tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323283192012-02-01T08:48:32.233Zpunkscienceorganized greed always defeats disorganized democracypunksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.comBlogger14261100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-46035664199275012632012-01-08T08:26:00.000Z2012-01-08T08:26:35.849Zhiatus~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I just started writing a blog post and then deleted it because it was meaningless self-centered and personal. It felt like I was trying to blog just to fill space here. I just don't feel the urge to expound upon events at any great length these days, unless some moron declares something so incredibly punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-58661775711054229732011-11-11T09:46:00.002Z2011-11-11T09:51:01.559Zokay Sunny, you're not an oik but you're still a sociopath~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When I read this reply from Sunny to my earlier crowing I had a moment of genuine contrition because he's done some really good work at Liberal Conspiracy building a forum for thinking people and there's some really great stuff posted there. Then I re-read Martin Robbins' original tweet and I thought, "No,punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-92051596950858669412011-11-09T05:37:00.002Z2011-11-09T05:38:45.373Zon the use of the term "technocrat" as an epithet~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I've seen this many times from people I respect and admire (eg)and I want to complain about it to the internets. This is where I do stuff like that so if you don't like it fuck off.
Lets see what the word means:
"Technocracy is a form of government where technical experts are in control of decision making inpunksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-35633485856903850422011-11-04T18:05:00.005Z2011-11-04T19:52:43.332Zhere's why we're utterly fucked~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
No, not this. Well. Yes, that too, but also this:
@Nouriel
Greece, Portugal, Ireland, Cyprus, Italy, Spain will all be insolvent unless growth is rapidly restored. Risk of Breakup http://bit.ly/udQ5uE
What you've got there is groupthink from someone who is lauded across the internets for his objective visionpunksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-31704063652130593262011-10-31T07:54:00.004Z2011-11-01T09:02:25.249Zhow do unions justify using dues to fund the UK Labour party?~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Addition 01-11-11: John B commented that unions are legally obliged to offer an opt-out on donations to political funds, however see my comment in reply for an example of how this law may be abused.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-162572718722915612011-10-30T09:28:00.002Z2011-10-31T18:05:18.407Zwhy do some people still not get that the UK Labour party is raw evil?~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I caused offense on Twitter the other day (shock, horror) by engaging in the hideous crime of being astonished at the fact that Labour supporters had reacted with hostility to the OccupyLSX protest. I don't know who this wart Dan Hodges is and I don't care. Anyone who works under the flag of the UK Labour punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-9341363833696935882011-10-07T22:08:00.003+01:002011-10-07T22:23:59.506+01:00a note on language~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I get really annoyed by having to frequently use different terminology to describe the same phenomenon. If you follow my ravings for more than a day or two you'll notice that I often throw around terms like plutocracy, corporatocracy, pseudo-democracy, etc. etc. When I use these terms I'm very aware that they punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-42223327207611058232011-10-07T21:30:00.000+01:002011-10-07T21:30:53.511+01:00plutocracy~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Plutocracy is rule by the wealthy, or power provided by wealth.
The US and the UK, being fundamentally similar in their social- and power-structures are both plutocracies, as revealed here.punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-61488546717728327392011-10-05T06:26:00.000+01:002011-10-05T06:26:38.957+01:00trollgasm~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm trolling this guy's post on the alleged absence of lefty alternatives to neoliberalism. I'm really quite proud of my work.
I rule.punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-29165459311736702312011-10-01T10:47:00.001+01:002011-10-01T10:51:37.296+01:00LOLgasm~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This Venn diagram is pretty much the most concise summation of the challenges faced by Western society that I've yet encountered:
punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-74327955112250108512011-09-27T10:33:00.003+01:002011-09-27T23:23:18.280+01:00from the horse's mouth~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is the most blatant exhibition of corporate sociopathy I have ever seen.
I have transcribed the words of the participants so as to really hammer home the message to anyone who might develop temporary deafness when confronted by the brutal truth of this man's words.
