mountainsandsound

I'll admit, I haven't read either of them, their works have just been summarized in this study design and stats analysis book I have. But I got them in my Amazon shopping cart right now. The philosophy of science hurts my head a bit. I'd rather be out collecting data than thinking about it, since collecting data for me has meant being outside, and thinking about it has meant being in front of a computer.

Since I imagine you are deferring here to the opinions of what I'll call "main-stream" science organizations (am I correct?), how did they establish the above conclusion, namely that GMOs pose little if any risk to humans? Did they use feeding studies on humans, feeding studies on lab animals? Or some other form of studies? Not feeding studies, but an understanding of genetics, at least to refute the idea that a gene or multiple genes from an organism spliced into the genome of a vegetable or other food plant will make that plant toxic for consumption. If the gene encodes for a protein that is poisonous to humans, then it will be poisonous. But if the DNA being spliced into whatever plant they are working with does not code for something that is toxic to humans, then we shouldn't worry, even though a flounder gene in a tomato sounds weird. There are other reasons of course to be concerned about GMOs, but the idea that this or that plant having some genes spliced in from an unrelated organism makes it toxic is countered by an understanding of genetics. And that seems to be the main concern in regards to human health and GMOs. I think there is more uncertainty in regards to environmental impact.

FW, did you really think you were the only nerd around here? I will take your Kuhn and raise it a Popper:

Hey Kimmo. Yes, in a nutshell that is pretty much my position, with the addition of "BUT we should be open to new evidence to the contrary". When I was younger I thought science was able to reveal absolute truth in the world. And while I still think the scientific method is the best way to discover how the world works, I don't have the illusion that science can remove uncertainty. The statistical analyses that scientists use to evaluate hypotheses are an example. Risk and probability lie on a continuum, and I support GMO technologies, not because they have been proven to be totally and 100% safe and always will be, but because I think the benefits far outweigh the risks. The scientific literature on the subject, as a whole, suggests the risks are small. When human health is at stake a higher burden of proof is warranted and the balance between risk and benefit changes the equation. But with the risks to human health appearing to be very very small (never zero), GMOs in my mind have still met that higher burden of proof.

Could "commercial enterprise" refer not to the guides in the wilderness, but to a building or other physical location where the enterprise is based?

Shitty, that's why I decided to spray on the internet machine. My bad, sorry that I turned the previous post into a personal attack. By your definition of of the word, I would agree that there is not a consensus, because there is not agreement among all within the scientific community. But there isn't ever agreement by all scientists on anything. You can find people with advanced degrees in biology who don't believe that natural selection is a mechanism of evolution. Scientists who disagree with an established position aren't necessarily wackjobs- a scientist with degrees from prestigious institutions might fight very hard against a changing tide if it would prove their research (often their life's work) wrong. Despite the evidence. Or if they have any other sort of vested interest in standing firm in their contrary position. Scientists are people too. So in light of that, the best we can do is see what the majority of researchers in the relevant fields have to say about it. The larger the majority, the more convincing the position becomes.

I have some good ideas for labels, ones that actually inform the public about established health risks: Contains high levels of Sodium You are about to consume the equivalent of 10 tsp of sugar with this can of Coke Yes, it says 4 servings, but we know you will eat the whole thing. After you do, you will have consumed enough saturated fat for the entire week.

Very interesting Kimmo. If you are so scientifically literate, would you please include a sample size with your observation? That way I can actually tell what proportion of the total scientists in the relevant fields believe that GMOs are harmful. Disproving the idea of a consensus would be best accomplished by showing the actual proportion of scientists in the relevant fields who do not agree. Simply dropping a few names with Ph.D.s after them doesn't do it for me.

Teahaddists HATE this: One weird math trick called changing demographics...

So that's the polite way to say that?

John Mccain HATEs this: Teahaddists discover this one weird trick to make the GOP impotent for years

5 greatest squirrel suit youtube videos of all time as determined by Kim Jong Un

3 things all restaurant cooks admit to doing to the food they prepare

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Not crazy, probably a bit too early though. Might be more responses if you were to post June or July. Most of the local climbers on this site don't plan Rainier climbs too far in advance.

