The Carnival of Bad History, 10th edition, is at Archy this week. This deconstruction of cowboy beans is among its gems.
The Tangled Bank almost failed to appear in its biweekly slot, and a quick save by Josh Rosenau at Thoughts from Kansas got edition #65 to press on short notice. In keeping with the theme of exposing sloppy scholarship and groundless assumptions, Respectful Insolence examines a case of academic misconduct in science , and I give vent to a bit of indignant spleen over the uncritical repetition of the claim that invasive species are the second leading cause of biodiversity decline after habitat loss. Now before you go braiding your green nooses for my neck - of kudzu, no doubt - know that I firmly believe they are significant factors - particularly invasive animals, pests and pathogens - but get sick of exaggerated versions of this statement that have gotten really out of hand as too many folks repeat it dogmatically and without attribution. So a bit of a plant rant, but offered for your consideration.
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