I really just came by to compare comment systems, since Discoblog (and presumably all the Discover magazine blogs) had switched to Disqus, and I thought it might be informative to check up on a post that I had commented on that I knew hadn’t been using Disqus at the time, but was after posts on Discoblog that used Disqus.

I saw the Bionaid site. Its poor design is only surpassed by its poor grammar. I salute you, sir, and your snake oil!

(Btw, can you accuse someone of shilling and then shill for your own thing? Just curious.)

But you fools all clam-up at the $10 Million Reward that has gone UNCHALLENGED/UNCLAIMED for THREE YEARS. You’re not vaccinated against that and never will be.

VACCINES ARE OBSOLETE…Wake up. Got Bionaid and ZeoHeal? This blog advertises for vaccines.

It’s sexist to slam a person because they have breasts or certain arbitrary standards of beauty, and use them for their career. Jenny McCarthy’s breasts do not talk anti-vax nonsense, Jenny McCarthy does.

You might be angry right now thinking “I’m not sexist, I love the women in my life” (even if you’re a woman yourself!), but these are socialized ideas hammered into us from birth, hard habits to break. Don’t be angry, just recognize it for the privilege it is, and try harder.

I am not defending Jenny McCarthy. I believe her anti-vax nonsense is wrong. But I am defending a woman’s right to air her opinions, right or wrong, without the debate being turned against her gender or sexuality.

Good point!

What’s the definition of gross ignorance?
144 Jenny McCarthys!

Did you know that Jenny McCarthy is missing 90% of her brain matter? It’s true – Jim Carrey is on a trip overseas at the moment.

*crickets*
Sorry, I thought we were doing jokes now.

You could have stopped the wondering right about there.

(rimshot)

Hey-yo!

Why not stick to astronomy, what you know, and leave the other fluff alone! There’s enough interesting stuff in space without commenting on this crap.

Erm … because Phil promotes critical thinking in all things.

See here:
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2007/07/15/politics-science-me-and-thee/

But we have been shown that those who have not gotten a shot put those who are not old enough yet to be done, at serious risk and yes, death. I would not want to put any one in this situation where you have to face this tragic situation.

There is no way to sugar coat this and spreading the truth to prevent a proven preventable illness by a simple shot are words well said. I am glad I was born after the major breakouts of polio and wouldn’t want to see it come back. I’m sure a lot of those young pups questioning the whys and wherefores of shots have never seen a iron lung. (Or a child in one…..)

As for the Autism link, forget it, I have friends who have a teenager who has it and they do a very good job with the care and training. And of course don’t think beans about the link to vaccinations and the cause of Autism.

Look, I love astronomy, and I certainly don’t mean to sound like I’m trying to diminish Phil’s contributions to it both as a scientist and writer, but I would argue that countering the dangerous misconceptions that people like McCarthy are spreading is about as high a calling as there is. And yes, I’d argue that it is in some ways even more important than astronomy.

It would be so easy for anyone, astronomer or not, to ignore events on earth entirely and take refuge from human idiocy in the stars. In many ways, science, skepticism, and even critical thinking itself are all under attack from all sides, ranging from religious fundamentalists to “feeelings-based” new-agey mush-heads. The “candle in the dark,” as Carl Sagan beautifully put it, seems to be flickering in the gusting winds of capricious public opinion, and I for one am thankful that Dr. Plait is doing his part to help protect that flame. I say, if that means that we readers get one or two fewer nifty astronomy posts, it’s a miniscule price to pay.

/end long-winded, self-righteous rant

Oh, and what BA said.

We’re forever pointing first time readers of BA at that ‘Politics, science, me and thee’ post. Perhaps you need to place a prominent link to it in the right-hand side bar?

Cheers,
Steve

It was just meant as a joke, no offense intended and even if my hypothesis was true, there are always exceptions to the rule

Who ever does offer her a slot on their network, think of the beginning of the Futurama “movie” called “Bender’s Big Score” and the FOX sequence.

The possible TV show or the breast size talk?

To answer: Thanks to the interconnectedness of all things, it has EVERYTHING to do with astronomy!1!2!!! (shakes fist)