Expansive libel laws can silence criticism and block exposure.… Read the rest
All entries by this author
Living Under Duress in Swat 
Jan 12th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Taliban have ordered the killing of women seen in market areas; a Bundh Bazaar dancing girl was killed.… Read the rest
BBC Edited Interview With Excessive Zeal
Jan 12th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
BBC edited psychologist’s criticism of religion to say ‘the opposite’ of what she had actually said.… Read the rest
Forced Abortion With No Anaesthetic
Jan 12th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Afghan rape victim’s brother cut the fetus out with a razor then stitched the wound with heavy string.… Read the rest
Bunting Shouts at Liberal Elitist Atheists
Jan 12th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Says Obama is a ‘passionate’ Christian, says poor people have prayer books, says atheists are horrid.… Read the rest
Taking Relativism Seriously
Jan 12th, 2009 | By Andrew TaggartWhy is there wavering in my voice when I say that something is ‘wrong, period’? It may be that in the back of my mind I hear someone retort, “But that’s just your opinion” or “Who are you to say?”, skeptical charges to which I have no immediate reply. Or it may be that I expect my interlocutor to go to great lengths to point out to me that somebody who can make that sort of proposition has to be smug, overconfident, and immodest, none of which, he will assuredly imply, are very becoming.
It is common today to hear people speak about wanting to get other people’s perspectives. By definition, perspectives are ways of seeing the world from different … Read the rest
Richard John Neuhaus 1936-2009
Jan 11th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The conservative Catholic theologian helped build an influential coalition of right-wing Protestants and Catholics. … Read the rest
Just Focus and You Can Do Anything
Jan 11th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Provided you have the ideal body type for what you want to do, but let’s not mention that.… Read the rest
Steve Salerno on What We Don’t Hear About
Jan 11th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
We hear about what journalists decide to cover, not necessarily what there is.… Read the rest
British Chiropractic Association Sues Skeptic
Jan 11th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
By suing, the BCA is drawing far more attention to the criticisms than Singh’s article would have.… Read the rest
A Study Reports That Ants Attack Cheaters
Jan 11th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Worker ants in colonies with a queen are physically attacked by their peers if they try to reproduce.… Read the rest
A Retrospective on Bush’s Way With Words
Jan 11th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Ten volumes, suitably bound in faux-leather.… Read the rest
NY Times Transcript of Caroline Kennedy Interview
Jan 10th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Says ‘you know’ 144 times. Substance noticeably absent.… Read the rest
Choprabollocks
Jan 10th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Integrative health care, high-tech medicine, blind allegiance, mainstream, vast field, empower, right to choose.… Read the rest
Deepak Chopra is Cross With Steve Salerno
Jan 10th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
He and Weil are ‘highly trained MDs with almost 40 years of clinical-experience’ so shut up.… Read the rest
Mississippi Considers Antievolution Bill
Jan 10th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Every textbook that discusses evolution would include a disclaimer calling evolution ‘a controversial theory.’… Read the rest
Unhealing Touch
Jan 10th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
Feeling a tad listless? Perhaps your DNA is insufficiently activated.… Read the rest
Unprecedented Rise in Measles
Jan 10th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The Health Protection Agency says too few children are receiving both doses of the MMR vaccination.… Read the rest
2008 Counterknowledge Prize Goes to…
Jan 10th, 2009 |
Filed by Ophelia Benson
The person or institution that has done most to spread bogus science or history: Prince Charles wins.… Read the rest
Eat your greens
Jan 10th, 2009 11:23 am | By Ophelia BensonDeepak Chopra uses a lot of code too. His is quite familiar.
[T]he writer opened his piece by pledging allegiance to “scientifically proven, evidence-based medicine.” He next declared opposition to integrative medicine…
Scare-quotes on evidence-based, no scare-quotes on ‘integrative medicine’…Code in the form of misallocation of bullshit-indicator.
We believe that Salerno’s piece is the opening salvo from the right aiming to influence the incoming administration as it strategically allocates resources for improving the U.S. health and wellness system.
Classic – the pretense that criticism of woo-medicine comes from the right, along with the pretense (more fully expressed later) that critics are as opposed to good preventive practices as they are to manipulation of chakras.
… Read the restA new integrative medicine system
