Please argue with me

Most of the time, a blog post arises from some random idea of mine, half processed into something that seems sufficiently coherent to discuss. The objective is to prompt discussion, not to decree from on high. As such, I am likely to frequently go somewhat beyond the position that can be rigorously defended, or not quite reach it.

I really encourage readers to leave a comment when they see a problem with an argument, know of evidence to the contrary, or can otherwise contribute to the collective understanding of myself and all the other readers. Of course, you can also comment with supporting arguments and evidence.

Almost all of the time, there is no editor or scrutineer on the short path from my brain to the web. As such, you should also feel free to point out things like grammatical errors, poor analogies, or anything else in my writing or thinking that strikes you as worthy of comment.

Thanks.

P.S. There is, of course, a flip side to putting out unfinished thoughts for scrutiny and discussion. Ultimately, I think such a process leads to a stronger overall understanding, and a better theoretical grounding from which to try to make progress on both academic issues and the development of responses to pressing current matters like climate change. As such, it is fair to consider posts on topics that have been long discussed to be reflective of my considered position on the issue at hand (considered well or poorly, you decide).

Common misconceptions

XKCD has some good advice. Everyone should read the article ‘List of common misconceptions‘ on Wikipedia, if only so that they personally can stop spreading them.

There are a few on the list I have been guilty of believing myself at various points. The truth is:

  • There is no evidence that Iron maidens were invented in the Middle Ages or even used for torture.
  • Napoleon Bonaparte was not especially short.
  • A belief that decades/centuries/millennia begin not on the year ending in 0, but rather on the subsequent year ending in 1 (e.g., “The current millennium didn’t really begin on January 1, 2000, but rather on January 1, 2001”) — based on an assumption that there was no year 0 — are founded in an incomplete understanding of historical calculation.
  • Sarah Palin never said “I can see Russia from my house.” Palin actually said “They’re our next-door neighbors, and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska.”
  • Some cooks believe that food items cooked with wine or liquor will be non-alcoholic, because alcohol’s low boiling point causes it to evaporate quickly when heated. However, a study found that much of the alcohol remains – 25% after 1 hour of baking or simmering, and 10% after 2 hours.
  • When a meteor lands on Earth (after which it is termed a meteorite), it is not usually hot.
  • Different tastes can be detected on all parts of the tongue by taste buds.
  • Although there are hair care products which are marketed as being able to repair split ends and damaged hair, there is no such cure.
  • Sugar does not cause hyperactivity in children.
  • A person who is drowning does not wave and call for help, as in fictional depictions of drowning.
  • It is not nutritionally necessary to combine multiple sources of vegetable protein in a single meal in order to metabolize a “complete” protein in a vegetarian diet. Unless a person’s diet was heavily dependent on only fruit, only tubers, or only junk food, he or she would be virtually certain of getting enough protein if he or she were eating enough calories.
  • It’s a common myth that an earthworm becomes two worms when cut in half. This is not correct. When an earthworm is bisected, only the front half of the worm (where the mouth is located) can survive, while the other half dies.
  • The flight mechanism and aerodynamics of the bumblebee (as well as other insects) are actually quite well understood, in spite of the urban legend that calculations show that they should not be able to fly.
  • Contrary to the common myth, the Coriolis effect does not determine the direction that water rotates in a bathtub drain or a flushing toilet.
  • It is not true that air takes the same time to travel above and below an aircraft’s wing.
  • Glass is not a high-viscosity liquid at room temperature: it is an amorphous solid, although it does have some chemical properties normally associated with liquids.
  • No scientist ever lost his life because of his scientific views, at least to the knowledge of historians of science.

I have seen many of these repeated in rather reputable sources.

Discussion of Harris

Before I got sidetracked by holiday travel and moving, I was hoping to have a bit of a discussion about Sam Harris’ book The Moral Landscape. I only got as far as bringing up some of the issues surrounding a potential accurate lie detector.

Tristan has now put up a post in response to the book: Are Beliefs in the Head?. He is planning to put up more bit by bit.

Once I have dug myself out from under various urgent tasks, I will try to put more here and on BuryCoal.

[Update: 5:30pm] Tristan has another post up on Harris’ book: What are “Values”, anyway?

Slowly re-establishing order

Due to my nearly-completed move, all my possessions are in their state of maximum entropy so far.

Back on Booth Street, things were predictably and sensibly arranged: can openers near cans of food near cooking pots. For the move, everything was thrown together chaotically and compressed into boxes and a van.

Now, I am in the process of de-compressing and re-ordering everything. I am pushing myself to get it all done over the next few days, during which I will also regain my lifeline to the internet at home.

2010 happenings

Some of my more notable 2010 undertakings and experiences:

  • The end of the Low Carbon Cross Country Trip
  • Two new jobs
  • The transition from beardedness to beardlessness
  • Time with Emily
  • More than 12,000 photos taken
  • Photojournalism and documentary photography course taken
  • Several Montreal and Toronto visits (one wedding included)
  • Collarbone breaking and partial healing
  • Improved health
  • BuryCoal launched
  • Visits from some friends not frequently seen
  • A solid number of books read
  • Several concerts attended
  • Camping with Rosa
  • New York with Kai
  • Multiple Vermont visits, Christmas included
  • Blogging out loud
  • Dozens of cans of kidney beans eaten
  • Many kilometres by Greyhound
  • A departure from my current home, nearly completed

The priority for 2011? Find a job in Toronto and move there.