RSS SPIRIT

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=scienceNews&storyID=2006-01-12T134745Z_01_WRI249620_RTRUKOC_0_US-SCIENCE-KOREA-IMPACT.xml

Do not let the white smocks and lectures on the empirical method fool you. Science is as full of scheming, over ambitious sleezebags as any other profession. In light of all the scumbaggery that is taking place in corporate and government, it is well to remember: Scientists can be dirtbags too.

This is also pertinent to the whole intelligent design brew-ha-ha. The defenders of evolution played up the disinterested, objective image of science compared to the obviously biased and essentially dishonest image of intelligent designers. While mostly true, this worthless Hwang Woo-suk has put a politically tenuous branch of science in jeapardy because of his narcissistic nonsense.

Science is no more infallible than any other field where competition over money and fame drive the system. For those of us who hate the fundies and all the other ignorant anti-science morons, this is a well timed wake up call. Just because some cracker in a smock says it is so, don't make it so. Whenever we hear of some 'breakthrough discovery' let us all repeat in unison: "Replicate the results please."

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