Cargo Cult Science- Feynman, once again, catapults himself onto my people to research list with his illustrated words from the 1974 Cal Tech commencement speech he gave, apply dubbed Cargo Cult Science. The ideas that Feynman conveys aren’t new to me, however, it is the context by which he illustrates his points and core objective that captivate my attention. Once more, I happen to agree with everything he had to say.

What makes this work ever more refreshing is the fact that I feel that I myself am trapped in a year, decade, century and era when human beings are so close, yet, so far from utilizing objective thinking particularly when it comes to their core values and principles. For clarity sake, I’ll make a quick reference as to what I mean and how it relates to Feynman. I feel, hypothetically speaking ( in scientific terms), that based on the evolutionary clock we human beings as a race are either in a “teenager” state, or in a “post-teenage” state in our general evolution with regard to our  logical thinking. Either way, we have yet to relinquish the presence of Mother and Father (the idea of “God”), yet, we are in some ways seeming to let go of it’s parental grasp, or we’re at least rebelling; thus, the human race is either in a young adult stage cumulating it’s own ideas and coming out from under the parental wing, or we’re mere teenagers just searching for our true colors and displaying them in moments of defiance. I hope it is the former. The rapid advancement of man driven science and the like-minded logic of it’s pioneers such as Feynman are evidence or at least hope that this type of objective thinking is soon to be prominent within the human race. After all, without it we’d still “cave-dwellers” so to speak.

Feynman’s greatest point from the speech was an idea derived from not fooling yourself, which was not to fool others. No matter how objective one is forming their beliefs, they shall never publish only one side, their own, in any argument, research, conversation, debate or study. It is best to remain a scientist in forming, maintaining and publishing these beliefs. A true scientific mind, as a human being, should always look at both sides and test old results as well in their period of discovery. When all possible facets have been utilized, it is then that the real answer be known, and the results can speak for themselves. Oh, and always cite your sources!


Critical Thinking in an Online World- I happen to agree with the direction of society and our new roles as “Literary Information Seekers,” and the need for literacy for such a task. The role that Debra Jones mentioned is one that I see to a point in academia, however, having work in Los Angeles County library system for almost two years, it is one that I hadn’t witnessed in experience, nor, did I see the opportunity, need, or the desire from either the patron nor the librarian while employed there.

The concept that Jones describes is well thought out, but is one-dimensional in it’s design and scope. The illustration speaks volumes of the imperativeness of the librarian and the history of the position leading to a new modernized role set for today’s information seeker; however, in my mind, it’s projected effectiveness is limited to academia and even that idea seems an exaggerated fact from the perspective of a librarian. I have benefited from this type of design here at MSAC, but mind you this is the only place (academia) where that type of instruction is warranted and it is limited to an hour reference guide walk-through session per class, where such research is required. Once again, I never saw the need from the patron, and nor did I ever see a librarian in the public system with Debra Jones’ passion, I wish there were more like her!

What is cold reading?- Having read this article, I have this to say. I came from a family who not only believes in the spiritual, the mystic, and all that goes with it, but I also come from a family who has gone to a medium and currently sees one that is a close family friend. My wife’s mother, although conflicted by here Roman-Catholic Mexican guilt, occasionally reads tarot cards. I was one of those kids who, like mentioned in Dawkins essay “Viruses of the Mind” was one of those children afflicted by the spiritual parasite. When I began to come of age I started to question things, including but not limited to what I was told. During this period of maturing, I was one of those kids, as the saying goes in pop-culture, that was raised by Marilyn Manson. A very logical man, who is atheist by the way,  that teaches and preaches such virtues. Soon after, I discovered Hawking, Dawkins, Aristotle and a grand host of others. Today, you have my modern commentary on this subject.

Although, there is a fine line to toe, I am a self-proclaimed logical being not wanting to be a gullible Gulliver, nor wanting to portray a smug angry atheist. The balancing act, as I said toeing a fine line can be tough. This subject is one that challenges this objective. I, myself, am very perceptive when it comes most anything especially reading people! It comes naturally and it comes without invitation, it is like breathing I cannot stop it. Sometimes it is overwhelming and I need to get away from people. I can feel their anger, I can see their anxiousness, and I can read their lies. I can even tell you, to a fault, their past and base on their speech patterns and/or choice of words I can even tell you their future, more like whether or not they’re going to accomplish a goal or finish a task. My accuracy is off the chart! Am I psychic? NO! I attribute this gift (yes, I said gift) to logic and nothing more. Since, I mentioned the Dawkins essay, allow me to compare people to computers, as he did, but for my own  example. No one computer is the same, nor are they equal. There are gaming computers, business, music, super and probably more that I failed to mention. They all possess different capabilities. People are the same. Am I defending mediums, psychics, witch doctors, or nuns? No, I am not. So how does this all tie in? We cannot possibly know why one claims to do or know certain things when in fact they may not. However, are all mediums trying dupe idiots out their hard earned money in exchange for the extra-ordinary? No, but some probably do. Maybe, most of them. Is it possible that some possess these abilities? Probably not, but then again we don’t really know. Some of these people may be extraordinarily perceptive an mistaken it for psychic power, some may have it and use it to take advantage of eager morons. Others may be as perceptive as a door-knob. However, in science isn’t there a possibility of  using  otherwise stagnant brain power and capacity, or receiving impulses or waves from another human being? Are our bodies not comparative in composition to the stars in the sky whose residue lives on in the distance for thousands to millions of light-years?

