RESPECTFUL INSOLENCE

"A statement of fact cannot be insolent." The miscellaneous ramblings of a surgeon/scientist on medicine, quackery, science, and pseudoscience (and anything else that interests him).

Politics Religion Science

Well this ought to be entertaining…I think

Post author By Orac
Post date April 19, 2007
17 Comments on Well this ought to be entertaining…I think

Richard Dawkins will be interviewed by Bill O’Reilly on the O’Reilly Factor on Monday, April 23.

Talk about walking into the lion’s den! I’m not sure this is such a good idea on Richard Dawkins’ part. The problem, of course, is that Bill O’Reilly blusters and yells and doesn’t let guests that he doesn’t like talk. I have to wonder if Dawkins knows what he’s in for. Even though he’s almost certainly capable of handling a bully when both are on equal terms, O’Reilly controls the microphone and the show; he won’t tolerate being slapped down the way he deserves. Being on The Colbert Report (basically a parody of Bill O’Reilly, for those few who aren’t familiar with it), as Dawkins was last fall, isn’t the same thing as subjecting oneself to the real thing. The best that can happen is that Dawkins manages to overcome these problems and mildly slap down O’Reilly, a pyrrhic victory at best (whoopee! Dawkins embarrassed a demagogue!), while the worst that can happen is that O’Reilly’s typical “spin” will drown out Dawkins’ message and, worse, make him look bad. I see no realy up side to Dawkins’ going on O’Reilly’s show.

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By Orac

Orac is the nom de blog of a humble surgeon/scientist who has an ego just big enough to delude himself that someone, somewhere might actually give a rodent's posterior about his copious verbal meanderings, but just barely small enough to admit to himself that few probably will. That surgeon is otherwise known as David Gorski.

That this particular surgeon has chosen his nom de blog based on a rather cranky and arrogant computer shaped like a clear box of blinking lights that he originally encountered when he became a fan of a 35 year old British SF television show whose special effects were renowned for their BBC/Doctor Who-style low budget look, but whose stories nonetheless resulted in some of the best, most innovative science fiction ever televised, should tell you nearly all that you need to know about Orac. (That, and the length of the preceding sentence.)

DISCLAIMER:: The various written meanderings here are the opinions of Orac and Orac alone, written on his own time. They should never be construed as representing the opinions of any other person or entity, especially Orac's cancer center, department of surgery, medical school, or university. Also note that Orac is nonpartisan; he is more than willing to criticize the statements of anyone, regardless of of political leanings, if that anyone advocates pseudoscience or quackery. Finally, medical commentary is not to be construed in any way as medical advice.

To contact Orac: [email protected]

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