The facts are with science

Items of interest in the world of science and skepticism:

For Good Reason, the new podcast from the James Randi Educational Foundation is hosted by none other than the erudite and insightful D.J. Groethe. He is a really great interviewer and one of the sharpest people in the skeptical movement.

Andrew Wakefield is officially a fraud. The man who created the modern anti-vax movement in order to try to get rich has been found guilty of fraudulent and unethical behavior by the General Medical Council. Wakefield failed to disclose multiple major conflicts of interest (e.g. he was trying to patent a competing vaccine, he was being paid by lawyers who were hoping to file class action suits against vaccine manufacturers) and not only engaged in poor research methodology (cherry picking his findings, hiring case studies out of the class action group) but also outright falsification of data when the results didn't show what he wanted. And yet people like Jenny McCarthy still idolize him and hang breathlessly on his every word.

A good friend of mine wrote this morning about his frustrations with NPR. In their obituary piece for Howard Zinn they dedicated a significant amount of time to David Horowitz explaining that Zinn's life's work was "unworthy of any kind of respect" and how "unfortunately he seduced millions of people". Can you imagine if they had allowed even a slightly critical word to be said of Oral Roberts when he died? I stopped listening to and supporting NPR in any way shape or form many years ago when their editorial slant moved consistently right of center. I strongly encourage people to stop donating to NPR. Support specific shows you like directly, support your local station if they are serving your community, but the umbrella organization has long since ceased being progressive or even centrist.