C0nc0rdanceI'm not asking anyone to mirror this video, although I consider it CCA licensed. I put it here in case you are wondering what kind of content YouTube considers unacceptable.
I'm upset about having this removed, because it's representative of the kind of work I want to make available here. If YouTube truly considers this unacceptable then there's no point in continuing to make this type of content available on YouTube.
Circumcision Video Rejected, but now reinstated!C0nc0rdance2012-01-06 | I'm not asking anyone to mirror this video, although I consider it CCA licensed. I put it here in case you are wondering what kind of content YouTube considers unacceptable.
I'm upset about having this removed, because it's representative of the kind of work I want to make available here. If YouTube truly considers this unacceptable then there's no point in continuing to make this type of content available on YouTube.Goodbye, dprjonesC0nc0rdance2020-03-30 | If you'd like to honor him, upload a video and send a link by email to: dprjonestribute@gmail.com We'd like the "raise a glass" to be a common theme, to honor dpr's memory. youtube.com/watch?v=7OMWHJ6H8nI
I've just recently learned the sad news about dprjones. He passed away back in January. He was a good friend and his departure leaves an absence in my life, as it might have for some of you.
I have some restrictions on what I put in my videos on YouTube as the result of my professional position, so I had to think creatively about how to honor a friend in a social media forum without appearing on camera. I hope you enjoyed: if it made you laugh, I think dpr would have appreciated it. For the record: it was science juice and now I have superpowers.
dpr believed strongly in the mission of the MSF: helping people in need without obligatory religious baggage. You can donate to the MSF if you are so inspired here: donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/onetime.cfm msf.orgC0nc0rdance Live StreamC0nc0rdance2019-10-07 | ...All Models Are WrongC0nc0rdance2018-03-24 | Every scientific model or representation of something in nature is simplified, reduced, in order to make them useful.Why Cops Shoot Unarmed Black MenC0nc0rdance2017-10-29 | Why do police officers keep shooting unarmed black men? Is it racially motivated, statistically inevitable, or something else? Can we do anything about a worrying trend that is damaging the relationship between the police and black communities?
Sources: 1. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2001 Aug;81(2):181-92. Prejudice and perception: the role of automatic and controlled processes in misperceiving a weapon. http://web.missouri.edu/~segerti/capstone/PayneBias.pdf
2. Emotion. 2012 Aug;12(4):827-33. Epub 2011 Oct 24. Shoot or don't shoot? Why police officers are more inclined to shoot when they are anxious. https://research.vu.nl/ws/portalfiles/portal/3145325
3. Cogn Process. 2011 Aug; 12(3): 277–288. Training with anxiety: short- and long-term effects on police officers’ shooting behavior under pressure ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3142543Transgender as therapyC0nc0rdance2017-04-22 | If we strip away the usual talking points: how effective is transgender therapy at resolving gender dysphoria? Does it improve the lives of people who undergo transition?
5. J Sex Med. 2017 Mar 30. "Quality of Life and Patient Satisfaction Following Male-to-Female Sex Reassignment Surgery." ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28366591
6. PLoS One. 2011 Feb 22;6(2):e16885. "Long-Term Follow-Up of Transsexual Persons Undergoing Sex Reassignment Surgery: Cohort Study in Sweden" http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0016885LysenkoismC0nc0rdance2017-02-17 | What happens when the government enforces pseudoscience? We don't have to guess. The Soviet Union experienced it from the 1930's to 1960's, with government required orthodoxy in science.
If I mispronounced anything, I make no apologies. As an American, it's my right to mispronounce things. : ) I *will* apologize for the popping sibilants. Fix is in process.Why I Cant Vote for TrumpC0nc0rdance2016-11-07 | You are welcome to your opinion, and I encourage you to exercise your right to vote, but I can't bring myself to vote for a ticket that represents the opposite of what I have dedicated my life to. If you value reason and science, I hope you'll consider my argument.The Threat of Creationism, by Isaac AsimovC0nc0rdance2016-09-15 | Asimov wrote this essay in 1981, before the invention of Intelligent Design creationism. I found it interesting that he responded to the same arguments I still see from creationists today. They truly haven't evolved.
