http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/episodes/2013-2014/the-silence-of-the-labsFaizal Alihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00937075798809265805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-22728670231978116222014-01-10T21:07:16.716-05:002014-01-10T21:07:16.716-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Newbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12112647387206975751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-23597521795236103812014-01-10T20:51:16.120-05:002014-01-10T20:51:16.120-05:00Dr Egnor - Though you live not far from the border...Dr Egnor - Though you live not far from the border you do not understand Canadian politics. Nor have you read and understood what Larry is saying. The Canadian electorate are not IDiots a minority of them voted in the Harper Conservative Government. He managed to convince enough voters that he wasn't the total right wing tea party extremist he is. One way he did this was to not allow the loony social conservatives in his party to try to raise the questions on things we Canadians hold dear such as - The right to abortion, gay marriage and above all universal state financed medicare . Things that you no doubt oppose.<br /><br />This was designed to give him a free hand in his extreme tea party like fiscal conservatism while reining in his social conservatives. Thus he has general cuts to government funded agencies. Science is hit big. Not just evolutionary biology. Just all basic science. There is one clear ideological stance to their budgetary attacks on science it is the attempt to stifle as much environmental research as possible. This is primarily to help suppress any opposition to the exploitation of the Alberta tar sands. It is part of an overall attack on scientific epistemology. It is the belief that government policy should be based on ideological prejudice not on scientific evidence. It is the same ideology in capitalist form that drove the old Soviet Union - increase production as fast as possible without regard to the social and environmental costs.<br /><br />I am sure that some research is being cut in areas that even someone like Dr. Egnor with primitive bronze age moral values and ethics would still support.chemicalscumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00456611765432242326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-42808553126509986682014-01-10T20:50:37.661-05:002014-01-10T20:50:37.661-05:00Wait. Is LouiseG claiming to be an MP here?Wait. Is LouiseG claiming to be an MP here?John Harshmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06705501480675917237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-2568321841013072112014-01-10T20:47:07.687-05:002014-01-10T20:47:07.687-05:00As a Canadian and sort of influential (not in the ...As a Canadian and sort of influential (not in the funding department of science as much BTW, and because Canada seems to me to be the most beautiful country in the world) I see a shift among the people who make decisions who gets the funding and for what. Larry may be right once; taxpayers in Canada want to know where their money is going and why. I don't blame them. If one gets $147 to install a pencil sharpener in a school, why not give this money for research? It is a noble idea, but what kind of research are we talking about.Two fruit-flies going into an evolutionary deade-end or is it reahhhhhy science??? I don't know much in this shit but i can "count' along with my citizens :)<br />Evouldivo boys like Larry may think that I'm against their research. It is actually the opposite. I almost lost my riding because some christian/Evouldivonists thought I was an dam atheist. For the record ONE MORE TIME: I'M NOT AN EVOLUTIONIST IN DARWINIAN SENSE Newbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12112647387206975751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-51375185284711397692014-01-10T19:24:20.553-05:002014-01-10T19:24:20.553-05:00Well, the main thing I learned here is that mregno...Well, the main thing I learned here is that mregnor is exactly as egnorant(as in volitionally ignorant) as I expected, and is actively advocating anti-science policy because the actual science(which mregnor doesn't comprehend) as performed by qualified scientists he don't like, doesn't genuflect before his bronze-age mythology of choice, by wanting to defund all of it. <br /><br />Effectively mregnor is saying "I don't like it, consequently I don't want to understand it and so if I had my way, I would totally eliminate it". Thanks mregnor, that's what I needed to hear. Rarely do IDcreationists (IDiots) such as yourself allow themselves so explicitly to show just how anti-science they really are. <br /><br />Theocracy or bust!Mikkel Rumraket Rasmussenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07670550711237457368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-27426337393639693142014-01-10T17:37:16.179-05:002014-01-10T17:37:16.179-05:00NSERC budget: $1.1 billion
Crappy helicopters that...NSERC budget: $1.1 billion<br />Crappy helicopters that don't work: $1.7 billion<br /><br />THAT'S THE PROBLEM.<br /><br />http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/1-7b-already-spent-on-troubled-cyclone-helicopters-1.2491268?cmp=fbtlapalazzohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06077383161556651420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37148773.post-92050965302246992562014-01-10T15:31:49.515-05:002014-01-10T15:31:49.515-05:00[what does god think about all the childrens' ...[what does god think about all the childrens' families you put into massive debt when they require an expensive procedure?),<br /><br />I have never asked that a debt be brought to collection in 30 years of practice. I save lives for free regularly. And I'm happy and privileged to do it. <br /><br /> [If/when I ever need surgery I'm going to make sure my surgeon is an atheist]<br /><br />There aren't many atheist neurosurgeons. If you base your decision on a surgeon on religion, why would I trust that you didn't base your scientific views on religious criteria as well? You science is a stupid as your choice of doctors. <br /><br />[I fear it's not long before our research programs in the US are beaten up by these types of people.]<br /><br />Evolutionary biology and evolutionary psychology could use a good thrashing. <br /><br /> [The conservatives are rallying behind dogma and anger as they keep moving further to the right, mangling governmental spending budges as they wish.<br /><br />]<br /><br />Doesn't democracy just suck.mregnorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11431770851694587832noreply@blogger.com