Comments on: Jason’s CFI diaries Day 4

By: Young Aus Skeptic Admin

Young Aus Skeptic Admin — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 22:54:40 +0000

Obviously you are not serious?

By: Martin

Martin — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 08:06:28 +0000

There is indeed a problem with the sun/earth orbital question, which was put thus:

As far as you know, does the earth revolve around the sun, or does the sun revolve around the earth?

Try adding a time dimension and you get:

As far as you know, does the earth revolve once every 365 and a quarter days around the sun, or does the sun revolve around the earth every day?

Was this question meant to say something like does the earth rotate once on it axis every day, or does the sun rotate around the earth?

In its original form, there’s no particular reason why you couldn’t believe both. After all from my perspective stuck on the surface of the earth, the sun does revolve around me. Why should an imagined perspective in outer space take precedence?

By: Amy

Amy — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:10:37 +0000

1 in 5 Americans believe the sun revolves around the earth!? This is extremely disturbing and sad.

By: Fuller

Fuller — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 11:52:14 +0000

Wow, incredible! Can’t wait to hear Randi.

By: john

john — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 10:21:22 +0000

I like Tyler’s photo: it symbolically captures the previous US Administration’s attitude to scientific inquiry.

By: Luke Weston

Luke Weston — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 09:40:54 +0000

A fantastic post Jason, you’re an excellently composed author/blogger.
The conference looks amazing thus far; I can’t wait to hear Randi on the podcast. *squee*

/me quivers from suppressed jealousy…

By: Podblack

Podblack — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 09:36:07 +0000

Randi is great fun. He ended up crashing our panel at D*C, because he was just so full of info! :)

By: ayeung213

ayeung213 — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 09:09:41 +0000

I was wondering where you got such a good camera from.

By: Jacqui

Jacqui — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 08:54:08 +0000

HOLY CRAP. I am astounded. Keeping your all-consuming wonderment about the calibre of speakers and brilliance of the topics under control enough to allow any information to seep into your head must have been a tough task indeed.

And James Randi on Psuedo Scientists? Way to celebrate ep 10! YAY!

Regarding the camera — there’s a night setting on the top dial. See the one with the moon and the stars? Yep. That’s the one. :D

By: Jason

Jason — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 08:50:42 +0000

There have been many similarly alarming studies done on the lack of general science knowledge in the US, the one I posted was not just a one off.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1205/p02s01-usgn.html
http://www.scientificblogging.com/news_releases/science_literacy_american_adults_flunk_basic_science_says_survey