Another video in progress.The Quack Miranda and Weasel WordsC0nc0rdance2016-09-03 | How does the Supplements and Health Food industry get away with intentionally deceptive and confusing marketing and packaging labels?
sciencebasedmedicine.org/supplements-lies-and-a-lengthy-transcriptJohn Horgans Soft vs. Hard TargetsC0nc0rdance2016-05-29 | An audio reading of John Horgan's article in Scientific American. I am not endorsing Mr. Horgan's views, but I think it's an essay worth responding to. I invite you in comments to add your response.
Horgan's counter-response: http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/cross-check/my-response-to-responses-to-my-critique-of-skepticismNon-binary gender/sexC0nc0rdance2016-04-28 | I want to examine in a little more detail the realities of sex and gender diversity, viewed through a biological and historical lens. It's easy to poke fun at the Tumblr alternative subcultures, and some of it is cringe-worthy, but the reactionaries who deny that there is anything other than male and female, man and woman are also incorrect. The simple truth is that sex and gender are always going to be a complex topic if you care about being thorough and accurate.
More videos are in production.
Sources: 1. The World Health Organization's page on "Gender and Genetics": http://www.who.int/genomics/gender/en/index1.html
2. Disorders of Sex Development with Testicular Differentiation in SRY-Negative 46,XX Individuals: Clinical and Genetic Aspects. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27055195
3. Human sex-determination and disorders of sex-development (DSD). http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26526145Vaccines: Too Many Too Soon?C0nc0rdance2015-12-23 | Share with concerned parents in your life. Good science is the cure for misinformation and fear.
References: Pediatrics. 2000 Nov;106(5):1097-102. Do parents understand immunizations? A national telephone survey.
Pediatrics 2002;109;124-129. Addressing Parents’ Concerns: Do Multiple Vaccines Overwhelm or Weaken the Infant’s Immune System?
Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2013 Dec;22(12):1263-70. Number of antigens in early childhood vaccines and neuropsychological outcomes at age 7-10?years.
Pediatrics. 2010 Jun;125(6):1134-41. On-time vaccine receipt in the first year does not adversely affect neuropsychological outcomes.On Liberty by John Stuart Mill, excerptedC0nc0rdance2015-11-09 | John Stuart Mill's essay on the importance of freedom of expression. What he has to say here reflects my own views on why it's important that people feel free to be able to speak... and to be heard. Without debate, no idea can be trusted. This applies to the recent controversies on the Yale campus, and it applies to Thunderf00t and Laughing Witch's conflict.
I haven't disappeared off the map... work just got very, very busy. More videos to come. This video was produced using a different program than usual... because of Windows 10, which I am uninstalling as soon as I upload. :|Cannabis and PsychosisC0nc0rdance2015-09-19 | I'll be recording a podcast on this topic with the League of Nerds this weekend, to be posted soon. youtube.com/user/LeagueOfNerdsPodcast
I invite you to read the same systematic reviews I did. Sources cited on-screen. I want to acknowledge that I borrowed heavily from Radhakrishnan et al 2014, including some whole sentences and phrases.
10. Schizophr Bull. 2011 May; 37(3): 631–639. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3080669Cannabis and the HeartC0nc0rdance2015-08-14 | The effects of cannabis on the heart. I've divided the content into acute effects and consequences of chronic use.
Sometimes I feel like I'm tilting at windmills. Why bother to do these videos, then? Because there is so much myth out there being presented uncritically as truth. Because an informed consumer is a better guardian of the shared public health resources we all depend on.
Comments are on and unrestricted. I'll approve the auto-flagged comments periodically as I find the time.
4. Am J Cardiol. 2014 Jan 1;113(1):187-90. Adverse cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and peripheral vascular effects of marijuana inhalation: what cardiologists need to know.
7. Stroke. 2011 Jun;42(6):1778-80. Cannabis use, ischemic stroke, and multifocal intracranial vasoconstriction: a prospective study in 48 consecutive young patients. http://stroke.ahajournals.org/content/42/6/1778.long
9. Forensic Sci Int. 2001 Dec 27;124(2-3):200-3. Acute cardiovascular fatalities following cannabis use. "We report six cases of possible acute cardiovascular death in young adults, where very recent cannabis ingestion was documented by the presence of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in postmortem blood samples. A broad toxicological blood analysis could not reveal other drugs."Cannabis and the LungC0nc0rdance2015-07-17 | Part 2 of a continuing series on cannabis and cannabinoids. This episode focuses on the effect of smoking cannabis joints on the lungs.
