Most Scientific Articles Are…

Wrong, wrong, wrong:

Most published scientific research papers are wrong, according to a new analysis. Assuming that the new paper is itself correct, problems with experimental and statistical methods mean that there is less than a 50% chance that the results of any randomly chosen scientific paper are true.

John Ioannidis, an epidemiologist at the University of Ioannina School of Medicine in Greece, says that small sample sizes, poor study design, researcher bias, and selective reporting and other problems combine to make most research findings false. But even large, well-designed studies are not always right, meaning that scientists and the public have to be wary of reported findings.

If you want to read the actual study, you can find it here. Of course,if the article is correct, the study has more than a 50% chance of being wrong, in which case it would be..right. Which would be…wrong. Right?

Adopt a Town, or a Family

Nariel over at Ancient Eyes has come upon a great idea. Head over and read it, then pass it on.

Do You Believe We Are Fighting Evil People in Iraq?

Dennis Prager:

Because if you cannot answer it, or avoid answering it, or answer “no,” we know enough about your moral compass to know that further dialogue is unnecessary. In fact, dialogue is impossible. Our understanding of good and evil is so different from yours, there is simply nothing to discuss. Someone who was asked a hundred years ago “Do you believe that whites who lynch blacks are evil?” and refused to answer in the affirmative was not someone one could dialogue with.

Read the whole thing before commenting.

My Hardest Post Yet…

I recently wrote the hardest post I have ever had to write in my (short) blogging career. And I decided to do it at the Balance of Power, to open the subject up for discussion. I ask you all please to go there and read what has been written, and add your comments to the comments section. This is what it’s all about people, peaceful, levelheaded, political discussion so go check it out.

and just to wet your appetite… Here’s part of what I wrote.

This is a subject that I only briefly touched on in my own blog. As with allot of things I reserved judgment on this issue until I knew more about it. At first it appeared that Cindy Sheehan was a mother, grieving her son’s death and acting out during the grief process. Having been through this process myself a few times I understand this, and I empathized. For a while I defended her actions in my mind and felt for her, prayed for her.

…

It soon became apparent that this Gold Star Mom was using her son’s death as a springboard, a way to get herself heard. Not a bad tactic, if it wasn’t so reprehensible. You see the worst thing one can do in the military community is dishonor the fallen. Casey Sheehan knew what he was getting into, and did so of his own free will. I would venture to say that he knew what he was fighting for, since most of us currently serving have known from day one, there has not been any new news that we did not already know.

…

I am all for a good protest, hell I fight for everyone’s right to do that every day, I swore an oath to it. But I’ll tell you what, the people who need to be protested are not the honorable upstanding soldiers, sailors, and airmen who fight for us all each and every day…(More follows)

Go check it out, become part of the Balance of Power.

Thanks be to Basil’s Blog for the trackbacks

Catastrophe: Eating Crow

I desperately wish my post from Monday, LJiC Bought the Hype, had been correct. It’s now clear the hype was real, the catastrophe of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast not overblown, simply delayed. I was horribly, tragically wrong. One of the joys of blogging is seeing your opinions read worldwide. One of the nightmares is when your opinion is so wrong, like this one obviously was.

Few have reported more horrifically, and more eloquently on the disaster than Eye of the Storm:

Monday, August 29, 2005

We the writers of this blog humbly bow ourselves in respect to the victims of Hurricane Katrina and their families.
We cannot understand your pain.
The information we are giving you is filtered through our experiences.
What began as an adventure has quickly turned into heart-wrenching tragedy.
We joked, and may try to find respectful humor again before long, but we do so honestly as a need for distraction.

For those of you seeking information, the following is what we are comfortable passing on for now and we will try to do more as time passes.
-Every building in a low-lying area along the Coast experienced bad damage.
-The roads are mostly impassable or destroyed and the communications lines are spotty at best. This situation will persist for several days.
-Do not try to come here yet. Police, fire and rescue are beyond overworked. Looters are rampant. Hospitals have overflowed. Officials of all stripes lack the words to properly describe the devastation.
As much fun as its been to do this blog, Mike and I are going to be overworked before long. We want to help those of you seeking information but fear telling you the wrong thing, especially with this much destruction and confusion.
Thank you for reading us.

Read through this blog, as it’s writers go from lighthearted to frightened to devastated. It’s a fitting tribute to the power of this storm.
The pictures from this site are devastating as well, as is the wall to wall coverage on the Cable News channels. And it’s likely to get worse. I’ll continue to report as it comes in, humbled by the devastation.