Trader: [The euro?] is gonna crash punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-53861077532887256142011-09-08T12:13:00.001+01:002011-09-08T12:17:32.224+01:00on turnout and the franchise~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Whilst penning the previous post to this I looked up some numbers on the number of UK residents eligible to vote. We all know voter turnout is alarmingly low: 65% last election and 62% the one before. However, those numbers only represent those registered to vote. There remains a multitude of people in the UK punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-29749689855717367402011-09-08T11:28:00.005+01:002011-09-08T12:43:39.250+01:00the punkscience electoral system~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I had an epiphany whilst reading this tweet from @Cunthorse. The idea behind voteforpolicies.org.uk is to help people identify the political party that best fits their political ideology. Thinking about this I realised that the same system can be used to eradicate the insidious distraction of identity politicspunksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-76682469103642738572011-09-01T11:54:00.000+01:002011-09-01T11:54:39.665+01:00on being a scientist~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is absolutely my favourite quote from The Guide:
"I'm a scientist and I know what constitutes proof. But the reason I call myself by my childhood name is to remind myself that a scientist must also be absolutely like a child. If he sees a thing, he must say that he sees it, whether it was what he thoughpunksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-7057958119087367502011-08-30T00:28:00.002+01:002011-08-30T06:46:43.706+01:00malware, what malware?~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One of the feeds in my blogroll appears to have been a source of malware, according to Google. Apologies to anyone getting scary messages or who has actually suffered from this phenomenon. Do let me know of anything untoward as I am in touch with admin at the alleged offending site. Send your electronic mail punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-27695236461844452252011-07-16T23:21:00.000+01:002011-07-16T23:21:29.210+01:00hard lessons in a global society~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One of the most obvious results of US exceptionalism and unilateralism has been the collapse of global cooperation as forums such as the UN are no longer seen to represent the weaker, developing countries but to be vehicles for legitamising US policy. The consequences of this permeate far and wide throughout punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-65885532438537116472011-07-11T13:37:00.003+01:002011-07-11T22:40:30.679+01:00on Iceland & justice~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm having a barney with John Band on Twitter that is irritating me greatly and so I want to take 5 minutes three hours to try and hash out why. Here's the thread:
punkscienceWOOHOO! GO ICELAND! “Taxpayers should not be responsible for paying the debts of a private institution” http://j.mp/fDrTnk via @punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-27905225397510591762011-07-04T06:06:00.003+01:002011-07-07T11:24:17.057+01:00sustainable stupidity~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Liveable4All sent me a link to this video.
I think the message in this video is a stupid one. Here's why: "Biologist Colin Tudge" clearly assumes that in his utopian future the majority of the earths population will continue to live in abject poverty. All very well for a rich Westerner to claim but the punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-34971216085308414122011-07-02T12:38:00.001+01:002011-07-02T12:39:50.778+01:00happiness~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You may not believe this but I have a particularly pessimistic, misanthropic view of human civilisation. I'm an avowed technophile, however, and if there's one aspect of humanity that is certain to bring a smile to my face its awesome gadgets being used awesomely. So here's a couple of examples that I've justpunksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-12311738385870854852011-07-01T10:51:00.002+01:002011-07-01T10:51:58.273+01:00cosmetic changes~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yes, its a colour change. In a move that reeks of desperate work-avoidance behaviour I am embracing meaningless, superficial changes to try and make my blog feel more lively. Has it worked?punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-52013661668163584712011-06-21T03:48:00.000+01:002011-06-21T03:48:21.002+01:00the crisis of capitalism via RSA Animate~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-15744701512148741432011-06-21T03:04:00.002+01:002011-07-01T09:53:44.224+01:00"World's oceans in 'shocking' decline"~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is just the latest in a series of warnings from activists and scholars that we are doing permanent damage to the systems that support life on this planet. I suspect it will be disregarded as the others have or dismissed as soon as someone drops a bomb somewhere or another economy goes into crisis. punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-78172529366180789432011-06-20T00:25:00.001+01:002011-06-20T00:25:22.996+01:00snigger~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Via Chris Coltrane.punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-37591062142681252011-06-08T01:48:00.000+01:002011-06-08T01:48:39.015+01:00you know you're a scientist when . . .~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
. . . you can spend an hour happily telling a very close family friend about how you once met a girl carrying a tray of your sperm across campus. And showing her pictures of them. punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-11743960806383090232011-05-16T09:19:00.000+01:002011-05-16T09:19:15.766+01:00I wonder if Rupert Read also supports the murder of democracy protesters?~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Seeing as Rupert was so keen on the absurd concept of Western "humanitarian intervention" in Libya I wonder if he is also a strident supporter of the brutalisation and murder of pro-democracy protesters. That was the bargaining chip given up by Hillary Clinton in return for the Arab League's blessing of the punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-7134291701915199952011-05-15T00:25:00.001+01:002011-07-02T23:24:14.727+01:00brief Fisk on Tory Lord electoral propaganda~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My target is this Torygraph article on Lords reform containing the following para:
"One senior Conservative source in the Lords said of the draft [Lords reform] Bill: “This is fantasy land. It’s a joke. How can you have PR for the country rejected in the AV referendum and then bring in PR for the Lords. The punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-59354407160279829612011-05-07T11:48:00.003+01:002011-05-07T11:55:00.011+01:00on democracy and the 2011 UK electoral referendum~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The results of the referendum on whether to change the UK electoral system from First Past The Post to the Alternative Vote have now been counted and the data is available from the Guardian website. The headline claims that the "Yes2AV" campaign suffered a "thumping defeat". Lets look at the data a bit more punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-84760617962039119812011-04-08T10:59:00.010+01:002011-10-14T20:54:54.801+01:00on certain Green's defence of military intervention~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I just had a serious flame-off at Rupert Read, a Green Party Councillor for Norwich, and strident advocate of military intervention in Libya. I fully confess to provoking him by accusing him of suffering from 'Johann Syndrome' over his support for the war, in the manner of Johann's support for the Iraqi punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-30020387490860280422011-04-08T09:50:00.001+01:002011-04-08T09:53:07.582+01:00fucking pinko-commie-cyclislamofascists! *~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'd love to hear what a yank thinks of this:
I know its very flat in Holland, making cycling long distances much more practical than in hilly places like where I've lived (Plymouth, Auckland), but surely a little creative city planning won't find that a challenge.
I bought a bike the other day, BTW. Off punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-11645095941824044572011-04-05T10:41:00.005+01:002011-04-05T11:15:25.977+01:00no, actually that's what stupidity looks like~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Watching the ongoing campaign by UK Uncut against the various shades of cad, tosser and bastard on the high street is particularly warming. However, the joy I derive from the spectacle of Barclays branches being occupied is diminished somewhat by the underlying feeling of A Seriously Missed Point. Why are punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-24493082684176074202011-03-05T08:22:00.000Z2011-03-05T08:22:16.095Zthis right here~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Read this blog post and marvel at the middle section where your girl takes apart the business section for its astonishingly blind pursuit of the growth fetish.punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-39659921033957383752011-03-02T09:15:00.001Z2011-03-02T09:16:59.921ZRobert Newman's History of Oil~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Have you seen this? Watch it- its really, really good!
punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-36951896998229078042011-02-25T09:41:00.000Z2011-02-25T09:41:18.471Zthe limits to personal wealth~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I just posted this on Twatter:What's the most wealth any individual should be allowed to accumulate? I can't imagine any ethical purpose for more than ~$50 million.
I really can't. I consider the relentless accumulation of wealth by the mega-rich to be inherently sociopathic. Its inhuman. I mean, where's punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-12411798340267629222011-02-19T22:35:00.002Z2011-02-19T22:35:33.560ZRule Britannia - Teenage Riot~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-59390966449191370732011-02-14T22:28:00.003Z2011-02-15T01:55:08.073ZDan Hind is super-awesome, calls for Direct Democracy in media content generation~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Apologies for the extended absence. I have been securing employment, surfing and spearfishing. Hard life, innit.
I've come across Dan Hind a couple of times before but his opinion article for Al Jazeera contains a familiar concept for regular followers of punkscience. The odd thing is that someone so punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-1323703997158926592011-01-11T09:25:00.001Z2011-01-11T09:26:46.895Zhas anyone ever done cost/benefit analysis on whether changing government policy is worthwhile?~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sorry, just a hurried post (and, re-reading it, a dull one) as I'm dog tired. I just had this thought whilst halfway through Toynbee's latest effort. She writes:
The Salmon centre has just lost 80% of its funding from its 48 streams as state funds for the young dry up. Half its staff have gone, losing punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-39114776349721233272011-01-09T09:23:00.002Z2011-09-03T10:33:43.464+01:00ecosocialism or barbarism: there is no third way~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm profoundly moved by this critique (pdf!) of my erstwhile champion of awesome, Herman Daly (via Climate and Capitalism).You see, I'm definitely a third way kind of person myself: I'm quite happy to rail against capitalism but I'm not at all convinced by the fractious intellectual snobbery of the socialist punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-41547130580681615742011-01-08T03:26:00.005Z2011-01-08T04:02:07.375Zon democratic participation and work hours~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How many times have you heard people say, when confronted with a political position, something along the lines of "oh I don't have time to follow politics"? We must all have heard some similar excuse and I, like many of you, have often put this down to willful ignorance, laziness or some other dysfunction. On punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-29080569522741719382011-01-01T04:11:00.005Z2011-01-02T10:59:06.448ZGuardian is again promoting anti-vivisectionism~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here's the offending article, written by Alok Jha, which is headlined:
Animals don't show how chemicals act in humans
This is an appalling lie being promoted by an ostensibly credible and influential media source. Let me explain why.