Citations: 1. Cannabis smoke, chemical analysis Chem Res Toxicol. 2008 Feb;21(2):494-502. "A comparison of mainstream and sidestream marijuana and tobacco cigarette smoke produced under two machine smoking conditions."
2. Cannabis smoke, genotoxicity Chem Res Toxicol. 2009 Aug;22(8):1406-14. "The genotoxicity of mainstream and sidestream marijuana and tobacco smoke condensates."
5. The UCLA study Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2006 Oct;15(10):1829-34. "Marijuana use and the risk of lung and upper aerodigestive tract cancers: results of a population-based case-control study." http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/15/10/1829.long
7. Bronchoalveolar lavage in tobacco and marijuana smokers with matched controls Am Rev Respir Dis. 1987 Jun;135(6):1271-5. "Differential examination of bronchoalveolar lavage cells in tobacco cigarette and marijuana smokers." http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3592403
18. J Immunol. 2015 Jun 1;194(11):5211-22. "Critical Role of Mast Cells and Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ in the Induction of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells by Marijuana Cannabidiol In Vivo." http://www.jimmunol.org/content/194/11/5211.long
19. Eur J Immunol. 2010 Dec;40(12):3358-71. "Cannabinoid receptor activation leads to massive mobilization of myeloid-derived suppressor cells with potent immunosuppressive properties." http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3076065
20. Toxicology. 2013 Jun 7;308:60-73. "A global toxicogenomic analysis investigating the mechanistic differences between tobacco and marijuana smoke condensates in vitro." http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0300483X1300070XThe Confederate Battle FlagC0nc0rdance2015-07-03 | I'm not interested in exonerating the meaning of the CSA battle flag. I'm mostly interested in making sure we keep it in context as a part of our history. A history that has included inhumanity against our fellow humans fairly consistently over time. We can track injustice and inequality from the first Native American slaves sent to England, to the first African slaves brought in chains, through Jim Crow laws, to Japanese-Americans held at Manzanar, to the Stonewall riots. Casting our sins on any one symbol is learning the wrong lesson from history.
p.s. Cannabis videos are still in production. "Cannabis and your lungs" might be out as soon as next Friday.Cannabis and CannabinoidsC0nc0rdance2015-06-12 | In this multi-part series, I'll examine some of the research around cannabis and cannabinoids. All research is current and cited below.
4. Modulation of l-α-Lysophosphatidylinositol/GPR55 Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) Signaling by Cannabinoids J Biol Chem. 2012 Jan 2; 287(1): 91–104. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3249141
8. Schizophr Res Treatment. 2011; 2011: 501726. Cannabinoids for the Treatment of Schizophrenia? A Balanced Neurochemical Framework for Both Adverse and Therapeutic Effects of Cannabis Use http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3428612
10. How high: Quantity as a predictor of cannabis-related problems Harm Reduct J. 2008; 5: 20. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2438353Madness, Mayhem, and Charity 2015: c0nc0rdances Saturday Night Science InjectionC0nc0rdance2015-05-14 | What: On Saturday night, I'll inject you with some science for charity! Live explanation of how a new revolution in 'scarless' gene editing can prevent the spread of HIV, and help control infection in HIV+ patients. I promise to make it understandable and accessible even if you aren't a mad scientist!
Source of video content is Nature's Method of the Year, 2011 video: youtube.com/watch?v=zDkUFzZoQAsWhy Dont Whales Get (More) Cancer?C0nc0rdance2015-03-07 | This is one of the more interesting questions in cancer biology. I'll be talking about cancer and evolution over the next few videos. This one will set the basic question and framework.
Evolutionary trade-offs and reproductive strategies are necessary to understanding why we get cancer at the rate we do.
Errata: 1. The values in the chart showing whales and mice cell counts are wrong.
Blue Whales Mice Cell number 100 quadrillion (1E17) 5 trillion (5E9)
2. Natural selection is unguided, but it is not random.Ear CandlingC0nc0rdance2015-02-27 | I don't make any secret that I think ear candling is NOT an advisable practice, but I'm making an effort here to stay focused only on the objective, verifiable facts from laboratory testing.
