Monthly Archives: March 2010

Climategate Investigation Results In . . .

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. . . and nothing bad was going on. Surprised? Yeah, me neither.

A UK parliamentary Science and Technology Committee investigated the whole East Anglia CRU thing, and their results have been released.

On the much cited phrases in the leaked e-mails—”trick” and “hiding the decline”—the Committee considers that they were colloquial terms used in private e-mails and the balance of evidence is that they were not part of a systematic attempt to mislead.

Insofar as the Committee was able to consider accusations of dishonesty against CRU, the Committee considers that there is no case to answer.

The Committee found no reason in this inquiry to challenge the scientific consensus as expressed by Professor Beddington, the Government Chief Scientific Adviser, that “global warming is happening [and] that it is induced by human activity”. But this was not an inquiry into the science produced by CRU and it will be for the Scientific Appraisal Panel, announced by the University on 22 March, to determine whether the work of CRU has been soundly built.

(Bolding added)

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The ever-elusive BoM geography

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From last Thursday’s Salt Lake Tribune:

It has been more than half a century since the last big shift in thinking about Book of Mormon geography.

Judging from the commotion in the blogosphere and on rival theorists’ Web sites, a dramatically different—and disputed—theory is gaining traction among some of the LDS faithful.

The theory, popularized by Rod Meldrum and Bruce H. Porter in the past three years, suggests that Book of Mormon events took place in the heartland of the United States, east of the Mississippi River from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. They have popularized the idea at firesides and conferences, on tours of the Midwest and in DVD sets and books.

Next week, Meldrum, Porter and colleague Wayne May will conduct two conferences exploring the heartland model, which they believe answers the question that has enthralled generations of Mormons: Where did the historical events of The Book of Mormon take place?

Meldrum expects 300 to attend his conference Thursday and Friday at Zermatt Resort in Midway, just before the church’s General Conference.

Porter says 600 already were signed up 10 days in advance for the conference sponsored by LDS Promised Land, a travel company, at SouthTowne Expo Center in Sandy. That conference also is Thursday and Friday.

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Oil Reserves Dramatically Over-estimated

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We may have one-third less oil globally than previously thought.

The Telegraph reports that OPEC (the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) over-reported their reserves in the 80′s. This means that world oil reserves, previously thought to range from 1,150bn to 1,350bn (billion barrels) may actually be between 850 and 900 billion barrels. Supply could outstrip demand for oil as soon as 2014, especially considering Asia’s growing thirst for oil.

Also, many public statistics have started to incorporate unusual sources whose costs are uncertain, such as shale and tar sands. These sources may never be economically sound to develop.

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David O. McKay and the Other

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Historian Gregory Prince recently gave a lecture at Utah State University entitled “Confronting the Other: David O. McKay and Reaching Out.”

Prince spoke about LDS president David O. McKay’s amicable relations with other religions (like Catholicism), Mormon intellectuals (like Sterling McMurrin), and even apostates (like his niece Fawn Brodie). I think McKay’s ability to “reach out” made Mormonism the worldwide faith it is today.

Now, I know that you’re not all Mormon studies nerds like I am. But humor me—it’s a good lecture.

Hat-tip to John Dehlin for the audio.

What is the worst argument for atheism?

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Next Wednesday, SHAFT will be meeting to discuss and debunk the worst arguments for atheism. You can find out more about this event at its Facebook page.

I know many of our readers will be unable to attend, so let’s take up the question here, too. What popular arguments for atheism (or against religion) do you think fail? Why?

Sidewalk Bible Verses

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Has anyone else been annoyed today by the bible verse written on the sidewalk between the Library and the Natural Resources building?

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

– John 3:16

Wow, I find that obnoxious! USU has really bizarre sidewalk chalk rules (talk to one person it’s banned; to someone else, it’s regulated), and I’m not sure why this form of proselytization particularly annoys me, but it does.

Thoughts? Does anyone think I’m totally overreacting?

Violence Flares Over Healthcare Passage

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This is distinctly disturbing.

Across the country, rocks or bricks are being thrown through the windows of Democratic Party offices. Congressmen are receiving threats to themselves and their children. Even Sarah Palin herself makes some unsavory implications.

It seems the “break the windows” idea is coming from this guy. As mentioned in my first link, the parallels to Kristallnacht are pretty obvious, but luckily the scale is much smaller.

What’s going on here?

http://www.facebook.com/notes/sarah-palin/dont-get-demoralized-get-organized-take-back-the-20/373854973434