Much of the article quotes verbatim from the website of an EU project punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-72066339272228278112010-12-31T08:37:00.001Z2011-01-01T07:59:32.634Zyes to AV~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you only read one article on electoral reform, make it this one. Its bloody good plus it has the bonus feature of highlighting Nick Cohen's profoundly cloacan nature.
This is a first attempt at blogging from my smartphone so will be interesting to see if it looks like shit.
postscript
Posting from thepunksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-19254073506899834782010-12-21T05:37:00.002Z2010-12-21T08:52:56.992ZThe Guardian has a complete fucking moron on its payroll~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What cuntard is responsible for this fucking travesty?
Seriously? How fucking cuntishly thick and demented do you have to be even consider promoting lunacy like that to the front page of your website.
Oviously, I left a comment in response:
"the sooner we`ll stop strapping them to boards and dissecting punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-66599883788972009072010-12-20T08:09:00.004Z2010-12-20T08:43:36.985ZThe Daly News~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Steady State Economics blog with contributions from your boy Herman!
Awesome.
I've recently got a smartphone and I've managed to torrentify dozens of awesome books including a PDF of E.F.Schumacher's Small Is Beautiful, which I am currently enjoying greatly and sporadically tweeting. Checkit. Boh.
punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-78445883378585448992010-12-14T09:34:00.001Z2010-12-14T09:36:04.318ZBen Brown is a nasty little arsehole~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Read this tweet from Ben Goldacre and follow the link. Then do something like this:
punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-53422911616942157602010-12-13T00:59:00.000Z2010-12-13T00:59:08.167Zwhat's wrong with business?~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Quick post to share this with the world. It is awesome. punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-2208763626379223082010-12-08T09:06:00.000Z2010-12-08T09:06:20.384Zbusy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy busy~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Busy is what I am these days. I'm still hunting for legitimate sceintific employment and I'm doing drudge work in the mean time. So I don't have time to blog, really. I am getting very into Twitter, however so if you want to know what I'm thinking you can find me there. I'm still trying to figure out how to punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-43680151011710551442010-11-24T09:57:00.001Z2010-11-24T09:58:14.493Zye gods, I'm full of shit~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Someone called Quin once wrote:
"You know, I'd never truly understood that maxim of Samuel Johnson's that "wherever you meet with a passage which you think is particularly fine, strike it out" until now. It's his way of saying that when you a really pleased with a smart-arsed line you've written, it punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-28001466872214864582010-11-23T09:32:00.003Z2010-11-23T10:17:54.516Zincredible open letter to NYT from eminent geoscientist~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is super-awesome. The author, David Hughes, deserves a fucking medal for this profound Fisking of the NYT's fantasy version of fossil fuel resource dynamics.
Here's a little more background:
Peak oil.
Peak gas.
Peak coal.
Peak fucking everything!
As a bonus for my readers I have 'discovered' a full- punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-55193723353844427362010-11-19T21:03:00.002Z2010-11-19T21:21:24.653ZChris Hedges on "junk politics" or pseudo-democracy, as I like to call it~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Too many resistance movements continue to buy into the facade of electoral politics, parliaments, constitutions, bills of rights, lobbying and the appearance of a rational economy. The levers of power have become so contaminated that the needs and voices of citizens have become irrelevant. The election ofpunksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-64878647230523114172010-11-18T21:13:00.000Z2010-11-18T21:13:50.525ZLowkey would like to tell you how it is~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This guy is awesome. So much clear thinking and so many lies torn apart. Via Hangbitch.
punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-55294675686069289132010-11-17T10:29:00.001Z2010-11-17T10:31:46.879ZUK democracy~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I try to avoid reading or even thinking about UK politics, being no longer a resident of that sordid plutocracy. However, I encountered this article on electoral finance via Twatter and the urge to rant got the better of me:Dude, there's a hell of a lot more wrong with UK 'democracy' than just the funding punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-48787602359903024692010-11-09T09:58:00.001Z2010-11-09T09:58:04.385ZEither fight now or fuck off.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Word.