I understand that many people report subjective relief from ear candling, and I understand that this can be persuasive. The claims made about it are demonstrably false, though. We could debate whether or not it works, but we can't debate whether or not it works in the way proponents claim.
As always: Be very wary of taking medical advice from anonymous Internet sources (including me!). If in doubt, your best, most reliable source of medical information is a licensed medical practitioner.
4. "Ear candles: a triumph of ignorance over science." J Laryngol Otol. 2004 Jan;118(1):1-2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14979962Light of Evolution by Theodosius DobzhanskyC0nc0rdance2015-02-12 | To celebrate Darwin Day, Feb 12th, 2015, I offer the words of Dobzhansky, who was a central figure in the modern evolutionary synthesis with his 1937 book, "Genetics and the Origin of Species". Dobzhansky was also a deeply religious man who believed that God had a hand in the process of evolution, a view I don't share, but try to understand.
Dobzhansky cites Teilhard de Chardin, who was a biologist, a theistic evolutionist, and a controversial figure who described evolution as cosmic attainment of perfection, a concept I also strongly disagree with.
This is an excerpt from the original work: The American Biology Teacher, Vol. 35, No. 3 (Mar., 1973), pp. 125-129. http://www.usfca.edu/fac-staff/dever/Dobzhansky_light.pdf
I also want to offer my condolences and wish for healing to the families of the victims of the recent Chapel Hill shootings. Deah Shaddy Barakat, Yusor Mohammad, Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha were senselessly murdered. If you want to try to do some good in the world, consider donating to the Foundation Beyond Belief drive to fund Deah's charity, which will bring dental care to refugees in Syria.
Addendum: The actual effectiveness of the 2014-2015 vaccine against laboratory confirmed cases is 23% [95% CI of 8 -- 36%]. Earlier reports have come up with numbers from 46% to 3% effectiveness. The value of 28% that I used was from a Facebook post by one of my extended family. It doesn't really matter for the purposes of the video what number is used. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6401a4.htm
Find a location to get a flu shot: http://flushot.healthmap.orgClimate Change and Cultural CognitionC0nc0rdance2015-02-06 | Are global warming deniers just uneducated or stupid? This paper examines two competing models of why people would dispute the conclusion of 97% of the world's climatologists. Is it simply a matter of lacking knowledge and critical thinking?
This is a verbatim reading of sections of: Donald Braman et. at., "The Polarizing Impact of Science Literacy and Numeracy on Perceived Climate Change Risks", 2 Nature Climate Change 732 (2012).
I encourage you to read the full results and discuss them in comments below. I found cultural cognition thesis to be a near-perfect fit for my own experiences on Youtube. Cultural cognition raises questions for me about my persuasive tactics to date, and I hope it does for you, too.
My thanks to Dan Kahan, who brings this work to life in his many videos here on Youtube: youtube.com/watch?v=LZah9G-7vxw youtube.com/watch?v=NJDBv7eldSUSteven Pinkers Why free speech is fundamentalC0nc0rdance2015-02-01 | First published as an editorial in the Boston Globe, January 27th, 2015. Author is Harvard Professor and award winning writer, Steven Pinker.
http://stevenpinker.com twitter.com/sapinkerThis Sunday, New Covenant Group: The PlaceC0nc0rdance2014-08-20 | C0nc0rdance, Ozymandias Ramses II and Evitable Replicator will be on Sunday Evening at The Place (Aug. 24th). The topic will be: How Science Undermines Dogmatic Religion.
|| WHO || -Guest: +C0nc0rdance -Panelist include: +Ozymandias Ramses II +Evitable +Bob Greaves -Hosts include: Dr. Michael W. Jones Rhonda Jones
|| WHAT || The topic will be: How Science Undermines Dogmatic Religion
|| WHEN || This Sunday night (Aug. 24th, 2014) on 'Sunday Evening at The Place'
|| WHERE || LIVE on +theNewCovenantGroup YouTube Channel Channel here: youtube.com/user/theNewCovenantGroup scheduled LIVE broadcast here: http://youtu.be/gSYxI1p-t9o...What Causes Autism?C0nc0rdance2014-07-27 | We've established that autism is not a vaccine related illness. What exactly do we know about how it's caused?
