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POPSHow to Talk to a Global Warming Skeptic (FAQ) More common questions and myths answered at the source, thoroughly cross-referenced and conveniently categorized and sub-categorized by type of argument: Stages of Denial Scientific Topics Types of Argument Levels of Sophistication A nice reference that's updated with fresh comments. Many "skeptics" often are unaware (by choice or by circumstance) that their common questions have already been addressed by scientists long ago.
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POPSThe Elements of Style - William Strunk, Jr. The entire 1918 edition — online, searchable, and beautifully laid out. This impeccably-written English usage book is as much fun to read for its lively tone and witty examples as it is for its timeless advice. Strunk approached grammar not as a rigid rule set to be followed, but as a craft to be mastered and enjoyed. It's no accident that "Strunk & White" (as the reference is now known) is still read, essentially unchanged, in classrooms and newsrooms to this day. Omit needless words. Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short, or that he avoid all detail and treat his subjects only in outline, but that every word tell. ( The Elements of Style . III. 13.)
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POPSThe Fallacy Files I clipped this before, but pop restrictions burried the clip. In a very naive hope to keep discussions fallacy-free, better the debate and stimulate some self-criticism, I'm re-sharing this with you all. Anyway, the resource is huge, examples abundant, explications very clear and even etymological grounded.
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POPSIndex of Answers to Creationist Claims (Talk.Origins)
It's futile to spend too much time answering the creationist/ID claims that pop up here from time to time when all of them have already been addressed and debunked by the scientific community in overwhelming detail. This continually updated index addresses every single creationist/ID claim that has been made to date with short responses and hyperlinks to papers and references with detailed responses. (Most claims go back decades, if not centuries...there is very little new in the way of creationist claims any more. ID so far has made no new claims that creationists hadn't already made in the 60s/70s with different terminology.) While this a handy resource for debates on origins, its primary worth is as a doorway to education in the entire field of modern science and the scientific process, with a focus on the historical fields of evolution, anthropology, biology, and geology...with a healthy dose of religion and philosophy of science thrown in as well.
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POPSEvidence for the Big Bang (Talk.Origins FAQ) This could not be a better overview of the Big Bang model of the beginning moments of the universe. This is not an easy subject, so it is not surprising that it is so misunderstood. I particularly recommend Common misconceptions about the Big Bang and What does the theory really say? to get a grasp on the theory. Then glance at the converging lines of observational evidence to see why no other theory fits the data as well. I think this is fun stuff.
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POPSGraphic: Timeline of the Big Bang An informative graphical timeline of the very creation of time, space, matter, and energy in our universe. Cool! I just clipped the first paragraph of the nicely written description that accompanies it. Of course, cosmology, cosmogony, and quantum physics, and the origins of space-time are some of the hardest fields of study being pursued right now. Any other pointers to clip-size explanations would be welcome additions to Clipmarks.
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POPSIraq Culture Cheat Sheet Actually, it's called a "Smart Card", designed by the Federation of American Scientists and given to soldiers to be laminated and folded into handy pocket-size form. The entire document (including a guide to who-hates-who in Iraq and how surnames work) can be downloaded from their website . The Marine Corps Intelligence Activity released an updated version in May that's available in PDF form . These cards are nothing new. Similar ones were handed out during the Gulf War, Vietnam, and likely other engagments as well.
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