Via Sunny Hundal at LibCon. punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-74363283009401734592010-11-08T10:41:00.002Z2010-11-19T20:43:31.165Zmore awesome video action~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In a kind of sequence of awesome I would like to post another couple of videos which contain revolutionary or controversial analysis of aspects of our society. The first is via the legendary Doctor Goldacre and the other was another from the same series on YuToob.
Addition 20-11-10:
I really should add punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-61794816066238870172010-11-07T21:54:00.000Z2010-11-07T21:54:35.742Zredefining apathy by David Meslin~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This video, that was posted on the Common Dreams website and linked to by Naomi Klein on Twatter, contains some fantastic criticism of modern society.
punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-48935760641985199112010-11-07T08:59:00.001Z2010-11-07T10:08:07.916Zfascinating bit of history for you~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This blog post is really interesting, not only for the insight into the mentality of the Founding Fathers but also for the commentary on the nature of fiat currencies and the strengths and weaknesses thereof.punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-11189437011177240342010-11-02T22:30:00.003Z2010-11-02T22:51:38.986Zinterview with anti-vivisectionists~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~In response to this fantastic piece of rantage and my own somewhat mischievous and inflammatory comments on an anti-vivisectionist blog that reposted the entire rant I have received a request for an interview from that blog's senior editor. This is a first for me! I don't know whether to be flattered or punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-90649090229250288012010-11-02T05:29:00.007Z2010-11-02T09:56:39.000Zcorporatist assault upon the EU~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The EU is already heavily influenced by corporate lobbying and this look set to reach new depths of sociopathy with a move by the European Services Forum (Goldman Sachs, IBM, Vodafone and Deutsche Bank) to paste, word-for-word, a chapter from NAFTA into a new trade agreement Between the EU and Canada. As David punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-39020105945459745532010-10-29T22:31:00.002+01:002010-10-29T22:34:11.525+01:00Jewish terrorist group holds meeting at Ground Zero. US authorities unconcerned.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Well, isn't this an interesting little story.punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-72970390008727002342010-10-28T02:07:00.004+01:002010-10-29T22:53:52.547+01:00this is why I support the Green Party of England and Wales~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~This is a piece by Caroline Lucas for Compass. In it she covers pretty much every important issue on the table today in terms of sustainability, economic reform and climate change. Awesome!"This is a challenging time for progressives. We have a coalition not only introducing savage cuts, but seeming to enjoy punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-84448330052385266662010-10-22T11:50:00.001+01:002010-10-22T11:52:01.730+01:00sheer bloody genius~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-81793690765850130692010-10-20T06:30:00.004+01:002010-10-20T06:44:23.410+01:00America's PFI plans are just as fucking wrong as the UK's~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Here's an excerpt from the awesome Matt Taibbi's new book. He details how America too has embraced the eructations of the Fucking Stupid Idea Box and engaged in its own version of Private Finance Initiatives. As with our own PFI deals, the idea is for authorities to lease or sell every asset they possibly can punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-46831409915106719772010-10-19T06:16:00.005+01:002010-10-19T06:29:02.972+01:00has George been reading my blog?~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~In this CiF article he observes that the ConDem Slashathon is analogous to the Shock Doctrine, an observation that I made a couple of months ago. Of course, its an obvious conclusion for any reasonably objective observer to arrive at so well done that man! I just hope that his analysis (which is unquestionably punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-56793839472613738412010-10-17T00:29:00.007+01:002010-10-18T11:00:53.528+01:00algal biofuels progress?~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~DARPA thinks it is only a few years away from commercial algal biofuel production. Exactly how they have managed to circumvent the three obstacles to economical biofuel production; circulation of the culture, the high cost of photobioreactors and extraction of the fuel, isn't mentioned.I really hope that this punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-25410237893851824262010-10-13T09:23:00.005+01:002010-12-20T08:42:15.913Zcontinuing on the theme of ecological economics . . . .~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We have news of further progress in the war against stupidity that is the ecological economics movement. New Scientist tells of a new reporting group - The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity- that has calculated cash values for various habitats from coral reefs to savannah. The group's first report, punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-78665087725876470682010-09-29T23:09:00.006+01:002011-01-02T10:14:38.720Zclassical economics is not a science~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This contains a great critique of classical economics.
