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It was a bit disturbing to read the article about Dr. Sinclair's name being marketed as an authority promoting Resveratrol (an acclaimed anti-aging chemical derived from wine).

Resveratrol: The Hard Sell on Anti-Aging - BusinessWeek

This is a classic example of a technique of influence. Use the logical fallacy of authority (in this case, a scientist from Harvard University) to make an ad campaign that sells. This is made more worrisome by the fact that Dr. Sinclair...

While huddling around a bonfire in a Georgia summer night, some friends were discussing ways of entertaining themselves. One friend suggested "Scary Stories". And we ran with it...

The first story was about a man with a golden arm. I can't tell you much more than that because I kinda zoned out half way through the 20 words per minute storrytelling.

Nonetheless, the story came to its conclusion and everyone waited to see the epic failure of an ending (whatever...

The EPA announced today that it is holding some 100 permits applications for mountaintop coal mining. I'd venture to guess that this would never have happened under the old administration. Perhaps this is a sign of even more environmental goodness to come.

For those unfamiliar with mountaintop mining of coal, it's a very controversial practice by coal companies in which mountains are blasted, and sometimes even leveled, to access the coal underneath. It's typically practised in the...

What makes a good scientist?

Is it someone who follows the rules and abides by objectivity?

Is it credibility amongst peers?

Is it someone who breaks down walls despite a gang of people trying to hold the wall up?

Imho, I think it's bits and pieces of the aforementioned.

So, what about scientific rigor? It's not often discussed.
Is it staunch adherence to one idea? Maybe.
Is it dismissal of everything? Maybe....

1. It's the sauce! Any fine dish deserves a sauce. I prefer either super hot spicy, or sweet and tangy.

2. I like to sleep during the day and live in the night.

3. Astronomy is, in many ways, more fascinating than ecology, but it is much less relevant.

4. I have several great stories, for such a relatively young chap.

5. There's a burning desire to make music, yet, paradoxically, there's little to no impetus as of late.