In a court of law, witnesses swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. This means they promise not to knowingly lie, leave anything relevant out of the story, or embellish what they know with something they think they know or assume to be true – with or without the intent to mislead. The spirit of this oath should be adopted by scientists and those who use science as...
BIG Media Ltd. has covered controversial issues including abortion, the decision to vaccinate or not, bioethics, the legality of drug use, misinformation, fracking, the energy transition, and climate change. Providing calm, objective news coverage to readers on these matters is a formidable challenge. In fact, readers might at times feel some of these topics are intractable.
Some of these issues – climate change, for example – are so difficult that they fall into a category...
No one has ever accused me of being normal, so it should not surprise you that I am doing this backwards.
Yesterday, I posted an article with a link to Laurie Weston’s talk titled “Beyond the Hysteria – a data-driven examination of the COVID-19 pandemic”.
Today, I post my introduction to Laurie’s eye-opening presentation: (VIDEO LINK HERE)
My intro should help you understand why I feel so honoured to have Laurie on our editorial team, as well...
To say that COVID-19 is an important issue is, of course, an understatement. The disease has ended many lives and ruined countless more.
Differing perspectives on COVID-19 and how our elected and medical officials have reacted to the pandemic have ripped apart families, friendships, and communities.
Many have engaged in vitriolic debate without having anything resembling verifiable facts behind their arguments.
With the video linked here, I present an opportunity to ACTUALLY understand important facts about COVID-19....
Dear Media Friends,
PLEASE stop using phrases such as "the fight to stop climate change", "climate change deniers", and especially "climate denier". Seriously – you are embarrassing yourselves.
Anyone who made it past Grade 6 or who pays minimal attention to the lessons of history should be aware that climate change is a naturally occurring process on this planet that cannot be stopped by humans.
Of course, we should continue to work on developing strategies and technologies...
On June 24, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Roe v Wade ruling, which had determined in 1973 that the Constitution of the United States generally protects the right to choose to have an abortion.
It is speculated that about one-half of the U.S. states will legislate new bans or restrictions on abortion.This decision is of interest throughout the world, despite the fact that law in the United States only holds jurisdiction within that country. Canada has...
Most of us are familiar with the phrase "quality over quantity".
Yet it seems as though very few of us take that concept to heart when it comes to news on the big issues.
Thankfully, many friends and associates have been quick to understand the importance of accuracy and integrity regarding such issues as pandemics, climate change, energy transition, and energy security. However, there are many folks who feel that they get better value reading "free"...
There is a common misperception that science is all about equations, formulas, and clear-cut, unambiguous measurements conducted by serious intellectuals in lab coats. In fact, there is considerable room for creativity, and, very often, non-analytical judgment and choice are involved. These choices and judgments are sometimes about right and wrong, the determination of which depends upon a certain interpretation of morality. Whose morality? What criteria? Are there lines beyond which we all agree something...
What is a fact?
A lot of folks these days will tell you that everyone has their own truth, and that facts are subjective.
I disagree.
I believe that it is very important to distinguish between facts, opinions, theories, conjecture, and falsehoods.
Using the #1 definition from dictionary.com, a fact is …
"something that actually exists; reality; truth: (e.g.) Your fears have no basis in fact."
I hope a lot of people take that example to heart. Some of the...
It is not easy to stick to the high road.
It was not easy to turn down a $25,000 cheque from a gentleman who wanted me to support a particular political party. However, I vowed to never hitch my cart to a political party, and I never will – personally or professionally.
It is not easy to recruit accomplished scientists as journalists and then push them to make regular contributions despite extremely busy professional lives. But...
