>1. The term "junk science" was not invented by the right-of-center. It =
>was coined by a politically liberal science writer from the New York =
>Times who got tired of being forced to write about science issues =
>largely taken at face value by the unthinking masses with little or no =
>good scientific research to back the stories up.

It has been kidnapped, then, by the right and is most frequently
applied by right-wing, anti-environmental folks. The label is
attached to research which supports global warming, the effects of
CFCs on the ozone layer, the effect of DDT and other organochlorides
on the environment, the importance of old-growth for the preservation
of our biological heritage, etc.

>He labeled this as =
>"Junk Science" because when pressed, the so-called scientists labeled =
>him as a reactionary rather than putting forth a good case...

One needn't be conservative in order to be reactionary, though in
politics it is most frequently associated with conservatism.

If the topics I mentioned above were included in his notion of
"junk science", then he deserves the label "reactionary".

Oh, and why were the researchers "so-called" scientists? You really
are biased against science, aren't you?

>2. The term "political correctness" was coined by left-of-center =
>academic architects who were trying to avoid doing or saying anything =
>that might offend people of color on college campuses.

But it has been picked up and popularized as a pejorative by the
right.

As I am certain you are well aware.

I suppose I needn't point out that you used it in its pejorative,
rather than academic, sense?

Etymology, while interesting, often tells us nothing about current
usuage.

Interestingly, you've said nothing to support your initial view
that research supporting the contention that plantation coffee
operations are more harmful to bird species than traditional
shade-tree operations is "junk science".

You've simply complained about my reaction to your unsupportable
supposition.

Why don't you simply say "OK, I have no basis for making such a
claim" and get on with your life?

(snip, snip, snip!)

>cwBTTVRQAGRhdmUuc3RpbGVzQGFzaXguY29tAB4AAjABAAAABQAAAFNNVFAAAAAAHgADMAEAAAAV
>AAAAZGF2ZS5zdGlsZXNAYXNpeC5jb20AAAAAAwAVDAIAAAADAP4PBgAAAB4AATABAAAACAAAACdk
>YXZlcycAAgELMAEAAAAaAAAAU01UUDpEQVZFLlNUSUxFU0BBU0lYLkNPTQAAAAMAADkAAAAACwBA

(snip, snip, snip!)

PLEASE learn to use your mailer!

- Don Baccus, Portland OR <donb at rational.com>
Nature photos, on-line guides, at (NEW) http://donb.photo.net