"The classical theorists gradually adopted the math and some of the terminology of science. Unfortunately, however, they were unable to incorporate into economics the basic self-correcting methodology that is science’s defining characteristic. punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-81483547278782214982010-09-24T17:39:00.002+01:002010-09-24T17:42:54.838+01:00incredible interview with "the most hated man in Israel"~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~This comes across as the most honest description of Israel I've read yet. There are so many painful insights into Israeli society."The facts are clear. Israel has no real intention of quitting the territories or allowing the Palestinian people to exercise their rights. No change will come to pass in the punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-24550444364321432382010-09-23T23:13:00.006+01:002010-09-24T01:02:40.425+01:00epic blogging FAIL & the reform of Green Party science policy~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~So, I started a rant against this post on Liberal Conspiracy in which I repeated my oft stated criticisms of the antiscientific policies of the Green Party. There was then an extensive interval in which I had dinner and drank some beer and some more of last year's sloe gin. During this period several posts punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-65830150996213004182010-09-23T12:54:00.004+01:002010-09-23T12:58:34.458+01:00awesome figure~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The National Grid reported recently that Britain received 10% of its electrcity [sic] from wind over one 24 hour period.Awesome!Now we just have to install a government that will exploit the true potential of renewable generation revealed by this figure. punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-78959351763636614822010-09-21T10:55:00.002+01:002010-09-21T10:59:12.440+01:00steady-state economics 101~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~This excellent summary of SSE describes how it inherently generates equality and sustainability. There's also this wonderful soundbite:Nature draws no distinction between ideologies, and the world doesn’t fit into our political constructs. Something is either sustainable or it isn’t, and neither capitalism nor punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-12522356732762703982010-09-02T10:52:00.004+01:002010-09-02T10:56:20.111+01:00Caroline on the Labour leadership contest~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"The leadership campaign thus reflects all that is worst in our politics: blandness, a lack of honesty, and a choice between slight variations on the same product, namely weak social democracy overshadowed by subservience to the market and international commercial interests. It is not a formula to restore faithpunksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-58309183323252431732010-08-23T00:13:00.003+01:002010-08-23T00:33:21.852+01:00"the Tories' actual support among the voting age population is likely to be closer to a quarter than a third"~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~An electoral system that lets such a profoundly inadequate mandate wield control over the entire nation is called a pseudo-democracy. Anyone out there who is still uncertain whether voting should be compulsory or not? Or whether, at the coming referendum, instead of choice between a really undemocratic and punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-73849291035672653392010-08-22T11:55:00.007+01:002011-07-16T23:28:26.510+01:00Shorter Gareth Porter: "US is a fundamentally aggressive and exceptionalist entity"~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Interesting article, this:"In his latest book, Washington Rules, historian Andrew Bacevich points to this largely un-discussed aspect of recent U.S. wars. The “Washington rules” to which the title refers are the basic principles of U.S. global policy that have been required beliefs for entrance into the U.S. punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-41614324087689347962010-08-21T22:34:00.009+01:002010-08-22T10:14:13.355+01:00the Liberal Democrats could yet save the country from ruin~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~As the UK electoral system is as transparent as mud I'm not sure what would happen if Nick Clegg did the sane thing and took the Liberal Democrats out of the ConDem coalition. One thing would be sure: Cameron and Osborne' insane, sociopathic Slashathon would have to come to a grinding halt. Now there seem to mepunksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-85599312378661116092010-08-18T23:49:00.001+01:002010-08-18T23:51:44.644+01:00"public opinion" is a fantasy~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Interesting article from Lenin's Tomb. punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-6377464938308419572010-08-17T07:22:00.011+01:002010-09-22T00:16:48.527+01:00BBC: "George Osborne will continue walking around and breathing"~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~What a ridiculously content-free piece of space-filling sophistry. The government is to refocus public spending on areas that will boost the UK's long-term economic success, the chancellor is to say.As opposed to focussing on areas that will ensure the UK’s long-term economic prospects contain a bag of Haribo punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-61429978126738391442010-08-14T10:11:00.009+01:002010-08-16T00:15:05.861+01:00irony~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Here is an email exchange I had yesterday with 'Tory', a proudly conservative colleague who has just finished his PhD.