Open Office: A Real Threat to Microsoft

I’ve been using Open Office for years now. It’s a great alternative to the massively expensive Microsoft Office, and it’s free. If you’ve got a broadband connection, give it a try. You won’t be sorry.

An Angel Sells His Wings for a good cause…

And his comics

OK it’s started…
The STA Rummage Sale and Fundraiser.

Items for sale, go check them out…

First: The Wings
and other things with wings
Never Forget T-shirt (Wings on back)

The benefit CD
By RealTeen

And of course all Proceeds from My Store during the sale will go directly to the fundraiser.

E-Bay Items: Comics

Spiderman Comics 5-pack- 5 comics for one low price- 01

Spiderman The Lost Years Comics 5-pack- 02

Spiderman Comics 5-pack- 5 comic lot for one price- 03

Spiderman Comics 5-pack- 5 comic lot for one price- 04

Spiderman Comics 5-pack- 5 comic lot for one price- 05

Spiderman Comics 5-pack- 5 comic lot for one price- 06

Spiderman Comics 5-pack- 5 comic lot for one price- 07

More to follow…

Thanks Be to the Mudville Gazette and Basil’s Blog for the trackbacks

Oh the things I must endure….Being Tagged….

Does nobody read my blog? Or do they just not pay attention.

Oh it’s always innocent enough, like chain letters. Their cute, and no one sees the harm in them. Unfortunately because I merely find them annoying, I will have to agree that Tags, or MeMe’s really hurt no one, I just don’t like them. Somehow, however they always come from you closest friends and best acquaintances…This One being from Gribbit. Oh buddy do I owe you…No hard feelings really. I’ve been tagged…here goes….

The Numbers.

Ten years ago, I was living in Minot, North Dakota working as an ICBM Missile Electronics Specialist in the frigid north. In other words, I was freezing my patuckus off near some missile silo up near the Canadian Border.

Five years ago, I was living in Reno, Nevada and working as “Imagery Analyst, but I was still waiting for my clearance to come through, so basically I was an overpaid secretary.

One year ago, I was living here in Sparks and adjusting to being a homeowner for the first time, after finishing a short tour in Iraq.

One day ago, I was painting doors, and getting the cherub ready for her first day in Public School.

Five favorite snacks are, dark chocolate, Toblerone, Those Chocolate Taffy’s, I can’t think of their name, Swiss Chocolate, and Swiss Rolls, man do I like chocolate…

Music, I like rock…Mostly. Metallica, Rage Against the Machine, The White Stripes, White Zombie, and Weird Al Yankovick… to name a few.

What would I do with 5 million dollars? Pay off my debts, Invest, Help out my Family, Get my dream car(s), and donate to worthy charity.

Five places I’d like to escape to? The Highways and Byways of the U.S. in a tricked out R.V., Europe, Australia, Hawaii, and if it was safe- Colombia (God that place was beautiful.)

Five things that I wouldn’t wear? BELL BOTTOMS, PARACHUTE PANTS (again), anything Pink (Not even salmon), a Leisure suit, and a Speedo (again).

Five favorite TV programs? Smallville, Law and Order, CSI, American Chopper, Almost anything on the Science Channel.

Five Greatest Joys? Being The Cherub’s Daddy, there is no bigger joy than parenthood. Brown’s football, when they win. Beer, Chocolate, Country Ribs…MMMMM….

Five Favorite Toys? My computer, The Trampoline, My tools, The TV., and my wife..

I’d like to thank Gribbit from the bottom of my heart for inflicting this torture upon me. However due my policy of Killing all MeMe’s I will not inflict this madness on anyone else.

Have a great day all.

Republican Incompetence

Bob Novak has a great column on Republicans shooting themselves in the foot, this time missing the opportunity to bring down Debbie Stabenow of Michigan. As they continue to alienate the conservative base, the rumor of a death wish for Republican majorities in the House and Senate continue to gain credibility….

Oil Climbs Thanks to Katrina

Off we go. Oil is already approaching $70, and will climb rapidly over the next week. As of 4:08 AM EST:

PETROLEUM ($/bbl) PRICE* CHANGE % CHANGE TIME Nymex Crude 69.20 3.07 4.64 04:08

Have you filled your gas tank yet? Better do it soon.