Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Daily Blend: Tuesday, February 21, 2012

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Peter Gleick
Peter Gleick

My thoughts on Leaked-Heartland-Anti-Global-Warming-Documents-Gate, in (sorta-)brief: The only (major) objection I would have with what Peter Gleick [pictured] did is if he stole someone else’s identity rather than forge a fake one (and I withhold judgment on that matter until I see confirmation either way). Otherwise, I can only support his actions (even though he apologized for his self-called “serious lapse of [his] judgment and ethics”). No laws were broken, no-one was harmed in their persons or rights, and in the end, truth trumps all. Not that it stops Heartland from crying foul, nor the usual denialist suspects from crowing – even after cheerleading for the “Climategate” perpetrators (who actually did break the law, unlike Gleick) only a couple years previously. But then, denialism of any flavor does usually come bundled with weapons-grade hypocrisy.

All in all: No harm or foul (again, as long as Gleick didn’t steal any real person’s identity), the truth won out, and the anti-science liars are whining because someone used (a watered-down version of) the same tactics they so eagerly applaud when used against actual scientists. It’s only sad that Gleick now faces a ruined career for having ostensibly done the right thing.

And with that out of the way, I now present your links:

  • Dead-child law in 3 … 2 …
    (via The Agitator)

  • Death by denial: A look at the (literally) dying field of HIV/AIDS denialists.
    (via The Daily Grail)

  • Pathetic smear piece in The Telegraph: Richard Dawkins should apologize for having a distant ancestor who owned slaves hundreds of years ago!
    • On that subject, Vox Day never misses a shot at making a more pathetic ass of himself than I thought possible.
  • Oh, Canada: Ontario universities sign ridiculous copyright agreement stipulating that emailing links is equal to photocopying, incurring heavy fees.

  • Homeowner to armed burglar who just shot him in the head: “F—- you, you son of a bitch, now it's my turn.
    (via @radleybalko)

  • The march sprint to Idiocracy continues.
    (via The Daily Grail)

  • If you have any story suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comments or send them in.