Comments on: Vote! Best Science Blog 2007

By: dave munger

dave munger — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 02:44:40 +0000

Wow, it looks like you’ve magically pulled ahead. Let’s hope this sticks!

By: Jason

Jason — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 00:57:20 +0000

Dennis, can you give an example of where McIntyre overestimates the overall effect of those errors to call into question the overall conclusion?

By: Dennis

Dennis — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 20:57:31 +0000

It’s my impression that Steve McI has a tendency to throw the baby out with the bathwater. There’s nothing wrong with checking the numbers on someoneâ€™s work, but he seems to overestimate the over-all affect of those errors to call into question the over-all conclusion. That’s where he loses me.

By: sci-guy

sci-guy — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 20:39:04 +0000

Blackcat, there are many, many “denialist” papeers published in peer-reviewed journals. The number of “denialists” is increasing! Not only is the debate NOT over, but it’s getting more intense. Btw, bad astronomy contributor Jim Oberg could be labeled a “UFO-denier” using the methodology of the pro-AGW crowd. For that matter, the pro-AGW crowd can be called “deniers” since they denied the Medieval Warm Period until Steve of CA shot down Mann in flames.
As for “overwhelming consensus,” the fact that peer-reviewed journals are publishing skeptical reports means that the subject is still controversial and by no means settled. Incidentally, the overwhelming consensus of scientists in the Seventies was that another Ice Age was likely. Were they wrong then, or are they wrong now?
Mango, are you sure you’re not really Oliver Stone? I mean, there were conspiracy theories that the 2004 elections were fixed by computer fraud. Like the 9/11 conspiracy theories!

By: papertiger

papertiger — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 20:28:42 +0000

Didn’t BA win this contest a couple years ago?

You could still use a second best science blog on the web blurb on the book jacket.

By: Cometkazie

Cometkazie — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 18:53:19 +0000

I just now [1850 UT] went to the voting site and voted w/o a problem or delay.

As they say here in Louisiana, vote early, vote often.

By: Spence

Spence — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 17:51:40 +0000

If the average temperature increases, however, they will grow less in the winter
Wow, glaciers growth in the winter is a function of temperature? There was me, thinking precipitation drove glacier growth in winter.

Next time I want to make ice cubes in my freezer, rather than adding water to the ice cube tray, I’ll just turn the temperature down. Sounds like a far more effective mechanism. I’m so glad I’ve got TheBlackCat to save me from “denialist silly claims”.

Of course, I’m only yanking your chain here. I think Bad Astronomy seems a pretty good blog, and I personally think the standards of the comments here are far, far higher than those at Pharyngula. ClimateAudit is still going to get my vote though; it is less accessible, but is engaged in front-line science. And Steve Mc is highly objective in how he goes about things. Bad Astronomy takes a close second in my view.

Good luck to all in the closing hours of the contest, and if nothing else, the opportunity to visit some other interesting sites is perhaps the most important thing to come from the awards.