| Topical Gel Catches Up With Pills for Relief Controlled trials suggest that a topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug in a cream is as effective as their oral counterparts for treating osteoarthritis, soreness and tendinitis. feeds.nytimes.com |
Why did Ireland's science minister agree to launch an anti-evolution book? | Eoin Butler That Conor Lenihan even considered endorsing such a preposterous piece of work is outrageousThe decision, since reversed, by Ireland's minister for science, Conor Lenihan, to speak at the launch of a book that condemns evolution as a hoax is a damning and depressing indictment of Irish politics. But not, perhaps, for quite the reason readers might expect.John J May, the author of The Origin of Specious Nonsense, believes that evolution "cripples sanity, promotes myth and obscures reality". Anyone who teaches evolutionary theory, he says, is "either ignorant or deliberately suppressing the known scientific facts". Most of May's arguments are so preposterous as to defy serious scrutiny. In a YouTube video posted to his site, he says: "They say we used to live up in trees. Well folks, climb a tree and live there for a week, and see how you feel. They also say we came out of the sea. Eh? If you lie in your bath for nine hours your skin is so wrinkled it's not [sic] hardly recognisable. Yet a baby can be in a womb nine months in liquid without drowning, and when it's born it's not particularly wrinkled."That a minister for science should think it appropriate to endorse such hilarious (and unscientific) hokum is obviously outrageous. Ireland is still viewed by some as a country with an overly strong attachment to Christian dogma. But it would be wrong to assume that the minister was pandering to an undercurrent of creationist-inspired anti-evolutionary feeling among voters here. Despite falling mass attendances, Ireland remains a Catholic country. And the Catholic Church has never taken a strong position against evolution.In Ireland, our dwindling band of religious fundamentalists opposed the legalisation of homosexuality and divorce. They remain fiercely opposed to any liberalisation of the law on abortion. But on the subject of evolution they have been mostly silent.Besides, as the former editor of a sex magazine called SIN, John J May cannot be what anyone would call a prude. He describes himself as "like Abraham Lincoln, self educated, and might be viewed as a polymath. [I] left school young and commenced my real education." I took part in a television discussion with him last year and felt that I had never before encountered a man whose self-confidence was so wildly out of proportion to his erudition. He is, quite simply, a crank.So why on earth did Lenihan agree to launch his book? In his only public statement, the minister's spokesperson claimed that he had only planned to attend in his capacity as May's local TD and that he did not necessarily agree with the book's central thesis (such as it is.) That would mean that he did not see (or perhaps was not even aware of) any conflict between his duties as the country's minister for science and the endorsement of such a profoundly unscientific book.It would be nice to say that the spokesperson was definitely bending the truth here, and that the minister couldn't possibly have been so stupid. But I would hesitate to do so in this instance.It's no secret that Lenihan is one of Dáil Éireann's less highly evolved thinkers. In 2005, he famously referred to exploited Turkish construction workers as "kebabs" during a Dáil debate. (To get the reaction of the Turkish community, the equally cerebral and culturally sensitive TV3 News visited a kebab shop and interviewed a man making a kebab!)But there are two other points to be made to put the minister's decision in context. Firstly, there is the local nature of Irish politics. Ireland has 166 members of parliament representing a country of less than 4.5 million people. That's one TD for about every 26,000 people. So it is expected that TDs will be available to their constituents in way that would not be common in other countries. While he was a TD for Sligo-Leitrim in the 1970s, my late grandfather was once asked to collect a greyhound in Athlone on his way home from a Dáil session and deliver it to a constituent. (He refused.)The second important thing to understand is that Lenihan is steeped in the traditions of Fianna Fáil. Like the Chinese communist party, Fianna Fáil has long since jettisoned whatever principles and ideals it was founded upon. Today, its only raison d'être is the pursuit and consolidation of it's own power.As far as this preposterous book goes then, the only consideration likely to have weighted on Lenihan's mind is whether helping