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Complementary and alternative medicine Medicine Quackery Religion Science Skepticism/critical thinking

Just in time for April Fools’ Day…Dr. Oz and the Pigasus Awards!

Ah, April Fools’ Day! I had thought of trying to do a typical April Fools’ Day post, you know, something like trying to write something but the last time I tried to do that it fell really flat, so flat that I’m not even going to link to it. It’s better not to remind my […]

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Bioethics Biology Medicine Science Skepticism/critical thinking

Animal rights terrorists target students as the “soft underbelly of the vivisection movement”

I’ve made no secret of my disdain for self-proclaimed “animal rights” activists, the ones who are more than willing to terrorize scientists doing research to understand disease better and thereby develop better treatments and even cures. None of this means that I am some sort of “animal abuser” (to steal the animal rights jargon) or […]

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Biology Evolution Intelligent design/creationism Religion Science Skepticism/critical thinking

Dr. Michael Egnor must really want to operate on my brain or something…

Grant time again! Since today–yes, today!–is the deadline for a rather big grant I’m writing (not quite R01 level, but a respectable three year project if I can get it), I was up until the wee hours of the morning trying to put this sucker to bed. Being the ever-benevolent blogger, though, far be it […]

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Complementary and alternative medicine Entertainment/culture Medicine Music Quackery Science Skepticism/critical thinking

It’s a drag to be the only skeptic in the room…

You know, I really know the feeling described in this song: I really do. How about you?

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Cancer Medicine Skepticism/critical thinking

When skepticism about medicine devolves into nihilism

A couple of weeks ago, the ever-inimitably sarcastic master of pus himself, Mark Crislip, posted an excellent deconstruction of a very disappointing article that was published in the most recent issue of Skeptical Inquirer, the flagship publication of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (CSI). I say “disappointing,” because I was disappointed to see SI (Skeptical […]