Sometimes, I’m ashamed to be, however peripherally, a member of the scientific community.
Forrest Mims, Citizen Scientist, recently attended a scientific conference at which an ecologist received a standing ovation for a speech recommending that 90% of the human race be killed off by ebola, one of the uglier tools in nature’s population control tool kit. You’re probably not going to hear about it on the news, though:
Something curious occurred a minute before Pianka began speaking. An official of the Academy approached a video camera operator at the front of the auditorium and engaged him in animated conversation. The camera operator did not look pleased as he pointed the lens of the big camera to the ceiling and slowly walked away.
This curious incident came to mind a few minutes later when Professor Pianka began his speech by explaining that the general public is not yet ready to hear what he was about to tell us.
Hat tip to Doc Russia.