Whoops, my style of humor once again did not translate well through written word. I don't care what I will look like while skiing. I actually fully embrace nerdom. Looking forward to winter. Maybe some collaboration with CCers on some objectives as well. Enjoy the high pressure system you got now.

After careful deliberation, including the input of the CCers here who frequent the the internet machine, I'm going with renting this season before I buy anything. I will start out on one of the mole hills here in the midwest they call a resort, before I fly back to my beloved Cascades to enjoy winter break. The "ski areas" are cheap here, and there aren't any cool climber types or potential partners to witness me falling during my first couple times. So that's the plan. Keep spraying as the need arises.

That was one of the fun parts about getting deeper into my major during the latter years of college and then grad school- pizza, beer, salmon BBQs with the profs. Good times nerding out with good educators. And honestly Ivan, the main thing I remember about federalism is that the American brand is more analogous to marble cake than to layer cake.

True, I see your point. The best is "nearly new" used gear from people that went all out and bought everything, only to find a short while later it wasn't their thing. Or felt compelled to upgrade immediately.

Ah, the one piece of gear I might have to pay full retail for. Hard for me to stomach. Can't use the REI 20% off coupon for those. Not sure that's the kind of thing to buy used either. I've had much luck borrowing or renting for cheap, but I have to pony up the cash at some point. I've become familiar with and like the Tracker 2. Is there anywhere that has just a little sale on those ever?

Where I teach college biology labs, we have been moving toward this approach. Some of the material that used to be covered in class is now online, and students are expected to prepare ahead of time, thus allowing me more interaction with my students. Which I like in a lot of ways, because much of my day is now spent helping students design and execute their own science experiments, which is more fun than babbling about cellular respiration. But there are students who don't take the initiative to come prepared, and it can be frustrating at times. I think this works for the type of class I teach, but I don't know if I would have preferred it for some of my classes. I can think of two past teachers in my life who really made a lasting impression on me, both provided "direct instruction" (they were storytellers, really), both were history teachers and absolute masters of their craft. Thinking about it, I would hate to see any of their class content go online.

Rob, I think I get your guitar analogy. For me, the transition from AC/DC to Santana was rough and never came to full fruition.

Yeah, I'm trying not to get too excited. Hoping that some of my XC skills might translate, but not totally expecting it. I'm thinking more about making mellow approaches more enjoyable rather than going all Hummel Helmstadter or Skoog. Like skiing up to Muir, stashing the skis, climbing the Gibraltar Ledges in boots, and returning to the skis for a nice ride back to the rig. Baby steps. You guys are helpful. I may solicit advice in the future regarding gear selection, but I think I'll rent first and try different set-ups, which is something I rarely do before buying gear.

Jeez you guys, skiers are good at cultivating stoke! Can't wait. I'm a world away teaching in Iowa now for one more year, looking forward to my long winter break in WA Another issue I have noticed being a slowshoer (in addition to the lack of exhilaration), is that many fellow slowshoers do not have much in the way of avalanche awareness or beacon usage. All the people I trust to pull me from an icy tomb (or, actually, not get in that situation in the first place) have skis for the most part.

Yes actually. Snowboarding at Mt. Baker is the reason I gave up XC skiing as a 13 year old. But I don't have a split board and I haven't been on a lift in several years. There have been a few times when I hiked/climbed up an objective in Invernos or snowboard boots with my old snowboard on my back, and then strapped in for the ride down. So I am comfortable riding a snowboard down steep terrain, but I figured I would be better off learning to ski. Seems like if there is a lot of up and down and flat terrain mixed in, skis would be better than a split board and would hold an edge better than a split board in split mode. Maybe I am going to upset people with that last bit of speculation. I guess if I was really into riding, splitboarding would make more sense. I'm not stuck on the idea of having one foot in front of the other. It just seems like there is a lot of backcountry terrain where skis would be more practical for getting from point A to point B, which is why I'd like to learn skiing. Also I would like to follow in the footsteps of my Scandinavian forebearers.