Once again, am I defending these practices? NO! I am merely upholding the objectivity of the consummate scientific mind. Remember, in science even if you find a tangible solution it is still just a theory. I don’t see a real threat with this practice anyway. Until, it gets to the point of being, or becomes the new religion that is when I’ll be concerned. So until these practices begin to interfere with people’s civil rights, education, ethics and morals, and jeez-Louise voting habits!  I’ll be standing by letting the people have their fun and blowing their own money ( Although, there can be a positive psychological value won like in grieving and making the process a little less painful) I will remain balanced and not a smug angry little atheist until then.


Viruses of the Mind- Charles Dawkins, a man that I have admired for a couple of years now, gives his take on life which sums it up best- Life. This is what we encounter and it sets the tone for which we live it. Dawkins’ selected subject matter is by far the core issue pertaining to human life today and throughout our very history. The effects are stemming from therein are what determine each perennial shift of direction, power and attitude in human life. All of the aforementioned affect more than one may or can ever fathom. Among the many elements that come to mind are death, population, climate change, poverty, basic rights, survival, and just to save space I’ll mention one more taxes, yes, even taxes it is all somehow, directly or indirectly, affected by morality.

As a parent of a beautiful, trusting, and age appropriated impressionable 2 year-old that is the apple of MY eye, I can definitely relate to Dawkins’ astonishing discovery that is seemingly the driving force behind this essay. His vehemence is apparent within the rich substance of his sublimated points. I, being a man of logic myself, would be infuriated at the blatant disregard for my rights as a father and a parent if my daughter was being subjugated by such company without my consent and against my wishes. Once more, I am a man of logic and if my daughter chooses to believe in such teachings, then she’ll do it after I have educated her about the alternatives, and really ‘knowing’ what it is that you believe with logic and reason; not even I would push my beliefs down her figurative throat. My wish is for her to make objective, but independent judgments based on her own informative conclusions.

That said, Dawkins makes one error in my book, which isn’t simple for me to say, but he presents science as infallible, thus, it is not! Science at the hand of scientists has made poor self-serving judgments. One such judgment includes the falsifying of information in a 1999 and 2002 study of MDMA (Ecstasy). The two studies in question were conducted by virtually the same research team at the respected John Hopkins University, led by Dr. Richard Recaurte and his wife Dr. Unna McCann. The two studies were government funded and both concluded results that serve today as a scare tactic to the general public. However, conclusive results from non-governmental agencies in England and Germany, both published in the prestigious medical journals the New Scientist, and the Journal of Nuclear Medicine respectively showed opposing lab results using more extensive double-blind research. A campaign was lead by leading psychiatrists, neurologists, and chemists most notably the U.S. based MAPS for Recaurte and his team to explain the drastic difference in the results of his test subjects. Recaurte and his team, one by one, wrote and published one retraction letter after the other. Recaurte first admitted to flimsy data, then sloppy methods, over dosages to his squirrel monkey subjects, and later a “labeling” error which caused him to give his subjects methamphetamine and not 3, 4 MDMA. Also, the alleged “holes” in the brain have been founded to be areas of temporary restricted blood flow found in subjects who had either taken the methamphetamine or abuse MDMA. Recaurte has been quoted as recent as 2009 (or so), as saying “MDMA may be a very useful drug someday.” That very quote is perhaps in connection with recent and conclusive results that have consistently stated both it’s useful (as stated by revered therapists in the field) and ‘miracle’ type therapeutic component that successfully and quickly battle against Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Parkinson’s Disease and various forms of therapy including marriage and most notably for survivors of sexual abuse namely rape. Results that according to many in the field, may otherwise take years of extensive therapy.

I do realize that, hypothetically (of course), the weighty check of government funding which (allegedly) may have been inspired by an expired patent for the MDMA recipe alongside the moral policing right may have well had more to do with this, however, one may allude that at that moment in time science became infected with a virus.


-Jeremy Watkins (Mircelous Grimm)