________________________________________From: PunkscienceSent: 13 August 2010 15:33 To: EveryoneSubject: who is on weekend duty?Hi,I have a special request for whoever is on weekend duty. Couldpunksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-63268216211606644922010-08-10T23:43:00.004+01:002010-08-10T23:50:10.163+01:00people need to hear this and repeat it to everyone they know~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~There is a movement afoot to challenge the political insanity of the ConDem coalition. I am happy to be doing my bit in reading this excellent piece of rantage (via the most awesome Signor Vowl) and pushing it upon both of my regular readers too. Even though I'm leaving I am still keen to do what I can to save punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-69297561893980462722010-08-04T22:46:00.002+01:002010-08-04T22:53:54.065+01:00coalition of THE AWESOME~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~These people are a generally good bunch. I endorse their manifesto wholeheartedly for the powerful bucket of AWESOME that it is.It is only a bucket, however. Not a lake. I'm disappointed that there's no express endorsement of electoral reform or sustainable development. There's not even an express commitment topunksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-58584834424194518542010-08-03T00:24:00.003+01:002010-08-03T00:30:43.065+01:00how the hell did this guy get a PhD AND run for parliament?!?!?!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~A good article from The Indy. I love the idea of requiring MPs to engage with science ( David Tredinnick, you poisonous little sociopath) but I don't imagine for one second that it will change the way parliament works. It makes me wonder why Julian Huppert would want to be an MP anyway. Surely he doesn't think punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-9934183619330875392010-07-30T23:59:00.002+01:002010-07-31T00:53:06.905+01:00magnanimity can only proceed from the powerful~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~This is a great article."If I sent my child to, say, The Sir Richard Branson College, I would feel like a feudal serf. Actually, I already do, so let me embrace churlishness by suggesting that British arts, education and public transport be funded by a properly graduated income tax in which those earning punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-2999234836499693112010-07-28T12:57:00.006+01:002010-07-29T09:54:27.151+01:00algal biofuels DOH!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Interesting piece of research from Cambridge suggests that the energy required to circulate algal cultures through the tubes of bioreactors will consume far more power than the cultures will yield. I'm a big fan of the concept of algal bioreactors and I think its disingenuous for New Scientist to have publishedpunksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-38077797557656837262010-07-27T00:41:00.008+01:002010-07-27T01:05:38.256+01:00the new UK government is full of cunts~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The coalition are conducting a brazen, insane Slashathon, using their dubious mandate to conduct an ideology-driven assault on many valuable government resources. So far we have seen the Sustainable Development Commission and the UK Film Council terminated, as well as more than a dozen others, in the name of "punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-75525056275475576012010-07-25T10:03:00.009+01:002010-09-12T23:59:07.124+01:00sustainable morons~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~NB: This is a post I drafted and never posted, thinking I'd add more. I haven't time at the mo, what with moving to the other side of the planet and the issue is rapidly being overtaken by even greater crimes of mosgovernment so I thought I'd knock it out anyway. The sort of people who comment on CiF are a punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-88731768452785082232010-07-09T21:07:00.005+01:002010-07-09T21:15:17.030+01:00another think tank report concludes that the EU can power itself almost completely using existing renewable technology~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Check the awesome. Wind, solar, DESERTEC, supergrids, , no nuclear, electric cars, efficiency improvements, demand reduction, storage hydro, HVDC. Its all there (except the nuclear :~D)."While the initial cost would be significant, the authors argue that the current model of energy production and use fails topunksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-42952700639124043402010-07-04T12:05:00.003+01:002010-07-04T13:05:44.659+01:00Andrew Rawnsley: a model of learned helplessness~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The almost complete absence of genuine critical analysis in this article is staggering. So, so many elephants crowded into that room and Rawnsley just sits there, up to his nose in elephant shit, blithely muttering "Pachyderms? What pachyderms?".Twat.I commented: This is not reform. AV is such a minor change punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-48001092139121041062010-07-03T19:33:00.110+01:002010-07-04T23:55:52.178+01:00Bibi van der See is a fucking wanker~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~A lot of reporting is clearly complete bollocks. The combined effects of a Propaganda model at work and the broader dumbing down of printed media in my life time, combined with the UK public's addiction to panic porn, sees us at a stage in our civilisation where baldly asserted lies can be printed on the front punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-41251859604547442602010-07-02T09:05:00.002+01:002010-07-02T09:08:01.439+01:00UK complicity in torture~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~All you need to know is laid out in this excellent piece of analysis. Via Craig Murray."The string of communications that Murray published not only show the British government institutionally deciding that it would accept information collected using torture. But also–at least in that one punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-2531168946849568802010-06-29T23:48:00.004+01:002010-06-29T23:56:53.308+01:00Simon Jenkins is a stupid cock~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The world's least consistent journo broke new ground recently. The occasionally brilliant Jenkins (although see here for previous stupidity) has sunk out of sight with his latest piece. My comment on his