Science

<span style="font-size: large;">   It is that time again.  I <span style="font-size: large;">have to <span style="font-size: large;">"go dark."  You might know that to be urban slang for going silent.  In other words, it is time for me to stop blogging for a bit. (of course if I were t<span style="font-size: large;">ruly going dar<span style="font-size: large;">k I'd get off facebook and stop texting as well!)</span></span> </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">  I realize that<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> if it is not 1) my dissertation research/<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">writing</span></span>,<span style="font-size: large;"> 2) my course work or 3) my gradua<span style="font-size: large;">te research <span style="font-size: large;">job - I don't have time to do it.  <span style="font-size: large;">I did not include<span style="font-size: large;"> exercise or healthy eating in th<span style="font-size: large;">at list because they are habits, like b<span style="font-size: large;">rushing my teeth.  I wo<span style="font-size: large;">n't stop doing them.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">   I have decided <span style="font-size: large;">that for this par<span style="font-size: large;">ting p</span>ost (be<span style="font-size: large;">fore my <i>temporary </i><span style="font-size: large;">sabbatical), I will share an observ<span style="font-size: large;">ation I've made <span style="font-size: large;">regarding</span> people's res<span style="font-size: large;">ponse to scien<span style="font-size: large;">ce.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span>It seems to <span style="font-size: large;">me that when people hear abo<span style="font-size: large;">ut studies that support their current practic<span style="font-size: large;">es, they believe them.  If research cha<span style="font-size: large;">l<span style="font-size: large;">lenges what p<span style="font-size: large;">eople are comfortable doing</span>, they do<span style="font-size: large;"> not believe it.  This explains why so many <span style="font-size: large;">people <span style="font-size: large;">brush off studies that support climate change and embrace the few tha<span style="font-size: large;">t 'disprove' it<span style="font-size: large;">.  If  we believe the studies that con<span style="font-size: large;">firm envi<span style="font-size: large;">ronmental harm, then we have to <i>c</i><span style="font-size: large;"><i>hange</i>.  We have to drive less and use less coa<span style="font-size: large;">l and plastic, for ex<span style="font-size: large;">ample. <span style="font-size: large;">I<span style="font-size: large;">f ONE study out of 100 does <u>not</u> s<span style="font-size: large;">how an increased risk of heart disease from <span style="font-size: large;">eating too much, or lung cancer from smoking, than that is the study we call truth.  </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">   We <span style="font-size: large;">tend to believe the science that le<span style="font-size: large;">ts us keep on doing what we have always done.  Not really the bes<span style="font-size: large;">t way to evaluate res<span style="font-size: large;">earch.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">   Soon I will present the results of my research studies and they will no doubt generate similar controversy. </span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>

Science

   It is that time again.  I have to "go dark."  You might know that to be urban slang for going silent.  In other words, it is ti...

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