Scientists are currently searching for a unifying theory of autism, and the only thing that's clear so far is that it will need to be a complex, multi-hit hypothesis.
This is a far from comprehensive review, just a few thoughts of mine. As always, the best advice is not to be found on the Internet. A licensed physician or health care professional is always better than a blog, vlog, or forum.
3. J Neurodev Disord. 2012; 4(1): 7. "Infant siblings and the investigation of autism risk factors" http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3436647/pdf/1866-1955-4-7.pdfClarifying my positions.C0nc0rdance2014-07-20 | If your goal is to only have your personal views confirmed; if you prefer to shout down your opposition; if you like to glorify drugs, violence, or crime... please feel free to unsubscribe.
I'm here to participate in a meaningful discussion with people of varying opinions.
I won't link to CultOfDusty's or Thunderf00t's videos. You can find them easily enough and my comments on them are also easy to find.Evolution and HIV for OFNF, Part 2C0nc0rdance2014-07-11 | I have to publish this in two parts because of the length. The cuts are pretty sharp.
This is in response to OnceForgivenNowFree's challenge to "prove evolution is a fact". While I don't actually care to convince him of the factual nature of evolution, I want to explain to him why I oppose his interference in science and science education. It was also an excuse to revisit HIV and evolution, my two favorite topics.
Link to Part 1: youtube.com/watch?v=vtnz2QZRg-QEvolution and HIV for OFNF, Part 1C0nc0rdance2014-07-11 | I have to publish this in two parts because of the length. The cuts are pretty sharp.
This is in response to OnceForgivenNowFree's challenge to "prove evolution is a fact". While I don't actually care to convince him of the factual nature of evolution, I want to explain to him why I oppose his interference in science and science education. It was also an excuse to revisit HIV and evolution, my two favorite topics.
Link to Part 2: youtube.com/watch?v=exDlDBU6Qv4Individuality by Robert IngersollC0nc0rdance2014-07-04 | Happy 4th of July! It's the American Independence Day, and I think this short excerpt from Robert G Ingersoll's "Individuality" is very appropriate. Being a non-believer is still sometimes challenging in this country, and the parallels between Ingersoll's time and now are very appropriate.
If you don't know who Robert Ingersoll is, and you happen to be a non-theist, you are in for a treat! His essays are some of the most powerful and passionate for his time.
More about Robert G Ingersoll: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_G._IngersollFrank Statement to Cigarette Smokers, 1954C0nc0rdance2014-06-23 | Called the "Frank Statement" in marketing circles, this newspaper ad circulated in 1954 in several hundred newspapers nationally, in response to overwhelming studies linking smoking to lung cancer risk.
I offer this as an example of how simple it is to "spin" health risks. Cigarette smoking was possibly one of the earliest examples of science denialism which today includes creationism (evolution denial), global warming denial, HIV-AIDS denialism, and others.
For more information about the link between cigarette smoking and cancer: http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/lung/basic_info/risk_factors.htmWakefields Smoking GunC0nc0rdance2014-05-01 | Andrew Wakefield kicked off the modern anti-vaccine movement in 1998 with a publication in the Lancet linking autism to entercolitis (gut inflammation). He followed this with an expanded study in 2000, and evidence showing that measles replication in the gut was causing the inflammation in 2002.
The Lancet 1998 and American Journal of Gastroenterology 2000 papers were later retracted, at least in part because the samples used in those studies were obtained unethically and outside of ethical review of human research.
The Molecular Pathology 2002 paper was never retracted. The General Medical Council (UK) in their public hearings disclosed the raw data obtained during an investigation. It came to me through a colleague involved in the investigation and I want to share it with you. It is the smoking gun that convinced me that Wakefield was involved in an intentional fraud, that he was aware the data he was producing was false and deceptive.