to launch this book would help garner a few extra votes for him at the next election. When it seemed that it might, he agreed to help. When he realised that it wouldn't, he withdrew. It was gombeen politics, nothing more.IrelandEvolutionCatholicismEoin Butlerguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Giant penguins with no tux? Fossil feathers say so By LAURAN NEERGAARD 2010-09-30T21:12:25ZWASHINGTON (AP) -- Some ancient penguins may have been twice as big as today's Emperor penguin but they lacked the dashing tuxedo. Researchers unearthed remains of a nearly 5-foot-tall penguin that roamed what is now Peru about 36 million years ago, and they also discovered fossilized feathers that show back then, the flightless bird was a more motley mix of reddish-brown and gray.... hosted.ap.org |
The TAM London 2010 live blog Welcome to the TAM London 2010 live blog! From Saturday morning I'll be bringing you regular updates, audio clips, photos and maybe even the odd video clip from The Amazing Meeting, a two day celebration of science and critical thinking. (NB: live-blogging will be a bit sporadic until the event gets underway on Saturday morning.) Friday: Build-up17:48: So after a long and sweaty trip I've arrived at the Hilton, a building which looks like God got pissed off with a Rubix Cube, and smashed it into Edgeware Road in a bit of a sulk. The beer is nearly a fiver, but it comes with a tray of bar snacks, so I can pretend I've had a bargain dinner. 15:37: Probably the most riveting story of the day has been science comedian Dean Burnett's coach trip from Cardiff to London. His latest update: "Still on the coach on the way to #TAMLondon. Nothing to report." It's edge-of-the-seat stuff. 14:47: After a tense hour or so in which almost two people were following the action on Twitter, Michael Marshall has apparently escaped the clutches of the Scientologists, describing them as "well-meaning but a bit vacuous."14:41 PLUG: Little Atoms, a radio show about science and skepticism at Resonance FM (and online) will have a TAM special featuring interviews with some of the stars at TAM London, and Josie Long and Neil Denny interviewing Alan Moore. It's this Friday evening at seven o'clock. And remember, you can plug your events/blogs or frankly pretty much anything here in exchange for beer and snacks delivered to the media table this weekend, because I have no shame. 12:41: Killing time before registration, Michael Marshall has wandered into Scientology center on Tottenham Court Road. He seems impressed: "This propaganda film is fucking amazing. L Ron as, essentially, Biggles meets Indiana Jones."Fiver says he joins. 10:41: Jon Treadway asks "Will you be writing about pigeons and their effect on penises?" Way ahead of you. Basically, your common-or-garden pigeon is fine, the spiritual ones less so. 09:02 ANNOUNCEMENT: "You can pick up your badge for #TAMLondon on Fri 2:30-8:30PM at the venue. Please go on Friday if you can to avoid queues on Saturday." Those in the know suggest this is quite a good idea as queues on the morning of the first day tend to be biblical in proportion. 08:55: From @goddessgeek comes a snap of James Randi arriving at the hotel yesterday, with what I think is quite a Terry Pratchett vibe about him - or is that just the awesome hat? 00:37: @rebeccawatson reports that the TAM London pub quiz was won by these Norwegians, who walk home £100 richer after successfully navigating a 'sperm round'. Me neither. 00:10: Welcome to TAM London 2010! I'm proud to host the official live blog from The Amazing Meeting: London, Britain's biggest and most entertainingest celebration of science and critical thinking here in the heart of London this weekend; featuring Richard Dawkins, James Randi, Stephen Fry, Robin Ince, Alan Moore, PZ Myers, Cory Doctorow, Tim Minchin, Richard Wiseman, Simon Singh, and a host of other witty, sparkling and rational-minded stars. Over the weekend I'll be bringing you almost 18 hours of live blogging, with textual commentary from me, audio clip updates from The Pod Delusion's James O'Malley, photos from Kelly Haddow and others, as well as keeping an eye on Twitter (the hashtag is #tamlondon, and I'm @mjrobbins). So if you're not at the conference this weekend, sit back and enjoy the coverage. And if you are, bear in mind that people who bring beer or snacks to the media table will get a mention here, and possibly a blog pimp. It's not corruption if we're all open about it.Martin Robbinsguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Personal Health: What to Do Now to Feel Better at 100 The body’s decline can be slowed by interventions. “And it often doesn’t matter whether you’re 50 or 90 when you start tweaking,” an expert says. feeds.nytimes.com |