Posted inCurrent affairs

Why this election is an epistemological watershed

Yesterday Nate Silver, superstar data-based Five Thirty Eight political analyst, shared an enigmatic tweet: "This election is an epistemological watershed." I loved it. Even though I really didn't know for sure what Silver was talking about. I felt like I did, though.  Thus my divided reaction to the words "this election is an epistemological watershed" seems to reflect why the 2012 election here in the United States is so important. Knowledge vs. feeling. Facts vs. fantasy. Science vs. religion.  A watershed is marked by a divide. The choice between Romney and Obama, along with the choice between Republicans and Democrats generally, indeed…
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Posted inHealth

My prostate is featured in the AARP Bulletin!

Great blog post title, if I say so myself. Which, naturally, I did, this being my blog. It's even accurate! Exclamation marks are sprouting because I'm excited about being quoted in the November 2012 AARP Bulletin story,"To Test or Not to Test?," about whether men should get a PSA test that screens for prostate cancer. The article by Chris Woolston is well worth reading in its entirety. But if you're only interested in the good parts, a.k.a. the paragraphs where my name is mentioned, I'll make it easy for you. Like millions of American men, Brian Hines, 64, has a yearly…
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Posted inCurrent affairs Salem

Statesman Journal endorsement of Romney: pathetic editorial

There's good opinion/editorial writing, and there's poor opinion/editorial writing. Our (sadly) one and only local daily newspaper, Gannett's Salem Statesman Journal, falls into the "poor" category.  The paper's endorsement of Mitt Romney yesterday offered a prime example of why the editorial section should be held up before journalism students as an example of how not to write an opinion piece.  Understand: I enjoy reading well-reasoned, thoughtful, factual opinions by conservative columnists whom I usually disagree with politically. David Brooks is one. I can follow his train of thought and appreciate how he came to his point of view even if…
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