Category Archives: Technology and Society

Media Criticism, Political Commentary, Technology and Society

The Email Plot Thickens

17 Comments

This is sort of an amazing exchange.

Here’s the thing. She didn’t just use a non-government email address, like Gmail or Yahoo, or her ISP. She set up her own domain and server (though the server may be shared, that’s still unclear to me). That means that she has total control over what data is preserved, and what can be destroyed. Now, in theory, people received her emails, and people sent her emails, so multiple copies exist, even if she purges the server. But if Huma had an address on the same domain, then her emails could be wiped as well. And there’s no explanation of why she did this. But it sure as hell looks like a way to avoid a FOIA, or subpoena. Which is classic Clinton.

Administrative, Technology and Society

Site Redesign

22 Comments

You probably noticed a new look here. I just did a WordPress upgrade, and switched to the new standard theme Twenty Fifteen. Not sure I’ll stick with it (for one thing, it’s not clear how to get the column structure I want) but I’ll play with it for a while.

[Update a while later]

Well, it looks like you can have as many columns as you like, as long as it’s not more than two. Only one sidebar. Not sure whether to stick with this.

[Update a few more minutes later]

OK, looks like the only way to get multiple sidebars is to create a child theme with them. Not sure how much time I want to invest in writing PHP.

[Update a few minutes later]

Last time I tried TwentyFourteen, it was kind of a disaster, but I just got the latest version, and am trying that now. I’ll have to tinker with it, but it at least gives me two customizable sidebars. Definitely have to resize sidebars, and play with style sheet. Feedback appreciated.

Mathematics, Media Criticism, Political Commentary, Science And Society, Technology and Society

The Soon Et Al Paper

3 Comments

What is right, and wrong with it.

It’s always worth noting that the notion that CO2 is a greenhouse gas has never been in serious dispute, or even that the planet has been warming, in fits and starts, since the end of the LIA. The issue is feedbacks, and the limits of our ability to model them. We will probably get better at that in the future, but we currently suck at it, and it would be insane to base public policy on the models.

Media Criticism, Political Commentary, Science And Society, Technology and Society

An Anti-Scientific Screed

65 Comments

…by a supposed climate “scientist.” Even ignoring the “denier” lunacy, this is wrong headed on multiple levels. No, science is not “an expert trust-based system.”

And then there’s this:

You cannot decide that you believe in penicillin or the principles of flight while at the same time disbelieve humans evolved from apes or that greenhouse gases can cause climate change.

I hope he understands climate better than he does evolution. I suspect he doesn’t.

Feynman wept.