Here are some links to learn more. Investigator Brian Deer details the full chronology with essential primary documents. Excellent, thorough journalism: http://briandeer.com/mmr/lancet-summary.htm
A brief introduction to real-time PCR: http://pathmicro.med.sc.edu/pcr/realtime-home.htm
The three papers referenced: 1. Lancet. 1998 Feb 28;351(9103):637-41. "Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children." [RETRACTED] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9500320
CoolHardLogic: youtube.com/user/CoolHardLogic "Testing Homeopathy - Part 1: Plausbility" youtube.com/watch?v=6dFYfeADX7g Just fantastic video making. I am envious of both them. Anyone who claims YouTube is getting stale just hasn't looked hard enough. There's great science and pseudoscience-debunking videos out there, made by innovative and careful videomakers.Spirit Science: An Open Letter to JordanC0nc0rdance2014-04-25 | Dear Jordan Pearce of The Spirit Science, I have a challenge for you. From one truth-seeker to another, I want to see what we can accomplish together.
Might I suggest that you go to Jordan's video and give him a link to this video and let him know that he's "not even wrong".Maybe All ThisC0nc0rdance2014-04-09 | I'm a little busy to get back into video making 100%, but this is a promise that more is coming.
"Maybe All This" is one of my favorite short poems. The author is just as remarkable, Wisława Szymborska-Włodek, a Polish Nobel Laureate. I recommend reading her story: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wis%C5%82awa_Szymborska
This work was first published in English translation in the New Yorker, original here: http://archives.newyorker.com/default.aspx?i=1992-12-14#folio=094YouTube StahpC0nc0rdance2013-11-07 | I needed to vent. Only Dolan can express my full loathing and sorrow.Assault rifle vs. Assault weaponC0nc0rdance2013-11-05 | I've already made the mistake of misusing these two terms. The "Assault Weapon" is defined in the "Federal Assault Weapons Ban" of 1994, which has since expired. Newer legislation is needed to redefine, using smarter criteria, what an assault weapon is, prior to any future bill restricting their ownership and sale.
It appears Ciancia used an M&P15, a Smith and Wesson clone of the AR-15, chambered in 5.45x39mm.The Hand Grenade testC0nc0rdance2013-11-02 | "The Hand Grenade Test" is a rhetorical device I use with friends and family to convey the simple idea that all weapons are not equal: some have design features that make them inappropriate for self-defense use. Hand grenades and C4 have a high potential for misuse and little to no potential for legitimate defensive use.
I understand that [assault weapons] are a contentious issue among gun owners, in spite of being a low percentage of total gun ownership. The "Feinstein definition" is often mocked and parodied, and I agree some of the definitions seem disconnected to reality, but the idea that some weapons have a greater misuse potential than their use can support.
I am not someone who opposes all gun ownership, but smart regulation can prevent misuse of weapons by people intending to harm the innocent.The 1 in 4 rape statistics: Fact-checking the numbersC0nc0rdance2013-10-16 | In response to a very popular claim that the "1 in 4" statistics has been soundly debunked, I decided to dig a little deeper on the research. While I admire the spirit of skepticism many viewer displayed, skepticism without investigation is just biased ignorance.
I've said elsewhere, and I want to say it here again: Rape and sexual assault are not good subjects for fighting the culture wars with. Let's keep this topic a matter of "human compassion and civil law" as ThePeach has said elsewhere (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHHmiUD_yrs)
The three aims of this video: 1. Raise your consciousness about using gender-specific terms for victim and perpetrator. 2. Present some facts about sexual assault based on primary research sources. 3. Identify why sexual assault prevention and response matters.
This is not a good topic for either side to use to fight the culture wars. I'd hate to see something as basic and important as rape crisis response become a contentious political issue.
3. J Interpers Violence. 2010 December; 25(12): 2217--2236. "Drug- and Alcohol-Facilitated, Incapacitated, and Forcible Rape in Relation to Mental Health among a National Sample of Women" http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2967593
4. Drug Alcohol Rev. 2011 September; 30(5): 481--489. "Alcohol's Role in Sexual Violence Perpetration: Theoretical Explanations, Existing Evidence, and Future Directions" http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3177166
7. Violence Vict. 2002 Dec;17(6):691-705. "Avoiding rape: the effects of protective actions and situational factors on rape outcome." http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12680683Journal Club: Alcohol and Sexual VictimizationC0nc0rdance2013-10-07 | The article I'm reading excerpts from: "Alcohol Consumption and Women's Vulnerability to Sexual Victimization: Can Reducing Women's Drinking Prevent Rape?" Subst Use Misuse. 2009; 44(9-10): 1349--1376.
