It’s time for some science up in this podcast! Joining me for the second time is Krakus Varsovian, who you may remember from an episode back in September. The state of science funding in Canada back then was dire, but it has since improved! In addition to a science funding update, Krakus is going to tell us about the incredible threat superbugs could pose. We also talk all kinds of other sciency things. It was a fun, educational time!
In the spirit of Equal Pay Day which happened recently, I’ve got Miss Bea Haven from Promoting Secular Feminism on to talk about gender inequality in income. Is the 79 cents figure a myth? well… sort of but also sort of not… You’d better listen to see what I mean!
Today’s episode was scheduled to be a Tommentary, but after a back and forth with a listener by the name of Ben Young, I decided to have him on for a little chat in place of my normal monologuing! We touch on a number of different topics involving the infamous Gad Saad story, blocking people on Twitter, etc. But also, several good thoughts came out of this that I’m very glad for. One of them is the notion of finding common ground with people I disagree with vs. finding uncommon ground with people I agree with. I find the latter to be much much more interesting and Ben feels differently. I wonder how you guys feel on that one? Listen and let me know what you think!
It’s part 2 with Kevin! Lots more on GMOs and labeling controversies. Also, I found out WE AREN’T EVEN USING FISH GENES. My mind is blown. I’ve been defending something we weren’t even doing. Though I still maintain it would be totally fine if we were doing it!
In light of all this GMO debate, Dr. Kevin Folta was kind enough to hop on the show and educate us! Kevin is the professor and chairman of the horticultural sciences department at the University of Florida. He doesn’t like the word “advocate,” but he has been very vocal about GMOs and dispelling the misconceptions that run rampant. As someone very keen on GMO technology I learned a ton from this interview, and even was disabused of some bad notions about GMOs I didn’t even know were wrong!
It’s a Tommentary episode! Last week I let a straw man argument get by me and I even encouraged it. So, I spend the first part of this Tommentary trying to right that wrong. I never want to perpetuate straw man arguments if I can help it! From there, I take us on a look inward regarding no-platforming. If it’s wrong to no-platform someone like Dawkins or Namazie or whomever, is it right to no-platform Andrew Wakefield?
In today’s show, I’ve got two siblings! We’ve got Melonnie, a listener of the show and someone wary of GMO products. Also on is Derek, her brother and a scientist who has some expertise on GMO foods. Will Melonnie’s concerns about labeling change Derek’s mind or will Derek be able to convince Melonnie that the technology is safe? Only one way to find out!
Several announcements in this show!!! One you may already have noticed, and another has something to do with this page here. I’m very excited!
In this episode I’ve got a ton of Tommenting for you guys. I start with some Easter apologetics and then move onto a terrible flier some church put on my door. It would be funny if it weren’t so horrifying! Then I talk about the terrorist attacks a little bit, and a new rule for Twitter discourse that will never happen but I’m going to say anyway.
Sarah Morehead recently wrote a must-read article, which you can find here. It deals with something I also expressed an opinion about online, which is the disgusting positive reaction people seem to have over news of Jared Fogle being beaten in prison. It seems odd to see so many in the humanist community advocating extrajudicial punishment dealt out by supposedly morally superior felons. As it turns out, Sarah has unfortunate personal experience with a sex offender, which makes her an excellent voice of reason in this conversation.
Have you always known Scalia was the worst but didn’t quite have the legal expertise to say exactly why? I’ve got the podcast for you! My guest is Andrew Torrez who is a graduate of Harvard Law and owns his own practice in Baltimore, and he’s got some great blog posts on things like Scalia and how despite what conservatives say, he was the one doing all the legal activism. This one had my blood boiling! Join me in not lamenting that Scalia is no longer polluting the Supreme Court with his crap rulings! Or if you disagree that’s cool too and feel free to comment and tell me why.