Neil deGrasse Tyson 'Goes There' on Climate Change: Creationists and Right-Wingers Freak Out
http://www.alternet.org/tea-party-and-right/neil-degrasse-tyson-goes-there-global-warming-creationist-and-right-wing-crowd
Like clockwork, the folks at Answers in Genesis (AiG), the creationist haven for self-imposed ignorance, take issue once again with Neil deGrasse Tyson, host of the popular television series “Cosmos.”
While it surprises no one that AiG would flip out over evolution, the Big Bang and any other perfectly described and demonstrated scientific theory, it is rather funny to see them flipping out over something much less controversial: oxygen.
Yes, they are upset about oxygen. At the start of the episode, Tyson describes what the early earth was like and its oxygen levels, and discusses some rather large insects that were able to thrive because of the massive amounts of oxygen on the planet.
AiG says:
Actually the notion that atmospheric oxygen levels were higher (estimated at 31–35 percent compared to our 21 percent, not really “almost twice”) has not been demonstrated. But high levels of oxygen can be toxic, and not all insects preserved with these giants were giants. Biologists are not certain why some insects grew so large and investigation is ongoing.
What makes this so funny is not only how wrong they are—scientists do know why these bugs grew so large (hint: it’s oxygen)—but the only things AiG links to are more pages inside of AiG; they don’t use actual peer-reviewed studies to back up their claims. In essense they are saying it’s true because they say it’s true. This is called circular reasoning.
= new reply since forum marked as read
Popular science personality Bill Nye once again stepped up to the defense of science, appearing on CNN’s “Crossfire” Tuesday night to discuss the third National Climate Assessment, a landmark report documenting the ways in which climate change is impacting the United States.
Officially, this was “Bill Nye the Science Guy debates climate change with Nick Loris of the Heritage Foundation,” a conservative think tank with climate skepticism tendencies and reported financial ties to the Koch brothers, so it was all but certain to be a disaster. But the real battle ended up going down between Nye and conservative host S.E. Cupp, who accused Nye, along with the Obama administration, of attempting to scare people about the scary reality of climate change.
What Nye called “informing” the public about the social and economic cost of things that are already happening, like extreme weather and sea level rise, Cupp termed “scare tactics.”
“Isn’t it a problem when ‘science guys’ attempt to bully other people?” Cupp asked. “Nick here had to say, ‘I’m not a denier.’ He had to get it out: ‘I’m not a denier.’ Because really, the science group has tried to shame anyone who dares question this, and the point I’m trying to make is, it’s not working with the public.” Loris, for his part, spent much of his airtime calling aspects of the report into question.
*** just thought i'd add this little gem.
She forms complete sentences, reads well, that whole thing. I watched their show a little, (they still doing that?). Krystal and Steve seemed the ones that would really dig and could put their message across. I don't think Sippy (what an unfortunate nick) gets up to their level, and, I thought, would almost certainly be someone I actively avoid, because life is short. Otoh, she may just be over-playing a role for which she gets a check, espousing viewpoints toward which she was inclined I suspect (she may have been some kind of Repug nabob b4 this, I haven't cared enough to check), but loom larger when it comes out of the little plastic box.
Many serial killers are smart too, so until people prove it to me personally, I think it's safer to just assume people are smart up front. Just because one turns evil, mean, spiteful or Republican doesn't mean they can't think. Besides, almost everything that involves humans on that television is a stage show that sacrifices truth for someone's idea of entertainment.
It takes more to entertain me these days. I would as soon soon watch clowns instead of most of what it broadcasts, and I never liked watching clowns for some odd reason. 
So Sippy went out with the tv some months ago, along with all her fellow performers. Hopefully they stay gone.
She has no excuses. I'd be willing to bet in private, she admits there's truth to it. Hell, I bet even Rush Limbaugh in private admits it. Otherwise, I agree with you. She's not a mental midget as I said in another post, I got a tad carried away. 
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