ill-considered guff: This article is breathtakingly stupid. Simon has really dropped a clanger.I'll just punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-26278090977053162742010-06-19T22:25:00.003+01:002010-06-19T22:32:59.120+01:00anonymous Israeli government "voices" consider Gaza to be part of Israel~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~From the Jerusalem Post:"Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said unequivocally on Sunday that Israel had no intention of apologizing, and one diplomatic source said Thursday there were voices inside the government saying that not only should Israel not apologize, but it should demand a Turkish apology for punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-1051987586494306182010-06-18T22:36:00.008+01:002010-06-18T23:17:55.359+01:00lies, damned lies and free market fundamentalism~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~So the guy who fucked Northern Rock into oblivion, taking amounts of taxpayers money so vast that if the cash was assembled in one place it would undergo gravitational collapse, has written a book justifying his personal conviction that free market fundamentalism is the only way that the environment and societypunksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-56401307150174375402010-06-09T22:57:00.001+01:002010-06-09T23:01:25.651+01:00manifest awesomenessss~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-15348995941184522302010-06-08T22:19:00.004+01:002010-06-08T22:25:07.075+01:00HOW fucking stupid?~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~So an American friend on farcebook posted the following:"So where are all the "Save the Gulf" concerts? Where are the TV benefits with celebrities and musicians giving heart felt speeches on the poorf ishermen, wildlife, beaches, loss of income and gulf economy? I find it rather strange how these people were sopunksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-4510030686285507932010-06-04T23:58:00.004+01:002010-06-05T00:08:10.425+01:00the first blatantly corporatist decision from the Tories~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Here's the politician's perspective."The wider growing and selling of genetically modified crops has received its strongest government backing to date from the new environment secretary, Caroline Spelman.""Spelman . . . spent 15 years in the agriculture industry and worked as director of a biotechnology punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-68269736460933453982010-06-01T00:20:00.003+01:002010-06-01T08:15:44.068+01:00murder or war?~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The Israelis have actually gone mental. There is no clear reason for their actions in boarding the aid ships and murdering people. The consequences have been clearly laid out by Craig Murray:"To attack a foreign flagged vessel in international waters is illegal. It is not piracy, as the Israeli vessels punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-31978899976631128632010-05-17T16:30:00.005+01:002010-05-18T17:49:11.029+01:00blame the rich for unsustainability~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~George has composed several excellent polemics on this issue. I think the real problem, as with most issues, is a synergism between the two issues: increasing overconsumption by rich societies and their continued growth.punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-51036113259489647882010-05-15T10:14:00.002+01:002010-05-15T10:23:43.377+01:00GM crops result in huge pest export to surrounding fields~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~In a classic example of how difficult it is to predict the consequences of GM crops the Chinese report explosions in pest numbers in conventional crops surrounding GM fields. For those of us who are aware of the soicopathic potential of GM the timing of this report is beautiful as there is no respite from the punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-37233018625443270172010-05-09T20:40:00.004+01:002010-05-10T08:39:55.083+01:00sign this petition if you want to change things in this sordid mess of a country~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Little steps, people. Little steps.punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-18610519480382162372010-05-08T06:42:00.000+01:002010-05-08T06:43:13.815+01:00Thatcher fucked the kids~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~By Frank Turner.punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-9941235666140780372010-05-06T20:43:00.007+01:002010-05-09T16:33:50.281+01:00I feel violated~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Because I ended up voting for the party I've spent the last three and a half years railing against. I am a member of the Green Party but they stood no chance in my constituency. Of the three main parties I naturally consider the Liberal Democrats to be the least worst option. However, they came third last time punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-30841377155760920302010-05-05T23:19:00.003+01:002010-05-05T23:51:44.727+01:00FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I don't know who to vote for !!!!!!!!AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGHUltimately, in light of the latest poll, I am going to vote whichever way will deny the Tories the majority the might yet obtain. This article explains exactly why I'm not going to bother voting Green, despite being paid-up a member of punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32328319.post-90497829324810744382010-05-02T11:14:00.003+01:002010-05-02T11:16:55.914+01:00David Mitchell is awesome~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~He has managed to get this published in a national newspaper:"Public limited companies are amoral. They're driven purely by their constitutional requirement to turn as large a profit as possible for their shareholders. People can be good or evil, ambitious or lazy, angry or fearful – plcs are none of these punksciencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05322481220029985750noreply@blogger.com0