The Insight

Fascinating podcast. Too bad it ended.

Disappointing. It was pretty much two guys bloviating sophomorically. Funny thing is, I actually agree with a lot of the sentiments they expressed (about America needing to grow up and accept that it is no longer going to be the dominant world power), but the factual inaccuracies and gross mischaracterization of certain eras were distracting, and the rambling conversation was frustrating—I know they mentioned Turchin’s name once or twice, but did they ever talk about his ideas? Anyway, if someone wants a good discussion of Turchin, try the episode from The Nietzsche Podcast that’s devoted to him—way better.

One of the best science podcasts I’ve heard since I started chasing them around 2006. Funny, concise, deepest and up to date. Invaluable context for the constant stream of gene stories and revelations.

I am agreed with the author of "Speech Matters." As a 68 year old who grew up in a world in which people still knew how to read and write, let alone speak, I am appalled by the two generations of so-called "adults" who have followed after my generation. It is as though education has been deliberately dumbed down for fifty years. That said, it's not just language skills that have been dumbed down. I've been following the latest developments in archaeology, anthropology, etc. since I was 7 years old and I witnessed, as a young adult, in the 1970s, the effects of the Creationists' attempt to bar education in evolution and anthropology from public school science classes. I am absolutely disgusted with the widespread ignorance of the public, many of whom don't even know the meaning of the word "paleolithic."