Like the rest of the panel yesterday, I was quite ready to criticize Thunderf00t for his tone. As you can see from academic papers on this topic, the same controversial ideas are conveyed with the same types of disclaimers. If opponents of these discussions stymie efforts that focus on risk reduction for women, I think they do a disservice to those future sexual victims who could have benefited. The worst I can say about Thunderf00t is that his tone was wrong for the audience he was addressing. He is very accustomed to the language of academic discourse, which is often detached and unemotional about issues that are painfully emotional for the victims of sexual assault or their family. Rather than assuming malice on his part, it helps to think of the audience he addresses professionally, academic researchers.
Your comments are welcome. Please read the paper for a deeper analysis of risk reduction efforts that have been tried in the college setting. The scholarship here is quite good, and the authors are well published on this topic.
My apologies to Drs. Testa and Livingston for dragging them obliquely into this, but it was important to establish the bona fides of the authors.Gun Control ClaimsC0nc0rdance2013-10-03 | LINKS TO VIDEO RESPONSES BELOW!
This is an analysis of four tropes of the anti gun-control / pro-gun lobby. I expect the comments will be a battleground for the "Great Culture Wars", so let me be clear on my own position. "Gun control is not gun prohibition, it is about preventing misuse of guns by criminals to hurt innocents."
The correlation between guns and violence, at the Harvard School of Public Health: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/hicrc/firearms-research/guns-and-death/
VIDEO RESPONSES:
Justicar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sp54MdALiRw NewEuropeANP (National Libertarian Socialist People's Action Party): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToyjGp__ayEThe Courtiers Reply by PZ MyersC0nc0rdance2013-08-18 | PZ Myers wrote "The Courtier's Reply" in response to critics of Richard Dawkin's book "The God Delusion" which focused on his lack of knowledge in theological studies. I'd like to hear what message you take away from this essay. Please share in comments.
I found this on my hard drive from last year. Originally, I hesitated to put it up because the "voice acting" was so bad and annoying; later, because I had a strong disagreement with PZ. I'm putting that behind me to share with you what I think is a thought provoking essay.
Sorry for the long absence, folks! The gun control video series isn't dead, merely sleeping while I get my work and personal life under control.Should Atheists Pray? response by Hemant MehtaC0nc0rdance2013-06-29 | Several essays were recently published by the New York Times on the topic of "Should Atheists Pray?" This is the only one worth recording... the only one that represents atheism. Follow the link below to read infuriating articles by pastors and woo-meisters like Deepak Chopra. I have long admired Hemant Mehta, and his answer here is so well written I had to share it.
I haven't abandoned my videos on gun control, but work and personal life have gotten in the way of speedy completion. Stay tuned.Sam Harris: The Fireplace DelusionC0nc0rdance2013-05-13 | I hate to have to point this out, but: I DID NOT WRITE THIS ESSAY. I'm just READING IT ALOUD.
This essay came to my attention recently, and it's an excellent exercise for a skeptic or atheist to experience this feeling of loss of innocence and the painful feelings it summons. See it through to the end before posting, please.
Next gun video is in production. First up is Australian gun control policy.Burzynski Clinic: The Merola-Friendly VersionC0nc0rdance2013-04-19 | Poor Eric Merola. He objected to my "Fair Use" of a small low-res image of his movie poster. He used the legal thuggery tactic of submitting a false DMCA in order to force me to give him my home address so that I can be the subject of legal harassment and intimidation by his lawyers and media thugs.
Then, when I posted a short video pointing out the false DMCA and posting his public email address... he had it flagged for "Scams and Spam". Poor Eric. A guy can't use perjury to silence his critics without a lot of headache anymore. At last count, there were over 80 copies of this "unscrubbed" video on YouTube. My thanks to those who deemed that necessary.
To ease his troubled mind, I've removed any and all references to anything he ever worked on in this "scrubbed" version of my previous video. I dare him to take this one down. Go on, Eric... I'm game if you are. Let's dance.Madness Mayhem and Charity 2013C0nc0rdance2013-04-06 | Don't miss the C0nc0rdance Riddle Challenge! We'll be having some fun and raising some money for HIV/AIDS research. I hereby pledge $5 for every riddle I fail to stump you with, if you'll pledge the same.